asked the President of he Board of Trade if he is aware of the poor quality of the utility corset and that his is having a serious effect upon the health of many women who are unable to replace these articles even when they are in possession of a doctor's certificate; and if he will take steps to improve the quality and supply of corsets.

The supply and the quality of utility corsets are being progressively improved as more labour and materials become available. The utility price range has recently been extended in order to encourage the production of garments of better quality and workmanship, and manufacturers are taking full advantage of this arrangement. The doctor's certificates to which the hon. Member refers are applicable to surgical and not to utility corsets

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of leather for providing soles for shoes, particularly in the borough of Reigate; and whether any steps are being taken to improve the supply.

The shortage of leather has made it necessary to restrict shoe repairers and shops selling leather for home repairs to 60 per cent. of their usage in 1940–41. I am glad to say that this quota will be increased to 66.2/3rd per cent. on 1st April. If there are any cases in Reigate in which the full quota is not being received, I will look into them at once.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when it is intended to publish the report of the committee set up to consider future policy with regard to trade exhibitions and, in particular, an exhibition to mark the centenary of the exhibition of 1851.

The Report of the Committee presided over by Lord Ramsden is now being considered and will, it is hoped, be published before the end of the month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any conversations have taken place, and agreements been entered into, between His Majesty's Government and the Governments of France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway for the revival of mutual trade between Great Britain and those countries.

Though no trade agreements have been negotiated with these countries since their liberation, monetary agreements have been signed with all of them, and mutual trade has been resumed. With a view to the full development of such trade, close contact is maintained between my officials and the representatives of these countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is still necessary to cut immature trees in this country for mining timber.

We had hoped that it would be possible this year to avoid further cutting on a large scale in this country. But supplies from the usual exporting countries are still below requirements, while substantial aid from the supplies which are being developed in Germany cannot be received for some months. In these circumstances, it is still essential that considerable production of round and sawn mining timber in this country should be continued during 1946. I regret this further drain upon our diminished resources of timber which we should wish to leave to grow to maturity. My Department will keep in close touch with the Forestry Commission in this matter, and I can assure my hon. Friend that cutting will not be continued beyond what it is absolutely necessary in the national interest, and that requirements will be met with the least possible damage to the woodlands.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, at the present moment, lithopone is in shorter supply than it was at any time during the war years.

Our supplies of lithopone have increased since the war. Production during recent months has been at a higher rate than at any time since 1941 and every endeavour will be made to maintain it at as high a rate as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will permit the coupon-free sale of Manchester textiles, namely, towels which have deteriorated through long storage in warehouses, because British housewives have not coupons to spare for the purchase of such goods.

It is already possible to dispose of rationed goods at reduced coupon rates provided they are sold below certain prescribed prices. I have no information to suggest that there are stocks of towels deteriorating in warehouses and I would be glad to look into it if the hon. and gallant Member would let me have particulars.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department has sanctioned the production of plastic mats and lamp shades and other objects out of milk; and how much milk it is estimated will be used during the next 12 months for these purposes.

Licences have been, and will continue to be given for the manufacture from casein of goods which are essential for the home market and for the export trade. Casein is the only plastic material which has a high milk content, but it is imported from South America, and there is no drain on supplies of home produced milk.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the value of the monthly average of impores from Czechoslovakia in 1935, 1936 1937 and 1938 respectively; and the value of the monthly average of United Kingdom exports to that country during theses years;(2) the total value of imports from Czechoslovakia for the months of October, November and December, 1945, and January, 1946, respectively; and of United Kingdom exports to that country for the same months

The following statement shows the declared value of the merchandise imported into and exported from the United Kingdom in trade with Czechoslovakia in the periods specified:

asked the President of the Board of Trade the character, value and weight of all imports to this country from Spain during the month of January, 1946.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th February, 1946; Vol. 419, c. 337], supplied the following statement:Detailed particulars 01 the goods imported into the United Kingdom from Spain during January, 1946, are as follows

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether a policy for food and agriculture has been adopted for India to meet the present crisis what are its principal objectives and methods; and to what extent it is being subsidised by the Indian or British Governments to avoid further starvation.

Yes, Sir. Energetic steps in hand include ever stricter measures for the procurement of indigenous food; the extension of rationing to urban and rural areas hitherto unrationed; and a cut in the cereal ration from 16 oz. to 12 oz. a day, the encouragement of the growing of short-term crops; and the subsidising by the Government of India of schemes of irrigation, drainage and anti-erosion in order to bring additional land under food cultivation.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider giving the separate statistics for England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales in the monthly Digest of Statistics instead of putting them all together as at present.

The object of the Digest is to give in concise and summary form the principal statistics of the United Kingdom, and this object would be defeated if the Digest were overloaded with detailed figures for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Separate figures for each country will, of course, continue to be published, so far as they are available, in the statistical returns published by Departments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what emergency steps he is taking to increase the home production of honey in view of the world food crisis.

I am giving what help I can, within the limits imposed by present shortages of timber and other materials, to enable beekeepers to maintain and increase their honey production, but I should not be justified in taking steps to increase honey production at the expense of other more essential commodities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the considerable damage to homes and farms in the West Bridgford and other districts of Nottinghamshire, caused by the recent floods in the Trent Valley; who is the responsible authority; and what measures he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of a similar disaster in the future.

I am aware of the damage caused by Hoods in the Trent Valley due to the unprecedented rainfall in the early part of last month. The drainage authority responsible for the maintenance of the river is the River Trent Catchment Board, who have prepared a comprehensive scheme for flood alleviation and control. For technical reasons, works for the improvement of the river must in general proceed upstream from Trent Falls Whilst considerable progress has been made by the board, the long distance involved, coupled with the suspension of land drainage operations during the war unless of direct benefit to food production, has prevented any substantial works of alleviation being undertaken in the West Bridgford district. The catchment board hope to be able to make better progress with their scheme as soon as more labour becomes available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that serious damage is caused to valuable agricultural land and livestock by the flooding of the river Neath in the county of Glamorgan; that an important contributory cause of this flooding is the tipping of colliery slag into the river; and if, in view of the need to encourage farmers to produce the maximum quantities of food, he will take steps to deal with the matter.

I am aware that the condition of the river Neath has been unsatisfactory for many years, although it has not been established to what extent colliery tips have been responsible for the siltation of the channel. The Mid-Glamorgan Rivers Catchment Board, which is the drainage authority responsible for the greater part of the river, has on a number of occasions carefully investigated the possibility of carrying out remedial works. I am advised that an effective scheme would at the present time cost about £ 75,000. The benefit to agriculture which would result from the work is insufficient to justify under present conditions an expenditure of this order, but the catchment board hopes to put forward proposals for a scheme as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of poultry farmers in this country, differentiating between large and small for which figures are available at the beginning of the war, the end of the German war, the end of the Japanese war and at the present time, respectively; what effect the cut in rations is likely to have on those connected with this business; and what will be the estimated drop in the numbers of poultry farmers in the next six months.

I regret that figures for the numbers of poultry farmers at the dates mentioned are not available. As regards the last two parts of the Question, the effect of the cut in rations will be a reduction in the number of birds maintained on poultry farms. It is impossible to estimate whether any, and how many, poultry farmers will decide to give up business.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give powers to W.A.E.C.s to enter and destroy foxes which are inflicting depredations on farmers and poultry keepers.

I am prepared to make an ad hoc order conferring such powers on any war agricultural executive committee which applies for it and satisfies me as to the need.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the damage being done to farm roads and buildings by the continued non-availability of rubber tyres for tractors; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the supply.

By arrangement between the Board of Trade and my Department, rubber tyres are now being supplied to tractor manufacturers for the great bulk of the output of new tractors. In addition, rear rubber tyres are being made available in increasing quantities for converting agricultural tractors at present fitted with steel wheels. The supply of rubber tyres for agricultural tractors is constantly under review, and everything possible is being done to increase the production of such tyres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that, owing to the Ministry of Health having switched manufacture of field drain pipes to bricks, production upon some thousands of acres in Northamptonshire, upon which work had been scheduled and in some cases started by the W.A.E.C., is now held up; what steps he proposes to take to remedy the shortage of pipes; and what assistance he proposes to give to farmers whose acres are wasting until the completion of these drainage schemes.

The greatly increased demand for bricks is causing some manufacturers to concentrate on brick making at the expense of the production of field drain pipes, but there has been no Government direction in this matter. At the same time, the demand for pipes from many counties, including Northamptonshire, has recently been greatly in excess of estimated requirements, on which allocations were based. The position is at present admittedly difficult, but my Department is endeavouring, in co-operation with the Ministry of Works, to maintain the supply It is hoped to arrange for the delivery of a further 8,000 pipes to the Northamptonshire W.A.E.C. this week in addition to 8,000 that have already been deliveredI am not clear what the hon. and gallant Member has in mind regarding assistance to farmers, but I would remind him that Government grants were first made available for this type of drainage in 1940, so that there has been ample opportunity to carry out urgent schemes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many catchment boards are operating in Wales; what local authorities are attached to them; and what precepts are paid by these authorities.

There are seven catchment boards operating wholly, and three partly, in Wales and Monmouthshire. Particulars of these, and of the precepts made by them on the county councils lying wholly or partly within their areas in the year ended 31st March, 1945, are set out in the statement that follows. The greater part of Wales comes under catchment board administration, but large parts of Brecon, Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire, and practically the whole of Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire, are outside any catchment area. None of the four county boroughs in Wales lies within a catchment area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to secure the release of the Leiston and Sud-bourne battle areas to enable the dispossessed farmers to return to their holdings, in order to cultivate them and help to relieve the food shortage.

My Department has for some time been pressing for the return of these areas to agricultural use. The War Office have now under urgent review the future military requirements of land for use as training areas, but until these requirements as a whole have been fully considered by the Government it is impossible to decide what the future of these particular areas will be.

asked the Minister of War Transport details of the journeys made by vehicle number 5/R/6, 84 DLN72, under the Ministry of WarTransport Road Haulage Organisation, during the week ending 15th February, 1946.

This vehicle delivered a load of plaster board in Portsmouth on the morning of Saturday, 9th February, and returned empty to its base in London at 5.30 p.m. there being no return load available. On Monday afternoon, 11th, the vehicle was sent empty to Boston, Lines., to fetch urgent canned food for London. On arrival at Boston on Tuesday, 12th, it was loaded with five tons of pea seeds against an order for delivery to Salisbury having greater priority than the canned goods. On arrival of the load at Salisbury at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 13th, the consignee refused to take delivery, having obtained seeds from another source. At the consignor's request the vehicle took its load on to his London depot, where it arrived at 3.15 p.m. on Thursday, 14th, and was unloaded. The vehicle moved throughout this journey at the consignor's request and he had agreed to meet the charges Boston-Salisbury-London. On Friday morning, 15th, the vehicle was sent empty to Bristol to meet an urgent order to pick up cardboard for London

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he will arrange for the abolition of taxicab queues at Waterloo Station, in view of the fact that they are disliked by taxicabmen and the public and cause delay; and under what legal provision either the taxicabman or the fare is guilty of an offence, if a taxi-cab is hired in the precincts of the station without taking their place in the queue

The railway company's bylaws empower them to give reasonable directions to drivers on railway premises about the placing of their vehicles. I cannot express an authoritative opinion whether a legal offence would be committed by the driver or passenger if a cab were hired on railway premises without taking their place in the queue. The queue system, however, ensures that all intending hirers of taxicabs are treated alike and in their proper turns at times when cabs are scarce, and my information is that the public welcomes rather than dislikes the system.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware of the unsatisfactory working of the regulations governing the sale of secondhand motorcars; and what steps he proposes to take to bring about a more satisfactory state of affairs.

I am not aware of any regulations on this matter which my hon. Friend can have in mind; but under Section 8 of the Road Traffic Act, 1934, it is an offence to sell a motor vehicle in such a condition that its use would be unlawful under the provisions of Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, unless the seller can show that he had reasonable cause to believe that the vehicle would not be used on a road in Great Britain until it had been put into a condition in which it could lawfully be so used.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he will issue a regulation making it obligatory for motor manufacturers to fit standard equipment antidazzle headlamps to the vehicles they manufacture.

A wholly satisfactory solution of the dazzle problem has not yet been achieved and it would therefore be premature to impose an obligation to fit lamps of a standard type or specification. The existing regulations lay down the conditions with which vehicle lamps must comply and manufacturers are free to fit any equipment which secures compliance with the regulations.

asked the Minister of War Transport when the provisional temporary safety arrangements at Otley Bridge will be commenced; how long the alterations will take to complete; and what is the cause of the present delay.

It has been necessary to make some minor amendments to the scheme for the installation of light signals at Otley Bridge submitted by the county council, and there has been no avoidable delay. The scheme can be commenced as soon as labour and materials are available, and should take about a month to complete.

asked the Minister of War Transport the percentage of accidents, involving injury to or loss of human life, in which both omnibuses and trolleybuses were primarily concerned in the London area.

In 1945, 733 persons were killed on the roads in the City and Metropolitan Police districts. Omnibuses, coaches and trolley vehicles were primarily involved in 18 per cent. of these fatalities. I regret that no information is available about the extent to which vehicles of these types were primarily involved in non-fatal accidents.

asked the Minister of War Transport how many children of 15 years of age and under were killed by men and women drivers, respectively, during the last recorded period.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of War Transport if in view of the fact that repatriated Government servants are foregoing their full leave in order to return to assist in the rehabilitation of Hong Kong, he will afford no less priority to the wives of such Government servants in his allotment of passages than he afforded to the wives of naval officers stationed at Hong Kong.

The entry of wives and children of Government servants into Hong Kong has not hitherto been permitted. The ban has been lifted as from Friday, 1st March. So far as I am aware, no wives of Naval officers have been given passages from this country to Hong Kong. For the future, the priority to be accorded to wives and families, in relation to that accorded to other passengers, will be determined by the Colonial Office for civilians and the Admiralty for Naval officers.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he is aware that some 2,500 British girls who married Australian servicemen during the war have for months been awaiting a passage to Australia; and what steps he is taking to arrange for these girls to join their husbands.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he has considered the delay in repatriation of many Australians and their wives now in this country; how many of them are now awaiting passages; and what prospect he can hold out for them in the near future.

asked the Minister of War Transport what provision is being made for sending to Australia the English wives of Australian personnel who married while serving in this country; and when this transport can be effected.

I am informed that some 2,000 or 2,500 British dependants of Australian servicemen are awaiting passage to Australia. Everything practicable will be done to secure that they shall move, so far as possible, at a rate corresponding to that at which similar dependants awaiting passage to other Dominions are repatriated. In addition to the normal opportunities, I have arranged for two troopships to leave for Australia and New Zealand in March, in which a considerable amount of passenger accommodation will be placed at the disposal of the two High Commissioners. Further arrangements will be made as opportunity offers.

asked the Minister of War Transport how much U.S. coal per month British shipping is having to purchase as bunkers owing to the shortage in this country; and what this represents in dollar expenditure.

About 50,000 tons a month costing about 375,000 dollars a month.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware that ship masters at Singapore have been instructed not to pay the coolie labourers there more than their prewar wage of is.5d. per day; if he will state the number of idle ships now lying in the anchorage; and if he is prepared to appoint a court of inquiry to report on shipping conditions at Singapore since the Japanese invasion.

Rates of pay for coolie labourers are, I understand, controlled by the Civil Affairs Division at Military Headquarters in conjunction with the local government authorities. With reference to the second part of the Question, I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend. There is no case for a court of inquiry, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War and I are giving special attention to the question of the use of shipping in this area, with particular reference to the turn round of ships.

asked the Minister of War Transport why he is unable to allot more ships and berths for British and South African nationals on the lines serving South Africa; whether he is aware of the long waiting list for these lines; and whether he anticipates any alleviation of the situation this year.

Large numbers of passenger ships have been converted for use as troopships and will continue to be needed for this purpose for some time to come, and until they can be released and reconditioned, accommodation for civilian passengers must inevitably be short. The available passenger space is allotted as equitably as possible on the various routes concerned, with due regard to the numbers of priority and essential passengers awaiting movement on each route. South Africa's needs receive the same consideration as those of other destinations.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he is aware of the intolerable position created in Islington and elsewhere by the failure of his Department to provide rolling stock for the transport of refuse from the Islington Borough Council's depots, with the result that in some parts of the borough there has been no collection of refuse for several weeks; and what steps he is taking to correct this.

This matter has recently been the subject of discussion with the Ministry of Health, the Borough Council and the railway company, who were asked to pay special attention to the traffic. I am informed that all arrears of refuse were cleared from the depot by 23rd February, and that the refuse is now being cleared currently.

asked the Minister of War Transport the profits earned by the railway companies in the year ended 31st December, 1945; the amount which has been paid to the railway companies under the hire agreement; and the profit which has accrued to the Treasury for each of the financial years from the commencement of the control.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the White Paper which will be issued shortly giving the information he requires for the year ended 31st December, 1945. The information for earlier years will be found in Command Papers 6252, 6349, 6436, 6512 and 6619.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he will consider the need for an improved train service on the District Railway between Earls Court and Wimbledon, particularly during off-peak periods.

The frequency of trains on this service varies from five to seven minutes during peak periods, and from seven to 15 minutes during off-peak hours up to 9.15 p.m. After that time the frequency is 20 minutes. I am informed that during peak periods the trains are well loaded, but are not inadequate, and that at other times the trains are adequate. Under present conditions increased frequency would not be justified.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production (1) how many amphibious freighters and how many tanks were produced during December and January; and how many he estimates will be produced during February;(2) how many bren-guns were produced during December and January; and how many he estimates will be produced during February.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production the figures for December and January of small arms ammunition production.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production how many Spitfires have been produced during the last six months; and how many of these are being used, or held in reserve, by the R.A.F

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Lyttel-ton) an 27th February.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production how many tanks and of what types were scrapped during January.

The number is 177, made up as follows:

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production how many heavy bombers and fighters were scrapped during the month of January.

During January we scrapped 128 heavy bombers and 136 fighters. These were all damaged or obsolescent aircraft.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether the British Government will have to pay royalties to U.S. firms for the use of deep fermentation processes now in operation at Speke, Liverpool, for penicillin production.

No, Sir; but a lump sum was paid to a United States firm in return for their help in designing the plant and giving initial advice as how best to operate it.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production why he has recently placed orders with the home industry for 40,000 gallons of yellow ammunition paint.

Since VJ-Day contracts have been placed by my Department for 34,000 gallons of this paint to fill direct demands from the War Office.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether he will make available to the universities for work on atomic physics, all surplus radio and electronic equipment in the hands of the Government.

We are in close touch with the University Grants Committee with a view to meeting, wherever possible, the needs of the universities for this equipment.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether he is now able to make a further statement in connection with the endeavours of Mr. Clarricoats, the secretary of the Radio Society of Great Britain, to purchase surplus wireless equipment.

Mr. Clarricoats approached my Department with a suggestion that the individual members of the Radio Society of Great Britain should be given the opportunity of purchasing radio surpluses. As the society had itself no powers to buy or sell and as it was not practicable to set up special machinery within the Department for retail sales, it was suggested to Mr. Clarricoats that he should get into touch with the Radio Industry Council with a view to discussing supply to his members through trade channels.Mr. Clarricoats sent my Department a copy of his letter dated 14th December to the council which did no more than indicate his opinion as to the radio sets in which his members would be interested and the prices they might be willing to pay. He did not then represent himself to my Department as a buyer or make an offer. Having failed to make a satisfactory arrangement with the council, Mr. Clarricoats wrote to my Department on 28th February inquiring whether arrangements could be made for various representative members of his society to buy on behalf of members in their districts. I have, however, decided after careful consideration that generally it is preferable that the needs of radio amateurs should continue to be met through trade channelsIn the meantime, surplus radio sets and components have been sold to the trade by competitive tender and further such sales will be made. It was in an endeavour to help Mr. Clarricoats that my Department put the Champion Electric Corporation in touch with him as they had purchased by competitive fender a number of sets of the types in which we knew he was interested.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production if his attention has been called to a hold-up in deliveries of Austin 10 cwt. vans caused by shortage of certain body parts; and if he can do anything to assist output of completed vehicles.

I was not aware of any hold-up in deliveries of Austin 10 cwt. vans, but my inquiries show that there has been some difficulty in obtaining balanced supplies of body parts. This position is not, however, peculiar to Austin's and has not seriously affected the company's output. If my hon. Friend will let me have details of any particular shortages, I will do all I can to help.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the forthcoming elections to be held in Greece, he will state the date upon which British troops will be withdrawn from Greece.

I regret that I cannot usefully add to the statements which my right hon. Friend has made about the withdrawal of British troops from Greece.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the proposals of the French Government to impose a levy on capital assets owned in France by British nationals, whether resident or not, and a further more highly graduated tax on the increase in value of their assets in France as between 1st January, 1940, and 4th June, 1945; whether he is satisfied that British nationals are protected from such impositions by the terms of Article 11 of the Anglo-French Treaty of 28th February, 1882; whether he is aware that all British nationals who have assets in France were asked for returns of their assets in France by 18th February, 1946; and what steps he proposes to take to protect the assets of British nationals.

Yes, Sir. My attention has been drawn to the French Government's proposed tax known as the Imp ô t de Solidar it éNationale. I am advised that exemption from this tax cannot be sought under Article 11 of the Commercial Convention of 1882 in respect of landed property. I am informed that the date by which the approximate returns must be made has been postponed. Individuals in France must make their returns by 15th April and associations in France were under an obligation to make them by 1st March (except in devastated areas, where the date is 15th April). Individuals and associations outside France must make their returns within four moths from the date of the receipt of the relevant forms by the local French Mission. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary said in answer to a question on 19th February, His Majesty's Government do not propose to contest the general principle of the tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make representations to the government of Spain to provide an amnesty for political prisoners, particularly those who have been engaged in trade union and similar activities and who have not been found guilty of any violence.

As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary said in answer to a Question on 22nd October last year, His Majesty's Representatives in Madrid have for a considerable time past taken every suitable opportunity of impressing on the Spanish authorities the most unfortunate effect produced on opinion in this country by the imprisonment of Spanish citizens whose only offence was political. His Majesty's Representatives have frequently urged that this practice should be brought to an end.

asked the Minister of Food if he will arrange a wider availability of straight animal feeding stuffs.

Straight feeding stuffs are as widely available as supplies permit, but if the hon. and gallant Member will provide me with particulars of any case in which difficulty has arisen in obtaining straight feeding stuffs against the appropriate ration document I will gladly look into it.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will facilitate the distribution of potato seed to allotment holders.

I am not aware that difficulty is being experienced, but I will certainly look into any case of which the hon. Member will let me have details.

asked the Minister of Food what articles of market-garden produce are now in such ample supply that it is considered desirable, in the interests of home producers, to restrict importations.

The answer to the right hon. Member's Question depends upon the season of the year, and I will send him a copy of a statement recently issued about certain imports of fruit and vegetables. Perhaps I can best explain the reason for some restrictions by giving an example. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that if he did not restrict imports of onions during the period when the greater part of the home crop is being marketed, namely from August to mid-November, a much smaller acreage of onions would be planted in this country. Under present conditions the total supply would be smaller.

asked the Minister of Food the amount of the barley harvest for 1945; how much still remains in this country; and the names of the countries to which barley has been exported, and the amount sent to each one.

The latest estimate of the barley crop harvested in the United Kingdom in 1945 is 2,106,000 tons. No estimate is possible of the amount still unconsumed. The total quantity of barley exported from this country between 31st July, 1945, and 31st December, 1945, was 23,023 tons. The barley was exported to the countries shown below and for the purposes indicated:

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production how many of the War Department's civilian vehicles stored at Bucklebury Common, Berkshire, have been released for reconditioning for sale to the public; and how many have been taken to Yorkshire for destruction.

I have been asked to reply. Two thousand and seventy-three vehicles have been sent from Bucklebury to a Ministry of Supply depot in Yorkshire since 10th October, 1945. They are not sent to this depot for destruction, but to await disposal. I understand that none of these vehicles has been released by the Ministry of Supply for reconditioning for sale to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that considerable uncertainty exists amongst the Regular personnel of the R.N., Army and R.A.F. as to how far their Service pensions, awarded on the basis of length of service, will be affected by their voluntary participation in the National Insurance Scheme; and whether, as there is a widespread view that their Service pensions should not be affected in any way, he will make an announcement clarifying the whole position.

I regret that I am not at present in a position to add anything to the last sentence of paragraph 39 of the recent White Paper on postwar emoluments for the Services.

asked the Secretary of State for war if he is aware that many married N.C.O.s and men stationed in the Middle East and who are qualified for a pension are seriously considering forgoing these pension rights in order to see their families; and if their L.I.A.P. and end-of-the-war leave can be speeded up in order to prevent this sacrifice.

It is anticipated that in the near future all men in M.E.F. with over 18 months' overseas service will have received L.I.A.P. excepting those who are within six months of the date they become due for release or Python. End-of-the-war leave can be added to L.I.A.P. Every effort is being made to increase the number of officers and other ranks returning to the United Kingdom monthly on L.I.A.P. from M.E.F. in order to assist this Command to reach the target of 18 months. Unless there are some urgent compassionate reasons it would not be possible to give preferential treatment in this matter to the particular class of Regular soldiers to whom the hon. and gallant Member refers.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the dissatisfaction at the suggested rate of release in the Army for Groups 27 and 28, at the rate of 4,529 per day and 4,474, respectively, as compared with Groups 25 and 26 at the respective rates of 8,038 per day and 9,848; and what are the reasons for this drop of 50 per cent. less men per day being released from 7th March to 18th May compared with 8th January to 6th March.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service to the hon. and gallant Member for Uxbridge (Flight-Lieutenant Beswick) and the hon. Member for Drake (Mr. Medland) on Tuesday. My hon. Friend may also like to refer to the answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Lichfield on Wednesday last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to retain officers of any arm of the service in East Africa Command beyond the announced release dates for their groups.

So far as I am aware there is no proposal to retain officers of any arm of the Service in East Africa Command beyond the release dates for their groups, although the Commander-in-Chief may find it necessary to retain individuals for a short period on grounds of military necessity.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men, apart from Regular Servicemen, there will be in each of the three services over the age of 35 at the end of June, 1946.

I regret that the information asked for is not readily available and could not be obtained without a considerable amount of research and at the expense of other urgent work.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men who have been trained at Specialist Wing, R.A.C. School, R.A.C., T.D., C.M.F., during the last six months; and how many such trainees have been demobilised within five months of completing the course.

The information asked for is not available in the War Office. A cable has been sent to C.M.F., but as the R.A.C. School has now been disbanded, it may not be possible to obtain all the information required.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 14214160 Sergeant Rogers, Specialist Wing, R.A.C. School, R.AC., T.D., C.M.F., and 14351534 Lance-Corporal Churchill, Line Coy., 2nd T.T.B, Royal Signals, Mons Lines, Catterick, Yorks., whose applications for release under Class B are supported by the Ministry of Works, have not been so released in view of the need of their services in Sherborne.

No application for the release of Sergeant Rogers has been received from the Ministry of Labour and National Service Their application for Lance-Corporal Churchill was not despatched to the War Office until last Thursday; it is now being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 5682605 Lance-Corporal B. Butcher, S.L.I., H.Q. 3 District, C.M.F., who is a qualified bricklayer in Group 38, has not been offered Class B release.

It has not hitherto been necessary to offer Class B release to any bricklayers of Group 38 to meet the demands of the Ministry of Labour and National Service under the bulk release scheme. A fresh demand has recently been received, but I cannot yet say whether it will be necessary to offer release to men in Group 38 to meet this demand.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the case of 14343213 Lance-Corporal A Gardiner, 3 Platoon, 654 A.W. Company, R.E., B.A.O.R., who has had 4½ years previous employment as a bricklayer, and who is needed by his previous employers who are engaged on building work for the local council: and if he will release this man.

Bricklayers are dealt with under the Class B bulk release scheme. It has not yet been necessary to offer Class B release to men in this soldier's age and service group serving in the Royal Engineers in order to meet the demands of the Ministry of Labour and National Service for bricklayers. I regret that I could not make a special exception in this particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that on 17th January the Sudanese guards of the detention camp in Eritrea opened machine-gun fire on the defenceless Jewish detainees there without provocation, killing two men and wounding 12, and that the other military personnel were prevented by the conduct of the Soudanese troops from rendering first-aid treatment to the wounded; if he will cause an immediate independent investigation to be made; and what other action he has taken, or proposes to take, in relation to the matter.

A court of inquiry has already been held to investigate the incidents to which my hon. Friend refers. The trouble was started by a detainee throwing a stone at a Sudanese sentry, who thereupon shot at and wounded him. During the subsequent process of moving the injured man to hospital, in which British soldiers participated, a crowd of some 25 detainees attempted to force the gate and almost succeeded in doing so. The guard opened fire, killing two Jews and wounding others. The finding of the court of inquiry was that the action of the guard was fully justified by the circumstances. The General Officer Com manding the Troops, Sudan, after paying a personal visit to the camp agreed with the opinion of the court. An official communiqué giving the details of these incidents was published in Palestine on 13th February. I do not consider that any further investigation is necessary.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is prepared to consider changing the conditions governing the award of the Greenwich Hospital Special Pension, as at present laid down by Order in Council, in order to ensure that the fact that an ex-rating is being at present maintained out of public funds shall cease to be a disqualification for his being considered for the award of a Greenwich Hospital Special Pension.

The regulations governing the award of Greenwich Hospital Special Pensions are now under review. The present disqualification of men maintained in Public Assistance Institutions will be reconsidered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when 249766 Fireman A. Wheeler, now attached to Regional Training School No. 2, who has served as a full time member of the N.F.S. since September, 1939, and is now aged 37, will be given his release.

I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Attorney- General whether, in cases where an applicant for probate is invalid or infirm, arrangements can be made for the estate duty accounts and other necessary papers to be lodged by a friend of the applicant and so avoid the expense of instructing a solicitor in cases where the estate involved is very small.

I am obliged to the hon Member for bringing the matter to notice. The possibility of arranging special facilities where the applicant for probate or letters of administration to an estate of small value is an invalid or is infirm, is being examined by the President of the Probate Division

asked the Attorney-General whether he will consider introducing legislation abolishing the decree nisi procedure in matrimonial causes, but giving the King's Proctor a right of appeal.

The question of abolishing of modifying the decree nisi procedure in matrimonial causes is at present under consideration, and the suggestion made by my hon Friend will be borne in mind.

asked the Attorney-General in how many matrimonial causes since 1st January, 1938, the King's Proctor has intervened to show cause why a decree nisi should not be made absolute.

From 1st January, 1938, to 28th February, 1946, the King's Proctor has intervened in 161 cases. This figure includes 16 which are still pending.