asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the first cargo of Canary bananas arriving in London on the s.s. "Banaderos" is being discharged for reshipment to Eire; and why licences were refused for the import of any of this cargo into this country.

I fear the hon. Member has been misinformed. The s.s. "Banaderos" is the second steamer bringing Canary Island bananas and her entire cargo of bananas will be consumed in this country.

asked the Minister of Food what quantities of grain have been separately allocated to breweries and distilleries for the years 1945 and 1946; and whether the allocations for 1946 are to be altered in view of the impending world shortage of grains.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now able to announce what action is to be taken to support President Truman's action in diverting 20,000,000 bushels of grain for food instead of alcohol.

Brewers in the United Kingdom used 775,000 tons of grain during the brewing year ended 30th September, 1945, and it is estimated that this year 814,000 tons will be allocated. The use of cereals by brewers is now being examined in view of the present world shortage of grain. United Kingdom distillers were licensed to use 100,000 tons of grain during the year ended 30th September, 1945, and 130,000 tons during the current year, most of which has already been processed. My right hon. Friend does not propose to make a further allocation this year, notwithstanding the fact that the quantity so licensed will only produce about three-sevenths of the prewar annual output.

asked the Minister of Food if he will distribute tomatoes, imported from the Canary Islands, through the medium of the existing allocation committees and not through . individual importers.

Subject to the tomatoes arriving in satisfactory condition, a first-hand salesmen's association will forward them under guidance from the Ministry to each area in rotation, and supplies will then be distributed by local allocation committees through the existing machinery. My right hon. Friend is hoping that it will be possible to arrange for all areas to receive supplies, but as the quantity available is uncertain he cannot guarantee that every district will, in fact, receive an allocation.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will take action to prevent the waste of green vegetables which is at present occurring on farms in the Eastern Counties; and whether he proposes to make arrangements to dehydrate any of these crops.

Some winter cabbage surplus to market requirements exists in the Eastern Counties this year. This frequently happens when weather conditions are favourable for production. The surplus will not be wasted. It will be fed to stock or used as green manure. The demand for dehydrated green vegetables is not sufficient to make it worth while dehydrating any part of this surplus.

asked the Minister of Food if he will reconsider his decision to reduce the prices of fish by 30 per cent., in view of the hardship to fishermen of the fact that the costs of replacement of gear have increased 200 to 300 per cent. above prewar prices; and is he aware that there will otherwise be no incentive to fishermen to produce this food.

My right hon. Friend has not yet made a decision on the summer maximum prices for fish but he is endeavouring to make supplies of fish as cheap as is consistent with an adequate return to the producer and the trade. He cannot accept the hon. Member's estimate of the extent of the proposed reductions or his suggestion that the proposed prices will not give any incentive to the fishermen.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will arrange for food, fruit and the other necessities to have prior claim on shipping over things that are not essential for the public health and well-being.

Existing arrangements already ensure that my right hon. Friend's shipping requirements receive priority over non-essential articles where this is necessary.

asked the Minister of Food whether, as the projected withdrawal of feeding stuffs from fowl producers will force the number of fowls to be decreased, he will make a moderate increase in the price of young chickens which have to be killed, to compensate fowl owners for their losses.

The hon. Member's suggestion will be borne in mind in connection with the present price reviews. The maximum prices for young chickens weighing not less than 1 lb. and not more than 1¾ lb. plucked, undrawn and un-trussed, are, however, already higher than for those for more mature birds.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that towards the end of the last four allocation periods there has been such a scarcity of children's sweets obtainable in the Loughborough district that children have had to forego a part of their coupons; and if he will look into the distribution of children's sweets in that area in order to ensure that suitable sweets may be obtainable towards the end of the period to which the coupons belong.

Nearly all the sweets now being_ manufactured are suitable for children. There has been no general shortage in the Loughborough district, but immediately after Christmas there was an unusually large proportion of plain block chocolate, with a corresponding scarcity of other varieties. The position has now improved and there is a greater choice of sweets available.

asked the . Minister of Food if he is undertaking any negotiations to obtain further food from Eire; and whether he will give instructions for the prices offered to be attractive to producers.

We are in continuous contact with Eire in order to secure the maximum possible supplies of food from that country and we are satisfied that the prices we pay are adequate.

asked the Minister of Food what is the average time lag between reductions of the labour force in factories due to the working off or cessation of war contracts and the reduction in food supplies for the canteens of such factories.

There should be no time lag between the two events mentioned by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Food what was the cost of the recent whaling expedition; when will he be in a position to give full details of the catch; and why the expedition was not more successful.

It is not possible to give the cost or particulars of the catch of this expedition until its operations are concluded. The comparative lack of success up to the present has been mainly due to the very bad weather which has been experienced.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an assurance that all the whale oil produced as a result of the whaling expedition this winter will be allotted for consumption in this country, in view of the recent reduction in the fats ration.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to devote all the whale oil produced by the current British whaling expedition to consumption in this country.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he is taking to popularise the herring; and what re-frigeration plants are being installed to ensure that this type of food is not wasted during the summer months.

My right hon. Friend will arrange for suitable publicity during the main herring seasons. The existing commercial plants for quick freezing at Fraserburgh, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth will again be working during 1946; the last, it is hoped, will be considerably extended before the season opens. New plant is being installed by the Herring Industry Board at Lerwick and by a commercial undertaking at Leith. I should add that the output of these plants is not sufficient to prevent waste on days of heavy landings, but that arrangements are in hand for the expansion of other forms of processing.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will examine the allocations of imported fruit in view of the fact that, whereas increased supplies were promised, supplies reaching Aberdeen were lower in January and February than at that time last year.

I am aware that supplies reaching Aberdeen during the months of January and February were somewhat lower than during the corresponding period last year. Since, however, supplies of imported fruit are not sufficient to make frequent allocations to all areas monthly comparisons are misleading. Over the year Aberdeen in common with the rest of Scotland will get rather larger allocations than the greater part of England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Food what reductions have been made since the war in Service rations; and whether there are still any items in Service women's rations which are larger in quantity than those issued to miners.

The following cuts in home Services' rations were made in November, 1945: Meat reduced by 7 oz. a week; bacon reduced by 1 oz. a week; sugar reduced by 1 oz. a week. As to the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member on 27th February.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that gas main layers, electrical linesmen and water works employees often work together under the same conditions; and will he give the reasons for the refusal to allow special rations of cheese to the gas main layers while the others are allowed this.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir," but the special cheese ration is restricted to certain well-defined categories of workers who are permanently employed under conditions which render the provision of canteen or other catering facilities for them impracticable. As regards the second part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 20th February. Inquiries are, however, being made to see whether there is any substantial number of gas main layers permanently employed in the open country who could be regarded as a well defined category for the purpose of the grant of the special cheese ration.

asked the Minister of Food the total average monthly imports of oranges from Spain for each of the last three months.

Imports of oranges from Spain during December, 1945, and January, 1946, amounted to 10,433 tons and 33,395 tons respectively. I regret that import figures for the month of February are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Food the total average monthly imports of oranges from Palestine for each of the last three months.

Imports of oranges from Palestine during December, 1945, and January, 1946, amounted to 7,745 tons and37,204 tons respectively. I regret that import figures for the month of February are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Food for what reason consumers of milk in the Welbeck colliery village, near Mansfield, were compelled to transfer their registration from a local producer-, retailer to the Mansfield and Sutton Co-operative Society, although another private dairyman was prepared to supply them.

I am informed that when Mansfield and Sutton Co-operative Society purchased the business of the only private dairyman delivering milk in the Welbeck Colliery Village there was no alternative supplier to whom the registrations of customers of the vendor could be transferred. Arrangements have now been made in conjunction with the local dairymen's association for a private trader to undertake the delivery of milk in the village in order that consumers who are not members of the Co-operative Society and who wish to obtain their milk from another source of supply may be enabled to do so.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give a list of the foods and their quantities which his Department has refused to purchase in the past six months on price grounds, with the price asked and the price offered.

My right hon. Friend is negotiating daily for the purchase of a very wide range of foodstuffs from all parts of the world and it would not be in the national interest to disclose details of the kind asked, particularly within so short a period of the negotiations. I can assure the hon. and gallant Member, however, that supplies to this country are not being restricted by unnecessary haggling about prices.

asked the Minister of Food the relation of the Combined Food Board to the Government of the United Kingdom, and give a list of the foodstuffs, supplies of which for this country are dependent on the decisions of the Board; in what way the decisions of the Board are arrived at; and on what information they are based.

I think the hon. and gallant Member will find a full answer to his question in the rather long reply which my right hon. Friend gave last Wednesday to a question by the hon. Members for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) and Devonport (Mr. Foot). I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Food on what basis he is allocating supplies of imported tinned fruits to the grocery trade; and what proportion of registered customers he anticipates will benefit from his last allocation.

Supplies of imported canned fruits have been allocated through the usual trade channels so as to give the widest possible distribution. Tinned fruit is sold on points and the question of registration does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Food what stocks of tinned fruits are at present held in the country; and what period these stocks are expected to cover.

All our stocks of tinned fruit, amounting to some 15,000 tons, have now been released for sale to the public. It is difficult to estimate how long these stocks will last as it depends upon the way in which the public spends its points.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an assurance that the quality of poultry food will be fully maintained, although the promised increase in ration is not forthcoming.

In view of the large variety of feeding stuffs fed to poultry such an assurance could not reasonably be given, but it can be stated that on the basis of anticipated supplies the feeding quality of national poultry foods manufactured under formulae prescribed by the Feeding Stuffs (Regulation of Manufacture) Order will be fully maintained.

asked the Minister of Food what reduction in food stocks held in this country has been made since December, 1945.

The reduction in Ministry owned and controlled stocks of food and feeding-stuffs between end-December, 1945, and end-February, 1946, is provisionally estimated at 650,000 tons. My hon. Friend will, I am sure, realise that stock levels are always liable to seasonal fluctuations, and it would be misleading to draw inferences from short-term changes.

asked the Minister of Food whether supplies of unsalted margarine can now be made available to consumers in Winchester.

Unsalted margarine is available to the distributive trade throughout the country. If the hon. Member will supply me with particulars of any difficulty experienced in obtaining supplies I shall be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Food whether the new. system of monthly allocations of wheat under the Combined Food Board gives effective power to the members of the Board to allocate wheat supplies between different importing countries, or leaves importing countries and U.N.R.R.A. free to compete for the purchase of supplies.

The only practical change in the present procedure of the Combined Food Board as regards the programme of shipments of wheat and flour from the four main exporting countries (Canada, the United States, Australia and Argentina) compared with the previous practice is that the programmes are now arrived at on a month to month basis instead of a six monthly period. This change was made owing to the difficulty of forecasting in advance the quantities of wheat and flour which can be made available by each exporting country over a long period. There has been no change in the procedure whereby the Cereals Committee of the Combined Food Board, on which the four main exporting countries are represented, considers the requirements of the various importing countries and recommends to the Combined Food Board how these requirements shall be met out of the total quantity which the four main exporting countries expect to have available for export. The exporting countries have regard to these recommendations in selling their wheat to the importing countries.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in consultation with the Minister of Labour, he will endeavour to secure additional shop staff for badly bombed areas like Lewisham where there are fewer food shops, so that the strain on. customers and management may be somewhat relieved and the period of daily queuing lessened.

My right hon. Friend is always glad to give what support he can in matters of this kind, and if my hon. Friend cares to bring particular cases of difficulty to his notice he will see what can be done to help.

asked the Minister of Food if he will extend the supplementary soap ration for babies beyond the present period of 12 months, in view of the fact that it is in the second year of their lives when they are at the crawling stage that their clothes need washing more frequently.

In view of the present shortage of fats, my right hon. Friend regrets that he is unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion, which would involve the expenditure of between three and four thousand additional tons of soap a year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now say what arrangements he has made to avoid the holding at the port of trade, shoe samples returned with orders from abroad; and what arrangements has he made to expedite the issue of an import licence when a sample contains only left-foot shoes.

Trade samples, whether of left-foot shoes or otherwise, are normally admitted without import licences, if the facts are established to the satisfaction of the Customs and the quantities are reasonable. In other cases, applications for import licences are considered on their merits and are dealt with as expeditiously as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the weight of exports for December, 1945, compares with that of December, 1938

Exports of coal, coke and manufactured fuel in December, 1945, amounted to 529,000 tons, compared with 2,972,000 tons in December 1938. The estimated weight of other exports was 524,000 tons last December, as against 809,000 tons in December, 1938.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement regarding the notification of the availability for disposal of the munitions factory at Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbrightshire.

This factory has recently been declared surplus to Government requirements. In its present form, it is suitable only to a limited extent for peacetime production, but the Board of Trade will endeavour to make arrangements for it to be used to the best possible advantage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a list of the business concerns in this country which are migrating to, or setting up plant in Northern Ireland.

My information is that four United Kingdom firms re building factories in Northern Ireland, six are to occupy existing privately owned premises and 10 have been allocated space in Government owned factories, including factories owned by the Government of Northern Ireland. I am sending to the hon. and gallant Member a list of the firms concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the allocation of linseed oil for incorporation in paints, varnishes and enamels for the export trade is at present only 18 per cent. of the quantity required to execute orders that are in hand.

There is a very large and expanding demand for paint for housing and other essential purposes in this country, including the painting of highly manufactured goods destined for export markets. In these circumstances, I am afraid that the special allocation of linseed oil to the export group of the paint industry, which was increased last autumn, cannot be further increased at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a special issue of clothing coupons to doctors, who must equip themselves with white coats and their dispensers with white overalls.

No, Sir. I regret that we cannot make such a concession at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make the purchase of surgical belts coupon free.

:All surgical belts less than 6 in. wide which have certain attachments or are designed for use in certain postoperative conditions are coupon-free. Other belts which cannot be thus clearly defined must in fairness be rationed because they can be worn in the place of undergarments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in consultation with the Minister of Food, he will take immediate steps to reduce the import of the non-essentials of life and thus be in a position to increase the import of essential goods and food.

I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Debate on world food shortage on 14th February last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will authorise the manufacture of children's victory mugs on the occasion of the national victory celebrations in June.

No, Sir; I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 18th February which covered this point

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, whilst supplies of timber are being made available for the mass production of furniture, the rural craftsman is unable to obtain any supplies for work other than repairs; and whether he will amend these regulations in the interests of craftsmanship.

We have designated a number of small firms in rural areas to make utility furniture and we are willing to consider applications from others able and willing to make it. In exceptional cases where individual craftsmen are doing work of high quality, we are sometimes able to arrange for them to get small supplies of timber to enable them to carry on.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why his Department will not permit manufacturers of flavouring essences to export these pro ducts by parcel post, in view of the fact that use of the parcel post for this purpose was permitted before and during the war.

A prohibition on the export of foodstuffs by parcel post has been in operation since the end of 1941 and has not been rescinded because the Government Departments concerned consider that the general foodstuffs position does not yet permit of the despatch of foodstuffs parcels from this country. Flavouring essences are regarded as foodstuffs for the purpose of this prohibition.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the Report from the North Wales Postwar Industrial Development Committee on the industrial needs and resources of the area; and whether he will make an early statement on the recommendations contained in the Report.

We have not yet received a Report from the North Wales Development Council. A letter from the secretary of the Council listing certain matters for consideration is at present under examination.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements he is making for inquiry into the present position and future possibilities of the Welsh woollen industry

The present position and future prospects of the wool industry as a. whole, including the Welsh industry, will be the subject of examination by the Wool Working Party.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what considerations an area is scheduled as a development area.

Under the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, we have to consider whether there is likely to be a special danger of unemployment in the area. The factors governing a decision to schedule cannot be fully dealt with in reply to a Question, but, in brief, the main considerations are—the prewar industrial situation in the locality, the present situation in comparison with other parts of the country, the extent and nature of industries already in the area, the developments which are expected to take place in the near future and whether scheduling as a development area would be likely to result in additional employment being made available.

asked the President of, the Board of Trade the total number of coupons allowed to workers from the South of Ireland working in this country.

Workers from the South of Ireland get, as their basic clothing ration, 10 coupons for every three months that they remain in this country. They are also entitled to claim any occupational supplementary coupons allowed to workers here in similar employment. Those who arrive with inadequate clothing for health and hygiene are allowed a small issue of extra coupons on a strict needs test.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider obtaining larger imports of tobacco from Bulgaria and Greece, especially in view of the favourable balances owed to Great Britain from those countries.

I here is only a limited market for this type of tobacco in this country, but manufacturers and merchants have every encouragement to import as much Greek tobacco as they can dispose of. As regards Bulgaria, commercial relations have not yet been resumed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether applications for patents are dealt with in chronological order of date of deposit of complete specification and the extent of the waiting period in the cases accepted in January, 1946; is he aware of the effect of undue delay on the rights of applicants to carry . their inventions to convention countries, in view of the time limit imposed in the international convention rules; and whether, until normal conditions are regained, priority can be given to applications for patents connected with trade and industry over those connected with war material.

Applications for patents on which complete specifications have been filed are dealt with in chronological order so far as the necessary grouping of subject matter permits. The average interval between the filing of a complete specification and the issue of the Examiner's report thereon was about 20 months in January, 1946.The period for claiming priority for applications filed in other countries under the International Convention begins to run from the date of application in this country. The delay in examination of the United Kingdom application does not affect such rights, but I am aware that in present circumstances the decision to file a foreign Convention application must be taken before the result of the official search is known. In this connection, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Merioneth (Squadron - Leader Emrys Roberts) on 28th January last. Agreements for extensions of the Convention priority period for wartime applications are operating in some countries, and proposals for similar extensions have been made to other countries. The proposal to give priority to applications for particular types of inventions is regarded as impracticable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the arrears of work at the Patent Office and the injurious effect on trade of undue delay: and if he will state the numbers of cases, filed with complete specifications, uncleared at 31st July, 1939, and at 31st December, 1945, respectively; the average monthly rates at which complete specifications were filed and cleared by acceptance, respectively, in the first six months of 1939 and the second six months of 1945; and the number of complete speci- fications awaiting clearance at 31st January, 1946.

I am aware of the arrears of work at the Patent Office, and would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Merioneth (Squadron-Leader Emrys Roberts) on this subject on 28th January last. The number of complete specifications awaiting examination was 6,213 on the 31st July, 1939, and 21,586 on the 31st December, 1945.The average monthly rates of filing and examination of complete specifications for the periods referred to are. as follow:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to stimulate the collection of domestic waste food by local authorities; and to secure its efficient utilisation.

The local authorities of the most important areas are under direction to collect kitchen waste and to supply it to central concentrating or boiling plants which have been established, while other local authorities are urged to collect this waste to the fullest possible extent for supply to farmers. A broadcast appeal for increased collections was made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture on 22nd February, and the question of further possible steps is under consideration.

asked the Attorney-General how many appeals have been heard at the pensions appeals tribunal in Manchester; what proportion of this number have been granted; and how these figures compare with those in other centres.

There are no separate statistics available for the Pensions Appeal Tribunals which have been sitting at Manchester, and it would not be possible to provide them except at the expense of a disproportionate amount of time and labour. I would remind my hon. Friend that there is no permanently constituted tribunal in Manchester or in any other city. The individual members of the tribunals are peripatetic: they seldom sit at one centre for more than one month at a time, and at the end of the session the composition of each tribunal is invariably changed Any comparison, therefore, between the statistics of appeals at one centre and another would be unrevealing.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air when he will give a decision respecting 1812755 A.C.2 Sutcliffe, in answer to a letter dated 3rd December, 1945, to his Department.

On 21st December I replied to the hon. Member asking him to confirm that this airman had submitted an application for compassionate release. On 18th February the hon. Member informed me that this airman had not done so hitherto but had applied in January.In a further letter of 1st March the hon. Member suggested that the airman was being victimised. The hon. Member will now have received my letter of 5th March explaining why compassionate release could not be granted and that there is no question at all of victimisation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is satisfied that civilian technical instructors to the R.A.F. are being posted to their home stations wherever possible.

That is the normal practice, but I am afraid that there are bound to be exceptions owing to large changes in the functions of R.A.F. Stations since the prewar period.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what number of airmen were trained in Bomber Command from 3rd September, 1939 until VE-Day; what were the casualties under training during this period; and what were the casualties in action.

The training figures for Bomber Command throughout the war are not immediately available but they are being obtained and I will communicate them to the hon. and gallant Member together with the other figures he requires as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many fatal accidents have occurred in R.A.F. Lancaster aircraft during February; is he in a position to make a statement as to the cause of these accidents; and what steps are being taken to safeguard our airmen's lives.

Three Lancaster aircraft of the Royal Air Force were involved in fatal accidents in February, 1946., Pending the completion of investigations I am not in a position to state the causes of the accidents. As for the last part of the Question, the hon. and gallant Member may be assured that all practical steps are taken, not only in the training of aircrews but throughout the Royal Air Force organisation generally to secure safety in the air. Accidents are most carefully investigated in order to determine whether any remedies can be applied that would lead to greater safety for the future.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the approximate area of Fordoun aerodrome in the county of Kincardine at present uncovered by buildings or runways; how much of this valuable agricultural land it is proposed to give up for agricultural operations during the present season and how soon; and whether the area which could be relinquished immediately will be increased by the ammunition at present stored on the aerodrome being moved to a less agriculturally valuable site.

About 260 acres of the land which we hold at Fordoun is free of buildings or runways. The local agricultural committee propose to raise a crop on 100 acres this year and the remainder of the land will continue to be let for sheep grazing. As the ammunition which is there is stored on runways and other hard standings it does not affect the area available for farming.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the approximate area of Edzell aerodrome in the county of Kincardine at present uncovered by buildings or runways; how much of this valuable agricultural land it is proposed to give up for agricultural operations during the present season; and how soon.

About 300 acres of the land which we hold at Edzell is free of buildings or runways. The station will remain in use for flying and so agriculture is restricted to grass mowing or drying, except for an area of 35 acres which the local agricultural committee have already selected for cultivation this year.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of R.A.F. personnel, differentiating between patients and other personnel, in Shillingford Bridge Hotel on 1st September, 1st October, 1st November, 1st December, 1st January and 1st February, respectively; the annual cost of these requisitioned premises; and if he will derequisition this property forthwith for the benefit and amenity of the general public.

Since November we have been using this hotel as part of the rehabilitation centre at Mongewell Park. The numbers accommodated there on the dates mentioned were as follows:

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air why the release of R.A.F. officers in the sub-branch, Signals, Radar, is delayed relatively to other branches of that service; and whether, in view of the fact that the need for many forms of Radar no longer exists, that officers of this sub-branch are being employed on other non-specialist duties, that many such officers have technical qualifications of use to industry; and that the rate of release of airmen in allied trades is above the general level, he will expedite the release of these officers.

The main reason for delay in release of these R.A.F. officers is the deficiency caused by the withdrawal of many officers who were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The duties of radar officers have not decreased as fast as those of other signals officers owing to the demands made by the air trooping and occupation programme, particularly in relation to the handling of aircraft safety equipment. I am not aware that radar officers are being employed on non-specialist duties but, if the hon. Member has any specific case in mind and will send me particulars, I shall be glad to look into it. The requirements of radar officers are different from those of airmen in allied trades and there are proportionately more officers than airmen in the earlier age and service groups. It is not, therefore, possible to keep the release of officers in step with that of airmen. I appreciate the need to speed up the release of radar officers and we are doing all we can to this end by training and retraining, but it takes over six months to train to the required standard.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans in Kenya are serving as African administrative assistants to district and provincial commissioners; and what steps are being taken to increase this number.

There is provision in the 1946 estimates for 18 such appointments to be made. Since the arrangement is a new departure no steps are being taken at present to increase the number.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that inconvenience and hardship is being caused to in- dividuals at home and overseas by delays in reaching decisions on the part of the Land Control Board in Kenya; and what steps he is taking in the matter.

Since its inception in January, 1945, the Board has dealt with nearly 900 applications for the transfer of land within the Highlands. Its procedure necessitates consultation with local authorities on land transactions within their district? and some cases present difficulties on which advice has to be sought from other quarters. The average time taken to deal with an application is from three to six weeks from the date of the application. As a result of experience of the operation of the Ordinance the possibility of speeding up decisions by the Board is under examination, but it is doubtful whether it will be practicable to reduce the time taken to reach decisions except in cases of special urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet in a position to make a statement about the inter-university council for higher education in the Colonies, the establishment of which was recommended by the Commission on Higher Education in the Colonies.

Yes, Sir. I have, in accordance with the Commission's recommendation, invited the universities of the United Kingdom, the University of Ceylon, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, and the Royal University of Malta, to nominate representatives to serve on a body to be known as "The Inter-University Council for Higher Education in the Colonies."All these universities have accepted the invitation and their representatives, together with my educational adviser, will meet for the first time in London, on Friday, 8th March, 1946, when the Council will be formally set up. They will have power to co-opt additional members.The members of the Council are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the calorific value of rationed food issued per week for each country in the British Commonwealth where rationing is operative or the average calorific value per week of food consumed in any countries where it is not so rationed.

I am inquiring what information can be supplied on this subject and will communicate it to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what measures have been taken, or are in contemplation, to ensure that the smaller colonies to which considerable sums are allocated under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act have a sufficient staff both in quality and quantity to carry the works into execution.

The problem raised in this Question has received very considerable attention. In the case of the West Indies, advice and assistance in connection with Colonial Development and Welfare schemes is given to the various West Indian Governments by the Comptroller for Development and Welfare, whose headquarters are in Barbados, and his technical staff. A list of this staff is given in the Civil Estimates, Class 11, Head 11, sub-head 2 (a)

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider arranging for the Ministers concerned the chairman of the T.U.C. and trade union leaders generally, together with the appropriate employers' representatives, to broadcast to the people on the importance of increased production, bearing in mind the general agreement on this subject in this House.

:I am anxious, of course, that full publicity shall be given to the need for increased production. I note my hon. Friend's suggestion but I am not sure that it would be practicable to adopt it.

asked the Prune Minister when it is anticipated that the Report of the Royal Commission on Equal Pay will be completed and published.

I am afraid that I cannot add to the reply which I gave on this subject on 29th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Mr. Morley).

asked the Chancellor of the Ducny of Lancaster why the Hungarian Fascist prisoners of war held in Austria are receiving. approximately, double the rations of Austrian civilians; and why they are not being employed on constructive work.

I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the expense to this country of the upkeep of General Anders Polish Army in Italy, he will arrange for their civilian employment so that they may maintain themselves and at the same time help the country in which they live.

The future of the Polish Army under British command has for some time been the subject of negotiations between His Majesty's Government and the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity. It is the desire of His Majesty's Government that the maximum number should return to Poland. The future of those Polish soldiers who do not wish to return to Poland is under examination.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the terms of reference of the boundary commission at present engaged in framing proposals for the delimitation of the Italo-Yugoslav border.

In accordance with the decisions of the Council of Foreign Ministers in September, the Deputies to the Council of Foreign Ministers have appointed a Commission of Experts to prepare a report and recommendations on fixing the boundary between Italy and Yugoslavia, which boundary will in the main be the ethnic line leaving a minimum population under alien rule. In carrying out its task the Commission of Experts will take into consideration not only the ethnic composition of the areas to be investigated but also their special economic and geographical features.The Deputies have instructed the Commission to study the documents concerning the boundary which have been submitted to the Council of Foreign Ministers by the Governments of Yugoslavia and Italy, as well as the views which have been submitted by other United Nations Governments in accordance with the invitations which were extended to them by the Council of Foreign Ministers. The Deputies have also instructed the Commission to proceed immediately to the area in question in order to study the ethnical composition of the population as well as the special economic and geographical features of that area.On completion of its investigations on the spot the Commission will return to London where it will prepare a final report and recommendations for submission to the Council of Foreign Ministers. The Commission of Experts will shortly arrive at Trieste and will consist of: M. Wolfram (France), M. Gerashchenko (U.S.S.R.), Mr. C. H. M. Waldock (United Kingdom) and Dr. P. E. Mosely . (U.S.A.).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to reply to a letter addressed to his Department by the hon. and gallant Member for Barnstaple, on 30th October, 1945, concerning a passage for the wife of Leading Seaman K. C. Blackman, no answer having yet been received, with the exception of an acknowledgment under reference P.S. 1102/45 dated 22nd February, 1946.

This letter was acknowledged on receipt. On 20th November I informed the hon. and gallant Member that the matter affected other Government Departments, and was under consideration. My letter of 22nd February expressed the hope that a full reply would soon be possible. The delay was due to the fact that men on regular engagements have not hitherto been entitled to free passage to this country for wives whom they married abroad; A satisfactory reply was sent to the hon. and gallant Member yesterday.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that some delay took place in implementing the permission granted by the Admiralty to P/JX 727107 Ordinary Seaman R. C. Dutton Forshaw, to apply for a commission in the Army and, seeing he has been warned for foreign service, will he instruct the Divisional Officer of Anson Division, Devonport, to await the decision of the Army authorities regarding his application before sending him out of the country.

The answer to both parts of my hon. Friend's Question is "Yes, Sir."

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the naval party Pacific Showboat, for s.s. "Menestheus," which left this country at the end of September, 1945, to entertain troops in the Far East, will in fact reach the Far East; and why it was considered necessary to stop this party from entertaining troops in Europe in order to entertain civilians in Canada.

As the completion of s.s. "Menestheus "was delayed by causes outside Admiralty control, the party which had reached Canada to join her was occupied by giving shows there to officers and men, and oeccasional charity shows to the public. S.S. "Menestheus "arrived in Tokyo Bay on 27th February, and will be there for some weeks before proceeding to Hong Kong.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is prepared to consider the question of making compassionate grants to the relatives of men who lost their lives in the submarine "Thetis."

No, Sir. The dependants of those who lost their lives have been eligible for pensions or allowances on the scales provided under the Naval Pensions Regulations or Injury Warrants, or for compensation as provided in the Workmen's Compensation Acts. Pensions and allowances from naval funds have been continuously in payment since the disaster to those entitled to compensation from the Admiralty. In addition, a considerable Fund was subscribed by the public, from which substantial additional allowances have been paid, and are still being paid.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will make a statement regarding the future of the Sea Cadet Corps.

It is intended to maintain the Sea Cadet Corps. The detailed arrangements are still under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) the list of schools from which the last batch of naval cadets, aged 13 years, were entered; distinguishing the preparatory and grant-aided schools;(2) the list of schools from which the last batch of cadets, aged 17 and 18 years, were entered for the executive, engineering and paymaster branches and the R.M.

The information required in reply to Question No. 121 is as follows:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what sort of investigation is being carried out, and by whom, into the conditions of lower- deck promotion to commissioned rank, via the sub-lieutenant scheme, and to warrant rank; when the investigations are likely to be completed and decisions taken; and whether announcements will be made in this House which can be debated.

Promotion from the lower deck through the Sub-Lieutenant scheme and the direct promotion to Lieutenant from Warrant Officer, is under consideration by an Admiralty Committee, the Chairman of which is Admiral Sir Percy Noble. The Committee is instructed to make full recommendations on the future of promotion from the lower deck generally, including the numbers to be promoted relative to Cadet entered officers. The Committee is expected to report in about month's time. The form in which the decisions are announced will be considered when the Committee's report has been examined.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that when retired officers are recalled to the active service list the period of service is not assessed for retired pay and, having regard to the fact that while on active service a retired officer receives only 25 percent. of his retired pay, if he will place the officers on the same footing as the ratings with full pension and full pay for their rank when recalled.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 6th February to the hon. and gallant Member for Stafford (Captain Swingler).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that R.M.P. in the Devonport dockyard who signed on for a 48-hour week with one day off per week, now have periodically to do fire-party duty when they are on-call for 22 hours, and are only allowed home for a two-hour lunch break each day; that they have to carry their tea, supper and breakfast for which they receive no extra rations; that they are not privileged to use the dockyard canteens even for a cup of tea; and it he will consider allowing these men to do a 24-hour on and 24-hour off duty during the week when they have to perform fire-party duties.

Yes, Sir. Firefighting duties are being performed now, as in prewar years, by Royal Marine Police in the interim period between the disbandment of the Royal Naval Fire Force and the decision on the long term policy by the Home Office. The normal tour of duty for Royal Marine Police is one of 48 hours per week, but their conditions of service provide for this to be exceeded if necessary. When performing fire-fighting duties the men receive an allowance and get two days rest at the end of their seven days fire picket duty.Arrangements exist whereby hot meals, including breakfast, luncheon and tea are provided by the Dockyard Canteen if desired These are brought from the dock-Canteen in hot containers. The object of the present tour of fire picket duty is to train as many men as possible in the shortest possible period. When this training is complete it is hoped to reduce the period of fire picket duty. This matter is at present under active consideration and any decision arrived at will be communicated to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give an assurance that all men serving in H.M.S. "Birmingham," whose Class A release is due before 18th April, will be drafted from this ship before 7th March and held in the United Kingdom until their release.

No rating in the Navy is due for Class A release specifically by 18th April, 1946. The current period extends from 25th February to 29th April, 1946. Any rating in H.M.S "Birmingham "who is due to be released in this period will be home in time, and will not be detained beyond the target date.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware that the s.s. "Banaderos"which left the Canary Islands on 21st February for London, unloaded tomatoes which were subsequently re forwarded by rail across England for reshipment to Eire; and whether he will take steps to avoid this uneconomical use of transport.

The cargo carried by the "Banaderos" amounted to some 1,300 tons, all of which was destined for London with the exception of about 270 tons of tomatoes in transit for Eire. The tomatoes, which were carried on deck, did not shut out any cargo for the United Kingdom. In the circumstances I do not regard this as an uneconomical use of transport.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he is aware that ignorance or indifference is shown by most drivers of motor vehicles concerning the duties of drivers approaching an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing and that pedestrians using them after due notice are often hooted off these crossings by fast-moving vehicles; and whether he will make an announcement reminding drivers of the law governing these crossings and encourage pedestrians to use them.

I am considering how best I can remind the public of their responsibilities in connection with pedestrian crossing places.

asked the Minister of Education why she certified as urgent the operation of the Education (Local Education Authorities) Grant Provisional Amending Regulations, dated 17th January, 1946; and why these regulations were not made earlier so that they could come into operation in the normal course;.

The decision as to the rate of grant to be paid to local education authorities on the removal of school air raid shelters had to await the conclusion of negotiations which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary was conducting with local authorities on the general question of grant for the removal of public air raid shelters. It was not possible to arrive at this decision until towards the end of last year. The Amending Regulations referred to by the hon. Member, which provide for 100 per cent. grant on the net expenditure of local education authorities for this purpose, necessarily had to have retrospective effect so as to apply to the expenditure of those authorities which had taken early action in the matter; and they were accordingly published as Provisional Amending Regulations so that they could come into operation at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the food shortage, he will expedite the release under Class B, of 1142864 Gunner G. H Mells, Doddington Camp, near Nantwich, Cheshire, details of whose case were sent to him on 12th February, and who is due to return to his unit on 7th March; and whether he will ensure that all such applications are, in present circumstances, dealt with quickly by his Department.

After local investigation of the circumstances, a recommendation has been made by my Department to the appropriate authorities for Gunner Mells release under the Class B individual specialist scheme. The answer to the last part of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that wives of officers and other ranks are permitted to join their husbands in India but not in Ceylon; and if he can give any reasons for this discrimination

It has recently been decided to add Ceylon to the list of countries to which the families of officers and other ranks may go. As in the case of the other countries in this list the facilities will be restricted to certain limited classes of families. Passages will be provided at the public expense for those families recommended by the military authorities in Ceylon who satisfy the conditions laid down. Steps are being taken to issue the necessary instructions.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the length of time demobilised men have to wait for mackintosh or overcoat; and whether supplies can be speeded up in order to allow of outer garments being issued at the same time as suits, etc

When a man cannot be fitted with his correct size from stock, it is at present from four to eight weeks before he receives it by post. Every effort has been made to increase production; the position is improving, and I hope that the present difficulties will be overcome by the end of April Meanwhile, the released soldier who cannot be fitted immediately with a civilian raincoat at the clothing centre is allowed to keep his military greatcoat on payment if he wishes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in his forthcoming Budget Statement, he will favourably consider exempting from Purchase Tax organs to be placed in churches as war memorials

The hon. Member will not expect me to anticipate my Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total sum staked in betting transactions, including football pools, during the year 1945 or any other convenient period; and whether he will consider the imposition of a tax upon betting.

I regret that the information requested in the first part of the Question is not available. As regards the second part, the experience of the 1926 Betting Duty, which had to be abandoned, certainly does not encourage a fresh venture in this field; but I will not lose sight of the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider enabling at council and municipal elections more adequate publicity to be given of the place or places at which intending candidates can deliver their nomination papers.

Information as to the time and place for the delivery of nomination papers is contained in the Notice of Election, and I have no reason to think that the statutory provisions as to the publication of this notice are insufficient.

asked the Minister of Health (1) why he refused to allow local authorities to adjust the low salaries of registrars, which have remained unaltered since 1929;(2) if he is aware that a ruling has recently been given by the Registrar-General that registrars are neither servants of the Crown, nor of local authorities; and, in view of this decision, what authority is responsible for conditions of service, etc., of registrars.

:I am aware that the Registrar-General has had legal advice to the effect that registrars are not employed by the Crown or by local authorities under a contract of service. Their conditions of service are laid down by the Registration Acts, 1836 to 1929, and by schemes made by the councils of counties and county boroughs with the Minister's approval under Section 24 of the Local Government Act, 1929. The rate of salary is fixed by the scheme and can be altered only by an amending scheme. It is considered reasonable in the circumstances that their salaries should be in line generally with those obtaining in the local government service, the review of which through the machinery of the National Joint Council has now reached a fairly advanced stage. When the details have been worked out in this latter field I shall welcome representations from central associations representing the local authorities and the registrars respectively on the question of the appropriateness or otherwise in postwar conditions of the range of basic salaries adopted for registrars in 1929.

asked the Minister of Works the number of electrical installation contractors engaged in preparing the electrical harnesses for prefabricated houses; and the number of new permanent houses upon which electrical installation contractors are at present working.

Twenty-one contractors are engaged in preparing electrical harnesses for prefabricated houses. I regret that information is not available to enable me to reply to the latter part of the Question.