asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what is the average period of delay between the application for, and the installation of, telephones for registered exporters; and if he will take steps to have these telephones installed more quickly, in order to help the export trade.

Applications for telephone service from firms who ask for priority on the ground that they are concerned in the export trade are referred to the Department of Overseas Trade and, if supported by that Department, are given priority. With such priority, service is normally provided by the Post Office within a month, except where plant is not yet available.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that surface mails and packages from this country to East Africa are taking from two to three months in delivery; and whether he will now endeavour to improve this service.

There have recently been more direct sailings, and this has resulted in some improvement in the mail service to East Africa. Every available outlet will continue to be used.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether any reduc- tions are contemplated in the present scale of charges for postage, telegrams and telephones; and when it is intended to restore the night letter telegram service.

I am not at present in a position to make any statement about charges. The restoration of the night letter telegram service will be considered when sufficient staff is available to handle the business which would be attracted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give comprehensive figures for the last 10 years, or convenient dates, of the numbers of decisions in respect of police officers submitted to him from watch committees and chief constables, respectively, indicating the numbers of decisions he has had to reverse in each case; and the number of cases in which the original hearings before the watch committee had not been properly undertaken.

The figures involved in the first part of the Question are given below. The second part of the Question raises issues of law on which I have no power to make an authoritative pronouncement. I can, however, say that in the period under review there were seven appeals from decisions by watch committees in which no shorthand note of the proceedings had been taken and one in which the note was inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of charges made at Bow Street police station each Friday and Saturday, respectively, for the last 10 weeks; and if he can explain the sudden drop in charges.

The answer to the first part of the Question is entirely statistical, the figures of which are given below. These figures do not show any fluctuations which appear to call for special explanation, and the second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of deserters from the respective armed forces of the United Nations now at large in this country.Mr. Ede: The following are the most recent available figures:

United Kingdom Forces.
Navy	3,000 *
Army	14,270
R.A.F	500
Canadian Forces	204
Forces of the U.S.A	328
Forces of other Allies	451
*This is the number of Naval deserters in all parts of the world. The number of Naval deserters at large in this country is not separately available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Appeal Tribunals, paragraph 20 of Paper P.L. 120, have been appointed; how many appeals have been referred to them and with what result.

Yes, Sir. Reference to these Tribunals is at the discretion of the Minister concerned, and it has not yet been found necessary to refer any cases.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the approximate figures or percentages of those engaged in productive and unproductive employment for the years 1900, 1912, 1938, and at the latest available date, respectively.

If the hon. Member will let me know what he means by productive and unproductive employment, I will endeavour to obtain the information.

asked the Minister of Labour the unemployment figures for t he administrative areas of Wigan, St. Helens, Leigh and Tyldesley, respectively, for the years 1932, 1933, 1934,'1935 and 1936, for men and women, respectively; the relationship of these figures to the insurable population; the proportion in the respective areas of those employed in the mining industry, the cotton industry and miscellaneous industries; and the number of industries operating in each of those areas.

The table attached shows for each of the years 1932 to 1936, in respect of men and women aged 18 and under 65 years insured against unemployment (1) the numbers recorded as unemployed at the Wigan, St. Helens, Leigh and Atherton and Tyldesley Employment Exchanges at one date in July, (2) the percentages which these numbers represented of the approximate total number of insured persons, and (3) the numbers of insured men and women in the coal mining and cotton industries and in all other industries combined. 1 regret that information as to the number of separate industries located in these areas is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the system by which the only qualification for eligibility for a resettlement grant for ex-Servicemen recognised by his Department is that a disablement pension has been granted, has created hardships; and if he will reconsider the matter with a view to enlarging the field for such grants.

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. The Resettlement Grants Scheme was designed to provide assistance, where necessary, to enable men and women who were in business or work on their own account, which they had to relinquish as a direct result of their war service, to restart their former business or resume their former occupation; and to assist persons disabled by war service to set up in business for the first time.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what arrangements exist for the technical training of Indians in industry in this country; and how many Indians have been receiving such training during each of the last six months.

I have been asked to reply. My Department, at the request of and with full co-operation from the Government of India and the Office of the High Commissioner, operates two schemes for the technical training of Indians in British industry. Under the first scheme young Indian mechanics come to this country in batches of 50 to 75 for a period of eight months training. The thirteenth batch have recently completed their training and the fourteenth batch is expected shortly. The second scheme, recently introduced, provides for the training of Indian high-grade technicians who are expected to occupy responsible managerial and technical posts on return to India. So far training under the higher scheme has been arranged for 55 trainees of whom 20 have already commenced their training. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to British industry for the valuable assistance and co-operation which it has given in operating these two training schemes. In addition to these schemes there are Government of India Technical Scholarships tenable in this country and independent arrangements are frequently made—either directly or through the Office of the High Commissioner for India —between organisations and business interests in India and similar organisations and interests in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is prepared to grant a temporary extension to remain in this country to Dr. E. J. Braun, a Czechoslovakian doctor, practising at 63, Park Road, N.8, in view of the representations which have been made to him, and in view of the fact that Dr. Braun expects ultimately to be able to go to the U.S.A.

I have granted Dr. Braun permission to extend his stay until the end of May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspectors under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, were employed during the years 1944 and 1945; what was the total amount of their salaries, expenses and other emoluments; how many visits they made to laboratories during those years; and how many irregularities or contraventions of the Act were discovered.

There were four inspectors and in the financial year 1944–5 their salaries amounted to £4,235 and their expenses to £330. They also had the use of cars from the car pool of the Women's Voluntary Services. They paid 694 visits to registered places in 1944 and 861 in 1945. Four contraventions of the Act were discovered,-all of them in 1945.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish a table showing the numbers of men and women in the three Services below Group 50, similar to that contained in columns 443 and 444 of the Official Report of nth October last.

I will circulate this information in the Official Report as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the repair of tyres would be greatly expedited if a small amount of skilled specialists could be released from the Forces; and what reply he has given to the representations made to him on 22nd November by the National Tyre Distributors Association.

As regards the first part of the Question, it is already open to employers engaged in the repair of tyres to apply through the Board of Trade for the release, in appropriate cases, of individual specialists in Class B. I am unable to trace the receipt of the representations referred to in the second part of the Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as the price of flax has been fixed at a figure which is unremunerative to farmers and spinners, he will make a grant of £500,000, from the £34,500,000 paid this year by the people of Northern Ireland into the Imperial Exchequer, to the Government of Northern Ireland to enable them to subsidise flax growers to the extent of the difference between the price fixed and £1 10s. per stone, which is the minimum price at which flax can now be produced.

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that a number of British subjects have visited Switzerland for winter sports and if he will state the regulations applicable in such cases to the conversion of sterling into Swiss francs.

His Majesty's Government have not financed such visits and do not provide Swiss francs for holidays in Switzerland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements he is making for Chinese currency to be quoted officially in Shanghai in sterling as well as in gold dollars.

The Chinese exchange race has now been decontrolled, and the present quotation for sterling is more in accord with economic realities. This will remove a serious obstacle to our trade with China. The rate published daily is the rate at which the Central Bank is prepared to give cover. I do not propose at present to take steps to arrange that this rate, which is not an official rate, should be quoted in sterling as well as in U.S. dollars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will apply the excess profits tax to the profits gained by owners who, having obtained possession of their houses by, court orders, later sell them at exorbitant prices by giving vacant possession.

. No, Sir

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider setting up a department of over seas investments to be responsible for the handling of all problems arising from our foreign investments, with a view to conserving them to the utmost extent in the national interest.

No, Sir. I do not think that this would be a useful innovation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the results of the offer to holders of 2½ percent. Conversion Loan, and 2½ percent. National War Bonds, 1945 to 1947, of conversion into 1¾ percent. Exchequer Bonds, 1950.

Yes, Sir. £175 million out of £206 million of 2½percent. Conversion Loan and £283 million out of £444 millions 2½ percent. National War Bonds 1945–47 have been converted. This conversion will reduce the interest charge for the National Debt by £3½ million a year.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why, in view of the Government's policy of keeping older men in work, H.M.S.O. have, in the last month, discharged more than 70 men over 65 years of age.

Owing to the return of demobilised men entitled to reinstatement, the Stationery Office on the warehouse side had more labour than it could usefully employ. It is earnestly hoped, however, that those who have been discharged will, in answer to the Prime Minister's appeal, take up other work.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is now in a position to announce the grant of a pension to Mr. S. Hesietine, of 77, Ripponden Road, Oldham, who has been in a serious condition without effective action for some considerable time.

As the hon. Member has been informed, Mr. Hesletine appealed to the Independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal against the decision of my Department that his disability was not caused or aggravated by service. I now understand that the case is listed for hearing by the Tribunal in the week commencing 25th March.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many pensioners married more than 10 years after the granting of the original pension; and how much more it would cost to give a wife's allowance to all married pensioners irrespective of the date of the marriage.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will give an estimate of the additional annual cost involved if the regulation is removed which restricts payment of a wife's allowance only to those pensioners who marry within 10 years of their war service.

I do not know the actual number of pensioners who have married or may marry more than 10 years after the end of their war service. So far, however, as can be judged the annual cost of removing the 10 years restriction would be of the order of £500,000 immediately and perhaps £750,000 in 10 to 15 years' time.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of Service personnel who have been discharged from the Forces since January, 1940, suffering from schizophrenia; how many of these are in receipt of disability pension; how many have been admitted to mental hospitals, and how many of these have been discharged as cured.

In the records of my Department cases of schizophrenia are grouped with others of a general psychotic nature and I regret that I am unable to furnish the information asked for.

asked the Minister of Pensions what would be the cost to the Treasury if the principle of Fit for Service Fit for Pension was recognised; and what would be the cost if the benefit of the doubt were allowed to the applicant.

No reliable estimate can be made of the cost of accepting the principle of Fit for Service, Fit for Pension, but it would be very substantial. With regard to the second part of the Question, the benefit of any reasonable doubt is already given to an applicant for pension.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of new type motor propelled tricycles supplied at State cost to legless war pensioners; the present monthly rate of production; the numbers of legless pensioners still on the waiting list for such tricycles; and the present time lag between authorisation of issue of tricycles and date of delivery.

The preliminary work of perfecting the new motor propelled tricycles and putting them through all practical tests has been completed and contracts have been placed for quantity production. New machines should be available in small numbers by the beginning of April. Thereafter production should steadily improve. There are about 130 pensioners, including legless, on the waiting list, but for some of them specially built machines of another type are on order and should be delivered shortly. The time lag between authorisation and delivery of tricycles specially adapted to take motors varies considerably, but the period has been reduced during recent months by about one-half. When full production of the new machines is achieved, the period between authorisation and delivery should be a matter of only two or three weeks.

asked the Minister of Health how many men were employed on 1st March, or the nearest available date, in the erection of permanent houses in the London area; and if he will state the number employed on 1st March, 1939.

On 8th February, 1946, 6,500 men were employed in the London Region on the erection of permanent houses and 4,300 on the clearance and preparation of sites. I regret that no records are available of the number so employed on 1st March, 1939.

asked the Minister of Health whether, with regard to the 16,162 tenders for houses accepted for. the large towns and cities, and the 3,196 tenders for the L.C.C. and Metropolitan boroughs, he will state the average tender price per house, exclusive of land, roads and services.

I regret that the figures of cost have not yet been analysed in the form asked for by the hon. and gallant Member, but I will let him have them shortly.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the request by certain local councillors, who are officers of the co- operative society, to be able to vote on tenders to which the society is a party; and what action he has taken in this case.

In the absence of further information I cannot identify the particular case the hon. Member has in mind, but the general position is governed by Section 76 of the Local Government Act, 1933.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the urban and rural district councils in the north-east are anxious about the future of the North Eastern Housing Association; and if he will state the Government's policy on this matter and remove such anxiety

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friends the Members for Sunderland (Mr. F. Willey) and Tynemouth (Miss Colman) on 28th February of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health what was the result of the public inquiry held at Langley Moor on 29th August into the application of the Brandon Urban Council for compulsory powers to purchase 15 acres of land west of Carrs Avenue, Brandon, for completing a neighbourhood unit in conformity with town and country planning requirements and to meet the housing needs of the district; what is the inspector's valuation of the site; and what was the previous valuation for rating purposes

. The decision on the proposal to acquire this site, which owing to instability cannot be used for a number of years, has been deferred pending clearance for housing of a much larger adjoining site, which is under consideration. No valuation has yet been given of the site, which is agricultural land and, therefore, not rated.

asked the Minister of Health how many new houses have been built in the Isle of Wight in the six months ended 28th February, 1946.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built or building within the Ruislip and Northwood urban district area, by private enterprise for sale and by local authority to let, respectively.

The information is contained in Appendix B to the Housing Return, which is now in the possession of Members.

asked the Minister of Health the average price paid per house exclusive of land, roads and services for the eight houses built up to 31st January, 1946, in the L.C.C. and Metropolitan boroughs; the 305 houses built up to 31st January, 1946, in large towns and cities; and whether he will state the original average tender price for those houses.

It is not possible as yet to state the average price paid per house for these houses as they form part of contracts which are still in course of completion.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the figures relating to temporary housing in the county borough of Kingston-upon-Hull, as given on page 7 of Appendix B to the Housing Return for England and Wales, on 31st January 1946, under the columns headed Under construction including slabbing, and Completed, should read 1,015 and 656 instead of 478 and 66, respectively; and if he will have the necessary correction made.

I regret that the figure quoted in respect of houses completed was a printer's error and should according to my information have read "668."As this is slightly different from the figure given by my hon. Friend I will have it checked with the local authority. The number of houses under construction, including sites under slabbing but excluding houses completed, is 478 as stated in the Return.,

asked the Minister of Health if he will allow small builders in country towns and villages to undertake bomb damage and other urgent repairs by using their existing labour, stocks and utilisable material from damaged buildings without filling up forms for licences and permits.

War damage and other repairs can already be carried out by private builders without licence where the cost does not exceed £10. I am not prepared to recommend any extension of this limit at the present time in view of the imperative need to conserve building resources for essential work, which of course includes necessary war damage repairs to houses. A builder who has labour or materials available may use them without any special authorisation so long as a building licence, if required, has been obtained, with the exception that timber and large quantities of cast-iron and steel remain controlled and cannot be used without a permit.

asked the Minister of Health if he will provide Members who desire it with copies of the questionnaire and forms P.1 and P.2, issued recently to local authorities in connection with his Department's housing census.

I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the fact that there are copies of the questionnaire, Forms P.I and P.2 and the covering circulars to the local authorities in the Library of the House. I am sending six more copies of each to the Library for the convenience of Members.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider giving local authorities power to require the registration of all vacant housing accommodation, in order that effective use may be made of the lists of overcrowded or badly-housed people in their areas.

Local authorities generally have reliable information about unoccupied houses and I do not think that arrangements for compulsory registration are necessary.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take immediate steps to prevent the closing of day nurseries in several towns in Lancashire, having regard to the effect that this will have on the recruitment of women for the cotton industry.

The Government is urging local authorities to maintain a nursery service adequate to the industrial and other needs of their areas, and is offering a special Exchequer grant towards the cost. Where an authority propose to close a substantial proportion of existing nurseries or. 31st March, I am making sure that they have taken into account all relevant considerations, including the advice of the Ministry of Labour, but I have no power to compel them to keep the nurseries open.

asked the Minister of Health if he intends to include the voluntary hospitals in his legislative proposals for nationalising the medical profession; and if he will make their position clear so as to enable these hospitals to make plans for the future.

The Government's proposals for a National Health Service will be submitted to the House as soon as possible. I do not think that I ought to anticipate them in any way at this stage.

asked the Minister of Health whether the R.A.M.C. officer at Hampstead, who gave his wife and daughter smallpox infection, had been vaccinated; whether the R.A.M.C. sick- berth attendant who infected his nephew with smallpox at Grays had been vaccinated; and whether the three cases of infection which developed from these two members of the R.A.M.C. were vaccinated persons.

I understand that all the persons mentioned had been vaccinated at some time, although the dates of last vaccination varied considerably—as did the severity of the attacks.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give an assurance that the passengers on board the s.s. "Empress of India "were in formed that vaccination of smallpox contacts is a voluntary matter, and can be accepted or rejected by the passengers as they think fit.

I assume the ship referred to is the "Empress of Australia." I am informed that vaccination of contacts was carried out at Suez, and I have no information on the point put by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of smallpox have been landed in the Mersey from a ship arriving from India; how many of the crew developed smallpox and were put ashore at Suez; and what was the vaccinal condition of the cases of smallpox that developed in this ship.

I assume the ship referred to is the "Empress of Australia." I am informed that one case of smallpox (a member of the crew) was landed at Liverpool on 18th February, 1946; no member of the crew developed smallpox and was put ashore at Suez, but two cases and one suspected case (not members of the crew) were landed there. I have no information as to the vaccinal condition of the patients landed at Suez, but I am informed that the patient landed at Liverpool was vaccinated in infancy, and had been revaccinated several times during the war but without the vaccination taking.

asked the Minister 0f Health whether he is aware that the report of the Teviot Committee on Dentistry, which recommends legislation to outlaw dental mechanics working on their own account direct to the public, was reached without hearing evidence from the dental mechanics concerned; and whether, before acting on the recommendations of the Teviot Committee, he will give these mechanics the opportunity of stating their case to his department.

I have received representations from the Denture Service Association on this subject and I am arranging an opportunity for them to state their case to my Department.

asked the Minister of Health who is responsible for the engagement of superintendent registrars, and registrars of births, marriages and deaths; and for payment of salaries and fixing conditions of service.

Appointments and payments are made by the councils of counties, county boroughs and metropolitan boroughs. Conditions of service are laid down in the Registration Acts and Regulations and in administrative schemes made by the councils with my approval under the Local Government Act, 1929.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider amending the Rating and Valuation (Apportionment) Act, 1928, so that hencefor- ward all industrial undertakings shall bear their proper share of rates

I would refer my hon Friend to the answer given on 5th March to my hon Friend the Member for Luton (Mr. Warbey), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that the Durham County Education Committee recently advertised for two central kitchen super visors, one at Eldon and one at Bishop Auckland; that there is a feeling among men returned from the Services that preference is given to women applicants; and will she take action to remove this feeling and see that men fully qualified shall have equal opportunity to obtain some of these posts.

My right hon. Friend has no information on the first and second parts of the Question beyond that accompanying the hon. Member's letter of 26th February Authorities are free to advertise vacancies for school meals staff without reference to my Department. With regard to the third part of the Question, the general experience of authorities is that, for this canteen service for children, the training and" experience normally offered by women applicants are more appropriate than those offered by men and my right hon. Friend would not be prepared to interfere with the discretion of the Durham County Authority on this point.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will give an assurance that the same facilities will be given this year as last to schoolchildren who volunteer to help in the harvesting of the potato crop.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware that Mrs. V. G. Newton has been asked to resign her position as head mistress of the Ford Endowed School, Dagenham, after 4½ years in that posi- tion and has not been asked to apply for the permanent post; what is her policy with regard to sex discrimination in education; and if she will make that policy widely known amongst local education authorities.

I understand that the appointment of Mrs. Newton was on a temporary wartime basis. In 1945 the post was advertised by the local education authority, no restrictions as to sex being made in the advertisement. Id general, my right hon. Friend would strongly deprecate discrimination on grounds of sex, but it will be appreciated that sex may be an element in considering the suitability of a candidate for a particular post. I am satisfied that this principle is known and observed by local education authorities.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware of the widespread opposition in Caernarvonshire to the proposed closing of a number of village schools in the county; and whether she will intervene in the matter.

My right hon. Friend is not aware of the proposals to which the hon. Member refers, and assumes that they are still under consideration by the local education authority in preparing their development plan. Apart from any action which may be taken on the plan under Section 11 of the Education Act, 1944, any proposals by the local education authority to discontinue the maintenance of existing primary schools will necessitate the publication of notices under Section 13 of the Act, and at that stage each case will receive careful consideration by the Ministry before approval is given.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware of the anxiety and hardship caused to students at the Emergency Teacher Training Centre at Wrexham by the long delay in the payment of maintenance grants to such students; and what steps she proposes to take in the matter.

These grants were paid on 25th February

asked the Minister of Education when Ow. E. Wattling, of Penarth, attending the University College, Cardiff, may expect to receive the grant awarded to ex-Service students, in view of the delay that has already taken place.

No application from Mr. Wattling for an award under the Further Education and Training Scheme can be traced in my Department. If Mr. Wattling desires to apply, he should make his application in the first instance to the Regional Appointments Office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service in Cardiff.

asked the Minister of War Transport if, in view of the need for conductors, he will take steps to amend the present height limit of applicants from 5ft. 10ins. to 6ft.; or if he will give the present restriction imposed by the L.P.T.B. full publicity in order to avoid fruitless applications on the part of ex-Servicemen.

The London Passenger Transport Board inform me that the maximum height for their conductors has been limited to 5ft. 10ins. because the clearance inside a bus from floor to roof is 5ft. 10ins. On the top deck the clearance is only 5ft. 8ins. The employment exchanges of the Ministry of Labour have been advised of the restriction and the Board are arranging to issue an appropriate notice to the Press.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he will take steps to see that all future traffic signals are placed about 20 yards back from the corners in order to increase road safety.

Experience has shown that, to avoid delays and the possibility of accidents occurring in changing the right of way from one road to another, the distance to be covered by vehicles from the stop line to the far side of the junction should be as small as is reasonably possible. I do not think, therefore, that my hon. Friend's suggestion would increase road safety

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he proposes to bring in any further legislation to control the action of pedestrians on the roadways, with a view to reducing the present high accident rate.

In their Interim Report the Committee on Road Safety proposed that certain experiments should be carried out, when traffic conditions are normal, to ascertain the efficacy of various methods of segregating pedestrians from vehicular traffic in the interests of safety. I have accepted the Committee's recommendation and the experiments will be made at the appropriate time. Until I have the results before me I cannot decide whether further legislation will be required.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to passengers by the fact that the longest period return ticket now offered by the railway companies is a monthly return, and when the companies propose to re-institute the three-monthly return ticket which was available before the war.

Passengers desiring to postpone their return for longer than one month may purchase ordinary return tickets available for three months. The issue of cheap return tickets available for more than one month at less than the cost of two single fares was suspended during the war, in common with other cheap fare facilities. As I stated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend, the Member for Enfield (Mr. Ernest Davies) on 28th January, I propose to review the whole question of cheap fare facilities at Easter-time.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give a list of the busines men who assisted in his Department in wartime who are no longer with the Department; the post each held; and the qualifications of the present holders of such posts.

Business men have served in all parts of the Ministry and in every rank, and the labour of compiling the information for which the hon. Member asks would entail so much additional work for a staff already fully engaged in important duties that I do not feel justified in asking for it.

asked the Minister of Food the total quantity of ground nuts imported from India and West Africa, respectively, during the past nine months, compared with the previous nine months.

The movement of ground nuts is seasonal so that it is desirable to compare tonnages for corresponding parts of successive seasons. My right hon. Friend's imports of ground nuts during the months May 1945, to January, 1946 were:125,349 tons from India and 55–937 tons from British West Africa.During the period from May, 1944, to January, 1945, imports amounted to:171,060 tons from India and 82,846 tons from British West Africa.

asked the Minister of' Food the total membership of the British -Food Mission to the U.S.A. on 1st January, 1945, and on 1st January, 1946.

The total membership of the British Food Mission in U.S.A. on 1st January, 1945, was 51, and on 1st January, 1946, 47. These figures include clerks' and messengers, etc., locally recruited.

asked the Minister of Food if he will allow old. people who prefer it to take an extra ration of sugar in place of their sweet ration.

I regret that my right hon. Friend cannot see his way to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that certain foods, notably raisins, are going bad in the shops because housewives consider they are too highly rated at their present points value; and what action he proposes to take to rectify this.

I have no reason to think that any points foods are going bad in retail shops because they are considered by housewives to be too highly rated at their present points value. The last release of raisins was made in January at a points value of four per lb. and they should be in satisfactory condition. If the hon. and gallant Member has any reliable information to the contrary I should be glad if he would communicate with me.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give a schedule of the current prices of wheat in the chief producing countries of the world; and indicate which are free market prices, and which are prices dictated by Governments.

The tour countries which at the present time provide any significant quantity of wheat for export are Canada, United States of America, Australia and Argentina. The latest f.o.b. price per long ton from each of these sources is as follows: Canada, £14 15s., U.S.A. £18 12s., Australia £15, Argentina £14; in all four countries the level of export prices for wheat is influenced by Government arrangements for supporting the price paid to the producer.

asked the Minister of Food whether, so as to enable English canners to make plans and preparations for the coming season in connection with the supply of a larger quantity of all varieties of fruit for next season, he will take steps to clear out the present stocks, to enable the factories to prepare for cans and supplies of fruit for the future.

Yes, Sir. I have already taken steps to clear the stocks of canned fruits and if storage difficulties exist I shall be pleased to have them investigated.

asked the Minister of Food if the Combined Food Board has any information of the amount of maize burned as fuel in the Argentine; and what steps he is taking to import the maize.

I understand that recent reports indicate that no maize has been sold for use as fuel in the Argentine during the past three months. As regards the second part of the Question, my Department is buying maize in the Argentine as opportunity offers, bearing in mind that, during the present shortage of wheat, preference must be given to the supply of maize for direct human consumption particularly in those countries such as South Africa, where it is a staple foodstuff.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will now give an indication of when he intends to withdraw the facilities which were given during the war for the use of spring traps to catch rabbits in the country; and whether, in view of the unnecessary cruelty caused thereby and the availability of alternative means of destroying rabbits, he will take early action in the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the nature of the orders issued by his Department modifying Section 5 of the Prevention of Damage by Rabbits and Hares Act, 1939; and whether, in view of the damage to dogs and other animals from spring traps, he will now revoke all such orders made.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 4th February, 1946; Vol. 418, c. 1376], supplied the following Statement:Instruction have now been issued in the following terms to County War Agricultural Executive Committees regarding the conditions which henceforth must be imposed on the issue of permits to set traps in the open:

asked the Secretary of State for War when he means to derequisition the house on the Castle Milk Estates, Lockerbie, which was requisitioned as P.S.I quarters, and has been standing vacant for a considerable time.

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to Dryseholm. Steps have already been taken in accordance with the normal procedure to inform other Government Departments that this house is no longer required for military purposes. Provided it is not required by any other Department, it will be derequisitioned.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will inquire into the position of specialist medical officers serving in West Africa, examples of whose dissatisfaction have been furnished to him, because they are at present employed, not as specialists, but on general duties, largely administrative, and in numbers that are redundant; and if he will rectify this position.

Because of the scattered nature of the West African Command, the great distances involved and poor communications it is impossible to secure the same concentration of specialist facilities as is possible in a more compact command. In order to ensure that the services of specialists are always readily available it is necessary to maintain an adequate specialist establishment at a number of different centres. This means that some specialists will not always be employed full time on specialist duties and in such cases a specialist is required to undertake a share of general medical duty.I am making inquiries into the three cases referred to in the correspondence sent to me by the hon. Member and I will ensure that any specialist who is being employed whole time on general duties is either repatriated to the United Kingdom for release or transferred to another command where he can be employed in his speciality.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of careless driving by a soldier near Sevenoaks on 3rd December, 1945, which resulted in severe injuries to a civilian; whether he is aware that the driver had had no driving test and held no Army driving permit; and if he will issue strict instructions to prevent a recurrence of such dangerous driving by untrained men in the future.

Although the soldier concerned was under training as a driver, he had not passed a driving test and did not possess a driving licence. I regret to say that these facts were overlooked when he was detailed to drive on the occasion in question. It is clearly laid down in the orders on this subject that all drivers of Army vehicles must be in possession of a War Department driving permit unless they possess a current civilian driving licence. Except in the case of those issued with a provisional driving permit, who must always be accompanied by a qualified driver, the issue of a driving permit is only made after the man has passed a qualifying test or has previously qualified to hold a civilian licence. These instructions are drawn to the attention of all concerned at frequent intervals, and the unit concerned is fully aware of them.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Minchinhampton Commons Committee offered to purchase certain of the buildings forming part of the redundant camp on the common, and that after their offer had been acknowledged by the War Department Land Agents the huts were roughly and partially demolished and the committee were then invited to discuss buying the wreckage; and if he will take steps both to avoid such waste of public money in the future and to restore the beauty and amenities of this place

I understand that these huts were on land which, although it is the property of the Minchinhampton Commons Committee, is leased to a golf club. When a request. was received from the commons committee to purchase the huts the committee was informed that, in the first instance, sale would naturally be negotiated with the lessees, the golf club. It was, however, suggested that the committee might approach the golf club with a view to arranging the purchase of the huts on behalf of the committee.In the absence of any further approach from the committee or the golf club and as the huts denied access to a portion of the common, a fact which was understood to be causing inconvenience to the local population, steps were taken to dismantle and store them. My information is that the dismantled portions of the hutting were at no time offered to the commons committee. As the huts have been returned to store there appears to have been no waste of public money Reinstatement of the land is a matter for compensation under the terms of the Compensation (Defence) Act.

asked the Secretary of State for War if 14676241 Private R. V. Pead, Misken Manor Convalescent Hospital, Pontyclun, will now be released on compassionate grounds in accordance with the letter sent to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South, on 20th December last.

As my hon. Friend is aware, authority was given for this soldier's indefinite release on compassionate grounds in December. It was not, however, possible to carry out his release for some time as he was in hospital. He is now fit for discharge from hospital and steps are therefore being taken to release him under Class C.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered the suggestion from the United States Government that an interim Spanish Government be established to re place that of General Franco; and whether he has any statement to make.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to other Questions on this subject on Monday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is in a position to make a statement on European land policy in Kenya and on white settlement in that colony.

Yes, Sir. The attitude of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to European settlement in Kenya was made clear in Kenya Sessional Paper No. 8 of 1945 on Land Utilisation and Settlement, published last November. The text of this paper had the full approval of my right hon. Friend, who had discussed the questions involved with the Governor of Kenya during his visit to this country last year. The paper recorded my right hon. Friend's approval for an important scheme for further European settlement as part of a comprehensive programme for the fuller and better use of the land in Kenya by all races. Paragraph 6 of the paper stated that the European settlement scheme

" is based on the recognition of the important contribution which the European settler community can make both to the Colony's prosperity and. to the development and welfare of the African population."

In spite of this authoritative statement it appears from recent Press reports that there is a serious misunderstanding of the attitude of His Majesty's Government in certain quarters in Kenya. I therefore wish to make it clear that my right hon. Friend fully recognises the value of European settlement to Kenya; and that he appreciates the important part which the European community has contributed to bringing the country to its present stage of development and the important part which it will play in developing it further. My right hon. Friend is convinced that if the Kenya Government is successfully to carry out the pressingly urgent tasks, on which it is at present engaged, of rehabilitating and developing the African land units and raising the standard of living of the African population, it can only do so with the assistance not only of the Africans themselves, but also of the European settler community. He believes in fact that European settlement must be viewed as an integral part of Kenya's development as a whol