asked the Undersecretary of State for India what is the present tea ration issued to British troops in India; when was it reduced; and what was it before it was reduced.

The present tea ration is ½oz. per day. It was reduced on nth November, 1945; the previous ration being ⅝oz. per day.

Would my hon. and learned Friend consider restoring the cut in the tea ration as there is no shortage of tea in India at all, and the Viceroy specifically excluded tea from a list of goods that cannot be sent abroad?

I am advised that the reduction was made as part of a general cut in rations owing to the acute world shortage of food supplies and the necessity for an equitable distribution of supplies as between the defence services and the civil population. I am afraid I cannot hold out any hope of restoration.

Is there not something seriously wrong with the local supply authority that they cannot make this local vegetable available in sufficient quantity to the troops in India?

All I can say is that this decision has been taken after very careful consideration.

Does not my hon. and learned Friend realise that there is no shortage of tea in India, and that this is absolute nonsense?

I think the Government of India are better judges of that than we are.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any statement to make about the conduct of the police in Bombay during the recent disturbances.

My Noble Friend has now received reports from the Viceroy and the Governor of Bombay to the effect that the Bombay City Police behaved with restraint, discipline and courage throughout the disturbances. They had difficult situations to deal with occurring in many parts of the city simultaneously, they had to spend very long periods without relief and were often cut off by large riotous mobs. They suffered 100 casualties, including three killed. The Viceroy has already congratulated them on their behaviour and the House will no doubt wish His Majesty's Government to associate itself with his commendation.

I thank the hon. and learned Member for that very satisfactory answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by whom the Polish Peasant Party, P.S.L., is now represented in the Polish Praesidium.

The vacancy caused by the death of M. Witos has not been filled and the Polish Peasant Party is therefore not represented in the Polish Praesidium.

Since M. Witos died several months ago, is not the failure of the Provisional Government to allow the Polish Peasant Party another member to replace him a direct and deliberate violation of the terms by which they were recognised? If this is the case, what protest have His Majesty's Government made?

His Majesty's Government consider that until free and unfettered elections are held the balance agreed upon at Moscow should be maintained in the Polish Government.

Was not the broadening of the basis of the Government one of the indispensable terms by which they were recognised?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the campaign of abuse and threats now being carried on against M. Mikolajczyk by government spokesmen in Poland on account of his refusal to agree to a bloc at the forth coming elections and, in view of the many other disquieting signs of the lack of political tolerance in Poland, he will re consider his decision not to initiate arrangements for an International Commission or body of foreign observers to go to Poland to advise and assist the Provisional Government in the conduct of the forthcoming elections.

On the subject of an international commission I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. and gallant Member on 20th February. I would, however, take this opportunity of correcting what appears to be a slight inaccuracy in the hon. and gallant Member's Question. According to my information M. Mikolajczyk has not refused to agree unreservedly to the proposal for a single bloc. The recent discussions between the parties broke down on the question of the relative proportions in which the various political parties should participate in such a bloc.

Has the attention of the hon. Gentleman been called to the threats against M. Mikolajczyk broadcast from the Warsaw radio? Will he ensure that M. Mikolajczyk be given an opportunity of replying.

Does the Minister consider that the bloc system of elections is one in accordance with democratic principle?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the Yalta Agreement whereby it was agreed to take steps to ensure that free and unfettered elections should be held in Poland, he will state the reason for the continuing delay in holding these elections; and whether he proposes to make any representations to the Soviet Government and the Polish authorities in this connection.

His Majesty's Ambassador at Warsaw has already been instructed to inquire whether the Polish Provisional Government are now in a position to fix the date of the elections. The Polish Provisional Government has been reminded that in his conversations with my right hon. Friend at Potsdam, M. Bierut stated that he hoped that it would be possible to hold the elections in the spring of this year.

:Can the hon. Gentleman give the date when this action was taken by His Majesty's Government?

:Icould not say.

:How is it proposed to hold free and unfettered elections in view of the statement by His Majesty's Ambassador that there is no freedom of the Press in Poland?

We have already made representations on the score of censorship in that country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received any official communication from the Polish Provisional Government on the subject of the trial of 23 Polish officers alleged to be in possession of British identity papers, which is now in progress in Warsaw; and how many witnesses for the defence have been allowed to proceed either from this country or from the Polish Army in Italy to give evidence.

No communication has been received from the Polish Provisional Government on this subject. No witnesses from the Polish armed forces under British command have been asked for and none have proceeded to Poland.

Is the House to understand that these officers under British command have neither their own counsel for defence nor have they been able to call witnesses for the defence? If this is the case, is not the whole trial a travesty of justice?

My hon. and gallant Friend asked if any communication had been received, and the answer is "No."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any statement to make on our relations with the Spanish Government; if he will call for a report from our ambassador on the Spanish troop movements in the neighbourhood of the French frontier; and if he has had any communication with the French Government on this subject.

As regards the first part of the Question I have nothing to add to the recent replies on the subject given by my right hon. Friend. As regards the second part of the Question, The Military Attache in Madrid has reported that reinforcements have in fact recently been despatched to the Pyrenees frontier. No communication on this subject has been received from the French Government, but I am having inquiries made.

In view of the serious situation in Spain, can we have assurances that it will be kept under close review?

Yes, Sir.

Has the Minister any information from our Ambassador in Spain on the reactions of the Spanish people to the representations which have been made to General Franco, and to the statement made by the Allied Powers? Does any of this information —if he has any—confirm that the demarche is in fact having the effect of consolidating support in favour of General Franco?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the imminent danger of the execution of the Spanish Republican leaders Alvarez and Zapirain; and whether he will make representations in an endeavour to prevent this.

I am glad to be able to say that I have no reason to believe that these two men are in imminent danger of execution. They have not yet been tried. His Majesty's Ambassador in Madrid, however, has been instructed to watch the matter closely and is keeping my right hon. Friend fully informed.

Might I ask what concern it is of ours? Is this not an internal matter for Spain?

His Majesty's Government is a signatory to the Charter of the United Nations where we promised that we will not allow matters of creed or politics to interfere in the treatment of citizens.

What about affairs in Poland and the interference of Russia in that country?

His Majesty's Government have at all times been quite outspoken in their attitude towards Poland in these matters.

asked the Minister of War Transport what steps he is taking to enable elderly and infirm persons to cross the road in built-up areas with reasonable safety.

It should be the responsibility of all road users to take special care when elderly or infirm persons are crossing the road. In built-up areas they should, of course, use pedestrian crossing places wherever these are provided.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether that answer means that these people have a priority of crossing at pedestrian crossings?

asked the Minister of War Transport if considera tion has been given to complaints of in adequate omnibus services between Much Wenlock and Ironbridge and between Much Wenlock, Broseley and Bridgnorth and to requests made that such services shall be improved at an early date; and what steps he has taken to remedy these complaints.

I am informed that the omnibus operator concerned will shortly be submitting proposals for the improvement of these services to the Regional Transport Commissioner.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is now in a position to state the policy of the Government with regard to the construction of a system of motorways in this country; and whether the proposal to construct experimental lengths of such motorways is likely to be carried out in the near future.

Pending the passage ot legislation, there is no power to construct motorways.

asked the Minister ot War Transport if he will consider making a statement indicating what prospects motorcoach proprietors, who had their vehicles requisitioned by his Department, have of getting their own or alternative vehicles provided for them.

Very few requisitioned motorcoaches are at present becoming available for sale and, generally speaking, persons desiring to buy motorcoaches must look to new production.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the dump in Regents Park?

No, Sir. That is not my responsibility.

asked the Minister of War Transport how many surplus Service vehicles have been offered for sale to the public since VJ-Day; and what is the procedure by which such vehicles may be acquired for commercial use.

Between VJ-Day and 11th February, 1946, when my Department's control over the sale of surplus Government goods vehicles came to an end, the manufacturers advised me of 1,553 such vehicles as available for sale to the public. From VJ-Day to date the number of surplus motor cars so notified was 688. Surplus goods vehicles may be purchased direct from the manufacturers' main agents; surplus motor cars can only be obtained against a certificate to purchase issued by my Department.

Will the right hon. Gentleman get in touch with the Service chiefs, because there are on these dumps a great many vehicles which could still be made available commercially?

I will certainly take note of that.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that Service vehicles from other Departments, which normally ought to be under his control, do, in fact, come under his control?

Questions on those lines should be addressed elsewhere.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware of the need for a bridge over the River Yare between Norwich and Great Yarmouth; and if, pending the construction of a permanent bridge, he will encourage and assist the local authorities concerned to provide a crossing by means of a Bailey bridge.

No representations have hitherto been made to me concerning any crossing of the River Yare between Norwich and Great Yarmouth. The matter is primarily the concern of the local highway authority and I am prepared to consider any proposal which that authority may make.

asked the Minister of War Transport when he will reinstall traffic lights in Chiswick High Road at Gunnersbury Station.

As soon as negotiations at present in hand with the police and L.P.T.B. are completed, the signals will be reinstituted.

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him how long these negotiations will take, because there is great local pressure about these traffic lights, and that particular piece of road is very dangerous at the moment? I myself know it quite well.

I will hurry them up as rapidly as possible.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether the Government have yet accepted the unanimous recommendations of the Cooper Committee regarding the harbour and port authorities on the river Clyde; and when legislation may be expected in view of the urgency of the matter.

asked the Minister of War Transport when steps are to be taken to implement the major recommendations in the Report of the Committee on the Clyde Estuary, presided over by the Lord justice Clerk, especially in so far as these recommendations relate to the unification of the large number of authorities presently responsible for dock, harbour and pilotage control on the river Clyde.

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, North (Mr. Willis) on 11th February.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware that the British refrigerator ship, ss. "Thorland," has now been repaired; and does he now intend to use her for the carriage of essential food which is urgently required.

When this ship is ready for service, her employment will be subject to the same form of control by licence as all other United Kingdom ships. My Department awaits information from the owners, whose duty it is to inform this Department when the ship will be ready for service with all relevant information as to the employment for which she is capable, in order that suitable employment may be arranged. My present information as to the state of readiness of the ship does not tally with the hon. Member's.

Will the Minister accept my assurance that I have had a cablegram within the last few days stating that this vessel is ready? Will he bear in mind that she has remained idle since liberation day, and does he consider that the food position warrants his Department waiting any longer?

We are very anxious to get every available ship into commission, and if the hon. Gentleman will send me further information I will have it examined.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is now able to reveal the result of his inquiries with the War Shipping Administration as to the availability of C2 Reefer type U.S. refrigerator ships for essential British use.

A few United States refrigerated ships are being released from military service in the Pacific and the War Shipping Administration are endeavouring to arrange for certain of them to be available when released for loadings from New Zealand to the United Kingdom. All countries are suffering from a shortage of refrigerated tonnage, and the hon. Member would be wrong to assume that we can expect any substantial addition to the refrigerated space available to us from foreign sources.

Will the Minister accept my assurance that I have seen the head of the United States Shipping Administration in this country, who states that we can get the 10 ships which the Food Minister so urgently needs if a strong minute is sent out to that effect?

I am afraid I cannot accept the hon. Gentleman's assurance, but I am always prepared to accept any suggestion he may submit to me

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he has considered representations from the Graves-end Borough Council and the Northfleet Urban District Council, respecting the ferry service between Gravesend and Til-bury; and whether, in view of the unanimous request of all local authorities and representatives, he will arrange for a public inquirv to be held into the lack of facilities.

Yes, Sir, and for the reasons I gave to the two Councils in January, I see no need for a special inquiry. In any general investigation into the ferry services of this country which may be undertaken, the adequacy of this service will, of course be taken into account.

Is the Minister aware that, apart from the adequacy of the service, in this particular ferry service the question of public safety is, involved, and could we no have some public inquiry into it before there is a disaster?

I do not think the question -of public safety was directly raised before, but I will have that particular aspect examined in the correspondence from the local authorities Those points were fully dealt with in correspondence.

Is the right hon. Gentleman preparec to take any action of any kind at any time on any of the questions which he has been asked?

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he is aware of the demand for a railway workers' canteen at Coventry station; and whether he will sanction its erection.

During the war approval was given to the provision of a large number of railway staff canteens on Government account, and in July last the railway companies were informed that new schemes not already approved could not be regarded as wartime works, but must be considered as part of the permanent equipment of the railways and financed by them. I am making inquiries as to the position of the scheme to which my hon. Friend refers and will communicate with him.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware that on Saturdays the last train going south leaves Aberdeen at 5.15 p.m. by L.N.E.R. and at 5.25 p.m. by L.M.S.; that this is prejudicial to the industrial, commercial, social and sporting interests of the city; and if he will arrange to restore at an early date the prewar trains leaving the city on Saturdays at 7.30 p.m. and 7.45 p.m., respectively.

I am making inquiries and will advise my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of War Transport when he expects it will be possible to reintroduce the facilities for booking seats for long distance rail journeys.

I am anxious to restore this facility as soon as conditions permit.

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind the number of people who will be travelling during the summer, and, if he cannot reintroduce the booking of seats, will he take steps to ensure some regulation of the passengers during the holiday months, so that it will be convenient for the passengers and they will not have to queue up at the stations overnight?

The problem of holiday traffic is already being considered. One has to take into consideration the fact that people must be taken to where they want to go, and procedure which might facilitate that must be carefully examined.

While it may be impossible to reintroduce the booking system in general, could not the right hon. Gentleman introduce some temporary measures to deal with such periods as Easter and Whitsun?

I will certainly take note of what has been said, and I will represent it to the railway companies, but this problem of getting the people to where they want to go is exceedingly difficult, and every restriction introduced tends to add to the problem rather than remove it.

Will the Minister bear in mind that the principle of getting all the holiday makers to where they want to go applies to all parts of the United Kingdom?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there has been in operation at Blackpool for many years a system whereby the people can ensure seats in trains by arrangement with the railway company, and will he consider what has happened there so that he can make suggestions on similar lines to the railway companies?

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many applications have been received from ex-Servicemen for training in horticulture and agriculture; and how many have commenced such training in each of the counties in Wales.

As the reply contains many figures I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the Official Report.

Are we to understand that the whole matter is now being dealt with? Is it comprehensive in scope?

1 said the answer would be circulated in the Official Report.

The right hon. Gentleman did not say whether it was comprehensive.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, owing to the failure to obtain volunteers from demobilised Servicemen to take up either training in agriculture or actual farm work, he has further suggestions to make this occupation more attractive to future workers.

fhe rate at which applications are being received for agricultural training under the Government scheme is showing some improvement, and I am hopeful that as the younger men come to be released larger numbers of new recruits to the industry will be forthcoming. On the wider question, the Government are putting in hand measure for improving the conditions of rural life by the erection of houses and the provision of water supplies and other amenities, all of which are of great importance in attracting workers to agriculture.

Could the right hon. Gentleman explain how many of these houses have been started?

That question should be put to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

asked the Minister of Agriculture by what approximate date the Rivora Hotel. Bideford, at present under requisition by his Department, will be handed back to its rightful owner whose livelihood depends thereon

in the interests 01 food production it is essential that the members of the Women's Land Army at present living at this hostel should remain in the Bidetord district. Iam very anxious however to release these premises, and, with the co-operation of the Ministry of Works, every effort is being made to find alternative accommodation. The search has so far been unsuccessful, but is continuing I regret therefore that I am unable to give a date to: release.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the continued retention of private hotels by Ministries for their office accommodation, and other accommodation, is having a very detrimental effect throughout the constituencies of North-West Devon?

1 appreciate the point submitted by the hon. and gallant Member, but I am sure he will be aware also of the importance of continuing to produce as much food as we can.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the food crisis and the need for increased milk production, he will consider launching an active campaign against diseases amongst dairy cattle.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Barkston Ash (Colonel Ropner) on 28th January, of which I am sending him a copy. At the moment I am not in a position to add to that reply.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether anything really active is being done by the Government for agriculture? It is no good being hopeful; it is far better to be thoughtful.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in the price fixing and adjustments the Government have now under consideration in connection with guaranteed prices, special consideration will be given to the need for increasing the low and uneconomic prices ruling for big sheep and pigs at the present time.

In fixing prices for sheep and pigs all relevant circumstances, including those mentioned by the hon. Member, are given full consideration.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the past very low figures have often been given for these animals, when a great deal of time and food has been needed to get them up to standard?

That is one of the things of which I was not aware.

I hope the right hon. Gentleman is now.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in what way wire netting may now be purchased by owners of private gardens and allotments for the protection of their produce, in view of the fact that they are debarred from doing so by licence, and that the 100 lineal yards per purchaser is not available, owing to the Small Quantities Exemption Scheme having ceased to function by the end of last June.

I am responsible for the issue, through county war agricultural executive committees, of permits to enable farmers to obtain their requirements of wire fencing material, but the release of fencing material for private gardens and allotments is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works.

If that is the case, why did the right hon. Gentleman give me an answer, in accordance with what I have stated in my Question, that 100 lineal yards of wire netting was available for private owners of gardens and allotments on 8th February last?

I do not think that conflicts with the answer I have just given. I explained that I am responsible only for the farmers, whereas the Ministry of Works are responsible for gardeners and allotment holders.

Whichever way it is, the fact remains that there is no encouragement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the annual review of agricultural prices has taken place; and with what result.

Yes, Sir. A review ofthe general financial position of agriculture has been conducted by officials of the Agricultural Departments in consultation with representatives of the Farmers' Unions of the United Kingdom. The review indicated a declining trend in far-mers' incomes combined with substantial increases in labour and other costs which have already taken place or are about to take place in pursuance of decisions recently taken. The Government have considered the results of this review and have assessed the national requirements of home-produced food of various kinds in the light of the present serious world shortages, particularly of grain. Account has also been taken of the disturbance to agricultural production caused by the need to return for a time to an increased output of cereals. In the light of these factors we have reached decisions on the prices to be guaranteed for the principal crops from the harvest of 1947 and for livestock and livestock products for the production year 1946-47. Minimum prices have also been fixed for milk, fat cattle and sheep for the production years 1948-49 and 1949-50, and for fat pigs and eggs for the four years ending on 30th June, 1950. I am circulating in the Official Report details of the various price changes and of the new minimum prices. The House may,

Do the new prices include any provision for possible increases of wages, and, if not, will it be possible for increased costs to be quickly covered by increased prices?

As I have already informed my hon. Friend on previous occasions, the Government cannot guarantee that an automatic increase in prices will follow an increase in wages. Therefore, as I understand it, no particular effort has been made to deal with anything more than the current need for prices to cover ordinary costs.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether his new prices take account merely of costs in 1944-45, or whether they take account of the recent increases in various sections of agricultural wages, or particularly the increase in pay recently granted to prisoners?

The prices, which will be circulated in the Official Report, take full account of the recent increases in wages made by the Central Wages Board, and it is in the light of those increases, plus other costs of production, that the prices for the future have been fixed.

Is there any change in the price of milk, as a great many small milk producers are finding it very hard now to make both ends meet?

If the hon. Member will wait until the new prices appear, he will see the new price for milk and for other commodities.

asked the Minis-. ter of Agriculture whether he has yet arranged to launch an advertising campaign appealing for 30,000 new recruits for the W.L.A.; what will be the cost of this appeal; and whether he will give an assurance that the advertisements will

As I indicated in my broadcast of 22nd February, it is planned to start a recruiting campaign for the W.L.A. in April. The cost of the measures so far arranged is in the neighbourhood of £30,000. As I pointed out in reply to a Question put by my hon. Friend on nth February, the members of the W.L.A. already enjoy certain advantages in comparison with other agricultural workers. [Hon. Members: "No."] The recent reduction in the strength of the W.L.A. is mainly due to members claiming release on fulfilment of the undertaking which they gave on enrolment to serve for the duration of the war.

While I thank the Minister for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that the numbers of the Women's Land Army suffer under an overwhelming weight of disabilities compared with the other Services, and would he undertake in his advertising campaign to announce the removal of those disabilities?

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that one of the best ways to encourage people to join and respond to the appeal would be to grant some of the claims they have put forward?

If the right hon. Gentleman would indicate which among the claims they are now making he unfortunately had to turn down, I will look into it.

Does the right hon. Gentleman really expect to get recruits for the Women's Land Army in view of the shameful treatment that has been meted out to them by the Government both during and since the war, and is he not going to make any improvement in their conditions?

My hon. Friend is well aware that the Women's Land Army have certain advantages over other women who work in agriculture. [Hon. Members: "What are they? "] The Women's Land Army at least get their uniform and they also have other advantages which other women working on the land do not get. While I am not attempting to suggest that the wage of 50s. is a mighty sum, it is the rate for the job.