asked the Minister of Health the number of workers employed in London on 1st March on the erection of permanent houses; and the number so employed on 1st March, 1939

At 1st March, 1946, 8,389 men were employed in the London region on the erection of permanent houses and 4,400 on the clearance and preparation of sites. I regret that no records are available of the number so employed on the 1st March, 1939.

asked the Minister of Health how many different types of permanent prefabricated houses he has recommended to local authorities; and how many of each type have been ordered by local authorities.

The only types of permanent prefabricated houses so far recommended to local authorities are those named in Circular 182/45, of which a copy has already been supplied to the hon. Member. Tenders have been approved for 2,300 Easiform and 862 Orlit houses; and 994 Howard houses have been allocated. Requests are now being received from local authorities for B.I.S.F. houses, but definite figures of the demand for this type of house are not yet available.

Are specimens of these houses to be seen by Members of this House? Is there anywhere in London where they can be seen?

Specimens of these houses can be seen, and in fact have been seen, by the housing committees of local authorities. If hon. Members wish to see the houses I am quite prepared to let them know where the houses are, and, if necessary, to make arrangements for hon. Members to see them.

Will the Minister please do that?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health how many permanent prefabricated steel houses the Government proposes to erect; what will be the rate of erection; and is he satisfied that adequate steel supplies are available.

These houses will be provided by local authorities, and I am at present in consultation with the larger authorities in order to settle the numbers for which contracts can he let in the near future. The rate of erection will depend largely on the flow of materials and every effort is being made to secure a steady flow. An adequate allocation of steel is being provided

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that a sufficient number of building firms are fully employed in Shrewsbury.

I am not aware of any firm not being fully employed, and so far as I know there is no building labour unemployed in Shrewsbury.

Is this not rather exceptional? Is it not a fact that all over the country many building firms are unemployed because of the Minister's policy?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health the average factory cost of the temporary and permanent prefabricated houses; and what is the average cost of the work on the site.

As regards temporary houses, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Hackney (Mr. H. Hynd) on 29th November last. I am unable at present to give any figures for permanent prefabricated houses.

Does that mean there has been no rise in the average price since November?

The right hon. and gallant Gentleman should refer to the answer I mentioned, which is in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

That answer about prices was given on 29th November. I am merely asking if that means there is no change in the average level.

It is impossible to give a price yet for the permanent prefabricated house, as I explained to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman in the Debate a day or two ago. The question with regard to temporary houses should be addressed to the Minister of Works.

Could the Minister give us the highest and the lowest prices that go towards making this average?

I do not know whether the hon. Member expects me to carry these prices in my head.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the present scale of professional fees which local authorities are permitted to pay private architects for small housing estates is, due to the increased cost of assistance, below the cost of the production of the drawings and supervision and other professional services; and if he will consider authorising an increase in fees in the case of housing estates below a certain size.

No, Sir. The present scale was drawn up by the Royal Institute of British Architects, and I have no reason to think that it is inadequate.

As the scale was drawn up some time ago, before the increased wages came into effect, would the Minister please reconsider this matter?

I am not proposing to make any increase at the moment.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that the supply of materials necessary for the completion of permanent houses in the North-East are available; and what materials, if any, are retarding or likely to retard progress.

No, Sir. I am not satisfied with this. Instructions to local authorities about the main shortages of materials and advising them of the alternatives which can be used will be issued within the next few days, and I will send my hon. Friend a copy. I would also refer him to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Works, in this House on Monday.

Whilst I appreciate the reply of the Minister, may I ask if he is aware that within the last week the Houghton-le-Spring Urban District Council, among others on the North-East coast, have reported a serious shortage in bricks, sand and gravel, and as a consequence are proposing to come to a Northern group of M.P.s to make representations?

I appreciate the difficulties that may exist in this area, but I hardly believe that at the moment housing is brought to a standstill because of that. I will, however, certainly make immediate inquiries to see whether we can have materials sent there.

Would the Minister be prepared to receive a deputation from the local authorities?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider granting a subsidy to building institutions, such as the Anchor Tennants, Ltd., of Humberstone, Leicester, to enable them to contribute to the solution of local housing shortages.

As I stated in the Debate on 12th:larch, I am prepared to approve arrangements made by a local authority with a housing association under Section 94 of the Housing Act, 1936, where I am satisfied that the association can usefully supplement the local authority's own programme. In that case the association will receive the same Exchequer assistance as a local authority.

That does not quite answer the question. I asked whether the Minister would be prepared to consider giving a subsidy to such non-profit making bodies as this. Is he prepared to do that, or is he not?

If these persons or bodies do not come within the definition of "housing association" the answer is "No."

asked the Minister of Health what changes have been made in the basis of assessment of rent payable for accommodation provided under his requisitioning powers.

I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the original Circular 183/45, and of the amending Circular 224 / 45. Comparison of the two shows the changes which have been made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman, in those circulars, making any effort to obtain uniformity in this matter?

The local authorities in many instances are applying the circulars differently. I am having the position examined.

Will the Minister make clear to local authorities that they are not expected to put so tight an interpretation on this Circular 224 as to ignore the rent previously paid by the tenants?

There arc other Questions on the same subject on the Order Paper. I am rather disappointed by the manner in which some of the local authorities have used their discretion.

asked the Minister of Health how many objections he has had from local authorities to the operation of Circular No. 244; how many objections from individuals; and whether he will state the names of the councils objecting

Objections to the operation of Circular 224/45, which I presume is the Circular referred to by my hon. Friend, have been received from 12 local authorities and from some 75 individuals. I will, with permission, circulate the names of the objecting councils in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

In view of the general misunderstanding and misinterpretation on the part of many local authorities as to the interpretation of this Report, will the Minister state whether it is a statement of fact that they have no need to increase the rents unless they so desire? If they do not increase the rents, is it not a fact that he will take no action against them?

I think the hon. Member has interpreted my desires properly.

Following is the list:

Beckenham B., Bexley B., Cheshunt U., Chislehurst and Sidcup U., Crayford B., Erith B., Kingston-on-Thames B., Malden and Coombe B., Walthamstow B., Wembley B., Wanstead and Woodford B., Willesden B.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that arising from Circular 224/45, it has been found that a number of tenants in requisitioned properties have been paying more than the controlled rent; and what steps he will take to ensure that the excesses of rent paid by these tenants are now refunded to them.

In some cases, tenants were paying more than the controlled rent before Circular 183/45 was issued in October, but they should not have done so since. It would not be practicable to reopen those past transactions.

Do I understand from the answer that the extra which they have paid will not be refunded to them?

It would not now be practicable to reopen these discussions and make the payment retrospective, but, as my hon. Friend knows, the position has been put right.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that there are 10,000 applicants waiting for housing accommodation in Islington, of whom 2,000 are urgent cases, including a large proportion of men recently demobilised; and if he will consider the provision of emergency accommodation in any large buildings which can be made available by requisition.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities are using their powers under Section 72 (2) of the Housing Act, 1936, to supply furniture to their tenants.

Action under Section 72 (2) of the Housing Act, 1936, does not require my approval and I regret, therefore, that the information is not available.

In view of the difficulties now facing local authorities about getting priority dockets for their tenants who qualify for such dockets, will the Minister encourage local authorities to use their powers?

I think local authorities are well aware of their powers and they require no further encouragement from me. I hope I will not be asked to send yet another Circular to the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health what was the reason for the delay in not placing in the Library of the House before 21st March, 1946, the Interim Report of the Rural Housing Sub-Commit- tee of the Central Housing Advisory Committee which was signed on 18th January, 1946.

This Interim Report is very brief and deals with only one aspect of the problem. Arrangements were made to place it in the Library as soon as a request was made.

Is the Minister aware that, such is the secrecy about this Report, hon. Members have applied to both the Vote Office and the Ministry of Health and have been told that no copies are available?

I am told that there is a copy in the Library. There is no secrecy about it, and its contents are well known to the most vocal hon. Members on the other side.

Why did the right hon. Gentleman wait until he was asked, because he gave a definite promise in the course of the Debate?

Because the Report is extremely brief, and it seems to me to be quite unnecessary to circulate what really amounts to two or three paragraphs. There is not the slightest desire to have any secrecy on this matter, and that is why it was placed in the Library, but if hon. Members insist on publication and general distribution, I am perfectly prepared to do it.

Well, do it.

asked the Minister of Health why the procedure adopted for a period after the last war of speeding up house-building by laying bricks dry, three courses at a time, and then pouring through the cement in properly spaced holes to key the whole together was dropped, and if he will cause this procedure to be re-adopted at the present time.

If the hon. and gallant Member would be good enough to give me further details of the use of the method, I will be glad to have it investigated.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a number of tenants of furnished flats in Chelsea have received notices to quit which quote a recent legal decision as to what constituted a furnished flat in a specific case; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent hardship in these cases, and in similar cases that may arise, pending clarification of the point of law raised by the legal decision referred to and the passing of the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Bill.

I have seen reports in the Press, but have no knowledge of the merits of this particular case. The general position is that, under the Rent Restriction Acts, security of tenure is given to the tenants of furnished houses only in cases where the value of the furniture to the tenant is not a substantial proportion of the rent. Under the new Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act, the rent of furnished premises outside the scope of the previous Acts may be controlled, and a limited security of tenure is given in cases where reference is made to tribunals set up thereunder. Local Authorities may be authorised, however, to requisition premises for the purpose of providing accommodation for the inadequately housed or of preventing a situation where people become homeless, and I propose to call their attention to these powers in suitable cases.

Will the Minister take immediate steps to notify the local authorities, because there are in fact a large number of similar notices being given to tenants all over London—for example, in Paddington as well as in my hon. and gallant Friend's constituency—and the people are becoming very alarmed about the situation?

I propose to call the attention of the local authorities to their powers immediately.

I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Health how many and which parishes in each rural district of the administrative county of Northampton are without a pressure piped water supply; to what extent the lack of such a supply, suitable for use in connection with domestic boilers and ranges, will delay the provision or occupation of new houses in the Brixworth Rural District; and whether he is satisfied with the water supply in that and other rural parts of the Kettering division pending the completion of the proposed Pitsford reservoir.

With permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the 115 parishes in the county which are without, or substantially without, piped water supplies. I understand that the first instalment of the Brixworth Rural District Council's housing programme will be provided in eight parishes which already have piped supplies, or will be supplied by a scheme for which the council have obtained tenders, and that there should be no delay in the provision of the houses by reason of lack of water supply. Other schemes prepared or in course of preparation should result in the early provision of piped supplies pending the construction of the Pitsford reservoir, but I am not satisfied with existing conditions in the areas mentioned, and I am, therefore, arranging for the matter to be considered with the responsible authorities.

May I give notice that I propose to raise this Question on the Adjournment?

Following is the list:

Parishes in the administrative county of Northampton without, or substantially without, piped water supplies.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that a water supply for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes, adequate to meet the actual and prospective needs of Kettering and adjacent rural areas, can be provided by the action or co-ordinated action of local authorities; and what steps he proposes to take to organise water supply on a regional or national basis and under regional or national authority.

I have no doubt that it is feasible to obtain sufficient supplies for all purposes in the areas mentioned, and I am considering the extent to which co-ordinated action by the responsible authorities is desirable. It is my policy o secure the consideration of water fsupply problems over wide areas and joint action by water undertakers where this is required in the best interests of water supplies, but subject to this there is no present intention of removing the responsibility from the local authorities and water undertakers.

May I give a like notice to that which I gave on the previous Question?

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements are being made for a continuance of a ward for maternity cases in the Howden rural district, in view of the proposal to close the Howden Public Assistance Institution, which at present houses the maternity ward for the district; and the number of births in the Howden Public Assistance Institution from 1st January to 3rst December, 1945.

No date has yet been fixed for the closure of the institution, and the Council's arrangements for providing alternative accommodation are not yet complete. The answer to the last part of the Question is 75.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons who received advice, during 1945, from the ante-natal clinic attached to the Howden Public Assistance Institution; and where the clinic will be transferred when the institution is closed down.

There is no ante-natal clinic attached to this institution. During 1945, 69 women who were to be admitted to the institution for confinement received antenatal advice from the matron. For other women antenatal advice has been and will be given under special arrangements made with general practitioners and domiciliary midwives.

Will the Minister give an assurance that advice on ante-natal matters now being given at this institution will not be terminated until other suitable premises have been found?

The responsibility for providing for this matter is upon the local authority. As the hon. Member knows, I am in communication with them on the matter.

I wish to give notice that I should like to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of pulmonary and non-pulmonary tuberculosis have been notified for each year from 1935 to

Year. Notified Cases of Tuberculosis. Beds available for tuberculosis Cases (as at 31st December) County of Middlesex Borough of Acton Pulmonary. Non Pulmonary. Pulmonary. Non Pulmonary. 1935 … … 1,782 317 66 18 635 1936 … … 1,782 313 92 14 686 1937 … … 1,895 375 77 13 722 1938 … … 1,895 411 82 16 831 1939 … … 1,872 357 88 7 755 1940 … … 1,956 354 78 79 795 1941 … … 2.344 365 79 7 973 1942 … … 2,534 455 98 16 1,243 1943 … … 2,607 431 95 19 1,308 1944 … … 2,551 345 96 15 1,213 1945 … … 2,456 371 91 16 1,146 The figures in the last column are of beds in institutions administered by the County Council, but the Council has arrangements for the admission of Middlesex cases to beds in other institutions also, to such extent as they may be available, though not to any fixed number. At the end of 1945, for example, some 400 cases were accommodated in this way.

asked the Minister of Health how many beds are at present occupied in the Churchill Hospital, Headington; for what purpose this hospital is being used; and why the Army were moved from this hospital.

The number of beds occupied today at the Churchill Hospital, Headington, is 88, and this will be steadily increased to full capacity as domestic staff becomes available. The hospital is a civil institution built for my Department and intended, after its use for emergency purposes terminated, to supplement the beds at the Radcliffe Infirmary, where there is a growing waiting list. The use of the hospital by the Army was a temporary arrangement pending the 1945 in the county of Middlesex and the borough of Acton, with the number of beds available in sanatoria in the county during the same period.

As the reply involves a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

preparation of the Military Hospital at Holton Park, Wheatley.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the military hospital at Holton Park, Wheatley, is completely unsuitable for bad cases of head injuries, which are sent there?

That is not a question for me.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent hospitals of all kinds have been closed and bed accommodation restricted; and how many patients who would normally enter hospital for treatment have been unable to do so on account of shortage of domestic and nursing staffs.

I am afraid I have no precise information on this, but it is clear that the number is considerable.

Does not my right hon. Friend feel that this matter should be taken up with the Minister of Labour— [HON. MEMBERS: "Speak up."] Does not my right hon. Friend feel that this matter is so important that he should approach the Minister of Labour with a view to recruiting the maximum number of domestic and nursing staff, because there are instances I know of in my own constituency where there is a serious shortage of accommodation for maternity cases owing to the fact that a section of the hospital has had to be closed down?

The whole House is aware that last year I launched a campaign for the recruitment of nurses, in all institutions. I am in close cooperation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour all the while, because this matter is causing me great anxiety.

Is the Minister aware that every constituency is affected by this, and will he see to it that nurses and domestics are given higher salaries and better amenities?

Nurses were to have their salaries raised at the beginning of the year. The salaries and conditions of domestic staffs are now under consideration by the organisations concerned.

In view of the very serious position with regard to this question, how does the right hon. Gentleman expect to improve matters by offering free treatment to everybody in the country when there are no facilities?

The answer surely is plain. If we had a national health service we should get more nurses into it.

Will the Minister consider sending round the provinces a nursing exhibition so that people who are coming out of the Forces will know what the possibilities are?

A large number of the larger authorities are holding exhibitions at the present time. However, I will consider whether that suggestion could be used to supplement what they are doing.

asked the Minister of Health how many nurses are still required to man the civil hospitals of the country; how many have been released from the Forces in the past six months; and how many still remain in the Services.

On nth March, 1946, there were approximately 28,000 vacancies noti- fled to the Ministry of Labour and National Service for nurses of all grades, in hospitals and similar institutions in Great Britain. During the six months ending 28th February, 3,239 trained nurses were released from the Forces. I understand that the number still in the Services is 8,973.

Is my right hon. Friend taking any steps in conjunction with the Service Departments to have nurses released now from the duties that must obviously be lessening every day, so as to try and meet the demands of civilians?

Nurses are being released every day.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will have periodic examinations made of claims in Press, periodical and other advertisements, as to the health-giving properties of patent medicines, foods and wines, and take effective steps to keep the public informed of the results of such examinations.

As regards patent medicines, I do not think that anything really useful on these lines could be done without further legislation—which would be complicated and is out of the question for the time being. As to foods, the Question should be addressed to my right hon Friend the Minister of Food.

Is the Minister aware that many millions of pounds are extracted from the public annually, largely on the strength of misleading and often completely false claims about the values of these products? Will he have another look at the situation to see whether it is possible without legislation to provide more adequate and much needed protection for the public?

I certainly will have a look at it because I am sympathetic towards the intention that the hon. Member has. I think the public ought to be protected. That may be one of the more advantageous by-products of a national health service.

Is it not a fact that the trade associations exercise a very strict supervision?

They are all Tories.

They may be exercising supervision, but I cannot see that it is with beneficial results.

Is the Minister aware that many of these so-called remedies claim to cure more than one disease at one and the same time?

Would the Minister give urgent attention to the possibility of patent nostrums for the brave new world?

asked the Minister of Health whether the salary and capitation fees to be paid to doctors taking part in the National Health Service will be affected by the number of private patients, if any, whom they treat.

If the Bill now before the House is passed into law, these will be matters for discussion when subsequent regulations are being drawn. I do not think I can attempt to anticipate them now.

asked the Minister of Health how many beds in infirmaries and hospitals are being held vacant for military patients; and whether he will consider releasing these as quickly as possible in view of the shortage of beds available in hospitals for civilians.

As the reply is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

The number of beds reserved in civilian hospitals and institutions in England and Wales for the purposes of the Emergency Hospital Scheme is approximately 53,000. No part of this total reservation is earmarked exclusively for military patients, but the latest available figures show that of these beds 15,800 are occupied by Service patients and 10,700 by civilian patients who are the responsibility of the Emergency Hospital Scheme, leaving approximately 26,500 vacant emergency scheme beds, the majority of which are unstaffed.

With regard to the second part of the Question, the Emergency Hospital Scheme bed reservation figures are under constant review, and if hospital authorities find it necessary to encroach upon the emergency reservation they are at liberty to do so in agreement with the responsible medical officers of my Department. It is hoped to release a substantial number of beds after 1st June, when it is expected that the Army's needs for civilian hospital services will be limited to exceptional cases which cannot be provided for in military hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health the number of patients at present in Service hospitals and the number of nurses retained to care for them; and the number of patients in the civil hospitals of Britain and the number of nurses in charge of them.

I understand that the number of patients in Service hospitals in Great Britain is approximately 21,300, and the number of trained nurses 1,936. The figures for civil hospitals, not including mental, mental deficiency and maternity hospitals and institutions, are approximately 282,100 patients and 30,900 trained nurses.

In view of the fact that these proportions are. obviously unfair and unbalanced, will the Minister not take some steps to equalise the burden of the nurses and the patients?

I think that, when the hon. and gallant Member looks at my reply, he will see that the cold logic of the figures is in contradiction of his own subjective impressions.

asked the Minister of Health when he will be in a position to reply to the letter, dated 9th March, from the hon. Member for Howdenshire, in connection with the proposal to close the Howden Public Assistance Institution.

I replied to the hon. Member yesterday.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increasing number of casual poor now using social welfare institutions throughout the country, he is in a position to inform the House of any distinct plans for dealing with this growing problem.

This matter was recently discussed by my Department with representatives of the local authorities concerned, and I hope shortly to issue a circular for the guidance of the authorities.

asked the Minister of Health if he will instruct local welfare authorities to limit the charge for the attendance of children at day nurseries to Is. per day, as is the practice, until Circular 221/45 comes into operation.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 10 ( f ) of the Circular which says that the present charge should continue until 31st March. After that, part of the cost of the nurseries will fall upon the local rates, and welfare authorities will have discretion in fixing their charges.

Is the Minister aware that if a local authority desire in any way to sabotage or boycott this order, all they have to do is to put up the rate to 5s. a day and no mother will place her child in a nursery, and industry will suffer?

I should imagine that those considerations are well known to the local authorities, and I do not intend to send another instruction to them which would undermine the authority of local government.

Is the Minister aware that already, in the City of Birmingham, these rates are going up from 6s. to 18s. per week, which will mean a prohibition on In omen proposing to go to work?

This seems to be a matter for representations to the Birmingham local authority, not for the Ministry of Health.

asked the Minister of Health, whether he is aware that the Birmingham City Council proposes to charge 3s. per day for attendance at its day nurseries; and, as this will act as a deterrent to women working in industry, what steps he will take to ensure a reduced charge.

I have not yet received the Birmingham City Council's scheme, but when I do so I will look into the matter. As the relevant Circular says, however, the question of charges is primarily one for the welfare authority.

Is not the Minister avoiding his responsibilities in this respect by suggesting that local authorities can do exactly as they please, whereas, if they do as they please, we have the case of Birmingham, where they raised the charge by 3s. a day?

The answer is that local authorities are receiving a 54 per cent. grant for this service, and they are also receiving from the Ministry of Health a very substantial block grant towards local government services. The local authorities, therefore, have no need to charge exorbitant fees for this service, but it surely is impracticable for the Ministry of Health to make local authorities merely passive instruments of the central Government's directions.

Is the Minister aware that hon. Members from Birmingham are quite capable of looking after the problems of their city and do not require any assistance from the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Piratin)?

asked the Minister of Health whether he contemplates introducing, before the end of the present financial year, the Bill to give effect to the Government's decision on the assessment of railways for local rates, in accordance with the intimation of that decision which has been given to the local government associations and to the railway companies.

I regret that it will not be possible, before the end of the present financial year and the beginning of the Fourth Roll period under the Railways (Valuation for Rating) Act, 1930, to introduce the Bill upon which the Government have decided, but I hope to be in a position to do so early in the coming financial year. The Bill will provide that it shall take effect from the beginning of the Fourth Roll period as regards the main line railways, and the Third Roll period as regards the London Passenger Transport Board.

Is the Minister aware that, while all local authorities will welcome that announcement, there are still unsolved problems relating to the Third Roll period which might with advantage be dealt with in the proposed Bill?

I will look into that.

asked the Minister of Education why no provision is made in Grant Regulations No. 2 (Amendment No. 1, 1946), issued by her Department, for additional school holidays, over and above the normal 10 holidays, such as it is customary in many schools to grant at the request of the distinguished visitor who attends the annual prize giving; and whether she will amend these regulations so as to make the grant of such extra holidays still possible.

I see no occasion to amend the Regulations to cover such exceptional holidays as the hon. Member has in mind. I should, however, see no objection to the continuance of the practice of granting a holiday on such occasions; and, if such a holiday cannot be granted out of the ten days allowed by the Regulation, I should be prepared to take the circumstance into account in considering any failure on the part of the school to comply with the full requirements of Regulation 20.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent local education authorities have ascertained the requirements for additional school furniture to meet the demand on the raising of the school-leaving age to 15; and what arrangements have been made to satisfy these requirements.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of an inquiry which has been addressed to local education authorities in this matter. The replies are being collated in order that any necessary arrangements may be made for securing adequate supplies of furniture.

asked the Minister of Education the numbers of teachers who have been released from the forces up to date under Class A and under Class B, respectively.

Up to 28th February, 7,875 teachers, including Scottish teachers, had been released from the Forces in Class B. I regret that information about the number released in Class A is not available.

asked the Minister of Education how many deaf children are suffering from epilepsy, marked mental retardation, blindness and impaired vision; how many of these children are attending schools for the deaf; and whether it is proposed to provide special schools accommodation for them apart from the present schools for the deaf.

I have no information showing the total number of deaf children in England and Wales suffering from the other disabilities to which my hon. Friend refers. In one special school for the deaf which caters for such children, there are 48 who are educationally retarded, six who are blind and five who are partially sighted, and a few such children are in attendance at other schools for the blind and the deaf. I hope that provision for a group of these children will be made in due course in another school for the deaf, but the precise categories for which it will provide have not yet been determined. It is thought that with this additional provision, the needs of the whole country will be met.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether this was referred to the Advisory Committee on handicapped children set up under the chairmanship of the hon. Gentleman the Member for South Tottenham (Mr. Messer)?

I could not answer that question without notice, but I am continually in touch with that committee, and so are my advisers.

Can the right hon. Lady say how many schools there are to which mentally retarded children can be sent?

I am afraid I shall have to have notice of that question.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that many newspapers can only publish four pages because of the shortage of newsprint, resulting in the creation of difficulties in finding work for many returning from the Forces, he will negotiate with the Canadian Government for the purpose of supplying the necessary dollar exchange and transport for additional quantities of pulp for newsprint.

The financial assistance which we have received from the Canadian Government does not free us from the need to husband our dollar resources carefully. The question whether we can afford additional imports of newsprint will be kept under review. I understand that more pulp is not likely to be available.

Does the Prime Minister appreciate the fact that the nation wants the full, plain, unrestricted truth, and is he not aware that the Canadian Government have offered pulp, transport and the dollar finance? Why not deal with these very generous people and let us have the truth?

I do not need to be told of the generosity of the Canadian Government. My information is that pulp is not available.

Is the Prime Minister aware that exporters are being handicapped in their trade by the inability to get sufficient paper pulp for export journals and catalogues, and could not something be done to arrange for increased supplies to help our export trade?

We are doing all we can with regard to newsprint, but I am assured that we have all the pulp available.

May I ask whether, in the clearing up of the difficulties referred to in the Question, we could not, at least, stop the export of paper from this country, because that is still going on in spite of the great shortage of paper?

That is another question.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the changed circumstances occasioned by the additional Departmental responsibilities associated with the National Health Scheme, he will now consider relieving the Ministry of Health of the task of directing the national housing campaign and creating a Ministry of Housing, armed with overriding authority, to coordinate the relevant work of all Departments concerned.

No, Sir.

Is the Prime Minister completely satisfied that the Minister has sufficient powers to insist on other Ministries keeping up with the rather rapid rate of progress in housing?

There is full cooperation between the Ministries.

May I ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that he has a mandate for making this change?

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to be in a position to state the results of the review of the rates of retired pay and pensions of professional officers and other ranks of the three Services who were re-employed during the war.

The position of retired officers and pensioners of the three Services who were re-employed during the war is now under consideration and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when U.N.R.R.A. will commence distributing food in Austria.

This matter is still under consideration in Vienna and Atlantic City, but it is hoped that agreement will be reached which will enable U.N.R.R.A. to take over supply responsibility for Austria as from 1st April.

In view of previous arrangements made to open up at the beginning of March, will the right hon. Gentleman see that the date is kept as near as possible to 1st April?

The question whether the date will be kept or not will depend on the progress of negotiations now going on.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether this arrangement will apply to all zones in Austria?

If U.N.R.R.A. takes over the responsibility for the supplying of Austria, it will, of course, apply to the. whole of Austria.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider giving holidays with pay to boys directed to the mines on their release, in the same way as is granted to Servicemen on release from the Forces.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the coming holiday season in Cornwall and the wish to provide our hardworked people with a good holiday, he will assist the laundries in order that they can meet the holiday demands.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Finchley (Captain Crowder) on 28th February. The labour needs of laundries in holiday resorts and elsewhere are having the continual attention of my Department.

Is the Minister aware that, if he does not do something in this connection, it will be utterly impossible for these laundries to cater adequately for visitors in the coming season?

Yes, Sir, but perhaps the laundries can do something themselves. My information is that many of the women working in laundries in the seaside resorts were women who went there from London for the season and that this arrangement is now impracticable owing to shortage of accommodation, the low rate of wages and the general unpopularity of the work.

Is not the Minister aware that if the employers' associations would pay decent wages and give decent conditions they would have no difficulty in getting laundry workers?

Is my right. hon. Friend aware that the real purpose of this Question is, in fact, to ask him to spend his Eeaster recess working in a laundry?

If that is the request, I can give notice quite definitely now that I am not accepting the invitation.

Would not a solution of the problem be for holidaymakers either to do their own washing or to bring their dirty clothes home with them?

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated number of men and women from Northern Ireland and Eire, respectively, who took part in war production during the war.

I regret that this information is not available.