asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that children's footwear is practically unobtainable in the Sleyn area of Caernarvonshire, so that children are unable to attend church and school, owing to the long journeys involved on foot along country roads; and whether he will take steps to improve the position.

I will have an investigation made at once into the supplies of children's footwear in the Sleyn area, and communicate further with my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the difficulties experienced by newcomers to the retail trade of toilet preparations, many of whom are ex-Servicemen and women; and when he hopes to be able to relax the restrictions which prevent the sale of their own preparations in the home market.

I am aware that in the present state of the market many retailers would like to manufacture and sell their own toilet preparations, but I am not prepared to relax the present restrictions while the sales of established manufacturers are limited in the interests of the export trade. We do our best, however, to apply the restrictions sympathetically in deserving cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that as long ago as last October permission was given to the elastic web manufacturers to recommence producing elastic webbing for inserts for civilian braces; that although large quantities have been supplied to the trade, no prices have yet been agreed by his costing department despite protracted negotiations; and what steps does he propose to take to settle this question without further delay.

The application for approval of manufacturers' prices of elastic webbing for braces was received by the Central Price Regulation Committee from the Ministry of Supply on 30th April last. That Committee approved prices for these goods to be brought into force at once and so informed the Ministry of Supply on 27th May. The Ministry of Supply informed the trade on the same day.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the equipment of a Government-owned mill in the area of Oldham as a model of a modern cotton spinning mill.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the report of the Working Party on the Cotton Industry, copies of which are available in the Vote Office, and in particular to No. VII of the recommendations in that report, and also to the statement which I propose to make after Questions in reply to the hon. Member for Walton (Mr. Haworth) on the manner in which the Government propose to deal with the report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange to issue in future editions of Statistics of Overseas Trade information with regard to such matters as the royalty payments on films imported and exported, the sums expended by foreign tourists here and British tourists overseas and other figures relating to invisible exports and imports such as insurance payments, financial services, etc.

Approximate figures of the various categories of receipts and payments in our Balance of Payments will be published in due course, but such approximate figures would not be suitable for inclusion in the monthly issues of the Trade and Navigation Accounts, even if estimates could be made for such short periods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is yet able to state whether any decision has been taken as to what site in the London area will be available for the exhibition of 1951.

No, Sir, but as a preliminary step possible sites are being examined and surveyed in cooperation with the other Ministeries mainly concerned and with the London County Council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of Britain's trade with Rumania in the quarter ended 31st March in the years 1939 and 1946, respectively; and what are the prospects of trade relations with that country at present.

During the first quarter of 1939 imports from Rumania were valued at £2,292,000 and total exports at £353,000, including £8,000 in respect of re-exports; during the first quarter of 1946 the only trade recorded was £16 in respect of exports of United Kingdom goods to Rumania.As regards the second part of the Question, it is hoped that a payments agreement, which will provide the necessary framework for a resumption of trade, will shortly be concluded when the restrictions of the Trading with the Enemy legislation will be removed from current trade. The volume of our exports to Rumania will, of course, very largely depend on the amount of sterling which she can earn by making available at world prices goods of interest to us, such as timber.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of all exports to Spain for the first five months of 1946; and give particulars of the goods or articles so exported.

The latest information available regarding the exports of United Kingdom goods to Spain will be found on pages 130 to 258 and page 303 of the April issue of the Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Burma whether he is satisfied that the price offered to cultivators of rice is sufficient to encourage maximum production; the size of the crop which he hopes to obtain; and to what extent it is estimated that this will enable Burma to have some surplus for export.

The Government of Burma have given most careful consideration to the question of the price to be offered to cultivators and have promised a market at a fair price for all rice that can be grown. They are satisfied that this policy will encourage the largest possible production of rice this year. It is hoped this year to obtain an acreage of eight and a half million acres, an increase of two million acres over the last crop, which might, given reasonable conditions, produce an exportable surplus of approximately one million tons of rice. The hon. Member will, of course, realise that the attainment of this figure depends on a number of factors which cannot as yet be fully gauged not least of which is the weather.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Burm?, whether he has any statement to make on the water festival which took place in Rangoon from 13th to 16th April, and which resulted in the deaths of 12 British soldiers in traffic accidents.

The Government ol Burma inform me that they have received no report of the deaths of any British soldiers through traffic accidents during the water festival in Rangoon from 13th to 16th April.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Burma what steps have been taken to recover the stores of hidden arms in the possession of Burmese dacoits.

I have asked the Governor of Burma for the necessary particulars and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I receive them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the programme of work of the West Cumberland Rivers Catchment Board to restore their watercourses to good condition and the priority of the schemes to be carried out, stating the approximate dates when the work will commence.

The West Cumberland Rivers Catchment Board have in hand at the present time ten schemes of improvement which have already been approved. Their future programme includes II first priority schemes to be begun at various dates in the next four years. During the latter half of this period it is hoped in addition to begin work on five schemes of second priority, and a further eight schemes of second and third priority are due to be undertaken at some time before March, 1950. I am writing to my hon. Friend to give him more precise details.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of prisoners of war who are working on jobs other than farm work, such as land drainage, etc., covering the areas of the borough of Whitehaven, Ennerdale Rural District Council and Millom Rural District Council; and whether he will consider substituting the employment of prisoners of war by men signing on at the White-haven and Cleator Moor Employment Exchanges, respectively.

Of the prisoners of war allocated to agriculture in the areas mentioned, 109 are working on jobs other than farm work. Six of them are on market garden work, and the rest on land drainage. As regards the second part of the Question, I will gladly give suitable unemployed men preference over prisoners of war, and steps to that end are already being taken.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the success of the instruction in rural domestic economy grant aided by his Department, provision will be made in the National Agricultural Advisory Service for such development of that work as will enable wives and daughters on agricultural holdings to be given advice on the holdings, of a quality comparable to that provided by the Rural Home Economic: Service directed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, thus enabling them to make their fullest contribution to food production.

I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education what arangements should be made for the continuance and development o advice and instruction in rural domestic economy subjects from 1st October next the date when I propose to establish the National Agricultural Advisory Service but I am not yet in a position to make s statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the ex-munition factory at Doncaster, which was vacated and handed over to International Harvesters, Limited, in July last is not yet providing employment for more than 25 engineers, or producing beyond 2½per cent, of its capacity; what are the causes of the delay in the switchover c this factory from war uses to production of essential products for home and over seas markets; and what action he proposes to take to see that this factory space is utilised to full capacity in the immediate future.

Although it was agreed last summer that the factory a Doncaster should be sold to the International Harvester Company, the final transfer of this property has in fact only been effected during the last few day; Considerable planning and organisation are necessary before mass production o the scale proposed can be achieved, an I am assured that good progress ha already been made, including extensive alterations to the existing premises. My Department will continue to give this fin every assistance to enable it to embarse on full scale production as early as possible.

asked the Minister of Food what action was taken against the North Shields fishermen who recently returned 450,000 herrings into the sea because of the low prices offered; and if he will take steps to prevent food being wasted in:his way.

I have been asked to reply. No action has been taken against the North Shields fishermen because, according to my information, the report that they had to return large quantities of herring to the sea was quite unfounded. On one day of heavy landings a quantity of herring was landed in such poor condition that no buyers for some of the fish could be found at any price. Some of this low grade surplus herring was disposed of on the following day but the remainder had to be sent to the meal works.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can yet make a statement in regard to the trial of General Mihailovitch; and whether British witnesses will now be permitted to give evidence according to their declared wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will ask the Yugoslav Government to provide him with a verbatim report of the trial of General Mihailovitch and lay a copy of such report in the Library of this House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has requested facilities for British subjects desirous of giving evidence, oral or written, at the trial of Mihailovitch; and whether, in this and associated matters, the action of His Majesty's Government has been coordinated with that of the U.S.A.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will approach the U.S. Government with a view to making a joint request to the Yugoslav Government to permit British and U.S. officers, including medical officers, to visit General Mihailovitch; and whether he will make representations to the Yugoslav Government that British officers who fought with the general should be allowed to give oral evidence at his trial.

Permission has been given to certain British officers to forward evidence on behalf of General Mihailovitch through His Majesty's Embassy. This evidence was delivered to the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs on 18th May, and on 23rd May the Yugoslav Minister for Foreign Affairs stated, according to a report by the Official Yugoslav Press Agency, that all written statements made would be passed on to the court for its judgment. My right hon. Friend does not intend to request the Yugoslav Government to provide special facilities for British subjects who wish to give oral evidence at the trial. Such a request by the United States Government has, I understand, already been refused.His Majesty's Government have not consulted the United States Government with regard to the action they have taken in this matter, nor does my right hon. Friend think it would serve any useful purpose to put forward a request to the Yugoslav Government such as that proposed by the hon. and gallant Member for Basingstoke. Further, my right hon. Friend does not consider it necessary to ask the Yugoslav Government for a verbatim record of the trial since it is understood that representatives of the foreign Press will be present, and I have little doubt that a full account of the proceedings will be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the continued presence in Indonesia of British troops, he will represent to the new Netherlands Government that there should be no recession from the recent proposals for the future status of Indonesia, since these represent the most modest instalment of independence likely to be acceptable to moderate nationalist opinion in Indonesia and any modification of them would therefore provoke new outbreaks of violence.

His Majesty's Government's views on the desirability of an early settlement of the Indonesian question on the basis of proposals acceptable to moderate nationalist opinion are well known alike to the Netherlands Government and to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered the complaint of the two opposition members of M. Groza's administration, that the Rumanian Cabinet has recently taken many important decisions in their absence and that the Communist-controlled Press has concealed this fact from the Rumanian people; and what action His Majesty's Government have taken as the result of the failure on the part of M. Groza to maintain the balance of parties agreed at Moscow as one of the conditions of recognition of the Rumanian Provisional Government.

The complaints of the two opposition members of Dr. Groza's administration have been considered, and; in the opinion of my right hon. Friend, they have good grounds for their protest. This matter has been the subject of representations made to the Rumanian Government of 27th May, the text of which has been made public. His Majesty's Government have requested them to take steps to remedy these abuses in accordance with the Moscow decisions and the assurances given by them at the time of recognition.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when elections are to take place in Rumania; and whether His Majesty's Government have received a satisfactory explanation from the Provisional Government of Rumania for the delay.

The Rumanian Government have not yet set any date for the elections. A note was presented to the Rumanian Government by the British representative on 27th May asking them to promulgate an electoral law and to fix an early date for the elections.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Governor of Alexandria, who falsely stated that the British soldiers murdered on 4th March, 1946, had been rescued, is still holding the same office; and what representations he has made to the Egyptian Government on the subject.

The answer to the first part of the Question is " Yes, Sir," and to the second that my right hon. Friend has decided to make further representations to the Egyptian Government on the whole question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what economic links, other than the recently constructed hydro-electric works, exist for maintaining the Union of South Tyrol with Italy.

As the hon. Member implies, the principal Italian economic interest in the South Tyrol consists in the electric power stations that have been constructed there. In addition to these, there is some aluminium and chemical plant in the area, and an important synthetic ammonia plant at Sinigo-Merano, which is engaged in the production of artificial fertilisers. It is further estimated that some 10 per cent. of Italy's requirements of industrial and domestic timber come at present from the South Tyrol.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the arrangements made in the case of Polish nationals who, though not serving in the Armed Forces, materially contributed to the national effort on behalf of the Allies and who do not wish to return to Poland.

All civilian Poles in this country may register for employment with the Ministry of Labour and National Service.I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that His Majesty's Government have already done a very great deal to assist Poles outside; the Armed Forces through the Interim Treasury Committee for Polish Questions. This assistance was, however, on a provisional basis and His Majesty's Government cannot continue to maintain these special arrangements indefinitely. The main categories of Polish nationals who, though not serving in the armed forces, materially contributed to the national effort are the civil servants of the former Polish Government in London and the members of the Polish Merchant Navy.As regards the former, a number are still employed by the Interim Treasury Committee for Polish Questions, which also provides retraining facilities on a limited scale. It is hoped that these facilities will be extended. Others have already obtained employment approved by the Minister of Labour.As regards members of the Polish Merchant Navy, a number of these seamen who served in Polish merchant ships under British control during the war have expressed unwillingness to go on serving under the control of the Polish Provisional Government. These men have been given leave to land in this country and to take shore employment with the permission of the Minister of Labour and National Service. It has proved impossible to absorb more than a few of them into the British Merchant Navy. We are, however, helping the Polish Merchant seamen to travel abroad in search of other employment, and it is hoped that a good many of them will thus be found jobs afloat.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the 25 Polish airmen, including one officer who fought in the Battle of Britain, have been included.in the R.A.F. contingent in the Victory March on 8th June.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in the House on 21st May in reply to a Question on this matter by the hon. Member for Brighton (Mr. Teeling). I regret that I am not able to give any further information at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Polish National Provisional Government has accepted the invitation to Polish Forces to take part in the Victory March.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether representatives of the penny-a-week Red Cross and St. John Ambulance house-to-house collection have been recognised for the Victory Parade on 8th June.

Members of the Joint War. Organisation of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John are included in the Victory March. I understand that the selection of these members was made by the Organisation itself, and that they have been chosen as being representative of all aspects of the Organisation's war effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the extent of the U.N.R.R.A. agricultural programme; whether it is solely advisory; and what practical aid is being rendered in the form of supplies of fertilisers, stock, and so forth.

I am informed that by the end of 1946, U.N.R.R.A. will have spent approximately £75 million on agricultural rehabilitation supplies for those countries which are in receipt of U.N.R.R.A. assistance. These supplies include fertilisers, seeds, farm machinery, livestock, pesticides and other agricultural requirements. In addition, an agricultural advisory service is furnished by specialists who are attached to the various U.N.R.U.N.R.R.A. missions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the total administrative costs of the U. N. R. R. A. operations in Italy; and who meets these expenses, U. N. R. R. A. or the Italian Government.

The figures for U. N. R. R. A. administrative costs in particular countries are not at present available. I am, however, informed that expenditure in local currency which represents by far the greater part of the administrative expenditure of the U. N. R. R. A. Mission in Italy, is met by the Italian Government. Expenditure in other currency, which consists mainly of monthly family allotments by U. N. R. R. A. personnel working in Italy, is met by the administration from the contributions of member Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the nature of the undertaking, regarding withdrawal of troops from Northern Bulgaria, given by the U.S.S.R. at the London meeting of the foreign secretaries; whether this pledge has been fulfilled: or what explanation the Soviet Government has offered.

It was agreed by the Council of Foreign Ministers on 21st September, 1945, that, on the conclusion of the Peace Treaty, all Allied forces would be withdrawn from Bulgaria. Since the Peace Treaty has not yet been signed the question of fulfilling this undertaking has not arisen.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the suggested increase of railway fares, he will consider extending the time for the issue of workmen's tickets to 8.30 a.m.

No, Sir. Any extension of the time for the issue of workmen's tickets would seriously aggravate peak hour traffic difficulties.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will improve the night train service from Dumfries to the South, which has recently been curtailed by the cancellation of one of the two night trains.

Now, as before the war, two night trains rim from Dumfries to London, and I am not aware that this service is inadequate. No advertised trains have been cancelled, but an additional train for Service personnel, on which the public was allowed to use surplus accommodation, is no longer required and has recently been discontinued.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that no staff canteen facilities are provided at Lime Street Station, Liverpool, although approximately 750–850 employees are needing this service; and what steps he will take to see that the canteen is provided.

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 informed that the railway company are not prepared to finance a canteen at Lime Street Station.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement outlining the purposes of the annual grant of £43,000,000 to the railway companies, and when a revision of this grant is intended.

The sum of £43,469,000 represents the annual payment to the controlled undertakings. the earnings of which accrue to the Exchequer through the control account. No provision for the revision of this sum is made in the existing control agreement and none is intended.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in regard to the proposed increase in passenger rates on the railways, he will consider raising first class fares to 50 per cent. above prewar level and correspondingly reduce the proposed increase in third class fares.

No, Sir. The increases on 1st July will be as already announced. It would, of course, be open to the Charges Consultative Committee to consider any such proposal made to them in connection with their inquiry into the subsequent adjustment of fares.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, as the Government took about £200,000,000 from the railways during the war, he will confer with the Chancellor of the Exchequer with a view to securing an allocation of some of this money to reduce the deficit on the railway receipts and eliminate the need for an increase in passenger fares and freight charges.

No, Sir. As indicated in the statement I made on 29th May, the Exchequer will bear not only the full amount of the deficiency in respect of the first half of this year but also any deficiency that remains after the increased charges come into effect.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking with regard to the G.W.R. proposal to abolish the divisional stores at Barry.

I have already explained to my hon. Friend the reasons which have influenced the Great Western Railway in proposing this change, and this is not an issue in which I feel justified in intervening.

asked the Minister of Transport the result of the special investigation undertaken by his Department in order to solve the difficulties which arise from the continued closing of the West End Road, Ruislip, which adjoins the Northolt airport.

By reducing the effective length of the NE-SW runway, it will be possible for West End Road to be fully re-opened to traffic in approximately six weeks' time. This interval is necessary for the completion of navigational aids on another runway which will then be able to be used more frequently than at present. As a temporary measure, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Air and the Minister of Civil Aviation are prepared to allow immediate use of West End Road by traffic, except at such times as flying operations are in progress on the NE-SW runway.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements are being made for the transport industry between the ending of the present control on 15th August, 1946, and the date when his legislative proposals are introduced.

Discussions are taking place between representatives of the road haulage industry and my Department and the following is a copy of a Press notice which I have issued to this effect:Discussions are taking place between the Ministry of Transport and representatives of the Road Haulage Association on the position which will arise when the present agreements with hauliers under which the Government's Road Haulage Organisation is operated, come to an end in August next. The Minister has informed the Association that the Government will require to be fully satisfied that, pending the nationalisation of long distance road haulage services, the industry can implement a scheme which will ensure the transport, expeditiously and at reasonable rates, of traffic to be moved by road which the Government consider important from the national point of view. The distribution of meat and livestock requires special consideration and this question also is being discussed with those concerned."

asked the Minister of Transport what immediate proposals he has in mind to relieve the hardship which he is causing to ex-Servicemen who ran small haulage contractors businesses before the war and wish to restart their businesses again, by failing to define which sections of road transport he proposes to bring under public ownership in forthcoming legislation.

I am not aware that there is any hardship such as the hon. and gallant Member suggests and in any case I cannot at present add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on the 27th May in reply to a similar question.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will arrange to restore the rd. fare and such concessional fares as Is. all day tickets and 6d. evening tickets on the road services of the L.P.T.B.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement which I made on 29th May. I have asked the Charges Consultative Committee to advise me as to the best method of adjusting the Board's fares.

asked the Minister of Transport why S.R. & O. 695 and 696, 1946, which were presented to the House on 16th May, were not available at the Vote Office for the use of hon. Members on 27th May.

I regret the delay referred to, which arose through insufficient priority being requested for the printing of these Orders. I apologise for any inconvenience which this may have caused the House, and I have taken steps to prevent a recurrence.

asked the Minister of Transport if concerted measures are being taken to prevent ships leaving British ports in ballast while export cargo accumulates in docks' warehouses; and if cooperation can be established between national, industrial and commercial organisations and shipping companies to facilitate export and economise shipping tonnage.

The shipping entering and leaving our ports in our import trades considerably exceeds that required to lift our exports, and save for certain classes of export cargo requiring special conditions of carriage, e.g. unboxed motor vehicles, the shipping companies are able to provide for all cargo offering for export within a reasonable time after it becomes available. If the hon. Member has any specific difficulty in mind, I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider the use of tank landing craft, L.C.T.s, for the transport of omnibuses and other vehicles for the export market to the Continent, thereby helping to remove the bottleneck in cross-channel transport which is hampering our export trade.

The hon. and gallant Member is incorrect in thinking that the export of vehicles from the United Kingdom is being hampered by a bottleneck in cross-channel transport. On the contrary, further vehicles could be accepted by existing services if offered.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is now his intention to transfer the Departmental activities hitherto carried out at 14, Crown Terrace, Aberdeen, to Edinburgh.

The whole of Scotland has, since 1941 been one traffic area with headquarters at Edinburgh and a deputy at Aberdeen. I am being compelled to vacate the premises at 14, Crown Terrace, Aberdeen, but I am maintaining an office in that town.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the shortage of wire rods for wire manufacturers; and whether he will arrange to divert heavy sections and bars now being exported at approximately £15 per ton to home use for the production of wire rods and wire articles that can be exported at from £50 to £400 per ton.

The shortage of wire rods is mainly due to insufficient capacity in the specialised wire rod mills and to a shortage of suitable billets. The diversion of heavy sections and bars, which are rolled in a different type of mill, would not help to meet the shortage.

asked the Minister of Supply who are the members of the committee considering the future of the X-ray industry; how many times the committee has met; and whether any progress has yet resulted from these deliberations.

The Committee consists of:Chairman—Mr. Warburton, lately Director of Medical Supplies, Ministry of Supply.Four members of the Ministry of Supply expert in various aspects of the subject.A representative of the Ministry of Health.Brigadier McGrigor, consultant radiologist to the War Office.Dr. Russell Reynolds, radiologist.The full committee has held two meetings and a panel of the committee has held a series of 14 separate meetings with individual firms in the industry. Further investigation of the plans of these firms is proceeding.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he wishes to continue the wartime production of fine wires in this country; and, having withdrawn the subsidies to wire manufacturers, if he will now consider withdrawing or revising the controlled prices now in operation.

The production of fine wires is continuing, and an application for increased prices is now being investigated.

asked the Minister of Supply what quantities of steel for the manufacture of window frames are being imported from the Continent during the period May to December, 1946.

7,500 tons, Sir.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that insufficient sections F4 are being rolled to balance the rollings of sections F7, for windows, with the result that window makers are restricted to the manufacture of windows which will only fit lavatories or bathrooms; and what steps he is taking to ensure that this unevenness of production is remedied.

Yes, Sir; and with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works I am seeking to get the production into balance.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will consider the abolition of overseers at British aircraft factories in view of the fact that the duties which they performed in wartime are no longer necessary.

The matter of our staff at Aircraft Works is now under review.

asked the Minister of Supply what percentages of the total production of new motor cars has gone to U.N.R.R.A. and to the Services.

For the first four months of this year about one quarter of one per cent. and one per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Supply how many factories are on the production of aluminium process; and what is the weekly production of each factory, respectively.

Three, Sir. Their total production of virgin aluminium averages some 640 tons a week.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that Blackburn Works, Dunbarton, are at a disadvantage in increasing their output of houses because of lack of plant, and what he intends doing to relieve this position.

Priority has been given to the completion of the plant and equipment at this factory.

asked the Minister of Supply how much fine-mesh wire netting, of the kind used for the protection of fruit and vegetable crops, was manufactured in the last six months of 1945; the estimated output for January to June and July to December, 1946; and when he expects that the supply will meet the demand.

Separate figures are not available for fine-mesh wire netting, but the total deliveries of all types of wire netting for the last six months of 1945 were about 7,500 tons; those for the first six months of 1946 are estimated at 8,800 tons and those for the last six months at 10,000 tons. We have no precise forward estimates of demand and cannot, therefore, say when supply will meet it, but production in the last half of this year will be at the prewar rate.

asked the Minister e! Supply if he will permit juvenile freewheel bicycles with small bearing in centre which are now imported from the U.S.A. to be manufactured again in this country to enable children to cycle to school and thus save the cost of fares and meals.

No juvenile bicycles are being imported. Production in this country is now permitted and authorisations for materials have been freely issued.

asked the Minister of Supply why His Majesty's Government have ordered 2,500 Austin 12 and 16 h.p. motor cars when there are ex-Government motor cars which, after overhaul, would be quite suitable for U.N.R.R.A. and R.A.F. requirements.

Two thousand five hundred new Austins have been ordered for the Control Commission because all surplus Government cars for which reconditioning capacity is available had already been allocated to other important uses.

asked the Minister of Supply how long the Knighton factory, Radnorshire, has been evacuated; what is the number of persons now employed and for what purpose; and what are the total wages paid per week.

Work at the Knighton Factory ceased on 31st December, 1944. Seven men are at, present employed as watchmen. The total wages are approximately £38 a week. Clearance of the redundant plant and equipment will be completed within the next two weeks and the premises will then he derequisitioned.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how much paper was used by all Government Departments in London and the United Kingdom during, respectively, the first quarters of 1936 and 1946.

Five thousand eight hundred tons and 21,600 tons respectively. These figures include paper used for printing, forms and books. Of the increase of approximately 16,000 tons more than 14,000 tons were issues to the Fighting Service Departments and Departments not in existence in 1936

asked the Secretary of State for War how many qualified pharmacists are at present serving in the R.A.M.C.; and how many are serving in other Army units.

1,335 qualified. pharmacists are serving in the R.A.M.C. and 833 in other Arms.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the military authorities have refused to permit the return to this country of a witness required to give evidence in a case concerning the construction of three hospital camps in Wiltshire for his Department, particulars of which have already been supplied to him; and whether he will now give instructions for this witness, 14846630 Driver R. H. Green, 660 Artisan Works Company, R.E., M.E.F., to be permitted to return to this country.

In view of the special circumstances of this case, I am taking steps to have this man brought home.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take following the warning of the works committee of the Metropolitan Water Board about shortage of supplies for housing schemes.

My right hon. Friend is considering with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works the steps which can be taken to facilitate the purchase of materials by the Board and other water undertakings.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department have estimated the increased demand for medical supplies which will result from the new health proposals; and what steps are being taken to prepare the medical supplies industries for these demands.

My right hon. Friend has this question under review, but it is too early yet to reach final decisions.

asked the Minister of Health if he will institute an inquiry, independently of the local authority, regarding the case, details of which have been submitted to him, in which a patient admitted to the New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, in September, 1945, contracted puerperal fever, ascribed to omission of proper precautions to prevent infection from other patients suffering from this condition in the same hospital.

I do not think the suggested inquiry would serve any useful purpose. The whole circumstances were thoroughly investigated by one of my medical officers last January. Two other cases of pyrexia occurred in the hospital during the period that the woman concerned was a patient in the maternity unit, and I am advised that in each of the three cases the pyrexia was attributable to clinical conditions not associated with uterine infection and there was no organism common to all. Nothing was found to support the suggestion that proper precautions were not taken to prevent the spread of infection in the hospital.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can supply any information in regard to the circumstances under which a 60-year old man was recently found to be suffering from smallpox at Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, while under observation for a different disease; and whether the delay in diagnosis was responsible for the subsequent fatal attack of smallpox contracted by his wife and three children.

My information is that the case mentioned was diagnosed as smallpox, of a relatively mild type, only on expert examination following the discovery of smallpox in other members of the family. The latter cases had not been vaccinated.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increased birth rate and the shortage of midwifery institutional facilities, he contemplates any special measures to overcome the shortage of midwives available for domiciliary services.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of Circular 96/46 of the l0th May, 1946, which sets out the measures which are being taken to relieve the shortage of midwives in both the domiciliary and institutional services.

asked the Minister of Health in how many instances housing work, either temporary or permanent, is being held up due to shortage of either copper, zinc or lead; and what he is doing to overcome this situation.

No instance of serious delay in housing work owing to lack of these materials has been recently brought to my right hon. Friend's notice; he is, of course, aware of the shortages, particularly of lead, and he has issued a memorandum to local authorities suggesting economies and the alternative materials that may be used. If my right hon. Friend could have details of any case in which progress is being delayed by shortage of any of these materials, he would be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the present deficiency of anatomical material for dissection is creating difficulties in the universities and medical schools concerned with medical education; that there is need for immediate action to remedy this position as evidenced by a memorial submitted to his Department; and if he will rectify this position.

My Inspector of Anatomy has returned recently from service with His Majesty's Forces and is in active consultation with local authorities in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present position in respect of the utilisation of sea wrack in the Outer Hebrides; and what overall interest, direction and supervision his Department maintains in this connection.

For the past two years the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society have organised the collection of seaweed by crofters in the Outer Hebrides and have arranged for its sale for commercial purposes. In addition I understand that a commercial company is employing crofters in South Uist and Benbecula to collect weed for their purposes. The Departments under my control are giving every assistance possible to the Scottish Seaweed Research Association, which was set up in July, 1944, to carry out research work into Scottish seaweed resources with a view to their development for use on a commercial basis. It will be some time before the Association can reach definite conclusions from its work, and in order that the question of immediate development might be examined, I appointed last December a Provisional Board to consider the possibility of setting up a seaweed factory in the Western Islands. I have just received the Board's report which recommends a more limited experiment in the first instance and this is under urgent consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to the ruling of a Civil Employment Reinstatement Tribunal, that the relevant Act has been misinterpreted in an official leaflet of advice to Servicemen on demobilisation; and if he proposes to have the leaflet altered.

I am aware of the case to which my hon. Friends refers. Without expressing any opinion on the decision by the Reinstatement Committee in this particular case, which may possibly be the subject of an appeal to the Umpire, I adhere to the view that the leaflet is correct.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many persons within his Department are authorised to sign Statutory Rules and Orders on his behalf; and what are the respective departmental ranks of these persons.

The Permanent Under-Secretary of State, the Deputy Under-Secretary of State and one Assistant Under-Secretary of State are authorised to sign on behalf of my Noble Friend certain Statutory Rules and Orders of local application.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that 1279945 A.C. Dickinson, Hut 10, 3 Wing, R.A.F., Locking, Weston-super-Mare, has not yet been posted to Beaulieu, Hampshire; and when this will be done in view of the assurance given on the subject.

I regret that, owing to an error, the original posting instructions for this airman, which were issued on r6th April, did not arrive at his unit. The unit has now received further instructions and the airman will be posted to Royal Air Force Station. Beaulieu, on 7th June.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many teachers are now serving in the R.A.F.

About 1,200 teachers are now serving in the Royal Air Force and the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. In addition 291 teachers still hold temporary wartime appointments as civilians in the Royal Air Force Educational Service and are due for release in the next four months.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether the fares to be charged between London and Edinburgh for air travel will be competitive with those charged on railways.

Air fares will be somewhat higher than rail fares, but in making a comparison for competitive purposes, the saving of time in travel by air must be taken into consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has now received the report of the Commission of Inquiry, appointed in November of last year, to inquire into the cost of living allowances dispute in Nigeria as the Coin-mission finished its work in January, 1946; and when that report will be published.

I received the Report of this Commission in mid-April; its recommendation that the cost of living allowances existing in July, 1945, should be increased by 50 per cent. with effect from the 1st August, 1945, and that arrears should be paid in 12 equal monthly instalments, has been accepted by the Government of Nigeria, and an announcement to that effect was made in Nigeria on 30th May. The first payment at the increased rate will be made in respect of the month of June, 1946. The first instalment of arrears will be paid in July. The question of the publication of the Report is under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will now make a further statement regarding the release of the huts at Southleigh Farm Camp, Havant, for temporary housing purposes.

This Camp has now been cleared of Admiralty stores and is being transferred to the Ministry of Health for use for housing purposes.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many teachers are now serving in the Royal Navy.

Excluding permanent service officers, the number of teachers noted in Admiralty records is approximately 700, the majority of whom are employed in teaching in the Navy,

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when a Scotsman serving with the Navy is given leave, from what port in Scotland he is likely to start his vacation.

An officer or rating starts his leave from the port at which his ship happens to be lying. Menwhose homes are at a considerable distance from that port, however, may be granted a reasonable addition to periodical leave to offset the time spent in travelling.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what restrictions 'are at present put on German musicians and artistes who wish to perform abroad; and when these restrictions will be lifted.

Musicians and artistes are covered by the same restrictions as any other Germans and in present circumstances it would obviously not be possible to allow free movement of Germans into and out of Germany. I cannot say when it will be possible to remove or modify these restrictions. This will depend on how the general situation in Germany develops and in particular on the progress of de-Nazification and the solution of transport difficulties.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements have been made to ensure that food surrendered by Britain for the benefit of our late enemies will not find its way to the black market and thereby negative the intentions of those who give it.

Food diverted by Britain to the British zone of Germany consists largely of breadgrains and its distribution is subject to close supervision by British officials from the point of unloading through the mills to the bakers' shops. There are, of course, thefts and robberies from time to time, but these are not on a large scale and there is no other source of supply to the black market. Supervision applies not only to grain but to all foodstuffs on the ration and our enforcement officers carry out, in con- junction with the police, frequent inspections of road and railway traffic. In general, the hon. and gallant: Member may be assured that illicit trading in food in the British zone of Germany is kept to the smallest dimensions.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power in how many mines Cardox is being used and what is its effect upon production and safety conditions.

Blasting by means of Cardox Carbon Dioxide Cartridges is now practised at over seventy collieries. This method is inherently safer than the use of explosives, and particularly desirable where there is risk of firedamp explosions. It is, however, much less effective in the case of certain coals and also far more costly.