asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for uniformity of speed limits in all London parks, based upon the limits which obtain in the Royal parks.

I have no jurisdiction over speed limits in London parks or the Royal parks. These are matters for the London County Council and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works respectively.

Can the right hon. Gentleman do something to equalise the speed limit of 12 miles per hour, which is not enforceable at the present time?

I will certainly draw the hon. Member's observation to the notice of the authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will have the surplus lands bordering trunk roads that have been acquired or will be acquired for future widenings, planted with trees, shrubs and other suitable plants to make the roads attractive and pleasant places for travel.

Yes, Sir, the planting of suitable trees and shrubs is one of the methods by which I hope to add to the attractiveness of trunk roads.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give top priority to making the lay-out and lighting of Western Avenue and the Kingston Bypass uniform throughout their lengths to enable these heavily trafficked roads to be used to capacity and to eliminate the prevailing obstructions and dangers to traffic circulation due to the mixtures of dual carriageway with single carriageway, cycle tracks and footpaths with no cycle tracks or footpaths, and good lighting with poor lighting or no lighting; and what action has been taken to date to achieve this.

Plans have been prepared for the construction of a second carriageway on Western Avenue and on the Kingston By-pass where none exists at the moment, and I hope to put the work in hand as soon as labour is available. The problem of lighting these roads is being investigated and I have already before me proposals for the installation of modern lighting up to traffic route standard on an additional length of Western Avenue.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of toll roads and bridges in the United Kingdom; what plans exist for their elimination; and when the Government expect to complete the project.

There are 59 toll bridges and 41 toll roads in Great Britain, of which five and one respectively are on trunk roads. Of these, three bridges and the road were transferred to me on 1st April, 1946, by the Trunk Roads Act. These tolls on trunk roads will he eliminated as rapidly as possible. Plans have already been prepared for bypassing two of the bridges, and negotiations are in progress which will, I hope, shortly result in the freeing of the third. As regards other roads, the initiative rests with the responsible highway authorities, but I am prepared to consider for grant any application from a highway authority which has as its object the freeing of a toll road or bridge on a classified road.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now appoint a Regional Commissioner for the North of Scotland.

No, Sir. Since 1941 the whole of Scotland has been one traffic area with headquarters in Edinburgh and a sub-office in Aberdeen. I propose to maintain an office at Aberdeen to meet the convenience of operators of road transport in the North of Scotland.

:Is it not a fact that there are Io areas in England as against only one in Scotland, and does the right hon. Gentleman think this is justified, and can he say what powers he intends to grant to his representative in Aberdeen?

I think that the sub-office at Aberdeen meets all the necessary requirements of that district, and until I have evidence to the contrary I propose to continue it. I am, of course, always open to reconsider matters.

asked the Minister of Transport how many motor omnibus companies demand a deposit upon the issue of initial season tickets in addition to the cost.

I am making inquiries and will arrange for a statement to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of his proposal to abolish the Road Haulage Organisation, he intends to retain any powers under Regulation 73 (b); and, if so, for what purpose.

I propose to revoke the Road Transport of Goods Order, 1944, which is the only Order made under Defence Regulation 73B, as from the date when the Road Haulage Organisation comes to an end, and the arrangements with the Road Haulage Association come into operation. The Regulation itself will remain in force in case of any breakdown in those arrangements.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give the numbers of vehicles, other than hackneys, falling into the following categories:heavy oil, light oil and electric, as at February, 1946; and whether he will consider similarly subdividing these figures in future issues of his Department's "Monthly Digest of Statistics."

The number of electrically propelled goods vehicles for which licences were current at 28th February, 1946, was approximately 6,800. I regret that separate figures are not available of the numbers of vehicles at present using light and heavy oil fuel respectively. This information was obtained before the war by a census of road vehicles which was taken in September of each year. This census was suspended at the outbreak of war, but it is hoped to resume it in the near future, when the information desired will again become available.

Will the Minister take steps to find out the number of steam vehicles?

No doubt the census will disclose information of that sort.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give details as to the amount of up-to-date road-making equip- ment, bulldozers and other such machinery, which has been made available for improving the highways of this country, after being designated as surplus to military requirements; and to what extent this machinery is being used by his Department and other highway authorities, respectively.

I have no information as to the road-making equipment designated as surplus to military requirements which has been made available to highway authorities, but in addition to a substantial amount of other equipment, my Department has obtained for use in connection with Trunk Roads the following heavy plant: 23 Crawler Tractors; 14 Excavators; seven Asphalt Spreading Machines.

asked the Minister of Transport when the L.M.S. vessels s.s. "Duke of Rothesay" and s.s. "Duke of York" will be released from requisition.

These vessels are still required for military service, but I hope it may be possible to release them from requisition about October of this year. Reconditioning may take about six months.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the tonnage available from England to Northern Ireland is only about half what it was before the war? Why should Northern Ireland, particularly, have to suffer, after six years of blockade, by not having enough vessels for the summer trade?

Northern Ireland is not suffering any more than any other locality.

It is.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the tonnage of British shipping at present chartered by the United States of America.

No British ships are at present on charter to the United States Government. From time to time in the last few months a small number of British ships have been fixed for single voyages by private United States charterers.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that Norwegian and other allied ship-owners are permitted to sell their old vessels to other than their own nationals; that they are thus able to finance the purchase of modern vessels, including vessels owned by the Minister himself; and whether British shipowners will be placed is a position not less favourable.

I am aware that sale of ships to other flags is to some extent permitted by certain Allied maritime countries and that, in normal circumstances, it is generally regarded as desirable to permit such sales in order to assist in maintaining the efficiency of merchant fleets and to encourage new building. For the time being, I regret that our own tonnage resources are not Sufficient to permit of any general freedom of transfer of serviceable ships from the United Kingdom register. I am anxious, nevertheless, not to restrict freedom of transfer beyond the necessities imposed by my responsibility for ensuring adequate tonnage for national requirements, and, subject to this overriding consideration, applications under the Ships and Aircraft (Transfer Restriction) Act for permission to transfer United Kingdom ships abroad are considered on their merits.

asked the 'Minister of Transport by whose instructions are second-class seagoing engineers prevented from studying for a first-class certificate; when was this instruction given: and why.

No general instruction has been issued preventing a man with second-,class certificate as engineer from taking the examination for a first-class certificate, but the grant of paid leave for study for the senior certificate is dependant, under the terms of the National Maritime Board Agreement, on there being an adequate supply of officers, and from time to time permission has had to be refused by the Tool Authorities because of a shortage of officers. If my hon. Friend would furnish particulars of any special case he has in mind I Should be pleased to make inquiries into it.

asked the Minister of Transport how much shipping is on demand to bring food supplies from South American ports to Britain; and if he will expedite the necessary arrangements.

The amount of shipping required to bring food supplies from South American ports to the United Kingdom fluctuates from month to month according to the availability of foodstuffs. Foodstuffs currently available for shipment are fully covered by shipping allocations.

Arising out of that evasive answer, is the Minister aware that there is a serious delay in turn-round and in shipping coming from South American ports, and that I am authoritatively informed that this is due to the deficient arrangements made by the Ministry of Transpot?

I am quite aware that from time to time there are port difficulties, arising in the vast majority of cases from circumstances in those ports outside our control. I have here all the details which show that my answer was not an evasive one. If the hon. Gentleman desires to have more detailed information, he can always have it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether when the Essential Work Order, in so far as it affects merchant seamen, is withdrawn, any provision is being made to provide continuous employment for them thereafter; and whether special provision will be made to safeguard the position of crofter seamen from Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, who must stay ashore periodically to attend to their crofts.

This matter is for decision by the shipping industry and is now occupying the attention of the National Maritime Board. I am assured that the position of crofter seamen will be kept in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied that the dredging operations carried out in the various ports of the country are sufficient to maintain a clear fairway and to prevent the entrances of our docks and harbours from silting up.

Although it was not possible at some ports to dredge during the war to prewar standards, I am satisfied that the position in this respect is improving, and that in general our ports are now being dredged adequately.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of our ports had a continuous service of dredgers some time ago, but that now they pay only occasional visits, with the result that the fairway is silting up?

In view of my reply, I suggest that if my hon. Friend has any definite information, he should submit it to me. His reference to "some of our ports" in general does not enable me to examine any particular difficulties.

I am much obliged to my right hon. Friend, and I will pass the information to him.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are being taken to direct ships to the ports where unemployment is acute as an alternative to transferring the men from their home ports to those that are congested and require transferees.

No conditions of congestion have recently arisen which would justify my ordering diversion of ships from their normal ports of discharge to which they are "billed." To meet an occasional shortage of labour at any particular port it may well be best to transfer temporarily dock labour from another port where there may at the time be a surplus.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of men are now transferred 200 miles from their home port for discharging purposes on ships, and that it should be much easier to transfer them to the men's home port where they could discharge them just as well?

I would suggest that the hon. Member looks carefully at the answer I have just given him.

Is it not a fact that these conditions prevail all over the country? Have I not drawn the attention of the right hon. Gentleman to the position on the Firth of Forth, and does he propose to take any action with a view to having better distribution of these ships?

Yes, Sir. I am aware, as my hon. Friend knows, that adjustments, are now taking place in many ports owing to their reversal to peacetime conditions, and these observations will be carefully examined.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make a statement on the introduction of cheap day excursion railway fares for organised parties and single persons.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement regarding the restoration of cheap railway fare facilities.

With the permission of the House, I will make a statement at the end of Question time in reply to Questions. No. 3 and No. 31.

In present circumstances, while the railway companies are unable to provide more than 80 per cent. of their prewar services, cheap fare facilities cannot be fully restored but I am glad to say that I am now able, as a start, to authorise the main line railway companies to restore, with effect from 1st August, cheap day tickets at single journey rates in the following cases:

In view of the fact that the railway services appear to continue to be moderately congested, is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to put on additional rolling stock to cater for these increased facilities which he has now announced?

As a matter of fact, facilities of this kind are coming along because the railway companies are steadily ex- panding their services, which include rolling stock. Of course, that does impose a limit, and that is why I said that at this stage they cannot be fully restored.

Is the Minister aware that the announcement he has just made will be most welcome in the country, that it can be operated to some extent without additions to the present facilities, especially in mid-week when many trains are lightly loaded in the provinces, and that school children in particular will welcome the opportunity or going to the seaside?

The right hon. Gentleman mentioned London, and also provincial cities. Has he no arrangements for Scotland?

My statement, of course, covers Scotland.

On a point of Order. May I ask why Edinburgh or other parts of Scotland are described as provinces?

I must apologise. I stated that without reflection. It is a question of figures. I mentioned cities with 50,000 population or more. Scottish towns of that population, and Scottish market towns, all come within the description.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether it will be possible to resume any prewar weekend facilities in the near future?

Not at the moment, because weekend traffic is so heavy that we cannot possibly add to it at the moment. It will follow on as rapidly as possible

Will the Minister also consider Sunday when he is considering these facilities, in order to allow the poor father to be reunited with his children for a family party now and again?

As I indicated, weekend traffic is too heavy at the moment to consider fathers in that respect.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether "centres of attraction" include places where demonstrations are taking place against the Government?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman why it was not possible to extend these facilities to period excursion tickets for families visiting the seaside, who will find it very hard in view of the increased fare?

For the reasons I have stated, traffic is too heavy on that type of journey to encourage it still further by concessions.

The position is not clear. Do these facilities and reductions apply to Scotland in the same way as to the rest of the country?

Definitely, yes.

asked the Minister of Transport for what reason Government officials have priority for sleeping berths on trains now that the war is over; and whether he will forthwith issue instructions that such preference is to be terminated.

In view of the heavy demand for sleeping berths it is still necessary to reserve a small number for persons travelling on urgent business of national importance where the journey must be made at night. Only 25 per cent. of all first-class and eight per cent. of all third-class berths are now so reserved. Of these reserved berths, during a recent period, 68 per cent. were allocated to business men, 14 per cent. to Members of Parliament, 10 per cent. to the Services and eight per cent. to civil servants. Only a limited number of senior civil servants are eligible for these reserved berths.

Will the Minister say why it is more important for Government officials to have reservations than, for example, business people engaged in the export drive?

It does not follow that a good percentage of the 68 per cent. which represents allocations to business men were not given to business men engaged in the export trade.

Will they have priority?

These percentages are the priority, and 68 per cent. of the 25 per cent. of reserved berths are allocated to the businessmen to whom the hon. Member refers.

Are any persons considered nationally important now who were not considered so, during the war, and if so, who are they?

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are being taken to repair and rebuild the Central Railway Station, Sunderland.

Proposals for providing a new passenger station at Sunderland or for reconstructing the existing station are being considered by the Company in consultation with the Corporation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the new station is rather more cheerful-looking than the old, which was not cheerful?

asked the Minister of Transport the amount paid during each of the last five years in respect of agricultural produce destroyed or damaged by fires caused by railway locomotives

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedford (Mr. Lennox-Boyd) on 4th July, a copy of which I am sending to him.

In view of the fact that this loss is very substantial, will the Minister say what further steps he proposes to take to minimise the loss of produce through these fires?

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that during the present holiday season there is a demand for more first and third-class sleeping coaches from London to Aberdeen by both the L.N.E.R. and the L.M.S.R.; and if he will, before it is too late for this holiday season, see that the requisite sleeping accommodation is provided.

I am glad to say that as from tonight the L.N.E.R. Company are providing an extra first-class sleeping car except on Fridays, in each direction between London and Aberdeen. Further sleeping cars, either first or third-class according to demands, will be provided as soon as circumstances permit.

Will the new arrangements obviate the change from one train to another at Perth?

I could not answer that question without notice.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that although the war ended a year ago the railway services in this country are just as bad, and is this due to the fact that they are still under Government control?

I really cannot allow that to pass. The railways carried a heavy load during the war, but they are now back to 80 per cent. of their prewar services.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he has in mind for the electrification of railways in Scotland.

No schemes for the electrification of railways in Scotland are before me at present.

While I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I say that this answer will be received in Scotland with the customary cheer which we always give to answers of this type?

That would suggest that we should have considered nationalisation many years ago.

As the foremost producer of hydro-electricity in these islands is in Scotland, does the right hon. Gentleman not think it extremely unfair not to allow the electrification of any part of our railways in Scotland?

asked the Minister of Supply how many vehicles and motor cycles, surplus to requirements, are now being held in the British zone in Germany.

Some 10,000 trucks and miscellaneous military vehicles and 2,400 motor cycles now in the British zone in Germany have been declared surplus.

Can the Minister say what steps he proposes to take to make these vehicles available for use in this country, and how much longer he intends to allow them to rot in Germany?

Some have just been declared surplus and those suitable for being brought here will be brought.

asked the Minister of Supply (1), what is the total amount of capital moneys invested by His Majesty's Government, including both purchase price and subsequent capital expenditure, in the Government-owned steelworks at Monkbridge, Leeds and Barrow-in-Furness;

As the answer is rather long, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Supply how many motor cars have been supplied to Government Departments, other than the three Fighting Services, since 1st January, 1946; and how many are now on order for these Departments.

Up to 22nd June, 1,310 new and 250 reconditioned motor cars were supplied. 2,737 are still on order. This includes requirements, in Germany, of the Control Office for Germany and Austria.

How much more public money is to be spent on pampering bureaucrats at the expense of productive industry?

asked the Minister of Supply when sufficient penicillin will be available to meet demand; and whether the Control of Penicillin (No. 1) Order, 1946, will then be revoked.

Supplies of penicillin are steadily increasing but it will not be possible for some time yet accurately to estimate the demand. I will certainly give careful consideration to the desirability of discontinuing control measures immediately it becomes apparent that supplies are adequate to meet an uncontrolled demand.

asked the Minister of Supply why, under the Control of Penicillin (No. 1) Order, 1946, he has made anyone who, without approved prescription or authority, tries to buy penicillin, liable to imprisonment; and whether he will amend the Order so as to confine responsibility for infringement to vendors.

No, Sir. Control is more effective against possible black market activities if proceedings can be taken against the person who acquires as well as the supplier.

What steps is the Minister taking to inform prospective purchasers of the peril which they run?

Penicillin can only be bought against a prescription, and that is the safeguard on which we rely.

But what steps is the Minister taking to inform the general public of the contents of this Order under which a perfectly innocent purchaser runs the risk of going to prison?

I am indebted to the hon. Member for a further opportunity of making these facts known.

asked the Minister of Supply how many factories, erected during the war for the manufacture of magnesium, are now lying idle; what the cost of these has been; and what his policy is regarding them for the future.

Three factories, erected at Government expense during the war, have ceased the production of magnesium as, with the end of the war the demand has fallen very steeply. The first, erected at a cost of £990,000, is surplus to requirements and has been transferred to the Ministry of Works for temporary house production, pending a decision as to its final use. The second, erected at a cost of £4,350,000, has been placed on a care and maintenance basis as standby capacity, and is being used for storage. The third was only partly employed on magnesium production, expenditure on magnesium capacity being £760,000. The entire factory has been notified as surplus, to the Board of Trade.

Are these factories to be turned over to peace purposes? If so, when?

If my hon. Friend will look at my answer, I think he will find there the answer to his supplementary question. One of the factories is being used now for peacetime manufactures. Another has been declared to the Board of Trade, for them to find a new use for it, and the third is on a care and maintenance basis, being used for storage and as standby capacity.

Is it not a fact that the storing is only in the yard, and that the factory is not being used?

Do I gather from the Minister's answer that £4 million worth of factory space is standing there as standby capacity? One would like to know how long it is to be standing there as standby capacity, and when it will be used for useful productive purposes.

These factories were part of our war potential. The demand for magnesium during the war was 100,000 tons per annum, but it is now less than 2,500 tons, and most of that can be got from scrap. It is impossible to destroy the capacity to produce magnesium. The best arrangements are being made.

asked the Minister of Supply for what purpose Newchurch Hall, Culcheth, Lancashire, is to be used in the future; how many coalmining trainees anti building trade workers have received notice, or are to receive early notice, to leave or be transferred to another locality; how many of them will be provided with other accommodation; what changes in financial terms of residence and conditions of employment will take place; and whether Newchurch Hall is to be controlled by the Co-operative Holiday Association or the Ministry of Supply or other body of owners or departmental employers.

This hostel will continue to be managed by the Co-operative Holidays Association as agents of the Ministry of Supply and will be used primarily for employees of the Ministry of Supply and of the Admiralty. Nine coalminers and 11 other residents have already been given notice to leave, and 19 coalminers and 35 building trade workers will shortly be given notice. The charges for hostel residence are to be increased by 5s. a week with effect from 29th July and certain other minor adjustments are being made. I would also refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on 30th May.

Is it a fact that the coal mining trainees have been selected to go first because of the grimy nature of their appearance when they return from the mines? Further, is he aware that that is thought to be the reason for these people having been selected in large numbers?

No, Sir, I think not. The reason why these people have been asked to leave—and it is regrettable that they have to leave—is that the accommodation in the hostel is wanted in connection with the royal ordnance factory for which it was provided. However, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour is making alternative arrangements for them.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) if he will now state the reassessed rents on his Department's housing estate, Victoria Avenue, Ilkley; and, in view of the fact that the reassessed rents have been settled and are to be applied at once to these houses, if he is aware that the tenants are still on rent strike as no reductions in rents have taken place;

A reduction in the rents on these two estates has been approved and I have sent the hon. and gallant Member particulars.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will consider reducing the allocation of horticultural glass to German farmers and make available the resultant surplus to British growers.

Supplies of glass in the British zone of Germany are insufficient to meet even essential requirements. In view of the serious food shortage, it is imperative that as much indigenous pro duce as possible should be grown in the zone. I cannot, therefore, at the moment consider any reduction in the already in adequate allocation of glass to German farmers. I understand, however, that the possibility is being explored of bringing to this country glass-making materials from the American zone of Germany.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the amount of produce from the existing glass houses in Germany is very small compared with the glass coverage? Can he inquire into this matter?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the present official rations in the American zone of Germany and the actual estimated consumption of calories per head in that zone; and how each of these compares with the comparable figures in the British zone.

There has been no change in the official ration scales in the British zone of Germany, and I am aware of no effective change in the American zone, since my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Ludlow (Lieut.-Colonel Corbett), on 13th May, which included detailed figures for both zones. In general, the rations issued have been kept up to the official scales. No reliable estimate can be given of the actual consumption per head because, as I pointed out in my reply of 13th- May, the supplementary foodstuffs available vary from place to place.

Is it not a fact that, since 13th May, the Lord President of the Council has been to Washington and has arrived at an agreement with the State Department that the rations in the British zone should be brought up to the level of the rations in the American zone? Will the hon. Gentleman take up with his right hon. Friend the facts, as disclosed in his answer, that the American Government are not carrying out the undertaking that was given?

The hon. Member is misinterpreting the position. There was no agreement on the part of the Lord President of the Council that the ration scales in the British zone should be brought up to the scales applying in the American zone. There was an agreement in regard to the achievement of common ration standards and about assessment of the ration standards.

Is it not the same thing?

No, Sir. It was not agreed that rations in the British zone should immediately be brought up to those in the American zone.

Was it not agreed, anyhow, that the ration scale in the American and British zones should become the same? Has that happened?

The purpose of the agreement that was reached was that common ration standards should be established, and consultations for the achievement of that purpose are going on

Did I understand the Minister to say that the differing availability of supplemental foodstuffs vitiated the validity of comparative figures in this respect? If I did, will he call the attention of the Minister of Food to that point, in view of the speech which that Minister made last week?

All I said was that, as I mentioned in my reply of 13th May, there are certain circumstances such as the availability of supplementary food. That would include sharing out between families on different standards, as between heavy workers or nursing mothers and the normal consumers. That fact makes it impossible for the point in the Question to be answered as to how much any particular individual is consuming or whether the actual ration scales are being received and consumed by the individual.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will order a review of the sentence of one year's imprisonment passed by a Military Government court in Göttingen on a German, Dr. Mentzlaff, for failing to stand while the British National Anthem was played.

All sentences passed by Military Government courts are reviewed. In this case, a petition has also been lodged, and this will be considered at the same time. Meanwhile, it would not be proper for me to make any comment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will now consider allocating feedingstuffs to keepers of poultry not on the basis of a 1939 registration but on that of the number of eggs delivered to egg-packing stations, where such stations exist.

No, Sir. As I intimated in my reply to the hon. Member for Woodbridge (Mr. Hare) on 1st April, the allocation of feedingstuffs to poultry keepers on the basis of the numbers of eggs delivered to packing stations has been considered and found to be impracticable.

Is the Minister aware that some of the people who were registered in 1939 must now be dead? Is he further aware that if he were to adopt such a procedure as is suggested, it would prove a serious deterrent to the black market in eggs now prevalent throughout the country?

I fully appreciate the point that the hon. and gallant Member has in mind, but I would remind him that the number of eggs produced does not depend wholly on rationed foodstuffs issued to poultry keepers but on the total quantity of foodstuffs, including unrationed food, that can be grown or procured by the poultry farmers. Further, it would be necessary to segregate the rations for birds kept for egg production from those for birds kept for breeding or destined for slaughter. It is a wholly impracticable proposition.

Is not the Minister aware that many poultry keepers have diminished the number of poultry they keep, and they are now receiving rations altogether out of proportion to the number of fowls actually on the premises, and that, conversely, people in the same way of business in 1939 who have expanded their poultry receive a ration utterly inadequate for their needs? If the present suggestion is not the right one, can the Minister think up something a little less out of date than 1939?

I am satisfied that the present system is the most equitable one that can be found.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has yet considered the resolutions passed by the Lancashire Federation of Poultry Societies requesting that adequate compensation should be paid to egg producers for the losses caused to them by the recent cuts in feedingstuffs; and what action he proposes to take in this matter.

Yes, Sir, but I am not in a position to say whether it will be possible to meet the representations of these poultry societies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that, arising from the announced 4o per cent. cut in feedingstuffs, a cross section of farms on second-rate land, where the first half-gallon was waived, has been taken and produced an estimate that whereas last winter a farmer was eligible for 1,570 units, next winter only 305 will be drawn; and, in view of these figures, if he will consider reviewing the allocation of units as a matter of urgency.

I have not seen the estimate referred to. If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars I will write to him.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in order to build up protein and cereal units for county reserves and for producers on second-rate land, he will give consideration to a scheme for next winter, whereby farmers on first-rate land shall only receive units up to requirements of sufficiency, or, alternatively, to raise the gallonage after maintenance.

The ability of a dairy farmer to become more self-sufficient in feedingstuffs depends on a number of factors, of which the quality of the land is only one, and it would be administratively impracticable and probably unfair to operate a rationing scheme which was based only on the quality of land. If, however, my hon. Friend has any concrete proposals in mind and would let me have particulars, I should be happy to consider them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will instruct county agricultural committees not to serve ploughing-up orders on smallholders who have no machinery of their own, unless the county committees are able to guarantee that they will provide labour and facilities for ploughing, seeding and harvesting at the appropriate times.

County war agricultural executive committees are composed largely of practical agriculturalists with a knowledge of local conditions. They are aware that the directions they issue must be reasonable, and have been told that they must give an occupier on whom they serve a direction an opportunity to make any representations he desires. I am satisfied that a committee would not confirm a ploughing-up order on a smallholder lacking the necessary machinery and other facilities unless they were confident that the assistance required would be available either from a contractor or a neighbouring farmer, or from the committee's own resources.

In the event of a farmer being compelled by the W.A.E.C. to plough up his land against the advice of the farmer, and there is a loss, who pays the loss?

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has considered the use of surplus road side ammunition shelters converted into small temporary silos to augment the silage crop where practicable.

Yes, Sir. I am at present considering this suggestion. In adopting it, precautions will be necessary to protect the metal from the action of silage acids, and to secure structural strength. I hope to issue advice on this matter to farmers shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the names and prices of seeding units used as an attachment to a tractor, comparable to the unit known as 7135/X, which are being manufactured in this country; what stocks of each are now available to British farmers and horticulturists; and where these units can be obtained.

Wessex Industries Ltd., of Poole, are the only manufacturers of these seeding units in this country. I regret I am not in a position to give particulars of this company's business, as the returns made to my Department are supplied on the understanding that figures for individual firms will not be disclosed. I am however assured that this firm has sufficient stocks in hand to meet present demands.

Was it only that firm which the right hon. Gentleman had in mind in telling me last week that there were lots of alternative machines available, and is there only one type of machine?

I said there were a number of machines available but not a number of different kinds, as this is the only firm making this particular machine.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether the supply of those machines is adequate? My information is that it is not adequate.

If the hon. Gentleman had listened to my reply, he would have heard me say "I am, however, assured that this firm has sufficient stocks in hand to meet present demands."

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is now possible to remove the restrictions, imposed on the ground that the two-stroke engine is in short supply, on the purchase of motor mowers for agricultural use, having regard to the fact that water-pump units fitted with such engines can be obtained without restriction.

All restrictions on the purchase of motor mowers for agricultural purposes were removed on 27th May, 1946.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what general arrangements he has made with U.N.R.R.A. for the purchase of livestock in this country; what is the maximum number of the main types of livestock which U.N.R.R.A. may purchase in this country over the next 12 months; and to which country it is intended that the livestock so purchased shall be licensed to be sent.

In pursuance of previous arrangements in general terms U.N.R.R.A. was asked early this year for estimates of the numbers and types of livestock which it was desired to purchase in this country during the present year. These estimates were examined by my Department in the light of the general livestock position and U.N.R.R.A. was informed in detail how far we could meet the requests. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the agreed maxima for various classes of stock. As indicated in the answer to the hon. Member's Question to the President of the Board of Trade on 3rd July, the allocation of livestock to the receiving countries rests with U.N.R.R.A. in consultation with the countries concerned.

In thanking the Minister for his reply, I should like to say that he is the third Minister who has been asked that question and the first who has been able to answer it.

Would the Minister say how this reply fits in with the recent restriction on any export of livestock from this country?

I do not remember the restriction referred to.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the number of priority orders for tractors which have been granted by W.A.E.C.s during the last 18 months; and how many of those granted over 12 months ago have not yet resulted in the farmer obtaining a tractor.

I regret that this information is not available without special inquiry, but the great majority of tractors produced in this country are delivered to farmers within six months of the committee's approval.

Is it not a grave reflection on the Ministry of Agriculture that there is no system of continuous review to see if the farmers are getting the tractors they require? Will the right hon. Gentleman take some steps to give service to the farmers?