asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the apprehension felt by coastal local authorities about the arrangements made by his Department for dealing with mines which are washed ashore by the tide; and whether he will endeavour to adopt some additional precautions having regard to the damage caused when a mine struck a rock on the North-East coast and damaged about 200 dwellinghouses.

The Admiralty is fully aware of the risk of damage from mines washed ashore on the coast, and has stationed Mine Disposal officers at strategic points in each Naval Command to deal with them. These officers are in constant touch with the local police and coastguards. I consider that these arrangements are adequate to deal with the menace.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why P/JX252043 ex-Telegraphist Alfred Hammett has not received his gratuity and outstanding credits although he was demobilised on 23rd November, 1945.

Payment has now been made. I much regret the delay which followed from the closing down of the dispersal establishment concerned.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why an A.F.O. allowing naval personnel serving on short term to transfer to "Hostilities Only" has now been cancelled, thus retaining a large number who wish to be released.

No Admiralty Fleet Order has been issued allowing men serving on regular engagements to transfer to "Hostilities Only" conditions. A number of individual transfers of this nature have taken place, but the increasing number of applications has necessitated review of the position and the issue of an Admiralty Fleet Order to the effect that further transfers to "Hostilities Only" can be approved only in special circumstances. The pressure of the demobilisation programme with consequent disorganisation of ships' companies caused by the frequent arrivals and departures of drafts has made this unavoidable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air for how long 1347775 L.A.C. Cockburn was kept under close arrest and for how long under open arrest before the case against him was dropped; and whether he forfeited pay and allowances during this period.

This airman was held in close arrest from the 20th October to 17th November, 1945. He was then released without prejudice and did not spend any time in open arrest. Airmen's pay is suspended during a period of close arrest, but is not forfeited unless a conviction follows. L.A.C. Cockburn has now been demobilised. His detailed pay account has not yet arrived in this country. When it does, I will inform the hon. Member if it shows any forfeiture of pay or allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received any reply from the Soviet Government to the offer he recently made for a delegation of members of their Supreme Soviet to visit this country.

The Soviet Ministry for Foreign Affairs have informed His Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow that they are consulting the Supreme Soviet about our invitation to them to send a delegation of their members to this country. I am awaiting a further reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what medical facilities and schools exist for the children of labourers in the Carey Islands, Malaya.

There is a well designed hospital on Carey Island with four wards, staffed by an Indian doctor assisted by two qualified dressers, one registered midwife and one Indian nurse. The hospital is also visited weekly by a European doctor. There are three Indian vernacular schools on the island with accommodation for 200 and an enrolment of 114 pupils but books and equipment are still deficient as a result of the war.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he will consider holding an inquiry into wage rates for workers of the different Malayan communities both in Government or private service; and why Indian labourers are paid less than Chinese for the same work.

There is in Session in Malaya a Wages and Cost-of-Living Committee which has issued an interim report recommending temporary allowances, which has been approved, for workers of all races in Government employment. Pri vate employers are expected to follow the lead of Government, whose policy is to encourage the development of effective trade unions and wage fixing machinery. Wages are based broadly on equal pay for equal output irrespective of race. No employer pays more on account of race but Chinese frequently earn more than other labourers by their higher skill and greater output.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to meet the demands of Indian labourers on the Ratu Liuggi estate in Negri Sembilan for water facilities; and whether he will ensure that all Malayan estates provide adequate water facilities for their workers.

Labourers on this estate receive their water supplies by pipeline from a Government source. As regards the second part of the Question, the necessity of early repair to water supplies is fully realised and the Governor has informed me that estate owners are fully cooperating in the renewal of pipes and pumps removed or destroyed during the Japanese occupation as replacements become available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give details of the composition and functions of the Central Welfare Council recently established for the Malayan Union.

I am asking the Governor for these details and I will write to my hon. Friend when I receive them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has any statement to make on the recent fracas in Singapore between Malays and Dutch subjects.

The recent death of a Dutch Eurasian soldier in Singapore was the outcome of three disorderly incidents between Asiatic and Eurasian Dutch troops, from a Dutch Military Transit Camp, and Malays. Intensive preventive measures were taken by the police, and are continuing. Further steps are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is yet in a position to publish the evidence of complicity in terrorism which prompted His Majesty's Government to incarcerate the leaders of the Jewish Agency in Palestine.

No, Sir. The matter is being handled with all possible speed, but I am not yet in a position to say when publication will be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is being taken on the West African Cocoa Scheme.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) on 3rd July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reasons the ban on weaving of native cloth in Nigeria has been imposed.

There is no ban on the weaving of native cloth in Nigeria; on the contrary the Government is anxious to encourage it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the native authority of Enugu Ngwo, in Nigeria, has complained that their people have never consented to the alienation of the land on which the Enugu Ngwo township is built and coal mined; and whether he will investigate the position.

I have received no such complaint; but I will ask the Governor for a report and will write to my hon. Friend when I have considered it.

asked the Minister of Food what increase or decrease in the number of persons employed in administering the rationing of food has taken place since 1st August, 1945.

The majority of the staff of my Department is concerned directly or indirectly with administering the rationing of food, either at the import, wholesale, retail or consumer level. The total increase of staff on 1st June, 1946, compared with the 1st August, 1945, was 10,590 but this increase includes the large number of extra staff who are engaged temporarily for ration book distribution in June. If 1st June, 1945, is taken for purposes of comparison the increase was 3,561.

asked the Minister of Food what estimate has been formed of the number of extra persons, including those concerned in any printing and distribution made necessary, who would be employed as the result of a decision to ration bread.

The printing of the bread rationing documents has been carried out by a small number of firms under a Stationery Office contract. No extra staff will be needed for their distribution. For the operation of the scheme the local food offices will require between 1,500 and 2,000 additional staff.

asked the Minister at Food if he will reconsider the exchange of bread units for points beyond the four-week period, as the present arrangement might entail the loss of odd bread units some months.

Coupons are intended to provide for current needs and not as means of laying in a store. If a housewife does not use all her coupons in a particular period that can only be taken to mean that she does not need them all and there is, therefore, no hardship in the arrangement that bread unit coupons which are not used for obtaining bread unit foods or exchanged for current points coupons during their period of validity must lapse.

asked the Minister of Food whether children who are within the 11 to 18 years of age group, but have left school and are engaged on manual work, will be entitled to claim manual worker's allowance of bread per day.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement classifying the position of adolescents who are engaged in manual employment; and whether they will receive bread rations on the basis of industrial allocation or under their respective age groups.

Yes, Sir. Moreover, young manual workers between the ages of 11 and 18 will be rationed both as adolescents and as manual workers and will, therefore, receive 18 oz. per day (or 14 in the case of girls) compared to 15 oz. for male adult manual workers (or II in the case of women manual workers) and 12 oz. for non-manual worker adolescents. They will, therefore, be some of the highest rationed people in the country, and in our view rightly so, for their psychological, and physiological, needs for food arc especially large.

asked the Minister of Food in view of the location of food offices in London and the fact that many people living on the edge of boroughs shop in other localities, he will consider making it possible for bread ration units and points to be interchangeable at any food office.

Unit coupons and points coupons will be exchangeable at any food office.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the wastage of crusts from bread used in preparing snacks for cocktail parties at the large hotels and restaurants; and what steps he is taking to prevent this wastage.

The forthcoming rationing of the supplies of bread to restaurants and hotels should help to prevent this waste.

asked the Minister of Food if he will extend to self-employed agricultural smallholders who do manual work on farms not exceeding 100 acres the facilities for additional bread units which are at present applicable only to farm workers.

Self-employed workers in the occupations such as agriculture which are listed in the schedule B.M.W.I are eligible, like farm workers, for the manual worker ration. They are not, however, eligible for the additional bread units which are intended solely for those workers who as a class need regularly to take packed meals from home and who have been granted entitlement to the special cheese ration.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will give an assurance that in the proposed bread-rationing scheme women engaged in heavy industries and performing work normally done by men will receive bread rations on the same basis al male industrial workers engaged in heavy industry or of women manual workers

The ration for all adult women manual workers will be 11 per week. But I am making special and extensive provision in the canteens which serve both men and women workers in heavy industries to enable these workers to supplement their domestic rations from the canteens virtually to any extent which they individually find desirable.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in order to relieve the housewife and the food office officials, he will agree to surplus bread units being used for the purchase of points goods instead of it being necessary to exchange them for points through the food offices.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the distance of local food offices from some parts of the district they serve, he will consider the posibility of making bread units valid as points instead of having to be exchanged at food offices.

Without some means of finding out on what scale exchanges are taking place, it would be impossible for me to adjust distribution and thus make the scheme run smoothly. So I am afraid the exchanges will have to be done through a food office.

asked the Minister of Food the estimated numbers of the eight classes into which he has divided the nation for the purposes of bread rationing.

The estimated figures are as follow:

asked the Minister of Food why he has drawn a distinction between the agricultural worker and the working farmer for purposes of bread rationing.

For the purpose of bread rationing both the agricultural worker and the working farmer are classed ac manual workers and are eligible, if men, for the 15 ozs. a day ration. Agricultural workers however who have no access to canteen or other catering facilities and who as a class are unable to obtain a midday meal at home but need to take packed meals to work with them, are entitled to the special cheese ration and to an allowance of 6 bread units per week to enable them to provide these packed meals for themselves. Working farmers as a class can generally have midday meals at home and have therefore not been allotted this special provision for packed meals. At harvest time and other periods of seasonal activity further allowances are available both of bread units and other rationed foods for all those concerned including the working farmer.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will include all hospital nurses among those women who qualify for the 11 ounces of bread a day.

Yes, Sir. All hospital nurses qualify for the 11 ounces of bread a day. Hospitals will be able to obtain this allowance for those who are resident.

asked the Minister of Food if he will include inshore fishermen among those entitled to the bread ration for manual workers.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food why Britain is exporting wheat bis- cuits to Bermuda where food supplies are ample.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the protests made in the Bermuda House of Assembly against the export of biscuits from Great Britain to Bermuda at the present time, he is takings steps to stop this particular export.

Exports of biscuits to Bermuda have ceased. They were stopped at once when we knew that the Bermuda Government was prepared to forgo the supplies of biscuits for which it had previously asked.

asked the Minister of Food whether any concession is to he made to vegetarians in view of the fact that they will be affected by bread rationing but will not benefit by the increase in the meat ration.

I am sorry that vegetarians will not benefit from this addition to the meat ration. They get, of course, a special cheese ration of 12 ozs. and 2 ozs. extra vegetarian margarine a week.

asked the Minister of Food what the saving in bread has been since the loaf was reduced in size and since the cut in sugar and fats has been made to the bakers.

The average weekly usage of flour for the production of bread in the months of May and June has been below the average usage in the previous month by only 0.6 per cent. There is, normally, however, a seasonal rise of 4 per cent. in bread output during May and June. Owing to this and to the influence of other factors upon the level of bread consumption, it is very difficult to form a reliable estimate as to the extent to which output would have risen had there been no reduction in the weights of the loaves. There is no reason to think that the cut in sugar and fats for the manufacture of flour confectionery has had any significant effect on bread consumption.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the continued food shortage, he will consider the seeking of further powers in regard to black-market and other offences, with a view to increased penalties for such offences.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is satisfied that the present scale of maximum penalties that can be imposed by the courts for serious food offences is adequate.

I shall not hesitate to increase the wide powers of fining, imprisonment or withdrawal of licences against black market and other food offenders if that becomes necessary. But from recent sentences, including terms of imprisonment up to 18 months, I am at present satisfied offenders are getting what they deserve.

asked the Minister of Food if it is his intention to ration any food which is at present unrationed before the autumn.

I have no such intention.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the operations of the herring fleet are again being restricted on account of the quantity of herring; and, in view of the world food shortage, what steps he is taking to put an end to this restriction.

The operations of the herring fleet and the export trade in herring are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Herring Industry Board, but in view of the world food shortage I am actively exploring with them the best means of utilising the herring catch so that restrictions can be reduced to the minimum. I am also doing all I can to increase the consumption of herring in this country

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the shortage of fresh tomatoes is increased by the making of tomato purée in restaurants; and why he has not purchased tomato purée from Casablanca.

I do not think that the manufacture of tomato purée in restaurants seriously increased the shortage of fresh tomatoes which was due to the bad weather in June. We have bought no tomato puree from Casablanca because the price was too high, but we hope shortly to buy some from France.

asked the Minister of Food if he will specify the quantities and types of oils and fats which are to be obtained from the U.S.A. in return for the 10,000,000 lbs. of butter which has been allocated from New Zealand to U.S. forces in the Pacific.

I can assure the hon. Member that we shall obtain from the United States oil and fats of a quality and quantity which will at least compensate us for the ro,000,000 lbs. of New Zealand butter exchanged. We are still discussing the matter with the U.S. Administration and I cannot yet give the hon. Member further particulars.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of copra has been secured for shipment from Malaya to the United Kingdom in the first and second half of 1946, respectively; and why any quantity available has not been bought.

The quantity of copra purchased in Malaya for shipment during the first half of 1946 was 1,370 tons. So far none has been purchased for shipment in the second half. Owing to the fall of supplies and heavy local demands arising out of the general food shortage, the amount available to us will for the present be very limited. We are, however, obtaining all we can.

asked the Minister of Food how many cases of pineapples were bought and shipped to the United Kingdom from Malaya in the first half of 1946; how many cases have been bought for shipment in the second half of 1946; and whether all possible supplies have been secured for consumption in the United Kingdom.

We have not been able to buy any fresh or tinned pineapples from Malaya this year for the United Kingdom and I am afraid I can hold out no hope of our being able to do so. The canning industry was badly damaged during the Japanese occupation and is only just beginning to be built up again. I shall try and get all the canned pineapple I can as soon as they have some to sell.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that out of 156,000 tons of maize afloat from the Argentine only 8,000 tons are destined for Great Britain; and whether he proposes to take any steps to see that farmers in this country are enabled to obtain a more just proportion.

I have no figures confirming the statement of the hon. Member, as the quantity of grain afloat varies from day to day. Shipments of Argentine maize to the United Kingdom during the last month or two have been comparatively small, as the bulk of our purchases from the 1945 crop were shipped late in 1945 and early in 1946. We now hold further large purchases of maize in Argentine and Brazil and hope to ship substantial quantities to the United Kingdom for human consumption, essential industrial purposes and as feed for special cases—young animals and milk production. The latter will only be possible if the maize is not required for human consumption, as the C.F.B. in January last adopted a resolution that coarse grains should be devoted to the maximum extent for human consumption, during the present wheat shortage, instead of being used as animal feed

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the serious food situation and of the large exports of both human and animal foodstuffs revealed in the Trade and Navigation Accounts for the United Kingdom for the five months ended on 31st May, he will prohibit the export of all foodstuffs pending an amelioration of the food situation in Great Britain.

The export of all food products from this country has now been severely restricted, in accordance with the terms of the statement made to the House by my predecessor on 16th April, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Food the cost of the 20 motorcars recently delivered to his office in Birmingham for the use of his inspectors; and how many motorcars for similar purposes have recently been delivered or are on order for the whole country.

These 20 cars cost approximately£5,000. Three secondhand cars have also recently been delivered for the official use of Ministry inspectors who cannot carry out their duties properly without them. Twenty-five utility vans are on order, and we are hoping to get a further 23 cars from the Services.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has secured all available palm oil in Malaya for shipment to the United Kingdom.

We have purchased for some time ahead the entire production of palm oil from the principal estates in Malaya, and I am hoping to obtain a substantial part of the production of the few estates which are outside the main group.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the growing difficulty experienced by Food Enforcement Committees in persuading retailers to give necessary evidence against wholesalers who impose conditions of sale; that many of such retailers refuse to give such evidence on the ground that supplies would be withheld from them in the wholesale markets as a reprisal; and what steps he proposes to take to remove such fears and guarantee protection to those retailers cooperating with the authorities to end illegalities in food sale and distribution.

As a result of complaints of this nature from the Retail Fruit Trade Federation Limited, my Depart-merit, with the cooperation of retail and wholesale traders, has during the past six months carried out, in 13 important cities throughout the United Kingdom, investigations into complaints that the Orders concerning fresh fruit and vegetables were being broken by wholesalers in various ways. The inquiries have established that breaches of the Orders were not nearly so widespread as they were thought to be and no prosecutions were undertaken. If a wholesaler should be convicted of imposing a condition of sale, or were to close the account of a retailer who gave evidence against him, I should consider the revocation of the wholesaler's licence.

asked the Minister of Food if, in his search for the essential necessities for the manufacture of margarine, he has explored, scientifically, the possibility of using pilchards by refining processes.

I am arranging for the inquiry into the question of converting herring into oil and meal to cover also the scientific and technical aspects of processing pilchards for this purpose. The problem presents some difficulty in view of the expense of the plant and the shortness of the pilchard season.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider lowering the levy charged on pilchards in the interests of the inshore fishermen.

I have been considering the hon. Member's suggestion together with other proposals for the pilchard industry, and I hope to make an announcement very soon.

asked the Minister of Food when he intends to publish a White Paper giving particulars of the actual allocation of cereals from the 1944–45 harvest by the Combined Food Board to the various countries concerned, together with estimates of the amounts available from their respective domestic productions.

Information regarding the distribution of cereals from the 1944–45 harvests is collected by the Combined Food Board and I am inquiring whether that body would agree to this information being published.

asked the Minister of Food why the large quantities of straw berries available to passing motorists in certain parts of the country cannot be distributed also among poorer sections of the population.

Growers are allowed to sell strawberries direct to the public only to the extent that they did so before the war. I am afraid it would be almost impossible to go further than that.

asked the Minister of Food what is the cause of the failure the Government to complete the proposed wheat agreement with the Dominion of Canada; and whether negotiations are still being carried on.

Negotiations for a new wheat agreement were entered into at request of the Canadian Government. Considerable progress was made during my visit to Ottawa but there are certain matters still outstanding. These are at present under consideration by the two parties.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will forbid the serving of main dishes in public eating-places after 3 p.m. except to workers presenting coupons, specifying that they are engaged on night work or late turns of duty.

No, Sir, I do not consider that the advantages to be gained would justify the further restriction suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that when the marketing of the 1945 potato crop was in the hands of the trade, consumer needs were adequately met by a regular flow of supplies to the market, but that since his Department has intervened in the matter of potato trading, many areas have periodically been unable to obtain sufficient potatoes to satisfy demand; and whether arrangements will now be made to ensure that future potato crops will be handled by the trade without unnecessary interference.

No, Sir. The difficulties in potato distribution which occurred this spring were due in the main to the cold wet weather which maintained the demand for potatoes at an unusually high level and delayed the arrival of the new crop. But for the action of my Department in building up a reserve of long-keeping potatoes the difficulties would have been much greater and I intend to continue this policy next year.

asked the Minister of Food if he will state the quantity of wheat and flour in ports, barges, coasters, warehouses, in transit or being milled in the United Kingdom on 1st July, 1946, and 1st September, 1945. respectively.

When, in the course of the Debate on 3rd July, I informed the House of our anticipated wheat and flour stock position at the end of August, I pointed out that this departure from the usual practice of not disclosing stocks of individual food commodities in the United Kingdom was because of the significance of these particular stock figures in relation to the Government's decision on bread and flour rationing. I also said that this special occasion must not be taken as a precedent implying that such information would normally be disclosed in future. In these circumstances, I regret that I am

unable to give the figures for which the hon. Member is asking.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the unrest amongst coalmen, fire droppers and tube cleaners at the G.W.R. Old Oak Common Locomotive Depot because of their inability to keep clean upon their personal ration of soap; and, in view of the state of discontent amongst this type of worker, if he will prohibit the export of soap.

These workers are provided with the usual washing facilities at their depot. I am enquiring further of the railway company as to the cause of the trouble and will write to my hon. Friend. Only very small quantities of soap—under 4 per cent. of our total production—are exported, and as the British Colonies, Dependencies and Middle East territories which receive these exports have to rely on this country for their supplies, I am afraid I cannot adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Food if he will specify the changes in the soap ration for individuals since the beginning of 1945, giving dates and quantities.

The changes in the 'soap ration for individuals and the quantities (in terms of rations per four weeks) are

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will extend the life of import permits for textile machinery beyond the present limit of six months.

An application for the extension of the validity of an import licence for textile machinery is normally granted with readiness. If, however, the hon. Member has a case of difficulty in mind I should be glad to look into it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department has renewed, or is intending to renew, the service of collecting inquiries for British goods in overseas markets, and transmitting such inquiries to trade organisations in this country.

Yes, Sir. It is a normal practice of overseas officers both in foreign and in Empire countries to report opportunities for the sale of United Kingdom goods in their territories. It is the intention of His Majesty's Government to do all they can to extend and intensify this practice. These reports are brought to the notice of the appropriate trade organisations or to United Kingdom firms likely to be in a position to supply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the abolition of the Hide and Leather Committee of Combined Supply Board, which now allows free competition between individual nationals for hides and skins in conditions which favour dollar countries, what steps are being taken to ensure a fair share of hides and skins for this country; and whether British tanners and skin buyers are still under Treasury control and how far they have freedom of action as regards prices.

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 8th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Mr. Attewell). On the second part, the great bulk of the supplies of hides and skins imported into this country are still purchased on public account by the Leather Control.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the footwear controls policy has so far resulted in firms which made the biggest sacrifices under the Government's concentration scheme now being the worst placed as regards stocks and labour, and what is being done to remedy this,

I do not accept the implication in the Question. Special consideration is given to the position of all footwear manufacturers in process of de-concentration, which is now well advanced, on lines agreed with the Boot Manufacturers' Federation. The Footwear Controller will continue to assist in every practicable way the rehabilitation of all businesses which were concentrated, particularly those which gave up their factories.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department approves the quality of material and the standard of design of all utility articles now manufactured and sold at a controlled price and what tests of durability are required.

Specifications relating to construction and finish are laid down wherever practicable for utility cloth and footwear. The specifications for utility furniture cover design as well as construction. The specifications are worked out with representatives of the trades and aim at securing durability, the best use of the available material and selling prices appropriate to a wide range of income classes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to arrange for increased supplies of phenolic moulding powder for firms making electrical accessories.

The supply of phenolic moulding powders is now considerably greater than it was before or during the war, but I am afraid that no further substantial increase can be expected until additional manufacturing capacity comes into operation towards the end of the year. Meantime, the uses to which producers are giving priority in distributing these powders include the making of electrical accessories for housing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will investigate the activities of the Chemists' Friends Association, with a view to ensuring that all appropriate goods that do not involve dispensing are allocated equitably between chemists' shops and drug stores, giving particular attention to the equitable distribution of camera films.

I understand that the Chemists' Friends' Association seeks to confine sales of certain proprietary goods, not including camera films, to chemists and druggists. I have no evidence that its activities are causing inequitable distribution.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to illegalise restraint of trade practices; and whether such legislation will include the prohibition of all such actions as are now being taken by the Hairdressers' Trade Association in withholding all supplies of hairdressers' sundries from those hairdressers who refuse to obey the association's instruction to increase their prices.

As has already been stated on several occasions in this House, the Government intend to introduce legislation on this subject on the lines foreshadowed in the White Paper on Employment Policy (Cmd. 6527). Power will be sought to inquire into the extent and effect of restrictive agreements and to take appropriate action to check those shown to be contrary to the interests of the nation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether coupons will be required for Government surplus clothing and footwear identifiable as such.

By an Order signed yesterday no coupons will be chargeable as from tomorrow, 11th July, for Civil Defence uniform and for other Government surplus clothing which bears markings showing its origin. Rubber boots are excepted from this arrangement and will continue to require coupons because these surpluses are needed as part of the normal supply against the ration. In making this statement I would warn the House that the quantities of Government surplus clothing likely to become available are not in general expected to be large.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider granting the 10 industrial coupons to the nurses and child care reserves employed in school nurseries and who are obliged by regulation to wear overalls.

Local authorities administer the arrangements for staff employed in school nurseries. Under these, State registered nurses and probationers are included in the nurses' uniform concession—through which they are supplied with overalls, aprons and headsquares coupon free in exchange for a surrender of six coupons—and nursery assistants, nursery helpers and those child care reservists employed on similar duties. receive four overalls in exchange for six coupons. These concessions are in themselves equivalent to an occupational supplement and there would be no justification for allowing the Industrial Ten as well.

asked the. President of the Board of Trade what pulp or material. used in the hosiery trade to produce artificial silk or rayon is being diverted to the new Courtauld factory producing tyres.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the factory at Sellafield which will not be ready for the production of rayon tyre yarn for at least a year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why payments in respect of war-damage chattels are being refused where the claim relates to repairs and not to the purchase of new goods.

Payment is not refused solely on the ground that a chattels claim relates to repairs, and I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4th February to the hon. Member for Bolton (Mr. J. Lewis) of which I am sending her a copy. If, however, she has any specific case in mind, and will let me have particulars, I shall be glad to have it looked into.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones for connection to the Sale exchange are outstanding; and how many fresh applications are being received each week.

The number of applications for telephone service from the Sale exchange at present outstanding is 1,450. New applications for service from that exchange are about 13 per week.

asked the Minister of Supply what system of priorities has been decided on for the allocation of the available output of electric motors of all sizes.

There is no system of Government allocation or priority covering the whole output of electric motors of all sizes, but arrangements are being developed with the industry to give priority of delivery, at the request of the Ministry of Supply, in cases which the Government regard as of exceptional urgency.

asked the Minister of Supply if his Department have examined or are investigating the prices now being charged to municipalities and other purchasers for electrical plant; whether he has examined the information now in the hands of his Department indicating the existence of a price ring among electrical plant producers; and with what result.

I am now considering the information available with a view to deciding whether an investigation is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Mr. Arnold Lunn, in the course of a lecture to the students of No. 2 R.A.F. Instructors' School, E.V.T., R.A.F., M.E.F., on 7th April, 1946, expressed strong views in favour of Anglo-American unity against Russia; and if he will remove Mr. Arnold Lunn from the panel of approved lecturers for troops.

Mr. Lunn carried out a lecturing tour in M.E.F. under arrangements made by the Army. He also gave lectures to R.A.F. units. In view of this Question, I have called for a report from Middle East, on receipt of which I will consider whether action is called for on the lines suggested, and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now prepared to issue postwar credits, together with any other sums due on discharge to Mr. T. Cheney, 143, Laburnum Grove, North End, Portsmouth, who was discharged as medically unfit for further service on 30th December, 1943, after having been a prisoner of war, and whose regimental number was 805603.

His postwar credit was included in the amount paid to Mr. Cheney on his discharge in December, 1943. Like other soldiers already discharged, he was invited in September, 1945, by public announcement, to apply for the war gratuity to which he then became entitled. His application was only recently received and as soon as he has completed the form sent to him on 3rd July, and the particulars have been verified, payment of the gratuity and of a sum due in respect of overseas service leave will be made. No further sums will then be due to him from Army funds.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of cigarettes supplied to N.A.A.F.I. in May or June, 1945 and 1946; and whether he is satisfied that full consideration has been taken of the number of men and women who have been demobilised from the Forces.

'The number of cigarettes supplied to N.A.A.F.I. from the United Kingdom, for use at home and abroad, in May and June, 1945, and in May, 1946, are as follow

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the considerable hardships caused to jurors when they are detained away from their businesses, particularly in the case of private traders and wage earners who lose wages; and if he is now in a position to announce plans for the institution of a system of payment for jury service.

I appreciate that the obligation of jury service may sometimes involve hardship, but as my right hon. Friend explained in reply to previous Questions on this subject, legislation would be necessary to provide for any payment from public funds to jurors in respect of expenses or loss of earnings, and I regret that I can hold out no hope of finding time for legislation on this subject in the near future.

asked the Minister of Transport when the new Highway Code will be available.

A copy of the revised Highway Code will be laid on the Table of the House tomorrow, and copies will be available to Members in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the delays which are involved under existing procedure in entering upon and acquiring land for road improvements; and whether he proposes to take any action in the near future to improve the situation in this respect.

I am well aware of tae time taken to obtain entry upon and to acquire land for road improvements, but I would remind my hon. Friend that etc procedure followed is That which Parliament has prescribed. The new procedures authorised by the Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) Act, 1946, will reduce delays in urgent cases.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many tankers and of what total capacity were used to bring petrol to Britain in the last month for which lie has statistics; and how many tankers and of what total capacity were used for this purpose in the corresponding month in 1939.

The figures asked for are as follow: May, 1946–21 tankers carrying 61.7 million gallons; May, 1939–50 tankers carrying 124 million gallons. In both cases the cargo figures are for motor spirit, including aviation spirit, and, as is often the case, a number of the tankers carried other products besides motor spirit and aviation spirit.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many officials are involved in the handling of petrol rationing; and what does this rationing cost the nation in salaries, house rent, postage and other incidentals.

The total staff employed on petrol rationing is 1,763, of whom 36 are at headquarters and the remainder in the regional petroleum offices. The cost of this staff is approximately£460,000. My Department also bears the cost, amounting to about£45,000, for petrol rationing in Northern Ireland. The cost of accommodation is borne by the Ministry of Works, of postage by the Post Office and of stationery by the Stationery Office as part of the common services afforded by those Departments. I have no information as to the amounts involved.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the anxiety and distress caused to disabled miners and their families in Kent by the numerous ejectment orders issued against them; whether his Department were consulted by Messrs. Dorman Long and Company before these actions were commenced; and what action does he intend to take to stop such applications to the court being made in the future.

I have no power to interfere with the exercise of contractual rights affecting the tenancy of colliery houses, and my Department was not consulted before action was taken to secure possession. I am glad to be able to state, however, that as a result of my representations further action has been suspended pending consultations between all the authorities and interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will reconsider the present position of supplementary women teachers and improve their pay and rate of pension.

Supplementary teachers have not been regarded as falling within the scope of the Burnham Committee, who have not made any proposals in regard to their salaries. Local education authorities were informed in August last that they should submit to my Department for approval any proposals they wished to make to modify the salaries hitherto approved for supplementary teachers. I am ready to consider any such proposals for the payment of salaries at rates which bear a reasonable relationship to the scales laid down in the Burnham Report for other categories of teachers. As regards superannuation the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925, provides that contributions shall be paid on the salary of a teacher and that pension shall be calculated on the length of pensionable service and the average contributory salary for the last five years of that service. It would conflict with the actuarial principle of the Act to provide that pensions of supplementary teachers should be calculated on more service than was actually given or on higher salaries than those which were actually received and on which contributions were paid.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give increased facilities for private builders to build small residential houses and the conversion of large ones into flats, particularly in towns like Colwyn Bay, which has been practically all built by private builders.

No, Sir. The Colwyn Bay Council has a long waiting list of applicants who want houses to let, and the building facilities available in the borough must be concentrated first on meeting this need. Builders in the borough who are anxious to build houses should offer their services to the Council, in appropriate cases in accordance with the arrangements announced in Circular 92/46, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will state the names of any other sites chosen for new towns besides Stevenage.

Yes, Sir. The Crawley-Three Bridges area in Sussex appears to afford a good site for a new town, and I have arranged to discuss the project with the local authorities in the locality this afternoon.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much the acreage of potatoes planted this year exceeds or falls short of the acreage planted in 1945.

Pending the tabulation of the results of the Agricultural Census of 4th June last, figures for the acreage of potatoes sown this year are not available. The 1946 acreage, however, will probably be much the same as in 1945.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total cost of, and how many officials are employed in, the pest control branch of his Department; how many of these are on administrative work; and how many actively engaged in catching vermin.

The number of staff in the Land Pests Branch of the Ministry is nine and the total amount of their salaries is £5,200 per annum; this staff is engaged on administrative, clerical, technical or inspectoral duties in connection with the campaign of pest destruction carried out by the county war agricultural executive committees. These committees employ about 2,100 persons on the actual destruction of vermin at a total cost in salaries of approximately£345,00o per annum.