asked the Minister of Health when the Nottinghamshire County Council will be supplied with a mass radiography plant.

I would remind the hon. Member of my right hon. Friend's general reply to him of 6th June last. My right hon. Friend cannot say at what dates each new unit becoming available will be allocated, but he will keep this county well in mind.

Are these plants allocated on a population basis? If so, as this county has a population of over half a million, it should be entitled to early consideration.

That will be a material factor in giving consideration to the allocation.

Is it intended to issue them in each county?

It is intended to issue them to give a general service to the country as a whole as soon as they become available.

asked the Minister of Health how many new discoveries have been made for the treatment of cancer in the last 10 years as the result of experiments on living animals.

Information of this kind is not obtainable.

Is it not a fact that new discoveries for the cure of cancer, arising from experiments on animals, have been announced publicly almost every few months during the last ten years and in view of the fact that deaths from cancer have steadily increased every year during the last 40 years, will my hon. Friend recommend other methods of investigation than experimenting on living animals to cure this disease?

Undoubtedly other methods should also be followed, but that does not mean that this method does not result in information which is valuable.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered the shortage of nursing staff at the Leicestershire P.A.C. infirmaries and the declaration by the coroner at an inquiry on the death of a person unable to obtain admission to the infirmary that this was the third similar case on which he had conducted an inquiry; and what action he proposes to take to overcome this nursing shortage in the immediate future.

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend is aware that, owing to the shortage of nursing staff, public assistance institutions in Leicestershire are not able at present to admit all the cases needing nursing care, and his attention has been called to a distressing case of this kind at Market Harborough. The Minister of Labour and my right hon. Friend are doing all that is possible to help by publicity and otherwise. Salary scales have been much improved, and a code of working conditions laid down. The setting up of more assistant nurse training schools is being actively encouraged. But the situation is difficult, particular in hospitals for the chronic sick.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused by his refusal to approve the granting of licences to private builders in 23 out of 25 cases recently submitted to him by the Saint Faiths and Aylsham Rural District Council; and if he is prepared to give fresh consideration to this matter, in view of the shortage of houses in the rural areas of Norfolk.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will issue building licences to private persons in the St. Faiths and Aylsham district of Norfolk, in cases where land has already been acquired, and some cases where building contracts have been entered into, in accordance with representations made to his regional office at Cambridge by the St. Faiths and Aylsham Rural District Council.

The St. Faiths and Aylsham Rural District Council had issued 121 licences to private builders by the end of May; and effort must now be concentrated on the building of houses to let for those in greatest need. My right hon. Friend is not, therefore, prepared to agree that further licences should be issued for the time being, though there may be exceptional cases. The council have made a good start with their own building programme and have more land available; and the best way for private builders to assist in overcoming the housing shortage in this area is for them to build houses for the council, in appropriate cases under the terms of Circular 92/46, of which I am sending each of the hon. Members a copy.

Is the Minister aware that each of these cases submitted by the St. Faiths and Aylsham Council show the most desperate urgency and need? Is he further aware that at the same time that authority was refused permission for these houses to be built, at the other end of my constituency authority was given by another Department for the building of a grandstand at a greyhound racing track?

Is the Minister also aware that very similar and strong complaints come from the Orpington area?

There are a number of councils who have exceeded the number of private licences in comparison with the erection of houses to let, which makes it essential, in order that the accommodation may be distributed according to need, to restrict houses for sale in order that houses to let may be built.

asked the Minister of Health how soon he anticipates being able to authorise the Saint Faiths and Aylsham Rural District Council to issue a building licence in favour of Corporal C. Land, who wishes to build a house for his own occupation at Taverham, Norfolk.

I understand that the application of Corporal Land will be considered by the council today. If the council think that the case is one in which a licence should be issued, they will so inform my right hon. Friend, but as I have already indicated in replying to an earlier question put by the hon. Member, this is a district in which effort must be concentrated on the building of houses by the local authority.

In such cases where the hon. Gentleman prevents the building of houses by this means, can we be assured that he is doing all that is possible to ensure that some other houses are erected in their place?

The reason for the non-issue of licences is in order that the available labour and material may be used for the building of houses to let.

Are the hon. Gentleman, and his right hon. Friend, certain that these houses to let will be occupied by agricultural workers, which the others would have been?

Not necessarily by agricultural workers.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he thinks his Department is really treating local authorities fairly when he gives them authority to grant licences to build houses and then when they decide, after reviewing all the facts, to grant licences, his Department revokes them?

As with other organisations, there are some local authorities who do not use their powers with due discretion. What we have asked them to do is to use their licensing powers in conformity with their own building programme, so that their own building programme for houses to let is not injured by their licensing for other purposes.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that his decision to refuse a licence for the building of two farm workers' cottages at Hop Grove Farm, Malton Road, York, will have a serious effect on food production in this area; whether he is aware that plans for these houses have received the approval of the Flaxton Rural District Council as the planning authority for the area; and whether, in view of these facts and the present food shortage, he will reconsider his decision.

I am making further inquiries about this case and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his Minister had refused this licence, that there are no cottages on this farm, and the nearest cottage proposed to be built by a local authority is two miles away? This policy is repelling agricultural workers from agriculture.

It is in order to be made familiar with all the particulars of this case that I am having the inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Health, how many families are at present being accommodated in rest centres, air-raid shelters, public institutions and the like by local authorities in the Metropolitan Police district; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the eviction of families against whom court orders for possession have been issued, in cases where the local authorities have no accommodation available.

The figures my right hon. Friend has are for rest centres and halfway houses in the London Civil Defence Region. In that area there were at the end of June 719 families so accommodated. Of this number 276 were in the County of London. I understand that only most exceptionally are homeless families accommodated in a public institution. In such cases every effort is made to transfer them to other accommodation immediately. It would not be proper for my right hon. Friend to attempt to prevent the eviction of families against whom court orders for possession have been issued. All he can do is to make arrangements for their accommodation in common with other people needing homes.

Is my hon. Friend aware that a view prevails in the county courts that the local authorities are in a position to rehouse families dispossessed by court orders, and will he take some step to correct that erroneous view?

I attempted to do that in this House on Tuesday night by saying that it must not be taken that people who are evicted have priority over other applicants for housing by local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the six acres of land being acquired for building purposes from Mr. T. Williams, Chapel House Farm, Minsterley, Salop, constitutes 100 per cent. agricultural land producing animal feeding-stuffs and corn; and if he will, before coming to a final decision in the matter, make sure that no other possible site exists beyond the alternative already rejected.

As stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries in his answer to the hon. Member's Question of 8th July, due consideration was given to agricultural interests before the use of this site was approved for housing. With regard to the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend cannot add to his answer of 4th July. He gave careful consideration to the representations of Mr. Williams before he decided to confirm the compulsory purchase order and he has no power to modify this decision.

In view of the considerable amount of agricultural land which is being used for the purpose of housing, would' the Minister consider with his colleague the question of taking over all the land and allocating some part to agriculture and the rest to housing?

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the completion of the 50 Tarran temporary houses at Congleton is nine months late; and when will these houses be ready for occupation.

Yes, Sir. Completion of the houses is held up owing to the shortage of certain fittings. Every effort is being made to expedite production of these fittings, and I hope that these houses will be available for occupation very shortly.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that nearly all these houses could be occupied if they were painted inside and had their electrical fittings? Will he please bring a little more coordination into these matters?

I have already said that it is due to the shortage of fittings and, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman has said, electrical fittings are one of the things in short supply.

asked the Minister of Health on what grounds he has instructed the Malvern Urban District Council to issue no further building licences to private persons without his approval; and whether his approval will be given in the case of builders who already have building materials available.

My right hon. Friend has asked the Malvern Urban District Council not to issue further building licences without his consent because of the prevailing shortage of labour and materials and the need for concentrating them on houses to let to those in greatest need. The council have started a good programme of their own which they can increase, and my right hon. Friend is anxious that their building should not be prejudiced. It is open to any builder with materials available to offer to build for the local authority, either in reply to advertisements for tenders or on the lines laid down in Circular 92/46, of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that less than a month ago the Minister informed me that he was entirely satisfied with the policy of this council in the issue of licences, and why has his policy changed? If I give him the names of builders serving in the Forces, will he undertake to have them released at once?

I will undertake, if names are submitted, to take the necessary steps to deal with them in the normal way.

Is the Minister aware that the Colwall area, which comes under the Malvern Rural District Council, has not yet started to build one house, in spite of the fact that people are living in overcrowded conditions in that area?

I have no jurisdiction over the council. The constituents in the area must deal with them.

Is it not a fact that the necessity for tendering by small builders who are not equipped for, or practised in, tendering imposes a considerable delay in the housing programme of this country?

It is for that reason we have issued Circular 92 / 46 and have adopted the method of allowing the small builders to build without the necessity of tendering in the normal way.

While appreciating that the Minister has taken the advice offered to him to set up that system, is it not the fact that very little progress has so far been made with this excellent idea which was recommended to the Minister?

It may be that progress is not as great as we should desire but, as the matter becomes known to the smaller builders, we feel certain that they will take advantage of it.

asked the Minister of Education to what organisations and unions the working party, set up to deal with the responsibility of teachers in connection with school meals, belong; and what experience in catering the different members have.

The working party is no longer in being, having fulfilled its purpose of making recommendations to me, as a consequence of which Circular 97 was issued. The members were: the Secretary of the Association of Education Committees, the Education Officer of the London County Council, the Secretary of the Education Committee of the North Riding of Yorkshire, and three members Of the National Union of Teachers, together with three officers from my Department. The working party was not concerned with catering questions, but with the responsibilities of the teachers for supervision.

Could the right hon. Lady say why the National Union of Women Teachers were not represented?

Because in these matters the National Union of Teachers is taken as representing the overwhelming body of organised teachers.

asked the Minister of Education if she has considered the 15 points of criticism of educational administration in the Beckenham area; and what action she is taking to meet them.

I have seen the document to which the hon. Member refers. I am having inquiries made, and will write to him as soon as possible.

Will the right hon. Lady, as a matter of policy, concentrate on putting the present buildings and existing services in order, before she launches out on any grandiose schemes of education?

I have put my policy before the House.

asked the Minister of Education if she will issue a statement based on the reports of the school medical officers, giving for the years 1934, 1938 and 1945, the average weight, height and health by age categories, of boys and girls, respectively, between five and 13 years of age in the county borough of Sunderland.

I regret that the statistics asked for are not available, but I am sending my hon. Friend some information about nutrition surveys in Sunderland, which indicate the health of the children before the war, and in 1945.

asked the Minister of Education how many Welsh education authorities are awaiting a decision by her Department on their schemes for the payments for posts of special responsibility under the last Burnham Agreement.

The general position of Welsh local education authorities in this matter does not differ substantially from that of other local education authorities. As matters now stand, four local education authorities have submitted schemes for the payment of allowances to teachers in primary and secondary schools upon which a decision cannot immediately be given. In the case of three other authorities, further details or amended proposals are awaited. Proposals for the payment of allowances to teachers in technical colleges, etc., are awaiting decision in the case of one authority.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that this matter has been hanging fire for a long time, and that considerable inconvenience is being caused to many of the teachers concerned, because the salary to which they believed they are entitled is held up for a decision?

Not altogether; one of the difficulties is the slowness of the local education authorities in asking for a decision. However, we are dealing with it in a different way now, and I have sent out a circular. In all except the most awkward cases it should form a general basis for these cases.

asked the Minister of Education the maximum grant available to cover the cost of the necessary books to students receiving an award under the Further Education and Training Scheme.

Grants are based on standard figures for maintenance recommended to me by the committee of the university concerned. The cost of books is included in the figures. There is no special "book" grant. If a student has exceptionally heavy expenditure on books, and his college recommend that he needs special help, we can give him an addition to his grant.

Are the necessary books generally available, or are most of them out of print, as so many educational books are?

The position has been much more difficult than it is now, but, through the activities of what is known as the Moberly Committee, I think there is now as much paper as educational publishers can take up.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that a demobilised prisoner of war, by name Arsene Polet, was a supply teacher at Haydock, Lancashire, R. C. School; that when he finished as a supply teacher he was interviewed on 7th March for employment under the emergency teachers scheme, but has, as yet, had no reply to his application; and, as the delay keeps him from seeking other continuous work, if she will expedite a decision on whether he is required for teaching work.

I am sorry that Mr. Polet has not received an explanation of the delay. I understand that there was some doubt about his physical fitness, and the examining medical officer wished to see him again after an interval when he had had time to recover from the effects of his captivity. A second medical examination will be arranged in the next week or two.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will ensure that all ex-Service students who have been found suitable and accepted for a teachers' training course shall, if they so desire, be employed temporarily as supernumerary teachers pending the start of their course.

I have already made suggestions on this matter to local education authorities, and am sending the hon. Member a copy of the circular which I have issued, but I cannot require authorities to offer employment to these candidates without regard to local circumstances.

As some of these people are in fact dropping out, and as their loss will be a great pity from the point of view of the teaching profession, will the Minister do her utmost to encourage authorities to adopt as farsighted a policy as possible in this matter?

I am sorry, but we have had to work out the policy for this in the very difficult circumstances of supply, as I have explained to the House on several occasions, and I am afraid that this is the best way we can deal with the matter.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the policy of his Department in regard to the retention of women in those sections of the Department which previously operated with male staff.

The general policy is to restore prewar practice, except where different arrangements are made by agreement with the staff associations concerned. This policy is in accord with assurances given during the war to the staff associations. With the return of Post Office men from the Forces, and the increased recruitment of men, considerable progress has been made in implementing this policy. It has been found possible to release large numbers of women whose war work was completed; for example, the number of women doing postman's work has fallen during the last twelve months from 18,000 to 8,000. I may add that women who are eligible for establishment and desire to stay in the Post Office will be considered for appointment as telegraphist or telephonist.

Can the Minister tell the House how many ex-Servicemen are waiting for jobs in his Department?

I could not tell the hon. Member offhand, but the Post Office has a very good record in appointing ex-Servicemen.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General to what extent the delay in mails to Malaya is caused by the surface mails not being landed at the first Malayan discharge port and sent on by rail; and when he hopes to be able to overcome this difficulty.

I am assured by the Malayan postal authorities that mails are normally landed at the first Malayan discharge port. They are investigating a recent case where mails were overcarried from Penang to Singapore.

Would the Minister say whether the mails are in fact landed by lighter as soon as the steamers carrying them arrive at the port, or do they have to wait ten days or a fortnight until the steamer gets a berth?

These arrangements are a matter for the local postal authorities.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will give details of the postal arrangements now available for British U.N.R.R.A. personnel serving in Greece; whether he is aware that these are inferior to those of the British military postal service which could previously be used; why the change was made; and what arrangements he can assist in making to provide a more reliable and speedier service.

U.N.R.R.A. personnel are as a general rule allowed to use the Army Post Office services in countries where civil postal facilities do not exist or are markedly inferior to those of the Army Post Office. As there is in operation a full civilian letter service between Greece and the United Kingdom both by air and surface, which is comparable with Army mail service as regards transit times and frequency, U.N.R.R.A. personnel in Greece now use the civil letter post. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War that the change over is in accordance with normal policy and will bring U.N.R.R.A. personnel in Greece into line with those in other parts of the Middle East Command where full civil postal facilities are available. As the Greek authorities have not yet agreed to restore the civilian parcel service, U.N.R.R.A. personnel continue to use the Army Parcel Post

Is the Minister aware that the facilities existing at the present time for U.N.R.R.A. personnel are nothing like as good as they were when military facilities could be used, and that it is taking up to three weeks to get a letter to this country, whereas formerly it took five days? Is my hon. Friend further aware that American personnel serving with U.N.R.R.A. have excellent postal facilities for sending letters and parcels, both to the United States and to this country, and will he see to it that British personnel serving with U.N.R.R.A. obtain facilities at least equal to those of the Americans?

The privilege of using Army Post Office facilities is restricted to personnel with military addresses. This is in accordance with the normal policy of the Army.

I would ask the Minister to reconsider that decision, having regard to the considerable dissatisfaction that exists among the personnel of U.N.R.R.A. Does he not think he should reconsider the decision, and that until the transit arrangements on the Continental systems approximate more closely to prewar standard, it is desirable that they should share the postal arrangements with the military?

This is a decision of General Headquarters, Middle East Command.

Of course the hon. Gentleman ought to reconsider it.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will arrange for North Ronaldsay to be connected by cable to the telephone system in Orkney.

This matter is being considered in connection with an inquiry at present being made into the extension and improvement of the telecommunication services in Orkney. Full weight will be given to the hon. Member's representation.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will give a list of the places in Orkney and Shetland in respect of which he has received applications for the installation of telephone call boxes, stating whether the guarantees required by his Department have been provided; whether work has begun on any of these installations; and the date by which they are expected to be completed.

As the list is rather long, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General to what extent he is using private charter air firms to carry surplus mail either by chartering special aeroplanes or by utilising vacant space on special charter flights when space is not available on the regular scheduled services of B.O.A.C. and the two newly-formed national corporations.

There has been no occasion to charter aircraft for air mail conveyance or to make use of other special charter flights for the purpose.

Will the Assistant Postmaster-General consider using these special charter flights in order to prevent delays occurring in the carriage of air mails?

As I say, there has been no occasion to use them. If there was occasion we should consider every means available.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what is the average time taken at Putney telephone exchange to obtain a local call; and what is the average time over the whole of the London telephone service.

The average time taken at Putney telephone exchange to obtain a call to a subscriber in the London area is 55.4 seconds as compared with 55.2 seconds for all London manual exchanges.

The hon. Gentleman says "London manual exchanges." Could he give us a comparison with the London automatic exchanges?

Unfortunately the contrast between the automatic and manual exchanges is too frequently made without consideration, It is because manual exchanges compare so unfavourably with automatic exchanges that we have so many complaints.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this exchange has been scheduled by his Department for transfer to automatic working? Can he give any indication when that transfer is likely to take place?

It is our intention to transfer all the manual exchanges to automatic working but it is a question of building, and as the hon. Member probably knows, that is one of the difficulties we have, like other Departments.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware not only of the difficulties of getting calls to and from Putney, but that conversations—conversations of both sexes—are overhead, which is a source of considerable embarrassment?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that letters posted and addressed to places less than 50 miles away still not infrequently take 48 hours to reach their destination; and when an improvement in the speed and punctuality of the postal service may be expected to take place.

No, Sir. I have no reason to suppose that delay of the order referred to is frequent. Postal services in many areas have already been improved and by the end of this year the improvement should be general throughout the country. I shall be obliged if the hon. and gallant Member will let me have details of the cases he has in mind in order that inquiry may be made.

1 shall be glad to send the hon. Member particulars of quite recent cases of the kind to which I have referred. Can he give any assurance that normal prewar postal services may be restored at an early date?

As I have already stated, there has been a considerable improvement, and by the end of the year there will be more. I shall be glad to look at any particular case.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what is the cost to the State, calculated to the nearest ascertainable fraction of id., of the collection and delivery of an inland letter up to two ounces in weight.

Separate cost figures for inland letters are not available. The roughly estimated overail cost of collection, sorting, conveyance and delivery of letter packets of all kinds, which include letters, postcards. newspapers and printed papers, is 1.4d. per item.

In view of that disclosure, can the Minister say how a Socialist Government can justify making such a huge profit out of the pocket of the consumer?

The hon. Member forgets that in that 1.4d. there is included the carriage of papers, which is cheaper than letter rate.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to certain handbills pasted on the pillar box in Wink-worth Road, Banstead, Surrey, which bear the name and address of Ronald Church, 77, Banstead Road, Carshalton; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

Yes, Sir. The handbills in question were removed immediately the matter was brought to notice and steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence.

Has the Minister sufficiently impressed upon this individual that he must not use pillar boxes to enable him to publicise his political prejudices?

It is a question of legal action.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what is the total area available in the Limavaddy, Northern Ireland, post office, for the public counter and sorting office; what suitable space is available for welfare accommodation allocated to both sexes and to each grade; if he is aware that the accommodation and the office is much below the standard set by the department; and what action does he propose to take to see that the accommodation necessary for carrying out Post Office work is provided at the earliest possible moment.

The areas of the public office and sorting office at the Limavaddy Post Office are 188 sq. ft. and 287 sq. ft. respectively. The welfare accommodation for the male staff consists of a retiring room of 55 sq. ft.; and the accommodation for the female staff consists of a cloakroom of 35 sq. ft. and a retiring room of 112 sq. ft. It is appreciated that the accommodation is below departmental standards for new buildings and the question of providing fresh accommodation has been in hand for some years. Arrangements are now well advanced for the purchase of a site for a new Post Office; and financial provision has been made in the current buildings programme for the work to proceed when the site purchase has been completed.

While I am glad to have that statement, may I ask if the Minister realises that this office really is a disgrace to the Post Office administration, and will drastic action be taken on this occasion, because we have had promises before, and will the matter be put in the front line of priorities in the building programme?

Yes, but this has been going on for some time, and now we have taken active steps to alter it,

asked the Lord President of the Council why, in view of the fact that under Subsection (3) of Section four of the licence granted to the B.B.C. in January, 1927, he has power to prevent any item being broadcast, he refuses to interfere in the case of particular broadcasts of an entertainment or instructional nature which have proved offensive or distasteful to large sections of the public.

It is, I am afraid, clear that the B.B.C. cannot please all the people all the time and all listeners, including Ministers of the Crown, must find occasional B.B.C. programmes distasteful to them. But the Government certainly do not consider this sufficient justification for taking the very serious step of imposing a censorship on broadcasting.

Having regard to that answer, would my right hon. Friend consider widening the scope of acceptance of Questions at the Table, so that Members of this House may have the right to put down a Question about a talk which may be postponed, or a programme which proves distasteful to the public?

I should not have any strong feelings against that, but I understand that the doctrine that determines what is accepted at the Table is the degree of responsibility of Ministers in the matter, and it is exceedingly difficult for me to arrange, or indeed to argue, anything that goes beyond that doctrine. Ministers are responsible to Parliament, and must be held responsible to Parliament. On the other hand, to hold Ministers responsible to Parliament for things for which they are not responsible would perhaps be objectionable the other way.

Is it possible to do something about the inspired propaganda, especially as regards the American loan and petrol? What has increased petrol to do with the loan?

I wish it were possible to do something about the hon. Member.

On a point of Order. Am I entitled to remind the right hon. Gentleman that I am quite able to look after myself?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the countries to which the programmes broadcast in the European Service on the medium wavelengths 307.1 metres and 267.4 metres are directed.

At the present time, programmes broadcast in the European Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation on the medium wavelengths of 307.1 metres and 267.4 metres are directed to Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland. France, Germany, Greece. Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, since these medium transmitters have a range up to 100 miles, in the main, at least two wavelengths are broadcasting into the empty air, whilst the same programme is broadcast simultaneously on powerful short wave transmitters, and would he consider returning one or both of these medium wavelengths to home listeners, as before the war?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that that is not the case. These wavelengths are absolutely essential for the European service.

Is 'the Minister aware that it is stated in the White Paper that a range of these medium waves is up to 100 miles, and that he has just given us a list of countries which, obviously are well outside that range?

That is true, but they are necessary, all the same, and are supplemented by short wavelengths as well.

Would the hon. Gentleman say whether he has received any reports from the countries concerned as to the quality of the reception?

I think the hon. and gallant Member had better put that question down.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that, for the majority of West Country listeners, reception of the light programme of the B.B.C. is very poor; that, except in Plymouth and Bristol, they will not receive the third programme at all; and if he will state how many of the disenfranchised 6 per cent of the population, mentioned in Command Paper 6852, paragraph 41, live in the West Country and the proportion that will have to rely entirely on the Welsh programme for their Home Service.

Reception of the Light Programme should be satisfactory throughout the West Country on 1,530 metres, and in certain areas also on 261.1 metres. Reception of the third programme should be satisfactory over a large part of the present West Region, although unfortunately, owing to the shortage of wavelengths, satisfactory reception in Devon and Cornwall will not be possible, except in an area round Plymouth.

The 6 per cent. of the population which will not receive the Home Service, is made up of 5.3 per cent. outside the present West Region, and only 0.7 per cent. within that Region. 9.2 per cent. of the population of the present West Region will need to turn to the Welsh Home Service for satisfactory reception.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, according to my information, the Light Programme is very badly received West of Taunton, disgracefully in Wiltshire, and not at all in Exeter, and that, if this proposed amalgamation from Cornwall to the Potteries is proceeded with we shall be without these broadcasting facilities at all?

Is the Minister prepared to offer any reduction in the licence fee to people in those parts of the country where the reception is poor?

The object of increasing the licence fee is in order to improve the service.

Will the Minister bear in mind the fact that a most important service of West Region is the considerable assistance given to the farming community in the far West, whose needs, both in regard to agriculture and horticulture, differ so widely from the needs of the agricultural community in the Midlands?

I do not think the, farming community will suffer as a consequence of the changeover. The change is absolutely essential because of the shortage of wavelengths.

Will the Minister consider consulting with the Cornish people before allowing this change to take place?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will publish coverage maps showing how the proposed merger of the Midland and West Regional programmes will affect reception of the Home Service in the West Country.

I am having copies of maps prepared, which I will send to the hon. Member.

Would it be possible under the Lucerne plan, to consider the ques- tion of using ex-enemy wavelengths which are not now in use?

That is a question of international agreement.

Does the Minister realise that the fact that the B.B.C. is a monopoly imposes on him the duty of ensuring that listener opinion is fully consulted before these mergers are made, and will he say what possible justification there is for the policy which has been adopted to merge these two great Regions without consultation?

There was need to get, somewhere, somehow, an extra wavelength for the European Service, and, after very careful consideration, it was discovered that the least deterioration for the least number of people would be caused by bringing both Midland and West Regions in one wavelength, supplemented by another.

Do not all these questions and problems indicate the existence of the necessity for an inquiry?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General where the new Regional headquarters will be situated after the proposed amalgamation of the Midland and West Regional programmes; and if he will state the names of the officials who have been selected for the posts of Regional Director and Regional Programme Director.

I am informed by the Corporation that the administrative headquarters of the new combined region will be at Birmingham, but that there will also be a Bristol director. I understand that the Corporation will announce the names of the officials at an appropriate time.

Is the Minister aware that there is nothing in common between Birmingham and the West Country, and that Birmingham will probably dislike the association as much as the West Country certainly will?

Does the Minister really think that a Bristol director can really represent the whole of the West County in this matter? Are not the interests of Bristol very different from those of Cornwall and Devon?

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he proposes to take to enable the 12 tramwaymen, of whom he has been informed and who are at present drawing pay from the L.P.T.B. but are not allowed to work on the ground that they are members of one union and not of another, to resume work.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on this subject on 18th June last and to which I have nothing to add.

Is the Minister aware that a reference to an earlier unsatisfactory reply does not make the present reply at all satisfactory? Are all the resources of the Government inadequate to relieve us of this revolting and ridiculous situation?

If it is a revolting and ridiculous situation, there are some Members who are responsible for it and who could ease it themselves if they so wished.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many unions there are in the Scottish banking industry; and

(2) what conciliation machinery exists for the purpose of settling disputes in the Scottish banks; and to what extent it is functioning.

In addition to the National Union of Bank Employees, which incorporates the former Scottish Bankers Association, there are eight associations, each catering for the staff of the various banks in Scotland. These latter associations are members of the Central Council of Scottish Bank Staff Associations, which is a party to a Joint Conciliation Council of the Scottish Banking Industry. I have no information as to the extent to which it is functioning.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of new entrants into the spinning side of the textile industry within the last six months; and what proportion thereof are female operatives.

In the six months ended 30th April, 1946, the number was 10,363, including some 5,000 ex-Servicemen released from the Forces. 4,857, or 47 per cent. of the total, were females.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to safeguard the health of workers from the possible harmful effects of new processes introduced into industry without adequate knowledge of their effect upon the health of the workers concerned in their use, with particular reference to the process known as reduxing, in the aircraft industry.

It is the practice of the Factory Department to keep in touch with new industrial processes and to advise as to any special health risks, but I understand that reduxing in the aircraft industry is not particularly new. It involves the use of synthetic resin glues which are known to be liable to cause dermatitis it adequate precautions are not taken; and following inquiries by the Factory Department in 1942 a departmental leaflet describing the precautions to be adopted, as well as a poster for display in factories were widely issued. The main precautions are good ventilation to avoid exposing the skin to vapour from the glue, and measures to reduce contact with the glue and avoid it drying on the skin.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the painters and decorators in the Wallsend training centre are unable to get on with their training, due to the shortage of paint, water paint, wallpaper and other materials; and if he will take steps to prevent paint, etc., being supplied to less essential jobs during this period of shortage in the training centre.

The shortage at the Wall-send Centre was a temporary one and has now been met. I am assured every effort is being made to see that training is not hampered by shortage of materials.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that notice has been given at the aero-engine works near Cheltenham, that hostel charges are to be raised from 25s. to 30s a week for men and 20s. to 25s. for women; that people work there from different parts of Monmouthshire; that these charges together with getting home at weekends are more than they can manage and that they would be better off at home on unemployment pay; and if he will take steps to see that the hostel charges remain as at present.

The reason for increasing the hostel charges were indicated in my reply of 2nd July to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. William Paling). I regret that I cannot see my way to varying the decision.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in Coventry also workers are being discouraged from living in National Service hostels because of the proposed increase in rates? As these hostels were never intended to be self-supporting, would he put the charges back to the original figure?

In reply to the first part of the question, I am not aware of that. I assert that the increased charges are now considerably lower than those for anything comparable with these services elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that while local firms of builders in Devon are unable to cope with the accumulation of urgent work through lack of labour, they are still unable to obtain the release in Class B of their skilled bricklayers and carpenters in the Army, and if he will take steps to ensure that skilled men in these trades, for whom work is readily available, shall be offered immediate release 'in the national interest.

Release in Class B is offered to bricklayers and carpenters who are eligible up to the numbers authorised. If, however, the hon. Member has in mind cases in which urgent housing or other high priority work is being held up I shall be glad to look into them if he will let me have the details.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will cause investigations to be made concerning the conduct and management of the appointments bureaux, with a view to satisfying himself that the department is functioning without prejudice as to the social standing of ex-Service applicants for registration and consideration; and whether he will consider handing over the functions of this department to the labour exchanges.

The Appointments Department is under continuous survey, and I am satisfied that ex-Service applicants are registered and submitted for suitable employment on their merits without regard to social standing. I have no intention of abolishing the special service it provides for men and women seeking appointments in the higher ranges.