asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that at the recent sale of surplus Government vehicles at Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, 25 amphibious ducks were taken out of the public auction and sold privately for about 5 per cent, of their original cost; and on whose authority and on what grounds was this action taken.

It was decided to sell a number of amphibious vehicles at Ruddington by competitive tender before the auction was arranged and they were never, in fact, included among the vehicles to be sold by auction. I have given instructions for some amphibians to be included in future auctions.

Is it not a fact that these ducks, which cost £4,000 each, were sold for £150 by private treaty? It is believed in the locality that it is a grave scandal. These ducks are at the present time earning, on the South coast, something like £50 a day profit, and it is a scandal which ought to be investigated.

I have said that they will in future be put in the public auction. These vehicles were sent to Ruddington for breaking down before the auction was decided on. An offer was received for them and they were taken away from the breaking down place. In future they will be offered for auction.

If the allegations contained in my hon. Friend's Question are borne out by the facts, surely it is a matter for further investigation. Are the taxpayers of this country to be treated in this scandalous way?

I have just said that in future these vehicles will be offered for public sale before they are broken down.

Is it the best business method of which this Government can think, to sell vehicles which cost £4,000 far £150? If not, would they not set up a working party of business men to advise them in this matter?

asked the Minister of Supply why he has withdrawn the licence for cultivation from Southdown Farm. Wallop, Hampshire.

I assume my hon. Friend refers to the adjoining farm—Juniper Down Farm—which is required for important experimental work. Full facilities for harvesting existing crops have been given.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that donors of binoculars in 1940 are being refused replacement or the opportunity of purchase from Government surplus stocks; and if he will take steps to remedy this injustice.

I much regret that administrative difficulties make it impossible to recognise a special claim against surplus Government stores by the many citizens who, in response to appeals during the war, generously made gifts of binoculars and other articles of various kinds.

Does not the Minister agree that it is unfair that these public spirited people who freely gave binoculars when the country needed them, should be treated in the same way as citizens who sold them? Will my right hon. Friend reconsider the matter and either give them a pair of binoculars from the Government surplus stock, or sell them a pair for a nominal amount before the binoculars are passed over to private trade to sell through the ordinary channels?

I very much wish it was possible to do as my hon. Friend suggests, but I have been into the matter very thoroughly, and it would not be possible to treat donors of binoculars differently from the donors of other property which was given to the Government during the war. For some part of the time no records were kept. These were free gifts, and I fear that it would be quite impossible to do what is asked.

asked the Minister of Supply the monthly output of spectacle lenses in this country for the last six months; and what proportion of such output was for export.

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL. REPORT.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will explain the shortage of joiners' and carpenters' tools.

The output of hand tools is greater than before the war but the demand for them to make up wartime arrears and to meet the requirements of the building programme has out-stripped this increase in supply. Production is still to some extent limited by shortage of labour but we are doing our best to improve the position.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that woodworkers and carpenters say that the position is worse than a year ago and is likely to have a very serious effect on the building programme in London? What steps is he going to take about it?

We are doing everything possible to increase the supply. The limiting factor is the shortage of skilled labour.

Could the Minister explain the shortage of hand power tools which are so essential in present day work?

I think the hon. Gentleman ought to put a Question down.

asked the Minister of Supply what were the facts which formed the basis that home consumption of steel will be 13,000,000 tons and exports 3,000,000 tons in 1955, considering that the mean curve from 1910 to 1945 included two wars, during which steel production was abnormally high.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the estimate made by the British Iron and Steel Federation in their recent report which was published as a White Paper The estimate of home consumption at 13 million ingot tons a year assumes full employment, and has regard to the long-term upward trend of steel consumption in all industrial countries. The estimated export of 3 million ingot tons is based on the potential world demand and the changes in the supply position since the inter-war years.

How dare the Government take a gamble on such slender evidence?

The estimate has been made by some of those most informed in the steel industry. The Government have no reason to differ from it on examination

It has been accepted.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he expects to reach his target figures for the production of 370,000 private motor cars and 150,000 commercial vehicles for the year 1946.

Actual production of private cars during the first five months of this year, together with forecasts for the rest of the year, suggest that the outcome will not be far short of the target. There is, at present, no reason to suggest that the target of 150,000 commercial vehicles will not be reached.

What about the 370,000 private motorcars? Would the Minister say whether that figure is likely to be reached?

I have just replied to that question.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is taking to make additional reconditioned ex-service motorcars available for disabled ex-servicemen, in view of the fact that there are over 800 men with too per cent. disability waiting for such motorcars in addition to many more with lower degrees of disability.

I am doing my utmost to see that as many surplus cars as possible go through the trade scheme for the benefit of disabled ex-Servicemen.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some months ago men with as low a degree of disablement as 30 per cent. were encouraged to apply and that there is great disappointment amongst them?

I can well understand that, but it is no good selling cars to ex-Servicemen when they are not in a proper condition. The cars which are capable of being reconditioned and sold in a guaranteed condition are going that way.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will provide in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number and location of Royal Ordnance Factories; and whether he will state the progress achieved in each individual case in the changeover from war to peace production.

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the information for which my hon. Friend asks.

Following is the answer:

The Royal Ordnance Factories maintained at present are located at: Birtley, Bishopton, Blackburn, Bridgwater, Cardiff, Chorley, Dalmuir, Drigg, Enfield, Fazakerley, Glascoed, Hayes, Irvine, Leeds, Maltby, Nottingham, Patricroft, Pembrey, Poole, Radway Green, Swynnerton, Wigan, Woolwich.

It would be contrary to established practice to give details of the production of the individual factories, but civil work is being taken on where capacity is available and the total value of civil orders now on hand amounts to some £5,250,000.

asked the Minister of Supply by what percentages the present overall costs of labour and materials used in the manufacture and assembly of private motorcars has increased above the 1938 level.

asked the Minister of Supply what approximate percentage of the retail price of motorcars is allocated for manufacturers' and distributors' profits, respectively.

This information is not available and could only be obtained by a very elaborate investigation of prices.

asked the Minister of Supply what advice or recommendations he has received from the Motor Advisory Council; and whether he will publish the same.

The National Advisory Council for the Motor Manufacturing Industry is a permanent advisory body designed to provide a means of regular consultation between the Government and the motor manufacturers on matters arising from time to time. Its deliberations are confidential and it would not normally be appropriate to publish its proceedings. I will, however, naturally consider in regard to any special reports I may receive from the council whether publication is desirable.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is satisfied that steel manufacturers are delivering the maximum of strip steel for conversion into perambulator springs and not withholding any proportion in favour of other products which are more profitable.

In spite of high current production, there is a shortage of steel strip to meet all requirements, but I was not aware of complaints from the perambulator spring manufacturers. If my hon. Friend will give me details of any case he has in mind, I will be glad to see if I can help.

asked the Minister of Supply what quantity of iron and aluminium sheet is lying at the ex-L.A.P. depot at Watford by-pass.

This clearing depot at the moment contains about five tons of iron, 3,000 tons of steel of all kinds and 5,000 tons of aluminium alloy sheet. All this material is now in course of disposal.

When does the Minister expect to dispose of this material?

This is a reception depot where stuff is always coming in and going out. It is a continual process.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will substitute the manufacture of agricultural forks, etc., for the manufacture of bayonets at the royal ordnance factory, Creekmoor, Dorset.

No, Sir. The plant in this factory is not suitable for the manufacture of agricultural implements.

Does the Minister realise that manufacturers are unable to give any deliveries of this sort of agricultural fork until 1947; cannot he do something to assist in the situation?

We are doing all we can but it would not help if we tried to make them on unsuitable machinery.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that new motorcars which have only been run a few miles are being resold at exorbitant prices; and whether he will take steps to prevent this by prohibiting the resale of new motorcars within a year of their purchase at more than the price paid for them when new.

Yes, Sir. I understand that the Motor Trade Association is taking steps designed to prevent sales of this kind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reasons led to the refusal by his Department to allow the Co-operative Wholesale Society to build a mantle factory on ground that was purchased at Taff's Well, near Cardiff,

This project would need an initial labour force of some 800 women, increasing to 1,000. Building programmes have already been approved for the Pontypridd-Rhondda area which will fully absorb the female labour force likely to become available. Consequently, I could not agree to the introduction of a project which would add to the potential deficit of women workers to the prejudice of the existing programme. It is for these reasons that the Co-operative Wholesale Society were invited to consider alternative locations for this scheme. The question of the best use to which the site could be put is receiving further consideration.

Is the Minister aware that this Society says that the factory would give employment to at least 100 men, and, in view of the fact that a greater part of the light industries which are coming to South Wales employ female labour or young boys, will he give further consideration to this question?

The factory could employ 100 men only if there were 1,000 women available, which there will not be.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now consider reducing the points required for the lower-priced ranges of shoes, since productive capacity in these ranges is in danger of exceeding the demand.

I have under consideration the general question of the pointing of footwear, and I expect to make an announcement shortly.

Will the Minister have particular regard to children's shoes which are said to be in bigger supply?

I shall have full regard to all sorts.

Has my right hon. and learned Friend considered the special position of Leicester, which he promised to consider, particularly in view of the fact that the shops have so many of these shoes available and no one can buy them because of the points?

That is being considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the price of the No. 45 volt battery, which is used almost exclusively in ear-aids for deaf people, has recently risen from 5s. to 7s. 6d.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Touche) on 8th May, and to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 24th June. The inquiries being made by the Central Price Regulation Committee are not yet complete.

Can the Minister say when they will be complete?

I am afraid I cannot.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Messrs. Cussons, Sons and Company, Limited, of Kersal Vale, Manchester, have been granted a licence to export £100,000 value of toilet soap to the U.S.A.; and, in view of the recent cut in supplies to British housewives, if he will cancel this licence and reserve all available supplies to the home market.

In December last, this firm inquired whether a licence would be granted for the export of special toilet soap to the U.S.A. In view of the special advantages to our export trade, they were informed, after consultation with the Ministry of Food, that a licence would be granted. The firm did not apply for a licence, however, until 2nd July and, as matters now stand, I am not prepared to grant the licence. The firm have been informed accordingly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking on the recommendation of the County Councils Association that standard measures should be used for selling gin and whisky in public houses, etc.

When a general inquiry into the scope of the Weights and Measures legislation is possible; I will include consideration of the use of standard measures for selling gin and whisky in public houses, etc.

Does the President agree that spirit drinkers are as much entitled to the protection of certified measures as beer drinkers and milk drinkers?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what negotiations have been commenced with the U.S.S.R. for the import to the United Kingdom of Soviet soft woods; for how long have these trade talks been proceeding; and what is preventing their successful conclusion.

The Soviet authorities have been aware for a very long time that in 1946 we should wish to purchase large quantities of soft wood from them, and since August, 1944, have been aware of our requirements. I am in constant touch with the Soviet Trade Delegation on this matter but they have not so far found themselves in a position to make any firm offer.

Is the Minister aware that in the trade there is a feeling that political considerations are preventing the fulfilment of these negotiations and, since this timber is so important to the housing programme, can he not do something about it?

I assure the hon. Member we are doing all we can about it.

But you have been doing that since 1944.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value and the quantity of the timber imports to the United Kingdom from the U.S.S.R. for the 12 months ended 30th June, 1944, 1945 and 1946, respectively.

As the answer includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the respective values of new and second-hand textile machinery which have been exported in the last six months; to what countries such exports have been made; and to what respective value.

Exports of new and second-hand textile machinery are not recorded separately, and I am accordingly not in a position to supply the desired information.

Cannot the right hon. and learned Gentleman at least give the total figures for both new and second-hand exports?

I am afraid not, because they are not recorded in that way.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will authorise an official ballot, on the usual democratic lines, of all the cotton spinners to ascertain how many are in favour of making their purchases under the prewar system of trading and how many are in favour of making their purchases from a central buying commission under Government control.

No, Sir.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the Federation of Master Spinners recently

Can the Minister say whether this timber which comes to this country comes in British or Russian ships?

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will put that down.

If the ballot has already been taken, it is unnecessary to consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether Liverpool is to be the centre of the new Government-controlled cotton buying scheme.

No decision has yet been reached as to the headquarters of the proposed Cotton Buying Commission. It is, however, intended that it should be in Lancashire.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman consider that Liverpool is the centre of Lancashire from this point of view?

It is one of the centres, certainly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if any of the 1944 and 1945 flax crops grown under contract for his Department still remain on farms; and if he will state the tonnages of fibre and linseed involved.

On 31st May, 1946, there was on the farms an estimated weight of 37,000 tons of flax grown under contract during 1944 and 1945. The quantity outstanding from 1944 was very small. Until the crop is processed, the actual tonnages of fibre and seed involved can only be estimated. On the basis of average yields, the weight of fibre to be expected is approximately 2,400 tons and of seed approximately 3,300 tons.

As we do not seem to have been very successful in buying linseed from the Argentine, would it not be a very good idea to use these 3,000 tons of linseed on our own farms?

We shall, no doubt, use it as soon as it is available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, with regard to the condition imposed by his Department for the granting of a licence to import up to £2,000,000 of timber from Poland that the money should be spent in Britain, preferably on surplus military stores, if he will give the reasons why the preference was for military stores.

I am not aware of the proposed transaction or condition to which the hon. Member refers.

In view of the fact that statements have recently appeared in the Press, will the Minister give instructions for the issue of a denial when statements like this are made?

I am afraid we should be too busy to issue a denial on every occasion when such statements are made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the forthcoming trade negotiations with the U.S.S.R., he will make the necessary arrangements for an annual export of cured herring from this country to the U.S.S.R and the territories under her control

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made with a new trade agreement with the U.S.S.R.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the progress of Anglo-Soviet trade conversations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made towards a trade agreement with the U.S.S.R.; and whether he is in a position to make a statement on the subject.

I am in touch with the new head of the Soviet Trade Delegation, who has recently arrived in this country, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

would the Minister say whether there has been any case where orders were given by the Soviet Government for British goods of which they subsequently refused to take delivery?

I think that if the hon. Member will put that question on the Paper, I will answer it.

May I ask the President if, when any future negotiations take place, the interests of the herring industry will be borne continuously in mind?

Would the Minister, pending an agreement with the Russians, invite them, as a gesture of goodwill, to ship the undelivered balance of the 1935 contracts, while we reciprocally do the same?

I shall explore all methods.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will see that, in any impending trade negotiations with the U.S.S.R., steps will be taken to develop once again the old export trade of herring to that country from East Anglian ports.

I will bring this matter to the notice of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade who no doubt will bear in mind the desirability of reviving these exports to the fullest possible extent in any trade negotiations undertaken with the U.S.S.R.

Has the right hon. Gentleman noticed that the President of the Board of Trade is rather lukewarm about this business, and will he give an undertaking to keep him up to the mark?

I felt that my right hon. Friend was rather enthusiastic.

Will the Minister take pilchards into consideration when such negotiations take place?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether increased imports of wood pulp for paper-making will be obtainable from Norway and Sweden during the next 12 months.

Discussions in regard to supplies of pulp for paper making from Norway and Sweden for the next 12 months are proceeding, but it is clear that the supply position will continue to be difficult.

Is the Minister aware that a statement was made by the chairman of a firm of papermakers last week to the effect that we cannot get wood pulp from Norway and Sweden because, in the absence of coal from this country, they are burning their wood?

That is undoubtedly one of the difficulties.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the Minister of Labour was reported in the newspapers recently as saying that Norway and Sweden were getting into their stride again and that larger supplies could be expected, and does he consider that statement to be compatible with the reply he has just given?

It is quite compatible, but I cannot say, until we have completed the negotiations, what the outcome will be.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the fact that the period of notice to the cotton trade is extended until 30th September, he will state, in order to relieve anxiety in the trade, in what form he proposes to continue control after 1st October.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the control of raw cotton supplies. The only change proposed to be made at 30th September is that the distribution of raw cotton to spinners or their buying brokers will be carried out direct by the Cotton Control, instead of through the agency of the cotton trade merchants, as at present. Notification of this change has already been made to the trade.

Will the President say how the Cotton Controller can act as trustee for an organisation which has never been set up, as was officially announced by the Parliamentary Secretary?

He is not acting as trustee, but as a Cotton Controller.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received the report of the working party of the boot and shoe industry; and at what date may publication be expected.

I expect to receive the Boot and Shoe Working Party report towards the end of this week. I hope that it will be published in the course of August.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the adverse comment in South Wales about the waste of paper by Little-wood's and Sherman's pools, who have flooded the area with circulars; and on what basis paper is supplied for this purpose.

Under the Control of Paper No. 70 Order, 1945, any person may distribute gratuitously in any period of three months up to 20 per cent, of the weight of advertising circulars relating to his trade or business distributed in the corresponding three months in the year ended 31st August, 1939. Pool Promoters are covered by the Order and I have no reason to believe that they are infringing its terms.

Will my right hon. and learned Friend consider, next time he makes a further order, restricting paper to these people while there are many more worth-while institutions?

Will the Minister say whether Government Departments are controlled by the same regulations?

No, Sir.

Is it not a fact that these people are using only 3 per cent. of their prewar paper, that they were encouraged to distribute these circulars in order to deal with the unemployment problem, and cannot that be increased?

They are getting a very small quantity.

Will my right hon. and learned Friend bear in mind that the whole trend of the activities of the pools is anti-social?

That is not a matter which we can take into account in regard to the distribution of paper.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an estimate of the decline in the output per person employed in the export trade as compared with 1938.

Information is given in the Monthly Digest of Statistics about output and employment in most of the principal industries, including many which do a substantial amount of export trade. It is not possible to make any estimate of the extent to which output per person has changed compared with 1938 for export production taken as a whole, because no statistics were collected before the war of the number of workers engaged on export production.

Is it not a fact that the increase in the number of people employed in the export industry is greater than the increase in the volume over 1938 figures?

As we have no accurate statistics of the number employed in the export industry in 1938, I cannot say.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the fact that the removal of price controls in America has caused cotton prices to rise there, what steps he has taken to secure supplies of cotton for the British consumer by dealing in futures; in which markets; and to what amounts.

Large stocks of cotton are held by the Control in the United Kingdom and in certain overseas countries. Further purchases are made from time to time in the light of requirements and market conditions. These supplies can be secured without the Control dealing in futures. In accordance with normal selling practice in the United States, offers by shippers of American cotton are made at prices related to New York market futures quotations.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that by closing the Liverpool Cotton Exchange he has driven the business of that exchange to foreign competitors? The business done by the Liverpool Cotton Exchange meant considerable invisible exports. Why has he driven that business away from Liverpool?

That is another question.

Not at all. The right hon. and learned Gentleman is avoiding it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention of the Government to give early effect to the recommendations of the Cohen Report on Company Law Amendment.

Yes, Sir, as soon as Parliamentary time can be arranged.

Since this very important Measure was conceived by the Minister some nine months ago, does he not consider that this is now "the fullness of time," and can he not bring forth the Bill?

It depends on what else Parliament has to do.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman see that the recommendations of the Committee are applied equally to the Government Departments concerned?

They do not apply.

asked the President of of the Board of Trade the number of tons of prepared poultry food exported to France during the last three months.

There were no exports of poultry food to France during this period. The only exports of animal feeding stuffs consisted of ground nut, cake and meal.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the export of steel tubes has been recently, or is now, hindered by any withholding or limiting of export allocations of steel.

Exports of steel tubes are limited by the overall amount of steel for all purposes which can be made available for export. So far as the allocation of steel to the Board of Trade is concerned, the proportion available for the production of tubes for export has been agreed with the industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent an increase in the price of leather is contemplated by his Department.

No particular increase is contemplated in the prices of leather to footwear manufacturers. Some increase may take place in certain other cases.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether that increase will be the result of the collapse of the International Leather Committee?

It will be the result of higher prices which have to be paid for leather if that is the case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take in order to ensure that, with the reduction on the overseas requirements of the Services, further quantities of cigarettes are made available to help meet the needs of demobilised men and women.

Owing to the reduction in the overseas requirements of the Services, an increase from 115 per cent. to 120 per cent. has been authorised in the clearances from bond of leaf for the home trade. This will allow increased supplies of cigarettes to reach the shops as soon as possible after the home trade manufacturers have made the necessary arrangements for increased production.

Can my right hon. and learned Friend say when we shall see some sign of these cigarettes?

I hope, very shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he is not using timber available in the British zone in Germany to prevent continued suspension of licences for special occasional furniture.

The maximum quantity of timber possible is being obtained from the British zone of Germany. I regret that owing to other more urgent requirements, none is available for special occasional furniture.

Is the Minister aware that there is an unlimited quantity of timber along the main autobahn which goes right through into Berlin, which could be taken easily? The wood is there and could be obtained.

I am aware that there are great supplies of timber in Germany, but the trouble is to get it cut, taken to the ports and brought here.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the high cost of footwear repairs; and whether he will bring to an end, at an early date, the present arrangements for the licensing of footwear repairers, in order to avoid monopoly conditions and thus lower the present charges.

The maximum charges for footwear repairs are less than 40 per cent. above the level of charges in August, 1939. The recent increase of approximately 3 per cent. was allowed after the Central Price Regulation Committee had investigated the effect of increases in the costs of labour and material. I regret that I cannot abandon the licensing of footwear repairers until leather supplies improve, nor would such a course lead to a reduction in price. On the contrary, it would almost certainly lead to an increase.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what quantities of potash have been produced in the British zone of Germany since the occupation; what quantities have been exported; and to what countries.

Approximately 286,000 metric tons of potash fertiliser have been produced in the British zone of Germany up to 1st July, 1946. Some 62,000 metric tons have been exported; 17,000 to the United Kingdom, 16,000 to Belgium, 7,000 to Denmark and 22,000 to Holland.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the total number of books passed for publication in the British zone in Germany; and the number actually published.

The total number passed for publication is 937, of which 439 have actually been published.

Is the Minister taking any further steps to increase the numbers published?

The reason why more are not published is the difficulty with regard to paper production. What steps it has been possible to take, have been taken. The difficulty is mainly manpower, the cutting and transport of the necessary timber and the supply of coal for the paper mills.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to his refusal to agree to the Soviet claim for reparations from Germany of 10,000,000,000 dollars.

In the course of the discussions in the Council of Foreign Ministers my right hon. Friend said that the only agreement regarding reparation from Germany which His Majesty's Government accepted was that in the Potsdam Protocol. At the final meeting my right hon. Friend stated formally that His Majesty's Government did not agree with M. Molotov's interpretation of the Potsdam Protocol in regard to reparation, and that he would be circulating a paper to the other Governments in due course setting out the British point of view. This statement is now being prepared and will be circulated to the other three Governments through the diplomatic channel as quickly as possible.

Could not the hon. Gentleman point out that if 10,000,000,000 dollars of reparations were accorded to Russia there would be nothing whatever left for any of the other Allies?

I would like to feel that that was a line of argument we could pursue. While I do not want to enter into details, our statement did amount to a refutation of the Russian claim.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the approximate stocks of bread grains in the British zone in Austria, other than those held by U.N.R.R.A; and the steps which have been taken to encourage food production.

There are no such stocks for Austrian consumption. To encourage indigenous food production, seeds, fertilisers, insecticides and veterinary supplies have been imported; the local production of agricultural machinery is being encouraged; the areas under bread grains and potatoes have been increased; extra transport has been provided; improved methods of collecting farm produce have been recommended to the Austrian Government; allotment holdings have been developed in both town and country districts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply has been sent, or will be sent, by His Majesty's Government to the demand of the Soviet Government to take over and control all former Germany property in Eastern Austria.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the protest handed by the British authorities in Vienna to the Russians against the transfer to U.S.S.R. of property alleged to belong to Germans in Vienna.

An order purporting to be signed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet zone in Austria dealing with the transfer to the U.S.S.R. of German property in Eastern Austria was published in the Press in Vienna on 6th July. General Steele, the officer commanding in Vienna, has addressed a communication to the Soviet Commander-in-Chief on behalf of His Majesty's Government, pointing out that the Soviet interpretation of what constitutes German assets in Austria is not contained in any existing agreement between the Allies, and asking for an assurance that no unilateral action would be taken pending quadripartite agreement. At the last meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Paris on 12th July, my right hon. Friend proposed that a four-power commission should be established to report to the Council upon a definition of what constitutes a German asset in Austria. A definition was circulated which His Majesty's Government would support; and my right hon. Friend stated that His Majesty's Government would, for their part, be prepared to undertake that, pending the Commission's report, no further German assets should be taken over in Austria. Not all the Ministers were prepared to discuss this proposal which it is intended to pursue through the diplomatic channel.

Would the hon. Gentleman say when the letter was sent off to the Soviet Government on this subject; and would he say what was the result of the representations which were made in Paris by his right hon. Friend?

I am sorry, but I could not give the exact date. As quickly after 6th July as we could get authority we did write. On the second point, I have already indicated that it was not possible to do it at the Council level, but we are pursuing the matter by normal diplomatic methods.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he intends to extend the ploughing grant on three-year leys beyond 31st July.

Yes. Sir. In view of the continuing need for the maintenance of the tillage area, the Government have decided that the period during which grants will be payable in respect of the ploughing of both three-year and seven-year grassland shall be extended to 31st March, 1947. The conditions of grant in respect of seven-year grassland will be unchanged. In regard to the three-year grassland, grant will now be payable in respect of all such land ploughed before 31st March, 1947, and sown to crops for the harvest of that year. Where, however, as a condition of grant, the approval of the agricultural executive committee has been given to bare on bastard fallowing and sowing in the autumn to crops for the harvest of 1947, such condition will continue to apply.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will take steps to institute a scheme of mutual insurance, whereby farmers and smallholders may obtain some recompense for storm damage to their crops as has recently occurred in Norfolk.

There is already in existence a farmers' mutual insurance society which is prepared to give facilities for insurance against storm damage; and similar factilities can also be obtained from other insurance companies