asked the Minister of Supply for what purpose 23,000 cases of rum, each containing four magnum bottles, which are stored at Devonport, have been acquired by his Department from the War Office.

I regret that, despite a long and thirsty search, I have not been able to trace the transaction to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. Nor have I found the rum. I should be glad of any clues.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that at the establishment known as Y. O. S., situated at Pontrilas, the nurse has been dismissed upon the ground of redundancy; and if, as 271 persons are employed there and explosives stored, he will reconsider this matter and arrange that the services of a competent nurse be retained.

This case has now been reconsidered and the nurse is being retained.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared to arrange for the supply of white cord overall material to be made available for use by those employed in the cotton-spinning industry as protective clothing against spinners' cancer and industrial dematitis.

I understand that it has not in practice been usual or convenient for cotton spinners to wear protective clothing for this purpose, and that the safeguards against spinners' cancer advocated in the interim report of the Joint Advisory Committee of the Cotton Industry on mule spinners' cancer, and automatic wiping down motions, published in June, 1945, are considered to be more effective.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of new bicycle tyres now made is used for the export trade.

Approximately 25 per cent. of the production of new bicycle tyres are now being exported, of which about 15 per cent. represents tyres fitted to bicycles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for clerks employed in cotton weaving shops to be issued with industrial clothing coupons.

The Industrial Ten supplement is intended to compensate workers engaged on heavy manual duties for the extra wear and tear caused to their clothing. There is no justification for allowing extra coupons to the class of persons named.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that dinner gowns have a coupon value of seven, whereas afternoon frocks with far less material also have the same coupon value; and whether he will consider reducing the coupons necessary for the latter.

I am not prepared to reduce the coupon value of women's dresses, which were fixed according to the average cloth content of an ordinary day dress.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to permit the issue of off-duty clothing to serving soldiers or whether he will issue clothing coupons in lieu.

I have as yet nothing to add to the reply which was given to similar Questions on this matter on 1st July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why persons returning to the United Kingdom from India and other parts of the Empire have to wait months for supplementary clothing coupons in order to fit themselves properly for this climate; and what steps he is taking to expedite the granting of these coupons.

I regret there have been some delays due to the increase in the number of applications from people coming into the United Kingdom from India and other tropical countries. The delay has been reduced to 14 days for postal applications and I hope that this period will be progressively shortened.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is prepared to issue clothing coupons to churches and chapels in order that they may renew their robes and vestments when necessary.

With the exception of cassocks, ecclesiastical robes and vestments are not rationed. I have the position of cassocks under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the allocation of tobacco to coastal resorts is totally inadequate to meet the demands of the influx of summer visitors; and whether he will take steps to increase the allocation for the summer months.

I am aware that the demand for cigarettes exceeds supply in most coastal resorts in spite of seasonal increases already made in allocations. Further increases during this holiday season would only be possible by a reduction of supplies to other places where cigarettes are already short.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what use it is intended to put the remainder of the 96,000 poles which are expected to be available for use this year after 37,000 have been allocated to the G. P. O. and 45,000 to the Electricity Commissioners.

Of the balance of 14,000 poles, some 7,800 have been allocated to other Departments for various essential purposes. The remainder has not yet been allocated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, now that household fabrics and domestic linen are more plentiful, he will consider issuing a book of household coupons as well as personal clothing coupons.

I regret that the current supplies of these goods do not justify any increase beyond the present rate of coupon and docket issue.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if lie is aware of the continuing delay in the production of surgical hoots for civilians; and whether, in particular, he will expedite the provision of such boots for Mr. Cox, Milton Abbas, Dorset, whose application was made to the Surgical Aid Society, Salisbury Street, W.C., 11 months ago, and who has been informed that there is no possibility of providing such boots for some time.

With regard to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8th July to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Spen Valley (Lieut.-Colonel Sharp). With regard to the particular case mentioned in the second part of the Question, I will look into this and see what can be done to help.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that women's cheap rubber-soled shoes are un-saleable, if he will consider making all cheap women's shoes retailed under 205. a pair free of coupons so as to clear out these bad stocks.

I will certainly consider the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the supply of children's footwear, with the exception of nursery sizes and children's crepe rubber-soled sandals, now exceeds the demand; and if he will, therefore, take the coupons off children's shoes altogether.

Although production of children's footwear is improving, I cannot agree with the hon. Member that supply now exceeds demand. The answer to the last part of the Question is, therefore, in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is a considerable shortage of Aladdin mantles in East Lincolnshire and that, owing to this shortage, many country people are having to rely mainly on candles for illumination; and what steps he is taking to remedy this shortage

I am not aware that the East Lincolnshire area is receiving less than its fair share of the available supplies of Aladdin mantles, but if the hon. and gallant Member would furnish me with particulars I should be pleased to look into the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total amount of industrial floor space released and returned to industry during April, May and June; and how much still remains in Government possession.

29.1 million square feet were so released, and 73 million square feet still remain under requisition by Government Departments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the hardship and inconvenience caused to married couples with growing children by his Department's delay in granting applications for bedding dockets; and if he will instruct his officials to take earlier action or, failing that, to make earlier acknowledgment of the application, which now often takes eight weeks.

I regret the delay which has occurred in some cases owing to the very large number of docket applications. Every effort has been made to add to the staff on this work and to speed up procedure, with the result that the time taken to deal with these applications has been considerably reduced during the past few months and that, in straightforward cases, where the application form has been pro perly completed and no further inquiries have to be made, dockets are now being issued in about two weeks. In other cases, more time is required; but there should be no cases of applicants remaining without any reply to their applications for anything like the time stated in the Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why members of the public inspecting company registers at the Company Registration Office are forbidden to take their own personal notes other than in pencil.

I have been asked to reply. The Registrar of Companies considers that the restriction referred to is necessary for the proper protection of the registers, which are public documents.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the tonnage and value of oils, fats and greases exported from the United Kingdom during the past nine months; and the destination and the purpose of such exports.

17,000 tons of unmanufactured or mainly unmanufactured oils, fats and greases, valued at£1.3 million were recorded as exported in the nine months ended May, 1946. Of these exports, Belgium received 52 per cent. by quantity, France and the United States six per cent. each, and Eire, Denmark, the Netherlands and Yugoslavia between three and four per cent. each. In addition, 15,000 tons of margarine, valued at£1.2 million, were exported in the period, 6o per cent. by quantity going to France and 23 per cent. to Belgium. The bulk of these exports were relief supplies to liberated countries in Europe.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average retail prices as at 30th June, or nearest convenient date, for comparable articles of clothing in the years 1918 to 1925, inclusive, and in the years 1945 and 1946.

Taking July, 1914, as 100, the figures for the clothing component of the Cost-of-Living Index on

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many established cases of the presence of the Colorado beetle have been found in this country; and where.

The Colorado beetle has appeared in this country on several occasions since the outbreak of war. Full details are given in the Ministry's Journal for August, 1945, and June, 1946, copies of which are available in the Library.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what stocks of unthreshed corn it is estimated remain in the hands of the farmers today.

No reliable estimate is possible, but the quantities are believed to be small.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the damage done by foul brood, he will consider amending the Foul Brood Disease of Bees Order (1942) to make it compulsory upon beekeepers to notify this disease.

The hon. and gallant Member's suggestion has already been carefully considered by the Bee Disease Advisory Committee, which has advised me that, as Foul Brood Disease cannot be definitely recognised by the ordinary beekeeper, it would be impracticable to insist on compulsory notification.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what particular steps he proposes to take to extend the production of food, especially the acreage under wheat, in view of the present food shortage.

The general food production objectives of the Government were outlined in my speeches during the Debates in this House on 15th February and 18th June. As already announced, a minimum target of 2½ million acres of wheat has been set for the 1947 harvest to be secured by directions where necessary, and as I announced on Friday, 12th July, certain adjustments will be made in the price of wheat harvested next year. I hope that appreciably more than this minimum acreage will in fact be grown in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what modifications to the Agricultural Holdings Act he is at present considering; and what are his proposals for giving greater security of tenure to the smallholder.

These are matters which are under consideration in connection with the preparation of legislation to implement the Government's agricultural policy, and I must ask my hon. Friend to await the introduction of that Bill.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of horses in England, Scotland and Wales, between 3oth June, 1945 and 1946, not including horses on agricultural holdings; and specifying whether they are of a light or medium draught, heavy draught or other class.

So far as I am aware no census of horses other than those on agricultural holdings has been taken for some years and the information desired by the hon. Member is therefore not available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how much wheat is supplied monthly to Eire from British sources; and whether the Eireann Government have informed him of their intentions with regard to bread rationing.

No wheat is shipped to Eire from this country. The reply to the second part of my hon. Friend's Question is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Burma what arrangements exist for young Burmese technicians and students to receive university training and instruction in this country; and whether, in view of the great need for native administrators and technicians for the reconstruction of Burma, he will make more comprehensive arrangements for the training of young Burmese in this country

Arrangements for the placing of students in this country are made on behalf of the Government of Burma by the High Commissioner for India. There are 27 State scholars from Burma here at present receiving university training. There are besides a certain number of private students. Last year a comprehensive survey of the facilities available was made by three officers of the Government of Burma and as a result a seven-year programme of State scholarships was drawn up as part of the reconstruction programme. Progress in selecting and placing scholars has been less rapid than I could wish, but my hon. Friend is no doubt aware of the very great difficulty of placing students in this country at present. The Government of Burma have under consideration a scheme for the award of some 150 scholarships for the study of a wide range of subjects in universities in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. I am consulting the Government of Burma on the needs of the country for training other than university training.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has considered soon bringing the question of free elections in Poland before U. N. O. and of informing the Polish Provisional Government that unless they honour the agreement within a definite time he will treat this as an urgent question to be placed on the agenda for U. N. O

The Polish Provisional Government have officially assured the United States Government of their intention to hold elections this year in accordance with the Yalta Declaration on Poland in conformity with the pledge given as a condition of recognition by His Majesty's Government and the United States Government. While His Majesty's Government are concerned at the Polish Provisional Government's delay in carrying out their international obligations in this matter, they see no reason why elections should not be held as now planned. I do not think, therefore, that the action proposed by my hon. Friend would be appropriate at the present time

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the approximate stocks of bread grains in the British zone in Austria held by U. N. R. R. A.; and the calorific value of the ordinary civilian ration.

I am informed that all relief supplies imported into Austria by U. N. R. R. A. are handed over to the Austrian Government and no food stocks are, therefore held in Austria by U. N. R. R. A. The present estimate of bread grain stocks held by the Austrian Government in the British zone is 1,700 tons, all of U. N. R. R. A. origin. During the first three weeks in June, the calorific value of the civilian ration issued to normal consumers throughout all zones in Austria averaged approximately 1,080 calories. The figure for bread grain stocks does not include the British sector of Vienna, which draws its requirements from a central pool to which the four occupying Powers contribute.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in view of the congestion in London Docks and in view of the need to provide shipping facilities for the export and import trades, he will grant priority for the repair of the bombed berths in the Royal Docks.

I cannot agree that there is congestion in the Port of London

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make it obligatory for all passenger-carrying steamers to be equipped with wireless.

All seagoing passenger steamers are already required to be equipped with wireless except those plying on short excursions to sea or along the coast.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the conditions on board the s.s. "Westcliffe Hall"; and, as men are being called upon to live in conditions that are insanitary on this vessel, if he will take prompt action to remedy this.

I have arranged for the matter referred to by my hon. Friend to be investigated on the arrival of the ship in the Port of London, where she was due at the end of last week. I will let my hon. Friend know the result of the inquiries when they are completed.

asked the Minister of Transport how many ships, at the latest available date, were on the high seas between Britain and South American ports; how many are held up there; what is the average time of the turn round; and, in view of the necessity for increasing exports and of importing food, if he will take immediate steps to remedy a state of affairs caused by a lack of proper organisation.

On 8th July, approximately 52 British ships were at sea between British and South American ports, and lb British ships in port in South America destined for the United Kingdom of which five had been in South America for more than a month. No vessels destined for this country are a t present held up for lack of cargoDuring the past two months, the average time spent in South American ports discharging and/ or loading cargo was about 35 days in the case of British vessels loading bulk cargoes, 17 days in the case of liners carrying refrigerated cargo, and 4o days for general cargo liners.With regard to the third part of the Question, the operation of the ships is in the hands of the shipping companies. Delay in port is mainly due to labour disputes in South America and general difficulties regarding availability of cargo, over which the shipowners have no control

asked the Minister of Transport what tonnage of cross-Channel packets is at present under requisition that is normally on cross-Channel routes from Great Britain, specifying from which routes the tonnage has been taken.

The following is a list of ships normally engaged in cross-Channel services (as shown) at present under requisition:

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that omnibus companies in East Anglia and, particularly, in Norfolk, are unable to meet the needs of the travelling public owing to the shortage both, of vehicles and crews; and if he will take steps to enable the com panies to make further facilities available, especially in the rural areas, before the onset of winter.

I have every hope that, before the winter, existing shortages of vehicles and crews in East Anglia will have been largely overcome.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the complaints of overcrowding on the motor-omnibuses running on the Methwold to Downham Market and the King's Lynn to Downham Market services in which schoolchildren are particularly concerned; and whether an early improvement in the accommodation on these services can be expected.

Both services have been recently improved in the early morning, the former by an additional journey and the latter by an additional relief vehicle. Some single-deck vehicles adapted to carry extra standing passengers are still in use on these routes; they will be withdrawn as soon as they can be replaced by new double-deckers.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will inquire into the present state of omnibus services in rural districts of the county of Denbigh, with a view to augmenting the services.

Improvements have recently been made in 13 services in the county and are scheduled to commence shortly in 14 other services. I am sending details to the hon. Member. The position is under constant review.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, before coming to a decision on the proposed increase of fares on London public service vehicles, he will take into consideration representations from Members of Parliament whose constituencies are affected.

As my hon. Friend is aware, this matter is the subject of a public inquiry at present being conducted by the Charges Consultative Committee before whom a number of local authorities and others have given notice of appearance. I shall come to a conclusion in the light of the committee's report. I am, of course, always willing to consider representations by hon. Members, but I could not agree to anything in the nature of a rehearing of the case.

asked the Minister of Transport if, particularly in rural areas, he will arrange with the transport services, including omnibuses, for places to be reserved, or some priority to be given by the conductors to schoolchildren, who frequently have tiring journeys to and from school.

In general, it would not be practicable to give priority to schoolchildren over other travellers in omnibuses. If the hon. Member will give me particulars of any case where special difficulty occurs I will see whether anything can be done to mitigate it.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider setting up special administrative machinery to deal with cases where applicants for new motor cars, whose old ones were worn out on national service during the war, are unable to obtain priority by other means.

No, Sir. This proposal would involve reintroducing control of allocation of new cars, which I am not prepared to do.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the greater time required to deliver bread under the new rationing system, he will reintroduce a priority scheme for the obtaining of new vans by bakers.

No, Sir. I would refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply to the hon. and gallant Member for Finchley (Captain Crowder) on 9th July.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is consulting the users of road transport in addition to the transport firms, before putting forward his scheme for the nationalisation of road transport.

A number of bodies representative of road transport users have already provided me with their views and information about their requirements. I am always ready to receive such communications, or to meet such representative bodies who may wish to place their special needs before me.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state, separately, the number of petrol-driven and heavy oil-driven goods vehicles licensed at 28th February, 1946, or the most recent date for which figures are available.

As I stated in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leicester (Mr. Janner) on 8th July, these figures are not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider making it compulsory for omnibuses to be fitted with mechanical trafficators to enable following traffic to see clearly the intentions of the omnibus driver.

I understand that the Committee on Road Safety will deal with the general question of direction indicators in their next report. I propose to await their views and recommendations.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, with a view to preventing road accidents, he will make it compulsory for cyclists to use cycle tracks where these are provided.

I propose to defer consideration of the question whether the use of cycle tracks by cyclists should be made obligatory, until tracks which are satisfactory alternatives to the carriageway have been constructed on a fairly wide scale.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the congestion on the L.M.S. trains operating between Fenchurch Street and Southend-on-Sea during peak hours; of the bad state of the rolling-stock in use; and what steps he proposes to take to give South-East Essex an adequate railway service.

I am advised that congestion on the Southend trains of the L. M. S. is mainly on the evening trains from London to Southend due to the concentration of the peak traffic within a very short period. The condition of the rolling stock deteriorated during the war but improvements are being made as rapidly as possible. Last Monday I met a deputation of hon. Members from constituencies in this area and have promised to examine proposals for improvement which they are to send to me.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused by the closing of the Finchley Road entrance to the Golders Green Underground station at 10 a.m. daily; and whether he will take action with a view to extending the time such entrance is opened

Yes, Sir. The closing of the station entrance at 10 a.m. is due to shortage of staff. In the autumn, when the holiday season is over, it is proposed to keep this entrance open throughout the day.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons wholly or principally derive their incomes from Treasury funds at the present time; and how is this figure arrived at.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount the Treasury would gain if husbands and wives were assessed separately for income tax.

About£50 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will raise the preference to the Jamaican cigar industry to not less than the U.S. preference to Cuban cigars, in view of the successful efforts of the cigar industry in Jamaica to keep us supplied during the war and its importance to this Colony.

No, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will take steps to ascertain and publish the number of landowners in the United Kingdom, with the quantity of land owned by each proprietor and the aggregate gross estimated rental of such owners.

No, Sir. I doubt whether the value of such a return would warrant the labour which would be involved in preparing it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of Statutory Rules and Orders issued in the periods 1st January to 31st July, 1945, and 1st August, 1945, to 30th June, 1946, respectively; and how many of these were printed

Between 1st January and the 31st July, 1945, 926, of which 675 were printed; between 1st August, 1945, and 30th June, 1946, 1,744, of which 1,180 were printed.

asked the Minister of Health the estimated figure of population in the age groups 60–65, 65–70 years and over 70 years, showing separately men and women.

The estimated civilian population of England and Wales as at 31st December, 1945, the latest date for which figures are available, is published in the Government's Monthly Digest of Statistics. Following are the figures asked for:

asked the Minister of Health if he will hasten the setting up of the tribunals under the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act; and whether he will reconsider the figure of 250,000 for tribunals in sparsely populated areas.

I shall establish these tribunals as quickly as I can, and the process will be helped if local authorities will do more than has yet been done in forwarding names of suitable members. The figure mentioned in my hon. Friend's Question was taken as a working guide, but I have not treated it as binding.

asked the Minster of Health how much notice is given to the owners of houses which have been requisitioned for the use of Departments other than his Department when it is proposed that such houses shall be taken over by his Department; whether any notice is given to such owners of proposed structural alterations to such houses; and whether the owners of such houses will be entitled to have their houses restored to their original condition when they are eventually derequisitioned.

Fourteen days' notice is given to owners of requisitioned properties which it is proposed that my Department should take over. No notice is given of proposed structural alterations. Owners will be entitled to have their houses restored to their original condition, subject to fair wear and tear, except that, instead of actual restoration, compensation may be paid.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses for which licences had already been issued that were subsequently stopped either before the houses were started or soon after due to his orders on this subject.

The figures are not available but I have been in touch with the local authority concerned to rectify the position in any cases in which I have been informed that a licence had been withdrawn where building had began or a contract had been entered into.

asked the Minister of Health how many applications for licences to build permanent houses were submitted to local authorities by private-enterprise builders and refused on account of his instructions since he took office; and how many houses were involved in such refusals.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the serious results of vaccination in the Birkenhead area; what was the source of the vaccine; and to what extent the relaxation of the regulations regarding the number of colonies of germs permitted in the lymph has been the cause of these severe effects.

I am aware of certain cases at Birkenhead in which vaccination was followed by severe reaction which commonly occurs when many adults are vaccinated for the first time. Similar situations occurred before the alteration of regulations mentioned and there is nothing to support the suggestion that the Birkenhead cases were in any way due to this change. The lymph was supplied in the main by the Government Lymph Establishment, and it effectively checked this outbreak of smallpox.

asked the Minister at Health how many ex-Servicemen and others, respectively, are receiving rehabilitation treatment in voluntary and municipal hospitals; and how many in each category are awaiting treatment.

I regret that information is not available as to the numbers of ex-Servicemen and others respectively who are receiving rehabilitation treatment in voluntary and municipal hospitals and the numbers awaiting treatment. The replies to a test questionnaire which was sent to all general hospitals providing rehabilitation treatment during the year 1944–45 indicated that at that time over 31,000 patients were receiving active rehabilitation treatment every day; there is reason to believe that the number is now greater.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increase in the number of casuals, he will state the contents of the circular sent for the guidance of local authorities on the subject of their treatment and rehabilitation.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the circular to which he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why permission has been refused for a Parliamentary delegation to visit Palestine.

It is not considered that such a visit would be opportune or helpful at the present moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has considered the letter from the Higher Broughton and Crumpsall Women's Zionist Society, with the copy of the telegram sent out by the Palestine W.I.Z.C. executive, forwarded to him by the hon. Member for North Salford; and what steps does he propose to take to investigate the grave charges of deliberate and wanton destruction contained in the telegram.

I have seen the letter to which my hon. Friend refers. I am unable to add to the reply given to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for East Willesden (Mr. Orbach) on 11th July.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total number of paid publicity agents attached to all Government Departments throughout the country on 1st June, 1945; the approximate total cost of their salaries for the period June, 1945, to June, 1946; and the increase or decrease of numbers employed compared with 1st June, 1945.

pursuant to his reply(OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th June, 1946; Vol. 424, C. 1072–3), supplied the. following information,:The following table gives for all Departments, other than the Ministry of Information, now the Central Office of Information, the particulars to which I

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in order to assist the problem of displaced Jews in

The proposal presents difficulties and has been the subject of much inquiry in the past, but His Majesty's Government will give the matter further consideration if it is clear that this is desired by responsible Jewish authorities.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is now in a position to issue the back pay and war gratuity due to Mr. L. J. Fairingside, 59, Shadwell Road, North End, Portsmouth, who was demobilised on 28th December, 1945, and whose service number was 1602612; and whether he will state the effective date of Mr. L. J. Fairingside's promotion to warrant officer, which promotion was notified shortly before his release.

I am grateful to my hon and gallant Friend for drawing my attention to the delay in winding up Mr. Fairingside's service pay account. Mr. Fairingside will now be paid the amount due to him as a flight sergeant. He was not eligible for time promotion to the rank of warrant officer before his release. If my hon. and gallant Friend can let me have the evidence that Mr. Fairingside was notified of promotion, I will, of course, look into it.

asked the Minister of Food if agricultural workers who do not take the extra cheese ration will be able to claim the extra bread ration which is to be provided for heavy manual workers.

Yes, Sir, if they are eligible for the special cheese ration.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage of the total consumption of bread is represented by the bread consumed in catering establishments; how much he anticipates would be saved if it were illegal to serve bread with main meals in such establishments; and if he is considering this step.

I regret that "I have no accurate information about the proportion of bread consumed in catering establishments but, as I stated in the House on 3rd July, I am proposing to make an Order providing that if bread is served it shall form one of the three dishes permitted at any single meal.

asked the Minister of Food whether for the convenience of rural populations he will arrange that the exchange of bread points can be made at rural post offices or places other than food offices.

I am afraid that I cannot allow bread unit and points coupons to he exchanged except at a food office, but any food office can undertake the exchange and can do so by post if the appropriate pages or sections of pages of coupons to be exchanged bearing the name and national registration number of the authorised holder are sent.

asked the Minister of Food the present stocks of tea in this country and give comparable figures for 1945 and 1939.

No, Sir. For reasons which my right hon. Friend has already given the House, he is not at present prepared to depart from the policy laid down by his predecessors.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the strike of fishermen in Grimsby has been caused by the low price realised for fish catches caused by imported boxed fish; and what steps he is taking to restrict, regulate or prohibit the importation of foreign-caught fish, in view of the fact that British trawlers can supply the home market at reasonable prices.

I am aware of the low prices recently realised for certain kinds of fish at Grimsby but in view of the fact that the strike of fishermen is now the subject of investigation by a court of inquiry, I think it would be wrong of me to express an opinion on the causes of the strike or on the action suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Food they total tonnage of home-grown wheat delivered to the mills from the 1944 harvest; and what was the average cost per ton to his Department.

2,277,000 tons of homegrown wheat was delivered to the mills from the 1944 harvest. The final accounts from millers for the year in question are not yet available and the cost cannot therefore be exactly computed. On the basis of the ex-farm prices of wheat and other approved charges exclusive of the wheat acreage payments, the average cost per ton, is estimated at£15 10s. 10d.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view' of the impossibility of arranging canteen services, he will grant an increased cheese ration to building workers similar to that granted to agricultural workers.

I am at present considering whether anything can be done for those building workers who are unable to make use of canteens and for whom it is impracticable to provide a packed meals service.

asked the Minister of Food why green vegetables and salads are not being sold in the shops at a cheaper price, in view of the fact that there is a glut of this food and the growers are obtaining such a low price from the retailers that they are preferring to plough their cabbages and lettuces into the ground rather than sell them at a loss to the shopkeepers.

The supply of green vegetables, including lettuces, depends so much upon the weather that there are bound sometimes to be surpluses over and above what can be sold at an economic price. Nevertheless, I am concerned with the width of the gap between the prices received by the growers and the prices charged by retailers, and also at the failure of retail prices to respond to large increases of supply. The whole subject is being considered by my Department

asked the Minister of Food how many British Restaurants were open, at the most recent convenient date, in England and Wales; how many were open in Scotland; and what was the weekly average number of main meals served in them.

On 27th April, 1946, there were 1,243 British Restaurants of all types operating in England and Wales and 80 British Restaurants of all types operating in Scotland. The average numbers of main meals served during a six-day week were 2,286,000 in England and Wales, and 150,000 in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the widespread traffic of feedingstuffs outside the regulations; and whether any steps are being, or will be taken, to ensure an equitable distribution in accordance with supplies and needs.

There is doubtless some illegal traffic in rationed feedingstuffs, but I am not aware that it is widespread and i am satisfied that control is generally effective. Enforcement of the relevant Orders has recently been intensified and I have every reason to believe that the measures which have been, and are being, taken will prevent any interference with the equitable distribution of supplies.

asked the Minister of Food by how much the acreage of potatoes planted in Northern Ireland this year exceeds or falls short of the acreage planted last year.

Preliminary statistics of the potato acreage in Northern Ireland will not be available until towards the end of July. I understand, however, that the acreage under potatoes this year is likely to show an increase over that in 1945.

asked the Minister of Food the amount of beer produced in each month of the years 1938, 1943 and 1945.

The following table shows the number of barrels of home made beer charged with duty in the United Kingdom (i.e. produced) in each month of the years 1938, 1943 and 1945.

asked the Minister of Food whether his Department will now permit the importation of tomatoes from the Channel Islands through Portsmouth.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 8th July to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for North Portsmouth (Major Bruce). There is nothing that I can usefully add to that reply.

asked the Secretary of State for War if lie is aware that the commanding officer, 15th H. A. A. Battery, R. A., West Camp, Larkhill, Wiltshire, in ordering church parade for Sunday, 14th July, gave instructions that all those detailed for the parade would enter the church and would not be allowed to fall out at the church door; and what steps he took to prevent this breach of the existing regulations and of the spirit of the new regulations

I was not aware of this incident but the action of the commanding officer, as described by my hon Friend, was on the face of it correct under existing regulations. As my right hon. Friend stated on Tuesday last, it is hoped that the revised regulations will very shortly be issued.

asked the Secretary of State for War why men who have already completed three years and two months overseas service are still in Burma awaiting repatriation; and when they will arrive in this country.

There is no general delay in these theatres and I know of no such cases, though it is possible that isolated individuals may have been retained temporarily for some specific reason. If my hon. and gallant Friend has a particular case in mind and will let me have details I will make inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements he has made to ensure that men in Burma in Release Group 36 will be brought back to this country for demobilisation in August; and whether he will give full publicity to any such arrangements to the men concerned.

General instructions have been issued for the collection and despatch of all the men concerned. In accordance with normal procedure, the shipping requirements are notified by C.-in-C. India to the War Office, who arrange for the provision of shipping in consultation with the Ministry of Transport, and advise the Commander-in-Chief, India, of the dates of availability and capacity of ships. The shipping is reallocated locally to meet the needs of the various areas. The men are aware of the dates on which the release of their group is planned: it would not be practicable to give advance publicity to each of the detailed arrangements. or their effect on particular individuals.

asked the Secretary of State for War the maximum number of personnel that can be accommodated in the barracks at Dover; and the number of personnel in occupation on 30th June last.

The maximum number is 5,115 all ranks but it is not suitable for all personnel now situated at Dover. The number in occupation on 30th June last was 3,329. Certain personnel at present in Dover are necessarily accommodated outside the baracks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to release the land now occupied by the services in the parks and open spaces in the County of London, especially Clapham Common, since, in addition, a large proportion is now being used for temporary housing and materials dumps.

The general position is still as stated in reply to a question by my hon. Friend on 19th November last. The camp at Clapham Common is fully occupied by troops and I am afraid it cannot be released until alternative and more permanent accommodation can be provided. I can assure my hon. Friend that I shall not retain any of this land longer than is absolutely necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that non-commissioned officers and men of Group 32 have not been sent home from Gibraltar in time for Class A release with others in the same group on or before the anticipated date of 2nd July; what is the reason for the delay in those cases; and whether it is proposed to grant any compensation to the non-commissioned officers and men concerned, by way of additional leave or pay and allowances or in any other way.

I explained the cause and length of the delay in this case on Tuesday last, in reply to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Ely (Major Legge-Bourke). Minor variations of the planned dates of release are unavoidable and no extra grants are proposed in such cases

asked the Minister of Labour why Mr. A. A. Evans, of Roundhill Farm, Tusmore, Oxfordshire, aged 24, joint partner in the farm, has received a calling-up notice for 18th July, just before harvest; and if this is in accordance with his undertaking to the House.

This man was employed as a works manager in a factory at Wolverhampton. When called up in 1944, he expressed a wish to be employed in coalmining as an alternative to service in the Forces. His enlistment notice was accordingly cancelled to enable him to accept this employment. Within a few months he left that employment without permission and went into partnership on a farm. He is not entitled to deferment as an agricultural worker.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many German prisoners of war have so far been repatriated on each of the following grounds: illness, disablement, or other medical grounds by reason of technical or professional qualifications, by reason of their record of anti-Nazi activity or their having been victims of Nazi persecution.

On medical grounds, 32,307; by reason of technical or professional qualifications and of anti-Nazi beliefs, 783; by reason of anti-Nazi activities including victims of Nazi persecution, 321.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange that the training of nursing orderlies in the services is of such a standard as to be accepted by the General Nursing Council so that time spent in such training will count automatically for the diploma of State Registered Nurse.

The full training in all three Services is such that it is accepted by the General Nursing Council for the purpose of admission to the examination for State registration. During the war the period of initial training of nursing orderlies had necessarily been shortened but the full training course is now being reintroduced in the Royal Navy and the Army, and will he reintroduced in the Royal Air Force as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the representations made by the Reigate Borough Council protesting against the use of sirens by the N.F.S. in the borough for the purpose of calling firemen to fires; and what answer he has returned.

These representations appear to be based, in part, on a misunderstanding and I am arranging in the first instance for the fire force commander to give the council a further explanation of what is proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered a report from Strangeways Prison, Manchester, on the resignation of Warder T. Eastwood and the admission into hospital of a man named Elliott, who was imprisoned in Strangeways on 6th May, 1946; and with what result.

I have called for full reports on this matter, and I will consider in the light of these reports what, if any, further action is necessary on my part.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the total number of experiments on living animals performed under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, during the year 1945, as shown by the experimenters' returns sent in before 14th January last.

The figures are in process of tabulation and I will let my hon. Friend know when they are ready.

asked the Minister of Works what progress has been made in the reopening of brickworks in South Wales during this year; how many undertakings are now in full production; and how many are partly or completely idle.

Since the beginning the year nine works have recornmenced production in Carmarthenshire, Glamorgan, Monmouth, Pembroke and Brecknock. At the 3oth June a total of 27 works were producing finished bricks. of: the remaining 21 works, 13 are recruiting labour and carrying out repairs prior to reopening. Eight are still idle

asked the Minister of Works why the brickworks at Skewen, Glamorganshire, are still idle; if he is aware that the owners are anxious to resume production but are unable to do so; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

I understand that negotiations are proceeding in connection with a claim for war damage. I hope that a settlement will quickly be reached so that production can be resumed. My officers are keeping in touch with the firm.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any information as to the naval side of the war of 1914–18, especially with reference to the Battle of Jutland, has been discovered in German Admiralty records; and whether he wilt publish all such information.

There are voluminous records of the 1914–18 War, including the Battle of Jutland, in the archives of the German Admiralty. Because of the preoccupation of historical staffs with more recent history, it is not thought likely that there will be an opportunity of examining these records further in the foreseeable future, and it is unlikely that such examination would reveal anything of general interest which does not already appear in the very full published German Official History, one volume of which is entirely given up to an account of the Battle of Jutland, and was, of course, compiled from the records referred to.