asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention of the Government to continue to use straw for the manufacture of paper.

The consumption of straw for papermaking continues to be well maintained. The extent to which it will continue permanently to be used must depend upon its suitability to the industry as compared with other available materials.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of straw used for paper manufacture during the years 1943, 1944 and 1945.

301,889, 327,821 and 352,947 tons respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there is still a shortage of dustbins in Upton, West Ham, and an over-abundance in Tottenham and North London; and whether, in view of this, he will transfer supplies from Tottenham and North London to Upton, West Ham, to overcome this shortage.

I am aware that, although supplies of dustbins are improving, it is not yet possible to meet all demands in full. I am having inquiries made into the position in North and East London.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the production of gas mantles since January, 1946; whether he will give an assurance that, by the autumn, supply will have overtaken demand; and whether he will ensure that urgent consideration is given to the needs of the people of Mir-field, Yorkshire, many of whom are now compelled to use paraffin lamps and candles owing to their inability to purchase gas mantles.

The number of gas mantles produced this year in thousands of gross is: January, 7·9; February, 6·7; March, 9·9; April, 9·6; May (latest available figures), 9·9. I cannot promise that supplies will overtake demand by next winter, but the average output in the three months March to May was some 35 per cent. above the monthly average last year. I am not aware that the position at Mirfield is relatively worse than elsewhere but I will gladly consider any information my hon. and gallant Friend can give me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in negotiating a trade agreement with Rumania; and what are the principal commodities to he exchanged.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Wycombe (Flight-Lieutenant Haire) on 1st July, to which I have nothing at present to add.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is intended to provide sleeping car accommodation on trains between Sunderland and Kings Cross.

Sleeping car services on this route will be restored when circumstances permit. Under present conditions sleeping cars could only be provided at the expense of seating accommodation, all of which is needed.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider altering the hour of departure of the 4.50 p.m. Stranraer boat express to the prewar hour of 7.30 p.m., as the earlier timing is now causing inconvenience to many passengers.

As from the 7th October next, boat trains will leave Euston for Stranraer at 6.15 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on weekdays, except Saturdays, and at 5.55 p.m. and 6.5 p.m. on Sundays. I regret that for operating reasons it is not possible to restore the prewar timings where there was only one boat train.

asked the Minister of Transport if corridor carriages can now be provided on the 8.40 a.m. train from Dumfries to Stranraer and the 3.30 p.m. train from Stranraer to Dumfries, respectively.

Corridor coaches cannot, at present, be spared from long distance main line trains for use on these local stopping trains which are provided with non-corridor lavatory coaches.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of persons booking tickets for journeys in the direction of London, including Fenchurch Street, from the following L.M.S. stations: Shoeburyness, Thorpe Bay, Southend-on-Sea, Westcliff, Chalkwell, Benfleet, Pitsea and Laindon, on 26th June, 1946, and the number of season-ticket holders travelling in the same direction from each of the above-mentioned stations on the same date.

The numbers of tickets issued and season tickets valid on the 26th June, 1946, for journeys in the direction of London from each of the L.M.S. stations named were:

asked the Minister of Transport why there is no omnibus service to Hardwick, Oxfordshire, which is five miles from a railway station and four miles from an omnibus service; and if the Hethe omnibus service can be extended to Hardwick.

I am informed that Hardwick is about 1966½ miles from the omnibus service at Hethe, which cannot be extended to Hardwick because the road is unsuitable.

asked the Minister of Transport, if he will improve the omnibus service at Hethe, Oxfordshire.

I am informed that the needs of Hethe for transport by omnibus are reasonably well met by services to Bicester and to Banbury, which are the market towns.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are being taken to improve the omnibus service at Fritwell, Oxfordshire.

Neither the omnibus company nor my Regional Transport Commissioner have any request before them for the improvement of this service. Any specific demand, supported by evidence of need, will be examined.

asked the Minister of Transport what restrictions are to be placed upon the transit of coaches conveying sight-seeing passengers through Central London.

Applications for road service licences authorising the operation of sight-seeing tours in or through Central London at separate fares will continue to be dealt with by the Area Traffic Commissioners concerned on merits, and in accordance with the relevant statutes. The Commissioners impose such restrictions as to routes and other matters as they think necessary.

asked the Minister of Food why shop workers are treated as non-manual workers under the bread-rationing scheme; and if he will place those employed in food shops under the category of manual workers, in view of the heavy and tiring nature of their work.

The categories of manual workers have been arranged in consultation with the Ministry of Labour, Trades Union Congress, and the British Employers Confederation. Shop workers, as such, are not considered to be doing sufficiently heavy work to be included in the category of manual workers, but those who are engaged for not less than 22 hours a week in such work as shifting heavy goods will qualify.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider the advisability of customers registering at baker's shops for the rationing of bread so as to ensure a proper supply at each shop and prevent possible wastage if the purchasing public change from shop to shop, day by day.

I considered this suggestion fully before introducing the bread rationing scheme and decided that it was, on balance, undesirable.

asked the Minister of Food what are the totals of olive oil imported and retail-sold in this country during the last assessable quarter and the relative prewar period; and what are the causes for the present shortage.

Imports of olive oil during the quarter ended 31st March, 1946, were ro6 tons; imports during the quarter ended' 31st March, 1939, were 2,978 tons. The oil imported in 1946 was for medicinal purpose only, but I am unable to say how much was sold by retail.The present shortage of olive oil is due to the world shortage of oils and fats generally. Countries which used to export olive oil have either prohibited exports or insist upon an equivalent tonnage of other oils which we cannot spare.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that imported vegetables and soft fruits are packed in non-returnable crates with adequate paper wrapping, whilst home growers have still to be content with heavy returnable packages without any paper for wrapping; and if he will ensure, in future, that equally good facilities for packing are made available to home growers.

I regret that I cannot promise any immediate improvement in packing materials for home producers, nor allow the use of non-returnable containers, so long as supplies of paper a ad soft wood remain as scarce as they are at present.

asked the Minister of Food the amount of flour and unsalted margarine allowed each month to ice-cream manufacturers.

The monthly allocations of white flour and unsalted margarine to ice-cream makers average 28 and 360 tons respectively; in addition, at the present time, ice-cream makers purchase other flour without restriction.

asked the Minister of Food how many catering licences have been granted to works canteens in the city of Manchester; and how this number compares with the figures for 1944 and 1945.

There were 306 industrial canteens operating under licence from the Ministry of Food in the city of Manchester at 30th June, 1946; the corresponding figure for 1945 was 243 and for 1944 it was 204.

asked the Minister of Labour how many industrial canteens have been opened during the five months ended 31st May, 1946; and for which industries they catered.

I have been asked to reply. Figures are not available for May, but up to the end of April of this year, 1,693 industrial canteens were opened in Great Britain; allowing for the canteens which closed during that period, there was a net increase of 224. I regret that information is not available regarding the industries catered for.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of industrial canteens at present in existence and the weekly average number of main meals served in them.

I have been asked to reply. There were 19,928 industrial canteens in use on 30th April, 1946, and the average weekly number of main meals served during the eight weeks ending 14th November, 1945, was 12,090,000. This figure includes meals served at a number of catering establishments which receive the Category B industrial allowance because 60 per cent. or more of their customers are industrial workers.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he takes in the conduct of the rat campaign to avoid conflict with the local authorities in the exercise of their statutory functions; what aid he gives to the local authorities; whether he is satisfied with the efforts made by them; and, in view of the present situation, what further steps he is taking to avoid waste of food and other commodities.

My officers are in constant touch with local authorities in the conduct of the Ministry's rat campaign. Local authorities are assisted by giving them the latest scientific guidance, by providing training for their officers and by meeting net irrecoverable costs the authorities undertake at the Ministry's suggestion. I am satisfied that most of the 1,496 local authorities are undertaking useful and helpful efforts in the destruction of rats, and I have appealed for extra effort. I have offered local authorities two special grants, (a) 30 per cent. of the cost of two half-yearly treatments against rats in their sewer systems, and (b) 60 per cent. of the cost of treating private dwellings included in approved comprehensive rat clearance schemes, provided 40 per cent, is borne by the local rate fund, and on the distinct understanding that occupiers of trading premises included in such schemes are required to pay for services rendered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will arrange for the maximum publicity to be given to the air speed attempt shortly to be carried out by the R.A.F. high-speed flight, in view of its importance to the aircraft manufacturing industry.

Yes, Sir. This is a matter of interest and importance in many ways. In conjuction with the Ministry of Supply, we are already providing full information and assistance for the Press and other organisations. We intend to give good notice of any actual attempt on the record.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now give instructions for civilian gas masks to be collected by local authorities or otherwise disposed of.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6th December, 1945, to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mr. I. O. Thomas). With a view to meeting the convenience of holders, arrangements for the collection of the bulkier types, viz., babies' helmet and hospital respirators, and those issued to young children are proceeding as quickly as is possible with the limited transport and labour facilities available to the local authorities. May I use this occasion to appeal to members of the public who still hold these types to free their own storage space and assist the work of collection by handing them in to their local authority? Ordinary civilian respirators, however, must remain entrusted to the custody of the public, who should take proper care of these articles lest they should ever be needed again.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of leather-covered, wooden and other tables, respectively, which were used as stands outside the five windows reserved for Colonial and Dominion visitors on Victory day; why no steps were taken to bring them under cover from the rain after the Victory Parade; and why proper care was not taken of Government property.

In the absence of other material for providing stands, three old rexine covered and eight wooden tables were used. They were covered with mail bags when it became evident that the rain was likely to continue, and were taken under cover as soon as the limited staff on duty became available from other work. None of the tables was damaged, and I do not accept the suggestion that proper care was not taken of Government property.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what action was taken on the Ullswater Committee's recommendation in 1936 for a general advisory committee to be appointed in each B.B.C. region.

I understand from the B.B.C. that none of the proposed general advisory committees had been constituted before the outbreak of war in 1939, and that no new committees were formed during the war.