asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, what conditions were stipulated before the Cinque Ports Flying Club was permitted to hold a high-speed handicap race.

The conditions regulating the use of the aerodrome were those normally applied to aerial events of this nature and were set out in a letter, dated 23rd July, 1946, to the Managing Director of the club, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, how many days the Constellations of B.O.A.C. were grounded as a result of the recent C.A.A. decision; and what has been the cost to the corporation as a result of this period of inactivity.

The Constellation aircraft owned by British Overseas Airways Corporation were grounded for 49 days; and the Corporation estimate their loss of net revenue at £81,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now state what progress has been made towards the establishment of a more democratic Government in Cyprus; and what further steps are envisaged in the near future.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement on this subject which I hope to make very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has any statement to make on the political situation in Malaya and the negotiations between the Government, the Malay rulers and the representatives of the United Malay National Organisation.

Discussions are still proceeding. Early in August a working committee, consisting of Government representatives on one side and Malay representatives on the other, was set up to examine the various problems in detail. With one interval, this committee has been continuously at work until a few days ago. It has now adjourned for a brief respite until nth October. Both this and the previous adjournment were requested by the Malay members.The discussions have been conducted in a frank and friendly spirit throughout, and the committee has already covered much ground. When it has completed its task, wider discussions will take place in order to give effect to His Majesty's Government's declared intention that all sections of opinion in Malaya will be consulted before any final decisions are taken. I hope that there will emerge from these consultations a scheme acceptable to all concerned, which will ensure strong central government in all necessary matters, on a basis capable of developing self-governing institutions in which all whose homes and loyalties are in Malaya may play their part.It has been agreed between both parties to the present discussions that no interim or progress reports will be issued. It follows that reports which have appeared in the Press during the past few days, purporting to describe the progress hitherto achieved in the discussions, are entirely unofficial. On the evening of 7th October, the Governor of the Malayan Union gave a statement to the local Press which sets these reports in their true perspective. The Governor's statement reads as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present numbers and cost of Lord Killearn's establishment in Malaya; and if he will give an account of what action has been taken since last July.

The figures which my right hon. Friend gave in reply to the hon. Member on 29th July, although based on information available here, were, I regret to say, incomplete. The staff numbered at the beginning of August some 350 persons, excluding a considerable number of drivers and maintenance staff. The latest figures show that the staff today numbers 582, of whom some 250 are maintenance staff. The total annual cost of the Mission is estimated at £326,500. This covers salaries, the broadcasting unit, telegrams, transport and housing, but excludes office rent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) if he is in a position to make a statement concerning the present conditions and future prospects of Gibraltarian evacuees at present accommodated in 10 camps and one hostel in Northern Ireland; and what progress, if any, has been made with the housing schemes at Gibraltar for the accommodation of these individuals;(2) the cost to the British taxpayer of the maintenance of the 10 camps and one hostel in Northern Ireland at present accommodating Gibraltarian evacuees; and what are the prospects for them to obtain useful work.(3) how many of the 2,440 Gibraltarian evacuees accommodated in camps in Northern Ireland have, since May, re- turned to Gibraltar; how many are left; and what are the prospects for their return.

As regards the present conditions of the Gibraltarian evacuees in Northern Ireland, I have little to add to the answer given to the hon. Member on 15th May. I understand that the main development since that date has been a considerable increase in voluntary activities in the camps, and in particular of youth clubs set up and organised by the evacuees themselves; and that plans are also in hand for an extension of facilities for carpentry and dressmaking.The future prospects of the evacuees are still naturally dependent upon the progress of the housing schemes referred to in the reply given to the hon. Member on 9th May. There are at present 1,449 persons accommodated in temporary housing in Gibraltar; an increase of 500 since the 15th May. It is hoped that approximately 400 more may be housed in this way by the end of November. As regards permanent building, a tender for 472 flats has been recently accepted. It would not be prudent to attempt to forecast the date at which housing will be available in sufficient quantity for all the remaining evacuees; I hope that it will be possible for a steady flow of repatriation to be maintained, but the possibility must be envisaged that repatriation will not be entirely completed before two years hence.Three hundred and two evacuees have been repatriated from Northern Ireland since May and there now remain between 2,000 and 2,100 in the Northern Ireland camps and hostel. The current cost of maintaining these evacuees is approximately £250,000 a year, including salaries of the headquarters staffs of the Ministry of Health and Local Government in Northern Ireland. As to the question of the evacuees' prospects of obtaining useful work I would refer the hon. Member to the answer to his Question on this subject addressed to the Minister of Labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when it is proposed to publish another Handbook of Commercial Treaties, the last edition of which was published in 1931.

Since some of our existing treaties may have to be varied and since a number of new treaties will be concluded with various countries, I do not consider that the publication of a new edition of this handbook would at present be justified. A new edition will be published as soon as is appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what time limit was imposed by His Majesty's Government for the fulfilment of the conditions upon which the present Polish Provisional Government of National Unity was provisionally recognised; and what steps he proposes to take to withdraw that recognition in view of the non-fulfilment of those conditions.

No time limit has been imposed for the fulfilment of the conditions upon which the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity was recognised by the signatories of the Yalta and Potsdam Agreements. The principal condition of this recognition was that free and unfettered elections should be held. The Polish Provisional Government have stated that elections will be held this year and have recently issued an electoral law. His Majesty's Government trust that the Polish Provisional Government will fulfil the conditions to which they are pledged. Meanwhile they will continue to watch developments in Poland with close interest and attention.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that there has been a second large theft of safes from R.N. stations; what were the contents; what were the names of personnel who had property in the safes; and what was the value of the property stolen.

Yes, Sir. Two safes were stolen from "President I" at Chelsea Court, on Chelsea Embankment, during the night of 21st August. The safes contained notes, certain accountancy docu- ments, and about £2,400 in cash, all of which were public property. No private property was involved.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will define the policy according to which women, trained and efficient at certain Admiralty Compass Observatories, are being discharged in favour of men who would require specialised training and who could equally well be trained for other employment less suitable for women.

Women were engaged at the Admiralty Compass Observatory during the war to meet the shortage of male labour. By agreement with the trade union concerned, they were trained and employed as dilutees on work normally performed by men, and were due to be discharged as soon as men became available or reductions in staff became necessary. Discharges since the war have been in accordance with this agreement. The only male operatives engaged during this period have been former employees returning from military service. These men are already qualified mechanics, and require no specialised training.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether farmers and others on whose land wartime obstructions have been erected by the R.A.F. can now remove these poles, indication marks, brick stores, concrete foundations, etc.; how much is still being paid as rental for these objects; and why they have not been removed, in order to improve agricultural work and restore amenities.

We have no wish to keep constructions of this kind on agricultural land longer than we can help, but it would not be right for them to be taken away where the eventual use of the local airfield land is still uncertain. Even when that has been decided, the Works Services are at present generally short of labour and plant to carry out the removal themselves. On the other hand, some farmers have asked for it to be postponed to avoid disturbing crops. We have, of course, no objection to the work being done privately wherever land is derequisitioned or where we have said the war work is no longer needed. Compensation is then paid for the removal. As for the second part of the Question, I regret that figures are not available to show the cost of these rents separately from our general payments for land.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware of the disappointment felt by dental officers in the R.A.F. at the slow rate of release, and if he will take steps to speed up the demobilisation of this branch.

Yes, Sir, I am aware that dental officers in the Royal Air Force are disappointed at the inevitable delays in their release. Unfortunately, very few dentists are coming to the Air Force from civil life, and although the dental work has been cut down, we shall still be short of officers in the Dental Branch. It is, therefore, impossible at present to speed up the rate of their release, and we have told them that they will reach Group 40 by the end of the year. The general level for ground officers will then be Group 47.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many huts on Hixon airfield, Staffordshire, have been released as surplus to requirements; for how long these huts had been vacant prior to the date of release; and what precautions were taken during this time to prevent damage to public property.

Eighty-eight huts at Hixon airfield have been released by the Royal Air Force. Some of them had been condemned as unfit for occupation, and for that reason had been empty for about 12 months; others had been unoccupied for shorter periods of time. The huts were looked after by the station commander, with such airmen as he had available.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of canned pilchards have been purchased outside the sterling area during the past 12 months; and why any pilchards have been imported into the United Kingdom.

13,700 tons of pilchards were purchased outside the sterling area during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1946. They were imported to eat.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that his Department informed the fish buyers in Cornwall that they believed that U.N.R.R.A. would take the processed pilchards and recommended them to tank; in view of this fact what he proposes to do with regard to last season's tanked pilchards; and if he is aware that an immediate decision is required in order to empty the tanks and give room to the pilchard catch of the coming season.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." As regards the second part: unfortunately, the U.N.R.R.A. transaction fell through. A buyer has now been found, however, for last season's tanked pilchards, though at a lower price. We propose to make some recompense to the curers for financial loss on these transactions. I understand that most of the tanks have now been cleared.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider including meter readers and rent collectors among those entitled to an extra allowance of bread, since postmen and window cleaners are already included.

I should not feel justified in including meter readers and rent collectors in the categories of workers eligible for the manual worker's bread ration.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider including visiting officers of the Assistance Board in the category of workers eligible for extra bread unit coupons, in view of the fact that they are frequently in the course of their duties in areas where access to public restaurants is not possible, and therefore rely upon packet lunches during working hours.

I regret that I cannot adopt this suggestion.

asked the Minister of Food what extra entitlement of bread in the rationing scheme is received by professional athletes, games players and coaches.

None, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food the grounds on which his experts declined to recommend the extra bread ration for women cleaners at Messrs. Boot's chemical factory, at Beeston, Nottinghamshire.

The application of women cleaners at Messrs. Boots Chemical Factory, at Beeston, was rejected because the occupation of factory cleaning is not included in the schedule of occupations agreed with the T.U.C. and the British Employers' Confederation, to which the manual workers' bread ration is granted; but the question of including this occupation has now been raised and will be considered.

asked the Minister of Food whether he intends to purchase home-produced barley for his Department at the minimum controlled price of £4 1s. or whether he will pay higher prices for good quality clean milling barley which grades 54 lbs. to the bushel.

The price which the Government have guaranteed to the grower for millable barley, whatever may be its bushel weight, is £4 1s. per quarter, and my Department would not be prepared to pay a higher price.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of oats have been exported from this country during 1946.

13,152 tons. Nearly 13,000 tons of it went to the British zone of Germany for use as seed—but the whole quantity was recovered by import into the United Kingdom of an equivalent quantity of oats.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in order to avoid the possibility of injury to health caused by prolonged standing in queues, he will extend to women for a limited period after the birth of a child the shopping queue priority now granted to expectant mothers up to the time of the child's birth

Queue priority is now given only to expectant mothers. It has no legal force and I am grateful to the trades and the public for the recognition they have accorded to it. I am afraid that it is hardly practicable to extend it.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage of the 1945 Scottish crop of "Golden Wonder" ware potatoes was sold for consumption in their natural form and what percentage was purchased by his Department for processing; and whether ware of this variety, grown this year, will be available for human consumption in its natural form.

My Department bought approximately 25 per cent. of the 1945 production of "Golden Wonder" ware in Scotland for processing. This season we are not buying any "Golden Wonder" for processing but the processing company may buy supplies in the open market.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will continue to buy all marketable bananas in the Jamaican banana crop after 31st December, 1946; and, if so, for what period.

Negotiations for future supplies of bananas from Jamaica are now taking place. The limitation has been shipping. But that is improving and I have little doubt that we shall come to a satisfactory arrangement.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the widespread concern about black marketing in food and the fact that even after prosecution persons still have a chance to carry on this illegal practice, he will consider the confiscation of profits of offenders and expulsion from the trade.

The Defence (General) Regulations provides that the minimum fine which shall be imposed upon conviction shall be such amount as will in the opinion of the court secure that the offender derives no benefit from the offence. In reply to the second part of the Question, the conduct of every trader convicted of "black market" or other serious offence against the food regulations is most carefully considered in my Department and in appropriate circumstances his licence to trade is revoked.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent the biscuits which are to be imported from Europe to the United Kingdom are being manufactured from the 200,000 tons of wheat and flour which was diverted to the Continent from the United Kingdom earlier this year.

Only one of the countries, namely, Belgium, to which wheat was diverted in the spring of this year is expected to export biscuits to the United Kingdom. These biscuits are not yet made, and it is highly improbable that any part of the small quantity of wheat— 9,000 tons—allotted to that country still remains unconsumed and available for the manufacture of biscuits.

asked the Minister of Food why, in view of the restrictions still maintained on the manufacture of biscuits in this country which are causing unemployment and short time, he now proposes to allow the importation of biscuits from the Continent.

The importation of biscuits is allowed in the interests of consumers. Of course, we shall increase home production the minute supplies permit.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of his recent decision to extend the opportunities for the opening of restaurants and cafes that will have the necessary allocations of frying fats and oils, he will make a similar concession to the ordinary fish and potato fryer who supplies the poorer section of the people by extending the amount of oils and fats to this trade also.

I would like to increase the supply of oils and fats to fish fryers and the percentage allocated to them has been maintained at a higher level than the allocations to other trade users of fats. I regret, however, that the supply of fats does not permit of any further increase of allocation to fish fryers.

asked the Minister of Food whether he can give any estimate of the amount of milk sold weekly over and above the ration entitlement.

During September the quantity averaged a little less than 1½ million gallons weekly—that is some 7 per cent. of total sales.

asked the Minister of Food whether the Milk Distribution Working Party has yet submitted recommendations to him; and what action he proposes to take to ensure the efficient delivery of clean milk to the consumer.

I have not yet announced the composition or terms of reference of the Committee on Milk Distribution, which has not yet begun its sittings. So I am afraid we cannot expect its recommendations just yet. The Chairman of the Committee will be Major-General Williams, C.B., C.B.E., Director of Freight Movement, War Office. The other members will be:

• Mr. F. W. Charles, F.C.A.. C.B.E., Partner of the firm of Peat, Marwick Mitchell & Co Chartered Accountants.
• Miss R. Cohen, M.A., Director of Studies, Newnham College, Cambridge.
• Mr. A. Sainsbury, Director and Joint General Manager of the firm of J. Sainsbury, Ltd.
• Mr. G. Wansbrough, M.A., Director of the Bank of England.
• Mr. H. Weeks, C.M.G., of Cadbury Bros., Ltd.

The terms of reference of the Committee will be:

asked the Minister of Food comparative figures of the consumption or sales of breakfast cereals in the first six months of the years 1939 and 1946, respectively; whether he is aware that current demand is in excess of supply: and what steps he is taking to increase the quantities available and ensure equitable distribution.

The sales of cereal break fast foods in the first six months of 1939 appear to have been about 19,880 tons; the corresponding figure for 1946 is 25,760 tons. This is another instance of a foodstuff the supply of which we have been able to increase to well above the prewar level without satisfying the demand. This is partly due to shortages of other foodstuffs, but it is due also to the great increase in potential purchasing power in the hands of the public, an increase which it is a main object of His Majesty's Government's policy to promote. Cereal breakfast foods are distributed under the Points Rationing scheme, and I am satisfied that the available supplies are distributed as equitably as possible.

asked the Minister of Food the stocks of flour in this country at the beginning of each month since last June; and the consumption of flour for each of the expired quarters of 1946 compared with those of 1945.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Northern Dorset (Mr. Byers) on 10th July last. The following are the quarterly figures for 1945 and 1946, showing the deliveries of flour from stocks owned by or under the control of the Ministry of Food:

Deliveries (in tons)	Total	For Export.	Net U. K.
January/March 1945	1,324,300	37,100	1,287,200
April/June 1945	1,423,600	116,000	1,307,600
July/September 1945	1,333,900	55,300	1,278,600
January/March 1946	1,428,800	62,500	1,366,300
April/June 1946	1,337,000	20,400	1,316,600
July/September 1946	1,099,100	—	1,099, 100

asked the Minister of Food if he will extend the special cheese ration to all working men whose employer can certify that they are unable to obtain food at home or at a canteen during working hours.

After all, many workers who cannot return home for a meal or use a canteen, can use ordinary catering establishments; so I very much regret that I cannot make this concession.

asked the Minister of Food whether in view of the fact that lorry drivers distributing coal are allowed the extra cheese ration, he will now extend it to the lorry drivers doing the no less heavy work of distributing corn, feeding stuffs and fertilisers.

Coal distributive workers are allowed the special cheese ration on the recommendation of the T.U.C. because the extremely dirty condition of their working clothes prevents them from using cafes and other catering establishments not for heavy work. I am afraid it cannot be extended.

asked the Minister of Food, whether he is aware that applicants for ration books, emergency card6 and assistance, are kept waiting for a considerable time at local offices before receiving attention; and whether he will take steps to see that these matters are dealt with more expeditiously.

I am afraid some waiting at times is unavoidable but I will do anything possible to mitigate the delays. Food Office staffs are working hard under heavy pressure and accommodation is often a limiting factor, but if my hon. Friend will let me know of particular cases that have come to his notice, I will have them investigated.

asked the Minister of Food, whether he is now in a position to derequisition the cinema at Standon, near Ware, Herts.

Yes, Sir. The cinema will be de-requisitioned in about four weeks' time.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that, in spite of the special advance of three 1bs. of sugar per hive of bees, made in June, being treated as a supplementary issue, beekeepers feel that the five lbs. allowance for the spring is inadequate; and, in view of the importance of beekeeping, whether he will increase this allowance.

Yes, Sir. Beekeepers have already been notified that they may apply for a quantity of sugar up to 10 lbs. per colony in addition to the customary allowance of 15 lbs. per colony for winter and spring feeding.

asked the Minister of Food why his Department has refused the English Grains Company, Limited, Burton-on-Trent, a renewal of their licence to continue the production of malted rye and wheat which is an essential ingredient for their granary bread and meal products which are popular and entail no waste of grain; and whether he will review this refusal.

The decision not to grant licences to manufacturers of malt flour and malt extract, including the English Grains Company, Limited, to use wheat and rye for these purposes, was made by my Department in the early summer of this year because it was essential to conserve all available supplies for first priority uses, namely, the straight milling of wheat for National Flour and of rye for rye flour and rye meal used in making points-rationed foods. I am unable at present to make any relaxation in the case of wheat, but certain recent changes in the supply position of rye have enabled me to review the position in regard to the malting of rye and a licence for the current season has been issued to the English Grains Company, Limited, and to the other manufacturers concerned, permitting them to use rye for the manufacture of rye malt for use in bread-making.

asked the Minister of Food what additional thermal units are required to bake the present 90 per cent. extraction loaf as compared with the 80 per cent.

It is calculated that be-cause flour of 90 per cent. extraction absorbs more water than flour of 80 per cent. extraction, approximately 40 additional British thermal units are required to bake a 1¾ lb. loaf of 90 per cent. extraction flour. This means about 6 lbs. extra coal for every ton of bread produced. As the hon. Member will be aware, the flour extraction rate was lowered to 85 per cent. on 22nd September.

asked the Minister of Food if he will name the medical adviser mentioned in the secret instruction to Controlled Millers, C.M.C. 646, dated 19th September, 1946, as advising the reduction of extraction in national flour from the current 90 per cent. to 85 per cent.; why, in the same instruction, millers are informed that they must maintain the quota of chalk 14 ounces to 280 pounds in view of the explanation offered by his Department that the quota had been doubled to meet the increased extraction of 90 per cent.; and whether he will decrease this quota of chalk pari passu with the decrease in the rate of extraction.

The medical advisers mentioned in C.M.C. 646, dated 19th September, 1946, are the members of the Interdepartmental Standing Committee on Medical and Nutritional Problems. The composition of this Committee was given by the Minister of Health in a reply to a Parliamentary Question on 4th July of this year. The original recommendation was that 14 ozs. of Creta Præparata should be added to each sack of 280 lbs. of 85 per cent. extraction flour, but in practice only 7 ozs. was added. When the extraction rate was raised to 90 per cent. the addition of Creta Præparata was raised to 14 ozs. per 280 lbs. on the grounds of the increased amount of phytic acid in the flour. Now the extraction rate is being lowered to 85 per cent. it is considered inadvisable to lower the rate of addition of Creta Præparata below the original recommendation, as alternative sources of calcium in the diet are short at present, but this course is subject to any further recommendation from the medical advisers.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that men employed as coal millers, cement millers and in lime plants feel that the soap ration provided is inadequate for their dirty clothes which need frequent washing; and if he will allow an increased ration of soap to such persons over and above the small extra ration which is sufficient only to allow the men to wash themselves.

I regret that owing to the continued shortage of fats I am unable to increase the supply of soap to these workers.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make an early announcement of the tonnage of barley to be allocated to the whisky distilling industry.

I am tomorrow discussing the problem with representatives of the industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of persons for whom employment will be found in the programme of new factories in the development area of South Wales.

It is estimated that employment will be found for 47,000 people when the 169 new factories and extensions so far approved in the South Wales and Monmouthshire Development Area are completed and in full production. In addition, the Government will build 49 factories in advance of definite demands from industrialists and these will, it is hoped, provide employment for a further 12,000 persons. My hon. Friend no doubt realises that, in addition to new factories, other developments are in hand which will have a considerable employment value.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a list of the factories completed during the last three years or in course of construction in Wales; and the number of men and women in employment at such factories at the latest available date.

Seven new factories and five extensions to existing factories have been completed in the past three years; employment in these factories and exten- sions amounted to approximately 900 men and 2,000 women at 31st August last. Sixty new factories and 22 extensions to existing factories are at present in various stages of construction. As the list of such factories is long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, send a copy to him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet in a position to make a statement with regard to the action which the Government propose to take on the report of the Working Party for the Boot and Shoe Industry.

My right hon. and learned Friend is anxious that action should be taken on this report as quickly as possible; but he is not in a position to make any general statement on policy until both sides of the industry have had time to consider the report and discuss it with him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the increasingly shabby condition of men's boots and clothing due to the number of coupons now required, he will consider lowering the coupon values of these articles.

The coupon values of rubber soled and certain other kinds of footwear have recently been reduced but, apart from this, we should not be justified in reducing the coupon value of men's boots and clothing. The total number of coupons was, of course, raised for the current rationing period.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what the position is as regards the supply of filter presses for the china clay industry.

The manufacturers of filter presses are heavily loaded with orders from many using industries, including sanitary ware and tile factories as well as china clay producers. It is, therefore, inevitable that there should be rather a long interval between the placing of an order and the delivery of a press, but my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply is doing his best to assist the production of the filter press manufacturers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of new publications that have been permitted under Paper Order No. 70.

No licence is now necessary to enable any new newspaper or periodical publication to be published provided that it does not use more than 8 cwts. of paper in a four months' period, and the number of publishers who have taken advantage of this concession is, therefore, not known.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will increase the paper allowance to those new publications which have been permitted under Paper Order No. 70.

In view of the limited supplies of paper available, we are unable at present to allow any increase in the consumption of paper by new newspapers or periodicals permitted by the Control of Paper No. 70 Order, 1945.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the delay in the delivery of the silk trade of this country's quota of raw silk supplies from Japan, which is resulting in the loss of production for export for which machinery and labour are available, and what steps he is taking to remedy this matter.

I am aware of the delay. A United Kingdom purchasing agent in Japan has been recently appointed to facilitate exports to the United Kingdom generally. I understand that the first consignment of silk is now being shipped.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider making concessions to the ordinary housewife by reducing the coupons required to purchase household linen of all kinds before making any further reduction in the number of coupons required for wearing apparel.

We are anxious to make more supplies of household textiles available to housewives, and the production both of household textiles and of apparel is being increased as fast as the labour in the textile industries permits. We will certainly bear my hon. Friend's sugggestion in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the stringency of the regulations governing the purchase of ladies' corsets and the length of time that they have been in force, he will now withdraw completely all restrictions on the purchase of these corsets.

There are no restrictions on the purchase of corsets, apart from the special arrangements which are necessary to ensure that surgical corsets are reserved for cases of the most urgent need.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number and country of origin of timber poles, suitable for use in connection with the extension of electricity supplies, which have been imported into this country since the end of the war in Europe.

Between the end of the war in Europe and 31st August, 1946, 47,658 poles suitable for use in connection with the extension of electricity supplies were imported from Sweden and 25,009 from Norway. These were imported to meet all essential requirements and not specifically those of the Electricity Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the increased use of paradise plumes and other feathers as trimmings for millinery; and if he Will give an assurance that the import of such plumage does not contravene the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act, 1921.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given on this matter to the hon. Member for South Portsmouth (Sir J. Lucas) on 6th June and to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 22nd July. Extensive inquiries made since have failed to furnish any evidence of evasion of the prohibition on the import of plumage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the complaints made regarding the nondelivery of parcels containing food and other commodities from overseas to residents in this country; and if he has any further statement to make on this matter.

My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to make a statement concerning the limitations on importation of gift parcels on Monday next. Any Question concerning non-delivery, as distinct from import limitations, should be addressed to my hon. Friend the Assistant Postmaster-General.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Birmingham Co-operative Society, with a membership of over 250,000, gets less than 24 men's shirts per week and a small supply of men's socks; and if he will look into this matter with a view to increasing the supply.

I have received no complaint from the Birmingham Co-operative Society and I have no evidence to suggest that Birmingham is not receiving its share of the available supplies of men's wear.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to ensure that the full amount of screen time allocated to British films under the Cinematograph Films Act, 1938, is so allocated.

In spite of the present shortage of British long films and the large number of quota defaults which that shortage has made unavoidable, the exhibitors as a whole have been allotting to British films more than the minimum amount of screen-time which the existing legislation prescribes. Defaults are brought to light by inspecting annual quota returns, and the worst cases are dealt with by taking legal proceedings.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the number, and the circumstances, of forced sales of British mortgaged properties in Italy after June, 1940, and to the refusal of the present Italian holders of these properties to return them to their British owners, and if he will make representations to the Italian Government with the object of securing the early return of these properties to their British owners, whilst leaving questions of mortgage and interest to the decision of a mixed tribunal.

The details of one case of the kind mentioned by my hon. Friend have been notified to the Trading with the Enemy Department and I am informed that another case is known to the British Property Advisor in Rome. The properties were sequestrated after the outbreak of war by the Italian authorities as being British owned, and later were sold at the instance of the mortgagees to satisfy unpaid charges.Trading with the Enemy Department is issuing to persons who have registered their property in Italy with the Department a pamphlet giving instructions as to the steps to be taken to obtain its restoration under the Italian Desequestration Decrees. Until the results of applications made in accordance with these instructions are known, it would be premature to make representations to the Italian Government. The position will be further clarified when the final terms of the draft Peace Treaty with Italy have been settled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that his Department has refused to allow any paper allocations whatever to enable a publishing firm which ceased publishing in 1936 and desires to take up again its former activities; and why he is thus preventing experienced publishers from carrying on business for which they are qualified and experienced.

Owing to the continuing shortage of paper, supplies for book-publishing are made available to established firms in proportion to the amount they consumed in the 12 months prior to the institution of control. In addition, small quotas are granted to ex-Service-men with experience, or to persons who have been publishing for a considerable period, but who did not use paper prior to the war. I am prepared to consider any case of hardship on its merits, but the firm to which I presume my hon. Friend refers would be a new one. Our paper supplies do not, at present, allow us to make paper available in such a case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what prices are paid for the utility furniture being made for this country in Poland and Czechoslovakia; and at what prices the furniture is sold by his Department.

A primary consideration in importing furniture is that it shall fit into the utility scheme and be available to the public at a price consistent with that of British-made utility furniture.Typical c.i.f. and maximum retail selling prices are as follow:

Czech bedroom suite:—	c.i.f. price.			Maximum retail selling prices.
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Wardrobe	14	10	6	26	5	0
Dressing table with mirror	11	15	6	22	13	9
Dressing chest without mirror	9	0	6	16	5	3
Specimen Polish prices:—
Wardrobe	9	12	6	19	17	3
Tallboy	6	5	6	13	4	3
Dining table 3'x 3'	4	0	0	8	2	9
Sideboard	6	15	0	13	17	0
Dining chair		18	1	1	17	3
Kitchen chair		10	9	1	3	3

The c.i.f. prices are subject to port dues and to an import duty of 20 per cent. The furniture is not sold by the Board of Trade but the distributive margins are controlled by them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the continuing shortage of dustbins, and what steps he is taking to increase the allotment of the necessary raw materials to manufacturers.

There is a serious shortage of steel sheets which are required for many important purposes, and I am, therefore, not yet able to increase the allocation of this material to dustbin manufacturers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the shortage of medical text books is a handicap to medical education; that many of the standard books in use by medical students are unprocurable, and, as examples submitted show, students and practitioners ordering these have been waiting nine months for delivery; and if he will take steps to remedy this position.

The main factors limiting the production of medical and other text books, for which there are increasing and accumulated demands, is the shortage of labour and of paper. The numbers employed in the printing and book-binding trades are still well below the pre-war strength, although the labour force increased, in July, 1946, to 74 per cent. of its pre-war figure. Publishers' regular paper quotas have been substantially increased over the last 18 months— from 42½ per cent. to 80 per cent. of pre-war usage. In addition, it is open to any publisher who cannot bring out an important text book merely from lack of paper to apply for a special allocation for that purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he Will introduce a scheme to protect rural industries, such as basket making, hoop making, &c, from foreign competition.

I am considering, in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Agriculture, the recommendations made by the National Basket and Willow Trades Development Committee. But I may say at once that there can be no question of using the present import controls as a permanent method of protection.

asked the Secretary of State for War why houses requisitioned for the accommodation of British soldiers and their families in Germany are charged at a higher rent than that paid by the Government to the Germans so that a profit is made on the letting of these houses; whether he has considered complaints about this from men living in these premises; and what he proposes to do about it.

Standard charges are made for married quarters at rates appropriate to the type of quarter: they are applicable at home and abroad. In Germany, where families are housed in houses or flats, every endeavour is made to allot accommodation equivalent to the standard type of quarter for which the charges were fixed. Rent is not paid by His Majesty's Government, the accommodation needed being provided by Germany as part of the cost of occupation. The system of flat rate charges has obvious advantages. The charges have been assessed on a reasonable basis and I am not aware of any complaints.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from what source the 840 British teachers are drawn who are to be sent to Germany; whether the salaries of these teachers are regulated by the Burnham Scales; what has been the principle of their selection; and have the teachers' associations been consulted in that selection.

The teaching posts in the British families' education service in Germany, which are expected to number less than 350, not 840, have been advertised in the educational Press, and applicants are selected by reference to qualifications and teaching experience combined with personal suitability for the special conditions obtaining in Germany. The salaries have due regard to the Burnham Scales The whole arrangements have been made in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education; and informal contact has been made on the general questions with the National Union of Teachers, who have given full cooperation.

asked the Secretary of State for War the names of the infantry battalions, other than motorised battalions which formed part of the B.L.A. continuously from 1st July, 1944, until the conclusion of hostilities, giving the num- ber of battle casualties suffered by each, with separate figures for officers and other ranks.

The following infantry battalions (other than motor battalions) served continuously in Europe from 1st July, 1944, to 8th May, 1945:

Regiment.	Battalion.
*Grenadier Guards	2nd
*Coldstream Guards	1st, 5th.
*Irish Guards	2nd, 3rd.
*Welsh Guards	2nd.
Royal Scots	8th.
Queen's Royal Regiment	1/5th.
Royal Warwickshire Regiment	2nd.
King's Regiment	5th.
Royal Norfolk Regiment	1st.
Lincolnshire Regiment	2nd, 4th.
Devonshire Regiment	2nd
Suffolk Regiment	1st.
Somerset Light Infantry	4th, 7th
East Yorkshire Regiment	2nd.
Leicestershire Regiment	1st.
Royal Scots Fusiliers	6th, 11th.
Royal Welch Fusiliers	4th, 6th, 7th
South Wales Borderers	2nd
Monmouthshire Regiment	2nd, 3rd.
King's Own Scottish Borderers	1st, 6th.
Cameronians	9th.
Gloucestershire Regiment	2nd.
Worcestershire Regiment	1st.
East Lancashire Regiment	1st.
Duke of Wellington's Regiment	7th.
Hampshire Regiment	7th.
Dorsetshire Regiment	4th, 5th.
South Lancashire Regiment	1st.
Welch Regiment	1/5th, 4th.
Black Watch	1st, 5th, 7th.
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry	1st, 1st Bucks Battalion.
Essex Regiment	2nd.
Royal Berkshire Regiment	5th.
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry	1/4th.
King's Shropshire Light Infantry	2nd, 4th.
Herefordshire Regiment	1st.
Middlesex Regiment	1st, 1/7th, 2nd, 8th.
Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment	2nd.
Wiltshire Regiment	4th, 5th.
Manchester Regiment	1st.
York and Lancaster Regiment	1st Hallamshire.
Durham Light Infantry	9th, 18th.
Highland Light Infantry	1st, 10th.
Glasgow Highlanders	2nd.
Seaforth Highlanders	2nd, 5th, 7th.
Gordon Highlanders	1st, 2nd, 5/7th.
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders	5th.
Royal Ulster Rifles	2nd.
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders	2nd, 7th.
* Although these are infantry units they were employed in an "Armoured" role.

I regret that separate figures of the battle casualties of each battalion are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for War why full-time service with 4th Essex Battalion Home Guard does not qualify for the award of the War Medal.

The grant of the medal is restricted to full-time personnel of the Armed Forces having a minimum of 28 days' full-time service. These conditions are not fulfilled in the case of the men in question.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the people of Eritrea, to whom the British Government promised self-government or unity with Ethiopia, are being oppressed by former Italian Fascist administrators, while neither self-government nor unity with the motherland is in view; and how long this is likely to continue.

I am not aware of any such oppression. If my hon. Friend has any specific evidence I shall be glad to have particulars in order that it may be investigated. The future position of Eritrea, and of the other former Italian Colonies, depends upon the decision to be taken by the Allied Powers.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that, in the international motor-car races recently held at Geneva and Turin, British motorcars were outclassed and frequently unable to finish mainly due to the impossibility, under present conditions, of the motor-cars being tuned up and tested thoroughly owing to the compulsory sale of Brooklands and the requisitioning of Donnington by the War Office; and, in view of this fact, the national prestige these events carry and the advertisement they provide for this export industry, if he will consult with the Secretary of State for War with a view to the derequisitioning of Donnington at the earliest opportunity.

The need for a proving ground for the motor industry is fully recognised and the provision of suitable facilities is now under consideration in conjunction with the Motor Industry Research Association. The industry have intimated through their trade association that they do not consider Donnington Park to be suitable.

asked the Minister of Supply whether in view of the increasing shortage of electric motors he will give further consideration to the suggestion for setting up a mass-production factory for their manufacture.

Substantial expansions of factory capacity for electric motor production are already taking place. Production is limited by other factors, including a shortage of raw materials, which a scheme such as that to which the hon. Member refers would unfortunately not relieve.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number and value of the contents of parcels received from overseas which have been impounded by his Department

I assume that the hon. Member refers to parcels which have been confiscated by the Customs on the ground that they exceeded the limits allowed for importation without a Board of Trade licence. The number of such parcels is 457 for the period 1st January to 30th September, 1946. Of these less than 10 per cent. came from the Dominions. No figures are available as to the value of these parcels.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many men and women, respectively, are entering the universities of Great Britain in the academic year now starting to begin to read for a first degree; and whether he will state the comparable figures for the year 1938–39.

Figures showing the number of students at the Universities for the coming year are not yet available, and I am not sure that it will in any case be possible to give my hon. Friend the information he desires. I will, however, communicate with him on the matter next month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make an additional allotment of feedingstuffs during the winter to those areas particularly affected by bad weather during the harvest period.

I am prepared to take the effects of the bad harvest weather into account in allocating discretionary reserves of feedingstuffs among counties, but the extent to which I can do so is

Supply for Home Use of certain classes of Agricultural Machinery produced in the U.K.
Machine or Implement.					Monthly Average January-March, 1946		August, 1946
					Number.	Per cent. of Total Production.	Number.	Per cent. of Total Production.
Tractor Ploughs	…	…	…	…	1,309	91	1,171	86
Threshers	…	…	…	…	24	42	32	49
Tractors—
3–4 Wheeled	…	…	…	…	1,587	80	1,149	65
2 Wheeled	…	…	…	…	371	70	393	61

Figures for tractor parts are not regularly supplied. It is estimated that about 90 per cent. of the tractor parts produced in the United Kingdom is retained for home use.The Board of Trade advises that, apart from the tyres fitted to new agricultural tractors, the proportion of loose tyres for agricultural tractors available to the home market in January, 1946, represented approximately 97½ per cent. of the current production as compared with 97 per cent. in July, 1946. Figures for August are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made in finding alternative accommodation for the headquarters of the W.A.E.C. in Dorchester and in the restoration of the premises now held to their rightful function of the headquarters of the women's

asked the Minister of Agriculture what percentages of the home production of agricultural ploughs, threshers, tractors and tractor parts, and tyres for tractors and agricultural use were allocated to meet the needs of home food producers in the month of August, 1946, as compared with January, 1946.

Fully comprehensive information is not available, but the following figures have been obtained from the returns made to my Department by the principal manufacturers who are now making monthly returns. Until April last returns were made quarterly.institute; and whether the question of exchanging accommodation has been considered.

I have been asked to reply. I have considered various alternatives, including the exchange of accommodation, but as my right hon Friend the Minister of Agriculture stated in reply to a question by the Member for Western Dorset (Mr. Digby) on 29th July, the only way of rehousing the Dorsetshire War Agricultural Executive Committee from the County Hall is by the erection of a new building, and a site is being leased for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Education if she will give figures to show the amount of school milk which is thrown away because children are absent or dislike milk or for any other reason; and what steps she is taking to stop this wastage.

I have not received evidence that any such waste is occurring but immediate inquiries will be made into any case where sufficient particulars are submitted. School milk should not be ordered for children who are absent or who do not regularly drink it, but if occasionally a small surplus occurs it should be given to children who want it; in no circumstances should it be necessary for milk to be thrown away. I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of Circular 119 of the 22nd July, 1946, in which detailed and emphatic instructions were given for preventing waste.

asked the Minister of Health if, with a view to preventing recurrence of similar incidents, he will inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a student-nurse who volunteered for, and was accepted for, training at Queen Mary's London County Council Hospital for Children, Carshalton, and who, after six weeks' training collapsed and was warded as suffering from advanced pulmonary tuberculosis.

The inquiries which I have been making into this case are now almost complete and I hope to be able to send the hon. Member a full statement at an early date.

asked the Minister of Health what provision is made for the resettlement in practice of medical practitioners, such as the case submitted to him, whose houses were mortgaged to insurance companies at the time of their call-up to the forces and who are faced with foreclosure by the insurance companies and find themselves, on demobilisation, homeless and without means to buy another practice.

The arrangements made to assist the resettlement of medical officers discharged from the Forces do not include the provision of money for the purchase of a practice which can normally be obtained from the financial agencies with whom the medical profession are accustomed to deal. I appreciate that in the particular case to which the hon. Member has drawn attention there may be hardship due to special difficulty in obtaining a loan in this way, but I would remind him that if the Health Service Bill is approved by Parliament the purchase of a practice will, when the Service comes into force, no longer be necessary.

asked the Minister of Health why the Monthly Housing Return, published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, and its appendix, containing the total numbers of houses classified in various tables is issued as a Command Paper and Appendix B, published separately and containing the details for each housing authority is not issued as a Command Paper.

Whilst Appendix B is an integral part of the Monthly Housing Return, it is intended primarily for the information of local authorities, the local Press and the residents in particular districts. If, however, it is the general desire that it should be published as a Command Paper, I will be glad to consider a revision of the arrangements for publication.