asked the Minister of Pensions what would be the additional cost of providing pension allowances for wives of ex-Servicemen in respect of disability pensions, irrespective of the date of marriage.

So far as can be estimated the additional annual cost of providing allowances in respect of their wives for all ex-Servicemen in receipt of disablement pensions would be of the order of half a million pounds, rising to perhaps three quarters of a1 million in 10 to 15 years' time.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware of the delay still experienced in the repair and provision of surgical boots for disabled ex-Service-men; and what steps are being taken to improve these matters.

I am aware that production, is still somewhat below demand in this small specialised industry, but I am glad to say that through the help of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply, my. Department's principal contractors are shortly moving into a modern and larger factory. This should enable them to increase their experienced labour force, and it is hoped to recruit disabled ex-Servicemen as trainees. I anticipate that when the new factory is in full operation output will meet demand.

asked the Minister of Pensions if civilian internees who have suffered permanent disability from their internment by the Japanese have the right to an appeal to an independent tribunal such as is available to all ex-Servicemen; and, if not, if he will take steps to remedy this discrimination.

It was decided that my Department should make ex gratia awards of compensation to persons whose health was, substantially impaired as a result of internment in enemy countries. Having regard to the basis on which compensation is granted, the introduction of a formal right of appeal would be inappropriate. It would, moreover, involve the promulgation of a precisely denned scheme which might well be more limited in its results than the present ex gratia basis.

asked the Minister of Health why a ban has been placed on the issue of building licences in the Henley area, without the consent of his Department, in view of the housing shortage.

The Henley Rural District-Council; who had already issued licences for 103 houses, were instructed in March last to issue no further licences for the time being without the consent of my Department because it was anticipated, as has since proved to be the case, that there would be insufficient building labour for the houses in their own programme.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that some local authorities are reducing rent rebates by an amount equivalent to the family allowances, with the result that children in the homes affected are receiving no benefit from the family allowance; and whether this is in accordance with his policy.

I am not aware of this practice, but I would remind the hon. Member that the management and control of local authority houses is vested in them by statute.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been completed and occupied in Exeter since 1st August, 1945; how many of these are temporary and how many permanent, respectively; how many houses both temporary and permanent does he estimate will be completed by 30th April, 1946; and how many applications there now are for municipal houses.

Two hundred and thirty-five houses have been completed and occupied in Exeter since 1st August, 1945, comprising 211 temporary and 24 permanent. I cannot give the estimate asked for. The number of applications for dwellings at present on the Local Authority's list is 4,997, of which 4,200 are estimated by the Authority to be "live" applications.

asked the Minister of Health the number of grants to unemployable blind persons who have been, or are in process of being, down-graded because they are now in receipt of family allowances.

I am making inquiries but these are not yet complete. As soon as I have the information asked for I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that subscribers in the London telephone area frequently have to wait as much as 20 minutes before receiving any reply from the operator; and what steps he is taking to remedy this.

The present deficiencies arise from the shortage of experienced female operating staff, but the position is becoming easier Our tests show a steady improvement in the service, and waits of long duration should now be rare.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications have been received by the Appointments Office during the past six months; and for how many applicants this office has been able to find positions.

During the six months ended 16th September, 1946, 64,640 persons, including those in employment and seeking other posts, applied to the Appointments Department; the number of persons registered as unemployed fell from 23,013 to 20,878; 24,310 vacancies were notified, of which 12,580 were filled The final selection rests, of course, with the employer concerned. A larger number and a wider variety of vacancies would materially assist.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that applicants for employment at employment exchanges are being offered jobs as canvassers for football pools, which offer they are often under the impression that they are bound to accept; and whether, in future, he will arrange that the engagement of pool canvassers be left to private advertisements of the firms themselves.

Local offices are instructed to bring all vacancies to the notice of suitable applicants including vacancies for canvassers for football pools. I should be surprised to learn that applicants thought they were under a requirement to accept this class of work, and if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind I should be glad to look into it if he will let me have details. I see no reason to alter the present instructions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the financial terms under which the Italian Government will pay for British surplus war stores transferred to the Italian Government Agency.

The terms have not yet been settled.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what sum of money per head of the population of the United Kingdom between the ages of 20 and 60 years was expended by His Majesty's Stationery Office in, respectively, the first six months of 1938 and 1946.

On the basis of gross disbursements, about is. 5d. and 5s. 3d. respectively.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will arrange for a complete list of Statutory Rules and Orders in force, with explanatory memoranda, to be published quarterly.

No, Sir. Compilation of a new edition of the index to the Statutory Rules and Orders in force is proceeding as rapidly as possible. This is a triennial publication and could not be produced quarterly as suggested. Changes in the law which are made in any particular year are shown in the tables and index which are attached to the annual volumes of Statutory Rules and Orders.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware of the public concern that the benefits of family allowances are not being received by persons in receipt of unemployment allowances, widows' pensions, and workmen's compensation; and whether he will make a statement on the position.

asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) whether he will take steps to remedy the existing situation under which a workman's compensation insurance allowance may be reduced in view of the receipt of a family allowance;(2) whether he will take steps to remedy the existing situation under which certain supplementary pensions and allowances are reduced owing to the receipt of a family allowance, so as to ensure that the family allowance is an addition to the family income.

I recognise that there has been some disappointment among those in receipt of payments under one or other of the existing social services which already include additions for children because they have not continued to receive those additions over and above the new family allowances. It has, however, throughout, been made clear that so far as existing schemes of social provision for risks arising in civil life provided specifically for children, payments under the Family Allowances Act would be in substitution for or would be taken into account in determining the amount of the additions made for children under other schemes. The disappointment has arisen to a considerable extent from the fact that in the present transitional period improvements in one direction have been made in advance of others which will substantially benefit many of those now affected and will be brought in later under legislation already passed or to be passed. It is the Government's aim to build up the various schemes of social provision as a coordinated whole and the place of family allowances in them must be looked at in relation not only to existing schemes but also to schemes still to be brought into force under existing or contemplated legislation. Whilst I cannot at this stage make any commitment, I can say that the Government are examining the whole position from this point of view.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what amount would be chargeable to public funds if no deductions were made in respect of family allowances, from pensions, unemployment benefit and other State payments.

If provision were made in the new National Insurance and Industrial Injuries schemes for the payment of allowances for second and subsequent children at the rate of 5s. a week in addition to family allowances, and if family allowances were disregarded in assessing payments from Exchequer funds based on need, the additional direct charge on public funds would, it is estimated, be rather over £10 million a year.

asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) the number of persons eligible for family allowances together with the number who have claimed and are receiving them;(2) the total sum now being paid weekly to claimants of the family allowance.

It was estimated that about 2,600,000 persons would be entitled to allowances for their children at the start of the scheme on 6th August. About 2,300,000 claims were received before that date and a further 200,000 have been received since then. Allowances have been awarded on about 2,280,000 claims; of the remainder some 70,000 have been rejected and 150,000 are in process of being decided. The total sum now being paid out by way of family allowances is rather more than £850,000 a week.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, in view of the higher rates of benefit provided for under the National Insurance Act and the present cost of living, he proposes to review the present scales of supplementary pensions and allowances.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on this subject on 20th June to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr.. William Paling), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that persons in receipt of workmen's compensation are not claiming family allowances; and what is the total number of such persons.

Certain cases of the kind mentioned by my hon. Friend have been brought to my notice. I have no means of ascertaining what the total number may be.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, in cases where a man on release leave from the Forces takes up employment, contributions under National Insurance are required from him in addition to those credited to him by the Service Department in respect of the leave period.

Contributions at the ordinary civilian rates are payable in respect of a man on release leave from the Forces who takes up insurable employment but there is no double payment by the Service Departments and the civilian employer. The liability of the Service Department for payment of health and pensions contributions ceases when release leave begins. As regards unemployment insurance, credits of contributions for service in the Forces are not given for weeks in which a man is engaged in civilian insurable employment.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of stale bread have been bought from bakers for each of the past three months; and what price is paid per ton.

I regret I have no information as to the amount of stale bread sold by bakers. The maximum price for stale bread sold as bread is £24 per ton, and for stale bread dried and crumbled as sausage rusk it is £32 per ton. In respect of stale bread unfit for human consumption, our local officers have been authorised to permit the sale of such bread for animal food at a maximum price of £7 5s. per ton. We do not know, however, whether these figures were readied in every case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in how many cases the death sentence on Jews and on Arabs, respectively, has been commuted in the past six months.

During the past six months 21 Jews were sentenced to death and their sentences subsequently commuted to life imprisonment. In the same period one Arab was sentenced to death, and an appeal has been lodged with the Privy Council.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a statement on the development of agricultural education, particularly in relation to the future of the Farm Institutes and the National Advisory Service of his Ministry.

My right hon. Friends the Ministers of Education and Agriculture recently sent local authorities a joint circular, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, explaining the respective functions of the county agricultural education service, for which those authorities are responsible, and of the National Agricultural Advisory Service, and suggesting means by which the necessary close co-operation betwen the two services should be effected. The subject of farm institutes is being considered by the Joint Advisory Committee on Agricultural Education, and my right hon. Friends expect to receive their report before the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total expenditure incurred by his Department in respect of costs and damages awarded to the plaintiff in the libel action, Odium v. Stratton; and, in view of the criticisms passed by the judge upon the evidence given by Mr. Price, Chief Executive Officer of the W.A.E.C, why he was restored to that office which he had vacated after publication of the libel.

The damages awarded in the case in question amounted to £500 and have been paid. As the plaintiff's solicitors have not yet submitted their bill of costs, the amount of the costs cannot yet be stated. In reply to the last part of the Question, Mr. Price served continuously as Chief Executive Officer of the W.A.E.C. until he was appointed Principal of the Harper Adams Agricultural College.

asked the President of the Board of Trade at what approximate price per standard the Government is arranging for a limited amount of Russian timber to be now supplied to British builders; and what approximate price per standard builders had to pay for similar Russian timber before the war.

The present ex-ship price for a typical building specification of Russian timber is £44 7s. 6d. a standard. To this must be added landing and delivery charges, which average about £8 10s. more or less according to distance. The cost of similar material delivered to building site in the Spring of 1939 is estimated at about £21 17s. 6d. a standard.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now state his intentions with regard to restoration of a free rubber market.

My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to make a statement on the matter shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the future of trade relations with Rumania and the results of the recent negotiations.

Substantial agreement on the terms of the Payments Agreement to be concluded between the United Kingdom and Rumania was reached a week or so ago and it is hoped that signature will take place in Bucharest within the next few days. As my hon. Friend was informed on 3rd June, the future of trade relations with Rumania depends on the amount of sterling which she can earn by making available at world prices goods of interest to us, such as timber.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when the Government decided to give overriding priority in the allocation of large-scale excavators to opencast coal working; whether he is aware of the consequent loss of production of aggregate for concrete required for housing schemes; and why notice was not given to the Midland Gravel Company, Limited, that their excavator had been diverted.

The Government decided to give overriding priority to opencast mining in the allocation of large capacity excavators early in August. This decision was reached only after a full review of the various competing demands for these machines, including those based on the need for aggregate for concrete. The Midland Gravel Company Limited were informed on 14th September that the excavator they had on order would be diverted.

asked the Minister of Works whether with a view to curtailing black market building operations, he will instruct that all premises on which work is authorised shall have exhibited on view to the public a licence for such work.

The suggestion that all premises on which work is proceeding shall have exhibited to the public a licence for such work has been carefully considered in consultation with both sides of the building industry, but its adoption has not hitherto been found practicable. It is, however, being carefully considered again in conjunction with other proposals for strengthening the enforcement of the law.

asked the Minister of Works what is the average number of men required to build, complete, one standard house; how this average compares with that ruling in 1938; and whether the prewar national estimate in the building industry, that one man should build one standard house in one year is still applicable.

Conditions are at present too various and unstable to enable me to quote any average figure for the man-hours required in building a house or to make a comparison with pre-war estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will announce the date when the area covered by the Leiston Battle School will be available for occupation by farmers and cottagers who were given an assurance that their evacuation would be only for the period of the war emergency.

The release of this area is delayed purely on account of the presence of unexploded missiles, but I can assure the hon. Member that it will be released as soon as it has been searched. I cannot say how long this will take as clearance is dependent on the availability of trained men.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the infrequent and small supplies of cigarettes that are reaching British troops in Medan, Sumatra; and what he proposes to do to rectify the present unsatisfactory position.

I am not aware of any shortage. The allotment of cigarettes is the same as at other overseas stations, and there are adequate stocks in the Command. I am inquiring whether there has been any recent difficulty in the local arrangements for distribution, and will write to the hon. Member when the report is received.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster approximately how many wireless receiving sets there are in each of the four zones in Germany.

Approximate figures for the four zones of Germany, including the respective sectors of Berlin, are: British Zone, 2,800,000; Soviet Zone, 2,100,000; American Zone, 2,000,000; French Zone, 620,000. These figures are based on the number of applications made for wireless licences and, in view of the shortage of spares; in Germany may include a considerable number of unserviceable sets.