asked the Minister of Transport what powers of decision will be granted to the Aberdeen branch of his Department and what powers of decision will be removed; whether records are to be kept in Edinburgh or Aberdeen; whether it will be necessary for applicants for road transport licences, etc., to travel to Edinburgh in future; and whether hearings of applications will be held in Aberdeen and Inverness as formerly.

Powers of decision on matters governed by the Road Traffic Acts rest with the traffic commissioners who are also the licensing authorities, for the respective traffic areas. Provision is made in these Acts for the appointment of a deputy and I have appointed a deputy in the Scottish Traffic Area. Whoever presides at public sittings will be responsible for the decisions given. Records will be kept in Edinburgh or Aberdeen according to the location of the operators. It will not be necessary for applicants for licences to travel to Edinburgh in future any more than in the past. Public sittings and inquiries will be held in Aberdeen and Inverness as formerly.

asked the Minister of Transport when the toll bridge which connects Havant and Hayling Island is likely to be abolished.

I am not aware of any proposal for freeing this bridge from tolls, but would be prepared to consider giving financial assistance towards any scheme for that purpose which may be put forward by the local authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the continuing difficulty of buying a motorcar, he will now reinstate the priority to enable district nurses to obtain motorcars in rural areas.

No, Sir. Production of new cars is increasing rapidly and I do not consider it necessary or practicable to reimpose control over their allocation for the purpose of giving priority to any particular class of user.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will arrange for priority in the supply of spare parts to doctors and others to whom the use of a motorcar is essential in their daily business.

There is no general control over the distribution and sale of spare parts, but for certain makes the regional maintenance and certifying officers issue spares shortage certificates to assist the owners of vehicles engaged on essential work in obtaining spare parts which are in short supply. For other makes the manufacturers have stated their ability to meet demands without the assistance of this scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that, although the journey from Inverness to Euston takes 16 hours, no restaurant car facilities are provided; and what steps he proposes to take to restore this service.

The railway companies are restoring restaurant cars as quickly as possible. A restaurant car is now attached to the 8.40 a.m. train from Inverness at Preston at 6.21 p.m. and as soon as possible a restaurant car will be attached to this train at Perth at 12.6 p.m. A restaurant car is also attached to the 7.20 p.m. from Euston at Perth at 5.5 a.m. Shortage of staff at present prevents the restoration of a restaurant car on the 4.30 p.m. from Inverness.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that notices have been published to the effect that Carradale Pier is to be closed at the end of this month because of its dangerous condition; what action he proposes to take to ensure to the people of Carradale safe disembarkation for them-selves and their livestock from steamers that should call at the pier; and what action he proposes to take in this regard for the Carradale fishing fleet.

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. An application for financial assistance towards the construction of a harbour at Carradale has been submitted to the Treasury by the county council and referred to the Development Commissioners, by whom I understand it is to be considered at a meeting in the immediate future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses have been completed by the Scottish Special Housing Association in the year ended 31st August, 1946.

During the year ended 31st August the Scottish Special Housing Association completed 293 houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will now give the findings of the expert committee inquiring into the causes of the deaths of cattle and sheep resulting from alleged gas poisoning.(2) how many cattle sheep and other livestock and poultry in the counties of Perth and Stirling have been reported as suffering from, or as having died from, or as possibly contaminated by, gas or other poisoning since 25th June, 1946.(3) what quantities of wheat, barley, oats or other grain crop, hay or silage are at present held in quarantine in the counties of Perth and Stirling pending a decision whether they are fit for use as a result of suspected poison gas contamination; and what acreages of pasture are deemed to be unsuitable for grazing from the same cause.

At a conference held in Edinburgh early in July of this year between representatives of interested Departments ways and means were considered of minimising the damage caused to agriculture in parts of Perth and Stirling by the burning of surplus war stores in the late autumn of 1945. and it was agreed that tests should be carried out to ascertain to what extent crops and grazings had been affected. Pending the outcome of these investigations, farmers in the area were advised to harvest their crops, including hay, in the usual way but not to make use of them until the results were known. A series of tests was devised, involving the grazing of healthy cattle on farms where animals had been seriously affected. Samples of hay from similarly affected farms were also fed under experimental conditions to a number of healthy cattle in Edinburgh. These tests will be completed very shortly. All the cattle used in the experiments remain healthy and it is confidently expected that both crops and grazings will be shown to be free of contamination but until postmortems have been completed, a final assessment of results cannot be made. As soon as it has been made, farmers in the area will be advised whether any further observance of precautions is necessary.There are no figures available to show what quantities of crops are being held back by farmers pending this announcement, nor what acreage of grazings is similarly affected. It is understood that no fresh stock has become affected since 25th June, 1946, but a few additional cases, apparently affected at an earlier stage, have been reported and investigated since that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the present age of the Keeper of the Registers in Scotland and in what circumstances have his services been retained beyond the age of 65; and, in view of the adverse effect upon promotion of retaining officials beyond the normal retiring age, for how much longer it is proposed to retain this officer's services.

The present holder of the office of Keeper of the Register and Records is 69 years of age. He is anxious to retire, but at the request of my predecessor he agreed to remain in office during the war beyond the age of 65, and he has since agreed to remain for a further period pending consideration of the postwar organisation of the Department. It is my desire to meet the Keeper's wishes by relieving him of office as soon as conditions allow, but I am unable at present to fix a date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total acreage of land in Scotland owned by the Government, local authorities and public bodies, respectively.

The area of land owned by the Secretary of State in connection with the work of the Departments for which I am responsible is as follows:

	Acres.
Department of Agriculture for Scotland	472,810
Forestry Commission	760,222
Department of Health for Scotland	306
Scottish Home Department:
Prisons	899
State Management Districts	50
Commissioners of Crown Lands	115,131
	1,349,418

Information about land owned by other Government Departments is a matter for the appropriate Minister. I regret that information about the area of land owned by local authorities and public bodies in Scotland is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he proposes to set up machinery through which a tenant farmer can appeal against a notice to quit served upon him by his landlord.

The question of security of tenure for tenant farmers is under consideration in connection with legislation to implement the Government's agricultural policy. I am unable to make any statement on the matter in anticipation of such legislation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total sum expended on recruiting for the W.L.A. since 1st August, 1945, to the latest available date, and the number of females who have joined and left that force from 1st August, 1945, to the latest available date.

Since 1st August, 1945, £23,153 has been spent on recruiting for the Women's Land Army. The total number of new recruits who joined the Land Army between 1st August, 1945, and 18th September, 1946, is 17,865. During the same period, which includes the period of operation of the post-war release scheme, 42,606 girls left the Land Army.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what recommendations he has received with respect to the continuation of the W.L.A. in its present form; and what decision he has arrived at respecting the future of that service.

I am not clear what recommendations my hon. Friend has in mind. No final decision about the future of the Women's Land Army have been taken, but in view of the agricultural production programme I hope that it will be possible to maintain the organisation for another year or two.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the allocation of feedingstuffs for chicks in January, 1946; and what is the proposed allocation of feedingstuffs for January, 1947.

Chick rearing rations for replacement of birds culled in the previous autumn are made available for the period of January to April each year. During January to April, 1946, feedingstuffs were allocated in Great Britain at the rate of 1 cwt. for each 40 birds recorded in the Agricultural Returns for 4th June, 1945; the allocation for the corresponding period in 1947 is 1 cwt. for each 120 birds returned on 4th June, 1946.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make a statement as to the price of wheat, barley and oats, having regard to the special difficulties of harvesting this season.

Some adjustment has been made in the price of wheat, details of which I am sending to the hon. Member, but no change is proposed in the prices already announced for the current crop of barley and oats.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a statement on the progress of the National Advisory Service.

The National Agricultural Advisory Service was formally established on 1st October, which I had prescribed as the appointed day for the purposes of Section 1 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1944. Some 1,500 candidates have been selected for appointment by selection boards set up by the Civil Service Commission and have been notified accordingly. Those with rights of transfer from other employment under the Act of 1944, numbering-some 300, were transferred and given notice of posting on 1st October, and like notice has since been sent to the rest of those selected for appointment. The senior officers of the service were appointed earlier and are all at their posts.New office and laboratory accommodation has had to be found for the provincial centres of the new service, and owing to the building position will take time to complete. Meanwhile temporary accommodation has been sought where necessary, while a number of universities and agricultural colleges have generously continued for the time being to house some of the specialist advisers who have previously been members of their staffs. Because of accommodation difficulties and, even more, the shortage of qualified men and women in several fields of advisory work, some little time will necessarily elapse before the service is completely staffed and equipped and in full operation, but every effort will be made to recruit the service up to the desired strength as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the great quantity of corn rendered unfit for human consumption by bad weather, he will cancel or substantially modify the recent cuts in livestock rations; and whether he will endeavour to make the regulations on this subject more simple.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the large quantities of unmillable grain and the decision to lower the flour extraction rate, he proposes to increase the ration of feedingstuffs for poultry, pigs and cattle.

A substantial part of the cut in winter rations for dairy cows has been restored. I am in constant touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food, and we are agreed that the supply position does not yet justify an increase in rations for other classes of stock. It is too early to assess prospects after this winter. Feedingstuffs rationing is inherently complicated and we have not so far been able to devise a simpler scheme which would achieve the objects of rationing, but I am always open to receive practical suggestions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action he proposes to take to make corn, not fit for milling, available at an early date for the feeding of poultry and livestock.

A farmer may retain for feeding to his own stock any barley of his own growing which has been officially classed as non-millable and, normally, a part at least of his non-millable wheat. Non-millable grains which are not to be fed to the fanner's own livestock must be sold to an approved buyer who will arrange for their disposal within the terms of the Feedingstuffs Rationing Order.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the compulsory wheat acreage for next year involves complete disregard for rotational farming, in some cases necessitating a three-year rotation being imposed on those using other and longer rotations; and what is his policy with regard to rotational farming in general.

I do not accept the suggestion that the compulsory wheat acreage for next year involved complete disregard for rotational farming, the general principles of which are not disputed by me or, so far as I know, by anyone else.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what plans he has for labour for the agricultural industry in view of the fact that prisoner-of-war labour is to be repatriated; and what steps are being taken to provide labour for the harvest in 1947.

The agricultural returns for June last show that the regular labour force is increasing, and it is expected that a substantial number of German prisoners will still be here next summer; but the 1947 production programme will call for the continuance of other special measures. Farmers will recognise the need to do all they can to recruit labour on their own account, but they can be assured that the Government will do everything within its power to see that enough labour is available to deal with the crops which it asks or directs them to grow.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount paid annually by farmers to the banks as interest on overdraft and to the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation as loan charges, respectively.

No figures are available for farmers' interest payments to banks. The accounts of the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation show a receipt of £311,000 in 1945–6 from interest on mortgage and improvement loans; the recipients of these loans include both farmer owner-occupiers and other agricultural landowners.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is in a position to state the arrangements made by his Department for the enrolment and training, as farm workers, of members of the Polish forces now in this country; and if he will give an estimate of the number of men which it is hoped to recruit for work on the land from this source.

The question of the employment of members of the Polish Resettlement Corps in agriculture is still under consideration, and I regret that at present I cannot make any statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what assistance was rendered by the Wiltshire W.A.E.C. to the right hon. Member for Southport (Mr. R. S. Hudson) for labour, cultivations, machinery and drainage; and whether he will state the amount of the grants or subsidies paid to him for cultivations, drainage and fertilisers.

No assistance was rendered by the Wiltshire W.A.E.C. to the right hon. Member for Southport personally, but I give below the particulars of the cost of services carried out by the committee on behalf of the Fyfield Estates Company, Limited, of which the right hon. Gentleman is a director, and of the grants and subsidies paid to the company. No assistance was given to the company other than on the basis of such assistance as is available to any farmer.During the period August, 1942, to September, 1946, the cost of services provided by the committee for which payment has been made, or is due from the company, is as follows:

	£	s.	d.
Destruction of rats	26	15	0
Tile drainage and ditching schemes	2,609	10	3
P.O.W. labour	4,632	6	4
Supplementary labour	429	7	5
Cultivations	392	10	0
Hire of machinery	8	11	3

Subsidies and grants paid (or due) to the company during the same period were as follow:

			£	s.	d.
Ploughing grants	…	…	899	0	0
Drainage	…	…	602	1	0
Lime subsidy	…	…	698	4	11

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that Norfolk farmers are handicapped by the shortage of machinery and spare parts; and what steps are being taken to enable farmers to play a full part in the food production campaign.

I am aware that certain classes of agricultural machinery are still in short supply. Manufacturers are developing arrangements for considerably increased production and every possible assistance is being given to help them to achieve their programmes. I am not aware of any general shortage of spare parts for home-produced machines, though spares for some imported machinery are still short.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what complaints have been received from farmers that it is impossible for them to get agricultural machinery because of the amount being exported.

Occasional complaints have been received about difficulty and delay in obtaining machinery of different kinds owing to exports, but in general the supplies of agricultural machinery that are going to the homo market are increasing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the shortage of 22 mm. plugs for Fordson agricultural tractors; and what steps he is taking to rectify the matter.

I am not aware of any shortage of sparking plugs for Ford-son agricultural tractors.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will arrange for a full technical investigation of the recent floods, with a view to measures being taken to improve existing drainage systems and flood control, so as to avoid a repetition of the recent damage and loss.

Where flooding is due to the overflowing of rivers, catchment boards and other drainage authorities are generally the responsible bodies. Where it is due to the temporary overloading of arrangements for the disposal through sewers of storm water, responsibility rests with the local sanitary authority. These bodies are served by competent technical staff, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I see no reason for a national inquiry to supplement the local investigations these bodies will undoubtedly be making in areas where flooding has occurred.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will cause a Government inquiry to be conducted into the recent disastrous flooding of a large area of the city of Salford; such an inquiry to include when the river Irwell was last dredged and when the banks of the river, particularly those adjacent to the residential parts of the flooded area, were last examined and repaired; and what assistance the Government is prepared to extend to the city council of Salford in meeting the estimated damage of £500,000 caused by the flooding.

As stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Bradford (Mr. M. Webb), I see no justification for a special inquiry cither generally or in any particular case into the causes of the flooding which followed the exceptionally heavy rainfall at the latter end of September. As regards compensation for damage, I am advised that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health has no funds at his disposal which can be made available locally for the purposes of relief.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the months of delay in the identification of a tubercular cow in a herd suspected of having, caused bovine tuberculosis are due to unavoidable technical reasons; and whether he will exercise his powers under the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1938, and order immediate pasteurisation of the milk from that herd.

Where tubercle bacilli are found in a bulk sample of milk taken in a consuming area, the offending cow, if still in the herd, is usually detected very quickly, but in a small minority of cases there may be some unavoidable delay, due to the need for biological tests. The point raised in the latter part of the Question is, however, under consideration by the Departments concerned in connection with the revision of the Milk and Dairies Regulations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent his Department indemnified the defendant against costs and damages in the case of Odium v. Stratton.

The indemnity given to the defendant in this case was in respect of damages and costs. The damages amounted to £500, which have been paid. The plaintiff's solicitors have not yet delivered their bill of costs so the amount cannot be stated, but the bill will be subject to taxation by a taxing master in the usual way.

asked the Attorney-General the cost to the taxpayer of the guarantee in respect of cost and damages given by his Department to the farmer whose case was tried on 29th July before Mr. Justice Atkinson.

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the first part of the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for London University (Sir E. Graham-Little) on 10th October.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why orders and regulations regarding foot and mouth and other animal diseases in Scotland are issued by the Minister of Agriculture and not by the Secretary of State for Scotland.

The Orders in question are made under the Diseases of Animals Acts, the administration of which throughout Great Britain is vested in one Minister because of the special importance of unified control in these matters.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he proposes to instruct the county agricultural committees to keep a trading account of farms under their control and to publish the statement of accounts.

As I stated in my reply to the Question put by the hon. Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) on 4th February last, the war agricultural executive committees have been requested to prepare and submit annual accounts on an income and expenditure basis covering all their activities, including fanning operations, as from 1st April last. The questions of publishing these accounts and whether it will be practicable to require the preparation of trading accounts after the current financial year are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many persons are now employed by agricultural executive committees in Great Britain; the annual charge for salaries, travelling and other expenses; how much floor space is occupied; and what is the annual cost of rent and rates.

The number of staff is approximately 10,000 and their salaries and travelling and other expenses are estimated at £2,650,000 and £650,000 respectively in the current financial year. The committees occupy approximately 798,800 sq. ft., and the annual cost in rent and rates is estimated at £61,625. These figures relate to England and Wales: for information about committees in Scotland a Question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the large number of applicants for smallholdings in the county of Essex; and what steps he is taking to satisfy the demand where applicants are considered to be suitable by the county authority.

I am aware that there is an unsatisfied demand for smallholdings in Essex, as in other parts of the country, but owing to the acute shortage of building labour and materials I do not consider that it will be practicable in the immediate future to satisfy this demand by the provision and equipment of additional smallholdings. Meanwhile, I have the question of future smallholdings policy under active consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the re-port of the conference on the Valuation of Manurial Residues in fertilisers and feeding stuffs; and whether he is taking any steps to bring the suggestions contained in the report into effect.

The recommenda-tions of the Conference on Residual Manurial Values of Fertilisers and Manurial Values of Feedingstuffs were communicated to, and endorsed by, the National Farmers' Union, the Central Landowners' Association and the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, being the parties concerned with their adoption.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he will make a statement as to the progress of negotiations with the Government of Eire on the subject of unemployment benefit for Southern Irish volunteers.

Yes, Sir; I am glad to say that the negotiations have proceeded satisfactorily and, as the hon. Member will be aware, an Unemployment Insurance (Eire Volunteers) Bill is now before the House.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Dominion Affairs what negotiations are pending to provide and safeguard a right of way from, and for, the Bechuanaland Protectorate through South-West Africa to Walvis Bay.

The Chiefs of the Bechuanaland Protectorate have been informed in reply to the memorandum received from them on this subject that His Majesty's Government in the United King dom will be prepared, if and when the question of a route through the Bechuanaland Protectorate to a West coast port seems a practical possibility, to discuss the matter with the Union Government. The construction of such a railway is not, however, regarded as a practical issue at present.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has reconsidered the request of Chief Tshekedi Khama, Regent of the Bamangwato, for facilities to make an early visit to this country; and whether he is now in a position to make a favourable reply.

Since the reply on this subject which I gave in the House on 8th July, a document has been issued by Chief Tshekedi and his legal adviser setting out in full their case with regard to the proposal for the incorporation of South-West Africa in the Union of South Africa. There appears to be no need for the Chief to proceed to this country to explain his views further. I may explain, however, that my right hon. Friend remains of the opinion that the interests of the Bechuanaland Protectorate cannot be regarded as involved in the question of the future status of South-West Africa.

asked the Minister of Transport why, under the schedule of controlled freight rates table for china clay and china stone, there is a wide difference between the rate charged for small boats and for boats over 600 tons.

There is no official schedule of freight rates for these cargoes, but the rates charged for cargo carried in small ships are normally higher than in larger vesels, for all classes of cargo, on account of the higher cost of operating small ships per ton of cargo carried.

asked the Minister of Transport how much was paid to Messrs. Hogg, Robinson and Capel-Cure, Limited, as shipping agents for the Government during each of the years 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945.

The accounting year for this business ends on 31st March in each year. The amounts paid and the tonnages of cargo handled in each of the six years from 1st April, 1940, to 31st March, 1946, were as follow:

Year.		Amount paid.		Tonnage handled.
		£.		Tons.
1940–41	…	22,708		1,350,000
1941–42	…	51,384		2,486,000
1942–43	…	88,037		3,482,000
1943–44	…	92,715		3,008,000
1944–45	…	95,091		3,215,000
1945–40	…	111,000	(est'd)	4,459,000

asked the Minister of Transport if he is in a position to make a statement on the progress of the disposal of enemy merchant shipping and Government-owned wartime constructed ships either built here or in the U.S.A., indicating the tonnage in types of these ships and the allocation to British and other national owners.

The table below gives the information as to the disposal of ships built during the war.As regards ex-enemy ships, a total of 11 ships of 62,894 gross tons have so far been sold to shipowners in the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth. More of these ships will be offered shortly.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many people of British birth have applied, during the last year, to go to Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Canada, respectively.

The only figures available are in respect of Australia. I am informed that, during the year ended 31st August last, the Chief Migration Officer at Australia House received some 54,000 completed forms of particulars from British subjects wishing to migrate to Australia, involving an approximate total of 146,000 persons.In the case of Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, no statistics have, I understand, been kept of the number of inquiries received in the respective High Commissioners' offices.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many doctors, nurses and engineers of British nationality are awaiting passage from the United Kingdom to Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Canada.

I regret that no records are available which would enable me to compile the desired figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet made any appointment to the post of Cooperative Adviser to the Colonial Secretary, and whether he has appointed a Cooperative Advisory Committee.

No, Sir, but I hope to be in a position to do so in a very short while.

asked the Minister of Supply whether there is any method by which traders may obtain urgently needed vehicles, required to replace others which have become unfit to carry on essential food deliveries, without the months of delay now taking place in having require- ments met through suppliers in ordinary course.

The allocation of commercial motor vehicles is handled by the manufacturers who are doing their best to increase production so that these and other important needs may be met.

asked the Minister of Supply, (1) the total value of surplus war stores in Italy held by his Department on 31st December, 1945, and 31st July, 1946, respectively; (2) the total value of surplus war stores in Italy transferred to U.N.R.R.A., to the Italian Government, and bought by British firms for export, respectively; (3) what arrangements exist to ensure that British firms wishing to acquire surplus war stores in Italy for export receive adequate information of the stores available and facilities for purchase.

My Department does not hold surplus war stores in Italy. Under the agreement concluded with the Italian Government in September, 1945, all British Government surpluses remaining in Italy, after the satisfaction of legitimate prior claims, are handed over to the Italian Government, and this is done by the holding Services. The value of transfers recorded up to 31st August last, which is the latest date for which figures are at present available, were £2,000,000 to U.N.R.K.A. and approximately £5,000,000 to the Italian Government. No sales have been made to British firms for export. A British firm wishing to buy for export would have to make its purchases from the Italian Selling Agency, which issues full and detailed catalogues of the stores being offered for sale.

asked the Minister of Supply if, when releasing further surplus wrist watches, he will establish a fixed price to avoid confusion such as resulted from the various charges made when similar releases were made in the past.

No, Sir, for reasons which I have already explained in a letter to the hon. Member. The Clocks and Watches (No. 1) Order establishes maximum retail prices. If retailers wish to sell at lower prices I see no reason why the public should not benefit.

asked the Minister of Supply on what date he set up a committee to consider the modernisation of the X-ray industry; how often this committee has met; and whether he is satisfied that this committee is performing useful work.

The committee was set up on 27th February, 1946, and has held 16 meetings: a sub-panel has held 14 meetings with manufacturers and users. The work of the committee has already yielded valuable results.

asked the Minister of Supply to what peace-time use the works of the Projectile Company in Battersea are to be put; and if he will consider turning over these works to the making of consumer goods which are in short supply.

This firm is no longer engaged on munitions production and arrangements have been made to remove all plant owned by the Ministry of Supply. My information is that the company is now concentrating on production for peacetime purposes.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will increase the allocation of steel plate to British shipyards, having regard to the demand for British-built ships abroad and the need for exports.

The maximum possible quantity of steel is made available for shipbuilding, having regard to other important national needs.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the present shortage of alarm clocks in this country; and whether he will arrange for an increased allocation to the home market.

Although alarm clocks are still scarce, production for the home market is now running at more than twice the rate for the first half of the year and imported supplies are 50 per cent greater. I should not, therefore, feel justified in reducing the small export quota

asked the Minister of Supply why allocations of steel sheets to certain industries were cancelled recently.

There has been no cancellation in the sense that any consumer has been deprived of what he would otherwise have got. The facts are that the order books of the firms making steel sheets were greatly in excess of their capacity to produce. Steps were accordingly taken to review the order books and to equate the orders to the prospects of supply.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will arrange for overall priority in the supply of electricity generating plant and equipment to be given to the Central Electricity Board, so that industrial demands may be met with the maximum saving of coal.

The orders for the Central Electricity Board are part of a long-term planned programme and to give them overall priority would not substantially hasten their completion and would interfere with the orders for export and other essential home requirements.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the present shortage of high-tension batteries for hearing-aid equipment; and when further supplies are likely to be available.

There is a temporary shortage of a certain type of battery, but adequate supplies should be available within the next week or two. Meanwhile the other types are available as emergency alternatives.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will take steps to increase the supplies of bar iron and mild steel, especially ⅝in. round and 9/16in. square, which are specially required by black-smiths serving agricultural areas

There is an overall shortage of re-rolled products, including the items mentioned, due to the failure of imports of semi-finished material. I regret, therefore, that no early relief is possible, but available supplies are being distributed as -fairly as possible.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, following the announcement of the price payable for tin produced in Malaya and Nigeria, he will state the price payable for the same commodity produced in the United Kingdom.

The price paid varies with the costs of production. The average price paid to the producers in 1945 was £456 a ton of tin in ore.

asked the Minister of Supply at what percentage of capacity the foundry trade is at present operating.

The iron foundry trade is at present operating at about two-thirds of capacity overall.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will remove the restriction which limits the number of gift food-parcels from well-wishers overseas that may be received by any one person in this country in any month.

I have considered, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food, the circumstances in which gift parcels may be received by people in this country without the need for an import licence. In agreement with him, I have now decided to dispense altogether with the limit on the number of gift parcels that may be sent to individuals, and to increase the limit on the maximum weight of such gift parcels, whether sent by post or otherwise, to 22 lb.; this does not, of course, affect the lower weight limits imposed by certain countries on the despatch of parcels. Within this maximum no further weight restriction will be imposed on the amount of individual foodstuffs or other goods that parcels may contain. These concessions only apply to parcels which are bona fide unsolicited gifts and not imported as merchandise or for sale, and on condition that they are clearly marked as gifts. They do not apply to parcels containing arms and ammunition, plumage, dangerous drugs, or other articles the import of which was, before the war, subject to special legislative prohibition or restriction. Parcels which do not comply with these conditions are liable to seizure by the Customs unless covered by an import licence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the supply of cigarettes is still inadequate; by when he estimates that the supply will be sufficient to cater for the demand; what steps he is taking to increase the supply; and what is the reason for this shortage continuing for more than a year after the end of the war.

I am aware that public demand is greater than the shops can satisfy at all times, but supplies are now about 30 per cent. above the prewar level, and the manufacturers are making as many cigarettes as they can with the labour available. The situation would be eased if the public would confine their purchases to their immediate needs so as to give retailers the opportunity of rebuilding their working stocks, which were run down earlier this year to meet Service requirements and have not yet recovered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of cigarettes exported to Gibraltar for sale during the six months ended March, 1946, and September, 1946, respectively; and how many this represents per capita of the civilian population there.

During the six months ended 31st March, 1946, 120 million cigarettes were exported to Gibraltar, and during the following five months, 80 million. The September figures are not yet available. The number of cigarettes available for consumption by the civilian population is not known, since the supplies have to meet the needs not only of the resident Service population but also of a large floating Service population of His Majesty's vessels visiting the colony on their way to other stations, and of non-resident dockyard workers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now issue to officers of the Sea Cadet Corps sufficient coupons to cover purchase of necessary uniform.

Proper provision is already made for these officers. They are given 35 coupons on commissioning, to buy a raincoat, white shirts, collars and black tie, and their uniform is obtainable coupon-free against their signed statement that the articles represent their personal requirements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make some relaxation to members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in the requirement of the surrender of coupons for their uniforms.

Full-time members already receive their uniforms in return for the surrender of eight coupons for ambulance drivers and six for other staff, and replacement coupon free. Arrangements for part-time members differ slightly in detail. I should not be justified in making a further concession.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the exceptional conditions under which they have to work, he will now grant a supplementary allowance of clothing coupons to women and girls engaged in gutting herring.

I have nothing to add to the reply which was given to the hon. Member on 13th May last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will allocate a docket for one blanket to old age pensioners to enable them to purchase one before the coming winter, in view of the large supplies now available.

No, Sir. Dockets are only given to provide for additional needs such, for example, as those which arise when people set up house for the first time. It should be possible for people, including old age pensioners, to meet replacement needs from the free supplies of Government surplus blankets now coming on to the market and from the proportion of new production which is not reserved against dockets, but if my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any individual case of hardship amongst old age pensioners of which he is aware, I will see what can be done to help.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much utility furniture supplied to the public has been infested with lyctus powder-post beetles; whether this pest is on the increase; and what steps are taken to ensure that any furniture which is so infested is destroyed, before being supplied to the public.

I am aware that there has been a number of cases in which the lyctus beetle has appeared in articles of utility furniture. It is not possible to say how many articles have been affected, but I hope and believe that the quantity will prove to be only a very small proportion of the total furniture produced. Research on methods of control of this pest—which, apart from its effects on the sapwoods of certain timbers, is innocuous—is in progress at the Forest Products Research Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. I am advised that treatment by insecticides for the prevention of attack has not yet proved sufficiently successful to recommend its general use, and that at present the only certain and practicable way to eliminate the pest is to prevent the use in manufacture of sapwood. I am therefore taking measures to that end. Until these measures became effective, it would not be possible to ensure that no piece of infected furniture ever reached the public, as the presence of this beetle is usually not apparent until some time after the infestation has started.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of tyres, size 34 by 7, for lorries: and what steps he is taking to ensure successful delivery of this year's sugar-beet crop which relies largely on lorries using this size of tyre.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the shortage of certain tyre sizes for commercial vehicles is so acute as to threaten a breakdown of essential transport in this country; and how this position has arisen in view of the glut of Malayan rubber.

asked the President of the Board of Trade it he is aware of the shortage of tyres, both for tractors and motor lorries, in east Lincolnshire; and what action he is taking to ensure that agricultural requirements are met.

The production of certain sizes of tyres for commercial vehicles for which there has been a large increase in demand, is limited by mould capacity and by the availability of trained labour. Every effort is being made to increase output. Although tyres cannot yet be supplied for stocking, steps have been taken to ensure that no vehicle need be immobilised for lack of such tyres. If there is serious risk of this happening, the owner should bring the facts to the notice of the tyre manufacturer through his supplier. Tyre manufacturers were reminded by the Tyre Manufacturers Conference early in September of the special seasonal needs of the sugar-beet areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a shortage of main springs, jewel screws, jewel holes and all other spare parts for watches is preventing the repair of many serviceable watches in this country; and if he will take steps to have these spare parts imported from Switzerland at the earliest date.

Licences for the import from Switzerland of spare parts for watches are being granted to the extent of about twice the value of pre-war imports. I have had no complaints that licences granted are inadequate to cover the spare parts with which Switzerland is in a position to supply us.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent production of cotton goods would have to be increased in order to take sheets and shirts off dockets and coupons, respectively

Present production of sheets and shirts for the home market would need to be increased by roughly two-thirds before supplies return to the pre-war level, but it is, of course, probable that, if the supply were available, demand would be considerably above pre-war level.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of furs imported into this country during 1946 and the total re-exported during the same period.

The value of undressed and dressed furskins (other than manufactures of fur) imported during the first eight months of 1946 was £8,381,000, of which £5,514,000 was imported in the first four months and £2,867,000 in the second four months. The exports in the same four monthly periods were £818,000 and £1,565,000. No later figures are yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number and value of greyhounds imported into this country from Eire for the four years ended 1944; the estimated number and value for 1945; and whether, in view of the undesirability of using sterling in the purchase of greyhounds, in view of our £400,000,000 sterling debt to Eire, he will take steps to prevent it.

During the four years ended 1944, 12,969 greyhounds were exported from Eire to the value of £915,179, most of them to this country. In 1945, Eire exported 7,517 greyhounds, valued at £733,277. Under an open general licence granted in December, 1945, live quadrupeds consigned from any part of the British Commonwealth can be imported without the necessity for individual import licences. I am not at present prepared to exclude greyhounds consigned from Eire from this general concession.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now considered the views of the British Pottery Manufacturers' Federation and the National Society of Pottery Workers on the working party reports on pottery; and what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations contained in the reports.

I have received a short statement of the views of the National Society of Pottery Workers and I expect to receive those of the British Pottery Manufacturers' Federation soon. I am anxious that action should be taken on this report as quickly as possible, and I am in the meantime taking steps towards the implementation of certain of the recommendations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new factories are in process of construction in South Wales and how many have fifty or more building craftsmen engaged on the work.

On 4th October, 78 factories and extensions were in varying stages of construction in the South Wales Development Area. At that date there were more than 50 building workers engaged on 16 of these; but only four factories had more than 50 skilled building craftsmen at work on them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the details of new factories and extensions that have been approved in Scotland since 14th May; and the number of workers for which these will find employment.

Forty-nine new factories and 41 extensions were approved in Scotland in the period from 14th May to 30th September, 1946; it is estimated that about 15,750 persons will be employed in these new factories and extensions when they are built and in full production. A further 97 factories to be built in advance of demands from specific tenants were approved in this period and Should eventually provide employment for about 20,000 persons. As the list of such factories is long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, send him a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the acquisition of sites for factory projects in South Wales is being held up through difficulties in coming to terms with the owners of the land; and what steps he is taking to expedite matters in this connection.

In one case the Board of Trade have failed to reach agreement with the owners of land required in South Wales for factory projects, and I am now proceeding to exercise the powers conferred upon the Board of Trade by Section 2(2) of the Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) Act, 1946. There are about six other cases in which negotiations for sites are protracted mainly on account of technical problems concerning the best use of the land, but every effort is being made to bring the cases to conclusion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the duties and responsibilities of the recently formed tourist, catering and holiday services division of his Department; and whether steps are being taken to ensure that sufficient accommodation will be available for overseas visitors who are expected to visit the British Industries Fair in May, 1947.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29th July to the hon. Member for Caernarvonshire (Mr. G. Roberts). The division is making preparations, under the guidance of Lord Inman, for the creation of the non-Gavernmental organisation to foster and develop the tourist, catering and holiday services. It is also concerned to concert the steps which are immediately necessary if we are to be in a position to receive substantial tourist traffic in 1947 and additional facilities for home-holidays in that year. As to the last part of the Question, the Board of Trade are collaborating with the Ministry of Works in making further accommodation available in hotels and similar establishments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which raw material markets have been closed in addition to the Liverpool Cotton Market.

Several raw material markets have been closed during the war, but in no case other than cotton has any final decision been taken that they shall not re-open when circumstances permit.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is still a shortage of perambulators in many areas; and when larger supplies to retailers can be expected.

Yes, Sir. I am greatly concerned by the shortage of perambulators. But I am glad to say that retailers are now getting considerably larger supplies. The comparable figures for July and August of this year and a year ago are 87,905 and 58,707.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will increase the allocation of men's interlock and merino vests to industrial areas in the Midlands.

The Board of Trade does not allocate or otherwise direct supplies of knitted goods to particular areas; but I will have inquiries made into any difficulty in the industrial districts of the Midlands if my hon. Friend will let me have details.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will approach the Bureau of Labour Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labour with a view to the attendance of an observer from his Department at the conference on productivity, called by the Bureau at Washington on 28th-20th October; and whether he will be able to make available a full report of this important technical discussion defining productivity and establishing scientific standards for its measurement.

The Bureau of Labour Statistics of the United States Government have invited His Majesty's Government to be represented at this Conference by observers and the necessary arrangements are being made. I cannot yet say in what form it may be possible to make available the results of the Conference.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that manufacturers with goods ready for export are in many cases unable to ship owing to shortage of packing materials; and what he intends to do to put an end to this hold up.

There is a general shortage of packing materials at the present time but everything possible is being done to increase supplies. I am aware that some manufacturers have experienced difficulties in obtaining all they need for their exports; and in such cases we are doing our best to help within the limits of the supplies available.

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 Hosiery Industry.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on Wednesday, 9th October about the Boot and Shoe Working Party. The position with regard to the report of the Hosiery Working Party is similar.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he is aware of the continuance and serious nature of the food shortage in India; if he will say what the general situation is likely to be during the coming months; and what the Government propose to do in the matter.

Yes, Sir. The Government of India keep my noble Friend closely informed regarding the food situation in India. The Central, Provincial and State Governments in India must be congratulated on the success which they have had hitherto in maintain- ing the distribution of cereals to deficit areas in spite of great difficulties of supply and internal transport. But the position during the next two or three months will be particularly critical especially in Southern India. The Government of India are doing everything they can to increase shipments of foodgrains to India from abroad from every possible source and His Majesty's Government will continue to assist the Government of India actively in their efforts to this end. A statement showing the quantities of food-grains shipped to India and the arrivals of foodgrains in India up to the end of September was placed in the Library of the House last week.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India when the services of British police personnel in India will be dispensed with; and what terms of compensation and alternative employment have been arranged for them.

Matters relating to the winding-up of the police and other British civilian services in India are being actively considered. But I cannot at present give any particulars, nor say on what date the services will come to an end.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the advertisement sponsored by the Government through commercial channels and in the newspaper of Lahore, and elsewhere, for the sale of rifles, shotguns, carbines, automatic weapons, machine guns, tommy guns, pistols, revolvers, small arms accessories, stores and components, bayonets, kukris, lances, swords, guns of various sizes, infantry supporting weapons, bomb and flame throwers, rockets and projectiles, small-arms ammunition, artillery, pyrotechnic, naval and infantry supporting ammunition, aerial bombs, civil and demolition explosives, etc.; and what is the explanation of the dissemination of these warlike supplies.

The Government of India have informed me that the advertisement was issued in error, and that no weapons or ammunition in fact have been, or will be, sold to the public.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he will give the terms of any oath taken by the new Members of the Government of India when they took office on 2nd September.

Members of the Government of India are required by the Governor General's Instrument of Instructions to take oaths, or, if they have objection to the making of oaths, to make affirmations of allegiance, office and secrecy in a prescribed form. I am circulating the terms of these in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the shortage of milk filtering mediums, necessitating farmers being without these filters in Oxfordshire for a month; and what steps he is taking to remedy the shortages.

I am not aware of any shortage of milk filtering mediums on the farms in Oxfordshire. Arrangements have been made to produce sufficient mediums to meet estimated requirements, and if the hon. Member will let me have details of any particular shortages which have been brought to his notice I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Food what steps are being taken to remedy the shortage of suitable crates for home-grown vegetables.

The utmost economy in the use of timber is still unfortunately necessary. I am not aware of any specific shortage of crates for home-grown vegetables, but if the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any case he has in mind I will gladly look into it.

asked the Minister of Food whether arrangements have now been completed for enabling Cornish pilchards to be exported to Italy.

The Italian Government have agreed to grant a licence for the import of cured pilchards and herrings to the value of £80,000, which will permit the export to Italy of part of this season's cure of pilchards. In association with my hon. Friend, the Secretary for Overseas Trade, my right hon. Friend is seeking to have these arrangements extended.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that supplies of timber and heavy packing paper are being granted to Channel Islands tomato growers, enabling them to market their produce in non-returnable wooden containers; and why similar facilities are refused to English and Scottish growers.

Arrangements for importation of timber and of packing paper to the Channel Islands are made under the authority of the Home Office in conjunction with the Board of Trade. The long sea and rail journey makes it impracticable to use returnable containers for this trade. My right hon. Friend regrets that the continued shortage of timber and paper makes it impossible, for the present, to allocate similar containers and paper for the packing of tomatoes to the English and Scottish growers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a list of the approved charitable organisations to whom the confiscated gift parcels, intended for people in this country, from well-wishers overseas have been given since VJ-Day, showing the number of parcels given to each organisation and on what basis selection of these charities is made.

The charitable organisations approved for this purpose are those approved for dealing with gifts sent from abroad for distribution in this country. In practice parcels are handed over to only two of these organisations, unless the addressee names some other. Between 1st August, 1945, and 30th September, 1946, one of these organisations received 489 parcels and the other 85, and 11 went to other organisations named by the addressee. I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the full list of approved organisations, but since it contains more than 300 names, I hope he will agree that it is too long to print in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Anglo-Argentine negotiations which have taken place during the recent visit of the Treasury delegation to Buenos Aires; and if the details of the agreement which has been reached will be embodied in a White Paper for presentation to Parliament.

The full text of the Anglo-Argentine Agreement was published in the Press on 18th September and will be presented to Parliament as a White Paper after the signed copy of the Agreement has reached this country. I regard this Agreement as very satisfactory and I am sure that the House will join with me in congratulating our negotiators.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take the necessary action to see that cost-of-works payments under War Damage Regulations are made portable so that, under a town-planning scheme where the local authorities refuse to allow the destroyed buildings to be re-erected on the old site, erections on new sites can benefit thereby.

No, Sir. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 6th June last to my hon. Friend the Member for the Sutton Division of Plymouth (Mrs. Middleton).