asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that manual control by the police of traffic in busy centres is less successful than control by automatic traffic lights and that this appears to be due to the tendency of the police to hold the streams of traffic for approximately double the time allowed by the lights, with consequent loss of fluidity; and if he will arrange for an examination into this point.

Experience has shown that where the movement of traffic at busy junctions is complex, manual control by the police is often more satisfactory than control by traffic light signals, and I have no reason to believe that the police do not do their job satisfactorily. If, however, the hon. Member has any particular case in mind where difficulties are occurring I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he will make it clear that the operation of traffic lights should be regarded as a necessary evil, only justified where there is a clear gain to the safety of the roads, or to the efficient regulation of congested traffic; and that their effectiveness for these purposes should be regularly reviewed by the responsible authorities;(2) whether, in order to mitigate the growing congestion of London traffic and to prevent unnecessary delays, he will give instructions that traffic lights at simple T junctions shall be operated only where they are demonstrably necessary for regulating congested traffic, and shall be switched off at times when traffic is not congested.

Before authorising traffic signal installations, I require to be satisfied that in general the volumes of traffic on the main and side roads of the junction are such as to require control in the interests of safety and efficient traffic movement. In exceptional cases signals are authorised where traffic volumes are not in themselves heavy but the site has a bad accident record and other safety measures are not considered suitable or have failed to bring about improvement.With modem types of equipment which are operated by the passage of vehicles over detectors, experience has shown that even under conditions of light traffic no undue delay occurs in the movement of vehicles, and, having regard to the potential traffic value of the junction, it has been found desirable to leave signals in operation under light traffic conditions.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce the necessary legislation to provide for the erection of omnibus shelters in rural areas.

This subject is one which is engaging the attention of my Department but I see no prospect of early legislation in the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport the average time taken in British ports for the turn-round of ships in dock as compared with the prewar average time.

I regret that no figures are available which would enable me directly to compare the average times taken for the turn-round of ships in port before the war and at the present time. It is probable, however, that average time in port is now higher than pre-war, if only by reason of the greater volume of repairs now required.

asked the Minister of Transport the names and status of the members of the Sea Passages Priority Board, which administers priorities for travel facilities.

The Sea Passages Priority Board is composed of officials representing the Government Departments directly concerned in securing passages for persons travelling in the national interest. These Departments are: the Service Depart- ments; Treasury; Colonial, Dominions, Foreign, Home and India Offices; the Board of Trade and my Ministry.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will abolish the practice of maintaining secrecy as to the movements and destinations of Merchant Navy vessels carrying troops, as the continuance of this practice causes indignation and distress to the crews of these ships and to their families.

I think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension as there is now no general ban on the disclosure of the movements and destinations of merchant ships carrying troops. If the hon. Member can give me details of specific cases where it is alleged that this information has been withheld I will have investigations made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make a statement on the report submitted to him by the Forth and Clyde Ship Canal Group.

Yes, Sir. I have given full consideration to the report, copies of which will be available in the Library of the House, and I have consulted the Secretary of State for Scotland. The group have carefully examined the question whether subsequent developments, whether strategic or economic, would justify any modifications of the conclusions of the Mid-Scotland Ship Canal Committee, which reported in 1930 that there were no sufficient grounds on which the construction of such a canal could be recommended. I share the finding of the group that developments since then do not justify conclusions differing essentially from those of the 1930 Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport how many railway vehicles are lying on the Boddam branch line in Aberdeenshire; how many are capable of being repaired; and at what rate these repairs are being effected.

I am informed that there are 4,189 wagons standing on the Boddam branch line of which 1,978 require light repairs and the remainder heavy repairs. These wagons will be dealt with as repair capacity is available.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the winter service of the L.N.E.R. does not provide a fast train from Cambridge to arrive at Liverpool Street by 9 a.m.; and, in view of the large number of persons living in Cambridge who have to reach their places of employment in London not later than 9.30 a.m., he will arrange for the 7.19 a.m. train to be made a fast train in substitution for the semi-fast 7.47 a.m. train.

I am informed that the 7.47 a.m. train from Cambridge was introduced in response to a demand for a train which would reach London before 9.30 a.m. The existing trains must be maintained to meet the requirements of passengers from intermediate stations and I regret that the running of an additional fast train is impracticable at present.

asked the Minister of Transport, whether he will appoint a small departmental committee of experts and economists to work out the principle upon which future rail, road and canal freight-charges should be based, in order to encourage the transport and handling of commodities at the lowest real cost to the community, consistent with the provision of a proper standard of service.

My hon. Friend's suggestion will be borne in mind in connexion with the Government's proposals for the reorganisation of transport.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the shortage of certain types of needles for both circular and straight bar knitting machines; and what steps he is taking to remedy the shortage.

Yes, Sir; and we are doing all we can to relieve these shortages, both by encouraging home production and by imports.

asked the Minister of Supply how many separate firms and companies are at present engaged in the manufacture and assembly of motor cars.

Thirty-four, Sir

asked the Minister of Supply if he is now in a position to make a statement on the future of the Linwood Road £1 million factory.

I would refer my hon Fried to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for East Renfrew (Major Lloyd) on 16th October.

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent radio equipment manufactured during the war has been destroyed; and what amount is still available for civilian use.

Large quantities have been and are being released for civilian use, and only equipment unsuitable for civilian purposes has been destroyed.

asked the Minister of Supply how many radio sets were dumped in a disused pit shaft at Commonside, Cheadle, Staffordshire; what was their value; how many have been disposed of; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Approximately 3,600 receivers and 5,700 transmitter-receivers have been dumped in disused pit shafts at Commonside, since they were unserviceable and not economically repairable and their value for civilian purposes was negligible.

asked the Minister of Supply the present monthly production of electric cookers for household purposes; and the stocks held on Government orders for the direct housing programme at the last convenient date.

The present rate of production is between 13,000 and 14,000 cookers a month. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works to the hon. and gallant Member for Eccleshall (Major Roberts) on 14th October.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he has taken to bring to the notice of industrialists the redundant manufacturing capacity at present available in Royal Ordnance factories; on what terms manufacturers may make use of this capacity; and whether he will publish an up-to-date list of all Royal Ordnance factories, with details of their redundant capacity, for which manufacturers may apply.

The capacity of the Royal Ordnance factories for civil production has been brought to the notice of the appropriate trade organisations, where extra capacity is known to be required. The normal procedure for placing civil work is by tender and contract. A considerable proportion of the available capacity is already employed, and, in view of the necessity for allocating the work centrally, it would not help to publish details of capacity factory by factory.

asked the Minister of Supply for what reason the Highfield Tool Works, Little London Road, Sheffield, was closed on 4th January, 1946; and, in view of the demand for tools, etc., what steps he proposes to take to reopen the works.

The Highfield Tool Works were requisitioned by the Minister of Supply in August, 1942. It was decided to relinquish control of the factory from the end of last year, as we no longer needed the capacity.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will make a statement respecting the general shortage of steel supplies; and what action he is taking to deal with the position.

The shortage of steel supplies is mainly due to an abnormal demand and a severe short-fall in imports. Action has been taken to increase home production by importing more of the richer foreign ores, subsidising marginal high cost production and special transport costs, and by using surplus electric furnace capacity to produce carbon steel. Shortage of fuel is likely to limit the extent to which production, which is already at an almost record high level, can be expanded. As regards imports we are trying to get increased supplies from producers in the U.S.A., Canada and on the Continent, but owing to the great demand in America and the severe shortage on the Continent, I doubt whether much relief can be expected from imports before the second half of next year.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will consider the preparation and issue of a comprehensive guide to British official statistics.

It is hoped to revive in 1947 the "Guide to Current Official Statistics of the United Kingdom," which was last published in 1939.

asked the Prime Minister what steps His Majesty's Government are taking to protect the people of Britain from atomic bombs.

The hon. Member may rest assured that a great deal of thought is being given to this, but it is not a matter on which I should think it expedient to make a comprehensive public statement.

asked the Lord President of the Council what steps are to taken to improve the arrangements for scientific cooperation within the Empire, as a result of the recent conferences in London.

The Royal Society Empire Scientific Conference and the Official Conference which followed it have both approved recommendations for the improvement of facilities for scientific cooperation. Their implementation calls for action partly by various scientific bodies and partly by the Governments concerned. A Standing Committee has been set up by the Official Conference to facilitate Government action, and its report is awaited.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he intends to maintain the present prices paid for British-grown wool for the year 1947.

Discussions are proceeding with representatives of the farmers and other interests with regard to future arrangements for disposing of home-grown wool. No decision has yet been reached about the method of disposal or prices of the 1947 clip, but an announcement will be made at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will now prohibit the use of steel traps for catching rabbits, in view of the unnecessary cruelty involved.

No, Sir. There has been no such improvement in recent months in the food situation as would justify reconsideration of the decision conveyed in the answer I gave on 4th February last to the Questions addressed to me by the hon. and gallant Members for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) and the New Forest (Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre), I would also refer my hon. Friend to the statement circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 7th March last, pursuant to that answer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what stocks of tyres are carried by A.E.C.s; the estimated time" these stocks will last; and if, in counties where shortages exists, he will release some of these stocks for use by the general farmer.

Stocks of tyres carried by county war agricultural executive Committees at present average nearly one tyre for each rubber-tyred tractor, implement or vehicle held by them, or roughly a three months' supply. These stocks, which include various sizes, are not unduly large; but in case it may help to relieve the general situation, I am instructing committees to review them so as to see whether any releases can be made without detriment to their own operations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when farmers in Berkshire may expect to receive the acreage payments due to them on the 1946 crops of wheat, rye and potatoes; and what proportion of payments for England and Wales had been made by 30th September this year, as compared with last year.

Over one-third of eligible Berkshire farmers have already been paid and up to two-thirds are expected to have been paid by the end of this month. A few days ago about 28 per cent. had not sent in their applications. For the whole of England and Wales payments had been made by 12th October on over 75 per cent. of application forms received at Oxford and on nearly 35 per cent. of those issued to farmers, as compared with nearly 73 per cent. and nearly 38 per cent. last year. Figures for 30th September are not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that many private houses are still under requisition for use as W.L.A. hostels; and if he intends to derequisition them in the near future.

Yes, Sir, a number of private houses are held on requisition for use as hostels for the Women's Land Army; they are being released as the need passes, or as suitable alternative accommodation becomes available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that apple trees are being advertised for sale at 12s. 6d. each for bushes and cordons, at 17s. 6d. for half-standards and at 21s. for full standards; and whether, in view of the high prices being generally charged for fruit trees and of the price rings which exist in the nursery-garden business, he will consider establishing a State trading organisation for the production and sale of fruit trees and soft fruit plants, in competition with private monopoly.

I am aware that there has been a considerable increase in the prices of fruit trees since the war. Cost of production, particularly labour costs, have risen substantially and the demand for trees is considerably in excess of supplies. I do not consider it desirable to set up an organisation on the lines suggested in the Question for the production and sale of fruit trees, but steps are being taken to increase production and prices should moderate as supplies improve.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many Colorado beetles have been captured during the past summer; how many persons were employed in this operation; and what was the total cost.

A total of 47 adult beetles, with colonies of larvae in some instances, were found this year at 25 separate places in England. The majority of the cases were brought to light by growers or other members of the public. Spraying of potato crops and soil disinfection in the infected areas are carried out by contractors who have only just completed their task but have not rendered any accounts. I cannot yet state the number of persons employed or the cost involved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much wheat was so damaged in harvesting that it is likely to be graded as non-millable; and whether he will allow poultry farmers supplying egg packing stations to buy this wheat together with an allocation of fish meal to make a balanced ration for laying hens.

It is not yet possible to give an estimate of the total amount of non-millable wheat which this year's harvest is likely to produce. As regards the latter part of the Question, growers whose wheat is certified as non-millable are normally permitted to retain at least a proportion of the crop for feeding to their own stock; any non-millable grain not so retained must be sold for inclusion in the national pool of feedingstuffs and is available for purchase by poultry keepers and other stock owners as part of the rations for which they are eligible under the rationing scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the recent floods, he will state who is responsible for the care and maintenance of weirs on rivers served by catchment boards.

The responsibility for the repair and maintenance of a privately owned weir on the main river of a catchment board rests with the owner of the weir. If the weir were the property of the catchment board the board would be responsible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the shortage of hop wire, aggravated by the damage to hop gardens by recent gales; whether he will state the reason for the cancellation of existing permits; and what steps are being taken to make adequate supplies to hop growers available during the coming months.

I am not aware of any particular shortage of hop wire. Permits are no longer necessary for the acquisition of any quantity of wire strand, or for plain wire in other than large quantities. County war agricultural executive committees will, however, issue permits where these will facilitate acquisition of the wire, but I am aware of no cancellation of any existing permits. I am quite ready to discuss with my colleague the Minister of Supply the question of supplies if it should appear that these will be inadequate during the coming months.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the International Overfishing Conference; whether the proposed standing advisory committee has begun its work and when it is expected to make proposals.

The Convention which was signed at the conclusion of the International Overfishing Conference in April last has been ratified by His Majesty's Government and the Government of Sweden, but the ratification of other parties is necessary before the Convention can be put into force. Most of the countries concerned have now appointed their delegates to the standing advisory committee, the constitution of which was recommended in the Final Act of the Conference, and it is hoped to convene a meeting of this committee within the next three months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the inconvenience experienced by business firms as a result of the long delay in connection with orders for stationery and envelopes; and whether he will make a statement with regard to this matter.

The paper supply position generally continues to be very difficult, owing principally to the limited quantities of pulp which are available. A small increase has, however, been made in the allocation of paper for stationery and envelopes for the next licence period commencing at the end of this month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of persons previously employed upon the Liverpool Cotton Futures Market who are now unemployed as a result of its closing; and what steps are being taken to re-employ or compensate such persons.

As regards the first part of the Questions, the number of persons unemployed as a result of the closing of the Liverpool Cotton Futures Market is not known. The market has been closed since 1941, and many persons previously employed there have found other employment. Every effort is being made by the Ministry of Labour to find suitable alternative employment for the remainder and for those who are being discharged by cotton merchants at the present time because of the decision to continue centralised purchase. The Government have decided that compensation could not properly be paid either to employers or employees.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factories, involving how many men, are still producing goods which serve no useful purpose and are being scrapped on completion.

So far as I am aware none, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in his efforts to increase export trade, he will exercise great care not to export tools, equipment and material which are raw materials and basic to increased British production generally.

Requirements of United Kingdom production are weighed very carefully in deciding upon the balance between home and export supplies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he is aware that customers for clothing from multiple and other tailors are required to leave money deposits on their orders, although delivery takes place several months afterwards; that this is virtually an interest-free loan to the traders and involves large aggregate amounts; and whether statutory steps will be taken to ensure either that interest is paid on such amounts or an equivalent rebate is made on final settlement of the account.

This is a long-standing trade practice and I see no reason to intervene.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make available better materials for the provision of corsets.

The original range of utility corset cloths has already been considerably improved. The cloths are made to detailed specifications which are drawn up in consultation with the trade and are designed to ensure good wearing qualities. Some non-utility cloths are also being produced and the quantities of these will be increased as yarn supplies and available weaving capacity permits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that no foreign gloves will be imported into this country until British glove manufacturers can obtain sufficient supplies of leather and other raw materials to expand the glove industry and offer employment to British craftsmen.

The limited imports of gloves which we are at present admitting have no adverse effect upon raw material supplies or employment in the British glove industry. I am not, therefore, prepared to impose the restriction suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider giving former members of the N.F.S. similar facilities for starting in retail trade to those now available for ex-Servicemen.

The extension of the facilities for entry into non-food retail trade is now under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take the necessary steps to arrest the falling supplies of yarn to the lace curtain industry and arrange for an increased supply so that the industry can proceed with its rehabilitation plans which have been postponed for such a time that the future of the industry is threatened.

The allocation of yarn to the lace curtain industry has been increased from the average level of 400 tons per quarter during 1945 to the present level of 550 tons per quarter. I am fully aware, however, that now that workers are returning the industry badly needs more yarn, and this will be borne in mind in making future allocations. In order to meet the immediate difficulty, arrangements have been made for some cotton yarn to be spun in Germany, and the first consignment of this is now ready for delivery.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now sanction a non-recurring issue of coupons to housewives for the replacement of household linen.

I am afraid that my hon. Friend's suggestion would not be practicable, but I am well aware of the difficulties of housewives and am doing everything possible to increase the production of household linen.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make a statement on the memorandum presented to him by the North Wales Post-war Development Committee on the industrial needs and possibilities of North Wales.

The memorandum to which my hon. Friend refers contains, in addition to its general recommendations, a large number of detailed proposals which have been receiving careful consideration by the Government Departments concerned. I have asked that the work should be expedited, and I shall shortly be receiving a report on the conclusions reached. When I have considered this report, I shall be communicating with the North Wales Development Council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of catalogues which are available each day at the "Britain Can Make It" Exhibition; and, in view of the large number of visitors and the fact that only by referring to catalogues are buyers able to find out the manufacturers of the exhibits, if he is satisfied that the supply of catalogues is adequate.

I very much regret that owing to printing difficulties there was a temporary shortage of catalogues between 3rd and 16th October. During this period all available catalogues were reserved for buyers, whose requests were met in full, but none was available for the general public. New supplies were received on the 16th October and sales to the public were resumed. From today, 10,000 catalogues are being received daily from the printers. This will suffice to meet future demands.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many hon. Members of this House are desirous of visiting the exhibition "Britain Can Make It"; and, to avoid long delays in obtaining admission, if he will arrange a suitable time and day for hon. Members to attend.

Arrangements have been made to enable hon. Members to obtain tickets for the "Britain Can Make It" Exhibition from Mr. Speaker's Secretary's office. It has been necessary to limit the number of tickets to two for each Member. These tickets are valid for one visit only, but may be used on any day. They will admit hon. Members to the exhibition ahead of the queue during the hours when it is open to the public. I hope that this arrangement will meet the convenience of hon. Members. I have, however, asked the Council of Industrial Design, who are responsible for the exhibition, to consider my hon. Friend's suggestion that a special time should be set aside for visits to the exhibition by hon. Members.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of catalogues at the "Britain Can Make It" Exhibition; and whether, in view of public interest in this exhibition both inside and outside this country, he will either take steps to ensure that more catalogues are available or to increase considerably the details on the printed labels describing the exhibits.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I have given today to the hon. Member for Marylebone (Sir W. Wakefield).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to ensure that adequate supplies of material are available for packaging British goods for export.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards) on Monday last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average time taken by the Price Control Committee of his Department in considering applications from a manufacturer to increase a selling price.

The information for which the hon. and gallant Member asks is not readily available and could not be obtained without an expenditure of time and labour which would not, in my opinion, be justified.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that large numbers of those entitled to the issue of 26 clothing coupons to men demobilised after 18th June, 1945, will be debarred from applying by reason of having lost their demobilisation clothing book containing the requisite application form; and whether he will devise some alternative form of application.

The production of this form, as well as of the release certificate, is necessary because a considerable number of demobilised men and women have been issued with more than one release certificate each. The greatest care has been taken to give ample warnings both in the book itself and through the Press that the form must be carefully retained. In the circumstances, I hardly think that the number of those who have lost their books can be large, and indeed few requests for the replacement of the form have so far been received by my Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the delay in the delivery of herring nets; and what steps are being taken to expedite the production of this vital item of fishing equipment.

I am aware of the delay, and the manufacturers have been asked to give priority to the production of herring nets so that as many as possible will be available for the herring season.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in increasing the paper allowances for periodicals by 40 per cent. in the 23rd licence period, he will ensure that sufficient raw materials, other than mechanical pulp, will be available to the mills so that periodicals needing paper other than mechanical pulp paper, such as pine and sulphite pulp, may receive the increased allowance.

It is not expected that shortage of raw material will prevent us from meeting the allocations of paper made for all purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken to bring about a resumption of the supply of timber from the U.S.S.R.

As already announced, a contract has been signed for the supply during the remainder of the present shipping season of 23,000 standards of softwood from Russia. Negotiations for a further substantial quantity in 1947 are proceeding.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the approximate amount of timber which is now being purchased by consumers without licence under the £1 lots provision of the Timber Control Orders; and whether, in view of the shortage of timber supplies and the possible effect on the housing programme, he will consider modifying this concession.

Yes, Sir. While precise figures are not available, it is estimated that such purchases have recently been at the rate of some 20,000 standards a year. The provision referred to was designed to enable consumers to obtain small quantities of timber for repairs or other essential work without having to apply for a licence, but there is reason to believe that substantial quantities of timber, mainly imported softwood, are now being obtained in this manner for purposes for which they would not be licensed. In view of the serious shortage, an Order will be issued which will restrict the quantity of timber released for sales in £1 lots and confine such sales to home grown and salvaged timber. Besides limiting the number of such releases. this will preserve the higher quality imported timber for more important uses without entirely depriving the public of the opportunity to obtain without licence small quantities of timber for urgent repairs. It will also stimulate the recovery of timber from secondhand sources.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give in tabular form the total pottery production in 1938 and 1946, the production of cups and mugs in 1938, 1944, 1945 and 1946, and for each year the supplies for the home market, similar figures for plates and teapots; and what percentage of the total production of pottery went into the home market in the years 1938, 1944 and 1946.

The last pre-war year for which figures relating to the production of pottery are available is 1935. The following table shows the total value of production of pottery in the years 1935, 1944 and the first six months of 1946, together with the percentage proportion of such production which remained available for home supplies after deduction of the value of goods exported or, in the case of years subsequent to the outbreak of war, supplies to Government order. In a comparison of the figures it must be borne in mind that a large proportion of the goods manufactured for export consisted

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is permissible to favour imports from countries whose economies have been disrupted by war provided that there is no

Yes, Sir. The following statement explains what the Government are doing and how it fits in with the general need to restrict imports to protect the balance' of payments:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the long delay between the time of offering for sale surplus Government cloths, such as linings, and the subsequent delivery under contract by British Overseas Cottons, Limited, to the merchant converters in the Manchester area; and what steps are being taken to expedite delivery of these goods from Government stores.

The cloths declared surplu to Government requirements were stored in a large number of depots and factories in all parts of the country. Before any particular arising of lining cloth or other material can be distributed to merchant converters, it has to be collected together from these many stores, examined, sorted and divided into individual allocations. This work necessarily involves time, and the time needed has been increased on account of difficulties in securing sufficient trained labour and transport for the purpose. Adequate warehousing space was also difficult to acquire in the Manchester area. None the less. 30 million yards of piece goods, 150,000 items of household textiles and 20 tons of nylon scrap have already passed through British Overseas Cottons, and the rate of handling these goods has been greatly speeded up in recent weeks. No opportunity for effecting a further improvement will be overlooked.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of cups and saucers in the East End area of London; and whether he will take steps to see that supplies are made available as quickly as possible.

I am aware that there is a shortage of cups and saucers, and I am doing all I can to secure an increase in production and fair distribution. I have arranged for a special inquiry to be made into the position in the East End of London, and if supplies there are found to be below the general level, special consignments will be sent.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India the circum- stances that have led to the participation of the Muslim League in the Interim Government; to what extent there has been a departure from the original proposals of the Cabinet Mission; and whether negotiation with the Indian Princes is now entirely a matter for the Interim Government and the Governor-General.

The proposals made by the Cabinet Mission in their Statement of 16th June as to the composition of an Interim Government of all parties were not acceptable to the Congress Party because no Muslim was included in the Congress quota of seats. The Muslim League have now agreed to enter the Interim Government notwithstanding the nomination of a Muslim by the Congress in their quota. There has been no departure from the Cabinet Mission's Statement of 16th May. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to Section 313 (5) of the Government of India Act, to paragraphs 14 and 19 (ii) of the Mission's Statement of 16th May, to the Memorandum on States, Treaties and Paramountcy which forms item B in Command 6835, and to items 4 and 5 in Command 6862, where the position is fully stated.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India, what steps are being taken by the Governor to deal with' the political deadlock in the Sind legislature.

The deadlock to which my hon. Friend refers was caused by the unprecedented situation that had arisen in the Sind Legislative Assembly, which was without a Speaker or a Deputy-Speaker, or anyone willing to perform the duties of Speaker. The Governor thereupon decided to dissolve the Assembly. In reaching this decision the Governor was also influenced by the impossibility of finding a stable ministry, with the Assembly as then constituted, and by the failure of repeated attempts to form a Coalition Government which would include both the Congress and Muslim League Parties.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Burma whether he will make a statement on the recent formation of the new Executive Council.

Before his departure from England towards the end of August, His Majesty's Government made clear to Sir Hubert Rance their readiness to see the Executive Council in Burma reconstituted on a broader and more representative basis. On 26th September the Governor announced that he had been able to re-form the Executive Council on a basis representative of the political parties and that it was his firm intention to see that it enjoyed in practice all the authority and power exercised by the Ministries in Burma between 1937 and 1942. U Aung San, the President of the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League, is Deputy Chairman of the new Executive Council and has also become the Governor's Counsellor in charge of Defence and External Affairs. His Majesty's Government regard these developments with great satisfaction.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what decisions have been arrived at with reference to land tenure and the ownership of industries in Japan; and whether he will take steps to introduce State ownership of land and nationalised industries into that country.

In compliance with directives from the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, the Japanese Government have recently taken action to ensure more equitable distribution of land tenure and of the ownership of industries. Under the Agrarian Reform Bills passed by the Diet on nth October, all absentee landlordism will be abolished. Land holdings will be limited to certain fixed amounts and land will be redistributed to create a larger number of small owner-farmers. The laws provide also for greater security of tenure for tenants. The great holding companies which have had a stranglehold on Japanese industry are to be dissolved. A Holding Company Liquidation Commission has just begun work in Tokyo and the question of the ownership of industries after the holding companies have been broken up is under discussion in the Far Eastern Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements have been made to carry on relief work in China when U.N.R.R.A. ceases to operate and by whom this work will be undertaken; and what consideration is being given to the lessons to be learnt from the experiences of U.N.R.R.A. in China so that mistakes that have come to light will be avoided in future.

The U.N.R.R.A. programme for China is not likely to be completed until the Autumn of 1947. The question of what needs, if any, there will be in the countries now receiving assistance from U.N.R.R.A., after the termination of the latter's operations, has been referred to the General Assembly of the United Nations in a resolution by the Fifth Session of the U.N.R.R.A. Council which met at Geneva from 5th to 16th August. It will be for the General Assembly to decide how the problem should be handled, but the first essential is to establish whether any external assistance is required, apart from loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other lending agencies. This is largely a question of deficits on balance of payments, which cannot be reliably estimated so long in advance, and not a question of relief and rehabilitation for which U.N.R.R.A. was constituted. As to the experience gained by U.N.R.R.A., this would no doubt be made available to any agencies which might operate in China. I understand that U.N.R.R.A. have already appointed an historian to chronicle their activities in China and his work should provide a valuable record of experience on which all concerned may draw.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he is taking to obtain the release from detention of Chinese vessels flying the British flag and their crews by the Netherlands Government in the East Indies; and whether he will request the Netherlands Government to remove their embargo on inter-island trade in view of the adverse effect of such embargo on the food situation in British Malaya and on employment in Singapore.

Though none of the trading vessels detained by the Netherlands authorities was properly qualified for full British registration, this matter was taken up last September by the Special Commissioner in South East Asia during a visit to Batavia. Arrangements have since been made by the Netherlands East Indies Government for the release of the ships detained and for the introduction of new regulations to facilitate legitimate trade. In the meantime the former restrictive regulations have been suspended.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of recent events in Yugoslavia, he will invite His Majesty's Ambassador at Belgrade to come to this country for consultation on possible future developments in that country which may affect British interests in South-East Europe.

My right hon. Friend is kept fully informed by telegram and despatch by His Majesty's Ambassador at Belgrade of recent developments in Yugoslavia and regards it as important that he should remain at his post at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered the communications from His Eminence, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, concerning the recent trial of Archbishop Stepinac; and what reply has been sent.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has considered the resolution from the Catholic Parents' and Electors' Association, Diocese of Salford, sent to him by the hon. Member for North Salford, which expresses their indignation and horror at the trial of Archbishop Stepinac and calls upon the British Government to take action to condemn trials wherein the accused is denied the right to call witnesses in his own defence; and what answer he proposes to make.

My right hon. Friend has received communications from the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster and from the Catholic Parents' and Electors' Association in many part of this country including that sent to the Prime Minister by the hon. Member for North Salford (Mr. McAdam). On 4th October, my right hon. Friend replied to the Archbishop of Westminster that his feeling then was that it would be improper for His Majesty's Government to lodge a protest with the Yugoslav Government concerning the arrest of Archbishop Stepinac since the question was one of Yugoslav internal politics, but that he would watch the case carefully in case it might be found useful at a later stage to make our views known to the Yugoslav Government. No direct representations have been made to His Majesty's Government by the Vatican although their point of view has been fully explained to His Majesty's Minister at the Holy See. My right hon. Friend has now had an opportunity of seeing the preliminary report from His Majesty's Ambassador at Belgrade on the trial and sentence, and he has not at present formed any grounds for varying his views ex-pressed to the Archbishop of Westminster.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs what sums of money His Majesty's Government has undertaken to supply for the maintenance of the Greek Army till 31st March, 1947, additional to the £11,000,000 worth of equipment which His Majesty's Government undertook in October, 1945, to supply to the Greek Army and gendarmerie free of charge.

I have nothing to add to the statement made in reply to my hon. Friend's Question of 14th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Labour Attaché at the British Embassy in Athens, with a special adviser recently flown there from Rome, is, endeavouring to persuade the legal Greek Confederation of Labour to reach a compromise with the State-appointed executive; and whether he will make a statement with regard to the policy of His Majesty's Government in this matter.

As my right hon. Friend informed the House on 16th October, the Greek Government asked His Majesty's Government for their advice concerning Greek trades union matters and British representatives have, of course, been in contact with the leaders of the Greek trades union movement. The Greek Government are still considering His Majesty's Government's advice and I am not at present prepared to make any further statement on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many officers having salaries of £1,200 a year and over have been retired from his Department before the age of 60, each year since the beginning of 1943; and how many officers from the Consular or the Commercial Diplomatic Service have been transferred, at salaries of £1,200 a year and over, to purely diplomatic posts each year since the beginning of 1943.

Not counting retirements on grounds of health, the numbers of retirements of members of the Foreign Service receiving salaries of £1,200 a year or more before reaching the age of 60 have been as follow:—1943, nil; 1944, two; 1945, five; 1946 (to date) one. The answer to the second part of the Question is as follows: 1943, four; 1944, four; 1945, six; and 1946 (to date) eleven.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will propose to the Government of the U.S.S.R. that a specified number of British newspaper correspondents should be allowed to enter the Soviet zone of Germany on a specified date and should be free to travel there unaccompanied; and that a corresponding number of Soviet correspondents should be allowed identical facilities in the British zone.

His Majesty's Government have always been in favour of the greatest possible freedom of movement for all Allied journalists between the various zones of Germany. Visits to the British zone have been arranged for as many Allied journalists as have wished to come. Soviet journalists have exactly the same facilities when visiting the British zone as those accorded to the other Allies. Reciprocal visits have been paid by British journalists to the Soviet zone. Conducting officers are provided for Soviet and other journalists in the British zone solely to assist the parties in overcoming difficulties of transport and accommodation, and in effecting necessary introductions. Their function does not include the supervision of correspondents' work. It does not appear possible in present circumstances in Germany for unconducted visits to take place.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the number of Germans, other than ex-members of the Gestapo and S.S., who are being held in concentration camps in Germany without having been charged with any personal offence; and whether, in view of the acquittal at Nuremberg of the German organisations other than the S.S. and Gestapo, he will take steps to release these men.

About 31,000 such Germans are held in the British zone. Their cases are being reviewed individually by British review boards and those who are judged to constitute no security danger to Allied occupation will be released. Figures are not available for the other zones of occupation.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why there have been substantial cuts in the allocation of electric power to essential industries in the British zone of Germany; and whether such supplies will be restored or increased in the near future.

Cuts of power in our zone of Germany have been necessary owing to our inability to meet, from our very limited coal supplies, the heavy demands for power from all consumers, including the French and American zones and Allied countries. An increase in power supplies can be obtained only if more coal is made available. In the meantime, it has been agreed with the other consumers that there shall be an all-round decrease in demand, and the consequent reduction in exports should help to alleviate the situation in the British zone.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why trade unions and other bodies in this country issuing journals which are not for sale to the general public may not send copies to individuals in Germany on the same basis as newsagents; and whether he will take steps to remove this anomaly.

There is no anomaly. Publishers are included in the scheme to which my hon. Friend refers, and trade unions and other organisations who publish their own journals may, therefore, send them to the British zone of Germany or the British sector of Berlin in the same way as newsagents or booksellers.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will arrange for a selection of the newspapers published in the British zone of Germany to be made available regularly in the Library of the House.

The British controlled zonal newspaper "Die Welt" is already supplied to the Library of the House. I have given instructions that a selection of the licensed newspapers published in the British zone and the British sector of Berlin shall also be made available in future.

asked the Minister of Works what steps are being taken to ensure that current production of electrical components is directed for use in new housing; and if he is satisfied that supplies available for this purpose are sufficient for present needs.

Electrical components are included in the Priority Distribution Scheme under which new housing with other works of equal national importance has a first call on supplies. Present production of electrical components should be adequate to meet the demands of new housing.

asked the Minister of Works the number of bricks now being produced monthly, the consumption and the stocks.

Three hundred and sixty-four million bricks were produced and 379 million bricks were delivered in the month of September. Stocks at the end of the month were 267 millions.

asked the Minister of Works if he has now given consideration to the representations of the Benfleet Urban District Council that Hadleigh Castle should be acquired by the National Trust and preserved as an ancient monument.

I have not received any representations to this effect from the Benfleet Urban District Council, but I recognise the importance of Hadleigh Castle and, if the owners are willing to place it in my guardianship under the Ancient Monuments Acts, I will accept the offer.

asked the Minister of Education how many students, male and female, respectively, are now undergoing training in emergency training colleges; how many have completed their training; and how many are awaiting entrance to colleges after being accepted as suitable.

The numbers required are given in the following table:

asked the Minister of Education how many emergency training colleges are now in operation and how many more are expected to open in the future; and what is the location of the existing and intended colleges.

Twenty-five emergency training colleges are now in operation, and two more will be opened by the end of this month. I expect to open about 31 more. I am sending the hon. Member a list showing where these are situated.

asked the Minister of Education how many primary and voluntary schools in Breconshire are without a piped water supply.

In December, 1944, the latest date for which information is available, there were 76 primary schools, including voluntary schools, with a mains water supply, 19 with supplies from local springs, one with a well and six without any supply on the school premises.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware of the difficulty in which pupils, teachers and parents in Wales were placed by the long delay in publishing the results of the Central Welsh Board this year; what the reasons are for this delay; and what steps are being taken to prevent a similar delay in future years.

I understand that the results of the Central Welsh Board School Certificate Examination were issued to school authorities about the time most of the schools re-opened after the summer holidays and that the Higher Certificate results were issued in August. Any delay as compared with previous years was comparatively short and was due to temporary staffing difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if his attention has been drawn to the unsatisfactory conditions prevailing, particularly in regard to food and clothing, at the R.A.F. camp at Araxos, Greece; and if he will have prompt inquiries made as to the conditions prevailing at this camp.

Living conditions are bound to be rather difficult at an isolated unit of this kind, but we are doing all we can to reduce the hardships. I will write to my hon. Friend when I have heard further from the Command.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that there are airmen at Castle Archdale, near Enniskillen, who have been waiting there for two or three months to take a course as motor boat crew, acting meanwhile as ACH/GD; what is the reason for the delay; and what steps he is taking to reduce it.

I am afraid men have to wait some time for training as motor boat crew at present, mainly because of our shortage of instructors. While they are waiting, we are employing them at various stations, either on work which helps to even out the release programme, or to get some preliminary practical experience in the duties of motor boat crew.

asked the Secre-tary of State for Air when his Department intend to vacate the R.A.F. station at Madley in Herefordshire, as the accommodation is urgently needed for housing local inhabitants.

The Royal Air Force have already left part of this station. We expect to be out of the rest by the end of the year. Part of the station has already been offered, and the remainder will shortly be offered, to other Government Departments for purposes which include housing.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how soon he anticipates that the conditions of service in the Auxiliary Air Force will be promulgated.

I hope that we shall be able to make an announcement within the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the com- position of Provincial Advisory Councils in Tanganyika; and how the representatives of the different races and interests in Tanganyika are selected.

No Provincial Advisory Councils have yet been set up in Tanganyika but the establishment of such Councils in certain provinces is at present under consideration. No decision has yet been reached as to the composition of the Councils but it is proposed that, in addition to official members, they should include unofficial members drawn from the different racial communities, who at first would be appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Provincial Commissioner concerned given after consultation with the Native Administrations and representative bodies of the different communities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision he proposes to make for the training of colonial police officers; and if he will appoint an adviser on police matters to work on the Colonial Office staff.

As regards police training, my Department has been in very close contact with the police authorities both in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and India, as a result of which short courses for officers and periods of attachment to police forces have been arranged. More comprehensive plans will be made as soon as the position becomes easier. The suggestion that an adviser on police matters should be appointed to the Colonial Office staff will be borne in mind.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many of the 77 houses and flats in the city of Portsmouth held on requisition by his Department on 10th April, 1946, have been re-leased since that date.

A total of 24 houses and flats has been released in Portsmouth since April.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state, by trades, the number of workers discharged from the Royal Dockyards at Portsmouth since 11th May, 1946, distinguishing between those discharged on or after reaching 65 years of age and those

asked the Minister of Food what are the requirements of his regulations regarding the fruit contents of jams described as conforming to the full, special and fresh-fruit standards, respectively; what other quality variations are taken into account in this classification; and if he will consider substituting for these standards, quality descriptions which would help, rather than confuse the genera) public.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 16th October to Questions on this subject by the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Keeling) and the hon. and gallant Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton), of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. As

Since nth May, 1946, the following employees of the occupations stated were offered alternative employment and discharged from Portsmouth Dockyard on reduction of numbers:to the last part of the Question, I will certainly consider this suggestion.

asked the Minister of Food the numbers of staff employed by his Department in controlling the distribution of the following categories of home produced food: meat, milk, eggs, grain and potatoes.

I regret that it is not practicable to state separately the numbers of staff engaged in controlling the distribution of home produced meat, milk, eggs, grain and potatoes, as the divisions of the Ministry concerned deal with the supply as well as the distribution of these commodities and, in some cases, with imported as well as home produced foods, and also with other associated com- modifies. The total number employed on all duties in the five divisions concerned on 1st September, 1946, was 4,880.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that there is a shortage of breakfast cereals, particularly porridge oats, in the city of Leicester; and if he will take steps to see that this city receives its correct quota.

There is an unsatisfied demand for breakfast cereals and porridge oats in most parts of the country. As regards ready to eat breakfast cereals, I would refer my hon. Friend to the second part of the reply given on the 9th October to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Collins), of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. Porridge oats are distributed under the Points Rationing Scheme and I have no evidence that the city of Leicester is not receiving a fair share of available supplies. The normal flow of home-grown oats to oatmeal millers was delayed by adverse harvesting conditions, but oats are now being released to millers from Ministry stocks to supplement deliveries from farms, and increased supplies of porridge oats will shortly be available in all districts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the work of the Caribbean Commission, the establishment of a permanent secretariat in Trinidad, and the methods by which the local population are being associated in this work.

The Caribbean Commission is an advisory international body of the four metropolitan countries, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States, which have territories in the Caribbean. Its purpose, is the encouragement and strengthening of cooperation amongst the Member Governments and their territories, with a view to improving the economic and social well-being of the peoples of those territories. For this purpose, the functions of the Commission are to promote scientific, technological, and economic development in the Caribbean area; to facilitate the use of resources, the concerted treatment of mutual problems and the avoidance of duplication in the work of existing research agencies; to survey needs and ascertain what research has been done; to facilitate research on a cooperative basis, and to recommend further research. The Member Governments have agreed that these objectives are in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The Commission has two auxiliary bodies. The Caribbean Research Council was established to provide the Commission with the scientific and technical advice needed in its work. The West Indian Conference, composed of representatives of all the Caribbean territories of the Member Governments, meets biennially to discuss matters of common interest to the territories falling within the Commission's terms of reference, and to make recommendations to the Commission. The former Anglo-American Caribbean Commission was set up in 1942 by the British and United States Governments, and was expanded at the end of last year when the French and Netherlands Governments accepted invitations to join the Commission as full members. Reports of the Anglo-American Caribbean Commission were rendered annually. That for 1945 has just been received and a copy is being placed in the Library.The first meeting of the expanded Commission was held at St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, in February, 1946. Its report is shortly to be published. Among its recommendations was one for the establishment Of a Central Secretariat for the Commission, with headquarters in the Caribbean area. This recommendation was accepted by the Member Governments, and at a meeting of their representatives in Washington in July, 1946, it was decided to set up the headquarters in Trinidad. Mr. Lawrence W. Cramer, former Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, subsequently was appointed by the Commission to be the first Secretary-General. An agreement restating the purposes and functions of the Commission was also drawn up at that meeting, and will be published. A successful Conference on the means of developing tourist trade in the Caribbean was held in New York this month under the auspices of the Commission. The association of the people of the Caribbean territories in the Commission's work is provided for in the first place, so far as His Majesty's Government are concerned, by the fact that two of the four members of the British Section are non-officials. The method of selection of these two delegates was left to the British unofficial delegates to the Second West Indian Conference last March. The two unofficial members at present are Mr. Norman Manley, K.C., of Jamaica, and Mr. Garnett Gordon, of St. Lucia, who was appointed after a tie in the voting at the conference. The representative principle is also applied in the case of the West Indian Conference and the Caribbean Research Council. In the British West Indies, one of the two delegates from each Colony to the Conference must be an unofficial. Finally, the Agreement referred to above provides that the staff of the Secretariat shall be recruited as largely as possible within the Caribbean area, and with a view to obtaining a balanced national representation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make an announcement on the food situation in Singapore; to what extent the importation of the principal foodstuffs is controlled by Government and to what extent private enterprise is free to import them; whether rice has been obtained from Siam; and what arrangements have been or are being made to this end.

On the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 9th October to my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Mr. Rees-Williams) and to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans). The importation of the principal foodstuffs into Singapore Colony is controlled by the Government through the issue of import licences. Rice and other cereals, sugar, meat and a few other foodstuffs are at present imported directly on Government account. Orders for some other foodstuffs placed on Government account shortly after liberation of the territory are being completed. With these exceptions foodstuffs may be imported by-private importers provided they have obtained import licences. In reply to the last part of the Question, rice supplies have been obtained from Siam, according to allocations made by the International Emergency Food Council. The rice is bought by the Ministry of Food acting through the British Rice Unit in Siam.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, in view of the inability of Mr. W. L. Burton, a former civilian internee, to return to Singapore, further details of which have been sent to him, the passage money, amounting to £93, paid by Mr. Burton, has not been refunded to him.

There is clearly some misunderstanding since the sum mentioned has already been refunded to Mr. Burton's former employers on the understanding that they had provided him with a passage. I am taking up the matter with the Governor of Singapore with a view to clearing up the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will take steps so that mortgagees in Singapore can demand or recover mortgage interest due since the Japanese surrender.

Demands for interest on mortgages entered into prior to the date of the liberation of Singapore cannot be enforced at present owing to the moratorium, and until legislation has been enacted dealing with the valuation of transactions during the period of the Japanese occupation, some of which may have related to these mortgages, it is not possible to lift the moratorium. The question of the introduction of the legislation is at present under consideration by the Governor of Singapore, but I will ask him to consider whether it would be desirable or possible meanwhile to lift the moratorium in cases where no action was taken during the period of the Japanese occupation which in any way affects particular mortgages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that medical officers in West Africa give adequate time to touring and provid- ing medical attention in the native villages as compared with the time spent at the hospitals.

Yes, Sir. The majority of medical officers in West Africa are posted to districts for touring and field work and the number thus engaged will increase. During the war the reduced staff available had to be concentrated, and touring necessarily suffered to some extent, but as new medical officers are recruited and subordinate staff is expanded more and more field work will be done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet received the report of the inquiry into the complaint of John Elliott concerning his treatment in Strangeways Prison, Manchester; and when will the contents of the said report be made available to the public.

I have received the report of this inquiry, which is being presented to Parliament and published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now state when the Report of the Boundary Commission, as it affects Newport and Monmouthshire, will be available.

I understand that the Commission hope to publish notice of the effect of their proposed recommendations relating to Newport and Monmouthshire towards the end of this week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Dr. E. G. T. Liddell, whose appeal against his conviction for causing unnecessary suffering to cats at Oxford University was dismissed by the Recorder on 9th October, was the holder of a certificate covering experiments for the alleviation of cat distemper; and, if so, the nature of the certificate and when it was issued.

Dr. Liddell holds the certificates under the Act of 1876 authorising him to conduct certain experiments with a view to the study of nervous disease in man on animals. He was convicted not for any offence in the performance of these experiments, but under the Protection of Animals Act, 1911, for causing unnecessary suffering by keeping in a compound too many cats while they were suffering from distemper.