asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1), whether he aware that many civilian motor transport drivers and driver-fitters at Fleet Air Arm aerodromes are not fully employed; and what steps he is taking to reduce their numbers;(2) what is the entitlement of Fleet Air Arm aerodromes to civilian drivers and driver-fitters; when this entitlement was last reviewed; and whether he will give an undertaking that naval ratings will be used wherever possible to perform the duties for which these civilians were employed.

It is the normal Admiralty peace time practice to employ civilians as drivers and driver-fitters at Naval Air Stations, as it is uneconomical to use fully trained Naval ratings for this purpose The numbers employed at each establishment depend upon the vehicle complement, which varies according to the size and functions of the establishment Complements of vehicles are under constant review in the light of changing requirements. The work of these civilian employees necessarily involves some period of waiting, but I am satisfied that they are in general fully employed. If the hon. Gentleman has any specific case of under-employment perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many blankets, used and unused, are in stock; and, in view of the big reduction in personnel which has recently taken place and the surplus stocks resulting therefrom, what steps have been, or are being, taken to dispose of this surplus.

The stock of used and unused blankets at present in the United Kingdom is 394,000 and a further 68,000 approximately are held abroad. Since the end of the war, 698,000 from United Kingdom stock have been declared surplus to the appropriate disposal authorities, and it is expected that further quantities will be declared surplus when the review of stocks held overseas is complete.

asked the Attorney-General the number of Service divorce suits now pending and the steps being taken to expedite the hearing of such suits.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General to a Question by the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 16th October.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the prices fixed for the 1946 raspberry crop in Scotland are such as to endanger the livelihood of smallholders engaged in this industry; and what steps he proposes to take.

I cannot accept the hon. Member's statement, but my attention has already been called to the apprehensions of raspberry growers in Scotland, and the whole question will be fully examined when maximum prices for the 1947 season are being considered.

asked the Minister of Food why the boys of the 42nd Company, Liverpool Boys' Brigade had to draw on the farmer's domestic rations when working for the farmer at Ormskirk, Lancashire, for the week commencing 7th October; and why arrangements for extra rations to be provided were not made for these boys who helped in the potato harvest.

There was no necessity for the boys to draw upon the farmer's domestic rations; as was explained to the boys' leader by letter on 26th September and to my hon. Friend by letter on 7th October, the farmer could have obtained additional food for the boys in accordance with our established arrangements.

asked the Minister of Food if he will reconsider the refusal to grant a licence for sweets and groceries to J. W. Gillin, 19A, Everton Valley, Liverpool 4, as this shopkeeper is an ex-Serviceman and reopened the shop, which, before the bombing of 1941, was an old-established business and the residents in this area want the use of the shop for their needs and resent the refusal of the Liverpool Food Committee to give a licence to J. W. Gillin.

It is open to any applicant who has been refused a retail licence, to renew his application_at any time; it is then considered again in the light of changed conditions, if any, and of any new facts that the applicant may be able to present. If, therefore, my hon. Friend's constituent renews his application to the Food Control Committee, it will receive careful consideration.

asked the Minister of Food if he will extend the special cheese ration to all men employed as transport drivers whose employers can certify that they are unable to obtain a cooked meal at home, in a canteen or other place during working hours.

I regret that I cannot make the concession asked for.

asked the Minister of Food if, having regard to the depleted stocks of home pigs, he will arrange for increased supplies of imported pig meats, both for distribution through the ration and for manufacturing purposes.

I am purchasing all the meat, including pork, which exporting countries can make available for us

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make a statement giving the stocks of tea in this country on the latest date available and on the corresponding date a year ago and in 1938; the monthly consumption during the period between the two dates to which the stock figures for this year and last year refer; and the estimated production of tea during this year in the sterling area and outside the sterling area.

So long as the Government remain a bulk purchaser of tea, it would not be in the national interest that I should give the figures in regard to stocks for which the hon. Member asks. The

asked the Minister of Food whether he has considered alter- average monthly consumption of tea in the United Kingdom during the twelve months ended nth October, 1946, was 35.2 million lbs. The estimated production of tea available in the sterling area for export during the current year was 685 million lbs.; production outside the sterling area for export was negligible.

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the world's exports of tea was imported and retained in this country in 1945; and what is the estimated proportion in 1946 and 1947.

In 1945 approximately 55 per cent, of the exports of tea from India, Ceylon and British East Africa were imported and retained in this country. The proportion for 1946 is estimated at 54 per cent.; it is not possible, at this date, to make an estimate for 1947. Exports from countries other than those mentioned during 1945–46 were negligible.

asked the Minister of Food how many new licences for the sale of fruit and vegetables have been granted in Wales, England and Scotland from the end of the war until the present date; and how many of these have been for ex-Servicemen.

The following are the figures. I regret that it is not possible to give separate figures for ex-Servicemen except in the case of licences granted to ex-traders and disabled people.ing the regulations governing the allocation of fat to fish friers to bring them into line with the regulations covering the allocation of fat to caterers so that fat may be allocated to fish friers on the basis of numbers of fried fish sold rather than on the present basis of 1939 figures.

No, Sir. The supply of fats does not permit of such a change.

asked the Minister of Food how the overall consumption of food in the United Kingdom in September, 1946, compares with the consumption in July, 1939; in how many main items the consumption is greater; in how many it is less; and by what percentages in each case.

Comparisons for as short a period as a month are apt to be misleading. For the overall consumption of food my statisticians work on a six months' period. As I have stated in the House, we were eating in the first half of this year on the average about seven per cent, less calories per head per day than before the war. I have asked my statisticians if there has been any change since then, and they tell me that for the current six months consumption appears to be running at a rate of 2,920 calories per head per day as compared with 3,000 before the war; thus our overall consumption may be shown, when we get the final figures, to be now only some three per cent, below prewar. But of course these averages conceal the fact that some people are eating much less, and other people much more, food than they did before the war.As to particular foodstuffs, the following figures compare the actual amounts of these foods which went out of our hands and into those of the public in the three months' period, June, July and August of this year with the consumption of these foods on an average for the years 1934–38. Incidentally these figures all come from the Statistical Digest for August, 1946, and anyone can go and verify them for themselves. They indicate that—

asked the Minister of Food whether sweetened condensed milk can now be made available for distribution in collapsible metal tubes.

The disadvantage of turning over to the use of metal tubes at the present time would outweigh any possible advantages.

asked the Minister of Food whether the existing compulsory zoning for deliveries of milk can be relaxed for a trial period in order to assess the effect of some degree of competition in promoting a more efficient service on the part of retailers.

No, Sir. A committee on milk distribution is, however, now at work.

asked the Minister of Food if he can estimate approximately the tonnage of wheat saved by the restrictions on the supply of bread in restaurants and cafes introduced at the same time as bread rationing; and express this saving as a percentage of the total saving since bread rationing was introduced.

I regret that the information is not available. To obtain it a comprehensive questionnaire would have to be issued to a large number of the establishments which hold catering licences.

asked the Minister of Food if he is satisfied that in every case B.Us, are being surrendered for bread supplied.

Recent returns from divisional food offices show that many thousands of visits have been made to traders and consumers for the purpose of checking any failure to surrender coupons for B.U. foods and so far just 100 cases in the whole of U.K. have been unearthed in which there appears to have been some breach of the Order. I am satisfied therefore that traders and the public in general are making an honest effort to comply with the requirements of the Bread Rationing Order; I shall continue to secure evidence on which those who fail to comply with the requirements are proceeded against.

asked the Minister of Food in how many cases bakers have not made the return of bread rationing coupons required under existing statutory regulations; and what action he proposes to take in such cases.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not yet available. Traders who have failed to submit their returns will be required by notice to furnish them within seven days. The submission of the return will be enforced

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the shortage of breakfast cereals in Lewisham and South-East London; and whether any amelioration can be expected.

The sales of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals in the first six months of 1939 appear to have been about 19,880 tons; the corresponding figure for 1946 is 25,760 tons. Available supplies are distributed under the points rationing scheme and I have no evidence that Lewisham and South-East London are not receiving a fair share.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that Quaker Oats have been unobtainable for the past four weeks in the East End area of London; and whether he will take steps to see that supplies are made available as quickly as possible.

No packeted oat flakes are being imported at present and consequently, Quaker Oats are not obtainable in any part of the country. Home products are distributed under the points rationing scheme, and I have no evidence that the East End area of London is not receiving a fair share of available supplies.

asked the Minister of Food the average prices per pound his Department are paying for imported Spanish grapes; and the average prices in 1938 and 1939

10d. per lb.; the corresponding grapes imported from Spain in 1938 and 1939 cost about 3d. and 3½d. per lb. respectively.

asked the Minister of Food what increase in wholesale prices has taken place in regard to home-grown cob-nuts and filberts since the removal of control.

My Department does not collect information about the wholesale prices of cob-nuts and filberts and I regret that I cannot give my hon. Friend the information asked for.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the fact that the lifting of price controls of vegetables has resulted in greatly increased cost, he will take steps to protect consumers.

I am glad to say that my hon. Friend is mistaken in believing that there has been any general increase in vegetable prices since de-control. Taking the London area figures as an example, cabbage, beet and turnips are down, cauliflowers and swedes are the same, sprouts are a penny a lb. up. On the other hand the lifting of price control from these vegetables is in the nature of an experiment and if prices rise to unreasonable levels control will certainly be reimposed at once.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there is a shortage of dried fruits in Leicester; and what steps he will take to improve the situation.

The shortage, I am afraid, is not confined to Leicester notwithstanding that total supplies are equal to or above the prewar level; this is another commodity for which demand is much in excess of what it used to be.

asked the Minister of Food the actual tonnage of barley issued to the brewers for each of the months during which the cut to meet the food shortage has been in operation, and what were the figures for the corresponding months in what is described as the standard prewar years, namely, 1938–9.

As the reply is rather long and contains a tabular statement, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Food the monthly average quantity of flour and/or bread used by school canteens when they are open.

Approximately 2,000 tons of flour.

asked the Minister of Food, in view of the forthcoming conference of the International Union of Railways, at which modernised refrigerated transport will be discussed, what steps have been taken by his Department to ensure that the most modern systems of food storage and transport are employed.

During the war years my Department arranged for the erection of 15 million cubic feet of cold storage space all of which is supplied with modern equipment. The supply of refrigerated transport is a matter for the Ministry of Transport. There is close contact between the respective Departments on the questions.

asked the Minister of Food who supplies the chalk to millers for addition to national flour; and what guarantee he has that this milling process is carried out to meet the B.P. standard for creta praeparata.

Creta praeparate is supplied to millers for addition to national flour by three firms, viz., Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers, Ltd., Henry Rogers & Cookes, Ltd., and W. Marshal] (Hessle), Ltd. Regular tests are carried out by the Government Chemists' Department to ensure that the B.P. standard is maintained.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the dissatisfaction among Danish food exporters at the excessive delay on the part of his Ministry in settling payments for food sent to this country; and if he will expedite such payments.

I have had no complaints of delay in making payment for food from Denmark. For butter, cheese, bacon and eggs all but a small balance of the price is paid on shipment. If the hon. Member will give me details of any complaints which have come to his notice I will look into them.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make an extra ration of sweets for children before Christmas, in view of the large supplies of sugar available.

It is not correct to assume that large supplies of sugar are available. I am however considering the possibility of providing some extra sweets for children at Christmas.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the negligible quantities of British-grown soft fruits available in shops in North-West England in 1946; and what steps he is proposing to take to ensure a fairer distribution of the 1947 crop.

To maintain the jam ration, about half the soft fruit crop this year has had to be diverted for jam manufacture and the amount left for sale in the shops provided only just over a pound per head of the population. Owing to the high degree of perishability of soft fruit its distribution is not controlled and the Ministry is not in a position, therefore, to direct supplies to any particular area.

asked the Minister of Food what quantities of British-grown barley have been exported to the various European countries in the past year

136,384 tons of homegrown barley were exported from the United Kingdom to various European countries in the year ended 31st July, 1946. Of this total over 35,000 tons were sent to Eire for conversion into beer for consumption in the U.K.; about 22,000 tons were sold to N.A.A.F.I. for the production of beer for overseas services consumption; the balance of 79,000 tons was shipped to the British zone of Germany for civilian use as bread grain.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement with regard to the progress made in the manufacture of soap substitutes.

Additional plant to produce raw material for the manufacture of soap substitutes is going up but until it comes into operation about next March, shortage of suitable raw material will remain a limiting factor.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of production efficiency advisers employed by his Department; what their functions are; and what qualifications they are required to possess.

Twenty-two production advisory officers are employed in the Production Efficiency Service of the Board of Trade. They advise, when requested to do so by manufacturers, on matters such as factory lay-out, production planning, production methods and general organisation with a view to increasing production efficiency. The special qualifications required of these officers are practical factory experience and knowledge of industrial organisation and production planning.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of yarn supplies in the lace curtain industry; and what steps he proposes to take to increase the allocation.

Yes, Sir. I am aware of the shortage, and arrangements have now been made to increase supplies to the industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the firm of Strathmore Toys, Limited, Perth, who applied on 19th September, 1946, for a licence to purchase plywood off-cuts, were instructed by his Department to apply to the Federation of British Manufacturers of Sports and Games; whether he is aware that this Federation has no connection with the toy industry; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent similar action by his Department

Up to the beginning of the present quarter, timber for use in the manufacture of sports goods and games has been distributed to manufacturers, on behalf of the Board of Trade, through the Federation of British Manufacturers of Sports and Games. As the application in question was for material for jig-saw puzzles, a game rather than a toy, it was referred to the Federation. These arrangements have recently been revised and the distribution of timber for the manufacture of sports goods and games is now being carried out directly by the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is preventing the shipment of additional quantities of the large supplies of soft wood available in Norway.

I am afraid there are no large quantities of soft wood available for export from Norway which is, at present, an importer of this kind of timber, and purchases from Norway this year have had to be confined to pitprops and telegraph and other poles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the difficulty of obtaining sufficient cargo for homeward-bound ships of the Far East Conference; and whether he will purchase further rubber for shipment to the United Kingdom.

I am not aware that any vessels of the Far Eastern Conference are arriving in this country without full cargoes. While certain vessels may leave for Far Eastern ports with cargo space unfilled, these vessels complete loading in Colombo and ports further west with vitally needed foodstuffs and other commodities for the United Kingdom. Purchases of rubber for shipment from Malaya during the remainder of this year have now been completed.

asked the President of the' Board of Trade whether he is aware of the great number of complaints from business firms, as well as from private individuals, concerning the difficulty of getting adequate stationery, especially envelopes, at the present time; and whether he is in a position to arrange for any additional supplies of paper to meet this need.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leicester (Mr. Janner) on Monday last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether goods and commodities shipped through the United Kingdom by, or on behalf of, U.N.R.R.A. are included in the figures of British exports issued by his Department.

Neither the export nor the re-export figures include goods shipped through the United Kingdom by U.N.R.R.A., but they do include goods bought by U.N.R.R.A. in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of food tins and cans, used by workers to carry packed meals to their place of work in the slate quarrying district of Caernarvonshire; and whether, in view of the fact that it is vital to the quarryman's health that his food should be protected from slate dust, if he will take steps to increase the supply of these utensils in slate quarrying districts.

I am aware that food containers of this type are still in short supply, but I hope that the steps which have been taken to allocate better raw materials for manufacture will soon result in increased quantities becoming available.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when he proposes to amend the regulations whereby R.A.F. officers under the age of 25 are refused family allowances, in view of the hardship they cause to the young families concerned.

Arrangements have been made for the issue of appropriate grants to help these young married officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why, after promising the derequisitioning of the Cement Works, Rushall, near Walsall, his Department have now withdrawn their consent; and when does he propose to release these works.

We held up the derequisitioning of this property because it seemed that we might need to make further use of the underground storage there for keeping explosives. But we have now been able to give instructions for it to be derequisitioned without further delay.

asked the Secretary of state for Air what proportion of married Regular R.A.F. personnel serving overseas are accompanied by their wives in the respective theatres; and what prospect he can hold out of improving the position, particularly in the Middle East.

The proportions are: Mediterranean and Middle East Command, 8 per cent.; South East Asia Command, 7 per cent.; India Command, 6 per cent. As I said in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member on 16th October, we are doing all we can to overcome the shortage of married quarters wherever local conditions are suitable for families, but it is bound to be some time before our needs can be fully met. In the Middle East there are serious difficulties in providing accommodation at present, and I am afraid we have had to tell the Service there that no more families can go out for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that, while the R.A.F. Servicemen in Japan have been told that wives may join them, the wives in England are being informed by his Department that no wives are going to Japan; and whether he will make a full statement on this matter.

We have explained to the Service in Japan, and to their wives who have made inquiries in this country, that it will be some time before suitable family accommodation can be provided at the Air Force units there. If the hon. Member has particulars of any statement to the contrary, I will certainly make further inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many blankets, used and unused, are in stock; and, in view of the reduction in personnel which has recently taken place and the surplus stocks resulting therefrom, what steps have been, or are being, taken to dispose of this surplus.

At present we have about 1½ million blankets in stock at maintenance units in this country. Three-quarters of a million of these have been declared as surplus to the Ministry of Supply who are responsible for their disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the reason for the long delay in coming to a decision regarding the request by the Drummore Community Council to purchase an R.A.F. billet.

I am afraid this delay was due to mistakes in my Department which are now being fully investigated as a safeguard for the future. Meanwhile, tenders are being issued to the council and others who may be interested in the use of these huts.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is now prepared to publish regular reports showing the progress made in R.A.F. recruiting.

Yes, Sir. We are now working out the best form for presenting these figures and I hope the first statement will be published next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) what improvements the R.A.F. made during the recent war to the slipway on Kerrera Island belonging to the West Highland Slipway Company Limited;(2) if he is aware that a slipway constructed for the slipping and repair of aircraft is unsuitable for the slipping and repair of ordinary sea-going vessels; and what action he proposes to take to restore the slipway on Kerrera Island, belonging to the West Highland Slipway Company, Limited, to its former use as a slipway for sea-going vessels.

A new slipway constructed of levelled concrete on a hard core foundation has been made in place of the two earth slipways which were in existence before the war. In addition, new buildings have been provided, existing buildings have been improved, a proper water supply has been installed, and a new landing stage has been built at the head of the jetty. I cannot agree that the new slipway is unsuitable for the repair of sea-going craft, and in fact I understand that another firm is anxious to acquire it for this purpose. As regards the last part of the hon. and gallant Member's second Question, there is nothing I can add to the reply which I gave him on 16th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what progress has been made in clearing the verges of the Horncastle-Market Rasen road of bombs; and whether he will now give a date when, the work will be completed.

About a third of these bombs have now been taken away. I hope that the rest will have been removed by early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether free return passages will be given for members of his Department, with their families, who are at present posted overseas and wish to retire from the Department.

Where the staff concerned wish to retire before completing the full normal tour of duty at the overseas station, the answer depends upon their conditions of service and other circumstances. We are always ready to consider any individual case of hardship on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, if, by taking all possible steps to avoid unnecessary posting, he will secure that officers and men willingly occupy married quarters instead of civilian accommodation.

We are having no difficulty in finding occupants for our married quarters.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what services by helicopter are projected; and on what routes.

My noble Friend is fully alive to the possibilities of the helicopter but it is still in the research and development

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation when he proposes to put Viking aircraft on services operating from Scotland; and what those services are.

The operation of civil air services is, of course, in the first place a matter for the corporations. The British European Airways Corporation which is primarily concerned hopes to be able to increase substantially its use of Viking aircraft in the early part of next year. It is not yet possible to say the dates at which the various routes will be served with Vikings. The order of priority depends on traffic and technical considerations which are now under examination.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the airports he proposes to use for air transport service to Cornwall and the Scilly Isles; the cost of the fare; and when these facilities are likely to be available.

The airports now in use for the service operating between Lands End and the Scilly Isles are St. Just and St. Mary's. The fares between these two places are 20s. single and 35s. return. Plans are being made for the extension of services to Cornwall from other parts of the United Kingdom. It is not as yet possible to forecast the airports to be used. The date of introduction must depend on such factors as the availability of aircraft and provision of the necessary buildings, ground aids and equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in view of the desirability of employing Asiatic staff, so far as possible, in positions of responsibility in the labour departments of the Malayan Union and Singapore, he will ensure that in addition to the Indians now employed, Malays and Chinese are appointed and used in responsible posts after a short training.

The policy of employing suitably qualified local officers in the labour departments of the Malayan Governments was adopted before the war and is now being pressed forward. The Malayan Union Government have plans for an increase of the establishment of inspectors of labour which will include Malays and Chinese, as well as Indians. These plans offer prospects of promotion for suitable inspectors to such higher posts as labour officer and assistant commissioner of labour.Similar arrangements are in train for Singapore but, as the great preponderance of workers in that Colony speak only Chinese or Indian dialects, a knowledge of one of those dialects is for the present a necessary qualification for all local appointments to the Labour Department in Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the rice ration in Singapore is five katties a month for a man, four for a woman and three for a child, whilst in the Malayan Union, including Penang and Malacca, the ration is three katties for every person; and what is the reason for this difference in scale.

The average rice ration per person in Singapore Colony is at present one kati (just over 21 oz.) per week, whilst in the Malayan Union it is three-quarters of a kati. The rice ration is lower in the Malayan Union because there it can be more readily supplemented with locally grown produce.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to be in a position to make an announcement on the economic situation in Malaya.

My predecessor gave the House a summary of the economic situation in Malaya on 25th July. When the situation which he then described has so changed as to warrant a further statement I will certainly consider the question of making one.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to obtain high priority for telephone equipment, including switchboards, for Malaya, where their absence is causing a severe hold-up in both administration and business throughout the country.

All Malayan orders for telephone equipment, including switchboards, are treated as of high priority. In spite of difficulties due to shortage of labour and materials it has already been possible to deliver more than half the orders placed, and the remainder are expected to arrive in Malaya between now and June next.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the percentage of workers entitled to receive extra rations for heavy labour in the following industries in Malaya, namely, tin mining, conservancy, public works, oil palm plantations, coconut plantations and rubber plantations.

The percentages in the Malayan Union are: Tin mining 85 per cent., conservancy 100 per cent., public works 47 per cent., oil palm plantations 35 per cent., coconut plantations 25 per cent., and rubber plantations 15 per cent.In Singapore they are: Conservancy about 75 per cent., public works about 70 per cent. There are no tin mines or oil palm plantations in Singapore and hardly any estates are now working.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many motor vehicles have been allocated in Malaya since 1st January and how many applications for motor vehicles are still on the waiting list.

A total of 2,630 motor vehicles has been allocated in Malaya from 1st January to 30th September, of which 1,620 are passenger cars and 1,010 load-carriers and buses. This allocation includes those required for use in North Borneo and Sarawak. There are 6,470 applications outstanding, excluding those required for use in North Borneo and Sarawak, of which 4,980 are in respect of passenger cars and 1,490 for load carriers and buses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Private King, 13th Parachute Battalion, sentenced by a civilian court in Singapore, is being held incommunicado and his letters returned to the senders unopened.

I understand from the Governor of Singapore that Private King is not being held incommunicado. All letters received by the prison authorities, including letters from his wife, have been delivered to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total estimated expenditure under salaries and other charges for Lord Killearn, the Governor-General, the Governor of Malaya and the Governor of Singapore, in respect of themselves and their personal staffs.

The annual expenditure on the salaries and allowances of the Governor-General, the Governor of the Malayan Union and the Governor of Singapore, including in each case expenditure on such personal staff as A.D.C.s and Private Secretaries, is estimated at £10,670, £8,270 and £7,610, respectively.I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that the expenditure relating to Lord Killearn himself and his personal staff is £9,600 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will set up the necessary machinery by which widows and next of kin can obtain a certificate to presume death in the case of non-European civilian casualties in Singapore.

I am in communication with the Governor of Singapore on the question and I will write to the hon. Member again as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the question of compensation for the Singapore Cane Factory; how an appeal can be made against the present assessment; and if he will make a statement on the details of the situation, which have been sent to him.

I am aware of the claim for compensation made in Singapore on behalf of the Singapore Cane Factory. An appeal board to which dissatisfied claimants may appeal against compensation assessments was set up in June, but I have no authoritative information whether it is yet operating. I will inform the hon. Member when I hear from the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when a decision will be reached to enable the Commissioner of Estate Duties at Singapore to arrive at a decision on the following points, details of which have been sent to him: how to value the assets of estates during the war period; the question of the payment of interest on duty; the question of estate duty paid to the Japanese; and the remission of all, or some portion, of the duty in respect of the deaths of persons on active service and civilian war casualties.

I have recently supplied the Governor of Singapore with information which will, I hope, help him to expedite a decision on the first part of the Question. As regards the second and third parts, I am asking the Governor to inform me of the present position and will write to the hon. Member on receipt of his reply. As regards the last part of the Question, the Governor has informed me that active consideration is being given to the introduction of legislation which would remit, with retrospective effect, duty on the estates of persons killed as a result of the war.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will arrange for the speedy settlement of claims of merchants and residents in Singapore against the three Services, particulars of which have been sent to him, and so enable companies in Singapore to reestablish themselves in business.

I am aware of the importance to the commercial community at Singapore of their claims being settled as expeditiously as possible but since the claims referred to are against the three Service Departments, I am forwarding to those Departments for their consideration, the particulars which have been sent to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will take steps to enable the original owners in Singapore of motor vehicles and other goods appropriated by the Japanese, or seized and sold by the Japanese custodian, to regain possession of their property.

I am in communication with the Governor on this subject and will write to the hon. Member when I have received his report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the desirability of associating the people of British Malaya in the making and development of labour policy, he will ensure that tripartite labour advisory councils are established in the Malayan Union and Singapore.

A tripartite Labour Advisory Board is shortly to be formed in the Malayan Union. Its members will include officers of the Labour Department, together with employers and employees' representatives of all races. A similar Board will be instituted in Singapore as soon as sufficient trade unions have been registered to permit of the appointment to the Board of members who will be properly representative of labour interest. In addition it is planned to establish a joint tripartite Labour Advisory Board which will deal with affairs common to both the Malayan territories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that burglary and theft in Singa- pore are increasing, of which details have been sent to him, and that motor-cars are being stolen from locked garages, he will take the necessary steps to protect householders and give them permission to possess firearms for their protection.

The increase of burglary and theft in Singapore during the past months has been receiving the most careful and anxious consideration of the Governor. Public moral undoubtedly suffered as a result of the conditions in which the people of Singapore lived during the Japanese occupation and it will take a little time before the old sense of law and order is reestablished in all sections of the community. Every effort is being made to add to the protection of householders, by enlarging the police force, increasing its equipment, and in other ways. I doubt whether the hon. Member's suggestion would commend itself to the Governor whose aim is to reduce the number of firearms in private possession.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the pay of armed watchmen employed on plantations in Malaya and enrolled as extra policemen has been increased from $28 to $44, with a ration allowance estimated to be worth $25 to $30; and how these emoluments compare with the prevailing rate of pay for labourers on plantations.

I have asked the Governor of the Malayan Union for a report, and will write to the hon. and gallant Member in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the reasons for the continued detention, since 29th June last, of Mr. David Remez, Secretary-General of the Palestine Trades Union Council; and in respect of what alleged offence he is being detained.

The Jewish leaders taken into custody on 29th June, of whom Mr. David Remez was one, were detained under the Emergency Regulations. The Regulations empower the High Commissioner to order a detention, if in his opinion it is necessary for securing the public safety, for any period not exceeding one year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what redress is open to persons in Palestine who are detained administratively and subsequently released without any charge being preferred against them.

If the detention is effected in accordance with the powers conferred by law, including the Palestine Defence (Emergency) Regulations, 1945, the individual has no redress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is estimated to be the effect on the price of chocolate of raising the price of West African cocoa to the high scale of 27s. 6d. a load; and if there is any official scheme for using part of the profits to growers to get rid of cocoa diseases which now destroy about one-sixth of the crop in the case of large parts of West Africa.

As to the first part of the Question, the price of chocolate is a matter for the Ministry of Food rather than for myself, but I would remind my hon. Friend that what will influence the price of chocolate is the price paid by the Ministry of Food to the West African Produce Control Board for West African cocoa, which will be settled in the light of general cocoa market prices and is unlikely to be on an exact parity with the price paid by the Board to the West African producers. The latter, although settled with an eye to general market prices, has been designedly fixed at a figure somewhat below the expected price to be received by the Board.In reply to the second part of the Question, I am considering with the Governors of the Gold Coast and Nigeria the utilisation of part of any profits made by the Board on this year's transactions on special measures for the control of cocoa diseases and the rehabilitation of affected areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there has been any increase in the price of cocoa paid to West African farmers; and how this price compares with the five-year average prewar figures.

The price in the Gold Coast has been raised this season to 27s. 6d. per load of 60 lb. at buying centres compared with a price of 15s. last year. An equivalent increase has been announced in Nigeria. The average price per load from 1934 to 1939 was 9s. 10d.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what assurance he will give that any higher prices paid for West African cocoa will result in improved conditions for the labourer on the cocoa farms, with particular reference to migrant labour.

I am informed that the increased prices will be reflected in some improvement in the conditions of labourers on cocoa farms, but I am in consultation with the Colonial Governments concerned as to what can be done to ensure the participation by labourers in the benefits of the increase.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the petition of Mr. Joseph O. Balogun, complaining that Nigerian farmers have lost the sum of £16,000 through being prevented in 1941 from exporting 9.000 tons of maize to Canada; and whether due compensation will be granted for this loss.

This matter was carefully considered by my predecessor who saw no reason to depart from the decision of his predecessor in 1942, The action by the Nigerian Government was taken on grounds of public policy and there appeared no grounds for their intervention or for the payment of compensation. I regret that I am unable to alter the decision taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what attempts are being made in West Africa to enlist the support and active assistance of university and other students in that area, in connection with the proposals for mass-education.

My Education Advisory Committee has a Standing Committee on Mass Education in the Colonies which has given much thought to the difficulties involved in this aspect of education and its success depends as much on action by the people who have already profited from education as by Government planning and organisation. In many Colonies the educated members of the communities have been urged to assist in this educational work and various encouraging examples occur.The students of Achimota College have for some years past, on their own initiative, been running evening classes in Kumasi. Support and active assistance will also be sought as part of the extramural work of the proposed West African University College and the territorial colleges, but detailed plans for this cannot be made until the principals are appointed. Meanwhile, every opportunity is being taken of appealing for the support of West African students in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that compulsory education for European and Indian children has already been introduced in the large towns in Kenya; and when it will be introduced for African children.

The problem of making education compulsory for all African children in Kenya is one which has engaged my attention for many years and I am sincerely anxious that as rapid strides as practicable shall be taken to its achievement. There are many difficulties and these are being tackled. European children enjoy compulsory education as do Indian boys in the large towns.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken by the Kenya Government to implement the proposals of the White Paper, Mass Education in African Society.

Proposals for the extension of a measure of universal schooling to the whole African child population of Kenya are contained in the Report of the Development Committee, which is now under consideration by the Kenya Government. The same Report contains recommendations for providing mass adult education among all the communities and for inducing adult literacy on a wide scale. These recommendations are also under consideration by the Kenya Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how the £2 10s. which is to be set aside for social welfare out of the price paid for every ton of East African sisal is to be administered; and if he will give some assurance that these moneys will be expended wholly in the interests of the estate labourers.

The £2 10s. per ton which is to be set aside for Social Welfare out of the price paid for East African sisal will be credited by the Sisal Controllers in Tanganyika and Kenya to the accounts of individual estates, but this money will not be released unless the Labour Commissioner of the territory concerned is satisfied that welfare expenditure of at least this amount per ton has in fact been incurred on approved purposes either by the individual estate concerned or jointly on its behalf by a group of estates. The Labour Commissioner will be satisfied if the money is used to provide for either the welfare of native labourers or that of subordinate European employees on lines analogous, having regard to ordinary living conditions, to those applicable to native employees. He will not be satisfied if it is used to cover expensive amenities for managerial staff. Any expenditure incurred for approved welfare purposes since the beginning of 1943 will be eligible for consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any plans for the development of the Cameroons plantations under public ownership.

I have approved the introduction of legislation to be taken at a meeting of the Legislative Council of Nigeria in December under which provision will be made for the purchase by the Government of Nigeria of the ex-enemy plantations in the Cameroons. The legislation will also provide for the establishment of a Cameroons Development Corporation and the lease to it of these plantations. It is intended that the Corporation should have the duty of developing the properties in the best possible way for the people of the Cameroons and that the Board of Directors will be at the outset nominated by the Governor but will become progressively representative of the people of the territory as they become able to accept responsibility for its operations.

asked the Seceretary of State for the Colonies whether there are any plans for developing the power supplies of Nigeria and for operating them under public control.

Under the Nigeria 10-year development plan comprehensive schemes have been prepared for the extension of electricity supplies and arrangements have been made for investigating the possibilities of hydroelectric power where such methods of generation are possible. A proposal to establish a Government-owned electricity corporation in which all existing Government-owned electric enterprises would be vested, together with future extensions and new installations, has been approved in principle and is now being examined by the Nigerian authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Buganda deportees are now to be released; and how many have been apprehended for security reasons during the past five years.

I have given some attention recently to this matter. The segregation of these persons is under regular review. So far as I am aware, the total number apprehended for security reasons during the past five years is 20.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will indicate how the scheme for cocoa and banana marketing is progressing; whether resistance respecting the former has now ceased; and what action respecting the latter has been taken relative to the Cameroons.

I expect shortly to make a statement on the future marketing arrangements for West African cocoa. As regards bananas, future plans for marketing the Jamaica crop are under active consideration with the Governor and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food. In the Cameroons, arrangements for marketing bananas will form part of the plans for development of the plantations which are in course of preparation and are referred to in the reply I am giving today to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Dudley (Colonel Wigg).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what his decision is regarding' the future of the cocoa marketing scheme.

This matter has been receiving my attention and I hope that shortly I shall be able to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in view of the considerable potentialities for increasing the production of ground nuts in the Colonial Empire to the mutual advantage of the colonies and this country, he will arrange for the early publication of the report of the Commission of Inquiry which went to East Africa to investigate the possibilities of large-scale production of ground nuts in Tanganyika and Northern Rhodesia, so that the information will be available to all concerned.

His Majesty's Government are actively considering the action to be taken on the report of the East African Groundnut Mission and I hope that a statement will be made at an early date. In this connection His Majesty's Government will bear in mind the desirability of publishing the material made available by the Mission's investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the present strength of the Colonial Service in Nigeria; the number of men who have left the service between the end of the German war and the latest convenient date, distinguishing between retirements on grounds of age, resignations and other reasons for leaving the service; and the comparable figures for 1938.

I am asking the Governor of Nigeria for these particulars and will communicate them to my hon. Friend as soon as they are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to assist the Pan-African Congress on prehistory which is to be held in Nairobi in January next.

I understand that the Government of Kenya has assisted in the arrangements for the Congress, and has provided certain financial assistance towards its expenses. I am considering, with the Treasury, whether assistance can be given from United Kingdom funds towards the expenses of representatives from this country at the Congress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what temporary or permanent additions to the pensions of retired British or other Colonial Government officials have been made to meet the high cost of living caused by war conditions.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend gave on 29th May to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter). The pension increase schemes of Colonial Governments vary but as far as pensioners living in this country are concerned most Colonial Governments award temporary increase on the same basis as that prescribed in Section I of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1944.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what Government-built or operated commercial or industrial enterprises are being planned on instruction from his office as a means of diversifying or industrialising colonial economies and of raising the standard of living; or whether reliance is placed rather upon influencing private enterprise in this direction.

The importance of stimulating industrial development in the Colonies for the general reasons stated by my hon. Friend has been the subject of frequent consultation with Colonial Governments, whose responsibility it is in any particular territory to implement policy in this respect. Obviously a considerable degree of public enterprise is essential in colonial development, particularly in respect of utilities and essential services, but private enterprise also has its place and it should be able, consistent with the general programmes of development, to play its part to the full in many new commercial and industrial enterprises. I see no reason why public and private action should not be complementary. In any case, without the provision of basic Government services both social and economic, including the development of facilities for education, particularly in the technical branches, it will not be possible for private enterprise to play its part.Colonial Governments have been urged to consider what further assistance they can render to industrial development by way of the adjustment of taxation, etc., for the encouragement of new industries, the provision of capital on easy terms, by direct loans or Government guarantee or by participation in the share capital or debenture issues of industrial enterprises. They have also been told that they should be prepared to consider the direct operation of services and industries by Government and the place of public development corporations. There are examples of all these methods to be found in the Colonies, but I have for some time been conscious of the need to provide Colonial Governments with greater guidance and assistance in these matters and I have the whole question under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what likelihood there is of abrogation or amendment of sedition and deportation ordinances in the colonies; if he will submit an annual report of cases of sedition, nature of charges and sentences; if a public defender will be made available to those so charged; and if all emergency regulations imposed under wartime defence regulations in the colonies are shortly to be repealed.

As regards sedition and deportation ordinances I cannot usefully add to the reply given on 22nd May to the hon. Member for Merioneth (Mr. Emrys Roberts). As regards the second part of the Question I will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion, although I am somewhat reluctant to add to the numbers of special returns required of Colonial Governments. In reply to the third part, I doubt the wisdom of making arrangements of a special nature for the defence of persons charged with sedition. In a number of Colonies there is already provision for assistance for persons unable to provide for their own defence. As regards the last part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sutton (Mr. S. Marshall) on 16th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what funds are being allocated to the Falkland Islands under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act; and what plans have been made to associate the people of the colony with the decisions for the expenditure of these funds.

The sum allocated is £150,000; opportunity will be given to the people of the Colony to express their views on the programme of expenditure of this sum. The best method for doing this will be considered by the new Governor, who leaves this week to take up his appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the reform of the constitution of the Falkland Islands to provide for the inclusion of elected representatives in both the executive and legislative councils.

Proposals for the reform of the constitution of the Falkland Islands have been under consideration for some time. I propose to await the recommendations of the new Governor in the light of his local connections.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans the Government of the Falkland Islands has for the construction of roads in the Colony.

Certain proposals for a road across East Falkland are at present under consideration along with various other schemes of development which are being referred to the new Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to make a general statement about future policy in Cyprus.

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government have recently had under review the question of their future policy in regard to Cyprus, with a view to seeking opportunities to establish a more liberal and progressive regime in the internal affairs of the island. With this object, I propose to invite the Governor, Sir Charles Woolley, who is in full accord with this policy, to call together a Consultative Assembly, drawn from representative elements in the island, to consider the framing of proposals for constitutional reform, including the re-establishment of a Central Legislature. It is hoped that the result will be the creation of a Council which will bring representatives of the Cypriot people into full consultation with the Government in the conduct of their local affairs.His Majesty's Government are also determined to press on with vigour the programme of economic development and social welfare, which has been successfully initiated during recent years. I have had before me a systematic and detailed plan of development covering the next 10 years. It has been under close examination in the Colonial Office and is being published in Cyprus today. This plan deals with every aspect of the island's life and economy —agriculture and irrigation, the forests, medical and education services, the expansion of the ports, the provision of tourist facilities and so on.There are two further matters on which I can also announce decisions. The first relates to the situation at present existing in the Church of Cyprus, of which the Archiepiscopal See has now been vacant for many years. There seems little doubt that the three local laws enacted in 1937 with the object of controlling certain aspects of the election of a new Archbishop have impeded the settlement of this problem. The retention of these laws would seem no longer to be justifiable and, on the advice and with the full concurrence of the Governor, His Majesty's Government have now decided that they should be repealed as soon as practicable. It is to be hoped that, as a result of this action on the part of the Government, the Church of Cyprus will find itself able to make an election to the vacant See and thus resolve a situation which, so long as it continues, must be prejudicial to its spiritual authority and influence.Finally, the Government consider that the time has now come to permit the return to Cyprus of those persons who were deported from the Island for their part in the disturbances of 1931. His Majesty's Government earnestly hope that these measures will inaugurate a new and happier era in the relations between this country and the people of Cyprus, and that they will now wholeheartedly join in the task of developing the Island's resources and bettering their own conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that Government-employed schoolteachers in Bermuda are being paid adequate salaries.

There are no Government - employed schoolteachers in Bermuda. The Government provides a subsistence allowance for teachers in aided schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the composition of the Bahamas Labour Board.

The Bahamas Labour Board Act of 1946 empowered the Governor to appoint a Labour Board of five members, two of whom were to be members of the House of Assembly not being members of the Executive Council nor holding any office of profit under the Crown. The Governor has already been asked to furnish the names of members as soon as the Board is formed, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend when I have his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that no coloured persons have ever been appointed to posts as wardens under the Trinidad Government; and whether a colour bar operates in the selection of persons for these posts.

I understand that it is not the fact that no coloured person has ever been appointed to these posts, and there is certainly no colour bar in selection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now in a position to state the results of his investigations into the possibility of abolishing passports for tourists visiting Jamaica and other West Indian Colonies.

This matter is being actively pursued but I regret that I am not yet able to announce a final decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the co-ordination of economic functions previously exercised by the supreme commander still rests solely with Lord Killearn, or is devolved in whole or in part on the Governor-General; and whether the initiation of campaigns for improving the production of food is now a matter for local administrations.

The responsibility for the coordination of economic affairs in South-East Asia is shared by the Governor-General and the Special Commissioner, between whom and their respective staffs the closest cooperation exists. The initiation and execution of campaigns for improving local food production is, of course, a matter for the local administrations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why it has been decided to impose a duty on N.A.A.F.I. goods sold to His Majesty's Forces in Hong Kong; and whether he will reconsider this step in view of the extra cost of supplies to our troops resulting from this tax.

I am awaiting a reply from the Governor and will write to the hon. Member later.

asked the Minister of Supply the number and values of private motor cars produced in the first nine months of 1946; and the proportion released for the home market.

During the first nine months of 1946 the total production of private cars was 140,222, of which 75,710 were for the home market. Precise information as to the value is not available.

asked the Minister of Supply the number of separate motor car models of differing horse power produced by the regular motor car manufacturers before the war and at the latest available date; and the number of units of each model produced during the latest convenient 12-month period.