asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that foreign domestics admitted to this country are being charged excessive fees by domestic agencies; and if he will take powers to curtail this practice.

If my hon. Friend will give me particulars in his possession I will be glad to consider such information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates of naturalisation were granted by his Department during the past six months other than to former British nationals; and to what nationalities.

Two thousand one hundred and sixty-eight, Sir. The list of nationalities is as follows:

Certificates of Naturalisation granted (other than to former British nationals) during the six months ended 31st October, 1946.
German	…	…	1,114
Austrian	…	…	363
Italian	…	…	104
Czecho-Slovak	…	…	103
Russian	…	…	85
No Nationality	…	…	70
Hungarian	…	…	61
French	…	…	50
Polish	…	…	39
American	…	…	38
Roumanian	…	…	21
Dutch	…	…	18
Uncertain Nationality	…	…	18
Belgian	…	…	14
Spanish	…	…	8
Danish	…	…	6
Danziger	…	…	6
Swedish	…	…	6
Greek	…	…	5
Latvian	…	…	5
Swiss	…	…	4
Iraqi	…	…	3
Palestinian	…	…	3
Turkish	…	…	3
Yugoslav	…	…	3
Dominican	…	…	2
Japanese	…	…	2
Norwegian	…	…	2
Portuguese	…	…	2
Albanian	…	…	1
Arabian	…	…	1
Bolivian	…	…	1
Chilean	…	…	1
Egyptian	…	…	1
Islandic	…	…	1
Iranian	…	…	1
Lithuanian	…	…	1
Moroccan	…	…	1
Syrian	…	…	1
Total	…	…	2,168

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that officers of his Department carry out their inquiries with regard to applicants for naturalisation with the necessary tact and courtesy

Inquiries into applications for naturalisation are carried out by police officers and it is the practice of chief officers of the police to select for this purpose officers of experience and discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens have been naturalised since 31st July, 1945; and how the figure compares with the period 31st July, 1938, to 30th July, 1939.

In the twelve months from 1st August, 1938, to 31st July, 1939, the number of persons naturalised was 2,660. It was not until the end of 1945 that the Government decided to end the policy of suspension and to start granting certificates to persons in the priority classes. In the first six months of 1946, 1,123 certificates were granted. In the next four months, as the preparatory work began to bear fruit, the number was 2,025, making a total of 3,148 for the first ten months of the current calendar year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the procedure for the re-entry into this country of Italian ex-prisoners of war who wish to marry English girls.

An Italian ex-prisoner of war, like any other foreigner who wishes to travel to this country, should first apply to the British Passport Control Officer abroad or to the nearest British Consul, for the grant of a visa. This is no guarantee that leave to land in the United Kingdom will be granted, but merely indicates that the British representative abroad is not aware of any reason why leave to land should be refused. I cannot, however, hold out any expectation that a visa or leave to land would be granted to an Italian ex-prisoner of war, wishing to come here for marriage unless it is clear that only a short visit is intended and that the applicant will not seek to stop here.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, on 9th April, 1946, application was made to his Department for the entry into this country as distressed persons of Mr. David Zimet and his daughter from Rumania; that on 29th April permission was refused; that on 7th May application was made by relatives direct to the British Consul at Bucharest from whom no reply has yet been received; that on 10th August permission to enter this country was given; that on 29th September the embassy in Bucharest had heard nothing of this permit; and at what approximate date Mr. Zimet will be given facilities, all expenses of which will be borne by his wife in this country, to enter this country.

Mr. Zimet's daughter was not eligible for a visa under the distressed relatives scheme and as my hon. Friend was informed on 20th August and 22nd October, it was necessary for the British Political Representative to refer these cases twice for instructions. Visas were granted to both applicants on 18th October. I should add that a British visa is not an entry permit and does not constitute permission to enter the United Kingdom, but I have no reason to suppose that these persons will experience difficulty in obtaining leave to land when they arrive here.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Mr. George Rulf, 13, Maundella Terrace, Heaton, Newcastle-on-Tyne, a British subject, has applied for a visa to be granted to his son, an ex-inmate of Buchenwald, to come to this country; that this has been refused on the grounds that the son is over 21 years of age and could only be repatriated if under 21 years of age; and if he will reconsider this decision as the son has no living relatives of any sort in Germany or Holland, his mother having died in a concentration camp.

I explained fully to my hon. Friend in a letter of 12th November the reasons why I am not at present prepared to admit this man.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when and where the Conference of Dominion representatives will meet which is to examine detailed proposals for changes in the law relating to the nationality of married women; and who will represent the United Kingdom at it.

Correspondence on this subject is proceeding, but it is hoped to arrange for the Conference to meet in London very early in the New Year. The Conference will be a conference of experts and officials and it is proposed that the United Kingdom members shall include the Permanent Under-Secretary of the Home Office and legal and other representatives of the Departments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet in a position to make a statement regarding the retention of British nationality by women who have married foreigners or British subjects resident in the Dominions.

British born women who marry British subjects resident in the Dominions do not under existing law lose British nationality but the question of allowing British born women who in certain cases lose British nationality on marriage to foreigners is one of the nationality matters to be discussed with representatives of the Dominions at a conference to he held early in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will reconsider his previous decision and place copies of all the proposals of the Boundary Commissioners in the Library of the House.

The decision in this matter rests with the Commissions, but I understand that they will be prepared for the future to arrange for copies of their proposed recommendations to be placed in the Library as soon as they are published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that it is impossible for a wife holding a court separation order against her husband who is employed by the Control Commission for Germany to obtain a revision of such order owing to the husband being domiciled abroad; and if he will take steps to introduce legislation to alter this position.

Before a court varies an order an opportunity must be given to the party affected to be heard, and if one of the parties is abroad, whether in Germany or elsewhere, there is—apart from the absence of power to serve a summons—the practical difficulty of réquiring him or her to come from a distant country for the purpose. The Maintenance Order (Facilities for Enforcement) Act, 1920, affords a remedy in some cases as regards countries within the British Commonwealth, but as regards foreign countries the difficulties of finding any effective remedy are great.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, why men who were registered as conscientious objectors are not accepted in training courses for positions as probation officers.

I am anxious that a good candidate shall not be excluded from the probation service merely on the ground that he has been a conscientious objector; but the appointment of probation officers outside the Metropolitan District rests with the justices and the number of conscientious objectors who can be absorbed into the service is limited. It is for this reason that it has been necessary for the Training Board to confine their selections for the present to other candidates than conscientious objectors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men in the Armed Forces have been accepted as probationer police constables; and if these men are being given immediate release in order to train for their new duties.

In the period from 1st January to 31st October of this year, 1,419 applications were forwarded to the Service Departments by the Home Office, on behalf of the appointing authorities, for the release under the Class B scheme of approved candidates for the police. Most of these applications have been approved; the men, on their release, have been appointed as members of their particular police force and, like all other police recruits, have been sent to a 13 weeks' residential training course

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider appointing suitable disabled ex-Servicemen to undertake the duties of controlling traffic at school crossings, etc., and thus relieve policemen for other duties and reduce the road accident toll.

Discussions on this subject have recently taken place between the various Departments concerned with the question of ensuring the safety of schoolchildren on their way to and from school, and I hope that proposals for dealing with it will be made to local authorities at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the attempts of members of the Stern Gang to enter Great Britain.

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the availability to a defendant of the services of his Department's laboratories, explaining the procedure to he adopted by a defendant in obtaining information likely to be to his advantage.

The primary purpose of the Forensic Science Laboratories, which are maintained at the cost of police funds, is to assist the police in the investigation of crime. It is, however, the recognised principle that the results of any examination by a forensic science laboratory should be made available to the defence by the prosecution where the examination throws any light on the case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether anæTsthesia is available to women prisoners in Holloway at childbirth.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many auxiliary prison officers have resigned from the Feltham Borstal Institution since April last; and why these resignations have taken place.

Fourteen, six to take other employment, four to rejoin the Services, two on domestic and medical grounds, and two by reason of unsuitability to the work.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount Savings Certificates repaid during the six months ended in September exceeded those bought in the same period.

£1,750,000, excluding interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, although it is agreed that the rehabilitation allowance for derequisitioned houses when taking the form of I lump sum payment is not liable to Income Tax in the recipient's hands, steps are being taken in some districts to assess such allowance as a gross sum and to deduct Income Tax therefrom before arriving at a net payment; and, in view of the fact that some recipients of such sums have not even been liable to Income 'fax for the compensation rentals previously paid for such property, what instructions have been issued in this connection.

If the hon. and gallant Member will let me have particulars of any cases in which it is alleged that, in determining rehabilitation allowance, regard has been had to tax where the claimant was not liable for Schedule A tax during the requisition, I will have them investigated.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the 67,753 disabled persons registered as unemployed under the Disabled Persons (Unemployment) Act, on 16th September, 1946, is included in or excluded from the 389,097 insured persons registered as unemployed on the same day.

The 389,097 insured persons registered as unemployed at 16th September includes 55,363 unemployed persons on the Disabled Persons Register, but excludes 12,390 who are classified as unsuitable for ordinary industrial employment.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider issuing two free travel warrants per annum to nurses for use for home leave during their training.

I have been asked to reply. Nurses placed in training away from home through the machinery of my Department are already eligible under the same conditions as other transferred workers for two return railway warrants to their homes, each year at a charge of 7s. 6d. on each occasion. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the leaflet which sets out the arrangements in detail.

asked the Minister of Health when the Government's scheme for the free issue and maintenance of deaf-aid appliances will commence.

Free issue cannot begin before the National Health Service comes into operation.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to provide temporary hospital accommodation, together with nursing facilities, for those suffering from tuberculosis, in view of the fact that the present shortage compels many sufferers to remain outside and thereby spread their infection.

The problem is one of staffing rather than accommodation, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and I are doing all we can to solve it.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage of sanatorium accommodation for the treatment of tuberculosis in Liverpool; that cases notified as long ago as 19th April, 1946, and 28th June, 1946, have still not been found accommodation; and whether anything is being done to speed up the provision of facilities for this important work.

Yes, Sir. The same difficulty is unhappily common to most parts of the country, and my hon. Friend will no doubt have noted my earlier reply today to the hon. Member for Tonbridge (Mr. G. Williams) about this problem.

asked the Minister of Health the present average waiting period for tubercular patients recommended for residential treatment.

This information is not available without detailed inquiry from all the authorities concerned, and would not be significant owing to the many factors affecting the length of the waiting period.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken to provide suitable accommodation for the 1,000 tuberculosis patients now waiting for admission because of the shortage of nurses in South Wales, where beds and all other facilities are now available.

The latest available information is that there are about 800 tuberculosis patients in the whole of Wales awaiting institutional treatment, and that there are about 600 sanatorium beds closed for lack of nurses. All possible steps are being taken to remedy the present acute shortage of nurses throughout the country as quickly as practicable, but this is bound to take time.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the anomalies in the payment of treatment allowances under Circular 266/T, in some areas being as low as 5 per cent.; what is the cause of the wide variation in the administration of this service; and if he will give figures showing the proportion of cost of these allowances in the different counties and county boroughs of England.

I have no information to suggest that any tuberculosis authorities are not carrying out their responsibilities in this respect, but if my hon. Friend will let me have any information that suggests the contrary I will look into it. The amounts expended by respective authorities offer no true basis of comparison since these must obviously be dependent on differences of population and tuberculosis incidence.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the increasing incidence of food-poisoning; and if, in this connection, he is satisfied that adequate hygienic standards are maintained at slaughterhouses generally.

There has been an increase in the number of instances notified to my Department. It is doubtful to what extent this implies on actual increase in incidence, and there is no evidence that any such increase has been caused by conditions in slaughterhouses, where hygienic standards have, on the whole, been well maintained.

asked the Minister of Health what increase has been secured in accommodation for mental defectives during the past 12 months; to what extent are mental hospitals becoming overcrowded; and to what extent the number of nurses, trained and training, respectively, has increased during the past 12 months.

During the past 12 months the accommodation for mental defectives has increased by 177 beds; on 1st January, 1946, the latest date for which figures are available, mental hospitals were overcrowded to the extent of 13,176 patients, or 11.5 per cent. of the total accommodation; the number of nursing staff employed in mental hospitals and mental deficiency institutions has increased by 620 during the 12 months ended the 3oth June, 1946, bringing the total to 25,840 just over half of whom are fully trained.

asked the Minister of Health his reasons for refusing permission to the Fylde Water Board to construct part of the second line of aqueduct to bring additional water from the Hodder watershed to Blackpool and the Fylde district; and whether, in view of the grave danger of a water shortage in this area during the summer months, he will reconsider this decision.

The proposals of the Fylde Water Board have been given the most careful examination, but I am unable, in view of the urgent demands on labour and materials for other large works of a similar character to allow this scheme to proceed at present. The question will be reviewed in a few months' time.

asked the Minister of Health what additional water supplies would be required for the proposed Crawley—Three Bridges town; from what sources the water will be supplied; and whether he consulted the water consultants to the local authorities area before he assured the Minister of Town and Country Planning that there were no insuperable difficulties in obtaining such supplies.

The consulting engineers referred to have been asked by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Town and Country Planning, to report on these matters and precise information on the subject will not be available until their report has been considered. The advice given to my right hon. Friend has been based upon reports from my own technical advisers, who are aware of the broad needs and resources of the areas concerned.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the distress caused by the shortage of Brompton lozenges; and whether he will take steps to have supplies of necessary raw materials made available for the manufacturers who have had to suspend the making of these lozenges.

I am aware of the shortage of medicinal cough lozenges and am in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Supply and the Minister of Food as to the possibility of the allocation of more sugar to pharmaceutical manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the public misrepresentations regarding the National Health Service Act, he will consider the issue to the public of a short factual statement setting out the main provisions of the Act

At the appropriate time before the service comes into operation, I intend to make known as widely as possible the effect of the Act and the nature of the services to be provided under it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give details about the committee and its personnel appointed to examine the problem of access to catchment areas.

The Central Advisory Water Committee which was appointed under the Water Act, 1945, for the purpose of advising me and other Ministers on questions of water resources and supplies has appointed a Gathering Grounds Sub-Committee, with the following terms of reference:

"To investigate the question whether the public should be allowed access to gathering grounds owned or controlled by water undertakers, and the extent to which it is desirable that afforestation and agriculture should be permitted on gathering grounds."

The members and the organisations with which they are connected are as follow:Lieut.-Colonel Sir Arthur Heneage, D.L., D.S.O., J.P. (Chairman): Central Landowners' Association.Mr. H. Berry, M.P., L.C.C., A. I. Struct. E., F.R.S.A.: British Waterworks' Association.Sir Wynne Cemlyn-Jones: County Councils' Association.Sir Robert Doncaster, O.B E., J.P.: Rural District Councils' Association.Colonel F. Hibbert, D.L., C.B.E., M.C., T.D., M. Inst. C. E., F.G.S.: British Waterworks' Association.Mr. J. N. McClean: National Farmers' Union.Mr. Philip Porteous, M. Inst. C. E.: Water Companies' Association.Lord Rea: House of Lards.Alderman N. F. S. Winter, J.P.: Association of Municipal Corporations.Mr. G. A. Worth: Association of Drainage Authorities.The sub-committee has co-opted three additional members who are not members of the Central Advisory Water Committee but have special knowledge of the matters under consideration. These gentlemen are:Captain G. C. Bennet Evans: A hill farmer. Mr. Leonard K. Elmhirst: A member of the National Parks Committee.Lieut.-Colonel E F. W. Mackenzie, O.B.E., M.C., M.B., Ch. B., D.P.H.. Director of Water Examination, Metropolitan Water Board.The sub-committee is assisted by assessors from the interested Government Departments.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that prescriptions for dangerous drugs and scheduled drugs are being issued to National Health Insurance patients in quantities sufficient, in many cases, to ensure a constant supply for many weeks, namely, 200 barbitone tablets in one case; and if, in view of the possibility of the patient taking increasing doses and perhaps becoming an addict, he will take steps to prevent the issue of National Health Insurance prescriptions containing dangerous drugs and scheduled drugs for more than one week's supply at any one time.

I do not think it would be proper to interfere with a doctor's discretion by any such general prohibition.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider opening the special one year intensive course for State registration to ex-Service nursing orderlies who have worked in station sick quarters and field dressing stations, in view of the shortage of trained nurses.

Orderlies taking this course receive a remission of two years in their period of training for State registration, and one of the conditions laid down by the General Nursing Council is that they must have had two years' general nursing experience in hospitals under the supervision of trained nurses while in the Forces. Experience of the type gained in station sick quarters and field dressing stations would not of itself be adequate.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the decrease in deaths during the last 10 years in scarlet-fever, measles, whooping-cough and chickenpox where no such process as immunisation exists shows as great, and in some cases, greater decline than those from diphtheria, he has any other evidence that the practice of immunisation has been responsible for the continuing decline in deaths from diphtheria.

None of the diseases mentioned has shown the same continuous and steady fall in mortality as diphtheria has shown since extensive immunisation began. But I am advised that these diseases have nothing in common to admit of valid comparison from this standpoint. The effectiveness of diphtheria immunisation is to be found in the behaviour of the disease in children who have been immunised and those who have not, which shows that the chance of its being fatal is at present 26 times greater if the child has not been immunised.

asked the Minister of Health why St. Thomas's Hospital still has wards in use and rooms occupied in which the glass has not been replaced and consequently artificial light is constantly in use.

The hospital's application for a licence to enable it to replace glass in certain wards and rooms has already been forwarded with my recommendation for the appropriate priorities to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works, and I understand that the licence and material certificates have been issued.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is his intention to set up a rent tribunal in South Wales.

Three rent tribunals under the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act, 1946, have been appointed for South Wales and one for Monmouthshire, covering the districts of 47 local authorities in the area who have asked for the application of the Act.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent there has been unnecessary delay in opening rent tribunals, long ago promised in Brighton and Hove; and when they are likely to be opened.

There has been no unnecessary delay. Exceptional difficulty was experienced in finding suitable office premises for the rent tribunal to serve Brighton, Hove and other districts in Sussex, but I am glad to say that the necessary order has been made under the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act and the tribunal has been in operation since 11th November.

asked the Minister of Health why, out of 134 houses requisitioned by the Hove Council for housing, he has found it necessary to single out Mr. Bernstein's house, the Red House, Lansdowne Road, and order the Hove Council to derequisition it; how long this house has been owned by Mr. Bernstein; and what are the reasons for overriding the council's decision

This house, which was apparently acquired by Mr. Bernstein during the war, has not been singled out for exceptional treatment. The Hove Town Council refrained earlier in the year from taking it over from the War Department, and on 8th May issued a licence to the owner for its conversion into flats but, on 18th September, as this work had not been put in hand, posted a notice of requisition on the house. The delay in carrying out the work of conversion was due to the serious illness of Mr. Bernstein's architect and did not appear to be a sufficient reason for reversal of the original decision of the council, who were accordingly requested to release the property on condition that the work would he put in hand by the owner without delay and that three of the six flats to be provided would be let to tenants acceptable to the council and at reasonable rents.

asked the Minister of Health when the new Rent Restriction Act will be introduced, in view of the fact that the 1939 Rent Restriction Act is due to lapse six months after the end of the war.

I cannot say at present, but the Act of 1939 will remain in force until six months after such date as His Majesty may by Order in Council declare to be the date on which the emergency that was the occasion of the passing of the Act came to an end. There is no immediate intention to make such an Order.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the figure of 74,485 new permanent houses under construction by local authorities as at 31st July, 1946, and shown in the Housing Returns for that month, there are included 52 houses under construction by the Turton Urban District Council in 1939 and still not completed.

I would refer the hon. Member to Appendix B of the Monthly Housing Return.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the number of permanent houses in various stages of reconstruction in Glamorganshire upon which no further work can be done owing to the bankruptcy of the builder; and what steps he proposes to take.

I am not aware of any housing reconstruction work being held up for this reason. If my hon. Friend knows of any such case I should be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a further statement with regard to Sunninghill, Hangleton, Hove, following his discussions with the War Department concerning the release of this site for the building of permanent houses by the local authority.

I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War has agreed to derequisition the gun site, and has issued instructions accordingly.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a local authority had some plans for houses returned by his Department and that one of the reasons given for the rejection was that the suggested concrete floors must be wood; that on the same day the same local authority received an order to reduce the allowance of timber per house form 2½ to 1½ standards; and if he will take steps to avoid these contradictory orders which impede the erection of houses, especially in heavily-bombed areas.

I am not aware of any such occurrence but if the hon. Member will give me details. I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Health in view of the disappointment caused to applicants for accommodation in the area of their present residence owing to the impossibility of their local authority being able to meet the needs of more than a small percentage of those applications, what provision he contemplates by which these applications can be considered by other local authorities, especially in respect of A priority cases.

Local authorities can already consider applications from people resident in other areas but they must of course consider the urgent needs of their own residents too, and in general I think that they carry out this difficult task very fairly.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the L.C.C. War Debris Survey Department, consisting of some 2,000 vehicles, has recently been reduced; and whether, as housing is being held up through lack of transport, every consideration was given to retaining this unit for transportation in the building trade.

Yes, Sir. The continued use of the organisation as a unit was not found to be practicable but the vehicles and equipment, as they become surplus to Government requirements, are available for Government sponsored demands of local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health how many forms, on the average, have to be filled up in connection with building a house and obtaining the necessary materials.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bucklow (Mr. Shepherd) on 1st August last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will publish the programme of educational assistance to the devastated countries proposed by the Preparatory Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

This programme has been circulated to the Governments of Member Nations of U.N.E.S.C.O. and will be considered at the conference now being held in Paris. It is of course for U.N.E.S.C.O. itself to decide whether the programme in its present form should be published, but its main recommendations have already received some publicity in the educational Press in this country.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will ensure that all picture galleries, museums and exhibitions for which her Department is responsible remain open during the evenings so that the public shall have as wide a choice of cultural amenities as possible.

The hon. Member presumably refers to the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum. Evening opening was tried before the war, but the attendance proved too small to warrant its continuance. As an experiment, however, arrangements have been made to keep open as many as possible of the Victoria and Albert Museum galleries until 10 p.m. on week-days.

asked the Minister of Education how many persons are employed in the Awards branch of her Department.

At the present time there are 22 administrative and 167 clerical staff employed in the Awards branch of my Department.

asked the Minister of Education how many of the 970 school canteens opened between February and June, 1946, were in rural schools.

Separate figures for rural school canteens are not available but the net increase in the areas of county local education authorities was approximately 580.

asked the Minister of Education what steps she is taking to secure the availability to schools of records of lectures broadcast by the B.B.C. schools broadcast section.

This is a matter for the British Broadcasting Corporation who are, I understand, considering the possibility of making arrangements on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education if she has considered the state of the lavatories and need of additional heating at Fawkham Church of England School, Kent; and what steps have been taken by her Department to enforce the immediate carrying out of essential works.

I have answered the hon. Member's recent letter about the conditions at this school. The local education authority has been asked to consider what steps can be taken immediately to improve the condition of the lavatories and the heating arrangements, pending a decision as to the future position of the school under the authority's development plan.

asked the Minister of Education if she will state, approximately, the present shortage of men and women teachers in primary and secondary schools, respectively; how many of these categories are at present receiving training; how many applicants are on the waiting list; and if she has any estimate of the position respecting supply of teachers in one and in two years from now.

The number of vacancies in primary and secondary schools on 1st October, 1946, as notified by local education authorities was 2,192 for men, 6,675 for women and 1,040 for which either men or women would be suitable. Between one-half and two-thirds of these are for children under 11 it. The statement below shows the number of students, totalling 21,100, now taking courses in preparation for teaching in the various categories.There are about 22,000 men and 3,000 women who have been selected for training under the emergency scheme, but have not yet been admitted to colleges, but these figures take no account of the flow of students from schools and universities to the permanent training institutions.It is expected that the number of teachers available for employment in primary and secondary schools as a whole will increase from 176,000 in January, 1946, to 190,000 in January, 1948, and 200,000 in January, 1949. Fuller details of these estimates will be circulated shortly for the consideration of local education authorities and others concerned.

Numbers of Teachers in Training, November, 1946
(Approximate figures).
—	Men.	Women.	Total.
1. Graduates in the professional year of their training at University Training Departments or post-graduate Colleges	350	750	1,100
2. Students at other permanent Colleges, mainly following two-year courses.	3,000	10,500	13,500
3. Students following one-year courses in Emergency Colleges	4.300	2,200	6,500
	7,650	13.450	21,100

Courses normally prepare students for work with children of a definite age range, but give them some experience with chil-

dren outside that range; subject to this reservation:—

asked the Minister of Education the average estimated capital cost in site purchase and building and equipment cost per student of technical colleges in England and Wales today; the average estimated capital cost per student in secondary and in primary schools; and what proportion in each case is met by Government grant.

It is not possible to give any average figure of the cost of technical colleges. The cost of sites varies widely according to their situation, and the cost of buildings and equipment depends upon the character of the special provision required to meet the particular needs of different industrial areas. Moreover, since technical colleges cater so largely for part-time students, it is impossible to express figures of cost in regard to them in terms of cost per student.No technical colleges have been built since the war, and consequently no estimates of cost are available. My hon. Friend may, however, be interested to know that of technical colleges completed shortly before the war or in 1940, the cost of:

asked the Minister of Education how many nursery school teachers are being trained at present; and how many newly trained teachers of this type qualified during 1946.

Most teachers who intend to take up work in nursery schools follow courses of training preparing them for work either in nursery schools, or in schools for infants. About 500 students complete courses of this type in the normal training colleges each year. In addition, about 100 older students in emergency colleges are taking similar courses or courses preparing specifically for nursery school work and about 40 students in emergency colleges have completed such courses in 1946.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent the certificate of proficiency, which is to be awarded to cadets on completion of an engineering cadetship course, will be accepted by institutions of engineering as exempting holders from the institutions' professional examinations; and how it will compare in this respect with the original engineering cadetship diploma

The extent to which the certificate of proficiency will be accepted by the engineering institutions is fully explained in Administrative Memoranda Nos. 158 of 21st June, 1946, and 184 of 25th October, 1946, and in paragraph 7 of the accompanying brochure, copies of which are being sent to my hon. Friend. These arrangements are similar to those made in the original scheme.

asked the Minister of Education at which colleges and polytechnics engineering cadetship courses will be organised in the future.

Courses have been arranged at the South-Eastern Technical Institute, Lewisham, Bradford Technical College, Dudley and Staffs. Technical College and Barnsley Technical College, Further courses at other colleges will be organised as the demand arises. It is not possible to name these colleges in advance as selection will depend on such factors as the load on the college and the facilities for obtaining lodgings in the area.

asked the Minister of Education whether she has given consideration to the case of a student who commenced the degree course at Manchester University last month; and, seeing that this student, who both won an open scholarship and qualified for a State scholarship, is not in receipt of any direct assistance from her Department and does not hold even an honorary award, what steps she proposes to recognise the merit of this scholar, in view of the terms of her Department's Circular 104.

The case referred to by my hon. Friend has been very carefully considered. One of the conditions of State scholarships, which is clearly announced to candidates, is that scholarships are not awarded to the holders of open awards which qualify for assistance from the Ministry. This student, having been given an open award, which was eligible to be supplemented by the Ministry, rejected it voluntarily on the ground that it would have involved doing national service before taking his university course. I cannot regard these circumstances as entitling him to a State Scholarship, all of which have in any case been offered this year to qualified candidates. I understand, however, that the local education authority is prepared to make a major award which would relieve him of any financial difficulties.

asked the Minister of Education why there is so much delay in making payment of grants awarded under the Further Education and Training Scheme, and whether steps are being taken to remedy the position.

I am aware that there is delay which I regret. My Department already have to make some 20,000 payments each term, and unfortunately, the term begins at much the same time in all institutions. As money cannot be paid except on the basis of a certificate of attendance, much of the delay is caused by the time taken by the colleges in preparing and returning these certificates to the Ministry. Payment is made as rapidly as possible, bearing in mind staff and other difficulties.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that the Gateshead council are demanding that teachers employed by them shall belong to trade unions as a condition of engagement; that 500 teachers have rejected this demand; whether the action taken by the council is authorised by her; and if she will give directions in this matter.

The answers to the first two parts of the question are in the affirmative and the answer to the third part is in the negative. As regards the fourth part, it is the policy of the Government to leave the question of conditions of employment to be settled between the parties concerned, and there does not at present seem to be any occasion for my intervention.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total exports of glass during the past six months; and to which countries, principally, have they gone.

Exports of glass and glassware of United Kingdom manufacture during the six months ended October, 1946, amounted to £2,868,000; the principal countries to which exports were sent were the Union of South Africa, Australia, India, Canada and New Zealand.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of winter underwear and knitwear in the shops; and what steps he is taking to increase supplies.

Production of woollen underwear and of knitwear has been rather better this year than last, though both are limited by the continuing yarn shortage. Further, to ensure the largest possible supplies of underwear for the home market, licences for export have been severely restricted since July last. Except for small quantities of non-utility goods specially produced for export, this restriction will remain until I am satis- fled that exports can be expanded without hardship to the home consumer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the recapitalisation of cotton mills by financial trusts; and, as such recapitalisation is in conflict with the working party report, if he proposes to take steps to deal with the matter.

With my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I have, of course, paid attention to the transactions to which I assume my hon. Friend refers. They amount in essence to the sale to members of the public of share capital which was previously more narrowly held. I am not aware that such arrangements are in conflict with the report of the Cotton Working Party, and I see no reason, so far, to take any action in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, the nature, quantity and value of goods imported from Switzerland during 1946.

Following are the figures of imports from Switzerland during January—October, 1946:

Item	Quantity.	Value.
		£ 000
Machinery	867 tons	780
Watches, complete, and complete watch movements.	603,509	596
Other cutlery, hardware, implements and instruments.	—	262
Synthetic organic dye-stuffs.	2,045 cwts.	209
Other chemicals, drugs, dyes and colour.	—	134
Silk and artificial silk yarns and manufactures.	—	96
Other goods	—	422
Total imports from Switzerland.		2,499

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the greater part of the output of the potash mines in the British zone of Germany is being sent to Holland; that this is giving the Dutch fruit growers considerable potential advantage as compared with British fruit growers; and if he will adjust this position by pressing for some percentage of the output to be diverted to this country.

No potash produced in the British zone of Germany is at present being- exported. In common with other European countries, including Holland, we are due to receive a share of the exportable surplus of potash produced in the Eastern zone of Germany, and we have now made the necessary arrangements with the Russian authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that people who were bombed out and lost their homes were never able to fully replace their stock of bed linen and have not been able to do so since and are therefore suffering under a great hardship; and, in view of this, if he will consider granting dockets to those so affected.

People who lost their household goods through enemy action have been amongst the priority classes to whom dockets for blankets and sheets are issued ever since the schemes were introduced. The scale of issue is subject to revision in the light of the supply position and is as generous as supplies allow.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make an additional issue of clothing coupons to those demobilised prior to,8th June, 1945.

No, Sir. Those demobilised before 18th June, 1945, had the chance of obtaining coupons sufficient to bring their wardrobe up to a reasonable standard on the basis of individual assessment of their needs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the administrative charges involved in Government controlled buying and selling of cotton; and whether these charges are fully covered in the selling price of cotton.

Current administrative charges are at the rate of about £160,000 a year. These costs are covered in the prices at which raw cotton is sold.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the approximate amount of cotton spinners' capital tied up in carrying abnormal stocks of cotton on account of the Cotton Control enforcing immediate instead of future delivery.

Spinners' stocks of cotton are about 12 weeks consumption compared with about six weeks before the war. The cost to the spinners of the additional stock may be about £7 million. Following the destruction of Liverpool warehouses, spinners were asked to help in alleviating the acute shortage of storage space by increasing their own stocks. Storage is still short, and it is hoped that they will continue to give their cooperation.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the fact that during the period of hostilities the Government were prevented from making any public pronouncement regarding the development of devices used by the Service Departments on the general progress and improvement in apparatus to counteract fog, he will now make a comprehensive statement on this matter and indicate the methods by which it is proposed to utilise the knowledge gained for the benefit of the public; and whether there is any additional progress to report as a result of research since the cessation of hostilities.

The only practicable method developed during the war for dispersing fog on airfields was that known as F.I.D.O. Owing to its cost it is not likley to have much application in peace-time, and development work on the system has ceased, although installations are being retained at a few R.A.F. airfields, and we are keeping in close touch with experimental work proceeding in America. The regular landing of aircraft in fog is more likely to be achieved successfully by radio, radar and instrumental aids which are being actively developed.

asked the Minister of Supply why, for the nine months ended 30th September, 1,766,245 tons of steel were exported compared with 1,436,906 tons for the corresponding period in 1938, whereas only 373,186 tons were imported compared with 1,008,203 tons in the same period; and what steps he proposes to take to make good the deficit of 960,000 tons urgently required for industry at home.

The substantial volume of exports in the early months of 1946 was due to the fact that the heavy pressure of home demand for steel did not develop until some months after the end of the war against Japan. There was thus a margin of steel production which was taken up by urgent export orders, on which deliveries continued in the early part of 1946. As soon as the domestic position became difficult, steps were taken to reduce the amount of steel allotted for export and to introduce a special licensing system for exports, with the object of ensuring that steel is only exported where failure to do so would be directly detrimental to the wider interests of the U.K. economy.As regards the second part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council it the Debate yesterday.

asked the Minister of Supply the average percentage increase in the price of light engineering products over the three months ended 31st October, 1946.

I regret the information asked for is not available.