asked the Minister of Food if he will control the prices asked for unrationed poultry foods.

While authorised mixtures and compounds including the national poultry foods are subject to price control, it has not been found possible to control the price of all unrationed, unmixed feeding stuffs. The quantities which are not controlled as to price, however, are relatively small and the feeding stuffs themselves are unimportant.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of biscuits have been exported since 1st January, 1946; to what countries; and whether the export of biscuits will be stopped in view of the shortage in this country.

The quantity of biscuits exported by manufacturers on a commercial basis from 1st January to 30th October, 1946, amounted to 3,770 tons. In addition Government exports for relief feeding purposes, ships stores, N.A.A.F.I., etc, amount to 10,767 tons. The list of countries to which biscuits have been sent by the trade is rather long and, with the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible. In accordance with the statement on food exports made by my predecessor on 16th April, commercial exports of biscuits are now permitted only to certain Empire countries. I do not intend to stop this small flow of exports.

asked the Minister of Food (1) if he is aware that British-manufactured chocolates and sweets can be purchased in the open market abroad, particularly in the Middle East; and if these goods are exported other than for distribution to British forces and to U.N.R.R.A.;(2) if he will reduce the quantity of sweets and chocolates exported in order to increase the amount available to British children at Christmas.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement made in the House on 16th April this year by my predecessor. Limited quantities of chocolates and sweets—about 3,700 tons in the year compared to our weekly consumption of over 5,000 tons are being exported to certain Empire and Middle East countries, for sale to the general public and are apart from any shipments which may be made for British Forces and U.N.R.R.A. I have already arranged to provide a substantial additional supply of sweets for British children at Christmas.

asked the Minister of Food the latest figures for the number of food ration books issued in the city of Liverpool.

The number of ration hooks issued in the county borough of Liverpool at 31st July for the rationing year 1946–47 was 757,377. As expectant mothers are entitled to a child's ration book in addition to their own adult book, the number of persons holding ration books was 748,192.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will take powers to define a minimum chemical standard for ice cream of at least 4 per cent. fat content while retaining powers to review this standard when more fat products are available

I should like to fix a minimum standard for ice cream; but I think this must waif until the supply of the necessary ingredients has improved. For one thing I should not like to start with so low a standard as that referred to by the hon. Member and also fat is not the only important ingredient in good ice cream.

asked the Minister of Food if the quality of meat to be purchased under contract from the Argentine is to be only the best.

No, Sir. As in the past we shall buy all the meat that is suitable for export that the Argentine can make available. The arrangements for -purchase include specifications of the various qualities and include not only meat suitable for the ration, but meat suitable for manufacturing into sausages and other manufactured goods.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that there is still a shortage of domestic salt in certain parts of the country; and what steps he is taking to improve the supply.

I am aware that local shortages of domestic salt are still occurring occasionally, although the overall position has improved during the last few months. Packed salt production is at 125 per cent, of prewar. If the hon. and gallant Member has any particular area in mind where a shortage exists, I should be pleased to look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the abundance of apples in Australia; why he permits only 22 lb. to be sent by an Australian as a free gift to a friend in this country; and whether he will restrict this regulation to foodstuffs which are in short supply.

In fixing the new weight limit for gift parcels it was decided to allow 22 lb. gross, which represents the maximum weight for postal packets.

asked the Minister of Food whether the consignments of apples and grapefruit expected from the U.S.A. for Christmas will be so distributed as to ensure everybody getting a fair share.

No grapefruit is being imported from the U.S.A. but I hope that supplies from Palestine due to arrive before Christmas will permit of one allocation throughout the country. There will be enough apples from Canada and the U.S.A. for one nation-wide allocation before Christmas.

asked the Minister of Food when the hon. Member for Mid-Bedford (Mr. Lennox-Boyd) and the hon. Member for Canterbury can expect an answer to their Memorandum of 5th November, 1946, regarding Fruit and Vegetable Imports Policy.

A reply to the points raised in the memorandum to which the hon. Member refers was sent to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedford on Saturday.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider setting up a Royal Commission, on the lines of the Linlithgow Commission, to inquire into the cost and the use of manpower in the processing, preparation, distribution and marketing of food.

I sympathise with the hon. Member's objectives but I am satisfied that more fruitful and rapid results will follow from the continuance of my present practice of proceeding by ad hoc inquiry into the problems of particular food industries, utilising where necessary the services of independent experts, as I am already doing in the case of milk.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the regulations for the deferment of farm students provide that a farm student must have been accepted for entry into an agricultural college and that the regulations of his Department preclude an agricultural college from accepting any such entry; and what action he proposes to take.

Students aiming at a diploma course in agriculture or an allied subject may be given deferment up to 31st July next to take a year's approved farm training as a preliminary provided that they were born between 1st October, 1928, and 31st July, 1929, have passed the school certificate examination, and have secured a provisional certificate of acceptance from a centre of higher agricultural education for a course beginning in October, 1947. There are no regulations of my Department that preclude provisional acceptance by an agricultural college of students satisfying those conditions. I have written to my hon. Friend about the particular case he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what effective treatment has been discovered for dysentery in lambs; and what is the nature of it.

There are two means of controlling lamb dysentery effectively, namely, by the use of serum administered to the lamb shortly after birth, or by vaccinating the ewe before lambing; but farmers are advised to obtain a copy of Advisory Leaflet No. 214, which explains the nature and treatment of the disease. The leaflet can be obtained free from my Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether in view of the fact that the veterinary profession is satisfied that adequate scientific knowledge now exists to eradicate tuberculosis and other diseases which handicap economic milk production and lower the purity of the milk supply in this country, he has any plans for initiating in 1947 a large-scale national campaign to eradicate tuberculosis and other diseases from British dairy herds once and for all.

Discussions will shortly be opened with farming and other interests on plans for the eradication of bovine tuberculosis and the control of other diseases. Meanwhile, good progress is being made under the voluntary Tuberculosis (Attested Herds) Scheme and the Calfhood Vaccination Scheme against contagious abortion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of persons and vehicles employed by the Wiltshire A.E.C.; and the cost for the quarter ended June, 1946, represented by salaries, travelling and other expenses, rentals of offices, stores, garages, workshops, petrol, oil and repairs to vehicles used by the committee.

The answer to the first part of the question is 988 persons and 456 vehicles, including 191 tractors; and to the second part of the question, approximately £64,000.

asked the hon. Member for West Walthamstow, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, how much, at the latest available date, there was in the id.-per-bill pension fund; how many persons are receiving pensions; and what are their names and the amounts they receive.

The penny per bill fund is now merged in the Staff Pension Fund. The amount in the fund at 31st October, 1946, was £1,456 12s. 6d. Eight persons are in receipt of a pension from the fund, and the total weekly payment is £9 4s. 5d. The Committee do not consider it desirable to publish the names of those in receipt of the pension.

asked the hon. Member for West Walthamstow, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, what amount of the Kitchen Committee funds was spent in expenses during a recent visit of members of the Committee to France to buy French wines; how much wine was bought and at what cost; and what are the names of those who made up the party.

The amount spent was £166. Arrangements were made for purchases from a number of firms, but in all cases purchase was to be subject to the necessary licences being procured, and in most cases to satisfactory prices and samples, and as some of these are still under discussion, it is not possible to state the amount purchased or the amount spent. The party consisted of the hon. Member for West Walthamstow, the hon. and gallant Member for Chertsey (Captain Marsden), and the General Manager of the Catering Department of this House.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) the present priority of the scheme for the removal of the Charing Cross railway bridge; and if he is proposing to give it higher priority;(2) when he will be able to announce a decision in regard to the proposed new station sites at Waterloo junction and Tower Bridge Road.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on these matters.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the continued dissatisfaction which is felt by persons travelling from Marylebone to High Wycombe and Princes Risborough owing to the late running of trains; and whether he will take steps to improve the service.

I am informed that timekeeping on the Marylebone-High Wycombe line is not good, owing to shortage of locomotives and to difficulties in locomotive maintenance on the L.N.E.R. Every effort is being made to improve the general locomotive position.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the 5.42 p.m. train from Liverpool Street is regularly between 15 and 4o minutes late on arrival at Witham and that on some occasions recently this 38-miles journey has taken 110 minutes and if he will take steps to improve this service or to amend the schedule so that it is not misleading to passengers.

I am informed that between 4th and 15th November the average late arrival at Witham of the 5.42 p.m. train from Liverpool Street was 18 minutes. The late running is due almost entirely to poor locomotive performance. The company is endeavouring to raise the standard of maintenance of its engines, a considerable proportion of which has had to be kept in service beyond the normal state for replacement, owing to the exigencies of the war years. Meanwhile attempts to re-adjust timetables to irregular and unpredictable delays would reduce the incentive to improve timekeeping and deprive travellers of the advantage of faster journeys on those occasions when adverse conditions do not obtain.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for an improved train service between Stoke-on-Trent and other centres, in particular, between Stoke, Liverpool, Manchester and other large centres.

I understand that the services now in operation are adequate to carry the traffic, and that, in present circumstances, their augmentation would not be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for improved transport facilities in all industrial centres between 6.30 a.m. and 8 a.m. and between 5 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.

Road and rail passenger transport is, in general, at full stretch during the peak periods. I am, however, always ready to investigate any specific complaints.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to improve the train service between Leyton and Liverpool Street stations, in view of trains being overdue for leaving by half-an-hour or more and the unwarned cancellation of services.

The L.N.E. Railway Company are short of serviceable locomotives. This delays services and sometimes makes it necessary to cancel trains at short notice. Every effort is being made to improve the position.

asked the Minister of Transport the average monthly rate of repair of railway vehicles parked on the Ellon-Boddam line, Aberdeenshire; and the average monthly input of vehicles requiring repair for the year 1946

The Ellon-Boddam Branch is used for storing wagons awaiting repair and is not a repairing centre. The information sought is not therefore available, but during the period 18th October to 23rd November the number of wagons standing on this branch has been reduced from 4,189 to 2,754.

asked the Minister of Transport what restrictions there are on the movement of timber by rail from Hull and other North-Eastern ports to Midland towns, including Stoke-on-Trent; and what steps are being taken to avoid congestion and delay in view of the need for expeditious deliveries for housing purposes.

No restrictions have been imposed by the railways during recent months which would hinder the movement of timber from Hull to Stoke-on-Trent. There was a restriction from 23rd to 28th October which prevented movement from West Hartlepool to Stoke. Movement to some midland towns may be affected at present by the restrictions which limit movement southwards via Doncaster, Sheffield or Normanton. The need for these restrictions arises mainly from a shortage of locomotives and all possible steps are being taken to ease the situation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is now able to announce the intentions of the L.N.E.R. with regard to the Dukinfield factory.

A decision on the future use of Dukinfield is dependent upon an application to acquire another site in regard to which an appeal has been lodged with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Town and Country Planning.

asked the Minister of Transport what compensation he proposes for the acquisition of Metropolitan Assented Stock.

The Metropolitan Assented Stock is not a security issued by the owners of an undertaking which it is proposed to bring under national ownership and the question of compensation does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Transport the total tonnage of goods held up at Paddington Station by the go-slow movement of workers there; what information he has received from the G.W.R.; and what action he proposes to take to ensure the continued orderly movement of goods from this station, particularly as regards foodstuffs, and other perishable goods.

On the evening of Thursday, 21st November, 447 loaded wagons were on hand waiting to be cleared. Traffic generally is not being accepted for Paddington Goods Station except that foodstuffs and other perishable traffic is accepted from traders by special arrangement in accordance with the ability of the railway company to handle it.I understand that the dispute at Paddington Goods Station arises primarily from the refusal of a section of the staff to adhere to the negotiating machinery and disciplinary procedure established by agreement between the railway companies and the railway trade unions. The men were advised by the executive committee of their trade union to resume normal working to permit of negotiation with the railway company. This instruction was not obeyed and in consequence the executive committee of the Union suspended from membership all of the members of the Paddington No. 2 Branch. I am informed that discussions are proceeding and in the circumstances I do not feel that intervention on my part at this stage would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an assurance that the South Eastern Railway, Reading, annuities of the Southern Railway will not be reduced or terminated by forthcoming legislation.

No, Sir. These securities are not quoted in the Stock Exchange Official Daily Lists on the dates mentioned in my recent announcement and the compensation for them will accordingly be determined, as I then indicated, by arbitration.

asked the Minister of Transport for what reasons a ban has been imposed on the movement of goods traffic by rail from Birmingham to the Cambridge area; and how soon the ban will be lifted.

The restriction was imposed by the railway company to relieve congestion caused mainly by a shortage of locomotive power. The restriction will be removed as soon as the situation allows.

asked the Minister of Transport whether adequate priorities are available for passages to the Middle East for the wives and children of officials on foreign service.

Ten per cent. of the available accommodation to the Middle East is reserved by my Department; this is sufficient to cover passages of officials and their families who are proceeding at the expense of the United Kingdom Government. Officials of Colonial, Palestine and Sudan Governments are not covered by this reserved percentage; passages for these officials and their families are arranged by the Colonial Office and the Sudan Government offices direct with the shipping companies. The traffic is seasonal and it is inevitable that there should be some congestion during the peak season under present conditions, but the next sailing of "Ascania" in December should provide for a large proportion of those awaiting passage.

asked the Minister of Transport why no explanatory note accompanies the Load Line (Amendment) Rules, 1946 (S.R. & O., 1946, No. 1822).

These rules make certain amendments of a minor and technical nature in the Load Line Rules, 1941, as they affect the construction of hatchway coamings and covers, cleats, wedges and discharge pipes and valves. They were agreed with the industry and the classification societies before being made and would be readily understood by all concerned with these technical rules without the need for any explanation of their effect.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to make transport available for steel angles rolled in Scotland towards the end of October and urgently needed in shipbuilding yards 60 miles away from the rolling mills.

I have made inquiries but have been unable to identify this traffic. If the hon. Member will let me have full particulars of the movement required I will make further inquiries.

asked the Minister of Transport how many applications have been received on behalf of the wives and families of Europeans who wish to go to Malaya and Hong Kong, respectively; the average time during which they have been waiting for passages; and when he expects that passages will be provided for them.

4,897 persons, being wives and families of Europeans, have applied for passages to Malaya during the last two years. Passages have been provided for 3,125 persons; 1,772 await passage. Recent experience is that three or four months has elapsed between the time of application and the provision of passage. For Hong Kong the applications in respect of wives and families of Europeans total 1,564. Passages have been provided for 909, and 655 still await passage. The waiting period is generally between six and eight months.Provision is being made for about 300 berths for civilian passengers under sponsorship of the Colonial Office for United Kingdom to Malaya early in January, and a small number of berths will be available for Hong Kong early next month. Every effort is being made to provide accommodation for these passengers, as for those for other destinations, within the limits imposed by our resources of ships.

asked the Minister of Transport why the cost of a driving test has been raised from 5s. to 7s. 6d.

The Road Traffic Act, 1934, prescribes that a person submitting himself for a driving test shall pay such fee not exceeding 10s. as may be specified in the regulations. The cost of the driving test organisation has increased to an extent which justifies the substitution of a fee of 7s. 6d. for the fee of 5s. fixed in 1937.

asked the Minister of Transport how many level crossings still exist over main roads; and what steps are being taken to replace them with bridges or tunnels.

There are 913 level crossings on trunk roads and other class I roads. The rate at which they can be eliminated depends on the relative priority of this and other urgent works. I am prepared to consider applications from highway authorities for grants towards the elimination of level crossings on classified roads.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in connection with the problem of headlamp dazzle, he will give full consideration to the desirability of adopting the idea whereby in substitution for the normal front glass of a headlamp a screen, composed of specially shaped optically-worked ground and highly polished crystals, is utilised; and if he will carry out tests to confirm the claim that by these methods dazzling glare is to all intents and purposes eliminated.

My right hon. Friend will be glad to arrange for the device referred to to be examined if particulars are sent to him.

asked the Minister of Transport why the Report arising out of the public inquiry into the Severn road bridge project held in September, 1946, is confidential and is not available for inspection, whereas the proceedings of the Parliamentary tribunal which considered the Forth road bridge project in July, 1946, are made available to all persons interested.

It is the practice to treat reports of public inquiries of this nature as confidential and not for publication, and I am not prepared to depart from this practice. The procedure is not comparable to that of a Parliamentary Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport when the hon. Member for Epping may expect a decision about an omnibus service across Nazeing and Broadley Commons, correspondence on which subject has been passing between the hon. Member and his Department since July of this year.

A decision was given to the hon. Member in June and, so far as Nazeing Common is concerned, confirmed in August and October. The London Passenger Transport Board will review the matter when their position in regard to vehicles improves.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for improved road transport for the people of Stoke-on-Trent during the peak periods, and between North Staffordshire, Stafford, Crewe and Manchester.

Road passenger transport in this area is working to full capacity during the peak periods, and some of the services referred to run at double the prewar frequency. Efforts are being directed towards the re-introduction of a systematic scheme of staggered working hours, as the practical solution of the peak-hour problem.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will announce the terms of compensation on which the road haulage industry will be nationalised.

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the introduction of the Bill.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in the interest of the nation at the present time, he will encourage highways authorities in the county of Durham to promote public works, with a view to absorbing the 18,000 men who are at present signing an at the employment exchanges in the county.

The contribution that road works can make to the relief of unemployment is necessarily limited, but I have already given highway authorities in the North-Eastern and other development areas every encouragement to accelerate desirable road works. In addition I am pressing on with urgent trunk road works in these areas.

asked the Minister of Supply when he anticipates that refrigerators of the type now being supplied for prefabricated houses will be available for the ordinary consumer.

The refrigerators fitted in temporary houses are of special design and are not necessarily the types which the manufacturers will produce for general sale. Limited quantities of refrigerators are now on sale and the supply should improve in 1947.

asked the Minister of Supply what were the total quantities of lead available in the last four quarters; and the amounts allocated to each individual firm engaged in the manufacture of accumulators

Following is the answer:The total quantities of lead available were as follow:

asked the Minister of Supply what efforts he is making to overcome the deficiencies prevailing in the smaller porcelain accessories indispensable to electrical installations.

Every encouragement is being given to new firms to enter the industry and to established firms to expand their existing capacity. In addition, four royal ordnance factories have undertaken production.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that doctors are suffering considerable inconvenience at the present time because they are no longer able to obtain priority delivery of new motor cars, which are essential for their work; and whether some steps can be taken to assist them in this matter.

The motor industry is giving as much preference as possible to the delivery of cars required by doctors.

asked the Minister of Supply why he made an allocation of steel for the fabrication of steel cycle racks for use outside shops as an advertising sign for Messrs. Littlewoods, when steel is urgently required for other and essential purposes.

Steel is allocated for the manufacture of cycle racking for all purposes, and no special allocation was made in this case. With regard to distribution, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade on 16th October to the hon. Member for Bilston (Mr. Nally).

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that the Ministry of Aircraft Production huts on the Braun-stone Estate, Leicester, have leaking roofs and doors; that there is no road lighting, no made roads, no fencing and no drainage for rain water; that the huts are damp and are causing unnecessary disease and suffering; that correspondence with his Department for the past 12 months has produced no satisfactory results; and what steps he now proposes to take to rectify this.

The bungalows are maintained by Blaby Rural District Council and were inspected last month. They have recently been repaired and are reported to be in a satisfactory condition, except for some of the doors, which will be replaced as soon as new ones can be obtained. Roads are not normally made up on temporary wartime estates and it is not possible to provide fencing, owing to the shortage of labour and materials. Arrangements are in hand to provide street lighting, and I am advised that the drainage system is working satisfactorily.

asked the Minister of Supply how many houses and married quarters are let by his Department on a tenancy determinable by a week's notice; and how many are allotted solely on account of the employment of the occupier with no security of tenure after employment has ceased.

All tenancies or licences for married quarters let by my Department are determinable by a week's notice and are allocated on account of the employment of the occupier. Although there is no legal security, we are not at present taking proceedings for possession on the sole ground that the occupier has left this employment.

asked the Minister of Supply the current establishment at the Royal Small-arms Factory, Enfield, and the establishment on VE-Day, 1945.

One thousand, four hundred and eighty-six and 4,270 respectively.

asked the Minister of Supply which royal ordnance factories are engaged on production of goods for civilian consumption.

All of them, Sir.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will list the items in current production for civilian use at royal ordnance factories; and the quantity of each turned out at the latest convenient date.

Over 900 orders for civil goods have been placed with the royal ordnance factories. These include hosiery machinery, cookers, ceramics, cupboards, taps, woodworking machinery, concrete sections for houses, railway wagons, chemicals and medals. Delivery has not yet begun in all cases. With regard to the last part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Austin) on 15th July last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Supply when he is proposing to free the metal market.

No decision has yet been taken about the re-opening of the London Metal Exchange.

asked the Minister of Supply if he has given further consideration to the suggestion made by the National Engineering Joint Trades Committee that an engineering advisory board should be appointed.

I am at present discussing this matter with the engineering employers and trade unions.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that in the Merseyside area there are shortages of electrical equipment such as main switches, switch splitters, fuse boards, plugs, sockets and other materials; and what action he proposes to take to overcome these shortages.

I am not aware of particular shortages in the Merseyside area, but my regional officers are prepared to deal with instances where priority work is held up if details are given to them.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the electric light and power plant installed by the Air Ministry in 1943 at Donna Nook in Lincolnshire is standing idle; and if he will consider using this plant to provide electricity for the nearby villages.

I am advised that the plant as it stands would not be suitable for the purpose suggested. It is not required for use on the aerodrome itself and the local authority will have an opportunity to put forward any claim to the Ministry of Supply to whom it is about to be declared surplus and who will be responsible for its disposal.

asked the Minister of Works why no further allocation of softwood in the way of float stocks will be available for distribution during Period IV; and why it will not be possible to renew timber licences which have not been used during Period III.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the float stocks made available to builders' joiners in the earlier quarters of this year. The supply of softwood is at present insufficient to permit of the allocation of further float stocks or the renewal of licences granted in the third quarter and not used.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will indicate the approximate date on which he will be de-requisitioning the Littleton Recreation Ground in Worcestershire; and what steps he is taking with the Ministry of Labour to make some other arrangement for the utilisation of the Honeybourne Camp for the Resettlement Corps

I regret I cannot say when it will be possible to give up the camp at Littleton, at present occupied by German prisoners of war doing agricultural work. As regards the second part of the Question, Honeybourne Camp is to be occupied for some time to come by members of the Polish Resettlement Corps.

asked the Minister of Works whether, in order to prevent black-market building work, he will make compulsory the display of licences on premises where repairs are being carried out.

No, Sir. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Chamberlain) on 5th November, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Works if he will define, in order of priority, W.B.A. Super Priority, W.B.A. Plus Priority, W.B.A. Priority, and a certificate of essential needs.

Of the symbols mentioned by the hon. Member only W.B.A. is in formal use. Among jobs of that priority special treatment may be given to the most urgent, for instance those included in the "Finish the Houses" campaign. Certificates of essentiality are given by local authorities to my regional licensing officers to enable them to give decisions on applications for building licences for the repair of occupied houses and are also used to identify repair work of special urgency which needs a priority for the supply of materials.

asked the Minister of Works why his Department reduced an estimate, submitted by the hon. Member for Ashford, for the laying on of electricity to two cottages at Stone-in-Boney, Kent, not owned by him but ocupied by two of his employees, from £38 to £30.

An application for a licence for £29 18s. for the laying on of electricity to these two cottages was made to the Tenterden Rural District Council who issued a licence for £30. There was no intervention by my Department.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give the total number of buildings workers in Great Britain employed, respectively, on new housing, other priority work and non-priority work.

The total number of building and civil engineering operatives aged 16 years and over employed in Great Britain at the end of October was approximately 943,000. Of these 346,000 were employed on new housing, including site preparations, conversions and adaptations; 148,000 on war damage repair to houses and flats, some of which were unfit for occupation; and 125,000 on other priority work. The remaining 324,000 were employed on non-priority work, including repair and maintenance of houses and industrial buildings.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give the total number of building workers in Colchester and the numbers employed, respectively, on new housing, including the erection of prefabricated houses, other priority work and non-priority work.

The total number of building and civil engineering male operatives aged 16 and over employed in Colchester at the end of October, 1946, is estimated to have been 1,190. Of these, 660 men were employed on new housing work and 230 on other priority work. The remaining 300 were employed on non-priority work, including repair and maintenance of houses and industrial buildings.

asked the Minister of Works if he is satisfied that there is enough timber suitable for housing in this country to carry out the housing schemes which have already been licensed.

Housing and other building work is dependent upon imports of timber in addition to supplies available in this country, and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is making every effort to secure as much timber as possible. I hope that, provided full effect is given to the measures of economy notified to local authorities and others concerned, there will be no general delay in house building and other important work.

asked the Minister of Works why he will not allow previous owners of railings which were impounded during the war to repurchase them in cases where they have been identified; why these have to be melted down; and what is the cost per ton of so doing.

The campaign for scrap metal was based on equal treatment all round and no arrangements were made which would now enable claims for ownership of particular items to be established. The scrap will be used according to the demands of the industry on the various classes of scrap available for the furnaces. It is not possible to separate the cost of melting scrap as it is used with other material.

asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of the fact that semi-skilled men from His Majesty's Forces are now being trained to fill the needs of the building industry, he will take steps to support the early release from the Forces of men who have served several years of apprenticeship in that trade prior to enlistment and whose release would he of material benefit to the advancement of the building programme.

With the exception of a minority of the painters and carpenters, all skilled building trade workers, including apprentices, with at least 12 months service in the Forces have had the option of Class B release, subject only to Special Service needs.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the memorandum issued from Lambeth Bridge House on paint economy and published in the "Ironmonger" of 26th October was not known by his regional officers at Leeds; and why it was decided not to inform the regional officers of this memorandum.

Copies of the memorandum were sent to all regional offices on 12th October and my Regional Director at Leeds brought it to the notice of the officers concerned.

asked the Minister of Works if he will cause camps no longer used for Service personnel or housing purposes to be stripped of all the valuable electrical, steam, gas, &c., fittings, which are in short supply, for housing and other essential purposes.

Yes, Sir. When a camp is handed over to my Department for disposal, it is the practice to remove all the fittings worth recovering and to re-use them to the best advantage, unless the camp is sold for use as it stands.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that tenants of new houses at Ham, Somerset, are compelled to use oil lighting because of non-delivery of electric fittings; and if he will take steps to see that electrical components are made available in all cases where houses are nearing completion.

Yes, Sir. The requirements for electrical fittings for the houses nearing completion have been ascertained and notified to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply who is endeavouring to ensure their early delivery.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that there are now over 2,000,000 bricks available in the Blackpool area; and whether he has now any plans for using them.

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health has drawn the attention of all housing authorities in the region to the existence of these stocks, urging on them the desirability of ordering and accepting delivery during the winter months. The greatest possible production of bricks is required now to provide for the needs of the building programme next year.

asked the Minister of Works if he has considered the information sent to him about the consignment of bricks sent to Messrs. The Loxley Building Company, Orpington; and if he will make a statement.

An order for 75,000 bricks was placed with the London Brick Company in May, when, owing to wagon loading difficulties at Peterborough and the lack of stocks at Bedford, the average period for commencement of deliveries was four months. Of the total order 45,000 bricks were collected by road by the builder's merchant. The balance was despatched in nine railway wagons carrying 3,500 each between 1st October and 5th November. I regret that the date given in my reply of the 5th November was based on information from an outside source which was subsequently found to be incorrect.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the total amount of margarine exported from this country; and the amount exported during the month of October.

Exports of margarine from this country amounted to 5,870 tons during the period January-October, 1946, and to 339 tons in the month of October.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why it is neces- sary to obtain a permit to obtain a musical instrument known as a Recorder; how many permits have been granted; and how many refused.

Since May last, it has not been necessary to have a permit in order to obtain musical instruments. Supply is still, however, less than demand; and retailers often ask purchasers to produce a declaration that they need the instrument for professional or other essential purposes. These declarations when sent to the supplier by the retailer enable the latter to secure replacement. The need for declarations will diminish as the supply of instruments increases. I am not aware of any refusal by any Government Department or other authorised body to sign a declaration for a Recorder. But Recorders could not be released from control without jeopardising the purpose of control of musical instruments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many standards of timber suitable for house building there are in this country at the present moment, or at the latest convenient date.

Stocks of timber suitable for house building are not separately recorded. They form part of the total stocks of softwood which have to be divided between all essential requirements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the supply on the home market of vacuum flasks.

Yes, Sir. During the next three or four months there will, I fear, be a severe fall in the production of these flasks, due to the need to recondition the plant which provides the industry with the blanks from which the glass linings are made. We have arranged for a quantity of blanks to be imported to relieve this situation, but it will still be necessary to restrict the scope of the permit scheme, which has since 1942 been voluntarily run by Thermos (1925) Ltd. in close cooperation with Government departments, to ensure that essential needs for flasks have the first call on the very limited supplies available. For the next few months, permits must be issued much more sparingly than in the past, and claims to permits will have to be more closely scrutinised. I much regret that this cut should have to be made with the winter months ahead. The company will continue to distribute the whole of the home market supplies of their standard one pint flasks through the permit scheme, and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking them for the trouble they have taken to operate the scheme effectively. The capacity of the vacuum flask industry is being substantially increased and several new firms are entering it. It is hoped that before the middle of next year production will be sufficient to satisfy the home market without the need for a permit scheme, and in addition to provide a substantial margin of flasks for export.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of Orders revoked by his Department during the past 15 months which were brought into force under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Regulations, and the reference number of such Orders revoked.

The number of Orders revoked by the Board of Trade during the past 15 months, the provisions of which have not been re-enacted, is 27. The reference numbers are S.R. & Os.—1942/606, 701, 702, 785, 1300, 1364, 1541, 1619, 1828, 2075–1943/265, 1065, 1703–1944/6, 206, 256, 480, 786, 1295–194, 205, 871, 873, 1228, 1229, 1422–1946/1789.

asked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent the release of wireless mechanics is in arrears of normal R.A.F. demobilisation; and by when he expects that sufficient men will be trained in the trade to overtake the deferment occasioned by this shortage.

In December wireless mechanics will be three groups behind the general level of release for ground trades. At the moment I cannot say how soon the shortage will he made good.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when the R.A F. range at Old Harry, Studland, Dorset, will be derequisitioned.

We shall release the range as soon as we are satisfied that it

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in Articler (1) (b) of the Savings Banks (Limits of Deposits) Order, 1946 (S.R. & O., 1946, No. 1790), the expression, aggregate amount, means

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now considered the resolution forwarded to him by the Blackpool Corporation Health Committee, to the effect that the Ice Cream (Heat Treatment) Regulations, 1946, should be amended so as to provide that the equipment to be used by the manufacturer for this treatment should be thermostatically controlled and fixed with a temperature recorder to enable inspectors to be satisfied that the product has been subjected to the correct temperature for the required length of time defined in the regulations; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

My right hon. Friend bas received the resolution referred to. The proposed amendment is being considered in conjunction with other amendments suggested to the draft Regulations.

asked the Minister of Health what action he is taking to implement the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Rag Flock Acts.

This report is still under consideration. In view of the pressure of Parliamentary business I can hold out no hope of early legislation in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of diphtheria in fully-immunised children in England and Wales were recorded during the last six months of the year 1945.

Six-monthly totals are not available, but the returns from all but a few local authorities for the whole of the year 1945 show that in England and Wales there were 4,410 notified cases and 33 deaths among immunised children under 15 compared with 8,780 cases and 558 deaths among children not immunised.

asked the Minister of Health the annual cost to the National Exchequer of the Board of Control of Mental Hospitals and Institutions.

The net cost of the Board of Control to the National Exchequer for the financial year 1945–46 was £237,614, of which £58,054 was in respect of the Board's Office, the remainder being the cost of grants in respect of ex-Service mental patients and the cost of the State Institutions for Mental Defectives of dangerous propensities.

asked the Minister of Health how often officers of the Board of Control visit mental nursing homes and institutions run for personal private gain; are reports made concerning such visits; and are these available to members of the public.