asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why, in view of the shortage of food in Germany, prior arrangements were not made with the appropriate Government Departments to ensure that the shipping which was available was ready to carry to Germany supplies of herring as they became available because of a surplus for the home market.

Suitable shipping can only be held available by withdrawing it indefinitely from its normal employment. In view of the unpredictable character of these surpluses, it would not be justifiable to immobilise shipping which is badly needed in the fishing industry and elsewhere. Within these limitations arrangements are made to take advantage of surpluses when they do arise, and, as I indicated in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Edinburgh, West (Lieut.-Commander Hutchison) on 20th November, normal market surpluses of fish are already being exported in considerable quantities to Germany.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is prepared to extend the range of newspapers and periodicals on display at information centres in the British zone and the British sector of Berlin to include Scottish newspapers and not, as at present, limit the selection to papers and journals for the main part published in London.

While it is not possible to make the display of newspapers at the centres comprehensive, it is my aim to make the selection as representative as possible, and for this purpose the list of newspapers is under constant review. It was recently decided to add to the list a number of extra newspapers, including the "Scotsman."

asked the Minister of Food if he expects this winter to be able to make an issue of bananas to adults as well as children.

There will not be enough bananas during the next six months to supply everybody and having considered the alternatives, I have come to the conclusion that during the winter we shall have to continue the present system of reserving them for the young people. By the early summer, however, there will be better supplies and I hope that it may then be possible for adults to share them.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the feeling amongst housewives against the increase in points now required for treacle, especially so near the Christmas period; and, in view of the prospects of increased world sugar production, whether he will review his decision.

The increase in the points value of syrup and treacle was necessary to ensure fair distribution of available supplies. Present production is well above that of prewar and every effort is being made to increase production still further. The shortage of tinplate at present is the limiting factor.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the hardships to certain classes of farmers, he will abolish all licences under the Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Division.

I am not altogether clear what hardships the hon. Member has in mind. The licensing arrangements are still necessary to regulate the distribution of commodities which remain scarce.

asked the Minister of Food if he has investigated the complaints of food irregularities in the Ashby-de-la Zouch area, as reported in a letter dated 18th October; what are his findings; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

Inquiries into these complaints are not yet complete, but I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible. No irregularities, however, have so far been brought to light.

asked the Minister of Food what is the profit or loss to date, to the taxpayer on the importation of Algerian wines; and how much remains unsold.

It is not in the public interest that I should disclose the information asked for in the first part of the hon. Member's Question. I would like to reassure him, however, that none of the wine remains unsold.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of eggs he is proposing to purchase from Poland during the next six months; and what quantity of poultry lie is proposing to import from Yugoslavia and Hungary during the same period.

We have purchased 6,000 boxes, each containing 360 eggs from Poland for shipment during November-December. Any further purchases will depend on the prospective exportable surplus in 1947 and on satisfactory terms and conditions being arranged with the Polish authorities. Arrangements have been made to import within the next six months 500 tons of turkeys from Yugoslavia and at least 500 tons of turkeys and 500 tons chickens and hens from Hungary. It is hoped that in addition up to 500 tons of turkeys and 1,000 tons of chickens and hens will be obtainable also from Hungary

asked the Minister of Food how many persons are employed by his Department to interrogate housewives; how many such interrogations were made during 1946; how many successful prosecutions were brought as a result; and how many unsuccessful prosecutions.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to my Department's long-established practice of inviting housewives in various parts of the country to give information on questions of nutrition and distribution and has nothing to do with enforcement. No officials are employed in my Department to interrogate housewives. Nine officers and a small clerical staff are engaged in collating the information, which is collected by outside market research agencies working under contract to the Ministry. The information is given voluntarily and in confidence, the name of the volunteer housewife not being disclosed to the Department. Without considerable research, I cannot say how many housewives helped us in this way in 1946, but since 1941 many thousands have volunteered to do so and have given us valuable facts which we could not obtain otherwise. No prosecutions, successful or otherwise, have resulted or could result from this research, which is designed solely to promote the efficiency of my Department.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the failure to allocate any lard ration during the last eight weeks is causing hardship to housewives; and how soon he proposes to make fresh allocations

The cooking fat ration has to be met either with compound cooking fat or with lard, according to which we have available. We have very little lard at present.

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.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th November, 1946; Vol. 430, C. 194], supplied the following statement:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has now arrived at a decision to release the Buganda deportees.

The cases of these deportees are under regular review. The restraints on two of these men were removed on 11th November, except for certain restrictions regarding their entry into Kampala and the surrounding neighbourhood. The other cases will continue under frequent review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in view of the constant industrial unrest in Northern Rhodesia, what steps are being taken to encourage the development of trade unions there; and if he will consider sending a trade union adviser or organiser to that colony in order to encourage trade unionism there as successfully as elsewhere.

The industrial unrest to which my hon. Friend refers has manifested itself in frequent disputes between the mine managements and the European workers, who are represented by the fully organised Mineworkers' Union. As regards the second part of the Question, steps have been taken to recruit an officer with trade union experience in this country for appointment to the Labour Department of Northern Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent unemployment exists among demobilised West African soldiers; whether he is satisfied that there is no avoidable delay in the procedure of demobilisation in West Africa; and whether he intends to examine existing West African administrative machinery, with a view to augmenting the staff and speeding up the work.

No precise figures are available of the extent of unemployment among demobilised West African soldiers. Although every soldier is given the opportunity to register for paid employment, only some 60 per cent. have done so, the remainder having preferred to seek occupations for themselves. Of those registered about one-third have been found employment, but it may be assumed that a considerable proportion of the others have either returned to their former occupations as farmers or small

Colony.			No. of soldiers demobilised.	No. of soldiers who have registered for paid employment.	No. of soldiers registered who have been found employment by the registering agents.
				*	*
Nigeria	…	…	89,761	56,137	17,056
Gold Coast	…	…	37,364	21,827	8,165
Sierra Leone	…	…	15,899	7,922	3,262
Gambia	…	…	3,000	1,250	400
* (The majority of the soldiers from each of the British West African Colonies were peasant farmers or small traders before they enlisted. They were not in paid employment before the war. Of the soldiers who have registered, many have already found paid work for themselves or returned to peasant farming without informing the registering agency; the continuing presence of a man's name on the register does not therefore, prove he is unemployed.)

asked ale Secretary of State for the Colonies the total quantity of sugar produced in Nigeria in 1938, 1945 and 1946; and how it was disposed of.

Sugar production in Nigeria is a village industry and all the sugar produced, apart from some experimental production, is uncrystallised and unrefined and is consumed locally. A certain amount was purchased by the military forces during the war. Only very rough estimates of production are available, 1938 production being estimated at ten tons and 1945 at eighteen hundred tons. I have no figures for 1946.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of cocoa exported from the Gold Coast in 1938 and 1945; what quantity he estimates will be exported in 1946; and what proportion of the 1946 crop will be wasted or destroyed owing to lack of transport facilities.

Exports of cocoa from the Gold Coast in 1938 amounted to 257,000 tons. Nearly all the 1944–45 crop, amounting to 228,000 tons, was exported in 1945. The 1945–46 crop is

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make an inquiry into the operation of the game laws in East Africa, with special reference to whether he is satisfied that these laws are understood by the native populations and that Africans are able, without firearms, to defend their crops against wild animals.

I have recently invited the East African Governments to review the present position in relation to game and the operation of the Game Laws in East Africa. The question of the protection of native crops against wild animals is one of the matters which will call for consideration in connection with this review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will re-examine proposals for a national park in Tanganyika, with special refer- ence to the agricultural and nutritional needs of the people of Tanganyika.

There is at present one national park in Tanganyika, the Serengeti, which is inhabited only by a few pastoral natives. The Governor assures me that the maintenance of this park will not endanger the interests of the African population as regards their agricultural or nutritional needs. There is, of course, a strong case for establishing these national parks in our African territories where feasible. But I will keep in mind the aspects of the question referred to by my noble Friend when the creation of these parks is under consideration.

asked the Secretary Of State for the Colonies the total sum received by the Governments of African Colonies in contributions from Colonial civil servants to widows' and orphans' pension schemes since their inception; and what is the total sum paid out to date in benefits.

The approximate figures are: Total Receipts, 4½ million pounds; total Benefit Payments, 1½ million pounds. An actuarial investigation of the East African scheme is about to be undertaken and the West African Governments have recently decided that a similar review should be undertaken of rates of contributions and benefits of the West African scheme in which, incidentally, the position is that since 1943 payments have exceeded receipts. It will, of course, be understood that these are in the nature of insurance schemes, based upon actuarial principles, and that the figures of receipts and payments are not in themselves of any special significance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which responsible organisations, representative of European interests in Kenya, have expressed their willingness to support the registration scheme applicable to all races in the colony.

All the organisations representing European interests in Kenya which presented evidence to the committee appointed to examine the question of registration expressed their willingness to support a scheme of registration applicable to all races. The organisations concerned were, the Makuyu Association, the Rongai Valley Association, the Mitubiri Association, the Njoro Settlers' Association and the East African Women's League.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made with African land settlement schemes in Kenya.

I am expecting the first interim report on African settlement and land utilisation from the Governor of Kenya very shortly and I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why no Indians have been appointed as judges in Kenya.

Judicial appointments in Kenya are made in accordance with the usual principles governing Colonial Service appointments, namely, by the selection of the candidates who appear most suitably qualified for the posts. Appointments to judgeships in all Colonies are normally made by promotion within the Colonial Legal Service and Indian members of that service are equally eligible for consideration with others for such promotion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Samuel Muindi is still held under detention by the Government of Kenya, and, if so, when he will be released.

I am informed by the Governor that the Order made in 1938 against Samuel Muindi has not yet been revoked. I understand that his case has been periodically reviewed, but I am making further inquiries into the case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Nigeria will take steps to implement the recommendation of the Tudor Davies Committee that a subcommittee should be formed to represent Government departments and trade unions associated with Governmental work, with a view to the development of a national Whitley Council; and if he will give an assurance that the Federal Unions of Native Administration Servants will be represented on any such committee.

This recommendation will require further consideration in the light of the recent Report of the Commission on the Civil Services of British West Africa which, by its terms of reference, was required to consider inter alia the provision of suitable arrangements for consultation between the Governments and organisations representing the interests of the staff on matters relating to salaries and conditions of service. This report, which will be published here as soon as copies arrive from West Africa, contains recommendations for such provision and these are being considered by the West African Governments. I will bring the suggestion in the last part of the Question to the notice of the Governor of Nigeria.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are taken in East Africa to prevent disease passing from game to stock in African farming areas.

Immunisation has been the most effective method of safeguarding stock against all diseases for which vaccines are available. This has been carried out for many years for rinderpest and a number of other diseases. Dipping of domestic stock is also employed for tick borne diseases. The segregation of game by means of patrolled fences has been adopted in some instances, but it is costly and less effective than measures applied to stock itself.Unfortunately in the case of trypanosomiasis no prophylactic serum is known at present and measures have to be taken against tsetse fly. I would refer the hon. Member to my written reply of 31st July to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Dodds-Parker) in this connection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the recent diamond discoveries in Tanganyika; and what steps he is taking to ensure that this field will be developed for the benefit of the people of Tanganyika and not directly or indirectly controlled by private organisations in South Africa or elsewhere.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to add anything to my answer to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Dodds-Parker) on 6th November. The matter is receiving my active consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans are serving on the municipal council of Nairobi and by whom were they nominated; and whether he will take steps to introduce a system of election for the filling of African seats on this body.

Under an ordinance made this year two African members have been nominated by the Governor to sit on the Nairobi Municipal Council As provision for the appointment of African members has been made so recently it is altogether too premature to consider whether any change in the present method of their selection should be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the proposed transfer to private ownership of Government telecommunications in British Guiana.

I learn that expert advice is being obtained by the British Guiana Government on the question of the reconditioning and expansion of the Georgetown telephone system. No decision such as that suggested by my hon. Friend in his Question has been taken. No decision will be taken pending consideration of the whole matter by me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if any progress has been made with the preparation of plans for a colonial house or centre in London.

I have nothing to add at the moment to the answer which I gave to the previous question asked by the hon. Member on 17th July. I hope that the new Colonial Office building will embody adequate facilities for the reception and information of visitors on official business. At the same time I appreciate the importance of providing a special building for cultural and social purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which territories flogging is still administered as a punishment in civilian or in military cases; and what steps he is taking towards its total abolition.

Corporal punishment may be awarded in the case of civilians for a limited number of offences in all Colonial territories, with the exceptions that in Malta it may not he awarded at all by the courts and that in Palestine it may not be awarded by the courts in the case of adults. In all territories corporal punishment may not be awarded in the case of women and juveniles under 18 may not be flogged.There has, however, been a steady overall reduction in the last few years, both in the types of offence for which this punishment may be imposed, and in the number of instances in which it has been awarded. I have again directed the attention of all Colonial Governments to the matter and urged them to make a further reduction in the use of corporal punishment with a view to its eventual abolition. Corporal punishment can no longer be awarded to soldiers in Colonial Forces by military courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are being made for wives of those engaged in Government and commercial duties in the Colonial Empire to obtain passages to and from the United Kingdom now that the priority system has been given up.

The Colonial Office allocation of berths covers passages from the United Kingdom for Government officials and their wives. Passages for wives of non-officials whose applications have already been sponsored by my Department will also he met from this allocation. New applications by wives of non-officials are made direct to the shipping line concerned or through a travel agency. The priority system has not been entirely abolished, it remains in force in respect of passages to the West Indian and Far Eastern territories and the Falkland Islands, and responsibility for arranging priority passages to these countries still rests with the Colonial Office. As regards homeward passages, priority boards are established in certain areas and continue to control the allocation of passages. In other areas, the shipping lines have undertaken to meet as far as possible any special requirements for passages to the United Kingdom when such requirements are notified to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the memorial of the European Electors' Association of Fiji; and what reply he has made.

Yes, Sir. I have requested the Governor to inform the Association that I regret that, with the exception of the extension of the franchise to civil servants, the changes advocated by them cannot be accepted as I have no assurance that there is general public support for the views expressed in the memorial, and as I am not persuaded that the proposals are likely to be of benefit to all the parties concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why employees of the Government of Fiji work a 48-hour week in the Public Works department, 4½ hours in the Government stores, 37½ hours in the Government printing office and 43½ hours in the Post and Telegraph department; and whether he will urge the Government of Fiji to reconsider, in the light of these figures, the request for a 40-hour week put forward by workers in the Public Works Department.

The question of a reduction from a 48-hour to a 40-hour week will be discussed with the accredited representatives of the Public Works Department Union as soon as that union has been registered. The matter cannot, however, be regarded as a purely departmental one or of local significance only, in view of the effect such a reduction would have on the sugar industry where a comparable labour force works a 48-hour week and production costs are in competition with those of other sugar producing territories. The hours of the employees in the Government stores correspond with those of commercial stores with slight modifications on Saturdays. Those set for the other departments mentioned by my hon. Friend, in which the employees are mainly civil servants, accord with the minimum requirements of Government and the convenience of the general public.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware of the hardship and expense borne by separated wives and families of technical civil servants evacuated to Bath; and if he will arrange the early return to London of these civil servants.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Wallasey (Mr. Marples).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he, has any statement to make on the amenities and conditions aboard H.M.S. "Fluellen."

H.M.S. "Fluellen" has recently been engaged on arduous minesweeping operations during which the weather was too bad for her to get alongside any of the minesweepers to obtain fresh meat and vegetables regularly. A special inspection of the ship was made on her return to port, and the inspecting officer has reported that conditions aboard H.M.S. "Fluellen" are, in general, not different from those obtaining in other ships of her type employed on similar duties. Arduous conditions are frequently unavoidable on service of this kind. Nevertheless, a further report has been called for and I will again look into the matter to see whether any improvements can be effected.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number and tonnage of new construction destroyer, escort vessels and submarines which are now building and upon which work has been commenced.

I regret that it would not be in the public interest to give the information for which the hon. and gallant Member asks.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will now say when it will be possible to commence the new scale of pensions under the pensions re-assessment scheme.

Work on this scheme has already commenced. Nearly 3,000 ratings have already been informed of their new entitlements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many cruisers in full commission are at present in home waters; the average percentage by which they exceed, or fall short of, their approved complements; and the average percentage of duties which should be performed by ratings who have qualified at specialist schools but which are at present performed by ratings with lower qualifications than those designated for the duties.

The Home Fleet cruisers have approximately the correct number of men for the reduced complements approved for these ships. During the recent cruise, they carried in addition an overall surplus for training of 3 per cent. Owing to releases, there is at present an overall shortage of men in the Navy qualified at specialist schools, and the Home Fleet cruisers are 28 per cent. under-borne in the higher gunnery, torpedo, and communication specialist qualifications. I regret it would not be in the public interest to give the information asked for in the first part of the Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether any allowance, other than basic, incremental and good conduct pay, is payable to masters-at-arms; if so, what is the amount of such allowance and the condition upon which it is paid; and whether a similar allowance was payable under former scales of pay and allowances.

Masters-at-arms receive a shilling a day above the basic pay of their rank of chief petty officer, besides incremental and good conduct pay. It is payable continuously. Under former regulations, a master-at-arms received 9s. 6d. a day, and a chief petty officer seaman 8s. 6d.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many E.R.As. were employed at A.Bs. during the recent home fleet exercises; why and upon whose authority this misemployment of skilled personnel was permitted; and whether, in view of the grave effects such misemployment has upon recruiting, he will take steps to prevent it in future.

The effect of the demobilisation arrangements and the consequent heavy drafting has resulted in a temporary shortage of seaman ratings. During the recent Fleet exercises when as many young E.R.As. as possible were embarked for training additional to complement, 10 of them were employed, in addition to the normal duties of their rating, on armament maintenance, a duty usually performed by A.Bs. qualified for this duty. Their employment was authorised by the Commander-in-Chief, and in the view of the Admiralty was justified. The ratings obtained useful experience, and no reason is seen to anticipate that such employment while under training will adversely affect recruitment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is yet in a position to state what adjustments to long-service naval pensions are contemplated by reason of the retirement pensions benefits proposed under the National Insurance Act, 1946.

No, Sir. This matter is still under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many Naval personnel are now serving on home establishments and the percentage reduction since August, 1945; and the approximate percentage of total Navy personnel now serving overseas.

The Home shore establishments figure for the Royal Navy has been reduced by 72 per cent. since August, 1945. This figure excludes officers and men under training who have been reduced by 3½ per cent. I regret it would not be in the public interest to give the other information asked for.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General at what date it is proposed to turn over the present manually-operated Vigilant telephone exchange to the automatic system.

A new building will be required, and it is hoped that work on this will start in April next year. I regret that in present circumstances it is not possible to say when the new automatic exchange is likely to be brought into service.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General on what grounds a charge is made to a telephone subscriber who requests the G.P.O. to furnish particulars of trunk calls for which he has been charged.

Particulars of trunk calls are included in a subscriber's account in the form of a statement showing the charge for each call and the date, but not particulars of the called number or the time or duration of the call. If these further particulars are required regularly, a charge is made to cover the cost of the extra clerical work involved. No charge is made, however, for supplying additional particulars occasionally in respect of individual calls.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he expects a public telephone will be installed at the hamlet of Haultwick, rural district of Ware, Herts.

I should be prepared to provide a telephone kiosk at Haultwick if the local council will pay the usual contribution of £4 a year for five years towards the cost. The work could be put in hand as soon as other prior commitments have been met.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that the Kidmore End exchange, Oxfordshire, is exhausted; and what steps are being taken to meet the increasing demand for telephone installations in that area.

The work of providing additional equipment at the Kidmore End telephone exchange was completed on 1st November.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General by what date the new telephone exchange at Wainfleet, Lincolnshire, will be completed.

There is at present no proposal to provide a new exchange at Wainfleet, but the existing automatic exchange is to be extended to provide for more subscribers. It is expected that this extension will be completed by May next year.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, in view of the increasing number of cases of fraud upon the Post Office Savings Bank, which have to be made good by the Treasury, any active steps are being taken to minimise the chances of success of such fraudulent operations.

The position is constantly under review; and some further measures are at present under consideration. The hon. Member will appreciate that it would not be in the public interest to publish all the details. The problem is to devise methods which will not impose undue restrictions on the millions of honest depositors in order to check the depredations of the dishonest few.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will give an estimate of the proportion of present parcel post business that is registered; whether this proportion shows a marked increase over registrations, even in wartime and in prewar years; what annual net revenue is obtained from this registration; and whether he will reduce the ordinary parcel postage rate to compensate for the increasing popularity and necessity for registration.

At present about 19 per cent. of inland parcels are registered, a slight drop from the highest wartime figure of 21 per cent. For the three years prior to the war registered parcels numbered 1½ per cent. of the total inland parcel traffic. I regret there is no net revenue available from registration fees for the purpose the hon. Member has in mind; on the contrary, it is estimated that these fees do not cover the cost of the special services rendered.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why the Clifton Street Post Office, Swindon, has been closed; and when it is proposed to reopen it.

The post office was closed because, when the accounts were checked, there was a substantial shortage of cash which could not be satisfactorily explained and the sub-postmistress was suspended from duty. I am unable to say at this stage whether the office will be reopened in the present premises and, if so, when. There is another office about a quarter of a mile away.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he expects to be able to restore the later collection of letters in the suburbs of London.

I hope that it will be possible to restore later collections early in the New Year.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many correspondents and commentators the B.B.C. maintains in foreign countries; and how they are distributed.

The collection of news or other material for their programmes is a matter for the B.B.C. and I suggest that the hon. Member might communicate with the B.B.C. direct.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what progress has been made with a periodical broadcast on Colonial affairs on the B.B.C.

I understand that the representation of Colonial affairs in its programmes is under active review by the B.B.C.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are his immediate plans for improving the supply of plywood and hardwoods for the furniture industry.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given yesterday to similar questions on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action is to be taken to supply packing case makers with timber that is urgently required for pottery exports; and why one firm in Stoke-on-Trent has been allowed no timber, with the result that export orders are held up and at least 40 work-people suspended.

All practicable steps are being taken to increase supplies of timber for packing cases and other essential purposes. I recognise the importance of continuity of supplies to manufacturers of packing cases for export, and it is the practice to allow them to hold a small stock to tide them over periods of acute shortage or enable them to fill urgent orders. I understand that the firm referred to are having difficulty in locating supplies, and I have arranged for a representative of the Board of Trade to visit them and assist as far as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the difference is made up between the prices of East African and Nyasaland cotton 2.45 pence per lb. and 1.78 pence per lb., respectively, and the price of 19 pence per lb. quoted to the spinners by the Cotton Control.

The prices of 2.45d. and 1.78d. per lb. relate to seed cotton. The yield of actual cotton is only about 30 per cent. and there are costs of collection, ginning, baling, transport, export tax, etc. The prices paid by the Cotton Control were based on an agreement made in 1943 for the period of the war and one crop thereafter, under which the Cotton Control undertook to buy at agreed prices its requirements of East African cotton and also to take up any cotton not sold in other markets. Basic prices were to he varied annually according to alterations in costs. The seed cotton prices quoted are for cotton mainly lifted at the beginning of 1946. The cost of the principal type bought by the Control was about 11¼d. per lb. United Kingdom port and the selling price was then 13d. per lb. Both buying and selling prices have since been increased.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has granted the application for a licence for the export of a haggis for the St. Andrew's Day dinner in Chicago.

I understand that the passenger was allowed to take with him the haggis to which this Question refers.

	£
United Kingdom	208,100,000	To 30th September, 1946.
North Africa	300,000	To 30th September, 1946.
Europe	13,500,000	To 30th September, 1946.
India	27,500,000	To 31st August, 1946.
Far East	500,000	To 30th September, 1946.
Overseas disposals of food (all overseas areas)	10,800,000	To 30th September, 1946.
Miscellaneous sales by the Admiralty (all overseas areas)	535,000	To 30th September, 1946.

The figures exclude most raw materials, fixed assets such as buildings and installations, and warlike stores, except as scrap or re-usable metal. They also exclude sales or transfers by the Service Departments to Allied Governments for re-equipment of their Armed Forces.It is not possible to estimate at this stage either in quantity or in value surpluses which have not yet been declared by the Service and other Departments. Information regarding surpluses already declared but not yet disposed of cannot conveniently be given in quantities. The value of such surpluses, however, in the United Kingdom and North

asked the Minister of Supply when he expects the Brabazon I to make its trial flights.

If all goes well, it is expected that the prototype will wake its first flight in the summer of 1947, but the hon. and gallant Member will understand that the date is bound to be tentative.

asked the Minister of Supply the total sum received from the disposal of wartime stores and material from the date of the end of the war with Japan until 31st October sold in the United Kingdom, North Africa, Europe, India and the Far East, respectively; and if he will give in each case the estimate of the approximate quantities remaining unsold and their value.

Complete statistics are not yet available as to the total sums realised, but the estimated values of stores disposed of at the latest dates for which figures are available are as follow:Africa is estimated at £75,000,000 and £1,600,000, respectively. In Europe, the processes of declaration and disposal of surpluses are in some countries, e.g., France and Belgium, approaching completion, but in others, e.g., Germany and Austria, are only just commencing and figures are not available. In India, it is estimated that the disposals effected represent over 40 per cent. of the surpluses sc far declared, but further substantial declarations are expected. In the Far East, disposal activity has only begun recently, and in some only of the widely scattered territories; complete statistics are not available.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an estimate of how many more men will be necessary on British railways under the operation of a 40-hour week.

Any such estimate would necessarily be partial in its scope and purely hypothetical in its nature, and I do not think that it would be useful or desirable for me to attempt it.

asked the Minister of Transport how many engines, passenger coaches and goods wagons of British railways are at the latest available date awaiting repairs.

Rolling stock under and awaiting repair at 2nd November, 1946, the latest available date, was as follows:

Locomotives	3,726
Passenger Coaches	4,881
Railway owned wagons	89,378
Requisitioned privately owned wagons	78,712

asked the Minister of Transport the replacement value at today's prices of the property of British railway stockholders he proposes to acquire.

I am not aware of any reliable estimate of the cost of replacing, in its present condition and at today's prices, the railway property proposed to be acquired.