asked the Minister of Education whether, when the school-leaving age is raised to 15 years, she proposes to raise the minimum age at which a child may be employed in public enter- tainments under Regulation 1353 of her Department.

I am advised that the minimum age at which a child may be employed in public entertainments as fixed by Section 22 of the Children and Young Persons Act is not affected by the raising of the compulsory school age under the Education Act, 1944. Legislation would, therefore, be necessary in order to raise the age for employment in entertainments.

asked the Minister of Education when Mr. H. K. Greenhalgh, 11, Heathfield Avenue, Crewe, may expect to receive payment of his maintenance grant of £136 per annum or any part thereof, he having been awarded such grant on 1st October, 1946, Ministry's Reference, 0.16250, and having now attended the Westminster Training College, London University, for eight weeks without receiving any part of the agreed grant.

Mr. Greenhalgh's maintenance allowance has been paid.

asked the Minister of Education when Miss Pamela Judith Rowley may expect to receive the first instalment of the grant of £239 per annum for her further training and education at University College, London, which was approved in September, 1946, for the Autumn Term, 1946, under reference 0.19548

This payment has now been made.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the delay in paying ex-Service students their grants for further education, she will pay the universities and colleges a block amount for this purpose, to be administered by the university or college authorities.

On the general Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have given to the Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. G. Thomas), and others. The suggestion of a block grant to universities and colleges would not be practicable, because applications must be determined and grants assessed by the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Education what representations she has received from the ex-Service students' committee of the National Union of Students, with reference to current delays in the payment of grants under the Further Education and Training Scheme; and what steps she is taking to remedy the individual hardships and anxieties which arise as a result of such delays.

I have received representations both orally and in writing from the National Union of Students on the subject. On the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I have given to the Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. G. Thomas), and others.

asked the Minister of Education if she will consider the use of mobile dental clinics for school dentistry in rural areas.

Yes, Sir, I am prepared to consider the proposals by local education authorities for the provision of mobile dental clinics in rural areas. A number of such proposals have been approved.

asked the Minister of Education if she will include in any future school-building plans adequate medical inspection rooms in all schools of 150 pupils and upwards.

Under the regulations prescribing standards for school premises, there must be in every school a room immediately available for medical inspection and treatment, but the regulations do not prescribe the provision of a special room for the purpose in schools of less than 300 pupils. I should be prepared to consider proposals for providing such rooms in smaller schools if the circumstances justify it.

asked the Minister of Education how many temporary hutments for use as classrooms have been ordered since the middle of 1945; how many so ordered have been supplied; and how many are for the service of school meals.

Information is not available in the exact form requested by the hon. Member. So far as huts for the raising of the school age are concerned, the number in programmes submitted by local education authorities to cover the period to September, 1948, is 3,940 classrooms and 1,662 practical rooms. The number of these on which the Ministry of Works have received instructions to start work is 2,707 classrooms and 1,079 practical rooms. Apart from this programme: the number of certificates for prefabricated huts issued between July, 1945, and November, 1946, inclusive was 1,804, for the school meals service and 625 for other purposes, the last figure being equivalent to about 1,250 classrooms.

asked the Minister of Education if she will state with regard to those direct grant schools, which do not possess preparatory departments or junior forms, the percentage of children admitted to the schools last September, excluding transfers from other secondary schools, who had previously attended other than a grant-aided primary school.

The percentage of admissions to these schools from schools other than grant-aided primary schools, was 27.0. This figure includes admissions by transfer from other secondary schools which are not shown separately in the returns made by the schools.

asked the Prime Minister if he has considered the cable sent to him from the Joint Passive Resistance Council of Natal and Transvaal Indian Congresses, dated 5th December, setting out the grievances of Indians in South Africa on the question of colour discrimination; and what answer he has returned to this cable.

As has been stated on previous occasions, the question of the position of Indians in the Union of South Africa is not one in which it would be proper for His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to intervene. It was not possible, therefore, to comply with the request in the telegram referred to.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the favourable trade balance with Belgium, he will envisage increasing the import of glass to aid the housing programme.

We are already importing from Belgium as much sheet glass as is available for export to this country although, owing to its high cost, it is used for manufacturing purposes rather than for housing, in order not to increase building costs. Priority demands for glass for housing purposes are, I understand, at present fully met from home production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many leather-purchasing licences were granted in the 12 months ended 30th September, 1946; and why it is not possible to admit the claims of anyone who was not established in the trade prior to the war.

I assume that my hon. Friend's Question relates to licences to purchase leather for the manufacture of leather goods other than footwear. The total number of such licences during the period mentioned was 16,000. Owing to the shortage of light leather, licences can normally only be issued to established firms to acquire a small proportion of their 1940 consumption.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if men released from the Forces under Class B are entitled to the additional 26 clothing coupons granted to men demobilised between June and December, 1945.

Yes, Sir. Those released under Class B between 18th June, 1945, and the end of that year are now eligible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why extra coupons are not granted to women assistants in chemists' shops in the same way as they are granted to women grocers' assistants.

Shop assistants handling unwrapped food are allowed ten extra coupons because they must wear overalls on hygienic grounds. There would be no such reason for allowing the supplement to counter assistants in chemists' shops.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can suggest any means whereby an ex-Serviceman who has inadvertently lost or mislaid the application form in the SC/V clothing book may, nevertheless, establish his claim to the extra coupons which are being allowed to ex-Service personnel.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that many ex-Servicemen have mislaid their supplementary clothing book and are unable to obtain the additional 26 clothing coupons; and what arrangements does he intend to make in these circumstances in order that these coupons can be obtained.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply I have given today to similar Questions on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when it is proposed to revise the specifications and prices of men's and women's utility knitted outerwear.

The entire range of utility hosiery is being re-costed as rapidly as possible by the Central Committee of the National Hosiery Manufacturers' Federation. I am awaiting their report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the date of commencement of delivery, and the expected monthly rate of delivery, of Soviet timber under the recent agreement.

The first delivery of Soviet timber under the recent agreement was made on 8th November. Deliveries during the month of November totalled some 13,000 standards of softwood and pitprops, and a further 6,000 standards of softwood and pitwood are expected during December.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what stocks of timber have recently been imported from Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia, and what quantities of timber are in the process of transit to the United Kingdom from those countries.

The quantities of timber imported from Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia during the second half of this year are nearly 200,000 tons, nil and 1,500 tons, respectively. The quantities in transit from point of production are about 100,000, 3,000 and 400 tons, respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the continued difficulties of many retailers in obtaining adequate supplies of cigarettes and tobacco; what are the reasons for this continued shortage; and what steps are being taken to meet the demands of the public in this matter.

Supplies of cigarettes and tobacco to retailers are now about 30 per cent. above the prewar level, and the manufacturers are making as many cigarettes as they can with the labour available. Retailers' working stocks were run down to meet Service requirements and have not yet recovered, but the situation would be eased if the public would confine their purchases to their immediate needs so as to give the opportunity for stocks to be rebuilt.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the recent decision to import silvered sheets and plate glass is viewed with alarm by glass manufacturers; and, as the decision is a breach of a pledge given during the war that continental imports at uneconomical prices which were allowed before the war would not again be permitted, if he will reconsider the matter and revoke the decision to import.

I have no knowledge of a pledge such as is referred to by the hon. Member. I am not prepared to revoke the decision to import silvered sheet and plate glass under the Token Import arrangements announced in the House on 8th April last. Imports will, however, be restricted to sizes and shapes in current use for utility furniture and, as they are at present limited to 20 per cent. by value of the prewar imports from the countries concerned, I cannot agree that United Kingdom manufacturers have any cause for alarm.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that women's winter vests, either in wool, silk and wool, or wool and cotton, are practically unobtainable; what is the cause of this; and what steps he proposes to take in order to increase the supply without delay.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clitheroe (Mr. Randall) on 21st November and to that given to my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden East (Mr. Orbach), on 26th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Rose Mill, Hollinwood, Oldham, has recently changed hands and that the textile machinery is to be dismantled for sale abroad; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes, Sir. I am informed that this mill, which reopened in May last, was sold because it was unable to obtain sufficient labour for efficient operation. Applications for licences to export some of the plant have been received and, after full consideration of all the circumstances, I have decided that the licences should be granted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that sheets, tablecloths and curtains have become so threadbare that housewives are experiencing difficulty to know how to replace them; when he expects that increased production will enable more of these articles to be released to the shops; and why the wide difference in price of buying with or without dockets.

Yes, Sir. Substantial increases in production of sheets and curtains have taken place over the past year, and a limited production of cotton and linen utility tablecloths has also been arranged. Arrangements already made should lead to some increase in the supply of these goods. Docket holders are entitled to obtain utility goods, which are substantially cheaper than non-utility goods because of the closer control exercised over their production and distribution and because they are exempt from Purchase Tax. Some utility sheets are, however, available for sale to non-docket holders, and the price of these goods is the same whether they are sold to docket holders or to other purchasers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider downpointing those articles of utility furniture of which considerable stocks are at present held by manufacturers.

I am aware that there are accumulations of certain articles of Utility furniture, and I have, therefore, decided to downpoint them. These changes come into effect tomorrow and I am circulating the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the details:

For the settees Nos. 12 and 13, the unit value will be reduced from 9 to 3; for the chairs New. 12A, 2 and 2A, from 6 to 2; for the fireside chair No. 1A, from 5 to 1; and for kitchen tables Nos. 1 and 2, from 4 to 1. No units will be required for the purchase of kitchen cabinets. Utility chairs made from woven fibre, the supply position of which has recently improved, will also be available without units.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that publishers have insufficient stocks of paper for reprints of the versions of the Bible adequate to meet the demands of Sunday school and chapel teaching; and if he will authorise a special allocation of paper for this purpose.

The regular paper quotas to book publishers, from which they are free to produce whatever books they choose, have been substantially increased over the last 18 months. In addition, it is open to any publisher who is unable to reprint a standard edition of the Bible from lack of paper to apply for a special allocation for this purpose from the Special Reserve. Such applications are very sympathetically considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the value of sheet glass exports during the past six months.

Separate figures for sheet glass are not available but exports of plate and sheet glass together during the six months ended 31st October, 1946, were valued at £1,330,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the latest date on which application will be received for war damage claims.

I announced in this House on 21st October that no claim under part II of the War Damage Act will be considered after 31st December of this year, unless the claimant can show that he has been prevented by circumstances not under his control from lodging his claim.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that His Majesty's Government have not disclosed, and will not disclose, to any outside body the terms of the Bill for giving effect to certain recommendations of working parties before they are disclosed to this House.

The terms of this Bill will not, of course, be disclosed until it is laid before the House. But I consider it desirable that the main principles of a Measure of this kind should command the maximum agreement from both sides of industry, with whose representatives I am accordingly in touch.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Milan textile factories are making cotton and woollen goods of different types and qualities which leave the looms printed "Made in England"; that these goods are shipped back to Great Britain by the authority of his Department; where are they sold; and what steps he is taking to protect our export trade.

While a number of British merchants have, with the approval of my Department, made arrangements with Italian mills for the weaving of piece-goods which are sent to this country on condition that they are subsequently re-exported, I have no information that these fabrics are printed in the manner suggested in the first part of the Question. I am advised that goods so marked would be liable to confiscation by His Majesty's Customs as bearing a false trade description within the meaning of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there is not a sufficient supply of outsize woollen clothing in the city of Aberdeen; and if he will take steps to increase the supplies which are needed before the forthcoming winter.

Every effort is being made still further to increase the production of outsize woollen clothing, and my information does not suggest that the position in Aberdeen is more difficult than elsewhere.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average value of agricultural machinery exported each month during the first eight months of this year; and the value of that exported during September.

The average monthly value of agricultural machinery exported during the first eight months of 1946 was £507,000 and the value exported in September, £575,000.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the prospect of a steadily increased demand for electric current, he will investigate the results of the experiments now being conducted by the Chattanooga Electric Power Board, U.S.A., in the heating of houses with well water which has a temperature of 58 degrees F.

I am making inquiries about the experiments and I am obliged to my hon. Friend for drawing my attention to the matter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that under S.R. & O., 1942, No. 2510, Control of Fuel Order, the use of a wind-driven lighting set for house or shop has been forbidden by his Department in Edinburgh, and if he will reconsider the utilisation of the considerable windpower of Great Britain for the production of light for domestic and business purposes.

The order referred to prohibits the consumption of fuel, which includes electricity for lighting or other fittings or appliances used for business advertisement purposes. I regret the necessity for this prohibition, but I regard it as important for indirect as well as direct fuel-saving purposes, and it would not be fair to traders generally to allow exceptions. The answer to the second part of the Question is that my Department, in consultation with other Departments concerned, is already looking into the matter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what improvements in operating efficiency are expected to result from the conversion of the L. P. T. B.'s Neasden power station to fuel oil burning.

The conversion of the Neasden Power Station to oil firing has been undertaken by the London Passenger Transport Board as a matter of expediency, to ease the coal position. It is impossible to predict the exact effect of the alteration in fuel on operational efficiency, but no great change is likely.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many poles were applied for by the St. Austell Electric Lighting and Power Company in order to extend their services and on what date; how many have actually been supplied; and when it is proposed to supply the remainder.

The Electricity Commissioners inform me that this company has made two applications on 24th May and 21st October, for a total of 528 poles and that licences in respect of 218 of these required, for priority electricity supplies have been issued. A licence for the remainder has been deferred until further supplies of poles are available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what quantity of the timber poles imported into this country have been allocated to the electricity supply companies in Somerset.

The Electricity Commissioners have this year licensed the acquisition of some 2,500 poles by electricity undertakings in Somerset. The poles are acquired through the usual trade channels and I cannot say how many of these poles were imported.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will take steps to reduce the delays now experienced in obtaining consent to the building of urgently required new power stations.

Close consultation is already taking place among the Departments concerned which it is hoped will expedite the issue of the formal statutory consents required under the Electricity Supply Acts and Town and Country Planning legislation.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent the shedding of electricity load is due to plant deficiency; and what steps are being taken to remedy this situation.

The present shedding of electricity load is due to shortage of generating plant which is insufficient to meet peak loads on the public supply system. It does not arise from shortage of coal. The shortage of plant is due to the fact that very few power stations could be built during the war, while consumption of electricity has increased by 55 per cent. above 1938. A large programme of new power stations was approved as soon as the war ended, but these stations take several years to complete. All possible steps to expedite the construction of these stations are being taken.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power on how many days since 1st November, 1946, have compulsory cuts of electric power been inflicted on industry; and in what areas.

Since 1st November, 1946, the Central Electricity Board has found it necessary on 18 days to issue instructions to electricity undertakings to shed 5 per cent. or 10 per cent. of their load for periods averaging about half an hour. All seven areas of the board into which Great Britain is divided have been affected but the districts most affected are the Midlands and South-East England. Load shedding does not necessarily involve cuts in electricity supplies. In many cases the strain on the load is lightened by a reduction in voltage; in other cases large industrial consumers on receiving an intimation, transfer part of their load to off-peak hours.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the public concern at the increase in the number of certified cases of dermatitis among coalminers; and what steps he is taking to prevent the increase of this disease.

The increased number of certified cases of dermatitis amongst coal-miners has for some time received the close attention of the mines medical officers, who make a point of investigating mines known to be particularly affected and suggest preventive measures. I am advised that the prompt treatment of minor skin abrasions and other possible indications of the early stages of the disease is most important, and the provision of medical treatment centres with qualified nurses at mines, which has now started, will assist in this direction.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total annual value of coal output in Scotland and its relationship to that of England.

The total selling value at mines of coal produced in Scotland in 1945 amounted to £38,000,000. which was 14 per cent. of the corresponding figure for England and Wales, or 17 per cent. for England only.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is now in a position to give the names of the committee appointed to consider the question of mining subsidence and damage arising therefrom.

I have already announced that Mr. T. F. Turner, K.C. has accepted the chairmanship of this Committee, and I have appointed the following to be members: The hon. Member for Abertillery (Mr. Daggar). The hon. Member for Leek (Mr. Harold Davies). The hon. Member for South Hendon (Sir H. Lucas-Tooth). Sir William W. Gibson. Mr. C. P. Harvey. Mr. J. M. Mitchell. Mr. M. F M. Wright.

I shall be appoint one, or possibly two, additional members, and I hope to make a further announcement in the course of a few days.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the figures for November, 1945, and November, 1946, for deep mined coal production, output per manshift and the number of men employed in the industry.

The output of deep-mined coal in November, 1945, was 14,375,000 tons and in November, 1946, 14,939,000 tons, representing an increase of 564,000 tons on the corresponding month of last year. Output per manshift was 1.03 tons in November, 1945, and 1.06 tons in November, 1946. The average numbers of wage earners on colliery books declined from 694,900 in November, 1945, to 691,500 in November, 1946; that is, a decrease of 3,400 since last year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of local fuel overseers who are officials of their local authority and draw honorariums from his Department, the actual work being carried out by deputies; and the number of local fuel overseers who are not officials of local councils, draw salaries and are fully responsible for the work entailed in that position.

Three hundred and fifty local fuel overseers are employed full time on fuel administration and are not in receipt of a full time salary out of local authority funds in respect of their services in another local authority capacity. Five hundred and eighty local fuel overseers are employed part time on fuel administration and are not in receipt of a full time salary for other local authority work. Six hundred local fuel overseers are in receipt of a full time salary out of local authority funds in respect of their services in another local authority capacity, but receive honoraria for acting as local fuel overseers. The above figures are approximate and include about 100 local fuel overseers who give their services voluntarily.

It should be pointed out that all local fuel overseers are officers of the local authorities, on whom the responsibility for making the appointments and for providing staff and accommodation is placed by the Coal Distribution Order, 1943. The cost of this service is however reimbursed by the Ministry and the local fuel overseers work under the direct instructions of the Minister.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what quantities of coal are being imported from the U.S.A. and at what prices.

No U.S.A. coal is being imported into the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what provisions are being made in connection with the new Manchester Corporation power station at Carrington, Cheshire, to utilise the waste heat for houses and other development works; and whether his attention has been directed to the desirability of making some arrangement to supply such heat in this locality, where the Urmston local authority has been authorised to carry out a district heating scheme and important industrial extensions are now in hand at Carrington and Partington, near the site of the proposed new power station.

The Electricity Commissioners, whose consent to the erection of generating stations is required under the Electricity Supply Acts, inform me that no proposals in regard to the proposed station at Carrington have yet been submitted by the Manchester Corporation. I am therefore unaware of the details of the proposed station. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the consumption of gas and electricity in November, 1945, and November, 1946.

Monthly figures of actual consumption of gas and electricity are not available but figures for production by gas and electricity undertakers are a reasonably reliable index of consumption. Gas production has arisen from 165 million therms in November, 1945, to 186 million therms in November, 1046, an increase of 12.7 per cent. Electricity production has risen from 3,463 million units in November, 1945, to 3,938 million units in November, 1946, an increase of 13.7 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is in a position to make a statement in regard to the parking of unattended motor cars in the streets within a prescribed distance of Piccadilly Circus and between certain hours that are to be subject to regulation by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in the immediate future.

The conditions under which vehicles may be parked in the neighbourhood of Piccadilly Circus are prescribed by regulations made by the Minister of Transport. It is the duty of the police to see that these regulations are observed and to prevent obstruction, but there is no question of any regulations being made by the Commissioner of Police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the desirability of excluding young persons from admission to greyhound racing tracks, and of the voluntary efforts made in this connection by various managements, he will consider taking such steps as are necessary to make this exclusion one of general application.

Betting with young persons under 18 is already prohibited. Legislation to prohibit their admission to tracks when accompanied by parents could not be justified. I have not been able to form any opinion on the size and urgency of the remainder of the problem which I am willing to discuss with my hon. Friend and any other interested parties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet reached any conclusion regarding the possibility of introducing legislation to make the utterance of racialistic libels a criminal offence.

The question whether the law required strengthening to deal with Fascist, including anti-Semitic, activities and publications was carefully considered by the Government last spring. As I stated in the House on nth April, the Government came to the conclusion that the existing law was adequate to deal with all really dangerous activities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that British-born subjects resident in Guernsey before June, 1940, whose property in Guernsey has been lost or destroyed owing to the action of the enemy or allied bombing, have been refused compensation on the ground that they are no longer resident in Guernsey but are resident in this country; and What steps he proposes to take to ensure that British subject's whose property has been destroyed or lost in these circumstances shall receive adequate compensation.

As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) on 5th December last the cost of rehabilitation schemes for the Channel Islands is being found by local borrowing, and because of the financial position of the islands it has necessarily been limited to rehabilitating persons who return to the islands. The War Damage Compensation Schemes of the United Kingdom do not extend to the islands, which have their own fiscal system, and, much as I sympathise with those who have suffered losses, the cost of making good such losses could not properly be placed on the British taxpayer.

Year January-March. April-June. July-September. October-December. Total. Fined. Imprisonment. Fined. Imprisonment. Fined. Imprisonment. Fined. Imprisonment. Fined. Imprisonment. 1939 … … — — — — — — — — 55,204 30 *1940 … … — — — — — — — — 37,841 1,032 *1941 … … — — — — — — — — 265,399 2,070 *1942 … … — — — — — — — — 216,856 3,341 1943 … … 56,056 670 40,813 665 38,423 682 38,594 443 174,062 2,601 1944 … … 39,624 515 35,748 807 29,436 833 22,038 631 127,017 2,898 1945 … … 19,852 674 14,906 461 6,845 413 5,878 201 47,625 1,852 †1946 … … 4,422 185 4,024 134 — — — — — — * Quarterly totals for these years are not available. † Figures are for Magistrates Courts only; figures for Assizes and Quarter Sessions are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were serving terms of imprisonment for offences against Defence Regulations and Statutes passed since September, 1939, on 1st December in each of the years 1939 to 1946, inclusive.

I regret that information is not available showing how many of the persons serving sentences of imprisonment on a given date had been sentenced for offences of a particular category.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that recently a leading fireman was killed and another fireman seriously injured at the Louth Regional Training School, N.F.S., during carrying-down drill: what are the present instructions on

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were fined and how many sentenced to terms of imprisonment for offences against Defence Regulations and Statutes passed since September, 1939, in each quarter from 1st January, 1945, to date.

The available figures relate only to persons fined or sentenced to imprisonment for offences against the Defence (General) Regulations, and are as follow:

this drill and it, in particular, regulations require weighted life-size dummies to be used for this purpose; and if he is satisfied that a competent officer was in charge at the time of the accident.

I deeply regret this unfortunate accident. The drill was carried out under the personal direction of the commandant of the training school; all proper precautions were taken and none of the supervising officers is able to suggest any reason for the accident. The use of "dummies" would not, I am advised, be effective for the purpose of giving the firemen the necessary practice and skill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that pin table, amusement arcades are, in many cases, responsible for the initial and subsequent criminal activities of youths and juveniles; and what action he proposes to take to control these establishments.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford (Mr. Austin) on nth April and to my hon. Friend the Member for Bilston (Mr. Nally) on 4th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what authority the Metropolitan Police order shopkeepers to extinguish lights in shop windows which are necessary for the displaying of foods for sale; and if he will take steps to cancel it.

In this matter the police take action in pursuance of Article 5 of the Control of Fuel (No. 3) Order, 1942, which makes it an offence to use for advertisement purposes any lighting appliance consuming fuel.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he will say, for the latest convenient date, the number of persons committed by the courts for Borstal detention who are still in prison awaiting removal to Borstal reception centres; and what was the corresponding figure 12 months before.

On 3rd December last the number was 27 youths, all of whom were awaiting the weekly escort to a reception centre, and 24 girls as compared with 589 and 81 on 4th December last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Register of Electors will be prepared by personal canvass instead of from the national registration records

The future machinery for electoral registration will be considered in the light of the recommendations of the Committee on Electoral Registration. The Report of this Committee will, I understand, be available shortly.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider taking steps to delete the word adopted from the birth certificate where adopting parents are accepting full and final responsibility for the child and its future.

The document normally produced by an adopted child as evidence of age is not a birth certificate, which would give particulars of his natural parents, but a certified copy of an entry in the Adopted Children Register which gives the date of birth but substitutes particulars of the adopters for particulars of the natural parents. This document in its full form necessarily contains references to adoption, but as intimated in the reply to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Keeling) and others on 5th December, I hope to introduce legislation permitting the issue of shortened extracts from the Adopted Children Register which will contain no reference to adoption.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that prefabricated houses are being put up on some of the best sites, thus preventing proper development; and if he will take steps to stop this tendency.

No, Sir. In order to safeguard proper development all sites proposed for housing, whether temporary or permanent, are agreed by the local planning authority and the regional planning officer before being submitted to me for approval.

asked the Minister of Health whether plans for the extension of Heathrow aerodrome are likely to interfere with housing projects either begun, or contemplated, by the Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban District Council.

Yes, Sir, I am afraid so. It has been found necessary, in the interests of safety, to adjust the boundary of the airport, and in consequence the Council's Bell Farm housing scheme has had to be curtailed to the extent of about 100 houses

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department will consider making payments as compensation to householders whose property is damaged by frequent flooding.

I have no funds at my disposal from which I could make payments in such circumstances.

asked the Minister of Health what is the percentage of dwelling units in Great Britain which are without piped water and without baths, respectively.

About 6 per cent. of the dwelling units in Great Britain are without piped water supplies. I regret that I have not the information as to the number of dwelling units without baths.

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to publish the report of the Rural Housing Sub-Committee of the Central Housing Advisory Committee on repair and reconditioning of rural houses.

The report is at present with the printers. It will be published in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of Mrs. Cropp and Mrs. Sudbury who, with their children, were living under slum conditions in fruit-pickers' huts at Wested Farm, Crocken Hill, Kent; and if he will take steps to ensure that this and similar properties elsewhere are not used for housing.

Yes, Sir, and I have written to my hon Friend on the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the demolition of two cottages in East Holywell village, Northumberland, to make way for the provision of pit offices; and, in view of the bad housing conditions in the village and the country generally, what steps he will take to prevent privately-owned habitable property from being pulled down.

I am informed that the colliery company who owned these cottages demolished them because they were considered to be beyond repair. The tenants had been rehoused. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer to the provision made by Defence Regulation 56A.

asked the Minister of Health if the announcement at the Fuel and the Future Conference, that his Department would not cut out improved grates or other solid-fuel burning appliances from a local authority's plans merely on account of cost, has been brought to the notice of all local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health the maximum sum which he is prepared to authorise over and above the present maximum cost allowed for new houses in respect of the provision of up-to-date and scientific coal-burning apparatus; in how many cases such additional expenditure has been permitted up to date; and what steps have been taken to inform house-building authorities of this facility.

I have no doubt that the wide publicity given to my hon. Friend's statement will effectively have brought it to the notice of local authorities. The cost of the appliances varies considerably according to type and design, and the question what extra cost may be allowed in a particular case by reason of the inclusion of approved appliances must depend upon an examination of costs in that case. I regret that information is not available as to the number of cases in which additional cost has been allowed.

asked the Minister of Health whether the provision of housing accommodation for T.R.E. workers and other Government employees, for whom hostel accommodation is not available in Malvern, is the sole responsibility of the urban district council; and what steps the Government have in mind, such as by directing building labour to the district, to ensure that the housing requirements of the original inhabitants of Malvern shall not be prejudiced.

Discussions on this matter are now proceeding with the urban district council.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the report of the Chichester Rural District Council, dated December, 1944, a copy of which has been forwarded to him, dealing with the effect of sea eroson on coastal districts of the council's area; and what action he is taking thereon.

Yes, Sir. I replied to the hon. Member's letter about this matter on 5th December.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to prevent the effluent from the Luton sewage works from contaminating the River Lea; and whether he will suspend any further development at Luton until the effluent has been brought to a proper standard.

The technical officers of my Department are giving such assistance as they can to the Luton Borough Council, whose responsibility it is to maintain the sewage works and to decide what improvements should be effected, and at my request the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are undertaking some experiments on the filtration processes employed on these works. I am fully alive to the complaints which have been made of the effect on the condition of the River Lea of the effluents from the Luton sewage works and I shall keep in close touch with the situation. I am unable, however, to adopt the course suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the concern being expressed by the workers of Southeast Durham, including a large number of miners, at the decision to call up for military service the orthopædic surgeon attached to the Hartlepools Hospital and the consequent effect upon the service which the hospital will be able to render to the injured workmen of the town and surrounding mining districts; and if he will consider making representations for the deferment of this surgeon, at least until a substitute can be found by the hospital authorities.

Yes, Sir. The decision is to be reviewed at a meeting of the Central Medical War Committee tomorrow, when I have arranged for my hon. Friend's suggestion to be considered. I will write to him when I receive a report of the meeting.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the negotiations between the Bingham Rural District Council and the Nottingham Corporation for the provision of piped water.

I understand that the Corporation have put forward new proposals, but that the negotiations have not yet been concluded.

asked the Minister of Health how many mass-radiology sets are now in use in the country; how many persons have undergone the test; and how many cases of tuberculosis have been discovered as a result of the tests.

Nineteen units are operating in England and Wales. Up to 30th June, 1946, approximately 1,111,000 persons were examined of whom 4,200 were diagnosed as suffering from active tuberculous conditions.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he has taken to make known to nurses in training that they are entitled to sit for the State certificate after two and a half years, instead of three, at a training school, if they have served in the auxiliary nursing services.

Wide publicity has been given to this concession by Press announcements, circulars to hospital authorities, and other means.

asked the Minister of Health what action has been taken to arrange for JX/353516 Leading Seaman P. Swaine to receive treatment in a sanatorium near his home at Macclesfield, details of which have been forwarded to his Department by letter.

I am in touch with the Cheshire County Council with a view to this patient being admitted to one of their sanatoria as soon as this can be arranged.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take to alleviate the shortage of nurses, in view of the fact that the General Nursing Council is unable to cope with applications for admission to the roll of assistant nurses and that applicants are having to wait several months for decisions.

Applicants for enrolment can continue to nurse while the General Nursing Council is considering their applications. Some waiting is unavoidable as references have to be taken up, but the period is being reduced.

asked the Minister of Health if he will supply particulars of the deaths attributed, respectively, to post-vaccinal encephalitis and other effects of vaccination during each of the six years 1939 to 1944; whether he will state the ages of these fatal cases; and if he will arrange for complete information of this character to be given in future annual reports of the chief medical officer of his Department.

The information for which my hon. Friend asks is not immediately available, but I will send it to him as soon as possible. I will carefully consider his suggestion.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will supply particulars of the vaccinal state of the cases of smallpox reported to his Department during each of the six years 1939 to 1944; and if he will arrange for complete information of this character to be given in future annual reports of the chief medical officer of his Department.

The information desired by my hon. Friend is not immediately available, but I will send it to him as soon as possible. I will carefully consider his suggestion

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 60 cases and 31 deaths from post-vaccinal encephalitis, referred to in the recent report of the chief medical officer of his Department as having been recorded during the six years 1939 to 1944, were vaccinated with Government lymph; and what were the ages of the cases and deaths.

The particulars referred to are not immediately available but I will send them to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to make an order to put into operation the provisions of the Food and Drugs (Milk and Dairies) Act, 1944.

Yes, Sir. I hope to do 50 in the course of the next year, though I cannot yet give a date.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases originally notified as diphtheria in the six months July to December, 1945, were subsequently diagnosed as some other diseases.

In the six months 1st July to 31st December, 1945, 3,538 cases originally notified as diphtheria were subsequently diagnosed as suffering from some other disease.

asked the Minister of Health if he is now in a position to make a statement on the appropriateness in postwar conditions of the range of basic salaries adopted for registration officers in 1929; and what representations have been made to him recently by the Local Government Clerks' Association on this subject.

I would refer my hon Friend to the statement which I made on 6th March last in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for the Park Division of Sheffield (Mr. Burden). I have just received from the Local Government Clerks Association representations regarding the appropriate remuneration for superintendent registrars in present conditions, but I have not yet received any representations from the central associations representing the local authorities and the registrars of births and deaths, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health arising from circular 221/45, how many day nurseries for children under five years of age have been notified to him by local authorities as having been closed.

One hundred and twenty-seven, out of a total of 1,304, have been notified.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an approximate indication of the extent to which Class 1 roads in Great Britain were out of use on account of flooding during November; and whether any work is to be undertaken during 1947 to reduce the traffic losses caused by such roads being out of action.

In November over the whole of Great Britain some 55 cases occurred of flooding of trunk or Class I roads; in 22 of these the roads were impassable for about 24 hours or more. The November rainfall was exceptionally heavy, and remedial measures would not be justified at all points where flooding occurred; in a number of cases, however, drainage or improvement schemes are proposed for execution during 1947.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give comparative figures of passenger road-transport vehicles operating in North Staffordshire in 1939 and at the latest available date; and whether he is satisfied that the present service is adequate to meet peak period demands.

I regret that I cannot, without expenditure of much labour, give the figures desired. With regard to the peak hour services, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke (Mr. Ellis Smith) on 25th November.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to would-be omnibus passengers in London by the inability of drivers to pull in at request stops when these are blocked by parked private motor-cars and commercial vehicles; and if he will consult the police authorities with a view to enforcing more stringent anti-parking regulations, especially near omnibus stops in the daytime.

Bus stops should not be obstructed by other traffic, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 21st November by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelsea (Commander Noble).

asked the Minister of National Insurance if it is intended by paragraph 3, of Circular A362, dated November, 1946, that compensation will not be paid and that permanent and half-time officials of approved societies may, or may not, be taken over.

The paragraph is intended to indicate that there will be a prospect of employment in the Ministry for staff engaged during the remaining period before the functions of approved societies are taken over, as well as for staff already in the employ of the societies. The staffs eligible for compensation are described in Section 67 of the National Insurance Act.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what action he has taken to notify officials of approved societies of the date when he is taking over their services and the remuneration to be paid; and, if not required, to state the amount of compensation to be paid for loss of office.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 10th instant to the hon. Member for Midlothian and Peebles, Northern (Lord John Hope).

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that unless he receives the fullest cooperation of the staffs of the approved societies he cannot launch the new Insurance Act; and if he is prepared to make the appointed day as 1st January, 1947, and from that date give to the staffs of the approved societies, Civil Service status and wages.

I am aware of the value of the cooperation of the staffs of approved societies and, as my hon. Friend doubtless knows, the terms on which engagements are to be offered to them under the new scheme are being considered by an advisory committee on which their staffs are represented. It is not possible to fix 1st January, 1947, as the appointed day for purposes of the scheme.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when the hon. Member for Spen Valley will receive a full reply to his request of 7th November that Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Metcalf, 20, High Street, Heckmondwike, pension book numbers 19505137 and 38535195, be sent the new pension books to which they were entitled as from the first pay week in October.

I have written to my hon. Friend about this case.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that about 200 houses in the vicinity of Main Street and Victoria Street, Allerton By-water, are subject to flooding and are rendered uninhabitable on the ground floor at intervals, which are becoming increasingly shorter; and to what extent the Drainage Board is responsible, in whole or in part, for taking whatever steps are necessary to prevent further repetition of this danger to health and property.

There is no internal drainage board in this locality. The River Aire is, however, part of the main river of the River Ouse (Yorks) Catchment Board, and I am informed by the Board that a survey is now in progress with a view to the preparation of a scheme for the alleviation of flooding at Allerton Bywater.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will make arrangements for parcels containing rationed foodstuffs destined for the Continent to be despatched from any post office in the United Kingdom.

Rationed foodstuffs may be sent by parcel post to all overseas destinations to which the parcel post is in operation, under the conditions recently announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food. The parcels must be certified by a food office, and can then be posted at any post office which transacts foreign parcel post business.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the reasons for the postponement of conversations in London on the future of Palestine.

The date originally fixed for the reopening of the London Conference on Palestine was 16th December, but it has become apparent that those delegates to the Conference who have also been representing their Governments in the General Assembly of the United Nations will not be able to return to London before that date. My right hon. Friend is similarly detained by the work of the Council of Foreign Ministers. The second part of the Palestine Conference has therefore been postponed until January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will set out the rates of pay and allowances at present in force for members of all grades of the Foreign Service.

These details are shown in the Foreign Office (Class II, 1) and Diplomatic and Consular Establishments (Class II, 2) Estimates (1946). The allowances therein shown are subject to variation for the various posts in the light of local conditions, and have been varied in many cases in the course of the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for War how long the Polish Resettlement Corps is to be administered by his Department; and whether he is satisfied with the present arrangement, in view of the assurances by His Majesty's Government that this Corps had been set up for purely civilian purposes.