asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what is the total number of staff and personnel in the service of the three corporations: B.O.A.C, B.E.A. and B.S.A.A.; and the total number in his Department.

The total numbers of persons employed by the British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways Corporation and British South American Airways Corporation are 23,708, 3,873 and 719 respectively. These figures include United Kingdom staff serving abroad and locally engaged staff overseas. Details are as follow:

figures are available, was 3,95b, including outstations staff. Details are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for War on whose instructions the camp commandant at the prisoner-of-war camp Llanover Park, Abergavenny, has decreed that no more parcels arriving in the camp addressed to prisoners will be delivered; and if he will have this order immediately reversed.

The Commandant at the camp in question, in refusing parcels addressed from this country to prisoners of war, was acting correctly in accordance with existing instructions. Following the relaxation of restrictions on contact with the public which I announced recently, I have now decided that prisoners of war may receive parcels from relatives and friends in the United Kingdom. Instructions are also being issued that prisoners of war may write to, and receive letters from, members of the British public.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of considerable casualties and hardships involved during service in the Netherlands East Indies, British and Indian troops are to be awarded a campaign star in recognition thereof.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Bexley (Major Bramall) on 14th October last, to which there is at present nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can report any progress in the matter of the proposed committee of inquiry into mining subsidence.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 12th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Ince (Mr. T. Brown), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the names of persons liable to serve on a jury or grand jury are no longer indicated on the electoral register.

As the electoral register is now compiled from national registration records instead of by means of a canvass, eligibility for jury service cannot be ascertained when the register is printed. Accordingly separate arrangements are provided under the Elections and Jurors Act, 1945, for the compilation of the jurors book. These arrangements require individual notification to a person on the first occasion on which he is to be marked as liable for jury service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been given giving greater discretionary powers to consuls to issue visas in countries where "Come to Britain" campaigns have been inaugurated; for how long a period consuls have now discretion to grant a visa; and when these instructions were issued.

I arranged in October for His Majesty's consular and passport control officers who are authorised to grant visas to be advised that in 1947 they would have discretion to grant, without reference to me, visas for the journey to the United Kingdom for the purpose of visits for business or pleasure: and full instructions were issued on nth November. As regards the second part of the Question, a visa is not a permit to enter this country or to stay for any particular period. The time for which a foreigner may stay here depends upon his reasons for coming here, as explained by him to the immigration officer when he applies for leave to land.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that a charge of 7s. 6d. is made for undergoing a test of competence to drive a motor vehicle; and if he will consider remitting this charge in the cases of war disabled.

Yes, Sir. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Henley (Sir G. Fox) on 30th October, 1946, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the height of the traffic sign at the junction of Brompton Road, Beauchamp Place corner; and what is the recommended height.

The height of the bollard at the junction of Brompton Road and Beauchamp Place is approximately 5 ft. 6 in. above road level. The recommended height is 4 ft. above road level, except when a specially large "Keep Left" sign is authorised, when 4 ft. 6 in. is appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what counties in the British Isles the lapwing is not protected all the year round; if he is aware of the decrease in lapwings; and if, in view of the fact that this bird is the friend of the farmer, he will take further steps to protect it.

My information is that as regards England and Wales the administrative counties and county boroughs in which the lapwing is not protected all the year round are as follow: Administrative Counties Anglesey Lincoln parts of Kesteven Cardigan Lincoln parts of Holland Caernarvon London Derby Middlesex Devon Norfolk Flint Pembroke Hereford Rutland Huntingdon Soke of Peterborough Isle of Ely

County Boroughs. Bath Merthyr Tydfil Blackburn Middlesbrough Bolton Nottingham Brighton Norwich Bristol Oxford Burton-on-Trent Portsmouth Bury Plymouth Carlisle Preston Croydon Rotherham Derby Salford Doncaster Smethwick Dudley Stoke-on-Trent Exeter Sunderland Grimsby Tynemouth Ipswich Walsall Kingston-upon-Hull Warrington Lincoln York.

I understand that the lapwing is protected all the year round under every Scottish Wild Birds Protection Order and in Northern Ireland. I am making inquiries on the second and third points raised by the hon. Member and will communicate with him as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the National Maritime Board's scheme for continuity of employment of Merchant Navy officers and men will be operative as from 1st January, 1947.

The National Maritime Board have made considerable progress towards the conclusion of an agreement covering the position of Merchant Navy officers and men for periods between voyages, and in order to facilitate the change-over from the Government scheme to an industrial scheme, they have asked the Government to continue the financing of the Merchant Navy Reserve Pool until 31st March, 1947, on the understanding that if by 31st January, 1947, the Board has not completed a Continuous Employment Scheme for operation on 1st April, this additional financing will end on 31st January. I must emphasise that the preparation of this industrial scheme is a matter for the industry, acting through the National Maritime Board. The Government have acceded to the Board's request in the expectation that the scheme will be completed in the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a final release date can now be given to men released from the Services for industrial work; and whether such men now on the W.T. Reserve will be given gratuities and clothing on the same terms as those released under Class B.

Members of the Forces released to industry before their normal Class A release date are not liable to be recalled to the Forces (except in the event of extreme emergency) after the date on which they would have been released in Class A if they had continued to serve, provided not less than six months have elapsed since their release. They are then subject only to such controls as may apply to other ex-Servicemen of the same age and occupation. Those who were so released before the Release Scheme came into operation received the clothing benefit which was appropriate at the date of their release. War gratuity if admissible is payable on application by the men concerned and forms of application are obtainable at Post Offices

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) how many officers and/or civilian officials are employed on a full-time basis in the Royal Dockyard at Portsmouth for the purpose of ensuring that the safety regulations are complied with; (2) how far the Factory Act regulations for work on ship reconstruction are applicable to work of this nature carried out in His Majesty's dockyards; (3) what is the number of accidents, other than minor mishaps, which have taken place during the course of work carried out in his Department's establishments at Portsmouth, Gosport, and Fareham, respectively, in each of the years 1939, 1944, 1945 and 1946 to the latest convenient date; and if he will state how many of these were ascertained to be the result of the safety regulations not being complied with.

The following figures give the number of accidents involving workpeople in Admiralty Establishments at Portsmouth, Fareham, and Gosport, in absences of three days or, more on the hurt list: 1939. 1944. 1945. 1946* Portsmouth 675 799 679 576 Fareham 59 284 207 72 Gosport — — — 7 * First three-quarters.

All these accidents, with three exceptions, occurred to individual workers. In the three cases mentioned, four, three, and eight workers respectively were concerned.

The numbers of these accidents which were due to non-compliance with safety regulations were: 1939. 1944. 1945. 1946 Portsmouth 55 76 142 127 Fareham 18 8 14 2 Gosport — — — —

The appropriate provisions of the Factories Act apply in their entirety in H.M. Dockyards, and one safety officer is employed full-time at each of the main yards, including Portsmouth Dockyard, to ensure that these provisions are observed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many men have been recruited on regular engagements and how many men have been recruited on emergency engagements for the R.N. and R.M., respectively, in each month of 1946.

The following statement shows the numbers of men accepted for regular and extended service engagements, respectively: REGULAR ENGAGEMENTS. Normal. Extended Service. Royal Navy. Royal Marines. Royal Navy. Royal Marines. January 954 81 — — February 1,128 44 — — March 1,019 121 — — April 829 41 16 — May 1,340 43 286 4 June 1,398 101 355 12 July 1,717 45 586 21 August 1,662 140 370 18 September 1,566 100 394 172 October 2,214 131 548 61 November 1,498 146 537 104 15,325 993 3,092 392

asked the Minister of Health how many beds in mental and other hospitals are at present unusable owing to shortage of staffs.

Exact figures are not available, but I fear that the total is considerable.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the difficulty local authorities will have in staffing the smaller hospitals by the operation of his Ministry's circulars, Nos. 4/46 and 124/46, at the beginning of 1948; and it he will consider a postponement until two years after the hospitals have been regionalised, so as to prevent what might be a serious hindrance to the proper staffing of the smaller hospitals.

I am aware of the difficulty, but am not satisfied that it would be solved if the General Nursing Council further postponed the final date for the enrolment of assistant nurses without examination. This and other matters relating to the recruitment, and training of nurses are at present under consideration by a working party on Nursing.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet decided to appoint a date for ending the war period under the Restoration of Pre-War Trade Practices Act, 1942.

Yes, Sir. On the advice of the Joint Consultative Committee of the National Joint Advisory Council I have decided to appoint a day some time in December, 1947, as the end of the war period for the purposes of this Act. The necessary Order will be made in due course. Employers will then be under an obligation to restore or permit the restoration of a trade practice not later than two months after the appointed day and to maintain or permit the continuance of the trade practice for a further 18 months. The only exceptions to this obligation provided by the Act are where the trade practice has been modified or waived by joint agreement or by arbitration. It is, therefore, essential that the two sides of any industry affected should consider this matter with a view to agreement on any point arising. The Act was passed in pursuance of a pledge to the trade unions that trade practices relaxed for the purposes of the war effort would be fully restored. In making this announcement honouring that pledge I wish to acknowledge the valuable contribution to the war effort made by the trade unions in agreeing to these relaxations.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 1,019,000 persons employed in local government service in September, 1946, are employed in regions, county councils, county borough councils, municipal borough councils, urban and rural district councils, respectively.

MR. ISAACS, pursuant to his replies [OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th December, 1946, Vol. 431, c. 1336, and 19th December, 1946, Vol. 431 (Mr. De la Bère), c. 2164], supplied the following statement: Estimated numbers of persons employed by Local Authorities in Great Britain at 30th September, 1946 (excluding Local Authority Trading Services).* ( a ) Number in each Administrative Region. London and South Eastern 256,000 Eastern 64,000 Southern 44,000 South Western 53,000 Midland 86,000 North Midland 67,000 East and West Ridings 90,000 North Western 140,000 Northern 63,000 Scotland 102,000 Wales 54,000 1,019,000

( b ) Number employed by the undermentioned Authorities. County Councils 432,000 County Borough Councils, and Councils of Large Burghs and Cities in Scotland 372,000 Municipal Boroughs and Metropolitan Boroughs 123,000 Urban District Councils, and Councils of Small Burghs in Scotland 57,000 Rural District Councils 20,000 Other Local Authorities (Joint Boards etc.) 15,000 1,019,000

*The figures relate to men aged 14 and under 65 and women aged 14 and under 60.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give the figure of expenditure on public social services in 1944–45 and 1945–46.

Yes, Sir. Following is a statement giving the figures for 1944–45 (or the latest available year) and 1945–46. These are comparable with the figures published in the OFFICIAL REPORT for 13th December, 1945, in respect of 1943–44 and 1944–45.

PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES.

Total Expenditure under Certain Acts of Parliament (other than expenditure out of loans for capital purposes or out of capital receipts).

NOTE.—This Statement gives the expenditure on Public Social Services in 1944–45 and 1945–46, the latest years for which details are available, which would have been included in Part I of the return to be published in continuation of Command 5906 of November, 1938. Reference should be made to Command 5906 for comparable expenditure in earlier years and for information as to the basis on which the return is compiled, but it should be observed that the explanatory notes given in that return are not now accurate in all respects.

Service. England and Wales. Scotland. 1944–45 (or latest available year) Great Britain. Total number of persons directly benefiting from the expenditure included in Column 5. Financial Year commencing 1st April. Financial Year commencing 1st April. 1944 (or latest available year). 1945 (estimated). 1944 (or latest available year). 1945 (estimated). (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 England and Wales. Scotland. ( a ) Unemployment Insurance and Unemployment Assistance Acts: (i) Unemployment Benefit, etc., General Scheme 4,939 13,441 1,549 3,317 6,488 11,227,000* 1,334,000* (ii) Unemployment Benefit, etc., Agricultural Scheme 229 299 33 41 262 569,000* 83,000* (iii) Unemployment Allowances 1,213 1,956 448 614 1,661 Not available. Not available. (iv) Prevention and Relief of Distress 594 322 31 30 625 ( b ) National Health Insurance Acts 47,409† 50,875† 5,590† 6,087† 52,999 22,141,000* 2,529,000* ( c ) Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts 56,285‡ 57,386‡ 6,555‡ 6,634‡ 62,840 2,536,000 301,000 ( d ) Old Age Pensions Acts 50,510 52,396 5,691 5,821 56,201 2,156,000 241,000 ( e ) Old Age and Widows' Pensions Act, 1940, etc.: Supplementary Pensions 52,815 56,896 5,281 5,565 58,096 Not available. Not available. ( f ) War Pensions Acts and the Ministry of Pensions Act (War of 1914?18) 29,741 30,658 3,266 3,360 33,007 609,280 66,790 ( g ) Pensions (Navy, Army, Air Force and Mercantile Marine) Act, 1939; Personal Injuries (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1939; Military Training Act, 1939; Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Act, 1939 (War of 1939?45) 38,954 43-131 4,794 5,427 43,748 964,980 119,570

Service. England and Wales. Scotland. 1944-45 (or latest available Year) Great Britain. Total number of persons directly benefiting from the expenditure included in Column 5. Financial Year commencing 1st April. Financial Year commencing 1st April. 1944 (or latest available year) 1945 (estimated) 1944 (or latest available year). 1945 (estimated) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) £000 £'000 £'000 £000 £'000 England and Wales. Scotland. ( h ) Education Acts 136,537 169,209 19,397 24,209 155,934 Not available. 915,573 ( i ) Physical Training and Recreation Act 1 3 — — 1 Not avilable. — ( j ) Acts relating to Approved Schools 1,732§ 2,446 287 324 2,019 11,111 3,721 ( k ) Public Health Acts so far as they relate to: (i) Hospitals and Treatment of Disease 19,657 Not available 3,312 Not available 22,789 Not available Not available (ii) Maternity and child welfare Work 4,564 966 7,157 ( l ) Midwives Acts 1,627 ( m ) Housing Acts 46,077 9,141 55,218 — — ( n ) Acts relating to the Relief of the Poor 35,944 4,572 40,516 570,295 104,215 ( o ) Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts 3,567 1,983 10,219 127,629 22,000 ( p ) Mental Deficiency Acts 4,669 Not available Totals 537,064 72,716 609,780 NOTES. * Numbers given are those of insured persons at 3rd July, 1944;Unemployment) and 31st December, 1945 (Health). See paragraph 6 on page 5 of 8 Command 5906. ‡ The figures given in columns 1 and 3 and columns 2 and 4 relate to the calendar years 1945 and 1946, respectively. • These figures refer to expenditure from the Pensions Account, the Special Pensions Account, the Pensions (Scotland) Account and the Special Pensions (Scotland) Account. Surpluses and deficits in these Accounts are dealt with by transfers to and from the Treasury Pensions Account and the Treasury Special Pensions Account, which cover both England and Wales and Scotland and into which annual contributions are paid by the Exchequer. For the financial year 1944–45 the amount of the Exchequer contribution was £22,525,000. § Of this figure £284,000, representing expenditure by local authorities, relates to the financial year 1942–43, the latest year for which figures are available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the incident which took place on 5th December, at Cricklewood, London, when a locomotive driver signed on for duty at 12.10 p.m., was sent to relieve a driver on a train of 75 wagons at 12.50 p.m., stood by for eight hours 20 minutes idle with steam up during which time 10 cwt. of coal was expended and nine engine hours and 675 wagon hours were wasted and eventually was relieved at 9.10 p.m., having completed his day's work; and, in view of the fact that this a common everyday experience, if he will ensure the proper use of rolling stock and manpower.

I am informed that the train was a mineral train consigned to West End Sidings, Hampstead, which arrived at Watling Street Junction, Cricklewood, at 1.50 p.m. on 5th December, but could not be taken into West End Sidings until 1 a.m. on 6th December because of congestion there. The driver could not be released as trains cannot be left standing on running lines without power. I am advised that this admittedly unsatisfactory state of affairs is abnormal, and that a close investigation into the whole mater is being made by the railway company.

asked the Minister of Transport how many junior and senior officers of all classes at present employed by the railway companies are above the normal retiring age of 60 years; and what proportion do they bear to the total number employed.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 16th December, 1946; Vol. 431, c. 320], supplied the following statement:

The number of staff in receipt of salaries of £500 per annum, excluding war advance, and over, employed by the main line railways or on the railways of the London Passenger Transport Board is 3,139, and of those 608, or approximately 19 per cent, are above the age of 60 years.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what grounds the issue of passes, renewable periodically, to authorise selected leaders, of the German churches to cross inter-zone boundaries, has been refused; and whether he is aware of the unnecessary work and delay caused in cases such as that where a Bishop, whose diocese is in two zones of occupation, must apply for a special pass each time his duties require him to cross the inter-zone boundary.

The regulations governing inter-zonal movement are not as suggested in the Question, but if the hon. Member will give me details of any particular cases of which he has knowledge, I will look into them.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what instructions have been given to the regional officers of the Control Commission in Germany with regard to Top Secret papers; and if he will make a statement as to the steps taken to prevent leakages.

Comprehensive instructions have been issued to all staff of the Control Commission in the form of a security handbook, and constant publicity is given to the importance of maintaining security precautions. A security board meets regularly to coordinate safeguards throughout the zone and the British sector of Berlin, and checks are made in offices to ensure that the proper security measures are being taken The credentials of German employees are tested so far as possible before they are engaged, and their work and movements within office buildings are supervised.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give an assurance that, when allocating fuel to public buildings in Germany, the claims of churches and church halls will be treated no less favourably than those of theatres and cinemas or other public halls.

I can only reply for the British zone, where allocations of coal for German civilian purposes are made by the German Executive Committee for Economics. My information is that the churches have received an allocation of coal whereas theatres and cinemas have not.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action he is taking to relieve the anxiety of British women serving in the Control Commission regarding billeting arrangements and the method of protection from theft of their food and clothing; and if he is aware that they have been impelled to form protection parties for their personal safety.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Sir B. Neven-Spence) on nth December.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) whether the dismantling of Müller and Schwamborn is being done with his approval; and what firm in the British zone will produce Wire rope machinery for the mining industry in their stead;

(2) whether the dismantling of the works of Alfred J Schuette, A.G., has his approval; and whether he will state the name of the firm in Germany which will produce multi-spindle automatics in their place.

Neither of these plants is being dismantled.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the decision to move 250,000 Germans from Arnsberg to Minden, in order to make room for the families of Belgian soldiers, had his approval; and why it is considered necessary for the families to move in from Belgium.

This scheme is necessary to provide accommodation for the Belgian contingent serving with our Forces of Occupation and for their families who are being given the same facilities to enter Germany as the families of our own Serving men. The number of Germans to be moved from the Arnsberg District to alternative accommodation in the Minden District is not 250,000 but 22,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Forces Preliminary Examination is recognised by the Scottish universities; to what extent there is a shortage of teachers in Scotland; and what guarantee there is that a student, successful in a non-graduate scheme course in early 1947, will be accepted into the training college by the end of that year.

Responsibility for the regulations governing entrance to the Scottish universities lies with the Scottish Universities Entrance Board, over which I have no jurisdiction, but I understand that the Board accepts a complete certificate gained at the Forces Preliminary Examination as prima facie evidence of eligibility to be considered for an Attestation of Fitness for entry upon a degree curriculum. In general applicants are required to supplement the passes they obtained in the Forces Preliminary Examination by passing the Preliminary Examination of the Scottish universities in one or two subjects which are prescribed by the Entrance Board after considering all the scholastic attainments and circumstances of the applicant concerned. From the latest information available the number of unfilled teaching posts in education authority schools in Scotland is approximately 430. It is virtually certain that a person who has been accepted early in 1947 for a non-graduate course of training as a teacher, and who is in a position to begin, will be admitted to such training at the beginning of the next academic term, that is, in April or September, 1947.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the application made by the Old People's Homes (Edinburgh) Limited, Affiliated Housing Association, for the conversion of the interior of a house at 56, Manor Place, Edinburgh, occupied by 27 old persons; that a building licence has been applied for and deferred six months; and if he will grant the licence during the winter months and so save the restricted labour force for full employment outdoors in the spring.

It has been possible to reconsider this matter and a licence has now been granted permitting the work to be carried out immediately.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give a schedule of the requisitioned accommodation in Great Britain held by his Department on 30th September, 1946, or at any other more convenient or later date, showing the number of schools and educational establishments, hotels, houses and small flats, offices, factories and other property and the area of requisitional storage space; and what reduction he anticipates by 31st December, 1946, and 30th June, 1947, respectively.

The number of requisitioned properties held by my Department on 30th September, 1946 (including factories but excluding other accommodation used for storage purposes) was as follows: Houses (12 rooms or less) 958 Inexpensive flats 915 Educational Establishments 46 Expensive flats 621 Hotels, Restaurants, Guest and Boarding Houses, Hostels and Holiday Camps 247 Offices 1,907 Shops and Departmental Stores 1,089 Institutions 36 Welfare, Social Service and Religious Worship premises 232 Houses (over 12 rooms) 1,475 Political and Social Clubs 65 Playing Fields and Sports Clubs 115 Entertainment: Theatres. Cinemas, Racecourses, etc. 168 Miscellaneous 802 Local Authority Public Utility, Rail way, Dock and Canal, Authority premises 385 Factories, including industrial accommodation such as garages 671 9,732

The area of requisitioned covered storage space held on 30th September, 1946, was 16,982,060 square feet. It is not possible to give an estimate of the reductions in the number of premises on the dates stated but it is probable that the following reductions in certain premises of high priority for release will be affected:

Reductions By 31st December, 1946. By 31st March, 1947. Small Houses 123 174 Small flats 230 250 Educational Establishments 6 11 Hotels 50 78

As regards storage space, it is anticipated that there will be a reduction of 3,500,000 square feet approximately by 31st December, 1946, and a further 3,300,000 square feet approximately by 30th June, 1947. After the latter date the storage space remaining under requisition will consist almost exclusively of miscellaneous premises ranking low in priority of release.

asked the Minister of Works, why a building licence was granted to Automobile and Aircraft Service, Limited, for alteration to their garage at 609, Kenton Road, Kenton, Harrow, whilst these premises are still occupied by Twister Electric Company, Limited, who are engaged on tool tips for coalmining machinery and machine tools.

Automobile and Aircraft Services, Limited, own the premises at 609, Kenton Road. The Tungsten Electrical Company, Limited, are their tenants, and are now occupying part only of the premises. A building licence has been granted to the owners for the restoration to their prewar condition of the part of the premises of which they now have possession.

asked the Minister of Works what is the estimated cost of new buildings for the extension of the Newcastle division of the University of Durham, for which licences to build have been issued since the end of the war with Germany; and what is the estimated cost of similar buildings which licences have been applied for and are waiting decision, giving figures for cost of land and cost of furniture and equipment, separately.

The estimated cost of new buildings for the extension of the Newcastle division of the University of Durham, for which building licences have been issued since May, 1945, is £226,000. Without further knowledge of the precise buildings my hon. Friend has in mind, I am unable to answer the second part of the Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that many valuable orders from the U.S.A. are being refused by United Kingdom weavers and merchants owing to the lack of cotton yarn; that 16,122,000 lb. of cotton yarn were exported to foreign countries in the 10 months ended October; and, as his policy is to export fully-manufactured goods, if he will now grant a larger allocation of cotton yarn to the home manufacturers.

The present world demand for cotton goods as a whole from the United Kingdom is considerably in excess of our resources, and it is inevitable that many orders have to be refused because of shortage of cotton yarn. Our exports of cotton yarn during the first 10 months of this year, which amount to less than 3 per cent, of total production, went almost wholly to Dominions and Empire territories dependent on us for supplies. The arrangements for the distribution of available yarn supplies are constantly under review and the hon. Member's last point is always kept in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now reply to the letter, sent to him on 7th November by the hon. Member for Brentford and Chiswick, about household dockets for Mrs. P. V. Fresein, 15, Ranelagh Gardens, Stamford Brook, W.6.

I sent a reply to my hon. Friend on Wednesday last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to reply to a letter, sent to him on 23rd October by the hon. Member for Brentford and Chiswick from Mr. L. F. Ludlow, 21, High Road, Chiswick, about the sale of coupon-free goods in shops aboard the s.s. "Queen Elizabeth."

I wrote to my hon. Friend about this matter on 18th December.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there is any effective control over the retail prices of reconditioned furniture; whether such control permits of prices ranging from £950 to £250 for bedroom suites and dining room suites; and if he will cause inquiries to be made at the Departmental stores in Manchester now offering these goods at such prices.

Reconditioned furniture is subject to price control, under which the person undertaking the reconditioning is regarded as a manufacturer and may not charge more than his cost of manufacture and sale plus 6 per cent., while the retailer's margin may not exceed 50 per cent, on cost, excluding Purchase Tax. The resulting retail price would depend upon the cost of the furniture before reconditioning and upon whether the margins stated above had been adhered to. When a trader, having bought furniture for resale, repairs or alters it to an extent which falls short of reconstruction or conversion, he is limited to the price he paid plus 50 per cent, thereof, plus a charge for repair, which in turn is controlled. The maximum price of second-hand goods which have been repaired in this manner is subject, in the case of a broad range of articles which it has been possible to specify and define by measurement, to an over-riding maximum cash price which may in no case be exceeded but a considerable quantity of furniture inevitably falls outside these definitions. Under the above provisions, the prices quoted may have been perfectly legal but, if my hon. Friend will let me have more specific information regarding the suites which are being offered for sale in Manchester, I will have inquiries made by the local price regulation committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the result of a search applied for during this month in the Trade Marks Registry is not likely to be available for about nine months; what is the average time now taken between application and result in such searches; and, in view of the public inconvenience caused by delay, what steps are being taken to expedite searches and the communication of their results.

Yes, Sir; the average time between the filing of an application for registration of a trade mark and the issue of the result of the official search is at present about ten months. Substantial arrears of work have accumulated unavoidably owing to the inability of a diminished staff to cope with a heavy increase in the number of applications over the prewar figures. A considerable proportion of the staff of the Trade Marks Registry was released for war services. All possible steps are being taken to secure their return, and to obtain additional staff, in order that the delay in communicating the result of the official search may be rapidly and progressively reduced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why his Department does not embody short titles on all Statutory Rules and Orders, as recommended by the Select Committee on Statutory Rules and Orders on two occasions and also by Treasury Circular; and if he will give instructions that short titles be used on all Statutory Rules and Orders.

The purpose of a short title to any instrument is to facilitate reference to that instrument in some other instrument, and it has always been the practice of the Board of Trade to include a short title in all instruments to which it appeared likely that such a reference would be necessary. The exceptions were mainly instruments merely revoking other instruments and licences, for example, under the Clothing Rationing Orders and the Export of Goods Orders. In these cases it was possible to give more useful information about the scope of the instrument in the long title at the head of it than would be possible in a short title, e.g.,General licence in respect of the supply of Rationed Goods in connection with the manufacture of fur apparel on commission. In view, however, of the recommendations of the Select Committee on Statutory Rules and Orders, I am giving instructions that short titles be included in all Statutory Rules and Orders, and that such titles should be as "short" as is reasonably possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will inquire into the case of Mr. Charles Peach, Newport Pagnell, a nurseryman before the war, who was dispossessed of his property in 1942 by his Department; and, in view of the fact that the tenant installed by his Department is using the nursery for wholesale production of flowers while the owner when dispossessed was engaged principally in the production of food, if he will take action to rectify the position.

I have inquired into this case, and I cannot accept the statement that the present occupier is using the nursery for the wholesale production of flowers. I understand that 75 per cent, of the entire area under glass is being cropped satisfactorily with lettuces, and that all the outside land is either growing vegetables or is being prepared for planting in the spring. I am satisfied that the position on the holding as regards food production is far better than at the time when Mr. Peach was dispossessed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to transfer back to Southampton the Ordnance Survey Department evacuated to Chessington.

Staff formerly employed at Southampton are being moved back there as opportunity offers, and it is hoped that most of them will have returned by the end of next year. A considerable number of Ordnance Survey staff will, however, continue to be employed at Chessington. No decision has yet been reached on the future permanent location of the Ordnance Survey Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the powers he proposes to take to deal with rats and mice under the Agriculture Bill are intended to supersede the powers already possessed by county councils and other local government bodies under the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.

No, Sir. My hon. Friend will have noticed that no part of the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, would be repealed by the Agriculture Bill. The Government recognise, however, that the present position regarding rats and mice is unsatisfactory from the legal standpoint and the matter will be given consideration at an early date.

asked the Minister of Food why, and to what extent, the price of fat supplied to fish fryers in the West Riding of Yorkshire has now been increased.

The prices of all oils and fats supplied to trade users were advanced by £28 a ton from 8th December to cover increases in the cost of these products.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the concern felt by the Aberdeen Fish Curers' Association due to his compulsory allocation of large quantities of fresh fish to quick-freezing plants during the winter months when supplies are so short; and whether he will, therefore, suspend the order meantime.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." But the amount of fish allocated to quick-freezing plants is relatively very small, and I am continuing the policy in order to increase the reserve of frozen fish for the period of. short supplies after Christmas and to encourage the development of quick-freezing which, I think, will play a big part in future in the marketing of fish.

asked the Minister of Food in what circumstances divisional food officers in Scotland are permitted to authorise the issue, against cancellation of the appropriate number of bread rationing units, of a special form for points which may be used for the purchase of oatmeal.

Divisional food officers in Scotland have been given full discretion to authorise the exchange of bread units into points to ensure that heavy consumers of oatmeal continue to obtain adequate supplies. Oatmeal is treated as equivalent to flour, so that two points are allowed for every three bread units cancelled. The special form issued may be used only for the purchase of oatmeal. This limited exchange is permitted wherever the divisional food officer is satisfied that the normal allowance of points is insufficient to provide the quantity of oatmeal required. For remote areas the authorities may be issued in advance, in the circumstances set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Gandar Dower) on 29th November, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (1) what number of houses and flats, respectively, have been completed to date by the St. John's Housing Corporation; and what programme is in hand;

(2) the numbers and names of town and rural district councils set up, to date, in Newfoundland; and any places where they are to be set up in the near future;

(3) what acreage of land has been cleared for settlement in the Humber Valley, Codroy Valley and Newfoundland, as a whole, during 1946;

(4) what number of full-time and part-time farm holdings have been established to date as part of the reconstruction programme in the Humber Valley, Codroy Valley and Newfoundland, as a whole.

Since the information sought in these Questions is not immediately available here, my noble Friend has asked the Governor of Newfoundland to supply it as early as possible.