asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give information as to the present percentage ratios of production of woollen and worsted cloths distributed to the trade for utility and non-utility manufacturers and for the export market.

Of present wool cloth production, 75 per cent. comes on the home market, 20 per cent. goes to export and rive per cent. is required for Government and public services. Of the wool apparel cloth delivered to the home market, 84 per cent. is at present utility and 16 per cent. non-utility. Separate figures for woollen and worsted cloth respectively are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that all available timber in France, Austria and Rumania has been acquired for use in this country.

Yes, Sir. We are buying from France as much timber as she is at present willing to spare us, and we are obtaining small but useful supplies from Austria. It has not so far been possible to get any supplies from Rumania.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there is timber available in Northern Ireland surplus to immediate requirements; and if he will consider obtaining this for use in the English furniture industry.

No, Sir. I am not aware of this surplus; but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars of the timber he has in mind, I will have the matter inquired into.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that proper standards are being maintained in the furniture industry; and if he will appoint further inspectors for this purpose.

With negligible exceptions, all furniture at present being produced is Utility furniture. Standards for this furniture are laid down in specifications prepared by my Department, and Production Officers, with appropriate technical qualifications, maintain regular contact with all factories producing this furniture. I have no reason to suppose that the standards are not being generally maintained, but, if my hon. Friend will send me particulars of any specific cases of complaint, I will have them investigated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that parents of boys who are exceptionally tall and thin are finding it practically impossible to obtain suits for them; and if he will take steps to increase supplies of clothing for boys who are unusually tall.

Yes, Sir. I am aware of the difficulty and the matter is being brought to the notice of manufacturers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, owing to the shortage of cloth for boys' suits, the waiting period after the placing of an order is now so long that many boys have grown out of their old suits before their new onus are ready; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this matter.

I am aware that the supply of cloth for men's and boys' clothing has recently fallen short of the demand, and the Wool Control have accordingly asked cloth manufacturers to give preference in their production to cloth of this type.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many standards of timber are available for barrel making in Creat Britain between now and the end of March.

I assume that the hon. Member's Question relates to timber such as is normally used for making herring barrels. I understand that 200 standards have so far been licensed for this purpose by the Ministry of Food during the present quarter and that further quantities will be licensed. Timber of suitable specification for this purpose is, however, also needed for other essential purposes and it is not, therefore, possible to state exactly how much will be available for barrel making. Supplies are normally obtained from Sweden but in view of the serious shortage the Board of Trade have recently arranged for the import of about 130 standards of suitable Canadian timber during the present quarter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the recently announced increase of 25 per cent. in the prices for homegrown timber was arrived at in consultation with the representatives of private woodland owners and notified to them before the announcement was made; and if the increase is the same as that recommended by the Forestry Commission.

The increase of 25 per cent. in the maximum prices for standing timber was made after taking into consideration all relevant facts, including the representations made by the private woodland owners and the views of the Forestry Commission. On the day following the signature of the Order increasing these prices, a Press notice was issued and letters in similar terms were sent to the representatives of the private woodland owners.

asked the President of the Board of Trade his reasons for urging the adoption of the two-shift system in the Lancashire cotton industry, thus violating a century-old industrial tradition; and whether, before he decided on that course, he gave full consideration to the domestic and social implications involved where so many women are employed.

The development of two-shift working formed an integral part of the whole scheme for strengthening the cotton industry put forward by the Government because the cost of new machinery introduced to increase output is so heavy that the industry must be prepared to use that machinery two shifts a day if it is to maintain its competitive position. Moreover, maximum output will be obtained if labour is concentrated on the new machinery. I am aware that few cotton mills have used the two-shift system in the past, but, as I have explained to the industry, we asked for a new flexibility of approach to the problems arising out of a new set of economic circumstances, and for the operatives to be ready to examine these matters without bias against them arising out of past customs or traditions. It is not, of course, expected that mills should change over to two-shift working without regard for the circumstances of their operatives or without consultation with them. I may point out that experience of shift working in other industries shows that it may offer advantages, as well as disadvantages, on the social and domestic side, to women and other workers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of his Departments are concerned with reparations plant from Germany, specifying these departments and any others with which they are in communication regarding the same matter.

The German Division of the Board of Trade is responsible for framing and presenting demands for reparations plant from Germany and also for seeing that arrangements are made for its removal and disposal in this country. In both cases it operates in close conjunction with or through whatever Department of Government holds the primary responsibility for the particular type of plant being dealt with, as for instance the Engineering Industry Department of the Ministry of Supply for machine tools, the Steel Board of the Ministry of Supply for steel plant, or the Raw Materials Department of the Board of Trade for most chemical and allied plant. The Directorate of Disposals, Ministry of Supply, conducts the actual negotiations for the disposal of plant, including the fixing of the price.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of perambulators manufactured in 1939 as compared with those which were produced in 1946; and whether, in view of the shortage, he will be prepared to increase the number now being imported, until such time as domestic production is capable of satisfying the demand.

I regret that the 1939 figures are not available but in 1938 about 572,000 perambulators and folders were produced in this country as compared with about 563,000 in 1946. Output has, I am glad to say, risen steeply in recent months, and I hope that before very long it will be sufficient to satisfy demand. In these circumstances, I am not prepared to increase importations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that spare parts, such as mantles and vapourisers, for Tilley lamps, have for months been unobtainable in the north-east of Scotland; and what steps he is taking to make supplies available immediately, having regard to the fact that a large proportion of farms and private houses in rural districts are entirely dependent upon lamps for their lighting.

Steps have already been taken to arrange for an increase in the production of mantles for Tilley lamps and I am also looking into the possibility of obtaining supplies from abroad. I understand that north-east Scotland is getting a more than proportionate share of the supplies available. Output of vapourisers has recently increased and retailers should now find less difficulty in getting their orders executed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now extend the issue of permits to buy utility furniture and priority dockets for household furnishings to people who have celebrated their silver weddings and find that the contents of their homes need replacement.

Supplies of utility furniture are not sufficient to justify an extension of the priority classes, and I should not in any case agree that those who have had their silver wedding necessarily have the greatest need to replace their furniture. As regards household furnishings, blankets can now be bought freely and many types of curtain material are available either coupon free or for the surrender of coupons, while as from 1st March sheets will be rationed and available against the surrender of coupons. Mattresses are still largely confined to the priority classes, but pillows and pillowcases are freely available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there are many patients who have undergone an operation on the alimentary canal for cancer who now require special belts and are unable to obtain them, as the example submitted to him demonstrates, owing to the inability of the makers to obtain the necessary yarn; and if he will rectify this position.

I am looking into this matter and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that boys who entered the mining industry as a form of service during the war are unable to claim a disability pension for injuries resulting therefrom, even though they were compelled to undertake this form of national service; and whether he will consider introducing legislation to give them the same pension rights as for the Armed Forces.

I do not think my hon. Friend's proposal would be practicable but I will consider the matter and I will communicate further with him.

asked the Lord President of the Council what sums are allocated for the purpose of research into the causes and cure of dermatitis which is, in many instances, industrial in origin.

I have been asked to reply. Research work on the important problem of dermatitis, and particularly conditions of that nature associated with industrial occupations, forms part of the programme of three of the scientific establishments of the Medical Research Council, namely, the National Institute for Medical Research, the Industrial Medicine Research Unit at Birmingham, and the Department for Research in Industrial Medicine at the London Hospital. No special allocation of funds is made for this purpose, and it is not possible to separate the cost of the work from the general expenditure of the establishments named.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the difficulties which Article 5 of the Control of Fuel Order (No. 3), 1942, creates for small shopkeepers in that it prevents them having even a small light in their shop windows to display their goods for sale, he will consider modifying (he Order or annulling it.

I fully appreciate the difficulties of tradespeople but regret that I am unable, in present circumstances, to consider any relaxation of the restrictions imposed by the Control of Fuel (No. 3) Order, 1942.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to ensure the utmost economy in the use of street lighting in the present fuel shortage.

Street lighting is at present being carried out with an overall saving of 50 per cent. or more on prewar fuel consumption. This reduction has been secured by the voluntary cooperation of lighting authorities as a whole, and I feel sure that I can rely upon their continued and, I hope, intensified assistance. I am considering whether any further economies are practicable.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the use of pit ponies now that the mines are nationalised.

The displacement of horse haulages underground by other means of transport has been going on steadily for many years, and I have no doubt that under the National Coal Board this process will be accelerated.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of ponies now employed in the mines.

The number of ponies employed at mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, on 30th June, 1946, was 22,246.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many tons of coal were exported from this country during the year 1946; and whether he will explain to the public why coal is being exported at all whilst there is a shortage of coal for domestic and industrial purposes at home.

Of the 4,454,000 tons of coal exported during 1946, 700,000 tons were for bunker depots and the Services abroad. The remainder consisted almost entirely of such very low qualities as Dross, Gum, Duff, Inferior Unscreened and Slacks, not normally usable in this country.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the shortage of household coal in the city of Birmingham; if he will give an assurance that the city is getting its fair share; and if he will take steps to distribute and use up the coal in all dumps in and around Birmingham.

Owing to bad weather conditions and transport difficulties, the Midland Region generally has not received as much of its allocation as I should have liked, but the volume of supplies has been maintained at a reasonable level as the result of the decision to make available stocks from Government dumps as from 1st January.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give an estimate of the amount of coal used by, and in respect of, the Fighting Services; what steps have been taken by him with those Departments to economise coal, in view of the shortage of supply for domestic and industrial purposes; and with what results.

The average weekly tonnages of coal used by the Fighting Services during November, 1946, were as follow:

Royal Navy	…	…	9,250
Army	…	…	14,460
R.A.F.	…	…	7,440

The Services have cooperated very fully with my Department and have made substantial economies. It is not possible, owing to changing commitments and conditions, to assess the savings precisely, but the figures I have given represent reductions, compared with the corresponding period last year, of 53.7 per cent., 36.1 per cent. and 42.3 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the circumstances under which the acquisition of Himley Hall, Worcestershire, took place at the instance of his Department; what were the conditions of sale, the purchase price and if restrictions are to be observed on the future use of the property; and what effort had been made by his Department to secure a suitable headquarters without the imposition of this burden upon the taxpayer.

I have no information regarding the purchase of Himley Hall by the National Coal Board, other than that contained in the Press announcement. It is not part of the functions of my Department to provide office accommodation for the National Coal Board, and the cost is not borne by the taxpayer.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the high prices being charged for wood logs in the city of Birmingham, and if he will control the price of these logs in view of the coal shortage.

Retail prices for wood fuel which have been agreed as reasonable by my Regional Officer and the principal suppliers of wood fuel for the City of Birmingham are £5 per ton loose or £5 ins. per ton bagged. I am not aware of higher prices being charged. If my hon. Friend will let me have details of any cases in which higher prices are being charged, and on investigation the price is proved to be excessive, I am empowered to issue an Order prohibiting the person responsible from supplying wood fuel except under the authority of a permit fixing the maximum price which may be charged.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in connection with the proposed new electricity generating station at Fifoots Point, Newport, what is the total estimated cost involved; when the first part of the plant will be started; what areas it will serve and what manpower will be involved; and whether he is satisfied that all the necessary material, equipment and labour will be available for it to be completed promptly, in view of the need of increased electricity in this area.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 19th December to which, at present, there is nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is now in a position to state when the rationing of petrol will be discontinued.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the Government's holding of shares in the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, he will state the terms of the agreement regarding oil reached between that company and the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey; and whether the agreement includes an arrangement for the protection of the oil interests by U.S. troops.

The arrangement between the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and the Standard Oil Company is an ordinary commercial one and as such it would be quite inappropriate to make public its terms. No such arrangements as are suggested in the second part of the Question could be negotiated between commercial companies and the answer is, of course, in the negative.

asked the Minister of Labour what applications he has received for additional labour in the omnibus body-building industry; and what steps he has taken to introduce trainee labour into the industry.

I regret that the information required by the first part of the Question is not available without detailed inquiry. With regard to the second part, discussions have taken place with representatives of employers and workers in the Vehicle Building Industry, and a scheme of training has been agreed which is now being brought into operation. In addition, following other discussions with both sides of the industry, certain classes of tradesmen trained in the Services have been accepted as skilled craftsmen.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government will take action against any body of employers who, by their actions or tardiness in negotiations, are precipitating strikes.

I am not clear what action my hon. Friend has in mind, but I must point out that in this matter an equal responsibility rests on both sides, parties to joint voluntary machinery, to ensure that there is no avoidable delay in reaching a fair and proper decision on any claim.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number and names of civilian enemy nationals detained in Great Britain under the Royal Prerogative.

Twelve, Sir. The repatriation of Carl Kuchenmeister and Johann Netz has been deferred pending legal proceedings, and the other ten are patients in mental hospitals whose repatriation has been deferred on medical grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in the United Kingdom have become naturalised during 1946.

The total number of certificates of naturalisation issued during 1946 is 4,431, of which 3,314 were issued in the last six months, when the preliminary work done in the early part of the year began to produce its full results. I will circulate the figures giving the number for each month of 1946.

Certificates of Naturalisation granted from 1st January, 1946
January	…	…	…	78
February	…	…	…	78
March	…	…	…	140
April	…	…	…	175
May	…	…	…	266
June	…	…	…	380
July	…	…	…	443
August	…	…	…	394
September	…	…	…	652
October	…	…	…	536
November	…	…	…	496
December	…	…	…	793
				4,431

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken, or are being taken, to convene the conference of experts on the nationality of married women.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on zest January to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Central Glasgow (Colonel Hutchison).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider introducing legislation to ban or considerably restrict the door to door salesmen and hawkers, who are rapidly becoming the nuisance to housewives that they were in the pre-1939 period.

I am advised that the number of hawkers and pedlars licences now in force is much less than it was before the war and that in the Metropolitan Police District there have been no recent complaints of annoyance by such persons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement in connection with the burning of Scrolls of the Law in the Dollis Hill Synagogue, Neasden, on 30th December; and, since this is the second such outrage within two weeks in London, whether he is satisfied that adequate precautions were taken by the authorities after the first incident in Clapton to prevent further outrages of this nature.

Police investigations are still going on and if sufficient evidence can be found a report will be made to the Director of Public Prosecutions. I am satisfied that the police are doing and will continue to do all they can with the resources available, both to prevent outrages of this kind and to bring to justice those who are responsible for them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in view of the increase of organised anti-Semitic activities, he will now give further consideration to the introduction of legislation to forbid propaganda and activity of an organised and anti-racial nature.

The persons responsible for the recent anti-Semitic activities which I assume the hon. Member has in mind, appear to have broken the existing law. It is not, therefore, a question of creating a new offence, but of catching the offenders. Vigorous efforts to do this are being made and in some cases have already been successful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that certain drivers crossing controlled pedestrian crossings with the lights against them drive on even after having been in contact with pedestrians although called upon to stop both before and after such contact; and whether he will cause proceedings to be instituted against those who continue to drive on, if their motor cars have been identified.

Under Section 22 of the Road Traffic Act, 193o, failure to stop is an offence only if an accident occurs whereby damage or injury is caused to any person, vehicle or animal. I have no doubt that the police would institute proceedings in the case of any offence against this Section which is brought to their notice and I do not think that any action is called for on my part.

asked the secretary of State for the Home Department the number of persons now undergoing detention in prison or in Borstal who are there as a result of sentences imposed by courts for absconding from approved schools, notwithstanding the fact that no crime was committed by them in the first instance.

The available figures relate to the year 1946. During this year 163 boys and 61 girls were committed to Borstal detention for absconding from Approved Schools. Figures showing how many of these persons were sent to Approved Schools as in need of care or protection and how many as a result of being charged with an offence are not immediately available, but I will send them to my hon. Friend as soon as they can be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that juveniles who are sent to an approved school as requiring care and attention are subsequently treated as though they were juvenile offenders; that if they run away from the school they are liable to be detained in prison, pending the hearing of their case by the magistrates, and their appeal, and that they may be sent to a Borstal institution without having committed any crime; and if he will take steps to remedy this.

Yes, Sir. I am aware both of the provisions of the existing law and of the great difficulty of making satisfactory provision for young people who are found by a Court to be in need of case and protection in their own interest, but prove unmanageable in an Approved School. The question of amending the existing law—particularly as regards the detention of young persons in prison—has been noted for consideration as soon as there is an opportunity of legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has taken place in the discussions as to the degree of delegation of fire service duties within county areas; and whether he is satisfied that the county council of the West Riding of Yorkshire is suited for the operation of a fire service in that party of the county from which the county boroughs have been excluded.

I appreciate the importance of the point raised by my hon. Friend, but I am not yet in a position to say what provision the Fire Service Bill (which I hope shortly to introduce) will contain for enabling local authorities to deal with it. Pending the introduction of the Bill and subsequent discussion with the local authorities concerned, I cannot express any opinion as to what may prove to be the best arrangements in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

asked the Minister of Health whether approval has now been granted to the application from the L.C.C. for the erection of a doctor's house on a vacant site at St. Helier Estate, Morden, at an estimated cost of £3,000.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the present large-scale transfers of population, he proposes to extend loans under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts to persons living in one borough who wish to buy a house in another.

I am advised that the existing powers of local authorities are adequate for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the houses constructed or under construction by rural district councils have now been allocated to farmworkers and will qualify for the higher rate of subsidy.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Dodds-Parker) on 28th November last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health if he will circularise rural district councils, asking them to consult with A.E.Cs to make the necessary provision for farmworkers' houses to he built in the areas where increased accommodation is most urgently needed in the interests of food production.

I would refer the hon. Member to Circular 25/46 addressed to local authorities on 25th January, 1946, a copy of which I am sending to him.

asked the Minister of Health why no reply has been received to the letter sent to his Department on 20th December, 1946, by Mr. J. Hoare, 113, Spur Road, Orpington.

The letter raised a legal issue which required careful consideration. A reply was sent yesterday to Mr. Hoare and I have sent the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the housing shortage and the hardship caused thereby, he will consider continuing the provision of temporary prefabricated houses for a further period.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health in how many cases he has granted a dispensation under Section 76 (8) of the Local Government Act, 1933, allowing Co-operative societies' members of local authorities to vote on motions to transfer the banking business of their local authority to the Co-operative Wholesale Society bank.

Seventy-four.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered the representations from the Urban District Councils Association on the question of ice cream regulation and control; and whether he is now in a position to issue regulations embodying the five suggestions of the association mentioned.

I am considering these and other representations on the subject, and am sorry I cannot yet announce my conclusions.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that uncertainty as to the position of the Royal Masonic Hospital under the National Health Act is affecting contributions for its maintenance and development; and if he will now indicate his intentions with regard to its future.

I do not think I could properly reach a final decision on this until the appropriate regional board has come into existence, which I hope will be very soon, and is able to advise me.

asked the Minister of Health when the Bill containing the new rating proposals will be laid before Parliament; and what are the principles upon which, under it,.rates will be assessed.

I regret that I cannot add to what I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South-West St. Pancras (Mr. Haydn Davies) on 5th December.

asked the Minister of Education if she has considered a letter sent from the University College, Aberystwyth, complaining of the delay in paying ex-Service grants; and whether there is now any prospect of this matter receiving her attention.

By 20th January, 219 students had been paid for the autumn term, of whom 144 were students who had begun their course that term. Of these, 84 have been paid since the Registrar wrote to the Ministry on 9th December. There are also 23 students to whom payments on account have been made pending the financial assessment of their grants.

asked the Minister of Education how many ex-Service students are now receiving the current education grants; and how many have not yet been paid.

Up to 9th January there were 23,800 awards current of which approximately 22,000 had been paid. The outstanding cases included a number in which the application was received after the autumn term 1946 had begun, and a few new awards current from the beginning of the present term. Payments are proceeding as rapidly as possible.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in the case of men and women awaiting training under the Emergency Training Scheme who are employed as temporary teachers, she will abolish the condition that maintenance allowances can only be made when candidates enter a training college within three months of leaving the Services, as in most cases the period of waiting is much longer.

Temporary teachers, including men and women awaiting training under the Emergency Scheme, are paid salaries in accordance with the Burnham scales and the question of maintenance allowances does not arise.

asked the Minister of Education how many students passed by the Interviewing Board for the Emergency Teachers' Training Course have been rejected after two to three months' training; what is the percentage of the total number of students accepted; and what are the reasons for the rejections.

Up to 18th January, 1947, 26 students had been required to withdraw from emergency training courses. This is approximately one third of 1 per cent. of the number of students so far admitted to emergency training colleges. Seven of these 26 were required to withdraw on grounds of health, and the remainder because they were unsuitable in some way or other for the teaching profession. In addition 95 students or just over r per cent have so far withdrawn voluntarily during courses; 19 for health reasons and 76 for other reasons. It is not possible to state what proportion of these voluntary or compulsory withdrawals took place within the first three months of the course.

asked the Minister of Education if, in order to allay the anxiety among students in the Emergency Teachers' Training Colleges, she will give an assurance that there is no future danger of teachers being declared temporarily redundant through the outflow of new teachers outstripping the provision of new schools.

There is no such danger at present. For the future, it will be my endeavour to ensure that plans for increasing the establishment of teachers and for extending school accommodation are properly related to each other.

asked the Minister of Education haw many persons classified as temporary teachers who had no training and how many persons classified as emergency teachers having had one year's training are now teaching in the national schools.

On 3rst March, 1946, 1,035 untrained "temporary teachers" were being employed by local education authorities under Schedule I.1 of the Primary and Secondary Schools (Grant Conditions) Regulations, 1945. No more recent figures are yet available. A little over 1,000 teachers have become available for employment in the schools after completing one year "emergency" courses of training.

asked the Minister of Education if she is satisfied with the competence of local education authorities in regard to the appointment of staff to primary and secondary schools and col- leges for higher vocational education; what safeguards exist under her regulations for ensuring that the local education authorities obtain the best possible technical advice in respect of each grade of appointment and the extent to which any such advice is taken.

Yes, Sir. As regards primary and secondary schools, the qualifications required for teaching posts are laid down in the appropriate Regulations and Circular 3o of which I am sending the hon. Member copies. For posts in technical educations, there are also recognised qualifications which are familiar to local education authorities. No requirements exist in the Regulations as to seeking technical advice, but I am satisfied that it is the practice of authorities and governing bodies to avail themselves of the best expert advice in making appointments.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware that some local education authorities are unwilling to make grants to pupils attending the Slade School of Art and other such institutions with an international reputation, upon the grounds that they are not within their geographical frontiers; and whether she will take steps to prevent grants being limited in this way.

I am aware that a very few local education authorities have shown a tendency to restrict their awards to students taking courses at local institutions. My Department has urged local authorities to give scholarships for courses at technical commercial and art colleges, and colleges of music. It is not my intention that these awards should be confined to local institutions, and generally they are not. If candidates are clearly qualified to benefit from a course at the Slade School of Fine Art or at another institution of comparable standing, I hope that they will be enabled to go there. Expenditure incurred by authorities for this purpose is recognised for grant by my Department.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware that Seabrook Lodge, Maidstone, a school under the authority of her Department, contains the full complement of 31 boys undergoing instruction and that they also have two waiting lists; that boys well down the list may have to wait a year before they can hope for admission; and what steps she is taking to increase the facilities for handling these special juvenile cases.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to Seabrook Lodge, Hythe, which was opened tact October as a special school for educationally subnormal boys. The school could take 60 pupils, but the numbers have had to be temporarily restricted to 31 because of the difficulty of obtaining domestic staff. As soon as the necessary staff has been engaged, additional boys will be admitted, and I have approved in principle a proposal by the Kent local education authority to acquire some adjoining property which will enable the school to be expanded.

asked the Minister of Education the average cost of school-building for each child, in the case of infants' schools, primary, modern and other schools.

The amount of building which it has so far been possible to put in hand since the war is insufficient to enable reliable figures of cost to be given. It may, however, be generally assumed that the average cost per place is at present at least double the average prewar cost per place.

asked the Minister of Education whether she has yet approved any design for aluminium prefabricated schools.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Education it she will give an assurance that the Leiston Grammar School, Suffolk, will be given the fullest opportunity to take part in any schemes in Leiston for the furtherance of technical training on engineeering and other scientific subjects.

The position of the Leiston Grammar School in the future educational arrangements for the area will he considered in connection with the development plan prepared by the local education authority. The plan has only recently been submitted to the Ministry and I am not yet in a position to comment on the proposals affecting this school.

asked the Attorney-General when it is proposed to bring Section 3 of the Solicitors Act, 1041, into operation.

Before Subsections (1), (2) and (3) of Section 3 of the Solicitors Act, 1941, can be brought into operation, the Lord Chancellor must be satisfied, on a poll of all practising solicitors taken by the Council of the Law Society, that not less than two-thirds of those voting are in favour of the provisions coming into operation. Owing to the absence from their practices of a large number of solicitors on national service, the Council have not yet taken this poll, but I understand that they intend to do so next summer.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to the "Kingdom Herald," the September number of which contains much libellous matter in glorification of Adolf Hitler; and whether he will institute a prosecution.

The publication to which my hon. and learned Friend refers has been considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who is of the opinion that, though no doubt objectionable and offensive in many respects, it does not constitute a breach of the criminal law. With this opinion I see no reason to disagree.

asked the Attorney-General whether solicitors will be given right of audience in undefended divorce cases tried before county court judges.

The Denning Committee on Procedure in Matrimonial Causes recommended, affirming the views of the Royal Commission of 1912, that undefended divorce cases should continue to be determined by the Superior Courts of the country, and their recommendations in this regard have been adopted by the Government. The county court judges are accordingly exercising jurisdiction in Matrimonial Causes as Special Commissioners of the High Court, and the usual rule reserving the right of audience to members of the Bar applies.

asked the Attorney-General how many cases were personally conducted by him in any court during Me year 1945; how many were conducted by the Solicitor-General; and what were the similar figures in respect of the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General during the year 1938

My learned Friend the Solicitor-General and I took office on 4th August, 1945, and, during the three months of the Michaelmas term, commencing 14th October, I personally conducted 14 cases, which occupied 29 days in court. During this term I was out of the country for 23 days in connection with the Nuremberg trial. My learned friend the Solicitor-General personally conducted 22 cases, which occupied 22 days in court. During the whole of 1938, the then Attorney-General personally conducted 67 cases, which occupied 94 days in court. I regret that I am unable to supply the similar information relating to the then Solicitor-General, owing to the destruction by enemy action of the relevant records.

asked the Minister of Works the present stock of bricks, timber and other building materials available in this country.

The stocks of bricks and other building materials sold and unsold held by manufacturers on 31st December, 1946, are shown in the following statement. There is no stock A timber earmarked for building purposes separately from other uses.

Stock at works on 31st December, 1940.
Item	Unit	Stock.
Bricks	Millions	270
Cement	Tons	243,880
Salt Glazed Pipes (excluding Conduits).	Tons	54,365
Roofing Felt	Rolls of 24 square yards.	109,696
Wood Wool Slabs	Square Yards	113,373
Plaster	No stock maintained
Plasterboard	Square Yards	490,915
Slates Roof (as at 30th November, 1946)	Squares	32,168
Concrete Roof Tiles	Squares	38,721
Clay Roof Tiles (provisional).	Squares	32,968
Clay Floor Tiles	Square Yards	34,288
Metal Windows, steel	Square Feet	2,662,000
Metal Windows, alloy	Square Feet	176,000

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the shortage of glass in North Staffordshire for ordinary household repairs; and what action he will take to improve the position.

Yes, Sir. I am aware of a shortage of glass in North Staffordshire. Work of the description mentioned qualifies for the highest priority, and I am trying to arrange for the orders to be met.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make reconditioned service vehicles available for use by officials of the Coal Board; and if he will give an assurance that no priority will attach to the Board's application for new motorcars.

I regret that no reconditioned Service vehicles can be supplied as existing priority demands already exceed the numbers available. The Coal Board will not receive priority in the purchase of new cars, nor, I understand, do they intend to ask for any.

asked the Minister of Supply what quantity of clothes and household linen has been sold from Government stores coupon or docket free; why they had to be offered free of coupons or dockets; and how much profit or loss has been made on them.

The following quantities of Government surplus clothes and household linen have been sold coupon or docket free:

		Garments
Outerwear	new	350,000
Outerwear	used	1,600,000
Underwear	new	2,400,000
Underwear	used	13,000
Overalls	new	300,000
Overalls	used	300,000
		Pairs
Socks and stockings	new	2,508,500
Socks and stockings	used	30,000
		Garments
Protective clothing and flying suits	new	205,000
	used	3,500,000
Towels		450,000
Sheets		476,000
		(mainly soiled or used)
Blankets		5,807,750
		(coloured or mainly used)

As my right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade explained on 30th July last, in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Nutting), surplus clothing of Service types would not sell readily at reasonable prices if coupons had to be surrendered and it was therefore decided, after consultation with the trade, to sell it coupon free. The prices charged by the Department are on the basis of ensuring a fair and reasonable price to the user in relation to the prices of comparable articles on sale in the home market, and are not primarily based on considerations of profit or loss.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give an assurance that the labour available for gathering the 1947 harvest of hay, corn, sugar-beet and potatoes will, excluding holiday workers and children, he as large as that available in 1946.

It is not possible to give, precise figures, but I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. J. Morrison) on 14th October and to my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 25th November. My right hon. Friend has good hopes that the supply of labour will be adequate to deal with the 1947 harvest, but would, however, stress the need for farmers themselves to do all they can to recruit labour on their own account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the position impending with regard to the supply of agricultural workers for the farming industry in Suffolk; and if he will make a statement with regard to the number of prisoners of war likely to be employed for this purpose during the year 1947.

The agricultural labour position in all counties is under constant review, and the Government will do all it can to ensure that sufficient workers will be available to deal with the harvest of 1947. It is nut possible to give the number of prisoners who will be employed in Suffolk during the year, since prisoners are used where they are most needed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why, as the truth is admitted of the charges that the district labour officer and the district officer of the Buckinghamshire A.E.C. had been responsible for growing canary seed on land which should have been otherwise utilised, these officers have not been prosecuted for this offence when several other persons, guilty of the same offence but not enjoying official positions, have been heavily fined; and why both he and the committee in question were unaware of these offences committed by their officers until the attention of Parliament was drawn to the incident.

The facts of the case to which the hon. Member refers are as follows: The district labour officer concerned grew canary seed on a plot of land which he had purchased for the purpose of building a house, having previously been informed by the district officer that the committee would not give specific instructions regarding the cultivation of so small an area. Prosecutions are not undertaken automatically for infringements of the Buckwheat and Canary Seed (Control of Cultivation) Order, and in deciding not to prosecute the district labour officer, I took into account the special circumstances of this case including the fact that he appeared to have acted in good faith and to have inferred from the district officer's statement that there was no objection to the use of this small piece of land for any crop he wished to grow. My decision was not affected in any way by the fact that he occupied an official position. Both officers concerned acted improperly, however, and they have been reprimanded. As regards the last part of the Question, I can only say that it is difficult for me or my committees to be aware of all the private activities of the members of their staff.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will arrange for a display of maps illustrating the way in which he intends to use the powers sought in the Agriculture Bill, particularly those relating to the acquisition and retention of land and the adjustment of farm boundaries.

Yes, Sir. I have arranged to display these maps in the Tea Room of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the Polish elections.

The official results of the elections are not yet known and for the moment I am not in a position to make any statement.

asked the Minister of Transport the amount of petrol used in delivering coal under the Road Haulage Association Emergency Scheme which was brought into operation on 31st December, 1946.

I regret that the information requested is not available and could not be assembled without an undue expenditure of time and labour.

asked the Minister of Transport what success has been achieved to date by the European Central Inland Transport Organisation in the carrying out of its executive functions; what expenditure has, so far, been incurred: and how much will be borne by this country.

It is not possible within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary Question to give an account of the many and varied activities which this organisation carries on, but it publishes monthly a full report on the progress of its work. Its expenditure for the period 1st November, 1945, to 31st December, 1946, is estimated to be £400,000 of which £61,290 is the United Kingdom's share.

asked the Minister of Transport the total of capital expenditure, for which plans are ready, of British railways for new permanent way rolling stock and new stations and other development which the companies cannot complete owing to the bottle neck in supplies.

The main line companies and the London Passenger Transport Board estimate that, owing to difficulty in obtaining labour and materials, they will be unable to carry out, this year, work to the value of £37½ millions out of the total expenditure authorised by the respective boards. Very little of this expenditure represents new capital works, as distinct from replacements and reconstruction.

asked the Minister of Food how the damaged grain recently stored by corn merchants has been disposed of; and whether in future damaged grain will be made available to supplement the substantially reduced ration of feeding stuffs for domestic poultry.

So far as I am aware, all damaged grain purchased by merchants has been disposed of within the scope of the feeding stuffs rationing scheme, and it is intended that this arrangement shall continue. It is not possible to arrange the distribution of damaged grain as a supplement to domestic poultry keepers because supplies become available in uncertain quantities from widely scattered areas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider accepting pictures or other artistic objects, in suitable cases, in lieu of death duties, thereby improving municipal as well as national art collections.

No, Sir. Works of art given to municipal or national collections are already exempt from death duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, how many R.A.F. personnel are being used for service civilian air line aeroplanes; how far this is delaying demobilisation and when it will come to an end.

Servicing of civil aircraft by the Royal Air Force is incidental to its normal duties, and no airmen are specially provided for this purpose; in consequence, it is not delaying demobilisation. The work will decrease as the civil organisation expands, particularly overseas.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is now in a position to reply to correspondence from the hon. Member for Clitheroe, sent to him on 28th October, 1946, concerning Mr. James Baines, formerly of the North German Coal Control.

A letter was sent to my hon. Friend on 21st January. I regret the unavoidable delay in replying.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what price is paid for British Guiana rice and copra by the Rice Marketing Board and the Copra Brokers Board; and how this price compares with the market value of these products in Canada and the U.S.A.

The price paid for better quality rice by the British Guiana Rice Board is approximately £18s 18s. 6d. a ton and the price paid for copra by the Copra Brokers Board is £32 16s. a ton. The American market price ex mill for American rice of a comparable and perhaps rather superior quality has advanced in the past to weeks from £37 16s. to over £50. The American purchase price for copra which was about £26 f.o.b. a ton for Philippine copra up to a month ago has since the lifting of controls advanced to nearly £50. Canadian purchases of copra are divided between other Western Pacific sources where the price is about £28 and the Philippines where the price has reached the figure stated above.All British Guiana copra is consumed locally and the price was raised in July on the recommendations of a Committee appointed by the Government. The selling price of rice is about £24 15s. a ton, the crop being disposed of to other West Indian territories. Talks have recently taken place in the West Indies about the future price to be paid and a long-term contract is under negotiation.

asked the Prime Minister what action has been taken with regard to the outrages in Palestine, whereby a British officer and certain British other ranks were flogged at the end of last month by Jewish terrorists.

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave on 22nd January to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the works of the Trinidad Paper Pulp Company have been dismantled for sale abroad; whether the Government of Trinidad made any effort to buy this company; and what steps are being taken by the Government of Trinidad to foster the paper industry.

The Trinidad Paper Pulp Company closed down its work because of failure over many years to make the project pay. The Trinidad Government were informed of this decision and approached the company with a view to utilising the premises and plant for experiments in the manufacture of paper and fibre board from bamboo and bagasse. They were informed that the plant had already been purchased by a British firm which proposed shipping it to England. Representations were made by my predecessor to the purchasers to consider continued operation of the plant in Trinidad, but they did not feel able to accede to that request in view of the requirements in this country and doubts over the feasibility of operations in Trinidad. The Trinidad Government have information that local interests contemplate entering this industry, and any application for Government assistance will receive sympathetic consideration in accordance with established policy.