asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the location of all Government hospitals in Tanganyika and the number of beds in each available for Europeans, Asians and Africans, respectively; and whether he is satisfied that existing accommodation is sufficient for the present needs or that active steps are being taken to rectify deficiencies.

The location of Government hospitals in Tanganyika and

asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) whether he is aware that Mr. A. H. Cook, 6, Boundary Road, Ramsgate, pension book number 48495755, has not yet received his new pension book, although he applied in October last year, and if he will take steps to see that he receives his pension;(2) whether he is aware that Mr. and Mrs. C: Lawrence, 14, Mutrix Gardens, Margate, pension book numbers 46505967 and 16545244, have not yet received their new pension books, although they applied at the correct time; and whether he will take immediate steps to see that they receive their pensions, as great hardship is being caused to them.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that Mr. Arthur Hedgcock, 5, Gunhill, Pitsea, Essex, and his wife became eligible for old age pensions in July, 1946, and yet, despite repeated applications, no payment has been made; and if he will have immediate inquiries instituted into the cause of the delay.

Inquiries are being made into these cases, and I will write to the hon. Members as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the result of the inquiry into the conditions alleged to exist on H.M.S. "Imperieuse"; and if any steps have been taken to remedy the grievances about which the hon. Member for South Derbyshire asked a question on 22nd May, 1946.

Yes, Sir. This establishment normally consists of the two old

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of dwellings requisitioned by Kensington, Hampstead, St. Marylebone, Westminster, Paddington and Chelsea Metropolitan borough councils in each case at 31st August, 1946, and at 31st December, 1946; and, with regard to the same borough councils, the number of people offered accommodation during the months July, August, September and October, 1946.

The number of premises held on requisition is as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport how many locomotives and what type of rolling-stock were taken from British railway companies and used in

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the fact that the Ferries Committee of his Department recently inspected the Gravesend-Tilbury Ferry, when their Report will be made available.

I hope to receive the cómmittee's report by the end of September.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the plot of land wrongly used to grow bird-seed by two officers of the Buckinghamshire A.E.C. exceeded two acres in extent; and upon what information and authority the district officer of that committee decided that the area was too small to come under the operation of the Buckwheat and Canary-seed Order.

The information the hon. Member requires is as follows:

My information is that the plot of land referred to was approximately two acres in extent. It is a fairly common practice to refrain from giving directions as to the cropping of such small areas of land; and I understand that it was for this reason that the district officer stated that any crop could be grown.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider extending the period of validity of soap coupons, owing to the failure of many retailers to meet the allocation.

I have arranged that all current coupons including soap coupons shall be valid during the next rationing period beginning 2nd February, but this is exceptional. Steps have recently been taken to increase the quantity of soap available for distribution and I think that this should meet the case without any general extension of the validity of coupons, which would, incidentally, have the disadvantage of allowing the demand to fluctuate from period to period, thus putting additional strain on the distributive system.

asked the Minister of Food in how many of the 235 applications from doctors, which he refused in the last six months, were the members of the advisory committee directly consulted; how many meetings of that committee were held in that period; what attendance of members constituted a quorum; what information is available at meetings of the committee, other than that furnished by doctors' medical certificates; and what is the procedure adopted by the committee when an application is made for the treatment of a disease which comes under no heading in the schedule furnished to every medical practitioner.

Every one of the 235 applications referred to by the hon. Member was submitted to the Food Rationing (Special Diets) Advisory Committee. All letters from the patient or written on the patient's behalf and any letters from the local and divisional food offices which have any bearing on the case, are forwarded with the medical certificates and letters from the doctor to the committee, which is therefore fully acquainted with all the facts which have been presented concerning the case. Meetings of the committee have always been so well attended that the question of a quorum has never arisen: there have never been more than three members absent. For the answer to the remainder of his Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 29th January to the hon. and gallant Member for Pudsey and Otley (Colonel Stoddart-Scott).