asked the Minister of Health how many of the six council houses being built at Littlemore, Oxfordshire, are connected to, or are to be connected to, main water and main drains, respectively.

All six are to be connected to main water and main drains.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the injustice done to ex-Regular Army, R.N. and R.A.F. men, by the regulation that no houses are allocated to applications of persons who were not locally resident before the war; and if he will now give directions to local authorities to modify this rule in favour of ex-Regular Servicemen.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 1st August last to a Question by the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Renton), a copy of which I am sending to him.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will take the action necessary to protect tenants living in furnished or unfurnished room from unlawful eviction; whether he is aware that at present the police have no power to intervene as it is a civil offence; and if he will introduce amending legislation to enable the police to act in such matters;(2) if he will take steps to protect tenants occupying furnished rooms from persecution once they have appealed to a Rents Tribunal, and to make any attempts to prevent sub-tenants having access to their rooms an indictable offence.

I have delegated power to clerks of local authorities to requisition occupied premises in such cases of eviction or threatened eviction.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered a request from the urban district council of Haydock, Lancashire, to receive a deputation to discuss with him the inadequacy of the Exchequer subsidy to be paid in respect of houses, the building of which was commenced before the war, then stopped and afterwards built to altered specifications, to house munition workers, which doubled the cost; why no acknowledgment has been sent; and whether a date has been fixed for the interview.

There is no record in the Department of any such request having been received from the council since the notification sent to them on 10th January of the decision as to the amount of Exchequer subsidy to be paid in respect of the houses mentioned. They have, however, now been invited to send representatives to discuss the matter on Monday or Tuesday of next week.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the position of the water supply at Chinnor; and when a piped supply will be available.

There is no public supply. A local inquiry will shortly be held into a proposal to include the parish and other parishes in the areas supplied by the Oxford Town Council. I am unable to say when a piped supply will he available.

asked the Minister of Health if lie is aware of the grave shortage of mechanical aids for the deaf in North Lincolnshire; and what are the prospects of supplies from U.S. sources at reasonable prices.

No, Sir. I know of no special difficulties in North Lincolnshire. I am advised that there is no American aid which could be marketed here at a lower price than equally efficient British instruments.

asked the Minister of Health if he will identify the licensing authorities, under Clause 8 of the Nurses Act, 1943, which have imposed maximum scales of salaries for nurses supplied by agencies as a condition of the issue of licences to such agencies.

I assume the hon. Member has in mind the licensing authorities who have imposed conditions as to the maximum fees to be charged to patients. I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that local authorities are at the present time prevented from spending more than the produce of a rate of 1⅓d. on advertising the district as a health resort or watering-place; and whether, in view of the desirability of encouraging the tourist industry, he will make arrangements to increase this to a maximum of 3d.

The limit referred to is fixed by Statute, and I am afraid that I can hold out no prospect of amending legislation in the near future.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the number of county districts in England and Wales where schemes under Section 111 of the Local Government Act, 1933, are not in operation; and how many are not in operation in Wales.

The only districts in England and Wales for which schemes have not been formulated are the county districts in Kent and the Soke of Peterborough. I cannot say how many of the schemes formulated are already in operation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider increasing the billeting allowances payable in respect of unaccompanied children under the evacuation scheme.

I do not feel justified in undertaking a further review of the billeting allowances at this juncture. The present measures for the care of these children are purely temporary pending the introduction of legislation dealing with National Assistance.

asked the Minister of Labour in what trades the Government are now providing training for ex-Service men or women and ex-Merchant Navy men; and in what other trades will training be provided.

Special courses under the Vocational Training Scheme are now being provided in Government training centres, technical colleges and similar establishments in more than 60 different occupations, as set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Piratin) on 4th February, a copy of which I am sending him. Further occupations will be added as required. In addition, individual arrangements for training in technical colleges or with employers have been agreed in a large number of other occupations.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give a list of the capacity and strength of Government training centres at which ex-Service men or women and ex-Merchant Navy men are being trained, showing the maximum capacity of each centre; and how many ex-Service men or women or ex-Merchant Navy men are at each centre.

As the information involves a lengthy statement, I will send the particulars to the hon. and gallant Member. The total capacity of the centres at 13th January was 28,593 training places, of which 25,240 were filled by ex-Service men and women and ex-Merchant Navy men.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement of His Majesty's Government's policy in relation to the entry into British industrial organisations of those Polish ex-Servicemen who intend staying in this country.

While this is primarily a matter for agreement between employers and the trade unions, it is the considered view of His Majesty's Government that it is in the interest of all concerned that Poles entering employment should join the appropriate trade union.

asked the Minister of Labour how many operatives, as at the most recent convenient date, engaged in the Lancashire cotton industry are females; what percentage are married and how many thereof have children; and, of the total, how many are over 50 years of age.

The number of females employed in the cotton industry at the end of November, 1946, is estimated to have been about 169,000. An analysis of this total is not available, but of the 159,710 females aged 14 and under 60 who were insured against unemployment at July, 1946, 74,000 were married women or widows and 18,000 were aged 51 and under 60. The number with children is not known.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that last December two people applied for the post of school dental officer in Lindsey, North Lincolnshire, the man refused the offer and the woman was rejected although she had done temporary school dental work in Grimsby and was a qualified L.D.S. (England); and whether her regulations prevent the employment of women in appointments of this nature.

Local education authorities are not required to consult my Department about the appointment of individual dentists, and I was not aware of the incident mentioned in the first part of the Question. No regulations have been made limiting appointments to the School Dental Service to dentists of either sex. Women dental officers are, in fact, employed by a number of local education authorities.

asked the Minister of Education whether she proposes to take any steps to investigate the effects on children of attendance at adult cinema performances and the present methods of restriction thereof.

This matter has recently been considered by the County Councils Association, who are proposing, in cooperation with the main bodies representing local education authorities and teachers to make representations on the subject. In the meantime the action which can most appropriately be taken is being considered in consultation with the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that teachers in many secondary grammar schools are greatly dissatisfied with the present constitution and procedure of the Burnham Committee; and if she is prepared to make more effective arrangements for a full and fair consideration of the salaries that should be paid to teachers in secondary schools, with special reference to those schools which provide full time education up to and beyond the age of 16 years for boys and girls proceeding to the universities and professions.

I am aware that the Association representing the teachers referred to, feel that their representation on the Burnham Committee as reconstituted is not satisfactory to them. I am quite unable to agree to any proposal that there should be a reversion to the former constitution and would find grave difficulty in recognising the special claims to representation on the Committee of teachers in secondary grammar schools as distinct from those of teachers in secondary schools of other types.

asked the Minister of Education how many children are living in the Epileptic Colony, Lingfield; how many staff are employed; whether she is satisfied that the children are properly cared for; whether she is aware that corporal punishment is inflicted on small boys; and whether, in view of the ailments of these children, she will give instructions that no corporal punishment is to be inflicted.

There are at Lingfield Epileptic Colony 450 patients, of whom 253 are children. The total staff numbers 130, including the head teacher and 11 assistant teachers and I am satisfied that great interest is taken by the staff in the welfare and happiness of the children. I am informed that corporal punishment is administered on occasion but only under careful control by the medical superintendent and the committee. I am investigating the circumstances in which it has been administered at this school and the whole question of the use of corporal punishment in special schools for handicapped children is receiving my immediate consideration.

asked the Minister of Education if she will inquire info the case, details of which have been submitted, of a schoolmaster who qualified as a teacher in 1941 after a two years' course at a training college, was immediately called up by the Army and released four years later; who obtained his first teaching appointment in January, 1946, with a salary of £100 per annum less than the starting salary of emergency teachers trained and maintained by the Government; and, in view of the fact that emergency trained teachers' prewar jobs are taken into consideration in assessing commencing salaries, while this teacher's previous experience was ignored, if she will rectify the position.

The Burnham Report on scales of salaries for teachers in primary and secondary schools has been amended with effect from 6th November, 1946, to permit the counting for salary purposes of prewar non-teaching experience in cases of the type mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education whether paragraph 3 of Administrative Memoranda No. 205 is intended to prohibit headmasters of maintained schools from inviting into their school, at their own discretion, a lecturer who has specialised knowledge of a particular career.

In so far as headmasters of maintained schools have discretion to invite lecturers into their schools there is no intention of prohibiting them from exercising it. It is, however, desirable that any such arrangements should be made in consultation with the Juvenile Employment Service.

asked the Minister of Education what is now the total number of ex-Service men and women training in the emergency colleges; and what proportion do they bear to the whole number of students in these colleges.

All the students admitted to Emergency Training Colleges have been engaged in some form of wartime national service. Of the students actually in training at the latest date for which figures are available, 5,055 men (80 per cent.) and 485 women (19.6 per cent.) had served in one or other of His Majesty's Forces.

asked the Attorney-General how many appeals of all kinds have been heard by the House of Lords and Privy Council, respectively, in each year during the past five years; how many appeals are now waiting to be heard by the House of Lords; and how many of them are appeals in forma pauperis.

The information for which my hon. and learned Friend asks is appended:

asked the Attorney-General whether the present number of Lords of Appeal constantly available makes it possible for more than one final Court of Appeal for United Kingdom appeals to be constituted.

No, Sir.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about the fencing of certain areas of the Seven Sisters and Crowlink Downland, Sussex.

I am not at the moment in a position to make any statement, as I understand that conversations are going on between the persons interested, from which it is hoped that the present dispute will be amicably settled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that orders for surgical boots, with doctor's certificate and the necessary coupons, since 1942, while acknowledged, have not yet been supplied, resulting in loss of employment, time and travelling expenses; that this delay is attributed to scarcity of supply of leather for their manufacture; and if he will take steps to remedy this defect in supply and thus assure a larger production of this special requirement.

I am very much aware of the serious difficulties which those who need surgical boots have to face at the present time. The chief cause of the delay is lack of skilled craftsmen to make the boots. Training schemes for bespoke and surgical bootmakers are being operated by the Ministry of Labour, but I fear it may be a considerable time before their effect is felt. I know, too, that the very high qualities of leather required for these boots are scarce; but I am always willing to give assistance to any surgical bootmaker whose work is held up for lack of materials.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will allow a refund of clothing coupons to ex-members of the N.F.S. who, on termination of service, had to give up their uniforms for which they were compelled to provide clothing coupons.

I assume that my hon. Friend has particularly in mind those members of the National Fire Service who served in the war years. Between June, 1941, and September, 1944, each member surrendered 52 coupons in all out of his basic ration and the coupon value of the outfit was considerably above this. I understand that arrangements have been made for these members to retain some items of uniforms on the termination of their service and I can see no justification for a refund of coupons in addition.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of total output of supplies of shirts, ties, sports jackets, flannel trousers and pyjamas are being diverted from home consumption to His Majesty's Forces overseas.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Members for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) and Ludlow (Lieut.-Colonel Corbett) on 28th January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes taking to make available increased allocations of wool to manufacturers of men's woollen pullovers in order to encourage them to make better provision for men of larger build who are experiencing difficulty in getting them.

Manufacturers are already encouraged to make utility pullovers in the larger sizes, for which they are allowed increased prices. I have no evidence that any further steps are necessary; but if my hon. Friend will send me details of specially difficult cases, I will see whether I can help.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he consulted the Forestry Commissioners before he published S.R. & O. 2209; and whether the new figures represent their recommendations.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Argyll (Major McCallum) on 23rd January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the price per cubic foot, respectively, of home-grown Scotch pine timber felled at stump and imported Scotch pine timber of equivalent quality in the round, unloaded at port of arrival in this country.

The controlled price of home-grown Scotch pine felled at stump varies from 11d. to 1s. 5d. per cubic foot, according to size category. The free on rail price of imported Scotch pine of similar quality imported in the round, ranges from 1s. 8½d. to 1s. 10½d. per cubic foot.

asked the President of, the Board of Trade the number of boot and shoe shops which were closed as a direct result of dealers joining the Services between 3rd September, 1939, and 8th May, 1945; the number of licences granted to men returning from the Forces to re-open such premises after the cessation of hostilities between May, 1945, and the present date; and the number of new licences granted since May, 1945, to ex-Servicemen who did not trade in footwear prior to the war.

I regret that the information is not available. Entry on the Register of Withdrawn Traders was not compulsory, and since 31st December, 1945, when the Location of Retail Businesses Order was revoked, it has not been necessary to obtain a licence to open a non-food shop.

asked the Minister of Supply why certain samples of surplus stores for disposal which were advertised to leather and grindery merchants under reference 12 Saks/11234 /D. S. 30B as being available for inspection at Northolt in December last were not so available to several merchants attending to inspect such samples as invited; if he is aware that of 46 samples advertised only nine were, in fact, available, the remainder having been removed to Branston depot, Burton, without notice to merchants concerned; who authorised such removal and sale before the date when tenders were due; and why were merchants concerned not informed.

I have been asked to reply. I am looking into the questions raised by the hon. Member arid will communicate with him as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of a shortage in North Staffordshire of acetylene supplies for motorcar repairs and the consequential recourse to more wasteful gas and electric welding; and what action he will take to deal with the position.

I understand that, in the Midlands, the shortage of propane, due to the fuel cuts, has led to an increased demand for acetylene. I hope any supply difficulties will be only temporary but the position is being watched.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total output of coal for the past three months and the tonnage lost during this period by absenteeism, accidents, breakdowns and repairs at collieries, disputes and other causes and rail transport difficulties, respectively.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the importance of producing coal in this country, he will prohibit the export of all coal-cutting machinery forthwith.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to a similar Question on 26th November, 1946.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what progress is being made by the committee appointed to inquire into compensation claims arising from damage to property by mining subsidence.

I understand that the Committee is holding its first meeting next week.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why his Department prevented coal merchants for several weeks from disposing of coal during October; and to what extent this holding up of the return of railway wagons to collieries contributed to the further shortage of fuel at the end of the year.

There was no prohibition during October on merchants' disposals of house coal. A certain amount of

The figures are as follow:wagon standage occurred in the South Western Region during this period in areas where merchants' stocking grounds were full but this was kept to a minimum by the diversion of supplies to other stations less favourably placed and in the last week of October by allowing merchants in a few special cases to begin deliveries for the November/December restriction period. The period of stand-age was not abnormal for this time of the year and exercised no appreciable effect on the general fuel position.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the hardship caused to sub-tenants sharing rooms and, particularly, young married couples without a house of their own who are unable to obtain a separate ration of household coal; and whether he will take steps to effect an improvement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 5th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Mr. G. Wallace).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the fact that many cotton spinning mills can only obtain 50 per cent. of their coal requirements against a promised allocation of 65 per cent., he will take steps to see that all mills have the full allocation of 65 per cent.

The allocations to cotton spinning mills were fixed by the regional fuel allocation committees. In a number of cases however it has proved impossible to meet these allocations in full owing to transport difficulties due to the severe weather conditions. Everything possible will be done to overcome these difficulties.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the order issued by the area general manager North Eastern Division of the National Coal Board forbidding agents and managers in the employment of the Board to serve on local councils, he proposes to sanction the extension of the order to other administrative ranks and miners in the North Eastern Area.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has given to the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Eccleshall (Major Roberts).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what cuts have been made in supplies of household coal to dealers in North Staffordshire since 18th January; and whether such reductions are part of a uniform national adjustment.

No overall cut has been made in supplies of house coal from the North Staffordshire coalfield, but deliveries, except to landsale merchants, since 1st November have been below allocation. Landsale merchants have therefore been receiving more than their share of available supplies and in order to achieve equitable distribution all North Staffordshire collieries were instructed to make uniform deliveries against house coal allocations as from 20th January in all areas including the North Staffordshire district. So long as this instruction remains in force it has the effect of reducing supplies to landsale merchants by approximately 15 per cent.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the fact that petrol is no longer rationed in France, he will consider purchasing petrol from France in sufficient quantities to remove the necessity for the continuation of rationing here, especially based on the fact that France is in the sterling area.

To the best of my knowledge and belief, petrol is still rationed in France. Furthermore, it is not correct to say that France falls within the sterling area. It is not possible for this country to purchase petrol from France who limit their imports to their own requirements and have nothing to spare for the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the present inadequate gas supply to the houses recently erected, and to be erected, by the Garforth Urban District Council; what steps will be taken to expedite the erection of a new plant at Upton or a new decarbonisation plant at Tingley; and whether the necessary sanctions and permits will be given to enable this problem to be solved at the earliest possible moment.

I am aware that there are difficulties at Garforth about supplies of gas from the West Yorkshire Gas Grid. Two alternative projects have been under consideration for improving gas supplies in this area generally, namely, a new gas works at Tingley and a new coke oven plant in the Upton area. As it now appears that the former scheme would be the quicker to complete, sanction for it has been given. All necessary permits will be provided, but, with the best possible priority, this major project cannot be completed in less than three years. In view of this, it is hoped to arrange for the installation of some temporary plant, which should ease the position of the gas grid during the interim period.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the Oxford and District Gas Company had to reduce pressure last week by 25 per cent. owing primarily to the poor quality of the coal which causes the furnaces to clinker up; and whether, in the interests of greater economy, he will endeavour to see that coal is more carefully screened.

Yes, Sir. I am aware that there have been difficulties at the Oxford gas works to which the poor quality of some of the coals supplied has contributed. Every possible step is being taken by the National Coal Board to improve the preparation of coals.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the difficulties and dislocations which are being caused in North London and elsewhere by the intermittency of the cuts which are made in electric power; why accurate particulars of the time and area of such cuts cannot be announced a reasonable time in advance; and whether he will take steps to ensure that any future cuts are reduced to a minimum and, that when necessary, they are made in accordance with a definite plan and after adequate warning.

In replies to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Keeling) on 31st October and to my hon. Friend the Member for Aston (Mr. Wyatt) on 30th January, I explained the reasons for shedding electricity load and the measures taken to reduce inconvenience to a minimum. I can add nothing to these replies.

asked the Minister of Defence the average age of recruits joining the R.N., Army, R.A.F. and the police; and state the average age at which prospective officers in each of these services are sent to their O.C.T.U., or its equivalent, in each case.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to normal Regular engagements. Excluding boys, who are entered for the Navy at about age 16, and for the Army at 14 to 16, the average age of recruits, on the basis of recent experience is 17¾ years in the Royal Navy, 18 years in the Army and 18¾ years in the Royal Air Force. Recruits for the Royal Marines are a few months younger, on the average, than those for the Royal Navy itself. So far as the police are concerned, I understand that the average age of recruits accepted for the Metropolitan police force since recruiting has been resumed is nearly 24; figures are not available for the rest of the country. In the case of the police the second part of the Question does not arise.In the case of candidates for commissions in the Forces who are admitted through the ordinary schools and colleges the average ages of entry are:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to meet the prevailing shortage of candles.

Owing to very great difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies of paraffin scale wax it will not be possible to increase the monthly allocation of this material to candle manufacturers until the supply position improves.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish a list showing the total number of

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that 50 German prisoners attended a football match between West Ham United and Bradford on 1st February; and if he will reconsider his refusal to allow prisoners to attend staff football matches at Crittall's factory, Braintree.

I understand that 25 German prisoners of war attended the match referred to, the club having sent 25 free tickets to the commandant of the camp. A charge is made for admission to the matches at Crittall's factory and since prisoners of war may not be in possession of sterling they cannot attend these matches.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if the Dakota from Croydon to Rome and South Africa on 25th January, which crashed outside Croydon, was carrying mail; and whether any of the mail was recovered.

There was no British mail on board this aircraft and so far as

Following are the particulars:I have been able to ascertain no foreign mail was being carired.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider spreading the amortisation charges on British Restaurants over a longer period than 8½ years.

The present financial arrangements between my Ministry and local authorities with regard to civic restaurants are being terminated at 31st March, 1947, in England and Wales; consequently the arrangements under which local authorities have made provision for the amortisation of the capital cost of the restaurants over a period of 8½ years will also come to an end on that date.

asked the Minister of Transport why Circular No. 604, "Appointments of Surveyor," makes no specific mention of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors as a qualification; and if he will give an assurance that this institution will be considered as an equivalent qualification and will not be considered inferior or detrimental to the applicant.

Circular No. 604 deals with contributions from the Road Fund towards the salaries of the engineers or surveyors to local authorities responsible for the maintenance of roads, and the qualifications to which it refers are consequently such as to indicate proficiency in road engineering. While membership of the institution referred to would be taken into consideration, my right hon. Friend is not prepared to accept it, by itself, as a testimony of the applicant's ability in the particular and specialised field of road engineering.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was Britain's contribution in 1946 to U.N.R.R.A. expressed in pennies in the £ on Income Tax receipts.

9d.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why Mr. J. Leather-dale and his wife, pension books 51486739 and 08496378, 2, Windmill Terrace, Stoneham Street, Coggeshall, Essex, have not yet received the increased old age pension; and if he will expedite these payments.

Inquiries are being made and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he will consider reducing the age limit of jurors to 60, in view of the heavy strain which serving upon juries has proved to be on older men.

This Question is receiving consideration in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements relating to leprosy treatment his Department have for regular contact with the leprosarium at Carville, U.S.A.; and what joint research in this direction he has arranged with the U.S.A.

Regular contact is maintained with the Carville Leprosarium in the United States through the Chacachare Leprosarium in Trinidad and the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association. This association, which cooperates closely with the Colonial Office and with Colonial Governments, exchanges information about research on the treatment of leprosy with Leprosaria in various countries, both directly and through the medium of conferences. The next International Leprosy Congress is to be held in Cuba early in 1948.