asked the Minister of Education how many additional places will be required to enable the school-leaving age to be raised to 15 years on 1st April under conditions which comply with the Minister's own recommendations; and how many will actually be existing.

No additional accommodation will be required until after the summer holidays. By that date, it is estimated that 2,545 classrooms and 1,081 practical rooms in temporary prefabri- cated construction will be needed. These will account for over 8o per cent. of this year's requirements. Of the remainder of the accommodation needed this year the greater part will be provided in new schools in light permanent construction. Intensive efforts are being made to complete the necessary building programmes in time.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that pressure is exercised by his Department to direct students who hold four-year training grants to the national schools by withholding permission to take up work in independent schools, as in two cases submitted; and whether, when restrictions are placed on students receiving grants, they are at the same time informed of the position.

Every student who is admitted to a course of training as a recognised student, on whom grant is paid under the Ministry's Regulations for the Training of Teachers, is required to sign a declaration that he intends to complete the course of training and thereafter to adopt and follow the profession of teacher in an approved school. The expression "approved school" is defined as including any school or College in England or Wales, in respect of which grants are paid by the Minister out of monies provided by Parliament, and any other institution which in the case of any teacher the Minister approves in writing for the purpose. Requests for the approval of service in independent schools are considered on their merits.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware that under the War Damage Act, a person who appeals against the War Damage Commission's assessment of damage can only obtain refund of costs incurred at the discretion of the President of the Panel; and whether he will amend Rule 12 (3) of the War Damage (Valuation Appeals and References) to allow a successful appellant to claim costs incurred as a right.

In relation to costs, the War Damage (Valuation Appeals and References) Rules, 1946, follow the ordinary principle prevailing in the Supreme Court, the County Court, and in arbitrations, under which the incidence of costs and their amount are in the discretion of the tribunal unless, in a particular case, there is express statutory provision to the contrary. Experience has shown that adherence to this principle is in general the best method of securing justice between the parties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increase in the price of timber and the consequent further expense to the housewife in buying articles of domestic woodware, he will now consider reducing the Purchase Tax on such articles.

My hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my Budget Statement

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before the introduction of his forthcoming Budget, he will review the present duty of rd. per gallon which is chargeable on vaporising oil used by agricultural tractors.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes to increase the rate of interest in savings banks from 2½ to 3 per cent. with the object of further promoting small savings.

No, Sir

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements will apply to repayments of Income Tax under P.A.Y.E in the case of employees who become unemployed as a result of the present emergency.

No question arises where the employee continues to draw pay it is only where pay ceases that any question arises and I understand that in such cases many employers have already arranged to make repayments of tax, as they would do in the ordinary course under P.A.Y.E. for employees on the payroll. I hope that employers generally will follow this course, which is simpler and far more expeditious than leaving it to the Tax Offices to carry out the repayments

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider an amendment of the Factory Act to limit the working hours of juveniles to 40 hours per week.

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has already appointed a committee to make inquiries and recommendations as to extending, strengthening or modifying the statutory regulation of the hours of employment of young persons, whether in factories or in other employments

asked the Minister of Labour why the scheme for an exchange of chefs cooks, etc., between this country and Switzerland was left in the hands of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, without any consultation with the trade unions; and whether he will make the committee concerned truly representative of the employers and trade unions.

This scheme is one agreed between the Association mentioned and the Swiss. Hotel Association. In view of the benefits of such exchanges to young hotel employees, I have agreed to facilitate the admission of Swiss nationals for the purpose. As regards the last part of the Question, it is for the unions to make any desired approach to the Association

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the bound volumes of the OFFICIAL REPORT, Nos. 428, 24th October to 6th November and 430, 12th November to 29th November, have been circulated, but not Volume 429, 6th November to 12th November; why this has happened; and when it will be available.

Volume 429 will be the general index to the separate volumes of the 1945–46 Session which ended on 6th November, 1946. Publication is expected in April.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider increasing the supply of clothing coupons to housewives as opposed to males or spinsters, in view of the difficulties they are faced with in the provision of household linen, tea towels, etc.

No, Sir. The present basic ration is fixed at a level to include the purchase of the available supplies of household linen, and I should not be justified in increasing the call on total supplies by adding to the coupons of particular categories of consumers. It should be possible for everyone to make some coupon contribution to the needs of the household to which he or she belongs

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the exceptionally heavy wear and tear of clothing to which shipyard workers are subject, he will arrange to increase the pool of coupons now held by works committees on their behalf.

No, Sir. I am satisfied that the amount already allocated is as much as can be justified having regard to the supply position.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the present disorganisation of industry, the clothes ration of 32 coupons, as already announced for the period of six months from 1st March next, will be maintained.

Yes, Sir. It is my intention to make a further 32 coupons available on 1st March. Production of clothing and footwear is, however, being lost at the present time and these coupons may have to last for seven months and possibly longer. It must be some time before the effects of the present crisis can be accurately measured but, as soon as they can be, I will make a further announcement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a statement on the Anglo-Soviet trade negotiations; and, in view of the fact that the U.S.S.R. needs machinery which Clydeside can produce and that Clydeside badly needs timber from U.S.S.R., if he will take steps to expedite an agreement to the mutual advantage of both countries.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 4th February to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson).

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of herring-net spinning machines exported in 1946; the proportion this was of the total production during the year; and the countries to which the machines were exported.

I regret I am unable to provide the desired information as separate particulars relating to herring-net spinning machines are not collected.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if consideration is being given to schemes for the generation of power by hydro-electric plant; where it is intended they should be situated; if the contracts have been given for the plant to be manufactured; and on what dates it is expected power will be generated.

Yes, Sir. In the North of Scotland four hydro-electric Constructional Schemes relating to seven projects and totalling 377,000 kilowatts, with an output of 710 million units, have been approved. Contracts for all the plant and most of the civil works have already been placed, and the generation of power in respect of the first two schemes is expected to commence in the winter of 1948–49. Other schemes are under consideration. In North Wales preliminary surveys have been made for schemes totalling over 300,000 kilowatts and over 600 million units, and the proposals are under discussion between the Central Electricity Board and the North Wales Power Company.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the dates upon which consent was sought to construct the following power plant and power stations and the dates on which permission was granted: Meaford, Stoke-on-Trent, the Manchester extension, Hoddesdon, Poplar, Glasgow, Kepier and Usk River; who is the responsible authority for giving consent; and if he is satisfied that the machinery for consultation and decision functions with speed.

Since the answer is necessarily long and involves a large number of dates, I will, with my hon. Friend's consent, send him the information he asked for as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the tonnage of coal exported in 1936 and 1946, respectively; the kilowatt consumption of electric power in 1936, 1945 and 1946, respectively; what is the amount of new plant in kilowatts on order for internal power production; what are the delivery dates; if the total capacity on order will meet the peak load and, if so, on what date; and if consideration has been given to the provision of mobile plant.

In 1936, 34,500,000 tons of coal were exported from the United Kingdom; in 1946, 4,454,000 tons, consisting, apart from supplies to bunker depots, of very low quality coal. The figures for the production of electricity by authorised undertakers are as follow, in millions of units: 1936–20,200; 1945–37,300; 1946–45,200. The new plant now on order for power stations in this country totals four million kilowatts output capacity. Of this, completion is expected of approximately 600,000 kw. in 1947, 900,000 kw. in 1948, and 1,300,000 kw. in 1949. As regards the date by which it is expected that the total generating capacity will be sufficient to meet the increase of electricity demand, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Glasgow, Pollock (Commander Galbraith) on 29th January. In reply to the last part of the Question, I can assure my hon. Friend that full consideration has been and is being given to the use of such mobile plant as is available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he has considered using the 33-ton portable diesel generators now stored at Liphook, Marshwood, etc., each being capable of generating 300 kilowatts per hour, in view of the coal saving involved and the additional power and light they would give.

I am informed that the diesel generators to which the hon. Member refers are the property of the War Office and are all awaiting either repair or overhaul. They are, moreover, still required by the War Office.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent submarines are being used to assist power stations or generating plants; and if full use is being made of those available.

At my request my noble friend, the First Lord of the Admiralty, has for the past month been employing submarines to generate electricity at the Royal Dockyards at Devonport, Portsmouth, Chatham, Sheerness and Portland. Nineteen submarines are at present in use, and their use combined with other economy measures has, resulted in substantial savings of coal consumption in the Yards and some relief to the main grid supply. I am advised that the fullest practicable use is being made of submarines.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what coal stocks were in hand at electricity generating stations of the central England area on 7th February; what were the total withdrawals from stock during the previous seven days; and what deliveries of coal were made to these stations during the same period.

Coal stocks held by electricity undertakings in the Midland and North Midland Regions on 7th February were 151,100 tons, withdrawals from stock during the previous seven days were 29,25o tons and deliveries were 108,500 tons.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what special arrangements he has made to provide coal for agricultural threshing contractors in the Eastern Counties, many of whom had to cancel contracts and so reduce the grain available for the nation's food

Coal for agricultural threshing in the Eastern Counties is made available under programme to farmers according to the acreage to be threshed. I am not aware that any contracts for threshing have had to be cancelled due to shortage of coal but if the hon. Member has knowledge of any particular case of difficulty and will let me have details, I will have the matter investigated

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power in what circumstances a domestic consumer is permitted to change his retailer.

A consumer has a right to choose a fresh coal merchant if the business of his licensed merchant is transferred to another owner. The grant of a transfer in other circumstances is at the discretion of the local fuel overseer but normally is granted only on change of residence or if there are special circumstances, such as seriously inadequate service due to causes within the control of the merchant.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what precautions he is taking to avoid having to take over officials who have received abnormal salary increases or special promotion on the eve of nationalisation.

The National Coal Board have, under the Coal Nationalisation Act, to take over existing contracts, but precautions were provided in Section 7 of the Act to avoid having to take over personal service contracts made or varied On or after 1st August, 1945.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when the supplementary volume of the Statistical Digest, 1945, containing the detailed district tables on coal production for the year 1945 will be published.

I do not anticipate that this volume of statistics will be published before the end of April. All the figures have been completed, but the printing of a volume of statistical tables is a heavy task.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why three deliveries of coal were made to Cope's football pools offices in the City during the week ending 8th February, when supplies are so short.

No coal is used at the City offices of Messrs. Cope's Football Pools. Two deliveries of coke were, however, made to these premises during the week ending 8th February. The third load which was sent in error was returned to the suppliers.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the fuel consumption, domestic and industrial, for the years 1939, 1943, 1945 and 1946; and whether he will endeavour to arrange the fullest possible publicity of the weekly figures showing production and consumption of fuel.

The figures for the years 1939, 1943 and 1945 will be found in my Department's Statistical Digest for 1945 (Cmd. 6920), and those for 1946 in the January issue of the Central Statistical Office's Monthly Digest. As regards the second part of the Question, figures of coal production and consumption are issued monthly by my Department and are widely quoted in the Press as well as appearing in the Monthly Digest along with figures for electricity and gas.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power on whose authority and for what reason instructions were sent out relative to the bunkering of ships during the week ended 8th February, 1947; and on whose authority and for what reasons they were countermanded.

As a precautionary measure I gave instructions on Thursday, 6th February, to hold up foreign bunkers but I had issued further instructions withdrawing the ban on Friday, 7th February, before the Debate in the House that afternoon.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power in how many collieries is coal production being held up on account of shortage of pit props.

None, so far as I am aware.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much coal was exported from the United Kingdom during 1946; and what value was received in foreign exchange.

The total quantity of coal exported during the year 1946 was 4,454,000 tons, with a declared f.o.b. value of £9,061,000.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that S.R. & O., No. 2087, referring to the reduction of electricity and gas consumption, lays down that every person concerned most reduce weekly consumption to 97 per cent. of the amount of such consumption at the last meter reading before 21st December, 1946; that the consumption of many theatres in respect of that weekly meter reading was negligible, as they were closed for Christmas pantomime rehearsals; and whether, in view of the fact that the Order is, therefore, inoperable by such theatres, he will amend it, or give some general direction which will enable such places to reduce their consumption by 2½ per cent. in relation to their normal average rate of consumption.

The hon. Member is construing the Order wrongly when he suggests that any consumer is required to effect economies of gas and electricity consumption week by week based on a consumption in a particular week. The Order requires the reduction of consumption in each of three four-weekly periods over a consumption calculated by reference to a basic period; the basic period is that of the last meter reading made by the undertakers supplying the gas or electricity and is normally a one or three month period. The choice of larger periods was deliberately designed to overcome the difficulties that the hon. Member has in mind. It would appear, therefore, that the second and third parts of the Question do not arise.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many hon. Members have made representations to him since 1st October, 1946, on behalf of their constituents, in connection with fuel supplies.

We have received a number of written and oral representations, but I am unable to give the exact number.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the longstanding practice of the Gas Light and Coke Company to leave street lamps burning continuously in hours of daylight and for long periods unnecessarily; and what steps he is taking to put an end to such waste.

I am aware that owing to labour and technical difficulties it is unavoidable that in some areas street-lighting is turned on before darkness sets in and remains on in daylight during the early mornings. Any complaints of apparently unnecessary lighting are immediately investigated and suitable action taken with the lighting authority to get it stopped. If my hon. Friend has any particular area in mind I will have specific inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the fact that the severe weather has rendered motoring impossible in many areas, he will extend for one month the validity of basic petrol coupons which normally should expire on 28th February.

For reasons of supply and distribution I am afraid that I cannot extend the period of validity of basic ration coupons beyond the month of issue and the next following month.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make an immediate increase in the supplies of paraffin oil for sale to the public, which would ease the present fuel situation to domestic consumers.

Yes, Sir. Increased supplies of burning oil are being made available to all dealers. The hon. Member will, however, appreciate that owing to the state of the roads, some difficulty is being experienced in getting supplies to dealers in certain areas, but the Petroleum Board is making every endeavour to distribute supplies as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will see that effective steps are taken to prevent additional flooding in Newport as a result of the Severn barrage proposals now being considered.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial provision is made by his Department for the purchase of linen and sewing materials for the use of women in Holloway prison.

General financial provision is made to cover all prison industries, but no figures are readily available to show how much of this is allocated to the items mentioned in the Question. If my hon. Friend has in mind the work done at the evening classes in embroidery and handicrafts at Holloway Prison, such classes are started by grants from public funds, and the sale of the work provides funds from which further materials are purchased, so that the classes become self-supporting. The sum of £120 was realised by the sale of embroidery and handicrafts made at Holloway in the last twelve months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of officers and nursing staff in Holloway prison and hospital to provide the full complement needed; the number now employed in each category; how many were appointed in the first and second halves of 1946; and how many left in the same periods.

On the present single-shift time-table 10 principal officers and 100 officers are required for the prison; to principal officers and 79 officers are in post. A staff of 32 is required for the hospital and 22 are in post. Thirty-six officers and 12 nursing staff were appointed during the first half of 1946 and 19 officers and eight nursing staff were appointed during the second half; 29 officers and 10 nursing staff left during the first half of 1946, and one principal officer and 15 officers and seven nursing staff left during the second half of 1946.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the expenditure during 1946 for Holloway prison, on the upkeep of the gardens, flowers for the prison and hospital wards, hire of films for the prisoners and other entertainments, materials for needlework and other classes, wall newspapers and radio sets.

Provision in respect of most of these items has been made in the main by private benefaction, and the only public expenditure was £15 on garden tools, £5 5s. od. in connection with entertainments, £13 1s. 4d for purchase of materials for needlework and other classes, and £4 4s. 1d. for radio licence fee and renewal of parts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in Holloway prison are now attending weekly classes and how many have no opportunity of leaving their cells for recreational purposes after 4.30 p.m.; how many books can be obtained weekly by each patient in the prison hospital, and what games and other recreational facilities are provided for the hospital patients

The daily average number of prisoners at Holloway who attend evening classes or recreation is 165. The only prisoners ineligible to attend are those serving sentences of three months or under, of whom there are 89, and any prisoners who may be under punishment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give in reasonable detail figures for indictable and non-indictable offences for the years 1938 to 1945.

The following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is prepared to introduce legislation enabling provision in adoption orders or otherwise for the transfer to adopters of the next-of-kin's rights of inheritance to property acquired by adopted children after adoption.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply given on 4th November last to my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Mr. J. Evans).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to permit local authorities to charge a higher licence fee to greyhound racing tracks than tilt present maximum of £50.

I will hear the point in mind, but I cannot hold out any immediate hope of legislation to amend the Betting and Lotteries Act, 1934.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what encouragement is to be given to foreign campers to visit this country during the coming summer; and whether visas and ration cards will be readily granted to this type of tourist.

Foreign campers will be welcome and will be given the full facilities available to other tourists.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the tonnage and nature of the raw materials imported by Japan in 1946; and from what country or countries did such raw materials come.

Japan's principal imports of raw materials from September, 1945, to the end of October, 1946, the latest date to which figures are available, were as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether his attention has been drawn to the regulations for the combating of social diseases made by the Department for Health Service of the Magistrate of Berlin, dated 25th September, 1945; whether these regulations are still in force; and what has been the result in the Berlin area and the British zone of the operation of the compulsory treatment provisions of the above and of similar regulations in the British zone.

Yes, Sir. These regulations made on 28th September, 1945, are line with German legislation passed in 1927 and are still in force. Since compulsory examination and treatment for venereal disease have been enforced, the positive cases found have fallen from 25 per cent. to 13 per cent. In the British zone practice varies somewhat from district to district. Compulsory examination and treatment are still enforced by the German authorities but free confidential treatment, a practice hitherto unknown in Germany, has been introduced with considerable success. Over the last six months of 1946 notifications of venereal disease fell from 4,626 to 2,975 a month in Berlin and from 12,400 to 9,85o a month in the British zone

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will circulate in HANSARD a full statement on the result of last year's inquiry into the alleged black-market transactions and other irregularities at the Control Commission clubs in Detmold and Vinsebeck.

The court of inquiry revealed that there were some minor irregularities and some lack of supervision in these clubs. The officers involved were members of the Services and I have therefore asked the Service Departments concerned to let me know the latest position. I will circulate a statement as soon as I have received their replies.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if wireless talks on political subjects by newspaper correspondents from Europe are submitted to his Department before being broadcast; if he is aware that some recent talks contained propaganda embarrassing to Great Britain; if he is aware that the Director of Talks, B.B.C., refuses to supply extracts from the broadcasts to responsible British subjects; and if he will take steps to have this altered.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. With regard to the remainder of the Question it is the policy of the Government to allow the Corporation full independence in the day-to-day conduct of its programmes and of its internal administration.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give an assurance that, during the existence al the present emergency, central heating and light in all Government offices will he cut to an absolute minimum.

All Government Departments have been instructed to comply in full with the restrictions placed during the present emergency upon the use of electricity by all domestic consumers, and generally to economise in every way in fuel consumption

asked the Prime Minister how many Ministries have authority under defence or other regulations to carry out inspections and investigations involving the entry into private houses and premises without the necessity of first obtaining a search warrant; and whether, in view of the abuse such permission may carry with it under normal peacetime conditions, he will have the whole matter reviewed and new instructions issued to the departments concerned

Seventeen Ministries have power to authorise inspections and investigations involving the entry into private houses and premises without a search warrant, but in only nine are officers of the Department at present authorised to carry out such inspections or investigations. While the present abnormal conditions continue, these powers are essential to the Government's policy of ensuring fair distribution of commodities at reasonable prices. Only rarely as, for example, when the premises are used for the purpose of trade or business, does their exercise involve entry into a private house.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the preliminary consideration of the terms of the Peace Treaties with Germany and Austria, steps were taken, through the Dominions, India and Colonial Offices, to ensure that the views of Dominion and Colonial Governments were taken into full account before His Majesty's Government put forward its views at Allied Foreign Ministers' Conferences, so that the Foreign Office could represent the considered opinion not only of the United Kingdom but of the whole British Commonwealth, and thus avoid separate Dominion policies being sub mated to the U.N.O. Council.

His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are in close and constant touch with His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions and took full account of such views as they had expressed before the recent discussions in the Council of Foreign Ministers. Similarly, it has been the practice in the case of India and will henceforth also be in the case of Burma for His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to keep the Governments of those countries informed on all matters of foreign policy in which they are likely to be interested. The Colonial Governors concerned have also been kept informed of the general lines of British policy in these and other matters. The United Kingdom cannot, and would not wish to, interfere with the right and responsibility of individual Dominion Governments to present their own views at any time to foreign Governments, to the Council of Foreign Ministers, or to the Council of Deputies.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is yet in a position to make his promised statement in regard to the terms and conditions of service of men called up to the Forces after the present Act is terminated.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the introduction of the National Service Bill

asked the Minister of Supply what amount of storage space is now held by his Department in requisitioned and Government-owned covered accommodation, respectively, and in uncovered accommodation; and to what extent this is used for equipment and materials awaiting disposal.

The Ministry of Supply at present holds 11.09 million square feet of requisitioned and 16.1 million square feet of Government-owned covered storage space, and 158.o million square feet of open storage space. 16.64 million square feet of covered and 84.o million square feet of open space are occupied by stores awaiting disposal.

asked the Minister of Supply what progress is being made in the disposal of surplus machinery, vehicles, stores and equipment; whether disposals now exceed receipts; and the approximate proportion of disposals for immediate civilian use and for scrap purposes, respectively.

Disposals in the United Kingdom have realised an average of £15,500,00o a month over the last six months. This is roughly equal to the rate at which surpluses are being declared. Approximately 85 per cent. of disposals can be put to further use; the remaining 15 per cent. are sold for scrap. These figures are exclusive of warlike stores un suitable for civilian purposes, which are broken down for the recovery of components, metals, etc. Items urgently needed for civilian use have been given special attention. Disposals overseas have recently realised an average of £10,000,000 a month. In some territories disposal is almost completed and good progress is now being made in all areas.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reasons for the sudden withdrawal, without notice, of German prisoner of war labour from Whistley Farm, Milton, Gillingham, Dorset; if he is aware that this withdrawal has resulted in a decline in milk production; and what steps he proposes to take to assist Mr. Bullock, the farmer, to obtain prisoner of war labour immediately.

Prisoner of war labour was withdrawn from Mr. Bullock, with the agreement of the representative of the war agricultural executive committee, because of his unsatisfactory behaviour towards the prisoners over a long period. Complaints were made by the prisoners themselves, by their camp leader and by the British non-commissioned officer in charge of the prisoners. I understand that Mr. Bullock has obtained alternative labour.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the fact that increased facilities for pleasure trips to Europe are being offered this summer. arrangements will now he made for relatives to visit British war graves, especially in France.

An inter-departmental committee has recently been set up to study the problem of visits to war graves and to make recommendations to the Service Ministers.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of railway employees, excluding shopmen, who are temporarily employed; and what proportion they bear to the total of staff employed.

In December, 1946, there were 110,313 railway employees, excluding shopmen, who were temporarily employed. At that time, the total number of staff employed, also excluding shop-men, was approximately 550,000.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that a considerable quantity of blood and offals, valuable for human consumption and manure, is being wasted in slaughterhouses; and what action he is taking to remedy this.

No, Sir. The collection and disposal of all offals from slaughterhouses controlled by my Department is so regulated that apart from negligible quantities in isolated cases no such offals, other than blood, are being wasted. So far as blood is concerned, while some wastage is inevitable owing to difficulties in collection and transport in areas where processing capacity is not available, the utilisation for edible or technical purposes has reached between 6o per cent. and 70 per cent. of the total available; this is a great improvement on the prewar position