asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the regional officer at Birmingham makes no allowances for the special licences granted by the local fuel overseers in the North Staffordshire area; that the allocation granted is taken from other consumers, which means that their supply is reduced from the amounts received in other areas; is this in accordance with his instructions; and is the average coal allowed as much as in other areas

In North Staffordshire, as in other areas, the division of the coal allocation among merchants is made with due regard to the quantities of extra coal licensed by local fuel overseers to meet special needs as indicated by the amount of licensing in previous periods. Since, however, the total supplies available have been insufficient to provide the full permitted quantities for all households in addition to the licensed extra supplies, the deliveries to ordinary consumers have had to be reduced in order to meet the requirements of premises having special needs. This has been general throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why the average weekly distribution of house coal by merchants was 25,000 tons less in 1946 than in 1945; and how much of this reduction was in the East and West Ridings region of his Department.

The reduction in disposals of house coal during the calendar year 1946 was due partly to low production in the early months of 1946, and partly to the restrictions on disposals in the summer of 1946 which resulted in heavier stocking by merchants against the needs of the present winter. Out of the total reduction of 25,000 tons a week, 5,300 tons a week was in the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent additional coal is allocated to coal merchants with an exceptionally large number of domestic consumers relying on coal for cooking; and what additional allocation is made in the West Riding of Yorkshire to merchants who have upwards of 40 per cent. of such customers entitled to receive additional coal.

In making coal allocations between regions on the basis of the supplies expected to be available in each period, allowance is made for the proportion of premises in each region needing extra supplies because of their dependence on coal for cooking or for other reasons; and the same principle is adopted by the house coal officers in dividing up the regional allocations between depots and between individual merchants. In the West Riding of Yorkshire full account is taken in each merchant's allocation for the additional quantities licensed by the local fuel overseer in the previous restriction year and a merchant can ask for adjustment if there has been since then a substantial change in his position. Supplies coming forward from the pits have not been sufficient to meet in full both the permitted quantities and the lincensed additions, and merchants have, therefore, been instructed that they should meet these demands in the same proportion.

asked the Minister of Works if a licence had to be obtained to decorate and paint the inside of the premises now used by the National Coal Board; and for what amount.

I have been asked to reply. If my hon. Friend will let me know which premises he has in mind I will inquire whether licences have been issued by any Government Department.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the amount of money involved in licences granted for recent works at Sherwood Lodge, near Nottingham, regional offices of the National Coal Board.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Cambridge University (Mr. Symonds) on 20th February.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can now hold out any hope of an increase in the allocation of coal for domestic use for old people in the near future.

I regret that I can hold out no hope of any early increase in coal allowances. Subject to the limitations imposed by the present coal shortage, the existing procedure provides for the grant of extra supplies by local fuel overseers in cases in which there is special infirmity.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many electric supply undertakings have taken active steps to insist upon industrial consumers improving the power factor of their electrical installations; and what is the estimated quantity of electricity wasted annually through the low power factor of such installations.

I am not aware that an authorised undertaker has any statutory rights under the Electricity (Supply) Acts or the Electricity Supply Regulations to insist upon industrial consumers improving the power factor of their electrical installations; whether authorised undertakers have any such rights by contractual arrangements with their individual industrial consumers I am not in a position to say. It is not possible to estimate the quantity of electricity wasted through the low power factor of such installations.

asked the Minister of Education when it is proposed to issue the Administrative Memorandum required in order to implement the provisions of Section 29 of the Finance Act, 1946, to enable firms to make provision for technical education relating to their industry.

The Circular is not yet ready for issue, but I am glad to be able to inform my hon. Friend that all technical, commercial and art institutions which are in receipt of grant, either through local education authorities or direct, will be approved for the purposes of Section 29 of the Finance Act. 1946.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will now say when Mr. William Slater, No. 01505949 and Mrs. M. Slater, No. 39525252, 8, St. Hilda Terrace, Hartlepool, are going to receive the arrears of old-age pension due to them from 17th October to 18th December, 1946; and, further, when Mrs. Slater will receive a book to enable her to draw her current pension.

I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now able to make an announcement about the issue of marriage allowances to officers under 25 years of age.

It has been decided that married officers who are under 25 years of age shall receive a marriage allowance at the rate of 45s. a week, but they will not be entitled to any other married benefits, such as provision of quarters or passages to overseas stations. The decision applies equally to Naval, Army and R.A.F. officers, and will take effect as from 1st February, 1947. Payment will begin as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made. The application of this arrangement to men called up for compulsory service from 1st January, 1949, who are subsequently granted commissions, is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport how many new locomotives were made available to British railways during the year 1946; and whether he will give figures affording a comparison with the annual prewar provision of new locomotives.

The number of new locomotives made available to British railways during 1946 was 270 from companies' shops and 73 from private builders; the annual averages for the four years 1935–38 were 328 and 160, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Colonial civil servants retiring on pension are to be allowed similar relief to that granted to home civil servants by the recent Amendment of the Pensions (Increase) Act.

Most Colonial Governments award temporary increases on the basis prescribed in Section 1 of the Pensions (Increase) Act of 1944. I have drawn the attention of all Colonial Governments to the recent Amendments to the Act.