asked the Minister of Supply (1) what number of private motor cars it is planned to export in 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951;(2) what proportion in value of the total export trade he intends the export of private motorcars should take during the next five years or other long-term period.

It is not possible to make any long-term forecast of the volume of motorcar exports. The export proportion is determined in close consultation with the Board of Trade and the industry and the importance of securing the maximum contribution to our export trade is fully appreciated.

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent royal ordnance factories have been adversely affected by the fuel problem; how many have been closed down; and how many have been compelled to resort to short time working.

The royal ordnance factories have been affected by the fuel problem in the same way as other factories in the same areas. Nine have been closed for varying periods, but they have all now started work again. None has resorted to short time working.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) what steps he is taking to recover from the U.S. Government the value of that portion of the 10,000 tons of tin found in Japan on occupation and removed to the U.S.A., known to have been looted by the Japanese from British possessions;(2) from what countries the 10,000 tons of rubber, 10,000 tons of tin and 15,000 tons of lead, found in Japan on occupation, were looted by the Japanese; under what authority these goods are being taken to the U.S.A.; and whether His Majesty's Government have consented to this removal.

The rubber so far identified came from British territory, the Nether- lands East Indies and French Indo-China. Some of the tin come from Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies and some of the lead from Burma. I have no information about the origin of the remainder. The rubber and tin were allocated to the U.S.A. by the Combined Rubber Committee and the Combined Tin Committee, respectively. The question of payment for the tin is at present being discussed with the U.S. Government. There is no committee for lead, but it was agreed with the U.S. Government that they should take the surplus Japanese lead, while the U.K. should take surplus lead found in Germany.

asked the Minister of Works whether there has been organised by his Department any mobile labour force, as promised by his predecessor; and When these men and their equipment will be available to assist in the re-housing of the thousands of bombed out and displaced persons in the cities and towns of this country damaged by bombing.

Yes, Sir. The Special Repair Service, which was mobilised during the war to carry out war damage repairs, was reconstituted in July last as a Mobile Labour Force. This force is continuing to carry out bomb damage repairs to houses and hospitals, the erection of totally destroyed houses for local authorities and other urgent works in the Government's building programme in areas where the existing labour force is insufficient.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the estimated number of men, women and children killed in communal riots in India during 1946.

The best available estimate of persons killed in communal riots during 1946 is 12,400. This figure is admittedly only approximate and separate figures for men, women and children are not available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is aware that transport is difficult and expensive in Calcutta and if he will relax the military transport rules so that some military transport may be provided for British officers and other ranks from the centre of Calcutta to Fort William after the cinemas close at night.

I have asked the Government of India for a report and on its receipt will communicate further with the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what arrangements are made for the welfare, hostel accommodation and educational supervision of students from India in this country.

Matters relating to the welfare of Indian students in this country are dealt with by the High Commissioner for India, who acts under the authority of the Government of India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the difficulty many former Indian civil servants are finding in obtaining employment, he will set up a special organisation to help them.

As a result of discussions with representatives of Service associations in India and Burma, a special branch, entitled "India and Burma Services Re-employment Branch" has already been added to the Services and General Department of the India Office to assist officers of the Secretary of State's Services in India and Burma in this direction.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many Soviet-born wives of British Service and ex-Servicemen are awaiting permission to join their husbands in this country; what is the average period of separation; and what approaches have been made to the Government of the U.S.S.R. to secure the necessary exit visas.

Seven Soviet-born wives of British Service or ex-Servicemen are awaiting permission to join their husbands in this country. It is difficult to say what is the average period of separation but, except in one case, none of the wives concerned have been married for as long as two years and in some cases the period is considerably less. In the one exceptional case the marriage took place four and a half years ago. Approaches to the Soviet Government on behalf of these women have been continuous but unavailing. The matter engages the constant attention of our Ambassador in Moscow.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will state the minimum ration of feeding stuffs that will be available to farmers next winter.

Ration scales next winter will depend on the total supplies of feeding stuffs available, and while I expect an improvement in supplies of cereal feeding stuffs in the latter half of this year, I cannot yet estimate its extent. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 17th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeffington-Lodge), which contained a general statement on feeding stuffs supply prospects in the next few years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many agricultural workers will be required to replace German prisoners of war at present working on the land; and what additional workers will be required to bring the labour force up to requirements.

It is not possible to give precise figures. The number of German prisoners employed in agriculture has been subject to considerable fluctuation. As the prisoners are repatriated, however, there will be an increasing need for many additional workers, both regular and seasonal.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage of the annual prewar export of 1,000,000 tons of soya beans from Manchuria is now available to this country.

We have been able lately to restart the purchase of Manchurian soya beans for shipment through Chinese ports, but I am not yet able to say how our imports are likely to compare with prewar quantities.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he took to secure a share of the 100,000 tons of oilcake and meals, mainly soya, being shipped to Finland, Sweden, Holland, France and Belgium from the U.S.A.

These purchases relate to allocations made by the International Emergency Food Council specifically to the countries named. As the council has already made separate allocations to the United Kingdom we could claim no share in the quantities mentioned.

asked the Minister of Food what quantities of oilcakes have been imported from India last year.

No oilcakes were imported from India during 1946.

asked the Minister of Food whether Great Britain will be able to take up the increase of 392,000 tons of sugar which has been allocated to this country by the International Emergency Food Council for 1947; and whether this will enable an increase in the sugar ration to be made.

The sugar allocation made by the I.E.F.C. for 1947 is based upon estimated supplies which may not be fully forthcoming. Until we are certain of the exact quantity we shall receive during 1947, it will not be possible to say when the sugar ration can be increased, particularly as, part of the increased allocation will be needed to meet the increased requirements for manufactured foods.

asked the Minister of Food if, as sugar stocks are ample and our own sugar-beet crops highly satisfactory, an increase in the sugar ration can be given in order that housewives may take advantage of the arrival of hitter oranges to make marmalade.

At the moment our stocks of refined sugar are only sufficient to maintain the present rate of distribution: we cannot make any special issues until it is certain that supplies in 1947 will be appreciably higher than present consumption.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of rice, stored in London warehouses for account of his Department, have been found within the last six months to have so deteriorated in quality that they have needed reconditioning to make them humanly edible; and how many have been condemned as unfit for human consumption.

None, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food in view of the decision made as a result of his representations to give priority for the immediate erection of a cold store at Southampton, with a 6,000 tons capacity, at a cost of £250,000, what use is to be made of the cold store at Cardiff, with a 10,000 tons capacity; and why he has hitherto refused to use it.

Cold storage space is urgently required in Southampton and the new building is needed to replace one which was destroyed there during the war. The provision of the Government cold store at Cardiff was mainly a war time measure, but it is still being used as circumstances warrant.

asked the Minister of Food whether in view of the concern of many people in the country, he will state, in which foodstuffs offered for consumption to the British public wood in any form, namely, cellulose, is contained.

No foodstuff offered for consumption to the British public contains wood. Cellulose is a natural component of plant tissues and it is there fore present in small amounts in all foods or vegetable origin.

asked the Minister of Food why he consults the T.U.C. When deciding upon special allowances of food for specified seasonal occupations in the agricultural industry.

When necessary my right hon. Friend, following a practice begun in 1940, consults the T.U.C. on questions of special allowances for industrial workers, since the T.U.C. is a body whose knowledge of working conditions in various industries qualifies it to advise on such questions.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of barley has been exported to Denmark since August, 1946, to date; and what was its value in pounds sterling.

None, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that good eating carrots have been sold to farmers in the Somerton area for cattle feed; and whether, in view of the shortage of vegetables in the towns, he will take steps to see that such vegetables are allocated for human consumption.

These carrots were from deteriorating surplus stocks. All sound carrots are now being used for human consumption.

asked the Minister of Food whether the wholesale gross profit of 14s. 6d. per ton on potatoes purchased through his Department was fixed by negotiation with the trade; what allowance this figure includes to cover cost of transport from railhead to warehouse, working expenses and net profit, respectively; and what amount per ton is retained by his Department to cover the cost of delivery to railhead and the expenses of the Ministry's agents and bags.

Yes, Sir; the margin of 14s. 6d. per ton was fully discussed with trade representatives. Of this amount 2s. per ton represents the allowance for cartage from railhead to store where incurred, and the balance of 12s. 6d. per ton, the normal margin for the town wholesaler. My Department retains 25s. 6d. per ton, the balance of the gross wholesale margin, to cover transport from growers loading station to destination, buying agent's fee and cost of use of bags.

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the milk supply of this country was skinned, skimmed, evaporated, converted into butter or cheese or otherwise processed, instead of being consumed as liquid milk, before the war; and how much is dealt with in such ways at the present time.

One-third of the milk sold off farms before the war was manufactured into milk products; the corresponding proportion last year was 12 per cent.

asked the Minister of Food if he will relax restrictions so that ex-Servicemen may start retail food shops on their own and obtain the necessary supplies.

We have so far limited preferential treatment in the issue of new retail licences to ex-traders who closed their businesses because of the war, and to suitable disabled ex-Servicemen selected in consultation with the Ministry of Labour. I regret that it is not practicable to extend this preference to all ex-Servicemen. Our general policy, however, is to relax licensing controls as supplies become more plentiful and we have already made certain relaxations and more are contemplated in the near future.

asked the Minister of Food if the sweet ration can remain unchanged for children, even at the expense of a further cut in the ration for adults.

Although it is recognised that the sweet ration is particularly welcome to children, it was not thought equitable to deprive adults entirely of sweets.

asked the Minister of Food the percentage increases or de- creases in consumption, respectively, of milk, butter and cheese in 1946, as compared with 1938.

Civilian consumption in 1946 was 44 per cent. higher than the prewar average in the case of milk, 14 per cent. higher for cheese and 56 per cent. lower in the case of butter.

asked the Minister of Food, if he is aware that grocers complain they are unable to dispose of home canned fruit; and if he will consider down-pointing this commodity.

I know that sales of home canned fruit are slow in certain areas. The points values of canned fruit and of all other points commodities are examined at regular and frequent intervals and adjustments will be made if necessary.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider effecting a reduction in soap exports to the extent of 4,000 tons per annum and as a result provide for the infants' supplementary ration to be extended to children up to two years of age.

Our exports of soap are already being kept at the lowest practicable level. They are for N.A.A.F.I. and for countries, chiefly in the British Commonwealth, dependent on us for supplies. The soap ration for young children has been maintained unchanged since 1942, in spite of successive reductions in the adult ration, and I regret that it is not possible to increase it at the present time.

asked the Minister of Food whether soap may be tied to registration as unevenness of distribution is causing considerable difficulty to housewives.

I would like to help the housewife but my hon. Friend's proposal is not practicable because many retailers do not stock all types of soap.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in the introduction of oil-burning locomotives on the British railways; and how many are in use on each of the four main line railways.

asked the Minister of Transport how many engines on each of the main railway lines have been refitted with diesel oil equipment since the termination of the war.

Twenty locomotives have so far been equipped for oil burning, sixteen on the G.W.R., one each on the L.N.E.R. and L.M.S.R. and two on the Southern Railway.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the number of wagons loaded with coal on the sidings of South Wales increased by over 50 per cent. in the three days 17th to 19th February and if he is satisfied that the instructions given for the priority movement of coal are being put into full effect.

The 17th February was a Monday when wagon numbers are low after the week-end clearance, and a rise by the Wednesday is only to be expected. The Wednesday figure was in any case well below the winter average. I am satisfied that the instructions given for priority movement of coal are being put into full effect.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that over 2,000 empty coal wagons are standing in the Birmingham area waiting to be dispatched to the collieries; and if he will arrange for these to be sent immediately for reloading in order to prevent a stoppage of work at any pit for want of empty wagons.

The railways have succeeded in supplying all the empty wagons needed by the collieries. Wagons standing will be drawn upon as needed.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he will take to see that the railway companies are made aware, in advance, of the anticipated destination and estimated tonnage of coal to be moved from colliery pitheads and sidings on Sundays, so that proper staff arrangements may be made by the railway companies concerned.

The railway companies and the National Coal Board maintain close contact to ensure that the railways are informed as to the collieries from which wagons will be required to be cleared on Sundays, the expected output and the directional flow of the traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that a special party of about 20 persons travelled from Paddington to Birkenhead to launch the ss. "St. David," and that three sleeping cars, two saloon coaches, a generating van and special water tank were used; that a special shunting engine was reserved for the movement of these coaches, a relief train standing by, a special engine to provide steam-heat through the night and that orders were given that special attention should be given to the cleaning, lighting, gassing, watering and steam heaving of these carriages; and if he will take steps in the future to prevent a repetition of this waste of manpower.

I am informed that the party in question travelled by coaches attached to ordinary trains and involved no special mileage: In present conditions even such an occasion as the launch of a ship does not justify the provision of special facilities and I have so informed the railway companies.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made in increasing the haulage capacity of the railways, particularly the movement of coal, by speeding up locomotive repairs, including the 260 austerity engines in this country, and obtaining new locomotives and new and bigger wagons in 1947.

In addition to the 250 austerity locomotives in service at the end of January, 93 are undergoing repairs in railway shops and about 115 have been brought back from the Continent in running order or are being repaired in Belgium before being shipped. All these engines should be in service by the coming summer. Arrangements are also in view which will I hope materially increase our capacity for repairs to engines and wagons in the near future. Plans already made provide for the building this year of 275 locomotives and 18,000 wagons in railway shops and 180 locomotives and some 30,000 wagons in private shops or Royal Ordnance Factories. The wagons are mostly of 16 tons capacity.The speed at which these arrangements can be carried out will be dependent on a sufficiency of materials and labour, matters which are engaging my constant attention.

asked the Minister of Transport how many new goods wagons were made available to British railways during 1946; how many were manufactured in Royal ordnance factories; how many were provided during January, 1947; and whether he will state figures which afford a comparison with the annual prewar provision of new goods wagons.

The number of new goods wagons built for running on the British railways during 1946 was 27,999; of this number, 1,408 were manufactured in Royal Ordnance Factories. During January, 1947, a total of 2,954 wagons were built. Annual prewar production was about 29,000.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the congestion normally present at Barking Station, at which the sole communication with each double platform is a narrow stairway which has to be used by passengers moving in each direction; and whether he will provide some relief, if only temporary, to this dangerous condition.

The railway company are preparing plans for the reconstruction of this station. Meanwhile I am advised that in addition to the stairway there is a footbridge at the London end of the station connecting platforms 3 to 8, and that in order to improve conditions temporarily the footbridge serving platforms 1 and 2 is to be extended to serve all platforms.

asked the Minister of Transport the scheduled times of departure from Aberdeen and arrival at King's Cross of the night train from Aberdeen at the present time and before the war, when a request stop at Stonehaven was included; how much time would have to be allowed for a request stop to pick up passengers at Stonehaven; and the average number of minutes this train has arrived behind schedule at King's Cross over the latest convenient four-week period.

I am informed that before the war the night train left Aberdeen at 7.35 p.m. and arrived at King's Cross at 7.25 a.m. It now leaves at 6.45 p.m. and is due at 7.15 a.m. If a clear route were available a stop at Stonehaven would add five minutes to the journey time. The average late arrival for the four weeks ended 25th January was 65.3 minutes

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give the most up-to-date figures of the number and grades, separately, of the permanently-appointed conciliation staffs of the four main line railway companies who have resigned their employment since the Essential Work Order was withdrawn from the industry.Mr. BARNES,

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the increasing danger from heavy ice, an icebreaker is available for use in the Thames estuary or what steps are being taken to obtain one.

There are no ice-breaking vessels in the Port of London. The Port of London Authority is in touch with the Admiralty regarding the possibility of heavy ice in the Thames approaches and would have their advice and assistance i there were any risks.

asked the Minister of transport to what extent the canal system of Britain has been out of action during the recent frosty weather; and what is the estimated loss of carrying capacity.

In spite of continuous ice-breaking, most of the narrow canals and certain of the lesser used wide canals have been closed to traffic, while others, including a few of the more important navigations, have been available for local traffic only. The loss of traffic on all inland waterways is estimated at approximately 300,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that vessels are frequently leaving this country for East Africa only partially filled with troops; and whether, in view of the large number of passengers awaiting a passage to East Africa he will consider returning some of these vessels for ordinary traffic.

More troops have to be brought home than are sent outward, so that outward bound troopships cannot all be filled with troops to capacity. Suitable accommodation in these ships not required for troops is used for civilian passengers. Troopships are being released as fast as Service requirements permit, and as shipyard facilities are available for reconversion work. Meanwhile transports specially adapted for civilian passengers are also being used on this route

aske the Minister of Transport if he is aware that shipping charges have increased by between 200 and 300 per cent. between 1938 and the present day and that this is having an adverse effect upon both our export trade and food prices; what increased costs justify these charges, and if he will cause an inquiry to be held into shipping profits,

I am aware that there have been substantial increases in freight rates since 1938, though the average increase is lower than that suggested by my hon. Friend The increases are due to the higher costs in this and other countries for all services and supplies to shipping, slower turn-round in port, the high cost of replacement of tonnage, and the shortage of export cargoes, for example coal, which means that ships are involved in additional ballast voyages. I have no evidence that our export trade is being hampered by the existing level of freight. The freight rates for the principal imported foodstuffs are fixed in relation to the costs involved. In the circumstances, I see no necessity for an inquiry into shipping profits. I would add that, in general, the freights charged by British ships are appreciably lower than those of ships under other flags.

asked the Minister of Transport how many trawlers have been sold to foreign owners since the end of the war; and in which years they were built.

The following statement shows the age of the 17 United Kingdom registered trawlers sold to foreign owners since 8th May, 1945:

asked the Minister of Transport if he intends to give power to the Transport Commission to operate or control the whole or any part of the pilotage services at present provided under the Pilotage Act, 1913.

The Transport Bill now before Parliament contains no proposal for amendment of the Pilotage Act, 1913.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that certain ex- employees of the L.P.T.B. cannot obtain re-employment with that board unless they are members of the Transport and General Workers Union and that the Transport and General Workers Union will not issue a union card unless they are employed by the L.P.T.B.; and what steps he proposes to take to solve this problem, in view of the injustice which is being perpetrated on these men.

I am making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member later.

asked the Minister of transport if his regulations require local authorities to incorporate in contracts the fair wages clause when making claims for grants.

Yes, Sir. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of my circular to highway authorities on the subject.

asked the Minister of transport if he will take further steps to assist doctors in rural areas, who have no alternative means of transport, to secure priority in delivery of new motorcars to replace vehicles which are no longer serviceable, as many doctors ordered their motorcars months ago and have not yet received them.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Eastern Norfolk (Mr. Medlicott) on 2nd November last.

asked the Minister of Transport why no representative of petrol-filling station proprietors is on the new Petrol Stations Technical Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Waleran.

When constituting this committee I invited the National Joint Industrial Council for the Motor Vehical Retail and Repairing Trade to nominate two representatives who have been appointed members of the committee.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the omni- bus service generally today in Stoke-on-Trent is much inferior to that operating in 1939; that workers have to wait an unduly long period to get home from work during the peak period; and whether he will take steps to effect some improvement.

The largest undertaking in the district has reinstated all its services withdrawn during the war and has introduced many new services Congestion has, however, resulted from recent changes in working hours, and improvements in conditions depend upon the adoption of a system of staggering the local hours of work.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the temporary, and how many of the permanent, Government-built, or public-authority-built, houses have suffered from burst pipes during the recent cold spell.

I regret that the information is not available, but pipes are now laid (in both temporary and permanent houses) to avoid external walls as far as possible and so to obtain the maximum protection against frost.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in cases where Italians have worked on farms for a long period and have proved themselves satisfactory, they may now be allowed to return from Italy to start work on the same farms again; or if, in cases where they are due to return to Italy this year, they may be allowed to return to the farms after a visit to their homes.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now grant facilities for the return to this country, subject to any necessary safeguards, of a limited number of former Italian prisoners of war, skilled in agriculture, whose services are requested by their previous employers, especially in cases in which accommodation can be provided by the employers.

I am unable at present to add anything to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 21st January to the hon Member for Newark (Mr. Shephard)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been drawn to the arrival of Fawzi ed-Din Kaukji at Lydda airport; and why and on whose authority he was permitted to depart freely therefrom for Egypt.

Fawzi el Kaukji and his wife were passengers on a chartered aircraft flying from Paris to Cairo which arrived at Lydda at midnight on 22nd February and stayed just over an hour. They were travelling under an assumed name on a Syrian passport. Kaukji was on the special list for detention on entering Palestine, but owing to his disguised name and the absence of warning of his departure from Paris, he escaped the vigilance of the Frontier Control personnel at the airport.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what factory area is occupied for storage purposes by Government Departments and local authorities.

A total of nearly 41 million square feet of industrial space is held by Government Departments in requisitioned and leasehold industrial premises and Government-owned factories for storage purposes. The area of industrial space held by local authorities is negligible. The whole of the requisitioned industrial premises, aggregating 25 million square feet, is being vacated in the current year. The remainder of the space held is not suitable for civilian production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the apprehension felt by farmers, the present position with regard to supplies of potash.

Supplies under our potash contracts have been greatly, delayed by conditions in supplying countries particu- larly by the freezing of continental ports and waterways. Everything is being done to import as much as possible by 31st March, but the amount available to farmers will be less than was anticipated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why there is an average delay of eight months between approval by Panel A and Panel B of schemes for factory development within the North-East Development Area; whether he will outline the procedure which results in this delay; and whether he will institute a new procedure dispensing with such delay.

My hon. Friend is under some misapprehension. Factory developments in the North-Eastern Development Area are normally considered by a regional panel which usully deals with them in about a fortnight. In those cases which are referred to Panel A at Headquarters, the time taken by Panel A is on the average to days. Panel B is not concerned with new industrial building developments.

asked the Minister of Education what use the Government proposes to make of the copyright of Basic English for which £23,000 has been paid.

The payment of £23,000 to which the hon. Member refers was not made solely in order to acquire the copyright in Basic English, but was intended also to compensate Mr Ogden for liabilities and losses incurred by him during the negotiations which were started by the Coalition Government two or three years ago following the publication of the White Paper (Command 6511). In order to secure the advantages of a widespread use of Basic English as a means of international communication and as a simple introduction to the English language, a Basic English Foundation is now being established and, subject to the provision of the necessary funds by Parliament, will be assisted by a grant-in-aid carried on the Vote of my Department. Suitable arrangements are also being made for the cooperation of my Department and the other Departments concerned with the foundation in the furtherance of its work

asked the Minister of Education when the following students will receive payment of their teacher's training grants: G. A. St. John Wilson, 37, Lexham Gardens, W.8, and J. W. Edwards. 10, Colloseum Terrace, N.W.I.

The two students referred to were paid their instalment for the current term under the Further Education and Training Scheme on 19th February.

asked the Minister of Education for how long he proposes to continue the practice of directing holders of four-years' training grants to teach in approved schools; whether such teachers are under written or other obligation to refer to the Ministry for permission to leave one post for another in either an, approved or an independent school; and what proportion of such teachers have been granted permission during the past 12 months to take posts in independent schools as compared with those directed to approved schools.

There is no present intention of changing the arrangements under which students, who receive grants from the Ministry as intending teachers, are required to sign a declaration that they intend to teach in schools approved by the Minister for the purpose. The attention of students is called to this general obligation, but they are not specifically asked to refer to the Ministry for permission to leave one teaching post for another. Of the students who completed their professional year of training in university training departments or post-graduate colleges in 1946 after receiving grants as intending teachers, about five per cent. received permission to take posts in schools not aided by Government Grants

asked the Minister of Education, in regard to the Sophia Evans Foundation Scheme for the benefit of girls resident in the parish of Presteign, Radnorshire, whether he is satisfied with the past administration of this scheme and, in particular, whether there is any record of when a meeting of the trustees last took place; what sum has been accumulated from money which has not been expended under the scheme; and whether the distribution of any accumulated sum will be made conditional on the approval of his Department.

As stated in reply to my hon. Friend's Question of 4th February, the question of the administration of this charity is being pursued. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative The Trustees have power to spend their income whether or not accumulated in any manner authorised by the Scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of sterling held in London by each of out overseas creditors on 1st January, 1946, and 1st January, 1947, respectively separating the territories in the sterling area from those outside.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to my answer to the hon. and gallant Member for New Forest and Christchurch (Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre) on 13th February

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the net receipts during the year 1946 from the disposal of Government surplus overseas, territory by territory.

I am collecting this information and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has now been able to give consideration to the hardship imposed by the fact that boilerettes made from monel metal and pure nickel are still liable to Purchase Tax; and whether he will deal with this matter in connection with his forthcoming Budget.

The hon. Member will not expect me to anticipate my Budget Statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the recent publication in the Press of photographs of Detective-Sergeant Mary Law, in spite of the official view that the identity of members of the Women's Police Force should be kept as secret as possible; and what steps he is taking to protect policewomen from this undesirable practice.

I am not aware of any official view to the effect suggested. This photograph was published with the consent of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power under what regulation and with what legal sanction the publication of some 500 periodicals was recently forbidden: and what consultation took place with the Ministry of Health before the suspension of medical journals; and what was the estimated and the actual saving of fuel achieved.

The suspension of publication of weekly newspapers was not the subject of any statutory order. It was secured by an instruction issued after consultation with bodies representing major interests in the newspaper and periodical Press. In the circumstances it was not possible to give exceptional treatment to any kind of periodical and there was therefore no ground for consultation with the Ministry of Health regarding medical journals. No estimate of the saving of fuel achieved can be given.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will furnish the recruiting statistics relating to all three Services for the quarter ended 31st December, 1946; and if corresponding figures will be made available each quarter in future.

Yes, Sir. The figures for quarter ended December, 1946, are as follow:

asked the Minister of Defence the net expenditure of British troops overseas in each of the territories where they have been stationed during the calendar year of 1946.

I understand that the right hon. Member requires information on the net cost of maintaining the three Services overseas during 1946, subdivided by countries. I regret that this is not immediately available. He will appreciate that the financial and accounting staffs in the Service Departments are very busy at the present time. The necessary details are, however, being assembled and I will send them to him as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that J. V. Hawksworth, 24, Moor Drive West, Crosby, Liverpool, made application on 12th July,1946, to No 700 Control Unit, B.A.O.R., for the necessary permission to enable his mother-in-law, Frau Boebel, aged 72 years, to join him in England; that he is still without reply to his repeated application: why there has been no reply; what is the nature of the obstacles in the way of her transfer to this country and when a permit may be expected.

An exit permit and visa were issued on 38th February and the British Red Cross are communicating with Frau Boebel to arrange for her to come to this country as soon as possible. The delay which has occurred in this case has been due first to the disbandment of the unit which was responsible for handling the application, secondly, to the necessity of obtaining further information, and and thirdly, to the large number of cases of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many permits have been issued since VE-Day for Germans to visit this country.

I understand that since VE-Day, approximately 1,540 British visas have been issued to Germans by the Passport Control Officer Berlin.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the allocation, for the latest convenient month, of coal for gas undertakings to the British and U.S. zones, respectively.

The February allocations for gasworks were 90,000 tons to the British zone and 96,000 tons to the American zone. In the British zone, however, a further 1,152,000 tons were allo- cated to coke ovens which supply gas to a number of towns.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether compensation is to be paid to Mr. E. G. Timbrell, of Cubitt's Yacht Basin, Chiswick, in view of the sudden termination of his employment with the Control Commission for Germany.

No, Sir. The terms of service provided for compensation only in the case of termination on grounds of redundancy.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the names and numbers of daily and Sunday papers received from the United Kingdom by the British element of the Allied Commission for Austria.

The list of daily and Sunday newspapers despatched by my Department for use by Austrians and for official use by members of the British element of the Allied Commission for Austria has recently been revised and is given below:organisations in response to specific requests.