asked the President of the Board of Trade if, owing to the financial condition of the country, he will stop the import of mimosa from foreign countries.

Mimosa is being imported only from France. This is in accordance with the policy for imports from countries whose economies have been disrupted by war, on which I circulated a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 21st October.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now allow the purchase of hedging gloves without the surrender of clothing coupons.

Agricultural workers can obtain these gloves free of coupons by applying through their employer to the local agricultural executive committee for a coupon equivalent certificate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the 1946 acreage of flax in England and Wales covered by contracts with the flax factories.

The 1946 acreage of flax in England and Wales covered by contracts with the flax factories was 17,331½.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the quality of the clothing issued to men released or discharged prior to the commencement of discharge by age and service was far below the standard of the clothing issued since; and what steps he proposes to take to issue new outfits to these men whose clothing is now worn out.

I am aware that before the middle of October, 1944, the issue made to men released or discharged from the Services was not of high quality. Coupons were, however, issued in addi- tion where need for more clothing could be shown. Moreover, since that date those concerned have enjoyed the full clothing ration. I see no occasion, therefore, for a further issue.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factories have been built under the guidance and direction of his Department within the area of Glasgow and neighbourhood since May, 1945; the number of men and women employed in these factories; how many factories are planned to be completed; and how many men and women planned to be employed within them by January, 1948.

Up to 31st January, 1947, 27 new factories and extensions had been completed within the Glasgow district and were employing 837 men and 362 women. In addition, 88 new factories and extensions were in course of construction and plans for a further 70 had been approved. It is estimated that all these factories, when in full production, should employ about 10,900 men and 8,600 women. It is impracticable, in present circumstances, to state when all these new projects will be completed and in full production; but I hope that most of them will be completed and available for production by the end of 1948.

asked the Minister of Labour, to the nearest available date, the number of men and women registered as unemployed at Bridgeton and Parkhead employment exchanges, Glasgow, respectively.

At 26th February, the numbers of insured men and women, aged 18 and over, registered as unemployed at these employment exchanges were: Bridgeton, 3,155 men and 66o women; Parkhead, 2,537 men and 1,461 women.

asked the Minister of Labour to the nearest available date, the number of unemployed platers, turners, shipwrights, joiners, plasterers and painters registered as unemployed at Bridgeton and Parkhead Employment Exchanges, Glasgow.

At 9th December, 1946, the latest date for which an occupational analysis is available, the numbers of wholly unemployed men aged 18 and over registered at the Bridgeton and Parkhead Employment Exchanges as applicants for work in the occupations specified were as follow:

Occupation.		Bridgeton.	Parkhead.
Platers	…	9	10
Turners	…	3	12
Shipwrights	…	10	3
Joiners	…	7	13
Plasterers	…	3	5
Painters	…	34	19

asked the Minister of Labour what steps have been taken to ensure higher priority in the supply of labour for manning new power stations.

There is at present no shortage of labour for manning power stations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the results of Anglo-Egyptian discussions on sterling balances.

I can add nothing at present to the announcement made in Cairo, a copy of which I will, with permission circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the dispensation from the annual check-up under Pay As You Earn, in the case of earnings up to £500 to £600 range, will be continued for the year 1946–47.

Yes, Sir; in view of the heavy pressure of work in tax offices, the relaxation which I announced for 1944–45 and 1945–46 will also apply for 1946–47.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what action he intends to take, in view of the complaints regarding the marked increase in the proportion of stone and dirt per ton of coal in deliveries to industrial establishments over the past two months, and the protests from blast furnace operators as to the increase in the percentage of dirt in coke over the same period.

I am not aware that there has been any marked increase during the last two months in the proportion of stone and dirt per ton of coal in deliveries to industrial establishments, nor have I received protests regarding dirt in coke from blast furnaces.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider giving local authorities power to undertake the distribution of coal.

No, Sir. My hon. Friend's proposal could only be considered as part of long-term policy; it would not help the present difficulties due to severe weather.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the critical position in regard to household coal deliveries in the neighbourhood of Maldon, Essex, and of the fact that many householders have only three cwt. of coal due to them during the two coming months and are at present entirely without coal; and if he will take action on the lines suggested in the representations from the Maldon Co-operative Society, which have been forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Maldon.

The consumers who have only three cwt. of coal due to them for the March-April period must be those who have received the maximum deliveries amounting to 31 cwt. in all in the first 10 months of the restriction year, including 15 cwt. during the summer period, intended mainly for winter consumption. As regards the second part of the Question, the supply position does not permit of any increase in the present allowances.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is satisfied with the distribution of domestic coal stocks in South-East London and particularly in the Lewisham area; and whether any improvements can be expected.

Merchants' stocks in South-East London, including Lewisham, taken together with stocks in Government dumps in that area, are distributed as evenly as is practicable. The overall tonnage available for the area is up to the average for the London Region as a whole.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is satisfied that he has adequate powers to ensure that coal merchants sell coal only to those consumers to whom it is allocated by local fuel officers.

Adequate powers exist under the Defence Regulations for dealing with irregular transactions by coal merchants, including deliveries to premises not registered with them.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many Meco Moore coal cutters are at present installed in coalmines; how many were delivered in 1946; and how many will be delivered in 1947.

Thirty Meco Moore coal cutters have been installed. Twenty-one machines were delivered in 1946, and it is estimated 28 will be delivered in 1947.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many motor cars the National Coal Board has ordered for its officials since it took over responsibility for the mines on 1st January; and of what make and horse-power the motor cars in question are.

I have no information how many motor cars the National Coal Board possesses or has ordered since 1st January last.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that thousands of young tomato plants in commercial glasshouses in Norfolk and other counties may be lost as a result of the fuel shortage; and if he will arrange for further supplies of fuel to be made available to growers without delay.

I have not been informed of any fuel shortage for commercial glasshouses in Norfolk or other counties. The average stock held by growers in the Eastern Region including Norfolk is satisfactory, but if my hon. Friend has knowledge of any particular case of difficulty and will let me have details, I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much coal has been saved up to date as a result of the recent restrictions; and how many days' effort on the part of the miners this represents at the present rate of production.

It is estimated that the savings of coal at power stations, gas undertakings, coke ovens and industry during the period 10th-24th February was about 1,100,000 tons. This is about two days' output at the present level of production. Figures for savings during the last week of the restrictions on industry are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will arrange to advise transport organisations in advance of the anticipated destination and tonnage of coal estimated to be required to be moved from pitheads and colliery sidings on Sundays, so that proper staff arrangements can be made by the railways and other transport concerns.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport, to a similar question on 3rd March.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the numbers of British underground miners in the age groups 50–55, 55–60, 60–65, and over 65 years of age, respectively, at the latest date for which figures are available.

The latest figures available relate to the year 1945, and will be found in Table 15 of my Ministry's "Statistical Digest" for that year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much coal was exported from this country during February, 1947.

The figures for February are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much of the 181,631 tons of coal exported from the United Kingdom in January, 1947, was bunker coal; and how much was for use in the homes and industries of other countries.

The 181,631 tons referred to by the hon. Member included 49,000 tons for bunker depots overseas, 13,000 tons for the Channel Islands, 11,000 tons for His Majesty's Forces overseas, 3,600 tons for gas undertakings at Malta and Gibraltar, and 2.800 tons of anthracite for Canada. I have no detailed information as to the uses to which the balance was applied, but I understand that the bulk of this coal was used for industrial purposes. In any case, since this balance consisted of such inferior fuel as unscreened opencast and slacks, dross, slurry, etc., it is reasonable to assume that it could not be used as house coal.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give the comparative figures of British coal which was exported abroad, excluding bunker coal, for 1946, through the European Coal Organisation as compared with the savings of coal which have taken place during the period 10th February to 24th February.

1,357,000 tons of inferior fuel were exported from this country in 1946 through the European Coal Organisation It is estimated that the savings of coal effected during the period 10th–24th February in the consumption of power stations, gas undertakings, coke ovens and general industry amounted to 1,100,000 tons. It is not possible to draw any useful comparison between these figures, as the exports made through the European Coal Organisation consisted of briquetting and anthracite duff, unscreened opencast, slacks and dross, coke and coke breeze, which are greatly inferior in quality to the coal saved under the present restrictions.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will arrange for future Statistical Digests on Coal to include figures for coal raised and weighed.

The figures for coal raised and weighed are unsatisfactory in certain respects and in any event confusion would inevitably arise if output figures were published on this basis as well as on the basis of saleable coal produced. For these reasons I should not be willing to publish the raised and weighed figures in the "Statistical Digest."

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give a list of the original, amended and supplementary estimates of coal requirements sent to his Department by the Central Electricity Board from the beginning of the year to 10th February.

No estimates of coal requirements were sent by the Central Electricity Board to my Ministry during the period in question. Two estimates were, however, submitted by the Central Electricity Board, the first, during July, 1946, for the period 26th October, 1946, to 25th April, 1947, and the second, on 22nd November, 1946, for the period 30th November, 1946, to 25th April, 1947. For the period 3rd January to 7th February, the original estimate was 640,000 tons per week on average, the revised estimate was 676,000 tons and the actual consumption was 685,000 tons. For the two weeks preceding the crisis (when the weather began to increase consumption and dislocate supplies) the corresponding figures were 627,000, 662,000 and 729,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now state, in answer to representations made on 4th February, whether transport facilities have been arranged for approximately 30 miners living in Newcastle-on-Tyne employed on the night shift at Denton, Dinnington and Dudley and Seaton-Burn collieries, to obviate a walk of more than three miles to the collieries to the detriment of coal production; and whether the United Bus Company have been approached and given their consent to the use of their late staff omnibus for this purpose.

I have nothing to add at this stage to the communication already sent to my hon. Friend on this subject, but I will keep him informed of further developments.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what difficulties there are in obtaining from the U.S.A. or elsewhere mechanical equipment to bring the mines fully up to date; what percentage of the mechanical equipment required has been obtained; and how long he anticipates it will be before all the mechanical equipment required has been secured.

No difficulties have been experienced in obtaining suitable machinery for the mines from the U.S.A. and, in co-operation with the manufacturers in this country, increased capacity has been provided to meet demands for mining machinery and equipment. In regard to the latter parts of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 27th February.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of premises, formerly used as hotels and dwelling-houses, respectively, which are already occupied by the National Coal Board in Edinburgh; if he will give the number of premises in each of the above categories which are in process of transfer to the National Coal Board; and if he will give the estimated number of additional premises which are likely to be re- quired in Edinburgh for the use of the National Coal Board.

I have no information as to what premises are occupied or are required by the National Coal Board in Edinburgh except that part of the Scottish Divisional Coal Board is temporarily accommodated in part of the Regional Offices of the Ministry in Edinburgh, because they cannot find other accommodation.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, when a registered customer satisfies a local fuel controller that he is not receiving adequate service from his coal merchant, he can be registered with a fresh supplier without being required to be released by the original coal merchant.

The grant or refusal of a change of registration for coal supplies rests entirely with the local fuel overseer. The consent of the original merchant to a transfer is not required, although he is usually given the opportunity to refute allegations of unsatisfactory service.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the flags bearing the initials N.C.B. which were hoisted on coalmines on 1st January were floodlit; what was the cost of this lighting; and who paid for it.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, in a few cases, "Yes"; to the second part, I have no information, and to the third part, the National Coal Board.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury which are the nine Departments whose officers are at present authorised to carry out inspections and investigations into private houses and premises without a search warrant; whether, before this is done, permission has to be obtained from a Permanent Under-Secretary or from whom is such authority obtained; and on what sources of information is action taken.

The required particulars are as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total number of civil servants employed in all Government Departments on 1st August, 1945; and the total number employed on 1st March, 1947.

On 1st July, 1945, the total number of non-industrial civil servants was 715,347; the corresponding information for 1st August, 1945, is not available. On the 1st January, 1947, the total number employed was 722,006; no later figures are available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the substantial saving of electricity which is effected by the use of fluorescent lighting, he will, in consultation with the Minister of Supply and the President of the Board of Trade, give every assistance and encouragement to manufacturers of these components.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether his consideration of the scheme for the production of electric current by means of a barrage across the River Severn is yet complete; and what he proposes to do in the matter.

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Sir S. Reed) on 18th November, 1946, and to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Renton) on 20th February, 1947.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent breweries have been again placed on the essential list for the supply of electricity; and to what areas this decision applies.

Restrictions on the use of electricity by industry have now been removed throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the disadvantages, examples of which have been submitted to him, suffered by British scientists and doctors occasioned by the paper shortage which cuts down scientific articles, the electricity cuts which have dislocated the publication of scientific and medical journals, the interference with research, consequent upon shortage of apparatus and, recently, the mortality amongst experimental animals due to the impossibility of warming animal houses; and if he will take measures to mitigate these handicaps.

I regret the interference with the activities of scientists and doctors which has inevitably resulted from the electricity cuts. Ever since the cuts were imposed an Inter-Departmental Committee has been sitting daily to ensure that inconvenience or loss should be reduced to a minimum and consent was in fact given to the use of electricity to keep alive animals and cultures of scientific value.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps have been taken to ensure higher priority in the supply of factory sites and providing factory space for new power stations.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to sites for new power stations and would refer him to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Mr. Palmer) on 12th December, when I outlined the steps taken to expedite procedure for developing these sites.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if persons living and working in places where electricity is the only means of heating, and who are suffering exceptional hardship from the ban on its use during certain hours, may be given priority to obtain paraffin oil.

I regret that supplies do not permit of this. The Kerosene Priority Scheme applies only to domestic users who have no other means of heating, cooking or lighting.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of double summer time, he will see that more paraffin is available for the rural areas.

Domestic consumers who are solely dependent on Kerosene for heating, lighting or cooking are assured of specific allocations of paraffin under the Kerosene Priority Scheme. The scale of allocations which was drawn up in 1943 and is still in operation was based on double summer time.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total import and consumption, respectively, of petrol in the year ended 31st December, 1938.

The total imports of motor spirit in the year ended 31st December, 1938, were 1,457 million gallons; total consumption of motor spirit in the United Kingdom during the same period was 1,449 million gallons.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total import and consumption, respectively, of petrol in the year ended 31st December, 1946.

The total imports of motor spirit in the year ended 31st December, 1946, were 1,208 million gallons; total consumption of motor spirit in the United Kingdom during the same period was 1,256 million gallons. Both these figures are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will now state whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to abolish capital punishment for an experimental period of five or seven years.

I am not in a position to make any statement on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purpose Reading prison is now being used; and if it is proposed to use it again as a prison.

Reading prison is now in use as a local prison, and is being used primarily to relieve overcrowding at Birmingham, Oxford and Gloucester Prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what principle and by whom, are remissions of sentences in His Majesty's prisons now calculated and granted; and what are the maximum and minimum remissions allowed.

Rule 69 of the Statutory Prison Rules, 1933, as amended in 1943, provides that a convicted prisoner sentenced to more than one month's imprisonment may earn remission of one-third of the sentence, and a prisoner sentenced to penal servitude may be released on licence when one-third of his sentence has still to run.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances Walter Graham Rowland, then serving a life sentence, was released from prison in 1943; whether it was a condition of his release that he should join the Army; and what action was taken to inform the military authorities of his criminal record.

All cases of prisoners serving sentences of penal servitude for life are reviewed from time to time, and the date when a particular prisoner can be released on licence is decided in the light of all the circumstances of the particular case. This procedure was followed by my predecessor in this case. It is not the practice to make release conditional on joining the Army, nor is it the practice to communicate to the military authorities the criminal record of a released prisoner; but steps are taken in the case of prisoners liable for military service to inform the appropriate authorities of the prisoner's release.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the large numbers of displaced persons and foreign nationals, who may be brought to this country will delay or prejudice the applications for British citizenship which have been made by aliens already resident in the United Kingdom.

The statutory requirement that an applicant for naturalisation must have had at least five years residence on British soil will prevent any such difficulty arising.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. Markus Lempert, a Viennese refugee now resident at 28, Rosengartenstrasse, Zurich, and suffering from serious heart disease, cannot be allowed a visa to visit his two small daughters now being cared for at Shalom House, a hostel for refugee children at Hemel Hempstead, from whom he has been separated since 1939, so that he may make dispositions for their future.

In view of this man's state of health, it seems to me more appropriate that the mother, who visited these children just before Christmas, should taken them to Switzerland rather than that he should undertake the journeys from Switzerland and back again.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the present shortage of man and woman labour power, all aliens wishing to remain in this country will be allowed to do so, unless there are reasons to the contrary respecting individuals; and whether sympathetic consideration will be given to applications for the immigration to this country of near relatives and fiancees, where it can be shown that suitable accommodation is available and the full needs of these immigrants can be met.

As respects civilians my policy is broadly as indicated in the Question, but it is not possible to set out in a single answer the necessary limitations which have to be made to these generalisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to state whether legal aid and maintenance will be provided for dependants of natives of other countries who are no longer domiciled here and who have evaded their personal responsibilities; and how many illegitimate half-caste children are concerned in such negotiations.

As regards maintenance I am not in a position to add anything to the replies given on 3rd February by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and by the Prime Minister on 10th February, to Questions in Parliament, copies of which I am sending to my hon. Friend. As regards legal aid, I hope soon to be in a position to make a statement regarding the arrangements made for such aid in American cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the discussions with the Dominions relative to points of detail concerning the nationality of British women married to foreigners are yet complete; and when the proposed legislation amending the present law is to be introduced.

Yes, Sir. The conference of experts has completed its examination of the various questions referred to them, and a report on the proceedings of the conference is being prepared for submission by the delegates to the Ministers of the countries represented. I am not in a position to make any statement about the date of legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the N.F.S. authorities have given five tenants in Wallsend notice to quit and are attempting to get possession through the court on 27th February; that these houses are occupied by ex-N.F.S. members of whom four are disabled and the other has died leaving his aged widow as tenant; that the Wallsend Council is much concerned about this because it will increase the housing problem if these people are evicted seeing there is no alternative accommodation; that public feeling is against such action by a public body, particularly at the present time; and if he will stop this proceeding.

As I have explained to my hon. Friend in correspondence, I did not think it right to stay the court proceedings, since it is necessary in the interests of the National Fire Service to have the use of all service quarters in order that serving personnel may be properly housed. It would appear that the orders made by the judge on 27th February took account as far as possible of the factors of hardship to which my hon. Friend has drawn attention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to make a statement on the report submitted to him by the committee of inquiry appointed to consider amendment of the Shops Acts for stabilising early closing hours; and if early legislation is contemplated on the recommendations of the report.

The report is under consideration, but I am not in a position to make a statement as to legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of experiments on living animals that have been conducted for the purpose of cancer research in each of the years from 1939 to 1946; and what were the animals concerned, distinguishing between experiments with and without anesthetics.

Statistics for 1946 are not yet available: the other figures for which my hon. Friend asks are as follow:

Year.		With anæsthetics.	Without anæsthetics.
1939	…	398	26,538
1940	…	781	10,949
1941	…	1,317	14,131
1942	…	3,138	11,162
1943	…	1,417	14,257
1944	…	1,020	20,551
1945	…	140	11,290

I am unable to classify these figures as between the animals used, but the great majority of the experiments—whether with or without anæsthetics—were performed upon mice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, in view of the fact that Lyons' Corner House, Coventry Street, has been on several occasions the scene of disorderly gangster assaults after nightfall, he will consider ordering its closing from 5 p.m. onwards.

My information is that the management make every effort to ensure that this establishment shall be conducted in an orderly manner. I have no power to order that it be closed.

asked the Minister of Health how far behind is the pricing of prescriptions under the National Health Insurance Act in South-east England; how many prescriptions are waiting to be priced; to what extent are the arrears being overtaken; and how he proposes to ensure that chemists are paid for the work they have done.

Pricing is approximately four months in arrears in the area mentioned. About three million prescriptions are involved. A payment on account has been made and the balance is, where those concerned agree, being calculated on average payments instead of on exact pricing. It is hoped that the balance will all be paid within two months.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the serious position in connection with the use that is being made of the sanatorium beds in the local authority's institution at Southampton, by the fact that they have, at present, to find accommodation for a large number of non-Service tubercular cases such as merchant seamen, Control Corn-mission personnel, etc., sent back to this country via the port of Southampton; and that, since November, 1946, 16 cases have had to be admitted into the local authority's hospitals, whereas there is a waiting list of 64 cases of local residents in urgent need of sanatorium treatment; and what steps he proposes to take in order to relieve the local situation.

The medical authorities at Southampton have given indispensable help in temporarily looking after repatriated bedridden cases until other arrangements could be made. The numbers have not been large, but my right hon. Friend appreciates what my hon. Friend says and he will continue to do everything he can to secure early transfer of such cases.

asked the Minister of Health approximately how many children are now awaiting admission into mental deficiency institutions; and how this compares with the position a year ago.

I regret that precise information is not available but when the Statistical returns for 1st January, 1947, are available I may be able to send my hon. Friend an estimate of the position.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of cases suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis who have applied, or been recommended for admission to a sanatorium, and who have not yet been found accommodation; and what steps he proposes taking to expedite this matter.

In England and Wales, at 31st December, 1946, the number who had been on waiting lists for institutional treatment for longer than ten days was about 7,000. The chief difficulty is shortage of staff and the utmost efforts are being made to remedy this.

asked the Minister of Health for how many houses local authorities have claimed the special standard amount of £25 10s. available for cottages built for the agricultural population; how many cottages have been completed by the latest convenient date; how many of these houses are now occupied by agricultural workers; what percentages are let at a rent, excluding rates, of 7s. 6d., of between 7s. 6d. and 10s. and of over 10s., respectively; and what is the average rent charged for all such houses.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 607. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Monthly Housing Returns I regret that the information asked for in the remainder of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will accord to rural areas a high degree of priority over other districts in the allocation of labour and materials for housing in view of the requirements needed greatly to increase the British labour force in agriculture.

I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 25 of the White Paper on the Housing Programme for 1947.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Territorial Army and Air Force Association of the County of London is attempting to evict a number of its residential tenants in Hammersmith and other parts of London without offering them alternative accommodation, asserting that they are not protected by the Rent Restriction Acts; and whether he will give the Metropolitan Borough Councils concerned powers to requisition the premises in question, or other premises outside their own areas, in order to accommodate these tenants, who cannot at present find other homes.

My right hon. Friend is aware that the Associations are seeking to obtain possession of certain married quarters which have been let to civilians. The question whether the properties are protected by the Rent Restriction Acts is a matter for the courts to decide if and when legal proceedings have to be taken. The answer to the last part of the Question is. "No. Sir."

asked the Minister of Health what steps he has taken, in pursuance of the requests of the Thurrock Urban District Council, dating from September last, to provide essential services to the camps occupied by squatters at Chadwell St. Mary and Abbotts Hall; and, in particular, to restore the electricity supplies which were finally cut in November last.

These camps are required by the War Department and cannot be made available for housing. My right hon. Friend therefore is unable to intervene.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will alter his regulations to allow local authorities to sell houses to any applicant who wishes to own his home, provided that, as a result, no such applicant becomes entitled to occupation of a local authority house earlier than he would have become so entitled under the present regulations.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to Section 79 of the Housing Act, 1936. In present circumstances I think that as many houses as possible should be kept available for letting by local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health (1) why the precedents, by which in local Acts provisions for safeguarding landscape of special beauty have been officially defined, have not been followed in the case of the Whitehaven Corporation Waterworks Order, 1947, embodying his approval of the establishment of Ennerdale reservoir.(2) whether, having obtained assurances from Whitehaven Corporation that they will employ a landscape architect and will invite the comments of the Royal Fine Art Commission in connection with Ennerdale reservoir, he will embody these conditions of his consent in the wording of the Order approving its establishment.

Conditions for safeguarding amenities were attached to my right hon. Friend's decision. It was unnecessary to include further provisions in the Order since the conditions would, if necessary, be enforced by my right hon. Friend's refusal to consent to borrowing and to authorise the carrying out of the works.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will present to Parliament the Whitehaven Corporation Waterworks Order, 1947, and the relevant Compulsory Purchase Order jointly as a single Order so that opportunity may be afforded for discussing the omission from the former of any reference to those conditions, the promised honouring of which led to his approving the Ennerdale Reservoir Scheme.

No, Sir. The Orders were made under different Acts. My hon. Friend may, however, rest assured that there is no question of the conditions which were attached to my right hon. Friend's approval not being enforceable in the unlikely event of enforcement being necessary.

asked the Minister of Education how many forms his Department requires when a school needs a scrubbing brush and how many for a lavatory pan.

None, Sir.

asked the Minister of Education why small and out-of-the-way schools which had their windows bombed in 1941 cannot yet obtain the necessary permission to have these repaired.

I am not aware that any difficulty is being experienced in getting the necessary authorisation where one is required, but if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind I will gladly look into it.

asked the Minister of Education if he, will give a full list of all the colleges now open or to be opened in the near future, giving, in the former case, the dates of the next intake of students and, in the latter case, the probable date of opening.

A list of this kind has already been prepared and will be sent to Local Education Authorities and candidates as soon as it has been printed. I will send a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the financial hardship which many men awaiting training are experiencing, either owing to lack of employment in the waiting period or, in the event of their being employed as temporary teachers, the inadequate salary paid, particularly in view of the absence of allowances, payment of which will not commence until entry into college; and what steps he proposes to take to alleviate such hardship.

I am not aware that there is any widespread unemployment among these candidates. Those who take posts as temporary teachers are paid salaries in accordance with the Burnham scales appropriate to such posts. I am satisfied that the best way to alleviate any difficulties among the candidates is to open new colleges as fast as possible, and this is being done.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that out of 328 ex-Service students at the University College of Wales, Aberystywth, 103 had not received their grants for the current term at a recent date; what is the cause of the delay; and whether he will arrange to expedite the payment of grants in order to remove this hardship from the students.

The number of students at the college who have been granted awards up to date is 270. Of these, 212 were in receipt of grants before term began and their grants for this term were paid in full on the 1st February. The other 58 are more recent awards and all but one have been paid for the current term. In the case of the remainder of the 328 students referred to, awards have not been settled, but payments on account will be made as soon as possible, and final payments will follow when the cases have been assessed.

asked the Minister of Education how many of the 866 classrooms due to be completed last August are now finished and ready for occupation, and how many are not yet started.

Of the classrooms originally scheduled for programming purposes to be erected by August, 1946, 33 have been finished and are now ready for occupation. Figures are not available of the number upon which work has not yet started, but contracts have been let for a further 877 classrooms in this group.

asked the Minister of Education what action is being taken by his Department to speed up the provision of nursery schools, in view of the Government's appeal, in Cmd. 7046, for additional women workers in industry.

This Question is receiving my urgent attention.

asked the Minister of Education when the provisions of the Education Act, 1944, relating to registration and inspection of independent schools, will be put into operation.

I am not yet in a position to give a date.

asked the Minister of Education how many schools have been supplied with dining huts for the purpose of scholars' meals since 1st April, 1946.

According to my latest information, 124 dining huts for school meal purposes have been completed since 1st April, 1946.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has yet come to a decision as to the employment of schoolchildren on the land again this year; and if he will state the terms and conditions governing such employment.

Yes, Sir. After the fullest examination of the prospects and all the possibilities my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture is satisfied, and has satisfied me, that there is no alternative, if essential food supplies are to be maintained, to continuing the arrangements which have been in force during the last few years under Defence Regulations for the employment of school children in urgent seasonal agricultural work. My right hon. Friend and I have reached this decision only with the greatest reluctance. Local education authorities will accordingly be empowered, on representations from the county war agricultural executive committees, to exempt children with their parents' consent from school for this urgent work for not more than 20 half days in the year, a number which may only be exceeded with His Majesty's Inspector's special approval in circumstances of exceptional emergency. The minimum age at which these exemptions can be granted, which has hitherto been 12, will be increased to 13 when the compulsory school age is raised to 15 on 1st April. Conditions safeguarding the children's interests are prescribed in the Regulations covering such matters as hours of employment and wages, physical fitness, suitability of clothing, facilities for transport and such arrangements as may be practicable for the supervision of the children while at work.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the lack of secondary educational facilities for children of the 11-plus age at Bollington, near Macclesfield; and whether he anticipates that it will be possible to make arrangements in the near future to improve these facilities.

I am aware of the position and I understand that the local education authority intend to meet the need by building a new school. Certain interim proposals which had been put forward by the authority for the use of accommodation in Poynton were not considered satisfactory by my Department. Arrangements are being made for officers of the Department to discuss the position with the authority's representatives.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Government accept the recommendations contained in the second interim and final Reports of the Denning Committee for procedural reforms in matrimonial causes.

Save that it is proposed to retain the necessity for an affidavit in support of a petition—but with a modified procedure designed to save time and expense—the procedural recommendations made in Part II of the Second interim Report of the Denning Committee are accepted in principle. But in the course of preparing the detailed Rules it has been found necessary to make a number of modifications or variations of the actual proposals made by the Committee, and I do not suggest that the Rules when made will represent exactly what was proposed in every single instance. With very few exceptions, however, the substance of these valuable recommendations will be incorporated in the new code, or be given effect to by administrative action. The new Rules which will shortly be issued will incorporate a number of the procedural reforms recommended in the Final Report of the Denning Committee. Others are still under consideration, and I cannot make any definite statement about them today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether arrangements will be made for a Parliamentary delegation to visit the U.S.S.R. later in the year.

His Majesty's Government would welcome closer and more regular contact between Parliament and the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. After the termination of the forthcoming visit of the Delegation of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., to which we are all looking forward, I shall be glad to ascertain the wishes of the Soviet Government regarding future exchanges of delegations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the Charter of the United Nations does not impose any obligation on the permanent members of the Security Council to coerce each other and depends for its efficacy in guaranteeing peace on their will to agreement and loyalty to their obligation to refrain from the use or threat of force in their international relations and to settle their differences by pacific means, the collective security that the Government consider it necessary to establish before further reducing our armaments will be based on U.N.O.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the conditions of famine existing in Rumania and the threat of the spread of disease; and if he will make representations to international relief organisations to give assistance to the Rumanian people.

The serious famine conditions in Moldavia have been reported by the British Representatives in Bucharest and 500 tons of food from surplus British army rations in Italy are being despatched to the famine area. The President of the United States has announced that 4,500 tons of food are being diverted from American army stores for relief in Moldavia, and I understand that 360 tons of food and clothing are being provided from Swiss sources. In view of the foregoing it is not intended to approach international relief organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether compensation is payable to Mrs. Arkell, Glen Cottage, Ringstead Bay, Dorset, in excess of the compensation payable under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, in view of the fact that Clause 52 of the Requisitioned Land and War Works Act, 1945, provides that, subject to the discretion of a Minister, the costs of reinstating damage done to property during requisition may be paid.

Yes, Sir. Some works to restore this cottage have, I understand, already been undertaken and I am consulting my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health on the amount of the supplement to normal compensation which falls to be paid.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will revise the rule excluding Press reporters from public auctions of surplus goods by his department.

There is no such rule; on the contrary we welcome representatives of the Press at the auction sales.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the impossibility to obtain elastic anklets in Cardiff; and whether, in view of the extreme hardship caused to those dependent on them, he will take steps to direct a supply to Cardiff.

I have no evidence to suggest that Cardiff is not receiving a fair share of available supplies, but if my hon. Friend knows of any particular case and will let me have details, I will do my best to help.

asked the Minister of Supply on what grounds a man, who joined the Air Ministry in 1939, was compulsorily transferred to the Ministry of Aircraft Production in 1940, where he remained until 1943 when he joined the Fleet Air Arm as a volunteer, has been refused reinstatement after his demobilisation.

I understand that the hon. Member is referring to Mr. Wilfred Short, whose application for reinstatement came before the Umpire recently. I regret that, owing to a mistake in the classification of Mr. Short's pre-Service occupation, he was not offered re-employment. On the recommendation of the Umpire, who has decided that it was not reasonable and practicable to employ him after 31st December, 1946, the Ministry of Supply has paid him £125 in compensation for loss of remuneration in respect of a period of six months during which he might have been employed.

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent the scheme arranged with the paint industry for disposal of Government surplus paints and varnishes is being operated; and what is the reason for delay.

The original scheme proved too slow in operation. Instead of first sorting the paint into categories and offering it initially only to firms in the paint industry, we are offering it, as it is, to the Ministry of Works for the housing programme, and the remainder for sale by competitive tendering to a wider field of trade firms including builders' merchants and contractors. The sale of small quantities is made by our regional offices, and quantities that arise in mixed accumulations of surplus stores, which it is essential to clear quickly by public auction sale, are included in the auctions. It is still the policy to include the manufacturing and distributing firms of the paint industry in all invitations to tender for paint sold by competitive tender.

asked the Minister of Defence if he is aware that former miners who enlisted prior to the war are not allowed to purchase their discharge from the Services to return to the mines; and whether, in view of the national fuel crisis, exceptions can be made in approved cases for this purpose.

As I explained in the reply given on 26th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Clay Cross (Mr. Neal), those miners now in the Forces who enlisted voluntarily before the war will have adopted the Forces as their career. It is very unlikely that their previous experience of mining will, at this date, be of much value, whereas they are of particular value to the Forces. I regret, therefore, that I cannot agree to the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps are being taken to counteract the ignorance among the German people of economic conditions in Britain as revealed by the German speaker in the broadcast, "Focus on Germany," on 4th February.

Every possible opportunity is taken by means of the Press and the wireless to correct such impressions and valuable co-operation has been given by responsible German authorities. The serious shortage of paper and of radio sets and spare parts continues to hamper the development of our information services which is recognised as so urgently required.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many men and women displaced persons from the British zone have been offered employment in foreign countries, excluding Great Britain; what are the nationalities of the displaced persons affected; and if he will give an assurance that foreign countries will not be permitted to skim off the best of the displaced persons and Great Britain left with those less fitted for useful employment.

No offers of employment have yet been made by any foreign Government, excluding Great Britain, to. displaced persons in the British zone of Germany. When any such scheme is submitted it will, of course, be considered in relation to the schemes operated by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a special train was run from Cardiff to Dowlais and back and one from Newport to Ebbw Vale and back, each containing an engine and coach, on or about Saturday, 22nd February, to obtain local Press photographs; how many staff were employed on these journeys; how much coal was used; and who authorised these journeys.

I am informed that these trains consisting only of an inspection coach were run to enable the Divisional Engineer to examine sections of line to see whether the heavy falls of snow and severe weather had made them unsafe for traffic working. The taking of photographs was incidental. Each trip employed three men and used about 25 cwt. of coal.