asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a list of the 53 completed factories in the North-East Development Area, giving the date of commencement and completion, the numbers employed, the location and type of product.

The information requested by my hon. Friend is being compiled and will be sent to him in the course of a day or so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what discussion took place and what agreement was reached with the representatives of the pottery industry in this country before permitting imports of earthenware and china from abroad.

None, Sir. But the industry are aware of the policy of my Department in the matter of imports. In fact, little pottery is being offered from abroad and in 1946 imports accounted for less than 0.75 per cent. of home supplies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that no new poultry houses are available in Northern Ireland, also no timber for repairing old poultry houses; and if he will make arrangements to release some timber for repairing poultry houses in Northern Ireland.

I am not aware that no new poultry houses are available in Northern Ireland. Timber is in short supply and it is necessary to ensure that the available quantities are used to the greatest possible advantage. A limited quarterly allocation of timber is at the disposal of the Government of Northern Ireland, and essential requirements for the construction and repair of poultry houses fall to be met out of this allocation.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that miners living in prefabricated houses in South Wales are inconvenienced by the inadequacy of the heating arrangements provided; that many who have no pit-head bath facilities are unable to dry their pit clothes properly at home and if he will consider the possibilities of improving the present heating facilities in these houses.

I am advised that the heating arrangements provided in these houses are generally adequate.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of smallpox have been recorded in this country since 1st January; the places in which they occurred; and the ages of those attacked.

The number of cases is 14, all of which have occurred at Grimsby. The ages are 30, 34, 37, 40, two at 67, 69, 70, two at 75, two at 77, 79 and 85.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the records of his Department of the vaccinal condition of smallpox cases, any regard is paid to vaccinations performed on contacts who subsequently develop smallpox or to unsuccessful vaccinations.

Yes, Sir. The Ministry of Health obtains such information as is available.

asked the Minister of Health whether, as women doctors, until recently, were conscripted in exactly the same way as men doctors for service in the Forces and received the same treatment in all respects, he will restore this source of recruitment to the Services in order to accelerate the present slow release rate of specialists.

No, Sir. The Government de not feel justified in calling up women doctors, when no other women are being compulsorily recruited, but efforts are being made to obtain women specialists as volunteers.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that Mr. F. Bainhem, II Wellington Road, Mablethorpe, applied for an old age contributory pension in August, 1946, and on many subsequent occasions and has not yet received a proper reply, as indicated by the correspondence sent to his Department; and if he will have this case dealt with without further delay.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when Mr. T. Crabtree, 172, Oxford Road, Gomersal, near Leeds, pension No. 16505541, who advised the Department in July, 1946, that he had retired from work and Mrs. Crabtree, his wife, of the same address, pension No. 32497877, will receive the increased rates of pension to which they have been entitled since the first pay week in October, payable at the Gomersal post office.

Inquiries into these cases are in hand and I will write to the hon. Members as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the tenants installed by the Buckinghamshire A.E.C. in the property of Mr. Peach, Newport Pagnell, who was dispossessed by that committee, have dismantled, removed and sold a poultry house erected by him in 1938 and destroyed valuable fruit trees on the property during their tenancy; and whether his approval was obtained to the reply from the A.E.C. justifying their action in these respects.

I understand that a portable poultry house in a very poor condition was removed from this property without the authority of the occupiers, but that they have agreed to its value being taken into account in the financial settlement when their contract for occupation is determined. The position is, therefore, as stated in the committee's reply. As regards the destruction of fruit trees, my inquiries are not yet complete but I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the representations made to the L.P.T.B. by the Joint Trades Works Committee of the Board's Chiswick works regarding fuel economy; and what action he has taken or is taking.

These representations are primarily for the consideration of the London Passenger Transport Board, and I do not propose to intervene.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the liner "Duchess of Bedford," used as a troopship, arrived from India with less than 300 passengers, mostly civilians, whilst 1,000 Service men, due for demobilisation, were left behind in Bombay; and why the departure of the liner was not delayed.

The authorities in India report that when this troopship sailed from Bombay, she cleared all Service passengers then awaiting passage to the Middle East and U.K., leaving only II British soldiers for U.K. in the Bombay transit camp. These II men were not ready to embark. Owing to fluctuations of traffic, troopships cannot always be completely full in both directions, more especially in the troop decks in which civilian passengers cannot be accommodated, but I have impressed on all authorities concerned the importance of making full use of all shipping opportunities for the movement of passengers.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that about 45 motor lorries and their drivers are standing idle at the tarmac works at Corby, Northamptonshire; and what use it is proposed to make of them for the transport of coal to the neighbourhood.

Adequate road transport is available for coal movements in the Midland area, but my area road haulage officer has been in touch with the owners of the tarmac vehicles referred to and they will be used for carrying coal if they are required. I am, however, informed that they may be on their normal work again in about a fortnight.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the inadequacy of the omnibus transport from Leeds to Gildersome, especially at peak periods; that unsuccessful representations for an improved service have been made to the regional transport commissioner; that Gildersome residents returning from work in Leeds still often wait on the kerbside for an omnibus for upwards of one hour; and what action will he take to augment the service.

The services via Gildersome are operated at the prewar frequency of six journeys an hour, duplicated at peak periods. They have been affected by the recent bad weather. The Bus Company are short of conductors, but as soon as they can recruit sufficient crews, they will consider either the running of a shuttle service between Leeds and Gilder-some or increasing the frequency of the existing services at peak periods.

asked the Minister of Transport why no action has been taken to provide covered waiting accommodation for the numerous passengers waiting for omnibuses at Aire Street, Leeds; and when he anticipates that this will be provided.

The footpath at Aire Street is considered to be too narrow for a shelter and the Bus Company have tried unsuccessfully to acquire an adjacent plot of land for the purpose. As soon as they can recruit the necessary additional staff, the Company will propose an extension of their services to the Leeds Omnibus Station, which would reduce the pressure at Aire Street.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made towards the electrification of the Liverpool Street to Chingford branch of the L.N.E.R.; and what immediate steps are being taken to alleviate the discomfort to the public caused by overcrowding at peak hours.

As regards the first part of the Question, I have nothing at present to add to the information which I gave to my hon. Friend on 18th December last. As regards the second part, improvement in travelling conditions will take place as the arrears of maintenance due to the Stratford dispute are overtaken and more engines become available.

asked the Minister of Transport how many dwelling houses are owned by the four main line railway companies in England, Scotland and Wales; how many of those houses are at present let for rent; and how many of the houses have no bathrooms or hot water provided.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 24th February, 1947; Vol. 433, c. 229], supplied the following statement:I am informed that the four main line railway companies own 52,584 houses which, with the exception of a few which are either disused or used for storage or similar purposes, are let for rent. The number of these that are without bathrooms or hot water systems is not available, and its compilation would involve an amount of inquiry and clerical work which I should not feel justified in asking the companies to undertake.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes to take steps, during the period of emergency, to impose a legal ban on football and other sporting events during working hours.

Dog-racing has in effect been stopped by an Order which forbids the use of any fuel at dog racecourses; mid-week football has by agreement been drastically curtailed. The whole question is, however, under active consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tenant farmers are members of the Hill Farming Advisory Committee and the Scottish area A.E.Cs.

Of the total membership of the Hill Farming Advisory Committee for Scotland (15) and the Area Agricultural Executive Committees (132), three members and 56 members respectively are tenant farmers. In addition two members and 19 members, respectively, farm partly as tenants and partly as occupying owners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement with regard to the negotiations with the Junior Civil Service Associations in Malaya on the question of back pay for the period of the Japanese occupation.

Negotiations have been proceeding since August last, but at the beginning of February the Governor of the Malayan Union informed me that the Associations had decided to reject revised proposals which, with my concurrence, had been put to them, and to have no further meetings with the Government representatives. As it then appeared that further negotiations would be fruitless and as I was satisfied that these proposals constituted an equitable settlement, I agreed, on the recommendation of both Governors, that these proposals should he taken as the final decision of the Malayan Governments on this subject. The decision was conveyed to the Presidents of the Associations in letters dated 15th February which have been published. The broad effect of the decision is that non-interned Government servants who remained at their posts in Malaya will have had the pay they received from the Japanese during the period of the occupation made up to at least (and in some cases more than) 100 per cent. of their normal salaries. Those who can show that by reason of their pro-Allied activities during that period were unable to earn a living will now receive full pay.