asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider listing separately the figures for production of surface outcrop coal in future statistics of coal production, in view of the fact that such coal contains a low calorific value.

Figures for opencast coal production are already shown separately both in the Monthly Statistical Digest issued by the Central Statistical Office (Table 28) and in the monthly Statistical Statement issued by this Department to the Press.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the output per manshift, both at the face and overall in coalmines, averaged over three-year periods from 1913 to 1935; the proportion of the total coal output cut and conveyed by machinery and by pneumatic picks in the same three-year periods; and the technical and other reasons for any marked variations about or since 1937.

I am sending my hon. Friend a statistical statement in reply to the first part of the Question. As regards the last part of the Question, it is stated in the Reid Report that the decline in output per manshift after 1936 up to the beginning of the war cannot be fully accounted for, but since the deterioration was found in most of the coal producing countries of Europe, one cause may have been the employment of a larger proportion of men on development work at a time when the pressure of competition had been somewhat reduced.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether further steps will be taken to improve the distribution of available domestic fuel supplies so as to enable all householders to obtain a basic allowance.

The arrangements for the distribution of house coal are under constant review and improvements are made from time to time in the light of experience. I am not in favour of substituting a basic allowance for the present system of permitted quantities.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the Express Lift Company and similar undertakings responsible for the lifts in large blocks of flats refuse to allow power during periods of the day and night outside limited hours, thus causing hardship to elderly and sick people whose only means of access is by lift; whether it is intended to continue these restrictions; and if the same rules apply to Government offices.

The use of electricity in residential premises between certain hours is prohibited by order. The steps to be taken outside the prohibited hours to economise must rest with the persons responsible for the use of the electricity. As the hon. Member is aware I was able to announce on Saturday last that in offices and other non-residential premises electricity may be used for essential purposes provided consumption is reduced to a minimum and in no case exceeds two-thirds of the normal. Government offices are subject to the same rules as other offices.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unem-

Employment Exchange.			Men aged 18–64.	Boys aged 14–17.	Women aged 18–59.	Girls aged 14–17.	Total.
Whitehaven	…	…	583	35	108	14	740
Cleator Moor	…	…	649	26	67	12	754
Millom	…	…	62	1	9	4	76

An analysis according to duration of unemployment is not available for any date later than 9th December, 1946. At

Employment Exchange.			Total insured unemployed.			Unemployed for more than 6 months.
			Males aged 14–64.	Females aged 14–59.	Total.	Males aged 14–64.	Females aged 14–59.	Total.
Whitebaven	…	…	568	90	658	180	8	188
Cleator Moor	…	…	576	40	616	263	2	265
Millom	…	…	42	2	44	7	—	7

At 13th January, the most recent date for which these figures have been obtained, the number of ex-Service men

Employment Exchange.			Males aged 18–64.	Females aged 18–59.	Total
Whitehaven	…	…	68	5	73
Cleator Moor	…	…	128	4	132
Millom	…	…	—	—	—

asked the Minister of Works how many workers from each of the development areas have migrated since the end of the war to find employment in and around London and the Midlands.

I have been asked to reply. I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of married women in

At 5th March the numbers of insured persons registered as unemployed at the employment exchanges in question were as follow:that date the total numbers unemployed and the numbers unemployed for more than six months were:and women (released or discharged since May, 1954) registered as wholly unemployed were:the working population at the latest date for which figures are available; and the number of unmarried women who are not included in the working population between 15 and 55 years of age.

Precise information is not available but it is estimated that the number of married women and widows between the ages of 15 and 55 in whole-time or part-time employment, excluding indoor private domestic service, at mid-1946 in Great Britain was of the order of 2,000,000, and the number of single women of those ages not in paid emplo- ment outside private households was rather less than 1,000,000. The latter figure includes, among others, girls and young women in full-time attendance at educational institutions, as well as those who were in paid employment in private domestic service and those with household responsibilities in their own homes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much dollar exchange has been allocated for the purchase of carrots in cans.

None, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much sterling the Central Bank of Brazil have bought during the last seven days.

I have no information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, since the divorce secured by the American wife of Mr. Vincent Brooks is not valid and as the Treasury has been assessing Mr. Brooks as a single man on the assumption that the divorce was valid, the excess taxation he has been compelled to pay through that assessment will be refunded.

I cannot deal with the liability of a particular taxpayer by Question and answer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that an employed person who has not accounted for the whole of his tax liability under Pay As You Earn is now receiving in part or in full repayment of his 1945–46 postwar credit, while an employed person who has not under paid for past years obtains no similar benefit and a taxpayer whose personal income is assessed under Schedule D is likewise receiving no benefit; and what steps he is taking to remove this anomaly.

I assume that the right hon. Gentleman is referring to the arrangement announced in my answer of the 29th October last to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Spen Valley (Mr. Sharp), under which underpayments of tax for any year which were outstanding at the end of the year 1945–46 and therefore fell to be coded in so as to be added to the tax deductible under P.A.Y.E. in a subsequent year would be recovered Joy set-off against the postwar credit for 1945–46. This arrangement, which saved a substantial amount of work in tax offices, was adopted solely because shortage of P.A.Y.E. staff made it impossible to carry out the work of coding, and I cannot agree that a step which was so dictated by force of circumstances, should be regarded as a precedent in a field where no similar consideration arises.

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

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd March, 1947; Vol. 434, Col. 21], supplied the following figures:

	£m.
North West Europe (excluding Germany)	9·5
French North Africa	1·5
Cyprus	·2
Egypt	8·4
Sudan	1·3
Palestine	1·75
Syria	1·4
Persia and Iraq	3·4
India	27·1
South Africa	2·6
Australia	·6
East and West Africa	1·15
Far East	3·7
Miscellaneous not allocated	1·4
Total	64·0

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many enforcement officers employed by Departments of State are ex-police officers in receipt of pensions.

The information is not centrally available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware of the concern felt by civil servants at the delays in the consideration of claims for adjustments of salaries and working conditions; and if he will investigate the matter with a view to speeding up the negotiating machinery and, in particular, the claim for parity of pay between temporary and permanent staffs engaged on similar work.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my answers on 11th March to the hon. Members for Drake (Mr. Medland) and South Portsmouth (Sir J Lucas). I am anxious that all salary, claims should be decided quickly and I hope that a decision on the claim for parity between permanent and temporary staffs will be reached shortly.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the reason for his Department taking from 26th August, 1946, to 13th February, 1947, to decide to reject a claim for adjustment of the starting pay of temporary clerks, submitted by the Civil Service Clerical Association.

The claim was rejected on 14th October last. On 13th November the association asked that the matter might be reconsidered. This request was agreed to.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if boys are graded before being sent to any particular approved school; and if any differentiation is made between the hardened cases of a criminal type and the care and protection cases.

Yes, Sir. Much care is taken to try to send each boy or girl to the school which can best provide for the child's individual needs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that F. F. Mocciolo, of New York, formerly in the U.S. Navy, and now living with an English wife in Falmouth, holds a passport allowing him to reside in England for 12 months upon the express condition that he never does any work, paid or unpaid; and whether, in our present circumstances, he will consider removing this restriction.

This man was allowed to land as a visitor and as soon as the facts were brought to notice steps were taken to rectify the position. I informed my hon. and gallant Friend before this Question appeared on the Order Paper that the endorsement on the passport would be removed if the man would forward it to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason he has refused permission to return to this country to Mr. Vino Gentili, an Italian ex-prisoner of war, married to a British subject resident in Widnes, who wishes to come to England in order to reside with his wife and resume his former employment as an agricultural labourer.

If this man can obtain a permit from the Minister of Labour to take up this employment no objection will be taken to his entry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has caused a Dr. W. Dering, of the Polish military forces, to be detained; and what are the grounds of this detention.

In 1945 His Majesty's Government entered into a joint agreement with "other Governments of the United Nations for the surrender of any alien against whom there is a prima facie case that he is a war criminal. A request has been received from the United Nations War Crimes Commission for the surrender of Surgeon Lieutenant Dering for trial as a war criminal and it is necessary that he should be in safe custody until the question whether there is a prima facie case against him has been determined. In order to secure such custody a Deportation Order has been made, but the question whether the Deportation Order will be enforced will depend on whether a prima facie case is established.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the large number of uncared for orphan children in Germany and Austria, he will grant facilities for their entry into this country in all those cases where they have been offered British homes.

I have already agreed to certain schemes for this purpose and would be prepared to give sympathetic consideration to any further scheme if the organisers are in a position to satisfy me that homes would be available for such children and proper arrangements made for their care and welfare.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he will now make a further statement in regard to the introduction of legislation to improve the existing procedure for the payment of alimony in England and Scotland.

I regret that I am unable to add anything to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member on 21st November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if vegetarian prisoners in His Majesty's prisons are allowed the additional ration of cheese to which they would be entitled in normal circumstances.

In this matter prisons are subject to the general rules of the Ministry of Food applying to all institutions or catering establishments under which no extra ration of cheese for vegetarians resident in such an establishment is allowed unless the proportion of vegetarians to other residents is so great as to justify special treatment. The Prison Commissioners are able to adjust the total issue of cheese so as to provide eight ounces a week for vegetarians in prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if priority milk is supplied to those prisoners in His Majesty's prisons who would normally be entitled to it on account of their physical condition.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in Holloway, during 1946, were allowed to leave their cells for classes or other recreational purposes after 4.30 p.m.; what proportion this was of the total population in this category; and how many times a week the various prisoners who had served less than three months were able to take advantage of these facilities.

I regret that it is not possible from the available records to give this information. As I said in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 13th February, the daily average number of prisoners at Holloway who attended evening classes or recreation was 165, representing about 40 per cent, of those who are eligible to attend. The Prison Commissioners are anxious to increase the opportunities for evening activities at Holloway and provision is being made for a full educational programme which will in future be undertaken by the Education Committee of the London County Council, and which it is hoped will be available for all prisoners on reception. The Commissioners are paying special attention to the possibility of increasing hobbies and handicrafts, both in classes and in cells. It is hoped that with an increased staff the amount of evening recreational activity will also be increased.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the date on which prisoners in Holloway Prison started being served with tea at 4 p.m. and cocoa at 6.30 p.m.; and if all the prisoners there are now receiving both meals.

The general serving of tea at 4 p.m. and cocoa at 6.30 p.m. began at Holloway Prison on 24th February. All prisoners there now receive both meals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to enable the prisoners in Holloway to receive their sweet rations; and if he will see that they can obtain any sweets for which they may have coupons during the first rationing period of their detention.

I am reviewing in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food the whole question of the arrangements for making sweets available in prison, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject. As regards the latter part of the Question, the Prison Commissioners are examining the prison earnings scheme with a view to considering, among other matters, whether the period before an ordinary prisoner is entitled to earn can he shortened.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give consideration to bringing the by-law prohibiting the em-

—				Legal Aid Certificates.		Defence Certificates	Appeal Aid Certificates.
				In cases dealt with summarily.	In proceedings with a view to committal for trial.
Birmingham	…	…	…	11	7	31	1
Dudley	…	…	…	1	1	1	2
Stafford	…	…	…	Nil	2	3	Nil
Wolverhampton	…	…	…	Nil	2	2	Nil

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider introducing legislation to increase

The power under which the by-law is made is confined to children of compulsory school age. Young persons under 18 are prohibited from being served with intoxicating liquor in public bars, but not from being employed there. The question of prohibiting such employment is already noted for consideration when an opportunity for legislation occurs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were dealt with summarily in 1946 at the magistrates' courts of Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Dudley and Stafford, respectively.

The available figures are for 1945, and are as follow: Wolverhampton, 1,642; Birmingham, 22,024: Dudley, 572; Stafford, 528.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates were granted, respectively, by the magistrates' courts of Birmingham, Dudley, Stafford and Wolverhampton, in 1946 for, respectively, legal aid, defence and appeal aid.

The following are the figures:the maintenance allowance that can be granted to a wife with dependent children given a judicial separation in the courts.

I regret that I cannot hold out hope of legislation on this subject at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider setting up a Bureau of Standards to advise doctors and dentists on the quality of their medical and dental supplies.

I understand my hon. Friend is sending in further details of what he has in mind, and my right hon. Friend will be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that adequate facilities for hospital treatment now exist in Doncaster.

No, Sir; and my right hon. Friend intends to improve them as soon as resources allow.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that, in the event of any prolonged period of dry weather, shortage of water will not seriously interfere with our economy and comfort.

My right hon. Friend cannot guarantee that a prolonged drought would not render restrictions necessary in areas where demands have greatly increased in recent years and shortages of labour and materials are hampering the execution of new works of supply.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons are employed by his Department to make house to house inquiries about health conditions; what is the total annual cost of this activity; and what are the qualifications of those engaged.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the monthly Survey of Illness carried out on behalf of my Department by the Social Survey of the Central Office of Information. Each month inquiries are made of a sample of the population by 70 part-time investigators, who are members of the trained staff of the Survey. The work is directed by one re- search officer who is a qualified statistician. The approximate annual cost, including salaries, of this regular inquiry is £12,000.

asked the Minister of Health the highest and lowest population of Wales and Monmouth recorded; the years of such record; and the total number that births have exceeded deaths in the same area for the last 50 years.

The highest population of Wales and Monmouth was 2,736,750 as estimated by the Registrar-General at midyear 1925; the lowest population recorded was 587,245 as enumerated at the Census of 1801. The total excess of births over deaths in Wales and Monmouth from 1896–1945 (both years inclusive) was 1,040,070.

asked the Minister of Health whether it was the intention of the larger subsidy given for new council houses built for agricultural workers to enable the tenants to be charged a proportionately smaller rent; and what is the proportion of rural district councils that give such an advantage to agricultural workers when letting their houses.

The intention was to relieve the burden on the local rates as well as to permit reduced rents. I have no reason to think that this intention is not being fulfilled.

asked the Minister of Health why he has ruled that new rural houses should not be scattered to meet the convenience of farm workers but must be built in one big block.

I would refer the hon. Member to the report on Land Utilisation in Rural Areas (Cmd. 6378) paragraph 163 and to the section of the Housing Manual 1944, headed "Housing and Site Planning."

asked the Minister of Health how many applications have now been made by local authorities for the higher rate of subsidy in respect of the number of new houses allocated to the agricultural population.

The answer is 607.

asked the Minister of Health why his Department refuses to sanction the building, by Mr. G. Pickard, Ramsey, of two houses at Bury, near Ramsey, which are intended to be let to two masters of Ramsey grammar school, both of whom are married and have children and are at present living as lodgers in cramped quarters.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 26 of the White Paper on the Housing Programme for 1947. New applications for licences will be considered by the local authority in due course when the quota has been settled.

asked the Minister of Health what effect the recent severe weather conditions has had upon the development of the housing programme.

Recent conditions have undoubtedly been a handicap to production but their effect on the completion of houses during the year cannot yet be assessed. My right hon. Friend, therefore, does not propose to make a revised estimate but will keep the position under review in the light of the progress actually made on which monthly progress returns will continue to be issued.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the reasons for his recent decision to permit the selling price of new houses to be increased by £100 per house.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the circular issued to local authorities, in which the circumstances are fully set out.

asked the Minister of Health how many buildings in London held by his Department on requisition are at present empty; for whom they are being retained; and what is the annual cost to the taxpayer.

I regret that the information is not available. I can, however, say that the majority of buildings under requisition by my right hon. Friend are domestic buildings held on his behalf by local authorities for rehousing purposes. I have no reason to believe that any are being kept empty save for the necessary repairs, conversion or adaptation.

asked the Minister of Health why no further contracts have been placed for the erection of Seco houses; and if he will consider doing so.

Apart from the aluminium houses, the temporary housing programme is practically completed, and any extension would require legislation.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that many contractors and landlords of cottage property in Salford are not able to obtain timber, lead or cast-iron fittings for necessary repairs; that these materials are not available to the local authority; and if he will take steps for materials to be provided to make these poor cottage properties reasonably habitable.

Essential repairs to houses receive priority for materials, but supplies of timber, lead and certain cast-iron components are at present insufficient to meet all demands. My right hon. Friend has advised housing authorities to use alternative materials wherever practicable.

asked the Minister of Health whether anti-tank concrete blocks will be made available for coastal defence works in suitable cases.

The use of anti-tank concrete blocks is given consideration where they are in a suitable position.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the question of financial assistance to local authorities engaged in coastal defence works; whether this assistance will be made retrospectively; and whether he is proposing to co-ordinate defence works in neighbouring localities.

As regards the first part of the Question I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 27th January to the hon. Members for Northern Norfolk (Mr. Gooch) and Eastern Norfolk (Mr. Medlicott). The reply to the second part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir."

asked the Minister of Health whether he will increase the grant to the Gravesend Borough Council and other similar municipal corporations in respect of the provision of day nurseries to enable these local authorities to provide more of these facilities.

The fact that welfare authorities may need to provide more day nurseries now than formerly is the reason why a special Exchequer grant has already been made available. My right hon. Friend regrets that this grant cannot be increased.

asked the Minister of Health the period of time a local authority councillor can be excused from fulfilling his representative duties owing to absence from this country or for reasons of ill-health and, especially in such cases of ill-health, when the date of ability to resume his duties cannot be determined, although six months may have passed from the beginning of non-attendance.

No time limit is set by law.

asked the Minister of Education how many of the 283 practical rooms that are essential for carrying out the aims of the Education Act are now completed and ready for occupation; and how many are not yet started.

The figure of 283 does not agree with any requirement known to me.

asked the Minister of Education how many of the 2,545 pre- fabricated classrooms and the 1,081 practical rooms, which are to be ready at the end of the next summer holidays, are not yet started.

The figures are 1,389 and 691 respectively.

asked the Minister of Education when the junior school at Horncastle was last inspected and reported on by H.M. Inspectors.

The last full inspection of the work of this school was carried out in February, 1944. During the war the practice of issuing formal written reports of such inspections was discontinued. Since this full inspection informal visits have been made by H.M. Inspectors on eight occasions.

asked the Minister of Education the nature of the copyright in Basic English which His Majesty's Government has purchased; and what there is in Basic English that can be copyrighted.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member the senior Burgess for Oxford University (Sir A. Salter) on 11th March, a copy of which I am sending him. I am advised that copyright can exist in a list of words, provided that its compilation involved skill or judgment or some sort of discrimination; that Mr. Ogden has undoubtedly expended skill, judgment and discrimination in the compilation of his list of words which form the foundation of the Basic English System, and that he had copyright in it.

asked the Minister of Education whether the Basic English Foundation has yet been established; what will be its functions; and the number and character of its staff.

The trust deed setting up the trust to be known as the Basic English Foundation will, I hope, be finally executed very shortly. The main object of the Foundation will be to propagate the teaching and study of Basic English as an international medium and thereby to increase the knowledge of English among mankind. The staff employed will be partly administrative and clerical, and partly professional and technical, but I am not in a position to state the actual number.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he proposes to take when local education authorities take advantage of increased grants to students, by his Department to withdraw completely their own grants, leaving the students poorer financially than they were under the old rate of grant.

It has already been made clear in Administrative Memorandum No. 191, a copy of which I am sending my hon. Friend that students qualified for major awards under the approved arrangements of a local education authority should be offered such awards without any discrimination against those who intend to become teachers and are, on that account, eligible for grants from my Department. I am glad to say that most authorities have complied with the terms of this memorandum; a small minority, however, have not done so, and in such cases I am in correspondence with the authorities.

asked the Minister of Education whether speech therapists are regarded as qualified to engage in the teaching of deaf children; and what professional teaching qualifications speech therapists possess as a part of their qualifying diploma.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir," and to the second, "None."

asked the Minister of Education what arrangements are being made during the present fuel crisis to ensure adequate lighting in school classrooms.

Schools may now use the minimum amount of electric lighting necessary to enable work to be carried on adequately. In general, they are being asked to restrict consumption to not more than two-thirds of the amount which they used in the corresponding period last year.

asked the Minister of Education whether it is the policy of his Department to pay grants to local education authorities who finance pupils at independent boarding schools; how many pupils have so far been financed; what is the principle of selection; and up to what limit is financial assistance permitted by local education authorities.

Expenditure by local education authorities on sending pupils to independent boarding schools under approved arrangements ranks for grant from my Department. Particulars are not available of the exact number of pupils affected. The fundamental principle of selection is laid down in Section 8 (2) (d) of the Education Act, 1944. The amount of assistance is usually assessed in accordance with an income scale and may cover the whole or part of the approved fees and expenses.

asked the Minister of Education the number of primary, modern and grammar schools, and the number of public schools in England and Wales where the majority of the pupils are boarders.

The schools in England and Wales which take boarders include 118 maintained secondary grammar schools, 80 direct grant grammar schools, 397 independent secondary schools recognised as efficient, and 381 independent preparatory schools recognised as efficient. All but a few of the "public schools" are included in one or other of the first three categories; and in most of these the majority of the pupils are boarders. It is not possible to say without prolonged research in how many of the rest the boarders are in a majority. In addition there are 22 direct grant primary schools attached to institutions in which children are boarded.

asked the Minister of Education whether approved teachers in schools which have gone independent, who have contributed for a pension in the past under the Superannuation Act, will be able to draw a pension on retirement under this Act or whether they will have to come under Section 21 (1, a) of the Superannuation Scheme, although this may result in a reduction in the rate of pension which they will receive on retirement.

Service in a school after the school ceases to be grant-aided is not contributory service under the Teachers' (Superannuation) Acts. If the school elects to come under the scheme for non-grant-aided schools made under Section 21 (1) (a) of the 1925 Act service in it can be treated as contributory service under the conditions of the scheme. These conditions are designed to satisfy the statutory requirement that the contributions payable under the scheme shall be sufficient to meet the cost of the benefits. Where a teacher has service in a grant-aided school under the Acts and also service in a non-grant-aided school under the scheme he can qualify for two pensions, one based on his years of service under the Act and his average salary for the last five years of that service and one based on his years of service under the scheme and his average salary during that service. The question of an alternative scheme providing for better benefits at a higher rate of contribution is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Education when he proposes to issue a White Paper on the U.N.E.S.C.O. Conference held last December in Paris.

The report on the Conference which I am making will, I hope, be published within the next six weeks.

asked the Attorney-General what proportion of the ex-Servicemen serving on Pensions Appeal Tribunals saw service in the last war; and how many in the 1914–18 war.

I presume the hon. Member is referring to the lay members only. There are twenty-one ex-Servicemen serving as lay members on Pensions Appeal Tribunals. Of these 15 served during the 1939–46 war and the remaining six served during the 1914–18 war.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that babies' feeding-bottles are practically unobtainable in the eastern counties; and what steps he is taking to increase the supply in this area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there is a shortage of medicine bottles and infant feeding bottles; and if he will take steps to improve the position.

I am aware that there is unfortunately at present a general shortage of medicine and babies' feeding bottles and this shortage has been temporarily accentuated in the eastern counties by transport difficulties. Production is increasing and I have every hope that supplies will soon improve.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent it is estimated that the cost in the production of D.D.T. could be reduced were chlorine available at the same price ex works as that which obtains in the U.S.A., namely, £9 15s. per ton.

I am not in a position to make this estimate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether consideration has been given to an extra allocation of clothing coupons to expectant mothers for the purchase of cot sheets, now that all cotton and linen sheets are sold on the personal clothing coupons.

The allocation of coupons for expectant mothers was increased last year from 60 to 70 and infants get the full civilan ration. I think that together, these should be adequate to cover necessary purchases of cot sheets which cost only one coupon each.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the Minister of Health's housing programme, what is the present holding of timber in the United Kingdom; what arrangements have been made for a supply of timber; and what are the estimated imports for 1947.

The stocks of softwood in the country at the beginning of the year were 214,000 standards. The arrangements made to obtain supplies were described in the Debate on the Adjournment on 4th February, and a more detailed statement will shortly be published in the Board of Trade Journal. Negotiations with the chief supplying countries have not progressed far enough yet to enable any close estimate to be made of imports during 1947.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there is a shortage of timber for the Aberdeen boxmaking industries which, as a result, are threatened with serious unemployment; and if he will allocate for these industries some of the large quantities of timber now being imported from the Continent of Europe.

I am aware that present supplies of timber are not sufficient to meet all manufacturing requirements. Round timber from Germany which I presume my hon. and learned Friend has in mind, must be used as far as possible for conversion to building sizes in the interests of the housing programme, but the requirements of the boxmaking industry will be kept in mind, along with those of other manufacturing industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that some of the best output miners have not yet received the allowance of the industrial ten clothing coupons; and if he will at once see that the irritation caused by this is removed.

If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any such cases, I will have immediate inquiry made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of clothing and haberdashery for B.A.O.R. wives and children in the N.A.A.F.I. shops in Germany; and what steps are being taken to improve supplies.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Cardiff (Mr. Callaghan) on 11th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he still intends to encourage as many visitors as possible from overseas to come to Britain during 1947; and what new arrangements he proposes for tourists in view of the present economic position.

There has been no change in the policy of His Majesty's Government in encouraging visitors from overseas during 1947. For some time past intending tourists have been advised to arrange their accommodation in advance and also, in their own interests, to make sure that they have secured transport facilities for the two-way journey.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a further statement on the supply of clothing coupons to the Forces to enable them to procure civilian clothing to wear off duty.

Yes, Sir. After consultation with my colleagues in the Service Departments, it has been decided that Regulars in all the Services will be entitled to receive 30 coupons for the period of 12 months which began on 1st October last and this arrangement will be continued annually. In addition, for this year only each Regular will be issued with five coupons for each complete year of service between 1941 and 1946 inclusive, provided that he has not otherwise become entitled to civilian coupons through having been demobilised. The first issue of these coupons will, it is hoped, be made through the Services next June. Special arrangements will be made for the issue to Regulars returning to this country from abroad, of the accrued coupons to which they are entitled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that no departmental arrangements have been agreed between the official and staff sides of his Departmental Whitley Council to give effect to the National Whitley Council Agreement dealing with discharges of temporary staffs on redundancy; and whether he will give instructions that negotiations designed to achieve an agreed settlement are to proceed immediately.

Negotiations are proceeding between representatives of the official and staff sides on a committee of the Board of Trade Departmental Whitley Council which has been set up to work out an agreed scheme for the application of the principles in the National Whitley Council's report on the discharge of redundant temporary staff.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) to what extent it is proposed to permit the import of new motorcars from the U S.A during 1947;(2) to what extent it is proposed to permit the import of new motorcars from France during 1947.

No commercial imports of motorcars are at present being allowed from any source. I cannot say when it will be possible for any such imports to be permitted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when it is expected building operations will commence for Messrs. Courtauld's factory at Sellafield in the West Cumberland Development Area; why building operations have not commenced before now; and what is the estimated number of workmen that will be employed as soon as building work is commenced.

Site preparation work is at present in progress and is employing approximately 70 workers. Work on the designing of the plant is in progress and it may be a further 18 months before a start can be made on the erection of the plant. The labour force engaged on site preparation and civil engineering works will then be gradually augmented and the building labour required is likely to amount to about 1,500 workers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that fuel supplies to Messrs. Taylor, Tunnicliffe and Company have been cut to 30 per cent. at their Stone, Staffordshire works, which produce components of electrical power and generating plants, and at their Longton works, which produce domestic switchgear required for housing; and whether, in view of the need for these components, he will take immediate action to make the maximum supplies allowed in priority industries.

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply, that the case of these two works has been considered by the Regional Fuel Allocation Committee and, in view of the special importance of the production involved, a supplementary allocation of coal has been agreed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the names of the three firms who are responsible for the production in the United Kingdom of chlorine; the proportion for which they are responsible; and the price at which each concern supplies this material in bulk ex works.

The known producers of chlorine are: Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., The Staveley Coal and Iron Co., Ltd., and L. Dennis and Co., Ltd., Manchester. The latter company are, however, understood to produce only sufficient chlorine for their own requirements. As regards the second part of the Question, it would not be in accordance with established practice to disclose such information; as regards the third part, I assume my hon. Friend is referring to bulk delivery in tank wagons. Only I.C.I. deliver in this way and I understand prices are on a delivered to consumer and not on an ex-works basis.

asked the Minister of Works why 42 flats in blocks 7, 8 and 9, Ashley Gardens, Thirleby Road, Westminster, are to be turned into offices against the wishes of the local authorities who wish to house at least 100 homeless people in them.

These flats have been taken over by my Ministry from the War Department to be used temporarily to provide an office for Ministry of Food Headquarters who have to be moved out of Montagu House in Whitehall so that a new block of Government Offices can be erected there. I regret that it should be necessary to continue to use the flats as offices and I am anxious to end this situation as soon as I can, but at present my Ministry has more demands for office accommodation in London than it is able to meet.

asked the Minister of Works the number of licences issued for the construction of new factories and extensions in and around London and the Midlands in the period between 31st July, 1945, and 28th February, 1947; how many have been completed; and how many are engaged in production and what is the number of workmen employed.

2,769 licences have been granted between the 31st July, 1945, and the 28th February, 1947, for the construction of new factories and extensions in the London, Midland and North Midland Regions. The other detailed information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will provide the Middlesex Territorial Association with alternative accommodation suitable for the purpose for which they intend to use Boston Lodge, Brentford, and instruct the Association to reconsider the request of the Brentford and Chiswick Borough Council to acquire Boston Lodge for housing purposes.

I am afraid that I am at present unable to provide the Middlesex Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association with alternative accommodation, but I am prepared to consider exchanging the present site for any which the Brent-ford and Chiswick Borough Council might offer in the same locality, if such an exchange will assist them, provided that the alternative site meets the requirements of the Middlesex Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association and my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War what aid is given by his Department to the Army Cadet movement; whether stores and equipment left from the recent war are made use of to this end; and if he is satisfied that all possible steps are being taken to encourage the success of the movement.

My Department gives substantial help to the Army Cadet movement in a variety of ways in support of the pre-Service military training of the cadets. Uniform and an adequate scale of equipment are issued; financial grants are made towards the training and administration of the Army Cadet Force including assistance in the provision and maintenance of accommodation. Extra help, in the form of personal service and generous loans of equipment, is given for annual and week-end camps. Many local authorities, including local education authorities, co-operate towards strengthening the club and welfare aspect of cadet life, and I hope that all local authorities will assist their own cadets so far as they can.Substantial issues of surplus equipment have been made to the Cadet Force, both to stimulate general interest, and to contribute towards technical training. I cordially invite hon. Members to visit the admirable cadet centres which have been opened by the Army at Aldershot and Exeter. I would also emphasise what my predecessor said regarding the Cadet Force on 27th June, 1946, and would add that plans for linking them to the Territorial Army are well advanced. It is my intention to contribute in every way possible towards the future success of the cadet movement.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will inquire into the circumstances which held up 100 loaded wagons of coal and 62 empty coal wagons at Brodsworth colliery, Doncaster, on the night of 26th February, 1947; and whether he will ensure that similar delays shall be avoided by emphasising to the respective railway managements that coal movements must always be regarded as a priority.

I am informed that the delay in moving these wagons was due to interference with shunting operations at Brodsworth Colliery as a result of a heavy fall of snow on 26th February.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider abolishing the traffic light system in the Metropolitan area during daylight on Sundays in order to save current, in view of the fact that its continuance, when it is unnecessary and their own power is off, is a cause of aggravation to the housewives in the area.

No, Sir, the adoption of the course suggested would add to the risk of accidents.

asked the Minister of Transport, with a view to making provision against future heavy snowfalls, what steps are being taken to improve the equipment for removing snowdrifts.

My right hon. Friend is considering, in the light of recent experience, what improvements are desirable in equipment for removing snowdrifts and preventing their formation.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when the arrears of pension due to Mr. W. Honey, 73 Agar Road, St. Austell, who last received communication from his Department dated 31st October, postcard reference, 37456725 and 39516379, will be paid, in view of the size of the arrears and Mr. Honey's state of health.

I am glad to inform my hon. Friend that a postal draft for the amount of the arrears of pension due was handed to Mr. Honey at his home address on 27th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many German troops there are near Hamburg, under command of their own officers, in an area known as X or Y zone; and what work is being done by these troops.

There are no German troops in the British zone.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will institute inquiries into the complaint of W. Quad-beck, Verden-Aller, Zollstr., 20 Province Hanover, Germany, who complains of the seizure of his home and the removal of his furniture for use of the Field Security Section, this notwithstanding that the complainant and his family have a record of anti-Nazism and in the same town are a number of pro-Nazis who have not been inconvenienced.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has considered particulars which have been sent to him concerning the seizure by a British unit of a house in Germany and the removal of personal belongings when the unit moved; and if he will make a statement.

pursuant to his replies [OFFICIAL REPORT, 10th February, Vol. 433, Col. 27; and 12th February, Vol. 433, Col. 353], supplied the following statement:I have had inquiries made into the circumstances attending the requisitioning of the house and furniture of W. Quadbeck of 20, Zollstrasse, Verden. The requisitioning took place when British troops first entered Verden. Hostilities were still in progress, and it was not then possible to examine the political associations of individual Germans. Subsequent enquiries, however, have failed to produce any evidence that Quadbeck or his family either actively supported or opposed the Nazis, although they appear to have lived more comfortably and prosperously than the average German under the Nazi regime.The house with some of its furniture was orginally requisitioned for use as a billet and an office for a Field Security Section. Quadbeck was, however, allowed to keep much of his best furniture which he moved to a cottage in his garden for his own use. He retained his stables to accommodate, not himself and his family, but his horses. In June, 1946, Quadbeck obtained the authority of the Town Major for the de-requisitioning of three of the rooms in the house. These he proceeded to occupy.Later the Field Security Unit were re-organised into an intelligence team with increased staff, and in September, 1946, their accommodation proved inadequate. In order to avoid additional requisitioning, it was decided to exchange accommodation with the Kreis Regional Officer who was using a nearby house as an office. This arrangement did not affect Quadbeck's occupation of his three rooms and cottage. Since the intelligence team were using their accommodation as an office and a billet, it was necessary to exchange furniture as well as accommodation. Quadbeck was consulted about these arrangements, and made no objection.Quadbeck is far more comfortably housed than most Germans and, indeed, than many British families now in Germany. He has been kept fully informed of the disposition of his property. When his house is finally de-requisitioned there is every reason to suppose that his furniture will be restored to him at the same time. As is proved by the successful application he has already made, Quadbeck is well aware of the proper procedure to be followed in submitting any well-founded claim."

asked the Minister of Food whether he will grant a wholesale food and vegetable licence to Mr. E. A. Hewett, 62, Ealing Road, Brentford, whose second application was sent in to his Department in January, in view of the fact that Mr. Hewett wishes to restart, at the same premises, a business he operated before the war.

A form of application for a wholesale trading licence in fresh fruit and vegetables was received from Mr. Hewitt on 6th February, but the information contained in it was incomplete and to save time and correspondence, Mr. Hewett was asked to call at the Ministry to give the additional information required. He did so on 19th February, but because of the destruction of his prewar records further inquiries have been necessary. As soon as they are completed, the decision will be communicated to him.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will invite the Agriculture Research Council or other appropriate body to investigate the possibility of devising a humane trap as an alternative to the steel trap now permitted for the taking of rabbits.

Certain humanitarian organisations have already devoted a good deal of attention to the production of a humane rabbit trap as an alternative to the steel trap. Such a trap has recently been produced, and its possibilities in practice are being investigated. My Department has made arrangements for a full-scale trial to take place at an early date.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many establishments exist in England and Wales where children are maintained apart from their parents and which are not subject to inspection by any Government Department; and what steps are proposed to make inspection possible.

The only establishments of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers are children's homes which, because they are not supported wholly or partly by voluntary contributions or for other reasons, are not "voluntary homes" within the meaning of Section 92 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, and which do not take Poor Law children. The number of such homes must be small compared with the number which are subject to inspection but no figures are available. Those which take children under nine years of age "for reward" are visited by the welfare authorities' child protection visitors under the Public Health Acts. The Care of Children Committee have recommended the extension of the scope of public care to cover children in institutions not subject to public supervision, and this recommendation will receive careful consideration.