asked the Minister of Food how much Kellogg's All Bran Cereal has been allowed to deteriorate and become unfit for human consumption in the last six months at Birkott Loose Boxes, near Clifton Hampden, Oxfordshire; how much of this has been given to farmers to feed to chickens; what price farmers have paid per cwt.; to what account is the money credited; and why one farmer was granted half a ton and who made this allocation.

1¾ tons of Kellogg's All Bran, handed over by the U.S. Army in a deteriorated condition, and stored at the White House, Burcote, was condemned by the health authorities as unfit for human consumption. It was sold in consultation with the local war agricultural executive committee to four farmers for feeding to their animals at 9s. 4d. per cwt. The proceeds of these sales, as for all Government surplus stocks, are transferred to the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Food if he will permit strawberry growers of Alvingham, near Louth, Lincolnshire, as indicated by the correspondence and petition sent to him, to be transferred to No. 2 area for price control, since their season is four weeks later than Kent and Hampshire because of being so far north; and being in a coastal area they are subject to late and hard frosts, and therefore, are never able to obtain good prices for their early fruit.

The control period for strawberries this year will be the same for the whole of England and Wales. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of my recent announcement about this year's arrangements.

asked the Minister of Food why local food executive officers are not allowed to communicate with their Members of Parliament concerning the business of such an office; and what purpose does this regulation serve.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given on this matter to somewhat similar Questions on 8th May, 1946, and 5th April; 1944, by the hon. Members for Taunton (Mr. Collins) and the Hartlepools (Mr. D. Jones), respectively, of which I am sending the hon. Member copies.

asked the Minister of Food (1) why both he and his Parliamentary Secretary have refused to receive deputations from the Society of Civil Servants and the Civil Service Clerical Association, the recognised staff organisations in his Department, on matters closely affecting the efficiency of the Department;(2) whether he will now consider dispensing with the services of the 516 honorary food executive officers, to whom honoraria approximating to £35,000 per annum is being paid, in view of the fact that the control of the local food offices is being effectively carried out by the deputy food executive officers, who are not given the status appropriate to their responsibilities.

These staff associations have asked that I or my hon. Friend should meet a deputation on the possibilities of dispensing with the services of the remaining honorary food executive officers. This question was raised last year by the associations through the normal negotiating machinery of the Departmental Whitley Council, but I decided that it would be unwise to make a complete change of this nature just now; I have promised to review the position towards the end of the year, and in the circumstances I feel that little purpose would be served by the proposed meeting.

asked the Minister of Food the reasons which have induced him to grant to people suffering from tuberculosis one ounce of bacon per week in addition to the general ration of two ounces.

My medical advisers have always recommended higher calorie diets for sufferers from active tuberculosis and were anxious that the decrease in the domestic bacon ration, which became necessary on 5th January, should be made good for these patients as soon as possible. This we have now found ourselves able to do.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will amend railway timetables to be in keeping with the average time taken by rail services.

The amount of delay to which a train may be subject cannot be foreseen, and I am informed that to adjust the timetables as proposed would lead to a general slowing up of movement.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that residents in Newtonhill, Portlethen, Muchalls and Stonehaven, who work in Aberdeen, have to wait until 4.25 p.m. before they can get a train home after work on Saturdays now that the 1.20 p.m. train has been cancelled on Saturdays, although it still runs from Monday to Friday; and if he will consider restoring this train on Saturdays, which is the day of the week on which it is most in demand.

I am informed that the average number of passengers leaving Aberdeen on this train from Monday to Friday is 10, and the average for Saturday is 14. On weekdays other than Saturday the engine is required to go to Stonehaven for freight shunting and to haul the 4.15 p.m. from Stonehaven to Aberdeen. Otherwise the train would have been withdrawn completely. There is a half-hourly bus service from Aberdeen to Stonehaven daily, the route of which is close to the railway.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of male conductors employed by the L.P.T.B.; the number of women conductors now employed by it; and the number of women conductors who have been dismissed since male recruiting recommenced.

The London Passenger Transport Board employ 19,562 male and 3,261 woman conductors. The number of women conductors dismissed as redundant since the end of the war is 853.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of men recruited for employment as male conductors by the L.P.T.B. since male recruiting commenced; how many have remained in the Board's employment; and how many have left voluntarily.

The number of male conductors recruited by the London Passenger Transport Board since the end of the war is 16,023, of whom 14,016 have remained and 1,774 have left voluntarily.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps with the L.P.T.B. to reinstate women conductors who were dismissed prior to the Board's decision to reverse its policy as regards employment of women conductors.

I see no reason to interfere with the discretion of the board in this matter and I would remind my hon. Friend of the considerations mentioned in the reply which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour gave him in February on this subject.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the unsatisfactory omnibus service between Otley and Ilkley, especially between the hours of 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.; and what steps he will take to lessen the queueing in Otley and improve the service.

This service was adversely affected by the recent bad weather and floods, but I am informed that it is now normal and generally adequate.

asked the Minister of Transport what number of accidents have occurred at the Liverpool to Leeds trunk road, A.580 junction with A.573 Golbourne, during the years 1944, &c., to the latest date; of such accidents, how many persons, were killed and injured; and whether it is his intention to authorise any kind of construction likely to reduce and prevent similar accidents in the future.

Between January, 1944, and March, 1947, 24 accidents occurred at the junction of A.580 with A.573, causing the death of two persons and injury to 25 others. I am considering whether it is practicable to construct a roundabout at this junction.

asked the Minister of Transport on what basis priority passages to West Africa are allotted to wives of Government officials, of missionaries and of business men, respectively; and whether he is aware that a recent steamer carried 48 wives and children of Government officials, 27 female missionaries and only five business men's wives.

Ten per cent of the passages to West Africa are reserved by my Department for those travelling on United Kingdom Government account. By agreement between the Colonial Office and the West Africa Passage Committee, representing the shipping companies in the trade, the allocation of the remaining 90 per cent. is shared equally between them. From its share the Colonial Office allots passages for Colonial officials and their families. The Passage Committee provides for other passengers including missionaries, both men and women, and businessmen and their families. The proportion of passages at their disposal on each sailing to be allotted to wives and families is at the discretion of the Colonial Office and the Passage Committee respectively. The figures quoted are for a voyage last December. I am informed that on the four voyages since the beginning of that month the Colonial Office allotment has included 204 wives of officials and the Passage Committee has provided for 88 wives of non-officials and 72 women missionaries.

asked the Minister of Transport why, in view of the large num- ber of vessels propelled by liquid fuel, no economy in coal has been effected in cross-channel services to the Continent in conformity with the reduction in cross-channel services to Ireland.

The volume of traffic on the Continental services is such that they cannot be reduced, nor is there any margin of suitable ships to allow coal burners to be laid up.

asked the Minister of Transport whether cross-channel services to Northern Ireland will be fully restored for the Easter holiday period.

Yes, Sir, the daily sailings between Heysham and Belfast will be reinstated from today to Saturday, 12th April, inclusive.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements have recently been made to purchase merchant ships from the U.S.A.; and how many vessels have been allocated to Britain from Germany as reparations.

The United States Government have now agreed the sale to United Kingdom shipowners of 106 vessels of "Liberty" type and one smaller vessel, and the sale of 30 short sea vessels to His Majesty's Government. The United Kingdom Government have received 89 ships totalling approximately 350,000 gross tons from Germany.

asked the Minister of Transport what action is contemplated to improve the inland water transport of the country for the conveyance of heavy traffic, and for the dredging and modernising of our large rivers to make them navigable to a greater extent for passenger and cargo vessels, to assist land drainage and prevent flooding in the future.

Under the Transport Bill the principal canal and inland navigation undertakings will vest in the British Transport Commission on 1st January next, and the question of their improvement must now be left for consideration by the Commission. Outside the scope of these undertakings, navigational matters are the responsibility of harbour and conservancy authorities. Questions as to land drainage and the prevention of flooding by rivers should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can yet estimate the loss in cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry due to the recent blizzards and floods.

On the basis of information so far available from my local officers, I estimate that the combined losses of sheep and lambs in England and Wales are in excess of 2 million. Losses of cattle, pigs and poultry have been much smaller. I hope to make a further and fuller statement later in the week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department intends to make special grants to farmers in upland areas whose financial position is critical owing to losses of sheep and cattle in the recent bad weather.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given today to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Collins).

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will investigate the complaints of the North Somercoates Parish Council over the high rates levied by the Louth Drainage Board, as contained in the correspondence sent to him, and take steps to reduce the rates.

I have not received the correspondence but I am prepared to look into any complaints on receipt of particulars. As regards the latter part of the Question, I have no power to alter the rates levied by a drainage authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will review the hiring charges for the use of machinery controlled by A.E.Cs.; and, in view of the losses suffered by the agricultural community in many areas, whether he is satisfied that the charges are the lowest possible.

I do not think that, in general, the hiring charges for agricultural machinery controlled by county war agricultural executive committees are in need of revision. The question of the losses recently suffered by farmers is another matter, which is now receiving urgent attention; but I do not think it would be right, as regards help, to discriminate between those of them who use committee machinery and those who do not.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is satisfied that adequately skilled labour is in all cases employed in the maintenance of the machinery at the depots of the A.E.Cs.

Yes, Sir, as far as possible.

asked the Minister of Food whether, having regard to the Government's declared intention of encouraging pig and poultry producers to increase their breeding programmes, he will revise the basis of allocation of balanced meal to commercial pig and poultry keepers whose land and buildings are capable of carrying a substantial increase in stock above the 1939 figures, upon which the present allocation is based, to enable such producers to obtain an allocation more in keeping with their present production capacity.

No, Sir. The possibility of revising the present basis of allocation of feedingstuffs has recently been reviewed, but if severe hardship on existing producers is to be avoided any substantial modification must depend on an adequate increase in supplies.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the shortage of children's size bicycles in the north of England; and what proportion of the present production of such bicycles is allotted to the home and export markets, respectively.

No, Sir; but if the hon. Member will let me have details of a shortage in any particular district, I will have inquiries made. The proportion exported in 1946 was 45 per cent. of total production.

asked the Minister of Supply what quantities of radio components, including resistances, valve holders and condensers, have been released from Government surplus stores; and what proportion of these have been tipped down disused mine shafts as they could not be sold without interfering with current production.

It is estimated that 7,000 tons of radio components and equipment, including 26 million resistances, 13½ million condensers and 1¼ million valve holders, have already been sold and sales are continuing. The only serviceable stocks to be disposed of by dumping are certain types of fixed condensers, of which the supply greatly exceeds the demand.

asked the Minister of Supply why his Department have been recommending to inquirers in this country that electric motors may be obtained from Germany out of their current manufacture; and the extent to which he has permitted the diversion of raw materials or semi-manufactured components used in motor manufacture to be diverted to Germany from this country.

We have been trying to obtain supplies from Germany to help to meet our needs; but no firm orders have yet been placed. No materials or components have been diverted to Germany.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the nationalisation of the steel industry.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Supply whether any conduit tubing for electric light and fitments is produced in Scotland; and what per- centage of English production is allotted to Scottish building requirements.

I am advised that there is no production of electric conduit tubing in Scotland. I regret that information is not available to answer the second part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the continuing shortage of medicinal liquid paraffin; that some chemists have received only half a gallon in the last three months; and what steps he is taking to increase supply.

The supply of liquid paraffin is now 20 per cent. above the prewar level. All but a small fraction of this is distributed to retail chemists, doctors, hospitals and manufacturing chemists for medicinal purposes according to their usage in 1938. If, however, my hon. Friend is aware of any chemists who are experiencing particular difficulties, I will do what I can to help them if he will let me have details.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that men upon attaining the age of 65 years are being dismissed at his depot at Pontrilas; and whether, in view of the labour shortage, he will revise this policy.

At all Ministry of Supply establishments employees aged 65 and over are only discharged when numbers have to be reduced.

asked the Minister of Supply when the Iron and. Steel Board will reach a decision on the Margam project of the Steel Company of Wales.

The chairman of the Iron and Steel Board assures me that the Board's report will be in my hands during this week.

asked the Minister of Supply, at what price were Tudor I's to be delivered to B.O.A.C. on the original contract; and what change has there been to that price.

It would be contrary to established practice to disclose information about Government contracts placed with a particular firm.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will now make more spare parts available for motor vehicles which, after six years of war service, are now in need of repairs.

We are doing all we can to increase the supply of spare parts and to help owners of essential vehicles to obtain the spares they need.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make available more tyres of the size 6–25 × 16 for essential users.

I have been asked to reply. Supplies of all car sized tyres have recently been much reduced as production has been concentrated on giant tyres, but additional supplies of car sized tyres will be made available as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the price paid to farmers for clean wheat straw for sale to the Straw Trading Company in Scotland; the margin paid to the merchant; and the cost of such straw delivered to the paper mills.

All straw for paper making is bought by the Paper Control from the Straw Trading Company and sold by the Control to mills at a uniform price. The Straw Trading Company pay to straw merchants for wheat straw in Scotland £4 12s. a ton delivered by road to mills and £4 7s. f.o.r. The merchants undertake to retain no more than 7s. a ton as their commission. The Paper Control sell delivered to mills at £5 10s.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the hon. Member for Hornsey may expect an answer to his letter of 25th January regarding the application by Mr. F. J. Woodward, 24, Park Road, N.8, for permission to use certain plywood, concerning which a reminder has already been sent to him.

The hon. Member will by now have received a reply to his letter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are taken to ensure that the spring balances used by Breton onion sellers are examined by the Inspectors of Weights and Measures.

Like other weighing instruments used for trade, spring balances used by Breton onion sellers must be verified and stamped by an inspector of weights and measures. It is the responsibility of local inspectors to make the necessary arrangements for this purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrial undertakings, not operating in 1939, are now operating in North Wales.

57 new industrial undertakings, not operating in 1939, are known to be operating at the present time in North Wales. In addition, more than 30 other new industrial undertakings are in the course of being established.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the 1,000 giant tyres which were supplied to Lincolnshire in November last went to the large omnibus companies, and how many were supplied through the normal distributive trade for use on agricultural vehicles; and what proportion of the latter were supplied to the Lindsey area.

About 12 per cent. of the giant tyres supplied to Lincolnshire in November last were issued to the larger omnibus companies. Of the remaining 88 per cent. which were distributed through the normal trade channels, about 70 per cent. were supplied to the Lindsey area. I have no information as to the numbers of the tyres supplied for use on agricultural vehicles.

asked the Minister of Works what licences have been granted to Messrs. Smallmans, Limited, for rebuilding and alteration work at their premises at 14, Piccadilly, Manchester, and at High Street, Manchester; what was the purpose for which the licences were granted and the estimated cost of the work; and whether he consulted the local authority before granting licences.

A licence in the sum of £4,028 was granted on 8th July, 1946, for work at 14, Piccadilly, Manchester; and a licence in the sum of £2,185 was granted on 8th May, 1946, for work at 17, High Street, Manchester. In both cases the work licensed was the remodelling of kitchen and foodstores, and the provision of lavatory accommodation, and the work was regarded as necessary by the Public Health Department of the Manchester Corporation.

asked the Minister of Works what use it is proposed to make of the property at Paisley Road Toll, Glasgow, presently or formerly owned by Messrs. Burton's and now in process of reconstruction.

The first and second floors of these premises at 2/20, Paisley Road West, Glasgow, are being leased by Messrs. Burton to the Ministry of Works for use as offices for the staff of the Ministry of National Insurance. The necessary adaptations and repairs are being carried out for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will expedite delivery of a Bedford motor-lorry to Mr. R. V. Curtis, building contractor, Weymouth, who has corresponded with three Government Departments for twelve months in order to get one.

Mr. Curtis's application for a lorry was recommended by my Department to the Ministry of Supply last June and placed on the list sent to the manufacturers with a request for priority. Unfortunately, the number of vehicles being produced for the home market is very small in relation to the demands, and the recommendation by my Department carries no guarantee of early delivery.

asked the Minister of Works the number and value of new and secondhand excavators purchased in the U.S.A. as a result of the recent mission; and whether he will give the names of the members of the commission qualified to select the secondhand machines.

The number of new excavators purchased by the recent Mission to U.S.A. is 367, amounting in value to approximately 15 million United States dollars. As regards secondhand plant, the object of the mission was exploratory and none has actually been purchased.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that the tarpaulin coverings over the passage way in Westminster Ball are inadequate for safety; that steel hooks falling from the roof cut through them and may cause a fatal accident; and if he will consider providing a more permanent passage way, which will give protection and greater warmth, from the Members' cloak room to St. Stephen's Hall next winter.

Yes, Sir. The passage way is being roofed in and meanwhile work immediately overhead has been stopped.

asked the Minister of Works why the Winchester Rural District Council was not consulted before the water-tower on Coxford Down, Micheldever, was sold to a scrap metal merchant; and if he will undertake to offer such equipment to the appropriate local authority in future before disposing of it commercially.

Under arrangements agreed between my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and my predecessor, local authorities who are interested in the acquisition of surplus water installations should notify the Ministry of Health. So far as I can trace, no indication of the Rural District Council's interest in this water tower was given until it had been sold. In general the present procedure has worked well, and I see no reason to change it.

asked the Minister of Works why so long a time was allowed to elapse between the date of signature and date of publication in respect of the following Reports: Amenities in the Brick Industry, Reconditioning in Rural Areas, Welsh Slate industry and Labour Requirements in the Brick Industry.

There has been no avoidable delay in publishing these reports in view of the pressure upon Departments and upon the printing industry.

asked the Minister of Works the nature of the works now being undertaken at Buckingham Palace, the cost thereof, and the numbers employed thereon.

The special work now in hand at Buckingham Palace includes bomb damage repairs, excavation work for a new boiler house and mains in connection with the modernisation of the heating system, and the improvement of the servants' quarters in the attics. There is also some work in connection with redecoration of certain rooms and the rewiring of part of the State rooms. The total cost of this work is about £54,300, of which about half is on bomb damage repairs. The number of men employed is 178. I am satisfied that this work is necessary. The general programme for modernising engineering services in the Palace will be spread over many years, but the opportunity has been taken of the absence of the Royal Family in South Africa to carry out certain noisy and dirty work connected with the installation of new boilers which will be oil fired.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has, or is getting, a full schedule of British interests falling under the Yugoslav Nationalisation Decree of 5th December, 1946; and what His Majesty's Government is doing to assist claimants for compensation under that decree.

A full schedule of British interests falling under the Yugoslav Nationalisation Decree of 5th December, 1946, is being compiled. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary informed the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Touche) on 26th February, His Majesty's Government consider the best method of settling compensation claims would be through the establishment of an Anglo-Yugoslav Mixed Commission for the settlement of compensation. Negotiations for setting up such a Commission are still being conducted with the Yugoslav Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the treaties which bound Britain to defend the integrity of Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Iraq, and Transjordan, are still in force.

The Treaties of Alliance between the United Kingdom and Egypt, Iraq and Transjordan, and the Treaty of Mutual Assistance with Turkey, are still in force. His Majesty's Government have no similar treaty with Greece.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement regarding the effect on British interests of the declaration of the Bulgarian Prime Minister on the recent currency abuses in Sofia.

I am glad to say that after the statement made by the Bulgarian Prime Minister on 13th March the National Bank of Bulgaria exchanged for new bank notes the entire balance of currency in the possession of the British Missions which they had refused to exchange on 7th March. Mr. Dimitrov's. allegations about currency abuses by foreign Missions have no relevance to, transactions undertaken by the British, Political Representative, since, as I stated in the House on 17th March, the British Mission has never attempted to make illegal profits from currency transactions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the reports submitted to him concerning the Bulgarian elections have now been investigated; by whom and on what date was such an investigation made; and was the Bulgarian Minister of the Interior approached on this matter.

The reports received by my right hon. Friend regarding the Bulgarian elections and pre-electoral period came from many sources, official and unofficial. They were examined and compared by His Majesty's Government after the elections had taken place, and led to the conclusion that the conduct of the elections was not in keeping with the spirit and intentions of the Yalta Declaration. The Bulgarian Government were so informed in a Note addressed to them on nth February. No approach was made to the Bulgarian Minister of the Interior.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether steps have now been taken to adjust the differences that have arisen between Italian residents in Lussinpiccolo and the Yugoslav Government due to the seizure of private property when the island was occupied and the refusal hitherto to provide compensation, or to return the property to the rightful owners.

I have no information about the seizure of private property in Lussinpiccolo. However, His Majesty's Government addressed a Note to the Yugoslav Government on 24th March requesting that the Yugoslav authorities responsible for the administration of Zone B of Venezia Giulia, in which Lussinpiccolo is situated, should discontinue the confiscation of the property of Italian citizens, and that property already confiscated should be restored.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is possible to make arrangements for the island of Lussinpiccolo to be considered as part of the territory of Trieste and subject to the same form of administration, in view of its past history and strategic importance.

No, Sir. The island of Lussinpiccolo is to be ceded to Yugoslavia under Article 11 (b) of the Treaty of Peace with Italy, which was signed on 10th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the action to be taken by His Majesty's Government following on the veto by Soviet representatives at the Security Council of the majority decision of the tribunal which adjudicated on the charges against Albania in connection with the laying of mines in the Corfu Channel.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the proceedings of the United Nations Security Council in deciding the responsibility for the loss of the "Saumarez" and "Volage" and of 44 British lives have been terminated by the veto of the U.S.S.R. and Poland, His Majesty's Government will advance proposals for a new procedure.

The proceedings in the Security Council are not yet terminated, and this question is still on the agenda. His Majesty's Government are at present considering the future course of action to be followed. I should, therefore, prefer to make no further statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been made to the Governments of Spain and the Argentine since the end of the war with the object of discovering the extent of the private fortunes which Hitler deposited in their countries and what has been the result.

No representations have been made to any Government with specific reference to Hitler's private fortunes, but every effort is being made to trace all German external assets throughout the world. It would hardly be possible to make representations to a foreign Government of the nature suggested in the absence of evidence regarding the deposit by Hitler of funds in the country concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Penal Code of the Sudan has yet been amended to restrict flogging, in civil cases, to offences for which flogging would be administered in Britain.

In conformity with the policy of reducing flogging by criminal courts as quickly as possible with a view to eventual abolition the Sudanese Government are considering proposals to restrict flogging and whipping to juvenile and young adult offenders.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Czechoslovakia is now being asked to pay for goods imported from this country with dollars and not £'s sterling.

Under the AngloCzechoslovak Monetary Agreement payments are made in sterling and in Czech crowns, but, if my hon. Friend will send me details of any apparent exception, I will inquire into it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when he proposes that the Statutory Instruments Act, 1946, shall be brought into operation by Order in Council under Section 10 of the Act.

It is intended to arrange for this Act to commence at the beginning of next Session.

asked the Minister of Health in how many cases of contracts for furnished lettings reported under the provisions of the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act, 1946, to the tribunals in Leicester and the county of Leicester, respectively, have those tribunals reduced the rents payable by the tenants; and by what approximate percentages.

Up to 26th March, the tribunal for the city and county of Leicester has reduced rents in 51 cases in the city by an average of 28 per cent., and in two cases in the county by an average of 30 per cent.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now come to a decision about the purchase of huts and especially huts in No. 3 Wing, Madley Aerodrome, Herefordshire, in order to solve the local housing shortage.

An application has been made by my Department to the Minister of Works for the transfer of this and other sites on Madley Aerodrome to the neighbouring local authorities for housing, and will be considered together with applications from other Government Departments at a meeting to be held this week. I will let the hon. Member know the result.

asked the Minister of Health how many water supply and sewerage schemes in Berkshire have been approved by his Department and are awaiting completion; how many schemes are awaiting approval; and how many dwellings will benefit.

Forty-four water supply and sewerage schemes have been approved in principle and work on 15 of these schemes has started. There are a further 16 awaiting approval. I am unable to say how many dwellings will benefit.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to announce the names of the personnel of the Spens Committee to be formed to make recommendations as to the salary of specialists under the National Health Service Act.

No, Sir, but I hope to be able to do so very soon.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of temporary first, second and third class officers in charge of resettlement advice offices who have been given notice that their services are no longer required; whether it is the policy of his Department in future that such offices shall, where retained, be administered by employment officers; and what salary is paid to a third class officer and an employment officer, respectively.

The answer to the first part of the Question is: No temporary first class officers, three temporary second class officers and 14 temporary third class officers.As regards the second part of the Question, no change in policy is being made; the grade of officer depends on the importance and the status of the office.The salaries paid to a third class officer and an employment officer, respectively, are as follow:Permanent 3rd C.O.—

asked the Secretary of State for War when soldiers at present stationed in Greece and whose demobilisation group number is 45 will be demobilised in the United Kingdom; and whether he will state the reason for the delay in demobilising from Greece soldiers in Group 45.

Soldiers in Group 45 stationed in Greece were generally speaking, released at the appropriate time. It may be that a few were retained as operationally vital. So far as I am aware, however, on 28th February there were only two men of this Group still compulsorily retained in the whole of M.E.L.F., which includes Greece.

asked the Secretary of State for War if something will be done to improve the amenities and appearance of the wards at the Connaught military hospital, Bramshott, especially those in which patients are isolated.

A considerable amount of redecoration has been carried out at this hospital during the past three months and the appearance of the wards has been greatly improved. The amenities of the hospital as a whole are well up to standard. As regards the last part of the Question, I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the tuberculosis wards; these wards cannot be furnished to the same extent as general wards, because of the risk of infection by dust, and for this reason they inevitably appear less comfortable than the ordinary wards.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is in a position to make a statement in regard to the administration of British and Italian Somaliland.

These territories are still under British Military Administration. I am not in a position to make a statement about future arrangements for their administration. In Italian Somaliland these will depend on international decisions on the disposal of all the former Italian Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the prospects of wives of R.A.F. personnel joining their husbands serving on stations abroad.

An officer or airman serving overseas in the R.A.F. is eligible for a passage at public expense for his family if he has at least 12 months to serve on an overseas tour of not less than two years. There is, however, a severe shortage both of public married quarters and private houses, and most overseas commands have waiting lists on which applicants take their place according to length of separation, the size of the family and so on. As I said in the House on 17th March, I realise that the shortage of married quarters is a serious hardship, and we are doing our best to overcome it. But I am afraid that for some time to come many families who wish to go out to R.A.F. Stations abroad will be disappointed.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will consider raising the amounts of the allowances paid to non-commissioned ranks when they are away from R.A.F. stations, as they appear to bear no relationship to the cost of accommodation and meals.

The allowances in question, which are common to the three Services, are now being reviewed by my right hon. Friends and myself.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of men discharged from the Tarrant Rushton aerodrome in the last 12 months who were over the age of 55 years; and the number of men under the age of 30 years retained in employment at this airfield.

Three civilian employees over 55 years of age have been discharged from Tarrant Rushton aerodrome in the last 12 months. Those still employed at this station include two men under 30 years of age.

asked the Minister of Defence if he has any information as to the countries in the British Commonwealth of Nations and other parts of the world which have accepted the principle of voluntary enlistment for their armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised that whole-time service in the armed forces of the following countries, in addition to those of the Dominions and Colonies, is, or will shortly be, on a voluntary basis only: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, the Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Transjordan, the United States of America, and Uruguay. As to the last part of the Question my hon. Friend would not expect me to anticipate the Debate on the National Service Bill.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that a telegram handed in at the Members' Post Office between 7 and 8 p.m. on Thursday, 10th March, and addressed to a telephonic address at Norwood Hill, Surrey, was not telephoned to the addressee until after 7 a.m. the next morning; and if he will state the reason for this delay.

I very much regret to find that the telegram in question suffered delay in reaching the office from which it should have been telephoned on 20th March. It is not customary to disturb telephone subscribers after II p.m. unless the text of the telegram clearly indicates urgency, and the officer in charge took the view that the text of the message to Norwood Hill 97 did not justify disturbing the subscriber until the morning of the 21st. I am having the reason for the excessive delay in transmission investigated.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why letters posted in Central London by 4.30 p.m. on Friday are now rarely delivered in Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, before the following Monday morning; and what action he will take to improve the postal service provided for Cleckheaton firms and people.

A letter posted in Central London by 4.30 p.m. on Friday should under normal conditions secure first delivery at Cleckheaton on Saturday. I regret that weather conditions during the last two months have dislocated train and road services, causing serious delay to the mails. There has been a considerable improvement in train services during the past week and London mails have reached Cleckheaton in normal course. I hope this will be maintained.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the classification of the main post office at Cleckheaton, Yorkshire; whether the volume of business transacted and mail handled is greater than that of any post offices in the next higher classification; whether the classification determines the size of staff and the equipment provided; and whether he will up-grade the Cleckheaton post office and provide a prompt and efficient postal service for the local firms and people.

The main post office at Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, is in Class III for the purpose of the pay of the post office manipulative grades. The information necessary to answer the second part of the Question is not readily available. The answer to the third part is in the negative; and as regards the last part, a claim for the up-grading a, the office is under consideration. If my, hon. Friend will let me know in what way the present postal service is unsatisfactory I shall be glad to pursue the matter.

asked the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Philips Price), as representing the Charity Commissioners, if he is aware of the disquiet at the present administration of the Hockley, Essex, Public Hall; and why the trustees have not applied for a scheme containing provisions on the lines of the National Council of Social Service model deed which would include the representation of the various organisations in Hockley, although invited so to do in December, 1946.

On 17th March the Charity Commissioners were informed by the solicitors acting for the trustees that their clients intended to apply for a scheme and that a meeting of the trustees was being arranged for the purpose of obtaining their approval of, and signatures to, the requisite application.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that in the majority of cases the ex-Service emergency teacher, after one year's training and without being submitted to any examinations receives, on taking up teaching, a salary which, augmented with allowances, is £30 a year in excess of the salary, also augmented by allowances, received by a graduate teacher with four years' training; and if he will, when the Burnham Scales come to be reviewed, redress this anomaly.

The salary scale for a male qualified teacher trained under the Emergency Training Scheme is £300-£15-£525 and for a four years trained graduate£385-£15-£585. Under the provisions of the Burnham Report new entrants may receive additions to these scales in respect of war service and other approved previous experience. Other things being equal the salary for the graduate is greater than that for the emergency trained teacher but it not infrequently happens that the latter enters his scale at a higher point by virtue of greater length of war service and non—teaching experience.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) whether the National Coal Board has placed bulk orders for mining machinery; for what machines and in what quantities; and whether any part of these orders has been placed with ordnance factories;(2) how many Meco-Moore coal-cutters are required to satisfy all requirements; how many are on order; how many have been delivered; what is the time elapsing between order and delivery; and how soon it is expected that all orders now outstanding will have been completed.

The National Coal Board deal direct with the manufacturers who supply mining machinery. The Government, on their side, have included the requirements of the manufacturers of mining equipment in the highest priority class and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply is arranging for joint working parties with the National Coal Board to progress the main items of equipment and to see that everything possible is clone to ensure that the collieries get the equipment they need.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many members of the W.L.A. in Scotland signed form WLA 186 in 1945, opting for Choice 1, 2 and 3, respectively; how many subsequently received a State-paid holiday; how many, respectively, have since left and entered the W.L.A.; and how many who signed on for another year left the W.L.A. before completing that year.

In signing Form W.L.A. 186, 1,625 members of the Women's Land Army in Scotland opted for Choice 1; 570 for Choice 2, and 1,866 for Choice 3. Only those who signed the undertaking referred to in Choice 2 were entitled to claim a holiday at State expense and the number who have received such a holiday is 355. One thousand five hundred and sixty-one members have since left the Land Army and 687 have entered; 65 members who signed on for another year left before completing that year.