asked the Secretary of State for War when he was first warned that the large-scale speculation by Army personnel overseas was taking place; and what steps were taken to remedy the situation.

The Public Accounts Committee will examine the Army Appropriation Account, 1945, during the third week in April and, as a part of their examination, will investigate the circumstances of the matter to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. In the meantime I think that it would be undesirable to give answers to Questions directed at individual parts of the evidence which will be laid before the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that Groups 50 and 51, stationed in East Africa Command, will be brought home for their release at the same time as others in their group numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the promised demobilisation of Group 50 on 6th May, 1947, he is aware that men in the Commands Pay Office in Nairobi, Kenya, are due for release in Group 50; and if, in view of the number of ships now frequently leaving Mombasa, he will give an assurance that the release of these men will not be delayed.

Men in Groups 50 and 51 stationed in East Africa Command are being despatched in a ship scheduled to reach this country on 29th May. The release of Group 50 is due to be completed by 28th May. I regret that men in this group in East Africa may, therefore, be a few days late in being released, but the release of those in Group 51 will not be delayed.

asked the Secretary of State for War why a notice of requisition under Defence Regulation 52 has been served in respect of land, comprising 28,050 acres, forming the Penmaenmawr training area, after an assurance had been given by his Department that this area was in course of derequisitioning and clearance.

A further order under Defence Regulation 52 was made in respect of this area as, owing to the weather, it has not been possible to clear the land of unexploded missiles. It is not required permanently and as soon as the land has been cleared, the present order will be cancelled and the area released in accordance with the assurance given by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that 10 warrant officers and non-commissioned officers, whose names have been given to him, were illegally detained in close arrest in the detention cells at Tahag for upwards of a week, in the month of November last, without any charge being made against them; what justification there was for such detention; and what steps he will take to compensate the men thus detained and to deal with those responsible for their detention.

I have no knowledge of this matter, apart from the nine names which the hon. and learned Member has sent me. I am, however, looking into it and will write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has investigated the case, of which particulars were sent to him on 27th March by the hon. Member for Colchester, in which goods supplied by the Saddlery Stores, Colchester, to his Department, in June and July, 1946, have not yet been paid for; what is the reason for the delay; and if he will take steps to have the matter expedited.

I am making further inquiries into this case and will write my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of cases of venereal disease among British troops in this country reported and treated during the past 12 months; and, approximately, what percentage this represents.

The number of cases reported and treated amongst British troops in the United Kingdom during 1946 was 3.3 per cent. of the total strength. It would not be in accordance with practice to give the strengths on which this is based.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the general principles determining the granting of com- passionate leave; whether compassionate posting is still operative; and whether genuine anxiety in a soldier arising from domestic strain or misfortune is taken into consideration.

Compassionate leave is granted in times of urgent need, such as critical illness in a soldier's family, or to enable him to make arrangements for the conduct of his affairs during his absence, if there is no one else available to do this. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "No, Sir," and to the third part, "Yes, Sir."

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the shortage of orange juice and cod liver oil available through N.A.A.F.I. for families of members of B.A.O.R., especially at Osnabriick; and what steps he is taking to rectify it.

Orange juice and cod liver oil were in short supply in Germany towards the end of last year and the beginning of this year, but stocks have since been built up and a sufficient supply is now available to meet the needs of families entitled to them.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the weekly issue of soap to soldiers stationed in Italy and what arrangements are made for the laundering of clothes that cannot be washed by the soldiers using their weekly issue of soap.

Soldiers buy one three ounce tablet of toilet soap a fortnight from N.A.A.F.I. The soldier's personal clothing is normally washed for him by mobile R.A.O.C. laundries, or else by local contract. Where neither of these methods is practicable an issue of soap is made on a scale fixed by the General Officer Commanding.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds he rejected the use of No. Camp at Duddingston as alternative premises for the Army Records and Pay Office in Edinburgh.

I assume that Preston-fields Camp is referred to. This camp would have needed much alteration to make it suitable for permanently housing a Record Office. It was felt that the labour and expense involved would not be justifiable.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 134 German prisoners of war, graded "White A," have been collected from other camps in the neighbourhood and now held at No. 18 Camp, Abergavenny; and whether he is aware that they were told on their removal to this camp that they were on their way to Chepstow for repatriation.

This camp is used as a collecting centre for prisoners who are graded "White"; from it they are sent forward to a transit camp for repatriation as soon as vacancies are available; the reason given to them for their transfer was, therefore, correct.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that prisoner-of-war transit camps compare unfavourably with ordinary prisoner-of-war camps; and whether steps will be taken to provide useful work for the men in the transit camps and to improve the amenities.

It is not possible to bring amenities in a transit camp up to the same standard as in a working camp where the prisoners of war remain for long periods. Prisoners spend only a short time in transit camps, and much of that time is occupied by the necessary work in connection with documents and kit which must precede repatriation. Regular work for the prisoners is accordingly impracticable. The camps are supplied with funds to provide amenities for the prisoners.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will take steps to alter the name of the Assistance Board owing to the inability of many members of the public to distinguish it from Public Assistance.

As my hon. Friend is aware, it is the Government's intention to introduce legislation setting up a scheme of National Assistance in substitution for local Public Assistance. The appropriate title of the central administrative authority will be a matter for consideration.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many local national insurance offices he intends to open as part of his local organisations; when they are due to be opened; and how many of these offices will be situated in Dorset, and where.

The least number of local offices which I consider necessary for the fully efficient administration of the new scheme is about 1,000. Owing to the great difficulties in obtaining office accommodation this number of offices may not be available at the outset and I cannot yet say at all precisely where the offices will be situated or when' they will be opened, as this must largely depend on the result of the search for premises which is now being actively made in all parts of the country.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will arrange for family allowances to be paid to a wife for her children in this country when the father has gone to work in a Dominion or elsewhere overseas.

Yes, Sir, this can be done provided the wife and children are living in this country.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the number of people who are insured under the National Health Insurance Act in the West Cumberland development areas; and, if possible, the number that are insured in the White-haven, Ennerdale and Millom rural areas, respectively.

I regret that the information asked for is not available. The records of persons insured under the Health Insurance Acts are maintained by their approved societies which are not organised on a geographical basis.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many applications have been received for extended unemployment benefit; and how many

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will consider recommending to the friendly societies that, in view of the prolonged negotiations between himself and the dental profession, the friendly societies be authorised to make ex gratia payments to members seeking dental treatment where they are satisfied that the cost of such treatment is in accordance with the scales of such charges in force.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the provision of dental benefit by approved societies under the National Health Insurance Act on which I would refer him to the reply which I gave on the subject to the hon. Member for West Harrow (Mr. Bower) on 11th March. There is no obstacle to the payment of dental benefit where a contract is entered into for the provision of treatment at the approved charges and in accordance with the approved conditions, but I have no power to authorise approved societies to make any payment not provided for by the statutory regulations.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why a lady, of whose name he has been informed, has not yet received her old age pension for which a claim was made 5½ months ago and all necessary forms filled in; and what action

The information asked for is set out in the following table. The numbers in each case show the position on 14th March. The applications received but not admitted include a considerable number still under consideration at that date.he is taking to put an end to the unreasonable delay by his Department in dealing with old age pensions claims.

An old age pension has now been awarded in this case with effect from the end of January. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on this subject in reply to the hon. Members for North-East Leeds (Miss Bacon) and Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll) on 11th March.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many civil servants have been dismissed because of their political affiliations; and if he will issue a statement giving particulars of each case of dismissal.

None, Sir, because of their political affiliations as such. On the general point, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. E. P. Smith) by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that an investigation of the membership records of the Civil Service Alliance and the Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants by his officials revealed that the respective memberships of temporary clerks were 102,553 and 8,599; and what arrangements he proposes to make in regard to the recognition of temporary clerks, in view of the recent announcement by the Postmaster-General after consultation with the Treasury, that the question would arise of withdrawing official recognition from any organisation whose membership was less than 33⅓ per cent. of the organised members of the class concerned.

A decision will be announced shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the estimated expenditure of cost-of-living subsidies for 1947–48 will be in respect of imported and home-produced foodstuffs, respectively; and whether he will give details of how the gross figure is made up.

I must ask the hon. Member to await my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many ex-Ministers are receiving pensions under the Political Officers' Pensions Act of 1869 and under the Superannuation Act of 1934.

None under the Act of 1869, but one former Prime Minister (Earl Baldwin) is in receipt of a pension under Section 4 (2) of the Ministers of the Crown Act, 1937. There is no Superannuation Act of 1934.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of mining machinery exported during the year 1946; what are the delivery dates to be relied upon by the collieries for the delivery of heavy electric motors required for conveyors and similar machinery; what was the number and value of such motors exported during 1946; what delivery can be replied upon for conveyor belts and cables; and what quantities and values of these were exported during 1946 which were suitable for coal or other types, of mining.

The value of mining machinery exported during 1946 was £2,300,000. No separate particulars are available of the exports of electric motors suitable for conveyors and similar machinery used by collieries. Similarly, exports of conveyor belting and cables are not separately distinguished in the Trade Accounts, but I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power that 231,000 feet of conveyor belting, valued at approximately £170,000, were exported during the year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the recent restrictions on newsprint have now been relaxed, or what classes of newspapers and periodicals are still curtailed

Yes, Sir, but as from 17th March the basis of rationing for newspapers was revised as stated in the answer given to the hon. Member for The High Peak (Mr. Molson) on 24th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, for the latest convenient period, what percentages of the newsprint was allocated to the daily Press and to the weekly provincial Press, respectively.

The latest figures I have are for the four weeks ended 17th November last. In that period the daily Press used 72 per cent. and the weekly provincial press 10.9 per cent. of the total consumption.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange for a larger supply of gas mantles to reach the town of Belper, Derbyshire, as the present inadequate allocation is causing hardship; and what steps he is taking to increase the general supply of gas mantles.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Aston (Mr. Wyatt) on 18th March, in which it was explained that, while production was improving spite of power cuts in February there was still a general scarcity throughout the country and considerable arrears of demand to be met. I am not aware of any large outstanding orders from the Belper area, but if my hon. Friend will send me particulars I will look into the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated loss in the production of boots and shoes for the first quarter of 1947 as a result of the fuel crisis.

The loss in February was six million pairs. That for the whole quarter is likely to be about eight million pairs, or rather more than three weeks production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of cotton hosiery from Hong Kong is at present imported into this country; whether it is being supplied at competitive prices; and what steps are being taken to rehabilitate the Hong Kong hosiery industry.

No cotton hosiery is being imported from Hong Kong and the second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise. The last part of the Question is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, who, I understand, is making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member in due course.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) for what reason 432 private motor cars were imported during January and February; and from which countries they were imported;(2) for what reason were 1,610 private motor cars imported during the year 1946; and from which countries were they imported.

The figures of imports of motor cars for 1946 and for January and February, 1947, included certain sets of parts imported into the United Kingdom for incorporation in motor cars manufactured here, as well as complete cars. Of the latter, only 62 were imported during 1946 and 30 during the months of January and February of this year. In view of the small numbers involved, I should not be justified in seeking to ascertain from what countries these cars came nor for what special reason importation was allowed in each case. The Trade Accounts will be corrected to show the true position at the first convenient opportunity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the reasons for compelling the hosiery trade to substitute 56-58's crossbred yarns for 64's merinos for H.P. 15, in view of the fact that there is no real shortage of merinos.

There is at present a very heavy demand for merino yarns and for this reason there should be a movement towards a greater use of crossbred yarns. The use of 56/58's crossbred yarns for some garments instead of the yarns previously used is, therefore, desired.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will set up a public court of inquiry to investigate conditions in the building industry.

No, Sir. The power to appoint a court of inquiry, which is derived from the Industrial Courts Act, can only be exercised in certain circumstances, which, so far as I am aware, do not at present exist.

asked the Minister of Labour whether discussions are going on with trade unions and employers' associations for ending in December the war period for the purposes of the Restoration of Pre-War Practices Act, 1942.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Acton (Mr. Sparks), on 20th December last. It is now for the two sides of each industry affected to consider jointly what arrangements for the purposes of this Act are necessary in view of the decision to end the war period in December next.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that in the Normanton division many ex-miners and others are signing at the employment exchange; that the prospect of employment for these men is not good; and whether there is any possibility of a factory for disabled persons being erected in the area, or if he will give this matter his serious consideration.

The answer to the first two parts of the Question is "Yes, Sir." As regards the third part, there are at present only 24 severely disabled persons (11 ex-miners and 13 others) unemployed in the area of Normanton and Castleford, but the possibility of opening Remploy Factories for these applicants and for other severely disabled persons in adjacent areas is now being explored.

asked the Minister of Labour how many building trade trainees have completed their course of instruction in Edinburgh; and the number for whom suitable employment has been found.

At 10th March, 1947, 473 building trade trainees had completed their instruction at the Edinburgh Training Centre and 200 had been placed in employment. Action to place the others is in hand.

asked the Minister of Labour what procedure firms should adopt in order to procure labour from the Polish Resettlement Corps; what average time elapses between initial application and commencement of work; and whether the employer can interview and select the employee.

Vacancies should be notified to an employment exchange. Such notifications can specify an individual by name or merely be for a Pole. In neither case may a Pole be submitted if a suitable and willing British worker is available. Arrangements for interview can be made in suitable cases. The time between notification and engagement depends entirely on the circumstances of the particular case.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is satisfied that disablement advisory committees have sufficient detailed information to enable them to ascertain how far employers are observing the requirements of the Act.

The powers of disablement advisory committees as defined in the Act do not include responsibility for ensuring compliance by employers. This responsibility rests with me, and the Act gives me and my officers full powers to inspect the records which employers are required to keep. I am satisfied that this is sufficient for the present.

asked the Minister of Labour if fares, lodging allowances and settling-in grants are available for ex-miners residing in non-mining areas who volunteer to return to the mines.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour what labour has been supplied by the local employment exchange to Messrs. L. Gardner, Eccles, since 3rd March of this year; and whether further demands for labour from this firm have been lodged.

One labourer has been supplied to this firm since 3rd March in respect of an order notified in January. No demands for labour have been notified to my local office by the firm since 3rd March.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of workpeople employed in the paint manufacturing industry, in each of the following development areas, Scotland, North-east Coast and South Wales, at or on December, 1945, June, 1946, and December, 1946, respectively.

Estimates of the numbers of insured persons employed in development areas are only available for each mid-year. The estimated numbers employed in the paint, varnish, etc., manufacturing industry in the areas in question at June, 1945, and June, 1946, were as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour why delay has recently taken place in the provision of training facilities under the resettlement scheme in North Staffordshire; and what steps are being taken to overcome the difficulty.

There has been no special delay in extending training facilities in North Staffordshire recently. The Stoke Training Centre is already fully equipped to provide training in building trades and schemes of training so far as these can be arranged in technical colleges and employers' establishments for the pottery and other industries are in operation. As regards training for trades other than building, in the Government training centre, premises and equipment are being provided as quickly as possible In the meantime applicants who cannot be allocated to the Stoke Centre are being given the opportunity, as vacancies arise of taking their training at other centres in the Midlands Region.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give special consideration to applications for postponement of military service by students for the teaching profession who, by reason of a long period of illness during their schooldays, have not reached such a point in their studies as to enable them to take the Higher School Certificate before the commencement of their military service.

Postponement of liability for call-up may already be granted on grounds of hardship in the circumstances stated provided that the student will not, have reached the age of rig on 31st July of the year of the examination. The Umpire, who is the statutory authority in this matter, has ruled that retarded progress in general education which is the result of illness in earlier years cannot be accepted as a reason for making an exception to this rule. I could not regard the circumstances referred to in the Question as justifying deferment of calling up on the grounds of national interest.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of men employed as agricultural workers and farmers liable to be called to the Forces on 1st January, 1949.

It is not possible to form any reliable estimate of the number so far in advance of the date indicated.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of men between 18 and 26 years of age on 1st January, 1949.

It is estimated that the number of men aged between 18–26 in Great Britain at 1st January, 1949, will be approximately 2,735,000.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of men 18 years of age on 1st January, 1939, 1944 and 1949, respectively.

It is estimated that the numbers of men 18 years of age in Great Britain on 1st January, 1939, 1st January, 1944, and 1st January, 1949, are approximately 474,000, 357,000 and 337,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total amount of salaries paid to the members of the Cost-of-Living Advisory Committee since the appointment of that committee on 6th April, 1946.

Salaries were not paid to non-official members.

asked the Secretary of state for Scotland on what basis the allocation of 24,000 houses for 1947 was arrived at.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the detailed explanation contained in the recent White Paper on the housing programme for 1947 The programme of 24,000 houses for Scotland is based on an estimate of the number of houses which it may be possible to complete this year with the labour and materials available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses to let have been provided for ex-Servicemen in Scotland through local authorities in the last year for which records are complete.

The information desired could be obtained only by calling for a special return and in view of the heavy burden on local authorities at the present time I would not feel justified in asking them to undertake the additional work that would be involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of rural workers' houses reconditioned, under construction and completed in Scotland; and the number for which plans have been approved though not yet begun.

At 30th June, 1946, the latest date for which information is available, 33,183 houses had been reconditioned under the Housing (Rural Workers) Acts. Work was in progress on 2,190 houses and work had not begun on 617 houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why it is proposed to bring the Government Bracken Cutting Scheme C to an end after the 1947 season.

This scheme under which bracken is cut at subsidised rates by means of machines owned and operated by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, was devised to meet the war situation. The results achieved are not commensurate with the cost involved and I am satisfied that further continuance of the scheme is not justified. It will accordingly be terminated on the conclusion of the 1947 cutting season. The scheme known as Scheme B, under which farmers and others receive a refund up to one half of the cost of bracken cutting done by their own or hired labour, will be continued.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has refused to implement the unanimous recommendations of his own advisory body, the National Joint Council, in regard to continuation class salary scales in Scotland.

I am satisfied that the adoption of these salary scales would have increased the difficulty of obtaining suitably qualified persons from industry to teach in continuation classes and would have hindered the development of technical education.

asked the Minister of Health the names of local authorities who have applied for Exchequer grants for coast protection; the amounts, respectively, applied for; and the grants made.

Formal applications or inquiries with respect to Exchequer grants in aid of coast protection works have been received from the county council of Cumberland, the town councils of Tynemouth, Fleetwood, Lowestoft, Redcar and Southwold, the urban district councils of Clacton, Rhyl, Seaford, Sheringham and Withernsea, and the rural district council of Erpingham. Requests for specific sums have not been made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that no delivery date can yet be given to customers who have ordered new motor cars over a year ago, he will consider the reintroduction of a permit system for the purchase of new motor cars in order to secure proper priorities as to need.

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend is not prepared to reimpose Government control which would require a large staff to operate.

asked the Minister of Health whether there has been any reduction in the number of deaths from cancer in England and Wales during the year 1946 compared with the previous years.

The figure for 1946 is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the large numbers of travelling public in North America unable to visit Europe because of the present lack of shipping accommodation and the high cost thereof, he will provide facilities for, and encourage the building of, one or more further liners of the "Queen Elizabeth" class, fitted to accommodate the largest possible number of passengers at cheap rates.

I am afraid that this suggestion would do nothing to relieve the immediate difficulties to which my hon. Friend refers, for the building of such ships would take some years. The present shortage of accommodation on the North Atlantic route is due to temporary causes, and is being overcome by the entry into service of ships now reconditioning and by the building of new ships by the companies concerned.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that Mowat's Pioneer Grit Company, Limited, of Aberdeen, have had to close down their factory and suspend a number of their employees owing to insufficient supplies of cast-iron scrap, and that they have also had to cancel export orders; and if he will take steps to enable them to obtain supplies and resume production.

This company had not previously notified us of the position. They have now been informed of alternative sources of supply, which should enable them to carry on.

asked the Minister of Supply the total number of men and women employed in the Dispersals (S) Department, Hans Mansions, at 1st March, 1946, and 1st March, 1947, respectively.

On 1st March, 1946, the Directorate of Disposals (S) had 116 men and 74 women. Owing to increased activity of sales during 1946 and the transfer of a staff of 54 from a selling branch of the Contacts Division, the staff at 1st March, 1947, was 194 men and 88 women.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the shortage of cable clips in Norwich; and if he is taking steps to improve the position.

I was not aware of any shortage of cable clips, but if my hon. Friend will let me have full particulars of the difficulties, I will do my best to help.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will consider reordering the allocation of steel to the motor industry with the object of securing additional supplies for manufacturers of high-quality private motor cars which have an established custom in foreign markets and whose products sell at a higher rate per ton of steel used than those of mass-production type.

No, Sir

asked the Minister of Supply what quantity of steel was used in manufacture and re-equipment, respectively, of armoured fighting vehicles during the year 1946; and what quantity is it proposed to allocate for these purposes during the year 1947.

I regret that it would not be in the public interest to give details of this kind about particular types of armament.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the fact that no information is available warding the cost of the new conditions in the coalmines starting on 1st May, he will issue another White Paper as soon as accurate figures are available.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps have been taken to implement the recent announcement that ex-miners who had commuted their compensation claims are eligible for re-employment at the collieries; if he is aware that colliery managers have received no specific information on the matter and that consequently many qualified miners who have applied for reemployment have been refused; and if he will make a further statement to clarify the position.

My right hon. Friend has been informed by the National Coal Board

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish all statistics in his possession showing the amount of rinderpest and other diseases in East Africa over a period of years.

No full statistics on this matter exist but the information which is available is given in the annual reports of the Veterinary Departments of the various East African Governments. These

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what price is being paid for Japanese yarn for the Hong Kong cotton hosiery industry; and at what price per pound are the Government selling it to the local factories.

I understand that the price of the yarn f.o.b. Japan is 75½ (United States) cents per lb. I have, however no information as to the landed price in Hong Kong, and am making inquiries of the Governor.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the acreage target figures and the acreage actually harvested, in wheat, barley, oats, potatoes and sugar beet in Somerset during 1942–46, inclusive.

I do not consider it would be in the public interest to disclose individual county target acreages where such targets have been set. The acreages of the crops mentioned actually harvested in Somerset were as follow:are normally available to the public here through the Crown Agents for the Colonies. Reports not published during the war may be inspected in the Colonial Office Library.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many pillar boxes he has in stock; what is the reason for the delay in repairing or replacing the pillar box at the junction of the Headlands and Queensberry Road, Kettering, the door of which was damaged in a traffic accident in the first week of January; and when he proposes to have a serviceable pillar box on that important site.

It is the normal practice for new pillar boxes to be supplied by the manufacturers direct to the districts in which they are required, rather than for requirements to be met from a central stock held by the Post Office. In the case to which the hon. Member refers it had been hoped to repair the box but after inquiry the makers reported that this was impracticable. Provision of a new box has been delayed by manufacturing and transport difficulties, but I hope it will be possible to supply and erect one within the next two or three weeks.

asked the Prime Minister if he is yet in a position to announce a date for the termination of the war emergency period.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Saffron Walden (Mr. R. A. Butler) on 18th December, 1945, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that county directors of education are giving preference for appointments in the national schools to emergency trained teachers who have just completed their training in competition with graduate teachers, as in an example submitted to him of a graduate of London University with long experience of teaching, whose application for a post was turned down in favour of a candidate who had been a trainee at a school where the graduate passed over was a teacher; and whether it is the policy of his Department to fill vacancies in the national schools with one-year trainees from the emergency colleges.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. As regards the second part of the Question, the appointment of teachers is a matter for the local education authorities and for the governors and managers of the schools concerned. I am writing to the hon. Member about the particular case which he brought to my notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the terms of the recent further note to the Soviet authorities in Hungary.

The following is the text of the letter of 19th March from the British Representative on the Allied Control Commission to his Soviet colleague:

"I immediately communicated your reply to my Government and have now received their instructions to inform you that they adhere to the view expressed in my letter to you of 7th March, that it is desirable that there should be a joint investigation of the facts of the present situation, including those surrounding the case of Mr. Bela Kovacs, and of the threat to the democratic system of Government in Hungary resulting from pressure recently brought to bear on the popularly elected majority in the Hungarian National Assembly."

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Burma, if he will make a further statement regarding the Panglong Agreement relating to the frontier areas of Burma.

The text of the Agreement was given in my reply to the question of my hon. Friend on 17th February. The Governor has now satisfied himself that the Agreement is acceptable to the Shans, Kachins and Chins, whose representatives signed the Agreement. In accordance with the Governor's recommendation, which has the support of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, who was present at the Panglong Conference as an observer, His Majesty's Government have signified their approval of the Agreement and steps are being taken forthwith to put it into operation. In pursuance of this a Shan, the Sawbwa of Mong Pawn, has been appointed to officiate as, one of His Excellency the Governor's Counsellors, and Deputy Counsellors have also been nominated to represent the Kachins and Chins. The Sawbwa of Mong Pawn will also be ex officio member of His Excellency the Governor's Executive Council, the meetings of which the Deputy Counsellors will be invited to attend when subjects pertaining to the Frontier Areas are discussed.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the position with regard to the supply of potatoes in the Liverpool area; and what steps he proposes to take to relieve the position there in the near future.

I am afraid that there has been a shortage of potatoes in Liverpool as elsewhere, because of the dislocation of lifting and transport by the, severe weather. My Department made special efforts to meet the situation during the crisis and supplies have now greatly improved.

asked the Minister of Food in how many counties and county boroughs is 90 per cent. or more of the milk sold retail to the public derived from tuberculin-tested cows or heat treated.

I regret that the information asked for is not available and could only be obtained as a result of a costly inquiry covering the whole of the milk trade.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the difficulty in obtaining supplies of tinned bacon since the recent downpointing; and whether he will increase the allocation to retailers in Stockton-on-Tees.

The points value of canned bacon was reduced to 12 points per lb. on 2nd March to help traders to clear stocks which were unsaleable in some areas at 24 points per lb. One further small release is being made and the retailers in Stockton-on-Tees should be able to obtain part of this final allocation.