asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to start work on that section of the South Coast road, TR. 37, from Bassett to Ower, with a connecting link to Southampton, with a view to relieving traffic congestion in Winchester and Christchurch.

The South Coast road TR. 37 became a trunk road on 1st April, 1946, and preliminary surveys have been undertaken to determine whether it should be diverted in the neighbourhood of Southampton further to the north near Betley, Bassett and Ower. No decision on this proposal has yet been reached.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the prospects of getting some modern snow-ploughs, similar to those used on the Julier Pass, Switzerland, to keep open or re-open trunk roads only blocked by heavy snowfalls as experienced this year; what would be the cost of each; and how many would be required.

An investigation is being made into the equipment required for snow clearance on the roads. I am not yet in a position to say what types of equipment would be most suitable for use in this country or how many machines it would be justifiable to have available to meet climatic contingencies here.

asked the Minister of Transport for how many days the London-Reading trunk road to Maidenhead was closed to traffic through floods; when work will recommence on the Maidenhead bypass; and when it is anticipated the bypass will be completed.

The London-Reading trunk road at Maidenhead was closed to light traffic for 13 days and to heavy traffic for 12 days. Owing to the shortage of labour, I am not able to state when work on the Maidenhead by-pass will be recommenced

asked the Minister of Transport why, on 22nd March, the 12.30 p.m. omnibus from Reading to Peppard was crowded with Polish troops, thus leaving 22 people behind, and the 2.30 p.m. omnibus at Peppard for Reading left 20 people behind; and what steps are being taken to improve this service.

I am informed that traffic was abnormally heavy on the day in question, because of a football match in Reading. The bus company claim that the service is adequate under normal conditions. The area traffic commissioners will, however, investigate whether the services in the district need strengthening

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the complaints made regarding the present omnibus stop at Boat Brae, Newport, Fifeshire, and of the many unsuccessful efforts of the Newport Town Council to obtain a more suitable stopping place; and what steps he is taking in the matter

The stops at Boat Brae were fixed by the traffic commissioners in 1934 in arrangement with the Road Board of the County Council. The Chief Constable is satisfied with them. Proposals by the Town Council for alternative sites have not been acceptable either to the operators concerned or to the County Council. I have no power to intervene.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider reintroducing a priority scheme for the purchase of motor vans for those engaged in agricultural work and milk supply and delivery.

No, Sir. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Major Beamish) on 18th March.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that no ex-Serviceman has yet held an auction of Service material in the Fylde area of Lancashire; and whether he will, in future, ensure that in the auction of Service material a proper opportunity is given to ex-Service auctioneers to conduct the auction.

We have held no auctions in this area. Auctioneers are chosen from nominations received from the profession through the President of the Auctioneers and Estate Agents Institute.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will now publish the report and recommendations of the Motor Industry Advisory Council concerning the system of taxation on private motor cars.

No, Sir. The Ministers concerned have not yet completed their consideration of the report.

asked the Minister of Works the reason for the delay in renewing the timber licences to the Loxley Building Company, Limited, Orpington, for the rebuilding of Nos. 98 to 108, Court Road, Orpington, details of which were sent to the Regional Officer, 17, Cornwall Terrace, on 21st March; and, in view of the fact that the merchant has the goods ready for delivery, if he will cause the licence to be issued at once

There has been no undue delay. The renewed timber licences were issued on 2nd April.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the announcement by an official of the Welsh Board of Health at Caernarvon, on Saturday, 29th March, that the production of bricks in Wales falls short of requirements by 9,000,000 per month; whether he has any proposals that will assist in achieving a production that will meet requirements; and what steps he has taken to make available to the industry much-needed mechanised equipment that will enable them greatly to increase the monthly brick production

I am aware that the production of bricks in Wales falls short of requirements. The deficiency will be met as far as possible from other areas. Every effort is being made by my officers to secure the reopening of closed brickworks, and to provide excavators and other items of plant

asked the Minister of Works if any camps have yet been made available for housing Polish mining volunteers; and if he will indicate the location of such camps.

Yes, Sir; one camp is in the North Riding of Yorkshire for ironstoneminers; two camps are in the West Riding for coal-miners and two are in Cornwall for tin-miners

asked the Minister of Works the pension or retirement position of the cleaners, electricians and fitters employed by his Department at the House of Commons with long records of service up to 40 years.

Cleaners, electricians and fitters employed by my Department at the Houses of Parliament belong to industrial grades and are not eligible for pensions under the Superannuation Acts. In common with all other unestablished civil servants, they are eligible on retirement for a gratuity of one week's pay for every year of service, provided they have served for 15 years in Government employment.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the entrance to Rotten Row in Hyde Park from Exihibition Road through Alexandra Gate is dangerous for riders and, particularly, children, having regard to the heavy motor car traffic going round the park, using the Kensington Road or turning into the park at this gate; and if he will arrange for Queen's Gate to be opened for equestrian traffic.

I am aware of the difficulty and will have the gate opened for a trial period.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the accommodation at Reading Prison, which is needed for the prison staff who have been separated from their families for several months, is still occupied by the Central Office of Information; and whether he will ensure that this accommodation is released forthwith, in view of the fact that alternative accommodation has been offered to the Central Office of Information staff concerned.

The alternative accommodation which has been found for the staff of the Central Office of Information has only just been vacated by the War Department. The staff will be moved as soon as the premises have been made ready. It is hoped to complete this work in a month or two.

asked the Minister of Works how many residential flats in the London area are now requisitioned by Government Departments for use other than as dwellings.

The number of flats in the London area at present under requisition by Government Departments and not in use as dwellings is 1,479.

asked the Minister of Works what additional office space for Government Departments he estimates will be built during the financial year 1947–48, showing separately that of a temporary nature and that which will be provided in London.

The estimated area of office space to be built for Government Departments during the current financial year is as follows:

asked the Minister of Works what is the approximate estimate of the additional office space made available in London to Government Departments on the completion of the works included in 1947–48 Civil Estimates, Class VII, Vote 6.

When all the buildings in London in respect of which provision has been made in the 1947–48 Civil Estimates, Class VII, Vote 6, have been completed, an estimated area of 5 million square feet of office space will have been made available. Several of the building schemes are extensive and will take a number of years to complete.

asked the Minister of Works why it is proposed to double the staff employed by the Transport division of his Department; and why the bulk of this increase is for other clerical workers.

The staff of the Transport Division of this Ministry numbered 257 on 1st April, 1947. The estimated requirement for 1947–48 is a staff of 367. The estimated increase of 110 is made up of 47 technical and 63 clerical posts. The additional staff is needed to provide the transport services for a greatly expanded Government building programme for 1947–48, and to improve the arrangements for financial control

asked the Minister of Works when seasonal brickyards may expect to be informed of their coal allocation for this year; and whether he is aware of the adverse effect on brick production occasioned by the delay in announcing any allocation and of the increasing local unemployment being caused.

I am aware of the adverse effect of the present uncertainty, but the Government are now considering the arrangements for allocating coal to industry from June onwards and until a decision has been reached it is impossible for me to make any definite statement with regard to seasonal brickworks. Meanwhile, seasonal works that were in operation last year and reopened this year can be given the same treatment as the rest of industry. The requirements of other works that wish to reopen will also be considered. In all such cases the Regional Directors of my Department will be ready to assist.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give details of the work carried out by the regional site control section of his Department.

The function of the regional site control is to supervise and progress building work on behalf of the architect or engineer responsible for the scheme; to advise him of difficulties which may arise on the site; and generally to assist in obtaining labour, materials, plant and transport for the Ministry's building schemes in the Regions. The use of the control reduces the call on the time of the architect or the engineer and by dealing promptly with local difficulties helps to ensure smooth working.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will now state the estimated loss in sugar production as a result of the floods in areas where sugar-beet is grown?

Sugar-beet had not been sown before the flooding and there is, therefore, no direct loss. Sugar-beet may be sown as late as the first week of June, and in appropriate cases where the growing of sugar-beet this year on land abnormally flooded presents exceptional risks, this crop will be eligible for assistance at the rate of £10 per acre under the scheme already announced. Any loss of acreage will, as far as possible, be offset by granting additional contracts to growers who are in a position to fulfil them. It is still too early to make a final assessment of the position, but taking all these factors into account, it is not expected that sugar-beet production this year will fall short of the target by more than the equivalent of approximately 30,000 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been called to outbreaks of fowl pest, "Newcastle disease," at Bath and in Hertfordshire; if he is aware that this disease is transmitted through the bone formation of dead poultry; what evidence there is to show that the disease has been brought into the country by table poultry imported from parts of Europe and North America where the disease is prevalent; and what steps are being taken to safeguard home poultry flocks.

Yes, Sir. More than 50 outbreaks have occurred in Great Britain in recent months. The cause of the outbreaks has not definitely been established, but the most likely sources of infection are the carcases of poultry imported from countries where the disease is prevalent. Outbreaks here are dealt with as they occur by slaughter in accordance with the provisions of the Fowl Pest Order, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member; and poultry keepers have been strongly advised to boil all foodstuffs which contain poultry waste before feeding to their birds. I am consulting the poultry industry about further measures.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that during March growers received prices around 2d. each, less selling charges, for best home-grown lettuces; and if that price covers the costs of production as ascertained for the last annual review for agricultural prices.

According to market reports, the prices of home-grown lettuce in the London markets during March ranged from 2s. to 14s. per dozen, with an average price of 9s. per dozen. Costs of production of lettuce vary considerably, but I have no reason to think that the March prices were unremunerative. Lettuce in common with other vegetables is outside the scope of the price review procedure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the basing of poultry rations on prewar numbers is discouraging the keeping of poultry by those who were not engaged therein before the war; if he is satisfied that this is consistent with the policy of switching agriculture to livestock production; and what steps he proposes to take.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." In the immediate future the Government must look for an expansion of poultry keeping primarily to established producers who will receive this summer the increase in rations already announced. Present supplies of feedingstuffs, unfortunately, do not permit a general extension of rations to persons wishing. to keep poultry on holdings where they were not kept before the war, but I recognise the need for a change in the present basis of poultry rationing as soon as supplies improve sufficiently, and plans are being prepared accordingly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is satisfied that the £200,000 worth of grass seed recently purchased with U.S. dollars is suitable for British soil and climate.

I am advised that the varieties of grass seeds recently imported from the United States of America are suitable for sowing in the United Kingdom

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action has been taken by the Ouse Catchment Board to prevent a recurrence of flooding in the Calder Valley at Mirfield, and in the Spen Valley at Liversedge.

Flooding in the Calder Valley arises mainly from the past development of land which constitutes the natural flood path of the river. Substantial alleviation could only be secured by demolishing existing factories, houses and other buildings. The cost of this would be very great indeed and would involve a considerable loss of industrial capacity. The Spen Valley is not the responsibility of the Yorkshire Ouse Catchment Board and is not within an internal drainage district. It falls to the appropriate local authorities, therefore, to carry out such remedial steps as are possible, but the difficulties in this instance are largely similar to those in the Calder Valley.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many charges have, since 1st January, 1946, been brought against members of the provincial civil services and provincial police forces in India, arising out of the events of 1942; and whether he has any information regarding the 'charges, the names of the officials concerned, and the results of any trials held to date.

There have been no trials arising out of the events of 1942 since 1st January, 1946. An inquiry is, however, being held in Madras in connection with a lathi charge in Alipuram Jail in 1942.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what was the quantity of tea produced in India during the year 1946; and how did this compare with the largest crop produced in any year previously.

I have no official information as to the out-turn of the Indian tea crop in 1946, but according to an unofficial report it amounted to about 562 million lbs. The highest recorded out-turn was 570.9 million lbs. in 1942.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Burma whether European members of those Burma Government services which are not Secretary of State's services, are allowed to retire on proportionate pension, or whether he will see that the necessary arrangements are made in the immediate future; and in what other ways European members of these services, who were appointed at a time when the Governor of Burma had full powers, will be treated less favourably than members of the Secretary of State's services.

The conditions of service of European officers of the Burma Government Services (other than Burma Frontier Service), who were not appointed to their existing posts or Services by the Secretary of State, are matters within the control of the Government of Burma. There is no premature retirement scheme under which such officers may be permitted to retire voluntarily on proportionate pension, and the introduction of any such scheme or of any other improvement in their conditions of service would be a matter for consideration by the Government of Burma. As regards the last part of the hon. and gallant Member's Question, I assume he is referring to the position of such Services on the transfer of power. I regret that I cannot give any information at present on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that it is still the policy of His Majesty's Government towards China to consider, when conditions improve, the aiding in the carrying out of other projects, unrelated to civil strife, to encourage economic reconstruction and reform in China and so to promote a general revival of commercial relations; and whether His Majesty's Governments in Australia and New Zealand subscribe to this policy.

Yes, Sir, but any projects must be considered in relation to His Majesty's Government's financial and economic position. As regards the latter part of the Question, my right hon. Friend cannot, of course, answer for His Majesty's Governments in Australia and New Zealand, but we should naturally, in accordance with our usual practice, keep in close touch with them in all matters of policy relating to the Far East.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present strength of the Transjordan Arab Legion, the annual cost of maintaining this force, and the proportion of this annual cost which is borne by the British taxpayer; and how many British officers are attached to this force and how many are acting in an advisory capacity through the British Military Mission at present operating in Transjordan.

The Arab Legion is a military force of the King of Transjordan and, although Article 8 of the Annex to the 1946 Treaty between Great Britain and Transjordan provides that the strength of the force will be agreed annually by the High Contracting parties, it would not be proper for His Majesty's Government to make public information on the subject. The current annual cost of this force borne by the British taxpayer is approximately million. This covers the cost of those units of the Arab Legion at present serving in Palestine, and also the financial assistance which His Majesty's Government have, under the same Treaty, undertaken to afford the Transjordan Government in meeting the cost of the military units of the Transjordan forces. There are forty British officers attached to the Arab Legion, all of whom are serving in an executive capacity. There is no British military mission in Transjordan.

asked the Minister of Food if it is estimated that the loss of sugar resulting from the floods in the sugar-beet areas will cause a reduction in the sugar and sweet rations later in the year.

The loss of sugar stocks from flood action has been very small. It is too early to say to what extent the floods may affect the sugar-beet crop in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Food the prices now in force for eggs delivered to a packing station; the price paid by the retailer; and the price charged by retailers to registered customers and consumers in general.

The fixed price payable by packing stations for first quality eggs is 3s. 7d. per dozen. The price paid by retailers has been reduced from 1s 9¾d to 1s. 5¾d. per dozen on 20th April. The present maximum retail price to all customers, 2s. a dozen, is being reduced to 1s. 9d. from 27th April

asked the Minister of Food what was the supply of fats to the colliery canteens in the Wigan and St. Helens areas for March, 1942, 1944, 1946 and 1947.

The quantities of fat authorised to the colliery canteens in the St. Helens and Wigan areas were as follow:

—		March, 1942.	March, 1944.	March, 1946.	March, 1947
		cwt.	cwt.	cwt.	cwt.
St. Helens	…	13¼	13¼	20¾	26¼
Wigan	…	3	13¾	13⅞	14⅞

asked the Minister of Food what allocation of non-rationed goods was made to the Wigan food area in March, 1946, and in February and March, 1947.

Very few unrationed foods are, in fact, allocated by my Department. My hon. Friend is no doubt referring to the recent re-allocation of certain foodstuffs used for cakes, meat products and fried fish to areas which suffered from a high rate of unemployment and a low general level of earnings during the prewar datum period. Whilst the allocations of these foodstuffs have varied from time to time in accordance with the general supply position, the basic or datum allocation for the area which includes the county borough of Wigan had not been changed until the end of last month, when a general increase of about one-sixth was made for these commodities.

asked the Minister of Food what action he has taken to prevent the abuses in the movement of imported inions coming into Liverpool as outlined to him in a letter sent to the hon. Member for the Exchange Division of Liverpool, of which he has the original

Extensive inquiries, not yet completed, have been undertaken in Liverpool and other parts of the country during recent weeks. A number of prosecutions are likely to take place.

asked the Minister of Food how many avocado pears have been imported in 1947; at what cost in foreign currencies and sterling, respectively; and what was the average price to the consumer.

Avocado pears are not identifiable as a separate item in official imports statistics. The best information I can get indicates that the quantity imported this year is something less than two tons, of which over two-thirds came from the British West Indies. The balance came from the U.S.A. The total value of these imports was under £400. Prices of Avocado pears are not controlled here but I understand that they have been on sale to the public at prices from 4s. 6d. to 6s. each

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the Glasgow and district retail fleshers declare themselves unable to meet the ration from the amount of meat now allocated to them; and what he proposes to do in the matter.

A copy of the resolution passed by a meeting of butchers at Glasgow has been received by my right hon. Friend. As indicated in his reply to the hon. and gallant Member for West Edinburgh (Lieut.-Commander Hutchison) on 16th April, he is satisfied that the quantity of meat issued to butchers is sufficient to enable them to supply the full ration

asked the Minister of Food what percentages of profits are allowed by his Department to traders who are responsible for the supply of meats, etc., to the public, giving those for wholesale meat traders and 'retail butchers, separately.

I assume the Question relates only to meat sold through butchers and not to points canned meat. The Ministry sells meat direct to retail butchers through its agents, the wholesale meat supply associations, who receive remuneration ranging between 2 per cent. and 4½ per cent. according to tonnage handled on a notional value which is considerably below current values. Owing to variations in the percentage of gross profit actually earned by retail butchers, caused by a number of circumstances, it is not possible to state the average percentage categorically. Information collected by the Ministry from a representative selection of retail butchers indicates that the majority make a gross profit ranging between 20 per cent. and 30 per cent

asked the Minister of Food what is the calorie intake per head of the population for the latest month for which a dieting survey is available; and what are the figures for the nearest corresponding date a year ago.

The latest figure we have is for December last. As I explained to the right hon. and gallant Member in reply to his Question on 24th March, it is based on a small but representative sample of working class families and covers only food eaten in the home, and not school, or any other meals taken out of the home. The figure is 2,300 calories, which compares with an average of 2,390 in December, 1945.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make an additional allocation of soap for brickyard drawers.

We already make an allowance of soap for these workers where washing facilities are provided on the job under the Factories Act.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps he proposes to take to change Section 3 of the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, in view of the hardship caused by its implementation.

No amending legislation is contemplated.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the Memorandum on the 1947 Civil Estimates and Estimates for the Revenue Departments presented by him on 18th February, 1947, is not yet available in the Vote Office; and when it will be available.

The Memorandum is now being printed, and should be available about the end of this month. The restoration this year of certain statistical tables which were dropped during the war years has added somewhat to the time taken for preparation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has been able to make arrangements for a high fuel priority for paper mills which produce specialised base papers for drawing office use in the engineering industry

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of ferro-prussiate and Dyeline papers required in Aberdeen engineering drawing offices and that this shortage is retarding engineering production there, the bulk of which is required for production; and what steps he proposes to take to rectify this.

I am aware that supplies of these specialised papers are not sufficient to meet full requirements, owing to the shortage of fuel, but all possible steps are being taken to increase production. All paper mills receive the basic allocation which has recently been increased to 50 per cent. and in many cases producers of these special papers are being given supplementary allocations. In addition, mills which manufacture a variety of types of paper have been asked to give priority to these and certain other special papers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total number of generating plants sent to Poland during this year; and what payment has been received in return.

The information is not available in the form in which the hon. Member has asked for it. In January and February, 1947, 96 tons of electric generators valued at £40,800 were exported to Poland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there is a serious shortage of lime sulphur wash for fruit-tree spraying, the lime being diverted to the building trade; and if he will take prompt steps to restore their quota of lime to the manufacturers of tree washes, in view of the need to produce the largest possible quantity of home-grown fruit this season.

I am aware that production of lime sulphur has been handicapped by a shortage of the type of lime used for this purpose. Lime has not been diverted to the building trade, which, in common with other consumers, has been similarly handicapped. It would not be in the general interest to provide for tree washes at the expense of other essential uses

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, in view of the extreme shortage of vacuum flasks, Messrs J. R. Gibb, Limited, of Paignton, Devon, were refused permission to import 23,000 of these articles.

The production of vacuum flasks in the United Kingdom is rapidly expanding. The principal limiting factor is the shortage of glass components and arrangements are being made to import these from various sources. In the circumstances, it is not considered necessary to import complete flasks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the present functions of the Trading with the Enemy Department; to what extent these overlap those of the Control Office for Germany and Austria; and why it is proposed to increase the staff by 50 per cent.

The principal functions of the Trading with the Enemy Department, which is responsible to the Treasury and the Board of Trade, are:

(a) the release of the property of persons in territories formerly in enemy occupation, which had an estimated value of £400,000,000, and was placed under control in accordance with the Trading with the Enemy Act, under conditions prescribed in property agreements made between His Majesty's Government and the other Governments concerned;

(b) the realisation and disposal of German and other enemy property placed at the disposal of His Majesty's Government under the terms of the Paris Agreement on Reparation, or of the Peace Treaties;

(c) investigations necessary to ensure that enemy property is duly reported and does not escape control, including the examination of the returns of property in and debts due from the United Kingdom made by Germans to the Control authorities;

(d) the registration of debts due to United Kingdom creditors from enemies and former enemies and of property in enemy countries owned by persons in the United Kingdom; direct co-ordination with His Majesty's Missions in these countries, including the Property Control Branch of the Allied Control Commission in Germany, for the protection of British interests; and advice to members of the British public regarding the prosecution of their claims for compensation for loss or damage;

(e) negotiations with the representatives of other Governments and of other Departments regarding the principles and methods to be followed in all the above arrangements; and

(f) the issue of general orders and individual authorities where still necessary to permit the resumption of business and financial relations between persons in the United Kingdom and in enemy territories.

There is close co-operation between the Department and the Control Office for Germany and Austria, but no overlapping of duties.The main purposes of the proposed increase in the staff from 254 to 389 are:

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has yet received the report of the inter-Departmental committee set up to study the problem of visits to war graves; and if he will make a statement.

No, Sir. I am not, therefore, yet able to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now received the report of the inter-Departmental committee on arrangements to be made for parents and close relatives to be able to visit the graves in France of their relatives killed in the war; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Southern Derby.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in view of the shortage of protein foods in the world, if he will consider developing the fisheries of the Seychelles as rapidly as possible.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave to the hon. Members for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) and for St. Alban's (Mr. Dumpleton) on nth December and 12th March respectively, to which I can add that the 'research vessel is now almost completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in view of the risk that the production of groundnuts from the East Africa Groundnut Scheme may be appreciably reduced by drought or locusts or by outbreak of plant pests in that region, he will consider developing the production of groundnuts in another Colonial area separated from East Africa by sea, such as British Honduras, British Guiana or Mauritius.

The units under groundnuts in East Africa will be spread over wide areas and, therefore, the risks will be widely spread also. But it would, of course, be very useful if groundnut production could be developed in other parts of the Colonial Empire. I am exploring the possibilities in West Africa and the Pacific dependencies. I am advised, however, that in the three territories mentioned by my hon. Friend it is very doubtful whether there can be any considerable development of groundnut production for reasons of soil and climate

asked the Secretary of State for War when Mrs. Edith Gill, 74 Labley Street, Heckmondwike, the widow of 7406560 Pte. N. Gill, R.A.M.C., who died whilst serving overseas in December, 1945, will receive the 35 days' overseas service gratuity to which she is entitled; and why there has been so much delay in making this payment.

Overseas service grant is not payable when, as in this case, death occurred during service. Mrs. Gill has, therefore, received the total sum due to her from Army funds in respect of her late husband.

asked the Minister of Defence the number of casualties and killed in all three services since VJ-Day to the nearest available date, indicating the different spheres in detail.

The details, excluding casualties arising from accidents or natural causes, are as follow:

ROYAL NAVY.
(VJ-Day to 14th April, 1947).
Area.	Killed.	Wounded.	Missing.
Home	6	2	—
South East Asia	7	5	—
Mediterranean	50	48	—
	—	—	—
	63	52	—
	—	—	—

ARMY.
(1st August, 1945, to 31st March, 1947).
Killed.	Missing.
15,272	1,627

These figures include those who died, in the period referred to, of wounds sustained before 1st August, 1945, missing or prisoners of war whose death was established or officially assumed after 1st August, 1945, and some who died before 1st August, 1945, but whose death was not notified until later. I regret that it is impossible, without undue labour, to analyse these totals by areas or to provide a figure for wounded.

ROYAL AIR FORCE.
(VJ-Day to 14th April, 1947).
Area.	Killed.	Wounded.	Missing.
Home	—	—	—
South East Asia	42	37	24
Palestine	1	7	—
	43	44	24

asked the Minister of Health the dates of the discovery of the first two cases of smallpox at Grimsby and the dates of the development of the remainder of the cases; whether any inmates of the lodging house in which the cases occurred were vaccinated upon the discovery of the first cases; on what dates they were vaccinated; on what dates those who developed smallpox sickened with that disease; whether the two members of the sanitary staff who investigated the outbreak were vaccinated before they were sent to make the investigation; and how long before they developed smallpox.

The first two cases were found on 17th February, and of the other cases two developed on 25th February, three each on 27th February, 28th February and 1st March, and one each on 2nd and 3rd March. The inmates of the lodging house were vaccinated, mostly on 18th and 19th February; those who developed smallpox sickened between 25th February and 3rd March. The two

—			Applications received.			Applications admitted.
			Men.	Women.	Juveniles.	Men.	Women.	Juveniles
City of Glasgow	…	…	4,372	1,255	33	3,941	895	17

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that when airmen at R.A.F. Station, Yatesbury, first contracted scarlet fever and meningitis, airmen infected with these diseases were sent back to their quarters instead of being

asked the Minister of Health how many of the persons who recently developed smallpox at Scunthorpe had been vaccinated or re-vaccinated at any time; the dates of such vaccinations or re-vaccinations; and whether the assisttant medical officer of health who developed smallpox had been vaccinated.

My information is that of the persons mentioned two were vaccinated in infancy, three, including the medical officer referred to, in infancy and again between 2nd and 5th April, and one, not previously vaccinated, on 3rd April. One person was unvaccinated.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many have applied in the City of Glasgow for extended unemployment benefit; and how many of such claims have been allowed, giving separate figures for men and women in each case.

The information asked for is set out in the following table. The numbers in each case show the position on 11th April. The applications received but not admitted include some still under consideration at that date.placed in isolation; and if he will make a statement on the subject.

No, Sir. The medical authorities report that all airmen at the R.A.F. Station, Yatesbury, who fell ill of scarlet fever or meningitis in the recent outbreaks were immediately admitted to hospital and were not sent back to their quarters.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that during the recent epidemic of scarlet fever at the R.A.F. Station, Yatesbury, a non-commissioned officer in quarantine for this disease was given a blood test and permitted to proceed on Easter leave, while other occupants of the same hut were given no such test but confined to camp; and why steps were not taken to treat all airmen concerned in the same way.

I am aware that this non-commissioned officer at the R.A.F. Station, Yatesbury, was given a skin test for scarlet fever and allowed to go on leave. He was not segregated at the time since he had not been in contact with the disease, and I am advised that there was strictly no need for him to have been given the test. The airmen the hon. Member has in mind had all been in contact with scarlet fever cases; they were quartered in the same hut as the N.C.O., but in a separate room. There was no Deed for them to be given skin tests but they had to remain on the station under observation.

asked the Minister of Education how many classes in the primary and in the secondary national schools, respectively, now have 50 or more pupils.

There were in January, 1946, 3,708 classes in primary schools and 115 in secondary schools with more than 50 pupils. The analysis of the figures for January, 1947, has not yet been completed, but a preliminary examination indicates that the number of classes over 50 at that date had fallen to about 2,000.