asked the Postmaster-General, following his communication to the hon. Member for Henley in May, 1946, that a new telephone cable from Kingston Blount to Hampton would be laid within a few months, when it is now anticipated this work will be completed.

I am sorry that owing to the large number of similar cables required throughout the country and to the shortage of materials, I am still not able to say when this particular cable can he provided.

Will the Postmaster-General inform the Hampton parish council that this is part of the programme of "Let Us Face The Future"?

asked the Postmaster-General whether an emergency repair staff is always ready to repair telephone breakdowns on the lines of doctors, chemists, veterinary surgeons and the like.

Outside normal working hours, emergency linemen are on "call duty" at their homes, which are specially provided with telephones. They arc available at any time to repair telephones likely to be concerned with safety of life.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants are awaiting installation of telephones in England, Scotland and Wales at the present time.

On 30th April, 1947, there were 390,104 applications for telephones outstanding in England, Scotland and Wales.

What priority is given to nurses, doctors and hospitals, where necessary?

I think priority is given to people concerned with the saving of life, but I do not know whether nurses are included.

Will the Postmaster-General look into this question again, particularly in regard to district nurses?

Yes, Sir.

Can the Postmaster-General say what is the average waiting time?

Not without notice.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is a general practice for full-time local government officers to work in their spare time as Post Office telephone operators; and whether, in the particular case to which his attention has been drawn, he will replace this part-time labour by disabled men or women.

No, Sir. We do not expect part-time staff employed on telephone work in the evenings to he dependent on that work for their livelihood. Preference is given to men who are not in full-time employment during the day, but where these are not forthcoming, we employ men who have other full-time work. Preference is also given to registered disabled men, and over 13 per cent. of the total number of men employed on telephone work are in this category. I am unable to agree to the discharge of the part-time men at the particular place referred to by my hon. Friend. I understand that the local office of the Ministry of Labour has no applicants for part-time employment on telephone work in the evenings.

Is the Postmaster-General saying that it is not possible to get disabled ex-Servicemen, or others who are fit only for light work, to cover these duties, and is it not most undesirable that full-time local government officers should be working part-time in this way?

I have stated that wherever possible we get disabled men, and that 13 per cent. of these people are disabled.

asked the Postmaster-General in view of the fact that space heating is prohibited as from 5th May, why the steam heating was full on in the post office at Whittington Avenue, E.C.3, after that date.

The Post Office occupies, as lessees, only a part of the ground floor and basement of No. 5 Whittington Avenue in which is accommodated the Leadenhall Street Branch Post Office. The heating for the Post Office is provided, in common with that for the rest of the building, by the lessors and is not controlled by the Post Office. I am informed that although the system still retained some heat, the boilers were not fired on 5th May.

Does not the Postmaster-General realise that my Question refers to "after" 5th May? Does he not realise also that it sets a very bad example to the rest of the country if Departments do not do their best to comply with the regulations in regard to space heating?

My answer indicated that although the system still retained some heating, the boilers were not fired.

May I ask the Postmaster-General to read the Question again, which states "from 5th May"?

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce have passed a resolution, of which he has been sent a copy, protesting, in view of the time taken in the transmission of letters from London, against his new proposal to restrict daily postal deliveries there to two forenoon deliveries in the business area of that city and to abolish the after- noon deliveries; and if he will now direct that at least the present number and times of deliveries be maintained.

I have received a copy of the resolution passed by the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, but I regret that I should not be justified in excluding Aberdeen from modifications of services which are designed to save manpower and which are being applied without exception throughout the country. I am advised that the changes at Aberdeen will not affect materially the time of transmission of letters from London.

Does the Postmaster-General realise that if letters are not sorted in time for the morning delivery, they miss a whole day, having regard to the hour the train arrives at Aberdeen?

We have had some regard paid to that. I think the train arrives at about 8 o'clock, which means that the letters should catch the 11 o'clock delivery.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that the train generally arrives after 9 o'clock, and that the letters are not sorted in time for delivery that day?

If the train is an hour late, I think the letters would catch the second delivery.

Does the Postmaster-General consider that with the reduction in postal facilities all the requirements of the City of Aberdeen can be met, and in view of the general reduction in postal services everywhere, will he make a corresponding reduction in postal charges?

That is rather a different matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the present strength of the A.T.C.; and the maximum allowed.

The present strength of the A.T.C. is about 47,000 The maximum strength allowed is 75,000.

Is it not rather a pity that this excellent corps is being allowed to run down like this? What is my right hon. Friend doing to encourage them?

I think it was inevitable that there should be some drop after the war. But that drop was arrested at the end of last year, and the force is now increasing.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the strength of the force as compared with a year ago?

Considerably less. A year ago it was about 57,000. It fell at the end of January to 46,600, and has since begun to increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of aircraft operating from the R.A.F. stations at Oakington and Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire; on what service the machines are engaged; the total number of persons employed at each station and the total cost thereof.

One squadron of 20 aircraft is based at Oakington, and another squadron at Waterbeach. The aircraft are Yorks, and they are engaged in the passenger and freight services run by Transport Command to the Middle East, India and Singapore. Nine hundred and thirty-four members of the R.A.F. are stationed at Oakington, and 801 at Waterbeach. The cost of the two stations is about £560,000 a year.

Could not my right hon. Friend see that the personnel of these two stations were all put on one station, which would release about 300 or 400 acres for food production?

My hon. Friend is wrong in thinking that one station could take both squadrons.

Would it not be possible to concentrate our air strength in that part of the world at the old-established prewar stations like Mildenhall, Stradishall and Honington, instead of keeping so many of them on good arable land, which is being wasted?

The whole question of the location of our stations has been under consideration for a long time.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that at the B.C. air station at Miho, Japan, potatoes are issued with only three meals a week; that there was no heating for airmen throughout the winter; that mail from the United Kingdom takes nearly four weeks to arrive; and what steps he proposes to take to improve conditions at this station.

I have received full reports from the British Commonwealth Air Station at Miho on all the matters mentioned in his Question by my hon. Friend. For the last seven weeks, potatoes have been served on the average, 11 times a week; the airmen's messing committee consider that the quantity and the quality of the food are very good. Airmail usually takes a fortnight to reach Miho from the United Kingdom; sometimes it may take a few days longer, when aircraft are delayed by adverse weather. The heating of the buildings at Miho during the winter left much to be desired; the station offices, the messes and the recreation rooms were heated, but for most of the winter most of the sleeping quarters were not. I am glad to assure my hon. Friend that temporary stoves have now been provided in nearly all of them; for next winter permanent steam heating will be installed.

Can the Minister say why, nearly two years after the war, conditions in Miho should approximate so closely to the conditions in Great Britain?

asked the Secretary of State for Air if, in view of the delay suffered by the general public in being put on the telephone, owing to shortage of material, including instruments, he will release to the Post Office the many instruments lying idle at Tarrant Rushton aerodrome.

Yes, Sir. The hon. and gallant Member will be glad to know that the Post Office have already been asked to take away all the telephones at Tarrant Rushton that are no longer needed by the R.A.F.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the aerodrome and buildings at Tarrant Rushton are practically unguarded, with the result that there is no protection for the large amount of valuable Government property still there; and what action he proposes to take to prevent theft.

The station at Tarrant Rushton is not now in use, but a small detachment of the R.A.F. is stationed there to act as guard. I am grateful to the hon. and gallant Member for raising the matter, and I have given instructions that careful inquiries should be made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at times there is no one on the aerodrome at all?

I have seen the reports in the Press, and I am inquiring into the matter.

Why was not this done before? Is it not a case of incompetence?

I do not understand what the hon. Member means. There has been a guard on the station. Allegations have been made that on one occasion the aerodrome was unguarded, and I am inquiring into that matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether he is aware that the theatrical performance, "Wings," produced and presented by his Department, is being advertised extensively, and almost exclusively, by means of fly-posting; and whether this has been authorised by his Department;

(2) whether his attention has been called to the continuous fly-posting of recruiting bills on private property by his Department and to the consequent defacement of existing Government and other posters; by whose authority this has been done, in contra-distinction to other classes of Government advertising; and if he will give instructions for the immediate discontinuance of this practice.

I regret that the practice of fly-posting has been adopted by some local recruiting officers. This was done without the authority of my Department, and I have given instructions that it must stop at once.

Is not the Minister aware that the Labour Movement generally was built up by fly-posting?

I think that the Labour Movement has more solid foundations than that, but in any case the practice has the disadvantage of being illegal, so T have stopped it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether 4018804 A.C.2 J. B Starkey, stationed at R.A.F. camp, Bridgnorth, Salop, whose commanding officer has recommended his release from the Service on the ground of the extreme financial hardship suffered by this airman's family, has yet been released

I am considering with every care the application for release made by A.C.2 Starkey, and I will write to my hon. Friend with the least possible delay.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a matter of principle is at stake here? Is he aware that the man's commanding officer, after a full review of the facts, recommended his release, and that during the two months this case has been under consideration conditions have so deteriorated that a grant has had to be made to this airman from the R.A.F. Benevolent Fund?

Yes, Sir, it was because it was thought there was real hardship that it was decided to make a grant from the Benevolent Fund. I fully agree that this is a very important matter, and that is why I am giving it my personal attention.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many aircraft belonging to Skyways, Limited, are being operated by B.O.A.C. and B.E.A.C.; what proportion, respectively, this represents of the total aircraft on chartered or scheduled services operated by each of the two Corporations named; whose administrative staff is being used; and what is being paid per aircraft mile for Dakota craft and the latest type of interim four-engined aircraft chartered from Skyways, Limited, respectively.

In order to supplement their awn capacity to India, the British Overseas Airways Corporation have arranged for Skyways, Ltd., to operate one York service once a week between United Kingdom and Karachi on a short-term basis. This is approximately equivalent to the utilisation of one aircraft, which represents less than 1 per cent. of the total number of aircraft in the Corporation's own service fleet. The service is flown by crows provided by Skyways, Ltd., but the Corporation's administrative staff is used. The charter rate is fixed on a business basi between the two companies, and it would be contrary to normal commercial practice to publish it to third parties. No aircraft belonging to Skyways, Ltd., are on charter to British European Airways Corporation.

Am I to understand that Skyways, Limited are concerned only with the Indian route, and that they have no charter planes flying on any European route?

There is only one charter by Skyways, Limited. They are an efficient charter company, and I believe they have direct charters between certain firms in the Far East and in Europe.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, whether it is intended to use either Castel Benito or an aerodrome in Sicily instead of Luqa aerodrome in Malta; and what additional work is required to extend Luqa airfield in order to make it safe for new types of aircraft.

My noble Friend has already received reports which suggest that Luqa aerodrome in Malta may be unsuitable for continuous use by four-engined aircraft. These reports are under urgent examination by my noble Friend, in conjunction with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Secretary of State for Air. As to the second part of the Question, it would be premature to give a definite reply about the additional work required at Luqa, until the results of the examination are known. Meanwhile, it is probable that British Overseas Airways Corporation services will be re-routed, at least temporarily, to Castel Benito.

Would the hon. Gentleman give a guarantee that so far as possible British money and materials will be spent in the Colonies or Dominions? In a case like this, where the Air Ministry and other Departments are concerned, can the hon. Gentleman say which is the coordinating Department?

My noble Friend takes the initiative in the operation of air services and has the active co-operation of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. In the case of a joint-user aerodrome, such as this, he has the co-operation of the Secretary of State for Air. It is the policy of my Department, wherever possible, to see that aerodromes are established on British territory.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to what extent passages by air to the Continent are made available to those who wish to go on business journeys of importance to the export trade of this country compared with tourists who go there to spend a holiday, thereby absorbing foreign exchange without any corresponding contribution.

Of the 19 scheduled services at present operated between this country and the Continent only six are now subject to priority control. On the question of the method of priority allocations on those services, I refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hallam (Mr Jennings) on 14th May last.

Is my hon. Friend not aware that of first importance to this country at the present time is the export trade and not the export of tourists; and will he try to persuade his noble Friend to get the Corporations to introduce some system of priority, similar to that in force under the Ministry of Transport in connection with sea passages?

My noble Friend and I are the servants of this House, and we desire to express the feeling of this House that, as quickly as possible, all priorities on air routes should be given up. That has been the desire of the House, and it has also been the policy of my noble Friend. I agree that, as soon as all priority control is given up, the person who books a passage, irrespective of the value or purpose of his travelling, takes a seat, and sometimes business people are hindered by this practice.

Can the hon. Gentleman say, where priorities still continue, how much notice must be given to the aircraft companies that a priority seat is to be abandoned?

A priority seat abandoned by the individual who has been given priority?

Yes.

He is supposed to give up the seat as soon as he knows that he will not be taking it. The same rule applies as to normal commercial passengers. If he gives it up in a period of time which enables a rebooking to be made, he is relieved of the cost of the seat. If he is unable to resell, a percentage charge is made for the seat, according to the period that has elapsed before his giving it up.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the appeals recently made by the political prisoners in Alcalá de Henares to the International Red Cross for a supply of vitamins necessary to keep them alive in the terrible conditions under which they are imprisoned; and if he will make representations on their behalf

The answer to each part of the Question is: Not yet, Sir. My right hon. Friend is, however, making inquiries and will be glad to receive further particulars from the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will resist the admission of Spain to the International Penal and Penitentiary Commission having regard to the continued violation by the Spanish Government of the principles maintained by civilised countries relating to the treatment of prisoners.

The hon. and learned Member is apparently under a misapprehension. Spain has been a member of the International Penal and Penitentiary Commission since before the first World War. The question of continued Spanish membership is under consideration by His Majesty's Government, but a decision on this point is not a matter for His Majesty's Government alone.

Will His Majesty s Government, so far as they have any influence on the matter, oppose its continuance?

As I have said we have the matter under consideration.

Is it not contrary to the aims and ideals of that Commission to allow Franco ideals to be propagated upon it?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the announcement that the Polish Financial Agreement is to be ratified, he will give an assurance that before this takes place, all just claims of creditors of the Polish State in England will be safeguarded.

No, Sir: but this matter was discussed during the recent Anglo-Polish trade talks, about which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade made a statement in the House on 8th May. A satisfactory understanding was reached, but since it is still provisional and further talks are to follow, I should prefer not to make a detailed statement just yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the definitive Polish western frontier will be the same as that decided upon at Potsdam.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's remarks on this subject in his opening speech in the foreign affairs Debate in this House last Thursday.

Does the hon. Gentleman recollect that a very large number of Poles who were evacuated from the territory East of the Curzon Line are now colonising land East of the Oder; that they are suffering intense anxiety as to their future position, and it is, therefore, essential that some definite steps should be taken?

Is my hon. Friend aware that there are a very large number of Poles in Scotland, and the Scottish people are anxious to know when they will be able to get rid of them?

Is my hon. Friend aware that, on this single issue, the present Polish Government and the Poles opposed to that Government in this country are agreed; and is he further aware that the Poles claim to have a letter written by Sir Alexander Cadogan assuring them of British support for their views, irrespective of what the Americans or anyone else may say?

I have no knowledge whatever of such an undertaking. If the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question, I will give it further consideration.

Does not the hon. Gentleman consider that unless the frontier is readjusted as contemplated at Potsdam, the pressure of population will force it to be adjusted, and there will be another war in the future?

We approach this question with an open mind. We feel that it is necessary to have a full examination of all the facts involved before any final and irrevocable decision is taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, since it is the recommendation of His Majesty's Government that all Poles in the United Kingdom and in the British zones of Austria and Germany should return to Poland, what assurance he has received that the many thousands of Poles who fought in General Anders' Corps in Italy after more than 18 months' forced labour in Siberia and other parts of the U.S.S.R., and thousands of other Poles with known anti-Communist views, will be able to live the lives of free men if they accept the advice of His Majesty's Government and return to their homeland.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Belfast University (Professor Savory) on 19th May.

Cannot the Minister understand that Poles who have once experienced Communist methods at first hand, and particularly the methods of the N.K.V.D., may not be very anxious to return to their country in the present circumstances?

That is a decision for the Poles themselves to take. We have made our view plain that they are needed at home and should go home.

Is the Minister aware that he has not made his view plain that they are needed at home, but that they ought to go home, and does he still stand by that?

We certainly stand by the many statements we have made to that effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make arrangements for representatives of the German Press in the British zone to be located in London, with the object of keeping Germany as fully informed as possible as to the policy and outlook of the British people and His Majesty's present Government.

My right hon. Friend is considering the possibility of making some such arrangement. In the meantime, a number of German journalists are visiting this country for periods of six weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the continued failure of his Department to place contracts for cured and klondyked herring on behalf of the Control Commission for Germany is causing great anxiety in the industry; and, in view of the present food crisis in Germany, if he will now state the amount of cured and klondyked herring which it is proposed to export to the Control Commission.

The procurement of food for the British and American zones is the responsibility, not of any British authority, but of the joint British and American authorities in Germany. Those authorities have now authorised negotiations for the purchase of 25,000 tons of cured herring from this country, and, subject to agreement on price, there is every prospect of an order also being placed for klondyked herring.

In view of the starvation in Germany and the amount of valuable nutritious food now available, does not the hon. Gentleman think it scandalous that these negotiations have not already been completed, and can he give any indication when they will be brought to a conclusion?

I fully agree about the urgency of the problem and the value of the fish. I cannot give a definite date when these contracts will be through. All I can say is that it is agreed in principle and negotiations arc taking place with regard to price.

Will the Minister say whether similar arrangements will be made for Cornish pilchards?

That is another question.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the best herring comes from Loch Fine and not from Aberdeen, and will he keep that in mind?

I should be 10th to pronounce upon the relative merits of herring from hon. Members' constituencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many of the German prisoners of war, totalling approximately 2,000,000, will be repatriated from each of the allied countries by 31st December, 1948, as arranged at Moscow and what has happened to the balance of approximately 2,500,000 of whom no mention was made in the Moscow report.

It was agreed in Moscow that all German prisoners-of-war located in the territory of the Allied Powers and in all other territories will be returned to Germany by the end of 1948. No figures were specified in this decision, but the figures of holdings tabled at Moscow were:

France	631,483
United States of America	15,003
U.S.S.R.	890,532
United Kingdom	435,295

As regards the second hall of the Question, I am not aware of any well-established set of figures with which to compare those announced by the four Governments at Moscow.

Can my hon. Friend say what has happened to over 2,500,000 prisoners which the Russians had? Have they died of starvation, been enlisted in the Russian Army, or what?

Or are they in Siberia?

I am aware that there has been some surprise felt by the lowness of the figure given by the Russian Government in view of their great victories in the war.

In order to facilitate the repatriation of the prisoners, will the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that it is not the policy of His Majesty's Government to exterminate the German people by starvation?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Jamaican agricultural labourers, on their return from the U.S.A., are able to obtain full written statements of their accounts in the Agricultural Workers' Branch of the Government Savings Bank.

I am making inquiry on this point from the Governor, and will communicate further with the hon. Member

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has considered the possibility of growing groundnuts in any part of the British West Indies.

Groundnuts are frequently grown in the West Indies for local consumption. I do not see much oppor- tunity of early development for export without interference with other export crops.

Will the right hon. Gentleman arrange for a scientific investigation in British Guiana and British Honduras and see if it is not possible to start a similar scheme to that in East Africa in view of the fact that there is plenty of labour available in those places?

A mission is shortly going to British Guiana and Honduras under the Chairmanship of Sir Geoffrey Evans and this point is being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to encourage the proper organisation of the cultivation and packing of food for export in Fiji; and, in particular, what encouragement is being given to the development of co-operative methods.

A recent expert report on the sugar industry has established that it is closely organised on efficient lines. Copra, the other principal foodstuff grown for export, is handled by the Fiji Copra Board. A significant development has been the establishment of a modern copra crushing mill. I have urged the Governor to encourage co-operation in Fiji and, under the guidance of local officers, some advances in this direction are being achieved. The Co-operative Societies' Ordinance enacted this year will undoubtedly provide a further stimulus. In addition, the Government are about to recruit a marketing officer, one of whose functions will be the development of cooperative markets. He will play an important part in promoting greater efficiency in the matters to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give figures for banana production in Fiji over the last 10 years.

With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Do these figures show any drop in the banana production in Fiji? Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is need for an energetic atttack on the problem of the economic rehabilitation of Fiji at the present moment?

Very careful consideration is given by the local Government to the future economic progress of Fiji. In reply to the first part of the question, there has been a considerable drop in the production of bananas, compared with the prewar years.

asked the Minister of Food, why Miss Oram, 4 High Street, Pangbourne, Berkshire, has been refused a licence to manufacture ice cream when this business was carried on satisfactorily for many years before 1940 when Miss Oram volunteered for work of national importance.

Local food offices have now been authorised to consider applications from people who claim to have been established as ice cream manufacturers before the war, and who have not hitherto qualified for allocations of controlled ingredients because they did not apply for them earlier. If Miss Oram will now apply to her local food officer he will be able to consider her case.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider making a points bonus to those customers registered with the London Co-operative Society for milk who, during the strike of roundsmen, were obliged to expend their points on tinned and dried milk.

I have given careful and sympathetic consideration to my hon. Friend's proposal but I regret that the practical difficulties are insuperable.

Is the hon. Lady aware that a large number of families who were unable to go to Walthamstow for milk had to spend the whole of their month's points on tinned milk for their children who had no fresh milk at all during this strike, and does she realise that they have had to do without points food all this time?

I fully realise that, but I must remind the hon. Lady that it is impossible to distinguish between those who had to go to fetch their milk and those who did not.

asked the Minister of Food why the export of apples from New Zealand to this country has been stopped; and, in view of the urgent demand for apples in this country, if he will arrange to import the largest quantity obtainable.

As my right hon. Friend explained in a reply on 2nd April. I am afraid we shall not be able to import any apples from New Zealand this season as there is no refrigerated tonnage available for this purpose after providing for the refrigerated space required to import meat, dairy products and other commodities. The import programme for the second half of the year has not been settled yet, but we shall certainly try to get all the apples that we can.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is a shortage of doctors as well as of apples, and will she endeavour to increase home supplies so that there are sufficient to provide us with one a day?

Why is it that there are refrigerator ships available to bring in from the Mediterranean luxury fruits which we could really manage without, but none to bring apples—which are sold at a controlled price—from New Zealand and Australia?

We need much more refrigerator tonnage for apples than for the small amounts of the other fruits which my hon. Friend has mentioned. May I remind him that there has been a strike in the Argentine, a strike in Sydney and a go-slow movement in New Zealand?

But why do we import five times more fruit from the Mediterranean than from New Zealand?

asked the Minister of Food if he has pressed the United States Government for a further allocation of maize to Britain, in view of the announcement that 150,000 tons from current stocks are to be made available to France compared with only 25,000 tons to Britain.

I have no reason to suppose that the substantial quantity of maize which we are hoping to obtain from the U.S.A. in the July-September period will not be forthcoming. I understand that the emergency allocation of 150,000 tons to France is to be used as bread grain to supplement the inadequate supply of wheat and flour.

Will the Minister say whether this allocation was made by the International Food Emergency Committee and, if so, whether our representatives on that Committee made due representations to see that we have a proper share of maize?

All allocations to this country are made by the international committee. I cannot speak for France.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that growers of oranges and grapefruit in Jamaica receive only approximately 6s. and 5s. per box, respectively, for oranges and grapefruit; that the price at which this fruit is sold to the public is approximately 50s. per box; and if he will give figures showing at each stage of the purchase of these fruit by his Department how the difference is made up.

Supplies of oranges and grapefruit imported into the United Kingdom from Jamaica are purchased from the Jamaican Government on an f.o.b. basis and I have no information about the price received by the grower. As I have stated on previous occasions, I am not prepared to disclose prices paid by my Department for particular purchases, but with permission, I will arrange for the other information for which the hon. Member asks so far as it relates to sales within the United Kingdom and to the types of container most commonly used for oranges and grapefruit imported from Jamaica, to be printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

What justification is there for the hon. Lady not producing these figures, since whatever mandate she may have to subject the people of this country to bulk purchase there is no reason why the people of Jamaica should not be given the information?

My Department is the biggest trading concern in the world, and we have the same justification as any astute business man for withholding the prices we pay.

Can the hon. Lady say whether the Colonial Office intervenes in any way between the price paid here for grapefruit and that which the grower receives?

The question refers to Jamaica alone.

When making bulk purchases of these commodities, would not the Minister consider using the Co-operatives for the purpose of distribution and thus cut out a whole lot of other people?

Is the hon. Lady aware that the analogy she uses is not in the least a fair one because the growers have no

asked the Minister of Food if employees of the United Africa Company working on the groundnuts project will receive pay and work under conditions not less favourable than comparable Colonial civil servants; and whether they will in due course have opportunities for study leave and a sabbatical year.

The salaries and conditions of employment of the staff of the East African groundnuts scheme are being fixed after consideration of the salaries and conditions attaching to comparable appointments in the Colonial Service and elsewhere. The appointments are for the present being made on a short-term basis and the question of the eligibility of staff for study leave and a sabbatical year does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the destruction by fire of the local store in the village of Roxton, Bedfordshire, he will take immediate action to arrange for

Yes, Sir. Replacement was arranged at once.

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements he has made for the issue of supplementary rations to farmworkers during hay-time when many will be working a 14-hour day away from home.

When a canteen or pie scheme is not available allowances are granted at the following weekly rates per head: tea 2 oz., sugar 5 oz., margarine 4½ oz., cheese 2½ oz., preserves 4½ oz., points 3, bread units 12.

May I point out to the hon. Lady that she has not answered the Question I put to her? We understand that the present arrangements are to come to an end on 30th May and I should like to know what arrangements have been made to take their place.

The arrangements made are those I have just read out to the hon. Gentleman.

How are the rations to be supplied?