asked the Minister of Food the total amount of food that was available for consumption by the people of this country from June, 1946, until the latest available date.

It is estimated that the amount of food consumed by the civilian population in the year 1946 is approximately 31 million tons.

asked the Minister of Food what percentages of the total purchases by this country of food from abroad are sent, respectively, to Germany, Austria and other European countries.

In order to give this information extensive inquiries will have to be made. I will circulate a reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage of the food available for consumption in this country is imported from abroad for any stated date or period of time.

On a tonnage basis, approximately one-third; on a calorific basis, 60 per cent.

asked the Minister of Food what relations exist between his Department and the soft drinks industry; and if he will now fix a lower maximum price for S.D.I. products.

The soft drinks industry operates under a concentration scheme administered by the Soft Drinks Industry (War-time) Association. The committees of this association are elected by the industry. There are also two representatives of the Minister who possess overriding voting powers. The present maximum prices have been in force since 1943 and are now under review on a claim by the industry that their costs have increased since that time. No decision has yet been given.

asked the Minister of Food which English cheese is now sold on the ration and which on points; and at what prices.

The following varieties of home-produced cheese are sold on the ration at a retail price of 10d. per 1b.: Cheddar, Cheshire, Derby, Lancashire, Leicester, Wensleydale and Dunlop. Stilton cheese is sold on points at a retail price of 6s. per 1b.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the freedom given to milk consumers to change their registrations after 1st June has been restricted by his Reading office, in circular No. 1863 of 9th May, with the effect that Weymouth consumers cannot transfer for tuberculin-tested milk if heat-treated milk is available in the zone; and whether he will make a statement.

Certain consumers in Weymouth who are being supplied with heat-treated milk have asked to be transferred to a supplier of T.T. milk. The object of the concession which was announced by my right hon. Friend on 7th May was to ensure supplies of heat-treated or T.T. milk to consumers who at present are not receiving either of these classes of milk. The application of the Weymouth consumers was outside the limits of the concession, but I will see what can be done to arrange for a supply of T.T. milk to be made available to them through their existing suppliers

asked the Minister of Food what is the estimated total number of persons entitled to rations above the basic domestic ration.

The domestic ration of bread, meat and tea and also the milk allowances vary according to the age of the individual consumer. Taking the rations of the ordinary adult who is not a manual worker as the basis, and simply adding together the numbers in the various groups whose entitlements are different, the total comes to about 29 million. But this does not mean that 29 million people get more food than the rest of the population, because firstly some of these special categories, get less than the assumed basis (e.g. young children, while they get more milk, get no tea, less bread and less meat) and secondly, because their is duplication between the various categories (e.g. adolescents and manual workers).

asked the Minister of Food if his attention has been drawn to the inadequacy of soap supplies in Birmingham; and if, in view of the difficulties with which local laundries are confronted, he will take steps to remedy this shortage.

Stocks of soap are low in Birmingham, as in other parts of the country, although we have no evidence to show that the ration has not been met. The manufacturers are now making good the production lost during the fuel shortage, and I hope a steady improvement in distribution will follow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make available to the House the amended version of the New Constitutional proposals for Malaya based on the Cheesman Consultative Committee's Report, which were recently sent to him by the Government of Malaya.

The recommendations of the Governor of the Malayan Union are receiving my careful consideration and I shall inform the House fully as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the problem of the Indian population in Mauritius; what percentage it represents; and the percentage of taxation paid by the Indians.

I am in some doubt as to the particular problem in relation to the Indian community in Mauritius which the hon. and gallant Member has in mind, but if he will furnish me with fuller information I will gladly look into the matter and write to him. The Indo-Mauritians are approximately 63 per cent. of the total population of Mauritius. No separate taxation records are kept for different sections of the population, and I regret that it is not possible, therefore, to provide figures showing the percentage of taxation paid by that community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the last two occasions on which the Governor of Mauritius visited the Dependency of Rodriguez; what method of transport was used in each case; and whether he is satisfied with the present shipping facilities.

The last two occasions on which the Governor of Mauritius personally visited the Island of Rodriguez were July, 1931, in H.M.S. "Effingham," and September, 1935, in a ship of a Dutch Line. Other senior officers, however, visit the island frequently. The present shipping facilities between Mauritius and Rodriguez are not very satisfactory, but means of improving them are being negotiated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is any regular scheduled British communication with the island of Mauritius; and how often K.P.M., Messageries Maritimes and Air France have regular scheduled visits to the island.

Vessels of the South African Conference Lines sail from the United Kingdom to Mauritius about once a month, and vessels of the K.P.M. Line, plying between Batavia and East Africa, call at Mauritius about once a month on their westward run. Messageries Maritimes do not call at the island. Air France operate a once weekly air service from Madagascar, which connects with the service operated by that company between Paris and Madagascar.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the West Indian Conference to be held in Jamaica in September.

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member refers to the forthcoming Conference on the Closer Association of the British West Indian Colonies. A full account of the origin and purposes of that conference has already been published in a Command Paper which is now available in the Vote Office. I have no further statement to make at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will consider the appointment of an additional judge to the Supreme Court of Trinidad, in view of the present congestion of litigation especially in civil cases.

A Fourth Puisne Judge has recently been appointed, as announced in the "London Gazette" of 21st May, and will proceed to Trinidad at the end of his present leave.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many houses have been already completed and occupied under the Rehabilitation Scheme in Jamaica; how many are under construction; and what total it is proposed to build under the scheme.

There are two schemes, one financed by loan from His Majesty's Government for the rehousing necessitated by the 1944 hurricane, and one for enabling ex-Service men to construct houses as one of the measures for helping them to re-establish themselves in civil life. The particulars are as follow: (a) Hurricane rehousing scheme:—(1) 4,748 houses completed and occupied: (2) 2,109 under construction; (3) Some 1,500 remain to be built. (b) Ex-Service men's rehabilitation scheme:—(1) 105 completed; (2) 79 under construction; (3) It is not possible to say how many houses will be built under this scheme, since many applications are still under consideration and further applications may be received from men who have not yet returned to Jamaica. It is hoped that about 300 more houses will be built under the scheme in the financial year 1947–48.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the two-year plan and the ten-year plan for the Colony's development recently referred to by the Governor of Sarawak in the Council Negri; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the indigenous people approve of and share in this development and its fruits.

It has been decided to draw up a comprehensive 10-year development plan, and arrangements are in hand to obtain the necessary basic information about the territory and its people. Immediate plans include schemes for meeting the most urgent of the Colony's development and welfare needs, which can be integrated with the long-term plans. As regards the second part of the Question, in addition to the Council Negri, the divisional and district advisory councils, which have been established by the Governor on a widely representative basis, are fully consulted and are being kept informed of all aspects of development planning. Most of the individual schemes now under consideration are expressly designed to benefit producers and small holders and to raise the standard of living of the indigenous peoples, and care will be taken to see that their interests are fully safeguarded in other schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has any further statement to make in regard to representations which have been made by his Department to the British Boxing Board of Control concerning the colour bar.

I understand that a special meeting of the Committee of the British Boxing Board of Control is being called to discuss this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking to persuade the people of Africa to go for quality rather than quantity in raising cattle; and what success has been attained in obtaining for export supplies of meat from East and Central Africa.

The principle of quality rather than quantity is being constantly impressed upon the African stock-owner. Progress has naturally varied according to the standard of the people concerned, but in general it has been great and is increasing rapidly. In many African territories there is a steadily increasing demand for meat and this is absorbing available supplies. A canning factory is, however, being established in Tanganyika. The possibilities of increased production in Africa of meat and animal products for the United Kingdom market are being actively explored at this moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that a foreign circus has been acquiring in African Colonies various species of wild animals for training and exhibition as performing animals; that the Government of Southern Rhodesia has already prohibited the catching of wild animals for circuses and menageries on account of the cruelty inflicted in the capture alone; and. whether he will see that other African Colonies prohibit this traffic at its source.

I have consulted the East and Central African Governments and it appears, from the replies which I have received, that the report referred to in the first part of my hon. Friend's Question is without foundation. If, however, my hon. Friend will provide me with any further information which he may have on the subject, I will gladly look into the matter again. As regards the third part of the Question, existing regulations in the East and Central African territories are designed to ensure that no unnecessary suffering is caused to animals during capture, and export permits would not be granted unless the authority concerned is satisfied that the animals were required for a humane purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he cooperated in the project of Messrs. Lever Brothers to establish a brewery in West Africa; and if consideration was given to the necessity for reducing the import of beer into West Africa.

I understand that the brewery will produce a light lager beer. This is in demand in Nigeria, for present arrangements are inadequate. It is the view of the Government of Nigeria that such provision is desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a nursing sister in the Colonial Nursing Service under the Government of Nigeria, possessing the highest qualifications in her profession and having spent 10 years in Nigeria, for the last five years with charge of a hospital of 350 beds and whose present salary is less than that of typist; and, as there are a number of nursing sisters, mostly trained at London teaching hospitals, in the same position, which is leading to numerous resignations from the nursing service, whether he will take steps to rectify this position.

There has been some dissatisfaction among the nurses as well as other members of the Medical Department in Nigeria regarding the terms of the recent salaries revision. A local conference was held in Nigeria recently with the Chief Secretary as chairman to examine their representations and I expect to receive a full report in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why there are no Africans upon the committee appointed to examine the incidence of taxation in Kenya.

The Committee in question is to consist of persons chosen for their knowledge of financial and economic matters. There is no reason why an African should not have been appointed if he had the special qualifications and experience required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds the Government workers in Cyprus have been refused permission to organise themselves into a separate trade union.

Trade unions in Cyprus are organised on the basis of individual trades and are co-ordinated and controlled by strong district and central federations. Recently, 60 Cyprus Government employees of diverse trades, previously members of the unions for their respective trades, sought to register the "Cyprus Government Workers' Trade Union," membership of which was to be open to any permanent Government employee irrespective of his particular occupation. The Governor was advised by his Executive Council that the creation of this kind of union would be prejudicial to a strong trade union movement run upon sound lines. Under the local Trade Unions and Trade Disputes Law, 1941, he accordingly exercised his power and refused to sanction the registration of the proposed organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that seven months have elapsed since the Government workers in Cyprus made application for a wage increase; and whether it is anticipated that a decision will soon be reached.

Claims made in November, 1946, on behalf of labourers employed by the Cyprus Government, included one for increases in wage rates. The sponsors of the claim were informed on 29th November that there would be no increase in basic wage rates, and that wages would continue to be related to the cost-of-living index. Wage rates were last increased, in accordance with that procedure, on March, 1947.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what information he can give the House respecting the alleged denial of trade union rights in Ceylon and the strike now taking place; and what action is being taken to deal with the matter.

Reasons for the present restrictions on trade union rights for public servants are given in detail in a Sessional Paper recently issued by the Government of Ceylon, a copy of which is being placed in the Library for the convenience of Members The Ceylon Government have decided that the question of the extension of such rights, a matter which is entirely within then competence, must await consideration by the first Parliament under the new Constitution. Meanwhile, however, it is proposed to begin preparatory work on the establishment of Whitley Council machinery, and an expert on this subject is now on his way to Ceylon to offer advice.The strike to which my hon. Friend refers has involved members of the Government Clerical Service, other Government servants and employees of private firms. Most of the Government clerks are now back at work. The harbour strike continues, but has not interfered with the essential discharge of foodstuffs, etc. The railway and postal services are now functioning normally. In private services the strikes continue in oil, gas and engineering companies. The Ceylon Government have taken firm action to prevent a breakdown of the administrative machine.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many British building operatives have been, or are to be, sent to build houses in Gibraltar; to what extent building work in Gibraltar has been undertaken by a firm from the United Kingdom; and what is the cost of the current building programme there.

No United Kingdom operatives are at present employed on the Gibraltar permanent building scheme, which is under contract to Messrs. Humphreys of Knightsbridge. No firm estimate is possible of the number of such operatives likely to be sent out by subcontractors, but it is understood that the number is not likely to exceed twelve specialists. The cost of the permanent building scheme now in progress is estimated at approximately £2,000,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state for the last three years for which the financial particulars are available, respectively, the proportion of direct and indirect taxation provided by the Jews and Arabs of Palestine, respectively, and the propor- tion spent by the Palestinian Government on social services and education for the Jews and Arabs there, respectively.

I have asked the High Commissioner for Palestine for the required information and will communicate with the hon. Member when I have his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that Jamal Husseini, acting chairman of the Palestine Arab Higher Committee, at Haifa, on 21st May, 1947, called upon the Arabs to buy arms; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the incitement of the Arab population of Palestine to buy arms illegally.

My attention has been drawn to a Press report to the effect that a statement was made in this sense; but I have received no official confirmation. I understand, however, that during a recent interview with Jamal Husseini the High Commissioner made it clear that incitement to violence would not be tolerated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now announce the decision of His Majesty's Government regarding the proposal to levy a punitive tax on areas in which terrorist crimes have been committed in Palestine.

It is not proposed at present to introduce punitive taxes of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on whose authority the weekly survey of world political affairs by Mr. Roy Elston on the Palestine Broadcasting Service was banned.

Mr. Elston's contract, which was on a weekly basis, was terminated by the Palestine Broadcasting Service on the ground that a change in political commentators is desirable from time to time in order to ensure a general balance in method and approach. Mr. Elston was invited to join the panel of leading British Correspondents in Jerusalem who will for the time being give the weekly commentary in turn, but I understand that he has declined the invitation

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Houranians have crossed into Palestine; and what measures are being taken to ensure that there shall be no further illegal immigration of Houranians into Palestine.

I have asked the High Commissioner for Palestine for a report, and will write to my hon. Friend on its receipt.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what reply he has given to the resolution forwarded to him by the St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Association concerning Rosyth dockyard.

The St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Association has been informed that the resolution in question has been noted and will be taken into consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will consider the publication of a booklet describing the war record of the Rescue Tug Service, as has been done in the case of other branches of the Services.

I regret that we should not be justified in arranging for the official publication of such a booklet at the present time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that Jewish terrorists have acquired ex-Royal Navy craft for gun-running and immigrant-carrying purposes; and what steps are taken to prevent these craft being acquired for illegal purposes.

It is possible that certain firms which have in the past bought ex-Naval vessels may be concerned in carrying illegal immigrants—though not so far as I know in gun-running. No ex-Royal Navy ships are being or have been used by them for this purpose. I may add that no ex-Naval ships are now permitted to be sold to foreign firms.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will give an assurance that it is not proposed to withdraw or curtail the traditional daily issue of rum to men of the Royal Navy.

I am glad to assure the hon. and gallant Member that it is not the Admiralty's intention either to withdraw or curtail the rum ration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is yet in a position to make an announcement concerning the composition of the committee which is to be set up to examine the use of manpower in the Royal Navy.

Yes. The members of the committee will be: Mr. John T. Green, Director, Thomas Firth and John Brown Ltd., steel manufacturers, Sheffield; Mr. J. C. Little, O.B.E. A past President of the Amalgamated Engineering Union; Two Senior Naval Officers, (One of the Executive Branch and one of the Supply and Secretariat Branch); One senior civil servant. The Chairman of the Committee will be His Honour Tom Eastham, K.C., the Senior Official Referee of the Supreme Court of Judicature, whom the Lord Chancellor has been good enough to place at the disposal of the Admiralty for this purpose and who has indicated his willingness to accept the appointment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what scheme is contemplated to enable officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines to buy themselves out of the Service similar to that recently announced for petty officers.

Under existing regulations, officers who wish to leave the Royal Navy or Royal Marines may apply to resign their commission or to retire voluntarily according to the circumstances. Such applications are considered on their merits and allowed at the discretion of the Admiralty. There is no intention of bringing in any scheme whereby officers may buy themselves out of the Service.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been drawn to the case of the sub-postmaster of Great Tarpots, Essex, who was convicted of falsification of Post Office accounts after 12 previous convictions; what inquiry is made before appointing sub-postmasters; and on what principle they are appointed.

Yes. The previous convictions occurred over 20 years ago, mostly overseas. They did not come to light when the sub-postmaster was appointed. Candidates for sub-postmaster-ships have to give two personal references and a third from a recent employer, if any. They are required to provide suitable premises and staff and are not bound to give personal service. Ex-service men are specially considered. When this man was appointed in 1938, his references were entirely satisfactory and he had been a sub-postmaster elsewhere for three years with a clear record. He served in the 1914–18 war.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the large profits being made by his Department, he will now consider the re-introduction of the 1½d. letter post.

No. I fear that the cost of this proposal, with consequential reductions for postcards and newspapers, would considerably exceed the postal commercial surplus.

asked the Postmaster-General by what authority he prevents the public from listening to any signals they may pick up on their radio receivers; and what are the penalties imposed by his regulations upon members of the public who are guilty of improper interception of communications from ship wireless stations.

The Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1904, provides that every licence for the working of apparatus for wireless telegraphy granted by the Postmaster-General shall contain the terms, conditions, and restrictions on and subject to which the licence is granted. Broadcast receiving licences authorise the reception only of broadcasts from authorised broadcasting stations and messages from any authorised amateur station, and members of the public holding such licences who improperly intercept communications which they are not entitled under the terms of their licence to receive are liable on conviction to the penalties prescribed by the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1904.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the letter which was sent by his Telecommunications Department to Messrs. Arnolds, of Yarmouth, on 23rd May, 1947, in regard to interception of shipping radio signals.

This firm had suggested in an advertisement that purchasers of wireless sets they were offering for sale would find an interesting pastime in listening to messages sent from trawlers. They were asked, in the letter referred to, to discontinue their advertisement and to advise customers that the reception of transmissions from trawlers was not permitted under the terms of the Broadcast Receiving Licence. They have undertaken to do so. Licences for the reception of messages from ships are not granted to members of the public.

asked the Postmaster-General for what reason an offer by the Government of the Union of South Africa to reduce parcel postage charges, in order to facilitate the sending of gift food parcels to the United Kingdom, has been discouraged by His Majesty's Government.

Parcel post charges must, of course, have regard to the costs of collection, conveyance and delivery and the position in this respect with regard to South Africa is similar to that for Australia, which I dealt with in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Barnstaple (Brigadier Peto) on 4th June. A suggestion has, however, been made in discussion with the South African Post Office to make a slight alteration in the basis of settlements between the two countries, but I understand that after full consideration the South African authorities do not propose to proceed with it.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that postal packets from the U.S.A. are now taking two months to reach this country; to what extent the delay is on this side of the Atlantic; and what steps he will take to expedite deliveries.

The mail service from the United States of America is the responsibility of the United States Post Office. Surface mails (letters and newspapers) are taking an average of 10–11 days in transmission from New York and 19–20 days from Chicago and San Francisco. I am unaware of any delay in distribution in this country, but if the hon. Member has any specific case in mind I shall be pleased to have inquiries made if he would send me the details. Parcel mails are taking up to four weeks in conveyance from New York and about 10 days longer from Chicago and San Francisco. Owing to the heavy volume of traffic, it is inevitable in present conditions that some little time must elapse before parcels are cleared through the Postal Customs Depots.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that inconvenience is being caused to the public living in the Alresford district of Hampshire since the second delivery of letters which was suspended during the war and restored about nine months ago has now been advanced from 3 p.m. to 1 p.m., with the result that letters from the North of England, Scotland and Ireland are not delivered until the second day after posting and letters posted in the early morning in London are also not delivered until the following day; and what is the reason for this change in the time of the second delivery of letters and will he take steps to have it put back to 3 p.m.

I am making inquiry into the timing of the second delivery at Alresford and I will write to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General how many errors and omissions occur in the telephone directory issued in March; and what redress private individuals and business firms have for losses sustained by these errors and omissions.

Four omissions and 27 other errors have come to notice among the 180,000 entries in the March issue of the London Telephone Directory. There were, however, about 16,000 alterations, additions, and deletions received after preparation of the "copy" of the Directory for the printers. There are always amendments of this sort, but the number was materially increased on this occasion owing to the heavy delay in the printing programme caused by the fuel crisis. The Post Office does not accept liability for any consequential losses which may result from Directory errors, but it takes steps to minimize the effect of these errors as far as practicable. For example, it provides printed "errata" postcards which the subscriber can send free of charge to his correspondents.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made in changing over the Aberdeen telephone system from the manual to the automatic; and when the change will be completed.

Equipment for the automatic telephone system at Aberdeen is now being manufactured. Installation should commence in November and the transfer should he completed about the end of 1948.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, since the introduction of the 44-hour week for telephone workers, only in cases of special emergency will telephone troubles he attended to during the weekend, all other repairs being ignored from midday on Saturday to Monday morning; and what instructions he proposes to give to deal with the situation.

From midday on Saturday to Monday morning, attendance to faulty subscribers' lines is generally restricted to those concerned with safety of life or essential maintenance of important public utilities. In addition, local controlling officers are empowered to arrange for immediate repair in other cases of real urgency. These arrangements are not an innovation following the introduction of the 44-hour week for engineering workmen, but have been in force for many years.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider placing a copy of the text of the main B.B.C. news bulletin in the Library each day.

I do not receive the text of these bulletins, and there does not appear to be a general demand for them. I regret that I could not consider myself justified in taking special measures to meet the hon. Member's request.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps the B.B.C. is taking to make generally known the constitution, aims and record of U.N.O.

The Government are continuing the policy of affording the British Broadcasting Corporation independence in the choice of its programmes. I believe, however, that the Corporation has given considerable prominence to news of the United Nations and I have no doubt that the Corporation would be happy to furnish the hon. Member with further information on this matter should he wish to approach them.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has considered the subject of increase in allowances to airmen serving in Rhodesia; and whether it is intended to grant an increase in the allowances so as to counter the increase in the cost of living in Rhodesia since the allowances were originally made.

The local overseas allowances issued to members of the Royal Air Force in Southern Rhodesia were examined early this year. The difference between the expenses of service in Southern Rhodesia and in the United Kingdom was taken into account and it was found that the present allowances were somewhat too high. Slightly reduced rates will, therefore, come into effect on 1st July. The allowances will be examined again before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has considered the representations made by the Berkshire County Council against the continued use of Odstone Common on the Berkshire Downs as a bombing range by the R.A.F.; and whether he will make a statement.

The future of this bombing range is now being considered and the representations of the County Council will be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) if he is aware that approximately 70 per cent. of the work of the meteorological section of the R.A.F. in Burma is for and on behalf of civilian airlines; and why R.A.F. personnel are detained beyond the normal R.A.F. releases in order to perform work for civilian air lines.(2) What charge is made to civilian air lines for services rendered by the meteorological section of the R.A.F. stationed in Burma; and, in view of the compulsory detention beyond normal release groups for this work, if he will consider the question of extra remuneration to the personnel engaged in the work.

R.A.F. meteorologists are stationed in Burma to give a continuous meteorological service to Far East Command. The same service is given free to civil air lines without employing any staff beyond what is needed by the R.A.F. The release of these meteorologists is not affected by their work for civil air lines. The question of extra pay does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, why permission was refused to Mr. and Mrs. Whale, Edencroft, Sutherland Avenue, Petts Wood, to attend the funeral of their son, Flight Lieutenant Watkins, in Germany, especially in view of the fact that they were prepared to go at their own expense.

I regret that we cannot at present allow relatives from this country, whether or not they are able to bear the expense, to attend funerals in Germany. I have gone into this matter with the other Ministers who are concerned with the occupation but we cannot find a fair and workable scheme.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the great importance of the sail-making industry to British export trade, he will reconsider his decision to suspend for an indefinite period the issue of cotton certificates to firms engaged in this industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him to a similar Question on 5th June.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the costs of collection and the selling price of kitchen waste are determined by his Department when making subsidy payments; by what procedure and to what organisations such payments are made; what is the average subsidy per ton; and the total estimated annual cost.

The maximum price of unboiled kitchen waste has been fixed by statutory order since 1942 at 30s. a ton, and since April 1946 a subsidy of 10s. a ton has been payable in respect of waste delivered by local authorities under direction to concentrator or boiling plants not operated by themselves. The estimated cost of this subsidy is £135,000 a year. Costs of collection are regularly submitted by the local authorities, but the subsidy does not vary according to the cost to the particular authority. In addition, local authorities and private firms operating concentrator plants are eligible to receive a transport allowance of 9d. per ton mile up to 30 miles on their deliveries of concentrate to buyers. The total estimated annual cost of this is £160,000.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will direct an immediate investigation into the delays occasioned in the release of requisitioned property for the housing of the people by the existing system, which requires that property becoming surplus to the requirements of one Government Department has to be offered to all other Government Departments before de-requisition.

Flats and small houses which become surplus to the requirements of one Government Department are not offered to other Departments, but are either handed over to the local authority for housing purposes or are released to their owners. Large houses and a limited number of other types of premises are offered to other Departments with a time limit of ten days only for consideration. This arrangement helps Departments to release first the types of premises such as flats and small houses which are most urgently needed. I will gladly look into any case where the procedure is said to have caused delay if the hon. Member will let me have particulars.

asked the Minister of Works the number of people employed in considering applications for licences by building and civil engineering contractors to start business, all of which have been granted for the past 12 months.

The number of staff employed in maintaining a register of builders and civil engineering contractors has been reduced to 50, of whom 44 are located in twelve regional offices.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give an indication as to when permits will be granted for the building of village halls.

The pressure on the building industry has not eased since the hon. Member raised this matter in April of last year and it is more than ever necessary to reserve resources of building labour and materials for housing and other priority work. I am, therefore, unable to say when it will be possible to issue licences freely for the erection of village halls. My officers are, however, prepared to consider sympathetically, in consultation with the local authority, individual applications for licences in districts where priority work will not be prejudiced.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is satisfied that no corporal punishment is applied to West and East African soldiers; and whether he has received evidence of any noticeable decline in discipline since his statement of a year ago that this punishment was to be made illegal.

I am obtaining a report and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister what action he proposes to take on the representations made to him by the English and Scottish National Farmers' Unions on the subject of double summer time.

The Government have given the most careful consideration to the representations recently put forward by the National Farmers' Unions of England and Scotland with regard to the effect of double summer time on agriculture. They have always fully recognised that the operation of this temporary expedient must create serious difficulties for the agricultural community, but having regard, on the one hand, to the strong case presented on behalf of the farmers, and, on the other hand, to the vital needs of other forms of industry in the present critical situation, they have come to the conclusion that it is in the national interests that, during the present year, single and double summer time should continue for the periods provided for by the Summer Time Act, 1947. In the light of all the information before them, however, they have decided that they can now give an assurance that it is not their intention to make use of the powers contained in Section 1 (2) of the Summer Time Act, 1947, for the purpose of introducing double summer time during the year 1948. I am informing the National Farmers' Unions of the Government's decision: the contents of this letter are being given to the Press.

asked the Minister of Supply how many ex-Army vehicles are awaiting disposal in dumps in this country; and what steps he is taking to ensure that such of them as are suitable for adaptation to farming use are made available to the agricultural purchaser.

About 30,000 double-track vehicles are at present awaiting disposal. The vehicles are normally sold at auctions in various parts of the country which are brought to the notice of farmers by advertisements in farming journals.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when it is proposed to re-issue the Statistical Abstract for the United Kingdom, and from what date.

Work is now proceeding on its preparation. It will be published later this year, but the date cannot yet be stated. Figures will be given, as far as possible, for each of the years 1935 to 1946, inclusive.

asked the Minister of Education how many nursery schools and nursery classes have now been set up; and how many children are being accommodated in them.

In January, 1947, the latest date for which returns are available, the number of nursery schools maintained by local education authorities was 353; the number of registered pupils at these schools was 18,173. In addition there were 17 grant-aided nursery schools under voluntary management, with 875 pupils. Figures relating to nursery classes are not vet available.