asked the Minister of Transport if he will make arrangements for those who have been engaged in productive industry or essential services to have priority on Saturdays during July and August; that reasonable travelling facilities he arranged when they art going on their annual holidays; if passenger traffic will be regulated or priority tickets given; and, where necessary, if extra trains will be put on to avoid the standing and conditions of the past.

No; such a scheme would be impracticable. The number of trains run this summer will be limited by the necessity to save fuel.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the list of categories in the priority groups for whom 43 per cent. of the first-class sleeper accommodation is reserved on the night trains between Euston and Manchester.

The percentages of priority passengers in each category, for whom first-class berths were reserved on the Manchester route during four recent weeks, were:—1. Business and Professional, 46·5 per cent.; 2. Ministers. Peers and Members of Parliament, 45·5 per cent.; 3. Civil Servants, 7·5 per cent.; 4. Armed Services. ·5 per cent.—100 per cent.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the lighting of different classes of vehicles at night to reduce road accidents; and whether he has a report from his advisory committee concerning the system of lighting of heavy vehicles at night in France.

I am awaiting a report from the Road Research Board which I understand will be ready very shortly. The Board have not reported specially on the French system of lighting of heavy vehicles and I am making inquiries on this point.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the desire of local authorities to know if a modification of the ban on street lighting is contemplated; and if he will make a statement so as to give guidance in the ordering of stocks of lamps.

Yes. I am preparing a circular on the subject to lighting authorities, based generally on an over-all saving of not less than 50 per cent. of prewar consumption, and I will send my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) why he has agreed with an allocation of coal which results in the uneconomical use of fuel in the steel furnaces; why unburnt lime is used which requires mode coal and pig iron for the steel produced and adds to transport costs; if he is aware of the effect of reduced supplies of lime to the iron, steel, building, chemical and pottery industries; and if he will call for a technical investigation into the uneconomical use of fuel which has taken place curing the past four months;(2) why coal is denied the lime producers, which prevents burnt lime from being supplied to the steel producers, resulting in more coal being used and less steel produced; if he will provide for the small increase of fuel required so that burnt lime can be delivered to steel producers; and if he is aware that 300 tons of slack would enable 1,000 tons of burnt lime to be produced, which would enable 25 per cent more steel to be produced.

During recent months cases have occurred in which steel makers have had to use unburned lime, but I am assured that over the industry as a whole the effect on the total output has been small. The revised coal allocations to lime producers for the summer months should ease the position substantially.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the raising of the medical standard required at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Bootle, has caused serious concern to applicants who have been demobilised Class A and have been refused employment on the grounds that their standard of fitness did not meet the requirements laid down; why this standard of fitness has been raised; and how many men have been rejected since the new standard became operative.

The medical standard has not been raised.

asked the Minister of Supply how many working parties have been formed for the medical supply industries; how such parties are composed; whether any have yet produced a report; and what action it is proposed to take on their recommendations.

There are no working parties for these industries, but four departmental panels have been set up to deal with X-ray equipment, medical and surgical equipment, scientific glassware and ophthalmic lenses. Reports have been received on the first three of these subjects and are now being examined.

asked the Minister of Supply why the supervisory functions of the War Department, in relation to the office of Proof Master of the Guardians of the Birmingham Proof House and to the marking of barrels used by His Majesty's Forces have been transferred to his Department.

It is appropriate that these functions should be exercised by the Minister responsible generally for matters connected with the production of weapons.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the serious problems facing the shipbuilding industry following the cuts in the allocation of steel, he will consider adding shipbuilding to the priority categories for steel.

No. The Government has restricted the list of priorities to programmes directly contributing to the expansion of fuel and power resources. But in allocating steel it has full regard to the importance of the shipbuilding industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the date on which the Hill Farming Act became effective; in how many counties local organisations have been set up to administer the Act; the number of proposals which have been accepted; and whether money is available to meet the approved expenditure.

The Hill Farming Act came into force on 6th November, 1946. The existing organisation of the county war agricultural executive committees will be used for the local administration of the Act, and the committees of all counties in England and Wales have been constituted local committees for that purpose. Very few proposals for comprehensive schemes of improvement of hill farming land in England and Wales have so far been submitted, although a considerable number of inquiries have been received. A sum of 60,000 has been provided in the Ministry's estimates for the current year for approved expenditure for the rehabilitation of hill farming land in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many counties in England and Wales are free of fowl pest, and what is the number of outbreaks to date.

There are 17 counties in England and 10 in Wales in which no outbreak of fowl pest has been confirmed. The number of outbreaks up to and including 12th June is 429.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of sheep, other than those from flocks eligible for the hill-sheep subsidy, which were lost during the past winter, dividing the totals, if possible, into upland and lowland sheep.

I am still able to make only a provisional estimate. Abnormal losses of sheep and lambs in Great Britain, other than hill sheep and lambs, are likely to be of the order of one million head. I have no information which would permit of a subdivision into upland and lowland sheep.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will now give an estimate of the lambing percentage of hill sheep flocks eligible for hill sheep subsidy of upland flocks and lowland flocks.

I regret that I have no statistics of lambing percentages for any of these classes of sheep. It is clear, however, from the reports of my local officers that the number of lambs reared is likely to be substantially less than in normal years, particularly in hill districts.

asked the Minister of Works how soon 88, Pope's Grove, Twickenham, a dwelling-house occupied by W.V.S. stores, will be released for housing.

My Department has now found suitable alternative accommodation for this W.V.S. office and stores. Negotiations are taking place with the owners of the new premises, and I hope the house will soon be released.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the serious situation among the workers employed in the building of the Rye Cinema owing to the restriction of the hours worked; and if he will instruct the local joint overtime committee to allow all workers, who wish to do so, to work overtime in order to expedite the work and satisfy the workers who are refusing to stay in Rye unless they are allowed to earn more than the 46 hours' pay stipulated by this committee.

The working of overtime is governed by the National Working Rules of the National Joint Council for the Building Industry and I have no power to intervene. I am informed that in accordance with the procedure provided in the rules an appeal against the decision of the local joint overtime committee has been made to the Regional Committee and will be considered at an early date.

asked the Minister of Works how many employees his Department has at the Ministry of Supply Depot No. 121, Aston Cross, Tewkesbury; what is the establishment; by whom was this establishment set; and whether he will assure the House that there is sufficient work for these men.

The Ministry of Works has a staff of five at this Ministry of Supply Depot. There is no set establishment, and the staff will be reduced as the work diminishes. The work there requires the staff at present employed.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that urgent work in connection with coastal defence is being held up owing to the inability of the Lowestoft borough council to secure supplies of cement; and, in view of the danger which will result from undue delay in delivery of cement, if he will give a high priority for the supply of the necessary quantities.

The work to which my hon. Friend refers is, I understand, proceeding. The requirement of cement will be met so far as that can be done without prejudice to work of still higher priority.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the unsatisfactory position' in the St. Austell area with regard to the supply of cement and its consequent effects upon the housing situation: and what steps he proposes to take.

Yes. There is a shortage m certain areas resulting from the recent fuel difficulties. The rate of production is now increasing and the supply will soon, I hope, be reasonably adequate. In the meantime, supplies for housing work are being maintained so far as possible

asked the Minister of Works what priority is granted in supplies of steel for factory construction for the development areas.

There is a special allocation of steel for factory construction within development areas which is settled in the light of the supplies available from time to time.

asked the Minister 'of Works what quantity of steel has been allocated for the construction of factories in the South Wales Development Area in 1947; and how much of this has been delivered.

The allocation for the whole year cannot be given at this stage. During the first six months of 1947 the allocation was 20,000 tons but I am not able to say how much has been delivered.

asked the Minister of Works how soon he anticipates being able to arrange for his Department to fill in the trenches and holes dug by the military authorities on the property of Mr. J. A. Scott, at Bacton-on-Sea, Norfolk.

Neither the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries nor the Ministry of Town and Country Planning have been able to recommend that the restoration of this land is urgently necessary in the public interest, and I regret I cannot say when it will be possible to do this work.

asked the Minister of Works if he will make a statement in regard to the progress of the rebuilding of the House of Commons Chamber; and if he will give an approximate date when he anticipates the work will be completed.

The steelwork of the new House of Commons Chamber is three-quarters completed. Work started in March, 1947, on the main building contract, and specialist sub-contracts have been let. Having regard to the difficulties in the supply of building materials and labour, it is too early to forecast with certainty the date when building work will be completed. The contract date is April, 1950, but in present circumstances it is doubtful whether it will be attained. After completion of the works contract a period will be necessary for furnishing, and the testing of special equipment.

asked the Minister of Works how many prisoners of war are now employed in the building industry; and what arrangements are made to replace them by British workmen when they are repatriated.

The number of prisoners of war employed in the building and civil engineering industries on 31st May, 1947, was 21,252. As they are employed only where British labour is not available it may not be possible immediately to replace them on repatriation by British workers. The deficiency may be partly met by the employment of Poles.

asked the Minister of Works how many reports on output in the building trade have been published by the Committee of Review which was to be set up under the Working Rule Agreement for Building Trades Operatives in the London district which was signed on 27th February, 1946; and if he will make copies available in the Library.

I understand that no report has yet been published by the Building Industry's Committee of Review.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the serious shortage of plaster-of-paris for making laboratory porcelain in this country; whether any plaster-of-paris is being exported from Britain to Germany at the present time under the auspices of his Department; and what steps can be taken to ensure a more adequate supply for the British laboratory porcelain industry.

I am not aware of any serious shortage of plaster-of-paris for making laboratory porcelain in this country. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind and will send me particulars, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Works when he anticipates being able to give a decision on the claim for improved pay for depot clerks in his Department, submitted by the appropriate association in October, 1946

A decision has been reached on the claim for improved pay for depot clerks, and the association was informed on 31st May.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the Windhill Brick Works, Wakefield, and other brick works, have now closed down owing to the fact that they cannot dispose of, the bricks already in stock; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the bricks produced are used for the building of houses as quickly as possible.

Yes. There is no immediate shortage of bricks for house building or other purposes in the Wakefield area, but there is a large prospective demand and I should expect this firm and others to be able shortly to dispose of all the bricks they can manufacture.

asked the Minister of Works what licences have been granted to Edinburgh Varieties, Limited, for the rebuilding of the Theatre Royal. Edinburgh.

No licences have been granted for rebuilding. Licences for work costing £320 was granted in April, 1946, to remove structural fittings and to make certain parts of the structure safe and water-proof. A further licence was granted in May, 1947, for £22,000 to put a new roof over the building so as to protect the two-thirds of the theatre which was not damaged by fire and to prevent further deterioration.

asked the Minister of Works if he will arrange for the debris, old wooden gates and scrap-iron to be removed from the entrance gates leading from Palace Gate to the Broad Walk, Kensington Gardens.

The debris has now been removed.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that a considerable number of pedigree cattle and pigs await shipment to South Africa and that freight is not available; whether he will make representations to the South African Conference of Shipping Lines; and whether he will review the present arrangements with the Union Castle Line in the matter of free freight.

Yes. It has not yet been possible to restore the number of sailings to anything like prewar level, and there are heavy demands upon the limited deck space available for other high priority cargo. I am assured that the South and East African Conference Lines fully appreciate the necessity for the maximum movement of these animals as part of the general expert drive, and that they are taking full advantage of all the opportunities of shipment which occur. One hundred and twenty-five head of cattle have been shipped this year. I have no reason to believe that the operation of the "free freight" system acts as a deterrent to this movement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the compensation terms for officers of the Royal Indian Navy, promulgated by the Flag Officer Commanding on 3rd May, are based on the existing pension scales and not those announced in Cmd. 6715 which have already been extended to officers of the Indian Army; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the Royal Indian Navy is brought into this scheme.

The main item in the compensation terms is the lump sum compensation. This does not reflect the difference in existing pension scales and is the same for the Royal Indian Navy as for the Indian Army. The hon. and gallant Member is, however, presumably referring to the fact that Royal Indian Navy ordinary pensions and consequently proportionate pensions are lower than those of Indian Army combatant officers. As I stated on 5th May, the Government of India have under urgent consideration the question of applying the new British pension code to officers of the Royal Indian Navy, and I hope to receive their decision this week.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what methods British personnel in India should adopt for release before June, 1948; and, if release is granted, to what extent their qualification for compensation is affected.

As indicated in paragraph to of the Viceroy's announcement of 30th April, the criterion for the release before the date of the transfer of power of European members of the Secretary of State's Services with entitlement to compensation will be the public interest and it is not intended that the officers themselves should take the initiative in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what in-

I understand that the main Commission, which is reassembling in New York for the presentation of its report to the Security Council, is considering this matter and I hope that it will be possible for the Security Council to consider it at an early date. The British Representative on the Security Council will receive appropriate instructions.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a comprehensive statement as to the quantity and value of goods bought in bulk from overseas by various Government Departments during 1946, together with a statement of the respective deliveries.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 23rd May, 1947; Vol. 437, c. 305], supplied the following statement:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the British-Polish Financial Agreement of 1946 will be ratified.

His Majesty's Government are ready to ratify this Agreement and have so informed the Polish Government, who are understood to be preparing their instrument of ratification.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assurance that His Majesty's Government will not join the protest made by the U.S.A. to Hungary and will not alter the trade agreement being arrived at.

No, We are still seeking fuller information as to what is happening in Hungary, and my right hon. Friend is not prepared to give any assurances as to what we shall or shall not do until we know the facts and can judge what action is appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he first received information from our representative in Budapest about the recent political crisis in Hungary.

30th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the terms of the enactment on labour conditions, incorporating a wage plan and enforcing wage standards for the textile industry, recently made in Japan.

I have arranged for a copy of the English translation of this law, which is a long document, to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has received from the Australian Government for early British Commonwealth consultations to consider peace terms for Japan; if the date and place of the Peace Conference have now been determined; and if he is now able to name the British representatives to the Peace Conference.

His Majesty's Government have for some time thought it desirable that there should be a preliminary meeting of members of the British Commonwealth on a Ministerial level in order to provide for an exchange of views on the problems which will arise when the time comes to make peace with Japan. The Australian Government have suggested that such a meeting should be held in Canberra, and we for our part have expressed our willingness to send representatives there. If the proposal proves to be generally acceptable it is contemplated that the meeting should begin towards the end of August. As to the Peace Conference proper, no decision has yet been taken as to when and where it will be held, nor is it yet known who will represent the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if it will be possible to establish before 1st July next the International Refugee Organisation's Preparatory Commission to take over the work of U.N.R.R.A. and of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Refugees.

Yes. At its recent meeting in Lausanne the Preparatory Commission unanimously passed a resolution to this effect, and the necessary action is now being taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when Fraulein Leni Blunck, of Eutin Neudorf, Seestrasser, Germany, the fiancée of Mr. Kenneth Bull, 20, Aberdare Road, Northampton, may be expected to arrive in England; and what are the reasons for the delay in her arrival.

Mr. Bull's fiancée should leave Germany for this country within the next week or two; he will be notified in advance of the date of her arrival Arrangements for the journey were put in hand immediately the fare was paid on 8th May, but transport difficulties or private reasons in Germany may have delayed the fiancée's departure.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken to check the import of excessive quantities of U.S. cigarettes into Western Germany; and with what results.

No cigarettes, American or other, have been imported by the joint British and American authorities for the ordinary German population. The Ameri- can authorities have announced that, from 1st June, the private importation of cigarettes or tobacco and all traffic in cigarettes, except legal purchases of rations from Service institutes, is banned in their zone.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the two principal periodicals of the Old Catholic Church in Germany have been obliged to cease publication; and if, in view of the fact that Roman Catholic and Lutheran periodicals are able to appear, he will cause to be made available to the Old Catholic Church authorities the small quantity of paper and such other facilities as they need.

I am not aware that these two periodicals have been obliged to cease publication. We are favourably considering an application for a licence for them to begin publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when British subjects, whose property in enemy countries has been located and identified, and where the ownership is not in doubt or dispute, may hope to receive a settlement of their claims.

No claims of any nature in respect of Germany are yet being considered and it is not possible at present to say when they will be. Meanwhile statements of ownership and indebtedness have been accepted for record.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Senor Jose Satue, general secretary of the Radio-Telegraphist Workers' Union and a member of the National Committee of the Union General de Trabajadores de Espana, has been arrested in Madrid for organising an underground trade union movement; and whether he will make representations to the Spanish Government to secure his release.

His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Madrid has been instructed to investigate this report, and, if the circumstances justify, to take whatever action may be possible on behalf of the man concerned.

asked the Minister of Food when he expects to be able to resume the distribution of rice and sago, respectively, as a part of the points ration.

Although efforts are being made to restore production in Asiatic rice exporting countries as quickly as possible, it will be some considerable time before ample supplies are forthcoming. In the meantime, until the needs of those countries in which rice is a staple food can be more adequately met, there is little prospect of imports into the United Kingdom for general distribution. It is hoped that imports of sago will be resumed in the course of the next few weeks. Whether sago will he on points is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider allowing priority milk at reduced cost to old age pensioners.

I am sorry that my right hon. Friend cannot yet see his way to allow additional supplies of milk to old age pensioners, nor can he provide them with milk at a reduced price.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that lettuces are being sold at 1s. 6d. each in outer London; what is the price paid to the prime producer; how many sales transactions are involved between producer and consumer; and how much profit is made at each stage.

During the week ending 7th June, the average retail price of lettuce in the Greater London area was 1s. each and in certain outer districts it was as low as 10d. each. During the same week, a usual price obtained by producers in the home counties was from 8s. to 9s. per dozen and the most usual wholesale price at London markets 10s. per dozen. The number of hands through which the lettuces pass varies considerably according to circumstances. In the absence of standardised methods of marketing and grading, it would be impossible to obtain any useful information about profits at any given stage of distribution

asked the Minister of Food why carcases of beef imported into this country from Denmark are stripped of fat before shipment; and if he will arrange for this practice to cease.

Danish regulations require the removal of suet and channel fat from these carcases before export, in order to safeguard Denmark's domestic supply of fat.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will issue a White Paper showing the maximum retail prices of controlled foods at this time of year in 1942 and subsequent years, together with a comparison with the average retail prices for the same foods before the war.

The prices of most of the foods in the present cost-of-living index for the years 1942–47 and for some pre-war years can be obtained from the relevant volumes of the Ministry of Labour Gazette. In the case of non-index foods, now subject to price control, information on pre-war retail prices is not sufficiently accurate and extensive to justify publication.

asked the Minister of Food how much of the preserved horseflesh now being shipped from the U.S.A. to Europe by U.N.R.R.A. will be made available in this country; arm/ whether he will issue official recommendations as to its cooking and dishing, in order to popularise this meat.

None of the horseflesh will be coming to this country, and, therefore, the second part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the fact that since the price of gooseberries has been lowered to 9d. a pound they have become unobtainable to the public at large; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure a steady flow of soft fruit to the retail shops during the forthcoming weeks.

The price of gooseberries is controlled during the period of pre-emption for jam manufacture. About 40 per cent. of the whole crop is required for this purpose and while manufacturers are drawing their supplies, which they began to do last Monday, the quantity available for the shops is heavily reduced. The distribution of soft fruit cannot be controlled by my Department because of its perishable nature and the wide fluctuations in supplies.

asked the Minister of Food if during school holidays parents will be given the right to buy enough extra food to maintain the children's rations at the level of term time.

I regret that it would not be practicable to supplement the children's rations at home in the absence of school feeding arrangements.

asked the Minister or Food the reason for the recent increase of price to the public of Danish blue cheese; and what is the estimated subsidy now paid on this commodity.

In order to bring the price into line with costs which have recently risen. There is no subsidy on this commodity.

asked the Minister or Food whether in view of the urgent need for an increase in home food production, he will accede to the request forwarded to him by the Somerset county branch of the N.F.U. for the grant of a supplementary cheese ration to self-employed farmers and market gardeners.

The special cheese ration is allowed to certain categories of employees who cannot be provided with canteen or other catering facilities and who are obliged to take a packed meal with them to their work. My right hon. Friend regrets that he is unable to extend the concession to self-employed farmers and market gardeners who can usually return home for a midday meal if they wish.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on the negotiations in process with the Government of Eire to increase the supply of food from that Dominion to Great Britain; and if an agreement has yet been concluded.

No negotiations of the kind referred to by the hon. Gentleman are in progress at the moment. However, with the agreement of the Eire authorities, my right hon. Friend recently arranged for two agricultural experts to visit Eire and, after discussion with the Eire authorities, to prepare an appreciation of the possibilities of expanding Eire's agricultural output to the mutual advantage of Eire and the United Kingdom. This has now been received and is being considered by the Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has now determined on his programme for the importation of fruit for the rest of the year; and whether he can announce the details of the quantities and prices of all varieties that will be imported.

My right hon. Friend regrets that he is not in a position to give details of future imports of fruit.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that smaller grocers in South Wales are unable to supply customers with biscuits and similar articles while there are queues daily at the large multiple stores like Woolworths, who are able to supply all applicants daily; and if he will make equitable adjustments to deal with the situation.

I am not aware of these difficulties, but if my hon. Friend cares to give details of such cases as he has in mind, I shall be happy to cause investigations to be made

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existent caused by the high prices charged for vegetables; and whether he will consider setting up a committee of inquiry, with terms of reference wide enough to take into account the production, marketing and prices of all perishable vegetables.

I am aware that while prices for the main vegetables have fallen appreciably during the last month they are still high for cabbages, cauliflowers and lettuce. This is mainly due to the lateness of the season caused by bad weather and the limitation of imports of salads arising in part from the regulations concerning the Colorado beetle. I am at present considering what further measures can be adopted to improve the marketing of vegetables.

asked the Minister of Food what complaints he has received that soft drinks made to Government specification are of poor quality and sold at excessive prices.

The last complaint was in April, 1945. I am glad to say that, since then, we have been able to double the sugar content. Standards for certain soft drinks are laid down in S.R. & O. No. 945 of 1946. The presence of any extraneous matter which might be harmful is for the local authority to investigate under the Food and Drugs Act. The result of our regulations is to penalise to some extent the good manufacturers, but the standard of many other manufacturers has been improved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that shops in England have been supplied with decorative china which has been rejected for export, none of which is obtainable in North-East Scotland where there is a shortage of china of every kind, plain and coloured; and if he will rectify this inequality in time for the present holiday season.

A small quantity of decorated pottery which is imperfect and, therefore, unsuitable for export is sold on the home market. As in the case of plain ware, the manufacturers have undertaken to distribute it as widely as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factories in the South Wales Development Area are unable to commence production because of shortages of steel; and what steps are being taken to improve supplies.

The occupation of two factories is delayed owing to the shortage of steel, and several firms have withdrawn applications for new factory space because steel supplies are inadequate. In determining the distribution of steel supplies, full regard is had to the desirability of overcoming as quickly as possible shortages which delay the starting up of production in factories in the development areas, but I regret that the present steel supply difficulties will preclude any immediate improvement in the situation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many standards of timber of the grade known as Swedish firsts have been requisitioned and converted into fish boxes for the conveyance of fish to Germany during the past 12 months.

No timber has been requisitioned and converted into fish boxes during the past 12 months. Because of the difficulty of purchasing overseas herring barrel, staves of the desired quality, licences for certain grades of Northern European whitewood, including the better grades of Swedish whitewood, were for a time granted only for this purpose. I regret that particulars of the quantity of Swedish wood used for the, conveyance of fish to Germany are not separately recorded.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there is to be an official inquiry into the cause of the recent fire at a rubber dump at Mitcham; and whether he is satisfied that an adequate water supply was available at the dump to deal with a possible outbreak of fire.

The Director of Rubber is making investigations into the cause and circumstances of the fire and until his investigations are complete I am not in a position to comment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a list of the countries in which the British is a pegged exchange value.

In practically every country in the world buying and selling rates for sterling in terms of the local currency have been fixed by the responsible.authority. Most countries are members of the International Monetary Fund, and any change in the par value of their currency and thus in its relation with sterling is subject to the Articles of the Fund.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephone call boxes which have been installed since the end of the war in rural areas of Orkney and Shetland, respectively; if he will give a list of the places where they are required but have not yet been installed; and what action he is taking to meet the demand.

Since the end of the war, one new rural telephone kiosk has been installed in Orkney and two in Shetland. In addition 17 internal call offices in rural areas in Orkney and six in Shetland have been replaced by kiosks. Applications have been received for the installation of kiosks on "Tercentenary" terms at the 90 places shown below. The provision of three of these kiosks is in hand, and the installation of the remainder, which involve heavy construction work, will be undertaken as supplies of material and labour permit.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed in each of the 13 counties of Wales, indicating any increase or decrease in each county as compared with 12 months ago.

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as unemployed at the various employment exchanges in Caernarvonshire, indicating any increase or decrease in each locality as compared with 12 months ago.

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the late night transport scheme for the staff and Members of the House has been suspended; when he intends to resume it; and, in the meantime, what steps he is taking to enable the staff and Members to get home after late sittings of the House when the normal omnibus and underground services have closed down for the night.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in reply to the hon. Member for Rotherhithe (Mr. Mellish) on 10th June. The possibility of providing alternative facilities for the staff of the House is still being investigated; it is not likely that these arrangements can be made to include Members of Parliament.

asked the Minister of Health why he refused the offer of the settlers at Sunnyside Camp, Theale, Berkshire, to undertake in their own time the necessary work of reconditioning at the camp on terms agreed by the Bradfield Rural District Council; and what additional cost will now fall on public funds.

Considerable works of reconditioning and adaptation, including water supply and drainage, were required and in these circumstances it was considered that the work would be more suitably carried out by contract and that little additional cost be involved.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total number of Polish recalcitrants that have to date been deported to Germany; and how many of these men have been employed under the Control Commission for Germany.

One hundred and five Polish recalcitrants have been sent to Germany. As regards the second part of the Question, I understand from my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary that the information could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of work.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that owing to reductions of staff in Grimsby local mail in certain parts of the town is not delivered until 10 a.m.; and if he will take steps to remedy this situation which is causing great inconvenience.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the fact that, following a rearrangement of the postal services in order to save manpower, the first delivery in Grimsby is at present being completed later than hitherto. The aim is to ensure completion of delivery by 9.15 a.m. and I hope that within two or three weeks, by which time the postmen should have become accustomed to their new duties and delivery rounds, this object will be attained.

asked the Minister of Defence how much coast land it is proposed to take in the Skegness-Gibraltar Point-Wainfleet area for the purpose of military or air force training; for what purpose it is proposed to be used; and where it is situated.

The Air Ministry already have a sea bombing range in this district in connection with which they are proposing to retain some i,000 acres of salt marshes and mud flats in order that, while continuing to be used for agricultural purposes, access to the land can be controlled in the interests of safety. A further area at Gibraltar Point is required for training purposes by the War Office. No final decisions have been taken. The retention or acquisition of all this land is subject to approval by the Inter-departmental Committee on Service Land Requirements.