asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what amounts of natural gas sludge gas and methane gas from coalmines exist in this country; what use is made of them for supplementary coal gas supplies, generating electricity and making carbon black and other chemicals; and/or what use for such purposes is projected.

following is the information:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why the hon. and gallant Member for Henley is compelled to deal with a coal merchant, Messrs. Facer and Company, 29, Euston Road, London, for retail coal delivery to Towersey, near Thame, 40 miles away; and what facilities will be given to this merchant to enable him to deliver the coal either by motor or horse transport.

On change of residence a consumer is normally allowed to choose the merchant with whom he wishes to register and if the hon. and gallant Member for Henley (Sir G. Fox) so desires the existing registration will be cancelled. The present merchant, however, delivers through a local agent in the case of house coal and by rail and local haulage in the case of boiler fuel and no special road haulage is, therefore, required.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the urgent need for coal in the Scandinavian and other countries which relied on British coal supplies before the war, and of the probability that British output will be insufficient for many years to fulfil their requirements, he will consider the possibility of evolving arrangements whereby these countries should train a number of their own citizens as miners and send them over here to assist in mining coal for their own requirements.

No. In the first five months of this year some 47,000 men and boys entered the mines and recruits could not in present circumstances be trained, housed and absorbed at any appreciably higher rate.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement about the possibilities of importing coal from South Africa this year; and if any negotiations are proceeding about the matter.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by the Prime Minister to the Question asked on this subject by the Member for Ecclesall (Major Roberts) on 5th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much it will cost to train police constables at the Devizes Police College to drive a motor-car; and how this total is made up.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the District Motor Training School organised by the Wiltshire police authority. The cost of training a police driver in all his duties, and not merely to drive a car, at this school over a five-year period is estimated at about £53, on the basis of an initial capital cost of about £10,500 for garages, vehicles and a "skid pan" and annual running cost of about £8,500 for the pay of the instructional staff and maintenance and depreciation charges. It is estimated that about 190 men will be trained in a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Dulwich fire station is being closed; and what steps are being taken to maintain the adequacy of the service in this locality.

In present circumstances it is important to make all possible economies of manpower which are consistent with efficiency, and the decision to withdraw temporarily appliances from the fire station in Dulwich arose from that necessity. The station will remain open for the receipt of fire calls but attendances to fires will be made by appliances from stations in Perry Vale, West Norwood and Brixton, which are well situated for the purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. Chajmoric, who has been applying since last November for the necessary papers to enable him to travel to Belgium to see his brother who is critically ill, and return, has not yet received them, despite the promise made several months ago on this matter to the hon. Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. S. Silverman).

A certificate of identity for the purpose of travel to Belgium was duly issued to this man, and I so informed my hon. Friend on 20th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of applications by aliens now residents in this country for naturalisation; the number of such aliens who have made claim for prior consideration on the grounds of war service; and the number of the latter applications that has already been granted and the number still pending.

The answer is as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour how many European volunteer workers who have arrived in this country under his Department's scheme for the employment of at least 100,000 displaced persons in industry by the end of this year have come from Italy; and what is the total number that he intends to bring from Italy.

This scheme is confined at present to Germany and Austria and does not extend to Italy.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made in finding accommodation in the West Riding of Yorkshire for European voluntary workers; how many such workers he estimates will be available within the next three months; and what is the provisional allocation of these as between different industries and occupations.

Accommodation has been provided for approximately 1,000 European volunteer workers at a holding camp at Full Sutton, near York, from which workers can be moved to employment in any part of Yorkshire. For accommodation in employment areas, reliance must largely be placed upon accommodation in lodgings and vacancies in existing hostels. A certain amount of special accommodation has, however, been provided in the West Riding of Yorkshire for European volunteer workers for work in agriculture. I am afraid that I cannot forecast the number of European volunteer workers likely to be available within the next three months in total and for specific industries.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many schools are short of domestic help; and

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has now received a report on the inquiry held by Mr. John Cameron, K.C., into the objections entered to the draft scheme for the Decasualisation of Dock Workers; whether he has also received a report on the inquiry conducted under the chairmanship of Sir Hector Hetherington into the question of the amount and basis of calculation of the

I know that many schools are short of domestic help, but the general position has greatly improved Until we have made more progress in meeting the needs of such essential industries as textiles, clothing and agriculture, and those of hospitals and private households suffering serious hardship, I regret we cannot make these women available for employment elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give details, on a trade and industry basis, of the unemployed, men and women separately, for North Staffordshire at the latest available date.

The table below gives an industrial analysis of the number of insured men and women registered at employment exchanges in North Staffordshire as unemployed at 12th May, 1947.guaranteed payments to be made under that scheme; and when an Order will be made under the Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, setting up a permanent scheme.

My right hon. Friend has received reports on both these Inquiries, and stencilled copies will be available on Friday afternoon in the Library of the House. He has now made the Dock Workers (Regulation of Employ- ment) Order, 1947, dated 16th June, 1947, embodying a permanent Scheme which will come into operation at some ports on 28th June, and at others on 30th June. Copies of the Order will be available in the Vote Office on Friday afternoon

asked the Minister of Labour what, as at the most convenient date, were the figures of unemployment fox the borough of Darwen and the urban district of Turton.

At 12th May, 242 at Darwen employment exchange and 20 at Turton employment exchange.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the net receipts from new savings in the present financial year are lower than his Budget expectations; whether he will stimulate public interest in saving by improving the rates and terms offered; and if he will emphasise the nonparty character of the National Savings Movement by identifying the proceeds of any future appeal with capital construction works for defence, public building, land reclamation and afforestation and the like at home and with development loans to the Colonial Empire.

The answer to the first part is Yes, but the financial year is yet young; to the second part, No. The Savings Movement is regarded by all good citizens as non-party, and national savings cannot be earmarked for any specific purposes, however meritorious

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to abolish the means test in respect of all State pensions

Under the legislation which Parliament has approved, the number of people affected by a means test has been greatly reduced. It is not practicable to dispense altogether with such a test, for those who do not qualify by contributions or have needs beyond those provided for in the contributory scheme.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will instruct all Departments when considering staff reductions to regard competence in the discharge of duties as of greater importance than a civil servant's temporary or permanent status; and if an employee's immediate superior may be consulted as to his or her ability and efficiency.

The suggestion in the first part of the Question would remove the distinction between the established and the temporary civil servant which must be preserved. The answer to the second part of the Question is that under existing arrangements, the views of superior officers on the ability and efficiency of their subordinate staff are taken into account

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of gipsies and vagrants in this country in the years 1944, 1945 and 1946; and what steps are being taken to bring them within the National Health Insurance scheme or under any of the various requirements of his Department.

I regret that the answer to the first part of the Question is not available. As regards the second part I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Insurance that these persons are insurable for Health, Unemployment and Pensions Insurance only if they are working for an employer and the usual steps are taken by the inspectorate, at employer's premises and elsewhere to see that the provisions of the law are complied with. When the National Insurance Act, 1946 takes effect every effort will be made to bring within the scheme all persons who are within its scope, including gipsies and vagrants.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of the industrial staff of Government Departments on the same bases as the details given in Cmd. 7139.

The answer is as follows:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many copies of the Report of the Canadian Royal Commission on the Gouzanko case have now been received in this country; and how many more are expected to arrive within the next month.

The Stationery Office has received 3,280 copies and a further 970 are expected within the next month.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the shortage Of houses for living accommodation in Cumberland, if all possible steps will be taken to simplify orders, circulars and other instructions and restrictions issued by his Department so that local authorities and other builders may be encouraged to proceed with this urgent work.

All possible steps to expedite the completion of houses are being taken.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish separate figures relating to all housing returns in Wales, as is done in the case of Scotland in his monthly and annual reports.

Separate figures for Welsh housing authorities are published in the monthly return.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that inconvenience is caused to hon. Members and others by the fact that the monthly housing returns for England and Wales and for Scotland are issued separately; and if he will arrange with the Secretary of State for Scotland for the issue, or circulation in HANSARD, of a brief summary of the figures for the whole of Great Britain.

I have consulted with the Secretary of State and arrangements will be made to include in both White Papers from June onwards a summary of the figures for the whole of Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he is aware of the number of big houses advertised in Middlesex for sale by auction; and if he will advise the local authorities in. the areas concerned to requisition these premises for the rehousing of homeless people forthwith;(2) if he is aware of the resentment felt by workers in the Upton-West Ham area, urgently in need of housing accommodation, at the number of houses for sale with vacant possession now being advertised at prices beyond their means; and what action he proposes to take to make all vacant houses available to those in most need.

Local authorities are fully aware of their powers to requisition unoccupied houses.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the delays in the completion of council houses in the area of the Seaford Urban District Council are causing concern; that they result from the shortage of essential materials and the excessive time taken in delivering essential items such as ranges, iron mantel registers, bath fittings, soil pipes and rainwater goods; that orders for the above have been placed for more than nine months; and if he will take immediate steps to examine the cause of these delays and speed up the supply of these materials.

Yes. My regional officers are already attending to the shortages reported by the local authority. I understand that the bath fittings and mantel registers have now been delivered, and that the ranges have been promised for July. Further action is being taken to expedite delivery of the other outstanding items.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now given consideration to the practical effect on recruitment to the nursing profession, on the Rushcliffe scale of salaries, of a recent judgment of the Clerkenwell magistrates; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the situation.

I will consider this matter further when I know the result of a similar case which is coming before the Wealdstone magistrates at the end of the month

asked the Minister or Health the approximate number of girls training or fully trained in British hospitals who are from the Colonies, India and the European continent, respectively.

There are 181 from the Colonies and 21 from India in training. I regret that the other figures are not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether the call-up of medical practitioners to the Forces has absolute priority over civilian needs.

No. The needs of the Services are kept under constant review by the Medical Priority Committee, whose aim is to arrive at a just relation between civil and Service requirements.

asked the Minister of Health in view of the considerable increase in the number of mental deficients in 1946 who were unable to be admitted into suitable institutions and the hardship and the misery this imposes on themselves and other members of their households, what steps have been taken to deal with this urgent need.

The provision of further accommodation for mental defectives has been given such priority as is possible in present circumstances; but difficulties in supply of building labour and materials have prevented any substantial extensions; and the shortage of nursing staff has imposed a further limitation.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Barry Borough Council to transfer the inspection at the local abattoir from a qualified veterinary surgeon to the borough sanitary inspector; and, in view of the fact that this reversal of policy is not in the best interests of public health, what action he proposes to take in the matter.

The officer first mentioned is retiring, and the sanitary inspector appointed to succeed him possesses the meat inspection certificate of the Royal Sanitary Institute. Such an appointment is authorised by the Food and Drugs Act, and I see no grounds either for intervention or for the implication in the last part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to announce the names of the members of the Regional Hospital Board for Wales.

The names will be published in the Order constituting Regional Hospital Boards, which I hope to make very shortly.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the interest of public hygiene, he will encourage local authorities to extend the provision of washing facilities in public lavatories, including free access to water and basins.

It would not be appropriate at the present time, when the essential materials are in short supply, to press local authorities to provide additional washing facilities in public conveniences. They already have full discretion to provide such facilities free of charge.

asked the Minister of Health what is the sum of money per annum spent by the Government on the relief of leprosy.

The occasional cases of leprosy found in this country are given medical or other necessary assistance from the general health and relief services. The expenditure involved is not separately recorded or provided for.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent, when giving consideration to his consent to allow local authorities to borrow for purposes of purchasing essential equipment, he regards the factor of a saving in manpower as of importance.

Due weight is given to this. If my hon. Friend has any particular case of difficulty in mind, perhaps he will send me details.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the dismay caused by his failure to confirm a compulsory purchase order made by the Gloucestershire County Council to acquire a playing field for the parish of Uley; and if he can offer any advice and help to the parish council and to nearby local authorities which, as a consequence of this decision, are finding difficulty in speedily acquiring land for housing sites.

I regret that I was unable, on the merits, to confirm this order. There is a need for a playing field at Uley and the parish council would be well advised, before preparing fresh proposals, to seek advice on the scope of their scheme from the Ministry of Education, from whom they hope for an Exchequer grant. If local authorities are unable to purchase land by agreement for housing and other essential purposes, they should not hesitate to invoke their powers of compulsory acquisition.

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made in the provision of a county college for deaf adolescents; and if he will make a statement.

I am happy to say that the Sheffield local education authority has agreed to provide a boarding county college of sufficient size to meet the needs of all deaf adolescents between the ages of 16 and 18.

asked the Minister of Education if, in view of the shortage of teachers in schools for handicapped children, he will bring to the notice of students in emergency and other training colleges the opportunities for careers in these schools.

All students in training colleges are given information about special schools, as part of their study of the national system of education. I have also recently made special arrangements to ensure that the students in Emergency Training Colleges shall, so far as practicable, be given an opportunity of hearing about the opportunities for careers in the various types of schools for handicapped children.

asked the Minister of Education in how many schools for the deaf there is a shortage of qualified teachers of the deaf; and what steps he is taking to remedy the defect.

There is an overall shortage of some 35 teachers in schools for the deaf. Teachers employed in these schools either possess or are in process of obtaining the special qualifications required of teachers of the deaf. Visits by His Majesty's Inspectors to all training colleges are being arranged to describe the interest and opportunities of service in schools for the deaf and the means of obtaining qualifications for teaching deaf children. The Department of Manchester University which provides for the training of teachers for work in deaf schools has agreed to admit substantially increased numbers of students this year.

asked the Minister of Education whether his attention has been called to the grant of £70 by the East Suffolk Education Committee to a retired civil servant towards the fees of his two children at well-known boarding-schools; and whether he proposes to allow such grants to rank for a percentage grant under his regulations.

Yes. Expenditure by local education authorities on sending pupils to independent boarding schools under approved arrangements ranks for grant from my Department.

asked the Minister of Education what are his objections to school playing fields being jointly used, when not in use for school purposes, by those who attend school as well as those who have ceased to attend.

The main objections to joint use are over-wear of parts of the playing area, interference with the lay-out of the pitches required for the school games, and the likelihood of restrictions on school use owing to a desire to meet the needs of others.

asked the Minister of Education whether it is the custom of local education authorities, when awarding a teachers' training grant, to make a controlling regulation that teachers shall serve within the area of the authority giving the grant; and whether he is satisfied that such regulations are in the interests of a national system of education and of teachers in general.

I understand that in the past some local education authorities have stipulated that students helped by them should take teaching posts in their area, but I have no precise information as to the extent of this practice. Under the present grant system, it is no longer necessary for authorities to aid students at recognised training colleges for the purpose of meeting either tuition or boarding fees. One reason for introducing this system was to avoid the occasion for restrictions such as those suggested in the Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the concern felt in South Wales at the slow rate of factory construction; and if there are any immediate prospects of an improvement in the position.

Progress in factory construction in South Wales, as elsewhere, is affected by shortages of building materials, particularly structural steel. I am doing all I can to secure delivery of materials for factory construction, consistent with allocation for other essential requirements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factories have been constructed, or are in the course of construction, in the South Wales Development Area since August, 1945; and how many have been con- structed, or are in course of construction in the Midlands region during the same period.

In the South Wales Development Area, 25 new factory buildings and extensions to existing factories, of an area of 5,000 square feet and over, were completed during the period 1st September, 1945, to 30th April, 1947. In the South Wales Development Area, there were under construction on 30th April, 1947, 107 new factories and extensions of 5,000 square feet and over; in addition, 34 factories were under construction in advance of specific demand from industrialists.No figures are available in regard to the actual progress of construction and completion of factory buildings outside the development areas. During the period referred to, however, the construction of 88 new factories and 218 extensions to existing factories to provide work for about 28,000 people when in full production and cover over 7 million square feet were approved in the Midlands Region as compared with 120 new factories and 91 extensions to existing factories to employ about 53,000 persons and cover over 82 million square feet approved in the South Wales Development Area during the same period.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the availability of loofahs for importation from British East Africa; and whether he will make them available to the general public in this country in the same quantities as sponges are made available through importation from hard-currency foreign countries.

Some imports of loofahs from British East Africa and other countries are being licensed for industrial purposes only. Owing to our balance of payments position, it is not possible to import them for other purposes at present. Sponges do not come, in the main, from hard currency sources. They are imported primarily for commercial use and only those unsuitable for this purpose are made available for sale to the general public

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any estimate of the number of cubic feet of natural gas which is available every day in the Middle East at the oil wells in which there are British interests.

One hundred and sixty-five million cubic feet.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much carbon black, suitable for use in the tyre-manufacturing industry, it is estimated could he produced annually at the oil wells in the Middle East, in which there are British interests, by the utilisation of suitable burning equipment.

The natural gas available is estimated to be sufficient to produce 25,000 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why vacuum flasks can still only be obtained with a permit although fitted picnic baskets containing in many cases two such flasks can now be bought without restriction.

At my request the manufacturers of vacuum flasks have recently agreed that, while the present shortage lasts, they will not supply any further flasks for incorporation in picnic baskets to be sold on the home market. The "Thermos" permit scheme is intended solely to enable those whose need for a flask is essential to obtain one quickly and a considerable number of flasks are now on sale free of permits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to say what steps the Government are taking towards the location of light industry in the Development Areas of Midlothian and West Lothian, respectively.

I would refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave him in answer to his Question on 22nd May and to a list of new industrial developments in those parts of the counties of Midlothian and West Lothian within the Scottish development area which I forwarded to him on 13th February this year. In addition to these developments, a further project has just been approved at Uphall, which will employ about 25 men and 55 women when in full production. The ultimate employment to be provided by all the developments I have referred to considerably exceeds the number of people currently unemployed in the development area portions of the two counties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that whilst tailoring firms who make cheaper suits are asking customers to wait from six to twelve months for delivery, more exclusive firms charging higher prices are able, in most cases, to give delivery in two or three weeks; what is the explanation of this divergency; and if he will consider equalising the distribution of cloth.

I understand that delivery in two or three weeks is exceptional in any section of the men's clothing trade, but I am aware that some customers are having to wait at least six months. The delays are due to the general shortage of cloth, and to the accumulation of civilian orders in firms which were heavily engaged on the manufacture of suits for the demobilisation clothing programme. The last part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will sanction the issue of supplementary clothing coupons to youths unfit for military service since they miss the advantages which accrue to their fellows on demobilisation.

No.

asked the Minister of Supply if he has any statement to make respecting the location of the cold reducing plant in West Wales.

On 21st April, I stated that the Government accepted the need for new cold reduction and finishing plants for tinplate and sheet steel as part of the scheme for the modernisation and development of the tinplate and sheet steel industry in South Wales and that a further statement would be made as to their location. The location of the cold reduction plant for tinplate has had to be decided in the light of the fact that the reorganisation of the tinplate industry will, as the new plants come into operation, cause the redundancy of a considerable number of persons at present occupied in that industry. It will, therefore, be necessary to arrange for other industries to be provided within the tinplate area capable of employing the redundant manpower.The Government have given careful thought to the question how best to locate the cold reduction plant for tinplate in order to provide the best arrangement and location for the other industries that will be required. After weighing all the social and technical factors involved they have concluded that Trostre, near Llanelly, is the most suitable place at which to erect the plant for the cold reduction of tinplate and that new heavy industries to employ the redundant manpower should be located in or near Swansea. They regard it as an essential part of the scheme that proper opportunities of employment should be provided for those men who will become redundant owing to the starting up of the new plants. The location of the cold reduction plant for sheet steel has not yet been decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider, in connection with the future of Italian Somaliland, the return of Jubaland to Kenya from whom it was ceded to Italy in 1927, without the consent of the local inhabitants.

The question of the final disposal of the former Italian Colonies is governed by Article 23 and Annex XI of the Peace Treaty with Italy, and can only be decided jointly by the four Powers represented on the Council of Foreign Ministers or, failing that, by the General Assembly of the United Nations. His Majesty's Government do not propose at the present stage to ask for the return to Kenya of Jubaland, which was ceded to Italy under the Treaty signed in London on 15th July, 1924. Should the inhabitants of Jubaland wish to do so, it is open to them, as stated on 20th May by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. I. Reid), to voice their views on their future nationality through their District and Zone Council. So far as I am aware, no such views have been expressed. In the event of a commission of investigation being sent to Somalia under Annex XI of the Peace Treaty, the inhabitants will presumably be afforded an opportunity of stating to that commission their wishes with regard to their future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made with the constitution of Branches B and C of the Foreign Service.

Regulations for Branch B of the Foreign Service (consisting of persons appointed to the Foreign Service for the performance of executive and clerical duties), having been agreed by the Foreign Office Whitley Council, have now been approved and will be promulgated in the London Gazette in the immediate future. These regulations are on similar lines to those already in force for Branch A of the Foreign Service. The new Branch B is designed to provide, within the framework of the Foreign Service, a staff recruited at levels comparable with those of the executive and clerical classes of the Home Civil Service which will perform most of the non-political functions at His Majesty's embassies and legations and, in its lower ranges, the minor duties at consular posts. In its higher ranges, it will, inter alia, take over many of the consular duties hitherto performed by officers of Branch A. For example, officers of the new branch will take charge of a considerable number of independent consulates and will, at other consular posts, act as deputies to senior officers of Branch A.The personnel of Branch B of the Foreign Service will number about 1,000 officers in six grades, rising from Grade 6 (£125–£430) to Grade (£1,320–£1,600), and this branch should, within itself, offer an attractive career in the public service to young men and women who may enter between the ages of 16 to 18½ years through the normal Civil Service Examinations. In addition, suitable officers of Branch B will be eligible for promotion into Branch A at any stage in their careers.Draft regulations for Branch C of the Foreign Service (shorthand typists, secretaries, etc.) have been prepared and are now under consideration by the Foreign Office Whitley Council.

asked the Attorney-General whether he has now considered further the Matrimonial Causes Rules, 1947, in the light of the second and final reports of the Denning Committee; and whether it is proposed to amend or amplify the Rules so as to give full effect to the recommendations made in those reports.

Consideration is being given, and arrangements are still being worked out, with regard to a number of the reforms advocated by the Denning Committee which were not included in the recent rules, and I cannot say when any particular reform is likely to be adopted and given effect to by rule. I understand that although further amendments of the rules are likely to be considered by the Rules Committee within a few weeks, it is improbable that the whole of the remaining recommendations made in the second and third interim reports of the committee would be brought into operation at one moment of time, and certainly not until further experience has been gained of the practical working of the recent rules. As I have said on a previous occasion, there has been no decision finally to reject any of the proposals made by the committee.

asked the Minister of Food whether the special committee he appointed to examine possible economies in manpower in his Department have now made recommendations; what action is being taken to implement the recommendations; or when he anticipates the recommendations will be made.

The special committee appointed to examine possible economies in manpower is working through three sub-committees whose recommendations are communicated to the responsible officers concerned as they are reached. As a consequence between 1st March, when the committee commenced its examination, and 1st May, a reduction of 1,072 had been effected in the staff of the Ministry. I expect to receive an interim report from the committee next month summarising the action already taken upon its recommendations and the further action proposed.

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the available supply of fats is at present going to the cake-making trade as compared with the wartime practice.

From 1940 to 1943 the cake and biscuit trade took 22.1 per cent. of the total consumption of edible fats; and from 1943 to 1945, 18.9 per cent. Their present allocation represents 18.7 per cent. of the total.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now satisfied with the conditions prevailing in the slaughterhouses in Rochester, Chatham, Sittingbourne, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Tredegar, Abersychan, Middlesbrough, Monmouth, Preston, St. Austell and Wadebridge; and what action he proposes to take to improve conditions in these places before the busy season starts.

The conditions at each of the slaughterhouses referred to by the hon. Member have been recently examined by my officers and I am satisfied that all reasonable and practicable steps have been taken to enable them to deal with the peak kill in the autumn. I would be the last to pretend that I was completely satisfied with the conditions at most of our slaughterhouses and have always made it clear that as labour and material become available, a great deal of work will be necessary to raise them to a standard that could be regarded as satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for War what number of non-Regular Service men have served continuously in the Far East for over two years without receiving a home leave.

I am obtaining this information and will send it to the right hon. and gallant Member.