asked the Minister of Labour how many girls have been admitted to this country as nurses, and how many as domestic workers, from Austria since the scheme was announced in 1946; what is the average length of time between the date of application and the date of admission to this country; whether he is aware that the delay in some cases has been over eight months and the work for which they were wanted has entirely changed; and whether he will take steps to accelerate the arrangements.

Up to the end of May last, 1,774 permits had been issued in respect of Austrian women for domestic work in private households, hospitals, schools and other institutions and four for nursing employment. I have no knowledge of the number who have actually arrived, nor of the average interval between application and arrival. There is now little delay in issuing permits in approved cases.

asked the Minister of Labour if the Catering Wages Commission has completed its inquiry into the question of whether there should be a differential wage between the tip-earning and non-tip-earning staffs in catering establishments; and whether the report will be printed and made public.

The Catering Wages Commission's Report has just been received and I am arranging for its publication as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has further considered the circumstances under which German prisoners of war in this country can qualify for continued employment in this country when or after their repatriation date falls due and for other than farm work; and if he will make a statement.

I am not, at present, contemplating any scheme under which German prisoners of war, due for repatriation will be allowed to take employment in this country in a civilian status other than the scheme already announced for their employment in agriculture.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of limbless ex-Service men who are unemployed according to the latest available figures.

Exact figures of unemployment among limbless ex-Service men are not available, but it is estimated on the basis of a special count made some months ago that the number of such men at present unemployed is about 2,600

asked the Minister of Labour whether men who opted during the war for service in the mines instead of service in the Armed Forces were informed at the time they made their choice that their service would not count as national service, and that if for any reason they had to leave the mines they would still be liable for the full period of national service.

When the scheme of release from the Forces by age and length of service was announced in September, 1944, it was made quite clear that periods of civilian employment would not be taken into account in deciding the order in which men would be released from the Forces. No such statement could, of course, have been made before the age and length of service scheme was devised.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many Service men, from the commencement of hostilities in 1939 to the most recent convenient date were invalided from the Service on the grounds of wounds and/or ill-health; how many were, respectively, granted and refused pensions; and of those granted pensions how many have since had them terminated.

No formal claim is required from persons invalided from the Forces. The documents of all such persons are automatically referred to the Ministry for consideration of title to pension. A person discharged on other than health grounds, or transferred to Class W of the Reserve is required to make a formal claim to pension. Separate figures for these categories are not available but the number dealt with under the three heads between 3rd September, 1939, and 31st March, 1947, is approximately 770,000. Awards have been made in 350,000 cases: in about 210,000 of the remaining cases where no award has been made the person concerned has at no time made or inferred anything in the nature of a claim. In addition about 160,000 claims have been received from persons released from the Forces and awards made in 134,000 cases. Of the total of 484,000 awards in all categories, payment has ceased in 95,000 cases.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is proposed to derequisition 20 acres of agricultural land adjoining Dynes Hall, Essex; and what is the use to which his Department have put this land since 30th April, 1946.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Works has arranged for the Essex Agricultural Executive Committee to undertake certain works of restoration of this land. I am informed that part of the proposed works has already been completed and that the balance will be put in hand as soon as labour and plant can be made available. The War Department will derequisition the land when these works have been completed. The land has not been used for military purposes since 30th April, 1946.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the tour of duty for Regular officers commanding Territorial units; and what steps are being taken to ensure continuity of direction and training in each unit, especially during the next three years.

The tour of duty of Regular officers commanding Territorial Units has been limited to one year in the first place, but the position is to be reviewed before the end of the first year. There will be a Regular cadre in each unit, which will carry out a tour of duty of at least 18 months or a minimum of two training seasons. The relief of the personnel of the Regular cadre will be staggered to ensure continuity. The issue of training directives and pamphlets will ensure that units are aware of current developments and trend of thought.

asked the Secretary of State for War, what lodging and subsistence allowances are granted to Regular members of the T.A. living in London; and what relation these allowances have to actual costs involved.

Regular personnel serving with units of the Territorial Army living in London receive lodging, London and ration allowances at the rates applicable to other members of the Regular forces similarly situated. The total of the allowances was based on the reasonable cost of accommodation and subsistence as revealed by a number of representative budgets which were obtained from Regular officers and other ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he can now make a report on the Court of Inquiry and the trial arising from the not and shooting of African natives on 2nd January at Gilgil, Kenya; and, of the five killed and 11 wounded, how many were rioters and how many were loyal troops.

On 2nd January, 1947, 150 Askaris of the Base Ammunition Depot at Gilgil refused to work. A Company of the 5th King's African Rifles from Nanyuki was called in to restore order and arrest the ringleaders. A serious clash occurred between the mutineers and the Company of the King's African Rifles. The mutineers advanced brandishing sticks and iron bars and hurling large stones and other missiles at the Askaris of the King's African Rifles, as a result of this, some of the loyal Askaris were knocked down. Some of the loyal Askaris then, without orders, opened fire individually on the mutineers but ceased in less than one minute on the orders of an officer. As a result of this clash the casualties among the mutineers were five killed and 12 wounded and among the loyal troops two wounded.A Court of Inquiry was held and it was decided that no blame could be attached to anyone except the mutineers and that in the circumstances the action taken by the loyal troops was not unreasonable, as if they had not opened fire they might well have been overrun The local representative of the Judge Advocate-General advised that no blame could be attached to the African Ranks who opened fire and the Attorney-General decided not to take any civil proceedings for manslaughter, as the shooting was justified.The 14 ringleaders were tried by a general court martial which was completed on 27th March, 1947, and the finding and sentences were as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that no communication has yet been made to Mr. F. Sullivan, Colchester, regarding a claim which he has made in respect of alleged damage to his property in 1939, despite the fact that an assurance was given in writing by the right hon. Gentleman's Department to the hon. Member for Colchester, on 20th May, that the matter had now been referred to the appropriate district claims officer and would be carefully considered; and whether he will make a statement.

A payment of some £40, has now been made to Mr. Sullivan in settlement of his claim.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is yet in a position to say how long it will be before he will close down the gun site situated on Hampstead Lower Heath, alongside Hampstead Way, and remove the barbed wire surrounding a substantial part of the Heath.

I regret that my right hon. Friend cannot yet make a statement about the future of this gun site. He is, however, arranging for the removal of part of the barbed wire.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many long baths are available in the camp at Braunton, North Devon, for the use of troops quartered therein; and whether it is his intention to increase this number at an early date, to obviate the use of public baths in Ilfracombe, which are already overcrowded owing to the influx of visitors.

There are no long baths available at this camp for the use of troops, as it was built during war time, when such baths were not provided. There is, however, a full standard scale of hot shower baths. Owing to the shortage of baths, which are needed for married quarters and housing schemes, I regret that their installation in this and other similar camps cannot be undertaken for some considerable time. The use by the troops of the public baths at Ilfracombe, however, has now ceased.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will inquire into German legislation and regulations respecting venereal disease with a view to considering its effect on the moral and physical well-being of our Forces in Germany, particularly on the younger members of the Forces.

Such regulations and legislation are a matter for the Control Commission and consequently for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. If, however, my hon. Friend has any particular point in mind, and will bring it to my notice, I will certainly look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many claims were received in his Department between 1st January, 1946, and 31st December, 1946, from military personnel in respect of personal injuries received by them while on duty or in military premises by reason of the alleged negligence of other military personnel who were also on duty or in military premises; and what compensation has been paid in respect of such claims for that period other than pension rights.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for War upon what grounds his Department still laid claim in recent months to 50 per cent. of all passenger accommodation on ships to the West Indies at a time when shipping to the Caribbean is scarce.

The hon. and gallant Member appears to have been misinformed. Less than 20 per cent. of the total number of berths on commercial vessels sailing to the Caribbean since the beginning of this year have been occupied by serving and released members of all three Services.

asked the Secretary of State for War if further consideration has been given to the need of larger payments being made to German prisoners of war in this country; whether the transfer of their earnings to Germany when desired can be speeded up; and if a more favourable rate of exchange is possible.

With regard to the first part of the Question, I would refer to the statement which is being circulated in reply to Questions Nos. 24, 41 and 43. The arrangements for remittances by prisoners of war to Germany are now working satisfactorily and there is no reason to believe that in future payment in Germany will not be made promptly. The answer to the last part of the Question is, "No."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Alka-Seltzer Brand, effervescent analgesic alkalizing tablets, are being imported from the U.S.A.; why it is considered necessary to import it; and what is this country's dollar expenditure on this product.

Yes. Imports of this product, which is now being manufactured in a development area, did not cost us dollars, and were made to test the market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that sufficient screw-top bottles are available for housewives in this country for bottling fruit, in view of the urgent need for conserving all available foodstuffs and of the heavy fruit crops.

The manufacturers have recently increased their capacity for making preserving-bottles and are doing their best to make up the ground lost during the fuel crisis. As the hon. Member may be aware, jam jars with special closures are a useful substitute for screw-top bottles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of persons engaged in manufacture for export in March, 1939, and March, 1947, respectively; and the quantity of goods exported during the same period.

The estimated number of insured persons employed in manufacture for export in March, 1947, was 1,444,000. No information about numbers employed on export work was collected before -She war, so that no accurate comparison is possible. The published figure of 930,000 for June, 1939, is only very roughly comparable, as it was estimated by quite a different method. Figures for the total quantity of goods exported are not available, as some items are recorded by value only, and I can only give estimates. The volume of exports of United Kingdom goods, which is calculated by revaluing all exports at average values of the year 1938, is estimated at 101 per cent. of that year in the first quarter of this year, compared with 104 per cent. in the first quarter of 1939.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the imports during the past year from the U.S.A. of small wooden spoons; and if he is satisfied that alternative utensils for eating ice-cream are not available from home manufacturers.

Import figures of small wooden spoons are not separately distinguished from other types of domestic woodware, and it is not known whether any of these articles have been imported during the past year. I understand from my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Food, that there are no suitable alternative utensils available for this purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of supplies of knitting wool in shops in South Devon; to what this shortage is attributed; and what steps he proposes to take to have it remedied in the near future.

There is a general shortage of knitting wools and I have no information to suggest that the shortage is greater in South Devonshire than elsewhere. Output during 1946 was about 16 per cent greater than in 1945, but there was an unavoidable loss during the fuel crisis early this year. Production is now increasing, and I hope the position will improve during the next few months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of furniture imported from non-sterling areas in the past 12 months and supplied to the hotel industry; whether any Purchase Tax was charged to the purchasers in such cases; and whether non-utility furniture produced in this country will be afforded the same concession in order that it may have a fair chance of competition with foreign imported furniture supplied to the hotel industry.

About £350,000 worth of non-Utility bedroom furniture intended for hotels has been imported from Holland. Purchase Tax has been charged on this furniture, and the last part of the Question consequently does not arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the serious shortage of children's shoes between sizes 6 and 11 in the Tunbridge Wells district; and if he will take steps to augment the supply and improve the distribution.

I am not aware of any general shortage of children's shoes in these sizes, but I am arranging for an investigation of the position in the Tunbridge Wells district and will communicate with the hon. Member again when I have the Area Distribution Officer's report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether representations have been made by His Majesty's Government to the Government of the U.S.A with a view to persuading the latter to take off the partial embargo on imports of natural rubber.

I understand that import control on natural rubber terminated in the United States on 31st March last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a list of articles of food and commodities of which the Government are the sole importers.

Following is the information:

• Cereals and flour
• Sugar.
• Oils and fats.
• Bacon and ham.
• Carcase meat.
• Dried egg.
• Butter.
• Cheese.
• Processed milk.
• Starch.
• Tea.
• Coffee.
• Raw cocoa.
• Dried fruit (except African dates).
• Edible nut kernels.
• Peels in brine.
• Animal feeding stuffs
• Dried onion.
• Citric acid.
• Tartaric acid.
• Cream of tartar.
• Frozen white fish.
• Canned fruit.
• Canned tomatoes.
• Citrus fruit (oranges, grapefruit and lemons).
• Eating apples.
• Bananas.
• Rice.
• Canned salmon.
• Canned pilchards.
• Canned sardines.
• Canned crayfish.
• Canned brisling.
• Canned sild.
• Canned crab.
• Ware potatoes.
• Timber (except for certain special types).
• Raw cotton.
• Flax.
• Raw jute and jute goods (from India).
• Hard and soft hemps.
• Cotton waste and linters.
• Kraft liner board.
• Building boards.
• Pulpwood.
• Woodpulp for paper-making.
• Esparto grass.
• Raw hides and calf skins.
• Raw goat skins.
• East Indian tanned kips.
• Tanning materials (with minor exceptions) Sulphur.
• Pyrites.
• Phosphate rock (for the making of fertilisers), basic slag, potash, nitrates, and manufactured fertilisers.
• Molasses.
• Ethyl alcohol.
• Acetone.
• Acetic acid.
• Acetic anhyclride.
• Butyl alcohol.
• Rosin.
• Liquid rosin.
• Turpentine.
• Pine oil.
• Tung oil.
• Oiticica oil.
• Manila copal.
• Caustic potash solid Casein.
• Chrome ore.
• Lead.
• Zinc.
• Copper (blister and electrolytic).
• Virgin aluminium.
• Pig iron.
• Steel.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the price at which the 64,000,000 yards of Japanese cotton textiles will be sold to merchants in Manchester; what profit His Majesty's Government expect to make; what profit the U.S. Government will make; and whether His Majesty's Government are paying dollars for these goods.

The cotton cloths imported from Japan for processing in this country and re-export to certain Empire territories were purchased from the United States Commercial Corporation at prices ranging from 6.96 pence to 16.81 pence per linear yard, f.o.b. Japanese port. They are being sold to merchants through the medium of British Overseas Cottons Ltd., at prices sufficient to cover the cost together with the expenses of shipment and other charges, plus a small charge for administration to be made by British Overseas Cottons. His Majesty's Government do not expect to make any profit on this transaction. The prices charged by the United States Commercial Corporation were based on U.S. prices then current for comparable goods and I am not in a position to say whether the Corporation itself or the Government of the United States will make a profit on the transaction. Payment for the purchase was made in dollars.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further consignments of Japanese cotton cloth are expected during the next 12 months; and if he will reconsider the policy of financing textile machinery in order to encourage British production and exports.

The question whether any further purchases should be made is under consideration. In reply to the second part of the Question, the recent offer of assistance in the moderisation of spinning mills was made to encourage British production and exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether His Majesty's Government are making representations to the U.S. Government to pr-vent the re-establishment of a large and efficient Japanese textile industry with low wages, which will undercut British prices in the world market.

It is not the policy to prevent the re-establishment of any Japanese industry except on grounds of security, but as stated by my right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary, in the Debate on 15th May, steps have been taken to raise wage standards in the Japanese textile industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which countries have banned totally or in part the importation of British motor cars; and if any representations have been made to the countries concerned regarding the removal of any bans.

I have no knowledge of any complete or partial ban on British cars as such. In many countries, as in the United Kingdom itself, the importation of motor cars from all sources is controlled by a system of import licences; and a number of these countries have found it necessary to impose severe limitations, in some cases amounting to a virtual prohibition, on imports of cars, especially those of a luxury type, in order to conserve their foreign exchange resources for more essential needs. In all cases the question of making representations is considered and opportunity taken in suitable cases by His Majesty's Representatives to negotiate with overseas Governments the best possible arrangements for United Kingdom export trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what experience and financial resources qualify the group, to whom he allocated the factories recently occupied by Grantham Productions, Limited, for the production of tractors; whether this group acquired the assets of the said company in open competition upon equal terms with other applicants for the factories; and what representations he received from the Grantham Town Council with regard to allocation.

We have had adequate assurances concerning the financial re- sources of the group which is taking over the existing organisation at Grantham. The assets were acquired from the liquidators, who were responsible for their proper disposal. The latest communication received from the Grantham Borough Council urged speedy allocation to some suitable applicant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many cotton mills, spinning and weaving, closed under the wartime concentration scheme, still remain closed; how many have been re-opened; and what are the numbers of spindles and looms, respectively, involved.

On 31st May, 136 reopened cotton spinning mills, containing 10½ million mule-equivalent spindles, were in production; three mills, containing 200,000 spindles, had notified their intention of re-opening but were not yet in production, and another 48 mills, containing nearly 2½ million spindles, were still closed. As regards weaving, 193 sheds, containing 82,000 looms, had been licensed to re-open and some 250 sheds containing 73,000 looms, still remained closed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications to date have been received by the Cotton Board from the spinning side of the textile industry for assistance under the Government's Reorganisation and Re-equipment Scheme for the Industry.

The first stage is to secure registration as an approved group, and up to 18th June the Cotton Board had received applications for registration from 13 groups.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused among the members of the Bristol City Planning Committee as a result of the severity of his pruning of their schemes submitted to him; and if he will reconsider his decision and give a clear definition of the planning policy he proposes to pursue, as far as the city of Bristol is concerned, in order that the planning committee may continue its work.

It is the case that I reduced the area which the City Council included in their Declaratory Order under Section of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1944, from 770 acres to 247 acres. I did so because an Order under that Section has to be related to war damage and I did not consider that I could properly affirm that the larger area was so related. But the effect of the Order is merely to make the land subject to compulsory purchase. It does not restrict the area for which the Council can prepare a plan; and the Town and Country Planning Bill will enable them to acquire any land in the city which they require for the purposes of the plan. Meanwhile the Council can, if they think fit, submit Compulsory Purchase Orders for all or any of the 247 acres which I have included in the Declaratory Order, and that is as much as they can possibly need in order to make an effective start.I did also reduce from 25 to five acres the area included by the Council in a Compulsory Purchase Order submitted under Section 2 (2) of the 1944 Act, since under that Section the acquisition has also to be related to war damage, and, further, I have to be satisfied that the land must be bought at once. As much of the area consisted of standing property which there was no immediate intention to demolish, I could not be so satisfied. Again, however, the Council have what they need to make an effective start. My policy is that every local authority should prepare a plan for its area and should set to work on the urgent work of reconstruction immediately, up to the limit which the available labour and materials allow; and I have given the City of Bristol every encouragement to do this.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning, whether he is aware of the growing concern in the Manchester area at the delay in determining the suitability or otherwise of Mobberley as a site for a new town; and whether he will now state what site he is prepared to approve as suitable for development to provide a solution for the urgent problem of housing in the city of Manchester.

As already announced, I have decided in the light of the geological evidence about the risk of subsidence that it would be unwise to establish a new town in the vicinity of Mobberley Village. The Local Authorities concerned have been kept fully informed of the progress of the borings and of the other inquiries which have been necessary.With regard to the second part of the Question, I expect to have a Report within the next few weeks on the practicability of a new town based on the Ollerton area, South-East of Knutsford. Possible sites elsewhere in Cheshire and also in Lancashire are being examined but inquiries have not yet reached the stage at which sites could he approved or rejected. I am anxious to reach an early settlement on the part which can be played by new towns in solving the housing problems of Manchester and the surrounding area, but I must point out that a new town or new towns cannot provide the whole solution. I am informed by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Health that there are sufficient sites already available to occupy the building resources of the City Council for some time to come.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will immediately investigate the case of Mr. George W. Lee, 38, George Street, Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, correspondence for which has been forwarded to him, as Mr. Lee has twice written to the Grimsby pension office for a new pension book, but has had no acknowledgment.

The hon. Member will no doubt have received my right hon. Friend's letter of 19th June about this matter.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when Mrs. Brooks, Brooklyn View, Lands Mount, Chevin End, Menston, pension No. 02574846, may expect to receive her increased old-age pension which was due in October last.

The hon. and gallant Member has, I think, been misinformed about this case. No pension could be paid to Mrs. Brooks before 11th December, when she reached the age of 60. A properly completed claim form on which pension could be awarded in this case was not produced to the Department until 23rd May, following a visit to the pensioner by one of my officers. Mrs. Brooks is now in possession of a pension order book at the r6s. rate and payment of arrears due will be completed on receipt of the necessary earnings declaration.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when Mrs. H. L. Wheatley, 104, Thornhill Street, Calverley, may expect to receive the increased pension which was due to her in October, 1946, details of which have been sent to him.

The earliest date from which Mrs. Wheatley could receive a pension is 12th December, 1946, when she reached the age of 60. Her claim for pension from this date was made on 18th February and has now been awarded at the 10s. rate. A pension order book at this rate has been issued and the pensioner informed that she is not entitled to the higher rate, as she cannot be treated as retired.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when pension No. 39554898, Mrs. Alice Anne Wensley, 163, Roberttown Lane, Liversedge, Yorkshire, who is insured in her own right, will receive the 26s. pension, to which she has been entitled since the first pay week in October, together with the arrears of payment due to her.

A pension order book at the rate of 26s., together with the arrears of pension due, was issued to Mrs. Wensley on 16th June.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what progress is being made with the setting up of local National Insurance offices throughout the country; and how many will be in existence by 5th July, 1948.

The number of local offices so far secured is in the neighbourhood of 600. The search for premises in the remaining places, some of which are towns of considerable size, is being vigorously pursued.

asked the Minister of transport why, on hoard the "Empire Trooper," en route from Southampton to Bombay in the month of May, whisky was sold to officers and troops at 15s. a bottle; and whether this whisky was in or out of bond.

The wartime ban on the sale of alcoholic liquor on troopships was removed as from 1st April, 1947. Subject to supplies being available, spirits may be sold out of bond to those entitled to them under Service Regulations. The total quantity sold must not exceed one bottle per head per month. The price of whisky is fixed for the time being, with the approval of my Ministry, at 1s. 3d. per glass of ⅓ of a gill, which is at the rate of 15s. per bottle. Whisky was sold on board the "Empire Trooper" in accordance with these regulations.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that officers, architects and surveyors are, at the request of his Department, being compelled to make detailed estimates of buildings and re-modelling of buildings for work which cannot be carried out within five years with consequent waste of time and effort; and if he will ask them to concentrate on five years' building plans in conformity, with the broad outlines of the development plans.

If the hon. Member has in mind work on development plans, most authorities have now submitted these. As required by Section 11 (2) (b) of the Education Act, 1944, the plans have to include estimates of the cost of alterations required to bring school premises up to the prescribed standard. I am prepared, as announced in paragraph 3 of Circular 90 in March, 1946, to consider plans in which at this stage, the estimates are limited to those voluntary schools in which the estimate is essential for the purpose of enabling the managers or governors to decide between aided and controlled status, leaving the estimates for the remaining schools to be made later. Further, in Circular 143 I have asked authorities to concentrate upon building projects which it is possible to carry out in 1947 and 1948. These projects have in fact been agreed with authorities and in many cases detailed plans have been approved.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities have now submitted their development plans; what action he is proposing to take with regard to them; and whether it is now intended to make local education orders in conformity with the 1944 Act.

One hundred and twenty-five local education authorities have now submitted development plans either in whole or instalments. These plans are being considered in my Department in consultation, where necessary, with the authorities concerned with a view to approval under Section 11 of the Education Act, 1944. The making of local education orders under Section 12 of the Act will be taken in hand after the expiry of the six months period allowed to managers and governors of voluntary schools under Section 15 (2) for the exercise of the options open to them as to the future status of the schools.

asked the Minister of Education what number and what percentage of all local education authorities have submitted their development plans at the latest date for which figures are available; the names of those authorities which have not yet submitted their plans; and the reasons for delay in any special cases.

One hundred and twenty-five local education authorities, or 85.6 per cent. of all local education authorities in England and Wales have now submitted development plans, in whole or instalments.Plans have not yet been submitted by the following authorities but I know from consultation that has taken place between authorities and officers of my Department that a number of plans may be expected shortly.

asked the Minister of Education, if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT an analysis of the proposed provision for secondary education in the development plans submitted up to the time of issuing Circular 144, giving the numbers of multilateral, bilateral, grammar, technical and modern schools, respectively; and the approximate numbers and percentages of pupils in England and Wales to be educated in each type of school.

The preparation of the analysis suggested by my hon. Friend would absorb a large amount of time and labour which can be more usefully employed at this stage in considering and approving the development plans, but I shall be prepared to consider the suggestion further when the plans have been approved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when his Department examined the tractors produced by Grantham Productions, Limted; and with what result.

Technical officers of my Department have been in touch with the development of this tractor since March, 1945, and have suggested modifications from time to time. The tractor was examined in detail on 26th February, 1946, and a demonstration seen. It was reported to be satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what items of agricultural machinery were returned to the U.S.A. on the s.s. "Eucadia" when the dockers refused to unload the ship in Glasgow and Liverpool last March and April, respectively; and what steps are being taken to reimport them into this country.

I am informed that two crawler tractors were amongst the cargo and that these were brought back by the s.s. "Eucadia" on her next voyage. I do not know of any other agricultural machinery on board.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) whether he will take steps to secure the manufacture of automatic electric toasters in the United Kingdom, or allow the importation of such toasters from the U.S.A.;(2) whether he will take steps to secure the manufacture of electric razors in the United Kingdom, or allow the importation of such razors from the U.S.A and Switzerland.

As these articles cannot be regarded as an urgent need, any substantial importation from hard currency sources is out of the question at the present time. Since they will, however, be much in demand in the future, a number of licences to manufacture have been issued, and we are pressing manufacturers to develop their production, mainly at present for the purposes of export.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the handicap imposed on industry by the time required for delivery of printing machinery which is from one and a half to three years according to the type of machine; to what extent this is due to exports of such machinery; and whether he will make a statement.

Delay in the delivery of these machines is due in part to the shortage of steel. In deciding the export quota account has to be taken of the needs of British printers on the one hand and of the necessity of establishing and maintaining overseas markets on the other. The present quota is reasonable and is reviewed from time to time in conjunction with my right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the names of the present chairman and Council of the Scottish Special Housing Association.

The chairman of the Association is Mr. A. G. McBain, C.A., and the members of the Council of Management are as follow:

• J. McBoyle, Esq.
• G. R. McIntosh, Esq.
• Miss M. W. McLaughlin.
• W. Grierson MacMillan, Esq
• T. Paterson, Esq., J.P
• P. J. G. Rose, Esq.
• Rev. W. C V. Smith.
• J. Stirling, Esq., B.Com., B.L., A.S.A.A.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that, in the course of their fire-watching duties, engine-room artificers on board H.M.S. "Berwick" are being misemployed; and if he will take steps to stop this practice.

The commanding officer, H.M.S. "Berwick," is responsible for the provision of fire parties for a number of isolated ships lying in Fareham Creek. Normally, each party would be in the charge of a chief or petty officer of the stoker or seaman branch, but an engine-room artificer would be included in his technical capacity. At present, however, there are not enough chief or petty officer stoker mechanics to take charge of all the parties, and it is necessary to use engine-room artificers for this duty in their turn. I do not consider that engine-room artificers are misemployed in being required to perform this duty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on the use of Tudor aircraft on the North American routes.

Pending completion of the modifications programme now being carried out on the Tudor I, it is not possible to assess its operational uses on the North Atlantic route. The Tudor II was not designed for the North Atlantic route.

asked the Minister of Health from what organisations he has invited nominations to the Manchester Regional Hospital Board; from what organisations he has received nominations; and what nominations he has accepted.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a circular letter which sets out the bodies consulted in connection with the constitution of Regional Hospital Boards. Almost all these bodies and a number of others have made suggestions to me. I hope shortly to make an order appointing the boards and publishing the names of their members.

asked the Minister of Health for how many, and which, of the parishes in the Kettering Division which, on the 28th March, 1946, were without, or substantially without, piped water supply, such supplies have now been provided; and if he will make a statement naming the parishes concerned, on the progress of the schemes which have been prepared or were in course of preparation on and after that date, including the joint scheme for the exploitation of a source at Pitsford.

Of the thirty-nine parishes in question in the Kettering Division, Geddington, Newton and Weldon have been provided with a supply; work in Hannington, Scaldwell, Walgrave, Halcot and Old is in progress and a supply is expected to be available shortly; work in Little Oakley is expected to begin when work on this scheme is completed; a scheme for Welford, Suiby, Sibbertoft, Clipston, Great Oxendon and East Farndon has received my final approval; the starting date depends upon the completion of arrangements for the acquisition of land; a scheme comprising Lamport, Draughton and Maidwell has received my approval—the starting date cannot be decided until information is furnished of the labour and materials required; a scheme for Harrington, Loddington and Orton has received my approval and will be allotted a starting date very shortly; a scheme including Hollowell, Ravensthorpe, Holdenby, Guilsborough, Cold Ashby, Thornby, Naseby, and Hazel-beach, is now being reconsidered by the Brixworth Rural District Council with a view to its being made more economical in cost and materials, and in the light of the general future schemes for the county of Northampton.The remainder will be considered with the joint scheme for the development of the Pitsford reservoir which has been the subject of complicated local negotiations. I am informed that these are now nearing completion and that it is hoped that the scheme will shortly be submitted to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of depots and stores in use by his Department and the number of persons employed, indicating how many are service and how many civilian personnel; and how many of these depots or stores were in use as such prior to the war.

There are at present 128 Royal Air Force storage and repair depots in the United Kingdom, at which 36,448 members of the Royal Air Force and 30,954 civilians are employed. Before the war there were 61 similar depots.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to make public the report of the Home Office Inquiry, held in November, 1946, into the conduct of the Chief Constable of Hull; and whether he will also publish the evidence which was given at the inquiry.

No. Copies of the report have been supplied to the Watch Com- mittee of Hull, who are the authority responsible by law for the disciplinary control of the Police Force, and to the Chief Constable, and I do not propose to give the report any further circulation.