asked the Minister of Health when Defence Regulation 33B is likely to lapse; what number of those examined under the Regulation under one and two notifications and for men and women, respectively, were found to be infected; and whether he has instructed health visitors to trace vaguely-described persons notified anonymously under the Regulation.

The regulation is due to expire at the end of this year. I regret

The answer is as follows:that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available. With regard to the third part, it is the responsibility of local authorities through the health visitors or otherwise to prevent the spread of infection by using any information available to trace suspected contacts.

asked the Minister of Health what women's organisations act in an advisory capacity to his Department.

Women serve on Advisory Committees set up by my Department but women's organisations as such do not act in an advisory capacity. When particular problems are under investigation steps are taken to obtain evidence and views from women's organisations both of a general and of a specialised character.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent it is proposed to obtain equipment and supplies for hospitals under the National Health Service by centralised purchase, in place of the present system of purchase by individual hospitals; and whether a similar policy will be applied to installation and maintenance services.

Hospital equipment and supplies cover a wide range. For some items, there may be advantage in central purchase. But where present methods of supply and servicing are working satisfactorily it is not proposed, at the outset of the new service, to interfere with them. For the time being central purchase will be limited to major equipment which is in short supply, and various other items which may be found to lend themselves to central purchase on grounds of economy or better efficiency.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases have been considered since its inception, to the nearest convenient day, by the Willesden rent tribunal; what is the number of cases in which the tribunal reduced the rent payable by tenants; the number of cases in which rents were increased; and what are the approximate percentages of increase or decrease.

The numbers up to 31st May last are as follow: 261; 188; nil; and 36 per cent.

asked the Minister of Education whether any local education authorities are exhibiting any reluctance to engage teachers trained in the emergency colleges; and whether such teachers are finding any difficulties in being placed in their own counties.

I am not aware that any local education authorities are reluctant to engage teachers trained in emergency colleges. A number of men are unable immediately they leave college to find posts within daily travelling distance of their homes, but this is the only. serious difficulty of which I have knowledge.

asked the Minister of Education the number of local education authorities who have adopted, and are carrying out, schemes for the provision of clothing to pupils who are unable, by reason of the inadequacy of their clothing, to take full advantage of the education provided in accordance with Section 51 of the Education Act, 1944.

My right hon. Friend's approval is not required to the exercise by local education authorities of their powers under Section 51. The information asked for is, therefore, not available.

asked the Lord President of the Council if a national plan is being prepared for industry, plans for each industry and targets; if it is intended that they shall be submitted to each industry for democratic discussion and to enable interested people to make a contribution; and when it is intended that the plans shall be worked to.

I would draw the attention of my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 27th March, about the appointment and duties of the Chief Planning Officer, which include the preparation of a long term plan for the use of the country's manpower and resources. The work on this plan has already begun and industry will be intimately associated with it through the Economic Planning Board, which is being set up and will be meeting shortly. Both sides of industry are represented on the Economic Planning Board, and arrangements will be made to ensure that there is the widest degree of consultation with industrial interests generally.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that hotels and boarding-houses in the northeast of Scotland are experiencing great difficulty in obtaining adequate domestic help; and whether any decision has yet been reached as to whether foreigners are to be permitted to come to this country to take up domestic employment in catering establishments of this kind.

I am aware of the difficulty in finding additional domestic staff for hotels and boarding houses but it is not possible at present to supply foreign workers for the purpose. The needs of such essential industries as textiles, clothing and agriculture and those of hospitals and private households suffering serious hardship must first be more nearly met. Polish women already in this country can, however, take this work.

asked the Minister at Labour what further steps he is contemplating taking to ascertain the probable future demands of Government Departments, industry research and teaching, upon the scientific and technological manpower of the country.

Yes. At my right hon. Friend's request Lord Hankey has agreed that the Technical Personnel Committee which under his chairmanship performed valuable services during the war in assessing the demand and supply in science and technology should institute a number of detailed inquiries of the kind referred to. These inquiries are being conducted by specially appointed panels representative of all the interests concerned, and the results will be published in due course. It might be added that at the request of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy recently appointed by my right hon. Friend the Lord President under the Chairmanship of Sir Henry Tizard, a survey is also about to he made of the existing manpower in the country in the fields of science and professional engineering. This survey will be carried cut by the Technical and Scientific Branch of our Department with the assistance of the appropriate scientific bodies and professional institutions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the reference in the Wool Industry Working Party Report to the interest of the textile trade in Sweden in the proper assessment of work load, and the fact that trade unions in other countries am also keenly interested in this problem, he will arrange for the publication in an early issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette of an informative article on the information which is available on this subject with regard to textile industries overseas.

This is a very technical subject and I am afraid the information available in my Department of the position in various countries overseas is not sufficiently informative to justify publication in the Gazette as suggested.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will instruct the British Government delegates at the present session of the I.L.O. Conference to oppose the acceptance of the credentials of the Greek trades unions delegates not recognised by the W.F.T.U.

No

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent permanent civil servants are permitted to take an active part in the work of professional bodies such as those which specialise in protecting and advancing the interests of professional men and women in the field of engineering, medicine, architecture, etc.; and what are the present rules on this subject.

Civil servants are free to take part in the work of professional bodies, provided that their official work does not suffer and that they show a reasonable discretion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has made, or intends to make, an order to invalidate clothing coupons of the early issues.

An order will be made in due course in accordance with the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton (Mr. Paget) on 3rd June.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make available the "Industrial Ten" coupons to Ministry of Labour management staff whose duties require him to be constantly in the workshops in Ministry of Labour training centres.

No request on these lines had previously reached my Department and, in general, managers do not get the "Industrial Ten." I should, of course, be ready to consider any submission made to me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider amending the regulations with a view to reducing the requisite number of hours to be worked by women, on part-time, before they are able to qualify for an issue of 10 industrial clothing coupons, in order to encourage the return of women to industry.

Yes. I already have this matter under review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied with the preparations being made for the mounting of the exhibition "Enterprise Scotland" in Edinburgh.

Yes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the urgent need for more edible gelatine to assist in providing greater variety in food dishes, he can now see his way to allow increased imports of this commodity and thus permit larger consumer licences to be granted.

Import licences for gelatine are granted freely subject to a price ceiling agreed with importers. I have recently received representations from importers for the removal of the ceiling, but I am not satisfied on the evidence that this would mean any appreceable increase in imports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that blind workers are experiencing difficulties in obtaining supplies of worsted yarn; and whether anything will be done to improve the position, particularly for blind persons engaged in their own homes.

I asked manufacturers some months ago to give all possible assistance to blind persons in obtaining supplies, and I am not aware that they are having difficulty in obtaining their requirements. Supplies of worsted yarn generally are scarce owing to the lack of skilled labour in the wool industry and the effects of the fuel crisis early this year, but output is now increasing and I hope the position will shortly improve.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why single persons who, through force of circumstances, are compelled to set up house for the first time, are still denied priority dockets and permits for household furnishings and utility furniture; whether he is aware of the hardship so caused to a relatively small number of people; and whether he will now arrange for them to be included in the categories of people entitled to be considered for the issue of such priority dockets and permits.

To extend the scheme for utility furniture and household furnishings on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend would increase the demand beyond the point where it could be met out of current resources and cannot be contemplated at present. The needs of single people are normally less urgent than those of the present priority classes, but in very exceptional circumstances their applications are sympathetically considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the visit recently paid to the U.S.A. by a deputation consisting of representatives of the National Joint Industrial Council for the rubber-manufacturing industry and of the carbon-black importers, arranged after consultation with his Department; and what increase in supplies of this commodity can be expected during the next six months as a result of this visit and other representations made by his Department.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the report made by the Mission which consisted of representatives of the rubber-manufacturing industry and of the carbon black importers. As a result of their discussions with producers in the United States, shipments of carbon black to the United Kingdom will increase from 1st July and possibly earlier. They should be in sufficient quantity to cover the requirements of United Kingdom consumers and allow the gradual accumulation of stocks. I am glad to take this opportunity of thanking the Mission for their valuable work.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that from 1020 until 1946, we spent 68,000,000 dollars on carbon black imported from the U.S.A.; that at the present rate of consumption this would amount to 176,000,000 dollars for a similar period; and what steps he has already taken in order to minimise the expenditure of available dollars on the purchase of this commodity essential for the tyre industry

An Interdepartmental Committee is investigating the possibilities of producing imported types of carbon black in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to increase the supply of floorboards for housing construction, the lack of which is causing delay in some cases.

Timber suitable for floor hoards has been included in the Timber Control's purchases from Scandinavia and the quantities available will increase, following the opening of the Baltic shipping season. If the hon. Member has any specific cases of delay in mind and will let me have the details I shall be glad to look into them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to remove the restrictions by which licences to import Jamaican cigars are still limited to traders on a quota basis of their prewar imports.

Yes. Though imports of Jamaican cigars are still restricted the quota has recently been increased, and it is now possible to allow the issue of licences to traders who did not import before the war.

asked trio Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been made by His Majesty's Government to the Uruguayan Government on the proposal of the latter Government to expropriate British assets in Uruguay.

No such proposal has recently been made.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the percentage of wastage of opencast coal between the sites and the consumer or merchant; and how this compares with deep-mined coal.

Figures for wastage of opencast coal between site and consumer are not available, but this wastage is not likely to differ materially from that between site and merchant which amounts to about 4 per cent. The wastage involved in converting deep-mined coal, as raised and weighed, into saleable coal amounts to about 6 per cent.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why allocations to coal merchants are based on nine-tenths of a hundredweight per week per registration, in view of the fact that merchants have been instructed to lay down stocks equal to 12½ per cent. of each week's allocation, and, as they have to meet customers' demands for the hundredweight weekly to which they believe themselves entitled in Scotland and which is needed owing to more severe weather than in the South, if he will provide more coal for merchants in Scotland.

Nine-tenths of a hundredweight per registration per week was the amount of house coal estimated to be available for the six months May to October when the summer programme was framed, and allocations to merchants in Scotland were accordingly fixed on that basis. After laying down stocks equivalent to 12½ per cent. of the allocation the amount available for distribution would approximate closely to 20 hundredweight per registration it the allocation were received in full. This is the maximum permitted quantity which may be acquired by householders in Scotland without licence during the period, although when additional supplies to premises having special needs have been met, the average would be rather less. Receipts, unfortunately, fell below allocation in the first few weeks of the programme but steps have been taken which it is hoped will improve the position. Provision has been made for an increased allocation in next winter's programme, but I regret that supplies do not permit of any increase during the summer.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the existence of extensive slag heaps in South Wales which still contain a large proportion of combustible coal; and, in view of the increasing difficulty of meeting the demands for this commodity, the availability of many unemployed in the neighbourhood and the opportunities existing for screening and washing, he will further explore the possibilities of utilising it.

I am aware that there is some usable coal in pit-heaps, although the quantities are usually not large and the National Coal Board arrange for the recovery wherever practicable of coal from tips that have vested in the Board. While I am making inquiries about disused, privately owned tips, it must be realised that in general there is no spare screening and washing capacity.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the dissatisfaction among boiler-firemen in the spinning industry owing to the low grade fuel which imposes great physical strain on the men; and what steps he is taking to improve this position.

Yes. The matter was brought to my attention early in May. Consignments of inferior coal are occasionally unavoidable in present circumstances owing to shortage of labour and machinery for sorting and preparing the coal before distribution. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. and gallant Member for Totnes (Brigadier Rayner) on 19th June.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the Crook Co-operative Society, County Durham, are having great difficulty in obtaining candles for their customers, many of whom are miners; and, as this is causing undue anxiety, if he will endeavour, as early as possible, to improve the supply position.

I am aware that shops in many areas cannot get all the candles they require for their customers. There is a worldwide shortage of wax, and the quantity of wax allocated to candle manufacture has had to be reduced. I fear that it will not be possible to increase these allocations until the supply position improves.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many power stations in Great Britain are using the same type of low-grade oil fuel as is proposed to be used in the power station to be erected at Bankside.

The first part of the new Bankside generating station will not be in operation for some three years and it is too early to say definitely what type of fuel oil will be used. The plant is, however, being designed to be capable of burning low grade oil fuels which have not so far been used at any other generating station in this country.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement of Government policy for the export of steel products covering structural steel, foundry equipment and material-handling equipment and machinery, particularly in view of the present instructions to limit the export of certain of these products to a definite percentage of capacity and the refusal to allocate steel for export, except in certain special cases, for periods III and IV of the present year.

Government policy is to make as large a contribution as possible from all industries to the export drive while assuring to home industry essential supplies for their re-equipment and development. The percentage of foundry equipment exported is low. Structural steelwork is exported almost entirely for projects of urgent importance to our own economy. The various allocations are periodically reviewed as supplies are assessed. The issue of allocations is now being resumed in the light of the expectation of the improved supplies of coal to the steel industry.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what women's organisations act in an advisory capacity to his Department.

I assume that the hon. Member has primarily in mind advice given on the Gas and Electricity Economy Campaign. In addition to the 17 women's organisations of which a list was circulated with my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) on 1st May, 18 other women's organisations were also represented at a meeting held in my Department on 22nd May. This meeting re-appointed a small advisory committee which had been elected at a previous meeting, and on which the Women's Voluntary Services, the National Federation of Women's Institutes, the Women's Co-operative Guild, the Electrical Association for Women, the Women's Gas Council, and the Women's Advisory Council on Solid

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of acres under soft fruit for each of the years 1939 to the latest available date.

The area under soft fruit in England and Wales was 47,212 acres in 1939 and 31,796 acres in 1946, the latest year for which figures are available. Following is a statement giving the detailed acreages for each crop in these years and the intervening years:Fuel are represented. In addition, many other women's organisations are from time to time consulted by my Department.

asked the Minister of Food what is the saving in subsidies as a result of the increased prices of cocoa, chocolate, milk and tea.

The estimated savings in subsidies during the financial year 1947/48 are, for milk £15 million and for tea £6¼ million. There is no subsidy on cocoa or chocolate.

asked the Minister of Food what is the total staff of his Department in the county of Fife.

The total Ministry A Food staff stationed in the administrative County of Fife on 1st June was 129.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will explain the delay, since December, 1946, in paying her pension to Mrs. Pitcairn, 1 Church Drive, West Wickham, Kent; in view of the fact that Mrs. Pitcairn died on 30th May, if her family are entitled to the arrears; and if he will take disciplinary action against the official, or officials, concerned.

A book at the 26s. rate for this pensioner was sent to the local post office in October last but did not reach her. The case was cleared without undue delay after Mrs. Pitcairn's daughter had brought the matter to the notice of the Department in April through the local machinery of the Assistance Board. I regret, however, that the appropriate book only arrived after the pensioner's death. Arrears due will now be paid to the estate as soon as the necessary application has been received. The failure to deal with the case correctly at an earlier date was due in part of the heavy congestion of work at the central pensions office at that time and in part to the fact that the pensioner was asking for a renewal of a 10s. book when, according to the Department's records, a 26s. book had been issued current to December, 1947.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what Colonies have received imports of Japanese textiles; and to what amount.

The Colonial territories which have so far received imports of Japanese textiles, together with the amounts imported, are: Malayan Union, 4,130,000 yards; Singapore, 1,126,937 yards; North Borneo (including Brunei), 780,000 yards; Sarawak, 560,000 yards; Hong Kong, 4,327,204 yards.

asked the Minister of Pensions what number of men discharged from the Forces since June, 1945, suffer- ing from tuberculosis, have since had their pensions reduced.

I regret that the information required could be obtained only by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of time and labour on the scrutiny of some 13,000 cases, including released cases and post-discharge claims as well as invalided cases, in which awards have been made in respect of tuberculosis since June, 1945.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what is the number of children of school age at the settlements of North-West River and Goose Bay, respectively, in Labrador; and what steps have been taken to provide them with education.

Some 47 children have been in attendance at the school at Goose Bay Airport and 105 at the school at North West River. As regards the school building at Goose Bay, the growth of the community in the neighbourhood of the airport indicates that there will next year be scope for a larger school. One well qualified teacher has already been engaged by the Newfoundland Government, and if the occasion warrants a second teacher will be appointed. The school at North-West River is under the auspices of the International Grenfell Association, and children attend not only from the settlement itself but also from the surrounding area. Plans have been made to expand the school.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what report has been received from the Control Council in Berlin regarding the size of the occupation forces to be retained in Germany after 1st September, 1947, by the four major occupying Powers.

Since it has not yet been possible to reach agreement on this question, the Control Council has decided that each delegation should refer to its Government for further instructions, on receipt of which discussion of the matter will be resumed

asked the Postmaster-General how many mail-bags containing registered and ordinary mail, respectively, have been lost on the railways since 1st January, 1946.

with reference to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th June, 1947; Vol. 439, c. 57], made the following amended reply:For the period 1st January, 1946, to 11th June, 1947, a total of 1,384 mailbags (of which 1,346 contained registered items) which were conveyed by rail for part of their journey are recorded as missing, but it cannot be said with certainty that all these losses occurred on the railways. The figure represents about 001 per cent. of the total number of mail-bags despatched by rail during this period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if supplies of potash fertilisers to farmers will continue to be subject to control in the coming fertiliser season.

After careful consideration of the potash supply prospects for the 1947–48 fertiliser year, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have decided that all restrictions now in force on the acquisition and use of potassic fertilisers shall be withdrawn as from 1st July next.