asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on how many days during last winter was flying to and from the Guernsey aerodrome impossible owing to the wet clay nature of the surface; and if the Government of Guernsey have any plans for the improvement of this aerodrome.

I have been asked to reply. I am informed that during the period from November of last year to April last—a period of exceptionally heavy rainfall—flying for the scheduled passenger services at this aerodrome was impossible or undesirable for 63 days because of the wet nature of the surface of the runways. Plans for the improvement of the airport, based on expert advice, are shortly to be considered by the States of Guernsey.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will seek information from the Government of Jersey as to how many unfilled craters there are within 100 yards of the Jersey aerodrome; and if it is the intention of the Government of Jersey to fill up the crater which caused the accident to the charter aircraft on Saturday, 14th June.

I have been asked to reply, I am informed that there were a number of craters near the aerodrome caused by the excavation of hut sites. Three craters remain but are scheduled for refilling.

asked the Minister of Supply if any storage space is available in any of the Government's former munition works or factories for storing Government surplus paints and varnishes pending its disposal.

No additional storage space is required for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Defence if he is aware that claims against the Army, Royal Navy and R.A.F. by Messrs. Paskoe, Limited, of Singapore, have now been outstanding for more than a year; and when he expects that payment will be made.

Yes. These claims relate to the period before the fall of Singapore in February, 1942. I am assured that, subject only to the necessity to verify the accuracy and validity of claims of this kind, every endeavour is being made by the Service Departments to effect early settlements of these and other outstanding claims. The hon. Member will however, appreciate that the absence of a great deal of the material evidence involves considerable delay before final settlements can be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for War, how many men have been discharged from the Army, suffering from tuberculosis, between September, 1939, and June, 1945, and June, 1945, and the present time respectively.

The figures are as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the reason for the resignation of the trade union adviser at Singapore; and if he is now able to furnish a report on the results, from the industrial, social and political points of view, of the first year's experience in the attempt to encourage the trade union movement in Malaya.

Mr. Garrett's resignation was voluntary. I have not been informed whether he gave any grounds for it. As regards the second part of the Question, I am asking the Governors of both Singapore and the Malayan Union for more information regarding the efforts made in the past year to encourage trade unionism, and I will write to the hon Member when I have their replies

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he is aware that there are many Anglo-Indians who are now considering leaving India for one of the Dominions; and if any scheme of assistance is being arranged with Australia, Canada, or New Zealand to suitable Anglo-Indian emigrants from India.

No information is available regarding the number of Anglo-Indians who may be considering leaving India for any one of the Dominions. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Food the number of meals consumed in catering establishments in Sheffield, industrial canteens, public cafes, etc., but excluding civic restaurants and schools, for 12 months up to the most convenient date.

The number of meals consumed in catering establishments are not totalled separately for each food office area, because of the manpower shortage. To make a special investigation for Sheffield would take an amount of time and labour which I could justify only if there were exceptional reasons for it.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the f.o.b. price per case of sweet oranges from Jamaica is 17s.; that the approximate total cost delivered to market, including insurance, freight and handling charges, is approximately 25s. 4d.; that his Department's price to the United Kingdom wholesaler is 41s., representing a profit to his Department of approximately 15s. 7d. or 61 per cent.; and on what grounds he justifies this high price to the consumer in this country bearing in mind that the producers receive only 6s. per package.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) on 25th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the exact nature of the penicillin tests for which the Medical Research Council needs cats; and whether the experiments will be performed under anæsthesia or not.

I have been asked to reply. There has been some misapprehension about the request for help in connection with the supply of cats, which was made to the National Farmers' Union with the authority of the Medical Research Council. These animals will be needed not specially for any penicillin research, but to assist British manufacturers of streptomycin to test the drug for freedom from its chief impurity, histamine. The tests are made under anæsthesia.