asked the Minister of Labour whether the is aware that many employers in the building trade do not consider that Government-trained ex-Service men have sufficient knowledge of the trade when they leave the training centres; and whether, in view of this, the will consider extending the period of the courses to ensure more thorough training.

No. My information is that employers in general are very satisfied with the standard reached by trainees during their six months' course, allowing for the fact that they still have fourteen months' training to do with employers on the job. If the hon. and gallant Member will let me have details of specific complaints I will be glad to inquire into them.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent employment has varied, in the nearest convenient period, by comparison with 1945 and 1938, in the Development areas, London and Greater London areas, respectively.

Estimates cannot be made for any date later than mid-1946. The following figures show the estimated percentage increase or decrease in the number of insured persons in employment at that date compared with mid-1938 and mid-1945 in London, Greater London and the Development areas.

asked the Minister of Labour if the will give figures of employment and unemployment, suitably classified, to the nearest convenient date, as compared with a year ago, for the principal industries in the High Wycombe area.

The available statistics relate to persons insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts. The numbers insured are ascertained once a year in respect of the beginning of July, but the figures for 1947 are not yet available. I will, however, send them to my hon. Friend at the earliest moment. The following table gives the estimated numbers of insured men and women in employment in the area of the High Wycombe employment exchange at mid-1946, distinguishing the principal industries, together with the numbers registered as unemployed in June, 1946, and June, 1947.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of skilled and unskilled building trade operatives employed in the High Wycombe borough and rural areas, classified into British and foreign.

At mid-1946, the latest date for which figures are at present available it is estimated that there were approximately 780 insured men aged 18 and under 65 classified as employed in the building industry in the area of the High Wycombe employment exchange, of whom 470 were building craftsmen (carpenters, bricklayers, slaters, plasterers, painters, plumbers, gasfitters, etc.), 270 were labourers, and 40 were other workers, including clerical and administrative staffs. Separate figures are not available for British and foreign workers.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take over the demarcation disputes between engineers and plumbers about the bending of pipes which are holding up the completion of new ships.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to recent stoppages of work arising from an inter-union difference at the Edinburgh establishment of Messrs. Munro and Miller. I am glad to say that work has now been resumed and that joint discussions are proceeding between the unions concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much gilt-edged stock was purchased by the Government broker during the month preceding the 2½ per cent. Treasury Stock issue last October; and what is the comparable figure for June, 1947.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a similar point on 15th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum in dollars by way of commission the importation of U.S. motor cars during the last 12 months has made available to this country.

Very few motor cars were imported from the U.S.A. during the last 12 months. I have no information as to what dollars, if any, were earned for this country by way of commission on such cars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why qualified scientists on production duties in the Ministry of Supply and the Admiralty are excluded from the benefits of the White Paper of September, 1945, on Reorganisation and Recruitment, while those with exactly similar qualifications on laboratory duties in other Departments receive the benefits of the White Paper scales.

Staff in the Government Service are classified according to the work on which they are engaged; and the work described in the first part of the Question is not appropriate to the Scientific Classes.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the names of the 18 Government Departments which make purchases of the publications of the Bureau of Current Affairs.

The Departments are:Admiralty, Air Ministry, Assistance Board, Cabinet Offices, Central Office of Information, Civil Service Commission, Colonial Office, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Food, Foreign Office, Home Office, Inland Revenue, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of National Insurance, Post Office, Ministry of Supply, Ministry of Transport, Treasury, War Office, Ministry of Works.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the is aware that His Majesty's Stationery Office, Edinburgh, has a long waiting list of applicants for copies of S.R. & O., 1947, Nos. 1246 and 1248 and relative Schedules; and what steps the is taking to overcome this shortage.

There has been a temporary shortage of copies. It has now been overcome.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the Chinese Government is withholding the payment of interest on British loans while paying interest on subsequent loan's from the U.S.A.; and what steps are being taken to re-establish payment in order of priority.

Interest due on moneys advanced by His Majesty's Government to the Chinese Government is being paid regularly. I understand that the question of resumption of payment on Chinese public issues in sterling, which like the rest of China's external market debt, have been in default since 1939, has been raised by the Chinese Bondholders' Committee with the Chinese authorities.

asked the Minister of Health if the is yet in a position to make a statement regarding the Government's intentions for the implemenation of the recommendations of the Hobhouse Committee on Rural Housing.

Yes. The Government have given careful consideration to the question of the improvement of existing houses, in relation to the housing programme. They remain of opinion that for the present the most urgent need is to concentrate on the building of new houses as much labour and materials as can be made available. They intend, however, to include in their housing programme provision for the improvement of existing houses and to make available financial assistance to local authorities in town and country for approved proposals (whether carried out by the local authority or by other persons) in order to secure work of a good standard and accommodation at approved rents. Proposals will be worked out in detail in consultation with the associations of local authorities and legislation will be introduced so that facilities may be available as soon as the situation in regard to labour and materials justifies this expansion of the programme.

asked the Minister of Health if the is aware that it is estimated that there are upwards of 7,000 rural cottages condemned, many of which possess considerable architectural beauty and could be restored by qualified architects at half the cost of new building; and what steps the is prepared to take to avoid this needless waste of materials and money.

No. In any case I have no power to rescind demolition orders once made and do not propose to seek such power. I would however refer the hon. Member to Circular 61/47, of which I am sending him a copy, which deals with demolition of unfit houses.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have direct labour schemes; and the cost at which they are building traditional houses.

The number is 145. Information regarding the cost is not at present available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the extent of the delay in building houses and flats in Liverpool, due to the shortage of cement.

Shortage of cement has no doubt contributed to delay in house building in Liverpool, but it would be difficult to measure its effect precisely.

asked the Minister of Health if the will consider the position of tenants whose dwelling-houses have been destroyed by enemy action and who have been refused possession when the houses have been rebuilt, with a view to protecting such property.

I would refer to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for East Harrow (Mr. Skinnard) on 20th March.

asked the Minister of Health whether a complete investigation has been carried out to ascertain the extent and location of the housing requirements in rural areas to meet the needs of the increased permanent labour force needed on the land; and, if not, whether the intends to take any measures in this connection

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to Circulars 64 of 1944 and 25 of 1946, of which I am sending him copies.

asked the Minister of Health if the will give the number of local authorities who have home-help schemes in operation.

At 31st March, 1946, the latest date for which figures are available, 293 authorities in England and Wales had home-help schemes in operation.

asked the Minister of Health why Staffordshire has no official medical representation on Regional Hospital Board No. 12, Birmingham; and why the has accepted only three of the six nominations put forward by the medical profession for this board.

It has never been intended that the members of boards should be delegate representatives of particular areas or particular interests. They are persons appointed as a team for their knowledge and experience, after consulting the various professional and other bodies. This board of 29 members, includes eight medical men, of whom two were suggested by the University, four by medical professional bodies and one by a hospital body. I am satisfied that this provides a proper balance of medical knowledge and experience.

asked the Minister of Health whether the will make a further statement about the spread of infantile paralysis; and what steps the is taking to combat it.

For the week ending 26th July the number of notified cases is expected to be not less than 300, compared with 177 in the week before, and with the highest recorded weekly figure of 85 in previous years. Cases are occurring in many different parts of the country, and there is nothing to suggest any outbreak of epidemic proportions spreading from one centre. The disease is particularly difficult to control because it is not always identifiable in cases of mild and indefinite illness, and because it may be harboured by perfectly healthy carriers whom it is impracticable to recognise. I have caused the fullest available information about the present incidence of the disease, and about such measures as can be taken towards controlling it, to be published in the medical Press and to be sent to every medical officer of health in the country. I shall not fail to draw the attention of doctors and, if necessary, the public to any further steps which my medical advisers may come to feel would be of value in the treatment or control of this disease.

asked the Minister of Health whether in view of the need to recruit nursing staff for hospitals, the will issue an instruction to local authorities to regard the Rushcliffe scale for nurses as a minimum and to call their attention to the fact that they may, if they desire, pay nurses more than this minimum.

No. The Rushcliffe scales are intended as a standard and not as a minimum.

asked the Minister of Health what advice or instructions the has given in respect of the degree of priority to be accorded to the conversion to a tuberculosis sanatorium of the St. Walstan's, formerly Brick Bans Hospital, Malvern Wells.

I have asked the Ministry of Works, who are responsible for carrying out the conversion, to give this scheme the highest possible priority among health projects.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of diphtheria and deaths from that disease were recorded in Bradford, Yorkshire, in each of the years 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945 and 1946.

The civilian cases notified in Bradford numbered 352, 563, 695, 432 and 143, respectively; the deaths of resident civilians numbered 7, 18, 16, 23, and 8, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health if the will give the dates of the occurrence of the smallpox cases at Sheffield and the date or dates on which any of the cases had been vaccinated.

The three cases referred to occurred respectively on 9th, 19th and 20th May, 1947. The first was an un-vaccinated boy: the other two, who were his adult relatives, were vaccinated for the first time on 9th May, 1947, when the boy was found to have smallpox.

asked the Minister of Health on what date did the first case of smallpox at Scunthorpe enter hospital; and when was his illness recognised as smallpox.

This patient was admitted to the infectious diseases hospital as a case of chickenpox on 25th March. Smallpox was diagnosed through laboratory tests on 1st April and the case was transferred to a smallpox hospital.

asked the Minister of Health when the proposes to introduce legislation to provide for the abolition of identity cards.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 24th April to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Derby (Mr. Champion).

asked the Minister of Education by what body part-time teachers are selected to conduct university and tutorial classes at adult educational institutions under L.C.C. control; what powers the exercises over the selecting body; what steps are taken to ensure adequate representation of the interests of the L.C.C. institutions affected; and what machinery exists to deal with disputes arising between the selecting body and these L.C.C. institutions.

The selection of part-time lecturers and tutors is made by the appropriate committees of the university which are responsible for the arrangements in concurrence with the London County Council. I do not exercise powers over the selection except through the normal inspection of classes by His Majesty's inspectors. The London County Council take financial responsibility for these classes and are represented on the university committees concerned, but I am not aware that the institutions are directly represented. I know of no necessity for any special machinery for dealing with disputes between the University and the L.C.C. who control the institutions, and I am assured that no disputes have arisen.

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the urgent need for married women in industry, what progress has been made with plans for setting up further nursery schools.

The Government campaign for the recruitment of women into industry is not specifically directed towards bringing in those with young children. If, however, there is a need for additional accommodation in a particular area I am prepared to consider with the local education authority what can be done to meet it.

asked the Minister of Education whether the is satisfied with the present recruitment of graduate teachers for secondary schools; and whether the is proposing to take any steps in the matter.

I am not satisfied with the rate at which graduates are entering the teaching profession. Owing to the length of the university course, it necessarily takes time to make good war losses, but the number of students at the universities who have expressed their intention of entering the teaching profession suggests that the position will improve substantially. I am at present investigating the requirements of the schools to see whether any special action is needed

asked the Minister of Education how many, and which, universities have indicated their willingness to accept responsibility for the training of teachers on the general lines of the McNair Report.

The following universities and university colleges have indicated their willingness to accept responsibility for the training of teachers on an area basis in general accordance with the proposals described as "University Schools of Education" in the McNair Report: Birmingham, Bristol, Durham, Hull, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Southampton, the University College of the South-West and the University of Wales. The following universities and university colleges have indicated their willingness to co-operate with training colleges and local education authorities in setting up a joint body to be responsible for the training of teachers on an area basis in general accordance with the alternative proposals of the McNair Report: Cambridge, Leeds, Liverpool, Reading, Sheffield. Three university Institutes of Education are already established (at Birmingham, Bristol and Nottingham) and the remaining schemes have reached varying stages of progress.

asked the Minister of Education how many graduates have resigned horn grammar schools in the past year in order to take up non-academic work; and how the proposes to make good the wastage.

I have no complete evidence of abnormal wastage from the profession among graduates. I am, however, at present investigating the requirement of the schools to see whether and special action is needed.

asked the Minister of Education if the will make a statement defining his Department's attitude to applications for the establishment of primary schools conducted in the Welsh language in districts where parents are not satisfied that existing provision is adequate for the teaching of Welsh and allied studies.

In Welsh speaking districts primary schools are normally conducted very largely in the Welsh language and English is taught as a second language. In districts where both languages are spoken children are usually divided into Welsh speaking and English speaking groups with appropriate instruction in both languages. In Llanelly—a linguistically mixed area—a separate school for children from Welsh speaking homes has been established, and I am prepared to cónsider proposals for similar schools where they would be clearly desirable on educational grounds. My Department gives constant attention to the improvement of instruction in such allied studies as Welsh History, Literature, Music and Geography in the primary and secondary schools of Wales and Monmouthshire.

asked the Minister of Education if the is aware that there are no adequate facilities, for providing children's meals at the Waltham Methodists and Waltham Church of England schools near Grimsby; and if the will arrange with the Air Ministry to use the officers' mess, which has a fully-equipped kitchen, now standing empty on the Waltham Aerodrome near to the schools.

The Lincs Lindsey Authority are exploring with the Air Ministry's officers the possibility of using the vacant officers mess at the Waltham Aerodrome for a canteen for the two schools.

asked the Minister of Education how many dining huts for school meal purposes have been completed and supplied to local education authorities since 6th March, 1947.

Since 6th March, 1947, 40 dining huts have been completed and handed over by the Ministry of Works. To save work, authorities no longer supply building progress reports about hut canteens, but it is estimated that at present under the programme which they are carrying out themselves they have dining huts for about 150,000 children in course of erection.

asked the Minister of Education if the is aware of the widespread concern in the Bethesda district, Carnarvonshire, arising from the protracted delay in providing facilities for school meals in the Carneddi School; and whether in view of the hardship to many of the children of this exposed and scattered district, the will intervene so as to secure the establishment of a canteen at the school before the onset of winter.

No scheme for a new canteen was submitted until the former canteen premises had become unusable through dilapidation, and the proposal then received was far too costly in labour and material. An alternative temporary scheme has now been approved, but it will take some time to carry out.

asked the Minister of Education when it is expected that the Burnham Committee will report.

I can give no precise date, but I understand that the committee confidently expect to make recommendations for my approval early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Education if the is aware that hardships and inconvenience are caused to married men in emergency training colleges by the method of paying their grants in terminal instalments; and if the will consider the possibility of paying these grants in monthly or quarterly instalments.

My Department has not received any complaints about the present arrangement whereby maintenance grants are paid terminally in advance to students in Emergency Training Colleges. As each course is divided into four terms, the grants are, in fact, paid in four instalments during the year.

asked the Minister of Education whether the has considered the resolution adopted by the Library Association on 13th June regarding allocation of paper for educational books; and what reply the proposes to make to it.

I have come to an arrangement with my right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade whereby the is reserving for education or export purposes a quarter of the allocation of paper for books, with the provision that the same proportion as hitherto of the remaining three-quarters should also be used for educational books. In addition, 1,000 tons of the special reserve of 1,500 tons is earmarked for educational textbooks. If these arrangements do not prove satisfactory I shall press for further improvements.

asked the Minister of Education if the will detail the names of the national youth organisations receiving grants-in-aid from his Department under the Social and Physical Training Grant Regulations.

The following national voluntary youth organisations are receiving grants under the Social and Physical Training Grant Regulations in the current financial year:

• Central Council of Physical Recreation.
• Church Lads' Brigade.
• Girls' Friendly Society.
• Girl Guides.
• Girls Guildry—England.
• Girls Guildry—Wales.
• National Association of Girls' Clubs and Mixed Clubs.
• Boy Scouts.
• National Association of Boys' Clubs
• Y.M.C.A.
• Y.W.C.A.
• National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.
• National Association of Training Corps for Girls.
• St. John s Ambulance Brigade Cadets.
• Welsh League of Youth.
• Youth Department, National Council of Social Service.
• Youth Department. British Council of Churches.
• Army Cadet Force.

asked the Minister of Education what action the proposes to take in connection with a circular issued by the Education Department of the Lancashire County Council, dated 19th June, 1947, instructing divisional executives that, except in special cases, only three hours' leave of absence a month can be granted to teachers with full-time responsibility for classes for the purpose of serving on local authorities, or upon public bodies set up by them or by his Department or as magistrates, or as members of the national executive of a recognised teachers' association.

My attention has not been drawn to this circular. The granting of leave of absence to teachers is a matter for the local education authority or for the governors or managers of the schools concerned and in general I am not able to intervene in these matters. I am, however, in favour of teachers taking part in activities of the type referred to, in so far as this is consistent with the efficient discharge of their duties.

asked the Minister of Education how many of the men and women, respectively, who had been accepted for a course of training for the teaching profession under the emergency scheme, have now withdrawn their applications; and if the will state the main reasons given for the withdrawal.

Up to 24th July, 1947, 4,161 men and 1,815 women who had been accepted for training under the Emergency Training Scheme had withdrawn their applications or had failed to reply to an offer of a place in a training college. In addition, 1,141 men had withdrawn from the Emergency Scheme for the purpose of entering two-year training colleges in September 1947, under arrangements made between the Ministry and the permanent training college. No comprehensive figures are available regarding the reasons for withdrawals. An investigation carried out a few months ago, however, showed that of the sample selected, about one half of the candidates gave no reason for withdrawal, about one third stated they had found other employment, about one tenth gave "domestic reasons" and the remainder gave various reasons, such as "financial," "ill health" or "change in circumstances."

asked the Attorney-General whether the Porter Committee, set up to consider amendments to the law of libel and slander, has now finished its work; whether it has presented its Report to the Government; whether the Government proposes to publish it; and whether the will make a statement, generally, on this matter.

As I informed the hon. Member for Cambridge University (Mr. Pickthorn) on 12th June of this year, it does not now seem likely that the Report will be available until October of this year. It may indeed be somewhat later than that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps the is taking to encourage the development of new techniques for paper manufacture from bamboos grown in Cornwall and the West of England, in order to save the purchase abroad of similar products used for paper manufacture.

I should welcome an increased use of home produced materials, and paper makers are quite free to use bamboo, but the yield of pulp is small and the consumption of coal high.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if steps will be taken to ensure a fairer distribution of surplus Government stock, especially clothing apparel, so that industrial areas like West Cumberland could benefit.

The trade bodies through which Government surplus clothing is distributed have been asked to ensure that as much as-possible of any surpluses of clothing suitable for industrial workers is sent to industrial and development areas, and in particular all surplus demobilisation clothing is sent to mining areas, including West Cumberland. Perhaps my hon. Friend will let me have any evidence the has received that distribution is not fair.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why some mills in Lancashire have, for a considerable period, been stacked from floor to ceiling with cotton pieces; and why they have not been exported to earn much-needed dollars.

If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of the cases the has in mind, I shall be glad to make inquiries into them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the will reconsider the claim of Mr. F. A. Horner for damage to private chattels in his house at Westcliff-on-Sea in January, 1941; whether the is aware than an independent valuer placed the value of these chattels at £96 17s., which sum was not regarded as satisfactory by Mr. Horner; that the chief valuer's department subsequently assessed the damage at £30 which his Department confirmed; and whether, in view of the special circumstances, the will arrange for this matter to be reviewed with the object of reaching an agreed settlement.

The earlier assessment to which the hon. Member refers was made in very difficult circumstances, and as it was not acceptable to the claimant a Valuer from Headquarters was asked to consider the claim afresh. The settlement the has now recommended after discussions with the claimant and the inspection of most of the goods mentioned in the claim has been arrived at on the statutory basis, but the Valuer is prepared to consider any further evidence that can be produced in support of the amount which Mr. Horner claims.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, (1) whether the is aware that the present allocation of coal and coke to a laundry in the Hastings area, whose name has been sent to him, means that that firm can only work 12 days per month; and unless a combined allocation of five tons a week is made the firm will have to close down, if the will take steps accordingly;(2), whether in making allocations for fuel, the will bear in mind that the absence of industries in the borough of Hastings makes it vital to maintain full employment in the local laundries; and whether the will ensure adequate supplies of fuel to these firms, having regard to their seasonal requirements.

Allocations of coal to laundries during the summer months as to industry in general, are fixed at their actual rate of consumption last summer; their allocations of coke are also equal to their consumption last year. I am making inquiries concerning the laundry whose name the hon. Member has given me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, how many small petrol engines suitable for agricultural use were exported between 1st July, 1945, and 1st July, 1947.

The number of such engines is not recorded in the export statistics.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the will consider granting immediately additional clothing coupons to couples who are contemplating marriage.

Coupon equivalent certificates are already given to enable those setting up house for the first time to buy a limited quantity of sheets and curtain materials. I cannot see my way to go beyond this in present circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the menace to public health caused by inattention to street pig bins which have become breeding grounds for flies and feding places for rats and mice, the will instruct local authority medical officers of health to enforce regularity of collection of waste food and thorough disinfection of the bins, particularly during the summer months.

In association with my right hon. Friends, the Lord President of the Council and the Secretary of State for Scotland, I recently drew the attention of local authorities to the importance of improving salvage collections.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the is aware of the hardship caused to a number of patentees, who, through causes over which they have no control are unable to work their patents, but have to continue to pay their fees; and what steps the proposes taking to relieve these people of this imposition.

It is not administratively practicable to relieve a patentee of the statutory obligation to pay renewal fees in order to keep a patent in force in cases where the invention is not exploited, whether the reasons for non-exploitation are beyond his control or not. A measure of relief in the circumstances mentioned is afforded by Section 18 of the Patents and Designs Acts which allows a patentee who has suffered loss by reason of hostilities to apply to the Comptroller or the Court for an extension of the term of his patent. No renewal fees are charged in respect of any extension of term so granted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the places, number and nature of the new factories it is proposed to erect in the Abertillery Division other than at Blaina, Newbridge and Nantyglo; and the number of men and women for whom employment will be found.

The full information was given in the reply which I returned to my hon. Friend's Question on 24th July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the is aware that loss and inconvenience have been caused to many members of the Scottish Credit Traders' Federal Board, owing to the fact that copies of S.R. & O., 1947, Nos. 1246 and 1248 and relative schedules were not available at His Majesty's Stationery Office, Edinburgh, in advance of the date on which the Orders came into operation; and whether the will ensure that, in future, adequate supplies of Statutory Rules and Orders are available for distribution to the public in reasonable time before the dates upon which they come into operation.

These two Orders increased the retail margins on utility cloth and clothing, following my answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham on 23rd May. I then promised to bring the increased margins into operation as soon as possible, and I regret that partly owing to extreme pressure on the printers it was impossible to provide, copies of the Orders and Schedules for sale in Edinburgh within the usual period between signature of the Orders and their date of coming into operation. Steps have now been taken, in consultation with His Majesty's Stationery Office to ensure that in future copies of Orders will be available in Edinburgh before the date on which they come into force.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is proposed to allow any of the high-grade German scientists and technicians, brought to the United Kingdom under the scheme announced by him in the House on 19th December, 1945, to be employed by a firm on private contract.

When it is considered desirable to retain in the United Kingdom on a more permanent basis a German whose exceptional ability and usefulness has been demonstrated, it is proposed to permit a private industrial concern, which is able and willing to develop his ideas industrially, to enter into a direct contract with the German, in a similar manner to that in which a firm may employ any other alien permitted to enter the United Kingdom under a Ministry of Labour permit

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the is aware that in a letter, dated 7th June, 1947, the Parliamentary Secretary stated that the preliminary report of the Inter-departmental Committee on Carbon Black was not suitable for publication or distribution as it contains information of a confidential nature furnished by companies which have shown an interest in starting manufacture; and if, in view of the widespread disquiet in the tyre manufacturing industry, the will arrange for the immediate publication of this Report, amended so as not to include information of a confidential nature.

The Report is not suitable for issue even in an abridged form as it largely consists of confidential information about the work and proposals of private undertakings. I am not aware of any disquiet in the tyre manufacturing industry at the lack of publication.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if the will make arrangements for students in emergency training colleges, who, before they went to college, were voluntary contributors under the Health and Pensions Act, to continue under the scheme without contributions during the period of training.

The arrangements which have been made enable a person with a title to be treated as an employed contributor to have his health and pensions insurance maintained without payment of contributions while attending an emergency training college. It would not be consistent with the general principles of the present scheme to extend this arrangement to persons outside the employed contributor class, but I should be glad to examine the position in any particular case which my hon. Friend may have in mind.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many appeals are pending to, and how many have been heard by, the Registrar of Appeals (Pensions), Norbreck Hydro, Blackpool, against his decisions relative to the amount of old age pensions.

The Registrar of Appeals does not himself hear appeals under the Contributory Pensions Acts but refers them for determination to independent referees appointed under the Acts. I have ascertained from the Registrar that the number of old age pensions appeals so referred by him which were decided by the referees during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1947, was 2,453 of which 248 related to the weekly amount of the old age pension awarded; and that the number of old age pensions appeals outstanding which relate to the weekly amount of the pension awarded is 195. Any question about title to the increase payable on retirement is not a matter for the referees under the Contributory Pensions Acts but, during the present transitional period, for the Statutory authorities under the Unemployment Insurance Acts.

asked the Minister of Works how many persons were convicted of building and housing repairs, black market operations, in 1946.

Two hundred and ninety-nine individual persons or firms were convicted in 1946 for offences against the building licensing regulations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if the will sanction the import from the U.S.A. of Italian queen bees in order to improve the strain of bees in this country and to combat the disease known as European fowl brood

No. There is no shortage in this country of home-bred queen bees which are equal in performance to Italian queen bees of American origin. I am advised that although certain strains of American bees may be resistant to American foul brood they are susceptible to European foul brood. No strains have been found to be resistant to this latter disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the is aware that tractor tyres ordered by Mr. C. R. Algar, Upton Lovel, Warminster, in January, 1947, by Mr. H. D. Cole, Broomsgrove, Milton, Marlborough, on 20th November, 1946, and by Mr. F. Thing, Steeple Langford, Salisbury, have not been delivered; and whether, in the interests of agriculture, the will obtain an immediate delivery of these tyres.

Inquiries are being made into the three cases mentioned to see whether special arrangements would be justified, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as these inquiries are completed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if the will sanction the renewal, free of charge, of uniforms of officers of the Sea Cadets when such uniforms have become worn out

I am looking into this matter and will communicate with the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Minister of Food why Mr. C. C. Peach, the holder of a retail licence for the sale of vegetables, cannot purchase, on wholesale terms, from the Sherington Nurseries, Newport Pagnell, Bucks, previously owned by him, from which the was evicted by the Buckinghamshire A.E.C., tomatoes which the committee have been selling retail in competition with him.

As a retailer, Mr. Peach draws his supplies of tomatoes from a wholesaler nominated by the Tomato Distribution Association for the area in which the trades. This wholesaler draws his supplies from the tomato distribution pool for that area and it would be quite impracticable for the association to ensure that supplies allocated to Mr Peach come from a particular nursery

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements the is making for the re-registration in Hong Kong of British and Chinese companies formerly registered in China.

I assume my hon. Friend has in mind those companies which were incorporated under the laws of Hong Kong but were registered in Shanghai. Provision was made under Military Proclamation No. 27 of the British Military Administration in Hong Kong, as amended and continued in force by the Law Amendment (Transitional Provisions) Ordinance, 1946, for such companies to transfer their registration to Hong Kong. By a recent order made under this Ordinance, provision has also been made for such companies which had transferred their registration to the United Kingdom under the United Kingdom Defence (Companies) Regulations or to another part of His Majesty's Dominions under corresponding regulations, to transfer their registration to Hong Kong.

asked the Postmaster-General how many temporary postal workers have been discharged on the grounds of redundancy since 1st January last, giving separate figures for male and female staff, categories of duties and suitable age groupings.

I regret that figures are not available for all grades, but for those principally concerned, namely, full-time temporary postmen and postmen, higher grade, the figures up to 28th June are as follow. I have no information about age groupings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether effective steps are being taken at the present time in Malaya to put rubber tree seeds to any commercial use; and what steps are being taken to introduce schemes at an early opportunity to make use of these seeds.

So far as I am aware there is no commercial use at present. I am aware that rubber seed oil is a drying oil suitable for use as a substitute for linseed oil, but there are great difficulties in the way of seed collections since there is usually a dense high ground cover on rubber estates. The seed also must be collected fresh and then rapidly dried before it is exported. It is being suggested that a trial consignment of Malayan seed dried on a copra kiln during the forthcoming seed season be shipped here for trial.