asked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies exist for coalface workers in South Wales.

I am informed by the National Coal Board that immediate vacancies exist in South Wales for 799 juveniles, 215 inexperienced adults and 820 experienced workers and that vacancies for a further 666 juveniles, 240 inexperienced adults and 566 experienced workers are expected during the next three months.

asked the Minister of Labour why it is necessary to bring Poles from Scotland to fill vacancies as builders' labourers in Gloucestershire, when there are others unemployed at a nearby camp; and why it takes three weeks to supply this labour.

Men in the local camp refused this work, mainly because they had accepted other jobs, but Poles were available in Scotland The selection of suitable and willing individuals, the formalities of relegation from the Corps, the provision of civilian necessities, such as clothes and documents, and arrangements for transport and accommodation necessarily take time

asked the Minister of Labour how many displaced persons have been brought into Great Britain in the course of the last year; how many are currently working; and if it is proposed to bring in any more.

Since October last, 20,500 displaced persons have been brought to this country under official employment schemes. Of this number 12,500

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons are employed centrally and regionally in the operation of each individual raw material control of his Department; what is the total annual payroll in each case; and what proportion this bears to the cash value of the materials controlled.

The cost of the headquarters staff of the Raw Materials Department (i.e., the centrally employed staff) cannot be allocated between the individual Raw Materials Controls, as it deals with general policy and with many materials for which there is no individual control. The figures given below show, therefore, the annual payroll of each individual Raw Material Trading Control based on the numbers in post on 1st July, 1947. Column 4 indicates the proportion which the payroll bears to the sales by the Controls of those raw materials in which they themselves trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of paper for the manufacture of coiled paper dart-boards has been licensed in the licence periods 1 and 2, 12, 13, 22 and 23.

The amounts licensed in the 22nd and 23rd periods were 225 tons and 229 tons respectively. Information about earlier periods is not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty by what percentage are the port numbers at Chatham over- or under-borne in the case of chief petty officers, upper-deck, petty officers, upper-deck, leading seamen and able seamen, respectively; and in each case what percentage is fully trained substantively and non-substantively, respectively.

C.P.Os. and P.Os. are over-borne to the extent of 71 per cent. and 3 per cent., respectively. Leading seamen are 49 per cent. under-borne, whilst the bearing of A/Bs. and Ord. seamen is approximately correct. The overbearing of C.P.Os. and P.Os. is being reduced, partly by transfers to other branches and partly by discharges on compassionate grounds in addition to the normal process of release. 34 C.P.Os. and 325 P.Os. have been discharged during the last three months. The difference between these figures is accounted for by the fact that C.P.Os. are not applying for release in very large numbers.I regret that the detailed information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available. It is estimated, however, that of the total Chatham Port Division numbers, approximately 100 per cent. are fully trained substantively and 50 per cent. non-substantively. The hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that the revised scheme of non-substantive training introduced with the new Pay Code (now known as training for Part II qualifications) is not expected to be implemented in full for six or seven years.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why money due to LT/JX 406581 Seaman J. M. Moor, Pay No. 7254, who was demobilised on 25th June, 1946, has not yet been paid.

It is regretted that there has been delay in settling this account. Owing to the absence of Seaman Moor's Service documents it was not appreciated that he was entitled to further credits, but payment has now been made in full.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that the shortage of cement is preventing the repairs of farm buildings in Devonshire; and, in view of the fact that the production of food will be seriously prejudiced, what steps he has taken to remedy the shortage.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Tiverton (Mr. Amory) on 28th July. If any works on farm buildings essential to the production of food are being delayed by lack of cement and I am given particulars, steps will be taken to ensure delivery as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Works how many licences have been issued by each London local authority to private house owners whose property was classified as a total loss and assessed for value payment by the War Damage Commission; and how many of such licences have been effective.

I regret that the information is not available

asked the Minister of Works what is the estimated cost of the reinforced concrete wall which the Kettering Town Football Club propose to build at the end of their ground; how many tons of iron or steel it is expected will be required for this work; whether he is satisfied that, having regard to the housing shortage in Kettering the proposed work is really necessary; and upon what grounds the necessary permits have been issued for the work itself and for the iron or steel required.

The work being carried out by the Kettering Town Football Club consists of the re-erection of a secondhand stand which will rest on a reinforced concrete base, and the amount licensed is £195. Housing work is not adversely affected, and no permits for iron or steel have been applied for or granted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now announce the appointed day on which the Exchange Control Act will come into operation; and whether switching of investments denominated in foreign currencies will then be permitted.

I intend to appoint Wednesday, 1st October, 1947, for this purpose, that date being convenient for the stock exchanges and banks. As from that date, United Kingdom residents will be able through their U.K. bankers or brokers to realise their securities payable in any foreign currency, except Canadian dollars, and reinvest the proceeds in securities expressed in the same currency, provided the switching is completed within two months, any balance of currency not reinvested is offered to an authorised dealer against sterling, and the requirements of Part III of the Exchange Control Act (e.g., deposit of bearer securities) are fully met. It will also be possible to deal in such securities in the regular stock markets in the United Kingdom. I regret that these arrangements cannot apply to Canadian dollar securities, but I am pledged to apply the realisation proceeds of such securities to the amortisation of the 1942 interest free loan from Canada.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the dissatisfaction in South Caernarvonshire concerning the quality of the meat supplied to the area; that it is felt locally that the proportion of home-killed meat supplied to the area compares unfavourably with that supplied to other areas; and whether, in view of the difficulties of refrigeration in the area, he will review the position in South Caernarvonshire.

The quality of meat distributed to retailers in South Caernarvonshire has been similar to that distributed throughout the north-western area. The proportion of home-killed meat at individual depots has fluctuated owing to last minute shortages of locally killed stock which have also tended to reduce the general proportion of home-killed meat in the area. Steps have been taken to minimise the reduction of home-killed supplies caused by such shortages.

asked the Minister of Food why permission has been given to certain firms to manufacture corn flakes when this process requires twice as much coal as the manufacture of wheat flakes and the loss on the finished article is 40 per cent. of the Indian corn and the corresponding loss on wheat flakes is only 2 per cent.

With the object of introducing some variety into the range of cereal breakfast foods it was recently decided to make some maize available, to manufacturers with the necessary plant for producing corn flakes, instead of a proportion of the wheat being used for wheat flakes. Only one manufacturer has so far been able to start production and his early experience indicates that, while fuel consumption will be higher than in the manufacture of wheat flakes, the increase will fall far short of that suggested in the Question. About 60 per cent of the maize grain is used in the production of corn flakes, compared with about 80 per cent. of the wheat in making wheat flakes. In neither case, however, is there a loss, as the by-products are used for animal feeding.

asked the Minister of Food under what conditions bananas are made available to the public.

Sales of bananas are at present restricted to young people under 18 and to expectant mothers. Supplies are distributed to the public through the machinery of the fresh fruit and vegetable distribution committees which exist in all parts of the United Kingdom. They are allocated to retailers in each local food control committee area on the basis of the number of people entitled to them in that area.

asked the Minister of Food if he has had the opportunity of considering details which have been sent to him concerning the waste of onions, lettuce and other vegetables due to restrictions and regulations; and if he will make a statement.

If the hon. Member will let me know which restrictions and regulations are directly responsible for the alleged wastage of onions, lettuce and other vegetables, I will immediately consider the matter. As I have previously explained to the hon. Member, my Ministry controls neither the marketing nor price of lettuces.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now allow local authorities to proceed with plans for building new slaughterhouses.

I am glad to say that I have secured the agreement of my right hon. Friends the Ministers of Health and Agriculture to a slight modification of the present arrangements for England and Wales. It is the Government's intention to prepare plans for the marketing and distribution of all the main foods, as part of its long-term food policy; but no final

asked the Minister of Agriculture the basic salaries in 1936, 1938 and 1946 of superintending inspectors, divisional inspectors and veterinary inspectors, respectively, of the Animal Health Division of his Department.

The following are the salary scales:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why officials at Lydda Airport confiscated the passports of passengers of any nationality who could not prove that they were not Jews; and what test was adopted to determine whether persons not of Palestinian nationality were Jews.

I have asked the High Commissioner for Palestine for this information and will write to my hon. Friend on its receipt.