asked the Minister of Food how much poultry from Europe he is now buying or will buy during the winter; and from what countries.

We have arranged for the purchase of 1,500 tons of turkeys and 3,150 tons of other poultry from Hungary. Further quantities may be obtained from other countries with whom trade talks are now going on.

asked the Minister of Food why meat imports which were formerly 15,000 tons a month have dropped to 2,000 tons a month; when he expects to get increased supplies; and if he will make a statement.

As the monthly imports of carcase and canned meat have this year varied between 78,000 and 132,000 tons, the Question appears to be based on some misapprehension.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that fish and chip shops in the Spennymoor Division are open only two or three times a week, because of the shortage of fish; what is the cause of such shortage; and what prospect there is of improvement of deliveries at an early date.

Landings always fall at this time of the year and the present demand for fish is so heavy that many traders, including the friers in the Spennymoor Division, cannot get all they need. There may be some improvement there in a few weeks' time when landings of Norwegian cod at North Shields usually start.

asked the Minister of Food if he will allow to British farm workers the same food rations as are available to foreign workers now engaged on British farms.

British farm workers receive exactly the same rations as foreign workers working under similar conditions.

asked the Minister of Food whether in view of the decision of the Government to issue 700,000 ex-Service food packs each of 126 points value to miners, it is proposed to make a similar issue to farm workers as the primary producers of food.

There were only 700,000 service food packs available and I regret that there are not enough to issue to farm workers and other heavy workers.

asked the Minister of Food whether a date can be given when the special milk ration for children will be reinstated.

I regret that milk production prospects are too uncertain for us to fix a date at present.

asked the Minister of Food what is the calorie intake per head shown by his most recent dietary survey; and what was the figure for the nearest corresponding date last year.

The most recent survey results are for July, 1947, which show an average intake of 2,287 calories for working class households from food eaten at home. The figure for July. 1946. was 2,282 calories.

asked the Minister of Food the highest and lowest weekly or monthly total number of bread rationing coupons checked by regional and local food offices during the last three months

I regret that the information asked for by the hon Member is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Food how many prosecutions have been instituted since the inception of bread rationing to enforce the restrictions on bread consumption; and how many of these prosecutions have been successful.

Between 21st July, 1946, and 31st August, 1947, 145 people have been prosecuted on 181 charges for offences in connection with the rationing and consumption of bread. Convictions were obtained on 176 of these charges.

asked the Minister of Food which articles of food in our ration are to be cut to effect the saving of £12,000,000 per month in dollar purchases, forecast in August; and what is the anticipated saving in tonnage and in money for each article.

Following is the information: The cuts to which the hon. Member refers were, as the Prime Minister stated in this House on 6th August, cuts in our future programme of purchases. The programme cuts for the major items of food are as follows:

	Tons per Month.	£
Wheat	81,000	1,800,000
Meat	18,000	3,800,000
Cheese	7,000	1,500,000
Dried Egg	1,500	1,200,000
Animal Fats	4,700	900,000
Bacon	1,700	300,000
Canned Meat	3,000	400,000
Canned Fish	2,500	400,000
		£10,300,000

The remainder of the £12 million is made up by a number of smaller cuts affecting such foods as condensed milk, poultry, dried fruit, pulses, starch and coffee. Owing to the fact that our purchases of many of these items were committed some way ahead, the full effect of the cut in purchases will not be immediately reflected in imports.

asked the Minister of Food whether in view of the satisfactory reports of harvest yield of barley and hops, additional quantities of these foodstuffs will be made available for the brewing industry.

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. According to the official estimates, both the yield per acre and total production of barley from the 1947 crop of the United Kingdom are substantially less than the 1946 figures. The yield from hops is rather better this year than last, but this of itself does not enable beer production to be increased.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of barley have been allocated to whisky produced for the home market and export, respectively; and whether he is aware that it is in the interest of food production to prohibit all export of whisky and use the barley saved for basic food consumption at home.

Barley allocations bear no relation to the whisky released in the same year because the spirit has to be matured for many years before it: is sold. The following allocations of home-grown barley have been made in 1944–45 and since:

				Tons
1944–45	…	…	…	100,000
1945–46	…	…	…	120,000
1946–47	…	…	…	100,000
1947–48	…	…	…	75,000

Release of whisky in the same period, as shown in the Reports of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs and Excise were:

Year ended 31st March	Exports (except to U.M. Forces) million proof gallons	Home Consumption (Estimated)
1945	4·4	4·6
1946	5·0	4·7
1947	5·6	4·7

In the 12 months beginning 1st May, 1947, the figures provided for under present plans are: 7.8; 2.6. The increase in exports will be entirely to hard-currency countries where it will help us to earn dollars. Continued production is essential if we are to have matured stocks in the future to maintain exports without interruption.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of potatoes have been exported from Britain during the last six months, to the latest convenient date; and to which countries.

During the six months from 1st May, 1947, 1,211 tons of new and ware potatoes have been exported to Malta, Sierra Leone and Iceland.

asked the Minister of Food if he will describe in detail the changes that have taken place between July, 1945, and October, 1947, in the rations of the principal foods permitted to people in this country.

The particulars asked for are given below:

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much of the Stanford Battle Training Area will be cultivated and cropped in 1948.

Present arrangements provide for the cultivation of 3,144 acres, but discussions are taking place between the War Department and the county war agricultural executive committee as to the possibility of putting more of the area under the plough.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the steel to be allocated in 1948 for the manufacture of agricultural machinery and equipment will be absorbed by the export trade if the export targets set to manufacturers are attained in full.

Allocations of steel for agricultural machinery and equipment have not yet been determined for 1948. Rather less than one-half of manufacturers' estimated full steel requirements would be required to meet the agricultural machinery export targets. The remainder would enable the average monthly quantity going into the home market to be nearly doubled as compared with the average for the first nine months of 1947.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will break down the production and export targets for agricultural machinery (for mid-1948 and the end of 1948) into the categories used in Table 62 of the September Digest of Statistics.

The export targets for agricultural machinery are derived from broad estimates of output, based on manufacturers' plans, and the assumption that all the necessary facilities will be available for their achievement. Manufacturers' programmes for the many items covered and the plans of individual manufacturers are still under review, and it is expected that a number of points will need to be discussed further with the manufacturers. I regret that it is not practicable to break down the targets at all reliably at present into detailed categories. I can say, however, that more than half the target depends on output of tractors; that it is estimated that implements and accessories expected to be sold in close association with these tractors would amount, in addition, to about one-third the value of the tractors; and that other machinery would account for rather less than one-quarter of the total.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the shortage in the supply of agricultural machinery, spare parts and ploughshares in the county of Norfolk and elsewhere; and what steps are being taken to overcome these shortages.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of his appeal for increased food production, if he is aware that farmers are being frustrated by their inability to obtain farm machinery and spare parts; and if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that these necessary supplies are the first priority.

I am aware that some items of agricultural machinery, certain spare parts, and shares for some makes of ploughs are scarce in Norfolk and in other counties. With regard to the last part of each Question, I would refer the hon. Members to the replies that I gave to the hon. and gallant Members for the Isle of Ely (Major Legge-Bourke), Totnes (Brigadier Rayner), and the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) on 27th October.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what the figures of fowl pest notified to his Department and the number of fowls slaughtered have been for July, August and September last.

There were 112 outbreaks of fowl pest in July, 62 in August and 146 in September. The numbers of birds slaughtered in those months were approximately 19,600; 5,300; and 13,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why Mr. H. B. Turner, of Barnston Hall, near Dunmow, was dispossessed of a farm of 1,000 acres in 1941; whether, as he was then promised that he would be reinstated after the war, this promise will now be carried out, and whether he will inquire into and make a report upon the present condition of the farm after six years' administration under the war agricultural executive committee.

With my predecessor's consent, the Essex War Agricultural Executive Committee took possession of this land in April, 1941. It had been badly under-farmed, and as the occupier, Mr. Turner, had failed to take advantage of the ample opportunity previously afforded him to improve the farming under his management, it was necessary in the interests of food production to determine his occupation and make other arrangements to ensure the restoration of the land to full productivity. Since then the case has been exhaustively reviewed from time to time following representations to my predecessor and myself on Mr. Turner's behalf. I am satisfied that the committee's action was fully justified and that the standard of cultivation has been satisfactory while the land has been in the committee's possession. I am not aware that any promise was given to de-requisition the property at any specific date. Under existing legislation, the committee are entitled to remain in possession until December, 1950, and they are satisfied that it would be detrimental to food production to disturb the present arrangements and relinquish possession to Mr. Turner.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the total acreage of land in the county of Norfolk which belongs to or is held under requisition by Government Departments for the purpose of battle training areas, air stations and air fields, bombing ranges, practice camps, prisoner-of-war camps and other similar purposes.

The total acreage of land involved in the county of Norfolk is approximately 51,000 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether in view of his refusal to grant permits for rations for pigs and poultry except for those who kept them in 1939, he will state the number of such people who have gone out of the business since 1939.

I regret that the desired information is not available. Rations are allowed for pigs and poultry kept on holdings that are registered as having maintained this kind of stock in 1939 and 1940: where, therefore, the original occupier has since vacated the holding, the rations are available for the stock of the succeeding occupiers who may be regarded as carrying on the business.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why a permit to obtain three pairs of gloves coupon free under the protective clothing rationing scheme has not been issued for the three rangers employed by the conservators of Hayes Common, Kent; and in view of the necessity for preserving the amenities of the common for the use of the public, if he will ensure that the necessary permit is issued forthwith.

I have made inquiries and am advised that the appropriate authority, which is the Bromley Borough Council, has issued the permit for these gloves.

asked the hon. Member for the Park division of Sheffield as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, how many cottages the Commissioners propose to build for agricultural workers in the Midlands and the North of England; and when it is proposed the work on these cottages will start.

The Ecclesiastical Commissioners have proposed a scheme for the building of 600 agricultural cottages on their estates in the North, Midland and Western areas, and the Minister of Health is understood to have approved the scheme in principle. A beginning is now being worked out in practical detail, but it is not yet possible to forecast any date or the rate of progress with the scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport if changes in the current road construction programme will result from the recent decision to curtail capital expenditure; and whether he will make a statement in this connection.

Yes, Sir, and my right hon. Friend will make a detailed statement as soon as a review of all the schemes involved has been completed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give an assurance that all possible steps are being taken by his Department to ensure the removal of accident black spots on the roads.

In spite of the necessary restriction on capital expenditure, I hope that it will still be possible to carry out a number of small improvement schemes which are urgently required in the interests of road safety.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the white lines on the roads are being renewed for the forthcoming winter.

These are renewed whenever necessary, but the programme for this year has been somewhat limited by shortages.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now state what detailed plans have been made for avoiding any hold-up of road transport during the forthcoming winter as a result of roads being blocked with ice and snow; and whether arrangements have been made for a supply of steel to be available for the manufacture of snow ploughs.

The whole organisation for snow clearance has been reviewed since last winter. Grants are being made to highway authorities to buy additional snow clearing equipment and steel for snow ploughs has been made available; there will also be more snow clearing equipment for trunk roads. Public service vehicles fitted with snow ploughs will help if needed and light snowploughs suitable for tractors are being issued to farmers. Service Departments are to cooperate with highway authorities in emergencies and plans have been made for the necessary manpower. The Meteorological Office have undertaken to give advance snow warnings to the principal highway authorities and to include such warnings in broadcast weather reports.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has consulted his Advisory Committee on making Belgrave Square, London, S.W., a one-way Square, and bringing it into line with many other large squares; and what action he proposes to take.

A scheme for one-way traffic in Belgrave Square is under consideration with the Westminster City Council and, subject to their views, it will be referred to the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee for advice.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the long-term plans being made to relieve the increasing congestion in the West End; and to what extent the recently adopted short-term policy has helped to reduce the traffic congestion.

Long-term proposals for the relief of traffic congestion in the West End are included in the County of London Plan but it is unlikely that major schemes of this nature can be put in hand in the near future. Meanwhile the immediate measures have had a good effect on the movement of traffic and we shall not hesitate to make further experiments to try and improve matters.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what steps will be taken to ensure that in the drastic-reduction of road maintenance work every effort will be made to keep in good condition the roads which are vital for in dustrial and agricultural production;(2) whether the proposed cut of 20,000 men in the road maintenance staffs of the country is to be confined purely to men engaged on maintenance work or whether it will cover in addition the curtailment of development work; and if the former be the case, what further cut in personnel is necessitated by the reduction of such development work.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that 20,000 men can be discharged from road maintenance in accordance with the Government's proposal, without irreparable damage to highways; what is the estimated minimum expenditure on road maintenance which will prevent further deterioration; and whether he will consult with representatives of highway authorities and road transport interests before reaching a final decision to reduce the standard of maintenance.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what type of work is to be eliminated in connection with the proposal to reduce the road maintenance force by 20,000;(2) how the proposed reduction of the road maintenance force by 20,000 men is to be applied; and whether he will indicate what will be the reduction in each county.

It will not be possible to maintain all roads in their present state of repair but my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the proposed reduction will not cause irreparable damage. It is not practicable to estimate the minimum expenditure required to prevent further deterioration. Every effort will be made to ensure the maintenance of roads which are important for industrial and agricultural production and a close watch will be kept to see that deterioration does not go too far. In addition to the reduction in maintenance many schemes for new construction and improvement will be postponed. The reduction of 20,000 men will be from highway authorities' own employees but I am not in a position to say how this will affect individual authorities, nor can I estimate what further saving there may be in men employed on road works by contractors. My right hon. Friend will arrange for early consultation with the representative-associations of highway authorities on the best way of putting the Government's decision into effect.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in order to minimise hardship to the travelling public in London he will cause the present restrictions upon the number of standing passengers in omnibuses and similar vehicles to be relaxed so long as the basic petrol ration is withdrawn.

My right hon. Friend would like to have a longer experience of the effect of the withdrawal of the basic ration before reaching a decision.

asked the Minister of Transport what powers his regulations give local authorities to fix "Keep Left" signs at road junction roundabouts before such junctions have been scheduled by his Department; and in what manner they provide during this period for the protection of the public where the instruction on such signs was disregarded.

Highway authorities are authorised to erect a standard type of "Keep Left" signs at their discretion but the erection of larger signs requires special authority. My right hon. Friend is advised that to disregard a "Keep Left" sign is an offence.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give an assurance that even if certain parts of the Road Development Programme have to be delayed or curtailed owing to new economic considerations he will still continue to proceed with the acquisition of the necessary land, having regard to the fact that the time taken to acquire land for road development is often as long as that actually taken to carry out the work in question.

Yes, for those trunk road schemes that are of high priority. My right hon. Friend hopes that local authorities will adopt a similar policy in respect of classified roads.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is yet in a position to make a statement with regard to the negotiations for the purchase of Selby Toll Bridge.

My right hon. Friend regrets he is not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport why a first-class railway carriage on the 10.24 a.m. train from Portsmouth to Waterloo on 17th October, occupied by four civilians, was marked "Not for Public Use; object of reservation O.H.M.S."

The compartment was reserved at the request of the Governor of His Majesty's Prison at Newport for a blind ex-prisoner and his escort. I understand that two other passengers joined the compartment between Portsmouth and Waterloo without the attendant raising an objection From the information in my possession, this reservation was not in accordance with standing instructions.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of locomotives and railway wagons that have been sent for repair to the Royal Dockyards since August, 1945.

The general offer of assistance by the Royal Dockyards in 1946 had to be declined because of a shortage of materials for repair work. With the recent improvement in the supply of materials, the proposal is being urgently reconsidered, and wagons and materials are already being sent to Rosyth.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of serviceable locomotives in operation on the four main line railways; and the number of serviceable wagons, including those of private owners, available for freight traffic, at the nearest convenient date and in 1944 and 1938; and by what percentages freight tonnage weekly averages in 1947 compare with 1944 and 1938.

As the answer involves a number of figures I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that miles of railway wagons are standing idle on the line between Ellon and Boddam; and what action it is proposed to take regarding this.

The Ellon-Boddam Branch line is one of the places used for storing wagons awaiting repair. For some months breakdowns have exceeded the number of repairs, but in September more wagons were put into service than broke down.

asked the Minister of Transport how many railway wagons on the four main line railways are standing under demurrage on any average day at the nearest convenient date.

The number of wagons standing under inward load for more than 48 hours on 17th October was 21,196, but this does not include the substantial number of wagons covered by standage schemes to which most of the large users of wagons adhere.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of time is lost from all causes in train delays, as compared with actual scheduled running time, upon the four main line railways for any average day and week at the nearest convenient date.

I am sorry that the available figures do not give the exact information my hon. Friend is asking for. But, with permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the best analysis that can be made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, having regard to the anomalies in fare charges in the London area where for comparable journeys from adjoining stations there may be a 30 per cent. variation, he will instruct the British Transport Commission to give priority to a comprehensive survey of travel costs in the Greater London District and to institute early in 1947 a public inquiry as a matter of urgency.

I will bring my hon. Friend's Question to the notice of the British Transport Commission, but, in view of the provision of Section 76 of the Transport Act, I should not feel justified in asking them to give priority to considering discrepancies of fares in the London area, as they cannot be dealt with in isolation.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what period elapsed between the usual daily examination of the permanent way at Goswick and the derailment of the Scottish express on 26th October;(2) when renewals of the permanent way were last carried out at Goswick, and the nature of those renewals.

An Inspecting Officer of Railways is holding an inquiry into this accident, and will deal in his report with the points raised by my hon. Friend. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my deep sympathy, and I am sure that of the whole House, with the relatives of those who lost their lives and with those who were injured, not only at Goswick but also at South Croydon.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the several million pounds which are to be spent on modernising and improving the railway and dock facilities at Hull, why similar amounts cannot be spent at Immingham and Grimsby; and if he will reconsider the needs of those two ports.

The responsible body for putting forward schemes of this sort is the Port Authority for Immingham and Grimsby and no proposals for major works have been received from them.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that members of the British South African Police on leave in this country are unable to obtain any assurance of return shipping berths to enable them to have their full entitlement of time in this country consistent with their returning to duty on the correct date; and if he will give these men the same facilities as Government servants on leave.

The High Commissioner for Southern Rhodesia who is responsible for these passages assures me that members of the Police are given the same facilities as other Southern Rhodesian Government servants on leave.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what countries it is now possible for a British subject resident in the United Kingdom to travel without first obtaining a visa.

Agreements for the abolition of visas have been concluded with the following countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that 20th November, the wedding day of Princess Elizabeth, is not a public holiday, he will make every effort to safeguard the travelling arrangements for those members of the public who will have to attend their work to ensure that there is no undue delay in reaching their destinations.

Yes; this matter is receiving careful attention in conjunction with the Commissioner of Police and the London Passenger Transport Board.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to a notice recently issued by the L.P.T.B. to the effect that after 26th October workmen's tickets for Sundays will only be issued to mechanics, artisans and labourers; and in view of the fact that it leaves out cooks, porters, kitchen hands, platemen, valets in hotels, etc., will he consider extending the order to include these categories with a view to giving equal treatment.

Yes. But all the workers the hon. Member refers to would qualify with the exception of valets.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the serious shortage of public passenger transport facilities serving the Borough of Bermondsey, and of the repeated efforts that have been made by the local public

The only Executives at present appointed are the Railway, the London Transport and the Dock and Inland Waterways Executives.
(1) Salaries of the members of these Executives.
RAILWAY.
Chairman	…	…	…	…	…	£7,000 per annum
Members—
Whole-time	…	…	…	…	…	£5,000 per annum (a)
Part-time	…	…	…	…	…	£750 per annum
LONDON TRANSPORT AND DOCKS AND INLAND WATERWAYS.
Chairman	…	…	…	…	…	£5,000 per annum (c)
Members—
Whole-time	…	…	…	…	…	£3,500 per annum (b) (c)
Part-time	…	…	…	…	…	£750 per annum (c).
Notes.
(a) In one case in which an officer of an existing undertaking was in receipt of a higher salary he will continue to receive the higher amount.
(b) In three cases in which officers of the London Passenger Transport Board were in receipt of higher salaries they will continue to receive the higher amount.
(c) The salaries of the three members of the London Transport Executive who are members of the London Passenger Transport Board will be abated by the, remuneration received by them in respect of membership of the Board so long as that continues.
(Expenses allowances to members of the Executes have not yet been fixed.

2) Qualifications of Members of the British Transport Commission and of the three Executives.

The persons appointed were selected, as required by the Act, from among persons who have had wide experience and shown capacity in transport, industrial, commercial or financial matters, in administration or in the organisation of workers.

A list of the members and of the position held by them at the time of their appointment is given below.

The London Passenger Transport Board have recently increased the service on Bus Routes Nos. 1 and 47, and they propose to strengthen the service on Tram Routes Nos. 68 and 70 as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport the names, qualifications, salaries and expenses allowances of all persons so far appointed by him to the Transport Commission, and to the executives set up under it.

A statement of the names of the Members of the British Transport Commission and of the salaries and allowances authorised was laid before the House on 21st October, 1947. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the other information for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet received a report from the Ferries Commission; and when he expects to be able to publish this report.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet received the Report of the Committee on Ferry Services in Great Britain.

The Ferries Committee have now completed their investigations and my right hon. Friend hopes to receive their report shortly. Until then I am not in a position to say anything about publication.

asked the Minister of Supply what estimates he can give of the quantities and types of war surplus stores awaiting disposal; and how long it will take to dispose of these goods.

The types of surplus stores awaiting disposal cover almost the whole range of Service requirements. The stocks held by my Department in this country would on average take about three or four months to clear, but as fresh declarations are still being made by the Service Departments, it is impossible to estimate the time it will take to complete the work of disposal until such declarations are completed. Stocks of individual items naturally vary from week to week

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has explored the possibility of using the facilities offered by the Royal Dockyards in Great Britain for the production of a wide range of tools and equipment for industry and agriculture, in addition to the civilian work already being performed there; and what steps he proposes to take to place orders with the Royal Dockyards for this purpose.

Yes. My Department is in close touch with the Admiralty on this question, and the possibility of making further use of such capacity as is available is being examined.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) whether he is aware of alleged irregularities and pilfering at Bekesbourne aerodrome, near Canterbury; and whether he will have this matter investigated; (2) whether he will inquire into the circumstances of the discharge without notice of 12 men from Bekesbourne aerodrome on 17th October, 1947, most of whom are disabled ex-miners; and in particular satisfy himself that there was no victimisation because of trade union activities and that there are not other men still working at the aerodrome with less service than those discharged.

Only two cases of petty larceny have been reported at this storage depot since April, 1945, and I have no evidence of any other irregularities. The workers are employed by the managing contractors and not by the Ministry of Supply, and their conditions of employment are, therefore, matters for settlement between them and the contractors through the normal negotiating procedure. The Fair Wages Resolution requires Government contractors to recognise the freedom of their workpeople to be members of trade unions.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that there are looms still in use in Oldham, constructed in the nineteenth century; and what steps are now being taken for the supply of more modern machinery to assist in the export drive.

A report by the Committee, set up under the chairmanship of Lord Justice Evershed, to investigate the problems of the manufacture and supply of modern weaving machinery for the cotton industry will be published shortly. I am now considering this report in consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I would ask my hon. Friend to await its publication.

asked the Minister of Supply what price is paid by his Department for commercial scrap iron and steel imported from the British zone of Germany; at what price this is sold to the iron and steel trade; and to what extent losses have so far been incurred by his Department as a result of such transactions.

The average price paid to the Control Commission is £3 a ton f.a.s. German port. Sea transport and other incidental charges average nearly 50s. a ton. The average realised price (delivered works) in the United Kingdom for all German scrap (i.e. booty and battle scrap as well as commercial scrap) is £3.7 a ton. There is thus a deficit on sales of commercial scrap, which is offset by profits on the other scrap from Germany for which nothing is paid. On the basis of the tonnages purchased in the period up to the end of September, 1947, the estimated net deficiency will be about £219,000. The final account will, of course, depend upon the relative tonnages of commercial and other scrap purchased from Germany.

asked the Minister of Supply if he has had an opportunity of considering the complaints of redundant staff at Fort Halstead, resulting in men not having sufficient work to occupy their time; and if, in view of the labour shortage, he will release as many as possible for productive work.

I have no evidence that there is any under-employment at the Ministry of Supply establishments at Fort Halstead, but if the hon. Member has any such evidence and will let me have details, I will have the matter investigated.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps the Government are taking to safeguard the substantial amount of Crown property which is lying at or near Honeybourne, near Evesham, Worcestershire, in view of the numerous losses which occurred during 1946–47; and whether, as much of this is urgently needed by the public, steps will be taken to sell and distribute it without further delay.

Security arrangements at this depot are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War who informs me that it is very difficult to guard as it covers 345 acres and the perimeter fence is 4½ miles long. The guard consists of 48 soldiers and 5 night watchmen. We are already disposing of the stores, most of which are medical supplies and instruments. More than half of them have already been transferred to the Ministry of Health or sold to universities and research institutes and we hope to clear the depot completely early in 1948.

asked the Minister of Works how many people are employed in the office of the Ministry of Food located in the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, and what steps are being taken to find alternative accommodation for this office so that the Art Gallery may be re-opened to the public as soon as possible.

I understand that the number of staff is 305. My Department has for some time been carrying out an intensive search for suitable alternative accommodation for the food office, so far without success.

asked the Minister of Works when he expects to reach a decision as to whether, out of a contract of 159 houses already approved for erection in Wallasey, six can be built by apprentices under the apprentice master scheme.

I am glad to say that arrangements are being made at once for this scheme at Wallasey to be put in hand.

asked the Minister of Works why Tiffenden Farm House was selected as a Metropolitan Police hostel; what a Metropolitan Police hostel is; and what police activities are pursued there.

Tiffenden Farm House is occupied as a hostel for civilian staff of the Police Regional Wireless Station, Cranbrook. This is an essential service. No other suitable accommodation for the wireless staff was available.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that as a result of his occupation of Tiffenden Farm House, High Halden, Kent, the farmer of the land, which consists of 257 acres all under cultivation, has no home; that, in consequence, the farming of the land may have to be abandoned; and what he proposes to do about it.

I understand that the present owner bought the property whilst it was requisitioned. I am aware of his difficulties and I have given instructions that further efforts must be made to find alternative premises.

asked the Minister of Works whether he intends taking any further action to improve the ventilation of the present House of Commons Chamber.

Repairs to the filter screens have just been completed but no further work is proposed at present.

asked the Minister of Works whether in view of the increasing shortage of building materials, he will consider the advisability of holding up further work on the reconstruction of the House of Commons.

No. The structural steel is already in position; the engineering installations are being manufactured and it has been decided that building work is to be continued.

asked the Minister of Works why glass is not made available for repairs to greenhouses damaged by enemy action, although portable greenhouses complete with glass may be purchased without a permit.

No permit is needed to buy horticultural glass, and such supplies as are available may be used for repair work or for portable greenhouses.

asked the Minister of Works the amount of building licences granted in respect of 96, Piccadilly, W.1; to whom the licence was granted; and for what purpose.

During 1945 and 1946 licences totalling some £7,500 were granted to Messrs. Higgins and Partners and the Turriff Construction Corporation Ltd., for war damage repairs, reinstatement after derequisitioning and alterations to provide office accommodation on the upper floors. Three licences have been granted this year to Messrs. Kenaldo Ltd. in respect of 96, Piccadilly, W.1. The first licence for £4,500 was granted on the recommendation of the Ministry of Food for essential work necessary to make the ground floor and basement fit for use as a restaurant. The second licence for £3,050 was granted for the ventilation system to meet the requirements of the London County Council, and for marble and stone work which was of a specialist nature. The third licence for £4,200 was granted on the recommendation of the Ministry of Fuel and Power for the installation of an oil fired heating system.

asked the Minister of Works it he is aware that the building of houses by the Belfast Corporation and by private enterprise in Belfast has come to a standstill, and that materials for repairs are now almost impossible to obtain; and when the authorities in Northern Ireland may expect to get the necessary supplies.

No. I am, however, aware that cement shortages have caused difficulties and efforts have been made to increase supplies. If the hon. Member will give details of shortages of the materials for which my Department is responsible, and which are drawn from this country, I will see if it is possible to increase supplies.

asked the Minister of Works the amounts of solid fuel, gas and electricity used by the following Departments for the years ending 30th June, 1939, 30th June, 1945 and 30th June, 1947, respectively:—Admiralty, Agriculture, Air, Civil Aviation, Education, Food, Fuel and Power, Health, Home, Labour, Supply. Trade, Transport, Treasury and War.

The records for 1939 are no longer available and a very great amount of clerical labour would be involved in extracting the specific information asked for in respect of 1945 and 1947. Consumption of fuel is watched building by building. For the last winter quarter for which records are available, namely, that ending March, 1947, the figures of fuel consumption for all Government offices throughout the country for which this Ministry was responsible show a saving in terms of solid fuel over the corresponding quarter of 1946 of 15.75 Per cent. made up as follows:—solid fuel 15.3 per cent., electricity 19.3 per cent., gas 8.6 per cent.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what staff increases will be made in the headquarters and divisional offices of his Ministry, consequent upon the abolition of the basic petrol ration; and what is the estimated annual cost.

There has been a temporary increase of 251 clerical staff engaged in the regional petroleum offices to deal with extra work consequent upon the abolition of the basic petrol ration. It is hoped that the number of extra staff required will be considerably reduced before the end of the year. The cost of this extra staff is estimated at approximately £5,000 a month.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he contemplates making any peacetime use of the U.K. oil pipelines used during the war; to what extent men and materials are now being used on the maintenance of these pipelines; and what justification he can give for such expenditure at the present time.

Certain tributaries of the main war time pipeline system have been disposed of and a section of it is still in use. The possibility of utilising the remainder to relieve other forms of transport has recently been re-examined, but was found not to be a practical proposition. The system is, however, being kept in being for use in case of emergency. Its maintenance employs 67 persons, including those engaged on the operating section. The amount of materials needed for occasional repairs is very small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will give an estimate of the probable loss under the variant of the Civil Supplies Agreement of 1941, proposed by the Soviet Minister of Foreign Trade during the recent trade talks in Moscow;(2) if he will give an estimate of the probable loss under the variant of the Civil Supplies Agreement of 1941, proposed by the Secretary for Overseas Trade during the recent trade talks in Moscow.

The variants proposed by the Soviet Minister of Foreign Trade and by the Secretary for Overseas Trade would mean losses on capital repayment of £34 and £26 millions respectively, during the next six years, to be recouped over the following 10 years. Both variants entailed a final loss of interest of about £4 millions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state to the nearest million pounds the amount of debt held by Government Departments on 31st March, 1947, under the separate headings of floating debt and other internal debt, excluding bonds intended for Death Duties.

The figures are as follow:On 31st March, 1947–

	£millions
Floating debt	695
Other internal debt (excluding bonds tendered for Death Duties)	3,152
	3,847

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of Everall railway bridging has been sent to Poland as a free gift from the British Government; from what areas was it sent; and on what dates.

11,000 tons. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply that the bridging came from surplus stocks held at an Army depot at Longmore, Hampshire, and was shipped between March and July, 1946.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now able to announce the provision of corded white overalls for cotton spinners as a necessary precaution against industrial disease in the spinning industry to be made in accordance with the reply given by the Secretary of Overseas Trade to the junior Member for Oldham on 26th November, 1946.

Experiments and trials have been carried out to find a suitable Utility cloth for manufacture into these overalls. The experiments have been completed and I am glad to say that cloth is now in production and should reach the overall manufacturers concerned very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) why the Commander-in-Chief, Germany, refused to grant permits to visitors from and through the British zone to the Second Conference of the Socialist Unity Party, held in Berlin on 20th to 24th September;(2) whether he is aware that a ban was imposed by the Commander-in-Chief, Germany, on the proposed visit by the hon. Member for Finsbury to the Second Conference of the Socialist Unity Party, held in Berlin on 20th to 24th September; and whether he will ensure that Members of this House shall not, in future, be prevented from travelling in British-controlled areas and familiarising themselves with conditions generally.

Facilities are granted for travel to and from areas under British control in Germany whenever they would serve the purposes of the occupation, and as my hon. Friend must be aware, considerable freedom of movement has in particular been allowed in the past to Members of this House. The applications for the visits referred to by my hon. Friend were not considered to be of this character.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the German Economics Office and Transport Office have declined United States Army surplus vehicles, when local offices in certain parts of occupied Germany desire to acquire these vehicles for essential agricultural purposes.

7,500 American vehicles originally received by this country under Lend-Lease arrangements were offered to the German authorities in August last. This offer was a first refused, but later the German authorities asked for 5,182 of these vehicles, which are now being made available to them. I understand that surplus vehicles belonging to the United States forces in Germany have also been offered to the German authorities. This offer has not been declined; it is now the subject of negotiations between the American and the German authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for what reason permission is denied to British citizens to visit and inspect properties in Germany belonging to them, which were confiscated by the Nazis; and what steps are being taken to restore the ownership of such properties to their rightful owners.

Before permission to visit can be granted in such cases, it is necessary to determine whether the applicant has, in fact, a valid claim to the property he states belongs to him. The necessary restitution law is still under quadripartite discussion and machinery for examining claims and determining their validity has not yet been set up. Its establishment is, however, now under urgent consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he is taking to clarify the validity or otherwise of German trade marks outside Germany.

The validity of a trade mark in any country depends on the law of the country concerned. His Majesty's Government is at present seeking the views of certain other Governments concerning the validity of German trade marks; an announcement on this subject will be made in due course.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of sub-post offices in the county borough of West Ham and the annual turn-over in each, respectively, for the years 1945 and 1946.

There are 30 sub offices in the county borough of West Ham of which three are staffed by full-time civil servants. I regret that information regarding the annual turnover at each of these offices for 1945 and 1946 is not readily available.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will inform the House of the number of pension appeals that have been allowed, disallowed, adjourned and withdrawn, respectively, by Assessment Court No. 2A; and similar statistics for Assessment Courts Nos. 1A, 3A, and 4A.

The hon. Member will no doubt realise that a comparison of the numbers of pensions appeals allowed by different Assessment Tribunals has little or no significance, since the personnel of the Tribunals, which travel from one town to another, is frequently changed. But I will give the figures asked for.

—	Allowed.	Disallowed.	Adjourned,	Struck Out.
Tribunal 1A	338	462	238	38
Tribunal 2A	147	591	198	37
Tribunal 3A	189	261	205	16
Tribunal 4A	107	371	149	13

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report of the Royal Commission on the Appointment and Function of Magistrates is to be published.

I understand that the Commission have concluded the hearing of evidence and have the preparation of their report in hand, but I am unable to say when it will be ready for publication.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments in cancer research, with and without anaesthetics, were performed on animals under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, during the year 1946.

The figures are 7,918 and 24,368, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that jury service falls unevenly and sometimes onerously on some members of the community; and whether legislation is contemplated during the present Session to implement some of the recommendations on jury service which were proposed by the Departmental Committee which reported on this subject as long ago as 1913.

I regret that I cannot hold out any hope of legislation on this subject during the present Session.

asked the Secretary of State for War for what reason Donnington Park, Leicestershire, is still retained by the War Office.

A very large amount of public money was spent on the site during the war and it is the best and main vehicle reserve depot in the United Kingdom. Its permanent retention is under consideration by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Service Land Requirements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what response has been made to the representations made by the shipbuilding industry about delays in issuing timber licences for new tonnage.

Representations have been received that some shipbuilders are not receiving timber sufficiently early for their requirements. It has been explained in reply that the basic difficulty in licensing adequate quantities of timber for individual shipyards, at the time when it is required, is due to the fact that the quantities available for allocation quarterly fall short of the current needs of the industry. Every consideration is, however, given to meeting requirements in individual cases where lack of timber at any given stage in a ship's construction is seriously holding up production.