asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the requisitioning of houses in the Dusseldorf area has been resumed and how many houses have been taken over from the civilian population since 1st September, 1947.

In view of the large number of Service and Control Office for Germany families awaiting married quarters in the Dusseldorf area, many of which had suffered long separation during and after the war, the Regional Commissioner in June last, with the full approval of the German authorities, agreed to the requisitioning of a maximum of 150 houses in the neighbourhood of Dusseldorf during the summer and autumn, to avoid eviction of Germans during the winter months. The majority of these houses have now been requisitioned and the waiting list for married quarters in this area has fallen to manageable proportions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that in the district of Lohausen, Dusseldorf, houses numbered 35, 37, 40, 42, 44 and 46 Bockoltstrasse, were requisitioned early this year and have remained empty to this date; and whether he will now take steps to have them returned to their owners.

No. The facts in my possession differ from those stated in the Question. The explanation is as follows: No. 35 Bockoltstrasse was requisitioned in February, 1946, the other houses in July, 1945. All these houses were fully occupied by Army units from the time they were requisitioned until July, 1947. No. 35 was empty from July, 1947, until early in October while undergoing repairs; it is now occupied by a British family. No. 37 is still undergoing repairs; on their completion it will be occupied as a military officers' mess. No. 40 was occupied by an Army Postal Unit in September, when the necessary works were completed. No. 42 was empty during repairs and is now occupied by a British family. No. 44 has been occupied by a British family since August; No. 46 will also be so occupied as soon as repairs have been completed. The delay in making these houses ready for their new occupants is due solely to the acute shortage of raw materials and labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Doctor Dragojla Popovic, a doctor of medicine, was removed from the Displaced Persons Camp at Diepholz in Germany on 13th October, and where she is now.

This woman was in charge of a reformatory for political re-education under the quisling Nedic régime, and is one of those persons whose surrender has been demanded by the Yugoslav Government on the charge of collaboration. In accordance with the agreement signed between His Majesty's Government and the Yugoslav Government at Bled on 8th September we are obliged to consider this charge. No decision has yet been reached. Dr. Popovic was moved from Diepholz to Paderborn on 13th October in order that the charges against her might be investigated, since this is not possible at Diepholz.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Governor of Mauritius will pay the first visit for 12 years to the dependency of Rodriguez; and if he will give an assurance that the Governor will travel by either a British ship or British plane.

The Governor is at present on his way back to Mauritius by sea from this country, but, as soon as he arrives in the Colony, I will ascertain his intentions and will then communicate further with the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the total surpluses at present held by the Gold Coast Cocoa Marketing Board and the Nigeria Cocoa Marketing Board; and what sums accrued as profits from the marketing of cocoa have been distributed to the producers in the Gold Coast and Nigeria, respectively, since 1st August, 1945.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I made to the hon. Member for Bury (Mr. W. Fletcher) in answer to a similar Question on 29th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in a recent case at Owo, Nigeria, the judge drew attention to the low wages paid to the defendant, a clerk employed by Messrs. Rowntree-Fry-Cadbury (Nigeria), Ltd.; and, in view of the present high price of cocoa, will he ensure that an equitable proportion of this is used to increase the wages of underpaid native employees of the firms engaged in the cocoa trade.

Yes. As regards the second part of the Question, I am consulting with the Government of Nigeria and will communicate further with my hon. and gallant Friend in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the reason for the budget deficit in the Gold Coast; and what steps are being taken to increase taxation, especially of incomes in order to overcome this.

Estimates for 1947–1948 provided for a surplus of revenue over expenditure (excluding development expenditure) of £450,000 after providing for appropriation from revenue of £1,000,000 to Supplementary Sinking Fund Reserve against loan repayments. Owing to the adoption of revised rates of salaries and wages, not provided for in the Estimates, additional expenditure of approximately £2,000,000 will be incurred. This sum includes payment of increased salaries and wages to Government employees, increased salaries to teachers in non-Government institutions and special non-recurrent grants to native authorities, town councils and Achimota College, to assist them in meeting the corresponding increase in rates of wages payable to their employees, pending adjustment of their finances to meet these additional commitments. Of the total of £2,000,000, approximately half is non-recurrent being in respect of arrears of wages and non-recurrent grants.This expenditure would transform the estimated surplus of £450,000 into a deficit of some £1,500,000. Revenue is, however, expected considerably to exceed Estimates, and the deficit will be correspondingly reduced. The apparent deficit will, moreover, include payment of £1,000,000 to the Reserve mentioned above.No increases in taxation are being introduced in the current financial year, which terminates on 31st March, 1948, and any deficit will be met from Reserves which stood at nearly £8,000,000 at 1st April, 1947. Increases in taxation for introduction in 1948–1949 budget are at present under consideration by representatives of the Finance Committee with a view to producing a balanced budget. No decision has yet been reached as to proposals which will be laid before the Legislature, but the Acting Governor does not anticipate difficulty in raising the additional revenue required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to be able to make a further statement on the memorandum recently presented to him by the National Council of Nigeria.

I am at present in consultation with the Acting Governor of Nigeria on the question raised in the memorandum and hope to be shortly in a position to give a reply to the points raised therein.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the local Department for Economic Affairs in Singapore have recently been offering Japanese goods for sale; and that the envelopes containing their quotations are being rubber-stamped "Trade with Japan"; and, in view of the bad impression thus created on the Chinese, if he will ensure that this practice is discontinued.

I am aware that the Department of Economic Affairs in Singapore has been offering Japanese goods for sale. Trade between Japan and other countries has been exclusively and is still very largely on a Government to Government basis and goods necessarily pass through Government Departments. Correspondence was stamped with the description title "Trade with Japan" to indicate its subject matter. This has not created a bad impression upon Chinese in Singapore and my information is that they have not misinterpreted it as a slogan. The practice of stamping envelopes with this title has however been discontinued.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the committee for the supervision of Nut-ford House as a Colonial Students' Hostel is composed mainly of members of the Victoria League; whether the membership of this committee has recently been revised; how often does it meet; in any dispute between a resident student and the warden or management on matters of alleged misconduct or otherwise, whether the student has a right of appeal to the committee or to the Colonial Office and the right of being represented or assisted at such hearing by any advocate; and whether he is aware of the considerable anxiety that parents resident in the West Indies have over recent administrative acts in these hostels.

Yes, I am aware that the Advisory Committee is mainly composed of members of the Victoria League with representatives of the students, the colonial community, and the Colonial Office. I understand that membership is revised from time to time and the Committee meets every two months. As far as I know, students can make representations to the Committee or the Colonial Office in such manner as they wish. The answer to the last part of the hon. Member's Question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any recent review has taken place in the Colonial Welfare Section of his Department with regard to replanning the welfare arrangements for colonial students in this country; if he is aware that in London and other cities the hostels are administered, on behalf of the Colonial Office, by private organisations, such as the Victoria League; and whether leases held by this League will now be taken over by the Government or the hostels requisitioned and administered by a representative committee, selected by the Colonial Secretary himself, to include especially representatives of the Co-operative movement, including the Co-operative Women's Guild.

Welfare arrangements for Colonial students in the United Kingdom are under constant review. Only two students' hostels are administered by a voluntary organisation on behalf of the Colonial Office, both in London and both by the Victoria League. The lease of one of these hostels is held by the League, the other property is held by the Ministry of Works on requisition. I do not consider any change is necessary in the present arrangements for the administration of these hostels, but I will refer to the Victoria League the hon. Member's suggestion about representation of the Co-operative movement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the names of the last four wardens or managers of the Nutford House Colonial Hostel, London, the periods in which they held office, and the reasons for their resignations or dismissals; and how many of these wardens had previous managerial experience of such institutions.

Nutford House is managed by the Victoria League which is a voluntary organisation and I am not in a position to give information about the staff employed by that body.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the advertisements for recruits to the Palestine Police Force still state that the minimum age of recruitment is 18 whereas it has recently been raised to 19 years and six months; and what steps he is taking to publicise this alteration in the minimum age.

The new minimum age is mentioned in all Press advertisements placed since the change was made. Contracts for advertisement by posters, all of which were exhibited before the change, have now expired and are not being renewed.

asked the Minister of Defence what steps have been taken to cut down unnecessary consumption of fuel and light in the Services; and what savings have been effected as a result.

The Services have introduced a number of measures during the last two years to reduce the consumption of fuel and light. These have undoubtedly resulted in substantial savings, but it would involve much time and labour to make an accurate assessment. Instructions were given recently for a further reduction of 20 per cent. in the allocation of coal in the six winter months. The need for the most stringent economy is constantly stressed by means of instructions and posters.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make orange juice available to children over five.

As orange juice is obtained from dollar countries, my right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot consider any extension of the class of beneficiaries.

asked the Minister of Food why the price of carrots is only announced when the crop is ready for sale.

Growers were informed on 25th June, 1947, that fixed prices and the guaranteed market would operate from 1st November. The fixed growers' prices now prescribed for main crop carrots from that date are in line with those previously announced for the earlier crop, that is, 10s. per ton in advance of the previous season.

asked the Minister of Food why the application made by Mr. Laurence Holloway, of Catworth, Hunts., who is a tractor driver, employed by a farmer to whom he is not related, for the extra cheese ration allowed to agricultural workers was refused by the food office at St. Neots, Hunts.; and whether steps will be taken to grant this extra cheese ration to Mr. Holloway.

Mr. Holloway, who does not hold an agricultural insurance card, has been asked to fill up an application form for the special cheese ration. When the form is returned properly completed his application will be considered.

asked the Minister of Food what quantities of oils and fats have been exported from the United Kingdom during the past year; to what countries were they exported; and what was the reason for these exports.

During 1947 we expect to export only 13,000 tons of oils and fats mainly in the form of margarine and soap. Our import programme for the same period is 960,000 tons. The small quantity exported is sent to a number of destinations primarily Colonies and Dependencies. The preparation of detailed figures would take some considerable time, but I shall be happy to supply the hon. Member with the particulars he desires for any specific destination in which he is interested.

asked the Minister of Food what will be the average number of calories available per head in respect of bread, potatoes, other rationed foods, and unrationed foods respectively, after the total has been reduced to below 2,700.

The ration entitlement of bread for the normal adult provides some 650 calories and potatoes no calories per head per day. The remaining rationed foods provide about 650 calories and points rationed foods about 190 more. As to the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. E. P. Smith) on 3rd November.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the quantity of potatoes necessary to meet the new potato ration during the coming year is under 3½ million tons; what is his estimate of the quantity required otherwise for human consumption; and, in view of the estimated crop of over 8 million tons, why a larger ration is not available.

The estimated production of 8 million tons relates to the whole United Kingdom crop. Of this quantity, about 7,200,000 tons (including ware shipments from Northern Ireland) are available for use in Great Britain; but alowances for seed, chats, normal shrinkage and wastage in store, Services' needs and very small priority exports, reduce the quantity available by 2,625,000 tons and there is also usage since June to be taken into account in arriving at the quantity now available for distribution

asked the Minister of Food how many current licences were issued to hay and straw merchants in Oxfordshire in February, 1940, 1946 and 1947 respectively; and how many have been granted and refused in the years 1940, 1946 and 1947, respectively.

Licences were not issued to approved buyers of hay or straw until 1941. The statement below gives the hon. Member the numbers of licences issued to merchants with addresses in Oxfordshire. No territorial restriction in trading imposed on the licence holder.

			Hay	Straw
Licences in force:
February, 1942	…	…	14	16
February, 1946	…	…	15	19
February, 1947	…	…	14	18

No other applications have been received since the commencement of control except one in 1946; this was refused as the applicant had no datum qualification, and the existing licence holders were fully able to handle the trade to be done.

asked the Minister of Food what precautions are being taken to prevent the sale of tinned food in Northern Ireland on which the maximum age of safety has been exceeded; what action is being taken on the case reported to him by the hon. Member for County Down; in how many cases has tinned food for which the maximum date of safety has expired been sold with the approval of his Department; and how many cases of food poisoning from old stocks of tinned food have been reported to him.

From the papers which the hon. Member was good enough to send me, I find that he has in mind certain tinned foods, surplus to Army requirements, which are now being distributed through the trade. Such goods bear the date up to which the manufacturer gave a warranty to the Army authorities, but it is quite untrue that they are unfit for human consumption after that date. They are, of course, carefully examined before issue and the advice of the Government chemist or the health authorities is invariably sought, and if there is any doubt as to their condition; these particular articles were sampled by the Government chemist, who reported favourably both on their wholesomeness and on their nutritive value. Large quantities of these surplus Army stores have been distributed and no case of food poisoning from such a source has ever been reported to me. I am making inquiries as to the particular instance referred to in the letter which the hon. Member gave me, and will let him know the results.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that bacon factories are suffering from a severe shortage of supplies, in some cases necessitating the dismissal of personnel; and what steps he is taking to improve the position.

Yes, an increase in the supply of pigs to the bacon factories depends upon the provision of feeding-stuffs and every effort is being made to obtain maximum quantities.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to state the detailed composition of welfare committees, the methods by which democratic representation is secured and a more precise description of their functions; and whether he will give some indication of the. extent to which they are now functioning.

The instructions for the composition of welfare committees require that the ships or establishments shall be divided into suitable groups and any rating within the group may offer himself, or be nominated by the group, for election. The names of all candidates are published on notice boards and after a period of ten days an election is held by secret ballot. The function of the committees is to provide for free discussion between officers and men of items of welfare and general amenities within the ship or establishment that lie within the power of decision of the commanding officer or his immediate administrative authority. Committees are now functioning, or will shortly begin to function, in most ships and establishments. I am sending my hon.' Friend a copy of the relevant Admiralty Instructions on the subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many new buildings have been erected since September, 1945, at the R.N.A.S. Camp at Evanton; and what is the cost to his Department.

No new buildings have been erected since September, 1945, at the Royal Naval Air Station at Evanton.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the R.N.A.S. at Evanton is to be closed down.

The future of the Royal Naval Air Station at Evanton is under consideration, but meanwhile, as a measure of economy, it is to be reduced to a care and maintenance basis by 31st March next.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why G. R. H. Harris, P/KX. 812650, stoker, a trained toolmaker, who during the war volunteered twice for active service but was refused permission on account of the importance of the work done by him and his firm for Admiralty and Air Ministry, is now engaged as a messman at Worthy Down.

Every endeavour is made to allocate National Service entrants in the Royal Navy to branches where their civilian skill can be fully employed, but this is not always practicable. Stoker Harris who entered in December, 1946, and because of his low age and service group he is due for release in 1948. With this short period of service, it would have been uneconomical to give him the lengthy training of the more skilled branches. Unfortunately, it is necessary on occasions to employ stokers, and men of other branches, on domestic duties, and Harris has been employed as a messman because of the shortage of civilian labour. He has now been withdrawn from these duties and is serving in Stamshaw Camp, Portsmouth, on the maintenance of fire fighting equipment and on general camp duties.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why candidates for cadetships in the electrical branch of the Royal Navy are asked what was their grandfather's occupation.

I am not aware that candidates for cadetships in the electrical branch of the Royal Navy are asked about the occupation of their grandparents. If the hon. Member will provide me with further details, I will look into the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what proportion of this year's intake of cadets into the electrical branch of the Royal Navy came from local authority secondary schools.

Fifty per cent. of the 20 candidates entered as Cadets (L) came from local authority secondary schools.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what will be the estimated strength of the W.R.N.S. on 31st March, 1948; and whether this figure is included in the total strength of 147,000 to which the Royal Navy is to be reduced by that date.

The estimated strength of the W.R.N.S. at 31st March, 1948, is 8,000. This figure is included in the total strength of 147,000.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when he proposes to issue a revised reprint of the Workers' Handbook relating to conditions of service, rates of pay, allowances, &c., of workpeople employed in Admiralty establishments at home.

The Workmen's Handbook has been revised, and a new issue has reached an advanced stage of preparation. I anticipate that the book will reach the printers before the end of the year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will give an assurance that he will not decrease the number of our fishery protection vessels.

I regret that no such assurance can be given, but any temporary reductions which may be necessary in the strength of the flotilla will not affect its ability to give essential protection to the fishing industry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether His Majesty's Government propose to close the dockyard at Chatham.

No.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that illumination of the River and Firth of Clyde from the torpedo factory at Fort Matilda, near Greenock, makes apparent mockery of the injunction to the civilian population to save fuel; and whether he will satisfy himself that the hundreds of high power lights used nightly at that factory are necessary.

A certain amount of lighting is necessary in the building in question until 9 p.m., when the cleaners finish work. There are no blinds, and as the windows are large and there are glass partitions between rooms, these lights appear exceptionally brilliant when viewed from outside. Strict instructions have been issued for economy in lighting and I am satisfied that there is no waste.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will reconsider the present ruling which debars certain naval ratings who were discharged under the reduction schemes of 1922, but subsequently re-entered, from counting their former service for pension.

Yes. It has been decided that any such ratings who were allowed to re-enter to complete time for pension can now reckon their service in full for pension, subject to the normal rules and to the repayment of the special gratuity paid on discharge.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to provide a post sub-office in Kilmarnock to take the place of the recently closed Duke Street post sub-office.

Every effort has ben made and will continue to be made to re-open a post office in the Duke Street area of Kilmarnock, but unfortunately it has so far not proved possible to find suitable premises in which a post office might be accommodated.

asked the Postmaster-General when the regulation insisting that postmen should not be less than 5 feet 4 inches in height was first introduced; what were the supporting reasons; whether they still apply; and why disabled ex-Service men of the Regular forces who are only 5 feet 3 inches in height are unsuited for such employment.

The regulation was introduced generally in 1910. Sorting letters forms an important part of a postman's normal duties; and men who are less than five feet four inches in height would generally have difficulty in reaching the upper parts of the sorting frames.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will reconsider the application for employment as postman of Mr. J. Judge, 3, Back Cross Street, Birstall, near Leeds, a disabled ex-Service man of the Regular Forces, whose application was rejected on the grounds that he was only 5 feet 3 inches in height.

I have inquired into Mr. Judge's case, but I regret that, in fairness to other ex-Service men in the same position, I should not be justified in making in his favour an exception to the regulations.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that letters with the 4.15 p.m. postmark from London are not delivered in Glasgow until the second succeeding morning delivery; and as this delay causes serious difficulties in all kinds of business will he make inquiries regarding these delays and if necessary make alternative arrangements to permit of delivery on the morning following the afternoon London posting.

Letters for Glasgow posted in London in time for the 5.30 p.m. head district and 4.15/4.30 p.m. sub district collections are due to be delivered on the following weekday. If the hon. Member will let me have details of any letters which seem to have suffered delay I will have investigation made.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps have to be taken by individuals posting parcels by letter post to Australia to get two receipts, a duplicate for proof of despatch and one for Purchase Tax regulations; and what demand there is for such duplicates.

The regulations governing this question are under review. I will write to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as a decision has been reached. The demand for this facility hitherto has been very small.

asked the Postmaster-General the extent to which his Department have been able to utilise, since August, 1945, the facilities of the Royal Dockyards for the provision of essential telecommunications supplies.

During the past two years the Post Office has placed orders for the production of £50,000 worth of telecommunications stores with the Royal Dockyards.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will reconsider the requirement of a guarantee from parish councils of £4 per annum over a period of five years for the maintenance of telephone kiosks in rural districts where other public telephones are not available.

The demand for kiosks in rural areas far exceeds the supply of equipment and available manpower. We must accordingly devote our limited resources to the cases of greatest need and I regret that I cannot abolish the present system of payment which is not onerous and has the merit of distinguishing such cases on the basis of local support. I am prepared, however, to consider any particular case, where owing to extreme remoteness there is special need for a kiosk.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephone installations in Glasgow in 1939, and on the latest available date, respectively; and the number of applications now waiting to be fulfilled.

In March, 1939, there were 61,507 telephone installations in the Glasgow telephone area. At the end of September, 1947, there were 79,609 installations and 13,817 applications waiting to be fulfilled.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will now agree to release Spaunton Moor, which is at present used as a training ground and firing range for the R.A.F. Regiment; and from what date will the release operate.

Unless some unforeseen difficulty arises the R.A.F. Regiment will soon leave Spaunton Moor for Battle Hill, near Barnard Castle, where it will train in future. However, we are faced with the problem of clearing Spaunton Moor of unexploded missiles and I regret I cannot at present say when this area will be ready to be thrown open to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when his Department expects to receive a decision from their quantity surveyor in Glasgow, regarding the tenders received from the Ross and Cromarty County Council, in respect of the Invergordon Academy playing field.

It is expected that a quantity surveyor's report on these tenders will be received in about a week's time.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why Marshal of the R.A.F. Sir Sholto Douglas, travelled from Germany to Northolt airport on 1st November in a Dakota aeroplane, which was escorted across the channel by four Mosquitos; and whether in view of the urgent need for fuel economy he will issue instructions to the R.A.F. command to discontinue the practice of using aircraft as escorts in peacetime.

These Mosquitos were from Fighter Command and they carried out an interception and formation exercise on the aircraft in which Marshal of the R.A.F. Sir Sholto Douglas was travelling: this afforded an opportunity of paying a courtesy to this distinguished officer. The second part of my hon. Friend's Question does not arise, as formation flying of this kind is an essential part of operational training.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the total acreage of land in the British Isles held by the Air Ministry and the total acreage still under requisition; what acreage of this it is proposed to cultivate in view of the need for food production in the present emergency, and what area of land is to be de-requisitioned.

In the British Isles the Air Ministry owns 140,000 acres and holds 200,000 acres on requisition. About half these 340,000 acres has been made available for agriculture—nearly 80,000 for ploughing and nearly 90,000 for grazing, hay, grass drying or silage. It is the policy of my Department to increase the acreage for use in farming wherever possible. There will be a considerable reduction, compared with the present holdings, in the Air Ministry's permanent requirements for land. Not all of the surplus will, however, be derequisitioned, since we shall continue the practice of buying most surplus runwayed airfields and handing them over to the Ministry of Agriculture.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) if he is aware that the Hellesdon Parish Council, Norfolk, and the various inhabitants in that parish, are still awaiting information upon their claims for damage stated to be due to low flying aircraft, which information was promised in a letter dated 9th July, 1947, sent by Headquarters, Eastern Fighter Sector, to all householders affected by the low flying; and will he cause this matter to be dealt with without further delay;(2) if he is aware that the clerk to the St. Faith's and Aylsham Rural District Council, Norfolk, is still awaiting a reply to his letter written to the Air Ministry on 26th August, 1947, urging that a decision should be expedited in regard to the claims for damage to property caused by low flying aircraft over Hellesdon, as discussed at the conference between the Air Ministry and the local authorities on 20th December, 1946; what has been the cause of the delay; and when a reply can be expected.

I regret any apparent delay but detailed consideration, which has only recently been completed, has been given to these claims. No evidence has been received which supports the allegation that any damage has been caused by low flying R.A.F. aircraft. I regret, therefore, that I cannot make any promise of compensation to the residents of Hellesdon and St. Faith's and Aylsham, but any claim for damage which is clearly attributable to a low flying incident and can be identified with it, will be carefully examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why the squadron of heavy bombers which left Binbrook, Lincolnshire, aerodrome on a goodwill mission to the Turkish Air Force landed in Egypt on the outward journey in view of the presence of cholera in Egypt and the precautions the Turkish Government were taking to prevent its spread; what is the reason for three planes making a forced landing in France on the return journey; and what was the cause of the death of one of the aircrew immediately on his return to this country.

This squadron which paid a goodwill visit to Turkey, landed at a R.A.F. station in the Canal Zone of Egypt as part of its training programme; all members of the squadron were innoculated against cholera before leaving the United Kingdom. The Turkish Government were aware that the squadron would land in Egypt and raised no objection. Two aircraft, and not three, landed at the R.A.F. Staging Post at Istres on the return journey; one because of an engine defect and the other because of the weather. I regret to say that a member of the squadron died shortly after landing in this country; his death was due to the effects of lack of oxygen.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many clothing coupons are issued to Auxiliary Air Force officers; and for what items of clothing are these intended.

Officers of the Auxiliary Air Force are issued with 16 clothing coupons to help them in buying shirts, collars, ties and gloves, for wear when they are in uniform. A further 16 coupons are issued if the officer has no Service raincoat and wishes to buy one. The rest of his uniform is provided by the R.A.F.

asked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent the contractor erecting houses for the Air Ministry at Lyneham, Wilts, is being reimbursed by his Department for wages paid in excess of the local rate.

Men employed on this work, who have been brought in with Air Ministry approval from districts where the wage rates are higher than in the Lyneham district, continue to receive the higher rate of wage. The difference between this higher rate and the basic rate agreed in the contract is repaid by my Department to the contractor. This basic rate is slightly higher than the local rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent the subsistence allowance being paid to single men and married men, who live with their families within daily travelling distance of the work being' undertaken for the Air Ministry at Lyneham, Wilts, is recoverable from his Department by the contractor.

No such subsistence allowances are recoverable from my Department.

asked the Minister of Works what was the amount of the building licence granted by him in respect of the Palace Court Hotel in Bournemouth, and the purpose for which the licence was granted.

Building licences authorising a total expenditure of £5,874 were issued during the period from April, 1946, to January, 1947. The work licensed included the extension of the kitchen and restaurant, alterations to staff accommodation and essential repairs and decoration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether in view of the decisions to double the allocations of steel for the supply of agricultural implements, he will give an assurance that better facilities will now be made available for the production of rabbit traps of an approved humane type.

Sufficient steel has already been allocated for the production of several thousand rabbit traps to a new design sponsored by the R.S.P.C.A. This allocation is to provide for comprehensive field tests of machine-made traps following promising trials of the hand-made model. If the trap proves satisfactory the allocation of steel necessary for wider production will be considered in the light of available supplies.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many miners were employed at the coal face in August, 1939, as compared with August, 1947; and what were the respective quantities of coal, in tons, produced during each of those months.

There were on the average 290,000 face workers on colliery books during August, 1947. There are no direct statistics for August, 1939, but it has been estimated that on a comparable basis the number was probably 315,000 Output from the mines in August, 1939, and August, 1947, amounted to 15,063,000 and 12,574,000 ton respectively.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give an assurance that Ministers and civil servants are subject to the same regulations as the public owing to the abolition of the basic petrol ration; and if he will instruct them to keep log books which can be made available for public inspection.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative As regards the second part of the Question there is no general obligation on the public to keep log books.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why imports of motor spirit into this country from Iran, paid for in sterling, have fallen from 25 per cent. of our total consumption in 1946 to 3.7 per cent. for the first nine months of 1947, while imports from dollar areas are in the region of 60 per cent.

The shortage of tanker tonnage throughout the present year has made it necessary to ensure that all tankers in the British companies' services, whether company-owned or on charter, are used in the most economical way. For this reason tankers have been employed to a greater extent during the year on the shorter haul voyage from the Netherlands West Indies and U.S. Gulf to the U.K. than on the longer haul from the Persian Gulf to the. U.K.