asked the Minister of Transport whether he will arrange that agricultural machinery and requisites are granted exemption from any embargoes placed upon goods traffic on the railways.

No. Embargoes are imposed to relieve congestion, and adding to the list of exemptions defeats this object. There is adequate machinery for securing quick acceptance of urgent consignments through embargoes.

asked the Minister of Transport why the railway freight rates for empty herring barrels are higher from Stonehaven to Great Yarmouth than from Aberdeen and Fraserburgh, where the distance is greater; and what steps he is taking to remove this anomaly.

Exceptional rates were granted to Fraserburgh and Aberdeen by the railway companies in 1932 to meet competition, mainly from sea transport. It is open to any trader concerned to apply to the Transport Tribunal for a lower rate.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the frequent unpunctuality of the 7.43 train from Bishop's Stortford to Liverpool Street; and whether steps will be taken to improve the time keeping of this train in particular and of this service in general.

The Railway Executive Committee tells me that the main delays during the last month were because of fog on five days, the failure of a locomotive on another day, and continuing engineering work on the Colchester line. I am afraid that good time-keeping cannot be maintained until the work is finished.

asked the Minister of Transport how many additional buses were operating in the London Transport area on 1st November compared with 1st January last.

One hundred and fiftytwo.

asked the Minister of Transport what changes have been made in the route of the London Passenger Transport bus 53A, and what notification has been published of such changes.

Bus 53A from Plum-stead has been diverted at Oxford Circus, going now to Camden Town instead of to West Hampstead. Notice of the change was posted in the buses.

asked the Minister of Transport, whether, in view of the small number of cars on the roads between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., he will give instructions for traffic lights at the minor crossings to be extinguished between those hours and thus save a considerable amount of electric current.

My right hon. Friend is looking into this proposal.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that owing to the reduced mileage travelled by those cars which remain on the road in future, the running time during which the batteries can be charged will be limited, with a consequent increase in the amount of electricity needed to charge batteries; and whether, with a view to lessening consumption of electric current, he will now allow cars to be parked at night in those streets that are adequately lighted without having to have their sidelights on.

I have no power under the existing law to adopt this proposal, which in any case would require careful consideration from the point of view of public safety.

asked the Minister of Transport to state in convenient categories the amount of empty cargo space in ships leaving Britain since 1st January, 1947, to the latest available date.

Table 114 of the "Monthly Digest of Statistics" shows the tonnage of ships cleared from United Kingdom ports with cargo and in ballast for each month. The latest issue for October, gives the monthly figures for 1947 till the end of September. It is not possible to say how many of the ships sailing with cargo had space to spare.

asked the Minister of Transport whether steamship companies pay for the vaccination of passengers who are requested to be vaccinated by the captain of the vessel on receipt of a wireless message from a British medical official.

The practice varies among shipping companies, but in the case of troop transports no charge is made.

asked the Minister of Transport if the temporary bridges put over the River Thames during the war could not now be dismantled, and the steel and timber used in their construction put to some useful purpose.

Of the five temporary bridges erected over the River Thames, one has been dismantled, a contract has been let and work started on the removal of three others, and the fifth is being retained for pedestrians and cyclists.

asked the Minister of Supply what quantities of raw wool, cotton, textiles, footwear, machine tools, cranes and pumps have been sent to Poland under the financial agreement providing for £6,000,000 worth of such goods; and what are the full terms of the agreement.

The terms of the Financial Agreement are contained in Treaty Series No, 44 of 1947 (Cmd. 7148). The values of these goods, which are now being shipped to Poland, are as follow:

asked the Minister of Supply if he will have an immediate inquiry made into the circumstances under which a football pool organisation whose name has been supplied to him or a publicity firm acting on its behalf has been enabled to acquire quantities of sheet metal for use in advertising.

The hoarding to which I understand my hon. Friend is referring, contains about eight cwts. of sheet steel of poor quality. Under the steel distribution scheme, consumers are allowed to purchase such limited amounts without licence.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will give an undertaking that no additional allocations of sheet metal or other materials will be made to the industrial subsidiaries of football pool organisations as part of any arrangements that have been or may be made for the transfer of football pool employees to more necessary work.

Applications for materials from such companies would be dealt with in the same way as applications from other manufacturing concerns. Allocations are related to the proportion of output which is to be exported and to the need for the products in the home market.

asked the Minister of Supply how many tons of nails. screws, nuts, bolts, washers, &c., are stored on the 1,000 square yards of accommodation at Beehive Mills, Thornton Road, Bradford; is he aware that tons of nails have been allowed to rust and that copper nails. steel nuts and bolts, aluminium washers are all being mixed together; and why have they not been sold to the public.

Stocks at this depot at present amount to approximately 300 tons. Some of this material is rusty when received, but every effort is made to maintain as rapid a turnover as possible and to segregate non-ferrous materials. The actual turnover has averaged 400 tons a month, and the material has been disposed of through the normal trade channels.

asked the Minister of Supply if it is proposed to adhere to the plan to import scrap from Germany.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Supply whether it is his intention to continue the Metal Produce and Recovery Depot at present operating near Oxford; how many are working there; and what opportunities will be afforded to the existing staff for a continuation of their work in view of its highly technical character.

This depot will continue to operate at least until the end of March, 1948. Its future after that date is at present being considered. The total number at present employed is 660. Redundant staff will be able to make use of the Appointments Department administered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if the accounts of county war agricultural executive committees are subject to audit; whether they are open for inspection by the public; and to what person or body of persons criticisms and appeals may be directed.

The accounts of the county war agricultural executive committees form part of the accounts of my Department and, as such, are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The detailed accounts are not available for public inspection but the total payments and receipts by, or on behalf of, all committees are shown in the annual volumes of Civil Appropriation Accounts. Representations by members of the general public on matters of day to day administration should be addressed to the executive officer of the committee concerned, but communications by hon. Members on Committee matters, except where information of a purely factual nature is sought, should be addressed to me.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many D4 caterpillar tractors have been imported into the United Kingdom during the last 12 months; how many have been allocated to agriculture and, separately, to timber haulage, etc.; and if those allocated to agriculture have been allocated direct to farmers or to the war agricultural executive committees.

Sixty caterpillar D4 tractors were imported during the twelve months ended 31st October last. Twenty-three of these went to argriculture, of which 20 were distributed to farmers and agricultural contractors, two to the tractor service of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, and one to a research institute. I will arrange for details of the distribution of the remainder between Departments to be printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT, but information about their end use is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many German students are still in this country employed upon agricultural work; and if, in view of their unsatisfactory work this autumn and the fact that British agricultural volunteers had to remain in their camps instead of helping on the land in consequence of the presence of German students, he will ensure that next harvest they are not employed upon food production in this country.

No German students are now in this country for agricultural work. During their stay, work was available for both British and German volunteers except at one camp where there was under-employment for a few days between the end of the corn harvest and the start of potato lifting, and there the available work was shared between the volunteers. Reports received by my Department show that in general the German students worked well and, in view of next year's prospective needs, I see no reason why the plans for supplementary help should exclude them.

asked the Minister of Works why it is proposed to destroy 5 Old Palace Yard.

No. 5, Old Palace Yard will eventually be demolished to provide a symmetrical setting for the King George V Memorial in accordance with the scheme for the memorial approved by Parliament in 1939.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will give instructions that licences for building work upon bomb damaged premises shall be withheld except where the premises are to be used for essential purposes, or the amount involved is very small.

No. I cannot lay down a general prohibition of this kind. Each case is considered on its merits while account must also be taken of such important factors as the availability of labour and materials for particular types of work.

asked the Minister of Works what representations have been made by local authorities that he should direct that a copy of every licence for building work stating the nature of the work, and the amount of its monetary limit, should be posted prominently upon the site where such work is undertaken; and why the adoption of this suggestion has not been found practicable or desirable.

Representations on this subject were made during 1946 by a number of local authorities but none has been made since we arranged in February, 1947, for copies of all licences issued by my Ministry to be sent to local authorities who can, if they so desire, make them available for public inspection. As regards the last part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my predecessor to the question by the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Chamberlain) on 5th November, 1946.

asked the Minister of Works the total amount of licences granted for the reconstruction of the Royal Exchange, Manchester; and upon whose representations such licences were granted.

A licence for £171,300 was granted last February for the partial restoration following war damage of the northern half of the Royal Exchange, Manchester. The project was sponsored by the Board of Trade and supported by the Manchester Corporation and the Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

asked the Minister of Works how much cement, timber and steel has been allocated to Exeter for the next six months or any other period which may have been fixed.

Allocation of cement, timber, and steel are not made in respect of individual towns and I am unable to give the hon. and learned Member the information he requests.

asked the Minister of Works what was the total quantity of cement and timber allocated to Devonshire for building during the past 12 months; and of these quantities, what proportion was allocated for rural as opposed to urban building; and whether he will give an estimate of the allocations for the coming 12 months for Devonshire, and what proportion will be available for rural building.

Allocations of cement and timber are not made by counties and I am unable to give the information for which the hon. and gallant Members asks.

asked the Minister of Works when he proposes to take steps to implement the recommendations of the Report on the Welsh Slate Industry, prepared by a committee set up by him.

Steps have already been taken to implement all the main recommendations of the Report on the Welsh Slate Industry, except the proposals for financial assistance to this industry, and on that matter I am awaiting the report of the technical examination to which I referred in my reply of 28th July.

asked the Minister of Works which Government offices it is proposed to accommodate at the temporary offices being erected at Sighthill, Edinburgh; and where these offices are at present located.

It is proposed to accommodate staffs of the Inland Revenue, the Department of Agriculture for Scotland and the Department of Health for Scotland in the temporary office building at Sighthill, Edinburgh, and to release the College of Art, the Grosvenor Hotel, the upper floors of two shops in Princes Street and, if possible, other premises high in the order of priority for release.

asked the Minister of Works when, and for what purpose, the old workhouse at Stroud was requisitioned; for what purpose it is now used; how many rooms there are in the building; and how many families could be accommodated if it were adapted into flats; and when its release is to be expected.

The building was requisitioned on 15th September, 1939, for the War Department. In July, 1945, it was transferred to my Department for use as a general store for the issue of equipment to Government establishments in the south-west of England, and it is still being used for this purpose. I cannot say when it will be possible to release the premises. The building contains 87 rooms but I have no estimate of the number of families who would be accommodated if it were turned into flats. The building does not lend itself to satisfactory adaptation, and the structural changes would be very costly.

asked the Minister of Works if he will consider permitting master plumbers to use form BM.104 under S.R. and O., 1947, No. 1698, which has to be completed in triplicate, for as many jobs as the form will allow, instead of requiring triplicate forms for every small amount of material.

I am considering whether a simpler procedure can be devised and in the meantime I have made special arrangements for the supply of small quantities of materials for urgent essential repairs.

asked the Minister of Works what progress is being made on the research or experiment with alternative materials to iron castings for the manufacture of rainwater guttering and spouting.

Encouragement has been given to the production of rainwater goods in aluminium alloy, pressed steel and asbestos cement and limited supplies are now available. Investigation is proceeding into the use of bituminous pitch fibre.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why His Majesty's Government found it necessary officially to recognise the 30th anniversary of the Russian Revolution by sending a telegram of congratulation especially at a time when anti-Anglo-American demonstrations were taking place in the streets of Moscow.

The sending of such messages of greeting on the anniversaries of the foundation of the Soviet State was a wartime practice which my right hon. Friend has not seen fit to discontinue.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has as yet any statement to make on the document relating to specific cases of the execution and beheading of women in Greece for political offences which was submitted to his Department by the hon. Member for Central Newcastle-upon-Tyne in July, 1947.

Yes. As far as can be ascertained, nine of the twelve women mentioned in the list were in fact executed by firing squad, not beheaded. The fate of the other three is unknown and it is possible they may have been pardoned. The charges against these women included high treason, membership of armed bands, and the rendering of active assistance to bandits.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the purpose of the censorship of all letters between this country and Austria; and whether he will arrange for its abolition.

Censorship has been abolished in the British, United States and French zones of Austria (except for correspondence with Japan and Germany). The only letters still subject to censorship are those to and from the Soviet zone, together with those dealt with by the central Austrian post office in Vienna, which is under the control of the Four Power Inter-Allied Command.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that a 20 acre seed potato crop at Oltley Top, near Market Rasen, has been sold for export to the Continent; and, in view of the poor potato harvest this year and the shortages for the home market, if he proposes to allow unrestricted exports.

Limited quantities of seed potatoes are regularly exported to countries from which considerably greater supplies of eating potatoes are later imported. Of the Otby Top crop only 15 tons of Royal Kidney potatoes, the produce of four acres, have been bought by my Department for export.

asked the Minister of Food what is the destination of the 44,400 tons of potatoes exported in the nine months ended 30th September, 1947; and of the 2,250 tons exported in the month of September.

asked the Minister of Food to what countries potatoes have been exported since 1st January this year, in what quantities, and what was the most recent date on which potatoes were exported from the United Kingdom.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Food on what date was the last delivery of potatoes made to an ex-enemy country; and what was the quantity.

On 4th June, 1946, when 336 tons 7 cwts. were sent to Germany.

asked the Minister of Food why, in view of the potato shortage, permission was given for the entire crop of about 20 acres of potatoes, known as Royal Kidney variety, to be exported as seed to a Boston firm, from Oltley Top, near Market Rasen, by Messrs. George Mawer, Cooper and Burkitt.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne) today.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of potatoes have been exported from this country to Germany during the past four weeks; and why 10,000 tons left the London Docks on or about 3rd November.

None. I have no information about 10,000 tons leaving London Docks on or about 3rd November.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will institute immediate price control of turnips, carrots and parsnips at the price level obtaining on 8th November, 1947.

asked the Minister of Food in view of the decision to ration potatoes. whether he will at once impose a strict price control on swedes and all other root vegetables.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the rationing of potatoes, and the consequent increased demand for other vegetables, he will immediately introduce price control of vegetables.

Prices of carrots, onions and cooked beetroots are already controlled. If the situation requires the extension of price control to other vegetables my right hon. Friend will not hesitate to take the necessary measures. So far he has not considered it necessary to take such steps, but the position is being closely watched in the light of the consequences of the potato allocation scheme.

asked the Minister of Food what individual additions there have already been and what further individual additions are to be expected during this financial year to the total of £392 million for food subsidies announced by him last August.

As stated by my right hon. Friend the Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Dalton) in his recent Budget speech, it is not intended that there will be any increase in the total of £392 million for food subsidies.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will give the calorie content of the No. 2 diet suggested for an adult man by the British Medical Association in 1933 and of the present average diet in the following proportions: proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Of the 3,386 calories in the British Medical Association diet Number 2 published in 1933, 12 per cent. were derived from protein, 28 per cent from fat and 60 per cent. from carbohydrate. The corresponding proportions in the present-day average diet are 12 per cent., 33 per cent. and 55 per cent respectively.

asked the Minister of Food what quantities of wheat will be required to implement the bread ration during the next twelve months; what further quantities would be required to make it possible to abolish bread rationing; and what quantities are already promised from which countries by contract or by trade treaty.

To satisfy the full entitlement under the bread rationing scheme at present, it is estimated that the equivalent of about 4,850,000 tons of wheat per annum would be needed. It is impossible to estimate reliably what the additional consumption might be if bread rationing was abolished, as this would depend on the general food supply position at the time. For this reason and because imports under contract represent only part of our wheat imports, it would not be in the public interest to give the information asked for in the last part of the Question,

asked the Minister of Food which proportions of the flour consumed for food in the United Kingdom during the first six months of 1946 and during the first six months of 1947 were used for consumption outside the B.U. rationing scheme.

Approximately 11 per cent. of the flour delivered for human consumption in the United Kingdom during the first six months of 1946 when bread rationing was not in force, was distributed for purposes which are not now covered by the rationing scheme. The corresponding figure for the first six months of 1947 is 10 per cent.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the discrepancies between the quantities shown in the September and October editions of the Digest of Statistics as the quantities of flour consumed for food in the United Kingdom during each of the months from January to August, 1947. inclusive, the figures shown in the October edition are final and accurate.

The estimates of flour consumption quoted in the Digest of Statistics are based on returns by users and manufacturers and on other information available at the time of publication. Since many of these returns are made at eight-weekly intervals and some returns are received a considerable time after the period to which they relate, estimates are open to correction until all the returns have been received and collated.

asked the Minister of Food whether it is his intention to increase the importation of lentils and similar pulses, in view of their great dietetic and concentrated food value.

There is little prospect of any increase in the import of pulses in the near future. Currency difficulties and poor crops in some of the producing areas are likely to limit our supplies severely, but my right hon. Friend is making inquiries of all available sources.

asked the Minister of Food what effect the rationing of potatoes will have on the supply of chip potatoes sold in fish and chip establishments.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the potato ration supplied to fish friers in the Edinburgh district is so small as to restrict the future opening of premises to one night per week; and if he will augment this ration.

Supplies of potatoes for fish and chip friers are, on average, being reduced to 60 per cent. of previous average usage. This cut is being applied on a national basis and of course Edinburgh fish and chip merchants are in the same position as everyone else.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will allot an additional potato ration to vegetarians who do not receive a meat or bacon ration.

No.

asked the Minister of Food whether in view of potato rationing, he will grant additional B.U.'s to out-patients under treatment for tuberculosis.

The priority rations tor patients suffering from tuberculosis are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements have been made to ensure that the full ration of potatoes will be available in the large industrial areas until the supplies are again normal.

By restricting the sale of long-keeping potatoes and by buying a substantial end-of-season reserve.

asked the Minister of Food if he will release for human consumption as supplementary to the 3 lb. weekly ration, small potatoes that pass through the 1¼ inch riddle and that are not required for seed; and if he will state the tonnage involved.

The quantity available for human consumption if we adopted the hon. Member's suggestion is not large and there is the likelihood of soil and stones being put into the bag, but I will write to him when we have considered the possibility a little more closely.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the growing black market in illegally slaughtered animals; and whether he is satisfied with the measures taken to prevent it.

I have no reliable evidence, but there are indications that illicit slaughter is on the increase and special measures are being taken to intensify our activities against this offence. I should welcome any help or information which the hon. Member can give us to stamp out such practices.

asked the Minister of Food the number of prosecutions and convictions for illegal slaughtering of animals in the last six months; and the highest sentence imposed.

During the six months ended 30th September, 1947, there were 601 prosecutions for offences against the Livestock (Restriction on Slaughtering) Order. Convictions were obtained in 555 of these cases. The most severe penalty imposed was twelve months' imprisonment.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the fact that these are important formative years for children, he will consider restoring the cut in priority milk to children between one and five years of age.

The milk allowance to children between one and five will be restored to its former level as soon as the supply position permits.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that in South-East London and many districts onions are now virtually unobtainable in the shops; what steps are being taken to remedy this shortage; and what imports are being received now or in the near future.

As this year's home crop was light, supplies ran out more quickly than usual. Importation is now permitted and the supply position should improve.

asked the Minister of Food why his Department declined to send a speaker to address the Orpington branch of the British Housewives' League.

The meeting to which the hon. Member refers was not one to which it would be proper to send an official, in view of the recognised principle that civil servants should not take part in political controversy.

asked the Minister of Food if he is prepared to allow those people who object to drinking pasteurised milk to change their dairyman if he can only supply pasteurised milk.

Changes of dairymen to enable consumers to obtain a particular class of milk can only be allowed in the circumstances referred to in my reply of 7th May to my hon. Friend the Member for The Hartlepools (Mr. D. Jones). I am sending the hon. Member a copy of that reply.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the shortage of dried milk food for babies in Thornaby-on-Tees; and if he will increase supplies.

National dried milk stocks in Thornaby-on-Tees are adequate to meet demands. There is a general shortage of proprietary infant milk foods at present and in order to maintain supplies liquid milk has been diverted from certain priority users to baby food manufacturers. My Department does not control the distribution of these foods but I understand that supplies of various brands have been sent to the area this week.

asked the Minister of Food the number of pigs slaughtered by bacon factories, Ministry slaughterhouses, self-suppliers and pig clubs, respectively, for the months of August, September and October in 1945, 1946 and 1947.

asked the Minister of Food what is the gravity of beer imported into this country from Denmark.

1,036 degrees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has refused the French request to permit a relaxation of British travel to France which is a soft currency area.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend, the Member for West Leicester (Mr. Janner) on 28th October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what countries other than those in North and South America, it has been decided to restrict our purchases of food for currency reasons.

Ihave been asked to reply. We buy from each country as much food as we can afford, having regard to our financial and trading position with that country. This changes from time to time, and I am afraid I cannot give the hon. Member a list.

The particulars requested by my hon. Friend are as follow:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can now make a statement concerning the progress which has been made during the last twelve months in providing farms with electricity.

Premises where a supply of electricity would be of direct assistance to food production are accorded priority and progress in connecting them is limited only by the amount of materials available which unfortunately remains insufficient to meet all priority needs. Some 3,000 farms were connected to the public supply in the year ended 30th September last.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether in connection with the recent curtailment of the coal to oil conversion scheme for industry, any steps have been taken to cancel or discourage those conversion schemes where fuel oil does not show up to the best advantage and to give priority to those schemes in which the use of oil can effect a greater economy in operation than coal.

I presume my hon. Friend is referring to the warning which, as I explained in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Royton (Mr. Sutcliffe) on 30th October, the Petroleum Board has given to certain firms whose conversions were due to take effect this winter to continue to use coal until oil supplies can be guaranteed. This action was necessary because the rate of conversion was exceeding the rate at which oil distribution facilities could be provided. Accordingly the firms approached were those whose schemes were in the least advanced state, and the deferment of which would do most to ease the strain on distribution facilities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is proposed to give priority to materials used in the manufacture of agricultural machinery.

I have been asked to reply. I would ask the hon. Member to await the statement which I shall be making shortly on the review of the priority system.

asked the Minister for Economic Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure the full allocation of coke supplies for the production of pig iron.

I have been asked to reply. The winter coke requirements of the blast furnaces are 199,000 tons per week and this amount has been allocated in full. This involves higher deliveries than at any time in the last 20 years, and in order to achieve this, supplies of metallurgical coke to other consumers will have to be replaced where practicable by other grades. Provided transport difficulties are overcome, it is expected that the full amount will be delivered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why his Department, although urging the production of children's school wear has refused to grant Messrs. B. L. Wallace and Company Limited, London an extra coupon allocation in order to increase their production of this type of garment.

The issue of additional coupons to individual manufacturers of children's school wear would not increase the total production of these garments. Manufacturers have already sufficient coupons to enable them to take up all the suitable materials available to the industry as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to prevent the wholesale pilfering of food parcels sent by parents and others in this country to relatives employed by the Control Commission in Germany.

There is no evidence of wholesale pilfering of food parcels sent from this country to members of the Control Commission in Germany and all reasonable precautions are taken to prevent theft. If the hon. Member will give me details of any specific cases which he has in mind I will have them investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for War between what dates Sapper C. Collins, 14901409, 1292 C.R.E. (Works) M.E.L.F., was quarantined upon a naval transport upon which cholera was suspected; and what steps were taken to notify the next of kin of people on board this ship or to enable them to communicate with their next of kin.

Information on this matter has been called for from the military authorities overseas and I will write to my hon. and learned Friend when a report has been received. The next of kin are not normally informed in cases of quarantine; but only in cases where a man is considered by the medical authorities to be seriously ill or dangerously ill.

asked the hon. Member for the Park Division of Sheffield, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whether the replacement of the condemned cottage on Abbey Farm, Morton, near Stillington, is included in the scheme for the building of 600 agricultural cottages; and when work on this, cottage will begin.

This cottage is occupied by an old age pensioner not now working on the farm. The cottage is included for replacement in the long-term policy of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners but it is not possible at present to say when work will commence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been made to make available to Colonial Governments ex-service, self-propelled landing craft for use as ferries, lighters, etc.; and how many have been acquired by the African Colonial Governments to date.

Arrangements have been made to make available to all Colonies any surplus stores that may be useful to them and purchase has been encouraged. Purchase of self-propelled landing craft would fall within these general arrangements, and to my knowledge Colonies have purchased 96 ex-service landing craft and similar vessels. Fifteen of these have been purchased by East and West African Governments through this country. Negotiations are at present proceeding for the purchase of nine more for East Africa. Further purchases may have been made locally.

asked the Minister of Education if he is in a position to give the probable date of the publication of the report of the working party on Welsh Education; and whether the report will be published in both Welsh and English.

I hope that this report, which is at present in the Press, will be published early in January. The publication will be in both languages.

asked the Secretary' of State for Scotland how many Polish nationals have been repatriated from Scotland in the last two years; how many remain in Scotland; and how many of the latter have expressed willingness to return to Poland.

I am informed that approximately 5,000 Polish nationals from units of the Polish Military Forces stationed in Scotland have been repatriated during the past two years. In addition some 2,718 members of the Polish Resettlement Corps (R.A.F.) have returned to Poland through Scotland. Approximately 16,500 Poles in the Polish Resettlement Corps and the Polish Land Forces remain in Scotland, of whom 125 have expressed willingness to return to Poland.