asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a list of those trades and industries in which an ex-Service man, not disabled, needs a permit, licence, or coupon-float, to commence business on his own account.

An ex-Service man requires a permit, licence or coupon-float to commence a business in every case in which such authority is needed under Board of Trade regulations. Because of the present shortage of materials there are very many industries for which many different types of permits and licences are necessary. I do not think that the work involved in preparing a comprehensive list would be justified although I am very willing to consider any particular case the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in the first nine months of this year, less than 4 per cent. of our total exports of locomotives and rolling stock were sold to the Argentine Republic; and what steps he is now taking to increase such exports so as to encourage the importation of feedingstuffs from the Argentine.

Yes. As regards the second part of the Question, I hope that the discussions about to open in Buenos Aires between the British Trade Mission and the Argentine authorities will pave the way for a steady expansion of exports to the Argentine of British goods of all kinds, including railway equipment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the acute shortage in Aberdeen of knitting wools, especially thick knitting wools (wheelings) suitable for knitting thick stockings and socks for rubber boots for sailors, fishermen and agricultural workers; and if he will take steps to increase the supplies to that city.

Knitting wool generally is in short supply, owing to the lack of labour in the wool industry, but I am not aware that supplies are worse in Aberdeen than elsewhere. As regards wheelings, the production of this type of wool has increased substantially since July, and the increase should soon be reflected in the volume of supplies reaching the shops.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will increase the supply of wheelings to firms manufacturing thick hose for agricultural workers.

The production of all types of wool yarns is limited by the shortage of spinning labour, which the Government is taking steps to remedy. I understand that supplies of yarn to manufacturers of hose for agricultural workers are not unduly difficult; but if the hon. Member knows of any case in which a firm does not consider it is receiving a fair share of the available wheelings, I will look into it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the shares of the Bayer Company, Kingsway, London, for which tenders went out on 25th April, 1947, from the Custodian of Enemy Property, are not yet sold.

The delay has been caused by the necessity of obtaining further detailed particulars about the affairs of the company for the information of certain possible purchasers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the National Federation of Building Trade Employers on the subject of factory construction in the Development Areas; if any negotiations have taken place on this matter; what was the outcome of these negotiations; and if any decisions have been reached regarding factory construction in the South Wales Development Area.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Works is in close touch with both sides of the building industry about the effects of the reduction of the Capital Investments Programme, though there have been no discussions specifically on factory building in Development Areas. As a result of this reduction the whole building programme is at present being reviewed, but any factories in Development Areas at the steel erection stage or later will certainly be completed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factories are now in course of construction in the South Wales Development Area; if work is still proceeding on these factories; and if it is intended to complete them all.

One hundred and sixty factories are at present under construction in the South Wales Development Area and work is still proceeding on all of them. With regard to the last part of the Question, I am afraid I cannot give my hon. Friend a definite answer until we have finished the review of factory building necessitated by the cuts in the Investment Programme referred to by my right hon. and learned Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on Tuesday last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reductions have been made in the allocations of raw materials to factories in the South Wales Development Area; and what are the estimated effects of these reductions on employment in that area.

Where reductions have had to be made in the raw materials allocated to particular industries, the existing practice has been maintained of giving preference to factories in the Development Areas as compared with firms in areas where there is no unemployment problem. The detailed information for which my hon. Friend asks is not readily available and could only be obtained by making a lengthy inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further steps he is taking to diminish the import of sparking plug insulators from the United States.

Licences for the import of sparking plug insulators from the United States are not at present being granted. It is not possible to say what further imports will be needed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the continued shortage of lorry tyres in the county of Lincolnshire; and if he will improve supplies in order to ensure that the campaign to produce more food is not hindered.

The present need for certain sizes of lorry tyres is in excess of the available supplies. Tyre production is, however, increasing, and additional supplies will gradually be distributed to all areas, including Lincolnshire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is the Government's intention to introduce legislation to give effect to the report of the Departmental Committee on the Patents and Designs Act.

Yes. I hope to introduce a Bill dealing with this matter when Parliamentary time permits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state, in respect of the city of Portsmouth, the total amount paid to date in settlement of deferred private chattels and property war damage claims; the total amount of private chattels claims still outstanding; the total amount already paid representing the 50 per cent. on private chattels claims already paid on grounds of hardship; and when payment of the extra 50 per cent. on all claims will be finally settled.

Some 42,000 private chattels claims were made by persons in the Portsmouth district. Practically all of these have been settled, but 400 cannot be dealt with because the claimants cannot be traced. Beyond this separate information for the city of Portsmouth is not available. As my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) was informed on nth November, I expect that the bulk of the supplementary payments will be made by the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the hardship being experienced by ex-Service men who have started private hire-car businesses on leaving the Services in recent years; and will he review the present refusal to allocate petrol to such people who have been using their basic petrol allotment for car-hire purposes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 6th November to which I regret I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to state the increase in staff, and in the mileage of road vehicles and railway waggons, which will be occasioned by his decision to dissolve the Petroleum Board at the beginning of next year.

The Petroleum Board is a voluntary association of companies distributing oil in the United Kingdom, and its dissolution is taking place under the terms of the agreement entered into by its constituent members when the Board was set up at the Government's request before the war. It is not possible to assess what, if any, increase in staff or road or rail mileage will result from the dissolution of the Board, the arrangements for which have not yet been completed.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider issuing to the secretaries of recognised motor cycle clubs affiliated to the A.C.U. supplementary petrol coupons equivalent in quantity to the basic petrol ration formerly enjoyed by their members, in order that motor cyclists shall not be de barred from what was frequently their only form of sport and recreation.

No.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what proportion out of the total petrol allocated to all road users in the form of basic petrol ration was allocated to motor cycles; what was the quantity so involved in the last six months' period of the basic petrol rationing scheme; and what would be its approximate value in U.S. dollars or other hard currency.

In the last six months approximately 60,000 tons, which was one-eighth of the total petrol issued as basic rations, was allocated to motor cycles. The approximate cost of this petrol including freight, at present prices would be 2,700,000 U.S. dollars.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that coal allocated direct by the Coal Board's officers to industries and even to Government Departments has to carry a commission to middlemen who do nothing more than sign their names on contract forms, leaving the Board's officials to fill the amount of coal supplied; and if he will take steps to end this practice.

I am informed by the National Coal Board that they have under consideration the general question of their relationships with distributors and it is hoped that discussions between the Board and the distributive trade will be opened at an early date. Pending these discussions the general policy of the Board has been to continue to make use of the distributive channels existing at the vesting date.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average consumption, as calculated by his Department, of petrol consumed per passenger mile by public-service vehicles operating routes in rural areas and per mile of motor cycles and motor-cycle combinations, respectively.

I have no information as to the amount of petrol consumed per passenger mile by public service vehicles operating routes in rural areas. The average petrol consumption of motor cycles and motor-cycle combinations varies, of course, with the cylinder capacity and-age of the machine. The performance of machines under 500 cc. made in 1939 and later, may lie between 75 and 112 miles per gallon, while that of machines of 500 c.c. and over, varies between 45 and 70 miles per gallon.

asked the Minister of Labour if men registered as agricultural workers who have served in the Armed Forces for a period of six months or more, can now be released for agricultural work.

As I said in reply to the Hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) on 30th October, experienced farm workers have not been called up since February, 1946, and those who were called up before that date have already been offered release in Class B.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed persons were registered at the Dartford and Erith employment exchanges at the latest convenient date.

One hundred and sixty-six at Dartford and 190 at Erith at 13th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the recent exhibition of a performing elephant in a large store in Birmingham; and whether he is satisfied that the firm is registered as exhibitors of performing animals, and that no cruelty was involved in the training.

I understand that the elephant was exhibited in the children's department of a store for two hours daily for one week, that it did not perform and that no training or cruelty was involved in the exhibition. My right hon. Friend's inquiries into the question of registration under the Performing Animals Regulation Act are not yet complete. He will inform my hon. Friend when they are.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further information he now has respecting the incidence of corporal punishment in remand homes and approved schools; and whether this shows an increase or otherwise during the past twelve months.

Punishment returns are regularly submitted to my right hon. Friend by all approved schools and remand homes in accordance with statutory rules. The figures show some decrease in corporal punishment over the past twelve months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason has the granting of facilities in the public streets for Press reporting and photography of the Royal Wedding been delegated to the British Newspaper Proprietors Association.

My hon. Friend must have been misinformed. Cards which enable Press representatives to be identified by the police were issued by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis through a number of organisations and also direct to individual applicants not covered by those organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any conditions have been attached to the permit granted to Mr. Mikolajczyk to land in this country.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has recently inspected the Romford Division of the Essex County Constabulary; whether his Department is satisfied that that Division employs the police available to the best possible advantage; and with what results complaints of the improper employment of police officers in that Division have been investigated.

The Romford Division of the Essex police force was inspected on 1st October by His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, who found no occasion for recommending any alteration in the disposition of the police employed in that Division. Complaints alleging the improper employment of members of a police force are a matter for the disciplinary authority for the force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the police forces in the country to exercise discretion in checking motor vehicles for faulty tyres in view of the fact that many sizes of tyres are unobtainable and that there has been no improvement in the position during the past six months.

My right hon. Friend's information is that normally the police proceed in this matter by way of caution or advice to motorists and prosecutions are undertaken only in cases where tyres are so worn as to be a source of danger. The police are fully aware of the difficulty of replacement, and my right hon. Friend does not think they are in need of any advice on this matter from him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any conference has taken place between his Department and the Ministry of Town and Country Planning, and the Council for the Preservation of Rural England, on the siting of new police wire less masts; and with what result; and what sites have already been selected.

A very satisfactory conference between representatives of the Departments, the Royal Fine Arts Commission, and the Council took place on 30th September, when arrangements were put in train to secure the notification to the Council by the responsible authority of any future proposals for the erection of police wireless masts which appear likely to affect local amenities. No new sites have been selected since the conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mobile and other police officers of the Metropolitan Police were engaged in convoying motor lorries JTU 54, JMB 19 and EBU 9 on the night 15/16 November, 1947; on whose authority was this escort provided; and what was the cost to the public.

The police did not escort these lorries on the night in question, but did provide an escort in the morning over a short distance on the return journey. This was done in the normal course of police duty and there was no additional cost to public funds. The escort consisted of a chief inspector, an inspector and 10 constables.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the strike affecting workers in the Carlisle and District State Management Breweries;(2) when he will be in a position to announce new wages agreements for all employees in the State Management Scheme.

The brewery workers at Carlisle are paid wages at rates agreed with their union, the National Union of General and Municipal Workers. Claims for an increase in their wages have been put forward by the workers and negotiations on these claims have been in progress between the union and the State Management District Office and a certain measure of provisional agreement had been reached when the workers decided to come out on strike against the advice of the Union. The strike is accordingly an unofficial one and will cause great inconvenience to the residents in the Carlisle district so long as it lasts. My right hon. Friend is however arranging to discuss the position at an early date with the representatives of the union concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the entry permit of Mrs. Henning, to come from the American Zone of Germany to this country, was issued; and why has there been delay in granting the visa at the British Passport Control Office in Berlin.

There has been no delay at the British Passport Control Office in Berlin. Mrs. Henning's application for a visa was not received there till last Friday, 14th November. As my hon. Friend knows, the visa will be granted if and when Mrs. Henning has secured the necessary permission to travel.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to a meeting, held at the Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, on 15th November, organised by or on behalf of Sir Oswald Mosley; whether he is aware that it is the intention of Sir Oswald Mosley to re-form a Fascist movement in Great Britain; and, as there is reasonable ground for believing that force will be used or displayed in promoting the political objects of this organisation, if he will now take action under Section 2 (1) (b) of the Public Order Act, 1936, to ban this movement.

My right hon. Friend has seen reports in the Press of the meeting referred to at which Sir Oswald Mosley is alleged to have announced his intention to consider the formation of a political movement. The Section referred to confers no power on my right hon. Friend to ban any organisation, but if any association is organised and trained or organised and equipped so as to bring it within the mischief aimed at by that Section, I have no doubt that the question of prosecution would be considered by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of his announcement that he would not hesitate to take action against any revival of the British Union of Fascists or similar body, what steps he intends to take to prevent the revival by Sir Oswald Mosley of his movement, which was arranged at a meeting held on 15th November last.

I understand that the reference is to a statement made by the then Home Secretary in 1943 with regard to the use of wartime powers given by Defence Regulations. These are no longer in existence. My right hon. Friend keeps a close watch on subversive movements of every kind and if it should prove that the existing law is inadequate to deal with any unconstitutional activities which represent a serious menace he will not hesitate to ask Parliament to arm him with further powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider bringing forward legislation to reintroduce a system of State lotteries on a wide and varied scale, so that the large amount of money which the spirit of hazard, inherent in the British people, induces them to expend annually upon games of chance, betting, sweepstakes and football and other pools, may be encouraged into more publicly beneficial channels.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the present legality, as established in the case of Rex v. Caunt, of anti-semitic statements, he will take steps to revise the law in order to prohibit anti-semitic activities of every kind.

My right hon. Friend will consider the implications of this case when a full transcript of the proceedings is available.

asked the Minister of Health whether his regulations permit the former tenants of war-destroyed properties to claim a renewal of their tenancies, when their former dwellings have been rebuilt.

This position is governed by the Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) Acts and not by regulations made by me.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that he has now ordered that no new houses shall be built in small provincial towns except for key workers, he will define who are key workers.

As the hon. Member is under a misapprehension as to the directions which have been issued, I am sending him a copy of the relevant circular.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses, both temporary and permanent, which have been completed in Exeter during the past 12 months; and what numbers of such houses he estimates will be completed by the end of 1948

I would refer the hon. Member to the Monthly Housing Returns. The latest edition of Appendix B indicates the progress to date.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built, or to be built, by private enterprise in the area of Plympton St. Mary Rural District Council for the years, 1946, 1947, and 1948, respectively.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Monthly Housing Return.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the offer of accommodation from among fourteen houses to a certain footballer at Nottingham; and if he will take steps to ensure that such accommodation is requisitioned for the use of local people in real need.

Yes. Power to requisition properties which are unoccupied has been delegated to the clerk to the Nottingham Corporation and I am assured that it is the practice to requisition all suitable empty houses for local families in need.

asked the Minister of Health what action he contemplates during the coming winter to extend facilities for the provision of housing in Birmingham in view of the number of families on the register of applications for houses and flats and the bad conditions under which the majority of those families now live.

The distribution and timing of new contracts will be settled in consultation with each local authority along the lines indicated in the circular of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Health the number of back-to-back dwellings which still exist in Birmingham and if he has had under consideration plans to relieve in the near future the congestion which prevails and the bad state of family life of the occupants of those houses.

The City Council state that the number is 29,182. Priority must at present be given to the erection of new houses for families without a separate home of their own. Measures to improve existing housing conditions will receive consideration as soon as circumstances allow.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that agricultural housing at Marnhull and Childe Okeford is being held up through the delay in his regional office sanctioning an application from the contractor for approximately 14 standards of timber, notwithstanding the fact that the timber is available in the dealers' yards; and if he will take steps to ensure that these delays are cut down to the minimum.

The appropriate step's were taken to supply sufficient timber to maintain continuity of work.

asked the Minister of Health what progress is being made for the provision of a supply of piped water to the villages in the Bingham Rural District.

The preparation of the scheme for supplying the rural district is not yet complete, but it is expected that detailed proposals will be ready for submission to me early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Health if he has yet received the report of the Departmental Committee on Water Supply for Greater London; and when he expects to be able to make it available to Members.

No. I am unable to say when the report will be available.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made during the past 12 months in providing accommodation for mental deficients; and approximately how many mental deficients are now awaiting suitable institutional accommodation.

Premises acquired by local authorities will provide 160 beds in the immediate future. Further accommodation will be available in the new year in three mental deficiency colonies released by Service Departments. Mental defectives awaiting institutional accommodation were 3,890 on 1st January last, the latest date for which comprehensive figures are available.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in drawing up detailed plans for the National Health Service, he can give an assurance that everything will be done to assist and encourage the provision of private registered nursing and maternity homes to supplement the main hospital scheme.

Private homes are outside the scope of the National Health Service Act, and their future must therefore depend on the demand for private treatment outside the service.

asked the Minister of Health how many children were immunised against diphtheria during 1946 in the age classes 0–5, 6–10, and 11 to 14.

I can only give figures for the two age-groups of under five and between five and 14. In 1946, in England and Wales, there were about 491,000 and 161,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health whether persons in public assistance and other institutions for which he is responsible are entitled to claim personal delivery of correspondence addressed to them; and what action such persons can take to ensure that their correspondence shall not be interfered with without their specific authorisation.

In general, yes. An aggrieved resident can appeal to the committee managing the institution, the local authority or myself, and if my hon. Friend has any particular instance in mind, I should be glad to be furnished with particulars so that I may inquire into it.

asked the Minister of Education what steps are being taken for the training of youth leaders; and whether it is his intention to extend these facilities.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of Circular 53 issued in June, 1945. Full-time courses of one year are provided at five university institutions and a growing number of shorter courses are organised by local authorities and voluntary bodies. I expect shortly to receive the report of a special committee on this and other relevant matters.

asked the Minister of Education (1) whether he is aware of the shortage of school places for young deaf children; and whether, in view of the need to begin the highly specialised teaching of language and speech as early as possible, he will take steps to ensure the provision of sufficient school accommodation for these children;(2) whether he is satisfied that, in the programme of school building sanctioned or proceeding, the claims of the special schools, day and residential, have been given sympathetic consideration.

In present circumstances, the school building programme is necessarily mainly directed to meeting basic statutory needs particularly those due to the raised school age, new housing and the increase in the birth-rate. The need for new special school buildings must in general be regarded as a long-term problem, but a good many proposals for the use of existing buildings with little or no adaptation are receiving favourable consideration and others are in view. I am aware of the shortage of places for young deaf children and I am glad to say that several of these proposals will directly or indirectly improve the provision for these children, including one proposal which will add 100 places in about six months' time.

asked the Minister of Education if he has considered the circular letter from the National Union of Women Teachers sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife, calling for equal pay for women teachers in order to retain and attract women teachers for our schools; and what statement he is pre pared to make on this subject.

I have read the copy of the circular letter from the National Union of Women Teachers sent to me by the hon. Member. No recommendations have yet been made to me by the Burnham Committee and I am not in a position to make a statement on the matter referred to. I would, however, invite the hon. Member's attention to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the late Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11th June last to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that building extensions to the Harrow Boys' County Grammar School have been left uncompleted since 1939; that 170 of the most senior pupils have to be accommodated for parts of their instruction in the local technical school; and whether, in the interests of economy of materials, he will intervene to save the considerable work already done from falling into ruin.

I am aware of the facts stated in the Question. The current short-term building programme provides for the completion of part of the extensions, which will give the school additional accommodation for science. The authority's proposals for this work will be formally approved as soon as a starting date can be given.

asked the Minister of Education whether it is his policy to encourage local education authorities to restore prizes in the schools.

I have asked the Foundation for Educational Research to undertake an inquiry into the problem of rewards and punishments. Until I have received some guidance from the Foundation on this question I do not propose to make any suggestions to local education authorities.

asked the Minister of Education by what regulation a local education authority may refuse to meet the travelling expenses of, or alter natively, to provide transport facilities for, pupils it has admitted to a secondary modern school situated at a distance greater than three miles from their homes.

A local education authority has a duty under Section 55(1) of the Act, 1944, to make such arrangements for the provision of transport as are necessary to enable pupils to receive education suited to their age, ability and aptitude, and in so doing to have regard to the general principle laid down in Section 76 of the Act. An authority is not, however, under any general obligation to meet transport costs in the case of journeys to and from school which fall outside the scope of these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he can give any information as to the circumstances in which certain British subjects were murdered whilst taking refuge in the convent at Barramula, India; whether they had been given the opportunity of getting out of Kashmir or had elected to remain; and if representations have been made to the Government of Pakistan for all possible steps to be taken to seek out and punish the murderers.

I greatly regret that Lieut.-Colonel D. O. T. Dykes, of the Sikh Regiment, and Mrs. Dykes were brutally murdered by tribesmen on 27th October at St. Joseph's Convent, Barra-mula, Kashmir, where they had been staying for some time. I am sure that the House would wish me to extend its sympathy to the relatives of the deceased. Colonel and Mrs. Dykes had been unable, owing to Mrs. Dykes' confinement, to avail themselves of an opportunity of leaving Kashmir in a military convoy early in October. Subsequent plans for their evacuation were frustrated by the rapid advance of the tribesmen. I have instructed the High Commissioners for the United Kingdom in India and Pakistan to inquire of their respective Governments whether they can trace and punish the murderers. I understand that the Indian Military authorities in Kashmir are already making inquiries to this end.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he can now make a statement on the position of British Military and Civil Government cemeteries in India; and what arrangements are being made to care for them.

In reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Dr. Segal) on October 30th, I described the arrangements which are being made for the care and maintenance of British cemeteries in India and Pakistan. These arrangements will apply to civil cemeteries and to military cemeteries other than war cemeteries and war graves which are within the charter of the Imperial War Graves Commission. These war cemeteries and graves will remain the responsibility of the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether, in view of the present conditions in parts of India and Pakistan, which delay the payment of pensions and allowances by the Governments of India and Pakistan, he is prepared to guarantee that all sums due will be paid or to arrange for the advance of money in other ways to cover the period of delay.

European members of the Secretary of State's Services and analogous services have the assurance given by the Prime Minister on the Second Reading of the Indian Independence Bill that they will receive the pensions to which they are entitled. If members of the Secretary of State's Services retire, their salaries while on leave are guaranteed by paragraph 6 of the Prime Minister's statement of 30th April, 1947, which is reproduced in Cmd. 7116. If the hon. Member will bring to my notice, any case of serious delay in payment to a European officer, whether in the classes covered by these undertakings or not, I will gladly inquire into the facts.

asked the Minister of Supply what was the average tonnage price paid for copper purchased by the Government; and how many tons were purchased during this year to the latest date available.

; The quantity of copper purchased by the Ministry of Supply in the first 10 months of 1947 was about 230,000 tons. Owing to the differences in quality and specification an average price would not have any significance, but, in general, prices were closely related to the New York export price of electrolytic copper, which varied during that period between £109 7s. and £132 per ton f.a.s.

asked the Minister of Supply how many motor cars and trucks are now held up for lack of shipping space; what steps are taken to prevent depreciation; and whether he will consider releasing a proportion of such cars in order to meet the urgent demands of holders of essential petrol coupons in the United Kingdom.

About 2,750 cars are awaiting shipping space. At the present rate of movement this represents only a few days' shipments and is considered to be quite reasonable. It has not been possible in the time available to obtain information about the number of trucks, but no recent instances of abnormal delay have been reported. Vehicles do not leave the manufacturers' works until shipping space is available and the manufacturers take the normal steps to maintain them. The number of cars awaiting shipment is not sufficient to justify the release of a proportion for sale in the home market.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the shortage of bicycle spare parts in the area of the Lindsey County Council; and if he will do his utmost to see that these spare parts become available in this area where transport problems become ever more difficult.

Owing to the large number of bicycles and spares now being exported, I fear that some shortage at home will be unavoidable. The shortage in Lincolnshire may, however, be due to uneven distribution and we have asked the trade to ensure that a fair share of available supplies is sent to this area.

asked the Minister of Works how many baths he is preparing to import or has already imported from Hungary; and what is the price of each bath.

A licence has been issued for the import of 4,000 pressed steel baths from Hungary, but none has yet arrived. I have no information of the price to be paid in Hungary by the importing firm, but import was permitted only on the understanding that they would be sold in this country within the established price for a similar article.

asked the Minister of Works the average size of the building force in Exeter during the past twelve months; and to what extent the figure will be increased or diminished during 1948.

It is estimated that in the 12 months ending August last there were on the average about 2,300 operatives aged 16 and over employed in the building and civil engineering industries in Exeter city. I cannot forecast what change may take place in this figure in 1948.

asked the Minister of Works whether he proposes to increase the labour force for rural and agricultural building during the coming twelve months in Devonshire.

I will, in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, see that every effort is made to meet the labour requirements of rural and agricultural building.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the sums in which the proceeds of the sale to the Siamese Government of that part in Siamese territory of the Burma—Siam Railway, known as the Railroad of Death, has been allocated to the British, Australian and other Allied Governments concerned.

The total purchase price of the railway was £1,250,000. Of this sum the Government of Malaya receives £656,400, the Government of Burma £51,250 and the Government of the Netherlands East Indies £187,350. All these amounts are payable in sterling in instalments. The balance of £355,000 is payable by the Siamese Government in Siamese currency into the Japanese Reparations Pool.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions he has issued to His Majesty's representatives in non-sterling countries in regard to economy in the use of petrol; and what is the estimated annual saving in dollars as a result.

A reminder of the need for economy is being sent to His Majesty's representatives in all foreign countries but, since the need for all possible saving in overseas expenditure has already been brought to their notice, substantial new economies cannot be expected. It would not, in any case, be possible to estimate the dollar element in such economies

asked the Minister of Food whether in view of the rationing of potatoes, he is satisfied that under ground workers in the coal mining industry are entitled to sufficient food to enable them to carry out their work efficiently.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the domestic rations available to miners together with their canteens, where they are entitled to 12 oz. of potatoes at each main meal, will provide them with sufficient food to enable them to carry out their work efficiently.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations with the Roumanian Government regarding the possible purchase by this country of food stuffs, including maize, sunflower seed oil, and oil cake for cattle; and what have been the causes of the delays in reaching any agreement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Members for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) and for Ripon (Mr. York) on 10th November and I2th November respectively. I would add that His Majesty's Government are still without official information both on the specific quantities of goods which might be made available to the United Kingdom and on the supplies which the Roumanian Government expect to obtain in exchange.

asked the Minister of Food the volume and value of refined sugar exported to foreign countries; what proportion of this export was originally imported from hard currency countries and payment made in American dollars; and if import and export of sugar in this matter will in future be discontinued.

In view of the delicate negotiations involved it would not be in the public interest to disclose the volume and value of refined sugar recently exported from the United Kingdom to foreign countries. These transactions do not reduce the quantity available for consumption in this country. Although the raw sugar equivalent of this extra sugar is obtained from hard currency countries, sales of the refined product have also been made in hard currency, leaving this country with a substantial hard currency profit. For this reason the answer to the latter part of the Question is "No."

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that imported rock cod is being offered to the wholesale grocery trade at 2s. 4d. per tin of 6½ oz., when fresh cod is available around Is. 2d. a lb.; and if he will take steps to prevent this waste of sterling on uneconomic imports.

The canned fish referred to was imported by private traders and its sale is not subject to price control. The fresh cod is marketed in accordance with the Ministry of Food Control Scheme. This explains the difference in prices. Further imports of canned fish by private traders have ceased, as the Open General Licence which permitted such trading has now been withdrawn.

asked the Minister of Transport what action is being taken to prevent the abnormal number of thefts of food parcels at Southampton Docks, belonging to passengers returning to this country from South Africa and other parts of the world.

I am told by the Southern Railway Company, who own and manage the docks, that comparatively few such thefts have been reported to them or to the shipping companies concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in order to save fuel, he will have inquiries made over the whole country as to the possibilities of reducing street lighting, the automatic flushing of lavatories and other factors in the consumption of fuel.

Street lighting has been cut to 50 per cent. of pre-war standards. It is not practicable to deal in detail with the many minor ways in which fuel can be wasted, but the need for economy is well understood.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations with the industries concerned took place before the issue of the export targets.

Export targets have been set, and kept under regular review with industry, since the outset of the export drive in 1945. These were normally expressed as a percentage of total output. The revised targets issued on the 12th September, which, however, were expressed in terms of value, were not, in general, discussed with individual industries before publication, but were related for the most part to percentage targets which had either already been agreed with industry or were under discussion at the time. As I explained when the revised schedule was issued, the targets represented the Government's estimate of what export task could realistically be placed upon the different industries and could not in the nature of things be rigid but would stand until superseded by arrangement between the Government and any particular industry. Since the publication of the revised schedule the Production Departments have been discussing the new targets with the various industries concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what Vote the expenditure of £54,000 in the past six months, the cost of chartering aeroplanes for Members of His Majesty's Government, will appear.

The cost of each flight will be charged to the Vote of the Minister concerned.

asked the Attorney General whether he is aware of conditions sometimes made in bequests which infringe on the normal personal freedom of recipients, such as acceptance of certain religious beliefs or re-marriage; and whether he will introduce legislation to make such conditions illegal.

Conditions of the type contemplated by the hon. Member may under the existing law be invalid as being illegal, contrary to public policy or uncertain. If a condition is valid the legatee is free to elect whether or not to comply with it and accept the bequest. In these circumstances, I see no sufficient reason for making all such conditions illegal, and His Majesty's Government have no present intention of introducing legislation on the lines suggested.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what will be the position of Post Office employees under the new National Health Service scheme; and whether they will be required to pay contributions thereto.

Post Office employees, in common with all other citizens, will receive the benefits of the new National Health Service free. There are no contribution conditions, but part of the contribution payable by or in respect of each person insured under the National Insurance Act will be allocated to that Service.

asked the Post-master-General what are the number and qualifications of the members of the Post Office Advisory Council; how frequently does it meet; and whether its deliberations are available to the public, either by publication of an annual report or by publication of this information at more frequent intervals; to what extent are consumer interests represented; and what steps are taken to adopt proposals which might be made by members of the public for the improvement of Post Office services.

I append a list of members of the Post Office Advisory Council showing their number and, necessarily much abridged, their qualifications, and interests. The Council meets eight or nine times a year, and, as its function is to advise me in my capacity as Post-master-General, reports of its proceedings are not published. Proposals for the improvement of Post Office services, whether received through members of the Advisory Council, from the public, or from the Post Office staff, receive full and careful consideration. Many of the proposals involve technical questions which are examined by the Post Office department concerned.