asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction felt about the disposal of Government surplus stores; and if he will move for a Parliamentary Committee to inquire into the charges of inefficiency, waste and corruption in the disposal of the stores.

The answer to both parts of the Question is "No."

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the serious shortage of spare parts for cycles, in particular pedals, chains and spokes in the rural parts of South Lincolnshire; and what steps he is taking to overcome this shortage.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Horncastle (Commander Maitland) on 20th November.

asked the Minister of Works if he has inquired into the statement, details of which have been sent to him, that his Department gave an option on 200,000 stirrup pumps to a London firm at 1s. 3d. each, the rubber hose of two being advertised as worth 63s., though offered as a bargain at 21s. 6d.; why such an option was granted; and if he is satisfied that the proper procedure has been observed.

The answer to the first and third parts of the Question is "Yes." In regard to the second part, it had only been possible, despite prolonged efforts, to sell at low prices a comparatively small number of pumps and some 200,000 were about to be scrapped when the offer referred to was received and accepted. As part of the transaction the purchasers had an option to buy a further 200,000 pumps on the same terms, but the option was not exercised.

asked the Minister of Works how many former Service huts are now under the control of his Department; how many of such huts are at present being used; and whether he will take steps to hand over the remainder to local authorities with a view to their being used for civilian housing purposes.

The number of huts involved totals many thousands and the position is constantly changing. The arrangements are dealt with locally and I regret that statistics are not readily available. With regard to the last part of the Question, huts which become surplus to the requirements of any Government Department, and are available for re-use are reported to my Department, and the Ministry of Health and other interested Departments are informed so that the use of the huts for housing or other purposes can be considered.

asked the Minister of Works whether, in disposing of redundant Service huts, he will accord a higher priority than has been the case hitherto to applications supported by the Ministry of Education for such huts to be used as village halls and community centres.

No. Such priorities as exist have been given only after careful consideration of the urgency of the various demands. The most important industrial and agricultural demands are put first.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the houses on the North side of Sumner Place, Kensington, S.W.7, held by his Department for a number of years, have been unoccupied since 1944, and that dry rot is now creeping in; and when he anticipates releasing this valuable accommodation for housing some of the numerous people who are in urgent need of accommodation.

Most of these houses were requisitioned in 1944 to provide a reserve of accommodation for Government use as part of the precautions against flying bombs and rockets. The houses were then vacant and were already affected by dry rot, which my Department is doing its best to check. They were used in 1944 as a hostel for building operatives and subsequently were offered for housing purposes but the local authority decided not to take them over. The Ministry of Health has subsequently agreed that they should be used as offices and they are now in course of preparation for this purpose. Two of the houses have been in use for storage purposes since 1944 and I am looking into the possibility of releasing them.

asked the Minister of Works why his Department refuses to pay the garden rate, Eaton Square, whereas the L.C.C. makes a contribution in respect of this rate.

In accordance with a decision given on 29th October, 1942, by the General Claims Tribunal in the case of Robert Main and His Majesty's Secretary of State for War, Government Departments are not liable to pay garden rate in respect of requisitioned property.

asked the Minister of Works why the sixty temporary aluminium houses which have been structurally completed in the Spilsby Rural District have not been connected to the electric, water and drainage mains; why in the case of forty-eight houses there has been three months delay in getting this work completed; and why the council's suggestion that the work should have been let to the council's contractors at present working on the sites in question has been set aside.

The delay is due primarily to the bankruptcy of the contractor. This made it necessary to measure up the work done and prepare special bills of quantity for the work remaining to be completed. At this stage it will probably take no longer to obtain competitive tenders than to negotiate a price with the council's contractors. The twelve houses at Wainfleet are ready for occupation except for the main electricity supply. This is the council's responsibility but I will see what can be done to help them to obtain cable.

asked the Minister of Works if, in order to economise in the use of railway wagons, he will consider reintroducing the zoning of standardised common bricks and the control of their distribution as operated during the war.

No. There has been a great increase in demand since the war that could not be met within the limits of the war-time restriction.

asked the Minister of Works what is the purchase price of the 424 excavators ordered from America for delivery before the end of 1948; who is acting as agent in the matter; and what commission is being paid.

Four hundred and twenty-two excavators in all were ordered from America at a cost of 17.9 million dollars; of these 360 are due for delivery before the end of 1948 and 62 in 1949. The machines were acquired by direct Government purchase.

asked the Minister of Works why it was decided to purchase excavators from the United States of America rather than have them built under the control of the C.C.G. in Germany, thereby saving dollars.

The excavators purchased from the U.S.A. by my Department on behalf of Ministry of Fuel and Power and other Departments were required with the utmost urgency and in substantial numbers. In view of the shortage of fuel and steel there was no possibility of obtaining these excavators from German manufacture in the time.

asked the Minister of Works what are the wages and conditions of employment of the domestic staff at the Ministry of Works Hostel at Bifrons Park, near Bridge.

The wages of the domestic staff at this hostel are as follows:—Male-cook, £5 10s.; assistant male cook and orderlies, £4 10s.; and female orderlies £3 10s. for a week of 44 hours. Overtime is paid for at the rate of time and one-third during the week and double time on Sundays.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the material shortages holding up production of cutlifts; and what steps are being taken to speed up the present normal delivery of two years.

The main shortages are of certain types of steel, tyres and some finished parts involving malleable castings. I am not aware that the delivery period is two years but it is true that deliveries are slow. My Department is in close touch with the suppliers and with the Ministry of Supply in an effort to bring forward materials so that production is not held up.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is prepared to set up an elected central committee that would be representative of county garden produce committees and village produce associations, for the purpose of formulating a constitution for the National Organisation.

No. I have every confidence in the existing County Garden Produce Central Committee, under the chairmanship of Lord Walkden. It advises me on all matters relating to the administration of the county committees and the activities of the village produce associations, and is a carefully chosen body including representation of related interests. The long-term future of this scheme will have to be reviewed in due course, but I do not consider the time is yet opportune.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the acreage of suitable farming land at present being used, or scheduled for use for opencast mining and by the Service Departments, respectively; and what percentage of the total area under cultivation these acreages represent.

Some 25,500 acres of agricultural land in England and Wales were under requisition for opencast coal mining operations on 31st October, which represents about 0.08 per cent. of the total area under grass and crops (including rough grazing). As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power said in reply to a Question on 20th November, it is expected that a further area of about 50,000 acres will be needed up to the end of 1951, but it is not possible to say how much of this additional acreage will be in England and Wales. The area of land in England and Wales now held by the Service Departments, which is suitable for some kind of agricultural use, mostly rough grazing, is about 700,000 acres, representing 2.3 per cent. of the total area under grass and crops (including rough grazing). The permanent requirements of the Service Departments for land will be dealt with in the White Paper shortly to be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will take the opportunity afforded by Mr. Molotov's presence in London to raise with him the question of the continued detention by the Soviet Government of Russian-born wives and children of British ex-Service men.

The Soviet replies to our many approaches have all been negative and discouraging; and my right hon. Friend is doubtful whether any further approach would be likely to succeed. If, however, any special new opportunity occurs for raising this question he is always ready to take advantage of it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why, although such a licence could be granted without increasing the allocation of newsprint, displaced Poles in the British zone of Germany cannot receive a licence to print a single newspaper; and why, in spite of the encouragement given to make an application for a newspaper licence, the application was rejected when made.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, in the British zone of occupation in Germany, where there are approximately 100,000 displaced Poles, only one Polish paper, "Slowo Polskie," issued by the Polish Repatriation Mission and having a strong Communist bias, is licensed by the British authorities, while permission to publish a paper for the displaced Poles, giving unbiassed news, was first promised and then withheld by the British occupational authorities; and why, in view of the regulation in Western Germany that no paper may issue more than one copy for five persons, "Slowo Polskie" issued twice the permitted amount.

I assume that these Questions refer to the newspaper "Noviny," which the Polish Central Advisory Council recently asked to be published. I am not aware that the Poles were encouraged to make this application. This paper was formerly published by the Polish Armoured Division and its circulation was forbidden in Polish displaced persons camps because it contained undesirable matter. Any application for publication of a newspaper fulfilling the necessary conditions will be carefully considered. "Slowo Polskie" has been allowed to issue 30,000 copies instead of the 20,000 which would be allowed under the informal arrangement on the circulation of displaced persons' newspapers, because the Poles are so scattered.

asked the Minister of Food why he has decided that five pints of milk a week is now sufficient in diabetic cases, whereas seven pints a week was previously considered necessary by his medical advisers for such cases.

The medical advisers to this Ministry considered that no diabetic would suffer from a temporary reduction of two pints in his weekly allowance of milk.

asked the Minister of Food what steps the Government have taken to meet the problem of a shortage of milk for children over five years who have not yet gone to school.

A child unable to attend school because of physical or mental disability receives one pint of milk per day. I regret that it is not practicable to provide for the small number of children who are unable to attend school for other reasons, but these children in common with all others between five and 18 years of age receive half a pint of milk per day. The shortage of milk has not affected these allowances.

asked the Minister of Food whether there is any prospect of being able to add old people to the priority classes for milk supplies.

My right hon. Friend regrets that in view of the present shortage of supplies he does not see his way to add old people to the priority classes for milk.

asked the Minister of Food why he has refused to allow Mrs. Shiell of New Road, Spalding, to sell refreshments on the Spalding United football field, although refreshments for spectators are available at similar football fields in Peterborough, Boston and Grantham; and what steps he is taking to secure uniformity in this matter.

The present food supply position leaves me no alternative but to limit the number of new catering licences. It has been necessary to refuse licences to hundreds of applicants, including Mrs. Shiell.

asked the Minister of Food what progress has been made in persuading the International Emergency Food Council to release more information regarding allocations of foodstuffs.

Decisions reached by Commodity Committees of the International Food Council and particulars of agreed allocations are regularly published. I do not think that it would be proper to press for the publication of any further details.

asked the Minister of Food if there will be supplies of diabetic chocolate in the shops during the winter months.

Diabetic chocolate will be available during the winter months in the shops which normally sell it. Owing to the scarcity of certain essential ingredients, for example, sorbitol, supplies of diabetic chocolate are limited and it is not possible to increase the present rate of distribution.

asked the Minister of Food what are the quantities of rationed raw materials granted to the catering industry from 1st January, 1947, to 30th June, 1947; and for the same period in 1946.

The estimated quantities of rationed foods allocated to commercial catering establishments, works canteens and hostels, school feeding centres, civic restaurants, staff dining-rooms, etc., for the preparation of meals, and manufactured foods for consumption with meals, are as follow:

		1946	1947
		tons	tons
Fats	…	30,150	31,900
Sugar	…	34,000	39,500
Tea	…	8,400	9,000
Cheese	…	10,900	8,100
Bacon	…	6,400	4,900
Preserves	…	13,000	13,300
		(£000)	(£000)
Meat (retail value)	…	7,600	10,500

These figures do not include quantities allocated to bakers and manufacturers who are also caterers and who may use some proportion of their manufactured foods in their catering business.

asked the Minister of Food what number of new licences has been granted so far during the current year for the manufacture of bread and confectionery; and what total quantity of rationed raw materials has been granted to the new licensees.

One hundred and forty-five licences were issued for the manufacture of bread and 100 for flour confectionery in the period from 16th January to 15th September, 1947. The total quantity of rationed raw materials granted to the licensees is not large but could not be stated exactly without a special inquiry of all the local food offices.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that potato consumption in the Wolsingham Sanatorium prior to rationing was 8.8 lbs. per week owing to the shortage of other food; whether there is any special concession for T.B. patients; or if he will recommend food to take the place of this reduction of 5.8 lbs. of potatoes each week.

My right hon. Friend is inquiring into the diet of patients in the Wolsingham sanatorium in order to discover whether the rationing of potatoes is causing undue hardship.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage cuts he has made in the supplies of potatoes to fish friers and to other catering establishments respectively; and whether he will increase the allocation of potatoes to fish friers.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the reduction of potatoes to fish and chip establishments to 60 per cent. of their normal supplies will cause great hardship to the poorer section of the community; and will he consider granting them sufficient supplies to enable them to use their fat ration.

Supplies for fish friers, like domestic consumers, are reduced by about 40 per cent., while those for commercial catering establishments and crisp makers are reduced by 50 per cent. Schools and industrial canteens may serve about the same quantities as before the introduction of the distribution scheme. I am satisfied that the cuts have been fairly applied and I regret that our supplies do not permit us to give fish friers more favourable treatment.

asked the Minister of Food what cuts have been made, under his potato distribution scheme, in the supply of potatoes to the Services.

This is under consideration with the Services Departments and I am not yet in a position to give details.

asked the Minister of Food why adequate arrangements were not made before the potato rationing scheme was introduced to enable caterers to secure the amounts to which they are entitled; and if he will provide them with some form of authorisation on presentation of which they can obtain their allocation from greengrocers.

As was announced when the order was issued, it is intended that a form of trader's identity card should be issued to caterers with effect from 14th December. An earlier issue was not practicable, but if meanwhile any caterer experiences difficulty he should seek the help of his local food office.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has authorised the National Federation of Fish Friers to impose a condition of sale on fish and chips supplied to the public by local fish friers.

As my right hon. Friend told the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mr. Symonds) on 2nd July, fish and chips is so well known as a composite dish that he would not be justified in seeking to compel fish friers to supply them separately. No other advice or authority has been given to fish friers.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will give a guarantee that there will be no reduction in the allocation of frying media to fish friers as a result of the reduction in the supplies of potatoes.

Owing to the difficult supply position I am unable to guarantee that there will be no change in allocations to fish friers or to any other class of consumer.

asked the Minister of Food whether it is his intention to cut down imports of bacon from Canada.

Our future bacon imports from Canada are at present under discussion. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Food why permits have been granted for 7,515 cwts. of bacon and ham to be exported, and for 9,129 cwts. to be re-exported during the first nine months of this year; to what countries were these exports and re-exports made; and whether he will refuse to allow any more bacon or ham to be sent from this country until the cut in the bacon ration is restored.

The export or re-export of approximately 19,000 cwts. of bacon and ham has been permitted to meet the requirements of the Channel Isles, Malta and Gibraltar during 1947, but apart from certain quantities shipped by N.A.A.F.I. for the Services overseas, no other bacon has been exported or re-exported. These limited supplies are delivered under agreements which run to the end of 1947.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will give the saving in dollars over any convenient period arising from the recent cut in the bacon ration.

There have been no dollar savings as yet, but as my hon. Friend will be aware, a United Kingdom Mission is at present in North America. It would not be opportune to anticipate the result of their discussions.

asked the Minister of Food when Mr. B. Johnson, 231, Cross Lane, Salford 5, is likely to receive a licence to manufacture ice cream, in view of the fact he is a disabled ex-Service man and his shop has been established over 40 years; and why a licence was granted for premises next door but one, No. 227 Cross Lane, which has been used as a dental surgery for 40 years until 18 months ago.

Mr. Johnson cannot be given an allocation of ice-cream materials because the business had no entitlement at the time when he took it over. The present occupier of 227, Cross Lane, is entitled to an allocation of raw materials but he cannot use them in his prewar premises as these were damaged by enemy action.

asked the Minister of Food what is the estimated tonnage of potatoes this year that he is appropriating for seed, chats, normal shrinkage and wastage in store, Services' needs and exports, respectively; and for what purpose the 800,000 tons of potatoes that are to remain in Northern Ireland will be used.

The 800,000 tons of the 1947 crop remaining in Northern Ireland are to cover ware for human consumption there, seed, small exports of seed, small exports for the Services overseas, normal shrinkage and wastage (including usage on farms), and processing for human consumption. The allowances which we consider it prudent to make under the heading specified when estimating the quantity of potatoes of the 1947 Great Britain crop likely to be available for human consumption are:

	tons
Seed for planting	1,193,000
Chats	463,000
Normal shrinkage and wastage (incl. use on farms)	722,000
Services	93,000
Exports (seed and ware)	15,000

asked the Minister of Food how much canned meat he has refused to accept from Eire and on what grounds.

We reduced our purchases of canned meats by 5,000 tons (or 50 per cent.) so that we can have more carcase meat of which we are in greater need.

asked the Minister of Food why a lower price is paid for Jamaican sugar than for Cuban sugar; and whether he is aware of the complaints from Mauritius that his Department pays a low price for Mauritius sugar and makes a profit thereon.

Under an agreement between the Ministry of Food and the Colonial sugar manufacturers, the Ministry has guaranteed to purchase the entire exportable surplus of Colonial sugar up to the end of 1949. This arrangement has been in operation since the beginning of the war and the price is adjusted annually. Since this guarantee has been in force the price has been sometimes above and sometimes below the price of Cuban sugar. Overall Jamaica has received at least as good a price as Cuba. The Mauritius producers receive a price which is in line with that paid to the other Colonial producers. In addition, my Ministry has made a special bonus payment to Mauritius to help the producers to recover from the effects of the hurricanes in 1944 and 1945. The Ministry of Food does not make a profit on the sale of Mauritius and other Colonial sugars.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will place in the Library a summary of any estimates formed from information in the possession of his Ministry about the food and agricultural position of the European countries which did not participate in the recent Paris Conference, with special reference to the possibility of any food being available for export from these countries during the years 1948 and 1949, respectively.

I have no reliable information as to the future food and agricultural position of the countries in question, but I am keeping in touch with developments in those and other countries with the object of securing any foods available for export.

asked the Minister of Food what are the present stocks of rice in this country; what arrangements he has made for the importation of rice; and if he will make a statement on the rice position.

In order to help the rice-eating countries of the world His Majesty's Government has voluntarily limited importation to the quantities necessary only to supply ships with Asiatic crews. So soon as supplies for European countries again become available His Majesty's Government will ensure that this country receives an appropriate share.

asked the Minister of Food how the 30,000 tons of currants and the 10,000 tons of sultanas being sent from Greece are to be distributed; and if he will take steps to see that they are equitably distributed between retail shops and restaurants.

These currants and sultanas will be taken into the Ministry's stocks, and distributed in the normal way. The answer to the last part of the Question is "Yes."

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that his instructions to dig and send to market new potatoes early in the year, and the sudden cancellation of those instructions, resulted in heavy loss to the producer and consumer in money and supplies; and what steps he is taking to avoid a repetition of this loss.

I have issued no such instructions.

asked the Minister of Food how many bacon rations require to be surrendered for the slaughter of a pig for consumption by the owner.

The owner has to surrender 52 bacon coupons unless he sells half the carcase to the Ministry, when he is not required to surrender any coupons.

asked the Minister of Food in view of the discovery that evisceration is no adequate protection against the dissemination of the germs of the disease known as fowl pest; what consultations he had with the Secretary of State for Scotland before permitting the landing and distribution in Scotland of turkeys from Europe; and whether consultation with the poultry-farming industry in. Scotland took place before the decision to permit such landing and distribution was made.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on 18th November. As no European turkeys have been landed or distributed in Scotland, the questions asked by the hon. Member do not arise.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the recent action of the Customs and Excise in imposing a partial ban on clearances of wines and spirits from bond may result in severe restrictions of supplies to the general public at Christmas; and whether he will consult with the department of the Board of Trade in order to accelerate such clearance.

I have been asked to reply. If the ban should prove to have interfered with the Christmas trade, I regret it; but I am afraid Budget considerations are paramount. With regard to the second part of the Question, I cannot see what action can be taken by the Treasury or the Board of Trade in this connection.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent and in what manner the saving of £200 millions in capital expenditure will affect the Development Area of South Wales.

It is not yet possible to state with certainty the precise effect upon individual undertakings in the South Wales Development Area or elsewhere. The forthcoming White Paper will give the general programmes of capital investment next year, including that for factory building. The application of this programme to particular areas and activities is now being worked out by the Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that during the months of May and June, 1947, of the 90,562 tons of commodities and general cargo shipped from Singapore and Malaya to America and Canada, 60,571 tons were carried in American bottoms and only 14,475 tons in British; and what steps he is taking to remedy this disproportion which results in a serious loss of dollar earnings.

British shipping companies, with the support of my Department are making every effort to restore their share in dollar-earning trades in fair competition with other flags, but for the time being our shipping resources are not sufficient to cover all our needs.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that a large number of people who desire to emigrate to British Dominions are unable to do so owing to transport shortage, yet refrigerated cargo ships are leaving this country in ballast; and will he allow these ships, to be used for carrying passengers to the Dominions.

Yes, everything possible is being done to ease the acute shortage of passenger shipping but it is not practicable to use the cargo ships to which my hon. and learned Friend refers for passengers.

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons now await transport to South Africa, New Zealand and Canada, respectively; how long they have been waiting; how long they are likely to have to wait for transport; and what steps he is taking to reduce the waiting list and at what rate.

The applications registered with the shipping lines during the last two years and still outstanding total for South Africa 95,000, New Zealand 20,000 and Canada 50,000. The position will be somewhat eased as passenger ships return to these routes after reconversion from military service during the next few months, and by new building. I regret that I cannot say when the waiting lists will be cleared.

asked the Minister of Transport why facilities have not been made available to Mr. Will Hay to travel to South Africa for the benefit of his health, particulars of which have been sent him.

Machinery exists for considering requests for passengers where there are strong compassionate grounds. Mr. Hay has been asked to submit medical evidence to my Department in support of his application.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that in places like North Staffordshire much time is lost by the travelling public in waiting in bus queues; and whether he will remedy this by the introduction of comparable and cheaper railway fares over the same area.

My hon. Friend's proposition raises large issues of principle and fact, and because of that must be left for consideration by the British Transport Commission, who have been charged with responsibility for preparing, as one of their early duties, a draft scheme or draft schemes for determining their charges.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will be able to announce plans for the improvement and development of the railway system in West Cumberland.

There are no plans at present for the extension of the railway system in West Cumberland.

asked the Minister of Transport how much has been spent on the reconstruction of the road between Woodstock and Oxford; and how much it is proposed to spend in completing the work.

:£23,100 has been paid from the Road Fund in respect of this improvement since its resumption in 1946, and a further £33,550 is scheduled for payment before the end of the month; but there tends to be a lag between value of work done and payments made. The balance of payments required for completion of the scheme is estimated at £110,000.

asked the Minister of Transport when work is to begin on the proposed West Cumberland road.

The necessary preliminaries under the Trunk Roads Act are in hand, but this is one of the schemes of capital investment which must be postponed for the time being.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to get priority supplies for the London Passenger Transport Board in order to keep their buses on the road, particulars of which have been sent to him.

In co-operation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply I am employing a number of methods to get adequate supplies of spares for public service vehicles, but the position is more than usually difficult, since 50 per cent. of London's buses are more than 10 years old. I should like to express appreciation of the ingenuity and skill of the L.P.T.B. staff in keeping their fleet serviceable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there are four thousand slaughtermen at work in abattoirs who use on an average four knives each every year; that there are insufficient of these knives to meet the demand; that the steel being used for making the knives is of such poor quality that it results in hides and skins being cut and scored when flayed from the carcases, resulting in ruined leather; and will he take steps to ensure a ready supply of knives of the right type.

Because of the overall shortage of steel and the great contribution to the drive for increased exports which the cutlery industry is making, there must, I regret to say, inevitably be a reduction in the supplies of cutlery at home, but the cutlery industry is doing its best to see that the essential home needs of tools of trade, including slaughterers' knives, are met. I was not aware of any falling off in the quality of slaughterers' knives, but if my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any cases where difficulty is being experienced, I will look into them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to reinforce the third appeal of Wool Control to wool textile manufacturers to make a fairer share of woollen and worsted clothes available for the men's clothing trade.

Production of men's made-up wool outerwear in 1947 is about 10 per cent. greater than in 1946, whereas in the women's section production is rather below the 1946 level. In the circumstances I do not think that any further action is required to reinforce the appeal the Wool Controller has made to the trade.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what part the Northern Rhodesian Government will play in the proposed new development commission to operate in Southern. Rhodesia; and whether he will give an assurance that the Northern Rhodesian Government will not participate in any scheme in which Africans are in practice debarred from employment as skilled workers.

The development commission mentioned is entirely Southern Rhodesian; the second part of the question does not therefore arise. Northern Rhodesia has its own development authority and, as I stated in answer to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Dodds-Parker) on 13th November, co-ordination of development in the two territories will be effected through the medium of the Central African Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the status and definition of duties of the Governor-General of the Malayan Union and of the Colony of Singapore, H.E. the Right Hon. Malcolm Macdonald; the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Malayan Union, H.E. Sir Edward Gent, K.C.M.G., D.S.O., O.B.E., M.C.; the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Singapore Colony, H.E. Sir Franklin Charles Gimson, K.C.M.G.; and H.E. the Right Hon. Lord Killearn, G.C.M.G., C.B., Special Commissioner in S.E. Asia with headquarters at Singapore.

I would invite the hon. Member's attention to the reply given on this subject to the hon. Member for Bury (Mr. W. Fletcher) on 23rd June last, by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, The position has not changed since that date, but Mr. Malcolm MacDonald is to take over the combined functions of Governor-General and Special Commissioner early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many civilian motor drivers are employed by the Royal Air Force now compared with a year ago, and at what weekly wage; and why these posts cannot be filled by Service drivers.

3,011 civilian motor drivers are employed by my Department, compared with 2,981 a year ago. Their weekly wages vary from 91s. 6d. to 107s. 6d. according to the type of vehicle driven, and the district in which they are employed. These men could only be replaced by service drivers by recruiting more drivers into the R.A.F., and there would, therefore, be no saving in manpower.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when his Department expects to commence work to restore the ground of the Invergordon Academy Playing Field to the condition in which it was taken over by his Department during the war.

This work is to be carried out under a contract arranged by the Ross and Cromarty County Council and agreed by my Department. The terms of the contract have not yet been settled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the performance of an elephant in a circus at Harringay; and, in view of the difficulty of the tricks performed, whether he will inquire into the methods of training employed and satisfy himself that no cruelty to the animal was involved.

According to my information no elephant is at present performing at Harringay arena but some elephants are to appear in a circus starting there on 23rd December. I have had inquiries made about some young elephants which are to take part in this performance, and the information available to me is that they are being well treated and that there is no ground to suspect cruelty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the amount of money raised during 1946 from the 10 per cent. deduction from racecourse totalisators for the purpose of horse breeding; and how was this money allocated and used.

The amount allocated out of the totalisator surplus for 1946 for purposes conducive to the improvement of breeds of horses, to the advancement and encouragement of veterinary science and education and to charities was £32,800. At 31st August, 1946, the fund had, in addition, a credit balance of £20,084, making a total of £52,884. Of this sum £34,400 was allocated for purposes conducive to the improvement of breeds of horses, grants being made to various horse societies. I am sending the hon. Member details of the distribution between the societies.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the resolution passed by the Eastbourne Association of Building Trades Employers, of which a copy has been sent him, drawing attention to the disastrous effect of the curtailment of building licences on towns such as Eastbourne, which have no heavy industries and no factories and therefore no means of absorbing unemployed building trade operatives; and whether he has any statement to make.

Yes. I am advised that there is sufficient work on the local authority's own housing scheme to employ the available building labour.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the reduction in His Majesty's Forces, he is now in a position to release the land occupied by his Department on Clapham Common, in order that the amenities of

Rank.		Rates introduced in 1919.			Rates payable in 1938.			1938 rates as increased under the Pensions Increase Warrants.			Present "new code" rates for current retirements
(1)		(2)			(3)			(4)			(5)
		£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Major	…	450	0	0	407	5	0	440	0	0	475	0	0
					(see note (c))
Lieutenant-Colonel	…	600	0	0	543	0	0	583	14	6	625	0	0
Colonel	…	800	0	0	724	0	0	760	4	0	825	0	0
Major-General	…	1,000	0	0	950	0	0	950	0	0	1,100	0	0
Notes:
(a) The rates given are the maxima for the various ranks, attainable normally by officers completing a full career. For others, the award depends on their actual length of service and other factors.
(b) Awards under the 1919 provisions were periodically adjusted in conformity with changes in the cost of living, and were in 1935 stabilised at the rates shown in column 3. The effect of the Pensions Increase Warrants has been to increase these rates to those shown in column 4. The rate of £950 a year for a Major-General was, however, introduced in 1938 and has not been varied.
(c) For certain Majors of long service there was a special maximum of £475 2s. 6d.

asked the Minister of Health whether any investigation has been made of the condition regarding vaccination or immunisation of the cases of infantile paralysis reported in this country this

The position in respect of the anti-aircraft gun emplacements and hutted camp remains as stated in the reply given to my hon. Friend on 29th January, 1947. My Department is in close touch with the London County Council over the release of the remaining area still held under requisition.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the pensions payable to majors, lieutenant-colonels, colonels, and major-generals of the Royal Army Medical Corps in the following conditions: under the Royal Warrant, 1919; under the Royal Warrant, 1938; and at the present time.

The following is the information requested:year; and how many of the cases had at any time been vaccinated or inoculated.

No. As I am advised, there are no medical grounds for attributing to vaccination or diphtheria immunisation any connection with poliomyelitis.