asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that scaffolding for the repair of windows in the Central Lobby has been up since Easter but that no work appears to have been done; and since labour and materials have been made available for the repair of public houses, cinemas and dog tracks, why this repair to the Palace of Westminster has not been started.

Yes, this scaffolding was erected so that measurements could be made of the glass required for repairing the windows. The glass was ordered last July but the type of glass required has to be specially manufactured and cannot be supplied quickly in large quantities. I hope that one window in the Central Lobby will be reglazed during the Christmas Recess and the other three by the end of the Easter Recess.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will give an assurance that sufficient timber will be forthcoming for the Olympic Regatta at Henley in August, 1948, to enable the necessary Press stands to be erected and for the special layout of the course to Olympic standards to be undertaken.

I have no information as to the amount of timber needed for the Press stands or for the layout of the course, but I hope it will be possible to meet reasonable requirements.

asked the Minister of Works if he will make available the latest decisions concerning the quantity of structural steel available for future building projects in the United Kingdom, and state the difference in recent allocations from those previously allocated; and arrange that, in future, people interested in building projects will be informed as soon as possible of the quantity they will receive, in order to facilitate the necessary pre-planning of building operations.

It would not be in the public interest to give details of the allocation of the total steel resources, of which structural steel available for building forms only a part. My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, explained in the House on 23rd October that building operations, chiefly on factory building, would have to be curtailed to the extent necessary to save 30,000 tons of steel a quarter. Owing to the vital necessity for making steel available for the export industries this may not, in fact, be the total extent of the curtailment. In reply to the last part of the Question, I could not say in advance of the date when a licence is applied for, exactly how much steel, if any, could be made available for a particular project; that must depend upon the allocations and the demand upon them at the time.

asked the Minister of Works whether he has now come to a decision to withdraw or postpone the licences granted to the Royal Exchange, Manchester, for the expenditure of £171,300, particularly in view of the fact that this sum only covers the first stage of the work contemplated, and such accommodation as will be made immediately available is to be used for shops and storage purposes only.

I am in touch with the interests concerned, and I am not yet in a position to announce a decision.

asked the Minister of Works what is the cost per 1,000 of imported Belgian bricks below and above bridges in London, in South Wales and at Aberdeen, including discharge duty and costs; what is the cost of such bricks to the public per 1,000; and how this compares with the controlled price of English bricks.

Belgian bricks are no longer being imported into Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Works what is the estimated amount of subsidy required by his Ministry in respect of Government purchases of Belgian bricks during the first eight months of 1947.

The estimated amount of subsidy in respect of Government purchases of Belgian bricks during the first eight months of 1947 is about £250,000.

asked the Minister of Health what is the cost of the Arcon house.

I have been asked to reply. The current estimated cost of the Arcon house, including structure, fittings, erection and all site work within the curtilage of the house, is about £1,243.

asked the Minister of Health whether the cost of £1,610 for aluminium houses includes the cost of land, roads, drainage and architects' and surveyors' services.

I have been asked to reply. The estimate of £1,610 is exclusive of expenditure by local authorities on acquiring the site, constructing roads and sewers and bringing in the main electricity, gas and water services. It includes expenditure by the Ministry of Works on site works within the curtilage of the houses, such as the construction of foundation slabs, paths and fencing and the laying of drains, water, gas and electricity services to the point of junction with the main services.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has made representations to the Belgian Government requesting them to apply their rules of compensation for damage to property by the Germans to British subjects owning property in Belgium; and with what result.

The Belgian legislation relative to indemnification for war damage to property entered into force only on 10th November, 1947. His Majesty's Embassy at Brussels have been asked to request the Belgian Government to extend its benefits to British subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give the total number of persons attached to the staffs of the Embassies of France, China, U.S.S.R., U.S.A., and the Argentine Republic in the United Kingdom, and also the number of the corresponding staffs attached to the British Embassies in the above-mentioned countries.

The following are the numbers of officials holding the diplomatic rank of attaché or above on the staffs of the Embassies of France, China, the U.S.S.R., the U.S.A. and the Argentine Republic in London and on the staffs of His Majesty's Embassies in those countries:—

French Embassy in London.	40	H.M. Embassy in Paris.	50
Chinese Embassy in London.	27	H.M. Embassy in Nanking.	27
Soviet Embassy in London.	30	H.M. Embassy in Moscow.	31
American Embassy in London.	70	H.M. Embassy in Washington.	59
Argentine Embassy in London.	20	H.M. Embassy in Buenos Aires.	21

The total numbers of the clerical staff employed at His Majesty's Embassies in the five capitals are 179, 25,.46, 296 and 103 respectively. I regret that complete figures for the Embassies of the five Powers in London are not available since the Missions concerned do not necessarily notify all members of their staff to this Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many persons having diplomatic privilege are now attached to the various foreign missions accredited to this country respectively; and what extra accommodation is occupied beyond that normally used by such foreign missions.

The following statement shows the numbers of persons employed respectively on the diplomatic, clerical and domestic staffs of the foreign diplomatic missions accredited to the Court of St. James's whose names are recorded in the Foreign Office as entitled to claim diplomatic privilege:—

Diplomatic Mission.					Diplomatic Staff.	Clerical Staff.	Domestic Staff.
Afghan Legation	…	…	…	…	4	—	7
Argentine Embassy	…	…	…	…	2O	1	18
Austrian Legation	…	…	…	…	4	3	—
Belgian Embassy	…	…	…	…	16	31	26
Bolivian Embassy	…	…	…	…	4	—	1
Brazilian Embassy	…	…	…	…	14	4	19
Bulgarian Legation	…	…	…	…	5	—	—
Chilean Embassy	…	…	…	…	12	—	19
Chinese Embassy	…	…	…	…	27	6	13
Colombian Embassy	…	…	…	…	9	—	3
Costa Rican Legation	…	…	…	…	1	—	1
Cuban Legation	…	…	…	…	2	2	3
Czechoslovak Embassy	…	…	…	…	17	30	16
Danish Embassy	…	…	…	…	14	61	13
Dominican Legation	…	…	…	…	2	—	3
Ecuadorean Legation	…	…	…	…	4	—	—
Egyptian Embassy	…	…	…	…	18	2	18
Ethiopian Legation	…	…	…	…	3	—	1
Finnish Legation	…	…	…	…	4	6	6
French Embassy	…	…	…	…	40	75	19
Greek Embassy	…	…	…	…	16	4	13
Guatemalan Legation	…	…	…	…	2	—	—
Haytian Legation	…	…	…	…	2	—	1
Hungarian Legation	…	…	…	…	7	6	5
Icelandic Legation	…	…	…	…	4	2	2
Iranian Embassy	…	…	…	…	11	—	7
Iraqi Embassy	…	…	…	…	9	4	6
Italian Embassy	…	…	…	…	12	20	8
Lebanese Legation	…	…	…	…	4	—	8
Liberian Legation	…	…	…	…	1	—	—
Luxembourg Legation	…	…	…	…	2	—	2
Mexican Embassy	…	…	…	…	5	1	5
Nepalese Embassy	…	…	…	…	4	1	16
Netherlands Embassy	…	…	…	…	25	54	25
Norwegian Embassy	…	…	…	…	18	8	19
Panamanian Legation	…	…	…	…	5	—	—
Paraguayan Legation	…	…	…	…	3	—	1
Peruvian Embassy	…	…	…	…	8	—	4
Polish Embassy	…	…	…	…	17	41	24
Portuguese Embassy	…	…	…	…	11	3	3
Salvadorean Legation	…	…	…	…	1	—	—
Saudi Arabian Legation	…	…	…	…	4	—	3
Siamese Embassy	…	…	…	…	9	3	4
Soviet Embassy	…	…	…	…	30	77	33
Spanish Embassy	…	…	…	…	16	7	17
Swedish Embassy	…	…	…	…	17	46	17
Swiss Legation	…	…	…	…	14	41	14
Syrian Legation	…	…	…	…	5	—	6
Transjordan Legation	…	…	…	…	3	—	1
Turkish Embassy	…	…	…	…	20	6	21
United States Embassy	…	…	…	…	70	280	148
Uruguayan Embassy	…	…	…	…	6	—	2
Venezuelan Embassy	…	…	…	…	5	—	3
Yugoslav Embassy	…	…	…	…	14	24	13

In reply to the second part of the Question it is difficult to decide what should be regarded as the extent of accommodation "normally used" by foreign diplomatic missions, whose requirements may vary from time to time with the amount of work devolving upon them. The complexity of diplomatic work in the postwar period and the wider range of activities now comprised under the general heading of diplomacy are reflected in a certain increase in the accommodation occupied by foreign diplomatic missions as compared with prewar days, but I am not in a position to give precise details of this extra accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the reason for the banning, in the British sector of Berlin, of the Kulturbund zur demokratischen Erneuerung Deutschlands; and whether, in view of the fact that an all-zonal organisation of progressive and democratic intelligentsia is a necessary institution in the rehabilitation of German life and thought, he will reverse the decision to ban this association.

The Kulturbund is an organisation of avowed political character. As such it requires, under Allied Order, official recognition by the Allied authorities in Berlin in order to continue its activities there after 1st November, 1947. It has not applied for such recognition, nor has it been agreed by the Allied authorities that it should be recognised. For these reasons it was banned from the British sector of Berlin, and it is not intended to reverse this decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will arrange for the money credited to prisoners of war and handed to them on repatriation in respect of their work in this country and the Middle East, to be exchanged at the 40 marks to the 1 allowed to British serving personnel in Germany instead of at the rate of 15 which, in present conditions, makes the accumulated cash of little value.

No. I am afraid that this is not possible.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he has taken to buy sugar from Poland in sterling; and what quantities he estimates he can obtain from this source.

Sugar is included in the Anglo-Polish trade agreement of June last as a foodstuff which we would be prepared to buy from Poland if the price were satisfactory. The prices asked, however, are nearly double those we are paying for sugar from other sources and the quantity available is in any case insignificant in relation to our requirements

asked the Minister of Food what reserve stocks of food are held in the United Kingdom for feeding the civilian population in the event of a major war.

None of the stocks under the control of the Ministry of Food are specifically reserved for any hypothetical emergency.

asked the Minister of Food on what grounds Mr. Sidney B. Turnpenny, of Deepdene, 14 Park Avenue, Dover, was refused permission to change his milkman seeing that the firm from whom he received his milk, Messrs. Fasley Woodhams and Co., have been purchased by a co-operative society.

The Dover Co-operative Society have acquired a financial interest in Farley Woodhams and Co. Ltd., but the Company has not been wound up. There has been no change in trading methods, the customers of the company have not become members of the cooperative society and no dividend is paid on purchases. I do not think these circumstances justify a change of retailers.

asked the Minister of Food when he expects the arrival of the first consignment of the 300,000 tons of barley purchased by him from the Argentine Republic; and by what date will the whole of the quantity purchased be delivered.

The first consignment arrived in this country on 31st October, and it is hoped that it will all be shipped by the end of March, 1948.

asked the Minister of Food if he has considered a complaint from the Scottish Federation of Fishmongers that, since allocations were abandoned the distribution of prime fish in Glasgow and Newhaven markets has been unsatisfactory; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I have carefully considered the complaint. But the Scottish Federation is mistaken in thinking that the position has changed. Even during the period of control of distribution it was not practicable to arrange for separate distribution of the kinds known as prime fish, which form a very small proportion of the total supplies.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of his inability at present to add old people to the priority classes for milk, he will restrict the supply of tinned milk to non-priority classes so that they may be more able to make up the deficiency in fresh milk.

SUBSIDIES ON INDIVIDUAL FOODSTUFFS, 1947–48.
—		Unit.	Subsidy per unit. Pence.	Estimated Total Subsidy. £ million.
Bread	(including Wheat) (acreage payment)	3½ lb.	5	52·3
Flour		7lb.	11¼	35·9
Shell Eggs		Doz.	24¾	27·1
Carcase Meat		lb. average	4¼	61·1
Milk		quart	1½	37·5
Sugar		lb.	2	27·0
Cheese		lb.	11½	22·5
Butter		lb.	11	24·0
Margarine		lb.	2¾	7·1
Lard		lb.	9¼	1·6
Compound Cooking Fat		lb.	1¾	1·0
Bacon and Ham		lb.	10	17·3
Tea		lb.	5¾	9·0
Potatoes (including acreage payment)		7lb	2½	19·8
(a) Vegetables, other than potatoes, and fruits are not subsidised.
(b) There are also subsidies on Animal Feedingstuffs, Welfare Foods, Milk in Schools and National Milk Schemes, borne by the Ministry of Food, on Fertilizers borne by the Board of Trade, and payments made for agricultural purposes by the Agricultural Departments.

asked the Minister of Food if any supplies of canned poultry will be made available for hospitals at Christmas from the gift parcels coming from other countries.

The gifts at present available for distribution do not include any canned poultry.

asked the Minister of Food the anticipated saving in tonnage and in money for each article of food the supplies of which from hard currency countries are to be cut by £66 million a

The additional fresh milk which is provided for the priority classes is supplied in accordance with the recommendations of my medical advisers to meet the special needs of these classes. I should not, therefore, feel justified in precluding them from obtaining in addition their share of the tinned milk which is available for the whole community.

asked the Minister of Food to state separately the amount of subsidy paid on all foods, including milk, vegetables and fruit per convenient household unit; and the total cost of each separate subsidy to the nation.

Following is the information:year as announced on 23rd October; and whether this cut is in addition to that of £12 million a month announced in August.

The figure of £66 million to which the hon. Member refers is ma de up as follows:Sugar, £12 million—400,000 tons.Bacon, £28 million—173,000 tons.Meat, £16 million—133,000 tons.Eggs in shell, £6 million—35,000 tons.Processed Egg, £4 million—5,000 tons.The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes."

asked the Minister of Food what was the net landed cost of the stocks of edible nuts in shell recently auctioned by his Department; and what was the net amount realised at the auctions.

Full information is not yet available as to the net amount realised from the sale of the nuts which were recently auctioned. So soon as this information is complete I shall be prepared to make a statement giving the price the Ministry paid, the price realised from the sale and the profit which the Ministry secured.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the voluntary price arrangements operating in the fruit trade with regard to the sale of Tunis dates; and whether he will consider arranging for the sale of nuts to be dealt with on similar lines before the position becomes still more unsatisfactory.

The auctions of the nuts have been completed and distribution has begun. No more are at present available. The position in regard to Tunis dates is quite different. A price arrangement can operate for their sale because there is a steady flow of supplies and they are in competition with price controlled Iraqi dates.

asked the Minister of Food what calory value per oz. of potatoes he has assumed in estimating the loss through rationing at 70 calories a day.

Sixteen.

asked the Minister of Food what Continental countries are given allocations of cereals by the I.E.F.C. for human consumption and for animal feedingstuffs, respectively; and what factor decides the amount of the allocation.

Most of the European countries have been included in the distribution programme for cereals recommended by the I.E.F.C. to the exporting countries for the half year ending 31st December, 1947. The supplies covered by the I.E.F.C. programme were intended to be used as bread grain. The I.E.F.C. do not make any general recommendations regarding the distribution of cereals for use as animal feedingstuffs. Each importing country's share of the supply available is arrived at after its stated requirements have been reviewed by the Cereals Committee of the I.E.F.C. in the light of a number of factors including the indigenous supply of cereals and other staple foodstuffs.

asked the Minister of Food why the supply of flour to the British West Indies at the same price as paid by Great Britain was not included in the wheat agreement with Canada; and if he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt in the islands because of this fact, especially as the British West Indies are paid less for their exports of sugar than is paid by his Ministry for sugar from Cuba.

During the war years the United Kingdom undertook to procure wheat and flour for those Colonies which were unable to make their own arrangements and this practice has continued. The British West Indies and certain other Colonies have always preferred to procure their own supplies of these commodities, and the price of Canadian flour for the West Indies is, therefore, a matter for direct negotiation between the Canadian and Colonial Governments concerned. I am aware that dissatisfaction is felt in the islands on account of the present price. As regards sugar, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Heston and Isleworth (Mr. W. R. Williams) on 24th November.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the Grimsby Golf Club has been in negotiations with his Department since January, 1946, for the settlement of a claim for compensation, as indicated by the correspondence sent to him; what is the reason for this protracted delay; and if he will have the claim settled forthwith.

I am aware that negotiations have been proceeding with the Grimsby Golf Club on a claim for compensation for the ploughing up of grassland. It has not been settled because I am not yet satisfied that it fulfils the conditions laid down for the grant of such compensation. If agreement cannot be reached the matter will have to be referred to arbitration in due course.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in view of the fact that the whole working of his poultry scheme is being endangered by large-scale thefts which are now taking place in the countryside, whether he will instruct his county executive committees to draw to the attention of farmers and others the need of enlistment in special constabularies.

No. I do not consider that the hon. Member's proposal would be the best way to deal with this problem, and I would refer him to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leicester (Mr. Janner) on 24th November.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to seek the full co-operation of the farming community, in preventing black-market sales of Christmas meat and poultry; and to what extent his Department co-operates with the Ministry of Food to prevent such illegal sales.

I am satisfied that organised farming opinion deprecates these malpractices and recognises that they are against the public interest. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Food is primarily responsible for the enforcement of the various orders relating to the sale of meat and poultry, but any cases of suspected offences against those orders which may be discovered by my officers are brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend's Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his scientific advisers are completely satisfied that the import restrictions on poultry are effectively preventing the further introduction of fowl pest infection from the Continent.

There must always be some risk in importing poultry carcases from countries where fowl pest is known to exist, but my advisers are satisfied that the present arrangement, by which only eviscerated carcases (with head and feet removed) are imported from Europe effectively reduces the risk to a minimum. There is no evidence that any outbreak of fowl pest in Great Britain has been caused by imported poultry from Europe since the imports have been confined to eviscerated birds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give a short summary of the annual profit and loss account of the Denbighshire Agricultural Executive Committee since it was formed; how many complaints the Denbighshire Agricultural Executive Committee have received against their insistence on growing specified crops; and how many farmers they have dispossessed.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available because in view of the manpower situation, the only accounts prepared by county war agricultural executive committees generally during the war years were on a receipts and payments basis. Similarly as regards the second part, it would hardly have been sensible to compile records of everything that might have been called a complaint. As regards the third part, the Denbighshire Committee has taken possession of land in 40 instances covering 4,300 acres and of these, 19 cases covering some 1,800 acres involved the dispossession of farmers. In addition, the Committee has terminated 28 tenancies leaving relettings in the hands of the landlords concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what acreage of potatoes was planted and what was the average yield per acre in respect- of each county in Wales during 1947 and how much of the total tonnage was early and seed potatoes, respectively.

The following table shows the acreages under potatoes in 1947 in each county in Wales with the latest estimates of average yields per acre:—

WALES.
County	Acreage returned at 4th June.*	Forecast of yield per acre. †
	acres.	tons.
Anglesey	3,762	6·0
Brecon	2,723	5·9
Caernarvon	3,933	5·0
Cardigan	6,590	3·9
Carmarthen	6,945	4·6
Denbigh	4,096	5·0
Flintshire	3,598	6·6
Glamorgan	6,076	5·9
Merioneth	1,574	3·7
Monmouth	4,950	5·6
Montgomery	3,561	5·3
Pembroke	10,645	5·1
Radnor	1,897	5·9
* Provisional.
† Based on Crop Reports prepared at 1st November.

I regret that the remainder of the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the shortage of 100,000 railway wagons and the urgent need for a quicker turn-round, he will ask all firms concerned to work a full 5½ day week for the next twelve months; and enlist the support of the T.U.C. for the temporary increase in working hours.

On 18th November my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a general appeal for staff to be ready at week-ends to unload wagons. The Trades Union Congress have given their warm support. There has already been a most encouraging response and a faster turn-round.

asked the Minister el Transport if he will take steps to cause the railway companies to remove the anomaly that whereas all other workers who work staggered hours may now purchase workmen's tickets, this privilege is still denied to Post Office workers.

Certain extensions are being made in the arrangements for the issue of workmen's tickets outside the normal hours on the Main Line Railway services and the railway, tramway and trolley vehicle services of the London Passenger Transport Board, and a statement is attached to this answer. Post Office workers complying with the stated conditions will be able to get these tickets. I regret that any wider extension of the arrangements would be impracticable.

asked the Minister of Transport how many railway compartments were reserved for Ministers to travel between London and Gravesend during the campaigning period of the recent by-election.

Three. I understand that 13 members of the public travelled in one of these compartments whilst a second was cancelled.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that railway companies employ specialised staffs to deal with the valuation and rating of their undertakings whose duties will, as a result of present proposals, in some cases disappear and in other be seriously diminished, he will consult the Minister of Health with a view to the extension of the provisions for payment of compensation to include such employees and officers of the British Transport Commission similarly affected.

No, it would not be appropriate to make statutory provision for compensation in such cases of indirect injury.

asked the Minister of Transport on what grounds it has been decided that road maintenance, as opposed to road improvements, involves capital expenditure and that expenditure upon such maintenance must be reduced as an essential part of the temporary postponement of schemes of capital investment; whether it is proposed to make a proportionate cut on the expenditure of railway maintenance; and whether he will give particulars.

The maintenance of assets is a form of capital investment and road upkeep must bear a share of the reduction. For details of the Government's proposals I would refer the hon. Member to the White Paper which is being issued today.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will indicate the size of the grants to highway authorities for next year so as to enable them to prepare their estimates in time for their Budget meetings early in the new year.

The County Councils Association and individual county surveyors have already been informed that my right hon. Friend hopes to let councils know early in January what maintenance grants are likely to be available for classified roads in 1948–49. I am sorry that earlier information cannot be given, but I have no doubt that authorities will keep in mind that the grant will be smaller than it was this year.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will cancel the instructions given to local authorities to cease the installation of new, and the replacement of worn, "cats' eyes"; and if he is aware that, particularly in the country areas of Yorkshire, they have been of great value both to pedestrians and motorists in avoiding accidents, particularly in dark and foggy weather.

There has been some misunderstanding about this matter. My right hon. Friend is keen to encourage the use of reflecting studs in country areas, where they are extremely valuable, but as their reflection depends on the use of headlamps he is advised that they are of little use in urban areas with adequate street-lighting.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the present system of traffic lights in Piccadilly, W.I. is satisfactory.

The timing of these signals has recently been altered to take account of the diversion of traffic. The results have been good but the system is being watched to see whether further improvements can be made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the damage by fire to the trams in Liverpool and consequent dislocation of passenger traffic, he will take immediate steps to provide coaches or buses to assist in transporting the public; and whether he will receive a deputation on this matter.

I understand that 33 buses have already been put into service as a replacement and more are expected. I shall be glad to receive a deputation from the corporation to see how we can help Liverpool and I have written to the town clerk today.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that owing to the shortage of buses in Southampton it has been impossible for the operatives in the shipyards to revert to the Saturday-working agreement agreed with the trade unions; that in consequence the winter output in the yards is likely to suffer; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the situation.

So far it has not been possible for the operators concerned to provide the services required without interfering with the transport of other workers. I have asked the Regional Transport Commissioner to see what other steps can be taken as a matter of urgency.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the R.M.S. "Duke of York" which has completed her refit will be employed on the Heysham—Belfast service in time for the Christmas holiday traffic.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the R.M.S. "Cambria" and "Hibernia" will be used during the Christmas holiday period on the Holyhead—Kingstown route thus freeing the R.M.S. "Princess Maud" for her proper functions on the Stranraer—Lame route.

I am advised that the traffic on the Larne—Stranraer route would not justify an additional vessel. The "Cambria" and the "Hibernia" are being held to supplement the "Princess Maud" on the Holyhead—Kingstown route.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is satisfied that the amount of steel which he will make available to the motor industry for the last quarter of 1947 and the first quarter of 1948 will be adequate for the programme laid down by the Minister for Economic Affairs.

Discussions on this matter are proceeding with the industry.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will make a statement on the second and final Report of the Committee set up under the Chairmanship of Lord Justice Evershed to undertake investigation into the cotton textile machinery industry.

The Report was published on 28th November, and I am now considering it in consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. Discussions have been opened by the Board of Trade with representatives of the cotton industry about the supply position of automatic looms. The remainder of the Report relating to other machinery confirms the Government's existing policy of encouraging new technical developments while permitting imports essential to fill gaps in the equipment of the textile industry.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps are being taken to use the productive capacity standing idle in garages as a result of the cuts in petrol.

My regional officers do what they can to bring together manufacturers looking for sub-contracting capacity and firms who may have capacity available.

asked the Minister of Supply why his Department accepted a design for nearly one thousand utility buses for the London Transport Board which lacked facilities for showing route numbers on the rear of the vehicle.

This was a simplified design adopted during the war to save time in production.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that the A.S.P. Chemical Company of Gerrards Cross claims to be preparing radio active isotopes from materials of common occurrences in this country; and if he can give an assurance that this firm is working under his direction and within the framework of the Atomic Energy Act.

Yes. The claims of this company have been brought to my notice. The company is not working under my direction, but I am not aware that it is infringing any provision of the Atomic Energy Act, 1946.

asked the Minister of Supply how many types of radio valve bases are used in the production of radio valves in this country.

There are 12 normal types.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) what was the cost to the taxpayer of modernising and re-equipping Hargher Clough Works, Burnley, for the purpose of carrying out Government engineering work; what is the value of the machinery installed there; and under what terms the building and machinery is used by the present occupiers;(2) what information he has received from the occupiers of Hargher Clough Works, Burnley, as to the men and machines which will be made redundant as a result of the Government's decision to curtail production of jet engines; when this information reached his Department; and what action is being taken to reemploy both men and machines.

£31,438 was spent on adapting these works and £72,666 on plant and machinery. Under the terms of the agreement, the company pays no rent, so long as they are engaged solely on Government work, and the buildings and plant may not be used for other purposes without the consent of my Ministry. The company informed my Department by telephone on 18th November that they would have to discharge about 550 men and 100 women by February, 1948. About 50 would be toolmakers and 25 other skilled workers. They also supplied a list of some 100 machine tools, mainly capstans and other lathes, grinders and milling machines, which they would no longer need. A letter confirming these details was received on 21st November. The possibility of using these works for other engineering work is being investigated.

asked the Minister of Supply why men are employed at £9 a week at C.I.E.M.E., Manor Park, Chislehurst, for checking work now being redone, that was completed two years ago.

I regret that I am unable to identify the work to which the hon. Member refers. If he will let me have fuller details, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Supply the number of persons employed and the overhead expenses incurred for two skilled productive mechanics working overtime on Friday, 14th November, at C.I.E.M.E., Foxberry, Chislehurst.

Three (not two) production mechanics, a mechanic examiner, and six semi-skilled men were required to work overtime on this date. Apart from heat, light, power, etc., the cost of which is difficult to estimate, the overhead expenses for supervision and clerical work in connection with the production concerned amounted to 19s. 9d. in respect of overtime for two non-industrial employees.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the difficulties of the transport industry in the Midlands consequent upon the shortage of tyres; and, since the efficiency of the export drive depends in large measure upon adequate transport facilities, what action he proposes to take to secure priority in the provision of tyres for road transport vehicles.

I am aware that the present demand for certain sizes of lorry tyres is in excess of available supplies. Tyre production is, however, increasing and the hon. Member can be assured that both the Ministry of Transport and the Board of Trade have the needs of the transport industry fully in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that a quantity of mild steel rods suitable for use in building standard huts for the school extension programme and for constructing steel houses is at present lying exposed to the elements in Messrs. Christie and Vesey's Yard at Grangemouth; and what steps he has taken to dispose of this material;

(2) whether he is aware that a large quantity of valuable engineering stores suitable for building and other purposes it at present stored in Messrs. Christie and Vesey's Yard at Grangemouth; that this material is exposed to the weather and is deteriorating rapidly; and what steps he is taking to dispose of these stores;

(3) what is the approximate value of the stores at present lying exposed to the elements in Messrs. Christie and Vesey's Yard, Grangemouth; and whether there have been any sales of materials from this dump to private firms within recent months.

The site referred to is a depot for the storage and handling of War Department engineer stores. The value of the stores held there is approximately £2½ million, of which more than half is bridging of a kind which is not usually kept under cover. The stores include a quantity of steel rods, of which about four-fifths have been declared surplus to War Department requirements; the balance is required by the War Department and will be issued direct or transferred to a permanent depot when transport is available. The stores held at Grangemouth are at present being checked and I hope that this check will be completed by the end of this month. Stores not required for permanent retention by the War Deparment will then be declared surplus. Actual disposal of such surpluses is carried out by the Ministry of Supply and the Ministry of Works.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British officers who saw service with the resistance movements in Greece during the German occupation have subsequently held appointments in the British Military Mission to Greece; and why advantage was not taken of the experience of as many of such officers as possible.

I am making inquiries into this matter and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War in which overseas commands accommodation for soldiers' families is not at present available; how many applications for families to proceed to each of these commands are outstanding; and what progress has been made in each case towards the provision of accommodation.

Unfortunately the demand for accommodation for soldiers' families at present exceeds the supply in all overseas Commands except Bermuda. Information as to the actual number of applications outstanding in each command is not available in the War Office. The renovation of existing married quarters and the construction of new ones are proceeding as fast as the limited available resources of labour, materials and finance permit. I must emphasize, however, that the housing tasks confronting the Army in overseas Commands are very great, and the married quarters programme will necessarily take a number of years to complete.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the estimates of the increased yield of the basic rate, the reduced rate, the higher rate, and the intermediate rate of Purchase Tax, respectively, both for 1947–48 and for a full year, as the result of increases in these rates as proposed in the interim Budget.

Following is the information:Estimates of the increases in yield from the respective rates of Purchase Tax as the result of the increases in these rates proposed in the recent Budget.

		1947–48 £ Mln.	Full Year £ Mln.
Basic Rate	…	5	40
Reduced Rate	…	4	32
Higher Rate	…	1	6
Intermediate Rate	…		1
		10	79

These estimates take account of the concession announced during the Debate on the Budget Resolutions, under which the provision whereby motor cars and

TOTAL NUMBERS OF FULL-TIME STUDENTS ARRANGED UNDER THE UNIVERSITIES.
—	Autumn Term, 1947.			Academic Year, 1938–1939.
	Men.	Women.	Total.	Men.	Women.	Total.
Birmingham University	2,136	839	2,975	1,013	420	1,433
Bristol University	1,252	650	1,902	675	33O	1,005
Cambridge University	6,326	617	6,943	5,422	509	5,931
Durham University	2,970	803	3,773	1,321	388	1,709
Exeter University College	45O	335	785	288	134	422
Hull University College	377	188	565	126	36	162
Leeds University	2,185	703	2,888	1,361	396	1,757
Leicester University College	297	152	449	63	19	82
Liverpool University	2,196	747	2,943	1,575	480	2,055
London University	10,918	4,871	15,789	9,7O5	3,486	13,191
Manchester University (including Manchester College of Technology).	3,408	1,224	4,632	I,92O	542	2,462
Nottingham University	1,179	500	1,679	467	115	582
Oxford University	6,375	1,125	7,500	4,147	876	5,023
Reading University	520	470	990	294	290	584
Sheffield University	1,327	343	1,670	619	148	767
Southampton University College.	588	244	832	196	72	268
Total, England	42,504	13,811	56,315	29,192	8,241	37,433
University of Wales	3,440	1,214	4,654	2,041	738	2,779
Aberdeen University	1,451	556	2,007	809	402	1,211
Edinburgh University	3,278	1,626	4,904	2,358	847	3,205
Glasgow University (including Glasgow Royal Technical College).	5,644	1,429	7,073	3,580	1,110	4,690
St. Andrews University, including Dundee University College.	1,203	608	1,811	577	351	928
Total, Scotland	11,576	4,219	15,795	7,324	2,710	10,034
GRAND TOTAL, GREAT BRITAIN.	57,520	19,244	76,764	38,557	11,689	50,246
Figures for the last year before the war (1938–39) have been given in the tables for comparative purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made at each University in the country in its programme of expansion to meet the requirements of the Barlow Report; whether in each case he will give some indication of the amount of constructional work which has to be completed in this connection; and by what date its completion may be anticipated.

pursuant to the reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 6th November, 1947, c. 233], supplied the following figures:

FULL-TIME STUDENTS ATTENDING UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN, ARRANGED UNDER FACULTIES.
—	Arts; including Theology, Fine Art, Law, Music, Commerce, Economics, and Education.			Pure Science.			Medicine, including Dentistry.			Technology, including Engineering, Applied Chemistry, Mining, Metallurgy, Architecture, etc.			Agriculture, including Forestry, Horticulture and Dairy-work.			Grand Totals
	Men.	Women.	Total.	Men.	Women.	Total.	Men.	Women.	Total.	Men.	Women.	Total.	Men.	Women.	Total.	Men.	Women.	Total.
Autumn Term, 1947	22,094	12,106	34,200	11,193	3,327	14,520	12,389	3,175	15,564	9,850	293	10,143	1,994	343	2,337	57,520	19,244	76,764
Academic Year, 1938–9	14,936	7,576	22,512	5,909	1,858	7,767	11,623	2,013	13,636	5,199	89	5,288	890	153	1,043	38,557	11,689	50,246

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the increase effected by the interim Budget in the Purchase Tax on drugs which are in constant use by medical practitioners will be a handicap upon their prescribing and must constitute a burden upon the chronic sick; and if he will consider enlarging, on medical advice, the list of drugs to which exemption is granted.

Certain essential and costly drugs used in prescribing medicines are already exempt, and I doubt whether the raising from 16⅔ to 33⅓ per cent. of the Purchase Tax on those materials which are chargeable will operate in the way suggested to any serious extent. However, I am considering proposals for extending the list of exempt drugs, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total area of land farmed by the Department of Agriculture at the latest available date; and what proportion of this is of the total area of land under cultivation in Scotland.

The total area of land farmed by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland is 203,407 acres. This represents 1.3 per cent. of the total land under tillage, grass and rough grazings in Scotland as shown in the Agricultural Returns on 4th June, 1947.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Scottish taxpayer has any means of finding out whether the Department of Agriculture's farming activities are run at a loss or a profit.

A financial account of the activities of the Department of Agriculture in connection with land settlement can be found in the appropriation accounts. Other farming activities of the Department have consisted mainly of reorganising and putting into a satisfactory state of cultivation lands of which posses- sion have been taken under D.R.51 and no trading accounts have been published.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what respect the Department of Agriculture's farming operations are subject to the jurisdiction of the agricultural executive committees.

My duties in regard to the cultivation, management and use of land for agricultural purposes have been delegated to agricultural executive committees and during the war years they were responsible for the farming of a considerable proportion of subjects of which possession was taken by the Department of Agriculture because of bad husbandry. Co-operation between my Department and the Committees is close and I am not aware of any case in which the wishes of the agricultural executive committee with respect to land occupied by the Department have not been met.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when Princes Gate Court, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, is likely to be de-requisitioned, in view of the shortage of flat accommodation in the area.

I regret that I cannot at present say when these premises are likely to be de-requisitioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the sum of £5,000 that was collected at the Mansion House in 1938 for the Air Defence Cadet Corps has been handed to the Air League; and why this sum is not instead utilised for the Air Training Corps.

The funds of the Air Defence Cadet Corps have never been under the control of my Department. I understand that it was by decision of the executive committee of the Corps that the balance of its funds was handed over to the Air League.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the ratio of medical personnel to total personnel in the Air Force at the present time, six months ago, and a year ago, respectively.

The ratios are as follows:

				Per 1,000
October, 1947	…	…	…	21·5
May, 1947	…	…	…	23·3
October, 1946	…	…	…	21·5

These include the following ratios of medical officers to total strength:

				Per 1,000
October, 1947	…	…	…	3·1
May, 1947	…	…	…	3·3
October, 1946	…	…	…	3·1

In addition to members of the R.A.F. and W.A.A.F., medical officers are responsible for the care of families at R.A.F. stations, the Iraq and Aden Levies, and for medical boards for civil aviation.

asked the Minister of Health why the regional office of his Department has refused to give approval for the construction of further houses required by the St. Neots R.D.C. for agricultural workers until houses, at present under construction, have been completed; and whether he will re-consider that decision.

The council have been told by the regional office that they can proceed to tender at once for 16 Airey houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to make the fact more widely known that United States army and other agencies have been assisting British women who have had children in this country by American Service men; and how applications for such assistance can be made.

Allowances from United States Departments are only possible if satisfactory evidence of paternity can be produced and if the putative father is receiving from the Department money which is subject to compulsory allotment or apportionment, or in cases where the putative father is deceased, if a pension is payable to his children. Applicants should write in the first instance to the Home Office, or if they are resident in Scotland, to the Scottish Home Department, Edinburgh. Steps are being taken to ensure that all social service organisations with whom such women are likely to be in touch are fully informed about the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the verdict given in the case of the editor of the "Heysham and Morecambe Visitor" on 17th November, he proposes to seek further legislative powers to enable anti-semitism to be dealt with.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State on 20th November, 1947, to a Question by the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Piratin).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, on a charge of using insulting words liable to cause a breach of the peace, Edward Jeffery Hamm, being already bound over, was bound over for twelve months at the North London Police Court on 18th October; and that on a charge of seditiously writing and publishing a seditious libel concerning people of the Jewish faith and race resident in Great Britain. James Caunt was found not guilty at the Liverpool Assizes on 17th November; and whether he will amend the law regarding incitement to racial antagonism.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State on 20th November, 1947, to a Question by the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Piratin).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the police pension increase, recently granted to widows of constables and sergeants, makes the total pension in some cases still less than is paid to widows under the National Insurance Act, to which they were debarred from contributing; and if he will now consider removing this injustice.

This is one of the matters I have under consideration in connection with forthcoming legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many youths undergoing sentence in Borstal Institutions have this year been prematurely released, provisionally or otherwise, owing to the lack of accommodation in Borstal institutions.

None. Since the war the sole consideration upon which discharge has been determined is the fitness of the individual for discharge.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many copies of his Ministry's Fuel Economy Bulletins have been supplied to industrial concerns in a position to adopt the practices recommended therein.

About 1,600,000 copies of these Bulletins have been circulated to industry. Bulletins dealing with general methods of saving fuel are issued to all large industrial consumers; the circulation of those dealing with specialised subjects is restricted to firms specially interested in the particular subject.

asked the hon. Member for West Walthamstow, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, what was the number of staff during the last Session of Parliament compared with the Session 1938–39.

It is difficult to draw comparisons between the two periods as the conditions of employment in each period differed. In 1938–39 Session the department had only nine full-time permanent staff, 26 staff who were paid approximately half wages during the Christmas and the Summer Recesses, the remaining labour being to some extent casual, inasmuch as they were paid only when the House was sitting and were discharged during the Christmas and August Recess. The total numbers employed on 5th August, 1939, was 109. During the last Session of Parliament the number of full time or permanent staff was approximately 135 weekly, plus 12 part time staff, making a total of 147.