asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the circular, promised on 12th December, 1946, to deal with the ranges of pay of those temporary grades in the Control Office for Germany and Austria who were excluded from the benefits of the scales of pay then laid down, will be issued.

We have now decided, in consultation with the staff representatives, which grades not previously dealt with should have their pay reviewed. The reassessment of individual salaries should be completed in a few weeks.

Will the Minister state whether the gist of this reply means that the circular promised a year ago, which was going to put all these salaries right, is not to be issued, and that a breach of promise has occurred?

I do not think that would be a fair inference. The reply means that those salaries appropriate for treatment will be dealt with. Nevertheless, I would like to admit I am not at all satisfied with the rate at which this decision has been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been called to an incident in the British sector of Germany over the banning of a meeting of the Cultural League for Democratic Revival in Germany in the British sector; and what protests are being made to the Soviet Government as a result.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the agreement made on the setting up of the Allied Kommandatura in Berlin extended automatic recognition to all such organisations as were already in existence and recognised; and whether the Kulturbund zur demokratischen Erneuerung Deutschlands was such an organisation.

Order No. 1 of the Allied Kommandatura, dated 11th July, 1945, states that until special notice, all existing regulations and ordinances issued by the Commander of the Soviet Army garrison and Military Commandant of the City of Berlin, and by the German Administration under Allied control, shall remain in force. The "special notice" referred to in this order was, in fact, given under the Allied Kommandatura Order No. BK/O(47)16, dated 23rd January, 1947, as amended by Order No. BK/O(47)193, dated 30th August, 1947. Since the Kulturbund did not comply with these Allied orders, it was banned from the British sector of Berlin. Despite this fact, and a protest by the British Deputy-Commandant to his Soviet colleague, the Soviet authorities in Berlin held a meeting of this organisation on 26th November in a building in the British sector. A letter of protest was sent to the Soviet Commandant on 1st December. I have not yet been informed that a reply has been received.

May I ask whether His Majesty's Government intend to call the Soviet bluff and stop this sophisticated quibbling and prevarication?

I do not subscribe to the hon. Gentleman's carefully chosen language, but we shall continue with our protests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why meals of an unnecessarily pretentious character served on the restaurant cars of trains in Germany carrying civilian relatives and friends of the personnel of Military Government are supplied free to those requiring them.

Meals served in restaurant cars of British official trains in Germany consist solely of basic Army transit rations which are not pretentious. As these trains are run primarily for personnel entitled to free rations as part of their salary or of some overall payment covering food during the time of the journey, no separate charge has hitherto been made for meals taken by any passengers. A system of meal tickets, however, will shortly be introduced, for which a charge will be made to those not so entitled.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the allegations by the ex-Chancellor of Austria that the contents of secret files of the Foreign Office were supplied to the Italian Government.

The allegations made by the ex-Chancellor of Austria in his book "Austrian Requiem" have been closely and fully examined and we have concluded that the account given in his book is inaccurate. However, it undoubtedly refers to a series of leakages from the Embassy in Rome before the war, of which we have been aware. This leakage was the subject of an investigation in 1944, which revealed that an Italian servant, I regret to say, had been able to remove documents from the Embassy in Rome over a considerable period. This servant, apprehended after the war, admitted what he had done and stated that he had received considerable sums of money from the Italian authorities.

We also believe that Count Ciano was in the habit of boasting that he had a source in the Foreign Office which provided him with the contents of secret files affecting Italy. It is thought, however, that this was the device by which Ciano sought to cover up the actual source of information, which we now know to have been the Rome Embassy. I perhaps should mention that Ciano gives a clearer account of the leakages in his book.

While I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer, may I ask him specifically to repudiate this repetition by a Communist Member of the Fascist insinuation against that very distinguished public servant, Lord Vansittart?

I am indebted to my hon. Friend for giving me this opportunity to make a statement. I did think from reading HANSARD, that the attack was directed largely against the Foreign Service, particularly in the Foreign Office, and I am certainly glad to have this opportunity of saying that although we have made the most careful investigation, we are satisfied that no leakage occurred at this end but that this unfortunate and inexcusable leakage took place at our Embassy in Rome.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say what happened to the dishonest servant?

I made most careful inquiries. We held him and questioned him, and I have no doubt that our language was not too tender; but he was an Italian national and we had no power to proceed against him.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether our security arrangements at our missions abroad have been tightened up recently?

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, a section of the Service is constantly engaged on security supervision. I do not think I need assure him that this particular leakage was stopped firmly a long time ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why in the bizonal area in Germany the Joint Export/Import Agency has imposed a ban on the signature of further contracts for exports where payment is in sterling; and what representations he has made in this matter to the Government of the United States.

The American authorities in Germany have instructed their representatives on the Joint Export Import Agency not to approve further export contracts involving payment in sterling. Since all contracts requiring the approval of the head office of the Joint Export Import Agency must be countersigned by both the American and the British members of that body a certain number of important contracts cannot at present be proceeded with. This subject has been taken up both with the United States authorities in Germany and in the course of the fusion negotiations now proceeding in Washington. The difficulty will, no doubt, be removed as soon as these negotiations are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Länder in the British zone of Germany are required to obey instructions issued by the Bizonal Economic Council in Frankfort; and why the acting Regional Commissioner of Niedersächsen has not ordered the Prime Minister of Niedersächsen to make deliveries of potatoes to other Länder as ordered by the Bizonal Economic Council.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "Yes." I am advised that the Minister President and his administration are now making strenuous efforts to fulfil their obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken by our military mission in Greece to advise the Greek Government on the necessity for special military tactics to deal with the guerillas and particularly for organising a system of home guards for the defence of the villages.

The functions of the British military mission are confined to training and organisation; they do not give operational advice. The mission, however, have certainly urged the importance of freeing the Greek regular forces from static defence duties in villages and areas which have been cleared. To this end a National Defence Corps is being formed.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether any results have been observed in consequence of this reorganisation which has taken place?

I will confine myself to saying that we know that some 20 battalions have been formed and that a similar number is in process of formation.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that most members of the Greek Government are far better experienced in guerilla warfare than our mission is ever likely to be?

Even if I agreed, I do not think the Greek Government would extend to 20 battalions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that since the recent outrages against British Evangelical Churches in Spain, these have been occupied for their own protection by the Spanish police; and whether he will protest to the Spanish Government against such resulting practices as the closing of schools.

I am informed that external guards have been placed on all British Evangelical Churches in accordance with the assurance of protection, given by the Spanish Government. No churches have been occupied by the police, and all services are being conducted normally. Protestant schools have not been open since the Civil War.

Is not this police attention more likely to harass the British Protestant community in Spain than to protect it?

That is not my information.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if negotiations will be resumed to secure a much needed early settlement of Anglo-Egyptian differences about the Sudan in the common interests of all three parties concerned, now that there are definite proposals, British and Egyptian, about constitutional development in the Sudan.

The position is not quite as my hon. Friend visualises it. The Sudan Government, it is true, have endorsed proposals for constitutional development in the Sudan which resulted from a conference attended by representative Sudanese and by members of the Sudan administration. His Majesty's Government have welcomed these proposals. The Egyptian Government have informed the Governor-General of certain amendments which they consider should be made, and the Governor-General now has these amendments under consideration. In these circumstances, it would be premature to consider the immediate resumption of Anglo-Egyptian negotiations on the Sudan.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that there will be no selling out of the right of self-determination of the Sudanese people?

The assurances given by the Prime Minister and by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs will not be departed from in any substance.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has now considered the report of the Association of Municipal Corporations regarding the distribution of milk; and whether he intends to follow their suggestions that consumers and retailers should now be allowed to choose their own suppliers, with a view to eliminating the present delay in the collection and delivery of milk.

This report is being studied in my Department. It has also been brought to the notice of the Committee on Milk Distribution who had already been asked to advise me on the specific suggestions referred to in the Question.

Can the Minister tell the House what his personal attitude is towards this report?

I do not think it would be proper, in view of the fact that the official committee will report quite soon.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has now received the report of the Committee on Milk Distribution; when this will be made available; and what action he proposes taking to implement the recommendations.

I expect to receive the report early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Food if any meat bought in tins for human consumption contains horseflesh

No, Sir.

Will the Minister give an assurance that this policy will continue, and that if it does not owing to difficulty of obtaining other meat, he will label horsemeat as such?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food the reason for the scarcity of rabbits offered for sale for food in the shops during the past twelve months.

Rabbits are scarce because the demand for them is so large, this year we have already imported from Australia and New Zealand half as much again as in 1938.

Will the Minister see that what rabbits are available go to the shops and not to the hotels?

We will do our best.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that another possible reason is that owing to the sorry state of the world rabbits are ceasing to breed?

asked the Minister of Food if he will give the percentage increase or decrease in stocks of food held in this country at the most recent convenient date of 1947, compared with the same date in 1946 and 1945.

Stocks of food and feedingstuffs in the United Kingdom, including those owned and controlled by my Ministry and those held by certain food processors, manufacturers and wholesalers, were 18 per cent. higher at 1st October, 1947, than at the same date in 1946 and 19 per cent. lower than at the same date in 1945.

asked the Minister of Food why Mr. Bernard French of 77, Cremorne Road, Sutton Coldfield, was required against his will to register for milk with the Walsall Co-operative Society; why the food office ignored a doctor's certificate recommending T.T. milk for his baby; and why, notwithstanding unsatisfactory experience of the co-operative society's milk, Mr. French has been repeatedly refused permission to transfer registration of himself, wife and baby to the Midland Counties Dairy, which serves other families in the same road.

When Mr. French returned home on demobilisation he had a choice of retailer and registered with the Walsall Co-operative Society which had supplied his wife with milk since 1940. So far as I can discover, he has made no complaint, and no medical certificate recommending the supply of T.T. milk has ever been presented at the food office.

Is the Minister aware that he has got his facts entirely wrong? May I ask him whether this gentleman was required to register with the co-operative society merely because his late mother-in-law had been a member? Is not that a fact?

We have made most careful inquiries from the local food office since the question was put down and we are assured that the facts are as given, but perhaps the hon. Member will communicate with me further on the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there have been several cases where a person has been allowed to change his retailer and go to the co-operative society, but when he has tried to change back again he has been unable to do so?

Is the Minister aware that there are at present a large number of persons registered, against their will, with private retailers, and they are unable to transfer their registration to co-operative societies?

We seem to be getting on to an old controversy.

In order to establish the facts I wish to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Food, in view of the fact that most factory canteens, some British restaurants and catering establishments in industrial centres will be closed for at least four days at Christmas, if he will consider an increase in the potato ration for that week, to householders.

I regret that supplies do not warrant this.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware, in view of the small allocation of potatoes for families, that these employees will be away from the canteen, thus making a serious drain upon the small allocation?

Certainly. I am afraid supplies simply do not make it possible.

Is the Minister aware that there are a large number of people unable to use the facilities of the canteens and will he consider increasing their potato ration during the Christmas period?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food if he has any information as to how far potatoes lose some of their nutriment value if peeled before being cooked.

If potatoes are peeled before cooking they lose slightly more soluble nutrients than they do if they are cooked unpeeled. I am told that it is not possible to give a generally applicable figure for the size of these additional losses.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that underneath the outer covering of potatoes there is a tiny amount of first-class protein which is inevitably wasted if the potato is peeled?

That may be so.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that a potato shortage is imminent in Sunderland due to supplies being drawn from already declining stocks; that farmers in the district are declining to sell; and what steps are being taken to ensure a steady supply.

The supply position has improved since the end of the spell of cold weather which interrupted loadings and I have arranged to send extra supplies into the district.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is prepared to make adjustments in the potato rationing scheme, as applied to fish friers, to meet the needs of Scottish fish friers, who have been accustomed in the past to sell a much larger proportion of potatoes as a separate sale than is usual elsewhere and who, accordingly, will suffer disproportionate hardship under the existing scheme.

I am afraid that supplies will not permit it The practice mentioned is not limited to Scotland.

Has the Minister seriously considered representations sent to him on this subject from the Scottish Fish Friers' Federation; and has he any hope of meeting their wishes?

Very seriously, and from other fish friers' associations in England as well, but I am afraid we simply have not the potatoes to make a concession.

asked the Minister of Food what weekly consumption of potatoes per person, before and after rationing, he assumed when he estimated the reduction at 70 calories per person per day, and the calorie value of potatoes at 16 per ounce.

If the hon. and learned Member will carry out a simple mathematical calculation, he will find that I assumed an average reduction in the overall consumption of potatoes of 2 lb. per person per week.

How does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile that with the figures he gave to the House on 24th November, which were 5.6 lb. and 3.25 lb., respectively?

The reconciliation lies in the overall consumption, as against the domestic consumption. Both are estimates, but the reduction will be, we suppose, about 2 lb. per head per week.

Does the Minister realise that that cannot be reconciled with the figures he gave to the House in the Debate?

asked the Minister of Food if he will take steps to ensure that the duties and powers of local food committees are fully understood and carried out, and particularly with reference to the clear marking of controlled prices whenever a statutory obligation for such marking exists.

It is the responsibility of the retailer, and not of the food control committee, to ensure that the maximum prices of controlled foods are displayed. If my hon. Friend knows of any case where this provision is not observed I should be glad to look into it.

I will send my right hon. Friend that information. Will he say, further, whether he is satisfied that these local committees pay sufficient attention to the needs of women workers who cannot shop during the morning hours?

I think they do their utmost.

asked the Minister of Food what information he possesses regarding the retail prices being charged for nuts; and what steps he is taking to prevent a further serious rise in prices.

Owing to the many varieties and the limited quantity of nuts available my Department does not keep records of their retail prices; and I do not propose to control the price of the very small quantity which has just been auctioned.

As Brazil nuts are now costing as much as 7½d. per nut, does the Minister intend to do nothing about the matter at all?

The supply available, which cannot be replaced for currency reasons at the present time, simply does not justify a control scheme.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that auctioneering of walnuts has been catastrophic because it has led to these nuts being entirely out of the reach of the pocket of members of the working class for Christmas?

I realise the difficulties, but the supply is so limited. There was such a very small stock available, it simply had to be auctioned.

It is not a fact that the retail price at which these nuts are being sold is three to four times as high as the prices at which the trade offered to sell if they were distributed through them?

The trade was not in a position to fix the retail price.

Is the Minister aware that the pleas for control on the other side of the House are quite out of accordance with their theory of setting the people free?

Can the Minister say what profit was made out of these sales?

There is another Question on the Paper about that.

asked the Minister of Food if he is yet in a position to state the price paid by the Ministry for the edible nuts in shell recently auctioned, together with the amount realised from the sale, and the profit which the Ministry secured; and if not, when this information will be available.

On the information we have at present, the total realisation from the auctions is about £1¾ million, and the profit to my Department about £1¼ million. There are some small residual sales still to be made, but these should not make much difference to the figures.

Can the Minister say whether he intends to continue to exploit the public by making similar monopoly profits in future?

No, Sir. This, unfortunately, was the end of the nut supply. What has happened is that we cannot, for currency reasons, replace them today. There is no question of going on with the procedure.

Can the Minister say whether it is the policy of the Ministry to make a profit on the sale of goods in short supply at the expense of the consumer? Is that their policy?

No, Sir. The vast majority of the foodstuffs we sell to the consumer are sold at a loss, as hon. Members know—that is the subsidy they have in mind. We were satisfied that there was no practicable and fair method of distribution for this small stock of nuts, except by auctioning them.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that at Brentford Market retailers are often unable to get potatoes from wholesalers unless they also take expensive fruits and vegetables for which they have no sale; and what steps will he take to trace out and put a stop to the imposition of conditional sales at this and other markets.

Where we can get sufficient evidence of such practices we immediately prosecute. I have had no complaints from Brentford, but if my hon. Friend can send me particulars of any which have reached him, I will gladly have them looked into.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the difficulty of obtaining such evidence because retailers are afraid that if they do come forward they will be unable to get further supplies? Would it not be possible to increase the vigilance of my right hon. Friend's representatives on this market to try to reduce this practice, which evidently does exist?

I am very much aware of the difficulty my hon. Friend mentioned. We have just held a conference of enforcement officers in which we dealt with this question.

Will the Minister send me a copy of the information in view of the fact that, although this market serves my hon. Friend's constituency, it happens to be in mine?

Certainly.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this difficulty could be easily overcome if retailers were given a potato entitlement in accordance with the size of their business, and that this could very easily be arranged by adaptation of the tomato allocation scheme?

That might solve this difficulty, but in our view it would create another and a greater one.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the extensive black market in the sale and slaughtering of cattle and pigs in East Suffolk; and what means are being taken to prevent these illegal transactions.

asked the Minister of Food, in view of the fact that the black market in table poultry is so well established that the industry's economy practically depends upon it, if he will take the necessary steps to enforce controlled dealings on the farms or abolish the present ineffective regulations.

asked the Minister of Food why, in view of the information which is already in his possession, relating to the names and addresses of people attending auction sales all over the country and purchasing fat and semi-fat pigs in large numbers at prices considerably above the controlled prices ruling in the grading centres, no apparent attempts are made to take action against them and thereby expose the black market activities which are implicit in such transactions.

I have set up a small Committee, under the chairmanship of Sir John Bodinar, to inquire and report urgently on the methods by which livestock, poultry and meat, including pork, bacon and rabbits may he finding their way into consumption outside controlled channels; and to suggest remedies which seem to them suitable and practicable. The other members are Mr. Herbert Oliver and Mr. Donald Grounds.

Has the Minister asked this Committee to inquire into the number of horses which are being slaughtered for human consumption?

That will be considered.

Are any of the members of this Committee from Scotland?

I could not say without notice.

asked the Minister of Food from what countries wheat was imported in 1938, 1946, and to the nearest convenient date in 1947, stating the quantities received from each and the average consumption of bread per head of the population in those years.

As the answer is long and detailed I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Food, in view of the shortages of grain, what plans he has to acquire such foods as the £125,000 worth of crops being burnt in the Argentine owing to economic blockade.

The hon. Member is apparently under a misapprehension. The burning of cereals in Argentina took place during the war when supplies of imported fuel were inadequate. I am purchasing all the cereals which I can obtain from Argentina.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of recent complaints by local butchers in the Borough of Brentford and Chiswick about the quality of meat lately supplied to them, he will call for a report on this subject.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will give a list of the countries to which manufacturers in this country are exporting chocolate, as from 1st January, 1947; and the total quantity of manufactured chocolate thus exported.

Nine thousand five hundred tons of chocolate and chocolate confectionery, including exports to His Majesty's Forces, have been exported by British manufacturers to various countries between 1st January and the end of October. With permission, I will circulate a list of the countries in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Excluding the Forces, does the Minister think it really right, in view of the central and vital fact that the people of this country are very short of food, that chocolate should be sent overseas to countries that have more food than we have ourselves?

Yes, I think it is right, because the sale of this chocolate to dollar countries and other hard currency countries enables us to purchase very much larger quantities of feedingstuffs and other foodstuffs.

Can the Minister say what percentage of this chocolate went to non-hard currency areas?

Not without notice. The hon. and gallant Gentleman will be able to see in the list to be circulated.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will give a list of the countries to which manufacturers in this country are exporting biscuits, as from 1st January, 1947; and the total quantity of biscuits thus exported.

With permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the list of countries to which British manufacturers invoiced about 5,000 tons of biscuits between 1st January and 11th October.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is not the slightest need for him to tell me to put further questions on this matter? I shall; I am not satisfied. It is a great scandal.

asked the Minister of Food upon what basis allocations of biscuits, breakfast cereals, canned fish, canned meat, syrup and dried fruit are made to the retail trade.

These are all points rationed foods and, with the exception of dried fruits, retailers may purchase what they wish from wholesalers or manufacturers within the limits of their points capital. In the case of dried fruits, distribution to grocers is based on sugar registrations and to greengrocers on their prewar trade.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now in a position to allow persons who are forbidden, on medical grounds, to eat bread, a more generous rate of exchange of bread units for points with which to obtain rye biscuits.

People who are forbidden to eat bread because of sensitivity to wheat flour are allowed to exchange nine bread units for 16 points, enough to purchase the calorie equivalent of their bread ration as rye crisp breads. If the application is made because a reducing diet is required, the exchange rate allowed is one B.U. for one point. If the hon. Member has any particular case of hardship in mind and will let me have particulars I will gladly have it investigated.

In view of the fact that three points have to be surrendered for every seven ounces of rye bread, does the Minister really think this is an equivalent?

So I am advised.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the strain on family needs and the approach of the Christmas season, he will grant some increase in the tea ration.

I regret that supplies are not good enough to permit either an increase in the tea ration or a special bonus for Christmas.

asked the Minister of Food if he is now able to state the result of the inquiries into the means to be taken to improve the quality and distribution of fish and to prevent waste caused through inadequate inspection at the ports and unsatisfactory packing.

No, Sir. This inquiry covers a wide field and will take some considerable time. As practicable suggestions are made, they will be put into effect as quickly as possible.

Is the Minister aware that many fish merchants are at present very dissatisfied with the quality of fish they have to offer to the public? As fish is such an important article of diet in these days, cannot he do something, through the national association representing fish merchants, to take immediate practical steps to deal with the position?

I think that they are putting up suggestions to the committee; we hope that practical action will result.

asked the Minister of Food what was the average daily consumption of milk per head of the Borough of Bermondsey in the year 1935 and in the year 1947.

I am sorry to say that there is no information about the consumption of milk in Bermondsey in 1935, and I do not think that the work involved in getting out figures for 1947 could be justified at the present time.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will seek powers to increase the penalties for black market offences to include imprisonment for a first offence, minor or major, with a corresponding increase for further offences.

The powers already provided by law seem to me adequate, authorising, as they do, imprisonment up to one year on summary conviction, and penal servitude up to fourteen years on conviction or indictment, whether for a first or further offence. The actual penalty imposed in any given case is, of course, entirely within the discretion of the trying court, which normally takes account of previous convictions.

Is the Minister aware there is a great feeling that the law is not being properly enforced?

It would be improper for me to comment on that.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that most people who have practical experience of dealing with these cases, on one side or the other, will support him in his decision?

Can the Minister say in how many cases a sentence of more than one year has been imposed?

Not without notice.

asked the Minister of Food if he can make arrangements to have the children's school milk delivered at their homes during the holidays.

I regret that this would make much too Leavy a demand on manpower.

asked the Minister of Food if the supply position will now enable him to extend the concession of extra soap coupons for babies, to children up to two years of age.

asked the Minister of Food if he will extend from twelve to at least eighteen months the period during which the extra ration of soap is provided for babies.

I am glad to say that the supply position now makes it just possible to extend the babies' extra soap coupons to children up to two years.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this concession will be received with very great satisfaction?

Why was it not possible to give this concession some six weeks ago when I asked that question? Were not babies just as dirty then as they are now?