asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of his decision to return to Messrs. Ernst Kuster in Germany eleven of the tools stolen from them, he will give instructions that all tools and processes acquired in like manner by T. Force and B.I.O.S. are to be returned to their rightful owners.

As I have already informed the House, I am having an inquiry made into the reasons for the removal of these machines. Meanwhile I do not accept the implications of my hon. Friend's question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the rare exceptions on which alleged war criminals are sent for trial to the country of origin of the person against whom the crime was committed instead of standing trial in the country where the crime took place; and whether he will quote his authority for so doing.

I presume my hon. Friend refers to the alleged war criminals held in the British zone of Germany. I must apologise for the inaccurate impression conveyed in my answer on 26th November and my subsequent letter. There are, in fact, 110 cases of persons being sent out of Germany for trial; of these 85 wee sent to Belgium, 15 to France, 8 to Poland, 1 to Holland and 1 to Russia. The exception to the usual practice is made where it is not practicable to try the case in the British zone, that is to say, where the crime was committed against persons of one country and the witnesses for the prosecution have returned to that country. In such cases the Commander-in-Chief, in the exercise of his supreme authority in Germany, may order extradition.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the exorbitant price being charged for apples; and whether he will control the prices at reasonable levels.

My latest information, which is for the week ended 6th December, shows that the average retail price in England and Wales for the whole range of eating apples was 1s. 3d. per lb. and for cooking apples, 8d. per lb. Certain better quality varieties and grades are fetching higher prices, but the average prices are not greatly in excess of the former maximum retail control price which was 1s. 1d. for the best eating apples and 8½d. for the best cooking apples.

asked the Minister of Food what tonnage of potatoes are forecast to be sent to Germany in 1948 to feed the forces of occupation and to feed the German people respectively.

No potatoes of the United Kingdom 1947 crop will be sent to Germany for either of these purposes.

asked the Minister of Food what tonnage of barley and/or barley products has been exported to Italy during 1947; and what contracts for the future he has entered into or what quantities remain undelivered.

The export of barley or barley products to Italy is now prohibited. No barley has been sent there, but up to 31st October, the latest date for which figures are available, 364 tons of barley products have been exported. No contracts have been entered into by the Ministry of Food for the export of barley or barley products to Italy during 1947.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory conditions operating at Cross Farm slaughterhouse, Hadleigh, Sussex; whether he will make arrangements for the installation of the Weinberg pen for the Jewish killing of animals which is still available and the absence of which is causing as much as four minutes unnecessary suffering to animals in some cases.

Officers of my Department have been in touch with representatives of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and of the Jewish Community about the arrangements for the slaughter of animals in accordance with Jewish requirements at Hadleigh. It is now agreed that it would be impossible to instal a Weinberg pen without extensive alterations to the premises.

asked the Minister of Food the total quantity of manufactured chocolate exported to Portugal and Colonies as from 1st January, 1947, to 30th November, 1947.

Just under two tons of miscellaneous cocoa preparations, which includes chocolate confectionery and moulded chocolate, were exported to Portugal and Portuguese Colonies between 1st January and 31st October, 1947. Figures for November are not available as yet.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that, under present arrangements by his Department, many retailers are left with insufficient stock to meet even the lb. monthly sweet ration before 25th December; that they cannot hope to provide customers with the extra ¼ lb. authorised until after that date; that up to one third of their customers may get no supplies whatever until after the holidays; and if he will therefore make special arrangements to increase stocks immediately available to the public.

asked the Minister of Food what inquiries he made as to whether retailers could supply the extra 4 oz. of sweets promised for Christmas, before he made his announcement.

We consulted the industry informally, and while they could give no assurance that the necessary additional supplies would be available in every area, they thought that in most cases not only the current ration but also the bonus could be met before Christmas. In making the announcement I made it clear that some people would not be able to get the bonus until after Christmas but that everyone should be able to obtain the full entitlement of 32 oz. during the eight weeks ending 31st January.

asked the Minister of Food what stocks of food were held in the United Kingdom in July, 1939.

No one knows.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that 8 oz. of potatoes are issued to council schools for each child taking a midday meal in addition to the three pounds ordinary ration allowed to the child at home, whereas those children in preparatory and public schools are only given the ordinary ration; and will he take steps to rectify this discrimination.

No, the children in public or preparatory schools also get a total of 5½ lb. a week of potatoes—the same as children attending day schools who get 3 lb. at home and 2½ lb. at school.

asked the Minister of Food what are the regulations which govern the grant by his Department of catering licences to private firms to enable them to provide meals for their staff.

Factories employing industrial workers are encouraged to establish canteens. In addition, any business firm can be granted a licence for a staff dining room which is likely to promote the welfare of employees. The only provisos we make are that suitable accommodation can be found and that there are enough employees to justify it.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider the possibility of increasing the milk and potato rations for school children during the school holidays when they do not have the advantage of school meals and milk.

If a local education authority were to operate school feeding centres during the holidays the Ministry would provide the necessary food, including milk. In their absence it is impracticable to supplement the child's ration in the home.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will authorise the parents of children receiving school milk, to obtain the extra one-third pint during the holidays from their normal milkman.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the inconvenience experienced by mothers in obtaining children's school milk during holidays; and if he will authorise the delivery of such milk to the homes in those districts where local milk retailers can conveniently undertake such distribution.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Mr. Morley) on 8th December.

asked the Minister of Food if he can supply an estimate of the additional manpower that would be needed to have the children's school milk delivered at home during the holidays.

It is impossible to make an accurate estimate, but the figure would be very substantial.

asked the Minister of Food what average quantity of milk was distributed daily through the schools during the last Christmas holidays; and how does this quantity compare with the average daily distribution during the preceding and ensuing school terms.

I regret that this information is not available and could be obtained only by an unjustifiable use of manpower.

asked the Minister of Food under what power he prohibited the movement of home grown carrots into Scotland, Northumberland, Durham, Cumberland, Westmorland, Lancashire, and Cheshire from any other part of England and Wales as from 8th December, 1947; and whether there was a resulting scarcity in the areas mentioned; and what steps he is taking to mitigate the scarcity.

The free movement of carrots into the areas mentioned was prohibited by an order made under the Defence Regulations. There has been no scarcity of carrots in these areas as, pending the arrival of imports from Denmark, my Department has maintained supplies to the extent necessary.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent the cuts in food imports forecast on 3rd November and 1st December are now in operation; what further reduction he proposes to make on existing levels of food imports; and when such reductions will be made.

They are in operation. We shall in the future, as in the past, import all the food we can get and pay for. The third part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Food what was the total quantity of meat, excluding offals, used for human consumption in the United Kingdom during the last three months for which particulars are available; how much of this was required to meet the basic civilian ration; how much was consumed in canteens and restaurants; and how the remainder was used.

During the three months August-October, 1947, 380,600 tons of meat (excluding offal but including 11,100 tons of canned corned meat) were used for human consumption. The distribution of this meat between different uses is estimated as follows:

asked the Minister of Food if he will instruct the retail butchers in the Liverpool area to mark the prices per lb. of meats, lamb and mutton, offered for sale in their shops thus enabling customers to check their purchases.

All retail butchers must display a schedule showing the maximum retail prices of all cuts of meat, but I am afraid that it would not be practical to adopt this further suggestion.

asked the Minister of Food what was the total quantity of bacon used for human consumption in the United Kingdom during the last three months for which particulars are available; how much of this was required to meet the basic civilian ration; how much was consumed in canteens and restaurants; and how the remainder was used.

Releases of bacon from Ministry of Food stocks during September, October and November last, totalled 42,700 tons of which the domestic ration took 35,700 tons, canteens, restaurants and institutions 3,600 tons, the Fighting Services 2,500 tons, ships' stores and re-export 800 tons, and manufacturing 100 tons.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has bought all the exportable sugar in the Colonial Empire; what were the total exports of sugar for the last 12 months; how much of this has come to the United Kingdom; and how he has disposed of the remainder.

Yes. During the calendar year 1947 about 1,100,000 tons of Empire sugar was placed at the disposal of the Ministry of Food. Of this about 400,000 tons mainly from the British West Indies, has been shipped to the United Kingdom, and the remainder utilised for distribution in New Zealand, Canada, Far East, Middle East and other areas which the U.K. is responsible for supplying under I.E.F.C. arrangements.

asked the Minister of Food if he will state the approximate amounts of cheese, fish, jam, milk and potatoes consumed in the City of Glasgow in 1938 and 1946, respectively.

I am afraid we have no information for 1938 and it would take too much work to get out estimates for 1946.

asked the Minister of Food what representation of Scottish farming and other interests has been provided, or is contemplated, on the Committee of inquiry on illegal dealing which he has set up recently.

The Committee is independent and does not represent any interests. But the interests concerned with the inquiry in Scotland as well as in England and Wales have been invited to submit representations.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that his local office at Liverpool after a casual inspection has recently sold four wagon loads of potatoes, grade B Majestics, to local farmers for fattening livestock at five guineas a ton on the ground that they were unfit for sale in the shops, and that when the sacks were emptied almost all the potatoes were seen to be fit for human consumption; and will he make investigations into this occurrence.

Over the whole season only two wagon loads and three part loads of potatoes have been sold in the Liverpool area for stockfeeding after having been refused by traders as unfit for human consumption by reason of frost damage and disease. There seems to be a sharp difference of opinion over the state of the potatoes which the hon. Member probably has in mind. Arrangements have now been made by which consignments refused by the wholesalers as unfit for human consumption will be sorted to see if any proportion can be salvaged.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage of the 1947 barley crop will be allocated to the animal feedingstuffs pool; and how this percentage compares with the allocation for the previous year.

Thirty-four per cent. of the home grown barley sold off farms from the 1946 crop was made available to the feedingstuffs ration pool. The estimate from the much smaller 1947 crop is about 13 per cent.

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the 5,000 tons of biscuits exported between 1st January and 11th October came from the biscuit factories of the English and Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Societies.

I should not be justified in disclosing the export performance of individual firms.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has any pronouncement to make regarding the restoration of the margin of profit in force in the confectionery trade before the cuts in the sweet ration, in view of the forthcoming cuts to be implemented in the New Year.

I am afraid I cannot yet add to my reply to the hon. Member for Wallasey (Mr. Marples) on 4th December.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the increasing slaughter for food of young horses, which arrive almost daily by rail and road at certain slaughterhouses; and what steps he is taking to safeguard the future.

No; but if the hon. Member will send me details I will Consult my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and will write to the hon. Member later

asked the Minister of Food whether, because many cotton workers are suffering from skin diseases caused or aggravated by contact with the

Employers are required under the Factory Act to provide washing facilities for these workers and we make soap available for this purpose. I am advised that the amount allowed is adequate. If my hon. Friend has any particular cases in mind I should be very willing to consider them.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that fishermen's clothing gets saturated with salt and that more than the usual quantity of soap is required for laundering by the wives of fishermen; and whether he will, in consequence, make an increased allowance of soap in such cases.

I am afraid that with the present shortage of fats I cannot make an extra allowance of soap to individual workers except on medical grounds.

asked the Minister of Food what were the recommendations of the special committee appointed to examine possible economies in manpower; to what extent improved methods and the elimination of unnecessary work have facilitated staff economies; and how many are now employed at headquarters, areas, divisional and local offices, respectively.

The work of the Committee has resulted in a large number of detailed recommendations for saving manpower and improving procedure. The effect of the savings achieved to date are reflected in the following figures:

asked the Prime Minister what are the functions to be performed by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

Put very shortly, the Economic Secretary will assist my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on questions of general economic and financial policy and planning.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has consulted the National Farmers' Union as to the probable effect on agricultural production in Cornwall of the stopping, by legislation, of the facilities for drawing calcareous sea sand from the coastal bays where it has been obtainable hitherto.

The views of the National Farmers' Union were placed on record at the Public Inquiry, in connection with the proposed orders regulating the removal of sea sand at Harlyn Bay and Rock, held on 8th July, at which an officer of my Department was present. I am advised that the orders will not materially affect agricultural production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the prospective shortage of draught horses and the increased expenses in travelling stallions, he will increase the grants to approved societies operating under the Horse Breeding Act from the prewar figure of £40.

There are no societies operating under the Horse Breeding Act, but I assume that the hon. Member is referring to local societies which hire and travel heavy stallions with the aid of grants from the Exchequer, the normal rate for which is £40 per year. I have received representations from various sources that the grant should be increased for the reasons mentioned, and the matter is being actively considered, but I should point out that in many instances the societies concerned are also in receipt of grants made by the Racecourse Betting Control Board from the Totalisator Fund.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many vehicles are now owned and used by the Ministry of Agriculture; and how many were purchased since 1st January, 1947.

My Department owns and uses 14,577 vehicles, the majority of which are employed in providing services to farmers by agricultural executive committees. Since 1st January, 1947, my Department has acquired 2,199 vehicles; of these 114 were new, the remainder being reconditioned ex-Service vehicles.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the criticism in dairying districts, especially in Cheshire, concerning the free issue of beef bull semen, as it is likely to prejudice the dairy herds of the future; and whether he will take steps to stop this practice.

I am aware that there has been some criticism on these grounds. The free provision of artificial insemination from colour-marking beef bulls is intended to encourage the breeding calves suitable for rearing for beef only from those dairy cows which are unfitted for the breeding of dairy replacements. I am confident that the degree of control which will be exercised by officers of my Department will be sufficient to prevent abuse, and I do not propose to vary or terminate the arrangements.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the exporter for the Russian trade delegation paid one Lincolnshire farmer £96 less for his sheep than had been previously agreed owing to bad shipping arrangements; that sheep were kept in wagons over 48 hours; that s.s. "Pulkovo" was three days overdue in sailing; that extra charges of £1,528 were incurred owing to the inefficient arrangements made by his Department; and if he will investigate the matter and make a statement.

The shipping arrangements for these sheep were made by the Russian Purchasing Commission and my Department was not concerned in the transaction. The "Pulkovo" is a Russian vessel.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that at Butler's Wharf, Tower Bridge, on 26th November, 1947, 900 cases of tea were loaded into the barge "Sepoy" regardless of complaints made by dock workers that this barge was in a leaky condition, and that as a consequence 200 cases were damaged by water; what action he proposes to take on this matter; and what action to avoid a repetition.

The loading of this barge was completed on 17th November. I am informed that it was dry at the time and that there is no record of any prior complaint about its condition. Daily inspections took place and a leak was discovered on 24th November.

asked the Minister of Transport the amount of coal moved coastwise during the last convenient period; and whether he is satisfied that coastal vessels are playing their full part in relieving inland transport in the matter of coal carriage.

Yes. Between 15th October and 15th November, 2,190,700 tons of coal were carried coastwise. This is about 100,000 tons more than in the corresponding period of 1946, 160,000 tons more than the average for the last 12 months and is the greatest amount of coal moved by sea on the United Kingdom coast in any one month during recent years. It reflects great credit upon all concerned, in particular the ships' crews and those responsible for loading and discharging the vessels employed.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the Grimsby Rural District Council's request for the improvement of Immingham docks, especially the completion of the Timber Pond; the provision of oil fuel storage, the increasing of the dry dock facilities; the extension of the Eastern jetty; and in view of the £7,000,000 improvement scheme on the Hull side of the Humber, which of these Immingham schemes will be started first and when.

I cannot trace that any such request has been received in my Department from the Grimsby Rural District Council. In any event, I could not reach a decision until definite proposals had been submitted by the port authority.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has considered the activities of the owners of small badly-conditioned ships who take citizens of the United Kingdom to South Africa, listing them as members of the crew, while charging them large sums of money for their passage; and, in particular, of the activities of Mr. E. P. Bodley and the "Tornado II," which is engaged in this traffic; and if he will take steps to prevent this exploitation of British subjects.

Yes. The "Tornado II" cleared from this country as a pleasure yacht last February, and it was not discovered until later that some members of the crew had, in fact, paid for their passage. Special arrangements have been made to prevent such occurrences in the future.

asked the Minister of Transport what shipping he has been asked to provide to convey gift parcels from the people of Boston, U.S.A., to the people of Scotland; what action has been taken; and what is the approximate tonnage required.

I understand that arrangements for the shipment of these gifts, which are still in course of collection and for which we are very grateful to the people of the New England States, are being made by the British shipping companies concerned in conjunction with the local organisers. Shipment is required towards the end of the month and the "Eucadia," a ship of about 10,000 tons deadweight, is being earmarked for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport how many shipping companies have in the past diverted their route between America, Canada and Great Britain to call at the Clyde ports; and if he will take steps to induce them to do so in the future.

Two regular cargo services are operated between North America and the Clyde and additional sailings are arranged as necessary. The transatlantic passenger ships which served the Clyde before the war are no longer available, but I understand that the shipping companies concerned are considering the possibility of reinstituting calls at Clyde ports.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he is satisfied that the anchor cables of the s.s. "Samtampa" off Porthcawl, though fitted with the regulation anchors and cables, had sufficient margin of strength to secure a ship in the prevailing severe weather at the time of her sinking;(2) what tests, if any, have been carried out on the anchor cables of the s.s. "Samtampa" wrecked off Porthcawl on 23rd April, 1947; and if the results help to show what was the reason for the failure of the starboard cable;(3) whether at the official inquiry upon the loss of the s.s. "Samtampa" sufficient stress was laid upon ascertaining the reason for the failure of the ship's anchors and cables.

The Court of Formal Investigation which inquired into the sad loss of this ship went fully into the particular matter to which my hon. Friend refers and found that the starboard cable had parted—one of the joining links being fractured in the way of the securing pin. After receiving their report, I arranged for the chain shackles to be tested to destruction and it was found that the breaking load was much in excess of the statutory requirements. It is not possible to state what caused the fracture referred to by the court.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the long period during which the bridge has been closed to traffic, he will give an assurance that steps will be taken to start the work of reconstruction on the Park Street bridge at Selby; and will he ensure that every effort is made to complete the work as soon as possible to enable the bridge to be reopened.

I regret that I cannot authorise the reconstruction of this bridge at present owing to the need to curtail capital investment.

asked the Minister of Transport whether negotiations for the purchase of the toll rights of Selby Toll Bridge have yet been concluded; and, whether the Government's present policy of reduction in capital expenditure will still further delay the proposal to free the bridge.

It would be unsafe to free the bridge until it has been reconstructed and that is not possible in present circumstances. Negotiations for the purchase of the toll rights are, consequently, being suspended for the present.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the representations made to him by the Spenborough Committee for the Prevention of Accidents about the action required to reduce the risk of accidents at the Chain Bar Crossroad, Cleckheaton; and whether, in view of his inability to provide funds for a roundabout, he will approve the painting of "Halt" signs on the roadways so that these may be seen by vehicles travelling with dipped headlights.

Yes. But the painting of the word "Halt" on the road, which would be contrary to the recommendations of the 1944 Departmental Committee on Traffic Signs, is not the best means to adopt. I am suggesting to the Council ways in which the "Halt" signs can be made more effective, particularly at night.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present direct labour force employed by his Department on road construction and maintenance, respectively; and what reduction in these forces is to be made in the light of the Government's policy as set out in the White Paper on Capital Investment.

The present number of 537 is employed on reconstruction and major improvements, including the repair of war damage. Reductions will be effected as works in hand are completed or closed down.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the temporary suspension of the Severn Bridge, he will authorise the adaptation of the Lydney—Berkeley Bridge to be made available for road traffic; and what the estimated cost would be.

I am advised that adaptation would not be satisfactory for either road or rail traffic. The estimated cost is at least £60,000.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the shortage of road transport in North Herefordshire now that the issue of basic petrol has been stopped; and what steps he proposes to take to alleviate the hardships caused to country dwellers by having to wait long periods in exposed places until an omnibus with accommodation is available.

An application was recently granted by the licensing authority to improve the Leominster—Bromyard service and further substantial improvements in the area are expected shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the dissatisfaction that exists in the areas operated by the Ribble Bus Services at the continued issue of weekly workmen's tickets since the introduction of the five-day week; and what are the difficulties now in the way of restoring the former daily workmen's tickets.

No representations on this matter have been made to the licensing authority. These tickets were introduced to give priority to workpeople using the services regularly, and the need for such priority and, therefore, for the weekly tickets still exists. Those who work a five-day week can get a ten-journey ticket.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the growing inadequacy of the bus service between Llysfaen and Colwyn Bay, in that a half-hourly service is unable to cope with the public demand, with the result that housewives and workers in particular are handicapped in travelling to and from their homes; and if he will take action in the matter.

I am advised by the licensing authority for public service vehicles that he has no evidence of need to strengthen this bus service.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the chronic lateness of main line passenger trains on British railways, what steps are being taken to revise the timetables, so as to provide a truthful indication of arrival times.

As 63 per cent. of express passenger trains are either on time or less than 10 minutes late and as causes of delay are neither constant nor predictable, a general revision of timetables would not be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans are being prepared to improve the transport facilities between North Staffs and other parts of the country and in particular what action does he intend to take to improve transport between North Staffs, Manchester, Sheffield, Stafford and Birmingham.

Having regard to present railway difficulties, services between the towns named are considered by the railway companies to be adequate for the traffic offering. It will be the duty of the British Transport Commission to see that transport facilities in the country as a whole are adequate and efficient.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that numbers of train men in the North-Eastern area, having been transferred to depots up to 20 miles from their homes, are experiencing difficulty in finding homes near the new stations, and consequently are having to travel to and fro each day, upwards of 20 miles; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure such men priority for housing at their new stations.

Yes, but it is difficult to give railwaymen priority over others whose claims are equally strong.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the tare weight of the latest design of 16 tons steel mineral wagon; what is the additional amount of steel required to give the additional 2 in. in depth; and why crown loading was not regarded as adequate and more economical.

The tare weight is 7 tons 18 cwt.; the additional 2 in. in depth is estimated to require 2 cwt. of steel. Crown loading is not considered desirable in the interests of safety and the avoidance of spillage.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any statement to make on the future of the Easingwold and Alne Railway Company.

No. This is a problem to which I have little doubt early consideration will be given by the British Transport Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been directed to the demand for increased rent issued in Circular S.2613 to stationmasters in Scotland on 4th November, 1947, and how he justifies this increase to railway servants, whilst other members of the community are protected from such demands by the Rent Restriction Acts.

The railway companies will increase stationmasters' rents only in circumstances in which increases would be permitted by the Rent Restriction Acts if those Acts applied. In effect, increases in rents will be made only in cases where local rates are increased or where alterations or improvements are carried out for which, under the Acts, an interest charge could properly be made.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the approximate number of railway wagons now awaiting repair; what proportion of these require major repairs; what is the approximate rental charge involved; whose responsibility it is to ensure that repairs are effected without unnecessary delay; and what prospects there are of reducing this number of idle wagons by the end of 1947.

The number of railway-owned and requisitioned wagons under and awaiting repair on 22nd November was 182,082. About half required major repairs. The figure should fall to 160,000 by the end of the year. Owners of requisitioned wagons are paid from 3s. to 15s. per week according to type and age. The railways are responsible for maintaining their own fleet; they also assist in repair of requisitioned stock, for which my Department is primarily responsible until the British Transport Commission take over on 1st January next.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the manpower shortage on the railways, the age for compulsory retirement of locomotive engine drivers can be generally raised to 65.

The retiring age is 65, except on the Great Western Railway where it is 60 under an agreement entered into to meet the wishes of the men expressed through their elected representatives. I am bringing this matter to the attention of the British Transport Commission.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will make a statement concerning his discussions with the motor industry on the amount of steel to be made available to it during the first six months of 1948.

This matter was discussed at a recent meeting of the National Advisory Council for the Motor Industry. In their view, the allocation of steel, which is being made to the motor manufacturing industry for the first six months of 1948, and which represents an increase on the allocation for this quarter, should enable the industry to approach the mid-1948 target for cars. On commercial vehicles, there might be a shortfall on the target, the amount of which cannot yet be assessed. No statement can be made at this stage about the availability of the additional steel necessary for the end-1948 targets.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that steamers and vegetable boilers ordered in January, 1947, for canteens, will not be available until April, 1948, and August, 1948, respectively; and what steps he is taking to speed up supplies and so facilitate the opening of canteens.

Yes. There is at present a heavy backlog of orders for industrial canteen equipment owing to the suspension of production during the war. The manufacturers are getting a fair share of the existing supplies of steel and the position should improve as more steel becomes available.

asked the Minister of Supply if he approved the statement of the Principal Assistant Secretary of his Department to the effect that some export targets were fixed phenomenally high; why such a miscalculation was made; what industries are affected; and when will the new targets be made known.

The officer concerned was mis-reported and did not make a statement that export targets were fixed phenomenally high.

asked the Minister of Supply for what sum the Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches was disposed of to the French Government for re-erection at Douala in the French Cameroons.

The Mulberry harbour at Arromanches has not been sold, but certain components in this country have been sold to the French Government for use, it is understood, in French West Africa. The price paid was £50,000.

asked the Minister of Supply what amount of steel was allotted to the English and Scottish Cooperative Wholesale Societies in the first nine months of this year; and what amount was requested for that period.

Steel is allocated by the Ministry of Supply to these societies only in respect of those items for which my Department is responsible. It would not be proper to disclose allocations made to individual undertakings.

asked the Minister of Supply the cost of the recent office extension and equipment at C.I.E.M.E., Chislehurst; and for what purpose is the old office accommodation being used.

The cost of the extension was about £250. No new equipment has been provided. The former accommodation will be used for storage purposes.

asked the Minister of Supply how, many rate-fixers, clerks and shop foreman's assistants are now employed at the C.I.E.M.E., Foxberry, Chislehurst; and the number of workmen whose production they supervise.

One planner rate-fixer, 25 clerks and 17 assistant foremen are employed at C.I.E.M.E., "Fox-bury," Chislehurst. The number of workmen employed is 412.

asked the Minister of Supply why S.R. & O., No. 2386 of 1947, Control of Turbo-Alternators, is made retroactive to 1st November, 1946.

The aim of this order is to speed up deliveries of turbo-alternators by introducing standard specifications. 1st November, 1946, was chosen as the operative date since, owing to the production time cycle, the specification for orders placed on or after that date could still be altered to conform to the new standards and so result in earlier deliveries.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been drawn to the probability that as a result of a decision to close a radio factory at Perivale because it cannot reach its export target 1,200 workers will be thrown out of work; and will he make a statement.

Yes. I have seen a report in the Press to this effect. My information is, however, that the factory is not being closed because the firm in question is unable to meet its export target, but because they hope to arrange for more economical production elsewhere, and so be in a better position to accept export orders. The statement attributed to a Ministry of Supply official that there may be substantial unemployment throughout the country by the spring was not, in fact, made.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that there are 4 occupied houses belonging to the Ruislip-Northwood Council at Northwood Hills, 19 at Hunter Hill, South Ruislip and 28 aluminium houses in the same area shortly to be occupied all of which are without electric power; and why the necessary cable, ordered in January, 1947, has not been delivered; and when he expects delivery to be made.

Yes. I understand that the cable will be delivered early in January. The delay has been largely due to the heavy demand for works of highest priority such as power stations.

asked the Minister of Works what consideration has been given to the installation of modern British furniture and fittings in part of the new Embassy at Rome; and what authorities on modern design have been consulted in this matter.

Until proposals to acquire a permanent Embassy Residence in Rome have made further headway it would be premature to settle the furnishing scheme. It has been suggested that part of any new Embassy should be furnished and fitted as an example of modern British design and this proposal will be considered in due course.

asked the Minister of Works whether in view of the widespread desire to secure the most suitable site for the Grinling Gibbons statue of James II and the fact that fresh information is now available regarding possible sites in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, he will again consult the Royal Fne Art Commission on the subject.

asked the Minister of Works whether in view of the representations of the Chelsea Borough Council and the Chelsea Society, which have received wide support, he will now reconsider his decision regarding the siting of the Grinling Gibbons statue of James 11.

I have considered the representations which have been made to me about the statue of James II. I feel that, as this is generally acknowledged to be one of the best of the London statues, it should be placed in a more central position than Chelsea Hospital, and I have decided, as a temporary measure, to erect the statue on the National Gallery site. The matter will be reconsidered when the new Government offices in Whitehall are completed, and the adjoining gardens laid out. When a more suitable site is found or becomes available, I will consult the Royal Fine Art Commission again.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is satisfied that there is no deliberate restriction of output of lime.

I am satisfied that there has been no deliberate restriction of any kind in the production of lime. The output of the industry has been as high as the available supplies of fuel and labour made possible.

asked the Minister of Works if he will expedite the building of a new H.O.R.S.A. classroom at the Yate C.E. School in view of the need for additional accommodation there.

The practical instruction room for this school is in the programme for completion by 1st September, 1948. Tenders are about to be invited and in favourable circumstances the work should start next month.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give an account of the activities of the mobile labour force for 1946 and 1947 indicating to what extent they have been of service to local authorities in the development of housing schemes.

Since it was inaugurated in July, 1946, the Mobile Labour Force has carried out or has in hand the following work:

Construction or rebuilding in 22 different areas of 1,007 permanent houses (including 716 local authority houses and 291 houses for Government Departments) and 235 local authority flats.

Repairs to 407 war damaged houses (mainly local authority houses) in 9 areas.

Construction of 788 temporary houses for 13 local authorities.

Site preparation for 200 houses for Ministry of Supply.

Repairs or extensions to 17 hospitals.

Conversion of existing buildings to teachers' training colleges in 16 centres.

Removal of blast-proof walls and windows in Government buildings, schools and hospitals.

Construction of huts for the school meals and raising of the school-age programmes at 33 sites in Bristol, Plymouth and Dover.

Conversions for workers' hostels in 12 rural areas.

Constructional works at seven Government research establishments and at a factory in South Wales.

Provision and adaptation of Government office accommodation, especially nine temporary office buildings in outer London.

asked the Minister of Works the original estimated cost of each type of temporary dwelling erected under the Housing (Temporary Accommodation) Act, 1944; the actual cost when erection was completed and the explanation for any variation between the estimated and actual cost.

The original estimated costs of temporary houses were published in Cmd. 6686 of 1945. Information about the revised estimated costs and the reasons for variations will be included in the forthcoming White Paper on the Temporary Housing Programme.

asked the Minister of Works whether his Department has succeeded in placing a contract to connect up to the water, electric and drainage mains the temporary houses in the Spilsby Rural District; and when he anticipates that these houses which have otherwise been completed will be ready for occupation.

Yes, Sir. A contract has been placed—the contract period for completion of the work is three months—and I hope that some of the houses will be ready for occupation in about six weeks time.

asked the Minister of Works how many British civilians are employed by his Department at Shobdon Camp, Herefordshire; for what purpose and at what rates of pay.

Twenty-three British civilians are employed by my Department at Shobdon Camp, Herefordshire, in carrying out essential repairs to the camp. They are paid the appropriate trade union rates.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that in many cases, after building repair licences have been refused by the local authorities, they have been approved by his Department for an even greater sum; and whether he will take steps to reduce the extravagance and overlapping involved and to allow greater responsibility to local authorities in dealing with such matters.

No. I am not aware of any recent cases of this kind. Applicants for building licences are specifically asked to disclose whether a previous application has been made. I see no reason for further extension of the responsibilities of local authorities.

asked the Minister of Works whether in view of the timber shortages and the necessity of preserving existing timber work for as long as possible, he will authorise local authorities to issue licences more freely, in order to enable adequate painting of woodwork to be carried out.

Existing instructions already provide for the necessary flexibility in the issue of licences for this type of work, within the limits of the available supply of labour and materials and subject to the needs of more urgent work.

asked the Minister of Works how many Olympic athletes and how many other persons he proposes to accommodate in the camp located in Richmond Park; on what date the first of these persons will arrive; and what is the intended length of their stay.

The Organising Committee for the XIVth Olympiad is responsible for providing accommodation for Olympic athletes and their attendants. I understand that they propose to house some 1,500 athletes, 120 team managers, trainers and masseurs, and 100 domestic staff in the Richmond Park camp, which I am placing at their disposal for the purpose. The first competitors will probably arrive about the middle of June and I anticipate that all competitors will have left by the end of August.

asked the Minister of Works what action he proposes to take in those cases where firms in the building trade who were encouraged by the Government to take on apprentices now have, owing to the recent cuts in building, insufficient work to carry out their obligations to complete the training of those apprentices.

I am not aware of any cases where the recently announced proposals in regard to capital investment have operated in the manner suggested by the hon. Member. I am keeping the whole programme under review in consultation with the other Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Works whether in view in the housing shortage in Wallasey, he will derequisition 23, Horeside Road, Wallasey, which has now been vacated by the department of Inland Revenue.

No. I regret that these premises must be retained as offices for the Ministry of National Insurance, for whom no other suitable accommodation can be found, in order to provide the necessary service to the local insured population.

asked the Minister of Works whether the cost of £1,610 for aluminium houses includes the cost of architects' and and surveyors' fees; and what proportion these costs bear to the final cost of the houses.

Yes. These fees would amount to less than 0.5 per cent, of the total cost.

asked the Minister of Works, in view of the fact that the temporary aluminium house costing £1,610 exclusive of the land, road and service charges has a floor area of about 700 super feet only, whereas the permanent brick house provided by the private builder has a floor area of 1,000 super feet at a cost of £1,300 including the price of land, road and services, what is the reason for the disparity in price.

The form of construction of the aluminium houses is entirely different from that of the brick house and it is impossible to make a detailed comparison of cost. A breakdown of the cost of the aluminium house will be given in the forthcoming White Paper in the Temporary Housing Programme.

asked the Minister of Works why he is proposing to requisition Mistley House, Mistley, Essex, in order to transfer the food office thereto; and why such valuable housing accommodation should be so requisitioned in a district where there are 800 applicants for housing.

Mistley House is not being requisitioned but is being taken on a tenancy by agreement with the owner. The removal of the food office from its present accommodation in part of an occupied residence is urgently necessary.

asked the Minister of Works for what purpose Wordwell Camp, Suffolk, is being retained, though unoccupied, by his Department; and if no longer required, when can it be handed over to the rural district council for temporary housing accommodation.

The camp is required to house supplementary agricultural workers, as the camp is situated in a catchment area, I am advised that a sewage disposal works must be provided before re-occupation.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, as representing the Secretary of State for Burma, whether he will now make a statement as to the outcome of the representations which he undertook to make to the Government of Burma regarding improvements in the terms to be granted to European servants of the Government of Burma, other than members of the Secretary of State's Services, on the transfer of power in Burma.

I am glad to be able to inform the House that, as announced by my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Burma, in the Debates on the Burma Independence Bill in another place, the Government of Burma have agreed, in the light of the views expressed in Parliament, to calculate the proportionate pensions which they are granting on a more liberal basis. They will also give members of the Class I Services a resettlement grant of £500. They will provide in addition for those officers passages on the scale provided for the Secretary of State's Services under the Premature Retirement Rules, the effect of which, for all except those entitled to maximum pension, is free passages from their stations in Burma to their destinations in the United Kingdom or elsewhere in the British Commonwealth for officers, their wives and their dependent children.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when large pruning knives and budding knives will be available for the farmers of Kent.

Shortage of steel and the necessity for expanding production for export have combined to produce a shortage of all types of cutlery for the home market. Within these limitations however favourable treatment in steel allocation is given to manufacturers of "tools of trade" for the home market, including pruning and budding knives. Supplies of these knives are distributed as fairly as possible and if the hon. Member knows of a particular case of difficulty I will do my best to help.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Rubber Growers Association was consulted before the Empire rubber allocations agreement was made at Geneva.

As stated in reply to a Question on 4th December by the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers), my right hon. Friend hopes to deal with this matter in a debate on the subject of the Geneva Trade Agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure a more adequate supply of clog soles in Radcliffe, Heywood and the surrounding districts.

I have arranged for special priority in suitable timber to be given to clog sole manufacturers, whose requirements are met in full. I have every hope that when the results of certain difficulties last winter are fully overcome, the supply of clog soles, which is already improving, will be substantially better.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the hardship caused by the dilatory methods employed by his Department in dealing with claims for coupons to replace clothing, linen, etc., lost in the Leicester laundry fire in September; and what steps he will take to expedite the issue of coupons.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the fire which occurred at the Willow Welford Laundry. Claims are being deal with without delay on the part of my Department but considerable difficulty is being experienced in securing the necessary confirmation of loss from the laundry. I am not aware of any cases of special hardship but if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind perhaps he will let me have particulars.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that boys are prevented from joining the Boy Scouts because of the impossibility of obtaining uniform without the surrender of coupons; and whether, having regard to the present meagre allocation of clothing coupons, he will reconsider this matter and make Boy Scout uniforms available free of coupons.

No. I regret that in the present difficult clothing situation I am unable to make this concession. Boys between 10½ and 18 receive, of course, supplements of at least 20 coupons per year which should be of some assistance.

asked the Minister of Education if he will consider giving school children a hot drink, such as cocoa, during the three coldest months, instead of milk; and thereby free this priority for distribution amongst some urgent, but non-priority consumers.

Cocoa or any other drink made without milk would not give children anything like the nourishment they receive from school milk. The three coldest months are the period when school milk is more important to the children than at any other period, and the Government are not prepared to deprive the children of this food for non-priority consumers.

asked the Minister of Education if he will authorise parents to collect from the schools during the school holidays the milk to which their children are entitled, so as to make it unnecessary for all the children of any one family to make special journeys to the school for this sole purpose in all kinds of weather.

It has always been a condition of the milk in schools scheme that, save for children absent sick, the milk should be drunk at a school or centre in order to ensure that it reaches the children and I cannot agree to relax this condition, especially in this time of hardship for the ordinary consumer.

asked the Minister of Education what proportion of the £49 million allocated for school buildings up to June, 1948, is to be spent on permanent building, and prefabricated structures, respectively; how many of the latter come into the category reviewed and condemned by a Special Committee of the R.I.B.A. in 1946 as constituting a menace to health, and as unsuitable for the purposes intended.

The sum of £49 million represents not the amount allocated for school buildings up to June, 1948, but the total estimated cost of the two current educational building programmes for projects of £5,000 and over. Since by no means all the plans concerned have yet been submitted to the Ministry it is not possible at this stage to state in what proportions various types of construction will be used.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give instructions that when motorists applying for petrol to attend worship can prove long-established membership of a particular congregation, or are members of choirs or office-holders, they shall not be asked to change to a church nearer their home.

Yes; within the limit of the maximum amount allocated for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of police recruits normally on duty at dangerous street crossings and at school crossings in the L.C.C. area; and whether there are sufficient police officers available for such duties.

Though suitable probationary constables are employed on this duty in varying numbers from day to day no man is employed on it during his initial three months' recruits training. Every effort is made to post police at dangerous street and school traffic crossings but owing to the present shortage of police it is impossible to provide complete cover on every occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost of transporting, handling, storing and selling wool bought from producers in this country, expressed as a percentage of the average cost of purchase.

The cost of marketing the 1947 wool clip, including all administrative expenses, has been estimated at approximately 15 per cent. of the average cost of purchase. The exact figure will not be known until the end of the current season, when all fleece wool has been collected, graded, sorted and sold.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he is allowing the selling price of Cheviot washed wool, purchased at 20¼ pence to rise to as much as 48 pence; and whether he will release adequate supplies of wool to ensure that selling prices are maintained at a reasonable level.

The entire home wool clip this year is being disposed of by the method of public auction and every effort is being made to market the wool that comes forward from the growers as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when he expects the terms of the contract to restore the ground of the Invergordon Playing Field will be settled.

My Department is discussing with the Ross and Cromarty County Council the extent and cost of the work to be carried out. Until agreement is reached, the terms of the contract cannot be settled.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total sum allowed under his policy of cutting capital expenditure for building costs, including provision of health centres, hospitals, research laboratories, accommodation for nursing staff, residential medical staff, and private patients, required to fulfil the undertakings of the N.H.S. Act, 1946; and what proportion of this allotted sum will be expendable by the date appointed for the operation of the Act, July, 1948.

No specific sum has been allotted for this purpose, but I would refer the hon. Member to Appendix A.8 of the White Paper on Capital Investment in 1948 (Cmd. 7268).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the average period that elapses between the submission of accounts by film producers to the Central Office of Information and their payment; and what complaints he has received from film producers that the delay in payment causes them financial embarrassment.

The average period is 12 days, provided that the accounts are correct and in accordance with the terms of the contract. Complaints have been received on occasions from a particular film producer that delay in payment caused him financial embarrassment. Investigation of the complaints showed there was no undue delay in paying accounts properly due for settlement.