asked the Secretary of State for War how many holders there are of the Meritorious Service Medal with annuity; and how many names there are upon the list of candidates for this award.

Seven hundred and fifty annuities of £10 each are associated with the Meritorious Service Medal. Nine thousand one hundred and eighty-three candidates are on the waiting list.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the War Department Central Power Station at Aldershot is working at full capacity; and whether it is taking any electricity from the grid.

The electricity supplies for Aldershot and district are taken from the grid. The War Department Central Power Station at Aldershot assists in meeting the load during the six winter months, when it is operated to full capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Army officers serving in London are brought from their residences to their offices and taken home again by official service cars; what are the ranks of such officers; how many cars are used for such purposes; and what is the total amount of petrol consumed annually in such journeys.

One Field-Marshal, two Generals and three Lieutenant-Generals are conveyed between their homes and their offices in London by official cars. Of the six cars used for this purpose five are pool cars which are available at other times for general use. The total amount of petrol consumed annually in such journeys would vary according to the number of days on which the officers concerned are away visiting troops, etc.; it is, however, estimated to be approximately 1,800 gallons.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the buildings at Abbey Road, Neath, Glamorganshire, now used to accommodate prisoners of war, will be vacated; and if he is aware that the Neath Borough Council is anxious to make use of these buildings for housing purposes in view of the serious housing problem locally.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement about the future use of this accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in the case of those prisoners of war who have opted to stay as volunteers for agricultural work in this country he will, at least in the case of those getting married, allow them to draw in British currency all or a proportion of the sum due to them when this event takes place.

Under present arrangements the credit balances of German prisoners of war are met from German economy and the payment of such balances in sterling would transfer the liability to the British taxpayer. The prisoners in question are remaining temporarily and on a voluntary basis. Their credit balances will be paid to them in marks on their return to Germany—as in the case of all other German prisoners of war—and I do not consider they should be treated preferentially in this respect.

asked the Minister of Labour why an ex-employee of a Macclesfield firm manufacturing accessories for textile machinery, 50 per cent. export, of which particulars have been given, has been told by the local employment exchange that he must go on outside sewer work; whether the man was directed; or by what authority this information was given.

This young man, aged 25 years, single, mobile, was unemployed. He was offered work in four alternative first preference vacancies but refused and later sought permission to take up work of a less essential nature. This permission was at first withheld in view of the urgency of the preference jobs. He has now started in the work of his choice.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the terms of the letter to the High Commissioner for Eire setting out the arrangements for the direction of Eire citizens resident in this country; and whether the Eire Government has agreed thereto.

I have already written to the hon. Member giving him this information. As he is now aware, the present arrangements provide that citizens of Eire resident in this country are subject to direction to employment under Defence Regulation 58A. In practice, if a citizen of Eire is directed, he is given, if he so wishes, an opportunity to return to Eire as an alternative to complying with the direction. As regards the last part of the Question, I would invite the hon. Member's attention to the reply I gave him on 9th December.

asked the Minister of Labour on what terms and conditions direction of labour is applied to citizens of the Dominions, other than Eire, resident in this country; and whether the High Commissioners have been consulted or have agreed thereto.

Arrangements were made with the Commonwealth countries during the war covering the use of directions under Defence Regulation 58A in the case of their citizens. No fresh approach has been made to them since it was decided that a limited revival of the use of directions was necessary.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a copy of the form now being issued by employment exchanges exempting persons from the operation of the Control of Engagement Order; and on what basis such forms are issued to persons seeking work.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the form, and also placing a copy in the Library. Permits are issued to persons whom my local offices find difficulty in placing and who, they consider, can best find work by their own efforts.

asked the Minister of Labour on what terms and conditions direction of labour is applied to citizens of the United States of America resident in this country.

The possibility of such an event arising is so remote that the Question is largely hypothetical.

asked the Minister of Labour the latest available unemployment figures for Ramsgate and Margate, respectively.

At 10th November, 831 at Ramsgate and 774 at Margate.

asked the Minister of Labour which are the six trade unions in the Engineering Federation which still refuse to allow Polish workers to be employed; what is the membership of each union; for how long have discussions been going on with them; what are the suggestions he has made to them which they have promised to consider; and why are these six unions refusing to co-operate with the Government when the other 14 unions have already agreed.

I find that five unions have for the moment refused to agree to the employment of Poles. I am reluctant to name these unions until my negotiations with them are completed and I would ask hon. Members to excuse me until the House re-assembles in January.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 1,000 trained Polish engineers, whose union cards were taken away by the Amalgamated Engineering Union, are at present employed on agriculture or on other projects for which they are untrained.

I regret that this information is not available. Once a member of the Polish Resettlement Corps has been placed in civilian work he is regarded as having been resettled in civil life and no special records are kept of any subsequent changes of employment.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of the members or ex-members of the Polish Forces, of employable age in this country, have refused employment, and whether in any such cases it is intended to conscript these for industry or to deport them to Poland.

I assume that hon. Member is referring to members of the Polish Forces who have enrolled in the Polish Resettlement Corps. Since May, 1947, only 1,893 cases of individual members of the Polish Resettlement Corps have been reported to the Service authorities as having refused specific offers of employment. Many of these subsequently have taken other jobs. It is impossible to express this figure as a proportion of the number concerned because there has been a continual flow of enrolment into the Polish Resettlement Corps and release from it to civil work. As regards the last part of the Question, I am watching the position with a view to ensuring that members of the Polish Resettlement Corps do not remain idle if there is suitable civilian work available for them.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now state the names of the six unions in the engineering industry who still refuse to allow skilled Polish engineers to make coal cutting machinery; and when it is expected that these Polish engineers will have their trade union cards restored to them.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne).

asked the Minister of Labour how many reports he has received from district advisory committees under Section 9 of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, and how many prosecutions have been instituted against employers not fulfilling their obligations under the Act.

The answer to both parts of this Question is, "None."

asked the Minister of Labour how many firms in the Lancashire cotton textile industry have not yet installed food canteens, and reasonable washing and toilet facilities.

The progress in this matter cannot be indicated by statistics. Improvements have been or are being carried out on a widespread scale but they are bound to be successive and gradual because the material, equipment and labour cannot all be made available at once.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the case of Miss Joyce Jones, of Ferndale, Rhondda, and the allegations of rudeness and callousness made against the female supervisor of the employment exchange; and what steps he proposes to take.

My inquiries are not yet complete and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible

asked the Minister of Labour if he will, after consultation with trade unions and employers, give consideration to the organisation of schemes to enable non-manual workers, students, and other volunteers to give spare time service in essential under-manned industries.

I am already in touch with the national representatives of employers and workpeople on the matter. The extent to which the under-manned industries can make use of inexperienced labour at the times when it is available naturally varies from area to area, and schemes of this kind can, therefore, best be organised on a local basis and my local offices are offering co-operation.

asked the Minister of Labour why in view of the high targets for increased production in pigs and poultry those young men working as pigmen and poultry farmers are still classed in the subsidiary agricultural occupations and thereby made liable for military service, whereas the call-up of men in the main agricultural occupations is suspended automatically; and if he will state the number of men likely to be affected among those who registered on 6th December.

A man working as a pigman or poultry farmer has always been able to obtain deferment if it could be shown that he was a bona fide worker whose services were essential in the interests of food production. The present procedure is being revised so that, in future, any case of this kind will be examined on its merits without the necessity for making a special application for deferment. In the registration which took place on 6th December, the number of young men who gave pigman or poultryman as their sole occupation was 47.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that students who have been granted deferment to take a particular examination often have to wait several months before they are called up; and if he will take the necessary steps to see they are called up as soon as they have taken an examination as the intervening period is one in which no useful work can be done.

I am fully aware of this difficulty and have taken all possible steps to meet it. Some delay in call-up is unavoidable when medical grading has to be deferred for any reason and when the number of men earmarked for a particular branch of a Service exceeds immediate requirements. Men who ask to be called up quickly on expiry of their deferment are always given priority.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that silver or cupronickel coins are available to the banks, since many firms and businesses throughout the country are short of silver for their pay packets every week and have to make their payments to the nearest amount in notes; and whether there is any indication that these coins are being drawn out and stored.

Not all the reports of shortage are equally reliable, but appropriate action is being taken with a view to meeting demands, which always increase at this time of year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which industries are to have their export target figures reduced; when the new targets will be announced; to what extent the old targets were decided upon without previous consultation with the trades affected; and whether he has consulted them before fixing the new targets.

Despite the cuts in the Investment Programme, steel supplies, for the first half of next year, are likely to be insufficient to meet in full some home and export programmes. There will, therefore, have to be a revision of some production programmes and export targets in the steel consuming industries. Revised targets will be worked out as soon as possible in consultation with the industries affected. As regards consultation before the present export targets were announced in September, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a Question on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for Bucklow (Mr. Shepherd) on 20th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what arrangements are in force to permit sterling to be credited to accounts in countries other than those in the Exchange Control Order;(2) what arrangements are in force to permit the transfer of sterling balances between countries not listed in the Exchange Control Order.

By application through a banker, or under the provisions of para. 2 (viii) of the E.C. (Payments) Order, 1947.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the circulation of the weekly edition of HANSARD and the Index to the weekly edition at the last available dates.

For the four weeks ended 27th November, 1947, the average sales were:—Weekly HANSARD, 11,964 copies; Index, 1,789 copies.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that Post Office and other staff remaining in Government employment beyond their normal retirement age, are not allowed to draw their full salaries and pensions; and if, in view of the need for encouraging effort, he will introduce legislation to amend Section 20 of the Superannuation Act of 1834.

Successive Governments have seen no reason for seeking to amend the provisions of this Section, but the matter is at present again under consideration by the Civil Service National Whitley Council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the cost to date of the development of the Kilwinning Industrial Estate; how many factory units have been completed; and how they are presently being used.

The amount spent to date on actual development work on the Kilwinning Estate is just over £60,000, to which should be added £3,400 for cost of acquiring the site and £22,500 for cost of actual building to date. A factory block of 30,000 square feet is nearing completion but is not yet ready for occupation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many offices for Regional Controllers there are in Great Britain for the distribution of Industry and Regional Division in his Department; how many are located in England, Wales and Scotland, respectively; and if he is satisfied that this organisation is adequately balanced.

The Regional organisation of the Board of Trade is based upon standard Regional boundaries adopted generally by Government Departments. There are nine regions in England, each with a Regional Office, and there is one corresponding office in Wales and one in Scotland. The staffing of these offices is adjusted to the needs of each area and I am satisfied that the organisation is adequately balanced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is in a position to make a statement on his recent trade talks with the Soviet Government in Moscow.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made after Questions on 11th December.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reason for the delay in issuing export licences to industrial and commercial concerns in Glasgow, resulting both in delay in delivery to customers abroad and a restricting of the work in the establishments concerned.

Every effort is made to decide applications for export licences promptly and I am not aware that Glasgow traders have experienced any undue delay, but if my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any cases that he has in mind I will make further inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to induce the Russian Government to make reciprocal arrangements for the safeguarding of performing rights in music, and for the collection and allocation of fees in respect of these rights.

This matter is part of the general question of copyright relations between the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom. Proposals for placing these relations on a more satisfactory basis were made to the Soviet Government in April, 1946, and a reply is still awaited.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the present shortage of darning wool, particularly in men's colours of blue and grey; and what steps he is taking to alleviate the position.

I am aware of a shortage of darning wool at the present time but not of a particular shortage of men's colours of blue and grey. In December, 1946, the Board of Trade made arrangements for a considerable increase in the production of darning wool but owing to the coal shortage the increase did not begin to take effect until June. Since that date, production has risen steadily and has well exceeded last year's figures for the corresponding months, but it will take a little time for the full effect of the increased supplies to be felt in the shops. Arrangements have also been made for most of the output of darning wool to be produced in the standard shades for mending purposes, such as blue, grey, black and brown.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider making a special issue of coupons to enable housewives to replenish their sheets, pillowslips and towels at an early date, having regard to the fact that household supplies have now been depleted to such a serious extent.

No. The supply position does not permit any increase in the present ration of twenty coupons which already takes into account all the sheets and towels available for the home market. Pillow-cases are not rationed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to safeguard the position of tenants, in view of the large increases that are being made in the rents of warehouses and shops in Nottingham, in some cases amounting to ten times the original rent, and the consequent impediment to the tenants of these premises.

We have no power to control rents and premiums charged for business premises. But as I told my hon. Friend, the Member for West Lewisham (Mr. Skeffington) on 11th December, the Lord Chancellor has decided to appoint a Departmental Committee which will consider, among other matters, whether it is desirable or practicable to control rents charged for business premises.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if ample supplies of potash will be available in the spring for farmers.

Supplies of potash this season should suffice to meet estimated requirements provided that no unforeseen transport difficulties occur.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered certain facts put before him by the hon. Member for Bridgeton in regard to the recent deal which the Government have made in Canada for the supply of timber to this country and the high prices agreed to; and if he will make a statement giving the complete facts of the transaction, including the prices originally put forward by Canada and those agreed to by this country, respectively.

I have seen a newspaper report which my hon. Friend sent to me. There is no substance in the statement in that report that any timber was purchased by the Government from Canada at prices higher than those demanded by the sellers. The facts are that a large volume of softwood timber was purchased in British Columbia in February, 1947, for delivery over a long period. At that time the sellers were urged by us to do their best to offer us additional quantities if they were able to do so. Between April and June of this year they offered an additional 90,000 standards at the same prices as the main contract which we purchased but in a better specification. In fact, the prices paid were less than those which were then, and are still, obtainable by sellers in other markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total number of automatic looms, and the number of high speed weaving frames installed in the Lancashire cotton textile industry since July, 1945.

The number of automatic looms installed in the Lancashire cotton textile industry since July, 1945, is about 5,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many spinning mills in the cotton industry have eliminated intermediate processes, and installed high draft spinning since July, 1945; and what is the estimated saving of labour as a result.

The conversion of existing machinery to high draft systems is proceeding as rapidly as the necessary mechanisms can be supplied and fitted, but I cannot say how many mills have introduced them since 1945, nor what labour has been saved as a result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the increasing difficulties of overseas purchasers of British exports to obtain the necessary import licences due to currency shortages; and, in view of the threat to our export trade, what steps he is taking to secure alternative markets and fresh trade agreements.

I am aware that import restrictions imposed by certain countries are affecting our exports. It must be recognised that many countries, like ourselves, have to maintain such restrictions to protect their balance of payments. But in the trade and financial negotiations at present taking place, and in future negotiations, we shall do everything we can to secure relaxations of import restrictions in favour of United Kingdom goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what factors are taken into consideration by his Department in assisting areas with a long record of depression to attract new factories; and whether local authorities are to consult his Department only after unemployment has become serious.

The main factors are the past, present and prospective level of employment and industrial activity in the area. In answer to the second part of the Question, I am always willing to consider any evidence bearing on these matters which competent bodies, including local authorities, may care to send me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further reduction in newsprint is being contemplated by the Government.

The question of newsprint supplies and consumption is at present under discussion with the newspaper proprietors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will amend the paper control on boxes for hosiery exports in such a way as to make it possible for hosiery exporters to obtain sufficient boxes in the right size in advance of the receipt of orders from abroad.

Every effort is made to provide board for boxes for hosiery or other export orders. Owing, however, to the shortage of supplies it is necessary to ensure that the board is required for exports in the licensing period in question, since otherwise it might not be possible to provide for all current export orders. If the hon. Member will let me have details of any particular case he has in mind, I will make inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated total cost during 1947–48 of subsidies on fertilisers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the amount of the current subsidies on fertilisers; and how they are allocated.

The total estimated cost of the subsidy on fertilisers for the year ending 30th June, 1948, is £6,845,000, allocated between the different fertilisers as follows:

			£
Phosphate fertilisers	…	…	4,775,000
Potassic fertilisers	…	…	1,270,000
Nitrogenous fertilisers	…	…	800,000
Total	…	…	6,845,000

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared to withdraw the restriction on packing paint in ¼ pint tins.

I am considering this suggestion in consultation with the industry. If no substantial increase in consumption of materials would result I would be prepared to allow a smaller glass and metal container for a limited range of paint products than is at present permitted. There is no size restriction on other types of container.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends taking steps to ensure that accurate historical textbooks are studied in Scottish schools.

The selection of textbooks for use in Scottish schools rests within the discretion of education authorities and their teachers, and I have no power to prescribe which books shall be used. The present acute shortage of textbooks often precludes the discarding of books already in use, but, as supplies improve, I intend to impress upon authorities the need for replacement where textbooks in any subject are unsatisfactory or out of date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the report of the Inquiry into the Tenure of Shop Premises in Scotland is likely to be published; and whether it is intended to introduce; legislation as a result of the Committee's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that notices to quit at the May term, 1948, are already being received by small shopkeepers in Scotland; and whether he will take steps to protect those affected.

The Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Tenure of Shop Premises has been sent to the printers and will be published as soon as possible. I am not aware that any unusual number of notices of termination of tenure have recently been received by shopkeepers and as regards the prospects of legislation on the subject I would ask hon. Members to await the publication of the Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will ensure that hill sheep subsidies due in respect of breeding ewes on holdings this month will be paid not later than next Whitsun.

No. As the closing date for applications does not fall due until 30th April next, and as there is only a limited staff available to undertake investigation of the 17,000 applications involved, I am unable to give the assurance for which the hon. Gentleman asks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the Department of Agriculture's Register of Potato Crops Inspected and Certified has not yet been published; and when it will be on sale.

Pressure of work and labour difficulties have delayed the printing and publication of the Register of Potato Crops issued by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland. It is expected that copies will be on sale in about a week's time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish drifters left the East Anglian herring fishing grounds before the end of the season on account of shortness of, and damage to nets.

The majority of Scottish drifters left East Anglia in the first week of December about the usual time and I am informed that only four boats out of a total of 295 left before then through lack of nets. I am aware, however, that a number of drifters have suffered considerable loss and damage to gear and of the present difficulties of replacement. These difficulties are being investigated as a matter of urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered a complaint from the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society with regard to insecurity of tenure for allotment holders and the non-provision of ground by local authorities to replace allotments withdrawn by them from cultivation; and, in view of the food situation, what steps he will take to remedy these defects.

I have received a copy of a circular letter dated 28th November, 1947, issued by the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society. Responsibility for the provision of allotments rests on town and district councils. Many of these authorities are already doing everything necessary. I have recently impressed upon them the urgency of implementing their statutory powers and I am sending to my hon. Friend a copy of a circular letter issued on this subject by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Emergency Scheme for the Training of Teachers is still in operation.

The number of candidates already accepted for training under the emergency scheme is sufficient in most categories, to meet the estimated needs of the schools, and the scheme is therefore virtually closed. Nevertheless candidates with the necessary national service will still be considered if they hold the academic qualification normally required for admission; if they propose to become teachers of physical education; or if they can show that they have been prevented from making earlier application.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of dwelling-houses in the Highlands and Islands which lack a piped indoor water supply and/or sanitation; and show the progress made under recent legislation towards the provision of water supplies in these areas, including schemes under consideration, approved and under construction.

I regret that the particulars asked for in the first part of the Question are not available and in present circumstances I do not feel justified in asking local authorities to undertake the additional burden that would be involved in obtaining them. The following table shows the progress made towards the provision or improvement of public water supplies in the Highlands and Islands with the aid of grant under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944.

—		No. of Schemes.	Estimated Cost.
(1)	Local authorities' programmes under the Act	358	£8,839,000
(2)	Provisionally selected for grant	85	2,788,000
(3)	Approved and grant offered	55	1,681,000
(4)	Acceptance of grant intimated by local authorities—
	(a) Schedules, etc., under preparation and water rights being acquired	5	900,000
	(b) Works under construction	1	54,000

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the yield of a penny rate in each of the Crofter Counties in Orkney, Shetland, Lanarkshire, and Midlothian, now; and when the Local Government Bill comes into force.

A rate of one penny in the £ in the counties referred to is estimated to yield the following amounts in the year ending 15th May, 1948.

County.	Landward Area only.	County inclusive of small burghs.
	£	£
Argyll	860	1,888
Caithness	143	*391
Inverness	1,120	1,263
Ross and Cromarty	533	967
Sutherland	*202	*226
Orkney	126	277
Zetland	67	234
Lanark	8,820	9,100
Midlothian	1,549	2,782
* 1946/47 estimate based on the effective Rateable Value for the year.

I regret that figures showing the effect on these estimates of the derating of electricity and transport undertakings proposed under the Local Government Bill are not available. As the Bill proposes that a sum in lieu of the rates lost should be distributed among local authorities in proportion to their rateable value and treated as rates for the purpose of computing the product of a penny rate, it is unlikely that the product of a penny rate for Scotland as a whole would be effected. There would, however, be a slight increase or decrease in the yield in individual areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is prepared to accede to the request of the Prestwick Town Council to cause a public inquiry to be made into the present position of Prestwick Airport, its runways and its probable use in the future.

I received this request yesterday and I shall certainly give it most careful consideration in consultation with my colleagues.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is aware of the advance in prices of houses for sale which has taken place since the crisis, and to the increasing number of houses being offered, particularly smaller houses; and pending new legislation will he circularise all Scottish local authorities, with the advisability of speedier requisition of all such houses;(2) if, in view of the extortionate prices of houses being offered for sale with vacant possession, which in view of the Morris Commission is worse in Scotland than in England, he will consider following the precedent set by a former Secretary of State, dealing with overcharging of furnished rooms, and introduce legislation to end the hardships now inflicted on Scotland.

The Government have fully considered the question of controlling the selling price of houses, in the light of the Morris Report, but the practical difficulties are such as to preclude effective legislative action. I am prepared, however, to authorise local authorities to requisition houses, including smaller houses, which are deliberately kept vacant for sale at high prices, and local authorities are taking substantial advantage of the speedier procedure, introduced in June, 1946, for taking possession of vacant houses for accommodation of families who are inadequately housed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of requisitioned properties held by Edinburgh Corporation and the number of families for whom accommodation is provided in them.

The number of houses held on requisition by Edinburgh Corporation is 73, providing accommodation for 195 families.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the increasing number of houses, previously scheduled for demolition, now being offered for sale throughout Scotland; and if he will take action to prevent homeless people from purchasing at exorbitant prices property already listed with the local authority as unfit for human habitation, to be demolished at the earliest opportunity.

I have no information on this matter but if the hon. Member will provide me with details I will be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider allowing county local authorities to go ahead with small building schemes in villages where no houses have been started since the war.

For the reasons given in the recent White Paper on Capital Investment it is essential to concentrate on the rapid completion of the 60,000 unfinished houses already contracted for and new contracts are being approved in the main only for houses for miners and agricultural workers in selected areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will review immediately the projected cutting down of capital expenditure on housing and institute an inquiry into present building organisation, methods and costs in Scotland.

The Government's housing policy is set out in the recently published White Paper on Capital Investment in which it is indicated that the housing programme will be reviewed in the summer of 1948. An inquiry into housing costs in Scotland is at present in progress by the Scottish Building Costs Committee whose report will no doubt also refer to questions of organisation and methods.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in the case of disabled war pensioners whose only form of locomotion is a private car or motor-driven chair, an adequate supply of petrol is made available for the use of these vehicles.

The hon. Member will be pleased to know that, after consultation with the Ministry of Fuel and Power, my regional officers were instructed to furnish regional petroleum officers with the names and addresses of all war disabled pensioners who use motor-propelled tricycles, or motorcars in which the controls have been specially adapted at the ex- pense of my Department, so that applications for a supply of petrol by such pensioners could be readily identified. My right hon. Friend informs me that regional petroleum officers have instructions to give sympathetic attention to applications by disablement pensioners generally, and any information which may be required from my Department as to the extent of war disablement in such cases is promptly furnished.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that recent price increases on some bottled beers and wines are greater than the amounts of the recent additional duties; and will he make clear to the public the exact amounts per bottle of the additional duties.

My Department does not control the retail price of beer, but the increases in the agreed prices for wines are slightly higher than the amount of the additional duties, to cover higher distributive costs. The additional customs, duty on wines is equivalent to 10d. per bottle for lower strength wines and 1s. 8d. per bottle for higher strength wines. Strengths of bottled beers vary greatly, but the increase in duty in typical cases would represent ½d to ¾d. per half-pint bottle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the Gold Coast, which supplies half the worlds raw cocoa, has prohibited the import of chocolate; and whether this prohibition was recommended by his Department.

My right hon. Friend has no specific information of such a prohibition and has not recommended it particularly to the Gold Coast Government, but all Colonial Governments have been requested to restrict imports of all goods which are not strictly essential, including goods of United Kingdom manufacture, in order to conserve sterling balances and make available the maximum quantity of United Kingdom goods for export to dollar areas. If the Gold Coast feel that they can do without chocolate, my right hon. Friend would not wish to interfere with their decision.

asked the Minister of Food on what date the Roumanian Government was first informed that His Majesty's Government was anxious to purchase feedingstuffs for British livestock; and on what date he first became aware that the 1947 Roumanian maize crop was of such a size as to permit the export of a considerable quantity of maize.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 16th September: the first report of the probable availability of maize was received at about the same time, but not confirmed until the end of November.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that 3-foot rulers are unobtainable in Scotland and, as these are essential in most branches of industry, whether he will arrange for supplies to be made available.

Yes. I am asking the trade to distribute further supplies in Scotland as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Supply if he has any statement to make about the location of the cold reduction plant for sheet steel in the scheme for the modernisation and development of the industry in South Wales.

Yes; the House was informed on 21st April [OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 436, col. 597–8] that the Government had accepted the need for new cold reduction and finishing plants for tinplate and sheet steel in South Wales. On 19th June [OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 438, col. 246–7] it was announced that a new plant for the cold reduction and finishing of tinplate would be sited at Trostre near Llanelly.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements he has made for the provision of adequate shipping facilities between Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the Christmas holiday period.

Two additional sailings are being provided from Heysham to Belfast and two from Glasgow to Londonderry. Accommodation is still available on the Stranraer-Larne route.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been called to the continual unpunctuality of the 7.52 a.m. train from Herne Bay, due to arrive at Cannon Street at 9.19 a.m., and the 5.46 p.m train from Cannon Street to Ramsgate; and if he can state the late running times of the latter train as an average over the month ended 1st December.

For the four weeks ended 1st December the average late running of the 5.45 p.m. from Cannon Street to Ramsgate was 11.5 minutes.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is prepared to take to ensure that large stocks of standard bricks lying idle in Birmingham and West Midland brickyards are utilised.

I cannot ensure that any particular stock of bricks will find a purchaser at the price at which it is offered, but I may point out that stocks in the country generally are at a very low level.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is aware of the use being made of Holme Park Fell, Westmorland, by Imperial Chemical Industries as a store ground for steel chemical containers; whether he has taken note of the strong local feeling about the matter; and whether, in view of the resulting interference with local amenities in a proposed National Park, he will take steps to secure a new arrangement.

My information is that the site in question is not at present being used for the purpose referred to, but is the subject of an application to the local planning authority. It lies not in the proposed National Park area, but in a conservation area. Nevertheless, representation against the proposal having been made locally I have arranged for my regional officer to visit the site and report to me more fully. I will then consider whether any further action on my part is necessary.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement with regard to the progress in the research made on the common cold in the Harvard Hospital, Salisbury; and what assistance is given by his Department towards the outcome of these experiments.

Useful progress has been made in studying the nature of the infective organism and the method of its transmission, using human volunteers; but this is essentially a long-term research into a problem which in the past has proved resistant to investigation, and no early results capable of practical application are, I fear, to be expected. Medical officers of the Ministry of Health are co-operating with the scientific staff of the Medical Research Council in this work. The Ministry provides hospital and laboratory accommodation and the board and lodging of the volunteers, while the Research Council are responsible for all the scientific aspects of the work.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the death rate from diabetes in the joint British and American zone of Germany at the present time; and whether he has any figures to show how it compares with the death rate for the same disease in Germany five years and 10 years ago.

The death rate from diabetes in the British zone at the present time is 1.3 per 10,000 of the population. The comparable rate for the whole of Germany for 1940, the last year for which complete figures are available, was 2.1. The rate for 1937 was 2.0. I have no figures for the American zone.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the death rate from tuberculosis in all forms in children under 12 in the joint British and American zone of Germany at the present time; and whether he has any figures to show how it compares with the death rate for the same disease in children under 12 in Germany five years and 10 years ago.

The death rate from tuberculosis is not at present recorded by age groups by the German authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many Air Force officers serving in the London area are brought from their residences to their offices and taken home again by official service cars; what are the ranks of such officers; how many cars are used for such purposes; and what is the total amount of petrol consumed annually in such journeys.

Five Royal Air Force officers, who are all members of the Air Council, and of the rank of Air Marshal or above, use official cars for journeys between their residence and the Air Ministry. Five cars are used for these journeys, involving a consumption of petrol in the last 12 months of approximately 2,240 gallons.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephones installed in the Wycombe area since the end of the war; the present number of applicants for telephone services; and the number of these waiting three years or more.

The information required is as follows: Number of telephones installed since the end of the war, 1,802; number of applicants now waiting for telephone service, 1,099; number of applicants who have been waiting for three years or more, 70.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that it takes three weeks for British newspapers to reach Cyprus; and what steps he proposes in order that they may reach the country quicker, so that the propaganda of some elements of the Foreign Press may be counteracted.

Surface mails for Cyprus are despatched about twice weekly and transmission time is about 16 days; both are dependent on the availability of shipping outlets. With the existing outlets no improvement in the time of transmission is practicable. Newspapers can be sent by air to Cyprus at the rate of 6d. a half ounce; there are six air mail despatches a week and the time of transmission varies from one to three days.

asked the Minister of Health the number of dwellings, in the sense of separate places of residence, in England, Scotland and Wales respectively, according to the regional divisions used in his Department's statistics; how these numbers compare with the number of families or inhabitants by regions; and how many houses or flats must be built in each region, to give each family a separate dwelling.

I regret that no detailed information has been compiled since the 1931 Census.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the serious shortage of housing accommodation in Stowmarket; and what steps he now proposes to take to meet this.

I am not aware of any exceptional difficulties at Stowmarket. The Council has schemes totalling 120 houses under construction and has completed 20 temporary houses. This is a fair programme in existing circumstances for a town of that size.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many naval officers serving in the London area are brought from their residences to their offices and taken home again by official service cars; what are the ranks of such officers; how many cars are used for such purposes; and what is the total amount of petrol consumed annually in such journeys.

One Admiral, two Vice-Admirals and one Lieutenant-General, Royal Marines, serving in the London area are taken to and from their homes daily by official car. Four cars are used from the general pool and they are employed on normal pool duties during the remainder of the day. In addition, there are one Captain and one Commander employed on overseeing duties in the London area who are allowed cars for the purpose of their inspection work and who are normally conveyed in these cars from their homes to their destination for the day. The estimated annual consumption of petrol is 1,260 gallons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number of civil servants were employed by his Department in administering the Fire Service at national and regional level in 1938; what is the comparable number at the latest available date; and what are the comparative costs of administration.

In 1938 the fire brigades were administered by the local authorities and the only staff employed by the Home Office was that required to enable it to discharge its responsibilities under the Air Raid Precautions Act, 1937, and the Fire Brigades Act, 1938; there was no regional staff. Since 1941 the Fire Service has been a national service directly administered by the Home Office. This has necessitated a substantial head-quarters organisation; the detailed administration at regional and lower levels is almost wholly performed by staff comprising members of the National Fire Service and not civil servants. It is, therefore, not possible to make an exact comparison, but the figures asked for by my hon. Friend are as follows:

—	1st April, 1938.	1st December, 1947
Number of Civil Servants	19	205
Annual Cost	£9,660	£114,550

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of full-time and part-time personnel employed by local authorities for purposes of fire prevention in 1938; what are the comparable numbers at the latest available date; what is the estimate of such personnel likely to be required to implement the Fire Services Act, 1947; and what are the comparative costs involved.

I regret that no statistics are available in respect of 1938. The strength of the National Fire Service on 30th September last, including personnel employed on administrative, clerical and other ancillary duties, was 23,807 whole-time and 19,069 part-time men and women and the gross cost for the current financial year is at present estimated at about £15,200,000. It will not be possible to estimate the requirements of the future fire brigades until the conditions of service and establishments have been settled in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Act. I have however already received from local authorities a number of proposals for establishments larger than those which are maintained in their areas by the National Fire Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total losses incurred in the United Kingdom as a result of damage by fire in the years ended March, 1939, and 1947, respectively.

So far as I am aware, the only available figures are those which are published from time to time in the Press and which do not distinguish between the United Kingdom and Eire. I am not fully informed as to the methods by which these figures are compiled and cannot judge how far they are reliable.