asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to premature disclosure in the Press of accounts of proceedings in his recent discussions with the doctors; and whether he has any statement to make on the release of this information.

Yes. In certain newspapers I have been accused of premature disclosure of matters which were discussed by me with the Negotiating Committee of the profession and which it was agreed should not be published before today. The discussions in question took place between some 40 representatives of the profession or Officials of the British Medical Association, the Secretary of State for Scotland, myself and some officers. So far as my right hon. Friend, myself and our officers are concerned, I can state categorically that no disclosure of any kind has been made or condoned. The motives underlying these statements can only have been to embitter my relations with a profession whose co-operation I am sincerely seeking. Fortunately, I do not believe that many in the profession are actuated by such motives.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the standard of catgut now available for surgical operations has deteriorated in quality; and whether he will take steps to maintain the standard of this essential surgical requirement.

I am not aware of any deterioration in the standard of catgut now available.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the recent case of L.C.C. v. Shelley, in which it was held that the tenant of a Council house has no protection under the Rent Restriction Acts against eviction by the Council on any grounds whatsoever, no matter how great the hardship involved; and whether he will introduce legislation at an early date to place tenants of Council houses in the same position as regards notice to quit as they would be if they were occupying houses owned by private landlords.

This matter was fully considered by the Ridley Committee on Rent Control whose Report (Cmd. 6621) included a majority recommendation that local authority houses should continue to be excluded from the Rent Restrictions Acts. A minority of the Committee took a different view, but as I have previously stated there is no hope of early legislation.

asked the Minister of Health whether instructions will be given that henceforward rent tribunals will keep records, indicating whether owner-landlords or tenant-landlords are involved in cases where rent reductions are ordered.

No. Rent tribunals are required by regulations to furnish to the local authority for registration certain particulars which do not include this information and I do not feel that the value of the additional information would be commensurate with the labour involved in providing it.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the decision of the National Joint Council made on 31st July last, to raise the salaries of registration officers and the new scales to be retrospective to 1st April, 1947, has not been implemented; that officers who are now retiring are thus losing this increased payment and are also receiving less superannuation; and if he will, therefore, arrange that registration officers who are now retiring will receive the arrears of payment and the equivalent increase in their superannuation, and also that the new salaries be paid at an early date.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 18th Decem- ber to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Salford (Mr. Hardy). It was necessary before advising local authorities on the recommendations of the National Joint Council to obtain the views of the central associations representing the local authorities and registration officers. The date from which the recommendations should apply is a matter for consideration by the local authority concerned.

asked the Minister of Food the amount of the current subsidies on animal feedingstuffs, with details of the Government purchase prices of oilcakes and other feedingstuffs and the prices charged to farmers.

The average cost of the principal imported feedingstuffs on a landed cost basis (including Ministry overheads) for the financial year 1947–48 is estimated as follows:

	Per ton
	£	s.	d.
Maize	23	16	0
Barley	31	7	0
Oats	22	4	0
Wheat offals	18	19	0
Maize products	21	12	0
Oilcakes and meals	39	0	0
Rice bran	19	12	0
Locust beans	24	0	0
Oilcakes and meals produced at home from imported oilseeds are estimated to cost on the average	22	5	0

Subsidies on these and other minor imported feedingstuffs for the year 1947–48 are estimated to amount to about £26,000,000. In addition there is a subsidy on home-grown barley used as feedingstuffs, estimated to amount to some £3,000,000. There are also subsidies on by-products from the manufacture of human food used as feedingstuffs, mainly wheat by-products, the amount of which is estimated to be in the region of £3,500,000.The prices charged to farmers for feedingstuffs are as laid down in the Feeding Stuffs (Maximum Prices) Order, 1946, S.R. & O. 1261, as amended by S.R. & O.s, 1947, Nos. 308, 638, 1502, 1871, 2309 and 2385.

asked the Minister of Food what is the number of employees which is considered sufficient to justify the issue of a catering licence to a private firm.

We do not insist on any fixed minimum number of employees in the case of either industrial canteens or staff dining rooms of business firms. It is left to the discretion of our local officers to decide whether the circumstances warrant the grant of a licence.

asked the Minister of Food if he will state, in convenient salary categories, the number of persons employed at his office of the Potato Control in Manchester; and what is the turnover of potatoes that they handle on an annual basis.

There are two potato offices in Manchester, a Divisional Office with Divisional Supervisor, three other salaried officers and three clerical and typing staff, and an Area Office with Area Supervisor, four other salaried officers and twelve clerical and typing staff. The Divisional Office was responsible for supervising the distribution of about 900,000 tons of potatoes from the 1946 crop and the Area Office was responsible for handling the detailed trading activities for about 330,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Food if he will define in greater detail the term, "vulnerable groups of the population," used by his Department in relation to certain special surveys which they are carrying out.

In my Department a rigid definition has not been adopted, but the special surveys to which the hon. Member refers are being carried out among various groups of the population which have special nutritional needs, or might be considered to be potentially vulnerable at a time when the national dietary is being reduced. The term "vulnerable" as usually employed covers expectant mothers, infants, children of school age, adolescents and invalids. The present surveys which are undertaken in association with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, include in addition to those groups, the households of workers in the shipbuilding, coal mining and heavy metal industries, agricultural workers, and old age pensioners.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the large number of pigs which are now being slaughtered other than in Ministry slaughter-houses and licensed bacon factories, he will arrange that whenever licences are issued to self-suppliers for the slaughter of pigs, a notice is included indicating what are their obligations with regard to humane slaughter.

The conditions and notes attached to self-supplier licences to slaughter already draw attention to the licensee's obligation to observe the regulations in regard to the slaughter of animals.

asked the Minister of Food (1) under what agreement with his Department the flour milling industry is at present operating; and whether any matters still remain unresolved with regard to earlier agreements made in respect of operation from 1939 onward; what payments have been made to the industry additional to those mentioned in his written reply on this subject on 9th July of this year; and whether the amount of profit element due under agreements operating from 1939 onwards has yet been determined;(2) whether he will make a statement on the range in costs of flour milling in the year ended 31st August, 1943, and in the year for which he has most recent comprehensive information; how the costs of a representative high cost and representative low cost mill during the two periods were divided as between production costs, sales costs and delivery costs; and whether he will compare the rate of profit per sack of flour, 280 lb., for the two mills in the two periods.(3) what information is in the hands of his Department with regard to flour milling costs; whether he will state the average costs of milling a sack of flour during the most recent period for which he has information covering mills which accounted in the aggregate for 50 per cent. or more of flour production; how that cost is divided between production costs, sales costs and distributing costs; and what is the average rate of profit per sack of flour milled;(4) what it is now estimated the subsidy on flour and bread will amount to during the course of the current financial year; how much of this will be accounted for by payments to stabilise the price of flour and how much by payments to bakers; to what main uses, other than the baking of bread, flour is at present put; and what proportions of the supply during the latest convenient period were put to each use named;(5) how many bakers drew subsidy during last year in respect of sacks of flour used for bread making; how many loaves his Department estimates are baked from a 280 lb. sack of flour; and at what basis the rate of subsidy is calculated.

Preparation of the information requested will involve considerable work and take some time. It will be prepared as quickly as possible and I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT immediately after the Christmas Recess.

asked the Minister of Food what the aggregate capacity of flour milling plants, expressed in sacks of flour processed per hour, in the United Kingdom was in 1939 and 1945; what it is today; what proportion of the capacity is at present being regularly used; and what is his estimate of the capacity which would be sufficient under present normal working conditions to mill the country's current consumption of flour.

I regret that we have not the information for which my hon. Friend asks in the first and second parts of his Question. The effective capacity of mills in the United Kingdom is being fully used. It is estimated that under normal working conditions a capacity of 5,528 sacks per hour would be necessary to satisfy demand at the present rate of offtake.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that a medical practitioner, required to submit to him a certificate, describing in detail the character and prognosis of a patient's illness, asking for invalid diets, found subsequently that these details had been communicated to the local food office; that district nurses were discussing the case on information derived from the food office; and, as statutory medical tribunals regard disclosure to persons unauthorised by the patient of information obtained by the medical attendant in his professional capacity as warranting removal from the medical register, he will revise the procedure of his office which permitted this disclosure.

No, I am not aware of the case to which the hon. Member refers, but if he will let me have particulars I will have inquiries made. It is inevitable that those members of the food office staffs who deal with applications for special diets for invalids should become aware of some of the details of the cases, but they are under instructions not to reveal any confidential information which may be communicated to them.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that Mr. A. W. Gale, of Church Farm, Mildenhall, Marlborough, received on 17th September a letter from the Board of Trade, reference E.L.B. 1/42, to say that his suggestions concerning the development of an export trade in heather honey to the United States had been forwarded to his Department, Preserves Branch, Oxford; whether he is aware that in spite of repeated requests no answer has been sent by his Department; and whether he will reply to this suggestion.

I am aware of the correspondence to which the hon. Member refers, and I must apologise for the delay. I have made inquiries into this matter and hope to be able to recommend to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to issue export licences.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that oranges are sold to retailers at 48s. per case and retailed by them at the controlled price of 8d. per lb.; that allowing for a certain proportion of bad oranges, these prices make it impossible for retailers to meet their costs; and whether he will agree to some readjustment of prices.

All oranges imported into the United Kingdom are classified at the port of landing into nine categories according to the percentage of unsound fruit contained in the packages. The maximum prices which the wholesaler may charge to the retailer are not fixed at 48s. as the hon. Member suggests but vary according to the classification for condition and also, the type of package. I am satisfied that, in present circumstances, the present arrangements are the fairest which can be devised.

asked the Minister of Food what was the C.I.F. cost per ton to his Department of the 10,000 tons of carrots now being imported from Denmark.

It would not be in the public interest to disclose this information.

asked the Minister of Food how many bull calves were killed and sold to his Department in Great Britain and also in Northern Ireland during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

The numbers of bull calves purchased for slaughter in the 12 months ended 31st October, 1947, were 1,248,637 in Great Britain and 25,493 in Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Food if, when the early potato crop arrives from North Africa, he will give priority to the raising of the present inadequate ration for children under five years.

I regret that supplies of potatoes which are expected to arrive from North Africa will not permit of a general increase in the present allowances of potatoes. The data available indicate that the present allowance for children up to the age of five years covers their nutritional needs. Furthermore, their intake of vitamin C can be augmented by the special allowance of orange juice which is available to them but not to older children. I regret, therefore, that I cannot in this case give priority to children under five.

asked the Minister of Food on what date his Department first became aware of the probability of an exportable surplus of maize in Roumania; and on what date he first informed the Roumanian Government that the United Kingdom was interested in the possibility of purchasing a part of any surplus that there might be.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 16th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the basic petrol ration for British service personnel and members of the Control Commission in Germany who own private cars; and what is the total quantity of petrol needed to meet this ration.

The basic petrol ration for British personnel in Germany who own private cars is fixed at an amount sufficient to provide a maximum monthly mileage of 270 miles. I regret that the answer to the second part of the Question is not immediately available; I have asked the Control Commission for a report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the total number of persons employed in the Control Commission for Germany British section including persons employed by T-Force, North German Coal Control, North German Timber Control and Ministry of Supply Disposals Group; and whether he will also give separate figures for each of these last four groups.

Nineteen thousand and forty British personnel were employed by the Control Commission for Germany (British Element) on 29th November, 1947. Of these, 1,228 were employed in T-Force, 109 in the United Kingdom-United States Control Group (formerly North German Coal Control), 307 in North German Timber Control and 156 act as disposal agents for the Ministry of Supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken to increase the exports of timber to this country from Germany; and whether in view of the large forestry resources of Germany special steps can be taken to increase timber supplies from these sources.

While we are anxious to import as much timber as possible from Germany, the requirements of the German economy and of other importing countries must be taken into consideration. The felling plan for 1947–48 in the combined zone provides for the cutting of approximately twice the sustained yield and 2,000,000 festmeters have been allocated for export.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the terms of the proclamation broadcast and distributed to the inhabitants of Eritrea at the time when we were trying to secure their assistance in the early days of the war.

I am having inquiries made, and the information which my hon. Friend has requested will be sent to him as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the decision of the British Council to send the secretary of the Co-operative Production Federation to lecture for a fortnight in Czechoslovakia on the past and present and future of the Co-operative movement; and why was the expenditure on this visit sanctioned.

The visit of the Secretary of the Co-operative Production Federation is one of a series arranged by the British Council to show the Czechoslovak people various aspects of British life. Eastern European countries are particularly interested in the co-operative movement of which Britain was the pioneer and the proposed lecture has been welcomed by a number of prominent Czechoslovaks. I approve of any visit that will help to foster good relations between this country and Czechoslovakia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make in regard to the present situation in Siam.

His Majesty's Government, who are naturally anxious about any occurrence which might compromise the restoration of stability in South-East Asia, have been following with attention the political developments which have taken place in Siam as a result of the coup d' état of 9th November. They are exchanging views and maintaining close contact with the other Governments concerned in regard to this question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a copy of the draft Statute for an autonomous Bolzano-Trento Region drawn up by an Italian Government Commission in purported fulfilment of Italy's obligations under the September, 1945, Italo-Austrian Agreement subsequently incorporated in the Italian Peace Treaty.

I understand that no final draft of the Statute has yet been prepared, although the Italian authorities have been working on it in connection with the new Constitution.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a copy of the agreement recently signed by the Austrian and Italian Governments relating to the revision of the 1939 Hitler-Mussolini agreement on options for citizenship in the case of inhabitants of the South Tyrol.

I was very glad to learn that agreement had been reached between the Italian and Austrian Governments on the optants question. The discussion concerned the draft of a decree to be presented to the Italian Parliament and there can naturally be no question of the publication of the draft here in advance of publication in Italy. I shall be glad to place a copy of the text in the Library as and when it is published, should my hon. Friend so wish.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will instruct the British members of the United Nations Balkan Commission to inquire into the circumstances of, and report on, the death sentences imposed by the Salonkia Military Tribunal on twenty-nine alleged Communists, of whom five are women.

No. The terms of reference of the United Nations Special Committee, to which my hon. Friend refers, do not entitle the Committee to intervene in the administration of justice in Greece.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will renew his representations to the Argentine Government on behalf of a number of disabled Polish soldiers, domiciled in the Argentine for many years before their voluntary enlistment in the Allied Forces in 1943, and still held at the Polish Military Convalescent Depot, Hermitage, near Newbury; and if he will point out to the Argentine Government that these men have been separated from their families in the Argentine for 4½ years, that it is now 15 months since they were first demobilised, sent by ship to the Argentine, and returned to Newbury on permission to land there being refused on the ground of their war disability, and that the Minister of Pensions has given an assurance that their disability pensions will be payable in the Argentine.

His Majesty's Embassy at Buenos Aires are at present negotiating with the Argentine authorities to secure permission for these men to enter the Argentine and they will not fail to draw the attention of the Argentine authorities to all the facts.

asked the Minister of Pensions, (1) if he is aware that a number of disabled Polish soldiers, formerly domiciled in the Argentine, have been waiting since the end of the war in the Polish Convalescent Depot at Hermitage, near Newbury, to rejoin their families in the Argentine, but that the Argentine Government refuses to readmit them in their disabled condition on the ground that they may become a charge on the State; that these men appeared before a medical board at Reading five months ago but have not yet been notified of the degrees of disability at which they have been assessed; if he will state the cause of this delay; and if he will at once notify these men how much pension they may expect to draw, so that they may if necessary endeavour to make private arrangements to supplement it and so secure permission from the Argentine Government to go home.(2) If he is aware that on 12th October his department notified a number of disabled Polish soldiers, awaiting repatriation to the Argentine at Hermitage, near Newbury, that nothing further could be done in their case until their discharge from the Forces had been determined and that this was a matter for the War Office; and what steps he has taken to confer with the other departments concerned to bring about a speedier solution of this problem and so to enable these ex-Servicemen to rejoin the families from whom they have been separated for four-and-a-half years.

I am aware of certain difficulties surrounding the repatriation of a number of disabled Polish soldiers to the Argentine. My officials have taken special action in consultation with the Foreign Office and the War Office to help towards the solution of these difficulties. If they are re-admitted to the Argentine these men will continue to receive service pay for a period and my Department is in a position to indicate the amount of pension they will receive thereafter. I have, however, no reason to believe that any lack of information as to the precise pension they will receive on discharge from the Forces has contributed to the difficulties with which they are faced in resuming residence in that country, but if it is necessary that they should be furnished with this information I should be willing to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give an assurance that the release of the disabled Polish soldiers now awaiting repatriation to the Argentine at Hermitage, near Newbury, will be expedited as soon as the Argentine Government has expressed its willingness to permit their re-entry to the Argentine.

Yes. How quickly they could be repatriated would, of course, depend largely on the availability of shipping.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the make and horse power of the cars used by the District Officer of the Denbighshire War Agricultural Executive Committee; what mileage he has covered; and how much petrol he has used since January 1st, 1947.

It is not clear to which officer of the Committee the Question refers. If the hon. Member will supply further particulars to enable me to identify the officer he has in mind, I will endeavour to obtain the information he requires.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his regulations permit salaried officials of war agricultural executive committees to carry on private business of a nature directly or indirectly connected with their official duties.

A salaried officer of a war agricultural executive committee is permitted to carry on his private business provided that it does not interfere with his duties for the committee. No committee business may be placed with such a firm unless the officer's interest has been brought to the notice of the executive committee and all orders countersigned by the executive officer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many farmers there are in each county and the acreage farmed; how many have been dispossessed, or tenancies terminated, by his Department; what acreage has been taken over; how many members there are of the county agricultural committees and their sub-committees and district committees; and how many administrative and executive officials, and persons employed in administrative and clerical work.

The statistics collected by my Department do not differentiate farmers, but relate to all agricultural holdings exceeding one acre. I am sending the hon. Member a statement showing the numbers of such holdings in each county in June, 1947, with the acreages returned. Up to 30th November, 1947, the tenancies of 2,788 holdings in England and Wales have been terminated by notice under Defence Regulation 62, without possession being taken. In addition, possession has been taken under Defence Regulation 51 of 369,632 acres of agricultural land affecting 5,618 cases, many of them individual fields. In many instances, existing tenancies were terminated before possession was taken by agreement to facilitate reclamation and improvement. In some cases possession has now been relinquished. There are 765 members of county agricultural executive committees, 1,769 members of subcommittees and 3,776 members of district committees. County committees employ about 3,400 technical and administrative staff and 6,600 clerks and typists.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, in all cases of dispossession or termination of tenancy by his Department, what precautions are taken to see that no relative of any member of the county agricultural committee is put in possession of the farm or holding.

It is an instruction that in such a case no member of a county war agricultural executive committee or district committee should be put in possession of the holding by the committee except with the approval of my Department. It is, I think, generally appreciated by committees that the instruction ought properly to apply also to close relatives of members.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much profit the Govern- ment made out of the English Wool Clip last year, or at the date of the latest return.

As stated in the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Spen Valley (Mr. Sharp) on 17th April last, the average trading loss incurred by the Exchequer during the war years, including 1946, has been in the region of £1,250,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that cultivation on Kitchadon Farm, Eggesford, Devon, has come to a standstill, as the farmer Mr. H. V. Robins is unable to obtain tractor tyres, though he ordered them in February, 1947; and when the tyres will be available.

No, I understand the farmer in question has two tractors, one of which is working. A pair of tyres size 11.25 x 24 are required for the other tractor, which is now immobilised. The supply of new tyres of this size is still difficult, but special steps are being taken to secure early delivery in this case. In the meantime my Department has suggested a source from which second-hand tyres can be obtained.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the effect of two difficult harvests upon the financial resources of small farmers, he is satisfied that adequate credit is forthcoming from the banks, at a reasonable rate of interest, to enable agriculturalists to have sufficient credit and capital to finance the increased food production required to fulfil his programme for 1948.

Yes. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lowestoft (Mr. Edward Evans) on 15th December.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that certain farms in the Brinsea district, near Congresbury, are still without main water supplies; that where new farm buildings for stock are being built, to replace those condemned, wells have to be sunk; and whether he will take steps to secure mains supplies to the farms as soon as possible.

I am making inquiries into this matter and will write to the hon. Member as soon as they are completed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many of the 25,500 acres of State forest plantations still occupied by the Service Departments in September, 1946, have now been restored to the care of the Forestry Commission; and when it is expected that the remainder will be so restored.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 11,360 acres, but I am unable to say when the remainder will be handed back.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now in a position to say whether the target acreage of potatoes for the 1948 crop has been reached; or what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave on 15th December to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) and the hon. and gallant Member for Ludlow (Lieut.-Colonel Corbett).

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that details of a proposed method of dissipating fog over airfields was submitted to him and a request for testing facilities was made over a month ago; and what is the reason for delaying a decision on this request.

Details of a new method of fog dispersal were forwarded to my Department on 12th November and a final reply was sent two days ago. As the proposal had to be carefully examined by experts, I cannot agree that there was any undue delay.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that there is a shortage of mild steel or copper rivets which are used in the repair of binder sheets and similar work by saddlers; and what action he is taking to see that rivets are available in 1948 for the large amount of urgent and essential repairs always necessary during harvest time.

We were not aware of a shortage of rivets for use by saddlers until a complaint, in general terms, was received by my Department recently. We have asked for fuller details, so that we can investigate the matter thoroughly, but these have not yet been received.

asked the Minister of Supply how much battle scrap from the North African campaign areas remains to be recovered; and how much has now been transported home.

Complete information is not available in this country, but I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as I receive it from North Africa.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been drawn to the damage caused to the verge, kerbs, and cat's-eyes in the roads and to the white lines of a semi-permanent nature, as well as to the surface of the roads by tanks running from Chertsey to Stockbridge; and whether he will divert them to proper testing grounds.

I am aware that minor damage is occasionally caused to this road by tanks. The use of this and other roads by tanks and tracked vehicles is at present being considered by a subcommittee of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Services Land Requirements.

asked the Minister of Supply how much of the large tonnage of iron railings removed from public and private property during the war has been, or is being used, to augment the quantity of scrap urgently needed by the steel industry; what it is proposed to do with such of this material as is not well suited for this purpose but is still lying in large dumps in various districts occupying valuable space; and whether applications can be made for the recovery of railings, at a price based on weight, for use as fencing for public and private purposes.

So far as I am aware, all the iron railings collected during the war have been or are being used by iron and steel works for scrap, but if the hon. Member will let me have particulars of the large dumps to which he refers, I will have the matter investigated, as the need for wrought and cast iron scrap is still very urgent. If, however, small quantities of railings can be identified, I am prepared to consider the proposal contained in the last part of the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the grave shortage of agricultural small tools such as scythes, axes, bill hooks, hedge slashers, digging forks and spades; and whether, in the new proposals for the provision of steel for agricultural machinery, consideration will also be given to an increased manufacture and distribution of these vital implements.

I am aware that there is some difficulty in obtaining these tools, and we are at present discussing with the trade how supplies can be increased. The hand tool industry will continue to receive the maximum allocation of raw materials including steel, which can be made available under present conditions.

asked the Minister of National Insurance where the administrative staff which will operate the National Insurance Act covering people resident in North Staffordshire will be located.

My right hon. Friend is planning to have 12 local offices to deal with the day-to-day National Insurance business of the people resident in North Staffordshire. Up to date suitable premises have been obtained at Burslem, Chesterton, Hanley, Leek, Stone and Tunstall. The search for premises in the six remaining places is being vigorously pressed, but, as will be appreciated, the difficulties are formidable. In cases where suitable premises for a completely equipped office are not secured before the Appointed Day small offices will be opened at which claims can be received and information and advice given. These local offices will operate under the supervision of the Regional Controller whose headquarters is in Birmingham.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, as it will be impossible for many years to provide benefits in accordance with the provisions of the National Insurance Act, notably in the field of Health Services, he will graduate the amount of the compulsory levy for Insurance under the Act, in step with the actual provision of benefits in respect of which that levy is made.

As already announced, the benefits of the National Insurance Acts, 1946, will become fully available subject to the conditions laid down from next July when the contributions required by the Acts also become payable. As regards the Health Services to be provided under the National Health Service Act, although there will be continuous development of these as resources increase, the cost of the wide range of services which will be immediately available from next July will greatly exceed the sums to be provided from National Insurance funds under Section 37 of the National Insurance Act and no reduction in National Insurance contributions would accordingly be justified.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that Mr. A. J. Daykin, Ref. 15486286, in spite of frequent applications to Blackpool, has not yet been paid the arrears of increased Old Age Pension due to him for the period 3rd October, 1946–27th March, 1947; and if he will look into this case as a matter of urgency.

The arrears of pension due to Mr. Daykin were paid by means of a postal draft posted on 12th December, receipt of which has been confirmed.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why the wife of Mr. Thomas Heseltine, 16, Penn Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne, who attained the age of 65 in January, 1947, and whose Old Age Pension book is No. 04535630, has not yet received her Old Age Pension.

Inquiries into this case are in hand and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Works what are the names and addresses of the firms or companies in the brick industry which he nominated to the Ministry of Fuel and Power to receive 90 per cent. of their fuel requirements during the coal crisis in early 1947; what was the production of bricks thereby assured; how far it contributed to the present excess stocks of over 150 million of standard common bricks; and to what extent those instructions deprived other industries of fuel at that time.

There was no such nomination as the hon. Member suggests. The remainder of the Question does not, therefore, arise. Present stocks of bricks only amount to the equivalent of about two weeks' deliveries and cannot be regarded as excessive.

Region.	No. of Operatives Employed on Brick Production.
	British.	Poles & European Volunteer Workers.	German Prisoners of war.	Total
Northern	2,446	18	4	2,468
East and West Riding of Yorkshire	2,759	11	139	2,909
North Midland	4,791	232	1,419	6,442
Eastern	2,436	543	493	3,472
London	429	11	6	446
Southern	3,039	495	578	4,112
South Western	1,226	26	44	1,296
Wales	2,148	84	12	2,244
Midland	3,394	36	203	3,633
North Western	5,065	101	—	5,166
Scotland	3,184	31	35	3,250
South Eastern	2,685	74	220	2,979
TOTAL	33,602	1,662	3,153	38,417

I contemplate that most of the German prisoners of war will have to be replaced.

asked the Minister of Works to what purpose is it proposed that some hundred million standard common bricks lying idle in brick yards will be put, while similar bricks are being carried by

asked the Minister of Works what percentage of coal requirements he certified to the Ministry of Fuel and Power to enable the present winter allocations for the brick industry to be calculated, showing the percentage applied to each region separately.

The allocation of coal made to the brick industry for the present winter, taken in conjunction with a 10 per cent. withdrawal from stocks, has been calculated so as to enable the existing production rate of bricks to continue. There has been no discrimination between regions.

asked the Minister of Works what is the number of British operatives, German prisoners of war and European volunteer workers, respectively, employed in brick making in the various regions of the brick making industry; and whether in view of the proposed cuts in capital expenditure in housing and factory work he proposes to replace the German prisoners of war.

The number of operatives employed on 9th December, 1947, were as follow:rail over considerable distances to sites adjacent to those stocks.

Without much stronger measures of control I could not ensure that the stock of bricks at a particular works will find a purchaser at the price at which it is offered. The stocks amount in total to the equivalent of about two weeks' deliveries and cannot be regarded as an excessive working margin.

asked the Minister of Works what is the present and prewar monthly outputs of common bricks in each of the brick making regions; in view of the proposed cuts in factory and house building, what are his plans for the adjustment of production to requirements in each area; whether consideration will be given to the necessity of retaining the present force of trained British labour in all yards for future requirements; and, in view of the burden placed on the railway system by the transport of common standard bricks, if he will give an assurance that the necessity of retaining production adjacent by road to building requirements will be borne in mind.

The output of common bricks in each of the regions and in Scotland and Wales for the month of October, 1947, was as follows:

Northern	…	23,811,000
East and West Ridings	…	27,827,000
North Midlands	…	66,389,000
Eastern	…	42,225,000
London	…	1,156,000
South Eastern	…	14,290,000
Southern	…	39,365,000
South Western	…	12,034,000
Midlands	…	22,438,000
North Western	…	47,184,000
Scotland	…	43,589,000
Wales	…	19,138,000
Total		359,446,000

Comparable figures for prewar output are not available.With regard to the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to Paragraph 7 of the White Paper on Capital Investment in 1948. The Labour requirements of the industry and the geographical distribution of its output will be kept under review.

asked the Minister of Works what are the total stocks of aluminium metal suitable for the production of building components used in the construction of houses.

I have been asked to reply. Ministry of Supply stocks of secondary alloys of the types supplied for housing production were, at the end of November—extrusion alloys 25,700 tons; rolling alloys 15,800 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) to what publishers, and in respect of what new publications, licences have been granted under the Control of Paper No. 70 Order, since present regulations regarding new publications came into force;(2) If he will specify the exceptional circumstances which must obtain before a licence under the Control of Paper No. 70 Order is granted for the publication of a new periodical.

Applications for licences are considered on their merits but no licence is given where the field is already covered by existing journals; in other cases, the views of the Department concerned with the subject matter of the proposed publication are obtained and licences may be granted on their advice, where the proposed publication would fulfil a function which is necessary to the successful implementation of that Department's work and would not involve the issue of further licences to subsequent applicants in the same or associated fields.I append a list of the licences which have been issued authorising the publicacation of new newspapers and periodicals using more than 8 cwt. of paper in 4 months since the Control of Paper (No. 70) Order came into force in November, 1945.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make available for the members of the Crane Association of this country the report on the investigation into the German Crane trade made in March, 1946.

In the opinion of the Ministry of Supply, which is the Department responsible for the industry, the contents of this report on the German Crane Industry (B.I.O.S. Final Report 1544) did not merit its publication by His Majesty's Stationery Office in book form. I have arranged, however, for a typescript copy to be deposited in the Library of the Technical Information and Documents Unit of the Board of Trade at 40, Cadogan Square, S.W.3, where it is available for reference by anyone interested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that three water colour paintings addressed to Doctor D. F. Torrens, Conway House, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, have been lying at the L.M.S. Holyhead, since 5th November; that three applications to his Department for an import licence have produced no reply; and since L.M.S. Holyhead, are pressing urgently for their removal, if he will permit this, pending the issue of an import licence in due course.

A licence in this case was issued on 10th December.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action has been taken to implement his promise that before issuing licences for paper to football pool organisations his Department would satisfy itself that each of such firms was properly conducted and giving a reasonable return of revenues in dividends to its clients; in how many cases a licence has been refused because this condition of licence was not fulfilled; and what is the number of applications at present being examined by his Department.

In considering applications for licences it is the practice to obtain the information necessary to be satisfied that the applicant is carrying on a legitimate business but anything beyond this is not a function of the control of paper. No licences have been refused on this account up to the present. Eight applications for licences are under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that official figures indicate that the number of postal packets sent out by football pool organisations in the Cardiff area has doubled since October, 1946; if he is satisfied that this increase has been made in accordance with the agreement arrived at between him and the principal football pool promoters; and what action he proposes to take.

I am aware of the official figure quoted by my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General in the House on 2nd December, but as my hon. Friend will appreciate we have terminated our arrangements with the football pool promoters under which they gave undertakings as to the amount of paper which they would use and we are now operating under the provisions of a Statutory Order which enables us to prescribe the amount of paper which may be distributed in connection with football pools by individual pool promoters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Messrs. Montague Burton, of Walsall, insist that a customer ordering a suit of clothes and not requiring a waistcoat is required to purchase this latter garment; and will he take steps to prevent this.

I understand that a customer is not required by this firm to purchase a waistcoat except possibly when he is buying a ready made suit. The second part of the Question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that the Litherland public vaccinator has been vaccinating children in Litherland schools without the knowledge of the Education Officer or the Divisional Education Executive Committee; what evidence he has of other public vaccinators vaccinating at schools in school hours; whether any notification is sent to parents in regard to these vaccinations; and which of the Orders of his Ministry empower public vaccinators to enter schools for the purpose of vaccinating children.

I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Education why the Athey Street Nursery, Macclesfield, has been partially closed down; and if he is aware that this new arrangement will cause many mothers now at work in industry to give up their employment.

I understand that the arrangements for the preparation of meals at the nursery class proved to be unsatisfactory and that provision for children who come early and stay late and require meals other than the school dinner has been discontinued. The position is to be considered further by the local education authority today and I will write to the hon. and gallant Member when I know the result.

asked the Minister of Education what is the total number of local authorities empowered to raise rates for education in connection with the National Schools and, as the population of the schools will be increased by nearly a million in the near future, what increase in the number of such local authorities is contemplated.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to local authorities with powers to precept or raise rates for the maintenance of the local education services. The statutory local education authorities are the councils of counties, county boroughs and any joint education boards set up under the First Schedule to the Education Act, 1944. There are 62 counties (including the Isles of Scilly), 83 county boroughs and one joint education board. The number of statutory local education authorities does not vary with variations in the school population.

asked the Minister of Education how many students admitted to one-year courses at emergency training colleges have, since October, 1945, when the first London college was established, resigned before the termination of their training or, alternatively, after finishing their training, have indicated that they have no intention of teaching in the National Schools.

Out of a total of some 19,000 students admitted to colleges since the beginning of the Emergency Training Scheme, 353 have voluntarily withdrawn after starting their training. No students, having finished their training, have indicated that they have no intention of teaching in State-aided schools.

asked the Minister of Transport if he contemplates introducing legislation to make compulsory the fitting of electrical direction indicators on private, commercial and public service vehicles.

I have under consideration a recommendation by the Road Safety Committee that, with certain necessary exceptions, the fitting of direction indicators on motor vehicles should be made compulsory.

asked the Minister of Transport how often the 10 p.m. train from Stranraer to London has been late since the 1st September, 1947; and how often the 6.30 p.m. from Euston connecting with Belfast via steamer has been late in arriving at the York Road terminus during the same period; and if, in fairness to the public, he will revise the timetable in accordance with experience and a reasonable expectation of the time of arrival henceforth.

Since 1st September, both trains have always arrived late, and the company is considering an alteration in their timings to take account of the present difficult running conditions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what conditions British students enrolled at Universities overseas, but not receiving a scholarship award either from a British authority or from any authority in the overseas country concerned, are allowed to purchase foreign exchange.

It their enrolment has been approved their reasonable exchange requirements are made available through their bank.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether British students enrolled at universities overseas, and receiving a scholarship from them or from other bodies in the country concerned, are allowed to purchase additional foreign currency as a necessary supplement to the scholarship.

Yes, if necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of present currency restrictions, there is any objection to the arrangement of exchanges of students between individual educational institutions in this country and overseas; and whether students going overseas under such exchange arrangements are allowed to purchase foreign currency for the purpose.

These exchanges require Treasury permission under the Exchange Control Act, 1947. While I am prepared to sanction educational exchanges for young students under arrangements approved by the Ministry of Education, I cannot at present indicate what facilities it may be possible to provide for older students or other groups.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Capital Issues Committee gave its consent to an issue by New Union Goldfields Limited of 1,500,000 shares at 16s. 3d. per share; what was the amount raised on this issue in the United Kingdom; whether the C.I.C. were informed that at that time the company was on the verge of insolvency; and what inquiries were made as to the financial position of the Company before granting consent to this issue.

After reference to the Capital Issues Committee, Treasury consent was given on 15th May, 1947, to the United Kingdom portion of this South African issue, thus allowing the raising of approximately £450,000 in this country, if all the shares were taken up by existing shareholders. The application included the auditors' certificate of the company's accounts. In giving consent, the Treasury, as is their practice, publicly disclaimed any responsibility for the financial soundness of the issue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that Joe Louis is to receive 80,000 dollars plus expenses payable in dollars in this country for his appearances in Britain; and whether he will, in view of our dollar situation take steps to prevent any such payment and insist that if this artist wishes to earn money here he shall be paid in the currency of this country.

If Mr. Louis earns this prodigious sum here he is entitled, like any other visiting American, to the dollar equivalent after meeting his expenses and tax liabilities.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give the figures of expenditure on public social services in 1945–46 and 1946–47.

Yes. Following is a statement giving the figures for 1945–46 (actual) and 1946–47 (estimated). These are comparable with the figures published in the OFFICIAL REPORT for 20th December, 1946, in respect of 1944–45 and 1945–46.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, what length of leave of absence is granted to civil servants, and on what conditions, when as officials of a recognised association they wish to devote themselves to work of that association.

Up to 30 days a year with pay (less a deduction, intended broadly to cover substitution cost) and exceptionally more without pay. In addition, several civil servants have been given leave without pay for a year or longer when they have been on trial for full-time staff association appointments.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in which Departments of the Civil Service it is the practice occasionally, and in which regularly, to send typing work out to agencies; what is the maximum rate of payment authorised for such work; and what sum has been spent in this way and in respect of which Departments during the most recent convenient period.

Departments which regularly send typing work out to

—			Edinburgh Employment Exchange.	Leith Employment Exchange.	Portobello Employment Exchange.
15th August, 1938	Males	…	9,042	3,736	584
	Females	…	2,088	706	180
13th August, 1945	Males	…	678	169	35
	Females	…	133	41	2
10th November, 1947	Males	…	1,535	617	91
	Females	…	198	74	40
The figures exclude persons classified as unsuitable for ordinary employment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will reconsider his decision not to award a grant under the Further Education and Training Scheme to Mr. J. L. Mainland, formerly of 14 Hutchison Road, Edinburgh, in view of all the circumstances of this case.

I have reconsidered all the circumstances of this case which concerns Vocational Training and not the Further Education and Training Scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women, respectively, were registered as unemployed at the Edinburgh and Leith employment exchanges in August, 1938, August, 1945, and at the latest date for which figures are available.

The following table shows the numbers of insured persons registered as unemployed at employment exchanges in Edinburgh and Leith at the dates specified:I regret, however, that I am unable to vary my previous decision. The object of the Vocational Training Scheme is to assist men and women who are in need of a course of training in order to obtain suitable employment. Mr. Mainland was not considered to be in need of training in order to secure suitable employment. Financial assistance under the scheme could not therefore be provided.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can give the annual figures of unemployment in Leiston, Suffolk, from 1921 until the latest available date.

The following table shows the numbers of insured persons registered as unemployed at the Leiston employment exchange in July of each year from 1923 to 1947. Comparable figures are not available for any year before 1923.

July,	1923	…	…	…	374
July,	1924	…	…	…	289
July,	1925	…	…	…	346
July,	1926	…	…	…	223
July,	1927	…	…	…	105
July,	1928	…	…	…	35
July,	1929	…	…	…	57
July,	1930	…	…	…	156
July,	1931	…	…	…	497
July,	1932	…	…	…	642
July,	1933	…	…	…	403
July,	1934	…	…	…	267
July,	1935	…	…	…	167
July,	1936	…	…	…	124
July,	1937	…	…	…	314
July,	1938	…	…	…	221
July,	1939	…	…	…	120
July,	1940	…	…	…	68
July,	1941	…	…	…	13
July,	1942	…	…	…	8
July,	1943	…	…	…	12
July,	1944	…	…	…	5
July,	1945	…	…	…	5
July,	1946	…	…	…	2
July,	1947	…	…	…	4

asked the Minister of Labour what are the names and addresses of brick firms which have been nominated to receive directed labour or other labour preferences; and on what grounds in each case has this selection been made.

The list of brickmaking firms entitled to preference in the allocation of labour varies from time to time according to changes in requirements and conditions and is therefore not suitable for publication.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the names and addresses of brick firms in whose favour an advertisement appeared in the "Liverpool Echo" of 1st September, 1947, issued and paid for by his Ministry, urging operatives to apply for employment in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire; on what grounds this advertisement was inserted at public expense; and why the labour needs of small brick manufacturers in other areas were not similarly and simultaneously dealt with.

The advertisement in question related to the labour requirements of the following Fletton brickmaking firms, all of whose works are in the vicinity of Bedford and Bletchley:London Brick Company.Marston Valley Brick Company.Eastwoods Flettons Limited.This was one of a series of advertisements inserted on behalf of various firms engaged in a number of essential industries whose output was at the time below the target level owing to local labour supply difficulties. The advertisements were inserted at public expense because it is one of the functions of the Ministry of Labour and National Service to facilitate the transfer of workers from surplus labour areas—of which the Merseyside is one—to areas in which suitable employment opportunities are available. Consideration was given to the desirability of including some of the smaller brickyards in this advertising campaign, but inquiries revealed that it was only in the Fletton area that the brickyard labour requirements were both large and capable of being met by the importation of workers for whom suitable lodging accommodation could be provided.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will grant deferment of military service to British graduates taking part in an exchange scheme, or taking up scholarships offered by universities overseas, immediately after graduation.

I should be willing to consider the matter on receiving full particulars of the exchange and scholarship arrangements referred to.

asked the Minister of Labour whether deferment of military service will be granted to apprentices who are learning their trade in a builder's office to enable them to complete their apprenticeship.

Deferment of learners and apprentices is subject to the condition that they are receiving training under a scheme generally accepted by the industry concerned as providing them with the skill or qualifications recognised by the industry as necessary for employment in the occupation which they intend to follow. There is no generally recognised system of training in the building industry for young men who are learning their trade in a builder's office, and in such cases, therefore, the condition referred to is not usually fulfilled.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what negotiations are taking place with regard to the transfer of an aircraft carrier to the Netherlands Government.

The Escort Carrier "Karel Doorman" (formerly H.M.S. "Nairaha") has been on loan to the Dutch Government since early in 1946. The term of this loan expires next year, and, in accordance with the agreed conditions of the loan, it is intended to

—	Glasgow/Castlebay.	Glasgow/Stornoway.	Glasgow/Belfast.	Glasgow/Sydney
Coal	per ton 33/- (small ship rate 100–180 ton cargoes)	per ton 23/- (300 ton cargoes)	per ton 8/- (500 ton cargoes)	per ton (65/-)
Bricks	64/2	52/6	33/9	120/-
Timber	70/-	52/6	51/3	(110/-)
Cement	36/8	33/4	41/2	(60/-)
General Merchandise (for items not specified in the tariff)	—	—	—	200/-

These charges are in no way comparable owing to the different types and sizes of vessels engaged and the different conditions in each trade. Coal, timber and cement have not in recent years been shipped from Glasgow to Sydney. There are no flat rates from Glasgow to Castlebay, Stornoway or Belfast for general merchandise which is charged according to the commodity carried.The freight charges to the Highlands and Islands are already kept below the economic level by means of Exchequer payments to the shipping company concerned, and I am unable to reduce them further.

asked the Minister of Transport when the two portions of the wreck of s.s. "Oregon" will be removed from Ballyholme Bay and Wilson's Point at Bangor, County Down.

asked the Minister of Transport what the the comparative freight charges by sea per ton for coal, bricks, timber, cement, and general merchandise, respectively, between Glasgow or other Clyde ports and Castlebay, Barra; Stornoway; Belfast; and Sydney, Australia; and whether he will cause the freights charged to the Highlands and Islands to be reduced.

These freight charges are as follows:

The wreck is being removed by the British Iron and Steel Corporation (Salvage) Ltd., as agents for the Ministry of Supply, and I am advised that the work is expected to be completed in the next three months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Arabs have been arrested for carrying arms or for discharging arms since 29th November, 1947.

Since 29th November, 1947, 111 Arabs have been arrested for being in possession of or carrying firearms. Six have been arrested for discharging firearms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give the population of each of the seven areas into which Palestine is to be divided under the revised U.N.O. plan, showing it under the following separate headings: Arab, Jewish, other races.

The figures in the form requested by the hon. Member are not readily available. The population of Palestine is classified in official statistics under two heads: (a) Jews; and (b) Arabs and others. The Palestine Government estimate that the distribution of the population, settled and Bedouin together, in the two States and in the area of the City of Jerusalem on 31st December, 1946, was approximately as follows:

Arab State
Arabs and others	…	847,000
Jews	…	10,000
Total	…	857,000
Jewish State
Arabs and others	…	405,000
Jews	…	498,000
Total	…	903,000
City of Jerusalem
Arabs and others	…	105,000
Jews	…	100,000
Total	…	205,000
Total Arabs	…	1,357,000
Total Jews	…	608,000
Grand Total	…	1,965,000

I am asking the High Commissioner for Palestine for an analysis of these figures to indicate respective populations in the different sectors of the Arab and Jewish States and will communicate with the hon. Member when I am in receipt of his reply.It will be understood that the above figures relate to the areas within the boundaries described in Part II of the United Nations plan and do not take account of any changes which may result from the instruction in Part I of the plan that these boundaries are to be modified in such a way that village areas as a rule will not be divided by State boundaries unless pressing reasons make that necessary.