asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many persons in the Metropolitan area have been registered in accordance with orders issued under S.R. & O., No. 2409 Registration for Employment Order;(2) how many persons in the United Kingdom have been registered in accordance with orders issued under S.R. & O., No. 2409 Registration for Employment Order.

So far there have been three registrations under the Registration for Employment Order 1947. In the week ending 10th January, 1948, the number of persons registered as street traders, in the towns covered by the registration notices in Great Britain, was 13,174. Of this total, 7,396 were registered in the London and S.E. Region. During the period ending 17th January, 1948, the number of employees of undertakings registered under the Order was

Industry.							Men aged 18 and under 65 years.	Women aged 18 and under 60 years.	Total.
Building	…	…	…	…	…	…	196	—	196
Civil Engineering Construction				…	…	…	124	—	124
Engineering, etc.		…	…	…	…	…	301	10	311
Construction and Repair of Motor Vehicles, Cycles and Aircraft.							93	2	95
Explosives	…	…	…	…	…	…	76	3	79
Brick, Tile, Pipe, etc. Making				…	…	…	79	1	80
Pottery, Earthenware, etc.				…	…	…	178	28	206
Coal Mining	…	…	…	…	…	…	58	1	59
Distributive Trades		…	…	…	…	…	102	20	122
National Government Service				…	…	…	208	10	218
Local Government Service			…	…	…	…	74	8	82
Agriculture, etc.		…	…	…	…	…	62	1	63
All other Industries and Services					…	…	418	35	453
Persons not classified by industry					…	…	264	2	266
Total		…	…	…	…	…	2,233	121	2,354
The total includes 1,341 disabled persons classified as suitable for ordinary employment, but excludes 281 disabled persons requiring employment under sheltered conditions.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of Britons engaged in the limestone industry in 1939, 1945 and 1948; the number of Poles, E.V.W's. and German prisoners of war employed on the 1st January, 1948; the rate at 34,317, of whom 8,860 were in the London and S.E. Region. These totals are provisional. During the week ending 24th January, 1948, the number of persons registered as not gainfully employed cm gainfully occupied was 14,674, of whom 2,618 were in the London and S.E. Region. This registration covered men born between 1923 and 1929 inclusive and women born between 1927 and 1929 inclusive. The provisions of the Order do not extend to Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Labour details of the number of men and women unemployed in North Staffordshire, on a trade and industry basis; and how many are disabled persons.

The table below gives an industrial analysis of the number of insured men and women registered at employment exchanges in North Staffordshire as unemployed at 12th January, 1948:which German prisoners of war are being repatriated; and the composition of the labour force which is expected to be working on the 1st January, 1949.

Separate employment statistics for the limestone industry are not available as different sections of that industry are treated as part of "Stone Quarrying and Mining" and "Cement Manufacture," "Lime Kilns and Whiting Works" respectively. On 1st January, 1948, about 1,400 prisoners of war and 250 Poles were employed in the industry and since that date some 100 European volunteer workers have been engaged. With regard to the repatriation of prisoners of war I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Secretary of State for War to the hon. Member for The High Peak (Mr. Molson) on 20th January. It is not possible to forecast the composition of the Labour Force on 1st January, 1949.

asked the Minister of Labour if any of the Remploy factories proposed for South Wales are to be affected by the decision to cut capital expenditure on factory construction; and what places are to be affected.

Building will be postponed for six months on projected factories at Abertillery, Ammanford, Bargoed, Cardiff, Ferndale, Mountain Ash, Neath, Newport, Pontypridd, Swansea and Tonypandy; and the position will be considered again at the end of that period. In the meantime provision to cover the needs of Cardiff, Pontypridd and Swansea will be made in the premises of the former Government Training Centre at Treforest and in the Swansea Centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many German prisoner volunteers for agricultural work he expects to have available for haytime and harvest in 1948.

I expect that over 3,000 German volunteers will be available in Scotland for haytime and harvest in 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make available the higher rate of subsidy for the first eight acres of potatoes to every farm that is so qualified irrespective of the fact that a farmer may be cultivating two or more farms.

No. My right hon. Friend does not propose to depart from the arrangement announced on 21st August last, whereby payment at the higher rate will be made on the first 10 acres of potatoes grown by any one farmer whether on one or more holdings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that there is an acute shortage of tyres for agricultural tractors in Caithness and Sutherland and in view of the necessity for maximum food production, what steps, if any, he is taking to expedite supply.

While the supplies of tractor tyres have not been sufficient to meet all requirements, production has been greatly increased and is steadily improving. Meantime special steps to assist are taken by the Department of Agriculture in cases brought to their notice where tractors are immobilised or are likely to be immobilised for lack of tyres.

asked the Minister of Pensions what steps he is taking to secure compensation for the dependants of members of our Forces who were killed or injured in Palestine.

Members of His Majesty's Forces serving in Palestine are fully covered, in respect of injuries, by the war pensions provisions administered by my Department, and in the regrettable event of their death their dependants are similarly covered.

asked the Minister of Pensions why the disability pension of Mr. A. T. Harrap, 127, Cemetery Road, Sheffield, was discontinued with effect from 13th November, 1947, when he was not fully recovered from this disability.

There is a prewar history of the disability, and such aggravation as occurred during Mr. Harrap's nine months' service in 1940 was certified to have passed away in November last, when a medical board found that the disablement was very slight and no worse than it would have been if Mr. Harrap had not served in the Army. As stated in the explanatory letter sent to the hon. Member on 31st December, Mr. Harrap has the right of appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal against my decision.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now consider equating prisoner of war camps to those of displaced persons in respect of wages, charges and amenities.

Prisoners of war not included in the scheme for release to civilian status are being repatriated quickly and until they are repatriated they must retain their status as prisoners of war and be treated accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for War for what reason the Services quarantine scheme has been terminated; and what arrangements will be made in future to assist Service personnel who desire to bring back dogs to this country.

This scheme was intended primarily for the peak period of demobilisation, which is now passed. It has been necessary to terminate it on account of the need to save manpower. It is considered that the normal civilian quarantine facilities should be adequate to meet the future demands of Service personnel as well as civilians.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what date were reinforcements last sent to Palestine; did they include any soldiers under 19 years of age; and has it now been decided that none under that age shall be sent there in future.

Reinforcements are not sent direct from this country to Palestine. They are sent to the Middle East and posted from there in accordance with the needs of units. A ship sailing with reinforcements for the Middle East, including soldiers under 19, left this country yesterday. I am seeing to it that where possible soldiers under 19 are not posted from the Middle East to units in Palestine I can, however, give no guarantee of this. It must be subject to the exigencies of the Service, as it is essential that units in Palestine are maintained at adequate strength at this juncture. It will be realised that as units are gradually withdrawn from Palestine so the number of reinforcements required for that country is being reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for War at how many Primary Training Centres in this country 10 per cent. of the National Service intake have been found illiterate; and whether he will make an inquiry to find out what special circumstances contributed to this alarming figure.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence indicated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Bucklow (Mr. Shepherd) on 26th November, an average of about 2 per cent. of all intakes have to be sent to special elementary education courses as being either illiterate or of extremely low literacy. The size of fortnightly intakes at particular Primary Training Centres varies widely and may be as small as 50. The percentage of illiterates in individual intakes at different Primary Training Centres, therefore, is naturally subject to considerable variation which could not be attributed to any significant cause. In these circumstances I do not consider that figures showing how many individual intakes at particular Primary Training Centres has contained a certain percentage of illiterates would be of any real value.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the time taken by the War Department Land Agents in various parts of the country in dealing with claims arising out of the requisitioning of private property; and if he will make arrangements for the necessary additional staff to be provided in these offices or such other steps to be taken as will enable claims to be dealt with more speedily.

Every effort has been made to obtain the necessary professional staff to deal with the many claims received, but there is a general shortage throughout the country of suitably qualified professional men. Rapid progress is nevertheless being made in settlement of the claims.

asked the Secretary of State for War if in his examination of the question of reinstating to soldiers serving on regular engagements the privilege of purchasing their discharge, he will give particular attention to the case of those regular soldiers who signed on whilst they were under age.

The point mentioned by the hon. Member, together with other aspects of the matter, is receiving careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War what tonnage and types of military stores have disappeared in Palestine during the past three months.

The information for which the hon. and gallant Member asks is not available in the War Office and could not be obtained from the military authorities overseas in the form asked for without a disproportionate amount of work.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish a table showing the scale of Army rations issued in February, 1939, and giving the calorific value of the whole.

There was no fixed scale of rations for the Army in the immediate prewar period. At that time, units purchased their food from the R.A.S.C. and from N.A.A.F.I. from a daily cash entitlement which was reassessed each month. In February, 1939, the amount was 14.45d. for other ranks and 11.99d. for officers. The staple items of diet were purchased at wholesale prices and other items at retail prices. Under this system the actual ration purchased by particular units, and consequently their intake of calories, varied.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish in HANSARD a table giving full details of the pay and rations, including milk, issued to Poles in the various categories still within the responsibility of His Majesty's Government, namely, those who have opted to return to Poland and are awaiting repatriation; those who have opted to join the Polish Resettlement Corps and are awaiting transfer to it or undergoing training in it; those who have refused to take either of these courses; those who are still in the Polish Armed Forces or other military or semi-military formations; and any in other miscellaneous categories.

I am having the information collected and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the De La Vox factory in Banbury, being War Department property, was not allocated to the Territorial Army authorities; and what alternative accommodation is proposed instead.

This factory, which was not War Department property but under requisition, became surplus to my Department's requirements in May, 1946, when the Territorial Army requirements were not fully known. In accordance with normal procedure the premises were handed over to the Board of Trade, who have allotted them for industrial use. Efforts to obtain alternative accommodation to meet the Territorial Army requirements are still being made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the total amounts paid in under the War Damage Act, Part 1; and what are the amounts paid out at the latest convenient date.

Up to 23rd January, 1948, total receipts were about £195 million and total payments about £26 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give any estimate of the loss in taxation due to reduced trade at country hotels, restaurants, public houses, garages and antique dealers as a result of the abolition of the basic petrol ration.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state the particulars of agreements entered into by this country whereby governments of sterling area countries are entitled to a claim upon the gold reserves of this country.

The gold reserves in question are not reserves of this country alone but of all the countries in the sterling area. Apart from agreements with South Africa (Cmd. 7230) and Iraq (Cmd. 7201) the demands upon these reserves are not limited by formal agreement; we have a common understanding and interest in seeing that in present circumstances we all do our utmost to put in as much and to take out as little as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the limit beneath which gold and dollar reserves of this country will not be depleted to meet the requirements of sterling area countries.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that in future no allocation of gold, dollars or convertible sterling will be made to countries within or without the sterling area unless His Majesty's Government is satisfied that sterling debts owed to the country concerned have been scaled down sufficiently to represent a just settlement.

No.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if the official paid envelopes provided for the use of hon. Members when writing to Ministers may be used by hon. Members when writing from their homes to officials of the House on Parliamentary business, namely, when forwarding notice of Parliamentary Questions to the Clerks at the Table.

Yes.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will make a statement on the breakdown of the meat negotiations with the Argentine.

The negotiations have not broken down, but I cannot yet make a statement on their progress.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to obtain interest payment due to British subjects as holders of Italian loans.

I would refer the hon. Member to the letter from the Chairman of the Italian Delegation to the Anglo-Italian Economic Committee, addressed to the Chairman of the Council of Foreign Bondholders, which was published in the Press on 29th January. I am sending him a copy of it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many British subjects, and how many United States subjects are registered as holders of Japanese bonds; when the last registration was made; how many of these bonds are outstanding; how many were redeemed by the Japanese Government during the war; and how many British subjects are registered as holders of Japanese bonds in loans floated in the United States.

In 1942 persons resident in the United Kingdom were invited to register with the Trading with the Enemy Department particulars of their Japanese property, including bonds. This invitation is still open. Information as to the number of persons so registered as holders of Japanese bonds could not be furnished without disproportionate labour and would be of little value as the registration is voluntary and incomplete. The amounts outstanding at the beginning of the war were approximately £88 million of sterling loans and $276 million of dollar loans. I am not aware that there has been or could have been during the war any effective redemption of foreign currency bonds owned by allied nationals.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Polish Government intend to resume interest payments on Polish sterling bonds; and what steps he is taking to remind them of their undertaking in the Financial and Economic Agreement of June, 1947.

The Polish Government have not yet felt themselves to be in a position to recommence the service of their sterling bonds. I will, as and when necessary, remind them of their undertaking.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to what extent he and his Department are responsible for the body known as the British Market Research Bureau, Ltd.; and to what extent it is subsidised.

No Department is responsible. The Bureau is a commercial organisation which is not subsidised by the Government. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given today to the right hon. and learned Member for West Derby (Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that the export targets fixed for the footwear and hosiery industries will not result in domestic supplies being insufficient to meet the existing clothing coupons.

The export target for footwear is only about 10 per cent. of present production. As regards hosiery, the intention is to maintain supplies at the 1946 level with an extra 10 per cent. for infants' and children's wear. I would also refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement of 27th January on the clothing ration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there are considerable stocks of non-fashioned stockings in shops and warehouses and if he will reduce the coupon value of these goods.

No. I am not aware that stocks of unfashioned stockings are abnormally large. The coupon rate, except for wool or nylon, is already one half of that for fully fashioned stockings and I should not be justified in making it any lower.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that his Department is refusing to issue licences to persons desirous of operating in the round timber trade; and what are the reasons.

Yes. It is the general practice to give licences to fell trees, and to acquire round timber for resale, only to established sawmillers and timber merchants, in order to ensure that homegrown timber is efficiently processed and disposed of for the purpose for which it is most urgently required. Many applications are received from newcomers but it would serve no useful purpose to multiply the number of concerns handling our already depleted supplies of homegrown timber.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the principles applied in dealing with American offers to establish branch factories in this country.

Subject to special consideration of the effect on our balance of payments, the principles applied in considering proposals for the establishment of American branch factories in this country are similar to those applied in considering proposals for capital investment generally. Our aim is to ensure that scarce resources are invested only in projects which will contribute to export, import saving or to meeting essential home requirements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange for tailors to receive a proportion of their allocation of cloth of utility price range in roll form instead of having it all in average suit lengths of approximately 3½ yards, so that they can cater for outsize customers.

The Board of Trade does not allocate cloth. I understand that it is a traditional practice for bespoke tailors to buy most of their cloth in cut lengths, and we should not wish to interfere now, when men's suitings are in short supply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is great disproportion between the permitted rate of increase in the prices for the sale of shoes compared with those allowed for repairs; whether he is aware that the maximum permitted increase in the charges for repairs of boots and shoes is inadequate by reason of the increased cost of leather, and results in actual loss to the repairer; and whether he will sanction an increase of at least 4d. in the 1s. as against the maximum of 1½d. in the 1s. now permitted.

I do not think that the comparison suggested in the first part of the hon. Member's Question is valid, since the cost of leather represents a much higher proportion of the cost of footwear than of the cost of repairs, and the increase in the ceiling prices for utility footwear also took account of other increases in costs, notably a wage increase. Moreover, the permitted increase in footwear repair charges applies to all repair work, even though only just over three-fifths of the materials which are used by shoe repairers is leather. With regard to the second part of the Question, I agree that some revision is required, and an Order fixing separate charges for leather and non-leather repairs will be made before the end of this month. With regard to the third part of the Question, I would ask the hon. Member to await the amending Order.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to increase trade with Japan; what representatives of his Board are in Japan; and what are the qualifications and experience of Japanese trade held by each such representative.

Arrangements are being concluded for the conduct of sterling area trade with Japan in sterling and I hope that by this and other means we will increase both our visible and invisible trade with Japan. The economic adviser to the United Kingdom Liaison Mission holds the rank of Counsellor (Commercial). The present Adviser is one of the more senior and experienced members of the commercial diplomatic service although he has no previous experience in Japan. He is assisted by two other officers, both of whom had experience in Japan before the war. The head of our Purchasing and Selling Mission is also a representative of my Department. He spent many years in Japan before the war as a director of a British firm and for a time after the war he represented the Ministry of War Transport there. He has two assistants each of whom had industrial or merchanting experience in Japan before the war.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will allow more than one book to be admitted at a time for any one person in this country when such books are volumes in a set or part of a series of reference books.

Under the open general licence for books, periodicals and other printed matter imported by post, only a single copy of a book can be imported at a time. Works consisting of a number of volumes can be imported under licences issued to prewar importers in accordance with the general arrangements for import of learned, scientific and technical books.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why chinaware and glass are not being purchased from Bavaria for use in the hotels of Great Britain; to what countries such chinaware and glass are being exported by the bizonal authorities; and whether any representative of his Department visited the Export Exhibition in Munich.

Import Licences for glass and chinaware from the combined British and American zones of Germany were issued during 1947, and it is probable that some of these imports went to the hotel industry. We have, however, for several months been obliged to regard the combined zones as a hard currency source of supply and this situation is expected to continue. Consequently, I am afraid that it will not be possible to import additional quantities. It is understood from the Joint Export-Import Agency that glass products and chinaware and clay products have been exported from the combined zones to the following countries in addition to the United Kingdom-Belgium, Luxemburg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.S.A. A representative of the Board of Trade has visited the Munich Export Exhibition.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the exports of Scotch whisky to the Holy Land in 1947.

Exports of whisky to Palestine in 1947 amounted to 10,208 proof gallons valued at £20,190. Scotch whisky is not recorded separately.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the trials in the doubling and spinning section of the cotton industry, whether it is intended to extend such trials to the weaving section and will he give an approximate date.

The Cotton Board have started discussion with organisations representing employers and operatives in the weaving section of the cotton industry regarding mill trials in that section, but it is not yet possible to say when such trials will be started.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware that exports of china and earthenware from this country to the Argentine were 30 per cent. less in volume in 1947 than 1938; and whether he will negotiate to reduce the import restrictions in that country so that trade may be expanded.

The reduction in volume was as stated by my hon. Friend, but the value for 1947 was more than double the 1938 figure. The removal of Argentine import restrictions imposed on many classes of United Kingdom goods is one of the subjects under discussion during the negotiations which are now proceeding.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recommendations have been made by His Majesty's Government to New Zealand and other Dominions to restrict imports of china and earthenware tableware for 1948 to 50 per cent. in value of the 1946 trade; and whether, in view of the adverse effect such a limitation will have on the pottery industry's effort to achieve its target, he will institute negotiations with Dominion Governments to have it removed or improved.

No such specific recommendation has been made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the difficulties manufacturers of British earthenware are experiencing in getting import licences for their products for sale in India; and whether he will make representations to the Government of India on the ban imposed for the January-June, 1948, period.

Yes. The Financial Delegation under Sir Jeremy Raisman, which is at present negotiating with the Government of India in Delhi, have fully in mind the desirability of securing some relaxation of these restrictions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new factories have been completed in Wales during the period 30th June, 1945, and 31st December, 1947; and how many workers have been provided with employment in these factories.

Seventy-four new factories and extensions of 5,000 square feet and over were completed in Wales or work was so far advanced that the firms were able to occupy the premises during the period 30th June, 1945–31st December, 1947. At 31st December, 1947, 6,000 persons (3,800 men and 2,200 women) were employed in these factories and extensions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade at which factories in the North-East Development Area it is proposed to discontinue the work of construction.

The review of factory building referred to in paragraph 20 of the White Paper on Capital Investment in 1948 (Cmd. 7268) is not yet complete and I am not therefore at present in a position to give my hon. Friend the information for which he asks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that the ten factories for disabled miners in South Wales will not be affected by the decision to cut capital expenditure on factory construction; and if he will regard the completion of these factories as a matter of special urgency, in view of the large numbers of disabled miners who have been unemployed for a long time.

Yes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what factory projects, approved or in course of erection, are not to be proceeded with in the South Wales Development Area as a result of the reduction in the capital investment programme;(2) what is the estimated effect on employment in the South Wales development area of the proposed reduction in factory construction.

The review of factory building referred to in paragraph 20 of the White Paper on Capital Investment in 1948 (Cmd. 7286) is not yet complete and I am not therefore at present in a position to say what factory projects will be deferred or what effect such deferments may have on the employment prospects of the South Wales Development area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the difficulty of housewives in obtaining suitable supplies of household linen, he will consider, when arranging for the new coupon periods, allowing for a slight reduction in the personal clothing allocation to enable the issuing of special and distinct coupons for household linen.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 29th January to my hon. Friend, the Member for Sutton (Mrs. Middleton).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the factory building at Cwmgorse, Glamorganshire, is still untenanted; what steps he is taking to obtain a tenant; and when he expects this factory to be in production to provide employment for the large numbers of disabled miners in this locality.

Particulars of this building were sent to a number of manufacturers likely to be interested, and one firm application has been received which is being considered in the light of the proposed production. In view of the extensive adaptations required to fit the building for production, I am afraid that in present circumstances there will inevitably be some delay before the necessary work can be put in hand and completed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total number of persons who have migrated from this country to Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, respectively, within the last two years; how many were male and female, respectively; what were their average ages; and how many received Government assistance and to what total amount.

The following table shows the number of British emigrants travelling direct by sea to the four Dominions concerned during the year 1946 and the first nine months of 1947. The average ages of adult emigrants in 1946 were 36 for men and 29 for women. In 1947 they were 37 and 38 respectively.

NUMBER OF BRITISH EMIGRANTS TRAVELLING DIRECT BY SEA TO THE UNDERMENTIONED DOMINIONS DURING THE YEAR 1946 AND THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1947.
—					Total.	MALES.		FEMALES.
						17 years and over.	Under 17 years.	17 years and over.	Under 17 years.
British North America (a)—
Year 1946	…	…	…	…	53,000	5,000	8,000	32,000	8,000
January-September, 1947			…	…	14,765	4,862	1,635	6,624	1,644
British South Africa (b)—
Year 1946	…	…	…	…	11,000	4,000	1,000	5,000	1,000
January-September, 1947			…	…	19,057	7,818	2,154	7,087	1,998
Australia—
Year 1946	…	…	…	…	10,000	2,000	1,000	6,000	1,000
January-September, 1947			…	…	8,096	2,735	1,009	3,454	898
New Zealand—
Year 1946	…	…	…	…	6,000	1,000	1,000	3,000	1,000
January-September, 1947			…	…	4,584	1,504	434	2,134	512
Total of above—
Year 1946	…	…	…	…	80,000	12 000	11,000	46,000	11,000
January-September, 1947			…	…	46,502	16,919	5,232	19,299	5,052
(a) Canada and Newfoundland. Separate figures are not available.
(b) The figures include emigrants to Southern Rhodesia and other countries in the area. Separate figures for Union of South Africa are not available.

As regards the last part of the Question, I understand from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, that the only general emigration financially assisted by the United Kingdom Government is under the Free and Assisted Passage Schemes arranged between the United Kingdom and Australian Governments. These schemes did not come into general operation until 31st March, 1947. Up to the end of 1947, 2,611 have sailed under the Free Passage Scheme and 2,361 under the Assisted Passage Scheme. The average cost of free passages is approximately £70 for adults and half this figure for children. The cost to the United Kingdom of assisted passages is approximately £30 for adults and rather more than half this figure for children. No detailed figures of total costs are available at present.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, under the regulations under the new Act, the full

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the publication of the relevant regulations under the National Insurance Act, 1946, which my right hon. Friend hopes to make within the next two months.

asked the Minister of National Insurance, if he has reviewed the claim and the papers sent to him on behalf of Mrs. A. Gerdes, of 19, Askern Road, Bentley, Doncaster, to establish her title to an old age pension in her own right, and as this claim appears to have been first made in April, 1947, whether he is able to arrive at a decision favourable to Mrs. Gerdes.

I find that Mrs. Gerdes, who has for some years been in receipt of an old age pension of 10s. a week in right of her husband's insurance, claimed a pension in right of her own insurance in August last. Prolonged investigation, undertaken in Mrs. Gerdes' interest, has failed to establish that the statutory condition for the award of such a pension, which requires that at least 104 contributions must have been paid since her last entry into insurance, was satisfied. Her claim has accordingly had to be disallowed and she was so informed on 29th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements exist for the supply of newspapers and periodicals to P.O.W. camps; what newspapers and periodicals are barred from these camps; and what steps will be taken to ensure that the prisoners have an adequate supply of both Left and Right shades of political opinion in the newspapers supplied.

Newspapers and periodicals are supplied to prisoners of war camps under arrangements made by each camp with local newsagents. None are barred, but steps are taken to ensure that a balance is maintained between papers representing different political views. In addition, representative weekly periodicals are supplied to information rooms in the camps.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the amount of dollars saved on the imports of petrol from non-sterling areas since the abolition of the basic ration; and the loss in tax to the Exchequer during the same period.

Imports of petrol into the United Kingdom from dollar sources during the quarter October to December, 1947, were 446,000 tons compared with an average of 554,000 tons a quarter for the rest of 1947. The difference of 108,000 tons would at present prices cost about 4¾ million dollars. Changes in the amount of petrol imported into this country from dollar sources are not by themselves a true measure of the saving achieved by the abolition of the basic petrol ration and other economies introduced at the same time. For example, the freeing of sterling petrol for shipment to other parts of the sterling area saves dollars no less than does a reduction in the amount of dollar petrol imported into the United Kingdom. Moreover imports, in any case, will be temporarily higher or lower than consumption according to whether stocks are being built up or depleted over the period. As stated on 20th January in answer to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Philips Price), the total saving from 1st October to 31st December is estimated at over 7 million dollars at present prices. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 22nd January to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson).

asked the Minister of Food if he will publish in HANSARD a table showing the present scales of Service and civilian rations, including those allowed to special classes of workers and invalids, inmates of hospitals, prisons, etc., of all such commodities, including milk, as are also issued to the various categories of Poles who are still within the responsibility of His Majesty's Government.

Yes, but it may take a little time to prepare.

asked the Minister of Food if he will have inquiry made into the excessive queueing for cake and pastries in Derby to see how far this is due to too large a proportion of such commodities being sold through cafes and restaurants at prices in excess of those prevailing for sales through the shops to housewives.

The primary cause of queueing for cakes is the shortage of ingredients. I cannot find that the position is worse in Derby than elsewhere, but I should be willing to look into the hon. Member's suggestion that it is accentuated by diversion of supplies to catering establishments if he will let me have any information he has bearing on this point.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory conditions for the transport of live sheep from railway sidings at Bristol to the abattoirs at Cumberland Basin and Whitehall; and whether arrangements can now be made to provide lorries for this purpose in order to avoid unnecessary cruelty.

Sheep for slaughter which arrive at Bristol by rail are driven through the streets to the abattoirs but this should not involve cruelty. As a result of complaints that driving the animals through the streets constitutes a public nuisance, the local authority, railway officials and other interested parties have for some time been exploring various alternatives.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of continental carrots have been imported for the year ending to the latest available date; and how much currency was involved.

During the year ended 31st December, 1947, 4,268 tons of carrots valued at £287,767 were imported from the Continent.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he can report an improvement in the supply of spare parts for caterpillar tractors.

Yes. Import hences have been issued for all the spares that the makers can supply and imports rose steadily during 1947.

asked the Minister of Supply what encouragement he is giving to the British hearing aid industry to increase their exports.

Hearing aid manufacturers are themselves planning to increase their exports and have been allocated all the controlled materials they need for export orders. They have also been granted licences to import components for assembly and re-export, where suitable British components are not available. Both the Ministry of Supply and the Export Promotion Department of the Board of Trade have given and will continue to give manufacturers all the help they can to increase exports.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what arrangements are being made to employ or compensate about 40 English judges whose services are no longer required in India and Pakistan.

I have been asked to reply. I have no reason to suppose that the Governments of India and Pakistan are dispensing with the services of European Judges of the High Courts. The question of providing further employment for them, therefore, does not at present arise, but if and when it does, it will be open to them to make use of the special machinery set up to assist ex-officers of the Secretary of State's Services to secure further employment. My right hon. Friend is considering whether the question of compensation to any European Judges who may resign in consequence of changed conditions should not be re-opened.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now review the conditions associated with the licensed taxicabs and drivers and their rights to ply for hire on the Doncaster railway station forecourt taxi rank; whether he is aware that many of these taxi drivers are ex-Service men and, although properly licensed by the Doncaster Watch Committee, are forbidden to stand on the official station taxi rank and unless they pay an annual rental to the British Railways are regarded as trespassers; and if he will in the interests of equity for all local taxi drivers and improved facilities for the travelling public abolish these restrictions.

This is a matter for the British Transport Commission, who, I understand, are now reviewing the whole problem of the use of station yards and approaches by taxicabs, with due regard to the necessity for providing for the convenience and safety of passengers.

asked the Minister of Transport what machinery exists to enable the Road Research Laboratory to study all reports on road accidents with a view to deciding to what extent an accident was due to road conditions.

Only fatal road accidents are at present reported in detail by the police. Preparatory work is now in hand for reporting and analysing all road accidents involving death or personal injury. The Road Research Laboratory are collaborating with my Department in this work.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the paper shortage, he will arrange for collection of old telephone directories when new ones are issued, as this custom appears to be in abeyance.

In urban areas arrangements are made to collect old directories when the new ones are supplied, but in rural areas subscribers are asked to dispose of their old directories through the local salvage collection, as this is a more economical procedure. These arrangements are not in abeyance, but in London the current A-K section cannot be collected until both the A-D and E-K new sections have been issued.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he proposes to take to promote the further development of trades unionism in Malaya.

While the efforts to establish a sound trade union movement both in the Federation of Malaya and Singapore have been attended with a reasonable amount of success, neither the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya, the Governor of Singapore nor I can regard the position as entirely satisfactory, and, at the suggestion of the High Commissioner and the Governor, I have invited a small trade union mission from the United Kingdom to visit Malaya. The task of the mission will be to look thoroughly into the situation of labour and the trade unions, giving such helpful guidance as they can to the Colonial Governments and the trade unions, and to make a report. I am glad to say that my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery), who has a wide knowledge and experience of United Kingdom trade union practice and procedure, and Mr. F. W. Dalley, lately Assistant General Secretary of the Railway Clerks' Association, whose excellent report on a somewhat similar mission to Trinidad was published recently, have accepted my invitation to undertake this visit to Malaya. Arrangements are being made for their departure at an early date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many Admiralty staff now use Government cars in London; and whether he is satisfied that full use is made of public transport.

Admiralty staff in London may use official cars only if public transport is not available, or for special reasons is unsuitable, or is so uneconomical in time as to justify the use of an official car. The total number of cars now in use is 16—of which two are for the use of the First Lord and First Sea Lord. The number of staff using the remainder varies with requirements. I am satisfied that full use is made of public transport.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much profit the Government have made from the sale of the British wool clip requisitioned from farmers at fixed prices.

So far this season rather more than half the United Kingdom wool clip has been sold. The final outcome will not be known until possibly the end of May or the early part of June this year. I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's replies of 26th January to the hon. Member for Western Dorset (Mr. Digby) and the hon. and gallant Member for Ludlow (Lieut.-Colonel Corbett).

asked the Minister of Agriculture the numbers of German prisoners of war, Poles and European volunteer workers at work on British farms; and the total number of foreign workers it is proposed to make available to British farmers this year.

Fifty-nine thousand German prisoners were employed in agriculture in Great Britain on 31st December last. Up to 24th January, 6,628 Poles and 15,128 European workers had been placed in agricultural employment. The total intake of foreign workers will naturally be influenced by the progress of the recruitment of British workers; under present plans, a total of a little over 40,000 Poles and E.V.W.'s will be employed in Great Britain, and in addition some 18,000 German ex-prisoners of war are being allowed to remain for 1948.