asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is supporting the granting of a loan of $150,000,000 to Japan before the Peace Treaty has been signed; what instructions have been sent to our representative on the Far Eastern Commission concerning such a loan; and what are the objects of this loan.

The Far Eastern Commission has been informed that the United States Government will propose to Congress the provision of funds "to assist Japan to expand the output of its peaceful industries towards a status of self-support." We have taken note of this, and should naturally welcome suitable measures which enabled Japan in due course to pay her way. No special instructions are called for.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will abolish the Purchase Tax on paper, which the wholesaler guarantees is being sold to schools and colleges for educational purposes.

It is unavoidable that liability to Purchase Tax should depend on the character of the article and I regret that it is impracticable to provide exemption according to the uses to which articles of a chargeable kind are put.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the Government's policy to freeze wages, he will state what is estimated to be a reasonable income under existing price conditions, for a married industrial worker with two children.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 7 (particularly 7 (a)) of the White Paper on Personal Incomes, Costs and Prices, from which he will see that it is not the Government's policy to embark on a course which would lead to their having to assess and regulate all personal incomes according to a scale.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the overtime now being worked by Inland Revenue staffs in Liverpool, he will consider employing there some of the 900 extemporary Government employees at present on the register at the employment exchanges.

No, The standard hours of attendance in the Civil Service today are 45½a week and these are the hours being worked in the Inland Revenue offices at Liverpool.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) the amounts paid in by each member of the sterling area to the dollar pool between its inception and the end of the war and the latest convenient date, respectively;(2) the amounts in gold, dollars and other hard currencies paid to members of the sterling area, respectively, from the inception of a common reserve until the end of the war and the latest convenient date, respectively.

During the war the existence of Lend-Lease and Mutual Aid and the receipt of dollars from the American Armed Forces makes any such calculations meaningless. In the White Paper on the United Kingdom Balance of Payments relevant information is shown as regards the sterling area as a whole for the years 1946 and 1947. I do not feel that any useful purpose would be served by showing the position of individual countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the policy of His Majesty's Government, what action is taken to ensure that no release from the common gold and hard currency reserves of the sterling area held by this country is made to a member of the sterling area without the approval of other members of the area.

There is a full and regular exchange of information between members of the sterling area on their dollar expenditure and earnings, but each Government must of course be responsible for decisions affecting its own economy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost per head of the population of goods imported into Britain during 1947; and how much per head was paid for by invisible exports.

£31 f.o.b., and none.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that food subsidies are worth in reduced prices about 12s. 6d. a week to the average household, what is the cost of these subsidies to the taxpayer and the cost of their administration.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for London University on 4th December last.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why there is not a Welsh-speaking official at the Inland Revenue office at Rhyl, in view of the inconvenience caused at present to a considerable body of Welsh-speaking inhabitants from the Vale of Clwyd, whose requirements had previously been satisfactorily dealt with by a Welsh-speaking official in the Denbigh office, now closed.

The hon. Member appears to be misinformed. In both the inspector's and collector's offices there are several members of the staff who speak Welsh.

asked the Minister of Health the cost of sites acquired for the erection of temporary dwellings under the Housing (Temporary Accommodation) Act, 1944, showing separately the cost of sites acquired on leases of 10 or 12 years and the number of temporary dwellings erected on leased sites.

I regret that the information requested in the first part of the Question could not be extracted from the records without an undue expenditure of time and labour. Information as to sites taken on lease is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in deciding if he is able to agree to tenders put forward for approval by local authorities, he has regard to the fact that the price of wire bricks is fixed, after the examination of costs, by auditors nominated by the Government.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Health the approximate numbers of agricultural workers and miners, respectively, there are in the Boldon U.D.C. area; how many of the 140 houses erected and 113 houses nearly completed in the past two years have been let or offered to agricultural workers or those workers directly connected with agriculture.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available, but I understand that the area is predominantly mining. The answer to the second part is "none."

asked the Minister of Health in view of the decision of a county court judge that tenants are not protected by the Rent Restrictions Act if they share the use of a kitchen and bathroom with the landlord, what steps he proposes to take to secure protection for tenants in this position and to avoid confusion and distress.

The Ridley Committee on Rent Control considered the question of joint user of rooms and made a recommendation on the subject which will be borne in mind when legislation to amend the Rent Restrictions Act is possible. As I have stated there is no early prospect of such legislation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will reconsider his refusal to grant a licence to Mr. Jupp of 12 Sandringham Road, Morecambe, to complete the building of two houses with material already in his possession in his spare time with the unpaid help of friends and relations, in view of the fact that permission to proceed was granted to Mr. Jupp by the local authorities in May last.

No. I cannot alter my decision that a licence should not be granted for these houses, which are intended for sale.

asked the Minister of Health if a decision has now been reached regarding the derequisitioning of Broadmayne and West Knighton Camps which are urgently needed for housing purposes.

West Knighton Camp has been taken over by the Dorchester Rural District Council for housing purposes but the War Department have not yet decided whether they can release Broadmayne Camp.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make available for school meals the officers' mess which is complete with dining rooms, cooking ranges, electricity and water, now standing empty and derelict in Waltham, near Grimsby, for the use of children attending the Methodist and Church of England schools in Waltham where at present no meals are provided.

Yes. The details of the arrangements are now being worked out.

asked the Minister of Health when it is proposed to derequisition part of No. 34, Dunsmure Road, Hackney, N.i6, so that the owner of the house, Mr. H. Keil, can return to live there with his family.

No date can be given at present. I have asked the local authority to reconsider the matter and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the serious difficulty in Lancashire for children to obtain mental institution treatment owing to the shortage of nurses; and what steps he will take to remedy the position.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take special measures to relieve the increasing shortage of nurses in tuberculosis hospitals.

Shortage of nurses in these fields is being specially considered in connection with the Report of the Working Party on the Recruitment and Training of Nurses. Meanwhile, wherever my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and I are informed of hospitals in particular difficulties, we will do all we can to help.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet received the report of the Mental Nurses Sub-Committee for Revision of Salary Scales; and when he will have it published.

Yes, and I commended it to employing authorities on 6th February. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the relevant circular.

asked the Minister of Health what is the amount of the present grant by His Majesty's Government to the Central Council for Health Education; and on what grounds this grant is made.

For the current year the undertaking is to meet the Central Council's deficit subject to a maximum grant of £15,000. The object is to help the Council to co-ordinate and provide advice and material for local authorities' health education work.

asked the Minister of Health whether those doctors and dentists who enter the National Health Service will have freedom to publish articles and books with regard to the organisation and administration of the Health Service and freedom to publish such articles without having to seek permission of individuals or authorities.

So far as I am concerned, yes.

asked the Minister of Health with whom the ownership of records of patients made by doctors in the service under the new Act remains, and what precautions are taken to avoid breach of professional secrecy by those records coming into the possession of persons other than the doctor in charge of the patient, and without the consent of the patient.

The arrangements will be substantially the same as they have been under the National Health Insurance Acts.

asked the Minister of Health when the Spens Committee recommendations in regard to remuneration of Dental Practitioners under the new Health Service Scheme will be published.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I hope to receive this report next month.

asked the Minister of Health at what date the design of Medresco was adopted as the deaf aid to be supplied officially as part of the new Health Service, whom he consulted before this was done, what has been the cost to date of furnishing this instrument.

It was decided in April, 1947, to order a bulk supply of hearing aids in accordance with the specification prepared by the Electro-Acoustics Committee of the Medical Research Council and the Post Office Research Department. I am not able to assess the cost of the preparatory work so far incurred.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will arrange that buildings of the Horsa hut type shall continue to be made available to meet urgent needs for increased educational accommodation after the needs arising from the raising of the school-leaving age have been met.

Yes. In conjunction with my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Works, I am arranging, subject to the supply position, for huts of the same type as those being erected under the Horsa scheme to continue to be made available to local education authorities and schools as they have been in the past. It is not proposed to extend to purposes other than the raising of the school-leaving age and school meals the special arrangements whereby the Ministry of Works may handle the erection of the hutting.

asked the Minister of Education if he will encourage the provision of prefabricated aluminium school buildings by local education authorities and assure them that substantial grants in aid will be forthcoming towards their erection.

The attention of all local education authorities has been drawn to the possibilities of aluminium school buildings although the extent of supplies of aluminium for this purpose will depend on the dollar position from time to time. Approved expenditure on such buildings will rank for the normal percentage grant.

asked the Minister of Education why under the provisions for recognised students at training departments the day maintenance grant paid to women living at home is £12 a year less than is paid to men living at home.

The distinction is of long standing and was related to a difference in the capitation grants payable in respect of resident students at training colleges, which was in turn based on the difference in cost as between men's and women's colleges. I am already considering in connection with other amendments of the Regulations the question of discontinuing this distinction.

asked the Minister of Education when he will be in a position to supply school meals regularly to the children of Wednesfield.

School meals are available at Wednesfield, but the demand has outstripped the supply. Every effort will be made to hasten the new canteens planned by the local education authority, but, in view of the present building difficulties, I cannot forecast when they will be completed.

asked the Minister of Education the number of complaints he has received about the waste of milk in schools; and what steps he is taking to obtain general reports upon such wastage.

Apart from two complaints in general terms, I received five specific complaints in 1947; four proved unfounded after investigation and one is under consideration. By arrangement with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food, I am able to follow up every month, in consultation with the local education authorities, any case where the amount of milk ordered appears questionable. I am satisfied from this continuous review that the scheme is administered with great care.

asked the Minister of Education how many un-reorganised full-age-range schools are still functioning in England and Wales; and how many classes for children over the age of 11 plus are accommodated in schools officially designated as primary schools.

There were in January, 1947, in the maintained and assisted schools of England and Wales 8,755 departments containing both senior and junior children out of a total of 28,145 departments. At the same time there were in un-reorganised departments 8,598 classes consisting entirely of children over II years old.

asked the Minister of Education in how many areas the double shift system is being employed in infant schools; and in how many areas the size of classes is increasing in infant schools

I am not aware that this system is being employed generally in any area, though I have recent information that in London some 350 infants are on half time owing to temporary staffing and accommodation difficulties. Between January, 1946, and January, 1947, the latest dates for which I have figures, the ratio of children per full-time teacher in Infants Departments in England and Wales fell from 33.4 to 32.2. It is possible that there has been some increase in the size of classes since then owing to the rise in the birth rate and the shortage of women teachers of infants, but I shall not have figures for some months.

asked the Minister of Education whether since his Department ceased making annual grants to youth organisations and local education authorities subsidise these instead, there has been a decrease in assistance to these bodies.

On the contrary, as a result of the change in policy, there has been a net increase in grant to local youth clubs of some £300,000 in the financial year 1946–47 compared with the previous year.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that a school in Westminster was used on Saturday, 7th February, for a meeting of Sir 0. Mosley's Fascist organisation; and if he will consider circularising education authorities to ensure that schools should not be let to this and kindred organisations.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the letting of county school premises outside school hours is within the discretion of the local education authority.

asked the Minister of Education how many prospective women teachers were refused admission during the last year owing to lack of accommodation in training colleges.

Selection of students is in the hands of the separate college authorities and no central record of rejected candidates is kept. I understand, however, from the unofficial clearing house with which most of the colleges work, that they had on their books the names of about 2,200 women candidates who were unsuccessful in obtaining admission to college last year. This includes candidates rejected on a variety of grounds, including unsuitability.

asked the Minister of Education how many local authorities employ married women teachers part time.

In January, 1947, 143 out of 146 local authorities were employing a total of 2,848 part-time women teachers but the available statistics do not distinguish between married and unmarried women.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is satisfied that grants payable to University students are adequate in view of today's price level; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 22nd January, of which I am sending him a copy. It is open to the University authorities, who are conversant with all the circumstances, to approach my Department and I have brought the matter to the notice of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the housing programme may be accelerated as a result of the timber to be expected under the Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement.

There is nothing I can add to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member on Tuesday last on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why permission was refused the headmaster of the Boys' County Primary School, Egham, to distribute without coupons to boys and girls of the school who are needing shoes, the free gift of shoes sent by the American Red Cross to this country, for distribution through the British Red Cross.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will permit items of clothing sent by the Canadian Red Cross to the British Legion to be distributed to necessitous ex-Service men without requiring them to surrender clothing coupons.

Clothing coupons are required to be surrendered in these circumstances, since there is no guarantee that if coupon free distribution were permitted, the goods would reach the people most in need of them. This policy has been reviewed on many occasions, but I am quite prepared to examine the questions once again.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if in the interests of public health he will arrange that hairdressers be allowed to purchase towels coupon free or even reduce the number of coupons now required for that purpose.

I regret that there are not sufficient supplies to enable me to adopt my hon. and learned Friend's suggestion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make a statement with reference to the subsidy scheme for the purchase of textile machinery; and what are the estimated purchases of new textile machinery for the next five years.

I hope that if circumstances permit legislation will be introduced this Session to give statutory effect to the spinning modernisation scheme. Particulars concerning the scheme were given in the replies to the hon. Member for South Kensington (Mr. Law) on 30th April, 1947, and the hon. Member for Bury (Mr. W. Fletcher) on 29th January, 1948. As regards the second part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the senior Member for Oldham (Mr. Fairhurst) on Tuesday last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what stipulation was made to the Textile Machine Makers Limited with reference to the maintenance of their existing employment in Oldham before the letting by His Majesty's Government of the factory at Barton.

None. The Government factory at Barton was required in addition to the existing works at Oldham in order to increase output of textile machinery.

asked the President of the Board of Trade-how soon he expects that the Anglo-Yugoslav Trade Agreement will be signed; and what is delaying its completion.

I hope these protracted negotiations will be brought to an early and successful conclusion. The leader of the Yugoslav Delegation is consulting his Government afresh and I should therefore prefer not to make any statement at this stage. I hope, however, to be in a position to make a fuller statement in a few days.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of licensed boot repairers single shop men in the country, and how many of these work in the provinces and use the best materials.

The only figures which are available are the total number of shoe repair firms, which was 40,511 at 31st December, 1947, and 35,770 of these were outside the London area. I regret that no collated information exists as to the number of one-man businesses or the type of material which they use.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is a shortage of cigarettes in the smaller towns and villages of Northumberland; and whether he will take immediate steps to ensure supplies on the basis of equitable distribution.

I have no evidence that cigarettes are any scarcer in Northumberland than elsewhere; but if the hon. Member would let me have any specific evidence that this is so and will let me know what particular towns and villages he has in mind, I should be prepared to make inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the grave shortage of china in the Sunderland area, especially cups and saucers at reasonable prices; and what steps are being taken to see that supplies reach the area.

I know that domestic pottery, of which a large proportion is exported, is generally scarce on the home market. I am having inquiries made to see whether the Sunderland area is exceptionally badly supplied with goods at reasonable prices. If so, I will try to arrange for special consignments to be sent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the details which have been sent to him about the increasing difficulty of exporting woollen piece goods to New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Southern Ireland and elsewhere; what steps he is taking to reduce productions costs; and if he will make a statement.

As regards the market for wool cloth abroad I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 5th February. As regards the possibility of reducing production costs, this is primarily a matter for the wool industry itself.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many goods in volume and in value have been returned from abroad, especially from America, unsold since 1st January, 1947, to the latest available date.

Details of goods returned from abroad are not shown separately in the monthly Trade and Navigation Accounts. The value of import licences issued for such goods during the year 1947 from non-sterling sources was about £3,000,000 including some £480,000 from the United States. This represents about 0·5 per cent. of our exports to these areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factories now in course of construction in the South Wales Development Area are not to be proceeded with; and where these factories are located.

I am not yet in a position to add to the reply which I gave to my hon Friend on this matter on 3rd February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will provide dockets for the furnishing of new houses for people taking up appointments of public importance, if they can show that they have never previously had homes of their own.

Under the existing scheme applications for utility furniture and household furnishings from married people setting up home for the first time are favourably considered. I should also be glad to consider any particular case which the hon. Member may have in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken to increase the shipments of potash to this country from Germany.

I have been asked to reply. We have contracted to buy during the current season all the potash which the Russian zone of Germany was prepared to sell us. More than 50 per cent. of our requirements are being met from this source. Efforts are being made to increase production in the British zone and we have also secured a small quantity from there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the imports of petrol into the port of Bristol in January, 1947, and January, 1948.

Imports of motor spirit in January, 1947, into the port of Bristol (including Avonmouth, Portishead and Weston-super-Mare) were 14.5 million gallons valued at £389,000. Corresponding figures for January, 1948, are not yet available, but I will let the hon. Member have provisional figures later this month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) why it was that the Hemp Controller of his Department laid down the price of British East African sisal as $331.88 per ton of 2,240 pounds when selling this to the cordage manufacturers of the U.S.A. when the world price was approximately $380 per ton on identical terms, thereby losing this country approximately $100,000;(2) what quantity of British East African sisal was allocated to foreign markets during 1947 on the basis of the United Kingdom price of £81 4s. od. per ton ex ship U.K.; and if he is aware that the world market price during the year averaged approximately £100 per ton; and why this undercharge of £15 per ton was made to the countries to whom this sisal was sold.

The quantity of British East African sisal sold to foreign markets during 1947 on the basis of £81 4s. 0d. per ton for No. 1 Grade ex-ship United Kingdom was 6,450 tons. There is no world market price for sisal. The purchase of the whole output of sisal in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika was made to ensure that the needs of the United Kingdom and of certain other countries for sisal for the manufacture of binder twine and other essential purposes should be met in so far as the supply of sisal permits.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the increase of petrol production from non-dollar sources made available for Great Britain since 1945.

Imports into the United Kingdom of motor spirit from non-dollar sources increased from about 635,000 tons in 1945 to about 1,670,000 tons in 1947.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he intends to reduce purchases of motor spirit from the dollar area by 254,000,000 gallons in the period 1st January to 31st August, 1948, in order to achieve the required dollar saving.

The purchases of motor spirit from dollar sources for the sterling area as a whole will, of course, be lower than they would otherwise have been by the amount of the savings achieved in this country. As I have already stated, petrol was being saved in December at a rate of about 264 million gallons a year. I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 3rd February.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can give the number of urban district councils who have refused to co-operate in his voluntary fuel saving campaign.

Five hundred and seventeen urban district councils were asked to co-operate in this campaign and 102 have so far refused. In 315 urban districts co-operation is being given either through local committees or in other ways. About 100 councils have not reached any decision. Co-operation was invited from 1,345 local authorities in all, including the urban district councils. Nine hundred and twenty-five are co-operating in the campaign, 203 are undecided and 217 have refused to co-operate.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is satisfied that the actual progress made up to 31st January, in the construction of the power stations at West Ham, Poplar, Deptford, and Bankside is in accordance with the programme as originally planned.

The original programmes had to be revised in the light of various difficulties arising from the war, which prevented their being started on time. Further revisions were recently made in accordance with capital investment policy. I consider that the actual progress made on these four stations is satisfactory having regard to these revisions.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why doctors are allowed preferential treatment over all other citizens by being allowed to use their cars and petrol to attend football matches and other sporting events.

Because where a doctor may have to attend emergency and urgent cases, it is necessary to allow him to have his car with him. But a doctor is entitled to use his car for social and recreational purposes only if he is on call.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what arrangements he is making for the supply of petrol to permit the use of private cars by the many thousands of people in this country and from all parts of the world wishing to witness the Olympic games.

No allowances of petrol will be granted specifically for the use of spectators, but visitors from overseas who have a touring allowance will be entitled to use this and it is of course the intention that adequate local transport facilities shall be made available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when the hon. Member for Huntingdonshire may expect a reply to his letter dated 19th January, 1948, to the Regional Petroleum Officer, Eastern Area, Cambridge, concerning the application of Mr. S. G. Wisson, of Abbotsley, who is an ex-Serviceman, for petrol to operate a private hire service for the village which has no other hire car within reach and only very occasional buses and is 4½, miles from the nearest town; whether he is aware that Mr. Wisson first applied last November; and how many gallons of petrol per month it is proposed to issue to Mr. Wisson.

I understand that the Regional Petroleum Officer has now advised the hon. Member that an allowance will be authorised in this case. The amount will be assessed when further details have been supplied by the applicant.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he has considered the advertisement forwarded to him offering cars for self-drive hire for any purpose and without restriction; and in view of the resentment this arouses among those who have had to lay up their cars, what action he proposes to take to prevent this inequitable practice and the circumvention of the restriction of the use of petrol.

Yes. As I announced in the House on 5th February an order will shortly be made limiting the use of taxis and hire-cars including self-drive cars to a radius of 20 miles from the place where the vehicle is ordinarily kept, except in the case of journeys for business or urgent domestic purposes where the use of alternative transport is not reasonably practicable.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what outer radius is to apply for the new restriction on the hire of motor vehicles in addition to the inner radius of 20 miles; and whether the conditions attached to this radius will be similar to those laid down in Statutory Rules and Orders, 1944, No. 281.

I do not intend to revive the wartime provision for an outer radius.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will institute a check of cars between 6 and 11 p.m. on several evenings in Piccadilly and Park Lane, with a view to ascertaining whether petrol coupons are being properly used.

I understand that during the past three weeks the police have questioned a number of motorists in these areas and that in certain cases the question of proceedings for misuse of petrol is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the present monthly consumption of petrol by the police forces of the country compared with the month prior to the abolition of the basic petrol ration.

Consumption of petrol by the police during January, 1948, was approximately 353,000 gallons as corn pared with 367,000 gallons during September, 1947, the month preceding the withdrawal of the basic ration.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether there has been any increase in the facilities for cleaning and screening coal in the Lancashire collieries during the last twelve months.

I am informed by the National Coal Board that one dry cleaning plant was installed at a Lancashire colliery during the year. Arrangements were also made at a number of collieries to clean mechanically sizes of coal previously hand picked.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether in view of the continual presence of explosives in the coal issued to the consumer, he is taking further action in the matter.

Every reported case where explosives are found in coal, or where an explosion occurs in a coal fire, is investigated, usually by the police. Fourteen cases have been investigated during the last two months. In seven cases explosions occurred and the probable causes were respectively stone in the coal, some kind of ammunition, drying gunpowder in front of the fire, a railway fog signal, and a coal mining explosive; of the two other explosions, no definite cause has been found, but in one of these cases the explosive was clearly not one used in coal mining. In the other seven cases no explosion took place, but in four of them coal mining explosives were found; three other apparently similar cases are still under investigation.Where a coal mining explosive appears to have been involved (whether an explosion actually occurred or not) immediate investigation has been made at the colliery concerned. So far one investigation has disclosed unsatisfactory supervision at the colliery concerned, and this is being remedied. The other cases are still under investigation. The statutory regulations concerning the use and custody of explosives at collieries are adequate to safeguard the public if they are properly carried out and the National Coal Board have impressed upon all Divisional Boards the need for the greatest care in this respect. I cannot, of course, accept responsibility for explosives which may find their way into the coal after it has left the colliery, but in view of the public concern at the continuance of these incidents, I am asking the Chief Inspector of Mines to instruct all Mines Inspectors to pay special attention to the observance at collieries of the statutory requirements governing the use and custody of explosives.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has considered a communication regarding the need for effecting repairs to houses owned by the National Coal Board from the Abertillery Trades Council; and if he will state the nature of his reply.

The communication referred to is dated 6th February and I only received it on 9th February. Its subject matter is the alleged delay in repairing certain property owned by the National Coal Board. As this is a matter of day to day administration, which is the responsibility of the Board, I have forwarded the letter to the Board with the request that they will deal with it direct, and have written to the Abertillery Trades Council so informing them.

asked the Minister of Supply on what terms and conditions the Government factory at Barton is let to Textile Machine Makers Limited; and what is the duration of the lease.

This factory has been leased to Messrs. Platt Bros. & Company, Limited, for a period of ten years from 1st August, 1946, with the usual option to take a further lease for a longer term. The terms of the lease follow substantially the lines of the standard lease for Government surplus factories and provide for a short-period rent based on 1939 values, to be adjusted later in accordance with current market value. They also include covenants by the lessee for full repair and insurance and for payment of all outgoings, and prohibitions against assignment or sub-letting and the use of the factory for purposes other than those for which it has been leased.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the shortage of steel scrap, a determined effort will be made to salve the large quantity of ex-Service metal stores still lying around aerodromes and other wartime sites.

Yes. The Service Departments are making special efforts to increase the transfer of all suitable surplus stores to the Ministry of Supply for scrap. Much of the steel in tanks and other armoured equipment is, however, alloy and is not, therefore, good general scrap.

asked the Minister of Supply if he can give in tabular form the tonnage of steel produced each month for 1946 and 1947; and the licences granted for the use of steel for each of these months.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is as follows:

Production of Steel Ingots and Castings Month
(Four or five weekly period) 1946:		'000 ingot tons
January (5 weeks)	…	1,143.8
February	…	988.7
March	…	1,022.7
April	…	1,008 4
May (5 weeks)	…	1,309.5
June	…	960.2
July (5 weeks)	…	1,130.7
August	…	903.7
September	…	954.0
October (5 weeks)	…	1,271.7
November	…	1.055.0
December	…	945.3
Total 1946 (52 weeks)	…	12,693.7

1947:	…
January (5 weeks)	…	1,199.0
February	…	825.0
March	…	783.9
April (5 weeks)	…	1,182.1
May	…	975.7
June	…	1,016.0
July (5 weeks)	…	1,058.5
August	…	936 8
September	…	1,064.8
October (5 weeks)	…	1.376.5
November	…	1,090.3
December (5 weeks)	…	1,216.0
Total 1947 (53 weeks)		12,724.5

It is not possible to correlate the above totals with the quarterly allocations of steel, since such allocations are based on the total supplies of steel available, i.e. home production plus imports and surplus disposals.

asked the Minister of Works the number of brickyards closed in the Midland area between 31st January, 1947, and 31st January, 1948.

In the Midland area 13 brickyards closed between 31st January, 1947, and 31st January, 1948.

asked the Minister of Works the number of German prisoners of war, Poles, and European volunteer workers, engaged in the brick industry of England, Scotland and Wales, at the present time.

The answer is included in the following table:The number of prisoners of war, Poles and European Volunteer Workers engaged in the brick industry in England, Scotland and Wales at 3rd February was:

		Prisoners of War.	Poles.	European Volunteer Workers.
England	…	1,853	1,350	859
Scotland	…	28	31	—
Wales	…	12	107	—
Total	…	1,893	1,488	859

asked the Minister of Works how many building operatives are employed in Grimsby today as compared with July, 1947; and to what work and where have the balance been transferred.

It is estimated that some 2,300 building and civil engineering operatives, aged 16 and over, were employed in Grimsby in July, 1947, and 2,150 in December, 1947. No information is available as to the number of men in Grimsby who have left the building and civil engineering industries for other work or who have taken up building and civil engineering work outside Grimsby.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many hospitals there are for the treatment of venereal disease for airmen; how many nurses are employed in these hospitals; and how many cases were treated in 1947.

There are no R.A.F. hospitals solely for cases of venereal disease, but facilities for treatment are provided at home and overseas in 13 hospitals and two large sick quarters. The nursing of airmen with venereal disease is entirely carried out by male nursing orderlies; the number of orderlies so employed is not readily available. During 1947, 6,121 cases were treated; this excludes those treated overseas in December, for which figures have not yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the Section Officer at Chippenham and the Station Engineer at Keevil, in rejecting a recent application for employment from the ex-Servicemen at Keevil aerodrome, quoted A.M.O. 324/45 para. 3 (f), which they interpreted as meaning longest civilian service at one aerodrome and as forbidding them to give any consideration to service in the R.A.F.; whether this interpretation has been officially approved; and if he will make it clear that men who have served in the R.A.F should have preference over those who did not.

I think there must be some misunderstanding regarding these men. A.M.O. A324/45 deals with the procedure for discharging industrial employees when a station is reduced or closed down, not with applications for employment. R.A.F. Station Keevil, has, in fact, been closed down and all industrial employees had been discharged by 3rd February, 1948. The order of discharge is based broadly on the principle of "last in, first out," and service in His Majesty's Forces does not count unless the individual was employed by the Air Ministry before he went into the Forces. I regret that I cannot depart from the terms of this agreement, the principle of which is common to all Government establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the invalid homes for Poles discharged from the Polish Forces will be closed down; and whether the invalids still embodied in the Polish Resettlement Corps will be re-boarded and, if necessary, sent to the homes before they are closed.

It is assumed that the invalid homes referred to are three homes in England which were taken over by the Ministry of Health on the dissolution of the Interim Treasury Committee for Polish Questions. The two smaller homes have only limited facilities for treatment and it is proposed to close them within the next three months. The largest home will be retained as a Convalescent Home and administered in conjunction with hospitals which provide treatment for men invalided from the Polish armed forces. Invalids requiring long-term treatment are not accepted into the Polish Resettlement Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will publish a table showing a typical day's rations consumed by other ranks in the Army during any day in any month in 1938, showing the calorie value of each item and explaining to what extent it was possible for other ranks to supplement such a day's rations.

A different system of messing was in force in 1938 from that which operates now. I am endeavouring to extract the information asked for by the hon. and gallant Member from past records for circulation in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for War what changes have been made since November, 1946, in the Regulations for Army Dependants' Allowance; and, in particular, whether students and apprentices whose earnings and contributions to the maintenance of a dependant would have been greater now than in the six months preceding their enlistments, may now have this taken into account when the rate of allowance is being determined.

The answer to the first part of the Question is none. Dependants' allowances are restricted to the alleviation of hardship arising when Service personnel are unable to continue, while in the Forces, the same contributions towards the support of dependants as they made in civil life. Assistance in cases of the type referred to in the second part of the Question can be considered under the scheme for War Service Grants administered by the Ministry of Pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consult with the Service Departments with a view to bringing the conditions of employment of civilian salaried staff engaged locally by the Services in Singapore in general alignment with that of locally engaged staff employed in similar work by the Singapore Government.

The contents of the report of the Commission appointed to consider the revision of salaries and conditions of service of public officers in Malaya, which is at present under consideration, have been communicated to the Service Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of complaints from Singapore that an undue proportion of building labour is being monopolised by the Armed Forces; and what steps are being taken to develop an adequate supply of building labour in the Colony.

No such complaints have reached my right hon. Friend but he is seeking information from the Governor of Singapore and will write to my hon. Friend when this has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether increased wages are being paid to the workers arising from the higher prices paid for West African cocoa.

The increased price goes to the Gold Coast and Nigerian Cocoa Marketing Boards on which the farmers are represented. The Boards will use the money for the benefit of the industry and those engaged in it. Most of the labour is employed on a profit-sharing basis and thus enjoys with the farmer the advantage of the higher price.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the amounts now standing to the credit of the Cotton and Coffee Control Funds which originated in Uganda in 1942–43; how these sums will be utilised; and whether the funds will be spent only for the benefit of those in cotton and coffee producing areas.

I am consulting the Governor on the subject and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I have received his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that the correct type of cotton seed is being used in Uganda.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Food (1) 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;(2) 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.Mr. Strachey,