asked the Secretary of State for War what persons are accommodated at Edgerton House, Havelock Road, Shrewsbury; and how many units of electricity have been consumed at this establishment during the last quarter.

This house accommodates officers of a district headquarters. During the quarter ended 3rst December, 1947, 3,477 units of electricity were recorded as consumed. There are indications that the electricity meters or wiring circuits are at fault and investigations are being made.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the apparently dilapidated condition of Wellington Barracks compares unfavourably with that of a number of private houses in its neighbourhood which have been newly repainted; and if he will cause the barracks to be redecorated forthwith.

Structural repairs are first necessary and are being started immediately. Painting will follow.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the findings of the recent War Office Nutrition Commission set up to inquire into the standards of nutrition among certain Army units.

This Commission will be carrying out research of a highly scientific nature for some time yet. Normally the reports of routine departmental investigations are not made public.

asked the Secretary of State for War what concessions are made to British troops serving in Kenya by way of reduced prices for tobacco, cigarettes and other necessities obtained from the N.A.A.F.I. and by reduced fares on trains and buses to replace the wartime concessions that have been withdrawn.

I understand that the Government of Kenya charge 50 per cent. of the normal duty on tobacco and cigarettes for sale in military cantonments. Elsewhere no concession is made. I have no information as to concession fares allowed to troops travelling privately on trains or buses in Kenya.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, in view of the fact that childless widows are to receive pension recognition at the age of fifty, he will give consideration to the pension claim of spinsters at the age of fifty-five.

I must correct the assumption underlying this Question. A childless widow does not in general become entitled to a continuing pension under the new Scheme unless she is 50 or over when her husband dies and she has been married at least 10 years.This claim was fully considered when the National Insurance Bill was before Parliament, and rejected. My right hon. Friend has since given it further close consideration but sees no reason to ask Parliament to make further provision for this class of insured person.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will instruct his regional officers to cease the practice of having telephone calls made to men who are on the staff of friendly societies, inviting them to apply for positions in his Department; to confine their recruiting programme to inviting applications from people who have been working 50 per cent. and over for the Approved State Section; and inviting applications in the public press from people who have knowledge of National Insurance work or anyone else interested.

Invitations to approved society staffs who are wholly or mainly engaged on National Health Insurance work to apply for positions in my Department were addressed to them collectively through their societies and a general invitation to others with the appropriate insurance experience was made by Press advertisements. No approaches were made direct to particular individuals. I have no evidence of the practice referred to by my hon. Friend but if he will let me have details I will make further investigations.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what is the present scale of fuel allowance for supplementary pensioners in the West Riding of Yorkshire; and what was the scale a year ago.

The Regulations approved by Parliament provide for supplementary pensions to be paid at inclusive rates which cover fuel as well as all other needs. The former practice of excluding fuel from the needs for which the normal weekly rates provided and paying additions to those rates during the winter months was discontinued in January, 1944, for reasons which were fully explained to Parliament at the time. Since then uniform rates have been paid throughout the year.

asked the Minister of Labour to what ethnic groups do the displaced persons who have entered this country under the European Volunteer Workers Scheme belong; and what is the percentage of such entrants in each group.

Nearly one half of the European Volunteer Workers so far recruited are displaced persons from the Baltic States of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, and the remainder are displaced persons mainly from the Ukraine, Poland and Yugoslavia.

asked the Minister of Labour upon what basis are displaced persons selected for inclusion in the European Volunteer Workers Scheme.

The basis of selection of European Volunteer Workers is industrial suitability for the industries for which they are recruited.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now make a statement regarding his activities in connection with attracting increased manpower into the cotton industry and achieving an increase in production; and whether he will give any indication of targets for 1948.

I know very well that nothing is more important than to increase as rapidly as possible the labour force in the cotton industry, and all our efforts in the cotton districts are directed to this end by intensified publicity, by improvement of conditions, by the operation of the labour controls, and by the supply of foreign workers. The target for 1948 is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the present standard rates of wages in the engineering and textile industries; and how those rates compare with the comparable period following the 1914–18 war.

The recognised rates of wages for skilled fitters in the engineering industry range from 101s. to 106s. 7d., compared with 83s. 10d. to 93s. 11d. at December, 1920. For labourers the rates range from 86s. 1d. to 90s. 1d., compared with 66s. 11d. to 74s. 10d. at December, 1920. It is not practicable to quote the average increase in wages in the textile industries. A large proportion of the work-people in the textile industries are paid at piece rates of wages.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Salford ex-Service men and women have received training under the Government's rehabilitation scheme; and how many if those so trained have been placed in employment.

Three hundred and eight ex-Service men and 11 ex-Service women who were registered at the Salford Employment Exchange have received training since July, 1945, under the vocational training scheme. The number registered as unplaced after training is two.

asked the Minister of Labour if in view of the importance of bread to the farming community and others he will allow prisoners of war who are willing to do so, to stay on in this country as bakers.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeffington-Lodge) on 30th October last, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state on the last available date the total number of unemployed signing on at the Whitehaven and Cleator signing Employment Exchanges, respectively, male and female to be shown separately; also the number of disabled

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men registered at Treorchy, Tonypandy, Ferndale and Porth Exchanges, respectively, on 1st December, 1947, and 1st February, 1948.

The numbers of insured men registered as unemployed at the Employment Exchanges in question, excluding those classified as unsuitable for ordinary employment, at the nearest dates for which figures are available, are as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of ex-miners registered on 1st February, 1948, as suffering from either silicosis or pneumoconiosis at each of the Treorchy, Tonypandy, Ferndale and Porth exchanges.

A special count was taken on 5th November, 1947, of ex-miners registered under the Disabled Persons persons signing on, those who have been signing on for more than three months to be shown separately.

Figures in the detail required are not available for any date later than 8th December, 1947. The figures for that date are given in the following Table:(Employment) Act, 1944, as disabled on account of silicosis or pneumoconiosis. The figures for the four exchanges mentioned were then as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the anxiety felt by the workers of Messrs. Textile Machine Makers Limited works in Oldham at the continual transfer of work to the Barton factory; and what is the position regarding future employment.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 10th February.

asked the Minister of Labour for what purpose Collinges Mill, Oldham, is now being used; how many persons are employed there; how many persons are being trained; and what is the programme for increasing the use of these premises.

I have already written to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of insured workers employed by firms having quota obligations under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act at Birkenhead; the numbers of registered disabled persons; and the numbers of such persons unemployed in the Birkenhead district; and the quota which would need to be absorbed to reduce unemployment amongst the disabled to that obtaining for all insured workers in the Birkenhead district.

The information requested in the first part of the Question is not available. The number of persons registered as disabled at Birkenhead is 2,518, of whom 337 were unemployed on the 19th January last. It is not possible to make the calculation asked for in the last part of the Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the national income went to groups with incomes under £250 per annum; from £250 to £500; from £500 to £1,000; and over £1,000 per annum in the years 1935 and 1947 respectively; and how many each group includes.

Estimates of the distribution of personal income by range of income for the years 1938 and 1945 have been provided in Table 10 of the White Paper on National Income and Expenditure (Cmd. 7099). No official estimates for years earlier than 1938 have been made. Estimates for 1946 will be available in the forthcoming White Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to consider the issue at an early date of a national balance sheet of industry and trade, setting out clearly the contributions and receipts of Scotland and England respectively.

No. As I said last week in reply to a similar question, it would not be opportune to add at present to the arrangements proposed in the recent White Paper on Scottish Affairs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Purchase Tax on co matting is at the rate of 50 per cent, while that on linoleum is at the rate of 33⅓ per cent. as these are alternative floor coverings for poor persons.

The position of the various floor coverings will be considered in the review of the Purchase Tax which I have undertaken to make before my next Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that persons concerned with horse shows have been informed that henceforward all vehicles and harness brought over from Eire to Great Britain and Northern Ireland for show purposes will be charged with duty and Purchase Tax and that there will not be any refund of duty when the articles are taken back to Eire; and whether, in view of the importance of allowing the maximum freedom with regard to shows of this kind, he will investigate the matter with a view to remedial action.

I am looking into this matter, and I will write to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the abolition of Purchase Tax on agricultural vaccines and serums.

A considerable number of sera, antigens and vaccines are already exempt from Purchase Tax as being essential for the welfare of livestock of economic importance. I shall be considering the question of animal medicines further in the review of the tax which I have undertaken to make in connection with the forthcoming Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will furnish an approximate estimate of the amount of repayment of external debt assumed in the Government's export objectives target of 18th December last.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the publication of the Economic Survey for 1948.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the proposed reduction of £10,000,000 per annum in the expenditure on road maintenance, and as such reduction will substantially increase road maintenance costs in order to overtake arrears, he will consider setting aside some part of the present proceeds of motor fuel taxation for road work when the present need for economy in capital expenditure no longer applies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can provide figures indicating to what extent the annual revenue from the taxation of motor fuel and from road vehicle licence duties exceeds annual Government road expenditure; and whether he will now reconsider the whole basis of such taxation, with a view to ensuring a closer relationship between the revenue from these sources and such expenditure.

The reply to the first Question is. "No." The produce of particular taxes is not assigned to meet particular items of expenditure and there is no connection between the level of Government expenditure on road maintenance and the proceeds of motor fuel taxation. In reply to the second Question, the figures are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the proposed allowance of foreign currency for travellers to France and Belgium can be made available for students travelling with school parties during the Easter vacation.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. M. Lindsay) on 5th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether it is proposed that military surpluses exported to the U.S.S.R. under Article III of the Trade Agreement of 27th December, 1947, shall be credited in the Balance of Payment Account in future White Papers on National Income against gross military expenditure abroad;

The figures of gross expenditure used were £382 million and £211 million. Gross figures will be used in the forthcoming Economic Survey. The light rails to be sent to Russia from military surplus will therefore form part of the receipts side in the balance of payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it was with his knowledge and approval that Advertising Report No. 6 to the Nation of 21st December, 1947, which claimed that the year 1947, which began in gloom, was ending in hope, was issued to the Press; and if he is aware of the confusion caused in the public mind by this report, in view of the recent White Papers issued by the Government on the economic situation.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "Yes," and to the second, "No." On the contrary, it would certainly cause confusion in the public mind if the Government were to suggest that substantial increases in the output of coal, steel, textiles and other commodities were not grounds for hope for the national future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in pursuance of the policy described in Cmd. 7321 and the example set in the Colonial Development Corporation and the Overseas Food Corporation, he will lay down a standard maximum salary of £5,000 a year for full-time service with a nationalised industry, whether on the board or in an executive post; and take steps to ensure that salaries in excess of this standard will be reduced by agreement with their recipients or otherwise as opportunity permits.

The salaries of the chairmen and members of the public boards were fixed at the level necessary to obtain men with the qualifications and experience required for these highly responsible posts having regard to the current salaries obtainable for similar posts in the field of private enterprise. I do not think that it would be practicable to work to a specific limitation as suggested.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet made any estimate of the prospective decline in the yield of entertainment tax in consequence of no new American films being imported into this country; and whether, in view of the difficulties of the cinematograph theatres in these circumstances, he will consider some early reduction in the present high rate of that duty.

No; with reference to the second part of the Question, my hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the issue of cupronickel coins is keeping pace with the withdrawals of silver; and what amount has been exchanged to date.

The total amount of cupro-nickel coin issued to date is £8,104,000. The amount of silver coin withdrawn since 1st January, 1947, is £1,442,472.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, for the guidance of the public, he will indicate in greater detail than hitherto what forms of expenditure have a strong inflationary tendency.

No. It is impossible to define for different individuals what form of expenditure is necessary but all unnecessary expenditure is to be avoided and the consequent savings should be invested in national savings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue as a White Paper a statement of our export commitments under all the bilateral trade agreements of capital equipment under detailed headings with approximate delivery dates, with the known requirements under the same headings of colonial development schemes approved to date and those for the re-equipment of our industries at home, with the output from present British capacity over the most convenient recent period; and an approximate statement of the present output, the export commitments and the requirements to maintain present home civilian consumption of the principal consumer goods of which there is a shortage.

No. Commitments for the export of specific capital goods under bilateral trade agreements are extremely limited and comparable information under detailed headings with approximate delivery dates in respect of colonial and home investment is not available. Certain aspects of this problem have, however, already been dealt with in a general way in the White Paper on Capital Investment in 1948.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the taxpayer of the Paymaster-General's tour of the African Colonies; and who were the officials who accompanied him.

The estimated cost of the Mission is £4,500. There were four officials, an assistant secretary from the Ministry of Food, a principal and a temporary officer from the Board of Trade, and an assistant principal from the Treasury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Mr. Brewster, an American visitor, spending only one night in this country on his way to France, was made to pay full duty on his dutiable goods, in dollars, as he had not enough sterling; was refunded the amount in sterling on the following day on his departure from Dover with the same goods, and was then informed that he could not take so much sterling out of England; what is being done to reimburse him; and whether he is aware how much damage to tourist travel this incident has caused in New York and elsewhere.

I am inquiring into this case and will write to the hon. Member in due course. Facilities, however, exist whereby a transit passenger may hand over his goods to a forwarding agent for removal under bond or if duty has been deposited he can get repayment by sterling cheque, which his bank will honour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate the steps that he proposes to take to nullify the effect on commodity prices of the continuance of the rise of price of imported goods and services; and is it his intention to reverse the practice exampled by the recent discontinuance of the subsidy on hides, which caused a serious rise in the price of boots and shoes.

As was indicated in the speech of my right hon. Friend the Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Dalton) on the November Budget, it may be necessary, if price movements of imports are unfavourable, to raise the prices of certain foodstuffs to a moderate extent. Government policy will, in fact, endeavour to hold the balance between the stabilising effects of food subsidies on salaries and wages and the need to control the cost to the Exchequer.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total number of officials at present authorised to carry out inspections and investigations in private houses and premises without a search warrant.

A list of the categories of officials so authorised was given in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) on 11th March, 1947. The present total corresponding to that of 10,916 then given is 9,560.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why prints of the Transit of Animals (Amendment) Order, which came into operation on 27th August, 1947, were not available until January, 1948, in His Majesty's Stationery Office; and why were these prints numbered 1947, No. 2915.

I regret that through inadvertance the Order referred to by the hon. Member was not registered when it was received by the Editor of Statutory Rules and Orders. The error was not discovered until January of this year when it was rectified by giving the instrument the next number available in the 1947 series. The publication of the instrument in the series of Statutory Rules and Orders was necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Rules Publications Act; effective publicity had, however, already been given to the Order through the machinery provided by the Diseases of Animals Acts.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many copies of the United States Department of State document Nazi-Soviet Relations 1939–41 have arrived in this country, how many further copies are on order, and what arrangements are being made to satisfy the considerable public demand for this document.

I do not know how many copies have reached this country. The Stationery Office as a selling agent for American official publications has

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what were the total amounts spent in 1938 and 1947, respectively, on Government advertising in the Press, by posters, films or by any other means.

The information is being collected and will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the cost of advertising in the Press and otherwise by Government Departments during the calendar year 1947, with comparable figures for the years 1945 and 1946.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd February, 1948; Vol. 446, c. 1652], gave the following information:placed an order for 600 copies which have not yet arrived.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of dollars spent in 1946 and 1947, on the purchase of grapefruit, melons, peaches, pineapples, etc.

£10,800 in 1946 and £527,590 in 1947. Most of the fruit was imported privately under the open general license which up till 1st July, 1947, allowed imports of fruit from all countries, including the dollar countries. No fruit is now being imported for dollars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made to date in the physical expansion of each university; and what is the approximate amount and value of building work still to be carried out at each university.

I regret that information in the form asked for is not available. I am, however, circulating a statement showing for each institution the estimated cost of schemes for physical expansion in respect of which capital grants have been approved during the past three years. Of the total grants of approximately £7¼ million promised in respect of these schemes amounting to about £9 million, rearly £2 million has been paid in respect of expenditure already incurred.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial arrangements he is making for British subjects to visit Japan, in view of the recent easing of the regulations for entry to that country.

The existing arrangements under which the maximum daily allowance is £7, are believed to be reasonably satisfactory and no change is contemplated.