asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the concrete type house being built in Grimsby is not as popular or satisfactory as the traditional brick type; and, in view of the fact that brick houses can be built as cheaply, if he will ensure that future houses are built of brick.

No, Sir. As regards the general part of the Question, however, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 5th February.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consult the housewives now living in these concrete houses to obtain their opinion before he has any more built?

All the housewives I have consulted have been delighted with the houses.

Can the Minister ensure that future houses are not built on foundations of sand, as were the Tories' coalition plans?

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that Grimsby is more than adequately represented in the person of the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department; and is this not a piece of "grate crashing" on the part of the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne).

Is not the hon. Member aware that I represent 11,000 voters in Grimsby, and that this estate is within my constituency; and will he please withdraw his remarks?

asked the Minister of Health the number of eviction notices served upon tenants of requisitioned houses in Birmingham; the number of cases in which eviction has taken place, and the steps taken to provide housing accommodation for tenants turned out of their dwellings.

Up to 3rst December, 1947, legal proceedings have been taken in 33 cases against persons who have been housed by the council in requisitioned property, and evictions have taken place in 14 cases; as these proceedings were taken only on the ground of failure to pay charges properly due, no offer of rehousing was made.

Is it not a pitiful situation that these evictions should take place in Birmingham in these circumstances? Will the Minister take steps to remedy this miserable state of affairs?

I would remind the hon. Member that evictions do not take place only at the instance of local authorities.

Is the Minister aware that evictions in the City of Birmingham are becoming a serious problem, and that the estates department is totally inadequate and unable to cope with the problem? Is he further aware that weekly we get photographs in the Press of families who have to walk the streets until someone will give them a floor to sleep on?

I am aware that the housing problem in Birmingham is still acute, as it is in other parts of the country, but the Question relates to evictions from requisitioned property. The hon. Member is probably referring to evictions by private landlords.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to returns of population shown in the Annual Abstract of Statistics of the United Kingdom for the period of 1935 to 1946, from which it appears that Birmingham has now become the largest provincial city in Great Britain; and if, in view of this increase in population, special consideration will be given to the gravity of the housing problem in Birmingham.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir." As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5th February.

Will the Minister take this pitiful situation in Birmingham into serious consideration? Will he let my hon. Friend in the Labour Party and myself meet private builders to see whether we cannot do something to solve this problem?

It is a very great pity that the hon. Member did not address himself to the pitiful housing conditions in Birmingham during the last 25 years.

I hope that I am within the recollection of the House in saying that I have raised this question on repeated occasions with very unsatisfactory replies being given each time.

Is it not the case that Glasgow is a "large provincial city"? Having had such scurvy treatment in the matter of housing from the Tories is not Glasgow now entitled to priority?

I would be the last person, being a Welshman, to refer to Glasgow as a "provincial" city. I understand that Glasgow has all the housing under construction—and this applies to Birmingham too—that labour and materials will enable to be completed.

While I admit that Birmingham has taken the lead in housing, may I ask the Minister if he does not realise that there are 63,304 applicants on the Estates Register, and that the number is being increased by 300 or 400 a week, while there are 5,000 houses which are so dilapidated that they are falling down?

I cannot accept that. No hon. Member should accept the number of persons on the waiting lists as necessarily being an accurate measure of the housing needs.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses for occupation by agricultural workers have been authorised by his Department for building during 1948 by local authorities in Huntingdonshire.

I would refer the hon. Member to Appendix B to the Housing Return. Tenancies are not allocated till the houses are nearing completion, but a substantial proportion of the houses under construction will be allocated to members of the agricultural population.

Is the Minister aware that the demand for housing of agricultural workers in Huntingdonshire still far exceeds the supply, even when the houses now authorised have been completed? Is he further aware that some of the local authorities are confident that with their existing resources of labour and materials they could complete more houses than have been authorised? Will he give instructions for authorisation to be given for the building of more houses?

Where the supply of labour and materials in rural areas will permit further houses to be built in addition to those which are under construction, authorisation is being and will be given.

asked the Minister of Health why he has rejected the scheme submitted to him by the Horsham Rural District Council, and strongly supported by the West Sussex War Agricultural Executive Committee, for the erection of 156 houses for agricultural workers; and if he is aware that a resolution was passed without dissent at a recent meeting of the district council in question, strongly protesting against his action.

I am aware of the views of the Horsham Rural District Council. They have now been authorised to go to tender for a further 12 houses, and the position will be reconsidered in the light of further progress made with the 223 houses which have already been approved and not yet completed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that owing to the intensification of both horticultural and agricultural operations in this neighbourhood in the last seven years there is a great need for these houses to accommodate the agricultural workers? Is he further aware that the local council claims that it has on its books the names of private builders prepared to build the houses?

There may be on the books names of private builders prepared to build houses, but the labour and materials may not be available. If I can be satisfied that labour and materials are available, approval will certainly be given.

Will the Minister be prepared to receive a deputation if necessary?

There are 1,450 local authorities in Britain, and if I received a deputation from each of them, I should be in some difficulty. I am, however, prepared to receive any representations which the noble Lord may like to make.

asked the Minister of Health what will be the position of Papworth Industries Limited, after 5th July, 1948

The Industries will continue under voluntary management, but the sanatorium will become part of the Hospital Service.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the employees of Papworth Colony, most of whom are out patients, are much alarmed at the rumour that the Industries would not be taken over: and will he consult the management and the trade unions concerned before any change takes place?

As I have said, the Pap-worth Industries will not be taken over because they are not part of the Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health when he will be in a position to tell this House and the Association of Optical Practitioners the conditions of service provided for the optical profession in the new Health Service due to operate from 5th July this year.

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to announce the terms under which the optical practitioners will be asked to enter the new National Health Service.

An announcement will be made as soon as discussions with the representative bodies are concluded, but I cannot say yet when that will be.

Does that mean that hitherto negotiations have not been completed; and, if so, could the right hon. Gentleman say how he could possibly support the recent Resolution on the Health Service?

Negotiations are continuing. If the hon. and gallant Member looks at the recent Resolution he will see that there is no conflict.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now invite representatives of the British Medical Association to meet him so that a further attempt may be made to ensure that the National Health Act will have the co-operation and good will of the doctors when it begins to operate on 5th July.

I remain ready to co-operate closely with any professional spokesmen who want, with me, to make the new Service a success.

Can the Minister go a little further and invite representatives of the doctors to meet him, because, in the interests of the Health Service, all the country wants is a victory for common sense?

We all want a victory for common sense, but I should not be entitled to go behind the back of the House and suggest that Parliament can surrender any position it has taken up.

Would the right hon. Gentleman care to make a start towards proper negotiations again by withdrawing a statement which he made about the "raucous voiced" leaders of the British Medical Association, who have now been shown clearly as only interpreting the wishes of their constituents?

It remains to be seen how long they will interpret the wishes of their constituents. The answer to the hon. Member is that, as the Debate last week showed, every concession has been made by the Government. It is now time that concessions were made on the other side.

Will the Minister see that the loyal and gallant minority, of doctors who are willing to co-operate with the Government, is protected against any possible form of intimidation and victimisation?

Certainly.

Is the Minister aware that I am not asking him to go behind the back of Parliament, but to follow up some of the concessions which were suggested, or some of the doors he opened, in his speech in the House, to see if it is possible to resume negotiations?

I am always ready to listen to any fresh representations that may be made to me. I have always been ready to meet the representatives of the medical profession, and am still ready if they have any fresh suggestions to make.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the immediate allocation of a supply of streptomycin to the Leicester hospitals; and if he is aware that the nearest supply to this populous district is a considerable distance away.

I regret that owing to the limited supply of streptomycin available at present, it is not possible to add to the number of hospitals at which treatment with this drug can be given. As supplies improve, the needs of Leicester will be borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Health how many ex-Servicemen and women are being treated in municipal sanatoria for tuberculosis; and how many are waiting to be admitted.

At 31st December, 1947, the latest date for which particulars are available, there were 2,879 ex-Servicemen and 185 women under institutional treatment for tuberculosis in England and Wales. The numbers on the waiting lists were 329 men and 16 women.

In view of the varying treatment which these ex-Servicemen and women are receiving, will the right hon. Gentleman consult with his colleagues in the Service Departments to ensure that they get better treatment?

I believe that those who are in institutions are getting good treatment. The waiting lists are still very large, but the number of ex-Servicemen and women is not so large, and I think that the hon. and gallant Gentleman will agree that we ought not to give them preference over other members of the civilian population.

In view of the seriousness of these figures will my right hon. Friend consult the Secretary of State for Scotland to obtain a co-ordinated scheme whereby nursing services will get priority over the demands of women for the Armed Forces?

After the new scheme comes into operation on 5th July there will be such co-ordination.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the waiting time for tuberculosis patients?

If the hon. Member will put down a Question I will try to give him a reply.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some sanatoria have as many as 40 empty beds, because of the shortage of nurses?

Yes, Sir; the shortage has been acute for some years.

asked the Minister of Education the number of vacancies available at the present time for maladjusted children, both boys and girls, under his Ministry and the local authorities; and the number of such boys and girls, separately, ascertained as maladjusted.

Special schools and boarding homes have accommodation for 527 maladjusted children, but I have no information about current vacancies. In January, 1947, there were 3,896 boys and 1,899 girls ascertained as maladjusted: the great majority of these can appropriately be treated by attendance at a child guidance clinic.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of the hostels which were set up by the Ministry of Health for difficult children under the evacuation scheme have been closed, and how many could be used for this purpose?

I could not say, but eight proposals for special schools are under consideration at the moment.

Will my right hon. Friend take charge of the Tory candidate in Paisley, who is sadly maladjusted?

Good old Paisley.

asked the Minister of Education if he will afford facilities in 1948 for an exchange of students with other countries, including the Scandinavian countries, and arrange for a collective passport for each school taking advantage of an exchange.

I will gladly do anything I can to help such exchanges, and I have no doubt that the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges, which will shortly be established, will be able to assist in this matter. The question of issuing collective passports is one for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and I will bring my hon. Friend's suggestion to his attention.

Will that concession apply to youth organisations, as well as to schools?

I do not know that it is a concession; it is simply a facility which is available.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that the two departments of the Glebe Avenue School, Kenton, serve over 500 dinners daily in halls and classrooms; on what grounds the local authority has now been informed that a feeding unit is not regarded as necessary although three years ago it had a higher priority than other local schools where such units have been recently installed; and whether he will take steps to have this decision rescinded especially in view of the fact that three classes occupy the halls used as dining rooms.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." It has recently become necessary to arrange canteen projects in strict order of urgency. There are other Middlesex projects judged to be more urgent than the replacement of the existing canteen provision at Glebe Avenue, but this project will take its turn as soon as possible.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a neighbouring school, which did not have to accommodate classes in the halls used as dining rooms, has had a feeding unit installed although it was 19th in the priority list as against the 16th position of Glebe Avenue School?

Yes, Sir, that was installed before the necessity for urgent rearrangement took place.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that a number of head teachers at local education authority schools where distinctive dress is the custom are, despite the short supply of materials, insisting on the parents providing their children with such garments, and, will he send out a circular to the effect that such insistence must cease.

The attention of local authorities has already been called to the need for cutting out unnecessary demands for children's school clothing, and special reference was made to the undesirability in present circumstances of prescribing a school uniform.

asked the Minister of Education how soon he anticipates that a decision will be made upon the application of the Parish Council of Rackheath, Norfolk, for a grant under the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937, towards the provision and equipping of a playing field for the parish.

A provisional offer of grant has now been made by my Department toward the layout and equipment of a playing field.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the difficulties experienced in obtaining an adequate supply of French films suitable for showing in schools in this country; and what action he is taking to assist in this matter.

I am not aware of any special difficulties. The Ministry is at present negotiating with the French authorities with a view to an exchange of educational films between the two countries.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the majority of schools which ask for French educational films obtain only old-fashioned films, which are scratched and worn?

If they will bring their requirements to the notice of the section of my Department which deals with this matter it will assist in the negotiations which are taking place.

asked the Minister of Education if his attention has been called to the gift of Upton House, Warwickshire, with its rich collection of art treasures, to the National Trust; and if arrangements will be made to enable school managers and teachers to send parties of students in colleges and schools in the county at appropriate times to visit this centre of cultural interest.

Yes, and I have no doubt that the local education and school authorities, whose responsibility it is, will arrange in suitable cases for visits by school parties.

Is it the policy of the Ministry, in all cases of this kind, to see that the best use of these centres for cultural purposes is made by local education authorities and schools?

Yes, Sir, it is the duty of the local educational authority to arrange visits. A regulation relating to other than secondary schools has been removed in order that visits of this kind should be made easier.

asked the Minister of Education the number of classes with between 40 and 50 pupils on the register, and the number with 50 and over on the register in the schools under his jurisdiction in Birmingham.

There were, in maintained and assisted primary and secondary schools in Birmingham, on 9th February last, 2,036 classes with between 40 and 50 pupils on the registers, and 543 classes with 50 and over on the registers.

What assistance and advice are the Ministry giving to the Birmingham education authority with a view to helping them secure an improvement of the very bad state of affairs now existing, and a reduction in the size of classes in that city?

I recognise that the position is serious in Birmingham, and I have been reviewing the matter with the Teachers' Interim Committee. A meeting of the special working party which has been set up to deal with the matter is to be held on Monday, and I shall not hesitate to take any steps which I think are practicable to secure the necessary improvement.

Will one of the steps be the restarting of the Emergency Training Scheme for Teachers?

That would not assist in the immediate—and it is an immediate—difficulty. I would point out that the position in Birmingham is very exceptional.

Is there any reflection on the capacity and efficiency of the Birmingham Education Committee?

Not in the least.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider what has been done in Oldham and elsewhere, where an appeal has been made to part-time teachers and married women?

That has already been done by the Director of Education for Birmingham.

asked the Minister of Education why, in view of the grave shortage of women teachers and the increased number of children in infant schools, there is no accommodation in training colleges for over 1,000 young women willing to teach and anxious to enter college; and what action is now contemplated.

Two year training facilities are being expanded as rapidly as possible and 5,300 women students were admitted in 1947, as compared with about 3,000 before the war. It is planned to increase the number of admissions this year to about 6,000 and to effect a further substantial increase in 1949, as more Emergency College buildings can he made available.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider diverting some of the present buildings, as the situation is so serious? Is not 1949 a bit late?

We are converting buildings as speedily as possible but we cannot close a college in the middle of a session, and turn it over as a permanent training college for teachers. We are turning buildings over as quickly as we can, following the end of a session.

asked the Minister of Education from what date the change in policy, whereby local education authorities become responsible for all annual grants to youth organisations, came into operation.

The change in policy was announced in Circular 51 issued on 15th June, 1945, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

Was the Circular put into immediate operation?

The local authorities were asked to make provision in 1946–47.

asked the Minister of Education how many new residential colleges for adult education have been established since the 1944 Act; and how many of such colleges have ceased operation.

According to my information eleven residential colleges and centres of adult education, established since the 1944 Act, are in operation and others are projected. I am not aware that any of the colleges have ceased to operate.

Would the Minister encourage this movement because there are large numbers of young men and young women who will not be able to get into the universities for the next two years, and this is the only way available to them of getting an equivalent education?

We are encouraging this to the greatest extent possible by the provision of buildings that do not require the utilisation of much labour and materials for their conversion.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, why covenanted subordinates of the Indian State Railways, holding contracts signed on behalf of the Secretary of State for India in Council, have been refused any compensation, if they wished to leave their employment on the handing over of the railways to the Dominions of India and Pakistan

The contracts of the persons in question were, for legal reasons, made in the name of the Secretary of State for India. But, in fact, they were signed by an agent of the Government of India, and contracts made in the United Kingdom bore a note stating that the official would be subject to the orders of the Government of India, and that his salary and pension, if any, would be subject to the vote of the Legislative Assembly. These officials have not been dismissed in consequence of the transfer of power; on the contrary, the continuance of their conditions of service was guaranteed by the Indian leaders. If, nevertheless, they now wish to retire, the terms on which they do so must evidently be settled by the Government by whom they are employed.

Is the Minister aware that these people are suffering great hardship because they can, get no compensation, whereas those in a slightly higher grade are able to obtain compensation?

The difference is that the latter were appointed by the Secretary of State as part of his service, and when his control over them ceased their career was terminated. The career of these other people is not terminated if they choose to carry on.

When the right hon. Gentleman says that their career is not terminated, has not their career been much worsened by the fact that the Minister of Communications in India has publicly stated that he will give preference to Indians over Europeans?

I quite admit that that is a point for consideration.

Have these employees to pay their own passage if they want to come home?

That is another question. If the hon. Member will put it down, I will answer it.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations why Captain J. Parker, late Indian Army, who before joining the Army had eight years' service in the ranks with the R.A.F., nine years and 258 days' colour service with the Lancashire Fusiliers, and four years and 166 days' commissioned service, does not qualify for an officer's pension.

Captain Parker has received the retired pay which is allowed under Article 634 (a) (ii) of the Royal Warrant to an officer promoted from the ranks to an emergency commission. I will send my hon. Friend full details about the Royal Warrant and about the way in which Captain Parker's claim has been dealt with.

Does not my right hon. Friend realise that if Captain Parker's first eight years service in the ranks had been with the Army and not with the R.A.F. he would have received an officer's pension; and does he not think that it is a shameful thing to allow a technical quibble to deprive a man of a pension to which every other consideration entitles him?

The hon. Member may call it a technical quibble, but it is part of the regulations that only a maximum of four years in another Service can be counted and only two of those years count for pension. I have no power to alter the Royal Warrant or the way in which it is applied.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there are difficulties about the supply of children's shoes in the city of Aberdeen, about which he has received correspondence; and in view of these If he will arrange that more of the better quality of children's shoes be made available; and that the number of coupons required to be surrendered for children's shoes be reduced

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Symonds) on 29th January. I am not aware of any special difficulties in the city of Aberdeen. On the matter of coupons, children's shoes are already pointed at a very low rate compared with adults.

Is the Minister aware that special conditions are found in the North-East of Scotland owing to the climate, and that strong shoes are particularly necessary? The present ration makes undue inroads on the coupon supply of the people who require them. Will he take that into account?

Yes, Sir; it is taken into account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether British publishers are drawing royalties on records now being made in this country by a firm known as London Records on the works of American writers and being exported to the United States of America; and whether the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1911, are being complied with in regard to the conditions for publication in Great Britain of the originals of works by these American writers, records of which are now being made in this country.

If a record of a copyright musical work is made in this country royalties are payable to the owner of the copyright, but I cannot say whether payments have been made in any particular case. There is no registration of copyright, and the question whether the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1911, relating to copyright in a work first published outside the United Kingdom have been complied with, can only be determined by reference to the facts of each case, or, in case of dispute, by the courts.

In so far as my right hon. Friend's Department has made a decision on American films in order to save dollars, will he give consideration to the possibility of earning dollars by obtaining royalties from at least one British song on one side of records being made in this country and exported to America?

We have explored very Cully the possibility of earning additional dollars with gramophone records in the United States, and a lot has been done by way of exports there in the last few months. I will give further thought to the point made by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the abolition of the basic petrol ration Is likely to drive dollar-earning tourist traffic to countries where petrol is unrationed; and what action he proposes to take to safeguard this valuable industry.

No, Sir. There is no evidence that the abolition of the basic petrol ration will affect the number of tourists visiting this country. Overseas visitors bringing their cars with them or buying a new car for subsequent export get a special ration.

Is it not a fact that this is a very small ration, and does not the Minister think that Americans coming to Europe will be more inclined to go to the Continent where petrol is freely available and will, therefore, be driven away from this country?

The ration available for tourists in this country compares not un-favourably with the ration available in other countries, and there is no evidence that they are being driven away from these shores. The bookings to come into this country are pretty full for the corning summer.

Is the Minister aware that a number of hotels where foreign tourists may wish to stay will have to close owing to the withdrawal of the basic petrol ration, and many of them may have to go out of business?

That question has been raised on a number of occasions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will implement the recommendations contained in the report of the Select Committee on Estimates on the administration of the North-East Trading Estates Company with reference to the appointment of directors, and take powers to appoint them himself.

I have asked the chairman and directors of this company, in common with those of other Trading Estates companies, to amend their articles of association so as to make this possible.

Would my right hon. Friend say what attitude has been adopted by other companies in the country besides the North-East Trading Estates Company?

All have accepted my suggestion and altered the articles of association. I am meeting the chairman and directors of the North-East Trading Estates Company this afternoon. I do not know what line they are proposing to take.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why an import duty of 20 per cent. was imposed on prefabricated wooden houses im- ported from Finland by the Scots Forestry Commissioners.

Import duties are chargeable on prefabricated timber houses, as on other dutiable items, whether the transaction is on private or public account. I am informed that the houses in question were correctly charged under the Tariff Schedule with the rate of duty appropriate to those items.

In view of the serious shortage of houses in rural Scotland, and the statement made by the ex-Secretary of State for Scotland that these import duties are absurd, will he urge the Chancellor of the Exchequer to abandon them?

If they were unnecessary we would have no hesitation in going to the Treasury about it, but the import duties have not stood in the way of these houses being available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, when periodicals and magazines published in this country are allowed free entry into Eire, there is a ban on the importation of the Irish produced publication "Junior Digest."

Our general import policy on periodicals from all sources is governed primarily by balance of payments considerations. Licences to import periodicals from Eire are limited to those which had been imported before August, 1946, when the Open General Licence was revoked. "Junior Digest" was not published until December, 1946, and, in common with other new periodicals, cannot be licensed for import.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give an assurance that in all new coal-burning power stations the most modern methods will be used to prevent pollution of the air by smoke, grit and sulphur oxides from the chimneys and by dust from the coal unloaded.

Yes, Sir, whenever this is necessary.

Does that mean that what are known as the Battersea or Fulham conditions imposed by previous Governments will be imposed in all urban areas from the outset?

I do not think that we should tie ourselves down to the introduction of gas washing plant in all circumstances at all power stations. It is a very costly business. Generally speaking, the answer to the supplementary question is "Yes."

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many letters have been received by his department this year accusing named individuals of black market deals in petrol; what proportion of these is anonymous; and what action is taken about such communications.

Since 1st January only two such letters, one of which was anonymous, have been received by the headquarters of my Department, and have been referred for inquiry to the Regions concerned. In addition, I understand that the Russell Vick Committee has received a fairly large number of letters, of which about one-seventh were anonymous containing a variety of allegations, some of them relating to black market petrol. In the case of all the letters I have referred to, in which offences are alleged, provided that sufficient information is given, inquiries are made at once either by the police or by the Ministry's officers, with a view to appropriate action.

Will the Minister say whether there is any difference in the treatment, assuming the information to be equal, of a letter which is anonymous and a letter which is signed?

Naturally.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why we have been im- porting coal at an average price of 90s. and exporting it at an average price of 55s. a ton, for similar qualities; and what steps he is taking to prevent taxpayers' money being wasted in such an unbusinesslike manner.

In order to assist the build up of coal stocks during last summer the Government arranged in June, 1947, to import 20,000 tons of coal a month from Poland and about 600,000 tons in all from the United States. No further contracts to import coal have been made since last June. The United States' contract was completed in November, 1947, and arrangements are being made to terminate the Polish contract which was originally to have run until June, 1948

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the approximate total value of the nation's property now controlled under the direction of the National Coal Board.

Until the valuations of the assets transferred to the National Coal Board now in progress have been completed, it will not be possible to give the total figure asked for. The hon. Member will, however, be aware that the "coal industry value" of the transferred interests—comprising the collieries and main coalmining assets—was determined by the Greene Tribunal to be £164,660,000.

Is the Minister prepared to answer any questions in connection with this £164 million of the nation's property, or cannot he give an answer because it is under the control of the National Coal Board?

These proceedings are not under the control of the National Coal Board. This arises under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946.

When will the valuation of the properties be completed?

It will take some years at any rate

Can the Minister give us any indication of how much of the nation's property is still in the hands of the robbers represented by the party opposite?

asked the Minister of Labour whether awards made under the Further Education and Training Scheme are subject to a means test on the part of the applicant; and whether any income earned by the applicant during the period of training is taken into account in arriving at the amount of the award.

Awards made under the Further Education and Training Scheme are in all cases subject to financial necessity. Maintenance allowances are payable only in the case of full-time study. Half of any earnings from employment which forms a regular part of the approved course of study is taken into account in assessing the amount of a student's award. Earnings from other employment are disregarded.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the penalising of earnings made by those undergoing training is unfair to those doing the training and a clog on the national economy at the same time?

I do not thing it is penalising them in any way, and I do not think it is a clog on the national position, because otherwise we would be paying people money from the nation's funds.

Would the right hon. Gentleman reconsider this matter? He was good enough a year ago to dispense with the irregular earnings, and could he not reconsider what little earnings can be paid to a student while he is also studying?

No, Sir, because a student's further education and training is something for which he gets paid, and he would get paid twice if he got full wages and maintenance at the same time.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he intends to take to ensure that the unemployed persons, registered at Shotts Employment Exchange, obtain their share of placings in the factories at Chapelhall and Newhouse Industrial Estates.

It has been arranged that vacancies arising at Newhouse and Chapelhall Industrial Estates will be shared by Airdrie with Shotts, Mother-well, Coatbridge, Wishaw and Bellshill in accordance with the volume of unemployment for the time being at each place. This arrangement is subject to the overriding rule that the best qualified applicants must be submitted.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that of the unemployed registered at Shotts since July, 1947, 0.5 per cent. have obtained placings in these factories as against 2.4 per cent. of those registered at Airdrie Employment Exchange; and that we were led to believe that these factories would provide work for the unemployed of Shotts and district?

No, Sir. The effort we are making is to share proportionately the employment in the towns named As to the proportions mentioned by the hon. Lady, I was not aware of those particular facts, but I should like to look into them and make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many trade unionists are still not aware of their legal rights regarding contributions to the political fund of their unions, and if in the light of this fact he will issue a leaflet setting out these legal rights in simple terms.

No, Sir. I have no reason to believe that the procedure prescribed in existing legislation is not operating satisfactorily.

Is the Minister aware of a leaflet, a copy of which I have here, which has been given a very wide circulation amongst trade unionists, and that this leaflet contains very thinly veiled threats of victimisation to those who contract out of the political levy? In the light of that does he not think it is of the utmost importance that trade unionists should really understand their legal rights?

I cannot comment upon a leaflet which I have not seen and of the origin of which I have no information, but all trade unionists are aware that they must publish the Registrar-General's rule relating to that matter in their rule books. Any trade unionist who wants to know his position has only to look at his own rule book.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Conservative Party have given very wide publicity to the question which the hon. and gallant Gentleman has raised?

I am aware of that fact and seeing that trade unionists are doing all that is required by law, and that other people are also interested in the matter I do not think that anything further need be done.

Is the Minister aware that the leaflet to which I refer is called "Hey, Half a Minute!" and is published by the Socialist Party, and is not the reason for the publication of this leaflet the annoyance of the party at the loss of income principally caused by men and women contracting out of the political levy?

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of elderly people who have been domestic servants in country hotels who have lost their jobs due to the ban on petrol since 1st December, 1947; and what other work will be found for them.

The required information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total cost to the Exchequer, of the London Appointments Office and its Scientific and Technical Branch for the year 1947, and how many applicants who registered with them were successfully placed in employment during that period.

The approximate cost of these two Offices for the year 1947 was £330,000. This covers all the other services provided, namely, administration of the Further Education and Training and Business Training Schemes and Careers Advice as well as the placing work. The

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that German women are to come to this country to work in undermanned industries, he will extend this arrangement

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of names now registered with the Appointments Branch seeking appointments; what is the total number of names registered since the inception of the scheme and the total number of appointments obtained, giving the percentage of successful appointments obtained, compared with the total number of names registered since the inception of the scheme.

As the reply contains a number of figures I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

In view of the fact that there are some 2,000 officials in this section of the Ministry of Labour and that the cost is not far short of £1 million a year, is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the information which is now available indicates that this section is being run really efficiently and that every official is pulling his full weight?

That is quite another question and I do not see how it arises out of my answer.