asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total number of children attending schools in the British zone of Germany; and the number receiving a mid-day meal.

About 4,000,000 children attend schools of all types in the British zone. About 2,150,000 receive a midday meal. In addition 126,000 meals are issued by voluntary societies to children of school age, some in and some out of school.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the average hours of school attendance per week in the British zone of Germany.

Half the children receive whole-time education and attend, on the average, for 28 hours in elementary schools and 34 hours in secondary schools each week. The other half, who have to go to school in shifts owing to the lack of accommodation, attend for an average of 22 hours in elementary schools and 29 hours in secondary schools each week.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Mr. Dyson, one time chief of the commerce division, is now in receipt of any salary from the Control Commission for Germany; and whether he will state the allowance made to him for expenses.

No. Mr. Dyson does not receive any salary from my Department, but he is paid £405 per annum, less Income Tax, as the Control Commission allowance on a notional salary of £1,620, and the tax-free Foreign Service allowance of £90 a year, which is paid to all married men in the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many persons are still detained in Y Camp, Munster Lager, and when he expects to complete the decision with regard to each of their cases.

One hundred and five Yugoslays were detained at the beginning of the year in Munster Lager on charges of collaboration brought against them by the Yugoslav Government. The cases of 30 of these men have now been finally reviewed and it has been decided that no prima facie case of wilful and active collaboration has been established against them. Instructions have accordingly been issued for their release. It is hoped to complete the final review of the remaining 75 by the end of March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the extension of French customs and excise into the district of Kehl in Baden on the right bank of the Rhine has the consent of the Allied Control Commission.

No. During the war, the Germans administered the posts of Strasbourg and Kehl as a single unit, and the French have maintained this practice for reasons of administrative convenience to the extent of placing Customs posts to the east of Kehl. From all other legal and administrative aspects, Kehl remains a part of the French zone of Germany. For example, no French taxes are paid, the city is within the competence of the German legal tribunal at Rastadt, and a French consular agent is maintained for the registration of the births and deaths of French subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give in percentages the prewar occupations of the present directors and those now engaged in management in the principal industries in the British zone of Germany; the percentage who were Nazis and are now in charge of industry or administration; and the principal service they are engaged in.

I regret that owing to the time and labour involved it is impracticable to give this detailed information. A declaration was, however, made in each land of the British zone at the beginning of January, to the effect that the denazification of persons holding positions of responsibility in public and private undertakings was complete. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that, as a result of the action which has taken place since the beginning of our occupation, the number of formerly active Nazis who escaped removal must be very small.

asked the Minister of Food the average calorific intake of the population, after making allowances for special categories such as miners and young children.

I am afraid that it is not possible to calculate such a figure, since to do so it would be necessary to make a number of unverifiable assumptions about such things as the number of meals taken in catering establishments and the amount of unrationed food consumed by different sections of the population.

asked the Minister of Food what reply he gave in the general discussions now proceeding with the Danes, to their request that we should supply Denmark with feedingstuffs from our own overseas purchases and if he will bear in mind the detriment to British agriculture of any such diversion of our overseas purchase.

In the latest discussions with the Danes we have made no offer of feedingstuffs.

asked the Minister of Food what local planting associations or other authorities were consulted regarding the problem of clearing the bush at Kongwa; and in what way the difficulties encountered differ from those which have been overcome in large-scale sisal planting.

Commercial civil engineering firms with considerable experience of mechanised bush clearing for airfields were consulted. No local planting association has had experience of mechanical clearing. The sisal estates were cleared slowly by hand.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the Netherfield Co-operative Society, Ltd., are delivering milk in Bingham only twice a week to single persons; and will he take steps to see that deliveries are made four times a week.

Yes. I am taking up with the Society the possibility of their making special arrangements to supply milk in half pint bottles to people living alone.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on the decision to issue licences for the export of tinned ox-tongues, sausages and meat rolls; and, in view of the alarm among the housewives at home due to the shortage of all varieties of meat, will he reconsider the decision.

The only licences issued so far this year for the export of articles containing manufactured meat are to five firms for the export of samples representing a total quantity of less than one ton.

asked the Minister of Food what are the present arrangements for the importation of bananas, from what areas these are being imported, and to what extent the import of dried bananas has increased since the end of the war.

My Department buys bananas from Jamaica, the British Cameroons and the Canary Islands. Dried bananas are improted on private account under licence. The quantity received in 1944 was negligible; it is now about 1,100 tons a year.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the retail price of boxed dates is three times dearer than before the war; and whether steps can be taken to secure a reduction in price.

These are privately imported dates, the prices of which I am glad to note have recently tended to fall. We shall shortly be issuing some Ministry-owned dates at much lower prices.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the South-Western Divisional Food Office at Bristol have decided to close the food office at Crewkerne as an independent office; and whether he will reconsider this decision, in view of the hardship which will be occasioned to residents in Crewkerne and district having to go to Chard.

The food offices at Crewkerne, Chard, and Ilminster are being placed under a single food executive officer, thereby saving staff. A food sub-office will, however, be retained at Crewkerne for the convenience of the local residents. The new arrangements should not, therefore, entail any hardship.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there is on sale in the shops an American product in tins, called "Olympian Silver Hake," and that purchasers find that it is not fit for human consumption; if he will take steps to prevent the sale of this product; and why it was allowed to be imported.

No silver hake has been purchased by the Ministry of Food but some consignments were imported by private traders in the first half of 1947 under an open general licence which was granted in November, 1946. This licence was withdrawn in May, 1947, and since that date no further purchases have been made. If any of this fish is suspected of being unfit for human consumption, the matter should of course be reported to the local public health authority.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the British Melters have been supplying the fish friers over a period of 12 months with a mixture of 70 per cent. Argentine technical tallow and 30 per cent. of other fats to make up 100 per cent. dripping; and if he will now amend S.R. & O. 701 (Edible Oils and Fats (Control of Sales) Order, 1943), so as to permit of the release to the food trade of oils and fats now debarred under the order, subject to conformity with the Food and Drugs Act.

The only tallow supplied to, and used by British Melters, Ltd., is of good edible quality. I do not think it would be in the public interest to adopt the suggestion in the second part of the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that officials of his Department, while carrying out their investigations in the Preston area, in December last, failed to take proper precautions against the carrying of disease from one farm to another; and whether he will take steps to see that this does not occur again.

There was no outbreak of fowl pest or other disease on farms in the Preston area at the time in question and no precautionary measures were accordingly required. The officers concerned, however, were carrying disinfectant at the time of their visits for use in case of need.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the numbers of veterinary surgeons engaged in administering the bovine tuberculosis eradication and other disease control schemes for livestock; what number of these are engaged full time on these schemes; and what number are working part time as well as at their private practices.

Some 1,770 veterinary surgeons are employed by my Department upon the eradication and control of diseases of livestock; of these 386 are whole-time officers and the remainder part-time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to introduce legislation to consolidate the existing Allotments Acts, particularly with a view to giving more permanent security of tenure to allotment holders.

Security of tenure for allotment holders is one of the matters that are being reviewed in connection with comprehensive proposals submitted by the National Allotments and Gardens Society for amending the Allotments Acts. I am unable to say when it would be possible to introduce amending legislation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has considered the recommendations of a delegation for the N.F.O. to East Lancashire, a copy of which has been submitted to him, to investigate the position which has arisen consequent upon the limitation of feeding-stuffs; if the recommendations are acceptable to him; and, how speedily can action be taken to deal with the position where need is greatest, namely, West Riding, Yorkshire and Lancashire.

I have examined with care and sympathy the constructive proposals for improving farming conditions in East Lancashire embodied in the report to which my hon. Friend refers. Some of the recommendations, which involve advice and guidance by the National Agriculture Advisory Service and Land Service, I propose to put into effect forthwith. Certain other recommendations, however, would involve increased supplies of feedingstuffs for a selected group of producers, and I feel it necessary to study more closely all the many implications of the proposals before I can reach a decision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many persons were employed and at what annual cost in salaries and other expenses, by war agricultural committees at 1st January, 1940, and 1st January, 1948.

County war agricultural executive committees employed at 1st January, 1948, 3,300 technical and administrative staff and 6,600 clerks and typists at an estimated annual cost in salaries and other expenses of 3,550,000 for the 1947–48 financial year. Corresponding figures are not available for 1st January, 1940, but figures for 1st May, 1940, are 493 technical and administrative staff and 724 clerical and typing staff at an estimated annual cost of £330,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will now make a statement on labour prospects for the 1948 harvest.

I hope that the additional needs of agriculture for labour this year to carry out the new food production programme will be met by increased recruitment of British workers, by the Women's Land Army, and by the 30,000 Poles and European Voluntary Workers and the civilianised German ex-prisoners now being recruited. As regards additional seasonal labour, I am hoping for still more help from people in or near the countryside itself and from the expanded schemes of supplementary help of various kinds which my Department is sponsoring. Local conferences on seasonal labour, at which both sides of the industry as well as county agricultural executive committees are represented, are now being held under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour and National Service. As regards regular labour, I would again emphasise the extreme importance of farmers themselves doing their utmost to build up their own staffs against the needs of this summer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many schemes have been received for assistance under the Hill Farming Act, 1946, in Wales; the number approved; and the total grant paid.

Six hundred and ninety-seven preliminary proposals for improvement schemes in Wales and Monmouthshire have been received; 17 have been provisionally approved; 648 are under consideration and 32 have been rejected as ineligible or withdrawn. Of the proposals provisionally approved one detailed scheme has been received and is under examination. This one scheme was received on 14th February. No detailed scheme, as distinct from provisional approval of proposals for schemes, having been approved, no grant payment has become due.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the urgency of the feedingstuffs position, what study is being applied to the engineering aspects of grass drying, together with details of management of grassland, under a system of conservation.

In addition to the continuous research work of British manufacturers, arrangements are being made for the importation this year of four different foreign grass driers so that the N.I.A.E. may study their performance in British conditions in comparison with that of British driers. Development work will follow if necessary. Meanwhile, survey and development work is being pressed forward by the Institute, as well as by manufacturers, on the specially urgent problem of the cutting and collecting equipment required for grass drying enterprises. The essentials of grassland management are the same whether for grazing or conservation, and have been continuously under investigation for many years by research and advisory centres and commercial firms. Artificial drying of grass requires a more intensive system of management, and this matter is receiving particular emphasis in the new grassland development campaign forming part of the agricultural expansion programme.

asked the hon. Member for West Walthamstow, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, the number of employees as heads of departments who received £12, the number who received £8, and the number who received lesser amounts from the Staff Christmas Fund; whether there was any expenses charged for distribution of fund; and if he will provide a complete statement for employees.

The final figures were as follows: 11 persons received £13 each, 114 persons received £9 each, and 20 short-period employees and part-time employees each received lesser sums. No expenses were charged for distribution of the fund. All moneys received were paid to, and distributed by employees to employees as indicated, and their elected representatives on the Joint Staff Committee will supply full information as to income and expenditure to any member of the staff who seeks it.

asked the hon. Member for West Walthamstow, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, the price paid wholesale for House of Commons cigarettes; and what is the profit on each packet of 20 compared with that of other proprietary brands.

The price paid wholesale for House of Commons cigarettes is 162s. net per 1,000. The profit on each packet of 20 is approximately 6d. as against 5d. and 4d. on other proprietary brands.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will direct the Transport Commission to forward a duplicate copy of all letters sent to Member's of Parliament

I have brought the hon. Member's suggestion to the attention of the British Transport Commission, and they have informed me that they are acting in the manner proposed.

asked the Minister of Transport how long he proposes that Messrs. Pickfords, taken over by the British Transport Commission, should continue to operate under the name of Pickfords.

This is a matter for the British Transport Commission and I am bringing the hon. Member's question to their attention.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he now intends to reduce petrol consumption on the part of motor coaches hired for pleasure purposes, in order to ensure equality of sacrifices between all road users.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the heavy bookings by the general public for the coming holiday season with motor coach firms; and if he will make, as a matter of urgency, an announcement as to whether additional restrictions on the use of private or public coach hire are to be imposed.

I have decided to make a 12½ per cent. cut in the fuel allowed to motor coach operators for public excursions and tours and private party trips, compared with the corresponding period of 1947.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the effect of his decision to suspend work upon the major road improvements at Ty Golli on the Bangor to Caernarvon road will have upon unemployment figures in an area where increased unemployment is causing grave concern; and, if, in view of the extent of the works already completed upon this scheme, he will reconsider his decision, as to complete the scheme forthwith would eventually prove financially more economical than to suspend operations at the present time.

I have received representations on this matter from the Caernarvon County Council which I am considering. I am not yet in a position to announce a final decision and I have arranged for the work to proceed in the meantime.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the delay and expense to local traders and the serious traffic block caused during the summer months by the continued operation of the Hayling Island Road Toll Bridge and what steps he proposes to take to mitigate this in the coming months.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 16th February to the hon. Member for Fareham (Sir D. White). The initiative in any proposal to free this bridge from tolls must come from the local authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will call for a police report on the number of persons either killed or injured by S.M.T. buses or large motor lorries passing through the streets of Shettleston or Tollcross; and if he will take steps to prevent these vehicles from exceeding the speed limit and have the drivers who do so prosecuted.

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 16th February, 1948; Vol. 447, c. 160), supplied the following information:The numbers of persons killed and injured by omnibuses and commercial vehicles on the principal traffic routes in the Shettleston and Tollcross districts of Glasgow since 1st January, 1947, are as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport what are the present standard rates of wages in the railway conciliation grades; and the comparable rates for those grades covering a similar period after the 1914–18 war?

The answer involves the preparation of a rather lengthy statement. The British Transport Commission are putting this in hand and they have informed me that they will forward it to my hon. Friend as soon as it is completed.

asked the Minister of Transport how many first-class sleeping berths for the week ending 14th February were occupied by senior civil servants and how many by business and professional men travelling on Government reservations.

Ninety and 358 respectively; that is, 1¼ per cent. and 4¾ per cent. of the total number of first-class berths available.

asked the Minister of Transport how many boat building and repairing yards in the North-Eastern area of Scotland have been wholly or partially converted to the work of repairing railway wagons; and whether similar repair work can be diverted to similar yards in other parts of the country and in particular in, the North Wales area.

The capacity offered in North-Eastern Scotland had to be declined as the supply of materials is insufficient to allow existing facilities to be developed to the fullest extent. The British Transport Commission have informed me that, in these circumstances, it is not possible at present to offer wagon repairing work to yards in North Wales or in other parts of the country.

asked the Minister of Transport what type and quality of coal is subject to a ban on rail transport for delivery under 40 miles, how much coal does this affect per annum, and when does he anticipate being able to lift the ban.

No ban has been imposed upon the rail transport of coal but, having regard to the railway transport situation; arrangements were made last autumn by the National Coal Board in agreement with the other interests concerned for certain deep-mined coal, mainly that for delivery up to a radius of 40 miles, to be diverted from rail to road. The arrangements did not apply to all coal up to the radius of 40 miles. As the railway position is now very much easier these arrangements are in process of being wound up.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that his decision that the proposed new bridge over the Swale should include a single track railway only is contrary to the wishes of the Kent County Council and all local authorities on the Isle of Sheppey; and if he will reconsider his decision.

I am asking the British Transport Commission to consider whether a double track railway bridge would be justified and I will inform my hon. Friend of their views.

asked the Minister of Transport when the report of the Commonwealth Shipping Committee on West Indian communications may be expected.

I understand that the Committee have completed the taking of evidence and are now considering the terms of their report, which it is anticipated will be issued in the course of the next two or three months.

asked the Minister of Transport why he is considering night shift working for dock workers; whether, since this proposal would not be acceptable to the men, he will take steps to secure the early publication of the report of the Working Party studying efficiency on the docks; and what arrangements he proposes to make to ensure that dock workers have full opportunities for discussing its recommendations.

Night shift working in the docks is a matter for industrial agreement between employers and dock workers.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects the recommendations of the working party now investigating the causes of congestion at Liverpool and Birkenhead Docks; and does he propose to publish the report.

I expect to receive an interim report from the Working Party by the end of the month, and will then consider the question of publication.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take action to reduce the delay in rail and steamer transport of linen thread from Lisburn, Northern Ireland, to Northampton, copies of correspondence on the delay of 11 days and longer having already been sent to him.

The inquiries which I have made show that the delay which occurred to the consignments in question was due to congestion on the quays at Liverpool which has now been largely cleared.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is now prepared to revise arrangements for the sale of surplus clothing in order to ensure that speculators do not secure large profits, thereby preventing consumers receiving the benefit of low prices so often secured by his Department; and whether, in particular, he will ensure that the purchaser does not secure more than a fixed percentage profit on a subsequent sale, and that the goods go direct to retailers or the public.

No. Surplus clothing is normally sold through Disposal Corporations and profit margins are controlled either by agreement with the trade or by statutory Order and I have no evidence that these arrangements are not working satisfactorily. It would not be practicable to sell garments direct to the public.

asked the Minister of Supply whether in view of the need for steel, etc., he will consider the collection and purchase of the Morrison shelters that were purchased by private persons during the war and are now of no use to them.

Only a small proportion of the shelters available for recovery are privately owned. Such shelters will, on request, be collected by the local authority free of charge but without payment. Alternatively the owners can sell them to scrap merchants.

asked the Minister of Supply when he hopes to salve the steel piping from the Pluto drum now adrift in the Channel off Dungeness and Littlestone, since it constitutes a danger to all inshore sea-craft, particularly the fishing vessels.

The recovery of this piping involves a difficult salvage operation. A preliminary survey has been carried out and plans for its removal are now under examination.

asked the Minister of Supply how many blast furnaces have been closed down this year; to what extent this is due to the shortage of steel scrap; to what extent this shortage is due to the failure to obtain expected supplies from Germany; and what supplies are now likely to be made available from Germany during 1948.

One blast furnace has been closed temporarily this year for re-lining and not because of a shortage of steel scrap. I regret I can give no reliable forecast of the amount of scrap we are likely to get from Germany.

asked the Minister or Supply whether he is aware of the shortage of electrodes required for use in the construction of railway wagons; and what action he has taken, or proposes taking, to enable adequate supplies of wire to be available for the manufacture of electrodes.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 26th January last to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Errol).

asked the Minister of Supply (1) the approximate value of the buildings and plant owned by the Government on the premises of Miles Aircraft, Limited; and what steps he is taking to deal with the idleness of a large part of this valuable manufacturing capacity;(2) which Government Departments have had discussions with the present management of Miles Aircraft, Limited, about the maintenance of employment in that firm; and what were the purport and results of these discussions.

About 500,000 was spent by my Department on buildings and works services and 250,000 on plant. Discussions have taken place between the Ministry of Supply and the present management, who are preparing a scheme which, if accepted, will, I hope, ensure the employment of most, if not the whole of, the capacity. My Department has been in touch with the Ministry of Labour about alternative employment for any redundant workers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that labour and manufacturing capacity are being thrown idle at Miles Aircraft Limited; and what steps he is taking to deal with this situation.

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have given today to his other Questions on this subject.

asked the Minister of Works why 18,000 Army mattresses were recently moved from Hitcham, Suffolk, to Woodhall, Lincolnshire; how much the transport of these goods is estimated to have cost; and how much petrol was used.

These mattresses, from R.A.F. Depot, Hitcham, were taken over by my Department for official use, and were moved to the nearest available store as the depot is being cleared. Altogether, about 30,000 mattresses have been sent to Woodhall at a total cost of £687 10s. The removal was undertaken by 10 contractors in the course of their normal business and no accurate figures of petrol consumption are available, but it is estimated that about 900 gallons would be used.

asked the Minister of Works how many brickworks have been closed down recently in the Midland Area; what is the reason for this; and how many workers have been dismissed in consequence.

Four brickworks and part of a fifth have closed in the Midland Area during the past three months because of the decline in the demand for bricks; 69 workers have been dismissed in consequence.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give the details of the priority awards of bricks, electrical components, rainwater goods and sanitary fittings to Intrade, Ltd., of Warley Lodge, Brentwood, Essex.

I could not give these details without a special search in the records in every Region; and I should not feel justified in requiring my staff to undertake this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what pension will be received by Mrs. Edgar, the widow of P.C. Edgar, who was recently killed whilst on duty; and whether there is any fund from which a special grant can be made to her, irk view of the circumstances of his death and the fact that she has two children.

Mrs. Edgar has been awarded from police funds a pension of £109 4s. a year, together with allowances of £21 16s. 10d. for each of her two children until they reach the age of 16, giving a total of £152 17s. 8d. a year. I am informed that, in addition, £48 a year will be paid for each child up to the age of 16 from the Metropolitan and City Police Orphans' Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes with violence are known to have occurred in the Borough of Brent-ford and Chiswick in the past six months; and whether he is satisfied that a sufficient number of police are available for duty in the area.

During the six months ended 31st December last three crimes involving personal violence were committed in the Borough of Brentford and Chiswick. I am satisfied that this area receives an equitable share of the available police resources.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by what date it is now expected that the full programme of Grenfell factories for dust victims of the mines will be fulfilled; and if he is aware of the growing bitterness regarding this question in the South Wales coalfield.

I share with my hon. Friend his concern that these factories should be completed as soon as possible. As I explained in the Debate on Welsh Affairs on 26th January, one will be opened very shortly, three more should be ready in the spring, a further three in the summer and the remainder later in the year. I am, however, asking for a special inquiry to be made into their progress and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the need of new entrants into the mining industry, he is expediting the construction of factories intended to provide alternative employment for the thousands of partially disabled industrial workers.

Yes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to an announcement by the regional controller of the Ministry of Labour for Wales respecting the use and purpose of the Grenfell factories; and, as this statement conflicts with the aim and purpose laid down by the Government White Paper, if he will issue an explanation of the changed policy.

Yes. But the statement does not conflict with the recommendations, in the Command Paper 6719, paragraph 12 of which recommended that a minimum percentage of the workers to be recruited for the Grenfell factories should be "disabled persons" as defined in the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944. If my hon. Friend will refer to paragraphs 13 and 18 of the White Paper he will see that the administrative arrangements for recruiting workers for these factories recommended by the Working Party presided over by my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Mr. Grenfell), which has been adopted by the Government, will give an indirect but real preference to persons suspended from the mining industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the demand for medical, technical, scientific and learned publications from the U.S.A. is five or six times as great in value as in 1938–39; and whether, in view of the great arrears in the way of scientific and technical education which have to be overcome following the war and the urgent need for giving all possible assistance to science and technology in this country, he will take early steps to facilitate the entry of such books into this country.

I cannot yet add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leicester (Mr. Janner) on 17th February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if any estimate can be formed of the value of silk piece goods now held by merchants in the United Kingdom which are not available for sale to the home market, but for which no effective demand has been or can be found overseas; and are such goods to remain frozen indefinitely on the shelves of these merchants at the risk or deterioration and loss.

I have no figures available of the stocks of silk piece goods held by merchants for which export sales have not yet been secured. Manufacturers of silk piece goods are permitted to sell one-third of their production for supply in the home market, and I should not feel justified in increasing this proportion. We are taking all possible steps to reduce those impediments to sales which exist at present in certain overseas markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, owing to an accumulation at numerous West End stores of greater stocks of the skirt of the new length, parents of school girls now find they often can only buy a skirt which is too long; that consequent alterations of this kind is a misuse of labour and of essential materials in short supply; and if he will instruct manufacturers to avoid this waste by providing a greater selection of the more popular style and length of skirt.

I am not aware of any general difficulty, but the trade's attention has been drawn to the matter.

asked the Minister of Health what progress is being made towards the provision of a supply of piped water to the village of Stowting, Stowting Common and farms in the vicinity. overseas on 1st January, 1939, and at the present time.

The approximate numbers of industrial and non-industrial civil servants employed in dockyards at home and overseas at the beginning of 1939 and on 1st January, 1948, were as follow:

The Elham Rural District Council have submitted proposals for providing piped water supplies to these and other parts of their district. One of my inspectors will investigate the proposals locally when the necessary information is complete.

asked the Minister of Health if he has now given consideration to representations made to him on 10th February by the residents of the Berry Park Estate, Langdon Hills, Essex, with regard to water supply, and if he will state the nature of his reply.

I have received and am considering the representations referred to but am not yet in a position to give a final reply.

asked the Minister of Health for what campaigns other than that for diphtheria immunisation the Central Council for Health Education provided advice and material last year.

This organisation provided advice and material for local authorities in the campaign against venereal diseases and in health education generally.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has formed an estimate of the number of children inoculated against diphtheria in the seven years 1941 to 1947, after making allowance for the half million or so who leave the under 15 age class every year and the half million or so who enter that class every year.

The number of children immunised through local authority arrangements in England and Wales under the age of 15, from 1940 to 30th June, 19,17, was approximately 6,875,000. The latter part of my hon. Friend's question is not clear, but for statistical assessment of the immunised proportion of the child population at given dates I would refer him to the Annual Reports of the Ministry for 1943 to 1946.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is issuing any regulations governing carrying out vaccination under the National Health Service Act which comes into operation in July.

The National Health Service Act does not require such regulations. It is intended, however, to make available to doctors authoritative medical opinion about up-to-date methods of vaccination.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he is satisfied with the number of Pricing Bureaux;

I am aware that some Pricing Bureaux are in arrears with their work owing to shortage of staff and I am proposing arrangements for expediting payment which are being discussed locally with representatives of the chemists.