asked the Minister of Agriculture how many farmers in Cornwall, in Wiltshire and in East Sussex, were graded A, B and C, respectively, for the years 1940 to 1946; and how many in each category were dispossessed of their farms by his Department.

The extraction of these particulars would involve the examination of committee records relating to each individual holding in the counties concerned, and I do not feel justified in asking the committees to undertake this additional work at the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the functions of the several subcommittees of the county agricultural executive committees which are now being established; and the total staff which will be required for the committees' operations.

In accordance with the provisions of Section 71 (3) of the Agriculture Act, 1947, I have asked the county agricultural executive committees to sot up sub-committees to deal with horticulture, livestock, milk, poultry, estate management, husbandry, labour, machinery, pests, feedingstuffs, finance and training. I have also informed committees that they may in special cases suggest the establishment of other subcommittees such as a technical organisation sub-committee. I am sending the hon. Member detailed notes on the precise functions of these sub-committees. It is expected that the total staff required for the committees' operations will be not less than the present 3,300 technical and administrative staff and 6,600 clerks and typists.

asked the Minister of Food the total cost of the subsidy paid by the Exchequer for foodstuffs consumed in Great Britain for the year 1947, specifying separately the subsidies paid on bread, fresh meat, bacon, sugar, butter and cheese.

The accounts of the Ministry of Food are related to the fiscal year ending on 31st March and it is impracticable to provide the information asked for in respect of the calendar year. Subsidies paid by the Exchequer for foodstuffs consumed in Great Britain during the financial year 1946–47 are as follows:

asked the Minister of Food how many bottles are in use for the distribution of milk and fruit juice and other free issues to children, respectively; the number of new bottles bought monthly to maintain those numbers in circulation; and the monthly cost of such replacements.

Milk: Figures of the numbers of bottles in use for the distribution of free milk to children are not available. Free distribution to infants is made in bottles of normal size and no separate records of end use are kept. An average of 7,000 gross ⅓rd pint bottles are manufactured monthly for the Milk in Schools Scheme but no records are kept of the total numbers in use at any one time. In rural districts in particular a high proportion of the milk is distributed to scholars by other means than by ⅓rd pint bottle. The Ministry does not buy milk bottles; the cost is borne by the dairyman and is allowed for in his margin of profit.Orange juice and cod liver oil: It is impossible to differentiate between the numbers of bottles in use for distribution of these Welfare Foods free or on payment. The average number of bottles manufactured for orange juice monthly is approximately 26,400 gross at a cost of roughly £20,000. In addition, some 4,300 gross secondhand bottles are used monthly for orange juice, which are washed at an approximate cost of £858. Cod liver oil is distributed only in secondhand bottles to the number of approximately 8,600 gross monthly, which are washed at a cost of about £1,766.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will furnish an estimate of how the total income of private individuals, before tax, derived from profits and interest and stated in Command 7099 to amount to £1,534 million, £2,810 million and £2,840 million for the years 1938, 1945 and 1946, respectively, was divided between farmers' profits, professional earnings, profits earned by individuals, other than farmers or professional persons, in trade or business on their own account, national debt interest, dividends and interest on company shares and debentures, and other sources respectively; and whether he will furnish similar figures for the year 1947.

This information is not at present available, but I will consider whether some figures on these lines can be provided later.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will inquire into the reason for the delay in the settlement by the Income Tax authorities with a tradesman in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, and, in view of the fact that this delayed the man's discharge from bankruptcy, if he will take steps to expedite this and other similar settlements.

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investments in 2½ per cent. Treasury Stock have been made on behalf of the various funds under the control of the National Debt Commissioners and any other authorities for which he is responsible.

I would refer the right hon. Member to my reply of 10th January last to the Hon. Baronet the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir J. Mellor).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the loss on paper at the present Stock Exchange valuation of the £24,668,613 Treasury 2½ per cent. Stock belong to the Unemployment Fund Investment Account; and at what price this stock stands in the books of the Fund.

I have nothing to add to the last part of the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member on 17th February last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, on the basis of the Finance Accounts of the United Kingdom, he will furnish a calculation, similar to that issued by local authorities allocating the rates expenditure to various services, showing how each £1 collected in Income Tax is allocated to various main items of national expenditure.

It is not possible to specify what services are financed out of the proceeds of Income Tax; for all revenue is paid into the Exchequer and all expenditure is met out of the Consolidated Fund, so that the money spent on any public service cannot be identified as having been raised by any particular form of taxation. But the provision for expenditure in the 1947 Budget can be expressed in terms of each of revenue as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of cases dealt with by the Tithe Redemption Commission in the financial year 1947–48.

I have been asked to reply. The work of the Tithe Redemption Commission is varied and it is not clear to which of its functions the hon. Member refers.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that supplies of essential electric equipment is holding up the work of completing the camps at West Drayton for Olympic Games competitors; and if he will see that the necessary supplies are made available without delay.

I have been asked to reply. There has been no serious hold up in the supply of essential electrical equipment for West Drayton. A large consignment of general electrical fittings was delivered to the site on 23rd February, bringing deliveries up to 50 per cent. of the total material required, and the remainder is expected very shortly. Delivery of the whole of the electrical cooking apparatus is expected in approximately two weeks time.