asked the Minister of Transport by how much the roadway under the low railway bridge at Hodgson Lane, Drighlington, requires lowering to permit the use of double-decker buses on the Leeds-Halifax Road, and when he proposes that this work will be completed so that adequate bus services can be provided.

An increase in the headroom of this bridge from 14 ft. 4 in. to 16 ft. 6 in. is under consideration, and I hope that it will be possible to put the work in hand at an early date.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will reconsider his recent decision to withdraw approval to the retention of coloured pedestrian crossings.

If an improved method of marking pedestrian crossings is devised, I shall be pleased to consider its adoption, but, on the evidence at present before me, I am satisfied that the use of coloured road surfaces for this purpose should be discontinued.

asked the Minister of Transport whether hire coaches and buses, operating on non-scheduled services, are free to operate outside a radius of 20 miles from the place where they are normally kept; and whether he has now decided that the restrictions imposed on the hire-taxi proprietor should be imposed on the hire-coach proprietor, except in the case of approved scheduled services.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative and to the second part in the negative. My hon. Friend will be aware of the cut in fuel for excursions and tours and private party trips which I announced on 23rd February.

asked the Minister of Transport how many hackney carriage licences were granted in each of the last six months.

I regret that the figures, which would in any event exclude those cars which are operated for hire but are not licensed as hackney carriages, are not available.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of applications for "A" and "A Contract" licences respectively made during 1947 and the number granted; and the increase or decrease this represents over the number in issue in each case at 31st December, 1946.

On 26th December, 1947, there were 83,933 "A" licensed vehicles and 17,600 "A" licensed "A Contract" licensed vehicles and 5,437 "A Contract" licensed operators. This was an increase of 2,877 "A" licensed vehicles, 87 "A" licensed operators, 4,317 "A Contract" licensed vehicles and 1,584 "A Contract" licensed operators since 27th December, 1946.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of new "A" and "A Contract" licences respectively issued in January, 1948; and the numbers outstanding at 31st January, 1948.

I have asked the licensing authorities for goods vehicles to supply this information, and will forward it to my hon. Friend when I receive it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in consultation with the local authority, he will take immediate steps to re-open the roads, possibly on a new alignment, that have been closed to the public to their great inconvenience across the airfields of Grove, near Wantage, and Kingston Bagpuize, near Abingdon, Berks.

It is my desire that those roads which are still closed should be reopened, or suitable alternatives provided, as soon as possible, and my divisional road engineer is discussing with the highway authority how best this can be done. The speed with which this work can be undertaken will depend on the resources that can be made available in the present economic situation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has any statement to make regarding the establishment of the Consultative Committees provided for in the Transport Act, and if he will give the names of the members thereof.

Mr. W. G. Weston	…	Ministry of Transport (Chairman).
Mr. Colin S. Anderson	…	Representing the National Joint Council for the Port Transport Industry.
Mr. R. Barrett	…
Mr. A. Bird	…
Sir Douglas Ritchie	…	Representing the Dock and Harbour Authorities' Association.
Sir Robert Letch	…	Representing the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive of the British Transport Commission.
Mr. J. Donovan	…
Mr. R. S. MacTier	…	Representing the General Council of British Shipping.
Mr. S. C. Parkin	…	Representing the National Dock Labour Board.
Mr. W. Graham	…	Representing the Ministry of Transport.
Mr. A. Clark	…
Mr. P. E. Millbourn	…
Colonel H. Gillinder (Secretary)	…

asked the Minister of Transport which canals and inland waterways have been abandoned and closed to navigation, respectively; and what is the mileage in each case.

List A gives details of canals which have been abandoned to

I am actively considering the composition and location of these Committees in conjunction with the British Transport Commission, and I hope in the near future to invite nominations for the Central Transport Consultative Committee for Great Britain from the national bodies representative of the interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the terms of reference of the committee of inquiry he has appointed to consider the slow turn-round of ships; what are the names of its members; and when he now expects its report.

The Working Party on the Turn-Round of Shipping was set up to examine the causes of delay to ships in the United Kingdom and to initiate or suggest action for improving present performance. Teams from the Working Party have visited the major ports and interim reports have, in certain cases, already been circulated to the interests concerned for consideration and action as necessary. I expect to receive a comprehensive report within the next few weeks. Following is a list of the members of the Working Party:navigation since 1939 by authority of Acts of Parliament or of Orders under the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888. Full details are not available of canals closed to navigation otherwise than under statutory authority to abandon, but it is know that the canals shown in List B are now not navigable.

asked the Minister of Supply if any member of the Steel Board has a financial interest in any steel undertaking; and if any member of the Board has a financial interest in any undertaking, receiving financial assistance from the Government or in any undertaking in respect of which a rehabilitation scheme has been put forward.

Inasmuch as certain members of the Board are drawn from the steel industry itself, it is inevitable that they have some financial interest in steel undertakings. One member of the Board is a director of two companies which receive subsidies for the deep mining of ore. One of these companies is financing a development scheme approved by the Board.

asked the Minister of Supply the number of furnaces which have been closed down in Britain due to lack of scrap at the steel works; and the tonnage lost because of this.

At various times since 1st January, 1948, six furnaces have been closed for want of scrap, due to local distribution difficulties. The loss of steel is estimated at 8,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Works whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to keep the War Cabinet rooms in the same state as they were in at the end of the war which is their condition at present; whether members of the public may be allowed to see these rooms; and whether details and photographs of them which would be of great interest may be made available to the public through the medium of the Press.

Yes. The more important of these rooms will be maintained as they were used during the war. My Department will be happy to arrange for the Press to take photographs and, in fact, some photographs have already appeared. Owing to the situation of the rooms it would not be practicable to throw open for inspection by the general public accommodation which forms part of an office where confidential work is carried on.

asked the Minister of Works if he is now able to state the result of his representations to the British Transport Commission that no section of the brick industry should have an unfair advantage in the matter of transport rates.

A meeting has been arranged between the Railway Executive and the Midland Federation of Brick and Tile Manufacturers, with officers of my Ministry in attendance, when exceptional freight rates for bricks will be discussed.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the piling up of bricks, owing to lack of demand resulting from the curtailed building programme; and if he will remove the restrictions and permit private enterprise in the building of houses to function, with a view to removing the problem of over production of bricks.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The second part of the Question is for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, but in considering it account has to be taken of other factors besides the supply of bricks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs following upon the recent agreement governing the use of airfields in the Caribbean and in Bermuda, what further negotiations are in progress for the handing over to American authorities responsibility for the technical operation and maintenance of British airfields; and which are the airfields concerned.

Since the answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative, the second part does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the attitude adopted by the Commandant and Deputy Commandant of the British Sector towards the proposed transfer of undertakings to public ownership on the 16 occasions this matter was discussed in the Berlin Kommandatura; and, in view of the public declaration of support for the proposal accorded by the Soviet representative, what is holding up the transfer of these undertakings to public ownership.

The Commandant and Deputy Commandant of the British Sector have always made it clear that they were in favour of the general principle of transferring certain undertakings in Berlin to public ownership. The draft law before the Kommandatura has, however, as the Soviet Delegation has admitted, many imperfections. Moreover, the delay has been primarily due to the insistence by the Soviet representative that Russian-owned firms in their sector must not be socialised. In these circumstances the British authorities have been unable to agree to the otherwise blanket approval demanded by the Soviet Commandant until the law is acceptable to all four delegations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements he proposes to make to enable German prisoners of war who stay in this country as agricultural workers to cash the money accumulated to their credit during their period of detention.

Arrangements are now being made by the Control Commission for the honouring of the credit balances of these men by their dependants and next of kin in the three Western zones. These arrangements will be completed in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he received from the American Secretary of State to his recent appeal for foodstuffs to ease the shortage in the British zone of Germany.

Contrary to my hon. Friend's understanding, my right hon. Friend's recent message to the United States Secretary of State was not so much an appeal for help for the British zone as a suggestion that, in view of deterioration in the German food situation, the United States and United Kingdom Governments should consider together what steps they could take to expedite the imports of foodstuffs into the Combined Zone. In reply, Mr. Marshall assured my right hon. Friend that the United States Government shared his concern at the position and that steps were being taken to move supplies as rapidly as possible to the Bizonal Area. He also suggested certain directions in which this country could assist.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the liquor entitlements for civilian personnel employed by the Control Commission and Military Government in Germany.

There is no entitlement to liquor for civilian members of the Control Commission in Germany. N.A.A.F.I. distribute spirits imported from the United Kingdom on a monthly basis according to the amount made available to them by the trade.

asked the Minister of Food what is the basis on which sugar is to be allocated to manufacturer's of soft drinks now that the industry has been deconcentrated; how many departures from this basis there have been; and for what reasons.

A total of 30,000 tons of sugar per annum is being allocated amongst manufacturers of the soft drinks industry in proportion to their usage in the year ending 3oth June, 1939. This allocation is at the rate of 62½ per cent. of the pre-war usage. There have been no departures from this basis.

asked the Minister of Food whether the, notices now displayed in bakers' and pastrycooks' shops stating that no coupons are required for the purchase of buns, scones and suchlike things are so displayed with his authority.

Products containing not more than 15 per cent. of flour or other cereal products, or containing a filling which has meat or fish as an ingredient, do not come within the Bread (Rationing) Order. My right hon. Friend's authority is not, therefore, necessary for the display of notices relating to such articles.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider granting the extra rations now allowed to farm workers to men engaged in the heavy tasks entailed in outside work on sewage disposal plants.

Sewage farm workers for whom no canteens are available may, like agricultural workers, obtain extra rations of bread and cheese, and in addition tea, sugar and milk is provided for hot drinks at their work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the shortage of agricultural labour in Wiltshire and in view of the fact that applications to remain at work there have been received from 123 German prisoners of war beyond the quota, he will increase the quota.

Having regard to the availability of other workers, I do not think it necessary or desirable to increase still further the number of German ex-prisoners allowed to remain for agricultural work in 1948.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the potato planting programme is threatened by the shortage of potash; and whether he can make a statement with regard to future supplies.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Salisbury (Mr. J. Morrison) on 1st March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has considered the complaints sent to him from the Market Rasen branch of the National Farmers' Union of the shortage of ploughshares and of machinery and spare parts; and what recent steps has he taken to ensure better supplies being sent to Lincolnshire.

I have not received the complaint to which the hon. Member refers. The production of ploughshares and other spares, and of machinery generally, is steadily increasing. Fair distribution among counties is a contant concern of the manufacturers and my Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the names, addresses and qualifications of the members of the West Riding Agricultural Executive Committee; how many times have they met during the last six months; and what is the procedure whereby an aggrieved farmer may have a full and open investigation made of his complaints of victimisation.

The West Riding Agricultural Executive Committee was constituted under the Agriculture Act, 1947, on 16th February, 1948, and has met three times. The former war agricultural executive committee met 36 times during the previous six months. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a list of the names, addresses and qualifications of the members of the new committee.Apart from the matters for which statutory provision is made, any farmer who considers that he has a grievance is entitled to make representations to the agricultural executive committee who would consider them and, according to the circumstances, invite the farmer to state his case to them in person or arrange for a member or members of the Committee to visit him. In addition, my Department would be prepared to investigate any case where it appeared that a farmer had a legitimate complaint against the actions of a committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet set up the committee to inquire into the lifting of the prohibition on civil servants to take part in political activities; how many times it has met; and when he expects to receive its report.

Invitations to serve on the Committee have been issued but not all the answers have yet been received. My right hon. and learned Friend cannot therefore say when he expects to receive the report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement regarding the negotiations leading up to the recent contract for the sale of the British-owned railways in Uruguay.

Yes. In accordance with the terms of the Anglo-Uruguayan Payments Agreement of 15th July, 1947 (Cmd. 7172) His Majesty's Government sent a Mission to Montevideo in November last to examine the position of the British-owned railways in Uruguay, which was accompanied by a delegation representing the British interests concerned. As was announced in the Press on 2nd March, the Companies have now succeeded in reaching agreement with the Uruguayan Government for the sale of their properties to the Government for a price of £7,150,000. As provided in the Payments Agreement of 1947 this sum will be paid out of Uruguay's accumulated sterling balances.The opportunity of the presence of the Mission was taken to discuss financial and trade questions with the Uruguayan Government. These discussions proved fruitful and should lead to a profitable increase in our trade with Uruguay.The talks were signalised throughout by the co-operative and understanding spirit in which the Uruguayan Government dealt with our negotiators, a spirit which, indeed, has always characterised Anglo-Uruguayan relations. In addition, therefore, to acknowledging the excellent work done by His Majesty's Government's Mission, ably supported by His Majesty's Ambassador in Montevideo, I should like to express my sincere appreciation of the friendly treatment afforded to the Mission throughout their stay.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many new Territorial drill halls are at present under construction and their estimated cost; how many schemes for the building of new Territorial drill halls have been approved; and the cost of them.

If the hon. Member is referring to permanent construction, no such work is being undertaken. The present policy is to provide any necessary additional accommodation either by purchase of suitable buildings or by the erection of temporary hutting, or both.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what accounts for the uneven rate of the construction of the factories for disabled miners in South Wales; to what extent some are receiving priority in the supply of labour and materials; and for what reasons.

The Grenfell factory at Tumble and those at Ferndale were delayed by initial site difficulties. On the other hand, faster progress has been made at Aberdare than elsewhere as the starting date was delayed until after the severe winter of 1946–7, but there was a better and more even delivery of materials than usual once building started in good weather conditions. At all other factories a fairly comparable rate of progress has been achieved. They are all receiving equal treatment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a list of the factory projects which are not to be proceeded with in the South Wales Development Area.

No. I cannot undertake to publish such a list.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of proceed- ings, convictions, and charges proved for drunkenness in the Metropolitan Police district and/or the County of London, and in the City of London, respectively,

——			Metropolitan Police District.		City of London.
			1946.	1947.	1946.	1947.
Proceedings for drunkenness	…	…	9,384	11,910	77	102
Charges proved	…	…	9,107	11,627	77	101
Convictions	…	…	8,380	10,733	73	95

asked the Minister of Education the cost of schemes for the building of new schools which have already been approved and on which work has already been commenced.

On 31st January, 1948, the latest date for which figures are available, the value of educational building projects of £2,000 and over under construction, excluding civil licence work and work undertaken by the Ministry of Works on an agency basis, was £12,277,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give for the year 1947, for England and Wales, the names and ages of all persons condemned to death for murder; the names, dates and prisons of execution of all persons executed for murder; and the names of those reprieved.

Twenty-seven persons were condemned to death on conviction of murder in England and Wales in 1947. Eleven were executed and sixteen (including three persons certified as insane after conviction) were reprieved. I am sending my hon. Friend the other particulars for which he asks.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how soon it is proposed to commence work on the removal of the blockships sunk in the

The following table gives the available information:entrance to Dover Harbour, thereby improving the amenities of the harbour and making available to the iron and steel industry urgently required quantities of scrap.

The proposals by the Admiralty for the effective clearance of the blockships have been before the Dover Harbour Board for many months. The Admiralty still await the Harbour Board's reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations which parts of the Commonwealth have been visited by the Permanent Under-Secretary or the Deputy Under-Secretary of his Department; and if he will give the dates of such visits.

There are two Permanent Under-Secretaries and two Deputy Under-Secretaries in the Commonwealth Relations Office, corresponding to the former Dominions Office and the former India Office respectively. Members of the administrative staff of the former Dominions Office are liable for service overseas as well as in London, and about one-third of the staff are, at any time, stationed in the offices of the United Kingdom High Commissioners overseas. In addition to this, members of the staff pay visits overseas on official business where-ever possible. But the very heavy pressure of work in recent years has made it impracticable to spare the most senior members of the staff for such visits.The administrative staff of the former India Office are not at present liable to serve overseas but many of them have visited India. Both the Permanent Under-Secretary and the Deputy Under Secretary have served in India and have visited the Dominions of India and Pakistan during recent months.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are at present employed and unemployed in Newport at the latest known date, showing

——	Men aged 18 and over.	Boys under 18.	Women aged 18 and over.	Girls under 18.	Total.
Insured Persons in Employment:
July, 1947	29,500	2,600	9,100	2,400	43,600
July, 1938	17,100	2,900	4,100	1,700	25,800
Insured Persons registered as unemployed:
16th February, 1948	1,232	17	289	24	1,562
14th February, 1938	5,788	167	513	163	6,631

The numbers unemployed at 16th February, 1948, include 148 married women and 163 registered disabled ex-Service men. In addition there were 29 registered disabled ex-Service men unemployed who required employment under sheltered conditions. Corresponding figures are not available for 1938. The numbers of such persons in employment are also not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for the year 1947, for Scotland, the names and ages of all persons condemned to death for murder; the names, dates and prisons of execution of all persons executed for murder; and the names of those reprieved.

One person was condemned to death on conviction of murder in Scotland in 1947. He was reprieved. I am sending to my hon. Friend the other particulars for which he asks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for 1947, for Scotland, the number of murders known to the police; the number of suspected murderers who committed suicide; the number of persons charged with

Statistics of employment for particular areas are not available for any date later than July, 1947. The following table shows the estimated total numbers of insured persons in employment in the area of Newport employment exchanges at July, 1947, and July, 1938, and the numbers of such persons registered as unemployed in February, 1948, and February, 1948:murder; the number of those so charged who were found insane; and the number of those charged with murder who were convicted of culpable homicide.

Fifteen cases of murder were made known to the police in Scotland in 1947; three suspected murderers committed suicide; TO persons were charged with murder (including two from a case made known in 1946) and of these three were found insane. There were in addition two persons charged with murder and convicted of culpable homicide.

asked the hon. Member for West Walthamstow, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, what improvements are being made for police, chauffeurs and others engaged in the Palace of Westminster to procure adequate meals and incidental accommodation.

It is now possible for police, chauffeurs and others engaged in the Palace of Westminster to obtain adequate meals. The police have also a messing room entirely under their own control. Certain changes in the situation of the Staff Dining Room are now being made, which the Committee consider to be an improvement.