asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the purchasing power of the £ sterling for each of the years 1900 to date, taking 1900 as twenty shillings.

On a cost-of-living basis, with 1900 as 100, the purchasing power of the pound was:—

	1900	100		1924	52
	1901	100½		1925	52
	1902	100½		1926	53
	1903	100		1927	54
	1904	100		1928	55
	1905	99		1929	56
	1906	99½		1930	58
	1907	97		1931	62
	1908	95		1932	63
	1909	95		1933	65
	1910	94½		1934	65
	1911	94		1935	64
	1912	91		1936	62
	1913	90		1937	59
July	1914	91		1938	58
	1915	74		1939	58
	1916	62		1940	49
	1917	52		1941	46
	1918	45		1942	46
	1919	42		1943	46
	1920	37		1944	45
	1921	40		1945	45
	1922	50		1946	45
	1923	52	June 17th	1947	45

The figures for the period 1900 to 1913 are less accurate than those for later years, since the coverage of items in the index used was less complete. From 1914, the official Cost-of-Living Index has been used. 1946 is the latest year for which an annual figure can be given. An index calculated over the whole field of consumers' expenditure has been computed for each year since 1938. Had such an index stood at 58 in 1938, it would show a fall to approximately 39 in 1946. It would be misleading to give the answers in terms of shillings, since the calculations employed do not achieve so great a degree of accuracy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount at which the Ashley Library, the property of the late Thomas J. Wise, esquire, deceased 1937, subsequently purchased by the British Museum, was admitted for probate.

Information relating to particular taxation liabilities cannot be disclosed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that for the year ended 3rd January, 1948, the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society had a sales record of over £13,000,000 and have declared a dividend of 1s. 5d. in the £ for the half year ended 3rd January, totalling £409,397; and what amount of tax was charged on these profits.

I cannot furnish the hon. Member with information as to Income Tax liability in a particular case.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will state in regard to opencast coal production in Scotland and England Wales respectively, the acreages of land requisitioned; the acreages on which work has been completed; on which work continues; on which work has not yet begun; and the acreages designated or intended for future production.

The information desired, so far as available, is as follows:—

—	Scotland.	England and Wales.	Total
	(acres)	(acres)	(acres)
Total acreage of land requisitioned for opencast coal on 31st December, 1947	2,974	28,706	31,680
Acreage under coal production	2,586	17,445	20,031
Acreage under restoration	388	9,495	9,883
Acreage on which work had not been begun	—	1,766	1,766
Land derequisitioned on which work has been completed	274	7,898	8,172

It is expected that a further acreage of about 50,000 will be needed for opencast coal between now and the end of 1951. It is not possible to sub-divide this between Scotland and England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to announce the membership and terms of reference of the committee to inquire into the existing practice with regard to the taking of depositions in criminal cases.

Yes. Mr. Justice Byrne has accepted my invitation to serve as chairman of a committee with the following terms of reference:

To inquire into the existing practice with regard to the taking of depositions in criminal cases and to report whether any, and if so what, alterations in the law are necessary or desirable with a view to securing the more effective despatch of the business of the courts while retaining public confidence in the administration of justice.

The other members of the committee are: Mr. P. Allen, Lady Artemus-Jones, Mr. A. F. S. Cotton, Mr. D. Curtis-Bennett, K.C., Mr. J. T. Halsall, Mr. E. A. Hawke, Mr. W. C. Johnson, C.B.E., Mrs. E. K. Lane, Mr. H. S. Martin, LL.B., Sir Theobald Mathew, K.B.E., M.C., Mr. A. C. L. Morrison, C.B.E., The Secretary is Mr. T. G. Weiler of the Home Office.

asked the Minister of Transport for what reason it is stated, in question 6 (c) on the "Driving Test Hints," issued in October, 1946, that examiners are not allowed to discuss their reasons for failing a candidate.

Examiners mark the requirements to which special attention should be given before another test is taken. Discussion is, therefore, unnecessary.

asked the Minister of Transport what amount has been expended by the Mersey Dock and Harbour Board since the end of 1941 on the reconstruction of sheds and the restoration of the channels of communication between one dock and another; and approximately what percentage of war damage to the dock has been repaired.

I understand from the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board that the amount spent on the reconstruction of the sheds since the end of 1941 is not ascertainable without a great deal of research. About £126,000 has so far been spent on reconstruction of the Gladstone-Hornby Lock. War damage claims by the Board amount to about £11 million and up to the end of 1947 about £3,050,000 has been spent on war damage repairs.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what proportion of the total purchases by the Admiralty during 1947 was made through the Ministry of Supply.

Approximately one half, by value, of the stores, including aircraft, required for the Navy in the current financial year, are being obtained through the Ministry of Supply.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when the Campbeltown Town Council may expect a reply to their letter of 31st October, 1947, regarding the removal of the Admiralty Nissen huts on the Kilkerran Esplanade, Campbeltown.

I regret the delay in dealing with the Town Council's letter. The matter has been the subject of long controversy with the Council, but instructions have now been given to local Admiralty officers to make a further approach to the Council on a basis which it is hoped will be acceptable to them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why persons at Kingston Naval Detention Barracks are subject to solitary confinement from noon on Saturdays to 8.3o on Sunday mornings, and if he will issue instructions modifying or terminating this practice.

The rules and regulations for Naval Detention Quarters provide that after dinner on a Saturday men are to have tasks in their rooms in order that certain of the staff may be given half a day off duty. I should add that the chaplain visits men under sentence on Saturday afternoons or evenings and after tea men who are entitled to do so may write letters or change their library books.

asked the Minister of Defence the total number of troops estimated as serving overseas in March, 1948, and March, 1949, distinguishing between each of the three Services.

On present advice, it is considered to be undesirable, for reasons of security, to add to the information on this subject which I gave on 3rd March, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Aston (Mr. Wyatt).

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is satisfied that the staff of his Department located on the top floor of 142, Piccadilly, are fully employed.

No staff of my Department work on the top floor of 142, Piccadilly. There are, however, two R.A.F. officers among the staffs working elsewhere in 142, Piccadilly and the adjoining house, and these officers are fully employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why there is an increase in the number of air and other R.A.F. officers in the Department of the Air Member for Personnel for the year 1948–49 as compared with the year 1947–48, although the total number serving in the Royal Air Force is to be reduced.

There has in fact been a decrease in the number of R.A.F. officers in the Department of the Air Member for Personnel. The apparent increase in the Estimates for 1948–49 is due to the inclusion under Vote 3 of 30 R.A.F. officers of the Education Branch who in the previous year's Estimates were only provided for under Vote 1.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that in some areas of the South West complete fertiliser is almost unobtainable, and unless it is forthcoming at once it will be impossible to grow potatoes adequately on much of the light land, and if he will take steps to deal with the matter.

I gave the hon. and gallant Member on 1st March a full reply about fertiliser supplies and I am afraid I cannot usefully add to it.

asked the Minister of Education on what conditions the industrial experience of uncertificated teachers of technical subjects is assessed for the purpose of placing them on the appropriate salary scale.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to unqualified teachers of technical subjects serving in primary and secondary schools. The salaries of these teachers are governed by the provisions of the Burnham Primary and Secondary Schools Report, 1945, which lays down that time spent in industry after the age of 21 years, where likely to be of value to the teacher in the performance of his duties, may be approved by the local education authority in its discretion, and if so approved, shall be counted as equivalent to teaching service provided that not more than 10 years shall be so counted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the main concessions granted to the Belize Trading and Estate Company in British Honduras, what are the terms and the consideration given for the concessions granted; and what provisions are made for the protection of the interests of local labour and for reafforestation after the timber concessions have been worked.

I am consulting the Governor, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I receive his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the band of the 4th Hussars stationed at Colchester played at a ball organised by the Conservative Association after the War Office had informed them they must not play; why this instruction was ignored; what action he proposes to take in this matter; and if the regulations permit a military band to play at such functions in civilian clothes.

This band was given permission by the Commanding Officer to play at the George Hotel, Colchester, at what was originally understood to be an ordinary public dance. Later, when it became known that the dance was being run by the Conservative Association, permission for the band to play was withdrawn in accordance with King's Regulations. I understand, however, that the individual members of the band did in fact play at the ball in plain clothes with privately or regimentally owned instruments in their spare time. By doing so they did not infringe any regulation.