asked the Minister of Supply whether he is in a position to announce any improvement in the supply of steel rod for the wire-drawing industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Spen Valley (Mr. Sharp) on 1st March, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will extend P.M.L. priority to the supply of chains for driving concrete mixers used in the building of rural houses; and whether he is aware of the delays that are being caused through the lack of these particular chains.

No. The use of the P.M.L. symbol to expedite the supply of components has been discontinued. The supply of precision chain is being increased as far as possible by the extension of double shift working and by supplementing the allocation to the industry of the special steels required.

asked the Minister of Works when it is anticipated that Nettle-bed Common, Oxfordshire, will be de-requisitioned.

It will be necessary to retain the camp on Nettlebed South for some years as it is being adapted into a hostel to accommodate 600 foreign workers. The camp on Nettlebed North is at present occupied by Polish troops, and I am not in a position to say when it is likely to be surrendered.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will publish a list of the private properties which he has obtained for nationalised boards or undertakings of a commercial character by making use of his requisitioning powers, or by direct transfers from other Government Departments which had previously requisitioned them.

Yes. I am preparing a list and will send it to the hon. Member as soon as it is ready.

asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of the impending unemployment in the building and decorating industry, he will raise the present limit of £10 on work which may be carried out without a licence.

The present licensing period during which the £10 limit operates will expire on 31st July next and the arrangements subsequent to that date are under consideration. Meanwhile, I draw the hon. Member's attention to the statement I have made today in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) with regard to the issue of licences to avoid unemployment among building workers.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that the London Brick Company, Limited, has had to discontinue all night shifts at Peterborough and at Bletchley Works, and their works at Elstow are to close down completely on 18th March; and owing to the demoralising effect it has upon this industry and upon the workers engaged in it what he proposes to do in the matter.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. I expect the present decline in the demand for bricks to be temporary and I am giving urgent consideration, in conjunction with representatives of the industry, to measures that might be taken to meet the situation until the demand revives.

asked the Minister of Works what was the cost of acquiring the building site for the erection of the prefabricated houses in Port Ellen, Isle of Islay; what the overhead charges for the preparation of plans, including professional fees of surveyors, engineers, etc., amount to; what was the cost of preparing the site for erecting the houses; what amount is incurred for the fees and expenses of measurers, clerks of works, electrical, mechanical and structural engineers; and what will be the approximate total cost per completed house.

The cost of acquiring the building site, the overhead charges for the preparation of plans including professional fees of surveyors, engineers, etc. and the cost of the site preparation work all fall to be met by the local authority and I am informed that no information is available as to the expenditure likely to be incurred under these heads. The items of expenditure for which the Ministry of Works is responsible are fully detailed in the White Paper on the Temporary Housing Programme, Command 7304. The cost of these items in the case of the houses at Port Ellen, which are of the Arcon type, is estimated at £1,337 per house as compared with the average of £1,209 shown in the appendix to the White Paper.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the de-control of game birds, he will now also de-control rabbits, hare and venison.

The controls over rabbits and hares are at present being examined in the light of the report by the Bodinnar Committee, and my right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement shortly. The controlled prices for venison are in line with those for similar types of meat, and we see no reason for a change.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has yet come to a decision regarding the de-control of poultry as a result of the report of the Bodinnar Committee.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for King's Norton (Mr. Blackburn) on 5th March.

asked the Minister of Food if he will discontinue the rationing of cakes and sugar confectionery.

No, because of the shortage of ingredients.

asked the Minister of Food the figures for food consumption in the United Kingdom during the 12th months, January to December, 1947, in lbs. per head per annum for the following foodstuffs; dairy products, excluding butter (milk solids); meat (carcase weight); fish, including shellfish, canned, cured and fresh fish (edible weight); poultry, game and rabbits (retail weight); eggs and egg products (fat content); oils and fats (oil content); sugar and syrup (sugar content); potatoes; pulses and nuts; tomatoes; citrus and other fruits (fresh equivalent); vegetables, all types; grain products; and beverages.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 13th February, 1948; Vol. 447, C. 133] supplied' the following information:

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that his decision to modify the order relating to social and business gatherings to more than 100 was not notified to organisations representing the hotels and restaurants industry of this country either simultaneously or immediately after his statement in Parliament on 10th March, and, in view of the fact that he stated that the new arrangements were to take effect at once, why such action was not taken.

The new arrangements came into force on 12th March and a notice was sent to catering trade organisations on that day. The announcement had first to be made to the House and the notification to the trade was issued at the earliest practicable moment afterwards.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to the shortage of soap in Sunderland, and what action he has taken in the matter.

No complaints of soap shortage in the Sunderland area have been received by the local food officers, who report that shops in the area generally are carrying reasonably good stocks. If my hon. Friend will let me have details of any local shortage, I will gladly look into it.

asked the Minister of Transport how many ships suitable for the transport of emigrants are now laid up in the Clyde, Firth of Forth and at Belfast.

None, but repairs are to be undertaken on one ship now in the Clyde and one in the Forth to make them suitable for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport what financial arrangements he has made with Messrs. David McBrayne Limited, for maintaining their services in the Western Highlands and Islands.

My right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General and I have entered into a supplemental agreement with Messrs. David MacBrayne Limited extending the terms of the contract dated 3rd June last until the end of 1948, subject to a financial adjustment to cover the performance by the Company of services previously operated by Messrs. McCallum, Orme and Company Limited. I am placing in the Library copies of the agreement and of a revised schedule of services.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the level crossing near Conington North signal box has become increasingly dangerous to people working on nearby farms and local villages and to their children; that last December a farm lorry was involved in an accident with a train; that on 1st March four German P.O.Ws. were killed and eleven injured when the lorry conveying them to work was hit by a light engine at the crossing; and will he take immediate action with the Railways Executive to prevent accidents there in future.

I am aware of these two accidents and an inspecting officer of railways is holding an inquiry into the one which occurred on 1st March. Until his report is received, I must reserve any statement as to the circumstances. I should like, however, to express my regret at this unfortunate occurrence involving death and injury to a number of prisoners of war.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the fact that some county councils have found themselves unable to reduce their road maintenance staff in accordance with the terms of his recent circular on the grounds that the cut sought is excessive, and that the county councils do not wish to be held responsible for roads becoming dangerous as a result; and if he can make a further statement in this connection.

I hope that the councils to which the hon. Member refers will realise, from the Economic Survey for 1948, that the reductions in road maintenance staff for which I am asking are made inevitable by the country's economic situation. Notwithstanding these reductions there should be sufficient men available to ensure that roads do not become dangerous through lack of maintenance.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that circular No. 618 of 16th January, 1948, was sent to the Margate Council urging them to reduce the labour employed on highways by discharging 20 men of a type suitable for employment on more essential work, when there are already 1,000 persons registered as unemployed; whether he has considered the letter on this subject sent by the town clerk to the divisional road engineer, South Eastern Division; and what reply he proposes to send.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." I am advised that unemployment in Margate is largely seasonal and I should not feel justified in treating the council exceptionally in this matter. The council is being so informed.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to make an order restricting Millgate, Newark, to one-way traffic.

In view of the objections which I received when notice was given of my intention to introduce one-way working in Millgate, Newark, I propose to hold a local inquiry before reaching a decision.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any preferential terms will be offered to road transport firms who are voluntarily acquired before the compulsory vesting date.

I am assured by the British Transport Commission that any consideration payable under an agreement of this kind would be based as nearly as possible on the principles of Section 47 and 48 of the Transport Act.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has now considered the recommendations of the Lucas Committee; and whether he accepts them in principle.

The recommendations of the Lucas Committee are being considered, but having regard to the complexity and range of the problems involved it may be some time before decisions can be reached.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what area of land on R.A.F. airfields is available for agricultural use; an how much of it is being farmed at the present time.

Some 120,000 acres of land on R.A.F. airfields in England and Wales is available for some kind of agricultural use, and practically all of it is actually in use.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if there is a Government-owned pool of foodstuffs for poultry and pigs which could be made available for use by smallholders.

Government-owned stocks of feedingstuffs are distributed through normal trade channels. Within the general conditions of the rationing scheme, a smallholder is no less eligible than anyone else for his appropriate ration of feedingstuffs for pigs and poultry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether seeds of the right type and in sufficient quantities are available to enable farmers who wish to attempt to grow tobacco to be able to do so.

So far as I am aware, there are at present no supplies of tobacco seed available on a commercial scale in this country. A few individuals may have small quantities for cultivation in private gardens.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has studied the correspondence and questionnaires which have been sent to him concerning a survey of Exmoor farms, whether this survey is being made with his authority, how many persons are employed on the work, and what is the cost to the taxpayer.

This survey, the particulars of which the hon. Member has been good enough to send me, is being carried out under the sole authority of the University of Bristol; and although investigations in agricultural economics at that and other universities are grant-aided, individual research projects such as this do not require my approval. I understand that only one technical assistant is engaged wholly on this inquiry, but I have no information as to the cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he will permit Alfred Weidner, Dickershausen, 2 Kr. Fritzlar, Reg, Kassell, Germany, U.S.A. zone, to return to his wife in this country.

I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has authorised the issue of a British visa to Alfred Weidner. The applicant, since he resides in the United States zone, now has to obtain from the United States element of the Control Commission a temporary travel document and an exit permit to enable him to leave Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of his decision to return the machine tools taken from the Kolibri factory near Bad Salzuflen, he will state how many other factories have had machinery removed from them by T-Force or British Intelligence Organisation Sub-Committee under like circumstances.

I know of no other similar cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Frau Sirkka Hoppner, formerly of 20a, Mendelsohn Strasse, Hanover, and now of No. 9, First Turn, Spratton, Northants, may expect to receive the divorce papers which she lodged with Passport Control Officer, Berlin, as proof of her capacity to many when a visa was granted to her; and whether he will take steps to expedite the return of these papers, in view of the fact that Frau Hoppner's marriage has had to be postponed by reason of their non-production.

I understand that the document to which my hon. Friend refers was sent back to Mrs. Hoppner from the Passport Control Officer in Germany last January. The local Superintendent Registrar, however, did not feel able to accept it as conclusive proof that Mrs. Hoppner was free to marry and the Registrar-General therefore arranged for it to be sent back to Germany for an endorsement, to show that the decree of divorce had been made final. The document, duly endorsed, is on its way back from Germany; and the Superintendent Registrar had been advised that the marriage may now proceed.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers and civilians are serving at Trawsfynydd Camp, Merioneth.

Twenty soldiers and no civilians.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make arrangements on the spot for professional photographers to take a photograph of the military and civilian cemetery at Kranji in the Far East and other theatres of war and to make these photographs available to the relatives at home.

Photographs of actual graves are already sent to next-of-kin. Owing to the rapid rundown of the Army Graves Service, I regret that it is impossible to undertake the considerable additional work of providing and distributing photographs of complete cemeteries all over the world.

asked the Secretary of State for War why a British flag is no longer flown on the flagstaff in the British military cemetery which adjoins the main railway line between Etaples and Boulogne.

The condition of the flagstaff at this military cemetery became dangerous during the severe winter of last year. It has recently been replaced and the flag will be flown again as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount of invisible exports for each of the years 1900 to date.

I give below such information as is readily available:Net invisible exports, computed after calculating the merchandise trade deficit from records of imports (valued c.i.f.) and of exports (valued f.o.b.) were given in the

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will institute an inquiry into the unsatisfactory working of the remission Sections of the Tithe Act, in order to stimulate the drive for increased food production.

I have no reason to believe that the provisions of the Tithe Act, 1936, for the remission of part of the annuities in certain cases are working unsatisfactorily. Any difference of opinion there may have been regarding their meaning has been resolved by a decision of the High Court.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he has any statement to make in regard to the forthcoming referendum in Newfoundland.

A despatch has been sent to the Governor of Newfoundland indicating the questions which it has been decided should be put before the people of Newfoundland at the forthcoming referendum. The following is the text of the despatch, which was published in Newfoundland on 11th March:"Sir,I have the honour to state that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have had under careful consideration the Report of the National Convention of Newfoundland which was set up in terms of the National Convention Act No. 16 of 1946.2. The terms of reference of the Convention were to consider and discuss among themselves as elected representatives of the people of Newfoundland the changes that have taken place in the financial and economic situation of the Island since 1934, and, bearing in mind the extent to which the high revenues of recent years have been due to wartime conditions, to examine the position of the country and to make recommendations to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom as to possible forms of future government to be put before the people at a national referendum. In the course of their proceedings the Convention made a very full study of the financial and economic situation of Newfoundland, and I should like to pay this tribute to the conscientious way in which members of the Convention carried out their difficult task. As noted in the Report, the Convention arranged for delegations to visit both London and Ottawa and as a result of the discussions between the Ottawa delegation and the Canadian authorities, the Canadian Government issued a document setting out the arrangements which they would be prepared to recommend to the Canadian Parliament as a basis for union between Canada and Newfoundland should the Newfoundland people indicate their desire for such a course.3. At the vote taken at the conclusion of the Convention a motion was passed without dissentients recommending that the following forms of Governments should be placed before the people at the proposed referendum:

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the reduction or abolition of postage on parcels of food sent to distressed people in Germany; and if his attention has been drawn to the complaints from Banbridge, Co. Down, at a postal charge of 3s. 9d. per parcel on the 50 or more parcels a month sent from that district.

The postage charges on gift parcels for Germany are based on the costs of the service, and notwithstanding the complaints from Banbridge, I regret no reduction is possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what facilities he will provide at Leiston aerodrome for industrial units to utilise space to assist the export drive.

Leiston is no longer required by the R.A.F. and all the buildings were allocated in 1946 to other Government Departments. The possibility of using some of the premises for industrial purposes is being examined by the Board of Trade.