asked the Minister of Labour why educational grants are not given to ex-Indian Army officers, as instanced by the case of Major T. C. Hopkins-Husson, of which particulars have been sent to him.

The Further Education and Training Scheme is designed to help men and women who were normally resident in this country before joining the Forces. United Kingdom nationals who served in the Indian Forces are eligible for grants but ex-Indian Army officers who were born and educated in India are not eligible.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Mr. R. Handley, of 55, King's Road, Herne Bay, an ex-Serviceman with seven years' service and at present unemployed, has been refused a further education and training grant which will enable him to obtain employment; and if he will state the reason for such refusal.

I regret that Mr. Handley does not fulfil the conditions of eligibility of the Further Education and Training Scheme in that his war service neither prevented him from starting nor interrupted him in the course of studies leading to a professional qualification.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as unemployed; the total number of registered disabled persons; the number of registered disabled persons unemployed; and the number of unemployed persons over the age of 50 in the area of the Bexleyheath Employment Exchange.

The number of insured persons unemployed at 16th February was 394. The total number of registered disabled persons was 1,262, of whom 101 were unemployed, including eight requiring employment under sheltered conditions. The numbers unemployed at 16th February who were aged over 50 years are not known, but the number aged over 40 at 8th December was 177.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of nationals of Poland and of other Eastern European countries at present resident in Great Britain who are not gainfully occupied.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons who have registered under S.R. & O., 2409, as street traders, and how many of those who registered have now been placed in work of national importance.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his two similar Questions today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in regard to a case, Code No. 716/63, under the Hill Sheep (Scotland) Scheme, particulars of which are in his possession, whether there was any inspection of the farm in question by the Agricultural Executive Committee for the purpose of confirming a report by a livestock inspector which reversed previous decisions of that Committee; whether any opportunity of making representations was afforded to the farmer before withdrawing an approval which had been given for several years; and, in view of the earlier decision that the farm should only carry 500 sheep on a returned acreage of 600 acres, whether he will now approve of a stock of 750 sheep on an established map acreage of 1,205 acres.

I understand there was no inspection by the Committee, but members of the Agricultural Executive Committee, to whom the farm is known, supported the Inspector's recommendation. This recommendation, that only 500 sheep should be deemed eligible for subsidy in 1948, was in fact based on the map acreage of 1,205 acres, notwithstanding the lesser acreage returned by the applicant. The applicant was given an opportunity of making representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give instructions to the agricultural executive committees that reports of inspections by officials of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland for the purposes of any enactment authorising payment of grants or subsidies shall be accepted by a committee only if an inspection has been carried out by a member of the committee, concurrently with or subsequent to, that made by the official.

No. In view of the many other tasks to be undertaken by the new Area Committees, it has been decided that they could not deal with the many thousands of applications for grants and subsidies which come forward in each area. Certification of claims will, therefore, be undertaken in future by Departmental inspectors, except in the case of marginal agricultural production grants which will continue to be administered by committees. Committees will, of course, be consulted in doubtful cases where knowledge of local circumstances may be the deciding factor.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now approve the loan requested by the Dumfries County Council for the purpose of a lighting scheme at the Kelloholm Temporary Housing Estate which at present is entirely without street lighting.

In view of the present need for economy in the use of materials and in fuel consumption, I have not been able to approve the County Council's proposals in the form submitted to me, and have asked them to consider whether a modified scheme is required in the interests of public safety.

asked the Minister of Pensions when Mr. E. D. T. Austin, Hazeldene, Hatley Gardens, South Ben-fleet, Essex, can expect to receive his surgical boots, now four months overdue.

Mr. Austin's surgical shoes were delivered to him at the beginning of November but were returned to the contractor for a slight adaptation to be done. I much regret that, by an unfortunate misunderstanding on the part of the London representative of my contractors the shoes were not delivered to him on completion of the work. He has now received them, and arrangements have been made for the repair of his second pair of shoes and an order has been placed for a new pair.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any military police are being drafted to the Far East in excess of normal replacements; how many are at present in No. 1 Transit Camp, Singapore; and what is their longest stay there prior to posting.

Military police in excess of normal replacements are not being drafted to the Far East. None are at present in the transit camp referred to. In the past the longest normal stap at this camp before posting was five days for those awaiting passage to Japan. Such postings ceased at the end of January. Drafts for local reinforcements are cleared in three days.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is yet in a position to make an announcement regarding visits by next of kin during the coming summer to war graves in Italy.

The announcement made by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. M. Lindsay) on 27th January regarding privately arranged visits to war graves in countries of North-West Europe other than Germany applies also to Italy.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any further statement to make on the subject of the possible deferment of release of certain R.A.S.C. clerks serving in the Middle East; and how many men are likely to be involved.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can now make a statement on the block deferment for two months of R.A.S.C. clerks, serving in the Middle East, in group 67 and subsequent groups.

asked the Secretary of State for War what deferment is proposed in the demobilisation of R.A.S.C. G/D Clerks at G.H.Q., M.E.L.F., on release groups 67 and 68; why this is necessary; by what date or dates they will be demobilised; and whether G/D Clerks in other arms and at other H.Q. have been subjected to similar treatment.

It will, unfortunately, be necessary for the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, to defer the release, for a period which I hope may not be longer than two months, of some 400 R.A.S.C. clerks in Group 67 serving in the Middle East. As regards the reason for such deferments and the position in other arms and theatres, I have nothing to add to the reply given to several hon. Members on 24th February last.

asked the Secretary' of State for War what help is to be given by men serving in the Army to assist agriculture during the 1948 harvest.

The general arrangements made in previous years for giving help to farmers will be continued this year. All formation and unit commanders are being instructed to ensure that such military labour and transport as can be made available is employed to the best advantage. The hon. Member will appreciate, however, that owing to the decrease in the size of the Army the number of troops available for loan to farmers will necessarily be smaller than in previous years.

asked the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made with the removal of ammunition from Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire; and when he anticipates that he will be able to release the whole of the park to the National Trust.

Ammunition is being cleared from Clumber Park at the rate of some 500 tons a week. I regret that I cannot forecast when it will be possible to release the whole of the park.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now make a further interim payment of compensation due as a result of a motor accident in Cyprus on 2nd August, 1947, particulars of which have been sent him.

My Department has again considered this case and, in the very special cirumstances, has authorised a further interim payment of £250, without prejudice to the question of liability.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is intended that No. I dress will be issued to officers who have bought mess dress and/or blue patrol uniform; and whether such officers will be expected to pay for No. 1 dress.

No decision has been taken regarding the time or conditions of introduction of No. I Dress for the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish a list of the occasions on which permission has been given for full dress uniform to be worn other than by individuals since it became obsolete in 1918; and the occasions on which such permission has been refused.

This information, if indeed it is available at all, could not be obtained without a great deal of research, which I do not consider would be justifiable.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the recognised full-dress uniform for the Army, other than the Household Troops; and on what occasions such dress may be worn.

Except for the Household Troops, and the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, there is now no recognised full dress uniform for the Army. No. 1 Dress, when introduced, will be used for those ceremonial occasions for which full dress was worn in the past.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many persons are now accommodated in the former United States Army camp at Milton Road, Cambridge.

Five hundred and twenty troops are at present accommodated in this camp. The numbers will be increased by 120 within the next fortnight, bringing the total number of troops in the camp to 640.

asked the Secretary of State for War if it is intended to continue allowing 56 days' leave with pay for officers due for release who have been recruited after 1946.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for North St. Pancras (Mr. House), on 21st January, 1947.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement about leave from M.E.L.F. to the United Kingdom and local leave in M.E.L.F.

As I stated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 27th January, it is not possible, owing to shortage of shipping, to grant United Kingdom leave, except on compassionate grounds, to soldiers serving in overseas Commands other than Europe. Soldiers serving in the Middle East are eligible for 28 days' local leave annually.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is now possible to introduce a scheme whereby unemployed and sick prisoners of war with no credit balance of spendable pay may be afforded some of the canteen facilities available to their comrades and at present denied them.

Yes. Arrangements have now been made for general canteen supplies, including things such as cigarettes and stationery, up to a maximum value of 3s. a week to be issued to unemployed other rank prisoners of war, including the sick, but excepting those who are not allowed to work for security or disciplinary reasons. The cost of these goods will be debited against the prisoner's account or recovered when he is again in credit.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total national product, expressed in terms of goods and services, for 1938 and 1947, respectively.

Information is not available to allow any precise comparison to be made of the relative sizes of the national product in 1938 and 1947. On the best available evidence, however, it is possible to say, as it was stated in the Economic Survey for 1948, Cmd. 7344, that "our production exceeds that of 1938, and each month recently has shown further upward progress."

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the "Radio Times" is exempt from the newsprint restrictions imposed in July, 1947, which reduced the consumption of newsprint by 10 per cent. and pegged all circulations; and if he is aware of the exceptional increase in the Midland Region of the sales of the "Radio Times" as compared with all provincial newspapers in that area which have had their circulation pegged.

The paper consumption of the "Radio Times," in common with that of other periodicals, is prescribed, but within these limits there is freedom to adjust the size and number of the copies distributed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to grant a non-disabled ex-Service man a permit, licence or coupon float in those cases where such authority is needed under Board of Trade regulations.

Non-disabled ex-Service men require permits, licences or coupon floats to commence business in every case in which such authority is needed for other persons under Board of Trade regulations, and normally they no longer receive any special treatment. If the hon. Member will let me know to what type of business he is referring, I will endeavour to answer him more specifically.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which development councils have now been formed, and which can be expected to be formed, in the near future.

A draft Order providing for the establishment of a Development Council for the Cotton Industry, which will replace the Cotton Board, was approved by the House last night, and I hope that it will have been approved in another place in time for me to bring it into effect on 1st April. Discussions with a number of other industries are in progress, but I cannot yet say for which of them councils will be established first.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of lager and other classes of beer, respectively, were imported from Continental countries into the United Kingdom during January, 1948.

Imports of lager beer are not recorded separately in the trade returns. Total imports of beer from Continental countries during January, 1948, amounted to 2,023 bulk barrels of 36 gallons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that recent trade negotiations with Czechoslovakia will be continued with the new Government with a view to expanding commercial relationships.

There have been no recent trade negotiations with Czechoslovakia, though preliminary conversations as to a possible basis for such negotiations took place before the' recent change of regime.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many furniture units were issued to priority classes in 1947; and how many were used.

Forty-one and three-quarter millions and 33¼ millions respectively, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that our exports of cotton piece goods to Burma, a country now outside the Empire are so high in comparison to other countries, particularly Canada, he will give an assurance that we are receiving raw materials from Burma of equivalent value.

There is every prospect that the value of exports of raw materials from Burma to the United Kingdom in 1948 will much exceed that of our estimated exports of cotton piece goods to Burma. I would also remind the hon. Member that Burma remains within the Sterling Group, and that supplies of cotton piece goods have proved a valuable stimulus to the production of rice for export from Burma to other members of the group which would otherwise have to seek dollar supplies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the marking "Made in Scotland" is accepted by his Department for all goods manufactured in Scotland both for export and the home market.

In this country the law permits goods made wholly in Scotland to be so marked, but does not require it. The question whether such a marking is accepted by the Board of Trade does not, therefore, arise. Where such goods are sent overseas they may be voluntarily marked with the country of manufacture, or may be required to be so marked by the laws of the importing country. In such cases it is for the importing country to decide whether "Made in Scotland" is an appropriate description. I understand that Canada, Australia, and U.S.A. accept the description "Made in Scotland" for goods genuinely entitled to it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to build new factories in areas such as South-West Durham, in the several villages where there is unemployment or to concentrate them in central trading estates.

There is no set rule. In general, the policy has been to concentrate factories on trading estates at focal points within reasonable daily travelling distance of the main centres of population, but factories have also been erected on individual sites in. localities where the employment need is smaller and cannot be met otherwise.

asked the President of the Board Of Trade if he is satisfied that the present price levels of children's footwear and clothing are justified and if he will make an immediate review of such prices with the object of reducing present profit margins, if necessary including as an emergency and temporary measure, provision for the distribution at production price of part of these commodities through other than the normal distributive channels.

The ceiling prices for children's footwear and certain items of clothing have recently been reviewed in connection with the removal of the subsidies on leather and on cotton and wool cloth and in the light of the substantial rises last year in the price of raw wool. I am satisfied that, where ceiling prices have been increased following this review, they have been kept to a minimum.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware, of the decision of the Football Pools Promoters Association to expel from membership a firm Whose name has been supplied to him; that such decision was taken because of the, failure of such firm to observe voluntary undertakings given designed to economise in labour and materials; and whether it is his intention to continue to recognise this firm as being properly entitled to paper allocation under licence from his Department.

No. So far as I am aware no firm has been expelled. We will at any time consider taking appropriate action if we have evidence that any firm is not complying with the conditions under which licences are issued, and if my hon. Friend is in a position to furnish such evidence I shall be glad to go into the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the widespread demands from shopkeepers for greatly increased rents or for exorbitant sums for the purchase of property and, as these demands would, if met, result in increased prices of commodities to consumers can he take action, or make a statement.

The question whether it is desirable and practical to control rents charged for business premises, and if so by what means, is now being considered by the Leasehold Committee under Lord Utthwatt's chairmanship. As my hon. Friend is aware, the question of shop rents in Scotland has already been considered by a separate Committee, whose report was published at the end of last year (Cmd. 7285).

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, in view of the fact that there are large stocks of woollen goods in Britain, he is allowing £1,000,000 worth of woollen material to come into this country from Italy at utility prices.

We agreed to allow the import of wool piece goods from Italy as Part of a mutually advantageous arrangement whereby each country undertook to issue import licences for certain manufactured products, the export of which was important to the other's economy. We have stipulated that half of the Italian supplies should be in men's suitings and overcoatings, of which there is a continuing1shortage here; and that half should be of the type used far making up into utility clothes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how long he anticipates the present supply of Virginia tobacco will last; and what are his plans for importing tobacco when this stock is exhausted.

It is not possible to consider Virginia tobacco in isolation in this context. Total stocks of unmanufactured tobacco of all types are equivalent to approximately 15 months' usage at the present rate of consumption. As regards the second part of the Question, United Kingdom manufacturers will, I am satisfied, continue to purchase from sources where currency difficulties do not arise all the available tobacco which is suitable in quality and price. Such purchases will not represent the continuance of anything like the present level of supply, and my hon. Friend will I hope agree that I cannot at this stage prejudge developments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date discussions were begun for the conclusion

RATES FOR TOTAL INCAPACITY.
—	Workmen's Compensation Act;		Industrial Injuries Act, 1946.
	1st 13 weeks	After 13 weeks.	Injury Benefit 1st 26 weeks.	Disablement Benefit
				Basic maximum rate (See note 1)	Maximum rates with unemployability supplement.
	Maximum.	Maximum:
Single man or woman	35s.	40s.	45s.	45s.	65s.
Single man or woman with adult dependant	35s.	40s.	61s.	45s.	81s.
Married man	40s.	50s.	61s.	45s.	81s.
Married man with child	45s.	55s.	68s. 6d.	45s.	88s. 6d

NOTES:—1. Sickness benefit (including allowances for one adult and one child) under the National Insurance Act is, subject to certain conditions, payable to an industrial pensioner during periods of incapacity if an unemployability supplement is not in payment.2. A constant attendance allowance of up to 40s. a week may be paid to a person with maximum pension.3. If the accident is fatal the scheme provides pension allowances or gratuities for certain prescribed dependants as compared with a lump sum (maximum £400 or £700 if there are children) under the Workmen's Compensation Acts.

Discussions covering both trade and finance were begun on 1st December last.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will, give a list of benefits to insured contributors under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1946, and indicate how they compare with previous schemes.

As the Workmen's Compensation Acts and the National insurance (Industrial. Injuries) Act, 1946, are based on entirely different principles, a, simple comparison of the benefits is not possible. I will, however, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the rates payable during total incapacity. Payments for partial incapacity under both schemes are at varying rates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will see to it that adequate labour is made available to farmers before the Government consider taking over land on the ground that it has not been properly cultivated.

The availability of labour will clearly be one of the relevant circumstances to be taken into consideration before deciding whether action under Part H of the Agriculture Act, 1947, is appropriate and necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will place in the Library, for consideration and study by those Members most concerned, copies of all data, recommendations, reports and surveys which bear upon the future agricultural development of the Romney Marsh.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how Members, interested in the future development of Romney Marsh, can ascertain the proposals made, so far, to his Ministry; and if he will send to the Members concerned copies of any reports or recommendations which have been received.

I have referred the future of Romney Marsh to the Agricultural. Land Commission for consideration under Section 84 of the Agriculture Act, 1947. That Section sets out the procedure which must be followed. In brief, this consists of a survey and investigation by the Commission; the preparation by the Commission of a draft report incorporating a scheme as to the work which seems to them necessary for the full and efficient use of the land for agriculture; the publication of a notice stating where copies of the draft report may be obtained; the hearing and consideration of representations by owners, lessees, or occupiers; and the presentation of a final report to the Minister which he is under a statutory duty to publish.This procedure will provide a full opportunity for the views of all interested parties to be made known to the Commission, but I shall not be in a position formally to make any information available to hon. Members until I have received the Commission's final report. In the meantime any inquiries should be addressed to the Secretary of the Agricultural Land Commission, 26. Queen Anne's Gate, London, S.W.I.

asked the Minister of Health if names on existing panel lists will automatically remain on the list of their present doctor if he enters the National Health Service before the appointed day, subject to the customary 14 days' opportunity to change if they wish.

The names will be automatically transferred to the doctor's list under the new scheme unless either the doctor or the patient objects.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an assurance that doctors joining the National Health Service in July who have not reached their fifty-sixth birthday will be eligible to complete ten years' service and qualify for superannuation and retirement allowance.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give a list of services to be made available by the National Health Service Act, 1946, showing separately those which are free and those for which a charge may be made, and indicate how they compare with previous services.

With a very few exceptions all services under the National Health Service Act will be provided without charge, but as the details for which my hon. Friend asks involve a tabular statement I will, with permission, circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he is aware that the completion of ten local authority houses in Herne Bay is held up through the inability of the contractors to obtain the necessary supplies of felt upon which to lay the asphalt flooring; and if he can take steps to ensure supplies;(2) if he is aware that the completion of 12 local authority houses in Herne Bay is held up for the lack of baths and W.C. pans; and whether he will take urgent steps to make them available.

I am aware that shortages have occurred but supplies of felt are now on the site in sufficient quantities to enable the floors to be laid. For the other items, officers of my Department and of the Ministry of Works have obtained promises of delivery within a matter of days.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that an increase of ½ per cent. on housing loans will make it difficult to erect houses at a reasonable rental without increasing the local rates; and what steps he proposes to take to ameliorate this position.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 12th 'February to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Sir R. Acland), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the appropriate priority for building of modern and suitable dwellings for the aged on a community basis in view of the hardships to which they have been increasingly subjected, and if he will consult with the local authorities on this.

The National Assistance Bill now before Parliament will place a duty on the councils of counties and county boroughs to provide, for aged persons and others who cannot wholly 'care for themselves residential accommodation of the kind to which the hon. Member refers. New building for this purpose will be given as high a degree of priority as possible, and I shall be consulting with local authorities in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Mr. J. W. Kelly, of Layton Lane, Rawdon, who served over three years abroad during the war, and whose wife is a teacher, will become homeless on 3rd June; why Mr. Kelly has been refused a licence to build a house although the plans have been passed by the Aire-borough Urban District Council and the builder concerned has the men and the materials and has already built his quota of houses to let; and if he will reconsider his decision.

I am aware of the circumstances in this case. Licences can at present be granted only in the priority cases mentioned in the circular of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy and I am unable to alter my decision.

asked the Minister of Health the number of applicants for local authority houses at the latest date in the borough of Newark and the rural districts of Bingham, Newark and Southwell; and the number of houses now under construction in each of those areas.

I regret that the information in respect of the first part of the Question is not available. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the Monthly Housing Returns.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now satisfied with the condition of the water supply in the area of the Leiston Battle School.

Satisfactory analyses of the water from five of the six wells is use in this area have been obtained. The sixth is so situated that contamination from the surface is almost inevitable and has probably been taking place for many years, and I am asking the District Council to do what is possible, to see that this state of affairs is remedied.

asked the Minister of Health if he has now approved the plans for a maternity home for Stroud.

General lay-out was approved last May. Working drawings and other information reached me in December. I am now waiting for the county council's views on some other information which they have been asked to supply.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from diphtheria occurred in Manchester in each of the last 30 years.

The Registrar-General's tabulations of deaths by areas are based on the usual residence of the deceased. The number of residents of Manchester whose deaths were attributed to diphtheria in each of the 30 years 1917–46 are:

1917*	…	…	…	…	57
1918*	…	…	…	…	55
1919*	…	…	…	…	35
1920*	…	…	…	…	71
1921	…	…	…	…	90
1922	…	…	…	…	79
1923	…	…	…	…	47
1924	…	…	…	…	61
1925	…	…	…	…	99
1926	…	…	…	…	102
1927	…	…	…	…	91
1928	…	…	…	…	94
1929	…	…	…	…	56
1930	…	…	…	…	57
1931	…	…	…	…	60
1932	…	…	…	…	81
1933	…	…	…	…	87
1934	…	…	…	…	83
1935	…	…	…	…	60
1936	…	…	…	…	91
1937	…	…	…	…	89
1938	…	…	…	…	55
1939*	…	…	…	…	36
1940*	…	…	…	…	47
1941*	…	…	…	…	46
1942*	…	…	…	…	27
1943*	…	…	…	…	30
1944*	…	…	…	…	6
1945*	…	…	…	…	14
1946*	…	…	…	…	11
*Civilian deaths only in 1917–20 and from 3rd September, 1939, for males and from 1st June, 1941, for females.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much petrol has been allocated to the Quantock Staghounds for hunting purposes; and whether he will instruct regional petroleum officers, to withdraw such allocations.

On the recommendation of the responsible Agricultural Executive Committee 30 gallons per month have been allocated to the Master of the Quantock Staghounds for purposes connected with the hunt. These include arranging for the collection of carcases of deer killed by the hunt, and noting any damage which may have been caused by the hunt in passing, so that it may be repaired.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the reason for the planned increase in civilian oil imports in 1948, compared with 1947, as shown in the Economic Survey for 1948.

This is due partly to increased industrial consumption of fuel oil and partly to the need to safeguard civilian stocks.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the survey of the Applecross Road has been completed yet; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes; and the matter will be considered further when I have the County Council's proposals before me.

asked the Minister of Transport at what date work began on a new road bend between Sutton Scotney and Basingstoke in the district of Micheldever; the number of men employed; the total estimated cost of the work when completed; and the estimated date of this.

This work began on 27th August, 1946, and is expected to be completed by the end of May. Wet weather in the autumn of 1946 and snow and frost early in 1947 delayed progress; there has also been some difficulty in obtaining labour and materials. The average number of men employed has been about 20. The estimated cost is £31,400 for works and £1,125 for land.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a comprehensive statement of his plans and policy for the production of textile machinery and its allocation between export and home needs.

On the general position I cannot add anything to the reply which I gave to the senior Member for Oldham (Mr. Fairhurst) on 9th March. In agreement with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, a proportion of the total output is being exported, but a marked preference is given to the re-equipment needs of the home textile industries.

asked the Minister of Supply under what statutory authority his Department wrote a letter reference 257/WP/10. IWQ/DIB dated 20th February, 1948, to Messrs. Tilghmans Patent Sand Blast Company Limited, urging them to expedite execution of a contract privately entered into with another private firm.

My right hon. Friend, as a competent authority under Defence Regulation 55, has a right to give general directions to industry, but in this case no question of giving such a direction arose. The letter was only a request made with the object of helping the export drive.

asked the Minister of Supply if he has now considered the representations made to him by the Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers; and whether he proposes to appoint a committee to consider how best to implement in non-ferrous foundries the recommendations in the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Conditions in Iron Foundries.

I regret that I cannot trace the receipt by the Ministry of Supply of any such representations. In answer to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on 4th February to the hon. Member for Stoke (Mr. Ellis Smith).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that instructions were issued prohibiting Colonial importers from purchasing sugar or sugar confectionery from Great Britain or the Dominions; and what prohibition was at the same time placed upon the import of these commodities from soft currency countries outside the Empire.

The hon. Member has been misinformed. So far as sugar is concerned, Colonial import programmes are agreed between His Majesty's Government and the Colonial Governments concerned, and the sugar is then supplied under arrangements made by the Ministry of Food or, if refined, from refiners in the United Kingdom. Imports are not allowed in excess of the agreed amounts. Imports of sugar confectionery are limited by import licence to the quantities which Colonial Governments consider it necessary to admit. Such imports are normally from the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Mr. F. R. Leach of 41 Ruskin Road, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, lately employed by Tate and Lyle at Wandsworth, may expect to receive an Income Tax Rebate of £6 5s. due to him since last September and for which application has been made to H.M. Inspector of Taxes, 64, Northside, Putney District, Wandsworth, S.W.18.

I understand that the refund has now been made. The delay in repayment which is regretted was caused by an unfortunate error in the tax office.

asked the Minister of Education what is the annual cost per pupil in each grade of State school, including the provision of milk and meals, and the amortisation of building and equipment.

It is estimated, on the basis of the financial returns of authorities for the year 1946–47, that the cost per pupil in maintained and assisted schools was of the order of £25—£26 in the case of primary (including nursery) schools, and of the order of rather over £40 in the case of secondary schools. These figures take into account the particular factors referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education when Brook Street School, Tottenham, is likely to be ready for use.

I am awaiting further information from the promoters and from

TABLE A.—DOMESTIC CONSUMERS, (a) (b)
Commodity.		Normal Adult.	Child under 5 years old.	Expectant mother.
Meat	…	1s. 0d. (c)	6d.	1s. 6d.
Bacon	…	2 oz.	2 oz.	2 oz.
Butter	…	7 oz.	7 oz.	7 oz.
Margarine	…
Cooking Fat	…	1 oz.	1 oz.	1 oz.
Cheese (d)	…	2 oz.	2 oz.	2 oz.
Bread	…	9 B.U's (e)	Child under 4: 5 B.U's.	11 B.U's.
Flour	…		Child 4–5: 9 B.U's.
Cake and flour confectionery	…		Child 5–11: 10 B.U's.
			Adolescent (11–18):
			14 B.U's.
Preserves	…	4 oz.	4 oz.	4 oz.
Sugar	…	8 oz.	8 oz.	8 oz.
Milk, fresh	…	2 pts.	Child 0–1: 12 pts.	9 pts.
			Child 1–5: 7 pts.
			Adolescent (5–18):
			3½ pts.
			Handicapped child,
			(5–16): 7 pts.
Potatoes	…	3 lb.	1½ lb. (f)	4½ lb.
Tea	…	2 oz. (g)	—	2 oz.
Points (per 4 week period)	…	28	28	28
Personal points (per 4 week period)	…	12	12	12

asked the Minister of Food if he will publish in HANSARD a table showing the present scales of Service and civilian rations, including those allowed to special classes of workers and invalids, inmates of hospitals, prisons, etc., of all such commodities, including milk, as are also issued to the various categories of Poles who are still within the responsibility of His Majesty's Government.

pursuant to her reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd February, 1948, Vol. 446, c. 268], supplied the following information regarding weekly scales of rations and allowances of such commodities: