asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the percentage of non-combustible material in coal supplies is being reduced and the quality restored; and when users will again be able to specify the type of coal most suited to their requirements.

In reply to the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Chairman of the National Coal Board on 22nd December last of which I am sending him a copy. As regards the second part, it is not possible to say when the supply position will allow consumers full freedom of choice, but in the meantime the Board are endeavouring by direct contact with organised groups of consumers and through the medium of the Coal Consumers' Councils to ensure that a widening range of consumers receive coals of the type and quality they require.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many Meco-Moore coal cutters were installed in 1947; and how many will be delivered in 1948.

During 1947, 15 Meco-Moore cutter loaders were installed in collieries. Thirty-six cutter loaders are expected to be delivered during 1948.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the latest estimate of his Department of the total reserves of deep mineable coal in Great Britain; and how long these are likely to last at the present rate of extraction.

According to the reports of the regional survey committees appointed by the Minister of Fuel and Power in 1944, the reserves of deep mineable coal in Great Britain are 42,000 million tons. At the present rate of extraction, these would be sufficient to last about two centuries.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that in the granting of supplementary petrol allowances to commercial travellers a regional petroleum officer cannot discriminate between a traveller who has a comparatively small area to cover and one with a very large area; and if he will amend this position.

Allowances for commercial travellers are assessed according to their needs, subject to a maximum amount which in present circumstances I could not agree to increase.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power in what circumstances petrol can be issued to honorary secretaries of sporting clubs, including golf, football, cricket and tennis clubs, to carry out the work of the club.

Allowances of petrol are not normally granted to honorary secretaries of sporting clubs, but an allowance would be granted on compassionate grounds to a disabled person who had to carry out such work and was entirely dependent on a car for getting about.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the fact that distribution costs account in large measure for the high price of fuel oil, he will consider favourably the application made by the Bury Felt Manufacturing Company that they should purchase the fuel oil c.i.f. from the port and use their own transport to bring it to the factory, thereby making a considerable yearly saving in production costs.

Distribution costs amount on the average only to about 15 per cent. of the selling price of heavy fuel oil to inland consumers and I cannot therefore agree with the hon. Member that they account in large measure for the present price of fuel oil. The Petroleum Board can only maintain distribution costs at this low level by spreading them over all deliveries within each zone, and I see no reason why an exception should be made in the case of this firm.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that with its latest increase in price, firms are paying considerably more for their fuel oil than at the price ruling when they were encouraged to convert to fuel oil consumption by the Government last winter; and whether he intends to take steps to alleviate the unfair burden this has placed on many firms.

Yes, but the increase is due to a rise in the world price of oil, over which I have no control, and must be acepted as a normal commercial risk.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will relax his petrol regulations to enable hospitals, sanatoria and other similar institutions, especially in rural areas, to be visited by car by organised parties hitherto engaged on similar social service.

Allowances are already given to officials and voluntary workers of recognised social service organisations for their work which, I understand, may include visiting such institutions as my hon. Friend has in mind. If he will let me know of any special difficulties which are being experienced, I shall be glad to look into them.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is now able to issue the M form of authorisation for release of steel required to construct eight new gas retort chambers at the Llanfairfechan works of the Holyhead Gas Company, Ltd., in view of the urgent necessity for the immediate provision of such new retorts if Llanfairfechan gas consumers are to be assured of a reasonable supply and quality of gas.

I assume the hon. Member has in mind the provision of new retorts at Penmaenmawr. This project was sanctioned by my Department on 31st December, 1947; and arrangements are being made for a form of authorisation for the release of steel to be issued as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what proportion of lubricating oil is expected from the 1½ million tons annual output anticipated from the Government oil refinery at Heysham; and is it proposed to distribute this lubricating oil through the Lubricating Oil Pool Board.

The plant in question at Heysham has been disposed of by the Government to the Shell Refinery and Marketing Company. I am informed that the company's refining programme does not include the manufacture of any lubricating oil, since the refinery is not equipped with the special plant necessary for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he estimates for an increase in imports of petroleum, Civil, as shown in Table VI of the Economic Survey for 1948, Command Paper No. 7344, of £75 million in 1947 to £47 million for the first half of 1948.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary gave on 16th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Bexley (Mr. Bramall).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the increasing difficulty in obtaining supplies of fuel oil at reasonable prices, he will instruct the British Electricity Authority not to proceed with the erection of any oil-fired power stations.

It is not proposed to erect any public oil-fired generating stations, with the exception of Bankside where, as the hon. Member will be aware, special conditions obtain.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will restrain the British Electricity Authority, from acquiring large new office premises since the generation, supply and distribution of electricity throughout Great Britain has hitherto been satisfactorily organised by staffs within the existing office accommodation taken over with the other assets.

As I have already told the House in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for New Forest and Christchurch (Colonel CrosthwaiteEyre) on 4th March, I regard the selection and purchase of accommodation as a matter wholly within the discretion of the Central Authority and the area boards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is to happen on 1st April to those N.F.S. men who in 1946 were given permanent administrative appointments, and who as yet have not received appointments under the new fire service authorities.

In some cases arrangements are being made for their retention in temporary Government employment and, where this is not practicable, they will be given gratuities of two months' pay. In the meantime every effort is being and will continue to be made by the Home Office, in collaboration with the local authority associations, to secure their absorption in permanent local government posts either before or after 1st April.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory conditions in Rushey Hill Camp, Peacehaven; and what plans he has made to assist the local authority to make an early improvement in these conditions.

Yes. I am advised that the huts are not suitable for housing, but I have asked the local authority to effect certain improvements to make the dwellings more habitable until the occupants can be accommodated elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Health if a ban on the building of private houses in the borough of Newark and the rural districts of Bingham, Newark and Southwell is still in existence.

Licences for private building can be authorised only in the special cases referred to in the circular of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health the approximate number of people awaiting homes who have registered with local authorities for houses as soon as they are available.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if streptomycin is now being produced in the United Kingdom; if supplies are still being imported; and what stocks are now held in the United Kingdom in comparison with the nearest convenient date in 1947.

Production on a small scale will start shortly but imports are still necessary. Stocks on 1st September were 25 kilogrammes and on 1st March, 36 kilogrammes.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement concerning the continued service of the Welsh National Memorial Association, with regard to the care of sanatoria in Wales.

Under the National Health Service Act these sanatoria are transferred to me, and will be administered as part of the hospital service by the Welsh Regional Hospital Board. Their day-to-day management will be in the hands of the appropriate local management committees, but certain services will be temporarily continued on a national basis to ease the transition to the new arrangements.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take to ensure that, after the introduction of the National Health Act, dentists in this country are able to spend a greater proportion of their time on the work of conserving the natural teeth of the people.

I am alive to the need for this and shall have it in mind in the negotiations on remuneration which will follow the report of the Spens Committee.

asked the Minister of Health if he is yet satisfied that he will be able to provide the medical services proposed in the new Health Service Act.

I certainly see no reason why the service should not start in the manner always contemplated.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the fact that under the dental services contemplated under the National Health Act, he proposes that the repair of dentures should be free and not require any prior authority, what steps are being taken to ensure that there are adequate facilities for providing such repairs efficiently and within a few hours, in accordance with public requirements.

The dental organisations have taken, or are about to take, steps to bring home to their members the importance of carrying out repairs expeditiously.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many European voluntary workers are, as at the last most convenient date, working in the spinning and weaving sections, respectively, of the textile industry;(2) of the total number of European voluntary workers which it is desired to introduce into this country to work in the textile industry, how many it is proposed shall be assigned to the spinning section and how many to the weaving section, respectively.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the cotton textile industry in which 4,157 European volunteer workers had been placed up to 13th March, 1948. Up to the present European volunteer workers have been placed only in the spinning and doubling section but placings are about to be extended to the weaving section. No specific allocation is to be made to either section. The aim will be to allocate European volunteer workers in such a way as to keep each section of the industry in balance.

asked the Minister of Labour how many foreign artists are at present performing in this country as musical, variety, cinema and dramatic performers, respectively; and how many of these come from hard currency areas.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that the entry of juveniles into the Wearside shipyards is adequate to meet the needs of the industry.

No. Like most other industries in the country the shipbuilding industry on Wearside is feeling the effect of the present shortage of juveniles. Boys leaving school in the Sunderland area are made aware of the occupations available in shipbuilding and the industry has received a reasonable share of the restricted number of juveniles. The intake to the industry should increase after the summer term when the normal flow of school leavers recommences.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of men and women unemployed now registered at his office in Hastings; what is the average period for which these people have registered as unemployed; and how these figures compare with the same date in 1938, 1939, 1946, and 1947.

At 16th February, 1948, there were 379 insured men and 195 insured women registered as unemployed at the Hastings employment exchange. Detailed analyses according to duration of unemployment are obtained only at quarterly intervals, the latest date being December, 1947; and the Table below gives the available figures for that date and for December, 1946, and December, 1938. Corresponding figures were not

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many foreign entertainment artists have performed for fees in this country since the end of the war; how much has been paid to them in fees; and how much recovered in Income Tax.

I am afraid that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the decision made by the Hercules Cycle Company of Birmingham, to reduce the costs on the finer grades of cycles for export, he can give the extent of such response to his appeal throughout the country to date.

My right hon. Friend is not in a position to add anything at present to the proposals which he has received and which have been published in the last few days in the Press. I would point out that he has made no appeal for a general reduction in export prices, but has only invited attention to the danger that our export prices might make it difficult to sell abroad.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give an estimate of how many copies have, so far, been sold of the popular edition of the Economic Survey for 1948.

Two hundred and fifty thousand.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what happens to gifts sent to persons in this country by friends abroad for which import licences are refused and which consequently are denied to the beneficiary.

Like other unlicensed imports, they are seized by the Customs and sold for the benefit of the Exchequer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a comparison in terms of purchasing power now and before the war of all benefits paid under social legislation.

Owing to the changes in the structure of our social legislation between 1938 and now, including many new benefits, it is not possible to make societies. It is intended in the light of the comparison which the hon. and the experience which he has gained to gallant Member seeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what communications have passed between the Canadian and British Governments, relative to the publication of the letters known as the Drew letters, concerning Canadian troops at Hong Kong; and if he has now agreed to their publication.

There has been no correspondence between His Majesty's Governments in Canada and the United Kingdom about the publication of the letters from Colonel Drew to which the hon. Member refers. The Canadian Government inquired whether they might publish certain telegrams exchanged between the United Kingdom and Canadian Governments in 1941 relating to the despatch of Canadian forces to Hong Kong and to the situation in the Far East at that time. We replied agreeing to the publication of those telegrams which related to the despatch of the troops; but we said that we felt unable to agree to the publication of the telegrams relating to the international situation. Such telegrams are framed on the basis that they will not be published, and the whole system of full and frank communication between His Majesty's Governments would be prejudiced if telegrams of this nature had to be prepared on the basis that this rule might not eventually be observed. The question was very carefully examined at the highest level and the United Kingdom Government regret that they cannot reconsider their decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps have been taken to develop the co-operative movement in Basutoland especially in the villages.

An officer in the Basutoland Service has recently visited this country as well as Cyprus and Nigeria to study the working of co-operative societies. It is intended in the light of the experience which he has gained to commence a co-operative organization in Basutoland.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what Government assistance has been given to opening a woollen mill in Basutoland.

I understand that the establishment of such a mill in Basutoland has not hitherto been regarded as practicable. The High Commissioner will be consulted in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps have been taken to reduce the amount of overstocking of catttle in Basutoland.

The matter is receiving the attention of the local administration, but progress must largely depend upon the education of the Basuto in methods of stock improvement and their acceptance of the advantages of stock limitation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Hairdressers' Trade Association is pursuing a policy of minimum price enforcement by withholding supplies of hairdressers' sundries from hairdressers who refuse to accept the Association's order to raise prices to the minimum laid down by the Association; and if he will take steps to fix prices below this present minimum.

Yes. I fear my hon. Friend's proposal would not be practicable but he may rest assured that arrangements of this kind are very much in my mind in connection with the preparation of the legislation on restrictive practices which I hope to introduce this Session.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many racehorses were exported during 1947 to hard currency areas and to other areas, repectively; and what was the value of such exports in each case.

As my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton (Mr. J. Lewis) was informed on 2nd December, 1947, exports of racehorses are not recorded separately.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total amount of paper made available to merchants and printers at the present moment as compared with the amount used in 1939.

Licences for the delivery of paper are in general granted for particular uses, and details of the amounts supplied through merchants or printers are not therefore readily available. Figures of the amounts obtained through merchants and printers in 1939 are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the Report of the Moelwyn Hughes Commission, what immediate steps are being taken to make available adequate supplies of certain accessories and ancillary machinery which would facilitate the full development of redeployment and more efficient operation of ordinary looms.

Special arrangements have been in operation for a long time past to assist the manufacturing section of the cotton industry to obtain increased supplies of accessories and ancillary machinery of the kinds mentioned in the Moelwyn Hughes Report. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply and I are discussing with the Cotton Spinners and Manufacturers Association what further steps can be taken to help.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the effort to secure expansion in the export of wool cloth, export licences for these goods are still necessary.

Export licensing of wool cloth was originally imposed to safeguard supplies for the home market and to ensure that the limited exports permitted were sent to the countries dependent on us for essential supplies. More recently, as the total of exports has expanded, it has been employed to encourage the development of exports to the most desirable markets. The response of the woollen industry to the export drive is so good that there are now large quantities of cloth available for export, and I have therefore decided, after full discussion with the industry, to allow the export without a licence of wool cloth and blankets, apart from utility, as soon as the necessary order can be made. I shall, however, have to institute a supplementary, but much simpler, form of control to ensure that there is no diversion to the home market of cloth made for export.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why Wool Control Circular DAL/3o2, withdrawing rebates on wool cloths as from 1st March was not accompanied by a new schedule prescribing ceiling prices, so as to avoid the necessity for merchants to hold stocks until new prices are fixed.

I cannot accept the suggestion in my hon. Friend's Question. Most utility wool cloth now being delivered by manufacturers is partially subsidised, and the control over distributors' prices for this cloth, which is marked 'P,' is by the existing maximum margins only. Consequently no question of merchants' holding up stocks until ceiling prices are adjusted need arise. Ceiling prices for this cloth and new ceiling prices for unsubsidised cloth bearing no special distinguishing letter will be brought into force in about a month's time. A short interval between the issue of new prices for manufacturers and the issue of new ceiling prices for distributors should not cause inconvenience.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the strong demand from women's organisations in the country for extending the industrial 10 clothing coupons to housewives, so as to enable them to purchase overalls and similar garments; and what action he is taking in the matter.

As I have previously explained to the House, the basic ration is intended to make ordinary provision for clothes for working, as well as for leisure hours, and the Industrial Ten is given to factory workers (many of whom are women and do housework as well), because of the abnormal wear and tear on their clothes through working in a factory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total amount admitted in respect of claims under Part II of the War Damage Act, 1943; and how much of this sum has been paid to claimants.

Up to the end of February, 1948, the total amounts admitted and paid in respect of claims under Part II of the War Damage Act were as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consult British hotel interests before any final decision is taken about the proposal to allow American interests to invest part of the unexportable film earnings in British hotels.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him today on this subject.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of ex-Servicemen in receipt of 100 per cent. disability pensions in connection with disabilities contracted in the 1914–18 war and the 1939–45 war.

On 31st December last the number was approximately 48,700, the separate figures for the 1914 and 1939 wars being respectively 20,800 and 27,900.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give a list of the wholesale and retail margins allowed on price controlled vegetables and fruit.

The information for which the hon. Member asks cannot readily be given within the scope of a Parliamentary reply and I would therefore refer him to the statutory instruments, a list of which I am sending him, prescribing maximum prices at all stages of distribution for those fruits and vegetables which are still subject to price control.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will enter into negotiations to secure extra-territorial rights for all British subjects in Palestine during the period which will elapse between the surrender of the Mandate and the final evacuation of our troops.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will publish as a White Paper the recent report of the joint committee of the Bermuda Legislative Council and House of Assembly.

The report has been published in Bermuda and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library as soon as they are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether steps are being contemplated by the Government of Northern Rhodesia to introduce simple identification service for Africans, and to remove the necessity for all Africans to carry night passes.

A simple system of identification for Africans in Northern Rhodesia is provided for under the Registration of Natives Ordinance and I understand that consideration is now being given to it., improvement. Subject to certain exemptions, Africans are at present required to carry night passes in the larger urban areas only, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the new rates of pay and conditions of service for staffs of the Kenya railways will be made retrospective to 1st January, 1946, as already announced for Uganda, Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

The East Africa High Commission have not yet made any announcement of the date from which the new rates of pay will take effect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the amount of the funds of each native administration invested outside Nigeria; where these moneys are invested; and at what rates of interest.

Ninety-one native administrations in Nigeria hold investments outside that country, and as most of them have a number of holdings the full list would be unduly long. These investments, which are wholly in United Kingdom, Dominion and Colonial Government or other trustee securities bearing interest at rates ranging from 2½ per cent. upwards, total £1,580,400.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the target for the building of electric generating plant for 1948.

The target for the building of new electrical generating plant capacity in 1948 for the Central Electricity Board is 1,150,000 kilowatts, and for the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board 20,100 kilowatts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the lack of subsidiary industries in Sutherland and Caithness and of the lagging progress of the Hydro-Electric Schemes; and whether he will take steps, in conjunction with the Scottish Council (Development and Industry), to start such industries in the North of Scotland.

I am fully conscious of the need to establish more new industries in the North of Scotland and I am ready to do anything that I can to assist such development. The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board have surveyed the water power resources of the Loch Shin area of Sutherland and are nearing the stage for the preparation of a constructional scheme.