asked the Minister of Works if he will install automatic lifts in the Palace of Westminster and in Government offices wherever possible, in order to save manpower.

Of the nine existing lifts in the Palace of Westminster, eight are fully automatic. New lifts installed in Government buildings will be automatic and existing lifts will be converted to automatic working when labour and materials allow. Attendants will probably still be necessary at times of heavy traffic.

asked the Minister of Works how many textile mills in Lancashire are under requisition by his Department; what is the floor space involved; and how many spindles and looms respectively, previously operated therein.

My Department holds on requisition 24 former textile mills in Lancashire with a total floor space of 1,800,000 square feet. Twenty-three of these mills had been closed down and cleared of machinery for some years before they were taken over. The other mill previously operated 1,965 looms; arrangements are being made to vacate this mill.

asked the Minister of Works how many applications have been received within the last 12 months for licences for building work in connection with Lancashire textile mills; how many were respectively granted and refused; and what was the total value of those granted.

I regret that the information is not readily available and could not be extracted from the records without a disproportionate expenditure of labour and time.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give an estimate of the surplus of interior fittings likely to remain under his control when the aluminium housing programme is completed in the near future.

I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply that the interior fitments bought for the aluminium temporary housing programme were sufficient only to meet requirements and any surplus is, therefore, likely to be negligible.

asked the Minister of Works when it is expected to release the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh.

It has not been possible so far to find alternative accommodation for the staff in occupation of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. I appreciate the need for releasing this Gallery, but regret that I am not able to fix a definite date.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to provide hot water and heating in the Palace of Westminster.

I am glad to say that these services are now restored.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the fact that five Yugoslav nationals, against whom a prima facie case of active collaboration with the Axis Powers has been established, have now been forcibly repatriated to Yugoslavia, he will give an assurance that no other Yugoslavs will be surrendered pending satisfactory information from British sources regarding the treatment and fair trial of the five individuals already handed over.

No. In accordance with our international undertakings and the resolution passed by the General Assembly of the United Nations last October, these men have been surrendered to the Yugoslav Government, because a prima facie case of active and wilful collaboration had been established against them to the satisfaction of British legal opinion. If a similar case is established against other Yugoslavs, His Majesty's Government will not feel justified in delaying their surrender. His Majesty's Government will naturally try to satisfy themselves that the treatment accorded to those surrendered is in conformity with the terms of the Assembly resolution.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now give fuller information respecting the allocation of the grant made or to be made by His Majesty's Government to the International Children's Emergency Fund.

The original intention of His Majesty's Government was to make a grant of £50,000 to the Lord Mayor's United Nations Appeal for Children and £50,000 to the International Children's Emergency Fund. On the suggestion of the Lord Mayor's Appeal Committee and with the concurrence of His Majesty's Government, it has now, however, been decided that when the Lord Mayor's Appeal has reached the sum of £500,000, His Majesty's Government will make a grant of £100,000 direct to the International Children's Emergency Fund. This, it is understood, will attract a matching contribution from the United States Government.

asked the Minister of Food what price per bushel has recently been paid for Australian wheat; and what is the world price.

I understand that 21S. 6d. per bushel, f.o.b. Australian ports, has recently been paid by purchasers other than the United Kingdom for Australian wheat. This equals about 17s. 2d. sterling per bushel. In the U.S.A. which is the only large exporting country where there is an open market, the price was $3·20 per bushel f.o.b. which is equivalent to about 20s. Australian currency or 16s. sterling. The current price of Canadian wheat (outside quantities bought under the United Kingdom—Canada contract) is equal to about 14s. 3d. sterling per bushel f.o.b., and Argentine wheat is being offered at the equivalent of 24s. sterling per bushel f.o.b.

asked the Minister of Food if he will so adjust future alterations in the sweet ration, as to give relatively greater quantities to young children.

I am afraid there is little prospect of any increase at present, and I should prefer not to speculate about future ration changes.

asked the Minister of Food if he will now grant extra rations, protein, to Mr. L. Joule, of 23, Roe Street, Macclesfield, who was a prisoner of war in Japan, and who has been recommended by a specialist in tropical diseases to receive extra rations, but whose application has been refused by the divisional food officer, details having already been forwarded to the Minister.

The case of Mr. Joule was considered by our medical advisers last January, and the request for extra rations was refused because, in their opinion, the effects of malnutrition which can be cured by diet are cured within a few months or a year. If there are special circumstances in this case of which our medical advisers have not been informed, I shall be pleased to ask them to reconsider it if full medical details are provided.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that agricultural workers, who are employed by the county agricultural executive committee and are housed in hostels, are allowed rations on the canteen scale in addition to their ordinary rations, thus receiving larger rations than ordinary farm workers, who cannot attend canteens; and whether he will arrange that in future all agricultural workers shall draw extra rations in the same manner as those housed in hostels.

asked the Minister of Food why agricultural workers housed in hostels and placed on a par in the matter of food with industrial workers who have canteen facilities, when agricultural workers, as a whole, have no additional rations to offset these; and whether he is now prepared to increase the rations of the latter.

Agricultural workers not living in hostels may receive extra allowances of rationed foods in the form of more cheese, extra bread and, if they are engaged on certain times of work,

—	£ million.
	1938.	1947.	First half of 1948 (estimated).
Sterling Area.
(Dominions, Colonies, Mandated Territories, Irak, Iceland, Burma, Eire, South Africa).	146	262½	179½
Hard Currency Areas.
(Canada, U.S.A. and Argentina)	99	352½	97½
Medium and Soft Currency Areas.
(Europe and European possessions, U.S.S.R. and all other countries).	120	135	113
Total	365	750	390

NOTE.—Included in the figure of £113 million is a relatively small proportion of imports from certain collar account areas previously contracted for. They are included in this category for 1948 because further imports depend on satisfactory currency arrangements being made.

asked the Minister of Food what has been the increase in the price of stearine since 1st March, 1948; and to what factors this increase is attributable.

The price of imported Stearine has not been changed since September, 1947. The price of Stearic Acid was increased by £20 17s. 6d. per ton as from 1st February, 1948, on account of the increased cost of raw materials.

asked the Minister of Food (1) what dairymen should do with milk grids cut from R.B.12s and presented to them, and how

asked the Minister of Food what is the value of the food imported in 1938 and 1947 and proposed to be imported in the first half of 1948 from the sterling area, hard currency areas, and medium and soft currency areas, respectively.

The values of imports of food and feedingstuffs from these three areas in the three periods mentioned are estimated to be as follows:dairymen are informed of their duties in this respect;(2) whether milk grids cut from R.B.12 should be dated before being presented to dairymen, and whether this should be done by the customer, the retailer, or the food office;(3) what instructions have been issued by which retailers are ordered to supply milk against milk grids from the 2½ per cent. margin; and where these instructions may be found.

Retailers are permitted to supply unregistered customers holding valid temporary ration documents R.B.12 and are required to give priority to such customers who are also priority consumers. They have been informed, individually by notice, that the marginal allowance is partly intended to cover these supplies. No instructions have been given to retailers or public to mark, date or cut out the grids.

asked the Minister of Food if he will arrange for schoolchildren to have extra rations during the school holidays to compensate for lack of school meals.

No. I regret that it would not be practicable to supplement children's rations at home to compensate for the absence of school feeding facilities.

asked the Minister of Food what price his Department have paid for the Norwegian herring recently imported; and at what price they have been sold in the home market.

It would not be in the public interest to answer the first part of the Question. The price of Norwegian herrings to the kipperer is 3s. 11d. per stone and to the fresher 4s. 3d. per stone.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the shortage of small dried fruits in the shops in the borough of Bexley; and whether he can hold out any hope of an improvement in this situation.

Our supplies of dried fruit are insufficient to meet consumer demand, and this affects equally all parts of the country. We are, however, buying the maximum supplies we can afford in the areas open to us, and will continue to do so. The allocation made on 29th February, which is now reaching the shops, included a small proportion of currants for distribution in the Bexley area.

asked the Minister of Food why he has suspended the granting of export licences for pearl barley in view of the fact that this article, though in plentiful supply, still remains upon points and as a consequence its home consumption is much reduced.

The granting of export licences is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, but in view of the scarcity of barley for all purposes I cannot at present recommend the export of processed barley except to hard currency areas.

asked the Minister of Food whether it is permissible for packets of tea to be posted direct from bonded warehouses in this country to individuals in Germany and Poland under the gift-parcel scheme; and what is the maximum amount permitted per parcel.

Under the gift parcel scheme, an individual in this country may send the whole or part of his own tea ration only to somebody in Germany and Poland. The maximum which can be sent in any one parcel is 2 lb. It is possible, however, for an individual in a hard currency country to arrange for tea to be sent to a recipient in this country or the continent. This tea can be dispatched from a bonded warehouse.

asked the Minister of Food what steps are taken by local food offices before permits are granted under the gift parcels scheme to Germany and Poland to ensure that the contents of parcels are strictly in accordance with the endorsement made on the declaration forms.

None. The function of the food office in this matter is to certify that the declared contents of gift parcels are rationed foods or rationed soap and do not exceed the weights allowed under the scheme.

asked the Minister of Food why he has not bought the Danish butter offered to his Department by the firm of B. O. Morris, Ltd., of Coventry, who have been able to reach an agreement with the Danes to supply machinery to Denmark in exchange for butter; and whether his Ministry encourages barter arrangements of this kind.

The amount of butter to be exported from Denmark to the United Kingdom is fixed by agreement between the two Governments and the butter is shipped exclusively by the Danish Butter Committee. Our agreement with Denmark excludes barter arrangements providing for the shipment of butter to this country on private account.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the present ration period ends on Easter Saturday, 27th March, which leaves Easter Sunday and the Bank Holiday without rations; and whether he will authorise certain rations to be sold in advance on Saturday, 27th March.

Yes. All coupons for ration period No. 10, beginning on 28th March, except those for meat, bacon, points and personal points foods, will be made valid for use in advance.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he has yet received the report of the Committee of Inquiry into the future of the British Film Institute set up by him in December last year, and when the report will be available.

Yes. I have received the Report of this Committee and will make it available as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that village pig clubs can no longer issue rations for more than one pig per family, and since the keeping of pigs makes a contribution to the nation's food will he continue to allow rations to every individual who is prepared to rear a pig.

Feedingstuffs supplies are at present insufficient to provide pig club rations for more than one pig per household. The ration has never been available to more than one member of a household, and having regard to the purpose of the ration I am not prepared to contemplate its extension yet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what arrangements can be made for Mr. Joseph Holroyd of Little End Farm, Moorside, Oldham, to have labour to operate his farm pursuant to the letter from the junior Member for Oldham of 4th March, 1948.

As my hon. Friend has now been informed, Mr. Holroyd's application for a German prisoner of war to remain in his service as a civilian worker has been approved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many foxes have been destroyed in Wales in 1946 and 1947 by the county agricultural executive committees' pest staffs and fox destruction societies; and whether he will enforce the same methods in other parts of the country thus avoiding the destruction of crops and property and waste of manpower by hunting these animals.

Complete records for the whole of the year 1946 of the number of foxes killed in Wales are not available, but in the period November, 1946—when reliable figures were first obtained—to February, 1948, inclusive 10,750 foxes were destroyed. Of this number, 7,779 were killed by the W.A.E.C. pest staffs and fox destruction societies, and the remainder by other agencies. The reply to the second part of the Question is "No."

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the shortage of potash and phosphates in Bedfordshire; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the requirements of local farmers are adequately met.

I am aware that there is some temporary shortage of fertilisers in several parts of the country, largely owing to the concentration of demand caused by the early season. Action to ease the situation is being taken as described in my reply to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. J. Morrison) on 1st March last. I do not think that more is required.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give an assurance that measures will be taken to ensure that the quantity of rations issued in hostels for agricultural workers do not vary from county to county.

Agricultural hostels are classified by the Ministry of Food as Category A, Industrial Group establishments, and all are entitled to rations on the same basis. Steps are being taken, where necessary, to ensure reasonable uniformity in practice.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will publish the International Agreement controlling the fishing for whales, and which countries are parties to it.

Whale catching during the 1947–48 season is being regulated by the International Agreement of 8th June, 1937 (Command Paper No. 5487), modified by the Protocol of 2nd December, 1946 (Command Paper No. 7043), to which the Governments of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom are parties. Copies of a revised Convention for the regulation of whaling were published on 19th February, 1947 (Command Paper No. 7043). It has been ratified by the Governments of Australia, the United States of America and the United Kingdom, and will enter into force upon ratification by the Governments of the Netherlands, Norway, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The Convention will become binding upon such other Governments as subsequently ratify it, from the date of their ratification.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the petition sent him by the hon. Member for Bodmin and signed by the Mayor of Lostwithiel and many others reasserting that the Western National Bus Co. should run a daily service from Lostwithiel to St. Austell at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and return from St. Austell to Lostwithiel at 5.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. respectively; and what action he is taking in this matter.

I have sent the petition to the licensing authority with whom rests the responsibility of deciding in the first instance whether additional services shall be provided. They have informed me that they will consider any specific evidence from the local authority of the need to increase the bus service, taking into account all existing passenger transport facilities.

asked the Minister of Transport if he now intends to relax the rule with regard to standing passengers in buses.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of "B" licences granted, and the number of vehicles operating under such licences for the years ending 31st December, 1946 and 1947, respectively.

The number of operators with "B" licences or "B" defence permits was 29,542 at 27th December, 1946, and 32,508 at 26th December, 1947. The corresponding numbers of vehicles were 58,386 for 1946 and 64,418 for 1947.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that the Economic Survey for 1948 estimates that there will be 450,000 persons unemployed in this country by the end of 1948, he intends to review the recent proposal to dismiss 20,000 of the men at present employed in essential road maintenance work.

As is explained in the White Paper, the increase is expected, not in long-term, but in short-term unemployment due to the changing pattern of industry and other temporary causes. In the view of the Government it is necessary for a number of roadmen to be released for other work more essential to our economic recovery.

asked the Minister of Transport how many men he has asked highway authorities to dismiss; how many have declined to do so; how many have agreed; and the numbers of men concerned in each case.

I have asked highway authorities to reduce their staffs by some 20,000 men from the numbers employed in September, 1947, and I am hopeful that they will co-operate in achieving this target; an analysis of the results will not be possible until I have received the returns for which I asked in my circular of i6th January.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total number of men now or formerly employed on road construction or repairs in each of the counties of Wales who will be displaced from their employment as a result of the proposed cuts in highway expenditure; and what is the alternative employment proposed for such men, particularly in the county of Merioneth.

The number of roadmen to be displaced as a result of the restriction of advances from the Road Fund for 1948–49 will largely depend on the way in which each county council decides to apply the grants which are made available. As their contribution, however, to the 20,000 roadmen to be released by highway authorities, I have asked the county councils in Wales to reduce their staffs from the level of September, 1947, by the numbers shown in Col (2) of the following table; the actual reduction needed on the numbers employed in February, 1948, will be that shown in Col. (3) of the table As regards the second part of the Question, I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service that it is hoped these men will be suitable for employment in important industries in Wales such as coal mining, steel and tinplate, stone quarrying, slate quarrying and agriculture. In Merioneth there is a considerable demand for men in slate quarries.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration he has given to the question of introducing legislation to amend the first schedule of the Road Traffic Act, 1934, in order to provide for a maximum speed limit of 30 m.p.h. instead of the present 20 m.p.h. for heavy goods vehicles using pneumatic tyres.

As my hon. Friend is aware, I wrote to representative organisations on 8th March explaining the consideration I had given to this matter and conveying proposals made in the light of previous consultations with manufacturers, operators, and trades unions. Further consideration must await the replies.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Devon County Council have erected cattle grids on a public road, at Anstey Gate, Exmoor; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes; I propose to take no action.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the percentage of examinees who fail to pass the driving test for private motorists at their first attempt; and what is the comparable figure in the case of those who are examined at Bolton.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that road repairs in Euston Road between Churchway and Charlton Street were not half completed when the estimated period of seven weeks for the whole of the work expired on 15th March; and whether, in view of the fact that additional vehicle operation and wasted man hours resulting from the diversion of traffic cost the country at least £500 per day, he will take steps to secure the maximum reduction in the time required for completion of the work.

The responsible authority for this work, which is not the subject of a grant from the Road Fund, is the St. Pancras Borough Council.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that firms in Edinburgh have recently received notices from the Railway Executive (Scottish Region) that charges for the letting of storage space in sheds, warehouses and open spaces in yards are to be increased as from the term of Whitsunday, 1948; and in view of the fact that this position is in direct conflict with paragraph 8 of the White Paper on Personal Incomes, Costs and Prices, Command Paper No. 7321, he will use his powers under Section 4 of the Transport Act, 1947, and direct the Transport Commission to stop the raising of such charges throughout the country.

The decision to make these increases in charges was taken by the Railway Companies with my concurrence in the autumn of last year, in connection with the raising of the general level of railway charges from 1st October, 1947. The increases have not been announced previously owing to the need for detailed examination of the charges and the preparation of notices to tenants. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No."

asked the Minister of Transport the number of workers employed in Scotland on building and civil engineering projects for which he is responsible in June, 1947, and the number to be employed on such work at June, 1948, in Scotland in accordance with the proposals set out in the White Paper on Capital Expenditure in 1948, Command 7268.

In June, 1947, the number of building and civil engineering workers employed on contract work for transport in Scotland was approximately 1,500. I regret that it is not yet possible to forecast what will be the corresponding figures for June, 1948.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can give an estimate of the mileage of canals and inland waterways which have been abandoned to traffic or ceased to be navigable between 1880 and 1939.

The information available is not sufficient to enable any reliable estimate to be made.

asked the Minister of Supply the approximate annual production of galvanised piping; and the approximate annual demand.

Separate statistics are not available showing the production and demand of galvanised piping as distinct from other types of piping. I understand, however, that production is running at the rate of about 100,000 tons a year.

asked the Minister of Supply how much steel wire for fencing is being allocated to Kenya this year compared with 1947; and if he will arrange for increased supplies of fencing wire, pumps and engines to be sent to this Colony so that the large number of new settlers can make full use of the land they are now taking up.

Each quarter a given tonnage of steel is allotted for the manufacture of all types of wire for export, but there is no allocation of wire to individual countries. In both this field and that of the export of pumps and engines, the industries concerned are given general guidance about the relative importance of different export destinations which should ensure that the Colonies get their fair share of limited supplies. I shall, however, bring the hon. Member's anxiety on the question of these supplies to Kenya to the notice of the industries concerned for such action as may be possible under the above principle.

asked the Minister of Supply what has been the increase in the price of chrome ore since 1st March, 1948; and to what factors this increase is attributable.

There has been no increase since 1st March, 1948.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the total cost of the 400 Percival Prentice ab initio trainer aircraft recently purchased for the R.A.F.

It would be contrary to established practice to disclose details of contracts placed with particular firms.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the fact that he has announced the prices to be paid for tin, he will announce the contract prices for copper.

No.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will consider having the disused slot machines to be found on every station in the country, and belonging in most cases to the British Automatic Co. Ltd., collected for scrap.

Negotiations are at present proceeding between the Railway Executive and the principal owning companies about the removal of obsolete automatic machines from railway stations. The volume of scrap involved is, however, not large enough to justify any special action.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the serious shortage of the smaller size of mild steel and in particular of angle iron, and that this is holding up the manufacture and repair of agricultural machinery, and what improvements are likely in this field in the near future.

Yes. The basic difficulty arises from a general shortage of billets and from the need to divert supplies in order to increase the output of certain types of wire which are in very short supply. Arrangements are, however, being made to divert additional supplies of small sections to merchants from whom the smaller consumers normally obtain their requirements.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will arrange for the inclusion in the statistical digest of stocks of pig iron, and stocks of steel scrap.

Yes. I shall be glad to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for War what legal staff is now functioning in Somaliland for the administration of criminal justice in the form of judges, Crown counsel and bar and what provision exists for the defence of poor persons there.

There are in British Somaliland a legal secretary and an assistant legal secretary, who are empowered to act as judges of the Protectorate Court, which sits both as a Court of First Instance and, when necessary, as a Court of Appeal from subordinate courts, which are normally presided over by the district commissioners. There are two legal officers who act as counsel in the Protectorate Court and can also act as magistrates in the subordinate courts. There is no bar. Provision exists for an accused person to have an advocate assigned to him where it appears to be desirable in the interests of justice and where his means are insufficient to enable him to obtain such aid; the legal officers may act as advocates in such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for War in view of the time that has elapsed since the trial of prisoner of war Karl Kneissler, when a decision on the finding and sentence of the court martial will be announced.

The reason for the delay in announcing a decision on this case is that the confirming authority desired to have a special psychiatrist's report on Kneissler's mental condition. This report has now been received and the case is under final consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War what stocks he has of electrode wire which are surplus to current requirements and can be made available to industry.

Seven million feet of electrode wire were sold through the Ministry of Supply during January. A further 13¼ million feet have since been reported to the Ministry for disposal as surplus.

asked the Secretary of State for War how hany bodies have protested to the War Office against the proposal of his Department to acquire an additional 10,000 acres of land at Trawsfynydd, Merioneth; how many bodies have signified their support of the proposal; and if he will specify the names of the bodies objecting to, and the bodies supporting, the proposal.

The following bodies have sent to the War Office letters of protest against this proposal: the Deudraeth Rural District Council, the Caron Upper and Gwnnws Upper Parish Councils, the Merioneth County Council, the West Glamorgan Particular Baptist Association, the Penllyn Rural District Council, the Dolgelly Rural District Council, the Glanllyn Estate Tenants Committee, the Abergeirw Calvinistic Methodist Church. A letter supporting the proposal has been received from the Trawsfynydd branch of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will look again into the question of the provision of wood for long ladders which is particularly difficult to obtain.

I understand that suitable wood is not easy to procure, but this requirement is being kept well in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when darning material will be available in Maidstone; and what type of material this will be.

Darning wool is generally rather scarce owing to the shortage of labour in worsted spinning, but the supply is now increasing. It is distributed through normal trade channels and I have no information when further supplies will reach Maidstone or of what kind they will be. I have no reason to suppose, however, that Maidstone is not getting its share.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the hardship caused to householders who have notified war damage claims to the local authorities and are now refused recognition of their claims by the War Damage Commission; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 3rd February, 1948, to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Epping (Mrs. Manning).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to protect those industrialists who have signed contracts which before they are completed are affected by compulsory wage increases.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider making alternative arrangements to those existing, which enable a considerable amount of money paid as taxes to be retained by the manufacturers and retailers of tobacco and cigarettes, to meet a possible reduction of tax and price, in view of the fact that for a considerable number of years now the tax and price have moved upwards, which should have given the traders many opportunities to collect moneys that can be used if the tax or price is reduced.

I have been asked to reply. I am fully aware of this problem.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the destruction of capital values in the last war in this country.

The White Paper of December, 1945 (Cmd. 6707), on Statistical Material presented during the Washington Negotiations gave the order of magnitude of the United Kingdom's loss of national wealth over the war period as £7,300 million.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the nature of the claim by lift men, etc., employed in the Palace of Westminster, and Buckingham Palace, the failure to settle which has resulted in an unofficial strike; and on what date the claim was put in.

The claim is in origin a Ministry of Works departmental pay claim. Though raised by certain unions at an earlier date, it was first presented departmentally on behalf of all the unions concerned in November, 1947. Subsequently, it became merged in a general claim on behalf of all engineering grades in Government employment which was tabled in January, 1948, submitted to the Engineering Trades Joint Council and formally rejected early in March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the reason for the recent increase of £5 a cwt. in the price of cocoa beans; and who benefits by the additional profit.

The price of cocoa has risen because production is below the prewar level while demand is as high or higher. The resultant profit to the West African industry goes in part direct to the farmers in the form of the increased price which they are receiving and in part to the reserves held by the West African Cocoa Boards for the benefit of the industry as a whole.

asked the Minister of Health if he is prepared to give special assistance to temporary schemes for water supply where the capital cost is heavy, particularly with regard to outlying villages in Suffolk where existing supplies are subject to drought and serious pollution.

I am prepared to consider representations from the local authorities concerned, but where a temporary scheme is likely to be expensive I would generally prefer to try to get a permanent scheme started than to spend large sums on work which might have to be abandoned in a relatively short time.

asked the Minister of Health if he is prepared to support the Stowmarket Urban District Council scheme for works of sewerage and sewage disposal in view of the serious complaints of pollution of the River Gipping and its effects upon public health.

I am not yet in a position to give ray decision on this scheme into which a public local inquiry has been held recently, but will do so as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied with the progress in providing cottages for farm workers in Suffolk in view of the shortage and its effect upon essential food production; and whether he will take special steps to deal with the situation.

New houses are being erected as rapidly as the available resources allow. I am giving special consideration to the early authorisation of more houses in those areas where the need is most urgent.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what arrangements are being made to provide the 15,000 Hereros now in the Bechuanaland Protectorate with land of their own, as it now appears that the administration of Bechuanaland is not proposing to press for their return to South West Africa.

Members of the Herero tribe have lived in the Bechuanaland Protectorate for many years and no difficulty as regards their accommodation appears hitherto to have arisen. I know of no reason why fresh arrangements should be required, but I will consult the High Commissioner in the matter and will communicate with my hon. Friend on receipt of his reply.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the need for an early decision and to help the staggering of holidays, is he now prepared to make a statement regarding the return of some basic petrol for the holiday period.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 28th March to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelsea (Commander Noble).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, what progress has been made with investigations into the problem of silicosis.

The main features of this complex problem cover (a) the suppression of all forms of dust in the mines, (b) medical and X-ray examinations of mineworkers on entry and periodically thereafter, (c) after-care of the men affected including medical attention and (d) their placing in suitable alternative employment with pre-employment training where necessary. These matters cover the responsibilities of many Government Departments and progress in the formulation of comprehensive arrangements is being stimulated and co-ordinated by the National Joint Pneumoconiosis Committee of which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary is Chairman. Four Sub-Committees are now engaged on these main features of the problem each with a chairman from the Department mainly responsible. The National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers are also represented. Dust prevention measures, already highly developed in South Wales, are now being improved and extended in each coal division through Dust Prevention Committees on which the Inspectors of Mines, the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers are represented. A medical rehabilitation centre is also being provided by the Miners' Welfare Commission. With regard to medical research I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4th March by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Leek (Mr. Harold Davies). I am happy to say that the number of new cases at mines have appreciably dropped during the past two years, the figures being 5,821 in 1945, 4,426 in 1946 and 3,800 (provisional) in 1947.