asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, with the absorption of warrant officers' messes into wardroom messes, it is the intention of the Admiralty to continue the rum issue to warrant officers.

Warrant officers have not been entitled to a rum ration since 1918.

So many of my naval friends have told me that, since I put the Question down, that I realise I am not so up to date as I would like to be. They also ask this question: What wine bill will warrant officers be allowed when they join the wardroom mess, and will they be required to pay the communal expenses which are customary in the maintenance of a wardroom mess?

That is entirely another question. I hope that the hon. and gallant Member will put it down.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can give an assurance that all ships of the Royal Navy are provided with equipment and accommodation for washing the clothes of the crew; what arrangements are made for the additional amount of washing needed in ships stationed in hot climates; and what special arrangements are made to assist the washing for small ships where the installation of special equipment is difficult or impracticable.

It has for some time been the practice to fit power laundries in cruisers and larger ships. This is being done as ships come in for refit. It was decided last year to extend this policy to cover smaller ships, and these are being fitted with domestic washing machines and drying cabinets where space, weight and other considerations permit. Parent and depot ships are fitted with laundries capable of providing a limited service for the small ships attached to them. In the present manpower situation it is not always possible for these to be fully manned, but some ships on foreign stations employ native labour to ease this problem. Otherwise, no special arrangements are made in ships in tropical climates, the limiting factor already being space and weight.

What happens in the case of a small ship in a tropical climate when there are no facilities on board?

Obviously, the clothes have to be washed as best they can.

Can officers have their clothes washed, as well as ratings, or is it confined to ratings?

Certainly, officers' clothes are washed as well as those of ratings.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary take care that the expensive laundry equipment fitted to some of the big ships in America—I am thinking of ships like the "Nelson"—is taken out and preserved when they are scrapped?

Certainly. We will see that everything possible is used.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what recent action has been taken, and with what results, to review the establishments and organisation and methods of overseas depots, with a view to ensuring that these are conducted efficiently with the minimum use of manpower; and whether instructions have been issued that junior staff should be encouraged to make constructive suggestions for the better running of the depots in which they serve.

As regards the first part of the Question, the numbers of industrial employees overseas are controlled by strict reference to the financial provision in the Estimates and the non-industrials by ordinary complementing methods. In addition, senior officers of Admiralty departments with large interests overseas from time to time carry out inspections at particular establishments as the desirability becomes apparent. Admiralty departments are alive to the importance of improving organisation and methods to the utmost practicable extent. As regards the second part of the Question, instructions have long been in existence stating that suggestions from the staff are always welcome and the Admiralty's Whitley Council structure includes arrangements to this end.

While recognising that inspection may be carried out from time to time, can my hon. Friend say whether any recent inspections have been made, and were the Estimates based on figures provided by the officers commanding these overseas depots, or was any independent investigation made?

Investigations are continually taking place, and the Estimates are framed in accordance with the requirements of the various overseas stations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty on what grounds a naval officer of the Executive Branch was recently refused permission to publish an article in the Press dealing with attendance at religious worship in the Royal Navy.

Permission to publish this article was sought under K.R. and A.I. Article 17 (2), but was refused in accordance with the Admiralty's practice of forbidding the publication by serving officers or men of any matter of a controversial nature relating to Admiralty policy.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this particular article was entirely objective in its nature, and did not venture on a criticism of any Admiralty policy? Is he further aware of the fact that senior naval officers have, since this Order was introduced about compulsory church attendance, criticised it adversely, and got away with it, and does it not seem inconsistent that that should have happened when this junior officer is penalised in this way?

It is not my view that this article is non-controversial. I have read it carefully, and I think it is controversial, and takes exception to Admiralty policy. With regard to the other part of the question, if my hon. Friend will give me examples of such statements I will, naturally, take them up.

Can my hon. Friend give an assurance that this decision does not in any way further limit the rights of serving officers and men, as they were defined in the last Parliament by the, right hon. Gentleman the Member for Woodford (Mr. Churchill)?

I think the right hon. Member for Woodford defined them in a speech about 1942, in very general terms. The best definition, however, is in the Admiralty instructions, which I have mentioned. They remain precisely the same and are not altered in any way by this particular incident.

asked the Postmaster-General for what purpose and by what authority officers of his Department opened a letter sent by Miss R. Browne-Clark, 54, Ancaster Crescent, New Malden, on 20th February, to the Hotel National, Grindelwald.

In the absence of further details, I am not in a position to say in what circumstances the letter was opened, but if the hon. Member will kindly furnish me with such particulars, including if possible the envelope of the letter itself, I shall be glad to have inquiry made.

Does the Postmaster-General mean by that answer that this tampering with the mails of private persons is on so large a scale nowadays that his Department do not even keep a record of when they do it?

It is not on a large scale at all. The answer merely means that if the hon. Member wants to know about it and will let me have the evidence, I will tell him.

Just the usual Gestapo.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is satisfied with the size of the accommodation at the Post Office in the village of Mundford, Norfolk; if he is aware that in recent months a queue of customers have stretched down the village street; and what action he proposes to take.

I am satisfied that this Post Office is large enough for normal requirements. There was some congestion a little time ago, but it has now ceased.

In order that the House should be fully informed about this important question, could the right hon. Gentleman say what is the length of the village street and, therefore, the length of the queue?

asked the Postmaster-General if he has now considered the inadequate remuneration at present paid to sub-postmasters and postmistresses; and what increase he proposes to make.

An agreement was reached on the 3rd February, 1948, with the National Federation of Sub-postmasters which I hope will prove satisfactory, but the increases given are too various to be stated within the limits of a Parliamentary answer and I am writing to the hon. Member.

Have the sub-postmasters and postmistresses been informed of this increase?

I am not sure of that, but I think that they know about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many town headquarters and drill halls, belonging to Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons, have been returned to the units; how many are still being used for other purposes; and how many squadrons are without town headquarters.

Nine out of 20 Royal Auxiliary Air Force flying squadrons had town headquarters before the war; eight of these have been returned to the units and one was destroyed by enemy action. Alternative accommodation is now occupied by this squadron. Of the remaining II, nine are suitably provided with accommodation either on the airfield or in a town headquarters, and permanent town headquarters are being provided for the other two.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that accommodation on the airfield is not really good enough? If he is to get the recruits he must provide headquarters in the nearest town in which the men can train; and would he review the matter?

This question is settled in consultation with the local Territorial and auxiliary forces, associations. Any representations to that end which may be made by a particular association would certainly be considered sympathetically.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why, when it was decided to restore Holme Moor R.A.F. Station to agricultural purposes, cultivation of this land has been undertaken by the War Agricultural Committee without any opportunity being given to Mr. Loftus, the existing tenant of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who farmed this land before it was requisitioned, to resume cultivation.

The airfield at Holme is being kept for flying by the R.A.F. Flying will not, however, begin for some time and meanwhile, as is the usual practice, all the land which can be used for farming has been made available to the Ministry of Agriculture. The responsibility for seeing that the best arrangements are made for its use rests, under that Department, with the County Agricultural Executive Committee.

Does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman feel that it is very shabby treatment of a competent farmer to requisition his land for war purposes and not to return that land to him when it is restored for agricultural purposes?

The practice which has been followed by all Service Departments has been that when the land is not immediately required for Service purposes it is handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture, who are thought to be the best judges of who should be used to farm the land.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman feel that it is time that that policy was revised?

Is the Ministry of Agriculture given full particulars of the circumstances of the original requisition by the right hon. and learned Gentleman's Department?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will now grant the full gratuities for three years' service to that group of airmen who elected to serve under the extended service engagement in accordance with A.M.O. A. 963/46, but who were discharged before the termination of the above service in accordance with Air Ministry letter A 19119 of December, 1947.

While I greatly regret that circumstances made it impossible to complete the aircrew training of these men, I would point out that they were offered the alternative of completing their engagement on ground duties, but with the privileges and pay of aircrew, and thus of earning full gratuity. Proportionate gratuity is paid to those who opt for discharge in accordance with the terms of their contract. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the Air Ministry letter of apology to these men was such as to admit quite clearly the Department's moral obligation to them, and does he now repudiate that moral obligation?

No, Sir. It is only fair to say that my Department has sought to meet that moral obligation by offering to these men the same terms of service as were offered when they were taken on as aircrew, and has asked them to opt either to leave or to take other duties.

Does that mean that these men who opted to do ground duties also retain their rank in addition to retaining their pay as aircrew?

Yes, Sir. They have exactly the same conditions of service.

Do they retain their rank?

I would not like to commit myself to that. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put that Question down. I can say that they have the same conditions of service.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many helicopters have been ordered by his Department; and when it is anticipated they will be ready for use.

Various promising experiments with helicopters are being conducted for the Ministry of Supply. Development has not yet, however, reached a stage when service orders for these aircraft can be placed by my Department.

Can the Minister say when he will be in a position to order any, or to take any steps in that direction?

No, Sir. That depends on the progress of this development work.

Does the Minister realise that the makers of the helicopters are offering them to civil aviation, and if they are doing that, why cannot he take advantage of it?

I was not aware that that was the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the present position with regard to the stations at Miho and Iwakuni; how far have they been handed over to Civil Aviation or to Commonwealth or Foreign Powers; what has been the financial arrangement as regards buildings, etc.; and when the R.A.F. are likely to leave these stations.

The stations at Miho and Iwakuni are part of the British Commonwealth Forces organisation in Japan, under the control of the Supreme Commander. They will remain under the Supreme Commander when R.A.F. units have been withdrawn. All buildings for the occupying forces are provided, without payment, by the Japanese authorities. Except for a small detachment for maintaining certain essential communications, all R.A.F. units will have left these stations by 31st March.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise how much many of us regret this departure, especially of the fighter squadrons who were able to show both the Japanese and the Americans what very good weapons the Air Force could produce; further, would he answer the other part of the Question and say what is to happen with regard to civil aviation in view of the fact that civil aviation planes are to land at Iwakuni? Are the R.A.F. or the American Forces going to look after them?

As far as the civil aviation side of the matter is concerned, that would be the responsibility of the Minister of Civil Aviation.

Has not the right hon. and learned Gentleman worked that out already? Has it not been decided?

I have no responsibility at all for civil aviation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether with a view to saving dollars he will direct B.O.A.C. only to employ British advertising agents.

No, Sir. I understand that wherever possible, British advertising agents are used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation, but advertising in the United States and Canada necessarily involves dollar expenditure.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many Boeing Stratocruisers have B.O.A.C. now on order; what is the cost per aircraft; and what was the cost for each Constellation.

Six, Sir. It is anticipated that the total cost will be within 12 million dollars. The cost of five Constellations, excluding the cost on initial modifications and spares, was 3,750,000 dollars.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will arrange that copies of the leading British daily and weekly papers, particularly "The Times," are available regularly to officers of the Control Commission, Germany.

Over 1,000 daily newspapers and some weekly papers are supplied officially to the Control Commission including 335 copies of "The Times" newspaper. In addition, private arrangements with newsagents in this country are made from Germany on behalf of individual officers of the Commission. New arrangements were instituted last month which it is hoped will be more satisfactory than in the past.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that British civilians convicted by Control Commission courts in Germany have no right of appeal to any court in Great Britain; and whether he will introduce legislation to remedy this situation.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir." It is not proposed to introduce legislation as it is considered that the Control Commission Court of Appeal gives an adequate safeguard to any British civilian sentenced in a lower court. There is a further appeal by way of clemency to the Commander-in-Chief.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that British subjects dealt with by courts in any other parts of the world, including the Dominions and Colonies, have a right of appeal to the Privy Council in this country, and does he not think that some similar machinery should be set up in regard to courts in Germany?

Germany is not a Dominion or a Colony, and I cannot introduce that principle as a result of occupation of another country. When the unconditional surrender terms were introduced, we undertook to introduce what was virtually a government of Germany through the Control Commission, and I must operate on that basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the constitution and functions of the reorganised German administration established in Frankfurt; what are the powers and limitations of the economic council and labour directorate operating under the new scheme; how far is currency reform contemplated; and what are the dollar drawings involved.

The Constitution and functions of the reorganised German Administration in Frankfurt, and the powers and limitations of the Economic Council, are set out in British Military Government Ordinance No. 126, a copy of which I will place in the Library. There is as yet no bizonal labour directorate, but it has been agreed in principle that one shall be established. Its organisation and powers are now under consideration. As to the last two parts of the Question, a quadripartite plan for currency reform has for some time been under discussion in Berlin. I am not sure to what the hon. Member is referring in the last part of the Question, but I can assure him that no dollar drawings are involved in any of the arrangements I have described.

Is the right hon. Gentleman now satisfied that this new organised instrument of government in Germany will tend to the promotion of better relations throughout Germany, both in regard to the administration and the German people themselves?

I think so.

Why was the new currency for Western Germany not introduced immediately after the breakdown of the London Conference, and does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that, as long as the currency is not introduced into Western Germany, conditions of commercial chaos will persist?

I recognise our difficulty over currency reform, but we have already been discussing this question of currency reform on the Quadripartite Council. It was deemed unwise, I think very wisely, not to break off these talks simply because the Conference in London broke down. There are difficulties, but the discussions are going on and we do not regard the breakdown in London as inevitably final yet.

Is it proposed that there should be any time limit to the quadripartite discussions on Germany?

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how far His Majesty's Government are satisfied with the reduction of the German war potential in the Soviet zone of Germany, and, in particular, in the area of Peenemunde, and if he will give the latest information he has received regarding this matter.

I have not sufficient information to make a reliable estimate of the progress made.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the information he has causes him any disquiet?

Well, I could not get up with my hand on my heart and say that I am perfectly satisfied.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects the Salary Commission will complete the review of Colonial Service Salaries in East Africa.

I expect to receive the report of the Commission at the end of this month.

Is the Minister aware that district officers and others lower in the hierarchy, who are doing excellent work in East Africa, have not yet received any increase, whereas the senior officials have, and when such increases are made, will he make them retrospective?

I cannot answer the last part of the hon. Gentleman's question, but it was because of this that the Commission was appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has any statement to make with regard to the recent arrest of six members of the United Gold Coast Convention.

It is provided in the emergency regulations made under the Emergency Powers Order in Council, 1939, that the Governor may detain and remove by order any person for the purpose of public safety and the maintenance of public order. In the opinion of the Governor and of his advisers it became necessary, on information received as to the activities and intentions of these six persons, to make such orders to restrict their movements, and orders were accordingly made on 13th March. The Governor has emphasised that his action is purely preventive and in the interests of public safety. The persons in question are not under detention, but their movements are restricted to a certain area. The orders will, of course, be subject to review, and the six persons will be given every opportunity of appearing before the Commission of Inquiry which is shortly to proceed to the Gold Coast from this country.

Am I to understand from my right hon. Friend's answer that no charge is being preferred against these men, and that there is no evidence to support a charge?

The action of the Governor was due to the emergency arising from certain activities of this group of men.

Is it not a fact that far greater power has been taken within the last fortnight than has ever been required in this country or the Gold Coast since 1939, and would the Minister give an explanation as to why it has suddenly become necessary to use in peacetime powers which were never exercised in this country in wartime?

A very grave emergency arose in the Gold Coast, but the Commission of Inquiry will be making the fullest investigation into the whole matter.

Is it not the case that these six men were restricted in their movements because of their activity in the trade union world and their attempt to organise the workers there?

Most emphatically not.

Is it not a fact that there is the utmost confidence in the judgment and experience of the Governor?

Is it not the case that, along with the arrest of these men, the Governor has issued a statement controlling the Press in the manner stated in this document, which is something that has never applied before in any Colony, and will the Minister put an end to this position?

Is it not also a fact that, on this occasion, a number of lives was lost, and would it not be better to await the report of the Commission of Inquiry which can give us both sides of the case?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether an application has been made to the courts in the Gold Coast, on behalf of the six men recently arrested under the Government's Emergency Powers, for a writ of habeas corpus; whether such application was or was not entertained, and whether he will give an assurance that no action has been taken by the Government of the Gold Coast to prevent the courts entertaining such application.

According to information received from the Governor, no application had been made to the court for a writ of habeas corpus up to 21st March. I understand that the Emergency Regulations at present in force in the Gold Coast contain a provision to the effect that no legal proceedings may be brought calling into question the legality of anything done under the particular regulation under which the movements of the six men were restricted.

Is it not a matter of elementary justice that an individual in a British Colony in any part of the world should be allowed at least to apply for a writ of habeas corpus? May we have an explanation as to why this totalitarian power has suddenly been clamped down, which is a complete denial of the rule of law and of the individual liberty of the subject?

I am not aware that that is the position. These powers were given under the 1939 Order. It is quite true that an emergency had arisen which compelled the Governor to secure the dispersal of these men, otherwise certain consequences of very grave danger to the Colony would have followed.

Can an application now be made by these individuals for a writ of habeas corpus, and will it be entertained in the court?

I must have notice of that question.

But it is in the Question.

I understand that so far no application has been made, but if an application were made it is very likely that under these regulations it would not lie.

Could the Minister tell us in how many Colonies similar legislation exists, and could he define a police State?

I am informed that this is not peculiar to the Gold Coast.

I wish to give notice that owing to the most unsatisfactory nature of the situation and of the reply, I shall take the earliest opportunity to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what payments have been made to the growers from the Uganda Cotton Fund since its inception; what amount is now held in the fund; and when and on what projects it is proposed to expend this amount.

No payments have been made to growers, but £406,000 has been expended on various purposes of benefit to the cotton areas. The Fund stands at present at some £6,680,000. Proposals for closing it at the end of the current season and for the expenditure of the balance are shortly to be laid before the Uganda Legislative Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been sent to the joint request of the Mauritius Railway Workers' Union, the Teachers' Union and the Government Employees' Association, for increased salaries for all Government employees, in view of the greatly increased cost of living; and why the Mauritius Government has proposed increases for senior officers without any increases for lower-grade workers.

I assume the hon. Member refers to a joint request from the three unions for increases in cost-of-living allowances. No joint request for increased salaries has been received. Proposals submitted by the Governor of Mauritius for increases in cost-of-living allowances for all grades, but giving greater proportionate benefit to the lower and middle ranks, have recently received my approval. As regards the last part of the Question, proposals for increasing the salaries of certain posts were submitted by the Governor last year on the grounds that the salaries assigned to these particular posts in 1945 were inadequate. These proposals covered a number of both senior and subordinate posts.

Will my right hon. Friend say what delay occurred between receiving these requests and complying with them, and whether he is satisfied that the negotiating machinery is satisfactory?

At the moment, I believe it is, but the first request was made in 1945, and subsequent adjustments have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the rising price of food in Mauritius, he will inquire into the conduct of markets and the whole operation of food control in the Colony.

Almost all basic foodstuffs are imported, and increases in their landed price are outside the control of the Government of Mauritius. The Government do, however, regulate supplies and prices to the consumer by rationing, subsidisation and price control. Profit margins are reviewed periodically and most were reduced about June, 1947. I understand that the Supplies Control Organisation is operating efficiently.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, in spite of the steps to which he has referred, the price of flour is now three times what it was before the war—it has increased 20 cents per lb. during the last three months—and, in view of this statement, will he look at the matter again?

This matter is under the constant supervision of the Colony, and flour is actually subsidised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is being taken to remedy the losses on the railway system in Mauritius; what plans are in hand for the electrification of the railway from Curepipe to Port Louis; and whether the whole transport system of the island will now be investigated.

The Government of Mauritius have for some time been giving close attention to the whole problem of rail and road transport in the island, and investigations are now being carried out by an Economic Commission and by the local Government's consulting town planning adviser. I am advised that electrification is impracticable.

asked the Minister of Food why milkmen are not allowed to deliver milk in London before 7 a.m.; and whether the wartime regulation prohibiting this can now be withdrawn.

Restrictions on very early morning deliveries of milk were imposed to secure economies in distribution. My right hon. Friend does not consider that the resumption of these deliveries would justify the extra cost at the present.

Does the hon. Lady realise that this regulation affects milkmen's holidays? They wish to go to seaside resorts on their day off, and they are unable to do so because of this regulation. They have to deliver their milk first. Could some exception be made?

I should welcome evidence of what the hon. Gentleman tells me. My experience is that the milkmen welcome this regulation.

What financial economies have been effected by this regulation?

This is a question of economising not in money, but in manpower.

What discussions have taken place with the appropriate trade union on this matter?

Discussions have taken place on many occasions.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the anomalies in the present method of issuing the extra cheese ration; that men engaged on the same horticultural and agricultural work find that some receive the extra ration whilst others do not; that gravediggers are not included whilst men tending flower beds in the same cemetery often do receive the extra ration; and if he will reorganise the scheme to give a more equitable distribution.

I am afraid that what appear to be hard cases are bound to arise when a concession is limited to workers in well-defined categories. Workers insured under the agricultural scheme qualify for extra cheese, and I regret that we are unable to extend the special cheese ration to the other workers referred to.

Will my hon. Friend consider this matter again with a view to introducing qualification according to the type of work actually done?

My hon. Friend has referred to gravediggers. I think he will agree that cemeteries, for obvious reasons, are near built-up areas, and for that reason it is possible for gravediggers to avail themselves of existing catering facilities.

asked the Minister of Food if he will indicate the chief reasons or the changed circumstances that persuaded him to withdraw the Order limiting the number of guests outlined in the Meals and Establishments Order; and if he will reconsider the total limit of costs, excluding drinks, as being excessive, under present conditions.

In answer to the first part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Keeling) on 10th March. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "No."

In any future consideration of this matter will, the Minister bear in mind that for 12s. 6d. one can obtain a really hefty meal?

Where?

Will the Minister also consider the fact that most people will not accept the story that only an inconsiderable amount of extra food is consumed in this manner?

I would remind my hon. Friend that in many provincial towns the only catering establishments available for this kind of dinner have house charges up to 7s. 6d., and that, therefore, it was necessary to make the Order flexible.

asked the Minister of Food if the will state the number of premises, licensed to sell liquor, where the licensee has applied for a licence to sell rationed foods during the last 12 months, as compared to the previous 12 months.

I have no information as to the number of applicants for retail licences or catering licences who are already licensed to sell liquor.

Is the Minister fully aware that most of our local food committees are being inundated with applications for licences of this kind to enable rationed articles to be sold, and will she look into the matter to ascertain why there is this inordinate demand for these licences?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will give me the name of the food committee he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that Holland has purchased a substantial quantity of coconut cake from the British Protectorate of Zanzibar; and why his Department did not buy this valuable feedingstuff to increase the milk supply in the United Kingdom.

No, Sir. The total quantity of coconut cake available in Zanzibar is never substantial. Our total purchases of oilcakes, including those obtained from home production, have already completed the quantity to which we are entitled under international allocation.

Is not the Minister aware that 4,000 tons of coconut cake have been sold by Zanzibar to Holland, and is this not another instance of the better results obtained by private enterprise rather than by bulk purchase?

No, Sir, I am not aware of that fact. Holland bought from 50 to 100 tons of this material during the last six months.

Does the hon. Lady's answer mean that we are tied by the allocations of the I.E.F.C. to the amount of oilcake that we buy, or are we entitled to buy a greater amount outside the I.E.F.C.?

We are still tied to the allocations of the I.E.F.C.

Does that apply to the British Colonies as well?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that a firm, about whom he has been supplied with information, is canvassing food parcels from abroad; and whether he will take steps to stop this practice.

The attention of this firm has already been drawn to the fact that it is illegal for persons in the United Kingdom to purchase parcels containing rationed foods to be sent from abroad, either to themselves or to any other persons in this country.

Does my hon. Friend propose to take any legal action in this case, and will she not attempt to recover for the purchasers some of the most excessive charges made?

We have communicated with this firm and they have undertaken not to do it again.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the circular I sent to her has a very recent date on it?

Certainly, but the Order only came into operation on 7th March.

asked the Minister of Food if he intends to adjust the price of cabbages so that a suitable return is made to the growers, and at the same time bring down the price to the consumers, in view of the comparative glut of this vegetable and the continuance of the high retail price.

Cabbage prices are not controlled and to impose maximum prices would be unlikely to have the effect desired by my hon. Friend.

May I ask what the hon. Lady proposes to do about the position? A fortnight or three weeks ago farmers in wide stretches of the country were ploughing back this particularly valuable food, and receiving for those they did sell only three-farthings a pound, although at the same time they cost 4d. to 6d. in open market.

I can assure the hon. Member that it is not in the interests of the farmer or the retailer to impose maximum prices in conditions of glut.

asked the Minister of Food what position is to be given to Mr. Th. Juncker in the East African Groundnut Production scheme; and whether before the appointment was made consideration was given to the fact that he served a two years' sentence of imprisonment recently in Denmark for collaboration with the German occupying power, and to the fact that he was responsible for a memorandum on the problem of German living space, which included a plan for the administration of German Colonies to be acquired as a result of victory over England.

Mr. Juncker has not been appointed to any post in, or in connection with, the East African Groundnuts Scheme, and I understand that he has not at any time been considered for any such appointment.

Is the hon. Lady aware that an article recently appeared in a Danish newspaper stating that Mr. Juncker was shortly to be appointed to this responsible position by His Majesty's Government; and is she further aware that it has caused widespread resentment amongst the Danish people, and will steps be taken to reassure them?

Statements in newspaper articles are not really any information at all.

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we know nothing at all about Mr. Juncker and we are not interested in him, but it may satisfy the hon. and gallant Gentleman to know that we have informed the Danish Foreign Office of that fact.

asked the Minister of Food the details of the com- prehensive three-year scheme promoted jointly by the British Government and the Government of Eire for the improvement of Irish egg and poultry production, the cost of which will be borne in equal shares by both Governments; and if a similar project can be arranged to pig raising in Eire, with the object of enlarging the sources of food supply for this country.

I have nothing to add to the announcement made on 29th January about the scheme for the improvement of the Eire poultry industry: and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of this. There is no prospect of imports of pig meat from Eire in the near future, and it is, therefore, too early to discuss a similar scheme for the pig industry.

Will the hon. Lady discuss the possibility of this, and will she have further consultations with the Eire Government on the subject, in order to encourage production?

I can assure the hon. Member that it was discussed with the officials of Eire in November and they thought it was a little premature because of the shortage of feedingstuffs.

Is the hon. Lady aware that there is considerable resentment among poultry breeders in this country at this assistance being given to the South of Ireland and not to Great Britain?

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that religious bodies are unable to obtain nonalcoholic grape-juice; and whether he will permit importation of this for such purpose from soft currency countries.

The importation of grape-juice from soft currency countries to meet the requirements of religious bodies is already permitted.

In view of that, may I ask the hon. Lady if she will let me have the name and address of someone in London from whom it can be obtained?

Is the hon. Lady aware that the importation of fruit juices generally is far too low, having regard to their health attributes?

I suggest that the hon. Member should buy fruit, of which there is plenty on the market, and squeeze it.