asked the Minister of Health how long those suffering from tuberculosis now have to wait before entry to a sanatorium.

The period may vary from a few weeks to several months in exceptional cases, according to the circumstances of particular sanatoria and individual patients.

asked the Minister of Health what alternative arrangements have been made for receiving tuberculosis patients into hospital since he has ordered the reduction of 18 beds at the White Lodge Emergency Hospital, Newmarket.

I understand that the West Suffolk County Council are arranging to open beds at Sudbury.

asked the Minister of Health what expenditure has been incurred annually by local authorities since 1st April, 1930, in the payment of the awards to public vaccinators which were previously paid out of Government grants.

To compile these particulars for the past 18 years would mean a great deal of labour, and I hope that my hon. Friend will agree that this would not be justified by the value of the information to be obtained.

asked the Minister of Health if the question of payment of awards to public vaccinators under the powers of the Local Government Act, 1929, was taken into consideration when the public vaccinators' fees were increased under the Vaccination Regulations issued by his Department on 1st December, 1944; and whether he is satisfied that there is sufficient ground for resuscitating the awards as contemplated by his circular to local authorities dated 7th January, 1948; particularly in view of the adverse comments made upon the awards system in the review published by his Department for the guidance of local authorities in February, 1931.

The increase of fees authorised in 1944 was based on considerations affecting scales of medical fees in general, and the question of awards referred to had no relevance to it. The circumstances mentioned in the second part of the Question are that steps are now being taken to wind up the awards system in view of the repeal of the Vaccination Acts by the National Health Service Act, and accordingly to deal with outstanding payments of awards that have been in suspense in latter years during which national circumstances made it impracticable to maintain periodical payment of them.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish the terms of the letter applying for relief for disability in voting on the Manchester City Council, on the issue of the Wythenshawe shops.

I will send the hon. Member a copy of the letter in question.

asked the Minister of Health if he has taken note of the decision of the British Medical Association on 17th March not to enter the new Health Service on 5th July unless substantial changes are made in the Acts; and what further steps he proposes to take in the matter.

Yes. On the latter part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 19th February last.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now indicate the priorities which in present circumstances can be given in providing the buildings necessary for fulfilment of the National Health Service Act, 1946, including health centres and hospitals, on the lines of the information given in Circular 155 with regard to educational building.

Only the most urgent needs can be met at the moment, but when conditions permit, provision will be made for the development of all services under the Act.

asked the Minister of Health on how many occasions up to date he has had discussions upon the Health Act collectively or individually with the President of the Royal College of Physicians of London, the President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; and on what dates were these respective meetings held.

I am afraid I do not attempt to keep complete records of all the many discussions about the National Health Service Act which I and my officers have with all who are interested, including the eminent gentlemen to whom the hon. Member refers.

asked the Minister of Health if he has issued any advice to local authorities as to how payments should be made to medical practitioners for the performance of vaccinations and other similar immunising operations under the National Health Service Act, whether by fees, or whether by treating them as forming part of the general medical services to be rendered by practitioners accepting service under the Act.

Fees will be payable to general practitioners in this respect for sending records to local health authorities. If the person inoculated is not one to whom the doctor is providing general medical service under the Act and the inoculation is arranged by the local health authority under Section 26 of the Act, the fee will include payment for doing the inoculation.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he proposes to bring into operation the new Health Service without the co-operation of the medical profession.

I cannot accept the assumption underlying the Question.

asked the Minister of Health how many parishes in the Henley rural district have protested to him against the levy of a special rate to raise a subscription for the Entertainment Committee of the forthcoming Olympic regatta; and what answer he has returned.

Since complying with the request of the district council for my sanction to this payment by them seven parishes have protested to me. The answer returned has stated that in view of the importance of the Olympic Games and the Government's encouragement of the holding of the games in this country, I am prepared to sanction such payments where the council so desire.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Registration Officers have not received any increase in their basic salaries since 1934; and when will the award of the National Joint Council made on 31st July, 1947, become operative.

The recommendations of the National Joint Council cannot become operative except by a formal amendment of the statutory Scheme in force in each area. Amendment Schemes are now being prepared by Councils in consultation with the Registrar-General.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that many local authorities are increasing the rents of their council houses by from sixpence to three shillings per week, and in view of the desire of the Government that salaries and wages should be pegged or frozen, will he introduce legislation to prevent rents from being raised at present.

I am aware that a number of authorities have found it necessary to make some increases in rent in accordance with the discretion vested in them by statute. I do not think that I should be justified in asking Parliament to interfere with that discretion.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish a list setting out the rates for each Metropolitan borough for the years 1947–48 and 1948–49; and the sums to be contributed to, and received from, the Rate Equalisation Fund by Metropolitan borough councils, respectively, for the year 1948–49.

Particulars of the rates levied for the year 1948–49 and the sums to be contributed by the City of London and each metropolitan borough under precept to the London County Council in consequence of payments by the County Council under the proposed scheme under section 10 of the Local Government Act, 1948, are not yet available. The following is a statement showing for the City of London and each Metropolitan borough the rate levied in 1947–48 and the amount, if any, estimated to be payable by the London County Council in the year 1948–49 under a proposed scheme to be made by the Minister under section 10 of the Local Government Act after consultation with the London County Council, the Common Council of the City of London and the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee.

asked the Minister of Education what is the number of private schools registered, or approved for registration, under the new Education Act; what rules will govern the examination of scholars in these schools when seeking transference to other schools for special educational purposes; and what disabilities attach to such schools or scholars in private schools not registered.

Part III of the Education Act, 1944, dealing with the registration of independent schools is not yet in operation.

asked the Minister of Education what percentage of children attending nursery schools, elementary and secondary schools, respectively, in England and Wales, were receiving milk in term time during 1947; and how does this compare with pre-war years.

The figures for October, 1947, were 99 per cent. for nursery schools, 92 per cent. for primary schools and 78 per cent. for secondary schools. Comparable pre-war figures are not available, but the percentage for elementary schools in 1938–39 is estimated at 55 per cent. compared with an overall percentage last October of 87.8 per cent.

asked the Minister of Education when the children at Llaneglwys School, Breconshire, may be provided with milk and dinners; and whether there is now a supply of pure water for drinking purposes.

I understand that dried milk is to be supplied to this school until a suitable supply of liquid milk can be secured and that the authority are considering how dinners can best be supplied. There is a standpipe for drinking water within 25 yards of the school.

asked the Minister of Education what form of notice the Litherland public vaccinator sent to parents of children attending Litherland schools from June, 1946, to November, 1947, in regard to the vaccinations performed at the schools; and how did he obtain the names of the children he proposed to vaccinate.

I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the criticisms of our educational system made by Sir Percival Waterfield, first Civil Service Commissioner, as a result of interviewing 3,000 men and women graduates for the Civil Service, he will review the method of selecting candidates for university education.

The selection of candidates for a university education is a matter for the university authorities.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the pronouncement by Sir Percival Waterfield that among those who failed for the Civil Service 20 per cent. had gained State scholarships and 60 per cent. had won university or college scholarships, he will take action to improve the standard of State scholarships.

I should require further evidence before I could accept a suggestion that pupils awarded State scholarships have not reached a satisfactory standard of education. I am, however, constantly endeavouring to improve the quality of the education in the schools under my jurisdiction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether Mr. Ronald Harley, 5, Rhodes Street, Oldham, can now hear the result of his application for a licence to manufacture furniture made to the Board of Trade, Manchester, ten weeks ago, and the subject of a letter from the junior Member for Oldham on 27th February last.

Mr. Harley's licence was sent to him on 18th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why Mr. Ronald Harley, of 5, Rhodes Street, Oldham, was told by the Board of Trade, Manchester, that his reference of an application for a licence to manufacture furniture to his Member of Parliament would result in further delay.

I have made inquiries and find that the remark of which my hon. Friend complains was part of a telephone conservation where some heat had been engendered on both sides. It meant that this case, whose history involved some difficulties, was on the point of being settled and that to open up a further channel of correspondence would for purely mechanical reasons involve some small further delay. This was strictly true, but I regret that the statement might have led my hon. Friend to infer that my Department discourages approaches by the public to its Parliamentary representatives.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what weight of Canadian and Newfoundland newsprint is to be imported in the second six months of this year.

It is estimated that imports of Canadian and Newfoundland newsprint during the second half of the year will amount to 52,500 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement with regard to the possibility of increasing the allocation of newsprint for newspapers.

I hope that, as a result of the present energetic salvage campaign, we shall be able to maintain the supplies of newsprint to newspapers at the present level, but I see no prospect of any increase in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the saving on furniture units issued last year, he will extend the priority classes for utility furniture.

No. Home supplies of utility furniture in 1947, including imports, were only slightly above the quantity required to cover units presented.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will increase the supplies of rubber boots for fish workers, particularly women, in view of the great difficulty in securing supplies.

Home production of rubber boots has been steadily increasing and I have taken steps with the trade to ensure that available supplies go to essential users, including fish workers. If the hon. Member would give me further details of a shortage in any particular area, I will look into it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, with a view to stimulating interest in the position of Anglo-Russian trade, he will cause to be published in a White Paper a list of foodstuffs and raw materials which the Soviet Government exported in the past and which it can in all probability export in the future.

The latest detailed information of Soviet Union exports to all countries is in respect of the year 1937 and was given in the Accounts relating to Foreign Trade and Commerce, published by His Majesty's Stationery Office in 1938, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The main items of foodstuffs and raw materials exported by the U.S.S.R. were wood and timber, wheat, petroleum products, undressed furskins, cotton tissues, ginned cotton, manganese ore, iron and steel, rye and barley. It is not possible to indicate what items are likely to be included in the future Soviet export programme, but, as my hon. Friend knows, the items in the Trade Agreement concluded with this country in December last were barley, maize and oats. Small quantities of raw cotton, timber, paper and canned fish were supplied last year. On private trade account, furskins, raw hair, bristles and Archangel tar are now being shipped, and it is hoped that there will be some more paper this year. The December Agreement provides that there shall be further discussions between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the U.S.S.R. in May, 1948, and among the possible additional exports from the Soviet Union mentioned in the Agreement are wheat, pulses, pit props, cellulose and canned goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a decision as to the designation of William Walker Bros., of Newcastle-on-Tyne, as upholsterers has yet been reached, regarding which case the hon. Member for Central Newcastle wrote to him last January.

A decision on the designation of this firm has been made and I have already written to my hon. Friend about it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what total quantity of pulp was allocated to the wallpaper industry in 1947, and what is the allocation for this year.

I am afraid I cannot disclose the allocations of pulp for the production of wallpaper, but the average level of production in 1947 was 60 per cent of prewar and it is now 50 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade where the rushes for making the fruit baskets needed by farmers can be obtained.

As I informed the hon. Member on 11th February, so far as I am aware there should be an adequate supply of fruit baskets in the coming season. I shall be glad, however, to look into any case of difficulty in obtaining either baskets or the raw materials which the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about our present trade position with Czechoslovakia; and the prospects of future improvement.

The value of our imports from Czechoslovakia in 1947 was £6·2 million, our exports £7·9 million and our re-exports at £2·4 million; the balance was thus considerably in our favour, and the possibility of improvement depends on the ability of the Czechoslovak Government to make available more supplies of essential goods, particularly woodpulp, timber, steel and textile yarns and on a settlement of the outstanding question of compensation for nationalised British property in Czechoslovakia.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of barley has been exported during each of the last six months, showing the countries of destination; and how

asked the President of the Board of Trade which countries are at present closed to the imports of British hosiery.

Imports of British hosiery (or of certain articles of hosiery as stated) are not at present permitted into the following countries:

• Chile.
• China (Hosiery of silk, of artificial silk, and of cotton).
• Cyprus (Socks and stockings).
• Ecuador (All hosiery except cotton goods).
• Ethiopia (Hosiery of silk and artificial silk).
• Iceland.
• India (Socks or stockings of silk and art silk or artificial silk, cotton knitted apparel).
• Kenya and Uganda (Women's and girl's fully fashioned woollen stockings and other knitted woollen garments).
• Mexico.
• New Zealand.
• Nicaragua.
• Pakistan (Hosiery wholly or mainly of silk or artificial silk).
• Peru.
• Turkey (Woollen, silk and artificial silk socks and stockings).

I have been asked to reply. The following are the particulars:United Kingdom. The import licensing position in these countries is always liable to change, and definite information as to the issue of an import licence can often only be obtained by the importer making an application to the licensing authorities. The position in regard to the importation of hosiery into the Argentine will depend upon the detailed application of the provisions of the Andes Agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the grave shortage of gas mantles in Newcastle-on-Tyne; whether he will state the basis of distribution; and whether distributors take into account the approximate number of houses within the area dependent solely on gas for lighting purposes.

No. My information is that the local gas company had a reasonable stock of mantles at the end of January and further supplies have been delivered since then. There is no statutory control of distribution. Manufacturers base distribution on the rate at which they supplied different areas before the war, with necessary adjustments for variations of demand from those areas dependent solely on gas for lighting purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in the rayon staple spinning industry pro- duction is at least less than five per cent. of what could be achieved owing to the necessity of spinning continental staple by virtue of the American agreement concerning viscose staple fibre; and whether more British fibre can be made available to the industry.

Although exports of rayon staple to North America have been increased to some extent to earn dollars, the bulk of British rayon staple is retained here for further manufacture. Production here is planned to increase substantially towards the end of this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to introduce his Bill for setting up a National Research and Development Organisation.

I hope to be able to introduce a Bill to set up the National Research Development Corporation in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that during negotiations with Mr. Eric Johnston, of the Motion Picture Association of America, no undertaking was given or any commitment made, verbally or in writing, which could affect the fixing of the quota under the Cinematograph Films Bill, 1948, when it becomes law.

No such undertaking was given in any form and as I stated in the House on 22nd March, when the Lord's Amendments to the Cinematograph Films Bill were considered, I intend to set the quota at the highest practicable figure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is prepared to encourage the setting up of new industries at Stowmarket, Suffolk, under the schemes for the proper allocation of industry.

No. I do not think that the employment position in the area justifies any such action at the present time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the decision in the action brought by the Board of Trade against the Incorporated National Federation of B.T.A., Ltd., and others, it is his intention that his local price regulation committees shall pursue further the investigation of complaints of overcharging against 134 shoe-repairers under the Boot and Shoe Repairs Maximum Charges Order, 1948, No. 5.

The decision in the prosecution instituted by the Board of Trade against the Incorporated National Federation of Boot Trades Associations Ltd. does not affect the statutory duty of local committees to investigate complaints of overcharging and to give alleged offenders opportunities of making representations to them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is yet in a position to make a statement about the recent prosecution by his Department of the National Federation of Boot Trades.

The Federation of Boot Trades Associations were found guilty of inciting their members to contravene the Maximum Price Order controlling their charges for footwear repairs. I do not propose to comment on the statement at the end of the Chief Magistrate's judgment in this case. Notwithstanding that statement, I shall not hesitate to bring before the courts cases such as this one, where a trade association incites its members to contravene the provisions of a Control Order, and I feel sure that Parliament would support me in such action.It has been suggested in this House in connection with this case that the Secretary of the Central Price Regulation Committee, at a meeting with representatives of the Federation, asked them, under threat of prosecution if they refused, to sign a statement to the effect that the Order was fair and reasonable. I am satisfied that there was a misunderstanding as to the facts and I think it my duty to give them now to the House.They are that, at the meeting in question, there was talk of two Press notices, one which the Federation were asked to issue withdrawing their advice to their Members to break the law and in respect of which they were told by the Secretary that, if they did not withdraw their advice, the Board of Trade would have to consider prosecution for incitement; the other, a Press notice which the Board, on the advice of the Central Committee, were proposing to issue that evening and which included the statement that the charges allowed were fair and were agreed by the Federation to be fair in respect of an increase in leather prices of 50 per cent. (The House will know that the average increase in leather prices turned out in fact to be higher than 50 per cent.) This second notice was shown to the representatives of the Federation in draft as a matter of courtesy at the meeting in question and because they said they did not agree with the statement, all reference to them was omitted from the Press notice when it was issued. There was never any connection between these two Press notices nor any suggestion that would follow a refusal on the part of the Federation to associate itself with the Committee's view that the charges were fair, and I am satisfied that the Federation's representatives should have been in no doubt on the point.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why there is a shortage of soda ash, which is holding up industrial activity.

The soda ash production capacity which existed in this country before the war was quite inadequate to deal with the full industrial needs of the country in conditions of full employment. The expansion of the industry which would have taken place during the war years had to be deferred, but I am doing my best to expedite the completion of new capacity.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average age of male and female European voluntary workers, respectively, now working in the Lancashire textile industry.

Thirty-two in the case of men and 25 in the case of women.

asked the Minister of Labour, of the total number of European voluntary workers now working in the Lancashire textile industry, how many had previous experience of and training in such work; and of those who had not such training or experience, what time it has taken on the average for them to become efficient in spinning and weaving, respectively.

Approximately 3,500 European volunteer workers have been placed in textile work in Lancashire. No record is readily available of the number with previous experience of this work but it is probably less than five per cent. The training period for inexperienced workers on the spinning side is understood to vary from 12 to 15 weeks. The introduction of European volunteer workers into the weaving section is only just beginning.

asked the Minister of Labour what maximum age limit has been laid down for male and female displaced persons who enter this country as European voluntary workers for work in the textile industry.

Women are not normally selected for this work if they are over the age of 35; otherwise no upper age limits have been laid down.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the total cost to date of bringing European voluntary workers to the United Kingdom.

The approximate cost incurred to the end of February, 1948, of selecting European volunteer workers in Germany and Austria, of bringing them from the German frontier to this country and of maintaining them here until placed in employment was £1,290,000. This figure excludes the cost of camp maintenance charges, etc., on the Continent as this cost is borne by the Preparatory Commission of the International Refugee Organisation.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the male and female European voluntary workers who entered this country in 1947 were married, whether they were permitted to bring their children under working age, how many of such children entered the United Kingdom, and what is their average age.

In 1947 some 7,500 married male and female E.V.Ws. arrived in this country. Of these about 1,500 had non-working dependants who were to follow later as accommodation became available. Some 600 of the children under 16 years of age among these dependants have since arrived in this country. The average age of the children is 6½ years.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will define, so far as possible by percentages of the total, the countries from which European voluntary workers engaged in the textile industry originated.

This information is not immediately available and could only be obtained by a detailed examination of a large number of individual records.

asked the Minister of Labour how many day nurseries have been installed in industrial works up to the most recent date.

Employers are not required to notify the existence of a day nursery on their premises, but such information as is at my disposal indicates that the number of nurseries in industrial undertakings is at least 67.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons registered as disabled are at present unemployed in the county borough of Sunderland; and what progress has been made in providing employment for disabled persons in a Remploy factory.

The number of persons registered as disabled in the Sunderland area who were unemployed on the 16th February, 1948, was 568, of whom 94 were classified as severely disabled and needing sheltered employment. The building of the proposed Remploy factory on the North Eastern Trading Estate at Sunderland has been delayed because of the cut in capital investment. It is hoped, however, to secure premises on the Usworth Aerodrome if these can be released by the Air Ministry.

asked the Minister of Labour to state, as at the last convenient date, the number of unemployed registered at Christchurch, Hants; the trades to which such unemployed belong; and the length of time by trades that they have suffered unemployment.

The number of insured persons aged 18 and over registered as unemployed at Christchurch at 16th February was 196. The industries to which they mainly belonged were as follows: Building, 27; Construction and repair of motor vehicles, cycles and aircraft, 35; Hotel, boarding house, restaurant, etc., service, 20; all other industries and services, 114. The latest date for which information as to the duration of unemployment is available is 8th December. At that date there were 152 registered as unemployed, of whom 84 had been unemployed for less than four weeks, 53 for four to 13 weeks, and 15 for longer periods. Particulars are not available as to the duration of unemployment in particular industries.

asked the Minister of Labour how many spinning mills in Lancashire have provided day nurseries for the convenience of their women workers; how many workers are employed in mills with such facilities; and how many in mills without such facilities.

According to the information in my possession, 49 firms with cotton spinning mills in Lancashire have so far provided day nurseries. I regret that the statistics asked for in the second and third paragraphs of the Question are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many spinning mills in Lancashire have provided canteens for their workers; how many workers are employed in mills with such facilities; and how many in mills without such facilities.

Canteens are now provided in well over 400 mills. The number of workers employed in mills with canteens is more than 105,000; the number employed in mills without canteens is less than 15,000.

asked the Minister of Labour how many welfare officers have been appointed in spinning mills in Lancashire; how many workers are employed in those mills with welfare officers; and how many in those without.

Welfare officers have been appointed in approximately 270 mills. Some 80,000 workers are employed in these mills and rather less than half that number in mills without welfare officers.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give to the nearest convenient date the figures of unemployment in the shipbuilding trades at Southampton; and comparable figures for the year 1938.

One hundred and seventy-one at 16th February, 1948, and 1,267 at 14th February, 1938.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether with a view to saving dollars he will issue a direction to the National Coal Board to employ only British advertising agents.

No. I am informed that the National Coal Board are not spending dollars in the manner suggested. In any case the expenditure of foreign currency is already controlled by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that a firm of coal merchants in Hertford had halt their weekly allocation of Nottingham house coal, amounting to some 30 tons, suspended in favour of the same tonnage of a grade of opencast coal fit only for rough industrial use; and whether such action is in conformity with present practice and approved by him.

The opencast coal offered in this case was only part of one week's allocation and I am advised that it is of a quality generally considered suitable for domestic use. I also understand that the merchant concerned was under the impression that the substitution for deep-mined coal was a permanent arrangement. He has now accepted the substitution as a temporary measure. As regards the second part of the Question, temporary substitution of opencast coal for domestic use is sometimes unavoidable.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much petrol has been allocated to Masters of Hounds or for other purposes associated with hunting since the basic ration was abolished.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when the hon. Member for Huntingdon may expect a reply to his letter of 27th February concerning an application for petrol by Mr. P. C. Stocker, of Offord D'Arcy, for a private hire service.

I have replied to the hon. Member about this case.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that a business in Newport has been refused petrol to convey five caravans to Weymouth from Birmingham as train transport was available; that a Bristol firm has offered to tow them for £15 each and as this would necessitate at least an equal amount of petrol in addition to that required to come from Bristol to Birmingham, and as the cost of rail transport will be £9 each plus local fees, whether he will grant petrol for the conveyance of these caravans.

There would obviously be considerable scope for abuse were petrol to be made available to any owner of a private car who applied for an allowance to take a caravan from one place to another on the grounds that he wished to let it on hire. I am, however, making inquiries into this case to see whether an allowance could be granted.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much petrol was allocated on the recommendation of the Devon and Somerset County Agricultural Committees to hunting establishments in their respective areas during 1948 to the nearest convenient date.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the average or normal monthly allocation of petrol granted for an aircraft in use by a flying club; how many such allocations are at present being granted; and what is the total amount of petrol at present allocated monthly for this purpose.

The answer to the first part of the Question is an average of 433 gallons per month; the answer to the second part, 149; and the answer to the third, an average of 64,500 gallons.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what schemes for the denial of oil to the enemy are still in force; and who are the recipients of the £500,000 which it is estimated will be paid under such schemes during 1948–49.

No schemes for the denial of oil are still in force. The provision of £500,000 is for compensation due in respect of the denial of the Sarawak and Brunei fields to the Japanese in 1941.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has yet come to any decision regarding the future use of the Morecambe plant; and what steps are being taken to prevent the plant from deteriorating through rust and rot.

The refinery section of this plant has been sold to the Shell Marketing and Refining Company, for the production of petroleum products from crude oil, and negotiations are in progress for the disposal of the remainder for chemical production. Part of the plant is at present being used for the production of ammonia, and adequate precautions have been taken to prevent the remainder from deteriorating.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the price paid by the Russian Government for nuts and bolts supplied under the recent Anglo-Russian Trade Agreement; and what price would be realised from the sale of similar bolts and nuts to the Argentine railways.

The cost of the nuts and bolts was included in the total price to be paid by the Russian Government for rails and accessories and no separate figure was quoted. There is no control over the prices charged for nuts and bolts which are exported and I have no information about the prices charged to the Argentine railways.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is satisfied that no delay in the delivery of nuts and bolts to the Russian Government can in any respect be attributed to the manufacturers in Great Britain in whose hands the order had been placed.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the shortage of chains for replacement purposes on bicycles actually in use; and whether, having regard to the usefulness of bicycles as an alternative means of transport to petrol driven vehicles, he will take steps to remedy this shortage.

There is a general shortage of bicycle chains, owing to the heavy demand on the precision chain industry for chain of all descriptions. A revised scheme of distribution of cycle chain for replacement purposes has recently been adopted and the supply substantially increased.

asked the Minister of Supply the value of the engineering armament work done by the Royal Ordnance Factories and by contract for the 12 months ending on the last convenient date.

It would not be in the public interest to disclose figures. Armament work which can be undertaken by the Royal Ordnance Factories is placed with them to the maximum extent.

asked the Minister of Supply what circumstances govern the selection of watch-making firms for special assistance, such as the easy rental of essential plant; and how many firms are now receiving such assistance.

Assistance has been given to three firms whose projects and resources showed promise of success in building up a new watch-making industry.

asked the Minister of Supply what arrangements are made to ensure that electrode wire declared surplus to the needs of the Service Departments is made available to British industry; and what action should be taken by individual firms to obtain small quantities of the 13¼ million feet of electrode wire reported to him since January as being surplus to the needs of the War Department.

Electrodes declared as surplus to the Ministry of Supply are sold in bulk to the trade under a running contract. Individual users should obtain their requirements through normal trade channels.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has any statement to make with regard to the future of the Redhill Hostel, Hereford; and whether he is now prepared to receive a deputation from the Hereford City Council and the Herefordshire County Council.

It is proposed to transfer this hostel to the Ministry of Labour and National Service on 4th April, 1948, since the number of Ministry of Supply employees living there does not justify its retention by my Department. The hostel will continue to accommodate present residents and will meet other industrial needs in the area. Surplus accommodation has been transferred to the local authority for housing purposes.

asked the Minister of Supply what percentage of the country's total motor car production is allocated to the home market; and what proportion of this percentage is taken over for use by Governmental employees.

Approximately 25 per cent. of the motor cars produced this year will be allocated to the home market. Outstanding Government orders amount to rather less than one per cent. of the home quota, although, since Government orders do not receive priority, deliveries will not necessarily be made in 1948.

asked the Attorney-General what is the income limit laid down by regulations for taking proceedings under the Poor Persons Divorce Law.

The Rules of the Supreme Court provide for the admission to proceedings in the High Court, including matrimonial proceedings, of poor persons having an income not exceeding £2 a week or, in exceptional circumstances, £4 a week. In the case of members of the Armed Forces the facilities are available to those not above the rank of petty officer or sergeant.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why B/41758 P.o.w. Ernst Wedding of 194 P.o.w. Camp, Penkridge, Stafford, has been refused a permit for employment as a market gardener by the Staffordshire Agricultural Executive Committee; whether he is aware that this volunteer was offered a post with accommodation; and if he will take immediate steps to grant authority for his employment, in view of the fact that he is due for repatriation on 9th April.

Wedding applied for employment with the Staffordshire Agricultural Executive Committee, but was rejected in favour of more suitable applicants. I also understand that he offered his services to a market gardener who, however, does not wish to employ him. In these circumstances I am not arranging for his retention.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many deer, foxes, hares and other animals were destroyed by hunting establishments in the counties of Devon and Somerset and on whose behalf the county agricultural executive committees have recommended allocations of petrol, for the year 1948 to the nearest convenient date.

From inquiries that have been made it appears that during the year 1947 the hunts receiving petrol allowances in the county of Somerset destroyed 109 deer, 462 foxes and 69 hares. Figures for the county of Devon are incomplete but those hunts for which information is available destroyed in the same year three deer, 320 foxes and 102 badgers. I have no figures for the current year to date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in view of the fact that county agricultural executive committees recommend petrol for purposes connected with a hunt, including the collection of carcases of animals killed by the hunt, he will state on what basis venison and hares killed by hunts are disposed of.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the shortage of supplies of fertilisers in Devon; and whether he will take action to enable spring manuring to be carried out.

I am aware that, owing to the exceptionally early season and the heavy demand, there is some temporary shortage of fertilisers in various parts of the country. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on 22nd March to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeffington-Lodge).

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the final report of the Bodinnar Committee and the improved supply of feedingstuffs, he is prepared to increase the pig population in the interests of essential food supplies.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement that I made at the end of Questions today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to state the nature of the order issued by the Governor of the Gold Coast intimating a censorship of the Press; and whether he was consulted before this step was taken.

Under an order made by the Governor on 4th March under the Emergency Regulations, no newspaper, poster or pamphlet can be published unless passed for publication by the Public Relations Officer or officer authorised by him. No censorship has been imposed on outward Press messages from the Colony, nor have enabling powers to that end been taken. The Governor informed me that he had taken these powers, which are within his competence under the Emergency Powers Order-in-Council, 1939, now in force in the Gold Coast.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that the disturbances in the Gold Coast were attributed to ex-Service men, the leader of the demonstration was also an ex-Service man.

The question of the responsibility for the disturbances is a matter for the Commission of Inquiry to be appointed. Permission was granted to the Secretary of the Ex-Service Men's Union to hold a procession on 28th February along an agreed route, but I have no information whether or not the Secretary was responsible for anything that occurred after the presentation of the petition at the Secretariat.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on whose recommendation troops were flown to the Gold Coast from a neighbouring Colony; and were these troops of Gold Coast origin.

The request for the troops was made by the Governor of the Gold Coast after consultation with the General Officer Commanding in Chief, West African Command. They were battalions of the Nigeria Regiment of the Royal West Africa Frontier Force, and form part of the West Africa Command.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement regarding the Commission to be sent to the Gold Coast.

Yes. I have asked Mr. A. Aiken Watson, K.C. (Chairman), Mr. Andrew Dalgleish and Dr. K. A. H. Murray, Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford to serve on a Commission to the Gold Coast. The terms of reference of which will be:

"To inquire into and report on the recent disturbances in the Gold Coast and their underlying causes; and to make recommendations on any matter arising from their inquiry."

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the names of the Labour Relations Officers coming under his Department; the countries they are serving in; and the trade unions they were members of at the time of their appointment.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind those officers who have been selected for appointment to Departments of Colonial Governments concerned with labour matters, principally on account of their trade union experience in the United Kingdom. These form only a part of the service in the Labour Departments of the Colonies. The following is the required information:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will grant a visa to a girl, aged 16, of whose name he has been informed, to come from Palestine to a boarding school in this country in which she has been offered a vacancy.

Normally no objection is offered to foreigners coming to this country for education purposes, but this is dependent upon it being possible for the foreigner to leave this country when the period of study is over. In the case of Palestinians or "stateless" persons living in Palestine this cannot at the moment be guaranteed, and I am sorry that I cannot authorise the grant of facilities in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the number of Jews in Palestine at the commencement of the Mandate; what was the number in 1938; and what is the number now.

A census of the population of Palestine has been taken on only two occasions, in 1922 and in 1931. The estimated figures for the Jewish population on the dates mentioned by the hon. Member are as follows: 1923–89,000; 1938–411,000; 1948–640,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many British subjects in the service of the Palestine Government, and how many members of the British Armed Forces in Pales-

The information requested by the hon. Member is not immediately available, since it involves consultation with the Government of Palestine and other Government Departments here. I shall write to him when inquiries are complete.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will arrange for copies of the foreign language broadcasts made by the B.B.C. to be placed in the Library, and for copies to be sent to the hon. Member for Orpington.

I should hesitate to ask the B.B.C. to supply every day several hundreds of sheets of foolscap in numerous languages. If the hon. Member is interested in the script of any particular broadcast he can always write to the B.B.C. direct.

asked the Postmaster-General how many posts there are on the Post Office establishment of the following grades respectively, higher clerical officer, junior executive officer, clerical officer, clerical assistant and sorting assistant; what the comparable figures are for the Post Office Savings Department; and what the comparable figures were, both for the Savings Department and for the Post Office as a whole, for a convenient date in 1939.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General why telephone accounts are still six months in arrears; and whether, in view of the difficulty in checking charges, he will arrange, at an early date, for accounts to be rendered quarterly.

Half-yearly accounts were introduced during the war in order to save manpower. I regret that in view of the continuing need for economy in manpower there is still no early prospect of reverting to quarterly telephone accounting.

asked the Postmaster-General when the special stamp being issued on the occasion of the Royal Silver Wedding will be available in Post Offices; and in what values it will be sold.

On 26th of April next. The denominations will be two-pence halfpenny and one pound.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what modifications he is proposing to submit to the co-signatories of the Peace Treaty as to the return of the Italian ex-Colonies; and if he will make a statement.

Article 23 of the Peace Treaty with Italy provides that the final disposal of the former Italian Colonies shall be determined jointly by the Governments of the Soviet Union, United Kingdom, United States and France within one year of the coming into force of the Treaty, that is, by the 15th September, 1948, in the manner laid down in Annex XI to the Treaty. His Majesty's Government are not at the present time in a position to make any statement regarding the final disposal of these territories since they are still awaiting the reports of the Commission of Investigation despatched last November in accordance with the procedure laid down in Annex XI.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent discussions with Senor Indalecio Prieto.

My right hon. Friend was in Paris and Brussels during most of Senior Prieto's visit and did not see him. Senor Prieto called at the Foreign Office and explained his views on the Spanish situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the flagrant and armed breach of Article 2 of the United Nations Charter by those states concerned in supporting the rebels in Greece and receiving children abducted from Greek homes into their custody, he will withdraw British Ambassadors from the States concerned.

As the hon. Member is aware, the United Nations Assembly is now seized of the question of intervention in Greece, and has sent a special Balkans Committee to examine the situation on the spot. At an open meeting held on 4th March, this Committee specifically decided to examine, as a matter of urgency, the Greek Government's charge that the Greek guerillas, in conjunction with the northern neighbours of Greece, were planning to abduct Greek children and carry them over the northern frontiers. In these circumstances, His Majesty's Government do not propose to take any independent action.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the current rate of timber production under the direction of the North German Timber Control; and what is the estimated amount that will be made available to the United Kingdom during 1948.

The British Timber Production Agency (formerly North German Timber Control) is at present producing approximately 40,000 fest metres of round timber per week, of which 15,000 fest metres are being exported to the United Kingdom. Production is temporarily being concentrated on pit wood for the Ruhr-Aachen mines and until future requirements for this purpose are known, it is not possible to estimate the amount of timber that the United Kingdom will receive in 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums have so far been made available to agriculturists in Scotland by way of grants for schemes submitted and approved under the Hill Farming Act, 1947.

So far no payments by way of improvement grants have been made, but schemes involving an estimated expenditure of £7,289 have been approved while in addition authority to proceed with urgent works valued at £108,684 has been given pending the submission of detailed schemes.