asked the Postmaster-General how many people in Grimsby have received a telephone number and had their names inserted in the telephone directory, but who have not yet been given a line.

Twenty-six.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will provide a list of

The list is as follows. It does not include claims relating to such matters as grading and allowances, which affect pay only indirectly.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider, in conjunction with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the possibility of sending a helicopter to Orkney this Summer for the purpose of running an experimental mail service there.

The possibility of using a helicopter experimentally for mail purposes in Orkney has already been considered, but, owing to the need in the present stage of their development to confine helicopter experiments to areas where experienced maintenance staff is readily available, the proposition had to be dropped.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is now able to make a statement about the crash of a R.A.F. Anson aircraft at Hendon on 9th February.

This aircraft was coming in to land, with permission from the air traffic control, when apparently the pilot saw another aircraft on the runway and decided to overshoot the airfield. The aircraft at this point was about 300 ft. above the ground. The pilot attempted to climb, but his aircraft steadily lost height and crashed. Investigation shows that the accident was due primarily to inadequate air traffic control at the airfield, but the pilot of the Anson was also at fault in attempting to overshoot the airfield when his aircraft was as low as 300 ft. The aircraft was on single-engined flying practice, and while this is a necessary form of flying training, and one which does not normally entail special difficulty, the Air Officer Commanding has given instructions that it should in future take place from another airfield.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the new African representatives on the Legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia will be appointed in time for them to attend the African Conference to be held in London in September, 1948.

The new African representatives on the Legislative Council will be appointed shortly before the date of the Conference in London. The membership of the delegation which is then to represent Northern Rhodesia is a matter for settlement in consultation between the Governor and members of the Legislative Council and, so far as I know, has not yet been decided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will take steps to stop the present free circulation of Mosley Fascist literature among British troops and police in Palestine, in view of the danger in present conditions of arousing anti-Semitic feeling amongst the British Forces.

I know of no cases of the circulation of literature of this nature among British troops and police in Palestine, but if the hon. and learned Member can furnish me with specific instances I shall arrange for them to be investigated.

asked the Minister of Food why his regulations compel farmers to procure a licence before selling rabbits at the controlled price to outside customers.

Farmers normally sell their surplus rabbits to wholesalers and no licence is required by farmers for this purpose. It is only if they wish to sell to retailers or to private customers that farmers, like any other traders, are required to obtain the appropriate licences.

asked the Minister of Food how many pigs were delivered to the factories in November and December, 1947, and January, 1948; and how many were slaughtered under licence during the same period.

During the three months November, 1947, to January, 1948, 114,000 pigs were delivered to bacon factories and Government slaughter-houses and 374,000 were slaughtered under licence.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the average time taken for letters by air mail and ordinary post to reach units in B.A.O.R.

Two days by air mail and three days by surface route.

asked the Minister of Education what decision he has come to with regard to the continuation of emergency training, and the time that it should cease; what is the present number of candidates who have been pronounced eligible for training, but who have not yet been admitted to any training college; and whether his undertaking that all students admitted to an emergency training college will be used in the job for which they have been trained, still holds good.

The Emergency Training Scheme has been closed to applications from men since 30th June last year. It is still open to women and I have taken no decision on the closing date for women's applications. The number of candidates who have been accepted but have not yet been admitted to colleges or withdrawn from the scheme is 12,349 men and 1,743 women. I accept responsibility for regulating admissions to colleges so as to ensure that candidates who complete their training successfully, and who are prepared to move to areas where vacancies exist, have reasonable prospects of employment.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he is prepared to give his support to the preservation of the historic Wortham Smock Mill in Suffolk by including it in his list of buildings of national, architectural and historical interest.

I am informed that the Wortham Smock Mill, which was in a poor state of preservation and was deteriorating further, collapsed on 3rd March following demolition operations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will consider the possibility of making use of a Bailey bridge to by-pass the section of the Churchill causeway in Orkney, which will be out of use for six months whilst repairs are being carried out.

I regret that the necessity of repairing the causeway across Kirk Sound will prevent the local population making use of the maintenance roadway during the next few months. Following discussions with my Department, the Orkney County Council have arranged for the running of a ferry for the daily transport of passengers and mail and for the transport as necessary of heavy goods and cattle. The construction of a Bailey bridge would not be a matter for the Admiralty; the cost in money, labour and materials would, however, appear out of all proportion to the benefit which it would give.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that during the 1947 herring fishing season the average number of nets lost per boat at Lowestoft by the Scots and English drifters, respectively, was 7·5 and 87·7; and whether he can explain this discrepancy.

The average losses of nets according to figures given by the boat owners are as stated in the Question. Losses of nets depend on a number of variable factors, and I regret I am unable to explain the figures.