asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Soviet Government have now published their first volume of documents from the archives of the German Foreign Office, that these papers deal with the relations of Great Britain and France, with Germany, Czechoslovakia and Poland from November, 1937, to December, 1938, that they include records of conversations between prominent German and British political personalities; and whether he will arrange for a copy of this publication to be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

Yes. The Soviet publication has not yet reached this country, but as soon as it is available copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the twelve former members of the Control Commission, who are serving sentences in a German prison, appealed to a superior court in the United Kingdom; and what are the rights of appeal given to members of the Commission.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No." As regards the second part of the Question, members of the Commission have no right of appeal to any court in Great Britain. The Control Commission court of appeal gives an adequate safeguard to any British civilian sentenced in a lower court and there is further appeal, by way of clemency, to the Commander-in-Chief.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a decision has yet been taken forcibly to repatriate any Yugoslav nationals against whom the Foreign Office considers that a prima facie case as war criminals, Quislings or traitors has been made out, other than the five individuals about whom a decision has already been made; and if he will give details of such new decision.

The cases of the 147 Yugoslavs detained in the Munster Lager camp in Germany have now been considered by the competent legal authorities. A prima facie case of wilful and active collaboration has been established against 16 of these men, who are to be handed over to the Yugoslav authorities. Twenty-two of the cases are still under review, and the remaining 110 have been released. Of the Yugoslavs detained in Austria, two more have been surrendered to the Yugoslav authorities, after the establishment of a prima facie case of wilful and active collaboration; and a further 12 have been released.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is satisfied that all food enforcement officers are carrying out their duties in a courteous and reasonable manner.

Yes. But I also trust and believe that they are carrying out their important duties with zeal and firmness. If the hon. Member has any case of alleged failure in either respect, I shall, of course, be very willing to look into it.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an estimate of the increased demands on manpower, fuel, petrol and bottles which will result from the decision to allow consumers to change their dairymen.

I regret there is nothing I can add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Dagenham (Mr. Parker) on 9th February, except to remind my hon. Friend that distributors will receive no increase in their margins and will therefore be under strong incentive not to increase their costs.

asked the Minister of Food what extra rations are being made available by his Department to the Olympic Games competitors.

During the period of the Games, both foreign and British competitors in the Olympic Games will be given allowances of food on the Category "A" scale applicable to workers in heavy industries in this country.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now grant a licence for street lighting to be installed in Malcolm Road, Peterculter, Aberdeenshire.

A street lighting scheme has now been agreed with the council, and I shall be prepared to authorise the work.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of railway wagons in use on the British railways in 1939; and the number in current use.

At 31st December, 1939, the total stock of railway-owned and requisitioned privately-owned wagons was 1,247,800. Of this number 18,745 railway-owned wagons were under or awaiting repair. I have no information as to the number of requisitioned privately-owned wagons out of service at that date. At 31st December, 1947, the total operating stock was 1,218,000 of which 160,000 were under or awaiting repair leaving 1,058,000 available for traffic.

asked the Minister of Supply why he is sending, or has promised to send, quantities of mechanical excavators to Russia; and if he is aware that English manufacturers who have ordered these machines are now being obliged by his Department to accept American excavators which are less satisfactory for the purpose.

Excavators are to go to Russia under the agreement reached between His Majesty's Government and the Russian Government on 27th December, 1947, as a result of which we are receiving supplies of coarse grain. They are part of the export programme and would not in any case be available to the home market. My Department tries to help British users by advising them of machines which are available, but they are not obliged to accept them.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that there is a deficiency, both in quantity and quality, of digging spades, forks and horticultural hand-tools in the County of Kent; and if he will take steps to improve the situation.

Increased supplies of these tools are being distributed to the home market. The more important types of agricultural and horticultural tools are normally supplied by reputable firms under a guarantee of quality and any faulty tools are usually replaced.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will take action to remedy the shortage of small mesh wire-netting, hop wire, barbed wire and steel tubing, 1½ in down, from which agriculture is suffering generally.

My information is that most essential agricultural requirements for these goods are being met. There may, however, be isolated cases of shortages and arrangements are made to make supplies available when information about such shortages is received.

asked the Minister of Supply what number of people are currently employed at the Aeronautical Inspection Department Establishment, Hare-field; whether employment is expected to be maintained at this level; and what provision has been made for accommodating employees and their families.

The number of staff employed at this establishment, on 1st April, 1948, was 273 and it is expected that employment will be maintained at about this level. The provision of accommodiation is a matter for the local authority, who are aware of this particular need.

asked the Minister of Supply how many of the employees at the Aeronautical Inspection Department Establishment, Harefield, are receiving special lodging allowances because of separation from families; and how many have left that employment within the past twelve months because of lack of accommodation in the district.

Fifteen employees are receiving lodging allowances on account of separation from families. During the past year one officer resigned because he was unable to find accommodation for his family in the neighbourhood.

asked the Minister of Supply if his Department's contract for the production of 50 Miles Marathon aircraft is to be completed at the Woodley factory; and whether any Government contracts have been given for the continued production of the Miles Gemini.

Negotiations are in progress with a view to the continued production of the Marathon at the Woodley factory. One Gemini aircraft remains to be delivered under a contract for four which was placed by my Department on behalf of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. No Government contract has been given for the continued production of this type.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that there has been infiltration of migrant rooks from the Continent to Kent; and whether, in order to combat this menace to our food supplies, he will endeavour to make arrangements for some portion of the Purchase Tax to be removed from shot-gun cartridges and for a more plentiful supply of.22 ammunition.

I am aware that large numbers of migrant rooks from the Continent temporarily invaded Kent and other coastal areas in recent months. In reply to the second part of the Question, I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the reduction made in the Budget on all sports requisites. In addition special arrangements have been made to provide 12-bore cartridges at half the retail price for those taking part in rook shoots organised and supervised by county agricultural executive committees, in areas where there are unduly large concentrations of these birds. Arrangements for the distribution of the cartridges will be made by the committees. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply that there has been some reduction in supplies of.22 ammunition from unavoidable causes. It is hoped that it will be possible to make further supplies available during the next two or three weeks.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) what was the number of livestock on English and Welsh farms on the last available date, giving separate figures for each country, with respect to cattle, sheep, pigs and horses;(2) what were the acreages in 1947 in England and Wales, giving separate figures for each country, of land under arable cultivation, under permanent pasture and under rough grazings, respectively; and what are the anticipated acreages for 1948;(3) what were the numbers of poultry in England and Wales in 1947, giving separate figures for each of the countries, with respect to fowls, ducks, geese and turkeys.

I give below tables showing the latest 1947 figures returned by occupiers of agricultural holdings exceeding 1 acre. While I anticipate an increase in the area under arable crops this year, I cannot yet give an estimate of the acreages under crops and grass respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the difficulties experienced by farmers and fruit growers because of the impossibility to obtain large single-furrow ploughs; if he will give an assurance that, in the near future, some of these agricultural implements will be coming off the lines; and if he will state the number of single ploughs produced in 1945, 1946 and 1947.

Although the demand for single-furrow, deep-digging tractor ploughs has been substantially greater than the supply, production is increasing and the number already supplied this year is as great as in the whole of 1947. Further supplies are expected in the near future. Supplies in 1945, 1946 and 1947 were 165, 195, and 150 respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is taking steps to encourage the development of producers schemes for co-operative marketing of vegetables, fruit, eggs and other home produce.

Yes. This is a subject to which I attach considerable importance.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how far he has taken the known political opinions of persons into consideration before he has made appointments to county agricultural executive committees.

By the provisions of the Agricultural Act, seven of the members of each committee have to be selected from lists submitted by the farmers', farm workers' and landowners' organisations, which are free to include whom they choose. As regards the other five, I have tried to secure the appointment of persons with qualifications or experience likely to be of particular value to the committees in their work, having regard also to the necessity for obtaining a proper balance between the different interests, to geographical considerations and other such factors. All members have been selected because they appeared to be the best persons available in the light of these considerations and without regard to their political opinions, of which I am, in most cases, unaware.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent nations who are not signatories to the International Agreement on whaling are free to catch whales.

Nations who are not signatories to the International Agreement on whaling are free to catch whales without control of any kind.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that stocks of bricks for which there is no immediate use are piling up at brickyards; that short time is being worked in some yards; and if he will take immediate steps to prohibit the importation of foreign bricks.

The answer to the first two parts of the Question is "Yes." Any bricks now being imported are due under private contracts of long standing, and no applications for import licences have been made in recent months.

asked the Minister of Works if he will expedite the removal of concrete blocks from the garden of Mr. A. W. Saulter of 2 Temple Avenue, Shirley, as requested of the Ministry in May, 1947, and as contracted by the Ministry in December, 1947.

I understand that a contract was entered into between Mr. Saulter and a local firm in December last. My Department has no responsibility for the rate of progress of the work.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the passports of Major John Saxon-Mills and his wife Mrs. Saxon-Mills, were withdrawn by an official of the Venezia Giulia Police Force in July, 1947, and that the passport of Mrs. Saxon-Mills is still withheld from her; on what authority, by whose direction and for what reason these passports were so withdrawn; and when it is proposed that the passport of Mrs. Saxon-Mills is to be returned to her.

I am aware that the passports of Major and Mrs. Saxon-Mills were withdrawn by the Venezia Giulia Police Force in July, 1947. The authority for the withdrawal was the Allied Military Government of Trieste by whose direction the passports were removed in an endeavour to ensure that Major and Mrs. Saxon-Mills would be available for questioning during investigations being carried out concerning currency offences in Trieste. Mrs. Saxon-Mills' passport will be returned to her on application by her in person at the headquarters of the Civil Police Force, Free Territory of Trieste.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times the Economic Planning Board has met since 7th July, 1947; and the number of occasions on which the Board has brought representatives of both sides of particular industries into consultation with it, and the names of those industries.

The Economic Planning Board has met nineteen times since 7th July, 1947; as a matter of general policy I am not prepared to state what subjects have been considered by the Board or what persons have been present at their deliberations.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the average net monthly increase in the number of agricultural workers during the calendar year 1947; what was the increase during January and February, 1948; and what special steps he is taking to attract more workers into agriculture in order to achieve the end-1948 manpower figure in Table XXI of the Economic Survey for 1948.

It is estimated that during 1947 there was an average net increase of 750 civilian workers a month in agriculture. The average monthly increase for January and February, 1948, is estimated at 2,500. In reply to the last part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraphs 161 to 163 of the Economic Survey for 1948.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that the construction of urgently needed fire escapes at the boarding house at Paston Grammar School, North Walsham, Norfolk, has been delayed through the inability of the contractors to obtain the necessary amount of steel; and if he will arrange, for sufficient priority to be given to enable this work to be completed with the least possible delay.

I am informed that the necessary steel has now been delivered.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to mitigate the hardship caused to owners of single pump garages by the recommendation in the Russell Vick Report that separate pumps must be employed for the sale of commercial and private vehicle petrol.

This matter is being discussed with the Motor Agents' Association.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what dollar expenditure will be incurred in dyeing commercial petrol as indicated in the Russell Vick Report; at what stage in the distribution of petrol the dye will be inserted; and what steps have been taken to investigate the possible manufacture and sale of dye neutralisers.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None"; the matters raised in both the second and third parts of the Question were dealt with in detail in the confidential report submitted to my right hon. Friend by the Russell Vick Committee, and it would not be in the public interest to disclose the answers. I would, however, draw the hon. Member's attention to paragraph 52 of the published Report in which the addition of a chemical as well as colouring matter is recommended.

asked the Minister of Pensions, in connection with the N.C.O.s and other ranks who were 100 per cent. disabled at 31st March, 1948, how many of these men received hardship allowance, unemployability allowance, constant attendance allowance, education allowance and clothing allowance, respectively, as at 31st March, 1948; and what was the annual cost of each of these allowances.

I regret that figures for 3rst March, 1948, are not yet available. The provision for special hardship allowance applies only to partially disabled pensioners, and awards of education allowances to the children of disabled men are not classified according to the degree of disablement of their fathers. Of the 45,940 N.C.O.s and other ranks in receipt of 100 per cent. pension at 31st December, 1947, the approximate numbers receiving the other allowances mentioned in the Question, and the annual cost, were as follows:

asked the Minister of Pensions the total number of widows and dependants of N.C.O.s and other ranks, wives and children, respectively, receiving standard allowances as at 31st March, 1948; and what was the annual cost of each of these allowances.

The numbers and annual cost at 31st December, 1947, the latest date for which information is available, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many trade unions have been formed and recognised amongst Africans in Northern Rhodesia since the arrival there of the recently appointed trade union official; and whether consideration will be given to inviting a number of Africans to visit the United Kingdom in order to study trade union methods and procedure.

The Copperbelt African Shop Assistants' Union, with the present membership of 454, has been recognised by the employers since the arrival in Northern Rhodesia of the trade union labour officer. As regards the second part of the Question, consideration will be given in due course to inviting Africans to visit the United Kingdom for the purpose stated, but I consider that, for the present, trade unionism among Africans in the Territory can best be developed and encouraged on the spot with the help of the trade union labour officer and other labour officers who have gained the full confidence of the African workers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is expected that war damage claims by planters and others in the Far East are likely to be paid.

I understand the hon. Member has in mind claims in respect of war damage and losses in Malaya. I hope to make a statement on the subject at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Gibraltarian evacuees still remain in the camps in Northern Ireland; and when will these people be repatriated to Gibraltar.

There are now 482 Gibraltar evacuees in the Northern Ireland camps, as against some 1,300 at the beginning of the year. There have been three repatriation parties this year, and a further party leaving this month will include 89 evacuees from the camps. One hundred and three of the remaining evacuees have been granted priority for early repatriation. It is not possible to indicate when those without priority will be repatriated, but every effort is being made to close the camps before the end of this year. May I express appreciation of the continued service which the Northern Ireland Government has given in helping us with this difficult task.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will issue a guide book compiled by a competent authority on the natural beauty and historic interest of the island of Cyprus; what steps he is taking to encourage visits from Great Britain and the British Commonwealth; and to improve the transport facilities as far as possible.

A report recently drawn up by an expert in the development of the tourist trade is at present under consideration in Cyprus. Until the Governor has come to a decision on the recommendations in that report, I regret I am unable to give an answer to the second part of the Question.

asked the Postmaster General if he can give any information about the provision of additional coaxial cable communications between London and the North of England.

Coaxial cables are already in operation between London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, and Newcastle and they are extended by means of carrier and audio cables to towns in the North of England and in Scotland. An additional coaxial cable is now being provided between London and Birmingham and this will be extended by means of channels in the existing coaxial cables beyond Birmingham to provide additional circuits between London and the North of England. It is also planned to lay later a coaxial cable from London to Leeds via Leicester. Amplifying and other transmission equipment has to be fitted to the new cables before speech channels can be made available and it is unlikely that the new London-Birmingham cable can be brought into service before 1950.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the total Health Service contribution is meant to cover the provision and running of health centres; and whether he will reduce the contribution by that proportion until health centres are established.

Although there is a relatively small contribution from the National Insurance Fund towards the total cost of the health services, those services are independent of the insurance scheme. The contribution is in no way based on the cost of the health services and no question of reducing that contribution can arise on the ground that expenditure on any particular part of those services is delayed.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he has made arrangements with the Burmese Government for the earmarking of the necessary funds to secure pensions due to former servants of the Government of Burma.

Payment of pensions to such British subjects, other than those domiciled in India and Pakistan, is secured by Article 5 of the Treaty of 17th October, 1947, and payment to Burma nationals, Indians and Pakistanis is secured by the corresponding announcement made by the Burma Government in the Burma Gazette of 8th November, 1947. Arrangements for their punctual disbursement to officers receiving payment in London have been made by the Accountant-General, Commonwealth Relations Office, as agent for the Government of Burma, the Burma Embassy in London making the necessary funds available in advance against the Accountant-General's monthly estimates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of utility shirts are made with the collar attached; and why such production is considered economical for the user.

I have no figures on this matter, which is left to the discretion of the shirt markers. No coupons are chargeable for a collar attached to a shirt and this tends to deter the trade from making shirts with collars attached.