asked the Minister of Food if he will make a full statement on the further efforts of the Government to purchase a part of the exportable surplus of livestock feeding-stuffs from the Roumanian Government, explaining the reasons for the continued delays; and stating what success has now attended these efforts.

We have offered to negotiate for all the foodstuffs, including cereals, which the Roumanians can let us have. The Roumanian authorities have informed us, however, that they cannot spare any cereals until they know the prospects for the coming harvest. But we have bought some sunflower oil and some maize starch and are waiting their reply to our inquiry about any other foods available for immediate delivery.

What has happened to the large exportable surplus of feeding-stuffs known to be available last Autumn?

I suppose it is a matter for the Roumanian Government to judge their exportable surplus.

Is the Minister aware that last Autumn the Roumanian Government were willing to export a large part of that surplus to this country? Surely it was due to the inefficiency of the right hon. Gentleman's Department that they did not do that?

I am aware of nothing of the sort.

Has any considerable quantity of cereals gone from Roumania to any other country, or has the right hon. Gentleman no information about Roumanian trade?

I have considerable information about Roumanian trade, but, as far as I am aware, there has not been any appreciable export of cereals from Roumania at the present time, but that does not mean that there will not be some export of cereals from Roumania, or that we are not interested in the matter.

Was this not known to the Ministry of Food in November, yet now it is April, and nothing has been done?

We protracted the negotiations because we were interested in the possibilities, but the Roumanian Government have just come to the conclusion that they do not want to export cereals.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of last year's crop of swedes did his Department contract to buy from Scottish farmers, and at what price per ton; why were these contracts subsequently cancelled; and what is the total cost involved in respect of these cancellations so far as Scotland is concerned.

About 7,000 tons of swedes were contracted for in Scotland at £5 10s. per ton ex-farm. They were bought as part of an emergency reserve. This, fortunately, was not needed; but the contracts have not been cancelled, except at the growers' option. We are giving growers the chance of being released from their contracts, or buying back the swedes before we resell them ourselves. Final returns for all sales have not yet been received, so I cannot yet say what the cost of this "insurance" measure will be.

Is it likely to be £2 10s. a ton as a free gift to the farmers, allowing them to keep the swedes, for that is my information?

No, Sir, I could not say what the final financial outcome will be, but there will certainly be some cost—and we always knew there would be, if the swedes were not needed, as I am very glad to say they were not.

Were these meant to take the place of potatoes? Did the right hon. Gentleman think the people of this country would buy swedes instead of potatoes?

Yes, Sir, if there were not any potatoes.

asked the Minister of Food what is the total aggregate of salaries and allowances paid to members of his staff employed in the United States, including those in the British Supply Office, for the seven months ending 31st March, 1948; what reduction was made during that period of staff so employed; and how many are there now.

The total salaries and allowances paid to the Ministry of Food staff employed in the United States during the seven months ending 31st March, 1948, amounted to £36,215. The staff has been reduced by 28 during the period: on 31st March, 1948, the number employed was 42. During the seven months in question the British Supply Office was the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. I understand however that the total salaries paid to the British Supply Office staff during this period amounted to approximately £170,000. The staff was reduced by 104, 300 being employed on 31st March, 1948.

Since there has been no purchase of food from the United States since last August, why is it necessary to keep £36,000 worth of Ministry of Food officials—40 or so—hanging about there doing nothing?

One reason is that we hope that the period in which there will be no food purchases from the United States may come to an end. The other reason is that there have been many important duties there, for example, the negotiation of the International Wheat Agreement.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the repeated convictions for trading offences of barrow-stance holders in Glasgow, he will take steps to deprive those convicted of supplies in cases where the fruit is imported on the Ministry's account, and in other cases to deprive the holder of his licence, following one or more such convictions.

Whenever a trader is convicted of a food offence we consider whether he should still be regarded as a suitable link in the chain of distribution, and if not, we revoke any Ministry licence or allocation he may have.

Can my right hon. Friend explain why I had a reply stating that there were 160 convictions last year? Does that mean that there are 160 people who in spite of these convictions are still allowed to fleece the women of Glasgow?

No licence is required for trading in fruit and vegetables, so that there can be no question of revoking a licence. We do in many cases revoke an allocation for repeated and grave offences.

Will my right hon. Friend say whether a banana is considered to be fruit and onions are considered to be vegetables, because there were convictions for improper prices in respect of both?

My hon. Friend's allocation of categories is correct, but I repeat that no licence is required to trade in those commodities. What we do is to revoke an allocation of imported fruit.

asked the Minister of Food what is the number of duplicate ration books issued to replace lost books during the ration year 1946–47.

During the rationing year 1946 to 1947 some 932,000 food ration books were issued to replace books reported lost, stolen or destroyed.

Since in the previous year the figure was about 673,000, is it not a pretty clear indication that there is a serious leakage, presumably into the black market?

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary held a careful inquiry into this in the Autumn, and she was satisfied that there was no evidence that it represented a black market leakage.

How many of these 900,000 lost books were found and were returned to the Department?

I should have to have notice of that question.

The right hon. Gentleman will get it.

asked the Minister of Food why he is importing carrots from Italy and France, when acres of Fen carrots could not be sold, and Yorkshire carrots are being fed to cattle.

I am not importing carrots; those now coming in are early carrots bought by private traders under licence, and do not compete with the old crop. There is a guaranteed market for home-grown maincrop carrots under which we bought all carrots offered by growers before 29th February: only those which have deteriorated are being sold for stockfeeding.

Is the Minister aware that a prominent distributor in London had a telegram from Yorkshire the other day asking "Can you sell some car rots?" Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the rules of Order prevent me from saying what I think of him and his methods?

asked the Minister of Food if he will state the price paid for flour by the Co-operative societies, and the price paid by other bakers.

Forty shillings per 280 lb. in both cases.

Is the Minister aware that there is a widespread feeling among the private bakers in the country that the Co-operative societies are getting some priority or some preference, and will he assure the House that that is not the case?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there are many complaints about the quality of meat which is being served in the London area; whether he will take steps to ensure that only meat of good quality is distributed on the ration; and whether he will cause a special inquiry to be made into the distribution of unsatisfactory and unpalatable meat in the South London area.

All the meat distributed on the ration is of types regularly sold for domestic consumption before the war. Complaints are made from time to time by those who do not always receive the kind which they prefer. South London is receiving its fair share of all types of meat.

Will my right hon. Friend have another look at this if I send him some further correspondence which I have received recently?

Certainly.

Is the Minister aware that complaints with regard to inferior meat are not confined to the London area? What happens to all the fat cattle that are sent weekly for sale from Scotland? Where do they go?

The effect of a fixed price for meat is that poorer customers get their fair share of the better class meat, while the richer customers have to take some of the inferior meat.

Will my right hon. Friend accept my assurance that a lot of this meat which is being served on the ration —and I know something about it—is absolutely unsuitable and should be used for manufacturing purposes? Will my right hon. Friend take steps to tighten up the grading system in regard to meat?

I am afraid that if much of the meat which is used for the ration was used for manufacturing purposes the supplies today are such that the ration would have to be reduced.

asked the Minister of Food why 147 lb. of hind quarter beef was delivered to Mr. J. Leonard, a butcher, of Broken Cross, Macclesfield, in such a condition that it was unfit to be served to customers; and what steps is he taking to prevent repetition of this incident.

This hind quarter was. examined by two of our trade experts on the day on which Mr. Leonard complained, which was the fifth day after the meat was delivered to him. I am satisfied, on their report, that it was of good quality but needed trimming. Had Mr. Leonard followed the usual practice in such cases there would have been no grounds for complaint.

Does the Minister realise that Mr. Leonard has made numerous complaints in the past, and has been told to "get on with it"? Is he further aware that the meat in question, which was expected to give 170 rations, could only provide 100? Many cases are occurring all over the country, and will the right hon. Gentleman look into it and do something about it?

I have looked into the case. The two experts who examined the case were practical butchers who were perfectly satisfied that Mr. Leonard had had a fair allocation.

asked the Minister of Food in how many weeks during the last 12 his Department received complaints from butchers in the Clowne Rural District, maintaining that the meat allocated to them was of inferior quality, and only suitable for manufacturing purposes; whether he is satisfied that, during this period, the quality of the 10d. value of the meat ration was equal to the allocation elsewhere; and what action does he propose to take to see that registrations are met with wholesome supplies to the full ration value.

We had complaints during two weeks of this period, but I am satisfied that the quality issued was similar to that issued elsewhere, and that it was wholesome and sufficient to meet the full value of the ration.

Is the Minister aware that again, only a fortnight ago, complaints were general in this particular area about the low standard and inferior quality of the meat supply?

That may be so.

asked the Minister of Food if he will control immediately the price of imported tomatoes.

Price control on all tomatoes both home-grown and imported, will be re-imposed this season but I am not at present in a position to give full particulars.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that since this control was taken off tomatoes have risen 50 to 60 per cent.? Does he not agree that if this is a case of setting the people free, the sooner the shackles are reimposed the better for the community?

While not disagreeing with my hon. Friend's general statement, I must point out that there has been no price control on tomatoes this year.

asked the Minister of Food if he will now make a statement on his investigation into the refusal on the part of Rules to supply a meal to a coloured person; and what steps he has taken.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on the result of his investigations into the recent instance of racial discriminations at Rules Restaurant.

I have now received a letter from the managing director of Rules Restaurant expressing his regret for what happened and giving an unqualified undertaking to prevent it happening again. I am satisfied that the very serious character of the incident has been brought home to the managing director, and that he now understands the grave injury which is done to the interests of the British Commonwealth by any form of racial discrimination.

asked the Minister of Food whether in view of the improvement in stocks, he will grant an additional ration of sugar to farm workers in order to sustain their energy through the longest working days of the farming year.

We have already made special allowances of rationed foods, including sugar, for farm workers when they are working long hours on certain occupations. I am afraid that any further allowances to these workers is not possible.

Will the Minister keep in mind the fact that farm workers are not getting enough energy-making foods, and that in the coming months they will have to work very long hours indeed?

Yes, Sir. There will, of course, be the usual harvest and other heavy work allowances.

Would the Minister not consider increasing the sugar ration in view of the recent cut in cheese? Is he aware that they only get two-fifths of an ounce of cheese?

No, Sir, because the cheese ration to farm workers has not been reduced from the level of 12 ounces.

Would the Minister bear in mind in this connection that in the majority of cases these agricultural workers have no access to works canteens?

Yes, that is why they receive differential rations.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the peculiar hours of duty performed by municipal and district midwives, especially during the night-time; and if he will consider allowing them a little more tea, sugar and milk as compensation for the arduous duties and long distances they have to travel during the time they are on duty.

Whilst appreciating the valuable and arduous service performed by midwives, I regret we could not base differential rationing or extra allowances on the number of hours of duty during the day or night.

Does the Minister appreciate that many of these midwives, who are called out to perform their duties, are, in many instances, retained at the house for hours on end, and have to take tea from time to time from people who can ill afford it from their ration? Would the Minister state if he is prepared to look into this question, more particularly in the case of midwives working in rural districts, who have to travel many hours at a time in performing their duties?

I quite agree that there is an excellent case in regard to the midwife, but, unfortunately, if we began differential rationing in this category it would be quite impossible to refuse it to other categories.

Is not the attitude of the Government in this connection that of "Penny wise, pound foolish"?

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now consider abandoning sugar rationing.

Unfortunately the supplies which we can afford to buy are not nearly enough to enable us to do that.

Will the Minister examine what happened in Switzerland, where, as a result of the abandonment of sugar rationing, consumption has, in fact, gone down? Would not that apply to this country?

I am afraid not. It would only apply if the price was sharply increased.

Does the Minister maintain that we have failed to buy Empire sugar production?

No, we have bought every ton of sterling sugar that we can possibly buy, and a good deal of dollar sugar as well.

asked the Minister of Food why it is proposed to link the trade in points goods to consumer registration.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 12th April.

asked the Minister of Food whether he can now announce any temporary increase in the ration of sweets.

Yes, Sir. I have now completed the inquiries into the level of stocks held by the various sections of the trade, and as a result, I am able to increase the ration from 3 oz. to 4 oz. per week for the next rationing period only, that is, for the four weeks beginning 25th April.

Is the Minister aware that, owing to the delay in coming to this decision, some of the large quantities in stock have already become unfit for issue?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food what have been the quantities of herring bought from Scots fishermen and Norwegian fishermen since 1st January.

In the period 1st January to 10th April, 1948, 22,000 tons of British-caught herrings were landed at Scottish ports, and 30,500 tons of Norwegian herrings were imported into the United Kingdom.

Is the Minister aware that a strong sense of grievance is felt by Scottish fishermen on this question? A lot of these fishermen are ex-Service men who have had to buy new boats, and cannot we do something more to encourage them?

Why there should be a sense of grievance I cannot tell, because of that total of 22,000 tons only 300 tons were used for oil and meal and the whole of the rest were sold at the guaranteed price. Unless they object to the importing of Norwegian herrings, which we very much need, I can see no reason for the grievance.

asked the Minister of Food if he can now state whether, as a result of the examination by his Department of the consignment of snoek, brought to this country in the ss. "Novelist" at the beginning of this year, this consignment has been released for retail sale.

Yes, Sir. We carefully examined this initial consignment and decided it was too salt. We shall use it for fish paste. The consignments now coming in are unsalted and will be suitable for retail sale. Some will be released on 23rd May.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how he reconciles that answer with the answer given in this House on 21st January, by his Parliamentary Secretary, that this consignment showed an improvement over its predecessors, and will he, therefore, tell the House whether it is his intention to pay the full contract price for this article, which he himself now admits is inferior?

No, we do not intend to pay the full contract price for the consignment which was salty, and unfit for the retail trade.

Will it be called salmon and shrimp paste?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give a general direction to the Transport Commissioners that all vehicles, railway carriages and rolling stock shall be run under the name of the commission and not under the trade names of their former owners.

No, Sir.

Then are we to understand that the Commissioners will go on using the trade names of the previous owners?

I could not anticipate what the Commissioners will do. I do not think this is a subject on which I should give a direction.

Is the Minister aware that strong feeling exists over the dishonesty of cashing in on the goodwill of private firms when no price is to be paid for that goodwill?

asked the Minister of Transport upon what date the appointment of Lord Inman as chairman of the Hotels Executive became effective for salary; why no other appointments have yet been made to this executive; and what functions it has performed to date.

Lord Inman has been engaged in preliminary work relating to the Hotels Executive since early February. He has asked that no salary should be paid to him before the Executive is set up. The appointment of the remaining members of the Executive is now being considered and I hope to announce names shortly.

Has this gentleman any office or any staff yet? Is he doing anything?

The facilities necessary for preliminary work are there.

Where?

asked the Minister of Supply what progress has been made in building the Saunders Roe flying boat; and when does he expect this work to be completed.

Satisfactory progress has been maintained in the design and construction of the Saunders Roe civil transport flying boat. The completion of the three aircraft on order would take about three and a half years.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that it is not the intention to cut this programme but to proceed with it?

The whole programme is under constant review. I can give no guarantee about it at all.

When the right hon. Gentleman says it will take three and a half years, why does he not inform the House if he is uncertain that these aircraft will be completed?

Because the Question was not directed to that point, but to how long it would take.

asked the Minister of Supply in view of the fact that he has announced the contract prices for tin but not for copper, what is his policy in regard to the publication of prices he pays for non-ferrous metals and other commodities.

Tin is bought at a price fixed after discussion with representatives of the producers, who all get the same basic price, which can, therefore, he made public. Copper, lead, zinc and chrome ore are bought under varying arrangements from a large number of industrial producing companies all over the world and the prices paid are the results of normal commercial bargaining. Aluminium is bought under contract from producers in this country, and Canada. All these prices must, therefore, be treated as confidential in the interests of both the producer and the Ministry.

As the producers of tin are in the same category as the producers of other non-ferrous metals, why should they have publicity regarding prices and not the other trades?

I think the answer explains that. Tin is bought from three groups of producers. The other metals are bought from small producers all over the world, at varying prices.

When reference is made to the producers of tin, does the Minister mean the international tin cartel, or is that no longer in existence?

No, Sir, I mean the producers in Malaya and Nigeria, and the Bolivian producers.

Is the international tin cartel still consulted, or not?

No.

asked the Minister of Supply whether the plans submitted by the British Iron and Steel Federation and the Joint Iron Council for increased production of crude steel and foundry iron have been approved, and whether he will make a statement.

With the hon. and gallant Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the major schemes, already finally approved, which will contribute to the production of crude steel and foundry iron. Other schemes are still under consideration, but I can give no estimate of when approval will be given.

asked the Minister of Supply, how many schemes for the development of the industry have been examined and passed by the Iron and Steel Board; how many are at present under examination; how many are awaiting examination; and how many are expected to be submitted to the Board during the rest of the year.

Five hundred and twenty-six schemes have been examined and passed by the Iron and Steel Board, 69 are under examination, and there is no scheme awaiting examination. It is expected that nine major schemes will be submitted during the rest of 1948, but the number of minor schemes cannot be estimated.

As no more schemes are awaiting examination, can the Minister say why it has proved necessary to increase the staff of the Iron and Steel Board?

That is an entirely different question. If the hon. Gentleman will put it down I will answer it. The work of the Iron and Steel Board goes far beyond the work indicated here.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement regarding the prospects of obtaining scrap from Germany in the next few months.

The Scrap Investigation Committee, which I appointed at the beginning of March, 1948, have submitted their preliminary report, and in the light of their recommendations measures are being taken to provide additional facilities for obtaining scrap from Germany. I hope that, as a result, we shall get increased tonnages of scrap from this source in 1948.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say if he is offering goods to the Germans which will be of use to them and will encourage them to let us have the scrap?

What we are doing is to provide greater numbers of tractors and cranes and other equipment which will enable us to bring a greater quantity of scrap to this country.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that currency reform is essential before he can expect much scrap from private concerns in Germany.

Undoubtedly it would be a most important factor.

asked the Minister of Supply how much money has been spent on research as to how atomic energy can be used for industrial purposes in times of peace as compared with the sum spent on the atomic bomb.

It is not possible to make the comparison requested by my hon. Friend since almost all the effort involved in the research programme is of common application to both the industrial and the military potentialities of atomic energy.

Has the attention of my right hon. Friend been drawn to a statement by Professor Bernal that 50 per cent. of our scientists are now engaged on war work and that 66 per cent. of the money spent on research work is devoted to war purposes? Could he say anything about those figures?

I have not seen those figures, but they are certainly not correct.

Is it not a fact that the gentleman in question referred to defence purposes and not war purposes?

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will state the circumstances in which the atomic energy programme was delayed owing to the lack of priority for iron and steel until some date in 1947 in spite of the Prime Minister's statement in the House of Commons on 5th March, 1946, that the needs of atomic energy research should be accorded the highest priority; and what action he has taken to prevent a repetition of such delay.

During 1946 there was no formal priority and reliance was placed on executive action, based on general statements of the Government's attitude. By the early part of 1947 it had become apparent that more formal treatment was required, and the Prime Minister's list of priorities, which included atomic energy was issued.

Does the Minister state to the House that despite the Prime Minister's statement, the highest possible priority was not given for atomic energy research, and in view of the great importance of this matter will he reconsider the submission of the Select Committee on Estimates that there should be an impartial committee of the House to help him in the discharge of this important function?

In reply to the first part of the supplementary question, the formal priority was given in March. Prior to that, certain executive action was taken which it was hoped would be satisfactory, but it was considered later that some more formal arrangement should be made, and it was made. In reply to the second part of the question, I really do not think that any committee as suggested would be helpful.

Do I understand the Minister to deny or to accept the fact that delay occurred after the Prime Minister's statement owing to the failure to give the highest possible priority to atomic energy research?

I repeat that certain action was taken which did hasten matters, and many improvements were brought about. More formal priority was given a little later when the need for it became apparent.

asked the Minister of Supply what was the expenditure by this country on research and development of the atomic bomb before the agreement to combine research with the U.S.A. came into operation.

Work in this country on the atomic bomb, during the period early in the war to which the Question refers, was preliminary and exploratory, and conducted principally in University laboratories. This work was of supreme importance, but the cost in money was not large. To arrive at the exact figure would require an unjustifiable amount of time and labour.

asked the Minister of Supply if he has considered the use of the factory at Girvan for the purpose of manufacturing fertilisers for agricultural purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir. Production of sulphuric acid, which is used in the manufacture of fertilisers, has been started at Girvan. The factory is not suitable for other fertiliser production.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that there is a shortage of front wheel bearings for Fordson tractors in Yorkshire; and what steps are being taken to improve the situation.

No, Sir, but if the hon. Member has information about shortages in any particular area of Yorkshire and will give me details, I shall be pleased to investigate the matter.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the acute shortage of baling wire; and whether he will take action to improve supplies.

Yes, Sir. Arrangements have already been made to improve supplies, by increasing production in this country and by imports.

asked the Minister of Supply why stocks of zinc oxide in the United Kingdom are in excess of requirements.

There has been no restriction on the supply of zinc oxide to the home market because of its importance as an industrial raw material. The position is being examined, but present indications are that there is not a general surplus.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why the director of non-ferrous metals has refused permission to one of my constituents to export to Egypt 25 tons of zinc oxide which he is unable to sell in this country?

We do not want to encourage exports of this material, because it is a dollar raw material and the conversion value is so low that we have limited the export to a small amount.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the 25 tons of zinc oxide were lying idle and that if he will not let them be exported they cannot be sold at all?

They will be sold before very long. If there was a surplus of zinc oxide, then the thing to do would be to limit the supply of zinc to the zinc oxide makers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if in view of the fact that during December, 1947, and January, 1948, 76 per cent. of the pigs slaughtered in this country were used for the private consumption of self-suppliers, as against 57 per cent. in the corresponding period a year ago, he will take immediate steps to allocate feedingstuffs in relation to the animals sold to the Ministry of Food.

Fat pigs sold to the Ministry of Food must already have been fed for several months, and any attempt to adjust rations of feedingstuffs to deliveries of fat pigs would raise problems of great complexity. That is not the only difficulty about my hon. Friend's proposal, which is, however, being examined in connection with the review of the basis of rationing which I announced on 25th March.

Is not the time overdue when people who are providing food for the common weal should have the greatest encouragement from the Minister?

Yes, Sir, and I think that that is the case at the moment. I would remind my hon. Friend that self-suppliers of pigs receive only a very small proportion in the form of a ration to feed their Pigs.

Will the Minister assure the House that the interests and needs of smallholders who keep one or two pigs for themselves will not be overlooked?

Yes, Sir.

Will the Minister bear in mind that there are areas in this country where there are plenty of feeding-stuffs available for pigs, and the only thing which prevents people from keeping pigs is the system of rationing restrictions? Pigs are organically very valuable for small fauns and holdings; therefore, will he reconsider the matter?

I am not aware of that.

Is the Minister aware that the system of rationing would be unfair to those farmers who breed pigs for sale as stores and do not sell fat pigs to the Ministry of Food?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied that material and other facilities are available to enable landowners and farmers to make progress with the improvement of fixed equipment demanded by his programme of increased agricultural production.

Yes, Sir.

In view of the fact that there is to be a capital levy which will make it very difficult for landowners to provide capital equipment, will the Minister consider making representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer whereby owners of land who plough back the capital levy into capital equipment will be given a remission on that account?

I do not accept the original assumption upon which the hon. Member based his question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in order to give more adequate time for woolgrowers to consider the matter, he will extend the final date for the receipt of applications for change of wool merchants beyond 30th April, 1948.

No, Sir. The date to which the hon. Member refers was announced by my Department on 8th April. This should give farmers ample time to consider whether or not they wish to apply.

When the Minister fixed this very short period, did he take into account the fact that it is the busiest time of the year for sheep farmers and that this is a quite inadequate time for them to make up their minds?

Yes. The time was fixed with our eyes wide open, since we did not want such a long period between the date of the announcement and the ultimate date so that some merchants or agents could canvass for the purpose of drawing away customers by offering bonuses or by other means.

Am I to understand that the Minister does not intend to make the freedom of choice a real freedom?

No, the Ministry was trying to give every person an adequate opportunity either to change or to stay put, as desired.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why he has not entrusted the cultivation of Holme Moor R.A.F. to Mr. Loftus, a competent farmer who has all along been the tenant of the Church Commissioners.

The East Riding Agricultural Executive Committee, as my agents, were directly responsible for arranging for the cultivation of this airfield to secure maximum food production. They decided, after full consideration of all the circumstances, that the best course was for them to cultivate the land themselves, and I am satisfied that they were justified in so deciding.

What conceivable grounds can there be for depriving a competent farmer of his land and of part of his livelihood?

Again I do not accept the assumption behind the hon. Gentleman's question. The farmer's livelihood has not been endangered by the R.A.F. taking over this area of land. Now that a portion of it is available temporarily, the county executive committee thought that they were the best body to ensure that the maximum use for food production would be made of it.

How can that possibly be so in view of the fact that some 200 acres of land were requisitioned to form this aerodrome and that the land had been cultivated by Mr. Loftus who is a tenant of the Church Commissioners?

That is true, but my reports are not to the effect that the land was cultivated as land ought to be cultivated in 1948.

asked the Minister of Works if he will make an Order amending S.R. & O., 1947, Nos. 1641 and 2821 to enable the liquidator of the Tamworth Brick Company Limited to sell 500,000 bricks below existing statutory minimum prices, because any bricks unsold will necessarily be abandoned upon the imminent termination of the Company's lease.

No, Sir, but steps are being taken to assist the liquidator to sell the bricks.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give some idea of what the steps are, because they have tried for a long time to obtain the minimum price and are unable to do it? Will they not be allowed to reduce their prices and sell below?

I think there is a customer for all these particular bricks.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the shortage of cement in the Northern Region; and that, as a consequence, numbers of building trade workers are idle; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this matter.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the great shortage of cement in the Northern Region, as a result of which building schemes are being suspended and workers laid off; what is being done to overcome this breakdown of supply; and if he will take immediate steps to increase supplies.

I am aware that there has been a shortage of cement in the Northern Region, and I have arranged for the cement distributors to despatch extra supplies, which should by now be reaching the region.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further action has been taken to deal with the problems and needs arising from German women who have or have had children by British Service men; and to what extent progress has been made to enable these women to possess at least the same rights as those available to British women in similar circumstances.

I regret I am not yet able to add anything to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 3rd March.

Does that mean that, in the course of time, the right hon. Gentleman will be able to do something, or that he has nothing to add and intends to do nothing?

It means that quite complex discussions are going on with the Service Departments concerned, and that, when these conversations are completed, I shall be in a better position to answer my hon. Friend's Question more precisely.

Does that mean that we may have some hopes that this problem will find some solution?

As my right hon. Friend has already made clear, we have been considering this matter for a considerable time, and we do completely agree with my hon. Friend that we should continue to try to find some solution.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that members of the Control Commission in Germany have not received a monthly statement of salaries since October, 1947, and that such unsatisfactory financial arrangements are causing general embarrassment; and what action he proposes to take to relieve these persons of uncertainty and anxiety.

Monthly statements of pay for every member of the Control Service have been issued promptly and regularly from London, and, while there have been difficulties in distribution in Germany, I have no reason to think that any substantial numbers have not been delivered. The arrangements in Germany have recently been improved and should now ensure prompt delivery in all cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any further statement to make on the authenticity of the document known as Protocol "M."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether further to the examination made of the "M" Plan, any arrests have been made of the persons named in the document; whether they have been brought to trial; and with what results.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any statement to make as to the genuineness of the document known as Protocol "M"

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has now any further statement to make to the House with regard to Protocol "M."

Protocol "M" was first published on 14th January, 1948, by the German Press in Berlin who had obtained copies of this document by the ordinary methods of news gathering, and its publication was undertaken quite freely and without any instigation by us or, as far as we know, by any other Government. The British authorities in Berlin had had at that time a copy in their hands for several days, but we had been making ordinary inquiries to test the reliability of this document before taking any steps.

Following publication, and in response to Questions in the House, I said, on behalf of my right hon. Friend, that having made such inquiries as were possible, we had no reason to believe otherwise than that the document was authentic. However, my right hon. Friend decided that the most careful and exhaustive investigations into the antecedents of the document should be undertaken. These eventually led us to a German not employed by His Majesty's Government who, after questioning, volunteered that he was the author of the document. I have read a summary of his statements and I must tell the House that they are not convincing and that they are in parts conflicting.

My right hon. Friend, however, wishes it made plain that after these further investigations we can only conclude that the authenticity of the document now lies in doubt. Two points, however, should be made. There have been developments in Germany which correspond to statements included in the document, and there are strong indications that even if the document is not itself authentic, it has been compiled from authoritative Communist sources, and this is corroborated by information already in our possession.

Before my right hon. Friend assures the House in future that such documents are genuine, will he consult his right hon. Friend about the Zinoviev letter, the forged "Pravda" and similar forgeries? Will he tell us why it was necessary to have the disclosure of this document as a forgery brought to our notice by a New York newspaper?

I fiercely resent the imputations which have been made—