asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that Messrs. J. Lyons and Company, Limited, advertise in an American newspaper that they will deliver from their own warehouses in England scarce foods including sugar, meat, margarine, tea, chocolate and eggs without the recipients sacrificing coupons or points, if the foods are paid for by American relatives or friends; whether this arrangement is with the knowledge and consent of His Majesty's Government; and to what extent this practice operates.

The advertisement to which my hon. Friend refers relates to one of the "Parcels for Dollars" schemes which have been approved. These parcels are bought and paid for in dollars or other hard currencies by people living in the U.S.A., Canada and certain other countries. The foods they contain are manufactured here out of ingredients allocated for export. Indeed they amount to an export, since they are paid for in dollars and they have the great added advantage that the food is not lost to the people of this country. These schemes will earn a substantial return in hard currency for the very small amount of food involved.

asked the Minister of Food what sums of money have to date been invested in the African groundnut scheme.

£7,300,000 up to 1st March last. Almost the whole of the sum is, of course, capital expenditure. Only a very small part of it was spent on what clearing and planting was done last year.

asked the Minister of Food why offers of employment in the East African groundnut scheme were not made to Maltese instead of Italians.

A number of skilled mechanics, artisans and other tradesmen, if possible with a knowledge of Swahili, were needed for short-term contracts until suitable Africans could be trained for these jobs. It was also necessary that the men recruited should be in a position to undertake to return to their homes when their contracts expired. Italy was the only source from which the necessary number of men with the qualifications needed could be recruited quickly enough.

asked the Minister of Food why he continues to make substantial allocations of oranges to multiple stores when ex-Service men who have received licences to establish or re-establish themselves in the retail business only receive very small allocations.

Distribution committees have been specially instructed to exercise no discrimination in favour of any particular class of trader in the allocation of oranges. A new entrant to the retail trade is given a suitable allocation as soon as he has established himself in business, and later may ask for his allocation to be reviewed on the basis of his trade in fruit and vegetable produce.

asked the Minister of Food what quantities of poultry feeding-stuffs are being supplied to Eire under the agreement announced on 4th February.

None. Nor was there any provision in the agreement requiring us to supply Eire with feedingstuffs.

asked the Minister of Food what recommendations he is making to the Milk Marketing Board to improve the collection and disposal of summer milk, so that it can be tested and accepted or rejected by noon.

No specific recommendations have been made to the Board on this matter. The Board are well aware of the necessity to arrange collections from the farms so that the milk will reach the depots as early in the day as possible, particularly during the summer months, and every effort is made to provide transport accordingly. But the reception capacity of the depots concerned has also to be considered. In many instances the facilities and equipment available are insufficient to handle the day's intake by noon during the months of high production. The depot proprietors were recently asked to review their handling arrangements with a view to ensuring that the milk is tipped and cooled before 3 p.m. each day. The position will be watched during the coming summer and advice and assistance will be available to those depot proprietors who may have difficulty in meeting this requirement.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that there is a toll gate in the College Road, Lambeth, where motorists are required to pay 3d. in order to pass along this highway; and whether he will take steps to do away with this arrangement.

College Road is a privately-owned road. It is for the Camberwell Borough Council as highway authority to determine whether or not they should take steps to acquire the road and free it from tolls. There are adequate public routes for through traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of people killed and injured, respectively, on the pedestrian crossings during the last five years; whether he is satisfied with the arrangements for indicating to motorists that the right of way on these crossings rests with the pedestrian; and what guidance is given to pedestrians to impress on them the necessity of not crossing roads even on pedestrian crossings, when the lights are green for oncoming traffic.

I regret that the figures are not available. As regards the second part of the Question, the provisions of the Pedestrian Crossing Places (Traffic) Regulations, 1941, are summarised on page 28 of the Highway Code, and are, I hope, widely known. Paragraph 19 on page 4 of the Code advises pedestrians that, at crossings where there are traffic signals, they should watch the traffic as well as the signals and cross only when they can see it is safe.

asked the Minister of Transport when and where the promised inquiry into the loss of the three Liberty ships, "Samwater," "Samtampa" and "Samkey" will take place; and what will be the personnel of the inquiry and its terms of reference.

A formal investigation into the loss of the "Samwater" was held at Liverpool and London in May and July last, and one into the loss of the "Samtampa" at Swansea in August last. The courts holding these investigations were constituted in accordance with Section 466 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. Each consisted of a King's Counsel practising at the Admiralty Bar, being a Wreck Commissioner appointed by the Lord Chancellor under Section 477 of the Act, assisted by technical assessors. Their findings have been published, and I am sending copies to my hon. Friend. A formal investigation into the loss of the "Samkey" was ordered on 24th March. The court will be similarly constituted. A court of formal investigation into a marine casualty is required by the Act to investigate the casualty and after hearing the case to report to me.

asked the Minister of Transport for what purpose former Service vehicles were being shipped last week from Great Yarmouth.

I am unable to trace any such shipments from Great Yarmouth.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will use his powers under the Transport Act, 1947, to call for a return of the number of aircraft owned and operated by or on behalf of the Transport Commissioners; and of the purposes for which they are used.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what financial interest British Railways had in Air Charter Companies on 1st January, 1947, and at the latest convenient date, respectively.

On 1st January, 1947, the Railway Companies held a majority interest in one air charter company. This interest passed to the British Transport Commission on 1st January, 1948. The air charter company owns 12 aircraft at the present time, which are wholly used for air charter work.

asked the Minister of Works if he will take action to allow small quantities of wire netting to be purchased by those who need to protect allotments and vegetable gardens from damage by rabbits; and if he is aware that Major Beauchamp Seymour of Shefford Woodlands, Newbury, was advised by the Berkshire Agricultural Executive Committee to apply for a permit for 100 yards of such netting to the civil building control of the Ministry of Works at Reading, who informed him that the permit was not required as local merchants could supply such small quantities, whereas in fact firms in Newbury and Hungerford cannot supply without permits from the civil building control.

In accordance with the Control of Iron and Steel (No. 62) Order, 1948, small quantities of wire netting up to 100 linear yards in any one month may be purchased without permit. The advice given by my regional officer at Reading was, therefore, correct, and I am advised that Major Beauchamp Seymour has now obtained the netting he requires without a permit.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the serious shortage of cement in the City of Aberdeen which is causing unemployment there; and if he will arrange for greatly increased supplies to be made available there.

I am aware that there has been this shortage due to the irregular arrivals of shipping. One shipload of cement was despatched for Aberdeen last Wednesday, and another ship is loading this week. I hope, therefore, that the shortage will soon be overcome.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that Mr. T. G. Ayre, of Barlynch, Dulverton, in spite of his many applications, has been unable yet to obtain a licence to rebuild his farmhouse at Hone Farm, Shillingford, Devon, which was destroyed by enemy action during the war; and whether, in view of the delay, he will hasten the action for the granting of a licence.

This application required detailed consideration by the agricultural executive committee. My Department received a recommendation in support of the issue of a licence on 16th March and the licence was issued on 19th March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the number of calves now being sold through Kirkby Stephen and other marts in N.W. England; and whether he is satisfied that it is in the national interest that so many calves should be slaughtered by the Ministry of Food at the same time as he is urging that a larger number should be reared.

Yes, but I glad to note that, as in other areas, the number of calves sold to the Ministry of Food for slaughter at these markets in North-West England has substantially declined. I understand that most of the calves sold for slaughter are unsuitable for rearing, but I will have the position watched by the Westmorland County Agricultural Executive Committee, in case anything further can be done to ensure the more extensive rearing of suitable calves.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that experiments have proved that fertilising meat and bone meal, imported as a land fertiliser, when fed to poultry causes fowl pest; and whether he will issue a warning to farmers and poultry keepers against this practice.

I have no knowledge of the experiments in question not any evidence that feeding fertiliser meal has caused fowl pest. I agree, however, that fertiliser meal should not be fed to stock.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether in view of the dissatisfaction prevalent with the work and conditions of gang labour, he will press county agricultural executive committees to make contracts with farmers on a piecework basis.

I am not aware of any prevalent dissatisfaction. I do not contemplate an extension of contract work, but prefer farmers to employ their own regular labour and continually urge them to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why it is considered necessary to provide for an increase in the staff of his Department engaged in the purchase and sale of home-produced wool.

The figures shown in the 1948–49 estimates do not in fact provide for any increase in the staff engaged in the purchase and sale of home-grown wool over the numbers actually employed at the end of 1947. The explanation is that, when responsibility for the marketing of home-grown wool; and with it the staff engaged on the work, were transferred in the middle of 1947 from the Board of Trade to my Department, the early estimates of the number of staff to be transferred were too low; the estimates for 1948–49 have accordingly been adjusted to take account of the actual staff transferred which was 225.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give details of the proposed expansion of the National Milk Testing Service.

No expansion of the National Milk Testing Service is proposed. A proposal has, however, been made by the Milk Marketing Board and the Central Milk Distributive Committee that the industry should assume responsibility for the laboratory testing of milk where this is not already the responsibility of licensing authorities under the Milk (Special Designation) Regulations. This proposal has been accepted in principal, and details of the new arrangements are now being worked out.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if there is any common system of control at Gatow and the nearby Soviet airport to prevent the collision of aircraft in flight.

Yes. There is a Berlin control zone which covers the area of greater Berlin. Safety of flight within this zone is covered by a quadripartite Berlin Air Safety Centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, after, investigation, he is now satisfied that the document known as the "M" Plan is genuine.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Leek (Mr. Harold Davies) today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proportion of oil products obtained from Austrian oilfields are allowed to be used, in Austria; and is it necessary for such to be supplemented by imports.

About 337,811 metric tons of oil products from Austrian sources were made available for Austrian use in the year 1947. As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, all the Austrian oilfields are at present controlled by the Russians who do not make public any figures of oil-production. I estimate that the proportion received by Austria is in the neighbourhood of 40 per cent. of her production. This amount has not proved sufficient for Austria's needs and she has been compelled to import a further 15,401 tons of petroleum products during the past year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many railway wagons were allowed under the peace treaty to be taken out of Austria to the U.S.S.R., Hungary and Roumania; how many have been taken but not returned; and is there any prospect of their return.

No peace treaty has, of course, been concluded with Austria and there is no provision in the terms of the draft Austrian Treaty as at present drafted for the removal of any Austrian railway wagons from Austria.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what occasions he has taken up with the Soviet Government, officially and at a high level, the matter of the transfer to this country of Russian wives married to British husbands; and what steps he proposes to take in the future.

Since August, 1945, our Ambassador in Moscow has, upon my right hon. Friend's instructions, taken up the question five times in writing and eight times verbally. After my right hon. Friend had written to M. Molotov and spoken to Generalissimo Stalin in March last, without result, he decided to approach the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., which is the ultimate seat of constitutional authority in the Soviet Union. I therefore took the opportunity of the visit to the United Kingdom of a delegation from that body and approached the leader of the delegation, M. Kuznetsov. The only result of this was a negative reply received through M. Vyshinski some time later, in August. Our Ambassador followed this up in October with a further letter to M. Molotov, giving a reasoned exposition of our point of view. We shall persist in bringing this home to the Soviet Government whenever an opportunity occurs, and our Ambassador in Moscow is taking up the question again now.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that, despite its obligations undertaken in July, 1946, and contrary to the terms of the Paris Agreement on reparations to which it was a party, the Swedish Government has failed to hand over to the Inter-Allied Reparations Agency the sum of 75 million kronor, by way of part payment for German assets in that country; and what action His Majesty's Government propose to take beyond adhering to the resolution of protest adopted by the Agency.

I am aware that the Swedish Government, who are not parties to the Paris Reparations Agreement, have not yet implemented in full the Agreement regarding the liquidation of German assets in Sweden of July, 1946, though they have done so to a considerable extent. As regards the second part of the Question, His Majesty's Government, in concert with the French and United States Governments, have presented the Inter-Allied Reparations Agency Resolution to the Swedish Government and asked for a reply.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there is a shortage of certain materials that are holding up the completion of houses in Newport and that contractors are waiting for asbestos sheeting, rainwater goods, reinforcing steel, sheet lead, glass, chain-link fencing and asphalt floor layers; and what steps are being taken to remedy this shortage.

I am aware that there have been temporary shortages here of these materials, but the efforts made to overcome them have been generally successful. There is a shortage of skilled asphalt floor layers in South Wales and alternative flooring materials are being utilised as much as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the restoration and restitution of Hungarian property in the British zone of Germany, provided in Article 30 of the Peace Treaty, has been carried out; and what steps the Hungarian Government, on their part, have taken to compensate British nationals for loss and damage to property in Hungary under the conditions of Article 26 of that Treaty.

The restitution of identified Hungarian property in the British zone of Germany is being carried out. As far as I am aware, no compensation has yet been paid to British nationals by the Hungarian Government in respect of loss or damage to property in Hungary under Article 26 of the Treaty. Arrangements have, however, been made to assist British subjects in the presentation of their claims for compensation to the Hungarian Government and it is hoped that a public notice will be issued shortly giving instructions to claimants as to how to proceed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether in view of the increased responsibilities of the Civil Service he will institute an inquiry into the methods and standards adopted by the Civil Service Commissioners in the selection of new entrants to that profession.

No. The new entrants recruited by the Civil Service Commission are of good quality and the Government do not consider that an inquiry is needed. But the methods of selection employed are kept under review and are improved and adapted to new needs when necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will accept Government securities, purchased before 5th April, 1948, at their par value in payment of the Special Contribution capital levy.

No.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he has taken to investigate the distribution of explosives with coal in the West Midland area; and with what result.

My right hon Friend described on 12th February, in reply to the hon. Member for South Paddington (Vice-Admiral Taylor) the steps which are taken to investigate cases of explosion in coal fires or explosives found in coal. He also referred to the measures taken at collieries to minimise the risk of any explosive being left in the coal. We are concerned about the continuance of these incidents, both in the West Midlands and elsewhere, and the whole matter is being fully investigated by the police, with the collaboration of the National Coal Board.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of considerable concern regarding the opencast operations in the neighbourhood of Gore-bridge; if the agricultural committee was consulted; and if any estimate has been formed as to the value of fuel extracted, as compared with the loss in food production.

Yes. The Department of Agriculture for Scotland was consulted before this land was requisitioned. No precise estimate of the value of the coal extracted against the loss in food production has been made for this particular area, but it is very roughly about 3o to I in favour of coal.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when the appeal in the case of Mrs. E. M. Thomas, of 22, Kimberley Road, S.W.9, will be decided by the referee.

I am informed that Mrs. Thomas' appeal is being considered by the independent referee appointed under the Contributory Pensions Acts at his next session on 19th April.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when Mr. V. J. Bennett of 68 St. James Park Road, Northampton, who forwarded an application for coupons to replace coupons destroyed on Form C.R.S.C. 1A on 20th February, Ref. No. F.46303, and has made four subsequent applications, may expect to have his application dealt with.

I very much regret the delay which occurred in this case. Coupons for the replacement of the damaged trousers were sent to Mr. Bennett's employers for forwarding to him on 9th April.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what sums have so far been transferred to Czechoslovakia under the provisions of the Money and Property Agreement of 1st November, 1945; and whether any compensation has so far been paid by the Czechoslovak Government for British industries and other property nationalised in Czechoslovakia.

The answer to the first part of the Question is that up to 31st March, 1948, the sums transferred to the Czechoslovak Government under Article 5 (a) of the Anglo-Czechoslovak Money and Property Agreement of 1st November, 1945, amounted to some £9,100,000. In addition, certain bank balances, securities and other property to the estimated value of £2 million have been released from Board of Trade or Custodian control. The reply to the second part of the Question is "No," but I understand that the Czechoslovak Government may shortly be submitting proposals for a settlement of this long outstanding question.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has considered the letter from T/14087505 Driver Dudding, W/Shops Platoon, 477 Company, R.A.S.C., T.N.F. Brigade, B.T.E., M.E.L.F., proving that he is an exceptional case; and if he will have Driver Dudding released, after the end of his first three months of deferment.

As I stated in reply to Questions by the hon. Members for Mal-don (Mr. Driberg) and Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on Tuesday last such deferments will be limited to three months.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when prize money derived from the proceeds of sale of captured enemy merchant ships and cargoes, which has traditionally been granted to the Navy, will be distributed.

I hope to make a statement on Wednesday week.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether any payment is made by the U.S. Government in respect of the use of Malta Harbour and port installations by the U.S. Mediterranean fleet.

The United States Government pay for all services which involve the Admiralty in direct expenditure, but other services are provided free of charge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the economic and constitutional development of Cyprus as at the most recent convenient date; if relations between employers and workpeople are in a satisfactory condition; if improvement is being effected in the supply of materials for industrial expansion; and if the staff of the Colony is adequate to the needs of its enlarged administrative duties.

As regards the economic development of Cyprus, a copy of a recent Cyprus Sessional Paper on the progress of the Ten Year Development Plan is being sent to the hon. Member and will, I think, give him the information he requires. As to constitutional development, proposals are at present under the consideration of His Majesty's Government and it is hoped that it will soon be possible to report progress.With regard to the second part of the Question, the Hon. Member will doubtless be aware that a strike of the workers of the Cyprus Mines Corporation has been in progress for a considerable time and has led to unfortunate incidents. The latest information, however, suggests that the prospects are perhaps somewhat brighter. Apart from this particular dispute, my right hon. Friend has no information to suggest that relations between employers and workpeople are not satisfactory.With regard to the third part of the Question, if the hon. Member will let me know which materials and projects he has particularly in mind we will try to give him a definite answer.With regard to the fourth part of the Question, there are a number of vacancies due to be filled in the normal course, but apart from this there is no reason to suppose that the Governor considers his staff other than fully adequate to its task, and my right hon. Friend has full confidence in him and his officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any further statement to make about the capture of the Arab village of Deir Yassin in Palestine by Jews on 9th April.

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend has now received additional information from the High Commissioner. The figure of Arab casualties given to the House on 12th April has been confirmed by a visit to the village by a representative of the International Red Cross, who has stated that in one cave he saw the heaped bodies of some 150 Arabs, men, women and children, whilst in a well a further 50 bodies were found. The approaches to the village are strongly held by Hagana and the Palestine Police could not enter to conduct investigations without a considerable show of force. The terrorist groups claim that Hagana facilitated the mounting of their attack on Deir Yassin, although the Jewish Agency issued a statement on 12th April expressing horror and disgust at the barbarity of the manner in which this action had been carried out by the terrorists. The Zionist General Council, however, meeting in Tel Aviv on the same day, ratified an agreement for co-operation between the Hagana and the Irgun Zvai Leumi. Units of the Hagana have now taken over occupation of Deir Yassin from the members of the terrorist groups who originally attacked the village.Invitations to the Press conference given by a Jewish spokesman for the Irgun Zvai Leumi and the Stern Group, which took place in the heavily guarded Jewish settlement of Givat Shaul, near Deir Yassin, were issued by telephone to selected American and Jewish correspondents. The fact that this conference had taken place was not known to the authorities until the following day. No correspondents of British newspapers were invited.In view of the difficulties of military operations against the village, which would probably be very costly in British lives, the High Commissioner, in consultation with the Air Officer commanding arranged for an air strike against the terrorists, with the object of turning them out of the village. Before the attack could take place it became known, beyond the possibility of doubt, that the members of the terrorists' groups who had originally occupied the village had left. In these circumstances it was decided not to proceed with the air operations.It must be realised that with the progressively reduced strength of our Armed Forces as our withdrawal proceeds, intervention in every instance of violence between Arab and Jew is not practicable. Within the limited resources available, however, every possible action will be taken to prevent the spread of civil conflict and to punish those responsible for such barbarous acts.