asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Jews have left Palestine since notice was given Of the surrender of the Mandate; what have been their respective destinations; and what facilities exist for transport arrangements for others with similar intentions.

The statistics' requested by the hon. Member are not readily available and my right hon. Friend would be most reluctant to ask the Government of Palestine to undertake compilation of them in the midst of their many current preoccupations. No special transport arrangements have been made or are contemplated for the purpose mentioned in this Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will assure the House that, when on 15th May British troops lay down their responsibilities in Palestine, British ships will also take no further part in blockading the coast-line.

After 15th May the British authorities will have no responsibility for the control of immigration into Palestine as a whole; any action taken by them to control the movement of immigrants into or through the areas in which the General Officer Commanding is exercising military authority will be confined to that necessary for the protection of British Forces and the orderly progress of the evacuation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are being made for the Scots Memorial, Jerusalem, St. Andrew's Church and Hospice and other religious establishments on the surrender of the Mandate; and if information will be issued for the guidance of personnel and that of their relatives in Britain.

Those in charge of this Church and Hospice have been advised that if they choose to remain after 15th May they should keep in close touch with British Consular representatives in Jerusalem who could advise them from time to time as to the best course they should take for their own safety and the preservation of these establishments. In March last missionaries and members of allied institutions who are British nationals were advised that their wives and families should be sent to the United Kingdom before the end of April. As announced in the Press and by the B.B.C., British subjects whose normal domicile is not in Palestine have now been warned explicitly of the danger of staying in the country after the termination of the Mandate and have been strongly advised to leave.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking in consultation with the Ministry of Supply, to make available material to repair or replace the broken Chiromo railway bridge in Nyasaland before 1950.

As soon as my right hon. Friend was informed of the carrying away of the temporary bridge at Chiromo he asked the Minister of Supply to authorise the steel needed to build a new bridge. The material has been authorised, and the contractors are getting on with the work as quickly as possible. I understand, however, that it is unlikely to be ready for traffic before the early months of 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the difficulties resulting from the total suspension, in October last, of import duties on cotton piece goods entering Northern Rhodesia and the doubling, on 2nd December, of import duties on cotton piece goods entering the contiguous territory of Nyasaland; and what steps he is taking to adjust the matter which is causing considerable concern in Nyasaland.

The Governor of Nyasaland has informed my right hon. Friend that he is not aware that the changes in Import Duties mentioned have given rise to any special difficulties which call for adjustment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps he is taking to improve the cooking facilities in the Royal Naval Hospitals at Portsmouth, Chatham and Devonport.

Additional cooking equipment is being provided at Chatham and Portsmouth, and the position at Plymouth is under consideration. Arrangements for distributing food to the wards in all three hospitals are being improved by the provision of electrically heated food conveyors.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether trained dieticians are included in the staffs of the Royal Naval Hospitals at Portsmouth, Chatham and Plymouth.

No.

asked the Minister of Food the reasons for the suspension or discharge of Mr. Thomson, food officer at Glasgow; what has been the result of all the investigations; what is the nature of the charge against Mr. Thomson and if a prosecution has been decided upon.

Mr. Thomson was suspended from duty pending full investigation into certain irregularities. I cannot say more at present as the Inquiry is not yet complete.

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements have been made to provide a regular service of news and information, by newspapers and wireless, to employees of the groundnut schemes in East Africa.

Before the Overseas Food Corporation assumed control, a number of wireless receiving sets were sent to Kongwa and arrangements were made for a regular supply of newspapers to be flown out for the staff.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give a list of the fruit and vegetable quick-freezing plants in operation in England and Wales or likely to be in operation by the end of the present year.

I am sending the hon. Member a list of 32 fruit and vegetable quick-freezing plants licensed to operate in England and Wales. All these are expected to be in operation by the end of 1948.

asked the Minister of Food if he will grant a small extra allocation of soap during the next rationing period, for Spring cleaning purposes.

I am sorry I cannot add anything to the reply given on 16th February to the hon. and gallant Member for North Paddington (Captain Field).

asked the Postmaster-General the number of miles of telephone to be laid in the Isle of Jura; the number of poles required; the cost; the number of inhabitants of the island; and the number of subscribers who it is estimated will be connected.

The provision of telephone service on the Island of Jura will require 829 poles and 127 miles of overhead wiring on new and existing poles, at a total cost of £8,500. Three kiosks and twenty subscribers' installations will be connected. The population of the island is about 300.

asked the Postmaster-General how many communities with over 100 inhabitants in Scotland are without public telephone boxes; and at what rate it is intended to provide these facilities.

I regret that no statistics are available regarding the number of communities in Scotland with over 100 inhabitants. Having regard to the labour and equipment likely to be available, I estimate that about 150 telephone kiosks will be provided in rural areas in Scotland during the next twelve months.

asked the Postmaster-General how many temporary war-time Post Office sorters of 60 years of age and over are still employed by his Department; and how many have been released with gratuity since the end of the war.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available centrally and could not be collected without disproportionate work. The answer to the second part is about 150.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the numbers of skilled workmen employed at internal telecommunication duties in class 1, class 2A and class 2B, respectively.

The numbers are approximately: Skilled workmen class 1, 1,880; skilled workmen class II (A), 9,880; skilled workmen class II (B), 1,235.

asked the Postmaster-General how many ordinary letters, registered letters, parcels and newspapers were sent from Great Britain in January, 1948; and how many letters were sent to the U.S.S.R.

The estimated figures are as follow: Ordinary letters, 21,000,000; registered letters, 900,000; parcels, 565,000; newspapers, 8,750,000; letters sent to U.S.S.R., 35,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the prospects of N.C.O. aircrew personnel getting a commission; and what is the approximate percentage of those who have in fact got a commission since the war ended.

I regret that owing to releases and other special factors the number of commissions granted since the end of the war would not furnish reliable guidance as to the normal prospects of aircrew entrants. I can, however, state that four out of five officers commissioned in the General Duties Branch of the R.A.F. since the end of the war have been selected from airmen aircrew. The majority of officers in this branch will continue to be chosen from aircrew and the proportion of the latter who receive commissions will, therefore, be substantial.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many basic workers on Air Ministry establishments receiving double merit money are indentured and basically trained in aeronautical industry.

The information requested by the hon. Member is not readily available, since my Department keeps no record of the number of skilled workers in Air Ministry establishments who have been indentured in the aeronautical industry. Awards of merit pay to dilutee workers are limited by an agreement made on the Engineering Trades Joint Council for Government industrial establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when he proposes to complete the removal of ammunition from the road verges at Tumby Woodside near Horncastle, Lincolnshire, to enable the contractors to commence work on a much needed water scheme for this area.

I am not at present able to give the precise date when the work of clearing the road-side verges to which the hon. and gallant Member's Question refers will be completed. I can, however, assure him that every effort will be made to clear them before work is due to start on the local authority's water scheme.

asked the Minister of Health how many council cottages have been built for £1,350; in what proportion have these cottages been built in isolated lots of not more than 20; and how many have cost more than £1,350.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) whether under the new petrol rationing system motorists who receive supplementary allowances will have these reduced by the amount of the standard ration coupons available from post offices; or whether they will receive the same allowances but be ineligible to apply for standard ration books;(2) in view of the fact that motorists receiving supplementary allowances under the new petrol rationing scheme are not to receive a standard ration, what part of their supplementary allowances may be expended on journeys for which a standard ration is issued to pleasure motorists.

All owners of private motor cars and motor cycles which have motor vehicle licences current at any time between 1st June and 30th November may draw a standard ration book. Those who receive supplementary allowances from the regional petroleum officers will have the amount of the standard ration deducted from their allowance.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how he intends to safeguard the position of the private motorist into whose petrol tank coloured commercial petrol is erroneously placed by a garage.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the Bill, which as my right hon. Friend said on 8th April is being drafted to give effect to the recommendations of the Russell Vick Committee.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many persons are at present being granted "E" or "S" petrol coupons on a scale less than 4½ gallons per month, on a scale between 4½ gallons and 10 gallons a month, and on a scale in excess of 10 gallons a month.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Supply how the Bristol 175 M.R.E. aircraft on order for the B.O.A.C compares with the Constellation 249 in regard to max-payload, still air-range, and normal cruising speed; and when he expects the Bristol 175 to be in operational service.

It is estimated that the Bristol Medium Range (Empire) type will prove superior to the Constellation 249 in regard to maximum payload, still air range, and normal cruising speed. If a production order is placed before the end of this year, the type should be in operational service by 1954.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware of the reluctance of weavers, who are old age pensioners, to return to work in the mills owing to the consequent reduction in their pensions; and whether, in view of the importance of increasing the labour force in the textile and other high priority industries, he will introduce legislation to abolish the means test for pensioners who return to work in these industries.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a Question on this subject to the hon. Member for Moseley (Sir P. Hannon) on 27th January.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when Mr. Henry Thorpe, pension No. 5674969, who retired on 30th October, 1947, may expect to receive his increased pension.

A pension order book at the increased rate together with an order for the arrears of pension due is in the hands of the area officer of the Assistance Board for immediate delivery to Mr. Thorpe. Delay in this case would have been avoided if Mr. Thorpe had applied for his increased pension in the first instance to the local area office of the Assistance Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to increase the number of lumpers registered by the National Dock Labour Corporation at Grimsby for the handling of the heavy catches of fish now arriving there, as indicated by the correspondence sent to him by the Grimsby United Fish Merchants' and Fish Curers' Association.

The number of registered lumpers is sufficient to deal with normal landings. Arrangements have now been made to obtain additional men from the Royal Dock at times of peak landings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what approximate amount of labour, by nationalities, is now under the control of county agricultural executive committees; and what were the corresponding numbers six months and 12 months ago.

Following is a table setting out the number of agricultural workers under the control of C.A.E.C.'s in England and Wales:

—	31.3.47	At 30.9.47	31.3.48
WORKERS IN A.E.C. EMPLOYMENT:
British	33,453	34,920	34,605
Polish	—	2,592	2,645
European Volunteer Workers	—	8,858	15,144
German civilians	—	—	7,654
Total	33,453	46,370	60,048
PRISONERS OF WAR	101,645	104,003	16,370

The figures for prisoners of war show the total working strength available to committees, and include both regular and seasonal workers. The other figures exclude seasonal workers (e.g., persons attending volunteer agricultural camps, Service personnel, etc.), for whom work is arranged by C.A.E.C.'s, but who are not actually in C.A.E.C. employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when Ann Becker-Busch, of 32, Heiligenhaus, Bez, Düsseldorf, concerning whom the hon. Member for Northampton wrote to the Passport Officer, York House, Berlin, on 3rd November, 1947, and who is engaged to be married to Mr. Vivian Moore, of 12, Cloutsham Street, Northampton, may be expected to arrive in this country.

Delay has been caused because the lady's name is Martha Morsbach and not Becker Busch as stated by my hon. and learned Friend. She now has the necessary travel documents, her fiancé is being informed and she should arrive in this country about five weeks after he has deposited her fare with the German Travel Department of the Foreign Office.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why no decision has yet been taken on the building licence application submitted by Bradite, Limited, Bethesda, Caernarvonshire; and if he will expedite a decision in this case.

My hon. Friend will by now have received the letter I have sent him on this subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the total amount of paper in tonnage used by His Majesty's Stationery Office in the calendar year 1947; and what proportion this was of the total amount of paper used in the United Kingdom.

59,700 tons: 2.8 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of each class of hydrocarbon oils retained for home consumption during the year ended

Description (a).	Approximate quantity of duty paid oils retained for consumption.	Approximate net receipts	Fully rebateable oils (b).
	gallons.	£	gallons.
Light oils—
Petroleum spirit—
Motor spirit	1,187,518,000	44,532,000	—
Other spirit	40,796,000	1,530,000	—
Coal tar products—
Benzol	—	—	—
Other sorts	1,000	—	—
Turpentine	1,095,000	41,000	—
Heavy oils for mixing with light oils (c)	12,000	—	—
Other hydrocarbon oils	372,000	14,000	—
Oils in composite articles	43,000	2,000	—
TOTAL LIGHT OILS	1,229,837,000	46,119,000	—
Heavy oils for use as fuel in road vehicles (Duty-paid at rate for light oils)	159,730,000	5,990,000	—
Other heavy oils (duty-paid at 1d. per gallon)—
Petroleum oil—
Crude oil	6,000	—	55,000
Kerosene	177,273,000	738,000	242,214,000
Lubricating oil	123,789,000	516,000	2,707,000
Gas oil	14,202,000	59,000	327,041,000
Fuel oil	14,590,000	61,000	731,868,000
Other sorts	2,417,000	10,000	6,452,000
Coal tar products (d)	24,000	—	—
Other oils	49,000	—	1,950,000
Oils in composite articles	79,000	—	25,000
Gases produced from imported heavy oils	76,000	—	100,000
TOTAL HEAVY OILS other than road fuel	332,457,000	1,384,000	1,312,412,000
TOTAL DUTIABLE OILS	1,722,024,000	53,493,000	—
Deduct net amount paid to Isle of Man etc. (e)	—	283,000	—
	1,722,024,000	53,210,000	—
(a) The descriptions of oil correspond to those used in Customs documents, but are not defined by statute.
(b) These quantities of oils fully rebated under Section 1 of the Finance Act, 1947, are quantities delivered out of official charge without payment of duty, or not subsequently exported.
(c) Dutiable as light oils.
(d) Excess of repayments.
(e) Difference between amounts collected in, and allocated to, the Isle of Man, during the year ended 31st March, 1948, and allowances under Section 8 (4) of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1945.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury under what arrangements Mr. John Langston, Central Office of Information, speaks in Scotland;

Full details for the financial year 1947–48 are not yet available, but detailed particulars for the II months ending February, 1948, are as follows:and whether his announcement that wines from France and azaleas from Belgium are imported from these countries in order to get them to take Scottish exports was made with the authority of His Majesty's Government.

Mr. Langston, an officer of the Central Office of Information, addressed conferences of representatives of women's voluntary organisations in Scotland at their request, to help them in spreading among their membership an understanding of the economic situation. Mr. Langston's justification of inessential imports was based upon, and consistent with, paragraphs 78 and 79 of the Economic Survey, 1948.

asked the Minister of Education when approval may be expected for the carrying out of the second portion of the proposed new county primary school on the Pheasey Estate, Aldridge, for which application was made on 20th December, 1947.

I understand that building work is likely to begin on the first part of this school about July this year. I hope that the second portion of the school will be built immediately after the first. Whether this will be possible will depend on the labour and materials position at that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the £1,600 of the cost of the aluminium houses to be erected in Glasgow is due to labour costs, cost of materials and profits, respectively.

I regret that the information is not available. The price of £1,600 for the permanent aluminium house is based on a competitive tender which does not allocate cost among the three heads mentioned.

asked the Minister of Works if he will now make a further statement with regard to the derequisitioning of the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.

It has not yet been possible to find other accommodation for the Liverpool food office, and I regret therefore that I am not in a position to fix a date for the release of the Walker Art Gallery. I appreciate the need for surrendering the Gallery and every effort is being made to find alternative accommodation.