asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the "Board of Trade Journal" is given to advertisements.

Advertisements occupy about 30 per cent. of the total space in the "Board of Trade Journal."

In view of the information which he has given, does not the President of the Board of Trade think that the amount of space is excessive in these days of shortage of newsprint?

In the selection of advertisements we pay very close attention to those which are directed towards encouraging exports from this country.

Do the publications of the Board of Trade come under the same regulations as apply to ordinary newspapers and magazines?

There are no regulations in force about this matter. The last of them was removed in August, 1946.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reason for the short supply of suitable leather for manufacture into footwear for the export market; to what extent he estimates that hides of the quality required are available in the world's markets but lost to this country because open licence to buy is not granted and bulk buying is not a suitable method of buying in competition with buyers of other countries.

I do not consider that the supplies of suitable leather available for footwear for export are inadequate. Imports of hides and skins generally are limited for currency and supply reasons and not by the method of procurement

asked the President of the Board of Trade why stocks of shoes are accumulating in the hands of the factors and retailers; if he is aware that in consequence of these stocks boot and shoe operatives are working short time and the public are without the shoes; and if he will take steps either to reduce the price of shoes or lower their coupon value.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the present abundant supply of boots and shoes, he will reduce the coupon-requirements for them.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne) on 20th April. I am now going into the whole question, but of course it would be unwise to take any steps to speed the dispersal of distributors' stocks until we can see whether the future level of raw material imports will enable the present high rate of footwear production to be maintained.

Does the President of the Board of Trade appreciate that the trade is particularly disturbed at the lack of policy in his Department, and that the reply which he gave to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne) does not answer the question I asked him?

There is no lack of policy in this matter. I am well aware of the views of the trade.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that retailers who have large stocks are not giving out orders to manufacturers and that there is a danger of grave unemployment? Will he look at it from that point of view?

I have said I am looking into it very urgently, but we have to bear in mind the possibility of getting replacements of raw materials.

Has the answer of the President of the Board of Trade reference only to footwear or does it apply to other stocks like textiles?

This Question and the answer refer only to footwear.

Would the President of the Board of Trade be good enough to let us know when we might address further Questions to him to ascertain his policy?

As quickly as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there are conditions attached to the import of any American goods into this country under the European Recovery Programme which would preclude their use for the purpose of carrying on commercial exchanges with the U.S.S.R.

The problem of what effect, if any, the provisions of the Economic Co-operation Act might have on trade between countries participating in the European Recovery Programme and non-participating European countries is one which will need clarification in discussions with the United States authorities concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will exercise requisitioning powers for the protection of tenants threatened with eviction, under buy-or-quit notices, from offices and workshops used for the production or distribution of supplies or services essential to the well-being of the community.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is prepared to requisition offices and small business premises in Scotland in cases where a notice to buy or quit his premises has been served on a tenant.

I can only requisition offices or business premises if I am satisfied that such a step is necessary or expedient for any of the purposes specified in the Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Act, 1945, and the Supplies and Services (Extended Purposes) Act, 1947. A number of cases have been reported of the kind to which my hon. Friends refer, and I am having inquiries made to see in which cases, if any, the use of the requisitioning powers would be justified.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the people who are engaged in the export drive depend to an appreciable extent upon the work of these small workshops?

The export drive is one of the purposes specified in those Acts, so that matter will be borne in mind.

In view of the fact that the Secretary of State for Scotland has taken action to requisition shops where necessary, does not my right hon. Friend agree that it will be a serious injustice if he does not take similar action with regard to offices and small business premises, and make that intention public?

The publicity given to this answer will be sufficient for that purpose. I can act in these matters only where the purposes of those Acts are affected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is his intention to revoke Statutory Instrument No. 698 of 1948 since the announcement that Purchase Tax will not now be charged on children's clothing.

I am considering afraid, be deferred, since it does not meet whether this instrument should now be either of these requirements. revoked.

Does it not say clearly in the explanatory note that the principal order only applied if these clothes were exempt from Purchase Tax as children's wear?

Yes, and I am considering whether this order can be revoked.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he proposes in the near future to introduce legislation with a view to reducing the cost of taking out patent rights.

No, Sir. The Swan Committee on the Patents and Designs Acts considered this matter and recommended no change in the present scheme.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great many very useful inventions are lost to the public because of the cost to the inventor of taking out patent rights?

I shall have to consider all questions about patent legislation. The hon. and gallant Gentleman will be aware that I have already taken steps to secure the better exploitation of inventions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to encourage the establishment of further light industries in West Cornwall; and, in particular, the proposal of Messrs. L. and C. Hardtmuth, Limited, to start a pencil lead factory at Hayle.

Since the war 20 new projects covering a wide field of light industry have been established, in three cases by the allocation to firms of surplus Government premises. The Government's decision to reduce the volume of capital investment makes it impossible for the time being to permit further factory building except in those cases in which an early and substantial contribution can be made to the export trade or to import saving. The proposal of L. and C. Hardtmuth, Ltd., referred to by the hon. and gallant Member, must, for the present, I am afraid, be deferred, since it does not meet either of these requirements.

Is the Minister aware that so soon as material is available for carrying out this project the products of the factory which will have been erected would be available to help our export trade, as well as to give employment to some 200 people in a district which badly needs employment?

Those are matters which are very much in our minds, but I can tell the hon. and gallant Gentleman that there are many more cases of greater urgency which should take the available resources for the time being.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what purpose an economic and financial mission has recently been sent to Spain.

The purpose of the discussions now taking place in Madrid between a delegation from the United Kingdom and the Spanish authorities is to review the Monetary Agreement of 28th March, 1947, as provided under Article 9, and to discuss the course of trade and payments between Spain and the United Kingdom during the forthcoming 12 months.

Would my right hon. Friend make it clear to the delegation that they are to explain to the representatives of the Franco Fascist Government that this country would view with alarm any extension of trade with that country, in accordance with the resolutions passed at the United Nations in March, 1946?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take, in view of the accumulation in the hands of wholesalers and retailers of boots and shoes, underwear and shirts, etc., by reducing the coupon value of the items in excessive supply or by issuing additional clothing coupons, to make the excessive stocks now held available to the public before they deteriorate in value due to change of fashions or damage through storage for an unduly long period.

Stocks of clothing and footwear are better than last year but then they were in many cases abnormally low, and we have to keep in mind the reduction of supplies that must be expected later this year in many types of goods owing to the export drive. I am, however, watching the position.

Will my right hon. Friend take into consideration any representations that might be made to him by the trade, so that the matter will be given his special attention at the present time?

I receive quite a number of representations and they are being taken into account very urgently in connection with the review which I have already mentioned in regard to footwear supplies.

Will my right hon. Friend also take into account the fact, so far as clothing is concerned, that the return furnished to him of stocks does not include a large stock of goods in this country nominally sold to retailers, but held up pending the deposit of coupons by customers?

Is it not a fact that large stocks of clothes, especially women's clothes, have accumulated which are not likely to be acceptable for export?

There are some, but we have to bear in mind that owing to the diversion to export there will be fewer goods coming into the shops from the home mills later in the year.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the reference made in the Question to other goods includes waterproofed and rubberised goods, and that because of the accumulation in the shops of these goods there is considerable unemployment in the industry?

Is it the Government's policy to keep rationing on in plenty as well as during scarcity?

No, nothing of the kind, and if the present building up of stocks were something we could hope to be permanent and lasting we should adjust the coupons to meet the situation. We have to bear in mind, however, the low rate of supplies coming from the mills, because of diversion to export.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which film companies with parent organisations in the U.S.A. at present own, or have on lease, film studios in the United Kingdom; and how many first feature films did each of these film companies make in the United Kingdom during the years 1938, 1946 and 1947, respectively.

The subsidiaries of American film companies who at present own studios in the United Kingdom are M.G.M.-British Studios Ltd., Warner Brothers-First National Productions Ltd., and Twentieth-Century-Fox Film Co., Ltd. The studios owned by the last mentioned company could not be used for feature production without extensive rehabilitation. The only films of first feature standard produced at these three companies' studios during the three years mentioned in the Question were one made in 1938 at Warner Bros.' studio and three made at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's in 1947. Other companies from time to time reserve studio space for producing individual pictures, but no other company at present occupies leased space on a more permanent basis.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether machinery exists to prevent these companies from flooding our country? Has he powers to stop them using these studios if the products coming from them are unsuitable?

No, I do not exercise any power of quality censorship in relation to film production, whether British or American.

Is this film control a one-way traffic, or are British companies allowed to control any film production in America?

I do not understand what the hon. Gentleman is talking about.

Is the Minister aware that on a previous occasion American companies deliberately produced junk and labelled it "British made picture" in order to discredit our film trade?

If my hon. Friend is referring to the famous quota "quickie," I would remind him that the matter was very fully debated and that steps were taken to deal with it in the recent passage of the Cinematograph Films Act.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he has any statement to make as to the future of the Petroleum Pool Board.

As was announced in the Press on 27th April, the Petroleum Board, which was a voluntary association formed for the purpose of the war by the companies distributing oil in the United Kingdom is being dissolved on 30th June this year. To provide liaison between the Government and the industry after the Petroleum Board has disbanded, the industry have, at my instance, set up representative bodies which will provide the Government with any information it may require, and will co-operate with the Government in safeguarding the national interest in all questions concerning oil operations in the United Kingdom. In the sphere of industrial relations, a joint conciliation committee is in being and is, I understand, functioning to the satisfaction of both sides of the industry. Arrangements have also been made by the oil companies, at my request, to ensure maximum economy in the use of manpower and transport; and also to defer the re-introduction of branded products for at least six months. I take this occasion to express the Government's appreciation of the great wartime services rendered by the petroleum industry and to thank all members and staff of the Petroleum Board fur the valuable work they have done.

While I agree with the usefulness of the Petroleum Board during the wartime period may I ask are we to take it that this answer means that the Government are convinced that the interests of the users and consumers will be better served by privately operated concerns than by this central organisation?

As I have already explained, the Petroleum Board was a voluntary association, and it rests with the companies when it is dissolved. I am satisfied that the arrangements made by the companies at my request will meet the hon. Gentleman's point.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the fact that holders of E and S coupons are not to receive the standard ration, he will authorise them to use their cars forthwith for all purposes.

No, Sir: persons at present receiving supplementary allowances will be able to draw the standard allowance and use it as from 1st June.

As persons drawing the essential supplementary allowances after 1st June will not receive in total more than they are receiving now, is there any reason why they should be subjected to restrictions as to how they use their petrol between now and 1st June?

I would not accept that those who are receiving supplementary allowances suffer hardship in general as a result of the new arrangements, but those who may suffer hardship are precisely the people who would gain nothing from the relaxation proposed by the hon. and learned Gentleman.

I was asking whether, in view of the fact that these people will not receive more petrol in total after 1st June, the restrictions on the use of that total could now be relieved because no further use of petrol would be involved.

I have already explained that those who are suffering hardship, if any, would not gain from any such relaxation.

In view of the fact that no more petrol would be consumed as a result of such a concession and of the very great advantage it would be to people who are going on holiday during May and at Whitsun, will the Minister reconsider this matter?

I have already answered the question and I must stick to the proposals which I have put forward and which I shall carry out.

Is not the petrol issued on S and E coupons for business, and are not the people who are now complaining the ones who write and say that they have only enough petrol for their business purposes? How can they therefore use that petrol for their holidays?

Is not this another psychological order under which all must suffer before any benefit?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the leave petrol concession for members of His Majesty's Forces can be extended to cover other servants of the Crown on leave from overseas stations.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if the petrol concessions allowed to members of His Majesty's Forces returning to this country on leave are also available for Colonial civil servants and members of the Foreign Office similarly coming into this country on leave.

It has been decided to reintroduce allowances to British civilians on leave in this country from abroad as from 1st June. The amount will be one-third of the level ruling before the allowance was withdrawn last year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what arrangements he proposes for the allocation of petrol during the next six months to sailing craft with auxiliary engines.

A minimum allowance of approximately one-third the allowance granted last summer will be made available for these vessels, but the allowances of those already in receipt of an amount equal to or exceeding this minimum will not be increased.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that many workers in Birmingham who have accepted the advice of the Government and have staggered their annual holiday, will suffer by reason of the fact that in many cases their annual holiday is due to begin before 1st June, the date chosen for the re-introduction of the basic petrol ration; and, in these circumstances, if he will agree that coupons may be used before the commencing date and make arrangements for the issue of coupons to allow this to be done.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Lancaster (Mr. F. Maclean) on 26th April.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if any oil is now being refined at Haifa; and how many tons he expects will be refined there for the remainder of this year.

As stated by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 21st April, in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. T. Reid), the Haifa refinery ceased work on 12th April. In present circumstances it is impossible to estimate what the output will be for the rest of this year.

Is the right hon. Gentleman making his plans on the assumption that this oil refinery is being abandoned, and if so, what will be the effect on the general overall supply of oil to this country and other countries which were formerly dependent upon the Haifa Refinery?

Naturally, the plans both of the British and foreign companies concerned have had to be adjusted to meet the new situation which has developed. I am not in a position to add anything further at the moment on the point about the precise effect of the closing of the refinery.

Is the right hon. Gentleman assuming that this refinery is to be abandoned, and that no oil will come from it for the rest of this year?

I have answered that question. I have said that the oil companies have had to adjust their plans to meet the new situation.

What steps have been taken to protect this oil refinery, because quite clearly the company cannot do it?

That is hardly a question to be addressed to me.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of complaints arising from pollution of the atmosphere from Ham's Hall Power Station; how many complaints he has received from adjacent parishes on this subject; and if he will direct the British Electricity Authority to take immediate steps to stop this pollution.

One complaint was received in December, 1945, from the Meridin Urban District Council. Pollution was then being caused by corrosion of the metal connection from the boilers to the chimneys. The replacement of this connection was begun as soon as material was available and I am informed that the work should be completed during the Whitsuntide weekend. Consequently the last part of the Question does not arise.

Is the Minister aware that this nuisance is particularly severe at the present time, and will he make representations to the British Electricity Authority that they should hasten the work as fast as possible?

If the hon. Member will read my answer he will see that such representations are no longer necessary.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what moneys Mr. Sylvester, the Chairman of the Gas Council, will receive from the nationalised gas industry in addition to his salary already announced.

The allowances payable under Clause 5 (6) of the Gas Bill have not yet been determined.

In view of the fact that Mr. Sylvester will be receiving a pension of £3,500 from the gas industry, whether nationalised or not, in addition to his salary of £6,000, should not his salary be reduced by a corresponding amount, as otherwise it will total £9,500, and thus be in excess of that of the chairmen of all the other nationalised boards?

Private arrangements regarding the incomes of individuals are not my concern. I am simply concerned with paying the rate for the job.

As Mr. Sylvester's pension is coming out of the industry should it not have been taken into account?

Are we to understand that the gas industry is of less importance than the electricity industry?

No, Sir. The job is not the same as the job of the Chairman of the British Electricity Authority.

asked the Minister or Fuel and Power whether he will exclude motor fuel, supplied to overseas visitors, from his computations of consumption by private motor vehicles in the United Kingdom.

Account will be kept of the petrol coupons issued to foreign visitors and in estimating changes in consumption subsequent to the introduction of the standard ration, consumption by foreign visitors will be separately recorded.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power on what grounds coal supplies to the ex-Service men's families now squatting in the Waltham, near Grimsby, R.A.F. huts, has recently been cancelled, and, since there is no alternative means of cooking, if he will restore the supply at once.

I am advised that this former R.A.F. Camp has been partly taken over by the Rural District Council. The authorised tenants are registered for coal but supplies were withdrawn from four families who are living there without permission. I am instructing the local Fuel Overseer to allow supplies immediately.

While I thank the Minister for that concession, may I ask him if he will look into the fact that the Ministry of Health withdrew their eviction order against these squatters and therefore allowed them to stay there? Was it not a great injustice, therefore, on the part of his officials to stop their coal supplies?

The local fuel overseers, strictly speaking, are not officials of mine but of the local authority. I agree that a mistake was made, and I have taken steps to put it right.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what quantities of coal and coke have been shipped during 1948 to date from each of the Scottish ports; and what percentages that total represents of the total U.K. exports for a similar period.

As the reply involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power who allocates the quantities and qualities of coal for export; and from what ports they are to be shipped.

The Government decide the total availability of coal for export in the light of the probable output and the needs of the home market. The bulk of the exports is assigned to individual countries under inter-Governmental Trade Agreements. The Board then allocates the necessary tonnages between its Divisions and these allocations largely determine the port of shipment.

Do such other factors as the need to fill up space in otherwise empty ships enter into consideration as to what coal shall be shipped and from what port that coal shall be shipped?

No doubt the National Coal Board and the exporters would take those points into account.

Is there any contact between the National Coal Board and such as the Ministry of Transport, who have a very direct interest in the other aspect of the same question?

Full arrangements exist for consultation between the Board and the Ministry of Transport.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) what he proposes to do to avert the critical situation now arising in the small licensed coalmines, owing to their inability to dispose of their product; and is he aware that notably in North Staffordshire and South Wales notices ending employment are being served on miners;

(2) why the National Coal Board proposes to terminate the agreements by which it arranges for the marketing of coal raised from small licensed pits in the South Staffordshire, Cannock, Lancashire, Shropshire and Forest of Dean areas as from June, 1948.

This is a matter between the National Coal Board and the licencees, but I am informed that the proposed termination of the present interim arrangements, of which six months' notice is necessary, is connected with the forthcoming revision of the coal price structure and its application to the coal produced by the licencees. I understand that the whole matter is to be discussed shortly between the Board and the licensees.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the coal produced by the small mines is the only coal produced in this country without subventions from the taxpayer; and that since nearly half the workers in small mines are in danger of unemployment, nearly 500,000 tons of coal a year will be lost? Further, surely action of a quicker nature can be taken in view of the fact that the Federation of Small Mines has been writing for an interview with the National Coal Board for over six weeks?

No deep-mined coal is produced with subventions from the taxpayer but only opencast coal. The trouble is that this coal is of such poor quality that it cannot be sold in the ordinary local markets.

Does the Minister remember that (luring the passage of the Coal Nationalisation Act his predecessor gave an assurance that there need be no apprehension about these small businesses so long as they complied with the general conditions laid down for the industry, and are we to understand that those assurances no longer hold good?

No, Sir. The question is whether commercially these people can continue to carry on or not, but the whole matter is being discussed between the National Coal Board and the licensees.

Is not the statement that no coal is produced at the expense of the taxpayer somewhat misleading, seeing that the taxpayer is already bearing heavy losses in the production of coal?

The losses are not paid by the taxpayer.

They are.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that 176 of the workers at the small collieries have had notice to finish this weekend and that most of the men working in those collieries are receiving compensation and are no longer fit for deep mining work? If the owners cannot sell their coal to the factories, will the right hon. Gentleman allow the local domestic consumers to buy it in order to provide an occupation for these men who have no alternative source of employment?

There is no question of preventing these people from selling their coal. The difficulty is to find a market for it.

Is the Minister aware that much of this coal is definitely superior to that produced by opencast mining and that many small pits produce very high grade coal? Is he aware that the National Coal Board have refused export licences to certain small pits with the result that production has dropped from 3,500 tons a week to something like 1,800 tons a week in one area in Scotland.

I cannot accept the view that this coal is of the same quality as that which is apparently sold without difficulty. As regards the point about export licences, if the hon. Member will let me have details I will look into it.

Arising out of the right hon. Gentleman's answer to a supplementary question, if the losses of the National Coal Board are not paid by the taxpayer, will he say by whom they are paid?

That is outside the Question on the Order Paper.

rose—

I said that this is quite outside the particular Question on the Order Paper.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker, if a Minister makes a statement in reply to a Question, is it not in Order to ask a supplementary question about that statement?

We cannot range over the whole subject. We must stick to the Question more or less as it was put on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when a screening plant for opencast coal installed by his Ministry at Chatterley near Tunstall in Staffordshire became operational; how many tons of opencast coal have since been screened; and what was the total cost of installation.

The nearest opencast screening plant to Chatterley is at Diglake, four miles away, which started operating in November, 1946, and has so far screened 145,000 tons of opencast coal. The cost of installation was £16, 800.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will now allow a separate allowance of coal to subtenants.

Yes, Sir. As from 1st May separate registration will be permissible for all sub-tenant families consisting of two or more persons. Appropriate instructions are being issued to local fuel overseers.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his very satisfactory answer will be warmly received by those who will benefit from it, and that it will remove a serious cause of friction between main and sub-tenants? Will he undertake to convey their thanks to the miners for the efforts they have made to make this allowance possible?

Is the Minister aware that many hon. Members of this House have been pressing for this change for the last two and a half years? Could he explain the delay in coming to this obviously necessary conclusion?

We could not afford the coal before.

Is the Minister aware that with efficiency this could have been done at least a year ago?

I cannot agree.

Why is it that a single person who is a sub-tenant is not able to get this concession?

We have to consider the needs of the export market, and, therefore, I cannot give unlimited quantities of coal to the home market. I do not think that hardship exists in the case of single sub-tenants. It is always possible for licences to be granted to enable them to obtain additional coal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in order to assist merchants contemplating triangular transactions, he will state whether the Exchange Control regards Egyptian pounds as a more valuable foreign currency than Dutch guilders; and how these two currencies stand in relation to pounds sterling earned by Germans trading in the Anglo-American zone of Germany.

Egypt and Holland are both within the transferable account countries listed in Schedule Four of the Exchange Control (Payments) Order, 1947 (S.R. & O. 1947, No 2072). In respect of current transactions, sterling is freely transferable between accounts of transferable account countries. All sterling earned by bizonal trade with the sterling area is paid into the J.E.I.A. No. 1 Account at the Bank of England, in accordance with paragraph 3 of the Revised Fusion Agreement. The balance on this Account in excess of £1,500,000 is adjusted quarterly in dollars, and is not convertible into either Egyptian pounds or Dutch guilders. Special permission is required for transfers between the accounts of transferable account countries and those of other countries outside the scheduled territories. The grant of such permission depends, amongst other things, upon the relative scarcity of the currencies, and, as this factor varies almost from day to day, merchants contemplating triangular transactions should approach their banks for current advice on these questions.

Could the Minister cut out some of this red tape?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, to enable Southern Rhodesia to provide Britain with additional tobacco, and as Britain has saved recently £4,000,000 of dollar exchange by buying Rhodesian tobacco, he will consider giving Rhodesia some of that credit ear-marked for buying tobacco machinery in the United States, having regard to the fact that Machinery for tobacco growing is almost exclusively manufactured in the United States, and costs dollars.

I am not aware of any approach on this matter from the Southern Rhodesian authorities. We are, of course, in full agreement as to the importance of the production of tobacco in that country.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that a protest has been made, and no one seems to know out there whether it is possible to get the necessary dollar credits to buy this machinery? Surely we are going to do something for Empire production?

On the contrary, I have made very detailed inquiries and I understand that no approaches have been made.

Would the Financial Secretary make further inquiries, because I am afraid approaches have been made?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost in a full year of exempting stationery from Purchase Tax.

About £18 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the net annual cost of exempting stationery from Purchase Tax after deducting the increase in expenditure by central and local government due to the Purchase Tax on station cry so purchased and after deducting the decrease in revenue from Income Tax, Surtax and Profits Tax due to the Purchase Tax on stationery being chargeable against profits liable to such taxes.

This information is not available.

Is the Financial Secretary aware that 96 per cent. of such stationery, by volume and by value, is sold to Government, or quasi-Government, bodies, and to firms who are bearing taxes of that nature, and the working out of an estimate is not particularly difficult?

If the hon. Gentleman knows the answer, I wonder why he put the Question down.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total cost to the nation in a full year for collecting Purchase Tax on stationery, not only to His Majesty's Customs and Excise, but also to the manufacturers and suppliers of stationery who collect and pay it.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that the increase to 100 per cent. in the Purchase Tax on gas water-heaters will not result in a greater proportionate consumption of solid fuel; and if he will make a statement.

It is hoped that the tax will deter the installation of appliances which make fresh demands on our limited gas supplies. There will be the opportunity for any statement that the House may require when the proposals in the Finance Bill are under discussion.

Could the Minister say whether that view is shared by the Minister of Fuel and Power?

Will the Minister explain why these items are regarded as luxuries, since people have to have hot water, when refrigerators are taxed at only 33⅓ per cent.?

These are matters that can be better discussed when we reach the Committee stage of the Finance Bill.

Does that reply take into account the fact that gas is being produced from solid fuel in this country?