asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled men in the employment exchange areas of Spennymoor, Crook and Durham; the number of these disabled men who are at the present time unemployed; and what the prospects are for employing these men in the near future.

As the reply is long and contains a number of figures I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the last part of the Question, these areas are mainly dependent on coal-

Employment Exchanges.		Number Registered at 19th January, 1948.	Number unemployed at 15th March, 1948.
			Capable of ordinary employment.	Severely disabled needing sheltered employment.	Total.
Spennymoor	…	935	111	42	153
Crook	…	727	208	36	244
Durham	…	1,733	262	55	317

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered at employment exchanges in the country as being fully and part-time employed in the repair of railway wagons; and of such number how many persons are so registered in North Wales.

I regret that these figures are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of local government employees for 1938 and 1947, respectively, analysed in the following groups: clerical, including officers, technical and industrial.

The available pre-war statistics relate to mid-1939 and show that at that date the number of persons of insurable age (men aged 14–64, women aged 14–59) employed in local government service in Great Britain was

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average cost per week to the National Institute of Houseworkers of maintaining and training a girl for domestic work.

As stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Spen Valley (Mr. Sharp) on 6th April last, the scheme of training is not yet sufficiently developed to enable representative figures as to average cost per student to be given.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the patients' ward accommodation is being taken over by the Health Department for administrative purposes at Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow.

By agreement with Glasgow Corporation one ward at Stobhill will be taken over temporarily by the Western Regional Hospital Board for use as office accommodation. The ward is, and has been for some time, unoccupied through lack of nursing staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to remedy the defect which has developed in the slipway at Fair Isle.

The defect is being investigated by my technical officers in consultation with the local authority's road surveyor.

asked the Secretary of State for War why soldiers, who would normally be released in Class A before the end of 1948, but who now wish to commence their studies at universities or technical colleges, have been deprived of their right to apply for immediate release through the usual military channel.

Under the arrangements described in my reply to the hon. Member's Question on this subject on 9th March, the initiative in applying for the out-of-turn release of intending students due for release under the age and service scheme this year must come from the university or technical college which has reserved a place for the man concerned. No soldier has been deprived of the right of making application for early release through military channels, but the hon. Member will appreciate that release could be granted in a case of this type only if it could be brought within the arrangements which I have described.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a full list of the articles included in the term haberdashery for the purpose of the Purchase Tax.

The scope of the term "Haberdashery" for Purchase Tax purposes is clearly indicated in a notice issued by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts were received from the greyhound totalisator tax in the months of January, February and March, 1948, respectively.

Six hundred and eleven thousand four hundred and seven pounds, £700,113 and £729,975, respectively.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the annual value of the land annuities transferred for revenue to the Northern Ireland Government under the Government of Ireland Act, 1920; the amount so collected in the last financial year; and if this sum is taken into account when fixing the Imperial Contribution from Northern Ireland.

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT, a statement of the figures asked for in the first two parts of the Question. The answer to the last part is "Yes."

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the export target for chemicals has been reduced; and whether all possible chemical production capacity is now being used.

Now that more chemicals than previously are needed to produce other goods for export, the export target has been slightly reduced in order that chemicals may be exported in the most profitable form, which is often as components of other manufactured goods. Subject to the availability of raw materials and labour, productive capacity is, so far as I am aware, being used to the best advantage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the terms of the subsidy reimbursement from the tanners due 1st April, 1948, and later postponed to 1st July, 1948.

This is not a matter of subsidy reimbursement; the question which has been under discussion with the industry is the treatment of the stock profit which resulted from the increase in the prices of hides, skins and tanning materials on 1st January. It has been agreed that we shall collect from each firm one-third of the amount of the charge which was originally payable on 1st April, that we should leave the remainder with the individual firms concerned, and that they will earmark this as a reserve against possible future stock losses. We propose, therefore, to withdraw the existing Leather Charges (No. 1) Order, 1947 as amended by the Leather Charges (No. 2) Order, 1948, and to issue a new Order giving effect to these arrangements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will examine the serious effect of the recent rise in the price of Egyptian cotton on the attainment of the export targets for the textile industry; and, as a matter of urgency, if he will take the necessary steps to reduce the quotations for these fibres and peg them to those ruling three months ago.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 13th April to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne). The effects of changes in raw cotton prices and of other changes affecting the sales of our textiles in overseas markets are constantly under review. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "No, Sir. I see no ground for subsidising cotton production in the way proposed."

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the target for the current year for exports of cotton piece goods to the Argentine;(2) what is the target for the current year for exports of cotton piece goods to South Africa.

No specific targets have been laid down for exports of cotton piece goods to individual markets other than Canada. In the case of Argentina, the Trade and Payments Agreement concluded earlier this year provides for the import in 1948 of £10 million worth of British goods now restricted, and negotiations are continuing to ensure that cotton manufactures, including piece goods, will receive a suitable share of this sum. As regards South Africa, it is hoped that this market will obtain a good share of the increase in exports which is expected over the year as a whole.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received the report of the Committee on Resale Price Maintenance.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what instructions have been given to the British delegation which is visiting Madrid to discuss financial and trade questions with the Spanish Government.

As the hon. Member will be aware from the reply given on 29th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Mr. G. Jeger), the purpose of the talks now taking place in Madrid is to review the Monetary Agreement with Spain of March, 1947.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what reason it has been found necessary to increase the maximum prices of ground sulphur as indicated in S.I. No. 751 of 1948.

The increase in the maximum prices of ground sulphur was due solely to advances in both the producer's selling price of crude sulphur and in freight rates, which were made on 1st January last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the regulations limiting the number of industrial corduroy trousers of over 32 inch length available to retailers.

It is shortage of corduroy cloth that limits the number of industrial corduroy trousers available in all sizes. Production of over 32 inch length is at present subject to licence because, as part of arrangements designed to secure that all available utility cloth is made up into working style trousers, and not into ordinary trousers with turn-ups, the utility garment specification includes a maximum inside leg measurement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to remedy the serious shortage of paper sacks.

Paper sacks are made from kraft paper, which is short. We are importing as much as we can of kraft pulp and of sack kraft paper but there are other important uses for which we must also provide paper of this type. I hope that some improvement will be possible in the next licensing period which begins in July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a statement showing to what extent the cuts in capital expenditure are affecting the building of new factories, particularly in the development areas.

While, owing to the magnitude of the task, my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a full and comprehensive statement about the effect of the new investment programme on new factory construction in the country as a whole, it is now possible to assess its broad effect in the development areas. Up to 31st March, 1948, the construction of 1,212 new factories and extensions of 5,000 sq. ft. and over had been approved for the development areas. Of these, 368 had been completed and 565 were under construction. The construction of a further 49 will be allowed to start. The corresponding figures for the South Wales and Monmouthshire Development Area are, approved 300, completed 81, under construction 148 and allowed to start 13. In addition, there is still a number of projects under review throughout the development areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the hardship caused to business firms who have to replace bomb-damaged fixtures and fittings out of income, although the charge is not allowable against Income Tax; and whether he will now make some payment under the Repayment of War Damage (Commodities) Act to such business firms.

I am not aware of the difficulties referred to by my hon. Friend in the first part of his Question, but if he will send me particulars of any case he has in mind I shall be glad to have it looked into. As regards the second part, the Board of Trade are already empowered to pay claims in advance of the date of general settlement if they are satisfied that replacement or repair of the goods is expedient in the public interest, and we are always ready to consider applications.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the European Recovery Programme, he will now consider increasing supplies of newsprint, which will permit an increase in the size of British newspapers.

No. It is not clear that we shall be able to increase our imports of newsprint as a result of the European Recovery Programme. The figures which have recently been quoted in the Press were purely tentative and illustrative and do not represent any agreed programme, and I am afraid we could not afford to import newsprint on the scale suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the amount of the subsidy on cotton cloth now removed by the Government; and what percentage of the total net value of utility cotton cloth was this subsidy.

The subsidy on utility cotton cloth cost just under £8 million during the financial year 1947–48 and is estimated to cost £250,000 during the current financial year. 1 he subsidy on household textiles, which was removed last June, varied from 20 per cent, to 6o per cent. of the manufacturers' ceiling prices. The subsidy on apparel cloths and handkerchief cloths, which was

Description.	Unit of Quantity.	Quantities.	Value.
Aircraft—			£
Aeroplanes, complete	Number	36	178,828
Engines	Number	79	53,130
Parts	Value	—	206,070
Rail—
Locomotives	Number	11	178,750
Contractors and light	Number	37	30,249
Parts	Ton	130	22,038
Rail motor vehicles and tramcars	Number	1	4,280
Wagons and trucks	Number	948	823,427
Parts of wagons and trucks	Ton	252	7,105
Axles, tyres and wheels for locomotives, carriages, wagons and trucks.	Ton	340	39,463
Road—
Cars, including taxis	Number	59	29,826
Commercial vehicles	Number	3,263	1,096,526
Chassis for motor vehicles	Number	30	8,700
Parts and accessories for motor vehicles	Cwt.	11,355	250,236
Motor cycles and tri-cars	Number	493	22,991
Parts and accessories for motor cycles and tri-cars	Cwt.	188	11,032
Cycles	Number	34	365
Parts and accessories for cycles	Cwt.	62	1,579
Other vehicles	Number	1,166	91,699
Parts and accessories	Cwt.	33	146
Brake and clutch linings containing asbestos	Cwt.	559	21,295
Sparking plugs	Cwt.	958	45,593
Rubber tyres and tubes	Number	89,236	486,654
Ships and boats	Number	5	542
Total	Value	—	3,610,524

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the profit margins of the manufacturers and distributors of utility shirts and underwear; and whether there has been any adjust-

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a list showing the values and quantities of aircraft and vehicles, and parts thereof, which have been exported from the United Kingdom to Czechoslovakia since VE Day, classifying the above by types.

The following table shows the United Kingdom exports of aircraft and vehicles and parts thereof to Czechoslovakia, from May, 1945 to March, 1948.ment of the profit margins since the sub sidy on utitlity cotton cloth has been withdrawn.

Manufacturers' maximum net profit margin on men's utility shirts and underwear is 4 per cent. on cost, subject to ceiling prices which have been adjusted to allow no higher cash profits on garments made from unsubsidised utility cotton cloths. Wholesalers' and retailers' maximum gross margins, which are fixed as percentages on cost, have been reduced, for men's utility shirts and underwear made from unsubsidised utility cotton cloths, to 17.65 per cent. and 33⅓ per cent., respectively. For such garments made from subsidised cotton cloths they are 20 per cent. and 37·94 per cent.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Mayor of St. Mellons Rural District Council has applications for 2,000 houses, that the Council secured a site and sanction to build 50 houses was given to a tenderer who then withdrew through financial difficulties; that permission was then granted by the Welsh Board of Health to invite tenders for 20 houses and the contract was given to another firm subject to the approval of the Welsh Board of Health who said this tender was £63 too high and although a reduction of £52 was made it was still £11 too high and this contractor withdrew with the result that there are still no houses; and if he will consider raising the ceiling price so that the building of 50 houses can be put in hand at the earliest possible moment.

The contractors with whom the District Council were negotiating withdrew their tender in the early part of last month owing to their commitments elsewhere, and the Council are at present negotiating with two other contractors to undertake the erection of 20 houses. Approval must await the submission of a satisfactory price. The Council were recently authorised to submit proposals for the erection of a further 3o houses.

asked the Minister of Supply if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of steel for shuttle-making; and what steps he has taken to speed up supplies of shuttles to the weaving-end of the cotton industry.

Yes. We are in touch with the shuttle makers and have suggested an alternative source of supply which should relieve the shortage.

asked the Minister of Supply why permits must be obtained from him to purchase coal-cutting machinery for use in this country.

The obligation to obtain a licence for coal-cutting machinery under the Machinery, Plant and Appliances Orders was introduced during the war to control the use of machinery in short supply. Since the war the licensing system has also been used to control exports. These orders come within the scope of the review of controls which, as announced in the House by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, on 26th February last, is now being undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered a letter sent him by the Clerk of the Monmouthshire County Council asking that the care of children should be placed under the Ministry of Education and not the Home Office; and what answer he is sending.

I have received no letter from the Monmouthshire County Council on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to proceed with the demolition of the brick surface shelters in the Carnwadric district of East Renfrewshire, which are now being used for illicit purposes and which local residents contend are becoming a danger to public health and morals.

If the hon. Member will be good enough to give me further particulars, I shall be glad to make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Works what action is proposed to end the restrictive practices disclosed in the report of Lord Simon of Wythenshawe's Committee of Inquiry into the organisation and distribution of building materials and components; and whether His Majesty's Government will implement the Committee's recommendation for immediate action by the Government to control distributors' margins on materials and components.

My right hon. Friend is considering the Committee's report and is proposing to discuss it with representatives of the manufacturers and distributors in the near future.

asked the Minister of Works it he is aware that Nos. 4, 6, 8 and To Lexham Gardens have been requisitioned for use by Home Office staff since May, 1946; and if, in view of the urgent need for residential accommodation in the area and of the financial loss to the owners, he will take steps to release this property at the earliest moment.

Yes. The premises will be released as soon as other accommodation can be found for the Home Office staff.

asked the Minister of Food if the combined volume of imported food and feedingstuffs for 1947 of 75 per cent. of the volume in 1938, as shown in Table VII, on page 12 of Command Paper 7344, was exactly 75 per cent. for each grouping; and what were the chief items and quantities in each group for the two years.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "No." Measured by the method of table VII imported food in 1947 was 81 per cent. by volume of 1938 imported feedingstuffs 23 per cent. Feedingstuffs for this purpose have been taken as maize, barley, oats, wheat offals and oilcake. As the table showing the chief items and quantities in each group for the two years is rather long, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the population, last census, of the following territories: Bechuanaland, Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Tanganyika, Kenya and Uganda; and what was the amount expended by each of these countries in 1946 and 1947 in purchase abroad of foodstuffs for the Native population.

The following are the figures of population as ascertained

—	Bechuanaland Protectorate 1946.*	Northern Rhodesia 1946.	Nyasaland 1945.	Tanganyika 1931.	Kenya 1931.	Uganda 1931.
Europeans	2,325	21,919	1,948	8,228	16,812	2,001
Asiatics	96	1,119	2,804	32,584	56,930	14,665
Africans	245,374	1,634,980	2,044,707	5,022,844	2,967,198	3,536,868
Others	2,047	789	455	—	—	—
Totals	249,842	1,658,807	2,049,914	5,063,656	3,040,940	3,553,534
* Bechuanaland figures exclude the population of Ngamiland (42,000 in 1936) and also approximately 10,000 Bushmen whom it was not possible to enumerate.

Enumerations are being taken this year in the three East African territories. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available, as no separate records of imports for native consumption are kept.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will seek powers to increase the maximum penalty of a 40s. fine for the offence of travelling without a railway ticket with intent to avoid payment.

No. A fine of 40 shillings is the maximum penalty for a first offence, but for a second or subsequent offence the maximum is £20 or one month's imprisonment. I have received no suggestion that these penalties are inadequate.

asked the Minister of Defence if any decision has yet been reached on the question of the admission to His Majesty's Forces of persons who have been in prison, in approved schools or in Borstal institutions.

Yes. It is accepted that none of the classes of persons referred to should be denied a chance to make good in the Services if there is a reasonable prospect of their doing so. Applications for regular enlistment from men who have been in prison will be considered individually on their merits.A boy who has been to Borstal or to an approved school will be accepted in the Services provided that:

asked the Secretary of State for Air what classes of tradesmen and other personnel, in addition to aircrew personnel, have withheld from them at the present time the right to purchase their discharge from the R.A.F.

Except for airmen with less than three months' service, discharge by purchase is a privilege and not a right. Any airman serving on a regular engagement, other than a member of aircrew, may apply for discharge by purchase, but approval may be withheld unless discharge can be granted without detriment to the Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in order to assist the local Air Training Corps committees to attract boys to join the Corps, he will arrange a national appeal for welfare funds to be made, as has recently been done for the Army Cadet Corps.

Under its present charter, the A.T.C. Central Council of Welfare is precluded from raising funds by public appeal. This arrangement has worked satisfactorily for some years, but I am examining the desirability of altering it for the future. Local A.T.C. committees launch appeals from time to time on behalf of local A.T.C. squadrons and response to such appeals is always welcomed.