asked the Minister of Food in what quantities wheat offal is being exported from this country; and to which countries it is being sold.

The quantity of wheat offal exported from the United Kingdom in the three months January to March, 1948, was 448 tons; all of which went to the Channel Islands.

asked the Minister of Food what is the quantity of eggs handled by licensed packing stations in the first three months of 1948 compared with the same period in 1947; and the proportions of the consumers' shell egg allocations met from home sources in the two periods.

482 million eggs were handled by licensed packing stations in the United Kingdom in the first three months of 1948 compared with 313 million in the same period of 1947, an increase of 54 per cent. The proportion of the consumers' shell egg allocations met from home sources during these periods was 44 per cent. in 1948 and 39 per cent. in 1947.

asked the Minister of Food why legal proceedings against a farmer in respect of an offence alleged to have been committed on 6th November, 1947, were not brought before North Holland petty sessions until 21st April; and what were the costs incurred by his Ministry and the result of the proceedings.

Detailed inquiries had to be made in various parts of the country before proceedings could be instituted. The case was dismissed by the court; the costs incurred by my Department amounted to £5 9s.

asked the Minister of Food whether a contract has yet been signed with the Control Commission for Germany for the purchase of cured herring during the forthcoming season.

No, Sir, but I hope that the final details will be settled shortly.

asked the Minister of Food how much milk is delivered weekly to suppliers for distribution to schools during term-time; how much is similarly delivered for distribution under education authorities' officers during the holidays; and what happens to the difference between these two amounts during holidays.

The quantity of milk delivered weekly to schools in Great Britain during term-time averages about 1,280,000 gallons. The quantities supplied during school holidays are not readily available but particulars are being obtained and I will send them to the hon. Member as soon as possible. During holiday periods the milk not required for schools is used either to supplement the non-priority allowance or is manufactured into priority milk products such as milk powder for baby foods.

asked the Minister of Food (1) why he has permitted the Milk Marketing Board to establish a new processing dairy for producer-retailers at Langley Bridge, County Durham, when existing facilities for pasteurising and bottling this milk are adequate; and why the dairy is to have a potential capacity of 4,000 gallons per hour when it is estimated that the total output of producer-retailer milk cannot exceed 1,000 gallons per day;(2) why he has permitted the Milk Marketing Board to establish a creamery at Langley Bridge, County Durham, with a capacity of 8,000 or 9,000 gallons per day, in view of the fact that the area is not a milk-producing area, so that there are not available supplies for which the new depot could act as a collecting centre.

The new dairy at Langley Bridge was established by the Milk Marketing Board, at the request of the producer-retailers in the area, to provide facilities for the heat-treatment and bottling of milk in anticipation of the areas being scheduled under Defence Regulation 55G. All milk retailers (including producer-retailers) are entitled to make such arrangements as they desire for processing the milk they sell. The capacity of the dairy was determined by the Milk Marketing Board.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that a road-man, Mr. R. Williams of 20 Cistern Street. Totnes, has been refused a supply of special cheese on the grounds that only a roadman employed by a county or rural district council qualifies for special cheese and that as a borough roadman Mr Williams is disqualified; whether he is aware that, in view of his disablement, Mr. Williams is unable to ride or bicycle the requisite two miles from his work into town for a mid-day meal; and whether in these special circumstances authority can be given for him to receive special cheese

I am looking into this case and will write to the hon. Member iii a day or two.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is in a position to announce an increase in the amount of the cheese ration.

No The only source from which additional supplies of cheese are available is North America and it is not yet possible to say whether these will be obtainable under the European Recovery Programme

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that many farmers in Somerset are unable to dispose of their present cider stocks owing to the Government's policy of importing syrup and cider apples from abroad; what quantities of syrup and apples for the manufacture of cider it is proposed to import from abroad this year; and whether he will give an assurance that these imports will not be sufficient in quantity to prejudice the interests of the British growers of cider apples.

I am not aware that there are any difficulties in the disposal of stocks. Farmers' stocks are very small; but if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind I will gladly look into it. Syrup is not imported for cider making but during the last two years cider makers have reverted to their pre-war practice of importing both cider apples and concentrated apple or pear juice. The cider maker prefers the home-grown cider apple, but when the crop is small he supplements the supply by importing cider apples and, in a much smaller degree, concentrated juice. He can then maintain his production of cider and, with it the demand for home-grown ordinary cull apples for use in cider manufacture. The import of these products does not therefore prejudice the British grower of cider apples, but is of assistance to the growers of other varieties. The quantity of cider apples and concentrated juice to be imported during the coming season will depend upon the cider apple crop in this country, and the availability of cider apples and juice abroad

asked the Minister of Defence what monetary grant and clothing coupons are allotted to National Service men on their discharge from the Services to enable them to reequip themselves adequately for civilian life.

Men called up in 1947 and 1948 for two years or less will, on release, receive a supplementary allowance of 60 clothing coupons. They will not receive a cash grant for the purchase of clothing; they will, however, be allowed to retain certain articles of Service clothing and, if necessary, to purchase a suit of battledress.

asked the Postmaster-General under what authority the weights and scales in post offices are not subject to the Weights and Measures Acts and Regulations and are therefore not verified periodically by the inspectors of weights and measures; and what safeguards the public have against being defrauded.

Post Office weights and scales are statutorily exempt from examination by inspectors of weights and measures under the Schedule to the Board of Trade Regulations, 1907, pursuant to the Weights and Measures Act, 1904, Section 24, but they are tested by Post Office officials at frequent intervals, and precise standards are employed for the purpose.

asked the Postmaster-General what facilities are available for the supply of information to the public through Post Office staffs as to the amount of ad valorem and other Stamp Duties payable upon deeds and documents presented by the public for stamping at Post Office counters; and if tables of the amounts of such Stamp Duties and fees are made available to the appropriate number of Post Office staffs for transmission to the public in all post offices.

A statement of the ad valorem duties payable on the more common types of document is available for inspection at most money order post offices. Post offices are not supplied with any other information.

asked the Secretary of State for Air on how many occasions since 1st January, 1948, British troops in Palestine have called for air support, other than for reconnaissance purposes, against Jews and Arabs, shown separately; how many times such support has been provided; what casualties are known to have been inflicted on Jews and Arabs shown separately; and what damage has been done to vehicles or buildings.

Since 1st January, 1948, air support involving armed action has been requested on one occasion by the G.O.C., Palestine. This was on 28th April and as a result four Spitfires attacked a strongpoint in the Jaffa district which was in use by Jewish forces attacking Jaffa. This action materially helped to bring about a cease-fire in the district. No information is available as to the casualties and damage caused by the attack.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many R.A.F. units will be retained in Palestine after 15th May; whether any of these are to remain on an operational basis; and why the evacuation of all R.A.F. personnel cannot be completed until 1st August.

It would not be in the public interest to give details concerning R.A.F. units which may be retained in Palestine after 15th May, or concerning the plans for their withdrawal, but I am able to state that aircraft of the R.A.F. Mediterranean and Middle East Command will be available to support our forces in Palestine until the withdrawal is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Air on what basis married quarters are allocated in the R.A.F. and when a sergeant on a regular engagement with 13 years' service, who has been married ii years and has one child, may expect to be allocated married quarters.

R.A.F. married quarters are allocated under a points scheme which takes account of the size of the family, the amount of Air Force service, the length of married life and of separation during overseas tours. I am sending full details of the scheme to the hon. Member. I cannot say without further information when this sergeant may expect to occupy a married quarter, but if the hon. Member will send me details I will have the case investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why prize money in respect of the 1939–45 war for the R.A.F. is to be paid to the Service and not to individuals.

The intention behind the proposed grant of prize money to the Royal Air Force is to recognise the part which the Service played in the war at sea between 1939 and 1945. After careful consideration the Air Council reached the conclusion that no distinction should he drawn between individual members of the different Commands of the Royal Air Force, all of which contributed to winning the air supremacy which was a vital factor in operations at sea. Account was also taken of the fact that in the case of the Royal Air Force there was no tradition of payment of prize money to individuals and that individual distribution of £1¼ million to the large number of personnel who served in the R.A.F. during the war would have resulted in very small average payments. For these reasons the Air Council reached the conclusion that the balance of advantage lay in applying the Royal Air Force share of prize money in the form of grants to Air Force benevolent and welfare funds for the general benefit of both present and former members of the Service, and their families and dependants.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has looked into the complaints referred to him by the hon. Member for Mile End with regard to the food provisions at the R.A.F. Camp, Horsham St. Faith, Norwich; and whether he has taken steps to improve the quality and the service of the food served at this camp.

Earlier this year the R.A.F. catering authorities twice reported favourably on the messing at Horsham St. Faith, and a further special inspection has been carried out since the hon. Gentleman placed his Question on the Order Paper. The report of this inspection, which confirms and amplifies the earlier reports, includes the statement that, during the past few months, the minutes of the weekly meeting of the representative station messing committee contain no serious complaints, and many tributes to the high standard of food produced.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether temporary officers were supplied with a statement of their Income Tax accounts upon demobilisation.

No. During his service an R.A.F. officer receives a monthly statement of the pay credited to him during the month and of the Income Tax deducted. The Inland Revenue authorities are responsible for dealing with the officer's full liability to tax after demobilisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply has now been sent to the recent note of the Polish Government concerning the Polish Resettlement Corps in Britain.

A reply has now been sent, and was as follows:"4th May, 1948.Your Excellency,His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have given careful consideration to Your Excellency's note of the 1st April regarding the Polish Armed Forces under British Command and the Polish Resettlement Corps. While they welcome this opportunity of furnishing the Polish Government with detailed explanations, they regret that it should have been found necessary to revert to the general question of the Polish Armed Forces and the Polish Resettlement Corps—a question which has been the subject of so many communications and explanations in the past.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the approximate monthly tonnage of parcel post deliveries from the Soviet zone to the Western zone prior to the recent stoppage of this traffic; and the nature and approximate quantities of the commodities mainly carried in the said parcels.

There is no interzonal parcel post service—the hon. and learned Member is presumably referring to the parcel post service which operates between Berlin and the four zones of occupation. The approximate monthly tonnage of parcel post deliveries from Berlin to the Western zones before the stoppage was 3,650 tons and from the Western zones to Berlin 3,050 tons. It is not possible to state the nature of the commodities carried in the parcels.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many Yugo-slays are still detained in Munster Lager; and by what date it is expected to finish the investigation of their cases.

The cases of all the men who were detained in Munster Lager have now been considered. As previously indicated, instructions have been issued for the surrender of a small number against whom a prima facie case has been established. The remainder are being released.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number, names and approximate circulations of Communist newspapers published in the British-American zone of Germany.

There are six Communist newspapers in the British zone of Germany, and I give below a list of their names and circulations. There are no Communist newspapers in the United States zone.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the composition of the German court which found that Theodore Wisch, S.S. Brigadefuehrer and commander of the Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler had no guilty knowledge of the criminal aims of the S.S.

The court in question was one of those set up under Military Government Ordinance No. 69 for the purpose of trying members of the organisations declared criminal by the Nuremberg Tribunal. It was composed, in accordance with the pro visions of the Ordinance, of a chairman qualified to hold judicial office and two lay assessors.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position of the case of the millionaire Cologne banker, Kurt von Schroeder, organiser of the Himmler Circle of Friends.

As a result of the appeals lodged against the sentence imposed by the Court of First Instance, to which reference was made in the answer given to my hon. Friend on 8th December, 1947, a re-trial has been ordered. The case will probably be heard within the next few weeks. Meanwhile, von Schroeder is still interned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why General Robertson is superseding General Macready in Frankfurt; and if he will give an assurance that the headquarters of the British Control Commission will not be moved from Berlin.

General Macready, who was previously regional Commissioner in Lower Saxony and has been for some time employed in Frankfurt, has been appointed Regional Commissioner for Land North/Rhine Westphalia and will take up that appointment as soon as his duties permit him to leave Frankfurt. No successor to General Macready has yet been appointed nor can the date of his move to Dusseldorf yet be decided. The answer to the second part of the Question is that the headquarters of the Control Commission is already divided between Berlin, Lubbecke and Frankfurt. The division of staff between these three places must clearly be the responsibility of the Military Governor. On the subject of our general policy in Berlin, I would refer the hon. Member to my statement in the Debate yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what military action the Arab Legion has undertaken in Palestine without the consent of His Majesty's Government.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that members of the Arab League, including Transjordan, have declared that they will invade Palestine; that preparations for this purpose are in progress; and what steps he is taking in the matter.

My attention has been drawn to reports to this effect. I have very seriously warned the Governments concerned against taking any action which would risk bringing them into conflict with the Mandatory Power.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what number and types of aircraft have been supplied to the Iraqi Government since March, 1947; what contracts or arrangements are outstanding for the delivery of aircraft to Iraq in the future; and the number of aircraft involved.

Since March, 1947, three Vickers Viking and three De Havilland Doves have been supplied to Iraqi Airways, the Iraqi Government airline. There are no contracts outstanding for the supply of civil aircraft for Iraq. Under a contract signed in October, 1946, six Doves have been supplied to the Royal Iraqi Air Force. These are civilian aircraft. A further contract was signed at the same time by the Iraqi Government for the supply to their Air Force of 34 Hawker Sea Furies, of which four are to be trainers. Seven of these aircraft have been delivered and it is expected that the order will be completed by next September. There are no other outstanding contracts for military aircraft.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what reductions in his staff are contemplated as the result of nationalising the coal, electricity and gas industries.

Resulting from nationalisation of the coal industry, the staff of the Ministry has been reduced by approximately 850 of all grades. Prior to nationalisation governmental functions in electricity were mainly exercised not by my Department but by the Electricity Commissioners. Under the Electricity Act, the Electricity Commissioners will be dissolved and their functions will be divided between the Ministry and the British Electricity Authority. Approximately 80 of the Commission's staff will be transferred to the Ministry—and the remaining 40 to the British Electricity Authority. I am not yet able to say what the position will be on the nationalisation of the gas industry.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give an estimate of the number of persons who will be employed in England and Wales in connection with the supply of school meals, in order that teachers may only have supervisory duties.

School meals are prepared and served by canteen staff, not by teachers; exceptions to this principle are rare, and should be remedied without appreciably increasing the present number of canteen workers. Good progress has been made in relieving teachers of clerical work connected with school meals, but it is not possible to estimate what further part-time help will be required for this purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to establish direct contact between ordinary trade channels in Britain and individual manufacturers in the U.S.A., as recommended by the European Co-operation Administration.

The methods of procurement of goods from the United States under the European Recovery Programme is still under discussion with the Administrator. Pending the outcome of these discussions no special steps are being taken to vary existing methods of procurement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now reply to the letter dated 3rd March, 1948, from the hon. Member for Merioneth dealing with the industrial position at Blaenau Ffestiniog, Merioneth; and what is the cause of the delay in answering.

I have been going into the question of the industrial position at Blaenau Ffestiniog and in the Nantlle Valley very carefully, and have decided to visit the area myself before coming to a decision on the issues raised in the letter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many men have started instruction as woodmen under the Forest Workers Training Scheme; how many gave up before completing the year's practical training; and how many have entered or qualified to enter a foresters' school.

The figures are 3,012; 1,295, and 279, respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a statement on the progress of the Forest Workers Training Scheme.

Of approximately 3,000 entrants to the scheme it is disappointing to report that owing to dislike of isolated conditions, separation from families, and failure to qualify for entrance to a Forester Training School, nearly 6o per cent. have left without completing the course. On the other hand, over 1,100 recruits have completed the course and have either gone into the industry as forest workers or have entered upon further training as foresters and foremen.