asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now make a statement on the coal/oil conversion programme.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now make a statement on the coal/oil conversion programme.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of anxiety of manufacturers, he will indicate his future policy in regard to coal/oil conversion schemes.

The House will recall that the coal/oil conversion programme was started in the spring of 1946, at a time when our coal stocks were shrinking and there was plenty of fuel oil. By June, 1947, however, the oil supply position had changed radically and it was decided that no more conversion schemes could be authorised. By December, 1947, largely owing to the astonishing increase in American consumption, the world shortage had become more acute and it became necessary to defer the completion of unfinished schemes authorised earlier in the year.

Since then, there has been little improvement, while the closing of the Haifa refinery has created fresh difficulties. Accordingly, it will not be possible at present for all the postponed schemes to come into operation and in the majority of cases, the firms concerned must continue to burn coal, probably for some considerable time to come. The only exceptions to this will be schemes of conversion which have exceptional economic merit, e.g., in certain cases of steel, glass and pottery production, where the actual process of converting to oil is nearly completed. The firms concerned will be notified shortly.

Can the Minister give a guarantee that existing consumers of fuel oil will get their full supplies; and can he make any statement in regard to the oil firing of Bankside Power Station?

As regards the first part of the supplementary question, I think that we can take it that there will be sufficient oil for those firms which have already converted; it is because we want them to have enough oil that we have deferred the conversion of others. I have no statement to make about Bankside Power Station.

Will the Minister bear in mind that many of these industrial firms changed over to oil from coal at the Government's request, and will he see that those firms that carried out the Government's policy will not be put to any financial loss in the matter?

We cannot admit any claims for compensation of this kind. The process of conversion was a voluntary one, although I agree that the Government gave it encouragement.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much is the quarterly petrol allowance for a Ferguson tractor used on a farm.

The petrol allowances for tractors necessarily vary according to the work to be performed.

May I ask the Minister, if he cannot give a more precise reply, to make some statement of the Government's policy concerning these tractors; is he aware that they are all licensed now and many farmers are wondering how they are to carry on if they cannot get a further issue of petrol, as the present allowance is quite inadequate for their full use?

It is our policy to supply sufficient petrol for their use. If the hon. Gentleman knows of any instances of farmers not being able to get sufficient petrol, I hope that he will inform me.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when Messrs. A. C. King, Limited, of Devonshire Street, London, W.1, may expect a reply to their letters of 31st December, 5th March, 18th March and 13th April and their telegram of 7th April in respect of petrol application L/ 86752; and whether, in view of the fact that such failure on the part of the divisional petroleum offices to reply in a reasonable time can result in much hardship to applicants, he will take steps to ensure that more effective steps are taken by his officials to deal immediately with all claims and to provide adequate interim allowances pending a final decision.

An interim allowance was in fact issued last December but I regret that the question of a further allowance was overlooked. The further allowance has now been given.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, now that the vesting date of the electricity supply industry under the Electricity Act, 1947, has been reached and passed, he will soon announce the names of the chairmen and members of the area consultative councils.

I hope to be able to announce the names of the chairmen very soon. As regards the members, I have not yet received the views of all those whom I am required by the Act to consult before making these appointments, but I hope to complete the list within a few weeks.

In view of the adjustments now being made in electricity prices, will the Minister consider whether these councils should come into being fairly quickly so that representations can be made by the interested parties?

I am anxious that they should come into being as quickly as possible and will do my best to that end.

Will the Minister see that women are appointed to these consultative councils?

I will bear that point in mind.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether arrangements can now be made to supply the village of Hotham in East Yorkshire with electricity.

Under the Electricity Act, 1947, the responsibility for a supply of electricity to the village of Hotham falls on the Yorkshire Electricity Board, to whom inquiries on this subject should be addressed.

Will the Minister bear in mind that there are many rural districts which have been seeking to obtain electricity supplies for a number of years. Now that the Minister has an opportunity of showing what he can do in this way, will he take speedy action?

I am well aware of the need for rural electrification but, in any particular instance, perhaps the hon. Member would approach the Electricity Board concerned.

Would the right hon. Gentleman use his good offices by consulting his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, who can tell him that in this and many other cases in the East Riding of Yorkshire this is a matter of the greatest urgency, which should be considered at the Ministerial level?

It is certainly most desirable that we should catch up on the arrears of the past. There is no need for consultation. I am well aware of the views of my right hon. Friend.

Does the Minister recollect that before nationalisation an arrangement had been made between the National Farmers' Union and the electricity companies whereby rural electricity supplies could be clearly accelerated?

I know of no such arrangement.

This Question deals only with the supply of electricity for the village of Hotham.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will reconsider the decision not to grant the standard petrol ration as an addition to the total petrol permitted to a motorist in cases where the whole of the present grant is for the purpose of performing duties with the Territorial Army.

I regret that within the limit of the petrol available I am unable to grant any exceptions whatever.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that his decision means that those patriotic citizens who give up their time to learn how to defend their country will, by his decision, have to give up the use of their cars; and has he consulted his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on the effect this will have on Territorial recruiting?

This is one of a number of what we might term hardship cases that certainly arise under the new arrangements. I cannot make an exception in this case without letting in a flood of applications for other groups or persons, and have not the petrol to meet additional calls.

Regular officers attached to the Territorial Army who have to use Army vehicles are allowed to use any amount of petrol for their duties, yet we have this ridiculous anomaly that an officer who is not a Regular, but who gives his time for nothing, is not allowed to use petrol. How can that anomaly be allowed to continue?

It arises out of the normal difference between the Regular Army and the Territorial Army.

Is the House to understand that the Minister places duty to the country, in the shape of service in the Territorial Army, on a par with the ordinary business of other people?

No, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman repudiate the suggestion that the patriotism and recruitment of the potential Territorial depend on an issue of petrol?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if the Territorial recruiting scheme fails the whole of the conscription issue will be a waste of time; and will he answer the question whether he intends to consult the Secretary of State for War?

I cannot believe that recruitment for the Territorial Army would depend on whether or not additional petrol is made available to those concerned.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, and the refusal of the right hon. Gentleman to answer certain questions at all, I beg to give notice that I shall take the earliest opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that there are some 7,000 garages which have only one petrol pump, and which will suffer severely under the revised petrol rationing proposals; and if he can now say how he proposes to limit the hardship to owners of such garages.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on this subject in moving the Second Reading of the Motor Spirit (Regulation) Bill.

Is the Minister aware that these proposals will drive many of these garage proprietors out of business?

That is not my information.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the reason for the sharp fall in exports of coal to Denmark in the first quarter of 1948, as compared with the same quarter of 1947.

Exports of coal to Denmark, which ceased in February, 1947, with the general ban then imposed on coal exports, were not resumed until March this year on the conclusion of the Anglo-Danish Trade Agreement. Since then, more than three times as much coal has been exported to Denmark as in the first quarter of 1947.

Is the Minister aware that exports fell in the first quarter of 1948 from 21,000 tons to 1,789 tons, and is he satisfied that the lag on that will be caught up by the end of the year?

I have explained that exports were not resumed until March. I think that we can look forward with some confidence to achieving our objective in regard to exports.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power from what funds the losses of the National Coal Board are being met; and if he will give an assurance that none of these will fall upon the taxpayer.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 29th April to the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers).

In spite of the statement made by the right hon. Gentleman (the Prime Minister) in answer to a Question a week ago, is it not a fact that ultimately the loss does fall on the taxpayer; and that by giving the impression that losses do not matter at all he is doing a great disservice to the nation?

No, Sir, if the hon. Member will read my right hon. Friend's answer, he will see that that is not so.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) what was the average weekly loss incurred at Fauldhouse Colliery during the 12 months preceding the date of its being closed for the production of coal; and what amount of this loss was due to breakdowns of machinery and similar causes;

(2) what is the weekly cost incurred in using Fauldhouse Colliery as a training place for young miners; and whether it is possible to reduce the cost by producing coal as part of the training.

As regards losses incurred prior to the closure of Fauldhouse Colliery in April, 1946, I have no more detailed information than was given by my predecessor when he stated, in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend on 16th April, 1946, that the maintenance of this colliery in production had cost the Coal Charges Account £190,000 since 1942; nor have I any information as to the weekly cost of maintaining it as a group centre for preliminary training required by the Training Regulations before a person can be employed below ground. As preliminary training does not include training on work at the coal face, it would not be possible to produce coal as part of the training process.

Will my right hon. Friend examine the figures of production from the colliery prior to its being closed—I consider unjustifiably—when he will find that, notwithstanding all the difficulties, the colliery was producing up to a standard comparable with, and indeed better than, other pits in the vicinity? Regarding the second Question and the prospect of the coal which is there being brought to the surface, is anything going to be done to exploit that area of coal?

I am aware of my hon. Friend's views regarding this colliery, but it was closed two years ago and the question of whether it should be opened is entirely one for the Coal Board.

Is the Minister aware that the closing of this pit has brought great hardship to that particular community and that a general feeling exists that a good amount of coal is there and that every effort should be made to reopen the pit?

No, Sir. We have had the full support of the National Union of Mineworkers.

I wish to press my right hon. Friend regarding the suggestion of mining some of this coal from the surface and not through the existing shaft. When will that be proceeded with?

If there is a possibility of opencast production, I will certainly look into it.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what quantity of coal was lost as the result of industrial disputes in the mining industry in 1947; with similar figures for 1946.

The estimated quantity of saleable coal lost as the result of industrial disputes in the mining industry in the year 1947 was 1,643,500 tons. The corresponding figure for 1946 was 769,800 tons.

Would the right hon. Gentleman agree that those figures fully bear out the authoritative criticism of the Coal Board which was given last week in the speech of the Secretary of State for War?

I know of no such criticism, but I would point out that the figures for last year were just one-seventeenth of the amount of coal lost in the corresponding period after the last war.

Can the Minister give comparative figures of the quantity of coal lost for 1921 and 1936?

Would the Minister agree that the number of disputes and the quantity of coal lost in the first quarter of this year are greater than in the first quarter of last year?

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Health why an application made by Mr. Giles of Blackbridge Lane, Horsham, for permission to erect a bungalow in place of the hut which he occupies at present has been refused by his Department despite support of the application by the Horsham Urban District Council and the Medical Officer of Health for West Sussex, based on the insanitary condition of the hut and the health of the applicant.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give authority to the Seaford Urban District Council to issue a licence in order to enable a private firm of builders to build a house in the case of which he was sent details on 21st April by the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Lewes; and whether he is aware that this case is typical of many others throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Health why an application for a building licence from Mrs. Ratley, of 3, Wink-worth Road, Banstead, whose husband is suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis and is now living in and has so far only been offered inadequate accommodation has been turned down; and whether, bearing in mind that the refusal of this permit is likely to cause further serious deterioration in Mr. Ratley's health, he will now reconsider his decision.

I will, with permission, answer Questions Nos. 28, 31 and 67 together. I am making inquiries into the possibility of making some relaxation in the conditions under which licences are given. I hope to make a statement in connection with the review of the housing programme in June.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. My Question, No. 31, referred to an invididual case. How is it possible for the Minister to answer that with other Questions?

The Question of the noble Lord also refers to an individual case but all the Questions belong to the same category of cases.

Are we not entitled to put a Question about an individual case? When we do, it should not be taken together with other individual cases.

The Questions refer to applications for licences to build houses either to sell or to occupy, and it was in connection with that that my answer was given.

My Question, No. 67, refers to the case of somebody who wants to build a house. Unless he can get a house the chance of his health further deteriorating will be very great.

So will the health of a large number of tenants who might not be able to get houses on councils' lists because other people with money can build houses to sell.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he will make his announcement? Will it be at the beginning or end of June?

I can assure the House that it will be as soon as possible, because I am hoping that I shall be able to announce some relaxation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the insinuation he made against my constituent was most unfair? In this case it is not a question of money, but of health. Surely, the right hon. Gentleman has done enough against the health of the country without doing this.

There are many people without health, and with no money.

On a point of Order. Is it not only with a Member's permission, Sir, that his Question can be answered with other Questions.

If the Member declines to give permission it means repeating the answer originally given, which would be rather a waste of the time of the House.

Further to that point of Order. Is the Minister aware that I did not give my permission for the Minister to answer Question No. 31 with another Question.

It is also possible that having heard that the Question has been answered before I might not call it again.

May I ask Question No. 31, Sir.

That Question has already been answered.

No.

Yes, with Questions No. 28 and 67.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the person referred to in Question No. 31 gave the best years of his life to his country while serving in an unpleasant climate, overseas? Is not the political spite of the right hon. Gentleman intolerable?

Hear, hear.

I wish hon. Members, instead of saying "Hear, hear," would read Erskine May, where they would see that imputations and insinuations are not allowed. As they would not, therefore, be allowed on the Order Paper they should not be said in supplementary questions.

On a point of Order. As I understand your Ruling, Mr. Speaker, Question No. 67 is not yet answered. May I, therefore, have that answer?

I did not rule that way. I understand that the Question has been answered with another Question and that the hon. and gallant Gentleman asked a couple of supplementaries on it. If he had asked no supplementaries on it, it might have been another matter. After all, one cannot have it both ways.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the concern of the St. Marylebone Borough Council at the loss of hostel accommodation at 42–46, Weymouth Street, W.1, formerly used by the Church Army and now to be used as offices by the Canadian Government Immigration Branch, in view of the shortage of suitable housing accommodation in St. Marylebone; and why was approval given, in view of the fact that several other properties, a list of which was submitted to him prior to his decision being given, were available for office accommodation and unsuitable for housing.

Yes, Sir. As I have already informed the hon. Member, I very much regret the loss of this hostel accommodation. Approval was given because of the Canadian Government's urgent need for office accommodation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he himself, by this action, has done exactly what he has asked local authorities to refrain from doing? By his reactionary decision he is frustrating the housing progress of the borough of St. Marylebone.

In a great capital city like London I have to weigh one claim against another. I am sure the hon. Gentleman would agree that sympathetic and courteous consideration should be given to an application by the Canadian Government.

I am not suggesting that anything but sympathetic and courteous consideration should be given to an application by the Canadian Government, but I would remind the right hon. Gentleman that there are other places than this which could have been used.

We cannot accept that.

asked the Minister of Health whether in view of the fact that there are large stocks of bricks and timber in the S.E. Region, and increasing unemployment among building workers, he will now issue licences for private building in the Herne Bay and Whitstable areas.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the Question from the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) on 18th March, of which I am sending him a copy.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are many builders in the country who are not engaged on any local authority work, and that those referred to in my Question have given a definite guarantee that they could build 200 houses a year? Ought they not to be allowed to get on with the job?

The guarantee is in reference to their capacity to build, which depends on the stocks of timber which are available—and I know more about that than the local builders.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the stocks of bricks and timber in the South-East region are larger than they have ever been in history.

Yes, and they are all mortgaged for the housing programme.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have more unemployed bricks in my constituency than constituents?

That is a remarkable revolution when we realise that in the past the hon. Member had many more unemployed constituents than bricks.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make arrangements for local authorities to furnish tenants on request with information provided by Section 40 of the Rating Valuation Act, 1925, in order that they may ascertain their position under the Rent Restrictions Acts.

No, Sir. A landlord of a controlled house may be obliged, under the Rent Restrictions Acts, to inform his tenant what the standard rent is; and if he fails to do so, local authorities have powers, which I hope they will use in suitable cases, to institute proceedings.

asked the Minister of Health why he has refused to issue a licence for the erection of two bungalows in Hayes Mead Road, West Wickham, Kent; and, in view of the fact that the site is cleared, water mains laid on and the foundations laid, and that Mr. Sharman intends to do the work by unpaid labour in his free time, if he will now reconsider the matter and grant a licence.

If Mr. Sharman can satisfy the Council that he does not propose to use any paid labour, and has all the necessary materials in his possession, there will be no objection to the issue of a building licence.

For once, may I thank the Minister Does he not realise that if he is unreasonable in granting this permission it only encourages people to break the law?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there are eleven families, eight of them engaged in agriculture, urgently requiring housing accommodation in the village of Sutton on Forest, and that as he has limited the allocation of houses to the whole rural district to 18, this village can only be allotted four houses; and whether in view of these facts he will increase the allocation of houses to the Easingwold Rural District.

The allocation of additional houses to the Easingwold Rural District Council for the period from 1st October to 30th June is 52, for 18 of which sites still remain to be acquired.

asked the Minister of Health whether the same priority in regard to housing is now to be accorded to fishermen as to agricultural workers; and whether in particular he will have houses allocated on this basis for fishermen at Newlyn.

I am anxious that fishermen shall have a proper share of the houses which it is possible to approve in their home areas, and I have no doubt that the local authorities will allocate a reasonable proportion to them according to their needs. I will render any assistance that I can.

While I do my best to understand the unintelligible, surely the Minister is aware that the Secretary of State for Scotland said that in Scotland at any rate he would consider the special circumstances of fishing areas and have houses available for fishermen on the lines of those for agricultural workers? Why cannot we have the same thing in England?

If the hon. and learned Gentleman will read what I have said, he will find out that I have said almost the same thing in simpler language. I will render any assistance that I can.

asked the Minister of Health in respect of how many properties have applications been received from local authorities in the South-Eastern area for power to requisition for residential purposes in each of the last four quarters; and, of each quarterly total, how many applications were granted, refused and withdrawn.

It is not necessary for clerks of local authorities to submit applications, since I have delegated to them powers to requisition unoccupied premises. Statistics of the kind in mind are, therefore, not available.

Is it not the case that all proposals by local authorities for requisitioning must be approved by the right hon. Gentleman's regional officers?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses are due to be completed in Hunts during 1948; and what percentage of them are likely to be occupied by agricultural workers.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his Question on 19th February.

Is the Minister aware that this is an entirely different Question and that the local authorities and the National Farmers' Union in Huntingdonshire are very concerned as to what plans they are to make for the future of farming there because they just do not know the future housing programme? Will he endeavour to enlighten those who are concerned?

If the hon. Gentleman will look at my reply, he will see that it is exactly apposite to his Question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has completed his arrangements, in consultation with the Minister of Agriculture, for getting the agricultural executive commitees and the rural district councils to join together in framing estimates of the houses required for farm workers; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir. The committees and the rural district councils are now engaged in framing estimates.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will grant authority to local authorities to meet the cost of conversion of wireless sets and other electrical equipment of rehoused families, many of whom have been removed from their former homes by the local authorities by compulsory order.

I have no power to authorise this expenditure.

Would the Minister introduce legislation to make such allowances to these people who are suffering only because of a change from D.C. to A.C. in circumstances of which he is well aware?

I do not propose to ask the House for legislation. The State cannot come to the assistance of every citizen for every form of expenditure.

Is it not a fact that such compensation is granted to tenants where local authorities convert from D.C. to A.C. and, therefore, in cases where the local authorities compulsorily remove tenants into other property, should not they make similar compensation?

It was the normal thing before the war, as hon. Members know very well, that individuals were called upon to adapt themselves to these transformations.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now announce the result of his consideration of an amendment of the basis laid down in Regulation 29 of the Health Service (Superannuation) Regulations so as to enable the officers of mental deficiency institutions to get a just measure of benefit in respect of their future service.

My proposal is embodied in draft amending regulations which have been circulated to the interests concerned for their comments. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that promised legislation is anxiously awaited to enable district nurses, transferring their services to the local health authority, to have the option of continuing their policies in the Federated Superannuation Scheme for Nurses, as already granted under comparable conditions to hospital nurses, it is his intention to introduce a Bill to this effect before 5th July.

The enabling power is in Clause 2 of the Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. I hope that the Bill will make sufficiently rapid progress to enable me to make the necessary regulations before 5th July.

asked the Minister of Health if he has studied details which have been sent him about the position of doctors' wives under the Health Act; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Health what answer he has given to the request by the League of the Doctors' Wives, asking him to postpone the introduction of the National Health Act, until he has the necessary buildings, equipment and trained personnel, to carry out his comprehensive Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health if he will provide assistance for those doctors for whom, and for whose households, the National Health Service will cause increased secretarial work, telephone attendance and aggravated domestic disturbance; and whether he has considered representations from the League of Doctors' Wives in this matter.

As I have told those concerned, I think there is a tendency to overestimate the effect of the new service upon the position of doctors' wives. In any case I do not believe that they, on reflection, would wish to deprive the rest of the community of the benefits of the scheme by postponing the appointed day.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that doctors' wives who have no domestic help may find that the new Health Service will bear hardly upon them? If so, will he take action with the Minister of Labour to try to ease their domestic situation?

If it is found that extra work is thrown upon doctors' wives, and that they find it burdensome, we shall consider what help we can give in the provision of domestic service. But I would remind the hon. and gallant Gentleman, and Members in all parts of the House, that there are other wives with onerous burdens as well as doctors' wives.

asked the Minister of Health why the New Health Service Information Leaflet, now being distributed, does not state the weekly cost of the stamp contribution; and if he will authorise a statement giving the rate that each party will pay.

asked the Minister of Health why the weekly cost to the individual is not given in the pamphlet recently issued on the new National Health Service.

The National Health Service is not dependent on a stamp contribution, which is a matter for National Insurance. My right hon. Friend the Minister of National Insurance will shortly be issuing a booklet to all householders describing the contributions and benefits of the National Insurance Scheme.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he is not influenced in any way by the fact that much of the new Health Service of the nation will not be available for the next 20 years?

In every part of the world there must be limitations upon health services because of their dependence on the medical and physical resources available at any given time.