asked the Secretary of State for War why the claim, details of which have been sent to him, for compensation on Tennyson Farm, Gibraltar Point, Skegness, which was de-requisitioned on 25th April, 1946, has not yet been settled; and whether he is aware that a serious loss of agricultural production has been caused by this delay of two years.

My Department is not responsible for the delay in settling this claim. The original claim for compensation was received on 17th August, 1946. The claim was submitted on behalf of the tenant and it was not clear that the owner had given the tenant authority to receive the compensation. The tenant's agents were asked for the necessary authority on 8th November, 1946. Despite reminders the Department heard nothing definite until 8th October, 1947, when the owner authorised the submission (by another firm of agents) of a joint claim on behalf of himself and the tenant and put in a revised claim four times the amount of the original one which was further increased by a revised claim on 22nd January, 1948. There has been some discussion since with the agents on the basis of the prices in the claim and a meeting is to be arranged shortly at which it is hoped this will be settled.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present number in the Polish Resettlement Corps who are still without employment.

Approximately 30,000 members of the Army Polish Resettlement Corps are still awaiting resettlement. A number of these are employed on administrative duties in the Polish Resettlement Corps or work for the Army, or in running family camps and civilian workers' hostels on behalf of the Assistance Board and the National Service Hostels Corporation; about 1,800 are undergoing training with a view to fitting them for civilian employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the reason for the long delay in repairing the Fair Isle mail boat the "Good Shepherd"; and when she is likely to be ready.

Financial and practical difficulties have delayed the carrying out of the extensive repairs required. The Department of Agriculture agreed to provide financial assistance in the hope that this would expedite the work, and while I cannot say when the "Good Shepherd" will again be on the service, I hope that the repairs will not be unduly delayed. In the meantime, the present temporary service will be continued.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the damage done to stamp dealers and collectors by the prohibitive cost of the £1 labels issued in the Colonies to commemorate Their Majesties' Silver Wedding, he will, in future, order that commemorative issues should be issued by the Crown Agents only at a face value in general postal use and appealing to the widest possible body of purchasers of postage stamps so as to encourage the collection of these historical labels.

The general policy with regard to commemorative issues of Colonial postage stamps is to confine them to the lower values but in the case of the issue commemorating the Silver Wedding it was decided to follow the lead of this country by having one stamp of or above the highest denomination in their current series.

asked the Minister of Transport what changes in the staff of his Department are contemplated as the result of the nationalisation of the inland transport industry.

So far as railways are concerned, I would refer to the answer which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. S. Marshall) on 16th February, 1948. The Caledonian and Crinan Canals and Holyhead Harbour were transferred to the British Transport Commission on 1st April, 1948, the reduction in the non-industrial staff of the Department being ten. Other reductions of staff will be possible, mainly in the offices of licensing authorities for goods and public service vehicles, when the British Transport Commission themselves operate road transport services.

asked the Minister of Food what are the products of the British Colonies that are subject to price control regulations by his Department; what are the current fixed prices paid to the producers; and at what intervals and subject to what conditions are such prices made.

The products imported from the British Colonies which are subject to price control regulations by the Ministry of Food are cocoa, coffee, vegetable oils and oilseeds, sugar, tea, fruit and canned fruit, meat and meat products, butter, honey, starch, sago, tapioca, arrowroot, tomatoes, onions and potatoes. I am not prepared to disclose the price at which the Ministry purchases its supplies from different sources. The Ministry normally buys from producers' organisations or from the Governments concerned at varying intervals according to the different commodities and is not responsible for the prices paid by these organisations or Governments to the individual producers or for the conditions to which those prices are subject.

asked the Minister of Food when prices of home-grown soft fruits will be announced, especially of strawberries; and if he will this year abolish all price restrictions.

I announced as long ago as December, 1946, that soft fruit prices would not be controlled in 1948, and this statement has been repeated at intervals since then; this decision is, of course, subject to there being no unforeseen calamity, such as heavy frosts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances civil servants who have retired are required to forego the whole or any part of their pensions upon entering into other remunerative employment.

Under Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, a civil servant who has retired and is "appointed to fill any office in any public department" may, whilst so employed, only receive so much of his pension as, when added to the pay of his new office, does not exceed the pay of his old office.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why Mr. F. A. Walker who was discharged from the Ministry of Transport office in Blackpool for redundancy reasons on 31st December, 1947, has not yet received the gratuity to which he is entitled.

Award of a gratuity to Mr. Walker has been authorised and payment will be made as soon as the application form sent to him on 29th April is presented to the Paymaster-General's Office.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information showing the number of bankruptcies of building contractors for a representative pre-war year, for 1947 and for the early months of 1948.

For the years 1934–1938, the average number of bankruptcies in all trades was 3,324, of which 305 were builders. In 1947 the corresponding figures were 626 and 78, and for the first quarter of 1948 they were 253 and 26.

pursuant to his statement [OFFICIAL REPORT, 6th May, 1948; C. 1469–72], supplied the following information:Boys', girls' and infants' footwear and rainwear made wholly or mainly of plastic sheeting becomes coupon free.Adults' footwear: all coupon pointings halved except for crepe-soled shoes.Crepe-soled shoes are no longer classed with footwear with soles of leather and the coupon rate is accordingly substantially reduced.Gloves: all coupon pointings halved.Coupon pointings for certain waterproof garments reduced as follows:—Waterproof garment (mackintosh, raincoat, cape, cloak, jacket, trousers or like garment) unlined or saddle-lined and of single texture material other than Group I material or gaberdine.Men's and women's reduced to 4 coupons.Boys' and girls' reduced to 3 coupons.Infants' reduced to 2 coupons.