asked the Minister of Works if he will allow owners or occupiers to do work to the value of £10, excluding the value of their own labour.

In the period of six months ending 31st July next, an owner or occupier can put in hand work up to the value of £10, with the addition of £2 in each month, without having to apply for a licence. This excludes the value of his own labour.

asked the Minister of Works if he will make a statement on the increase in vandalism in London parks after dark; and the steps being taken to prevent it.

Vandalism in the Royal Parks in London after dark has greatly increased since the removal of the railings. Buildings are repeatedly broken into, chairs and other equipment damaged, and plants stolen. The shortage of park keepers and police makes prevention difficult, but I am endeavouring to recruit more park keepers and watchmen, and I am also providing fences and hedges wherever possible.

To what does the right hon. Gentleman attribute this deplorable state of affairs? Does he think it is due to shortage of police or to a general breakdown in the sense of public responsibility?

I would say—and this is my personal opinion—that just as after the first world war so after this war there has been a breakdown in the discipline of the young people of this country which will take some time to overcome.

Has my right hon. Friend considered making it clear to the general public that they should take care of these parks which after all, are their own property?

Will my right hon. Friend consider erecting notices appealing for better behaviour on the part of the users of these parks? That might have a better effect.

asked the Minister of Works what is the average cost of permanent houses built by his department's labour squad in respect of houses erected during the six months ended 30th September, 1947, and for the six months ended 31st March, 1948.

The average cost of the new permanent houses completed by the mobile labour force during the periods referred to was £1,668 and £1,777, respectively. The figures exclude the cost of roads, sewers and other external services. These houses were built to meet the requirements of other Departments, mainly in isolated areas where local labour was inadequate.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that all the houses were built in isolated areas? In view of the fact that a private builder is allowed only £1,300 to build a house, how can he justify his Department spending so much in building?

I want to make it clear that the mobile labour force is used in isolated areas where we find it difficult or impossible to get private industry to take on the job. This involves a good deal of transport, special terms so far as the guaranteeed week is concerned, London rates wherever the job may be, and favourable annual and public-holiday arrangements. In the first period referred to, these items involved £324 per house, and in the second period £375 per house. It will be apparent, therefore, that there is very little difference between the price to which the hon Member has referred to regard to construction by private industry.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that in every case before the job was given to the mobile squad private enterprise builders were invited to tender and refused to do so?

No, Sir, not in every case.

How does the Minister reconcile that answer with the one he gave on 26th April, which showed that the average price of building houses by the squad was estimated at £2,500?

That was a specific case of a particular type of house.

asked the Minister of Works the average cost of erection only of temporary prefabricated houses when erected by the mobile labour squad under the supervision of his Department and when erected by private contractors, respectively.

There is only one case where the mobile labour force has been employed on erection only and it is, therefore, not possible to make a fair comparison with the average cost of erection by private contractors.

How does the Minister reconcile that answer with the one he gave on 26th April when he stated that the price of 343 prefabricated houses, built by his squad at a cost of £397,070, did not include the cost of prefabricated components?

I am asked in this case to deal with the subject of erection only. In the other cases there was a good deal of site and slab preparation, and so on.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House comparative figures to show what his Department are spending and what private enterprise are charging?

As I have said, I have only one case where erection only has been done by the mobile labour force. While in that case it was done at a figure which was less than the cost in a considerable number of other cases of erection only by private enterprise, yet I do not think it would be fair to put that one instance in comparison with the general situation.

asked the Minister of Works whether he has considered the application of the Lancashire County Cricket Club to erect a temporary dining room at Old Trafford ground; and if he has given permission for this work to be done.

Yes, Sir, I have given instructions for the necessary building licence to be issued.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his answer tempts me to ask him whether the permit will be granted immediately, so that we can get on with the job before the Australians play Lancashire?

I understand that the secondhand steel necessary is available and that no timber or other controlled materials are required.

asked the Minister of Works what arrangements are contemplated or have been made for the provision in Regent's Park of canteen or restaurant facilities near the open-air theatre.

I hope, as soon as conditions permit, to provide a restaurant for visitors to the open air theatre.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the difficulty in obtaining delivery of horticultural boilers; and what steps he is taking to remedy the position.

There is a shortage of the larger size boilers, which are also used for industrial and other purposes. If my hon. Friend will let me have details of any particularly urgent demand, I will see whether it can be met without detriment to equally important orders.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will appoint a small committee to consider the statues for which his Department is responsible and make proposals for the re-siting of some statues and the possible removal of others, with a view to giving a better display to those statues which most merit it by reason either of the subject or the treatment.

No, Sir, I do not think that the expenditure of time and money upon such an inquiry at the present time would be justified.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, although his answer causes me deep disappointment, it will not affect our personal relationships?

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that he has not forgotten the question of King George IV's spurs in Trafalgar Square?

asked the Minister of Works whether he will make a statement about brick prices.

Yes, Sir. As the House will be aware, the price of common bricks throughout the country has hitherto been controlled by statutory order. I have considered whether in present conditions this control can be removed. Maximum prices were originally imposed because of a serious scarcity of bricks. There is now an ample supply of bricks to meet the present demand, and even to meet a substantial increase in that demand. In these circumstances I have decided to revoke the Brick Prices Orders with effect from 17th May, 1948.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman give a pledge in writing to increase the maximum price of bricks and did he not fail to carry out that pledge?

No, Sir, individually, I never gave such a pledge.

In view of the fact that hundreds of small brick manufacturers are holding large stocks for which the maximum price has been removed, what undertaking will the Minister give that they will be saved from financial loss owing to the folly of this Government?

I do not see that the folly of this Government is evidenced by the supply of bricks available at the present time.

Will he not give some undertaking that those brickmakers will be protected from actual loss?

asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of the inquiries already made into the production of certain building materials and into the distribution of building materials and components, he will consider the advisability of extending his inquiries to include the activities of the building industry.

Yes, Sir. I have decided to appoint a working party to inquire into the organisation and efficiency of building operations in this country. I am consider- ing the constitution and terms of reference of the working party and I will make a further announcement after the Whitsun Recess.

Will the Minister consider the desirability of including his own rather inefficient mobile labour force?

I am making constant inquiries into the operations of my mobile labour force. I consider that it is a most essential service at the present time.

Can the Minister give an assurance that the terms of reference of the working party will enable them to take account of the difficulties of the building industry and, of its sense of frustration at having to obtain permits and other documents from the regional authorities?

I will see that the terms of reference of the working party are free and open, but I do not accept the innuendo of frustration.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the headquarters of the Conservative Party and the headquarters of the Labour Party in the Chippenham Division have both been released from requisitioning for several years; and if he will now release the Liberal headquarters, in Chippenham, in order to avoid further penalisation of one political party.

Other accommodation for the Chippenham food office has now been found. It will take some months to prepare the premises for occupation, but as soon as they are ready the Liberal hall will be given up.

I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will not expect me to be very happy about that reply. Is he aware that this delay has been going on for more than two and a half years? Will he not consider doing something to free this hall so that the Liberals can go forward with their activities during this Summer?

I will do all I can to ensure that the hall is liberated as soon as possible. I quite understand the immense national importance of the activities there carried on.

Will the hall be large enough to hold the two Members of the Liberal Party?

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that his sarcastic answer will show that the Labour Party are prepared to penalise one political party at the expense of others.

The Minister's sarcastic answer does not deserve the same kind of reproof as do the terms of the Question, which was put to him:

"in order to avoid further penalisation of one political party."

In order that the House may follow the hon. Gentleman's argument, can he say to what purpose it is proposed to put these premises when they are freed?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what increase in establishment or upgrading of status of officers is contemplated for the Information Services in the North Rhine-Westphalia region;

No increase in the number of information officers in the North Rhine-Westphalia region is contemplated. On the contrary, it is proposed to reduce their total number by two. There will be some upgrading of status in the remaining posts so that information officers of a sufficiently high standard may be retained in the service or recruited to it. In the course of this re-arrangement one new officer has been appointed and three others recommended for appointment to information services in the North Rhine-Westphalia region. They have either journalistic qualifications or a specialised knowledge of foreign affairs. A Civil Service selection board in London was satisfied as to their suitability. Three officers who were in posts before the new appointment will be recommended for promotion when a new establishment is approved.

Am I to understand that although the total is being reduced, yet four new officers are being brought in from outside? Why could not suitable applicants have been found among people already employed?

I am assured that the most rigorous scrutiny was made of the people in the service. These new appointments demand specialised qualifications, and we have to look outside the service at least for some of them.

Am I to understand that the Minister is dissatisfied with the way in which these services have been carried on?

No, but I never have been satisfied. That is why we have had to look for people with specialist qualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent Polish troops are used in Germany for duties relating to interrogation and detention of suspected persons.

There are now no Polish troops in the British zone of Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is now the position of those convicted of murder in the British zone of Germany.

His Majesty's Government have reviewed the position in regard to the imposition of the death penalty in the British zones of Germany and Austria. In Germany, British subjects will, if charged with murder, normally be tried under English law, and will be subject to such penalty as is in force in England at the time. In view of the prospect of the law being amended during the current Session of Parliament, any death sentences on British subjects convicted of murder would, following the procedure in the United Kingdom, he commuted. In all the other cases where the death penalty can at present be imposed it has been decided to make no change. These cases are: War crimes and crimes against humanity; convictions for murder according to the German penal code, and convictions for serious offences against the security of the occupying forces under Military Government legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present meat ration in the British and U.S. bizone of Germany.

The present meat ration is 100 grammes per month for all consumer categories in the combined zones except for light and heavy coal miners, who obtain 3,210 and 4,400 grammes per month respectively. In Berlin the basic meat ration has been maintained at about 1,200 grammes per month.

Has that meat ration been met?

I am speaking about the ration which has been met

For the enlightenment of hon. Members, could the right hon. Gentleman say what percentage of the British meat ration this figure represents? Could he relate it to the British meat ration?

I am sorry. I am usually rather vain about my ability to do mental arithmetic, but that is beyond me.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions are in force in Berlin with regard to parcel post.

Quadripartite regulations governing the parcel post between Berlin and the four zones of occupation were agreed on 29th April, 1947, and the service began on 15th May, 1947. On 1st April, 1948, all parcels between Berlin and the four zones were held up on orders issued unilaterally by the Russians. Their object was to obtain substantial amendments to the regulations. These amendments were not acceptable to the other three occupying Powers. The matter is still under discussion in the Four Power Kommandatura.

asked the Minister of Food whether in view of hardships caused to mothers in the lower income groups owing to the considerable variation in price, ranging from 2s. 6d. to 6s. a tin, of the brands of baby food now on the market, he will arrange for proportionately larger supplies of the lower priced foods to be available to chemists' shops in working-class areas.

My Department does not control the distribution of proprietary infant milk foods, but the steps we have taken recently should ensure that reasonable supplies of the various brands are available in all districts. I shall be pleased to investigate any case of shortage of the cheaper brands in working-class areas if my hon. Friend will provide me with details.

Is it not a fact that the various types of baby foods to which I have referred in the Question are short because these quotas were rigidly adhered to, but that there are mounting stocks of unsaleable baby foods in chemist shops, while working class mothers are doing treks to try to get cheaper brands?

No, Sir. There is no allocation system, so far as the Ministry are concerned, for these brands. They are entirely in private hands. I would point out, of course, that National Dried Milk, at 10½. a packet, is readily available in all these areas.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the difficulties of families of canal boatmen who live upon their boats in obtaining regular supplies of rationed foods; and if he will grant such boatmen the extra cheese ration, or seamen's rations, where they are not permanently resident ashore.

I am confident that canal boatmen and their families get all their rations although they may not be able to draw them regularly; I am afraid I cannot allow them more because of their shopping difficulties.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that they are unable to get all their rations because these families are constantly on the move? Milk is one important item which they are not able to get regularly, on account of the fact that they are constantly on the move. Is it not a fact that the children have to suffer from the lack of at least this one commodity, and will my right hon. Friend look into this matter again and endeavour to help these families?

If my hon. Friend can give some details, we shall be interested to go into them; but these people do move along recognised routes, and my information is that they get their rations.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make it possible for the housewife to make more of her own jam this Summer by making available to the domestic consumer a larger allocation of soft fruit and of extra sugar for jam making.

I hope to be able to provide extra sugar for home made jam on last year's scale. We do not control the distribution of soft fruit; the quantity on sale will depend on the crop.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the reason he has so much manufactured jam on his hands at the moment is that housewives do not like it, will not buy it and would prefer to make their own, and will he not give them an extra allocation of sugar this year in order to defend the domestic arts against the encroachment of mass production?

That may be my hon. Friend's view on this, but we do give a considerable number of sugar bonuses for this purpose and we would like to increase them if supplies will permit.

Can the Minister say how much sugar allocated for jam is actually made into jam?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he really considers it is a fair allocation to give one lb. of sugar in lieu of a two-lb. pot of jam? One cannot make two lb. of jam with one lb. of sugar?

I can only say to the hon. and gallant Member that if he cannot perform this feat, almost everybody else can.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the fact that the Tomato Price Control Order was imposed at only three days' notice, causing great inconvenience and hardship to many growers, he will endeavour to give longer notice in future; if, as it was announced on 22nd March, 1948, that price control would only last six weeks, he will amend the present price control regulation from four months to two months; and will he state a definite date when price control will cease.

Supplies of home grown tomatoes ready for market at this time of the year are almost negligible and the imposition of price control on 27th April cannot have caused hardship to home growers, particularly as the decision to reintroduce price control of tomatoes this year was announced first in January and repeated in March and April. It is our intention to free tomatoes from price control as soon as supplies are plentiful enough.

Why does not the right hon. Gentleman own up? Is it not a fact that he has treated the home growers with lack of consideration? They do not know when this will end and they do not know why it has been prolonged longer than was promised originally. The right hon. Gentleman has not kept his promise.

I agree with none of those suggestions.

I shall raise this matter again. The right hon. Gentleman should own up when he is wrong.

asked the Minister of Food why he has allowed Mr. Ronald Martin, a Kentish builder transferred to work on one of the housing sites of the Ten- terden Rural District Council, to have his extra cheese ration transferred with him while he denies this to the other builders working on the same site and if he will now contribute to rural harmony by ensuring that all these men should receive their extra cheese ration.

Mr. Martin's case is being reviewed in view of the change in his employment. But I regret that I am unable to allow the special cheese ration for building wokers on housing sites for whom, as in this case, a packed meals service can he provided.

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that he intends to take away Mr. Martin's special cheese ration, because if he does that, is he aware that there is no packed meals service, and no café or canteen available? If he does not do that, how does he reconcile the position of having about 12 of these men without a special cheese ration and one with a ration?

I should have thought that the proper solution was to induce the Tenterden Rural District Council to provide a packed meals service. It is to that that we are addressing our attention.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the removal of potato rationing, he will now state the present stocks of potatoes in the country; how many tons of potatoes are held by his Department; and what is the cost to the taxpayer of the policy of rationing of the 1947 crop.

Stocks of potatoes, including those held by the trade, were estimated at 1st May to be 500,000 tons, of which 310,000 tons were held by the Ministry. On 1st May, 1947, stocks were 700,000 tons. The cost of the rationing scheme is estimated to have been some £500.

Does not the Minister's answer show the panic and folly of potato rationing; further, may I ask him whether he still has swedes and turnips on the brain?

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that his Department has recently reduced the price of potatoes to wholesale merchants, with the result that those traders who have been carrying stocks in order to even out supplies to consumers are now unable to sell except at a loss; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent this loss.

No, Sir, I could not be aware of this, as there has been no change in the price of potatoes to wholesale merchants.

I will put my question in a different way. Is it right that the Minister is allowing an extra £1 per ton marginal profit to wholesalers above that allowed by the 1947 Potato Order?

With respect, I do not think it is the case that that is happening.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has yet made an order to amend the Seizure of Food Order, 1948, and to bring its provisions within the powers conferred by the regulations under which it was made.

An order amending the Seizure of Food Order, 1948, has been made and came into force on 6th May. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

Did the right hon. Gentleman come to the conclusion that the original order was also ultra vires because it might have imposed a charge?

This matter was fully discussed on a recent occasion in this House. I would only say that I think that the new order puts the matter on a perfectly regular basis.

Mr. De la Bère.

The House was informed—

I called the next Question. I did not think that we wanted to Debate this matter which we debated the other night.

Was it unusual, Sir, for me to rise to ask a second supplementary question?

I called the next Question.

asked the Minister of Food whether in view of the improved food position and having regard to the favourable reports on the wheat crops for the coming season, he will now consider discontinuing bread rationing.

The House may rest assured that we shall de-ration bread the moment we can.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the practice of having to go without bread with courses at restaurants could easily be brought to an end now, as the position of wheat supplies throughout the world is, for once, satisfactory?

I am grateful for the hon. Member's optimism, but I will wait until a little nearer to the harvest before coming to a decision.

Why not do away with B.U.'s now?

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the difficulty of increasing the old age pensioners' ration of fresh milk, he will consider making them an allocation off points of evaporated or condensed milk.

I am sorry, but the extra tinned milk would require too great an expenditure in dollars, and this we cannot afford.

I thank my right hon. Friend for the courtesy of his intelligible reply on this important matter, and ask him whether, when he resumes imports of evaporated milk from the United States under the Marshall Plan, he will allocate some of the additional supplies to old people?

We will certainly consider that if and when we are able to resume imports.

Is the Minister aware of the difficulty which old people have in eating many of the ordinary foods and will he consider making it easier for them to get more fresh milk by making the certificate available for more than one month?

We will consider any detailed proposition which my hon. Friend can make on the matter.

asked the Minister of Food why it was necessary for the Food (Points Rationing) Order, 1947 (Amendment No. 9) Order, 1948 (S.I., 1948, No. 846) to come into operation on 25th April, the day after it was made and before it could be laid before Parliament; and why longer notice was not given of the provisions of the order.

The order came into operation on 25th April because that was the first day of a new rationing period. The order revises the points values of certain foods, and decisions upon the revision of points values cannot be made until the latest information about stocks is available. If such changes in points values were known to the public in advance, the equitable operation of the Points Rationing Scheme would be impossible. It was, therefore, neither desirable nor possible to make the order until immediately before the changes were to operate.

asked the Minister of Food if he is now in a position to reconsider the down-pointing of oatmeal in view of the large stocks now held by millers in Scotland and the consequent deterioration of the cereal.

I am giving this matter careful consideration, but according to my information the stocks of oatmeal held by millers are not unduly large.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a considerable number—I will not go as far as to say that there is a large number—of millers in Scotland who are hopelessly overstocked with oatmeal, and that the wholesalers will not take it because they have not got the points?

We know within a very small amount the total stocks. They amount to a very few weeks supply. Whether it is possible to make some imported oats available to millers, which would probably be necessary if this change were made, is another matter which we are considering.

Will the Minister undertake that the down-pointing of processed barley shall march hand in hand with the down-pointing of oatmeal?

That is a very desirable objective.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that two-thirds of Galley Hill Wood in the green belt area of Essex has, under an order obtained from the Timber Control Department of the Board of Trade, been felled without any prior consultation with either the Essex or London County Councils, who are the green belt authorities concerned, and without any reference to the Joint Planning Committee supervising that area; and whether, in order to preserve historic woodlands and in the interests of good forestry, he will transfer the control of the felling of growing timber to the Forestry Commission, coupled with an instruction that the town planning authority should always be consulted where the wholesale destruction of woodlands is involved.

In reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on Thursday, 22nd April. In reply to the second part, I do not consider that it is at present desirable to mall the transfer suggested by the hon. Member. I am satisfied that there is adequate co-ordination between all the Departments concerned in this matter.

May I ask the Prime Minister what qualifications the President of the Board of Trade has to be timber dictator of Great Britain, and is not this another example of dictatorship?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied with the total of 10,878 acres woods thinned by the Forestry Commission in the year 1945–46; and what fraction this represents of their total woods between the ages of 15 and 50.

Yes, Sir. I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the figure given on page 17 of the Twenty-seventh Annual Report of the Forestry Commissioners for the year ending 30th September, 1946. This area is approximately 5 per cent. of the total woods of the Forestry Commission between the ages of 15 and 50.

Does the right hon. Gentleman anticipate any improvement in these thinnings this year?

Yes. There was an increase last year of something like 3,500 acres, and that will continue to grow.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the Forestry Commission's accounts for the year ended 30th September, 1947, will be presented to Parliament.

The accounts of the Forestry Commission for the year ended 30th September, 1947, are due to be presented to Parliament by the Treasury in January, 1949; but statements of expenditure and income of the Forestry Commission will appear in the Commissioners' twenty-eighth Annual Report, which will be presented to Parliament this month, and will then be printed as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in how many counties the census of woodlands has been completed; and when, and where, the records will be open for inspection.

The census survey of privately-owned woodlands has been completed in 40 counties. The data for the first 20 counties is being summarised and will be completed within three months. The original maps and individual records for England and Wales are at Alice Holt Forest Research Station, Farnham, Surrey, and for Scotland at 35, Manor Place, Edinburgh, where they may be inspected. Copies will be made and deposited in conservancy offices, but I am unable to say when these will be available.

In view of the long distances to these places where the maps have been deposited, would it not be possible for the Minister to deposit copies with the county committees, so that they could be seen by the public without having to make these long journeys?

The distribution of records beyond conservancy offices would mean an enormous amount of work in copying the maps and record forms, and a vastly increased expenditure of paper as well.

Is the Minister aware that a conservancy represents about 10 counties, and that the time, petrol and labour wasted in visiting the conservancy offices will surely outweigh the work involved by making additional copies?

I cannot agree with the hon. Gentleman. Once the conservancy offices are supplied with copies, I think that ought to be quite sufficient.

asked the Minister of Agriculture under what circumstances the Forestry Commission has come to hold 56,500 acres of agricultural land; and what is his policy for the future management or disposal of such land.

When land is acquired for afforestation it is sometimes necessary to include parcels of agricultural land which cannot conveniently be divorced from the forest lands. Whenever possible, agricultural land that is not wanted for planting in the near future will be transferred to the Agricultural Departments for management. It is, however, convenient for a certain amount of agricultural land to be held by the Forestry Commission, particularly those areas which can be used to establish forest workers' holdings.

Does that reply mean that the Forestry Commission propose to farm this agricultural land, or will they hand it back to the owners?

I said in my reply that it will be transferred to the county committees for management.

Does the Minister mean that the total of 56,000 acres will be substantially reduced in the near future?

No. Surely, the hon. Member can only assume from my reply that, when the Forestry Commission purchase an area of land for afforestation, invariably some proportion of it is not suited for afforestation but is suited for continued agricultural use.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how far the import of forest tree seed into this country is at present the monopoly of the Forestry Commission.

At present, the Forestry Commission imports all seed of Corsican pine, Sitka pruce, Douglas fir and Japanese larch. This is by arrangement with representatives of the nursery trade associations and private owners.

Is the Minister aware that no seed of the Douglas fir has been imported this year, and does he imagine that that is the right way to see that proper quantities are available?

The woodland owners do not share the hon. Member's opinion, or they would not have invited the Forestry Commission to undertake the job.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what effect the recent blowing of fen land is likely to have upon the cropping programmes involved this year; and if he will consider before next Autumn whether the time has come for a carefully prepared cropping policy in the Fens that will ensure proper conservation of the soil.

I am advised that blowing of fen lands has not been abnormal this season, and does not justify any modification in cropping plans. In drawing up cropping programmes, any special circumstances in particular localities are always taken into consideration

Is the Minister aware that, in the opinion of many experienced farmers, the blowing of fen land, if it goes on, will create a great danger that the peat will disappear altogether, and the fertility of the soil as well, and will he do something about it?

My information is that the blowing this year has been greatly exaggerated in some newspapers.

Is the Minister aware that the solution to the blowing of fen land lies in gaulting the land and heavy rolling, and that where this is done in the Fens of Cambridgeshire, farmers have had little trouble?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether there is a quota limiting the number of German prisoners which can be recruited as civilian farm workers.

Yes, Sir. The number of German prisoners of war authorised for recruitment as civilian farm workers in England and Wales is 16,000. As stated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, on 25th March, this figure may be exceeded to enable a farmer to retain the services of a German who has been working for him regularly as a prisoner of war, if this is essential in the interests of food production.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why would-be employers are being informed by officers of the Minister of Labour that no such quota is in operation, nor has it been for some time?

I can only assure the hon. Member that 16,000 have been recruited, and that they are working here civilianised.

Is the Minister aware that, through the good offices of the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes) and the trade union movement, a considerable number of Germans are being obliged to return to the ruins of Germany although they do not want to go, and will he use his influence with the Minister of Labour to keep such men in this country, where they are willing and able to work, in order to help with the harvest, afforestation and agricultural work generally?

I think the House is aware that the Government took a decision some time ago that 16,000 German prisoners should be retained and civilianised, plus 4,000 for Scotland, and those numbers have been recruited.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the inconclusive results of the inquiry carried out by the Agricultural Research Council, he will instruct agricultural executive committees to refrain from ordering any further mass destruction of rooks until further investigation has been made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what instructions or advice he has sent to the county agricultural committees about the destruction of rooks this year.