asked the Minister of Food what is the value in dollars of the total exports of sugar and confectionery from this country during 1947.

The value of our total exports of sugar and confectionery in 1947 was about 13 million pounds sterling but by far the greater part was supplied, in continuation of wartime arrangements, to countries in the Commonwealth for which we have purchasing responsibility and with considerable advantage to ourselves, to foreign countries, which the International Emergency Food Committee asked us to supply. Commercial exports, which were resumed towards the end of the year as a result of the change in policy which I announced in July last, brought in about 830,000 dollars on confectionery and the equivalent of 10 million, 4 hundred thousand dollars on refined sugar.

asked the Minister of Food what price he is currently paying for groundnuts from British West Africa; and how this compares with world prices.

The current landed price of British West African groundnuts, as will appear from the Board of Trade returns, is £45 per ton C. and F. The only other groundnuts which we buy come from East Africa and India. The East African price is about the same, and the Indian price, for a small quantity, is higher.

asked the Minister of Food what was the total quantity of pigeon feedingstuffs allocated to pigeon keepers during the past year.

About 4,400 tons of national pigeon mixture was supplied to members of the National Pigeon Service during the past year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the delay, arising in his Department, in the issue of licences for the building of farm cottages; and if he will take steps to lessen the period between application and issue.

My Department does not issue licences but makes recommendations to the licensing authorities. I am not aware of any avoidable delay.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take steps to avoid the dispossession of the allotment holders on the Blue Horn Allotments, Sunderland, until the end of the present growing season.

This site is urgently required for an infants' school, and building work must be started in the very near future. I am afraid, therefore, that I should not be justified in intervening.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will arrange for a public meeting to be called in Oxford to allow local milk producers to discuss with representatives of the Milk Marketing Board grievances over the existing system of checking alleged shortages in deliveries to distributors.

The Milk Marketing Board is always prepared to discuss any such grievances with milk producers, and to do its best to protect their interests without my intervention.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the continual complaints from farmers of sheep-worrying by dogs, he will instruct agricultural executive committees to co-operate with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and to display extensively in the areas concerned the special posters which have been prepared by that Society addressed to dog owners on this subject.

I feel sure that agricultural executive committees generally are already fully prepared to do all they can to help in this matter of sheep-worrying by dogs, but I will circulate to them copies of the hon. Member's Question and of this reply.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the shortage of barbed wire for farming purposes; and whether he will make a statement.

My attention has been drawn to a small number of cases where farmers have had difficulty in obtaining supplies of barbed wire. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply that he is unaware of any general shortage, but I will continue to take up with him any specific cases of difficulty of which I am given particulars.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many workmen have been dismissed from the afforestation project at Cwmgwrach, Glamorganshire; and if, in view of the absence of alternative employment locally, he will consider reinstating these men.

As a result of the cuts in capital expenditure 166 men engaged on forest road construction at Cwmgwrach have been discharged. Work is now confined to those roads most urgently required, and I regret that I am unable to arrange for the re-instatement of these men.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many workers who were employed on afforestation schemes in Wales have been rendered redundant as a result of cuts in capital expenditure; and what are the prospects of providing alternative employment for these men.

Two hundred and eighty-one workers (including 66 Poles) who were engaged on forest road construction have been discharged. I regret that the Forestry Commission have no alternative work to offer in these districts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the inconvenience to woodland owners, their agents and foresters, arising from the decision of the Forestry Commissioners not to arrange for access to the new woodland census returns, except at Conservancy Offices; and if he will remedy this.

Yes. But I do not consider that wider distribution would be practicable at present.

asked the Minister of Transport what amounts of iron and timber produced in North Wales during the past 12 months have been allocated to the repair of railway wagons in other parts of the country.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is the intention of British Railways to waive the retiral of able bodied men, notably signalmen, at 60 years of age during the present shortage of experienced and efficient railway workers, as was the practice during the war, and in order that the 44 hours agreement may be implemented.

Under the Transport Act, 1947, the terms and conditions of employment of railwaymen are matters primarily for the British Transport Commission and the unions concerned. I have brought the hon. Member's Question to the notice of the Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will inquire into the dangerous state of the Queslett Road, Great Barr, Birmingham, and instruct the responsible local authorities to widen, kerb and channel and light this road, impose a 30 m.p.h. speed restriction; and provide an adequate foot-path for pedestrians.

These are matters primarily for the local and highway authorities and I have no power to give them instructions According to my information, the expenditure of labour and money which the improvements suggested would involve would not be justified in present circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in view of public uneasiness about road accidents he will renew his poster campaign urging care on all users of the roads before the institution of the standard petrol ration on 1st June.

I intend to issue a new series of road safety posters. Press advertisements on road safety at the beginning of June will include special reminders to those about to take out their cars again.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will reconsider his decision to withdraw the subsidies on bus fares for 1,600 persons employed by the Gloucester Aircraft Company, in view of the fact that to do so will result in a substantial increase in the workers' cost of travel at a time when His Majesty's Government are anxious that wages and salaries should not be increased.

No. It is desirable that such wartime expedients should now be brought to an end.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that Messrs. R. G. Garvie and Sons, Engineers and Millwrights of Aberdeen, have had to stop overtime work on the manufacture of threshing machines and other agricultural implements owing to the shortage of small sections of black mild steel and ball bearings; and, in view of the urgent need for these implements, if he will direct that an increased supply be made available for them as requested in their letter of which he has notice.

Yes. I hope that as a result of action already taken by the Ministry of Supply, this firm will receive supplies of the small mild steel sections they need. My hon. and learned Friend has already been informed that arrangements have been made for the bearings to be delivered by the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Supply how many publicly owned magnesium factories were in production in 1945, how many of these are still in public ownership and still producing; and what is the present output of the magnesium industry.

Three Government owned factories were producing magnesium in 1945 and the premises are still Government owned. There is at present no production of new ingot magnesium. Stocks in this country are sufficient to meet demands for some time to come, and if existing capacity were put into production, the cost would be uneconomic in relation to world prices.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the total amount of German scrap metal imported into this country since the beginning of 1948; and what percentage this figure represents of the amount anticipated for the whole year.

Between 1st January and 30th April, 1948, about 167,000 tons of iron and steel scrap were imported from Germany. I am unable to forecast how much will be delivered during the whole year.

asked the Minister of Supply what was the export target for British motorcars during the month of March; and whether this figure was reached.

An export target in terms of value has been set for the motorcar industry for the end of 1948. A separate target was not set for the month of March. We have, however, asked the industry generally to export 75 per cent. of total production and the industry is to be warmly congratulated on reaching this high figure.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that there is a grave shortage of steel available for use in the shipbuilding and shiprepairing yards in Aberdeen; that this is causing a diminution in production and an increase in unemployment there; and will he take steps to increase the supply of steel there immediately.

I am aware that the shipbuilders in Aberdeen in common with those in the rut of the United Kingdom are unable to secure authorisations for all the steel they desire. Shortage of steel must result in some fall in production and possibly in employment, but I have no evidence that these effects are more marked in Aberdeen than in other parts of the country. I regret that it is not possible to increase the current allocations made to Aberdeen firms.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what approximate percentage of ratings in Release Group 75 have not yet been released; why the demobilisation of P/KX667489 Stoker Mech. J. Hodges, H.M.S. "Resource," c/o F.M.O. Portsmouth, has not been effected; and what will be the date of his release.

About 28 per cent. of the maximum number of ratings in Release Group 75 have not yet been released. I understand that Stoker Mechanic Hodges is in Release Group 76. He has been retained under the Military Necessity Clause but his relief joined H.M.S. "Resource" on 5th May and he will be dispersed within the next few days.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a tourist voucher, issued in accordance with S.I., No. 767, may be accepted in satisfaction of the supply of several goods drawn from more than one item number in the schedule, provided they do not exceed the coupon value of one item in the schedule.

No. There is perhaps some misunderstanding about the effect of the first schedule to the Statutory Instrument. The licence states that a voucher may be used in lieu of coupons for the supply on one occasion only of any one rationed article. The only case in which more than one article may be supplied against a voucher is if the purchase is any one of the named Items 1–12 in the Schedule.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is yet in a position to make a statement on the rationing of utility furniture.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on this subject on 6th May.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the total quantity of fuel purchased by French fishing trawlers at Plymouth during 1947 and up to April, 1948.

No oil fuel was supplied to these vessels at Plymouth in 1947. About 700 gallons were purchased by French fishing trawlers in the first four months of 1948. No coal however, was supplied in either period.

asked the Minister of Education the total cost of the administration of education in England and Wales for the years 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945.

The cost of my Department's administration and inspection and expenses incidental thereto (Subheads A and B of the Departmental Vote) in the four years beginning 1st April, 1942, was £646,066, £666,447, £710,252 and £902,252 respectively. The expenditure of local education authorities on administration and inspection, etc., for the same years was, according to the latest available figures, £5,021,000, £5,126,000, £5,594,000 (provisional), and £6,706,000 (provisional). Comparative figures (based on estimates) are given each year in the Memorandum on the Estimates of my Department, to which I would refer the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education what is the maximum award for a State scholarship; when the figure was last reviewed; and on what basis the figure was selected.

The maximum value of a State scholarship depends on the university or university college at which it is held. The highest figure is that for Oxford and Cambridge Universities, which amounts to £205 for maintenance in addition to fees. Additions may be made for certain special expenses. The standard figures of maintenance for the different universities are settled on the advice of scholarship committees composed of university representatives and are reviewed every three years or more often. The present rates were introduced in 1946.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances police officers who have retired are required to forego the whole or any part of their pension upon entering into other remunerative employment.

In general police pensioners are not required to surrender any part of their pension on taking up other remunerative employment, but a police pension may be suspended in whole or in part at the discretion of the police authority paying the pension when the pensioner takes service in any police force other than in a temporary capacity. Police pensions are also subject to forfeiture under Section 4 of the Police Pensions Act, 1948, which gives discretion to the police authority to forfeit a police pension in whole or in part (1) if the pensioner, having been given reasonable previous warning, enters into or carries on any business, occupation or employment which is illegal or in which he has made use of the fact of former employment in a police force in a manner which is discreditable or improper or (2) enters into or continues in any business, occupation or employment as a private detective after the police authority have given him notice in writing requiring him on any reasonable grounds not to do so.

asked the Minister of Health what are the timber and steel content in a permanent aluminium bungalow and an aluminium two-storey house.

One standard of timber and 10 lb. of steel are used in the permanent aluminium bungalow. At present no two-storey aluminium houses are being manufactured.

asked the Minister of Health the number of standards of timber allocated in 1947 to nontraditional aluminium and traditional houses respectively; and similar figures for the quarter ended 31st March, 1948.

Five thousand, nine hundred and fifty-six standards of softwood were allocated to permanent aluminium bungalows in 1947, and 3,858 standards of softwood in the first quarter of 1948. It is regretted that no figures are available on the amounts of timber specifically allocated to traditional houses.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state in tabulated form the average rents being charged in each of the county boroughs of England in respect of council houses erected since 1945; and the amount included in such houses in respect of repairs.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is being taken, following on the Report of the Dalgleish Commission to inquire into the advancement of Africans in industry in Northern Rhodesia; in particular, for what posts, suggested as suitable for Africans, technical training will be provided in the first instance; what technical training facilities already exist in Northern Rhodesia; how many Africans are benefiting from these; and for what jobs are they being trained.

The recommendations of the Dalgleish Commission are at present under consideration by the Government of Northern Rhodesia and I am not yet able to say therefore what action will be taken to implement them, or what additional facilities for technical training will be provided. At present, technical training in building work, carpentry and metal work is provided by a three-year industrial course at Munali Training Centre, near Lusaka, for 71 pupils. On completion of this course the pupils may be employed as artisans by Government, missions or privately or may take an instructor's course at Munali in the same subjects. At present 15 pupils are taking the further course and will go as instructors to Government and mission institutions. There is also a six months' course at Munali designed for self-employed men in rural areas, while 24 ex-Askari are taking in either building work, carpentry, tailoring or tanning and leather work; also a two years' course at Lukashya Training Centre, near Kasama, in building work and carpentry for 50 ex-Askari which is designed to produce artisans for Government and private employment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the allocation from the sterling area pool of dollars and other hard currencies to Burma, Ceylon, India and Pakistan respectively during 1947.

I am not prepared to give information of this nature about individual sterling area countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the grounds which prevent the publication of figures of allocation of steel and timber among the various industries for which they constitute raw material; and if he will consider publishing these figures in the "Monthly Digest of Statistics."

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher) on 10th February, 1948.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that large numbers of workers are being dismissed from many of the new industries in South Wales owing to shortages of raw materials; and if, in view of the high percentage of unemployment in the area, he will give these industries a special priority in the allocation of raw materials.

I am aware that workers have been dismissed in South Wales owing to shortages of raw materials. I can confirm that in making allocations of materials the effect of those allocations on employment, and particularly in the development areas, is a factor which is taken into account.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many civil servants have been dismissed or transferred, respectively, since 15th March to the latest available date.

This information is not available centrally.