asked the Minister of Health how many hospital beds are empty because of the shortage of nurses; whether the number is increasing or decreasing; if he is satisfied with the steps being taken to remedy this situation; and if he will make a statement.

The hospital authorities returns at 31st December, 1947, give the number of vacant beds for which staff was not available as 61,146. This was about 2,000 less than the corresponding figure at 30th September, 1947. We are doing what we can to remedy the shortage of nurses, but are certainly never satisfied with the situation.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that beds in hospitals in England and Wales have become, during the past two years, progressively empty owing to nursing deficiency and, as the demands upon institutional treatment must increase with the operation of the National Health Act, what measures he has taken to meet this position.

No. There has recently been a slight increase in the number of beds available. But my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service and I do not of course regard this as in any way satisfactory and we are making constant and special efforts to increase the recruitment of nurses, and otherwise improve the staffing position.

asked the Minister of Health when he will be publishing the Spens Report on the remuneration of dentists.

I hope this report will be available within a very few days.

asked the Minister of Health which existing committee fulfils the request by the Royal College of Physicians, which he promised to consider, for a special procedure by way of a committee to provide a check on the issue of regulations such as would determine the qualifications, remuneration and conditions of service of doctors and dentists under the National Health Service Act, 1946.

I think the present procedure, under which all regulations have to be examined by a special committee in Parliament, coupled with my undertaking to remove from the scope of regulations a full-time salaried general practitioner service, should be sufficient to remove any apprehension on this point.

asked the Minister of Health what were the ages of the fatal cases of diphtheria in the years 1946 and 1947.

The answer to the Question is as follows:

ENGLAND AND WALES
Deaths attributed to Diphtheria
		Year
		1946	1947*
Aged	0-	23	15
	1-	169	90
	5-	159	102
	15-	99	27
	45-	18	8
	65 and over	4	3
	Total	472	245
* Figures are provisional.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what arrangements are being made for the manufacture of streptomycin in this country;(2) what quantities of streptomycin are available in this country; from whence they are obtained; and what regulations govern the distribution of this drug;(3) what arrangements are in existence for making streptomycin available for the treatment of cases of tuberculosis.

Production in this country is being developed by three manufacturers, and delivery on contracts placed by my Department has begun. For the present we are mainly dependent on supplies from the United States. About 15 kilogrammes are now being distributed monthly to certain large hospitals where research is being done in streptomycin treatment of appropriate types of tuberculosis. The number of beds reserved for this purpose matches the supplies of the drug at present available and will be increased as these improve.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will empower chairmen of rent tribunals to suspend temporarily the operation of an ejectment order in cases where such an order has been evoked in retaliation for the tribunal's decision.

I have no authority to confer such powers but I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for West Leicester (Mr. Danner) on 15th April.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is his intention to arrange, by counties, a re-housing survey in order that a review may be made by a competent architect of such dwellings as have been put in Category 5 under the Housing Acts; and whether he is satisfied that an inspector of his Department and a surveyor who is not a qualified architect are competent to decide whether houses are capable of re-modelling in order to meet the present shortage of housing accommodation in rural areas.

County surveys are proceeding as rapidly as the available staffs allow. I agree that the classification of houses unfit for habitation and beyond repair at reasonable expense should be reviewed by a qualified person. In cases of dispute, a local inquiry is held by one of my inspectors who is invariably a qualified architect.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is his policy to permit the indefinite retention, under requisition, of dwelling-houses which were originally requisitioned from the owners when they were absent on war service and which such owners now require for their own occupation; and whether he will now issue an instruction that all such property is to be released to the owners after a definite period.

It is not possible to insist that all such houses or all such houses owned by Service men should be vacated within a specified time in view of the difficulty of finding alternative accommodation for existing occupiers. Every effort is, however, made to release houses from requisition for the personal occupation of the persons who owned them at the time of requisition and 5,897 dwelling-houses and flats have been released from requisition by my Department during the year ended 30th April, 1948.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the Report of the Royal Commission on Population.

I understand that the report is expected this year but I cannot yet give a date for it.

asked the Minister of Education how many ex-Service men, resident in the West Riding of Yorkshire who have applied for training at Emergency Training Colleges since 1st Janu- ary, 1948, are still awaiting admission to colleges.

I assume that the date in the Question should be 1st January, 1946. To ascertain this figure would be a laborious task, which my right hon. Friend does not feel justified in undertaking. If the hon. and gallant member has any particular difficulties, I will do my best to supply him with such information as is readily available.

asked the Minister of Education what steps are being taken to re-establish a residential school for deaf children in Glamorgan in place of the Royal Cambrian School which was evacuated to mid-Wales from Swansea in 1941 owing to war conditions and is now housed temporarily in unsuitable premises far removed from the homes of the great majority of these afflicted children.

The managers bought a house at St. Mellons but unfortunately it was recently destroyed by fire when nearly ready for occupation by the school. They are now urgently negotiating for another property.

asked the Minister of Education in what circumstances teachers who have retired are required to forego the whole or any part of their pensions upon entering into other remunerative employment.

The matter is governed principally by Section 6 of the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925. If a teacher who has retired on pension returns to contributory service or to service which would be contributory service if he were less than 65 years of age his pension ceases. When the employment ends the pension may be restored if the employment amounts to less than a year. In any other case a fresh pension may be granted. If the teacher takes up other employment and his salary is paid out of Government funds, or aided from such funds, his pension for any quarter is reduced by the amount, if any, by which his salary for that employment in the quarter and his pension for the quarter, taken together, exceed the quarterly rate of his contributory salary when he ceased to be employed in contributory service.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will initiate a national education week in order that a greater interest may be stimulated in the developments taking place in the postwar education service.

I welcome the initiative shown by a number of local education authorities in organising education weeks, but I think that this is an activity which is best left to local enterprise. My Department is ready to provide what assistance it can for any project of this kind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why in the recent down-pointing of rubber mackintoshes he has omitted gaberdine raincoats; and if he is aware of the large stocks of these raincoats in the hands of wholesalers and retailers.

Gaberdine raincoats have not been downpointed because gaberdine is particularly valuable for export and because there is less risk of deterioration in these chemically proofed garments than in the rubberised mackintoshes. The stocks are mainly in utility, and although utility clothing is not normally exported, I am willing in view of representations received since my announcement last week to allow the export of utility cotton gaberdine raincoats for the present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for increasing the import of raw material for the manufacture of paper in Britain; and whether he will give an undertaking not to import newsprint from the U.S.A.

Special consideration is given to the question of supplies of paper-making materials in any trade discussions which take place with supplying countries, and we are in constant touch with individual overseas suppliers with a view to obtaining the maximum quantities which are available. The United States is a large net importer of newsprint, and no question of import from that country is likely to arise. The question whether E.R.P. dollars will be available for assisting with the purchase of supplies contracted for in Canada and Newfoundland will fall to be discussed with the Administrator.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken to increase the imports of leather from India.

I presume the hon. Member refers to the import of rough-tanned hides and skins from India. Supplies are somewhat lower than usual owing to transport difficulties in India, but the position is being carefully watched and I hope that supplies will now increase again.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that 16 wild animals, value£2,300 approximately, died during a sea voyage from East Africa to Glasgow last month and four after their arrival in this country; and whether he will refuse to issue further licences for the importation of animals for circus and menagerie purposes.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to certain recent Press reports. Live animals are imported from Empire sources under an open general licence. Individual licences to import them for circus or menagerie purposes from other countries are not granted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many firms in South Wales have been asked to switch over to a new type of production to meet the needs of the export drive; and with what results.

I and my officials in South Wales have constantly pressed local firms in common with those in other parts of the country to increase their exports, including where necessary the development of new lines of manufacture. The results are, I understand, reflected in the latest figure of exports from firms in South Wales which shows a gratifying increase.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish the full list of the directors of the North-East Trading Estate Co.; and the articles of association.

I have so far made the following nine appointments to the Board of Directors of this Company, viz.:

• Mr. S. A. Sadler Forster (Chairman).
• Colonel Robert Chapman, C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O., T.D., D.L., J.P.
• Mr. Norman Mascall.
• Alderman J. W. Mitchell, J.P.
• The Rt. Hon. Viscount Ridley, C.B.E., J.P., D.L.
• Brigadier G. H. Walton, C.B.E., T.D.
• Mr. Sam Watson, C.B.E., J.P.
• Mr. Frederick T. Willey, M.P.
• Mr. A. T. S. Zealley, J.P.

I hope to announce the three remaining appointments shortly. I am arranging for a copy of the Articles of Association of the Company to be placed in the Library.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give figures regarding the average number of letters sent out daily by his Department.

About 53,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Industrial Ten clothing coupons can be made available to girls working in day nurseries.

No. Arrangements are, however, in force under which local authorities can purchase overalls coupon free for loan to girls working in day nurseries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that import licences for British textiles are not yet being granted by the Argentine Government; and whether he will take action to hasten the resumption of trade provided for in the recent trade agreement.

I have now learnt that the granting of exchange permits for the import of woollen goods from the United Kingdom to the value of£3 million in 1948 was authorised by the Argentine Government on 31d May. I presume that the individual permits will now be issued as a matter of course. I am also informed that the Argentine Government have agreed to permit the import of cotton goods from the United Kingdom to the value of£3 million and of linen manufactures to the value of£1 million, and that the circulars authorising the granting of exchange permits will be issued in due course. Discussions are continuing between His Majesty's Embassy and the Argentine Government on the granting of exchange permits for other United Kingdom goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what increase of prices has been authorised by Government order since the announcement of the price standstill; and what is the annual amount of these increases to the general public.

I assume the hon. Member refers to the Standstill Orders which came into force on 3rd May. Increases above the prices charged in the basic period have been authorised in the case of cotton cloth, travel and fancy goods made wholly or mainly of leather and certain paper goods. I am unable to estimate the annual amount of these increases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reasons led him to seek the withdrawal of the summonses against Shermans Pools, Limited, in respect of alleged breaches of the Paper Control Order; and what expense his Department has incurred from the time inquiries commenced, which led to these proceedings, to the date of their discontinuance.

In view of the time that has elapsed since the proceedings were instituted owing to the unfortunate death of the learned stipendiary magistrate who was trying this case, and the publicity which had been given to these proceedings, it was felt that substantial justice had already been done and that the additional expenditure of public and private money necessitated by the re-trial was not justified. I am unable to say at present what the cost has been to the Department.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the effect of the Control of Engagement Order upon employment agencies is to make it illegal for them to carry on with the greater part of their businesses; and whether in the case of old established businesses having a substantial goodwill, he is prepared to take steps to secure the award of suitable compensation.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the strong local feelings on the subject, he will receive a deputation from the Bury branch of the British Legion in order to discuss their alternative plan for the housing of European voluntary workers in the cotton industry in the Bury area, which would release a part of the Radcliff Road Training Centre for us as a Remploy factory for disabled ex-Service men.

I am satisfied that we shall not have sufficient accommodation for textile workers in the area unless we go ahead with the plans to use Radcliffe G.T.C. as a hostel. I do not think any useful purpose would be served by my receiving a deputation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is holding up the conclusion of the agreement to cover arrangements for financing imports into the United Kingdom from Canada.

Certain questions connected with the financing of offshore purchases under E.R.P.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the estimated dollar earnings from British films exported to America in the past six months.

I am afraid that I am not in a position to give any reliable estimates of these earnings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give a list of the products, the manufacture of which he is considering curtailing in relation to the development of Western Union.

In the Chancellor's speech of 6th May he emphasised that adjustments of our economy would have to be accepted if European co-operation was to be developed. The stage has not yet been reached when it is possible to specify any such adjustments.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated amount of sterling proceeds from goods received through E.R.P. which will be put into a special account; for what purposes may this money be spent; and by whom controlled.

The amount of the sterling proceeds will depend on the amount of grants of E.R.P. aid, which is now under consideration by the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. The purposes for which this money may be spent will be agreed between His Majesty's Government and the Economic Co-operation Administrator during the negotiations for the Bilateral Agreement. The money will be controlled by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give, in tabular form, the commitments entered into by His Majesty's Government and British subjects with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development at the latest available date.

No commitments have been entered into with the International Bank other than those undertaken by His Majesty's Government as a member of the Bank, which are set out in the Articles of Agreement published as Command 6546.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether His Majesty's Government will assume the same responsibility for the Palestine Government's 1 per cent. bearer bonds as they are assuming in respect of Palestine 3 per cent. defence bonds and savings certificates.

No. These bearer bonds are obligations of the Palestine Government and full information about them was given in the public announcement made four weeks ago by the Palestine Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of the deficit of£11,500,000 in the Northern Ireland Unemployment Fund was paid by the British Exchequer under the first agreement covering the period between 1920 and 1936; and what was the amount paid by the British Exchequer to the same fund under the second agreement for the period 1936 to 1946.

Issues out of the United Kingdom Exchequer amounted to£3,424,494 in the first period and£8,133,611 in the second period.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what were the terms made by the Yugoslav Government to cover the sterling outlay for tourists to the Dalmatian coast and why was the offer turned down.

So far no definite proposals have been made. If any are made, we are ready to discuss them in connection with our negotiations with the Yugoslav Trade Delegation.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of heavy accumulating local surpluses of coal slack in such areas as North Staffordshire, he will consider a regional derationing of further grades of fuel.

Yes. I am at present considering, in consultation with the National Coal Board, whether further types of low-grade small coal may be made available, free of restriction, to the domestic consumer. I hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the fact that the public are free, if they wish, to change their butcher, grocer or milkman, he will give similar permission for them to change their coal merchant if they so desire.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 11th March to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Shephard), to which there is nothing I can usefully add at present.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what quantity of petrol it is estimated would be involved in granting the standard petrol ration as an addition to the supplementary allowance in cases where the supplementary allowance is granted for the purpose of duties with the Territorial Army.

No such estimate can be given.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to housewives and catering establishments at Burnham-on-Crouch by the inadequate supply of gas for cooking; and if he will make alternative emergency arrangements for the coming months, when large numbers of visitors are expected and the gas supply may be cut off altogether, while new pipes are laid, for considerable periods.

Yes. I understand from the company that the demand for gas has increased greatly and that the gas-making plant is in bad condition. Part of the plant must be shut down immediately for repairs and the supply of gas will therefore be reduced. The repairs should be completed by the end of July but I regret that it is not practicable for alternative emergency arrangements to be made in the meantime. A new main which should ensure the best possible distribution of the available gas has already been laid.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the allocation of petrol for charter aircraft; and what restrictions are imposed on the use of this petrol for non-essential journeys.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for the Spen Valley (Mr. Sharp) on 30th October, 1947.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the hardship caused in isolated parts of Westmorland through his refusal to grant adequate allowances of petrol to hire car proprietors; and whether he will reconsider his policy towards such grants in districts where bus services are irregular.

No. I am not aware of any such complaints.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will now instruct regional petroleum officers to accept applications from farmers for a special allowance of petrol to attend the Royal Agricultural Society's Show and other similar shows held this summer.

Regional petroleum officers are already authorised to grant petrol allowances to farmers for travelling by private car or motor cycle to agricultural shows, where the use of public transport for the journey is impracticable.

asked the Minister of Supply how many automobiles and drivers are employed by his Department in Glasgow; and what is the average number of such automobiles on the road each day.

Twenty-eight cars and 26 drivers are employed in Glasgow by the Ministry of Supply for the use of 14 Government Departments. The average number of cars on the road each day, except Saturday and Sunday, is 25.

asked the Minister of Supply why he is taking so long to negotiate a contract price for the 1948 production of aluminium with the British Aluminium Company.

It takes two to make an agreement. So far, the Ministry and the Company have not been able to negotiate an agreed price. Another meeting is being held shortly, when I hope that further progress will be made.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will inform the House on the latest arrangement made for the allocation of steel to builders of rolling-stock; and if increased supplies can be made available for contracts in process in the building of power stations.

There has been no change in the method of allocating steel to builders of rolling-stock. The quarterly allocations are based on the manufacturers' estimates, checked against the Ministry's knowledge of their production programmes. I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power that the amount of building steel allocated for power stations has recently been increased.

asked the Minister of Supply to which countries we are selling the parachutes which are at this time not being allocated to our own Services.

Since the end of the war surplus parachutes have been transferred to the Governments of the following countries: Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, Holland, Norway, and Persia. Parachutes do not require an export licence and I regret, therefore, that I am unable to give details of commercial transactions.

asked the Minister of Supply whether the salvage and sale of the material used in the Pluto pipeline have now been completed; and what are the approximate respective costs and receipts to the latest date for which such information is available.

It is expected that the salvage of the Pluto pipelines will be completed by the end of this year. By 31st March, 1948, about 225 miles had been recovered at a cost of about£315,000. The salvaged pipeline contained lead and steel of an estimated value of£400,000; about three-quarters of it had been sold at that date for£299,000.

asked the Minister of Supply whether imports of copper from the U.S.A. under E.R.P. will conflict with the development of trade in this product with Rhodesia.

No.

asked the Minister of National Insurance approximately how much of the weekly insurance contribution, payable by the individual on and after 5th July, will be a contribution to the Health Service.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what portion of the national insurance contribution of 4s. 11d. per week paid by workers as from 5th July onwards will be devoted to the National Health Service.

Section 37 of the National Insurance Act provides for lump sum payments to be made out of the National Insurance Fund to the Exchequer as a contribution towards the cost of the National Health Service. These lump sum payments are financed by allocating 8½d. out of each weekly National Insurance contribution paid by an employed man and 6½d. by an employed woman. In addition, 1½d. of the employer's contribution is allocated to the National Health Service. In the case of self-employed and non-employed persons the corresponding allocations are 10d. for a man and 8d. for a woman.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he has taken to ensure that the need to export as much whisky and brandy as possible does not interfere with supplies of whisky and brandy to chemists for medicinal purposes; and whether any priority in supplies of whisky and brandy is given to people for whom they are medically recommended.

I am satisfied that notwithstanding the present limited supplies of whisky any special arrangements are unnecessary.

asked the Minister of Food if he has investigated the circumstances, details of which have been sent him, in which Mr. John Simpson, Mr. Cornell Seward, and Mr. Robert Kay, three U.S. citizens serving in the U.S. Navy, were recently refused admission, on racial grounds, to several London hotels; and if he will circulate to these and to all other catering establishments copies of his warning that the pursuit of a policy of racial discrimination will lead to the withdrawal of catering licences.

I have read the Press report to which my hon. Friend refers. I will investigate the complaint if I can get further information.

asked the Minister of Food if he will reconsider his decision to cancel the provision of National Dried Milk to babies between the ages of one and two years.

Supplies of National Dried Milk throughout the year will only be sufficient to meet the increasing requirements of babies up to one year of age, and I cannot jeopardise supplies to them by providing it also for older children for whom this type of milk is not essential. National Dried Milk can, however, be obtained for children between one and two years of age on medical and certain other grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the deadlock which exists in the obtaining of visas to the Soviet zone of Austria in that neither the Soviet military authorities nor our own will grant the necessary visa until the other party has done so; and whether he will consider taking some action to break this deadlock.

The hon. Member is misinformed. A procedure does exist by which British travellers from this country may visit the Soviet zone of Austria. They should apply to the Military Permit Office in London, who then obtain an endorsement of the permit by the Soviet authorities in Austria. It is true that the procedure is unsatisfactory, as there are considerable delays in the grant of the Soviet endorsement. His Majesty's Government proposed to the Soviet Government at the end of February last a different and more speedy system for dealing with applications but have not yet been able to obtain their agreement to it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that sodium selenate insecticide, used by horticulturists in this country, is dangerous to humans, causes the hair to fall out and the nails to drop off and leads to sterility; and whether he proposes to take any steps to control its use.

Yes, I am aware of the toxic properties of sodium selenate. So far as I know, the horticultural use of this chemical in this country has been confined to experimental work, but I am making further inquiries and I am consulting the other Government Departments concerned as to what steps are necessary to control its use.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now revert to the prewar practice of tendering telephone accounts quarterly in view of the difficulty subscribers have in checking accounts for a period so long as six months.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given on 25th March to the hon. Member for Howdenshire (Mr. Odey).

asked the Postmaster-General how many motor vehicles are owned by the Post Office; what is their value; and what is the present weekly consumption of petrol.

The number of Post Office motor vehicles in service at 31st March last was 23,605, including 440 motor cycles; the estimated value of this fleet was£4,250,000, based on prime cost less depreciation; and the average weekly consumption of petrol during the quarter ended 31st March last was 264,000 gallons. In addition, the Post Office owned 778 new motor vehicles, including 180 motor cycles, which will be absorbed into service within the next three months as replacements or for additional work. The total value of these new vehicles is about£260,000.

asked the Minister of Works the approximate total area for which licences have been granted since July, 1945, for the erection or reconstruction of factories and industrial establishments in Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester, Oxford, Derby, Reading, Chelmsford, Bristol, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southampton and Hull.

To obtain the information asked for by my hon. Friend would mean a search through the records of all licences issued in these areas since July, 1945. As this would involve a great deal of additional work, I am unable to supply the information.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the War Graves of South East Asia Command are to be taken over by the Imperial War Graves Commission.

Action has already been taken to begin handing over war cemeteries and graves in India, Pakistan and the Far East to the Imperial War Graves Commission and this has almost been completed in Hong Kong, India and Pakistan. As regards the remaining areas, as a result of a recent review of the position, it has been decided that the Army Graves Service should continue its work for the present. Moreover, it is hoped to be able to restart work in the Dutch East Indies, an area in which no work has been possible for some time. It is not likely, therefore, that all war cemeteries and graves in the Far East can be handed over to the Imperial War Graves Commission before the end of this year, though the process of handing them over will continue steadily during the whole period.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has yet reached a decision to quash the conviction of 2879296 Private James Ronald, 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders, who was convicted of murder, sentenced to death and is now in Peterhead Prison, in view of the documents submitted a month ago to him showing gross irregularities in the trial of this soldier by field general court martial; and if he will direct that this man be released forthwith.

The petition submitted on behalf of this soldier has been considered, but no grounds are disclosed in it for interference with the sentence.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether consideration has been given to extending the use of the Royal Dockyards on commercial work.

The primary function of the Royal Dockyards is the maintenance and servicing of the Fleet, but it is Admiralty policy to undertake repayment work wherever there is spare capacity and labour available for such work. My noble Friend has recently appointed a committee to examine the manufacturing capacity of the Engineering Department of the Royal Dockyards at home, with particular reference to the facilities available for commercial repayment work, and to advise whether additional commercial work can be undertaken without prejudicing the performance of the primary function of the Dockyards. This committee is under the chairmanship of Mr. Cecil Bentham, C.B.E., M.Inst.C.E., M.I.Mech.E., M.Inst.I., a prominent industrial consultant. Sir John Stephenson, C.B.E., a past President of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions, and Captain (E) L. A. Taylor, C.B.E., R.N., are the other members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the total exports of sugar from Jamaica in 1938, 1945, 1946 and 1947; and haw these exports were divided between Canada, Newfoundland, hard currency countries other than Canada and Newfoundland, the sterling area, and the rest of the world.

The exports were as follow:

LONG TONS.
Year.	1938.	1945.	1946.	1947.
To Canada	91,467	55,989	53,101	41,904
To Sterling Area	13,567	62,296	95,594	87,385
Total Exports	105,034	118,285	148,695	129,289

There were no exports to Newfoundland, to hard currency areas other than Canada or to foreign countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what system of election he intends to adopt in the five multi-membered constituencies of Mauritius.

The arrangements for elections in the multi-membered constituencies of Mauritius are set out in Part III of the Mauritius Legislative Council Ordinance, enacted on the 4th February, 1948. In particular, the arrangements for voting are indicated in Sections 25 and 26 of that Ordinance. I am arranging for a copy of the Ordinance to be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the estimated percentage of literacy among the adult population of Mauritius qualifying for a vote under the recently-approved constitutional recommendations of the Governor, Command Paper No. 7228, on condition of passing a literacy test; what is the nature of the literacy test contemplated; and by whom it will be applied to the different religions and racial sections of the potential electorate.

As regards the first part of the Question, I regret that I am not in a position to supply the information required by the hon. Member, but I am asking the Governor for a report. With reference to the second and third parts of the Question, under Section 16 (1) (a) of the Mauritius (Legislative Council) Order-in-Council of 1947 an applicant for registration as an elector must be able, to the satisfaction of the officer charged with the duty of registering electors in the district, to speak, read and write simple sentences in, and sign his or her name in one of the following nine languages: English, French, Gujerati, Hindustani, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu, Chinese, Creole patois. The registering officer may exempt a person from the requirements of the literacy tests to the extent that such person is unable to satisfy such requirements on account of blindness or other physical cause.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken on the termination of the Mandate for Palestine to place on record the nation's appreciation of the work done by British Administration there.

The Prime Minister has sent the following message to the High Commissioner:

"On the termination of the British Mandate I wish to send you and the members of your Administration a message of gratitude from His Majesty's Government.

The high hopes with which we took up the Mandate have not been fulfilled and we say farewell to the peoples of Palestine in conditions tragically different from those to which it had been our purpose to lead them. But, even at this time of our greatest disappointment, when so much of the constructive work done over many years for the benefit of all communities is threatened with destruction, officers of the Palestine Service have no cause for self-reproach or for any sense of personal failure. History will honour their achievements. Faced with the most intractable problems, rewarded with baseless calumnies and imputations of partiality, often in personal danger, they have established a tradition of loyal public service which should be of lasting value to whatever authorities succeed us. We recall with special pride the gallant record of the Palestine Police Force and we remember at this time those members of the Force as well as of the Civil Service whose lives have been sacrificed.

Those whose service under the Crown in Palestine is now ended take with them the heartfelt thanks and good wishes of the people of this country."

A brief review of the history of British Administration in Palestine and of the policy pursued by His Majesty's Government has been prepared by the Colonial Office and the Foreign Office and will be published by His Majesty's Stationery Office tomorrow. It will be made available to British Information Offices overseas and copies will be placed in the Library of the House

asked the Secretary of State for Air for how long the R.A.F. huts at Little Onn, near Church Eaton, in the county of Stafford, were left empty before being occupied by squatters; why they have not been handed over to the Ministry of Health for emergency housing; when this will be done; and how soon the water supply will be turned on.

These huts were given up by the R.A.F. in August, 1947. They were handed over to the Ministry of Works but the squatters moved in almost at once. My Department has now been asked to take back responsibility for the huts and has offered them to the Ministry of Health. The water supply has never been turned off but some of the huts have no water pipes installed.