asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the ample supplies of jam now available, he will allow imported honey to be sold off the ration, as it is no longer needed to supplement the jam ration.

No, Sir. Until sugar supplies improve we must continue to ration imported honey to secure fair distribution.

As honey was rationed in 1942 to supplement the jam ration, now that the jam stocks are considerable, how does the hon. lady account for its continuance, particularly in regard to honey for invalids?

The answer is quite simple. Honey is used as an alternative to sugar. Housewives use it for cooking, and manufacturers are very fond of using it instead of sugar, so that, if we took it off the ration, those people who manage to obtain it would be in a favourable position.

Could not something be done on behalf of invalids, to whom honey is a necessity?

would remind the hon. and gallant Member that home produced honey is de-controlled.

Could it not be put on points?

I will consider that. I think that the right hon. and learned Gentleman has made a very useful suggestion.

asked the Minister of Food the purpose of the monthly bulletin sent out by his Department, together with the basis of drawing up this report; the number of people engaged in this work; and the total annual cost.

The purpose of the monthly bulletin for women's organisations is to keep these organisations informed about the activities of my Department which are of interest to women; the contents are chosen accordingly. Compiling the bulletin occupies about 5 per cent. of the time of one officer, and the total cost is under £50 per annum.

Is the Minister aware that in the March bulletin food prices were shown at the present time, compared with 1921? Is he aware that it is a very misleading comparison, because no account was taken of the amount of money paid by way of food subsidies? If such figures are shown in future, will she see that a separate column is entered showing the amount of food subsidies, so that a true comparison can be made?

If the hon. Member looks again, he will find that that was the answer to a Question in this House. It is very useful to give these women's organisations, of which there are 34 in all, information which hon. Members acquire in the House.

But can the information be accurate? It is a misleading and inaccurate account in the March bulletin.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that a gift of 3,224 lb. of prime beef was sent by the Fairfield Parents' and Teachers' Association, New Zealand, to Fairfield, Derbyshire, for distribution amongst the needy people of that parish; that this gift has been intercepted by his Department and taken into stock for issue in the ordinary way as part of the rations; that his Department have only offered in place of this gift to issue non-perishable foodstuffs at some unspecified date in the future; that his Department have expressed the wish to have discretion to include other areas if they deem the gift disproportionate to the size of the area selected by the donors; and whether he will instruct his Department to give effect to the generous intention of the donors of the gift in Fairfield, New Zealand.

The only practicable way to distribute gifts of fresh meat is as a part of the ration. This is known to the Government of New Zealand who, I am informed, explained the position to the Fairfield Parents' and Teachers' Association before their gift was sent. The poor and needy of the parish of Fairfield regularly receive their share of presents of food reaching the Overseas Gifts Centre from other sources, and for this reason we asked for, and received, permission to distribute a part in other areas, if the amount seemed disproportionate. As soon as arrangements can be made by my Department, however, Fairfield will be receiving a special allocation which will, I hope, compensate them for any present disappointment.

If it is the case that the hon. Lady's Department has received permission to distribute this gift in other areas, how is it that that information has not been given to Fairfield?

I understood that it had been.

My information is to the contrary.

Will the hon. Lady say by what right she interferes with gifts of this kind, when such food gifts are by no means the property of the Ministry of Food?

The hon. Gentleman has forgotten, or perhaps he does not know, that the cost of the transport of these gifts is borne by the British taxpayer, and that, furthermore, this meat comes out of the surplus which New Zealand has to export for the whole of this country.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of swedes and turnips he now holds at the latest available date, and especially, how many are lying in Sunderland, Tyne Dock and Blyth; and what was their total cost and cost per ton.

We have disposed of all the swedes we purchased and therefore no swedes belonging to my Department are lying at the places mentioned by the hon. Member.

Cannot the Minister say how many tons have been wasted or sold at a loss; can she say what was the total loss to the taxpayer on this transaction; and when will she realise that one of the main causes of our economic crisis is bulk purchasing?

I will answer those questions if the hon. Gentleman cares to put them on the Order Paper.

Is the Minister aware that wild allegations of the loss of food at dumps have been recklessly repeated by Representative Taber in the United States Administration, with disastrous effect on E.R.P.? Without asking for comment on that, would she make it plain hat large amounts of food have not been lost at dumps or allowed to rot away?

I would like to state categorically that no large amounts of food in this country have been lost. In fact, no more potatoes have deteriorated this year than in preceding years.

In order to clear up this matter, would the hon. Lady consider issuing a full statement about the potato question, particularly having in mind that in March the Minister stated that the position would be very tight, and three weeks later he took potatoes off the ration? Can that be explained fully?

I am afraid that is another question. This Question is about swedes.

Is not the Minister aware that, in a panic, she bought swedes and turnips because she said there was a shortage of potatoes, when there never was a shortage of potatoes?

asked the Minister of Food what reduction has been made in the staff of his Department consequent upon the termination of potato rationing.

None, Sir. No extra staff was taken on because of potato rationing.

asked the Minister of Food what is the policy of his Department for this season in the purchase of strawberries from overseas; and what orders have been placed.

asked the Minister of Food how many new catering licences were approved in England and Wales during 1947; and what percentage of this number applied to rural district council areas.

The number of licences granted to catering establishments (excluding industrial canteens) in England and Wales during the 12 months ended 15th January, 1948, was 16,324. During that period 4,057 licences were surrendered on closure of business, resulting in a net increase of 12,267 establishments. The number of catering licences granted in rural areas is not readily calculated, and could only be obtained by extensive local inquiries.

Is the Minister aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction in these small villages about difficulty in getting a new catering licence?

The preceding Question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for King's Lynn (Major Wise) dealt with the number of licences which we have issued during the last two years to

Strawberries are imported on private account and no orders have been or are being placed by my Department.

asked the Minister of Food how many applications for new catering licences were received and approved during 1946, 1947 and the five months ended 31st May, 1948, in the rural areas covered by the Freebridge Lynn, Docking and Marshland Rural District Councils, respectively.

As the reply includes a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the information:

three villages, and the number is 30. From that I think that my hon. and learned Friend will agree that the rural areas have not been treated badly.

Will the Minister see if she can give as kind treatment to Northamptonshire villages as that given to Norfolk villages?

asked the Minister of Food what is the total quantity of potatoes re-exported during the past two months; and what loss has been incurred through such transactions.

No potatoes were re-exported during April. The Trade and Navigation figures for May are not yet ready, but I will gladly circulate them when they are available.

Is the Minister aware that a quantity of potatoes will need re-exporting from Yorkshire or otherwise they will go bad?

In view of all the bits of evidence which we are getting from various directions about the losses on potatoes, would the hon. Lady consider the suggestion of my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Hillhead (Mr. J. S. C. Reid) that a full statement should be issued?

I am not denying that potatoes have been re-exported, but it would be improper for me to give the figures before my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has submitted them to this House.

asked the Minister of Food what applications for building licences have received the support of his Department during the period 1st June, 1947, to 31st May, 1948; and in which cases the applications, so sponsored, have received favourable consideration by the Priorities Sub-Committee.

During the year ended 31st May, 1948, about 1,700 applications for building licences for projects costing over £ 500 were supported by the Ministry of Food. In the bulk of these cases licences were issued by the Regional Licensing Officers of the Ministry of Works during 1947. Between January and May the Priorities Sub-Committee considered 18 cases submitted by the Ministry of Food for exemption from the ban on building announced in the White Paper on Capital Investment for 1948 (Cmd. 7268). Of these 18 cases, 16 were approved by the Committee.

Will my hon. Friend make available to the House particulars of the schemes that were submitted by her Department to the Priorities Sub-Committee indicating those which were unsuccessful?

I think that my hon. Friend will agree that this matter is confidential, but I will consider letting her have this information.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that many firms, because of their failure to collect bread units from their customers, are bringing the law into disrepute; and whether, if the supplies of flour and wheat grains in the country so permit, he will consider suspending bread rationing for a trial period, in order to give the general public an opportunity to cooperate on a voluntary basis in avoiding the wasting of bread.

No, Sir. As to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) on 10th May.

In view of the fact that the law in this respect is so often disregarded, would it not be better either to enforce the law or to suspend bread rationing?

I can assure my hon. Friend that the law is operating. During the last year we have had 171 successful charges for offences concerning bread rationing. I would like to remind the House that my right hon. Friend said recently that we shall abolish bread rationing as soon as it is prudent to do so.

Is it not the case that B.Us. collected by bakers are never counted by the Ministry, that that is a direct incentive to certain firms to break the law, and that it is done on a very large scale to the knowledge of the Ministry?

This time the right hon. and learned Gentleman is quite wrong. The local food offices are given directions to count a proportion of B.Us., and that is done.

If I put down a Question, will the hon. Lady give me the proportion of B.Us. which have been counted during the last three months?

Certainly.

Would the hon. Lady consider taking pastry off the bread ration, since it is generally recognised that there is no such wastage with pastry as may be the case with bread which, on occasions, is used for other purposes?

If the hon. Gentleman means cakes when he refers to pastry, I think that would be entirely wrong. It would simply mean that most of the flour would go to making expensive pastry.

Before any precipitate action is taken in regard to the removal of bread rationing, would my hon. Friend make it quite clear that there is a serious risk involved that, if it was rashly abandoned, thousands of loaves might be fed to livestock and the people's rations would be in jeopardy as a result?

I can assure my hon. Friend that that is precisely the reason why we are waiting before we take action.

Does not the hon. Lady agree that the position in regard to B.Us. is striking at the whole integrity of the rationing system and destroying the faith between her Ministry and the public; further, does she not realise that by carrying this on she is doing irreparable damage?

No, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that my Question specifically asked for a trial period in order to give the public an opportunity to co-operate in avoiding the wasting of bread?

I am afraid that we have learned in the hard school of experience that these voluntary schemes are not always successful.

asked the Minister of Food what is the proportion of pure butter in the article sold as National Butter; and of what the balance is composed.

The Ministry issues only pure butter as defined by the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, for sale as National Butter. The second part of the Question, therefore, does not arise.

Would the hon. Lady say why this butter, if it is pure, flakes and breaks up when it is cut, which no pure butter ever has done up to now?

As it contains 86 per cent. butter fat, I cannot understand it. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman cares to send me a sample, I will have it examined.

I thought that the hon. Lady was not allowed to accept rationed foods.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the difficulty of obtaining offal for human consumption at butchers' shops in Hunts; and what steps he is taking to overcome this shortage with a view to supplementing the meat ration.

Offals are distributed to all butchers throughout the country in proportion to the quantity of ration meat they receive. Huntingdonshire gets the same proportion as all other counties. All home-killed offals are distributed with the meat, and the Ministry is purchasing all available offals from overseas.

Is the hon. Lady aware that many people have become dependent upon offal for supplementing the meat ration, and that the quantity of offal available has diminished seriously in recent months? In order to prevent people from having to fall back repeatedly on fish, will she try to secure an improvement in the offal ration?

The hon. Gentleman must realise that if the offal was averaged over the whole population, each individual would receive ¾d. worth a week or, in terms of offal, 1 lb. of ox liver a year.

When will the Minister realise that if consumption is restricted production is restricted?

asked the Minister of Food what steps are being taken to prevent land erosion caused by large scale tree clearance in the Groundnut Scheme in East Africa.

The methods of avoiding erosion which have been developed in recent years, particularly in South Africa, in the United States of America and in Colonial territories have been applied in Tanganyika from the beginning of operations. As the answer is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement on the main measures being taken.

Following is the statement:

The arrangements are under the direction of a Chief Soil Conservation Officer who works in close co-operation with the Colonial Government Departments concerned. The groundnuts units are being sited in relation to the drainage and conformation of each region with a view to soil and water conservation. All clearing and agricultural operations are being undertaken along the contours, and windrows of bush vegetation are being left at suitable intervals. Any sloping land specially liable to erosion is being left under its natural vegetation. The crop rotations are being worked out with a view to building up fertility and avoiding erosion. A number of members of the field staff have already received courses of instruction in anti-erosion measures at the Witwatersrand University in South Africa.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he proposes to take to deal with the persistent violation of the price regulations for ice-cream.

People who persistently overcharge are liable to have their allocations of rationed foods withdrawn.

Does not the Minister realise that the best way of dealing with the problem is to make more ice-cream available to the retailers?

I am afraid that the shortage of fats and sugar precludes that.

asked the Minister of Food whether it is his intention to extend the number of sugar beet factories so as to handle a larger quantity of home-grown sugar than that grown on 400,000 acres as at present.

Under the Agricultural Expansion Policy the target for sugar beet has been fixed at approximately 400,000 acres annually up to and including the year 1951–52. The question of providing factory facilities to deal with the produce of a larger acreage does not therefore immediately arise.

If these two factors are associated, perhaps the Minister of Food would give a lead to the Minister of Agriculture to introduce more factories, and, in turn, to put more land into cultivation for sugar beet?

asked the Minister of Food whether he can give the approximate stocks of wheat in the country today; and the relative figure last June and also June, 1938.

As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Ludlow (Lieut.-Colonel Corbett) on 19th February, 1947, my right hon. Friend is only prepared to disclose our wheat stocks in the most exceptional circumstances. I am, therefore, unable to give the figures for which the hon. Member is asking.

Would the Minister state whether the quantity in stock today is greater or less than it was in the two years to which I have referred?

I am afraid the hon. Gentleman must study my previous answer.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the deterioration of fish between landing and retail distribution due to weather conditions and transport; and whether he will take action in order to ensure an adequate supply of fresh fish, particularly in view of the number of foreign visitors now in the country.

Nearly all fish is distributed inland quickly and in good condition. In hot weather, some fish goes bad on the journey, but good rail and road services are available for the transport of fish to most areas. My Department is always prepared to consider with the British Transport Commission any cases where deterioration has resulted from unsatisfactory transport. We expect good supplies of fish during the summer.

In connection with the last part of my Question, is the hon. Lady aware that the British Trawlers' Federation is offering to provide fish free to all competitors during the Olympic Games, and will she undertake to see that it is delivered in good condition?

I was not aware of that, but I am sure we are very grateful to the British Trawlers' Federation, and I will undertake to do as my hon. Friend asks.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation providing that, when a motor vehicle is subject to a hire-purchase agreement, the interest of the owner under that agreement shall be recorded in the registration book.

No, Sir. A registration book is not a document of title and cannot provide a record of legal ownership.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that very great hardship is being caused to numbers of people who buy second-hand cars and subsequently find out that they did not belong to the apparent vendor at all, but to some finance company, and cannot he possibly make an exception to the general rule and indicate this by a simple entry at the time of registration?

That may be so, but, if I gave this responsibility to the licensing authorities, it would lead to very considerable difficulty.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the high cost of bus fares charged by the London Transport Executive compared with other parts of the country; if, in view of the importance of cheap transport, he will call for a report as to the reasons for this; and what general directions he has issued to the Transport Commission on the policy of lowering fares.

In view of the responsibilities of the British Transport Commission under the Transport Act in regard to charges schemes, I have not issued any directions to them on this subject and I do not propose to ask for a report. The present level of London bus fares was authorised with effect from 9th February, 1947, after consultation with the Charges Consultative Committee, which had held a public inquiry. The average fare in London is only slightly over one penny a mile.

Is the Minister telling the House that he is satisfied with the present high level of fares in London; and could he also tell the House whether he believes that public ownership is proving advantageous from judging what is happening here?

Transport fares generally are below the average increase in the level of prices, and, as I have indicated in my reply, this was the subject of an exhaustive public inquiry, to which all users and consumer bodies presented their evidence. It was upon the decision of that inquiry that I based these charges.

May we take it from the Minister's reply that it is no part of his policy that bus fares in London should be higher than those in other parts of the country?

I do not think my policy comes into the matter at all. In the provincial areas, it is the licensing authority which examines, the evidence and the balance sheets of the bodies, and from these figures it is decided whether an increase should be made or not.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any authority to go beyond advising the Transport Commission as to increasing fares?

As I have already indicated, the British Transport Commission in this respect is charged with the responsibility of preparing charges. The scheme, when it is prepared, will go before the Transport Tribunal and every facility for public opinion to voice its views will then be prepared.

Is the Minister telling the House that in London there is a different system of determining fares from that in the provinces; that, outside London, this matter is decided on the balance sheets and accounts, and, in London, on a different basis altogether?

That is what I was indicating in regard to the connection with this Question, but the London Transport Executive was part of the controlled undertaking during the war and took over part of the responsibility from the Minister, and the latest increase was determined under that procedure. With the passing of the Transport Act, it becomes the responsibility of the British Transport Commission to prepare any revision of charges.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether, in view of the desire of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that prices should be frozen, and since these prices enter very largely into the budgets of the workers, he will advise the Transport Commission that they should not raise their prices any further?

My hon. Friend entirely misunderstands the position. We are not discussing possible price increases: we are discussing an increase which was made in February of last year.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) the number of C licences issued during the first three months of 1948; and the increase or decrease this represents with the number issued in the first three months of 1947;

(2) the number of C licences issued in April, 1948.

As I indicated in my answer to my hon. Friend's Questions on 10th May, monthly figures of issues of carriers' licences generally are not available. Licensing authorities have however been keeping a running record of new C licences issued this year and I have obtained from them figures for the first three months which total approximately 16,300. Figures for April are not yet complete.

In view of the fact that the issue of C licences continues to increase, on top of the 100,000 or more increase in 1947, does not the Minister think that this is an undue expansion of C licences and represents transfers from A contract licences, and, possibly, A licences, and that the time has come to take some action in the matter?

I should not like to commit myself yet. As my hon. Friend knows, we indicated that we would watch the figures, but I certainly shall not take any action, or propose to take any action, until I have had a thorough and exhaustive examination into the reasons. At the moment, I am not in possession of any such information.

Would the right hon. Gentleman expand a little on what he means when he says he is not prepared to take any action yet? Does he mean that, if a private trader finds that he can handle his goods more effectively in his own vehicles, the Minister is going to take action against him to protect a State monopoly?

If I were to expand this matter, I think it would lead to the type of Debate we had on the Transport Act. I was replying to a supplementary question and my answer was related to that supplementary question.

Would not the Minister agree that there has been a certain uneconomic transfer to C licences for political reasons, and that that is a reason why he should take action now?

Would the Minister give careful attention to any advice he may receive from the Co-operative movement on this subject?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is yet able to make a statement regarding the establishment of the Consultative Committee under the Transport Act, 1947.

I have now invited nominations for the Central Transport Consultative Committee for Great Britain from the national bodies representative of the interests concerned with a view to the early establishment of this Committee.

Is the Minister aware that in March he informed me that he was actively considering this matter? That is now three months ago. When may we expect that these committees will be set up? There is no doubt that the failure to appoint these consultative committees leads to difficulty in making representatives concerning transport.

I have just announced that I have taken steps to establish this Committee. It will now rest with the bodies concerned as to how quickly they submit their schemes to me.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he intends to take on the recommendation made in the Ferries Report that all ferries connecting with trunk and classified roads should be treated as part of the highway unless, or until, a permanent crossing is made available.

The recommendation to which the hon. Member refers is of a long-term character, and the Report itself recognises that the immediate transfer of ferries to highway authorities would be impracticable.

Does the Minister realise that if this recommendation is carried out there will be a great advance in all such communications?

Yes, I certainly agree with the principle, without committing myself too far, but I would remind the hon. Gentleman that when this Committee was established it had to collect information on this matter because we were entirely devoid of information about ferries, their history and commitments.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that in Belfast and other places on both sides of the Channel queueing for sailing tickets between Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the July and August holiday period is already taking place; and whether he is still satisfied that adequate shipping facilities have been allotted to this service.

I understand that people are queueing for sailing tickets particularly for passages at the time of the Belfast July holiday. I am informed that the British Transport Commission and the independent lines will employ every available vessel this summer, including an additional ship which the independent lines are putting on the Liverpool-Belfast route next week. This service will then lift 1,400 more passengers each week than last year. I am advised that the services this summer should be adequate except at the peak holiday periods.

Why does the Minister allocate sufficient shipping to cross-channel steamers sailing to non-sterling currency areas so that passengers do not have to have sailing tickets, and permit only restricted services to sterling currency areas where people wish to spend their holidays, so that they have to queue for tickets?

I would correct the hon. Gentleman. It is not the Minister who allocates shipping in these cases.

Could not the Minister do something more to alleviate the agony of the all-night queueing in Belfast? Does not the Minister realise that it is even more depressing than all-night sittings in the House of Commons?

If the hon. Gentleman will read my reply he will find that in the opinion of those who provide the services, they are adequate except at peak hour traffic periods. The Northern Ireland route is not the only route which suffers congestion at peak hours.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet received the report of the Working Party on the turn-round of shipping in the United Kingdom ports.

Yes, Sir. The report will be published in the next few days. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Transport under what conditions Scandinavian timber ships are chartered by his Department; and what steps he takes to see that these ships are not worked at a considerable loss, compared to rates charged by our own nationals.

A number of Scandinavian timber carriers have been taken up by my Department from time to time on normal commercial charters at market rates current for this type of charter for periods of about 18 months. They are managed on my behalf by British commercial shipping firms experienced in this class of trade, and are employed in importing into this country essential timber supplies, for which sufficient suitable British ships are not available. In the off-timber season, they are employed in carrying other essential cargoes at the same rates as those obtainable by British ships.

Is it not a fact that these Scandinavian ships are bringing timber from Hamburg to the West Country in some cases?

That seems to be another point. I cannot state exactly all the ports with which we are dealing from time to time.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that a number of workers employed by the Ministry of Supply on the disposal of war chemicals and explosives at Broadwell, Forest of Dean, are without either canteen facilities or extra rations for heavy work; and whether he will take steps to secure that one or other of these alternatives is afforded to the men.

The isolated position and extensive area of this depot, which covers 30 square miles, have made it impossible to provide canteen facilities. I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food that the workers at the depot do not come within the categories eligible for the special cheese ration. The depot will be closed by the end of the year.

Cannot the Minister do something to meet the plight of these men who literally have no canteen facilities at all

I am aware of that, but I am afraid there is nothing that can be done. It is not possible to provide canteen facilities, and that was known to the men when they were taken on.

asked the Minister of Supply what proportion of the output of British tractors, farm wagons and light utility vans is going to the export market and the home market, respectively; and what steps he has taken to give priorities for these vehicles to British farmers.

About 50 per cent, of the output of tractors, medium lorries and light vans is going to the home market. Wherever there is real difficulty in obtaining tractors, arrangements can usually be made through the Ministry of Agriculture for fanners to obtain early delivery of tractors for food production. Agriculture is one of the essential industries to which the motor industry is giving preferential delivery of commercial vehicles.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many farmers in my own area find that the delay in delivery of these tractors and other farm machinery is as much as 18 months? In view of the vital need for food production, surely the period can be reduced considerably?

I very much doubt whether that can be true of tractors. I am rather surprised to hear that the delay in the delivery of commercial vehicles for farmers is as long as that.

May I point out that the Minister has not dealt with the last item mentioned in the Question—light utility vans—for which there is a very heavy demand by farmers? Can he give some idea of what steps he is taking to improve delivery of light utility vans?

I know there is a particular shortage of those vans, but the farming industry, together with other essential industries, is being given preference by the motor manufacturers.

Are there other industries more essential than farming?

No, but some are equally essential.

Is the Minister aware that in Devonshire it now takes longer to get a tractor than it did a year ago?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the case of utility vans, many farmers find that they get no priority whatsoever?

If they went into the matter, they would find that they do get priority, together with other essential industries.

Is the right hon. Gentleman also watching the spare parts position?

Yes, Sir.

Will the Minister go into this question himself, instead of putting the onus on the farmers?

I do not know whether the hon. and gallant Gentleman is suggesting that we should control the allocation of all commercial vehicles produced. We could not undertake that task.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that there is still an acute shortage of cement in the North-East of Scotland; and will he greatly increase shipborne supplies.

I am aware that there was a temporary shortage of cement in the North-East of Scotland during May. Seaborne supplies of cement to Scotland have recently been increased, and the North-East area will receive its fair share.

While thanking the Minister for his reply, may I ask whether he is aware that when his Department were asked whether they considered that the ordinary laws of supply and demand should now operate, owing to the failure of the Department's distribution scheme, they replied that this was a reasonable interpretation of their views?

Is the Minister aware that the shortage is due not to a lack of ships, but to the fact that all the loading berths were taken up with ships loading cement for export?

I am not aware of that. The difficulty was to get the necessary ships.

Is the Minister aware that in view of the shortage of cement in Scotland, local authorities are asking for permission to make floors of timber in new houses? Would that have his support?

asked the Minister of Works what office accommodation the Central Office of Information have in Baker Street, W.I; and what is the rent of these premises.

The Central Office of Information occupy two office buildings and part of a group of flats in the Baker Street area. These buildings have an area of 103,000 square feet, including storage space, and the total rent is £17,280 a year.

Is the Minister aware that there is a large window space which could be very useful for propaganda purposes facing Baker Street, that these windows are filthily dirty, that photographs are displayed there on faded, dusty, dirty beige, and that there is a lot of rust on all the structure? Is he further aware that this display is harmful to national prestige, but typical of Socialist mismanagement?

I am not aware of this, but I will look into the matter and see whether the hon. Member's information is correct.

Can the Minister tell us what the Central Office of Information is storing?

That is a question that should be asked of the Central Office of Information, when no doubt a proper answer would be given.

Do the premises occupied by the Central Office of Information include number 223B, Baker Street, once occupied by Mr. Sherlock Holmes?

asked the Minister of Works whether copies of the Hibberd Report on the future of the Welsh slate industry have yet been sent to representatives of the employers and employees of the industry.

The Report as presented to me includes certain information obtained in confidence from individual firms. A version excluding this confidential matter is, however, being prepared and will be sent to representatives of employers and employees in the industry shortly.

Can the Minister say

It is my intention to do that collectively and individually in a few weeks' time.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me whether the Report covers only the Welsh Slate Industry or whether it covers the Cornish industry as well?

The Welsh industry.

asked the Minister of Works what steps are being taken to secure alternative accommodation for the staff of the Ministry of Food at present employed at the National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh.

I regret that so far it has not been possible to find alternative accommodation for the staff of the Central National Registration Office now in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Unless alternative accommodation can be found in the near future I propose to erect temporary buildings to accommodate the staff now occupying the Gallery. No staff of the Ministry of Food is housed in the Gallery.

Can my right hon. Friend give any indication when this staff is likely to be moved?

That will depend on the speed with which the temporary office accommodation can be provided.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that on 22nd August the International Festival opens in Scotland and one of the attractions to foreign visitors is the magnificent collection of pictures which is not now available for them?

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of abandoning the use of identity cards, which I fear very few people carry and which seem to be of little public use?

Is the Minister aware that there is a great deal of accommodation available in Holyrood Palace, and will he consider putting the Ministry of Food there?

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the salary and emoluments of the Chief Horticultural Officer. of his Department and those of the Chief Poultry Officer respectively.

The salary scale of the Chief Horticultural Officer is at present £1,420 to £1,600; and of the Chief Poultry Officer £1,150 to £1,470.

As there seems to be a disparity between these two sections of agriculture, is it the Minister's intention to bring them parallel?

As the hon. Member is aware, horticulture covers a very wide field, including specialist branches such as glasshouse production, fruit-growing, vegetable growing and flower production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the importance of soil conservation he will conduct an investigation into the question of soil blowing in the Fen district and other parts of East Anglia.

Soil blowing is already receiving attention, and experimental work of various kinds is in progress which I hope will lead to more effective control.

Will the Minister consider that any experiments in soil binding which are taking place should be the responsibility of the Department and not left to the farmers themselves, in view of the great importance of this matter?

Experiments are now in progress at Cambridge.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when his Department intends to take over the administration of the Milk Special Designations Regulations.

I hope within the next six months.

Arising out of that reply, does the Minister realise that the uncertainty among those at present responsible for carrying out these orders as to when they will relinquish their responsibility makes it very difficult for administration? For instance, they are uncertain whether they are justified in taking on more staff, and on other matters of that sort, and may I hope that a definite decision will be reached soon?

asked the Minister of Agriculture why farmers are being called upon to pay higher wages for unskilled Polish workers than the British minimum rate for skilled British farm workers; and if, as this is unfair to farmer and farm worker alike and is creating dissatisfaction within the industry, he will have the terms of employment of Polish farm workers based upon British rates of pay and hours of work.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave on 1st March last to the hon. and gallant Member for Henley (Sir G. Fox).

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many displaced European workers are employed under the Norfolk Agricultural Executive Committee in hoeing sugar beet this season; whether the men so employed are paid on time or piece rate basis; what are the average payments to the men per week; and the average acreage hoed per man to the latest convenient date.

The 360 European Volunteer Workers in the employ of the Norfolk A.E.C. are all on sugar beet hoeing. All are paid 90s. a week on a time-rate basis. The output of 260 of the workers is averaging about 1¼ acres per man per week. The remainder, who are recent arrivals are averaging about one acre a week.

Would it not be better to evolve a different system of payment so that the men's work could be more satisfactory, both from the point of view of the quality of the work and the amount?

I understand the quality of the work is reasonably good; it is only that they are newcomers to sugar beet lifting and it is their first experience. Based upon the normal hoeing rates, they would definitely earn more than 90s. a week by working longer hours.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present strength of the National Agricultural Advisory Service and its cost in salaries; and what proportion of the personnel have practical experience as farmers.

There are at present 1,437 technical officers in the National Agricultural Advisory Service. The cost of salaries in 1948–49, based on an assumed average strength of 1,600, is estimated at approximately £950,000. Practical experience as well as academic training is normally a necessary qualification for all but specialist scientific and laboratory staff, but I could not say without making a special inquiry how many officers have had experience as farmers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many schemes for the provision of water to farmhouses and cottages have been approved under Section 5 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1944; how many of the schemes approved have been completed; and what has been the total amount of the grants made for this purpose.

Connections to farmhouses and farm cottages usually form part of larger farm water supply schemes. I have no separate statistics that would enable me to answer the question in detail, but approximately 7,500 domestic dwellings have been covered by schemes approved for grant aid since the passing of the Act in 1944. Farm water supply schemes approved from July, 1941, to 30th April, 1948, number 27,642, of which 18,061 have been completed and approved for payment of grant approximating to £1,750,000. There is a considerable lag between date of completion of a scheme and date of payment owing to the need to submit claims and inspect the work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the proposed flood prevention works on the River Trent to the east of West Bridgeford, Nottingham, that were to be in the form of a cut to serve as a reservoir for flood waters, have been started; or when such work will be taken in hand.