asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a contribution towards the cost of purchasing the Ben Rhydding Toll Bridge so that the Ilkley Urban District Council can free this bridge from toll.

The traffic using this bridge is so largely local that I would not feel justified in making any contribution from central funds towards the cost of freeing it from toll.

asked the Minister of Transport why he has not yet given a decision with regard to the closing of Ilkley Old Bridge, which is scheduled as an Ancient Monument, in view of the fact that the Ilkley Urban District Council and the West Riding Council sought the Ministry's approval to an order prohibiting the use of this bridge by vehicular traffic last October owing to the danger to pedestrians.

I am about to confirm the order. I regret the delay in arranging for the provision of suitable signs to give notice of its effect.

asked the Minister of Transport to state the number of accidents reported on the road from Uxbridge to Beaconsfield during the past three years and the number of deaths and permanent injuries incurred resulting from this accident; and whether he will consider the introduction of a 30 mile speed limit between the Denham cross roads and the Beaconsfield cross roads and the introduction of traffic lights at the Denham cross roads and the Gerrards Cross cross roads.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 5th February, 1948; Vol. 446, c. 326] supplied the following statement:I have now carefully examined the traffic conditions on the Uxbridge-Beaconsfield road. Analysis of the accident record shows that it is unlikely that a speed limit would materially improve conditions, except, perhaps, on the length of road between Uxbridge and the junction with Western Avenue, where I should be prepared to consider confirmation of an order if the authority decide to impose a speed limit. I propose, as an interim measure, to improve the layout at those road junctions where there has been a concentration of accidents. The long-term solution of the traffic problem on this road is the provision of dual carriageways, but this work cannot undertaken at present.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now make a statement on the decision reached by the British Transport Commission on the question of raising the age at which children can enjoy the benefit of half fares to the school leaving age of 15 years.

No. As I indicated in replies given on 2nd February, this matter is one for the British Transport Commission. I am, however, bringing the hon. Member's Question to the attention of the Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that shipping available at Amble for the transport of coal has dropped considerably since 31st March and in order to prevent unemployment he will ensure that shipping to carry an average tonnage of 4,000 weekly calls at Amble.

Shipping is provided according to the quantity of coal to be moved through the port. The recent drop in tonnage to which the hon. Member refers is due to a reduction in the quantity of coal required to be shipped there.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give the average wholesale-price of a gallon of ice cream; the average price paid by the consumers for this amount; and if he will take steps to control retail prices during the summer period.

It is not possible to give accurate figures but a reasonable estimate of the wholesale price is 12s. 6d. per gallon, and the retail price, 27s. 6d. per gallon. It is impracticable to control ice cream prices by order, but our present method of regulating prices will continue.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the Australian 1947–48 wheat crop amounted to approximately 225,000,000 bushels; what proportion of this grain will be shipped to this country; and how that compares with the amount shipped from the 1946–47 crop.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." Regarding the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which my right hon. Friend made to the House on 19th December, 1947. Of the 80 million bushels purchased from the 1947–48 crop it is expected that about 52 million bushels grain equivalent of wheat and flour will come to this country. Regarding the third part of the Question, no wheat and only 101,000 tons of flour (approximately 5·4 million bushels grain equivalent) were shipped to the United Kingdom from the 1946–47 crop.

asked the Minister of Food how much money was lost in the purchase of potatoes from Denmark which were found to be surplus here and later sent to Central Europe; what was the cost of the steamer freight; and was this paid for in hard currency.

The total loss on Danish potatoes sent to the Control Commission for Germany was £30,375 of which £8,376 was the cost of return shipment from this country. One small Belgian ship was used at a cost of 1,354 Belgian francs.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of potatoes stored in Sunderland have been found to be rotten and dumped into the sea during the last few weeks.

None.

asked the Minister of Food why eggs are graded A, B and C; and what are the retail charges, minimum and maximum.

Home-produced eggs are graded A, B or C according to weight so that each grade can be packed in containers of appropriate size, thus reducing the risk of breakage. There is no minimum retail price for eggs. The maximum retail price of all these grades is 3s. a dozen.

asked the Minister of Food what supplies of rice are being imported this year; when it is expected to be available for the public; what will be the price; and what amount of points will be required.

We have imported 28,500 tons this year up to the present and this may be increased later. We will make an announcement about prices and distribution just before supplies are released.

asked the Minister of Food if he will publish as a White Paper, for the guidance of all those engaged in horticulture, a list of the fruits and vegetables that may now be imported, together with details of the periods within which imports of the various items are permitted; and the rates of duty chargeable.

Details of the arrangements for the import of fresh fruit and vegetables are announced from time to time by Press notice. As for various reasons these arrangements may have to be altered at short notice, the information for which the hon. Member asks is hardly suitable for publication as a White Paper. The following, however, shows the fruits and vegetables which, as planned at present, may be imported under individual open licences until the end of the year and indicates the Import Duties chargeable:

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the production of British Sugar Corporation, Limited, is bought by his Department; what was the total production during the last year for which figures are available; and what was the average subsidy per cwt.

During the year 1947–48 the British Sugar Corporation produced the equivalent of 429,000 tons of refined sugar, all of which was bought by my Department. During this year the subsidy to the British Sugar Corporation, which takes the form of a deficiency payment based upon the difference between cost of production and revenue from sugar and by-products, is estimated to have been approximately 1s. 4d. per cwt.

asked the Minister of Food the cost of his visit to Africa; and

Rural District.			Licences granted (refusals in brackets).			Lincences surrendered.			Net Increase.
			1946.	1947.	1948 (four months).	1946.	1947.	1948 (four months).
Thirsk	…	…	11 (1)	13 (3)	2 (0)	—	—	—	26
Easingwold		…	7 (2)	2 (2)	— (3)	—	2	—	7
Kirbymoorside			1 (0)	4 (0)	— (0)	1	1	1	2
Helmsley		…	2 (0)	5 (1)	— (1)	1	1	2	3
Malton		…	1 (0)	2 (0)	— (0)	—	1	1	1

asked the Minister of Food what is the rate per ton paid by

My right hon. Friend was accompanied on his visit to East Africa by his private secretary. I cannot give complete figures of cost until my right hon. Friend returns this week but the return fares for the journey amounted to £472.

asked the Minister of Food how many applications for new catering licences were received and approved during 1946, 1947 and the four months ended 15th April, 1948, in the rural areas covered by the Thirsk, Easingwold, Kirbymoorside, Helmsley and Malton rural district councils, respectively, and how many licences were surrendered in the same periods in the same respective areas.

Catering licences granted to commercial establishments and surrendered on closure of business between 16th January, 1946, and 15th April, 1948his Department for the carriage by rail and road, respectively, of swedes and turnips from County Durham to the county of Kent.

The rail rate was 18s. 5d. per ton. No swedes were sent from Durham to Kent by road.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of swedes and turnips of last year's crop have been wasted or sold at a loss by his Department; and what is the total loss to the taxpayer to date on swedes and turnips transactions of last year's crop.

About 14,000 tons of swedes were sold at a loss by my Department and 30 tons proved unsaleable owing to deterioration. The total loss sustained on these transactions is approximately £54,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that land around the Beck at Little Carlton, Lincolnshire, is again flooded; and if he will take steps to have the Beck cleared immediately in view of the promise to do this over two years ago.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." As regards the second part, Little Carlton is not within a drainage district and works on the beck can only be carried out with the voluntary agreement of the frontagers. The Lindsey County Council have prepared a scheme on behalf of frontagers for clearing 87 chains of the beck upstream of the Little Carlton Mill and have applied to my Department for grant-aid under the provisions of Section 15 of the Agriculture Act, 1937. The application has been approved and no doubt the council will put the work in hand shortly. I understand that, provided they can get the consent of other frontagers, the county council will later submit a supplementary scheme, with an application for grant-aid for a further portion of the beck.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why periods of three to four weeks waiting are being experienced in obtaining results of tests of butterfat, in view of the fact that such delays reduce the value of the tests.

I am informed by the Milk Marketing Board that a delay of as much as three to four weeks in notifying the results of butterfat tests is exceptional. The Board fully appreciate the inconvenience to the producer. Such delay as occurs is due to lack of sufficient staff to handle the increasing number of samples submitted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many foreign workers are employed by the county agricultural executive committees in Wales; and what was the average number of days they worked per week for the month of May, 1948.

The number of foreign workers employed in agriculture by county agricultural executive committees in Wales on 31st May was 1,405. The information asked for in the latter part of the Question is being collected and I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as it is ready.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what reports he has received from the county agricultural committees on the rabbit population, following the prohibition of the use of steel traps, as enacted under the Agriculture Act, 1947.

The use of steel traps is not prohibited by the Agriculture Act, 1947, but Section 5 of the Prevention of Damage by Rabbits Act, 1939, which was suspended during the war, prohibits their use except in rabbit holes. This suspension has now been revoked but I have received no reports from committees about the effect on the rabbit population.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that ex-Service men with matriculation standard are unable to enter for training in the faculties of veterinary science at the universites; and whether priorities will be arranged for this class of applicant.

Institutions offering degree courses in veterinary science have agreed to reserve not less than 80 per cent. of places for the academic year beginning in October, 1948, for people who served in the Armed Forces during the war or, in certain circumstances, in the mines or in agriculture; but the selection of candidates is of course entirely at their discretion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to state in tabular form the acreage under control of the 62 county agricultural committees; and which show a profit or a loss on their farming operations.

The following are the figures asked for in the first part of the Question:Acreage by counties in England and Wales under the control of, or being farmed by county agricultural executive committees on 31st March, 1948.

County.	Acreage.
ENGLAND.
Bedfordshire	5,758
Berkshire	2,775
Buckinghamshire	7,123
Cambridgeshire	12,640
Cheshire	7,278
Cornwall	6,516
Cumberland	5,724
Derbyshire	3,024
Devon	9,780
Dorsetshire	4,508
Durham	3,378
Essex	40,963
Goucestershire	14,394
Herefordshire	3,353
Hertfordshire	8,392
Huntingdonshire and Soke of Peterborough.	9,682
Isle of Ely	2,403
Isle of Wight	307
Kent	19,721
Lancashire	3,004
Leicestershire	7,737
Lincolnshire—
Holland	371
Kesteven	5,711
Lindsey	12,825
Middlesex	3,431
Norfolk	16,292
Northamptonshire	5,761
Northumberland	26,838

County.	Acreage.
Nottinghamshire	9,959
Oxfordshire	3,995
Rutland	5,225
Shropshire	3,840
Somersetshire	9,450
Southampton	12,601
Staffordshire	3,982
Suffolk—
East	11,197
West	16,050
Surrey	12,992
Sussex—
East	19,501
West	13,025
Warwickshire	14,266
Westmorland	4,591
Wiltshire	10,587
Worcestershire	4,479
Yorkshire—
East Riding	7,727
North Riding	7,028
West Riding	7,708
WALES.
Anglesey	698
Brecon	3,010
Cardigan	5,572
Carmarthen	8,028
Caernarvon	1,767
Denbigh	4,368
Flint	773
Glamorgan	1,820
Merioneth	1,620
Monmouth	2,883
Montgomery	6,861
Pembroke	8,605
Radnor	4,390
Total Acreage	478,297

asked the Minister of Agriculture how long the strain 19 vaccine has been in use as a preventive of contagious abortion; and what decline has been recorded in the incidence of the disease since its introduction.

For six years. Bovine contagious abortion is not a notifiable disease and there are no comparative statistics of its incidence before and since 1942. Strain 19 vaccine has, however, proved itself to be an excellent immunizing agent against the disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the allocation of rations for dairy cattle during May and June is insufficient to maintain maximum milk production in many high-yielding herds; and whether he will authorise the immediate issue of supplementary allowances to farmers who have exhausted their supplies of home-produced feedingstuffs.

Pasture should normally suffice for milk production in the Summer months but where milk yields are above average rations of concentrates on an adequate basis are allowed. In addition the county agricultural executive committees are authorised to make supplementary allowances in special cases from the limited resources at their disposal.

asked the Lord President of the Council for what readers, and for what purpose, the official story of the floods of 1947 has been produced; and what has been the cost of publication.

I have been asked to reply. This book was written for the general public. For further details I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 8th June to the hon. Member for Cambridge University (Mr. Wilson Harris).

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the reasons for delay in delivery of fertilisers, in view of the production now being twice prewar.

I am not aware of any general delay in fertiliser deliveries, although owing to the greatly increased demand there may still be occasional local difficulties. Everything is being done to ensure a fair distribution of the record quantities of fertilisers made available this year.

asked the hon. Member for the Park Division of Sheffield, as representing the Church Commissioners, if the 600 agricultural cottages which the Commissioners propose to build on their estates in the North, Midland and Western areas will be let direct to farm workers on the basis of a tenancy and thus give security of tenure to the occupants of the cottages.

The cottages which the Commissioners desire to provide on the estates referred to are intended to complete the equipment of their farms and the full agricultural productivity of those estates. The Commissioners intend to give tenants all the security possible consistent with the public interest; how they may best do this will be a matter for their consideration when the cottages are approaching completion.

asked the Minister of Labour how many European volunteer workers were, as at the last convenient date, unemployed, particularly in agriculture; and whether there is any difference in the rates of unemployment benefit in such circumstances for European volunteer workers as opposed to British subjects.

Separate figures regarding unemployed European volunteer workers are not available, but any who may become redundant in the job in which they are first placed are speedily re-allocated to other essential work, and the number unemployed at any particular time is negligible. The same rates of unemployment benefit apply to them as to British subjects.

asked the Minister of Education how he proposes to interpret Section 76 of the Education Act, 1944, relating to consideration of parents' wishes in the provision of education; and whether a large majority of parents' wishes, combined with the majority vote of a local divisional executive, will be treated as a sufficient reason for invoking Ministerial discretion.

In the event of disputes between parents and local education authorities arising out of parents' wishes for the education of their children I should have to determine the question in the light of the considerations set out in Section 76 of the Education Act, 1944, and of all the circumstances of the particular case. I cannot answer hypothetical questions.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give an estimate of the value of Service Department fixed assets which have been sold in Palestine and state the loss which has been sustained on the book value; and if he will give a list of the principal fixed assets sold and the prices obtained.

Disposal of Service fixed assets in Palestine is not complete and final reports are not yet available. Some fixed assets are not being sold at present and will be dealt with in later negotiations. Service property is not normally valued unless it is surplus to Service requirements, when actual market values are assessed as a guide to disposal. It would not be in the public interest to give further information at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War to state the account given at the Army court of inquiry by 2nd Lieut. Marler who was an eyewitness of the circumstances in which Lieut. Burke was killed on the Austro-Yugloslav frontier.

, pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 1st June, 1948; Vol. 451, c. 785), gave the following additional information:I have now seen the proceedings of the court of inquiry. They confirm the position as stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State in reply to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for King's Norton (Mr. Blackburn) on 10th May, viz., that Second-Lieut. Marler could not have seen exactly how the struggle between the Yugoslav sentry and Lieut. Burke began, but that he adheres to his belief that Lieut. Burke started the struggle.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what inquiry he has made into the problem of noise in coal mines and coal-washing plants; what recommendations have been made; and to what extent they have been acted upon.

Investigation made before the war on behalf of the Medical Research Council, by the Safety in Mines Research Board and by the Inspectors of Mines, indicated that a considerable reduction of noise was likely to result as improvements are made in the design, construction and maintenance of mining machinery. It may be that the reduction of noise, which I am advised is now noticeable in certain instances, could be aided by further investigation and my right hon. Friend is therefore asking the National Coal Board to give attention to the question.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what progress has been made in improving the ventilation of coalmines; and if he will give figures to show the rate of progress.

New regulations which came into force in August last year provide for the periodic measurement of the firedamp content of the air on coal faces where electricity is used; and it is, of course, an important general duty of His Majesty's Inspectors of Mines to see that the ventilation requirements under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, are duly observed. Apart from these statutory requirements, steady progress in the improvement of mine ventilation is taking place as a result of research work by scientists and mining engineers, but I regret that it is not possible to measure this progress in terms of figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the announcement of Sir Oliver Franks that Britain was definitely on the side of the United States in the present cold war against U.S.S.R. and was a partisan rather than a mediator was made on the instructions of His Majesty's Government; whether he is aware that this announcement is inconsistent with the Anglo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship; and what steps have been taken to draw the attention of the Ambassador to the policy of His Majesty's Government and to the Treaty.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to similar Questions today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the statement officially made by the British Ambassador to Washington on 8th June that this country was definitely on the side of the United States in the present cold war against Russia and was a partisan rather than a mediator; and whether in the light of this statement he has given any fresh instructions to the Ambassador.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to similar Questions today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murders, suspected murders and attempted murders took place during the month of May in the years 1946, 1947 and 1948, respectively.

In May, 1946, there were 13 murders and suspected murders and 16 attempts and threats to murder known to the police in England and Wales. The corresponding figures for May, 1947, were 22 and 18. Figures for May, 1948, are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the value in sterling of the 1947 exports of rubber, tin, and edible oil, respectively, from Malaya; and what value of each was exported to the U.S.A.

Exports in 1947 from the Malayan Union and Singapore, were:

—	Total Exports.	Exports to United States of America.
	£	£
Rubber	92,500,000	42,500,000
Tin	11,750,000	7,135,000
Edible Oils	5,580,000	Nil

These figures include re-exports. The corresponding figures of values of imports into the Malayan Union and Singapore from neighbouring territories are:

	£
Rubber	21,420,000
Edible Oils (and Copra)	2,300,000

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of factory projects within the North East Development Area now postponed; what percentage this represents of all factory projects approved or in course of building; and to what extent Development Areas will be given priority in the restoration of the cuts already imposed in the capital investment programme.

The construction of 68 new factories and extensions of 5,000 square feet and over has had to be postponed. This represents 18½ per cent. of the total number of factory building projects approved for the North-Eastern Development Area. Of the 367 projects approved at the end of April, 127 had already been completed, 159 were in various stages of construction and 13 others were due to proceed. I cannot forecast when the present restrictions on industrial building will be relaxed, or what decisions may be taken as a result of any relaxation which may be possible at some future date. My hon. Friend, may, however, be assured that we shall have regard to the special needs of the Development Areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the extreme shortage of the larger sizes of men's shirts, particularly those with 17-inch neckbands; and what encouragement by way of increased coupon allowance or other means he will give to manufacturers to ensure an adequate supply of shirts of these larger sizes in the shops.

I am fully aware of the shortage, which extends to shirts of all sizes. To encourage the manufacture of an adequate proportion of the large sizes, manufacturers' ceiling prices for utility shirts of a neck size exceeding 17½ inches have been fixed 20 per cent. higher than those for smaller sizes. Moreover, manufacturers of these shirts are reimbursed for any coupon loss.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that shortage of cement is holding up the construction of several factories in South Wales; and what steps he is taking to increase supplies.

Complaints have been made that in some cases in South Wales there has been a shortfall in the deliveries of cement. My officers, in consultation with the Board of Trade, and with the cement manufacturers, are examining these cases in order to ensure adequate supplies to maintain the progress of the work.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will now grant a permit for the erection of two huts for a Mission Church and Recreation Hall in the new parish of Hunderton Herefordshire.

A building licence authorising this work has been granted.

asked the Minister of Works what was the number of building workers engaged in building factories in Scotland and the Scottish Development Areas, respectively, at the end of May, 1948, or the latest available date.

The latest date for which figures are available is the end of April, 1948. There were then approximately 6,900 building workers engaged on factory building and extensions in Scotland including 5,700 in the Scottish Development Areas.

asked the Minister of Works what action he proposes to take on the Simon Report on the distribution of building materials.

I have discussed the Report with representatives of the manufacturers and of the distributors of building materials. The main recommendations so far as I am concerned are those relating to arrangements limiting competition and to control of distributors' margins. With regard to the former, I am awaiting the passage of the Monopoly (Inquiry and Control) Bill. As regards distributors' margins, the prices to the users of most of the principal building materials are subject to control; I have asked the distributors to consider what reductions can be made and they will report to me in due course.