asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed men and women were registered with the employment exchanges at Macclesfield and Congleton at the latest convenient date.

At 10th May, 68 males and 48 females at Macclesfield and 99 males and 24 females at Congleton.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered under the Disabled Persons Act, who are unemployed up to the latest convenient date.

The number of registered disabled persons in Great Britain on 17th May, 1948, was 885,000 of whom 76,471 were recorded as unemployed, including 10,587 classified as severely disabled and needing sheltered employment.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled ex-miners have been placed in jobs in South Wales in the last six months; and in what industries.

The number of placings of disabled persons in jobs in the South Wales and Monmouthshire Development Area during the six months ended 30th April, 1948, was 7,187. Particulars arc not available of the number of disabled ex-miners included in this figure or of the industries concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour what machinery exists in South Wales for dealing with the employment of disabled persons.

There is a specialised service of over 90 Disablement Resettlement Officers at the district and local offices and training centres. This is supervised by a special section of the Regional Office which has a Development Officer engaged full-time on visits to employers and other field work. The Board of Trade has general responsibility for the construction and allocation of the Grenfell Factories which are being built by the Wales and Monmouthshire Industrial Estate Company with whom the Board's Regional Controller is in constant touch and the Disabled Persons Employment Corporation has a resident representative engaged on developing Remploy Factories. There are also 22 local disablement advisory committees appointed under Section 17 of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the latest figures for unemployment in the Slough area; and what is the number of Poles employed there.

At 10th May, the number of persons registered as unemployed in the Slough area was 290. The information asked for in the last part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons within the Development Areas unemployed for a period greater than six and 12 months respectively; and the percentage this represents of all persons unemployed for similar periods within the United Kingdom.

At 15th March, the latest date for which an analysis is available, the numbers of insured persons registered as unemployed at employment exchanges in the Development Areas for the periods in question were as follow:

• Over 26 weeks and up to 52 weeks, 13,452.
• Over 52 weeks, 23,213.
• Total 36,665.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will given an estimate of the total cost of recruitment, transportation, and maintenance of European Volunteer Workers brought to this country up to the latest date for which information is available.

The estimated cost of recruitment, transportation and maintenance of European Volunteer Workers, including some dependants, brought to this country up to the end of May, 1948, is £1,800,000. This figure excludes the cost of camp maintenance charges, etc., on the Continent as this cost is borne by the Preparatory Commission of the International Refugee Organisation.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is yet in a position to announce any increase in the pensions being paid to widows and children of Service personnel, who gave their lives for their country.

Since the outbreak of the 1939 war, several increases have been made in the pensions and allowances of war widows with children and provision has been made for a rent allowance where the rent and rates exceed 8s. a week. I regret that I am not able to announce any further increases but I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that the rates of war pensions will be kept under review in the light of changing circumstances.

asked the Minister of Health on what basis compensation will be paid to the 25 artificial limb-making firms who will be forced to close down as a result of his Department's assumption of responsibility for the supply of limbs under the National Health Service.

I have been asked to reply. I cannot accept the hon. and gallant Member's statement that 25 artificial limb-making firms will be forced to close down. The question of compensation, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and other ranks, respectively, are on the waiting list for family accommodation in S.E.A.L.F. Command; how many families of officers and other ranks, respectively, have been transported to this Command from the United Kingdom in the last 12 months; and what steps are being taken to provide additional accommodation for families in this Command.

On 31st March, the latest date for which information is available in the War Office, 235 officers and 261 other ranks were on the waiting list for married quarters in the Far East. Three hundred and seventy-seven families of officers and 267 of other ranks embarked for this Command during the 12 months ended 31st May. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 24th February.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what charges Trevor Perring was sentenced to 56 days' detention at Farnborough by court martial on 3rd June, 1948; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will inquire into the circumstances in which Private Trevor Perring was found guilty on charges of indecency and ordered 56 days' detention at a court martial at Farnborough on 3rd June.

This case is one in which other men are involved who will be brought to trial later. The proceedings of the court martial in the case of Private Perring have not yet been confirmed and I am not prepared to make a statement at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many R.A.S.C. clerks now in the Middle East Command have had their releases deferred; when the last draft of reinforcements arrived: and what steps are being taken to amelior ate the position.

Up to 31st May, 223 R.A.S.C. clerks in Middle East Command had had their release deferred. Drafts of R.A.S.C. clerks were due to arrive on 4th and 10th June. Every effort is being made to improve the position, but the present rate of release from the Army is so high that there is an increasing shortage of skilled men in various Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for War the sum paid in overtime rates to employees of his Department for the 1946–47 financial year.

The amount paid in overtime rates to War Office headquarters civilian staff during the financial year 1946–47 was approximately £116,000. Similar information for outstations staff is not available centrally and could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of work.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the results of the investigations made under his orders, and the orders of his predecessor, into the £58 million currency loss revealed in February, 1947; what disciplinary action has so far been taken; how much of the loss this action covers; and whether investigations are still continuing.

I presume that the hon. Member refers to the currency losses which were the subject of exhaustive consideration by the Committee of Public Accounts and were covered in their Second Report for the Session 1946–47. This report was debated in this House and approved on 21st July, 1947. That seems to me to dispose of the matter except in so far as recommendations were made by the Committee. These recommendations, which were contained in paragraph 45 of the Committee's report, have been dealt with in a Treasury minute which has been before the Committee in the current Session, and upon which they will no doubt make a further comment if they think it necessary. In the circumstances I do not think any fresh statement from me at this stage is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is expected to complete the review of prisoners of war whose sentences will not have been completed by 30th June; and whether any decision has yet been taken with regard to those men serving sentences as a result of the Crewe Hall incident.

The review of sentences of prisoners of war undergoing imprisonment in the United Kingdom will be completed before the end of repatriation; as regards the second part of the Question I have nothing to add to the letter which I wrote to my hon. Friend on 28th May.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state separately the number of Poles awaiting repatriation; the number in the Polish Resettlement Corps; and the number in the Polish Land Forces who have refused to join the Resettlement Corps, at the latest date for which figures are available.

Approximately 1,600 members of the Polish Land Forces or the Polish Resettlement Corps are awaiting repatriation to Poland or other countries. There are approximately 29,800 in the Polish Resettlement Corps, and 800 in the Polish Land Forces who have refused to join the Polish Resettlement Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers in the Polish Resettlement Corps have been granted leave with pay in order to undertake privately arranged training courses.

Up to 8th June, 357.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will modify the forward rates of exchange of the U.S. dollar-sterling cross rate at present quoted by the Bank of England.

No.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware of the difficulties of parents and widows who, wishing to visit war graves in Belgium, find that the £10 maximum of Belgian currency allowed by the Bank of England Foreign Exchange Control is inadequate to cover their needs in reasonable comfort during the time they are in Belgium; and whether he will take steps to increase the allowance.

I have no evidence that the £10 allowance is inadequate for the purpose and I am afraid that we cannot afford to increase it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will investigate the handicap placed upon the British mining industry by the absence of a depletion allowance relating to moneys expended in acquiring the source of the deposit.

Yes. I propose to appoint a departmental committee for this purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the jute control at Dundee has prohibited the export of jute bags to the U.S.A. in spite of there being large stocks available in the United Kingdom.

Owing to restricted supplies of raw material and the heavy demand of home requirements, only a very limited quantity of jute bags is available for export, and licences are granted as far as possible to selected destinations, including the United States.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the percentage increase of production on the weaving side of the cotton industry, as compared with the highest month in 1947.

In April, production per working day of cotton, rayon and mixture fabrics taken together was 1.3 per cent. above production in November last, which was the best month of 1947.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered a resolution from the Bowhill Branch of the British Legion, Women's Section, sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife, asking that a separate book of coupons for household goods, such as towels, sheets, etc., should be issued to housewives; and whether such a concession can now be granted to housewives.

I have considered this resolution but see no reason to alter the view that the ordinary clothing ration affords the best means of distributing towels and sheets. The changes recently announced, and particularly the issue of the 12 extra coupons, should assist families in obtaining them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many firms have withdrawn their applications for tenancies of the factories for disabled miners in South Wales; and for what reasons.

Four firms have withdrawn their application for Grenfell factories. One of them withdrew as the result of a general decline in the demand for their particular type of product, and another as the result of shortage of raw materials. Two others withdrew after discussions had revealed doubts about the likelihood of success in their particular lines of business.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which of the factories for disabled miners in South Wales it is proposed to allocate to the National Coal Board; and for what purpose.

I have not received any proposals to allocate any of the Grenfell factories to the National Coal Board.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the total volume and the dollar cost per ton of imports from North America in 1947 of mechanical pulp, of unbleached sulphite pulp, and of pulpwood, respectively, used for the manufacture of newsprint in this country; and what is the estimated volume and dollar cost per ton of imports of the same raw materials in 1948 and 1949, respectively;(2) what is the dollar cost of a ton of newsprint made in this country either from mechanical pulp or from pulpwood imported from North America, as compared with the dollar cost of a ton of Canadian newsprint imported under the Newsprint Supply Company's contracts.

Woodpulp for paper making is drawn mainly from European countries and it is impossible to say how much of the North American and European supplies, respectively, are used in newsprint as distinct from other kinds of paper. Sulphite pulp as well as mechanical pulp is used in newsprint production and if only North American pulps were used for this purpose the dollar cost would be about 88 dollars a ton as against 95 dollars 60 cents (excluding certain seasonal charges) for newsprint. If pulpwood were used in place of imported mechanical pulp, the dollar cost would be reduced to about 44 dollars. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures of the imports of mechanical pulp, sulphite pulp and pulpwood from all sources and their average f.o.b. cost for 1947, together with estimated figures for 1948, showing the quantities separately for North America. I am, however, at present unable to estimate the imports for 1949.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether when the Canadian employees of Hield Brothers' Ontario factory send a parcel of packed food for a Christmas dinner for the employees of the Bradford factory, his Department will give this firm permission to receive this gift; and whether plans have been made for removal of the regulations and dilatory procedure which prevented its arrival last year.

While I cannot promise in advance that an import licence will be granted in any particular case, I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that every consideration will be given to applications such as the one to which he refers. As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary explained to the hon. and gallant Member in his letter of 31st May, we cannot alter the existing gift parcel regulations, but we have made administrative arrangements which should avoid delays of the kind which have occurred in the past in the case of bulk gift parcels.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many mills there are in this country equipped with plant for grinding pulpwood; what is the present pulp-making capacity of those mills in tons per annum; and at what percentage of capacity are those mills now working.

There is only one mill which is so equipped and I cannot disclose figures which relate to the business of a single company.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the acute shortage of cigarettes in North Staffordshire; if he is satisfied that a fair quota is being allocated to that area; and whether he will take steps to effect improvement.

I am aware that there is a general shortage of cigarettes all over the country; this is due to restriction of leaf supplies, and an improvement must depend on our progress in solving the problem of our balance of payments. I am satisfied that the shortage is no worse in North Staffordshire than in other areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what further plans are being considered to export prefabricated houses to the Dominions and Colonies; whether it is his policy to encourage such exports; and with which Dominions and Colonies he has had consultations in this connection; (2), to what countries outside the Commonwealth have prefabricated houses, shown by types, been exported since VE-day; in what numbers; and what prices were paid; (3), how many prefabricated houses, shown by types, have been exported to the Dominions and Colonies since VE-day, showing each Dominion or Colony separately; and what prices were paid.

It is the policy of the Government to encourage the export of prefabricated houses to the maximum possible extent, having regard for the supply of materials. There have been no official export negotiations between His Majesty's Government and overseas Governments; negotiations have been of the ordinary commercial kind between the suppliers of different types of prefabricated houses and potential purchasers abroad, whether the latter are private, municipal or central goverment purchasers. There are no official statistics of exports of houses as such. The figures of exports would come under the respective headings of the components as shown in the official Export List. In these circumstances, and as sales are the result of private trade, prices secured are not available for publication.I gather that actual bulk transactions have so far not been numerous. In a considerable number of instances, however, negotiations with both Empire and foreign purchasers have reached the stage of the supply and erection of sample houses. The indications are that the export business which may accrue will vary from the export of complete houses in parts at one end of the range, to the sale of manufacturing rights and designs at the other.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he has now considered the recommendations of the National Parks Committee and the special committee on Wild Life Conservation; whether it is his intention to prohibit all forms of hunting and other methods of unnecessary destruction of animal and bird life in national native and reserved areas and in the national parks as proposed in the Report on the Conservation of Nature; and what steps he is taking to secure this result.

My right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot add anything to the reply given to a similar question by my hon. Friend on 28th October 1947, though he would call attention to the reply given by the Lord President of the Council to a question asked by the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Keeling) on 29th April of this year.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning when he is going to make regulations for the control of advertisements, in view of the fact that only three weeks now remain before the appointed day.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make the regulations very shortly.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he has now considered the report of his inspector following the local inquiry into the appeal of I.C.I., Limited, against the refusal of the South Westmorland Rural District Council to permit the use of land at Holme Park Fell, Holme, for the storage on some eight acres of the site, of thousands of gas cylinders; and what is his decision in the matter.

Yes. I dismissed the appeal. The reasons for my decision are explained in a letter of 30th April to the appellants, a copy of which has already been sent to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the dirty nature of the work of men delivering household coal, that the extra allowance of soap made to some of them is not sufficient to maintain the proper cleanliness of body and clothes; and if he will take steps to increase the ration.

I appreciate the difficulties of these men, but I am afraid that supplies of soap are insufficient to permit of any increase in their present allowance.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the total purchase in feet of conveyor belting from American, Belgian and Dutch sources, for the year 1948; and what is the total estimated demand for the whole country for 1948.

We expect to import 2,080,000 feet in 1948. Home requirements are estimated at 12 million feet.

asked the Minister of Education what arrangements are being made to bring into the teaching profession the required numbers to meet the admitted shortage of women teachers.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Circular on this subject, which is being issued this week.

asked the Minister of Education whether the provision and erection of Horsa huts is up to the time and progress schedule laid down by his Department; and what are the future building priorities to meet the rising numbers entering primary schools in the forthcoming years 1948–51.

The reply to the first part of the Question is "No." In reply to the second part, the building programmes for 1949–51 have not yet been settled but in Circular 155 I asked local education authorities to include in their proposals for 1949 any projects required to meet rising numbers in primary schools.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what restrictions exist on the choice of agricultural employment by German ex-prisoners of war.

German ex-prisoners of war working in agriculture are engaged under contracts of service which expire at the end of 1948. Those in the employment of a farmer are free to give a week's notice to their employer, but before they take another engagement they must obtain the approval of the local office of the Ministry of Labour. Those employed by an agricultural executive committee have contracted to remain with the committee until the end of 1948 (unless the employment is terminated earlier by the committee) and to transfer to the service of another committee if required to do so. They may transfer to the emloyment of a farmer only with the agreement of the employing committee and the Ministry of Labour.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if any Colorado Beetles have migrated to this country; and what steps he is taking to deal with the situation.

There is no evidence that any Colorado beetles have flown all the way to this country though some have alighted on cross-channel shipping. Officers and crews of these boats are well informed about Colorado beetles, and frequent searches are made.

asked the Secretary of State for Air under what provision and of which treaty or agreement are six de Havilland Vampire jet-fighters of No. 54 Squadron R.A.F. to be flown to South Carolina, there to take part in exercises of the United States Air Force.

These Vampires are visiting the U.S.A. on a goodwill visit. At the invitation of the United States Air Force they are to participate in exercises to be held in South Carolina.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in view of the estimate of the Deutsches Institute für Jugendhilfe that some 8,500 British soldiers are fathers of illegitimate children by German mothers, what conclusions have been reached in regard to the need of securing assistance for these women and their children and the financial responsibility of the men involved.

My right hon. Friend is at present considering a report from the Military Governor on the whole question of affiliation proceedings in the British zone, which might involve British subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government nominated directors of the Suez Canal Company voted in favour of the election of Mr. S. Pinkney Tuck, former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, to the Board of that Company.

Yes. Mr. Pinkney Tuck was elected unanimously. I would add that he was elected because of his personal qualifications for the post and is in no way a representative of the United States Government. Mr. Tuck is filling a vacancy previously held by a Frenchman.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when discussions will begin in Washington on the subject of the conditions to be imposed by the U.S.A. on the recipients of Marshall aid.

My right hon. Friend does not accept the implication contained in the wording of this Question. Negotiations began in Washington on Friday, 11th June, for the conclusion of a Bilateral Agreement between the United Kingdom Government and the United States Government in regard to co-operation between the two countries in the application of the European Recovery Programme.

asked the Minister of Food whether the allowance of the extra four-ounce ration of sweets for Period 11 has completely eliminated the danger of stocks deteriorating; and whether he will double the sweet ration for children of all Category I sweets from and including Period 12.

I am very glad to say that I can now increase the sweet ration for everyone from three ounces to four ounces per week for the next rationing period beginning 20th June; this increase will be made from stocks and will not involve increased allocations of scarce materials.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new schools have been approved since the end of the war; on how many has work been commenced; how may have been completed; and at what dates will the remainder be completed.

The information set out below shows the position of new school provision since the end of the war.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many proposals for classrooms and practical rooms were received in 1947; how many were approved during the year; how many were under construction during the year; and how many were completed.

As the available statistics do not differentiate between classrooms and practical rooms, the information given below relates to both types.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many constructional schemes for the generation of electrical power by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board were in progress at the end of May, 1948, or latest available date; how many men were employed; what was the capacity of these schemes in kilowatts and annual output in units per year; what are the probable dates at which each unit will be completed; and how many new schemes are scheduled for commencement in 1949 and 1950.

At the end of May, 1948, work was in progress on eleven hydro-electric projects prepared by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and 5,500 men were employed. The proposed installed generating capacity of these projects will be 436,800 kilowatts and the estimated annual average output 832½ million units of electricity. No further projects have been confirmed but six projects have been submitted to me by the Board for confirmation, on four of which, if confirmed, they would propose to start work this year, and on the other two in 1949.In accordance with the Board's present programme the amount of electricity available should be 175,000 kilowatts by the winter of 1949–50, increasing—if the further projects now being considered are approved—to 570,000 kilowatts by the winter of 1952–53.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the lack of supply of water in Denbighshire, particularly in the areas covered by the Nant Conway, Aled and Hiraethog Rural District Councils, and the effects of the lack of supply on this widely scattered agricultural community; and what steps he is taking pending the construction of a large scheme by the Denbighshire County Council to give some immediate relief to these areas.

Yes. I have already approved some temporary schemes for affording supplies of water in areas to be served by the proposed Regional Llyn Conway scheme where these temporary schemes can be incorporated in the Regional scheme. I have also approved some local scheme for the provision of water in areas which will not be covered by the proposed Regional scheme. I am prepared to consider any further proposals on these lines which the authorities may put forward.

asked the Minister of Works (1) the number of building trade operatives who are now employed on repairs, maintenance and re-decoration; and how many are employed on general building work, as distinct from housing;(2) how many of the nation's building trade operatives are now employed on housing work; and how many other men and women are employed in manufacturing the parts of prefabricated or partially prefabricated houses in factories or workshops.

The national figures for which the hon. Member asks are given in Table No. 12 of the Housing Return for England and Wales of 30th April, 1948 (Cmd. 7417), with the exception of the numbers employed in the manufacture of parts of prefabricated or partially prefabricated houses. These latter figures are not available.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that air mail from this country to British Guiana takes at least seven days to reach its destination as opposed to four days for the opposite journey; and whether the outward time can be made as rapid as the inward.

Under normal operating, air mails to British Guiana, which are despatched twice weekly, should reach Georgetown three to five days after despatch from this country. Earlier in the year, owing to circumstances outside my control, there were, unfortunately, serious delays on this service, but I am pleased to say the position is now much better and I hope there will be no further difficulties.

asked the Lord President of the Council what is the amount now being spent on research for prevention of mastitis; and what progress has so far been recorded.

Research on Mastitis is being actively pursued at nearly all the State-aided Institutions concerned with the study of animal diseases or dairy research, as a part of their normal programmes of work; but it is not possible to state what proportion of the maintenance grants made to these Institutions relates solely to research on this specific problem. Much assistance is also given by the Veterinary Investigational staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in field trials with therapeutic substances, specially penicillin. In addition, the Agricultural Research Council have made a number of special research grants to Institutions for the study of particular aspects of the disease, amounting, during the current year, to £6,500. Other grants have been made in respect of more general bacteriological research having a bearing on this problem.The whole of the Mastitis research, which is supported by State aid, is under the co-ordination of a special technical committee of the Agricultural Research Council set up for the purpose. A comprehensive report on the progress of the investigations, under the general oversight of this technical committee, is in course of preparation.