asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the loss of production experienced in Lancashire textile mills owing to the poor quality of coal which is delivered; and if he will cause an estimate to be made of the total loss per annum due to this fact.

I have seen very few recent complaints about the quality of coal delivered to Lancashire textile mills. There appears to be no significant loss of production from this cause.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of designations in the furniture industry still outstanding; and when these are likely to be granted.

There are 611 applications for licences to manufacture utility furniture outstanding. Timber is still a scarce raw material and I can see no early prospect of enabling these applicants to make utility furniture.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why there is no explanatory memorandum to the Photographic Film (Maximum Prices) (Amendment) Order, 1948, No. 985, made on 10th May, 1948, and laid before Parliament on 11th May, 1948.

Because the terms of the order which merely add a particular make of film to a part of the schedule of maximum prices set out in the principal order are sufficiently clear and simple, in my view, to make an explanatory note unnecessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of picking sticks and other accessories for looms and the delay experienced in achieving delivery; and if he will take steps to remedy this position.

I have received no complaints about shortage of picking sticks. I am aware that supplies of some other loom accessories are insufficient to meet demands; in these cases my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply is doing all he can to assist manufacturers to increase their output.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why permission to supply private petrol to commercial users has been refused to Mr. J. H. Smith of The Garage, Great Gidding, Hunts, who has a one-pump business and serves a large agricultural area comprising 10 villages, the nearest other petrol pump being five miles away.

Because after careful inquiries I am satisfied that this is not a case in which the special licence for which Mr. Smith applied should be granted.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were directed into the mining industry in May.

None were directed into the industry. Fourteen men already in the industry were directed to particular jobs in it.

asked the Minister of Labour what is his policy in relation to the supply of labour to the Pools organisation, including those employed as canvassers.

The policy is to supply to the Pools only such labour as we cannot place in more essential work.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what are the total numbers of workers insured in the building and civil engineering industry in Scotland.

I have been asked to reply The latest available figures relate to July, 1947, when the total number of persons in the building and civil engineering industry insured against unemployment in Scotland was 131,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the rise in our adverse trade balance, the difficulty of attaining export targets, because of our high production costs and the threat of reduced Marshall Aid, what reductions he proposes to make in imports of food or of raw materials.

It would be premature to take such action at the present moment. The situation is however being kept under close review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as a result of the new Japanese sterling area trading agreement, a sterling loan is contemplated for Japan by this country or any other member of the Commonwealth; and what arrangements he is making to protect holders of previous sterling loans to Japan.

Preliminary consideration is being given to a proposal for a sterling credit to finance exports from the sterling area to occupied Japan. Protection of the rights of holders of prewar sterling loans to Japan is another matter which may properly be dealt with in discussions for a Peace Treaty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will appoint a committee of independent businessmen to advise him as to how Marshall Aid shall be spent and publish their recommendations.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has considered a resolution on equal pay, sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife; and if he will make a statement on this subject.

My right hon. and learned Friend has considered this resolution but he has no further statement to make.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) how many copies of the bulletin "Target" issued by the Central Office of Information have been printed and circulated; what tonnage of paper is involved; and what was the cost of the first issue;(2) what are the future proposals for the circulation of the publication, "Target"; how often will it be published; and to whom is it circulated.

Twenty-eight thousand copies of "Target" have been printed and circulated, 24,000 direct to factory managements, and the rest to management and trade associations, trade unions, the Press, etc. The amount of paper used was about 1¼ tons, and the cost about £800. For the future it is proposed that "Target" should be produced monthly and be distributed to the managing directors of all factories employing over 100 workers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount paid annually out of the British Exchequer for the maintenance of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Northern Ireland, including judges' and officials' salaries and the upkeep of offices.

£32,264 in 1946–47, and £48,697 in 1947–48, but the whole of these amounts is recovered from Northern Ireland by deduction from Northern Ireland's residuary share of reserved taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, before any general increases in pay to any grades in the Civil Service are considered, he will initiate an independent public inquiry to review the whole situation in order to associate any proposed increase in pay with increases in efficiency, hours of work and reduction in numbers of the Civil Service as a whole.

No. My right hon. and learned Friend does not consider that an independent public inquiry into these matters is called for. At the present time, of course, pay claims have to be considered in relation to the White Paper on Personal Incomes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which counties do not now fully protect the green plover and its eggs all the year round; and whether, owing to the usefulness of this bird, he will request local authorities to observe uniformity by general preservation throughout the British Isles.

The green plover and its eggs are already protected or are in course of being protected in every county in England and Wales except Herefordshire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the parents of boys sent to an approved school, have, in addition to losing the lad's weekly wages, been compelled to contribute 10s. toward his maintenance; that this is putting a penalty upon the parents; and if he will take steps to remit the charges in such circumstances.

The Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, lays a duty on the parent to contribute and gives the court discretion to fix a weekly sum "having regard to the parents' means." The amount so ordered may be varied by a subsequent court order. I have and freely exercise power to remit payments when I am satisfied that there are grounds of hardship to justify such remission. Provision is made in the Children Bill, now before Parliament, under which a parent's liability to contribute will cease when his child reaches the age of sixteen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children are now in approved schools; how many are in those run by local education authorities; and how many in those run by voluntary societies.

On 29th May there were 9,407 children and young persons in approved schools, of whom 2,228 were in schools maintained by local education authorities and 7,179 in schools maintained by voluntary societies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is proposing to take with regard to the applications for the extradition of Dr. Wedislaw Dering as an alleged war criminal.

I regret I cannot yet add to the answer given to my hon. Friend last week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which police station Colonel Tasoev of the Soviet Army was confined when in London; what were the circumstances of his detention; the reasons of his interrogation; who conducted it; and whether he will make a full statement explaining the occurrence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department where Colonel Tasoev stayed while he was in this country.

The circumstances in which Colonel Tasoev came to this country were explained by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on Wednesday of last week. Pending clarification of Colonel Tasoev's position formal leave to land was withheld and as an alien who had not been given leave to land he was liable to be detained under the provisions of the Aliens Order. He was temporarily accommodated in a flat, but he left this flat and got himself into difficulties owing to his lack of acquaintance with this country. For instance, he was ejected from a bus by a firm-minded conductor as a passenger unable to pay his fare. He was then lodged temporarily in Hammersmith Police Station—a modern station with quite suitable accommodation. He was not subjected to any interrogation, and I am satisfied that he was well treated and that due consideration was shown to him. As my right hon. Friend explained, when Colonel Tasoev changed his mind and expressed a desire to return to the Soviet authorities, effect was given to his request.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many local authority areas it is contemplated that there will be less than 500 children coming under the supervision of the proposed Children's Committee.

I regret that figures on which to base the information for which my hon. Friend asks are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of cases in which punishment diet No. 1 and punishment diet No. 2, respectively, have been awarded in Borstal institutions at Aylesbury, Holloway, Exeter, East Sutton, Rochester, Portland, Hollesley Bay and North Sea Camp, respectively, during the last six months.

Following are the particulars: During the period from 1st December, 1947, to 31st May, 1948, at Aylesbury Borstal Institution No. 1 restricted diet was awarded as a punishment in 22 cases, and in 11 of these cases No. 2 restricted diet was also awarded. At Exeter Borstal Institution, both restricted diets were awarded in seven cases, including one case where the girl in question was transferred to Holloway where the award was carried out. At Holloway Borstal Institution, both restricted diets were awarded in nine cases; No. 1 restricted diet was also awarded in eight cases and No. 2 restricted diet in four. At Rochester Borstal Institution, both restricted diets were awarded in 32 cases; No. 1 restricted diet was also awarded in 29 cases and No. 2 restricted diet in 26. At Portland Borstal Institution, both restricted diets were awarded in 10 cases; No. 1 restricted diet was also awarded in two cases and No. 2 a restricted diet in 14. At North Sea Camp, both restricted diets were awarded in five cases, and No. 2 restricted diet was also awarded in 10 cases. There were no such awards at East Sutton and Hollesley Bay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cause an analysis to be prepared and published as soon as possible of the statistics of violent crimes which have taken place between 16th April and 11th June, comparing such statistics with those for other comparable periods.

It would not be practicable to obtain the statistics suggested by my hon. Friend, but I am considering what further particulars can be made available with regard to murders committed this year.

asked the Minister of Health why local authorities in London are permitted to supply tenants with information provided by the Rating and Valuation Acts in order that they may ascertain their position under the Rent Restrictions Acts while outside London the local authorities are not permitted to supply this information.

This London rating provision, which is being repealed by the Local Government Act, 1948, is in no way connected with the Rent Restrictions Acts. The latter Acts include provisions enabling a tenant to ascertain his position under them.

asked the Minister of Health (1) in view of the fact that Craftcast houses are not prefabricated and have received a 100 per cent. favourable report from the Burt Committee and are approved by his Department, particulars of which have been sent him, why his permission to continue to erect these houses has been refused;(2) in view of the fact that Messrs. Craftcast, Limited, have been given the necessary permits to acquire specialised plants and equipment to the value of £20,000 for the express purpose of producing these dwellings and for exporting the equipment overseas, particulars of which have been sent him, why he has cancelled their building licences.

No licences have been cancelled, nor has permission to erect been refused. The firm has the same freedom to build for local authorities as any other contractors.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Craftcast, Limited, have been compelled to close down and erect Airey houses, and that these houses, including development costing £1,700, exclusive of land and cartage of concrete parts, five journeys per pair from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, to Kent; and why, in view of the fact that Craftcast, Limited, were producing at £1,180 net, detached freehold this policy has been adopted.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today on questions on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the report of the Independent Committee whose appointment he announced on 5th June, 1947, to consider and keep under review the cost of house-building and to make recommendations; and whether the report will be published.

I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Pollok (Commander Galbraith) on 10th June a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health in view of the many causes of friction and resentment arising between tenants in the same house and between tenants and landlords, if he will appoint a committee to consider means of easing the problem by a statutory definition of tenants rights and responsibilities respecting common usage of bathing and kitchen facilities, noise, accommodation of perambulators and other matters; whether special attention will be given to the need of security of tenure and inequitable indirect charges in respect of furnished rooms; and whether legislation to embody suitable recommendations will be introduced.

I do not think that a special inquiry is needed, but all the points referred to have been noted for consideration when it becomes possible to introduce legislation amending the Rent Restrictions Acts. I can, however, hold out no early prospect of such a Measure.

asked the Minister of Health when it is proposed to lift the ban on new housing construction imposed by him on local authorities in September of last year.

The hon. Member appears to have misunderstood the action taken, as no such ban was imposed. As regards the future programme, I would ask him to await the statement I shall be making on 25th June.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he proposes to take to ensure that new houses and flats built by local authorities are let at rents which working class tenants can reasonably afford.

I would refer the hon. Member to the provisions of the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1946.

asked the Minister of Health what are the average prices of the B.I.S.F., Howard, Wates, and Laing Easyform permanent prefabricated houses.

The Howard house is supplied to local authorities under the provisions of Section 3 of the Building Materials and Housing Act, 1945. No final figures are yet available. The nationally agreed prices for the B.I.S.F., Wates and Easiform houses are £1,307, £1,274 and £1,210 or £1,222 respectively. These prices are subject to increase, because of rises in wage rates and costs of materials.

asked the Minister of Health why he has refused a building licence for an inhabitant of Sutterton, whose house has been condemned by the local authority as unfit for human habitation and in respect of which the surveyor to the rural district council has certified that he cannot accept any responsibility in the event of injury to the occupants.

As the hon. Member has been informed by letter, the demolition order does not require vacation of the house until 31st December. No request has been made by the occupant for new accommodation.

asked the Minister of Health why representatives of the Press are debarred from attending and reporting zonal housing conferences; and if he will remove this disability.

The zonal conferences are informal meetings arranged by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works to facilitate free discussion of building subjects betwen local authorities and Government Departments. I do not think any change in the present arrangements is called for.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the representations made to him by the local council and the rural district council against the destruction of 30 to 40 buildings on the Immingham Dock Estate each capable of housing two or three families, he will reconsider his decision and allow these buildings to be used for the homeless civilian population of Immingham.

Neither of the local authorities has made representations to me, and I see no reason for reconsidering my decision.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the names of the types of non-traditional houses and of their manufacturers which are produced in this country without subsidy and without prefabrication.

I have no complete details of the number of poured concrete types which answer this description.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give an assurance that an early decision will be reached on the proposal to flood the Enborne Valley in order to remove uncertainty about the future, since no land sales and no building are now possible, no transport or housing improvements or maintenance expenditure justifiable; and in order also to avert a decrease in food production owing to the suspension of all long-term planning of the rotation of crops.

asked the Minister of Health if he will call for an independent expert report on possible alternative means of increasing London's water supplies before approving the Metropolitan Water Board's reservoir project in the Enborne Valley.

This scheme has not been submitted to me and there is thus no question of my approving it. I can assure the hon. Members that, if application is made to me, I shall carefully weigh its merits in relation to possible alternative schemes and deal with it as expeditiously as possible.

asked the Minister of Health what provision he now proposes to make for those deaf persons who need special instruments other than the standard device proposed to be issued under the new National Health Scheme.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on 6th May to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll).

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the shortage of hearing apparatus compared with the demand, he would give priority of allocation to persons in employment.

Yes. I am making arrangements on these lines.

asked the Minister of Health how far persons who default with their subscriptions to the National Insurance General Scheme or to the Industrial Injuries Insurance will still receive the full scale of medical services provided under the Health Act after 5th July.

Entitlement to the health service does not depend on contributions at all.

asked the Minister of Health why he has decided not to incorporate in his amending Bill a provision to prevent a whole-time salaried service for the dentists being introduced by regulation; and whether, in view of the undertaking he has given to the medical Negotiating Committee to make this concession to the doctors, he will reconsider this decision.

While there is no intention of introducing a whole-time salaried service for dentists working in private surgeries, salaries or sessional fees are in my view the most appropriate form of remuneration for dentists in health centres and I could not therefore accept the proposal.

asked the Minister of Health what consultations he has had with associations of local authorities about the reduction of manpower in the local government service; what action has resulted; and whether he is satisfied with the progress made.

Two meetings have so far been held with the Local Authority Associations. Further consultations are being arranged with the Associations and Government Departments to explore the possibility of simplifying the administrative arrangements between them so as to effect economies in staff. I shall not be satisfied until the fullest possible economies have been achieved but the wide scope of the present discussions means that full achievement is bound to take some time.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take the initiative in bringing about a conference of local authorities in Norfolk and Suffolk to examine the proposal for the construction of a master lock at Great Yarmouth to control the flow of the tides in the Broads, thus minimising flood dangers, controlling the water level, removing causes of pollution and improving sailing conditions.

I will consider this suggestion and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will set up a commission to inquire into conditions existing within the mental hospitals of England, Scotland and Wales.

No. I am not aware it is needed, and it would be untimely just when I am about to try a new administrative organisation.

asked the Minister of Education what are the conditions which decide the rate of grant under the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937, for the erection and equipping of village halls; and if he will make a statement as to the application of this Act.

The rate of grant is assessed according to the financial resources and circumstances of the applicant body. I am sending the hon. Member a memorandum on the subject. The offer of grants under the Act was resumed after the war and up to the end of the last financial year grants to a total of about £340,000 had been offered. Shortage of labour and materials has inevitably restricted progress in the development of this service.

asked the Minister of Education the number of His Majesty's Inspectors of Schools who are employed in Wales and the proportion of these now seconded for various administrative duties; and what clerical assistance is available for these inspectors.

The total number of His Majesty's Inspectors in Wales is 50, including the Chief Inspector; one Staff Inspector is seconded for administrative duties in the Welsh Office at Cardiff. Clerical assistance is available at the Cardiff Office, and at Offices at Swansea and Wrexham.

asked the Minister of Education to state the estimated shortage of qualified women teachers of the deaf; and how many are being trained at the present time.

The overall shortage of qualified teachers of the deaf on the basis of a maximum of 10 pupils in a class is about 150, of whom women would number about half. This figure includes about 80 posts at present held by teachers preparing to take the deaf teachers' diploma externally. In addition, there are 63 students, including 20 women, in training for the teaching of the deaf at Manchester University.

asked the Minister of Education the number of infants' teachers now in training in Welsh training colleges or Welsh University training departments; the estimated shortage of infants' teachers in Wales; and the number of students expected to qualify for this work this year.

About 260 of the students now at training colleges, including emergency colleges, in Wales are taking courses preparing them mainly for the teaching of infants. The total number of women teachers employed in Wales at present exceeds the total of the approved establishments. The number of teachers being trained for infant work will be sufficient to enable vacancies for teachers of infant classes to be filled in the next few years. The number of students expected to complete such training courses this year is about 160.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent students from training colleges will be absorbed in the further education field for which they have been specifically trained; and if he will avoid discouragement among those who have completed their training by encouraging L.E.A.s to develop experimental county colleges and more extended part-time education.

Complete statistical information is not available, but I believe that the majority of the students will be employed either in the further education field or in secondary schools for teaching "technical" subjects. It is certainly my policy to encourage local education authorities to establish county colleges where required to meet the educational needs of young people under 18 and to encourage part-time education, particularly in the daytime.

asked the Minister of Education why he has granted permission for a juvenile under the age of 12 to take part in a public performance in the conducting of an orchestra at the Harringay Festival.

If, as is understood to have been the case, the performance was held to fall within the scope of Section 22 (2) of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, no licence was required and none was issued.

asked the Minister of Education what arrangements are being made to increase the number of units providing treatment for cerebral palsy.

Two new special schools, one day and one boarding, for children suffering from cerebral palsy will be ready shortly and further schools are proposed by several local education authorities. The extension of two hospital schools to include this work is also, I understand, being considered.

asked the Minister of Education how many new schools and new classrooms have been built since the end of the war; how many of these new schools are permanent and how many temporary prefabricated; and in which areas the new schools have been built.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave the hon. and gallant Member for Horncastle (Commander Maitland) on 6th May. Of the new schools built since 1945, four are in permanent construction, nine are in prefabricated huts and the remaining three are in redundant wartime buildings which have been adapted. Following is a list of the areas in which new schools have been built:

Derbyshire,	Staffordshire,
Essex (2),	Bath,
Hertfordshire,	Birmingham (2),
Kent,	Bournemouth,
Lancashire,	East Ham,
Middlesex (3),	Gateshead.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will add one or more women to the membership of the Working Party on University Scholarships.

Yes. I have invited Miss Mann, Principal of St. Hilda's College, Oxford, and Miss Adams, Headmistress of Croydon High School, to serve on the Working Party, and I am glad to say that they have accepted my invitation.

asked the Minister of Education what is the composition in categories of the 9,000 additional teachers who have reached the national schools since March, 1947; and what is the number of additional pupils derived chiefly from the extra age group who have been admitted to the schools to date.

The increase of approximately 9,000 full-time primary and secondary school teachers has been effected since 1938 and not since March, 1947, as the hon. Member states. Particulars of the composition of the teacher force in March, 1948, will not be available for some months. The number of 14-year-old pupils in maintained and assisted primary and secondary schools, other than special schools, in January, 1948, is provisionally estimated to have been 389,000 as compared with 150,000 in January, 1947. In January, 1948, the full effects of the raising of the age had not been felt in the schools.

asked the Minister of Education what recent reductions have been made in his staff; and what further reductions are contemplated.

No reductions have been made in the total staff of my Department. The numbers employed have increased by 143 since 1st January of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he has considered the request of the Government of Ceylon to His Majesty's Government in Britain to assist Ceylon in the matter of diplomatic affairs in foreign countries; and what response he is making.

The United Kingdom Government have gladly given all the help in external affairs for which the Government of Ceylon have asked, and they will, of course, continue to do so. An undertaking to furnish such help was given in the External Affairs Agreement signed by the two Governments on the 11th November, 1947. The text of this Agreement was published in Command Paper 7257.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he has considered the requests of the Governments of India, Pakistan and Burma to assist them in respect to their diplomatic affairs in foreign countries; and what replies he is making.

I am not sure what requests my hon. Friend has in mind in his reference to India and Pakistan. A feature of the structure of the Commonwealth is that the United Kingdom post in any foreign country is freely at the disposal of any other Commonwealth country which is not separately represented. This arrangement applies equally to India and Pakistan as to all other members of the Commonwealth, and no specific requests have been necessary to enable them to benefit by it. We are gladly doing what we can to meet any requests from India and Pakistan for assistance in establishing their own posts in foreign countries.As for Burma, I understand that we are now, at the request of the Burmese Government, protecting their interests in certain countries where they have no representatives of their own, and have assisted them to the best of our ability in establishing their own Missions.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what discussions are contemplated with India and Pakistan on the question of Dominion status and the interpretation of the Statute of Westminster.

I am afraid I am not clear what the hon. Member has in mind. These matters are regulated, without ambiguity, by the Indian Independence Act, 1947. This Act leaves India and Pakistan free to decide for themselves questions of further constitutional change.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many established and unestablished staff are attached to the office of the High Commissioner for the U.K. in Australia; how many of these are employed by the United Kingdom Information Office; what emoluments and allowances are made to each official and the value in sterling of each of these emoluments and allowances.

Five of the staff attached to the office of the U.K. High Commissioner in Australia are established. The remaining 26 are unestablished. Fourteen (all unestablished) are employed primarily on the work of the Information Offices in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. Details of the emoluments and allowances of these officers as at the 1st June, 1948, are contained in the following table. (All amounts in pounds sterling.)

	ESTABLISHED STAFF:
*1	Deputy High Commissioner:	£
	Salary	2,000
	Representation allowance	800
*2	Joint Official Secretaries:
	(i) Salary	1,570
	Representation allowance	650
	(ii) Salary	1,220
	Representation allowance	650
*1	Assistant Secretary:
	Salary	900
	Representation allowance	525
1	Personal Assistant to the High Commissioner:
	Salary	335
	Local allowance	200
1	Chief Clerk:
	Salary	480
	UNESTABLISHED STAFF:
*1	Information Officer, Canberra:
	Salary	1,000
	Representation allowance	425
*1	Information Officer, Sydney:
	Salary	1,000
	Representation allowance	475
*1	Information Officer, Melbourne:
	Salary	1,000
	Representation allowance	475
1	Visual Publicity Officer:
	Salary	510
1	Librarian:
	Salary	285
4	Clerks (various salaries) of whom 1 is employed on information work:
	Total	840
15	Typists (various salaries) of whom 8 are employed on information work:
	Total	2,695
1	Messenger	105
Total Staff: 31.
	Total Salaries and Allowances	18,140
NOTE.—The holders of the posts marked * receive in addition free furnished accommodation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the number of horses imported from Eire into this country during six months to a recent convenient date, for the purpose of slaughter

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 26th May.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what reports he has had as to the treatment of horses in this country which have been imported for the purpose of slaughter; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no recent reports about cruelty to horses imported for slaughter but I have seen an article in a Sunday newspaper alleging that certain imported horses were cruelly treated. Inquiries I have had made do not support these allegations. Cases of cruelty to horses can be dealt with under the Protection of Animals Act, 1911, with which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is concerned, and the Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933, which it is the duty of local authorities to enforce. My responsibility is limited to the treatment of animals while they are in transit.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will issue a statement showing by counties for the years 1941 to 1946, inclusive, the cost of administration of each county war agricultural committee; the acreage farmed by each such committee; and the profit or loss of each such committee in farming in each year.

As regards the first and second parts of the Question, the collection of the information would involve considerable work by the staff of my Department and Committees, which I do not think could be justified in present circumstances. As regards the last part, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my answer on 7th June to a question by the hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. P. Thorneycroft).

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give directions that where a motorist has taken out his car registration for twelve months and wishes to use standard petrol and register his car at half fees he will be able to do this as from 1st June and thus secure the full rebate.

If the motorist is entitled to a half-rate licence for June he can take it out during the month, and obtain refund on his old full-rate licence as from 1st June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the lack of accommodation for first-class maternity patients in the hospital in Johore Bahru, Malaya; that maternity patients from Central and South Johore have to go to Singapore and incur heavy expenditure awaiting for hospital accommodation; and whether steps can be taken to assist the Director of Medical Services in Malaya to accelerate improvements in this field.

The ward in question was in military occupation until a few months ago, and essential structural repairs have not yet been completed. It is expected that at least four more such rooms will be available with necessary equipment in about two months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the broadcast statement on 6th June of the Commissioner-General for Malaya to the effect that Communists in that territory were making an effort to impose the rule of the knife and gun in plantations, mines and factories; and what practical steps are being taken to assist the Government of Malaya to deal with this menace.

The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. In reply to the second part, I am seeeing that all possible help is given to the High Commissioner including the recruitment of staff for the police and supply of equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the substantial number of armed attacks which have been made on the managerial staff of rubber estates in Malaya during recent months; and whether, in view of the importance of the rubber industry in the present economic circumstances of the British Commonwealth, effective action will be taken to give better protection to the European staff.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. In reply to the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on 16th June in reply to questions by the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Donner) and the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the terms of a letter, of which he has been sent a copy, from the Incorporated Society of Planters in Malaya to the High Commissioner of that territory, drawing attention to the hard and dangerous conditions under which European planters are at present living in isolated parts of that territory; and what action it is proposed to take to improve these conditions.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, in addition to general measures which are being taken to combat lawlessness in Malaya, and which have been described to the House, police have been posted temporarily on five estates where violence has occurred or is expected. Individual planters desiring to possess arms have been assisted by the issue of police weapons on loan, and Planters' Associations have been asked to consider concentrating scattered managing staff, or staff in outlying districts as a temporary measure, and to devise means of communication in emergency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received a preliminary report from the experts who are studying the possibility of regulating the level of Lake Nyasa and the flow of the Shiré River; and when he expects to be able to make known the conclusions reached.

No. The position on this project was stated in the answer given to the House by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary on 25th February, 1948. I may add that the irrigation engineer is now in Nyasaland and the hydrological investigations are expected to extend over a period of three years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken by the Government of Nyasaland to consult local opinion in regard to projected changes in the Constitution.

Consultations have been held with the Chamber of Commerce and the Convention of Associations, and the subject has been ventilated in the Press. The Protectorate and Provincial African Councils have been kept informed of developments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will set out a table showing the foreign capital invested in the Colonies; and detailing the amounts and foreign sources in the case of each Colony.

The information requested is not available and it is doubtful whether figures of any value could be calculated.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a description of the actuarial basis on which the National Insurance Scheme coming into force on 5th July is based.

The Government Actuary made a report in 1946 on the financial provisions of the National Insurance Scheme. This report has been published as a Command Paper (Cmd. 6730), and I am sending the hon. Member a copy. Provision is made in the National Insurance Act, 1946, for quinquennial reports by the Government Actuary on the financial condition of the National Insurance Fund, and on the adequacy or otherwise of the contributions payable, and for interim reports by him on the operation of the scheme. These reports are to be made to the Treasury, and are to be laid before Parliament. The first interim Report will cover the period from 5th July, 1948, to 31st March, 1950.

asked the Minister of Works what is the total allocation of all building materials distributed to Northern Ireland for the two years ended 31st December, 1947.

The Government do not consider it to be in the public interest to give details of allocations.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that on 11th February, 1948, the attention of the Deputy-Director of General Stores was drawn to the shortage of 3 ft. measurement rules in the Stevenston district of Scotland by the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers; that at the request of the Deputy-Director the necessary details were supplied to him but that nothing has been done to relieve this shortage which is causing a hold up in the production of bricklayers in that area; and if he will take steps to see that supplies of this requisite are made available at the earliest possible moment.

I regret the delay in dealing with this matter. Supplies

—		1947.		1948 (January to May)
		Launchings.	Completions.	Launchings.	Completions.
Clyde	…	362,544	283,194	110,860	140,642
All Scottish Yards	…	438,771	345,115	147,925	172,620

Any estimate of the total merchant shipbuilding capacity of all yards in the United Kingdom, all Scottish yards, and yards on the Clyde, respectively, could at present be no more than theoretical.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the monotony of sweets at the N.A.A.F.I., members of His Majesty's Forces will be allowed to draw their sweet rations from public shops.

Arrangements have been made for officers and other ranks on the lodging list to buy their sweet ration, if they wish, from ordinary shops. It would not, however, be practicable for troops generally to do this. In any case I do not accept the suggestion made in the first part of the Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what was the gross tonnage of merchant ships launched and completed, respectively, from the Clyde; what were the totals for Scottish yards for 1947 and the first five months of 1948; and what is the estimated merchant shipbuilding capacity of United Kingdom yards, Scottish yards and Clyde yards.

The gross tonnage of merchant ships launched and completed (a) from the Clyde and (b) from Scottish yards in 1947 and during the first five months of 1948 was as follows:But the capacity is considerably greater than would be suggested by the figures of output quoted in the first paragraph of this answer, output being at present limited by availability of materials.