asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider extending the maximum scale of supplementary petrol allowances in exceptional cases where he is satisfied that an increase would be justified in a particular instance.

Yes. Allowances in excess of the normal maximum may be granted to motorists for compassionate reasons where there is disability.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when the members of the Consultative Council under the Electricity Act for the South-Eastern Region are to be appointed.

As I have already explained in answer to previous Questions, I have not yet received the final list of names from all the organisations which I am required to consult under the Act. Moreover, the task of selecting between 280 and 420 members for fourteen councils from among about 1,400 names submitted to me is bound to take time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that at about 9 p.m. on 15th June, at the close of a Fascist meeting at Golbourn Road, North Kensington, a number of police officers attacked a young man, against whom no charge has been made, beat him to the ground and rendered him unconscious; why the police took no steps against a Fascist who had previously committed a gratuitous assault on the young man; and what steps he will take against the police officers concerned.

I have made inquiries and am informed that the description of the incident in question is without foundation. Statements have been taken from the young man, his relatives and the police officers present, and the effect of them is that a scuffle broke out between this young man and an unidentified assailant in the course of which the young man received a Now which caused him to fall into a fit. The police officers on the spot, far from assaulting him, realised his condition and gently lowered him to the ground and administered first-aid, assisted by his family. On recovering from the fit he was taken home in a police car and put to bed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total value of imports of animals for purposes of public entertainment for the years 1944, 1945, 1946 and 1947; and whether, in view of the cruelty involved in the transport, training, and confinement he will consider this import as unnecessary under present conditions and prevent its continuance.

The information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available. Legislation would be required to prohibit the import of performing animals and I can hold out no hope of introducing it.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether, on a question brought before a local authority relating to the consideration of the prosecution of a licensed club for breach of the Control of Buildings Operations Order, it is competent for members of the council who are members of that club to vote;(2) whether, on the question before a local authority of the prosecution of a licensed club for breach of the Control of Buildings Operations Order, it is competent for members of the council, who were members of the club until the question arose, to qualify themselves for voting by effecting a temporary resignation from club membership.

Both Questions raise points which could be decided only by the courts, on the facts of a case brought before them.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that some persons joining the National Health Service have been told that they cannot retain the services of the doctor whom they have engaged for several years, because they live outside the area for which the doctor is zoned; and if he will amend the regulations to enable such persons to retain the services of their present medical advisers.

A doctor has the right when joining the Service to fix the area within which he will visit patients in their homes, as he is required to do when necessary. There is nothing to stop him accepting patients who live outside this area provided he is prepared to visit them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware, as a case submitted to him exemplifies, that the recent call-up of young medical practitioners, notwithstanding earlier representations that the supply was more than adequate, has caused hardship to those holding A appointments at the hospitals, who will thus be prevented from proceeding to B 2 appointments, with detriment to their professional careers and, in particular, will make it impossible fully to carry out the recommendations of the Goodenough Committee, which declared that house appointments for one year should be the minimum experience for the young practitioner before commencing practice; and if he will rectify this position.

I am fully aware of the implications of the decision referred to. The Medical Priority Committee, on whose advice the decision was taken, recommended it as an exceptional means of meeting an expected deficiency in young practitioners for the Services during the second half of the year. The position will be reviewed towards the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the figures of persons rehoused in the borough of Hartlepool and the county borough of West Hartlepool, separately, for the period November, 1918, to November, 1921, and the period April, 1945, to April, 1948.

Hartlepool borough estimate that they rehoused 268 persons in the first period and 1,720 in the second. The corresponding figures for West Hartlepool county borough are 312 and 2,522.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, following the judgment in another place, of 19th March last, in the case of Commissioners of Inland Revenue v. Wesleyan and General Assurance Society, any further consideration has been given to the question of taxation of purchased life annuities; and whether he will make a statement.

This matter is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the purchasing power of the pound, taking the year 1900 as 100, for 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1945 and at the latest available date, also the figures calculated over the whole field of personal expenditure and also figures disregarding the cost of food subsidies.

On a cost-of-living basis the figures for the purchasing power of the pound are approximately as follow:1900, 100; 1910, 95; 1920, 37; 1930, 58; 1940, 49; 1945, 45; 17th June. 1947, 45.Over the whole field of personal expenditure the only available figures are:1940, 49; 1945, 38; April, 1948, 33 (provisional).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make on the conclusion of an agreement concerning trade and payments between this country and Spain.

An agreement between His Majesty's Government and Spain was signed on 23rd June and came into force on that day. It abrogates the Supplementary Monetary Agreement of 26th June, 1947, and provides for the establishment of a technical Anglo-Spanish Consultative Committee to supervise the course of trade and payments between the two countries. The text of the agreement will be presented to Parliament in due course.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps he takes to see that Departments obtain the same rebates on the rates for the carriage of goods as is given to large commercial users of transport.

Broadly speaking, Departments enjoy commercial rates, or their equivalents, including any special rates for large users.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to make known the results of the U.N.E.S.C.O. conference held at Mexico City last autumn; how many times the United Kingdom Commission for U.N.E.S.C.O. has met this year; and whether it is still proposed to hold the next conference this year at Beirut.

The documents relating to the Conference have been published and are on sale. My Department has issued a special poster to all schools and will shortly publish a pamphlet entitled "U.N.E.S.C.O. and a World Society." Publicity has also been arranged through the schools and overseas services of the B.B.C. and through television. The United Kingdom Committee for U.N.E.S.C.O. has held one meeting this year; its sub-committee has met four times since the Mexico City Conference. In addition the seven national co-operating bodies and their sub-committees, dealing with special parts of the U.N.E.S.C.O. programme, have also met, some of them several times. It is still proposed to hold the third session of the General Conference of U.N.E.S.C.O. at Beirut.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that whilst his Department are awarding Government grants for education to conscientious objectors, they are at the same time refusing such grants to disabled ex-Service men with equal or better claims; if he will re-consider such applications and, where able now to give a favourable decision, make such grants retrospective to dates of application.

I assume that the Question refers to grants under the Further Education and Training Scheme. The applications of all persons who fall in one of the specified categories of service and comply with the other conditions of the scheme are considered on their merits. Those registered as conscientious objectors are not disqualified, but there is no ground for the suggestion that they have received preferential treatment.

asked the Minister of Education what is the average calorific value of food and milk supplied daily in schools; and approximately to how many this applies.

The nutritional standard aimed at in the School Meals Service was set out in Circular 1571, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. It is estimated that the combined calorie value of school milk and dinner averages about 900 calories a day. Last February 4,366,000 pupils were having milk and 2,596,000 were having dinner at school out of a total of 4,963,000 present.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that next year's course for Youth Leaders at King's College, Newcastle, has been cancelled owing to the small number of entries; and what action his Department are taking to encourage the general supply of youth leaders throughout the country.

Yes. I am sending the hon. Member copies of circulars on the training of youth leaders and workers. I would also refer him to the reply which I gave him on 16th June last.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he has taken to encourage exchange of teachers within the Commonwealth and in other countries overseas, both in U.S.A. and Europe; and what action he has taken to encourage secondment of teachers for overseas service.

My Department cooperates closely with the two bodies responsible for interchanges with countries in the Commonwealth and the United States of America, namely, the League of the Empire and the Interchange Committee of the English Speaking Union. Both these bodies receive grants in aid of their expenses. The exchange of full-time teachers with European countries has not been found practicable since the war but I am anxious to see such exchanges established, and this is one of the matters which is being considered under the cultural conventions between the United Kingdom and certain other countries. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular which was recently issued by the Ministry on the subject of the secondment of teachers for overseas service.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations to what extent the Canadian Government has been informed by His Majesty's Government of the work that is proceeding on the standardisation of British-American armaments.

Yes, of course, the Canadian Government are fully informed of any discussions which there may be between the United Kingdom and the United States.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what agreements have been reached between Great Britain and Eire as a result of the recent conversations in London with Mr. Costello and his colleagues; and if he will make a statement generally on the present economic relations between the two countries.

As my hon. and learned Friend is aware, the Heads of an Agreement between the Governments of Eire and the United Kingdom were initialled in London on Tuesday last. The purpose of the Agreement will be to facilitate trade between our two countries, to develop Eire's productive resources, and to reduce the present adverse balance of Eire's trade both with the United Kingdom and with the rest of the world. The detailed provisions of the Heads of Agreement were explained in an announcement which was issued before the Eire Ministers went home, and of which I am sending my hon. and learned Friend a copy. I think he will agree that the arrangements made are likely to prove of great advantage to the peoples both of Eire and of the United Kingdom. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing the Government's appreciation of the spirit which was shown by the Prime Minister of Eire and his colleagues, and of the friendly atmosphere in which our work was done.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he has been informed whether the Government of the Union of South Africa will continue to permit the entry of those British subjects whose passages have been arranged by entry permits granted under the regulations of the previous Government; and as to the date when the new migration regulations for the Union will come into force.

I have no knowledge of any recent changes in the regulations which govern entry into the Union of South Africa, and I have no reason to think that any such changes are impending.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many pamphlets, reference No. (90926), 15331/6860, 7000 6/46 51/1, "Please Bring Your Own Towel," issued by his Department, have been distributed; to whom have they been distributed; and what is the cost.

149,000 copies of this pamphlet costing £44 2s. 2d. have been distributed over the past five years to hotels, boarding houses and hairdressing establishments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the index of the prices of British manufactured exports is 148 per cent. above pre-war, when the level of weekly wages is only 75 per cent. higher; and what steps does he propose to take to reduce prices, and so enable British goods to be sold abroad.

Labour costs are not the only element in the costs of production; nor are changes in weekly wage rates an index of changes in labour cost per unit of production. The cost of imported raw materials has increased far more than wage rates. Furthermore costs are increased by delays and difficulties in production due to shortage of imported raw materials, or of home produced goods where the capacity is inadequate to meet requirements. It is however an essential part of the general policy of His Majesty's Government to create conditions in which costs and prices, in general, will fall, or at the least will not rise further. In pursuing this policy they have in mind, especially, the needs of the export trade in those products where our prices are, or may become, a hindrance to sales.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantities of pulpwood which it is intended to import for the manufacture of newsprint for the year 1949.

The programme of imports of pulpwood for 1949 is still under review. It is, however, our intention to use the available grinding capacity as fully as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he held with representatives of the booksellers trade before imposing Notice to Importers No. 281; and if he will exempt scientific, technical and learned periodicals from its provisions.

Notice to Importers No. 281 was issued following information from responsible members of the trade that there was a serious and growing expenditure of dollars through the solicitation of orders for imports of non essential periodicals. I am considering as a matter of urgency whether any concession is possible in respect of certain classes of periodicals.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the fact that a firm in Glasgow whose name has been supplied to him, are advertising offers of coupon-free sheets, he will send his inspectors to make sure that no breach of his regulations is taking place.

I have made inquiries and am satisfied that these so-called sheets are.bump cotton blankets which are not rationed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will tabulate the details to date of applications from Liverpool to build new or extend present factories; the estimated number of persons each would employ; which still await licences; and the reason in each case for refusal or deferment of licences.

I cannot disclose information about the plans of individual firms, which is obtained in confidence, but I will send my hon. Friend a statement of the position in summary form as soon as it has been compiled.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road accidents have been caused in the last six months by unattended or unleashed dogs.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will co-operate with the Minister of Pensions to issue a leaflet setting out the position of those who are entitled to pensions from both Ministries.

I am consulting with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions to see whether the existing leaflets can be amplified to give more detailed information to persons entitled to benefit from both Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to state approximately the number of mature rubber trees in the British Colonial Empire; and the weight of seed produced in a season by the average tree.

It is estimated that there are in the British Colonial Empire about 600 million mature rubber trees. An average rubber tree produces two to three lbs. of seed annually.

asked the Minister of Labour the proportion of income paid in rent by the salary and wage earners of this and other principal countries both before and after the year 1939.

The only information available is 'that derived from the inquiry into the weekly expenditure of working-class households in 1937–38. At that date the average total weekly expenditure of households of industrial, etc. workers was 86s. 3d. Of this, 10s. 10d. represented expenditure on rent, purchase of dwellings, rates, water charges, ground rent, etc. Amongst households, the head of which was in an agricultural occupation, the corresponding figures were 57s. 11d. and 4s. 9d.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many officers of the Metropolitan Police have been lent to Colombia; and for what purpose.

Two Metropolitan Police officers are in Bogotá by the invitation and at the expense of the Colombian Government. They are assisting Sir Norman Smith, who is studying the reorganisation of the Colombian police and the disturbances of last April in so far as they affect that problem.

asked the Secretary of State for War why possession was applied for the married quarters in the Drill Hall, Henley-on-Thames, and obtained by summonsing at the county court, Reading; and why on 8th June six weeks later they were still empty.

The quarter was required for a permanent staff instructor of the Territorial Army. The instructor originally posted was notified as due for reposting, and was therefore not moved into the quarter. When the new instructor arrived, he had no furniture, and the Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association could not provide any. This instructor has, however, now taken possession.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Jews and Arabs, respectively, who had been convicted in Palestine of murder, attempted murder and assault on any member of His Majesty's Forces and any person in the employment of the Government of Palestine, and for carrying arms or explosives, were taken into custody by the G.O.C. British troops in Palestine on or before 15th May; how many are still in custody under his control; how many it is intended shall be released before their sentence has expired; and if he will issue a written statement showing the offences committed by these persons.

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 15th June, 1948; Vol. 452, C. 243) gave the following information: Thirty-one Jews convicted before 15th May were taken into custody by the General Officer Commanding, Palestine, on the termination of the Mandate. There were no convicted Arabs taken into custody. All of the 31 Jews had been convicted of carrying arms. Six convicted Jews remain in the custody of the General Officer Commanding. None of them will be released by him. On the final evacuation of British troops they will be handed over to the Jewish authorities.