asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated shortage of houses in the City of Edinburgh.

I am informed that the Corporation estimate the City's requirements at approximately 30,000 houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for licences by individual owners or occupiers to build houses in rural areas have been made to his Department during the last year; and how many have been granted.

Only since 1st November, 1947, has the approval of the Department of Health been necessary for such applications. Between that date and 31st May, 1948, 454 applications were forwarded by county councils. Of these, 131 have been approved, 225 have been deferred, and 98 are under consideration. In addition 66 applications have been approved for the replacement of houses on farms under the Housing (Agricultural Population) (Scotland) Act, 1938.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how long 19 Rugby Mansions, Bishop Kings Road, Kensington, has been occupied by his Department; what rent was paid; and why does his Department need a flat in a residential block of dwellings;(2) how long Mrs. Wiggins has been employed as housekeeper by the War Office; what is her salary; and where she is now employed.

It would not be in the public interest to give any further information on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in future he will consider the possibility of carrying out ceremonial parades under doubtful weather conditions in service dress should the risk of financial loss be too great if such parades are ordered in full dress uniform.

I am grateful to the hon. Member for his suggestion, which I am having examined.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish the results of the social survey carried out by the Central Office of Information to ascertain the reactions of all sections of the community to Territorial Army recruiting.

I will consider arranging for a copy of the survey to be placed in the Library when I have had time to study it and further copies are available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many officers of his Department have gone to the U.S.A.; when did they go; when they are due back; the date when the conference which they are attending, starts; and when is it due to terminate.

Twelve, including Secretariat. Of these, five left this country on 22nd May, two on 2nd June and five on 5th June. Meetings in connection with the 31st Session of the International Labour Conference began on 9th June. It was necessary for some officers to be in San Francisco for discussions before that date. The Conference itself is expected to end on 10th July, though there will be other meetings, including meetings of the Governing Body, after that date. Most of the Delegation are expected back about 21st July.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, male and female, have left Wales for employment elsewhere since 1st January, 1948.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many factories within the Welsh Development Area are now definitely allocated for re-employ purposes; where are they situated; and how many persons are likely to be engaged therein and over what period.

The number of Remploy factories planned for South Wales is 18. Three have already been opened at Bridgend, Swansea, and Treforest employing at present 225 severely disabled persons. Another six should be opened by the end of the year at Blackwood, Tonyrefail, Treorchy, Ystradgynlais, Merthyr Tydfil, and Brynamman The number of severely disabled persons for whom work will be provided will be at least 1,800.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Poles have now been settled in Scotland; how many remain still without employment; and in what categories of employment they are available.

About 4,000 Poles have been placed in employment in Scotland. There remain 3,582 members of the Corps stationed there for the time being; but their settlement in employment may

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons, male and female, respectively, registered at Ferndale, Porth and Tonypandy Exchanges on 1st January, 1948, and the latest available date.

The following table gives the information desired:be either there or south of the Border. About a thousand of these (mostly officers) are registered as professional, administrative and executive, the remainder mainly as general labourers, agricultural workers and clerical workers. But they will now be expected to take whatever suitable employment becomes available for them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware of the treatment accorded the men in the last big repatriation transport of Polish ex-Service men, which left Southampton on 4th June, 1948, on the ss. "Empire Trooper," by British Customs officers; and if he will take action to prevent any repetition of such conduct.

The procedure was the normal one under the export regulations. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "No."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will cause inquiry to be made into the relative efficiency of a turnover tax and the present Purchase Tax system for collecting indirect taxation.

This alternative was considered when the Purchase Tax was introduced but it was decided in consultation with trade associations that the present Purchase Tax system was the more practicable and convenient method of taxation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what materials are in short supply affecting progress in the construction of factories in the Rhondda Area.

The rate of delivery of cement is limiting progress on some of the factories but my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works is doing all he can to improve the position. Some difficulties have also arisen from delay in the delivery of heating tubes and, in individual cases, of roof steelwork and sheet steel for roller shutters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the communication from Rhondda Urban Council and other neighbouring authorities dealing with the fear of growing unemployment and need for establishing new industries in their midst; and what measures he proposes to take to deal with the situation.

This communication is being carefully considered. I cannot yet say whether any measures to help the Rhondda are open to us, other than those we are already taking, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the Government are most anxious to secure the highest possible level of employment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that it is difficult to buy renewals of household china plates, cups and saucers; and if he anticipates any improvement in the supply during the next six months.

I am aware that domestic pottery is very scarce in the shops. Output indeed is increasing, but our balance of payment situation forces us to devote as much as we can of our production to export, especially to hard currency countries, where there is still a keen demand for British domestic pottery. Until production enables the industry to reach and surpass the export figures set before it, I fear I can foresee no appreciable improvement in home supplies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many questions are asked of industrialists in the 14-page questionnaire entitled Pilot Census of Distribution.

The 14-page form referred to by the hon. Member was devised for the wholesale trade and carries twelve sections. It would be misleading to give the total number of questions to be answered; they are necessarily numerous because they cover many sections of a trade, but only a proportion need be answered by any one firm.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the extreme shortage of industrial overalls and protective clothing; and if he will arrange for an increase in the allocation of drill cloth for the manufacture of this clothing for the home market.

I have no evidence of an extreme shortage of industrial overalls and protective clothing, but I am aware that supplies of these goods are not so plentiful as supplies of many other garments. Production of cotton goods as a whole for the home market is limited by the requirements of export business, but the manufacture of cloth for industrial and protective clothing is being maintained at as high a level as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a car has to be put on board ship before being included in the number exported; or at what other stage on its way from factory to customer is it classified as an export.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "Yes"; the second part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated loss to our export trade resulting from the dockers' strike.

The hold up of so much shipping in the Port of London must obviously have repercussions over a wide area and cause difficulty both for United Kingdom exporters and their customers. It is not practicable to give any estimate of the loss which may result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the widespread fear among Americans anxious to buy British cars that they would have difficulty in obtaining spare parts; and what steps he is taking to encourage British manufacturers to organise joint selling and servicing centres in the United States.

I am not aware of any such widespread fear. In view of the energy with which United Kingdom car manufacturers have organised and are organising the supply of spares and servicing arrangements in the United States, I do not consider such fear to be justified or that it is necessary to take steps on the lines suggested. If the hon. Member can give me an instance of a British car sold in the United States market without adequate ancillary service, I shall be pleased to go into the matter with the makers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether arrangements are now complete in regard to the food and accommodation for those coming to this country to see and take part in the Olympic Games next month.

Issue of permits and authorisations for rationed and controlled foods for the housing centres in which competitors and officials will be accommodated is proceeding smoothly. Spectators arriving from abroad will, like domestic consumers in the United Kingdom, obtain rationed and controlled foods either on their ration books or as meals in catering establishments in which they will be staying.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, under separate headings, the value of complete cash registers and spare parts imported from the U.S.A. and from Germany during the last 12 months.

During the 12 months ended 31st May, 1948, the value of complete cash registers imported from the United States amounted to £1,604 and from Germany £4,449. During the same period the value of parts imported from the United States was £322,715; there were no imports of parts from Germany.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the respective prices per pound of wool paid by his Department to flock owners in the United Kingdom, in the Dominions and Colonies, and in foreign countries, assuming the grades of wool to be based on the usual textile manufacturers requirements.

Purchases of Dominion, Colonial and Foreign wools are made at auction or by private contract and not by my Department. United Kingdom wools are requisitioned by the Agricultural Departments and I understand that the average price being paid to flock owners for this season's clip is 2S. 1d. per lb.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that shortages of utility cloth make it imperative for the woman who makes her own and her children's clothes at home to buy cloth outside the utility range; and if he will extend the utility range or remove Purchase Tax for such purposes.

Utility production already amounts to about three-quarters of the total apparel cloth produced for the home market, and I do not think we should be justified in extending the utility range further. If, however, the hon. Member will let me have particulars of the cloth he has in mind and of the difficulties experienced in obtaining supplies over the counter, I will look into the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will have a special investigation, calling for evidence from British and Germans, on the conditions and circumstances during September, 1947, in A Mess and B Mess in the No. 6 Civilian Internment Camp, Germany.

No complaints about these messes had previously reached the Foreign Office or the Zonal Headquarters of the Control Commission, but my right hon. Friend has asked for a report, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date was work started in the sewerage plant seven miles from the C.I.C. Camp, Germany; what hours are worked on the site; when it is intended to finish the work; why 12 men who are working on this scheme have 15 guards; why five ton lorries were used to bring them from Hamburg, an approximate distance of 20 miles; how long is it since these lorries were hired from Bergedorf; and what is the difference in mileage.

I have been unable to trace any instance of prisoners being brought from Hamburg or Bergedorf to work on a sewerage scheme. If my hon. Friend will furnish more precise details of the location of the plant in question I shall be glad to make further inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will ask for a report on what took place during May, 1948, in No. 6 Civilian Internment Camp, Germany, in view of the fact that 2,000 marks were taken; and, in particular, if he will inquire into the circumstances in which the Accounts Officer granted a loan of 1,300 marks to the Governor of the camp and into the reasons for the discontent amongst the drivers in this camp.

A Board of Investigation is now sitting, and my right hon. Friend is calling for a full report.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what complaints he has received from countries on the continent of Europe about the quality of British coal exported there.

None.

asked the Minister of Works what priority is being given to the building of implement sheds, steadings, etc., on farms; and how many applications for licences are at present outstanding.

I understand that the hon. Member is asking for information in regard to Scotland. Priority is given to any work of this character which is recommended by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland as immediately essential in the interests of agriculture. Two hundred and eighty-three applications for licences for such work are at present outstanding in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Works on what date the prisoner of war camp at Snettisham will be handed over for derequisitioning and will he take all possible steps to make this date as early as possible in order that the owners of the beach bungalows now within the area of the camp may once again be able to occupy their properties for summer holiday purposes.

Snettisham Camp itself is to be retained for Government use, but I hope that the beach bungalows will be derequisitioned within about a month. Arrangements for individual owners of bungalows to occupy their property in advance of formal derequisitioning will be made on application to my Regional Compensation Surveyor, Cambridge.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is yet in a position to make a further statement with regard to the de-requisitioning of the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.

I am glad to say that the owners of the building originally in view for the re-housing of the Food Office, are now willing to consider letting it, and I hope to receive their proposals in the course of a few days. If satisfactory terms can be agreed upon, the Art Gallery will be given up as soon as the new premises can be made ready.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will cause a White Paper to be issued, replacing that issued in June, 1945, defining the Government's policy towards migration to the Dominions.

No; no useful purpose would be served by a new White Paper. The White Paper of 1945 sets forth the Government's policy of encouragement and help to those who desire to emigrate to the Commonwealth countries overseas. I have recently explained this policy—in Debates on 22nd April and 18th June.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received, in abstract, a copy of the annual accounts for Lamlash and Whiting Bay Piers, under the Pier and Harbour Orders Confirmation (No. 1) Act, 1883 and (No. 4) 1897, respectively, for the years 1945, 1946 and 1947; what profit in the operation of the piers is shown for these years; and what interest was obtained on the sums expended.

The Isle of Arran Piers Confirmation Act, 1938, made the Lamlash, Whiting Bay, Loch Ranza and Brodick Piers one undertaking. Its accounts show a loss in each of the years 1945, 1946 and 1947, and no interest was obtained on capital expenditure.

asked the Minister of Transport why he charged the Timber Control 170s. per standard for the shipping of timber with guarantees in respect of the time for loading and discharging, when free tonnage can be obtained at 135s., and no such guarantees are demanded or given.

The terms first mentioned are fixed for privately owned British ships on the basis of their operating costs. They are not comparable with a spot rate for foreign tonnage.

asked the Minister of Transport what rebates on the tariff rates for the carriage of goods by road, rail or canal, respectively, were given to Government Departments in 1947; how they compared with those given to Government Departments in 1939; and how they compared with those given to large commercial users in each year.

In 1947 Departmental rail traffic was charged at flat rates analogous to the agreed charges made to large commercial users under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933. In 1939 some Departmental traffic was charged at special rates under the Cheap Trains Act, 1883, and the remainder at normal commercial rates. In both years, commercial rates were negotiated for the carriage of Departmental traffic by road and canal.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Wood-seats Working Men's Club, Sheffield, in January, 1948, paid a deposit to the Sheffield United Tours, Union Street, Sheffield, for the hire of six motor coaches for an outing to Midville; that the Sheffield United Tours now decline to carry out the booking, alleging reduced petrol allocation; and if he will state the reductions which have been made in the firm's petrol allocation.

A 12½ per cent. cut has been made in the fuel allowed for public excursions and tours and private party work compared with 1947. Motor coach operators, including Sheffield United Tours, must correspondingly reduce their mileage but they are free to do this in the way they think best.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is now prepared to make a statement with regard to his meeting with the Havant Council to discuss the abolition of toll charges on the Hayling bridge.

My Divisional Road Engineer is discussing this question on Monday, 28th June, with officers of the Hampshire County Council and the Havant and Waterloo Urban District Council.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the serious traffic bottleneck caused by the collection of fees at the Hayling Island bridge; and if he will take steps to free this wooden railed bridge from further toll dues.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers which I gave to him on 23rd February and to the hon. Member for Fareham (Sir D. White) on 16th February.

asked the Minister of Education how many schemes for comprehensive schools have been sanctioned by his Department; and in which areas are such projected schools to be established.

In addition to the proposals with which I dealt in my answer to the hon. Member on 3rd June, I have agreed to the establishment of a multilateral school in an existing secondary school in Walsall. Other schools now being built may develop on these lines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to encourage the production of tobacco within the British Commonwealth; what are the present quantities and grades of tobacco obtained from the several Colonies and Protectorates; and what are the indications as a result of a survey as to the increase of yields that can be obtained in each case.

In recent years, relatively high prices have encouraged the production in the Colonies of tobacco suitable for export. In the East and Central African territories, production is on a relatively small scale but an investigation to find ways of expanding it and of improving quality has just taken place; I am considering the recommendations contained in the report. In Cyprus, with money provided under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, experiments in the production of Virginia type tobacco are being made. Jamaica has greatly expanded production of cigars; imports into the United Kingdom increased from 6,495 lb. in 1938 to 410,291 lb. in 1947.The official trade returns do not disclose the various grades of tobacco imported from the Colonies and Protectorates. Figures of imports of unmanufactured tobacco (both stripped and unstripped) by countries are shown in the accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. It is not possible to estimate how much yields can be increased. Increased production in the Colonies for the United Kingdom market depends rather on finding types and qualities acceptable here.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, as in an example submitted to him, deputy council medical officers and deputy county borough medical officers of health commonly receive a salary of between £800 and £900 per annum whereas specialists under the Spens Committee Report receive a commencing salary of £1,500, linked to age 32 years, and whether he will grant the above officers classification and remuneration as specialists when their status and qualifications are equivalent to those of officers recognised as specialists in other branches of the National Health Service.

It is not for me arbitrarily to determine these officers' salaries, but rather to encourage appropriate negotiating machinery for dealing with any proposals for revision.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will provide a list of the new towns for which he has designated sites under the New Towns Act, 1946; the progress which has been made in each case by the development corporation in using their powers under Section 8 of the Act; the number of houses in each case actually completed; and where no houses have been completed the date in each case by which it is anticipated that houses will be ready for occupation.

The list for which my hon. Friend asks in the first part of the Question is as follows: Stevenage, Crawley, Hemel Hempstead, Harlow, Aycliffe, Peterlee, and Welwyn-Hatfield.The magnitude of the task facing Development Corporations in the provision of new towns, with all that that implies—not only dwelling houses, but factories, shops and the other requirements of a balanced community—has meant that the corporations have so far been principally engaged on the necessary preliminary work. Moreover, my hon. Friend will be aware of the effect on new towns of the policy on capital investment as set out in Command Paper No. 7268. None the less, the erection of a relatively small number of houses has been begun and a few are actually completed and occupied.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the declaration made by Mr. Justice Harman on the subject of Kendrick's Agreement in the Chancery Division, a copy of which has been supplied to him, to the effect that parties to an agricultural holding must look to the Minister and not to the protection of the Common Law to ascertain their rights and their duties, he will introduce legislation to amend the Agricultural Act, 1947, so as to preserve the rights of the subject.

No. The Question takes the observation of the learned Judge out if its context, which relates solely to notices to quit agricultural holdings. The learned Judge was simply pointing out that under Defence Regulation 62(4A) or the Agriculture Act, 1947, a notice to quit given by a landlord may be unenforceable without my consent. Where the 1947 Act applies, Section 31 gives clear directions as to the giving or withholding of consent.