asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will have placed in the Library copies of the recent surveys of nutrition and general conditions in Germany prepared by the Control Commission.

Reports on nutrition and general conditions in Germany, based on surveys undertaken by the staff of the Control Commission, appear in the Monthly Report of the Control Commission for Germany, copies of which are already available in the Library.

I am sorry to trouble the right hon. Gentleman, but may we assume that those reports show the extent of the diabolical policy of the Russian Government?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions he has issued to the British delegation in the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation relating to the proposal, in the plan submitted by the German Bizone Economic Administration, whereby the Anglo-U.S. bizone of Germany would receive Marshall aid credits totalling 1,230,000,000 dollars during the first year of the Marshall plan.

No special instructions have have been issued to the British delegation on this point. The total deficit shown in the Bizonal Reconstruction Plan will he considered by the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation in the same way as the estimated deficits of the other participating countries. In the process, import and export estimates will doubtless have to be revised in order to relate them to the total amount of the European Recovery Programme assistance available.

I may add that the bizonal plan does not propose that the European Recovery Programme assistance should be provided to the full extent of the deficit. In practice, a very large part of the bizone's import requirements will be financed from governmental appropriations for occupied areas.

Will it be possible to draw the attention of our delegation in the O.E.E.C. to the fact that the British people do not like the idea of Germany getting a bigger slice of Marshall aid than any single one of the Allied countries?

Perhaps my hon. Friend, with his well-known influence with the Soviet Government, will persuade them to observe their obligations.

Is my right hon. Friend suggesting that the Russian Government are influential in O.E.E.C., and will he explain to the House what is the relevance of the introduction of his reference to the Russians in his answer to my very relevant question?

The reference is mathematical; the deficiencies in the Western area will directly relate to the implementation of the Potsdam Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the approximate average daily cost of transporting food and other supplies to Berlin by air; how this compares with the cost when rail, road or barge are used; and who pays this additional cost.

Up to date, the approximate additional daily cost for the part of the operation undertaken by His Majesty's Government is £6,000. When barge, road or rail is used the cost is met in marks and the charge is, therefore, sustained by the German economy. I regret that at present I cannot give an answer to the third part of the Question.

Would my right hon. Friend say when steps will be taken to recommence transporting these supplies by road and rail?

No restoration of normal working could be too quick for our desires on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he has made to the request of the Marshall Aid Administrator that His Majesty's Government should agree to the retention in Germany of capital equipment scheduled for removal as reparations from the Western zones of Germany.

No such request has been received from the Administrator.

As Section 115 of the Foreign Assistance Act of the United States requires that the administrator shall make the request, will my right hon. Friend be ready for it and be ready to reject it?

That is a purely hypothetical question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why there is no effective participation of Germans in the policy and operation of North-West German Radio beyond the normal existence of a German committee that rarely meets and has no powers; and why a broadcaster who was dismissed for political misbehaviour was allowed to broadcast again under a false name.

A German Board of Governors for the North-West German Broadcasting Institution was appointed in March, 1948. It meets monthly and I am assured that the members of the Board and the senior members of the German staff are entirely satisfied with the powers they exercise. If my hon. Friend will give me more details of the incident mentioned in the last part of his Question, I will gladly make further inquiries and communicate with him direct.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman why he has not replied to the last part of my Question?

I am unable to reply to the last part of the Question because I have not sufficient detail to identify the man about whom these allegations are made.

Then why does not the right hon. Gentleman say so?

I am very sorry; it must be my dreadful Scots accent, but I thought I did say so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the decision by an overwhelming majority of the Hamburg Town Council to transfer the electricity works to public ownership had not yet received the sanction of the Military Government although the decision was made 14 months ago.

Military Government sanction to put this decision of the Hamburg Town Council into effect was granted on 11th May, 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish as a White Paper the text of all Three-Power or Four-Power agreements concerning the occupation and administration of Berlin by the Allied Powers and the delimitation of the sectors of the city.

These are international agreements, and my right hon. Friend would have to obtain the consent of the other Governments concerned before publication. He, however, did give the House a full account of these agreements on 30th June. The hon. Member will find the text of the Four-Power statements concerning the Zones of Occupation of Berlin, and concerning Control Machinery in Germany in White Paper No. Cmd. 6648 of 1945.

It is just because we were given so instructive and interesting a list of agreements last week that I would like to ask the Minister of State whether it is not desirable that the public of this and other countries should be able to see exactly what the Soviet Union has agreed to in the matter of transport by air, road and rail, and could he not seek the assent of other Powers for the publication of these agreements?

I quite agree with the desirability of everyone being fully informed on these points and I am sure my right hon. Friend will consider whether we could secure agreement to have them published.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements have been made for discussions between the Powers adhering to the Brussels Treaty and representatives of the U.S. Government regarding American armed aid to Western Europe.

There will undoubtedly be a constant exchange of views in Washington between the Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, the other parties to the Brussels Treaty and Canada concerning Western European security arrangements, and United States and Canadian association with them. His Majesty's Ambassador has been instructed to hold himself in readiness for such exchanges of views.

United States association would come under the terms of the United States Senate Resolution of 11th June, the third paragraph of which as my hon. Friend is aware, recommends

"association of the United States by constitutional process with such regional and other collective arrangements as are based on continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid and as affect its national security."

The Canadian attitude in regard to the matter has been clearly stated by the Prime Minister of Canada in the Canadian House of Commons on 17th March.

Bearing in mind that we shall be going into Recess in a few weeks' time, will my right hon. Friend give an undertaking that no further military commitments will be entered into until this House has had an opportunity of discussing the matter?

I do not think that arises on this Question.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the subject of military commitments does arise on this Question, that military commitments are a matter of life and death for every citizen of this country, and that they should not be entered into except in the fullest light of public knowledge and discussion?

I do not want to be difficult or to be thought evasive, but I was asked what arrangements have been made for discussions, and I have replied as fully as I can upon that subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many observers, and of which nationalities, have been attached by the Security Council to the United Nations Mediator in Palestine.

The Mediator's staff of 98 Military Observers is composed of five Swedes, and of 31 persons from each of the three member States of the Security Council's Truce Commission in Palestine, i.e., the United States, France and Belgium.

In view of the statement that there are five Swedish observers present in Palestine and that the Soviet Government expressly asked for five observers of theirs to be present in Palestine, can the right hon. Gentleman say why it was not possible for our representatives to support that very reasonable request?

The hon. Gentleman is apparently confusing two questions. The Soviet Government's resolution dealt not with the composition of Count Bernadotte's Mission, but with its distribution. We therefore confined ourselves to support of the resolution which provided for the three participating countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider increasing the staff of the British Embassy at Bangkok in view of the size of the Soviet Embassy in Siam.

The size of the staff of the British Embassy at Bangkok does not necessarily depend on that of any other Embassy. A Foreign Service Inspector is shortly visiting Bangkok and he will report on any change in the strength of the staff which may be necessary.

Is it not a fact that there are over 200 Russians in the Soviet Embassy in Siam—10 times more than the number of British in our Embassy—and is it not also a fact that from this Embassy Communist activities in South-East Asia are being directed?

On the second point, I would prefer to see a separate Question on the Order Paper, but I would say that the strength of the Soviet Embassy at Bangkok does not seem to me, on the figures available, to be disproportionate.

Would the right hon. Gentleman think it was also necessary to increase the staff to stop the very considerable contraband coming over the frontier, with the consequent loss of dollars to this country?

asked the Minister of Food whether he will allow the extra cheese ration to smallholders and their sons who work on the land themselves.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Woodbridge (Mr. Hare) on 23rd June.

Will not the Minister admit that the constant refusal to treat these people fairly is due to prejudice against owners of any kind of property?

No, Sir.

Is the Minister fully aware that there have been a dozen or more Questions from both sides of the House over the last 12 months drawing constant attention to the inequalities of the present system and is it not really about time that he agreed to look into the whole question again?

As it is a differential cheese ration, there must be inequality. That is the essence of the thing, but on the merits of this case—that it ought to be extended to farmers and their families—I cannot agree that they are the most necessitous classes in the country for extra food.

While there may be a case for not giving this concession to larger farmers, surely there is no case for not giving it to those smallholders whose economic circumstances make them indistinguishable from agricultural workers?

There is certainly substance in that, but there would be very great difficulty in drawing a line, in taking an acreage figure below and above which farmers would or would not be eligible.

Is the Minister aware that there is a very great sense of injustice in this matter in the country and that there is a feeling that the line is being drawn between those who have and those who have not a powerful trade union to speak for them?

Arising out of the Minister's answer to my question, is it not clearly understood by his colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, who are smallholders and who are farmers?

The only possible way would be on an acreage demarcation.

Why not do it, then?

In view of the unsatisfactory answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will change the qualifying conditions for the special cheese ration so that self-employed builders carrying out agricultural building and repairs, where canteens or other catering facilities are impracticable, qualify.

I am afraid I cannot further extend the special cheese ration to self-employed builders.

Is the Minister aware that the withholding of the cheese ration from this type of builder is making it extremely difficult to get repairs carried out on isolated farms?

asked the Minister of Food whether in the course of his campaign for cleanliness in catering establishments, he will deal with the problem of cracked crockery, which is not only unclean but spreads infection and disease.

Infection can be spread by any crockery which has not been properly cleaned after use, and my medical advisers take the view that cracks do not materially enhance the danger. It is, of course, of the utmost importance that caterers should protect their customers by thorough cleansing and, where possible, sterilisation.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware of the fact that in some countries it is illegal to use cracked crockery in catering establishments? As there is now a supply of plastic crockery, should not some steps be taken here in this direction?

It is very much better to have untracked crockery than cracked crockery. I entirely agree with that.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a very great deal of cracked crockery bequeathed by private enterprise, on what was the L.N.E.R., to British Railways, and will he do something to remedy that state of affairs on the railways?

Is it not a fact that the finest example of cracked crockery is the Minister himself?

asked the Minister of Food why he has co-operated with the British Tourist and Holidays Board in issuing post-free to each boarding house proprietor in Blackpool two large tin plaques about 15 in. by 10 in., three small tin placques about 7 in. by 5 in. and four large crown posters with an explanatory pamphlet, inviting them to wash their hands; how much this has cost; and how much tin and how much paper has been used in this campaign.

This hygiene campaign has my full support because it should lead to higher standards of cleanliness in all sections of the catering industry, and I am glad that my Department was able to assist by providing addressed labels. The cost of publication and postage is being paid by the British Tourist and Holidays Board.

Is the right hon. Gentleman then accusing boarding house keepers in Blackpool of having a standard of personal hygiene below that which he would like? If so, will he withdraw that gross insult?

No. I make no such accusation. I would, however, call the hon. Gentleman's attention to a cutting from the "Evening Standard" of 24th June which reads:

"The baker did not wash his hands. Ninety-three people were poisoned in Lambeth."

Such unfortunate events do occur when a standard of cleanliness insufficient for the needs of the food trade arises. Therefore, I certainly support the campaign of the British Tourist and Holidays Board.

Is it not typical Socialism, and typical of the right hon. Gentleman that, because someone in Lambeth has not maintained the standard which the right hon. Gentleman requires, he should then accuse all the people of Blackpool, who know this trade backwards, of having a standard below that which he would wish?

asked the Minister of Food why two cargoes of oranges were landed in London and Liverpool and then sent by train to Liverpool and London, respectively; how many in these two cargoes were eventually unfit for human consumption; what was the total cost to the taxpayer; and will he take disciplinary action against those responsible.

I am once more grateful to the hon. Member for giving me this opportunity of denying one of those malicious untruths about my Department's methods of trading in which he specialises. No oranges have been sent from London to Liverpool. Two hundred and sixty-five tons of oranges were needed to make up an allocation due to the London area and we sent this quantity from a cargo of 3,460 tons landed at Liverpool. The rail journey had no measurable effect on the condition of the fruit. As a fiat railway rate is paid for the carriage of this fruit no extra cost to the taxpayer was incurred.

Is that flat railway rate a preferential one for the Minister of Food, or does he pay the same railway rate as ordinary commercial users?

I should like notice of that question.

On a point of Order. If I heard the Minister's answer correctly he referred to "malicious untruths in which the hon. Member specialises." My question to you, Mr. Speaker, is whether that implication on the motives of the hon. Member is in accordance with the traditions of this House, and is in Order?

As a matter of fact, I noticed that remark in the Minister's reply, and I rather regretted it.

Withdraw.

Let me finish. It is perfectly true that the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) often raises points; but, after all, we differ in our opinions, and they may be, from his point of view, honest criticisms. Therefore, I regret that it should be said that he has indulged in malicious untruths.

I of course withdraw at once the words you find inappropriate or complain of, Mr. Speaker, but I should like to point out that I expressed my gratitude to the hon. Member for collecting and bringing to light those statements which have been made—not by him, but by someone else.

When, some little time ago, the right hon. Gentleman said that if the workers worked harder it would benefit only the bosses, was that a malicious untruth?

I think we had better end this question now.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the world crop of rubber seeds is reliably estimated at one million tons, that these are normally destroyed or left to rot, though they are in fact, edible and have a high oil content; and what steps his Department is taking to utilise this supply of edible oils and fats.

I am advised that the world crop of rubber seeds is a large one, but it is not possible to make any reliable estimate of the quantity which would be collected for crushing. An attempt is to be made later this year to collect seeds on a large scale in Malaya. If this is successful it is hoped that this potential source of oil will be used commercially in the future, since it has already been shown that crushing of the seeds presents no major difficulty. Research carried out so far indicates that rubber seed oil may be more useful for technical than edible purposes.

May I take it from that answer, that the right hon. Gentleman will do everything he possibly can, as far as his Department is concerned, to conserve the current year's crop of rubber seeds?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider doing this through some such body as the Rubber Growers' Association, which represents the industry, and which can collect and treat the seeds without creating some enormous new body to do it?

Why did they not do it before?

Oh, yes. The Ministry of Food could not undertake the collection, but we are getting into touch with all the interested parties, of whom the Rubber Growers' Association is probably one.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will give particulars of the quantities of Australian plum jam that is to be allowed to be sent into this country from Dublin, to be sold off the ration; and why permission was given for this jam to be de-rationed, in view of the refusal to take off the ration last season's crop of plum jam in this country.

No arrangements have been made for jam to be sent to this country from Eire for sale off the ration, and I am glad to have this opportunity of emphasising that it is an offence against our rationing laws to obtain preserves from abroad, unless they are unsolicited gifts.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain the circular which has been distributed throughout the country quoting the Board of Trade as the authority for the importation of these jams and marmalades off the ration? The quotation is made in the circular which has been widely distributed throughout the country.

I cannot, of course, control the actions of Irish firms.

It is the Board of Trade.

I emphasise again that to send jam in from Eire of this type for re-sale in this country is an offence.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, anyhow, de-ration plum jam, so that the people of Evesham may be able to grow plums? What is the good of wasting all this jam?

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the relaxation of the restrictions on private building announced on 25th June, 1948, he will reconsider his decision of 26th May, 1948, not to support the application of the Bishops Stortford Dairy Farmers, Ltd., for a building licence for extensions to their South Mill Dairy.

Although the industrial building position is still difficult, I am glad to say that it is now possible to support this application.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that current importations of fruit and vegetables are 30 per cent. higher, and home production, in many cases, considerably in advance of prewar level; and if his is satisfied that, with few selective import controls, the present volume of purchasing power is adequate to absorb the total supplies without causing hardship to the home producer.

We have not got the figures for total supplies during the first half of this year, but imports and home production of fruit and vegetables in 1947 together exceeded the prewar figures by only 3 per cent. In the same period the population has increased by 4.7 per cent. I am satisfied that if prices are kept down to a reasonable level all marketable supplies can be absorbed.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the figures for May were 30 per cent. above the prewar average? Has he formulated any rule as to the extent to which this expansion of imports may be allowed to go?

I think that the figures that the hon. Member has in mind are a 30 per cent. expansion of certain imports of vegetables, mainly by private traders. I am certainly not alarmed at that expansion. I think the public has benefited very greatly from it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many people in this country would be better in health if they could eat more fruit and vegetables than they can at present afford to buy, and will he resist this pressure upon him to keep up prices by curtailing imports?

My hon. Friend can rely on me to do my utmost.

With reference to the last supplementary question, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Italian plums are coming into this country at present while the forward trade in plums is absolutely at a standstill, and that plums cannot be sold at 2d. per lb., let alone at high prices?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that owing to the more favourable season a far greater quantity of home produced fruit and vegetables is coming on to the market, and that unless something is done to market that produce in a better way than in the past the consumers will not have the full advantage of the crop?

I am inclined to agree that the best marketing that can be done is to get prices to the most reasonable level possible.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the increase to which I referred is a tonnage increase, which refers to the totality of fruit and vegetable imports, and that the purpose of my Question was not to suggest that there should be any undue restriction, but that there should be some balance in the matter?

Why does not the right hon. Gentleman give an answer?

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the increase in the present stocks and of the future prospects, he will consider a small increase in the tea ration to domestic consumers.

I regret that no increase in the tea ration is possible at present.

Will the Minister consider issuing a bonus to mark some special occasion, say 5th July?

When we have more supplies we will certainly issue them in one form or another.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that all British plants for the manufacture of lentils are standing idle; and what prospects there are of getting supplies of raw material in the near future.

Until India resumes exports I am afraid there is little prospect of obtaining sufficient lentils to keep our plants working fully. We have recently purchased 1, 000 tons of Syrian lentils from the 1948 crop for June-August shipment and these will be allocated to manufacturers when they arrive.

asked the Minister of Food why his Department refused a recent offer from South Africa of 1,500 tons of Basuto White Peas at £38 5s. per ton at a time when the major pea-milling plants in this country are standing idle.

I am afraid we could not afford to buy this quantity as we had already spent nearly all the money allocated for the purchase of pulses under the South African Loan Agreement.

Surely, the right hon. Gentleman realises that South Africa is in the sterling area; and in view of the fact that I warned him of the situation in this trade two or three months ago, could not he have done this little action to alleviate the position?

South Africa is in the sterling area, but that does not mean that we do not have to pay for imports from South Africa, and I assure the hon. Gentleman that we cannot afford to increase them.

Is the Minister still a buyer of white peas?

They are, I think, bought on Ministry account, but I would like to have notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Food if he will grant a special allocation of sugar to beekeepers immediately, to counteract the adverse effects of the recent cold wet weather on the hives.

After consulting my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, I have decided in view of the weather conditions to make available to beekeepers immediately up to 5 lb. of sugar per colony as an advance on the autumn and winter feeding allowance which would normally be obtainable from 1st August.

Is the Minister aware that this information will be welcomed by beekeepers?

Is the Minister aware that he is to be congratulated on making this grant to almost the only workers in the country who have no trade union?

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that householders are still experiencing difficulty in getting their soap coupons honoured; and what steps he is taking to improve the supply position.

I shall be glad to look into any cases of people who are having difficulty in obtaining their soap ration if the hon. Member will inform me of them.

Does not the Minister get information from his regional officers of the difficulties in the North-West of England?

Yes, Sir, we get information, but we have made inquiries of my food offices in the hon. Member's Division, for example, and our reports are that they are well supplied.

If I give the Minister indications of a shortage of supply of household soap, not toilet soap, will he have the matter looked into?

asked the Minister of Transport from how many local authorities he has received protests against the proposed increase in the speed limit for heavy goods vehicles.

Seventy-three.

Does the hon. Gentleman propose to pay more attention to this very considerable manifestation of opinion by this very large number of elected local bodies?

It is not a large number in relation to the total number of local authorities. In any case, the House will have the opportunity of expressing its views on this matter before it is put into effect.

Can my hon. Friend say whether a great many of these protests came from the London area?

Not without notice.

asked the Minister of Transport how many men have been transferred in 1948 from road building, maintenance and repair in Scotland; and how many have been transferred, respectively, to house building and to agriculture.

The number of road-men employed by Scottish highway authorities on 17th May, 1948, was 1,527 less than on 1st September, 1947. The figures asked for in the second part of the Question are not available.

Was it not the intention of the Government to withdraw these men from road work in order to accelerate the building of houses and the improvement of agricultural production, and am I to understand from the reply that that result has not materialised?

No, Sir, it has materialised.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he proposes to issue regulations under Section 98 of the Transport Act revoking the contributory superannuation scheme of the employees of the Great Western Railway Section of British Railways and the Staff Widows and Orphans Scheme, in view of the men's liability to contribute to National Insurance.

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend does not propose to consider whether regulations to modify existing railway pension schemes are required, until he hears the result of consultations which have been initiated by the British Transport Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport if the decision to abandon the conversion of certain railway locomotives from coal to oil, which resulted in a loss of £3,000,000, was made before or after the railways were nationalised; and who bears the loss.

The decision to halt the conversion of further locomotives after 93 had been dealt with was taken before the railways vested in the British Transport Commission. The cost of the scheme has been borne mainly by the Government but it is too early to say what part of the expenditure may result in a loss.

When the hon. Gentleman says the cost will be borne by the Government, am I to understand that that is another way of saying that the cost will be borne by the taxpayer?

The cost is borne on the Railway Control Commission account.

asked the Minister of Transport how many ships, British owned, and British registered, of all tonnages, have been sent to the Continent of Europe for refitting, overhaul or repair since January, 1947, to date; and what are their names.

I have no information about the period before September, 1947, but since then 10 ships have been repaired on the Continent, with my right hon. Friend's authority. I am circulating their names in HANSARD.

Will the Minister note that the sending of these ships abroad for repair has an effect on employment in certain ports; and may I call his attention to the fact that for a number of months now there have been over 2,000 ship repairers unemployed in Liverpool? Can the Treasury do anything to prevent the intention of shipowners to send their ships for repair abroad by refusing to give credit for the carrying out of repairs on that particular basis?

The only basis on which repairs abroad are permitted is that it is not possible to do them in this country, and one of the features watched very closely is the currency position.

asked the Minister of Supply how many Americans have been attached to the Royal Aircraft Establishment for instruction on the Test Pilots' Course; and how many British pilots have received similar instruction in the U.S.A.

The Test Pilots' Course is run by the Empire Test Pilots' School which is not part of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, though the School uses the Establishment's airfield. Since the war seven Americans have attended the course. No school giving similarly wide and detailed instruction exists in the U.S.A.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make further inquiries; and is he aware that the Civil Aeronautical Experimental Station in America would be very pleased to see British pilots there for instruction?

I am informed that there is no comparable school on such a large scale in the United States.

Will the Minister arrange for a transfer of pilots along the lines suggested by the hon. and gallant Member for Macclesfield (Air-Commodore Harvey)?

That is another question which should be put to another Minister.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT comparative performance figures for the Canadair and Constellation aircraft.

As my Department has no responsibility for the development, production or testing of these two aircraft, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on any claims made by the manufacturers.

Does that answer mean that the Government have, as reported in the Press, ordered 20 Canadair aircraft without knowing what the comparative figures are between these two types of aircraft?

I can only repeat that my Department has no authority to test these planes and has not tested these foreign planes.

Can the Minister say on what evidence he bases any advice which he gives to His Majesty's Government for the purchase of these Canadian or American aircraft as against British aircraft?

That is another question altogether. I was asked to give authoritative information about the various qualities of these American aircraft. The only information I have in my possession is the claims of the manufacturers, and it would be wholly inappropriate for me to give that information to the House.

Is there any way in which the shareholders, who are the taxpayers, whose representatives we are, can discover the basis on which these decisions are now being made?

When any decisions of this sort are made, they will be disclosed fully to the House.

asked the Minister of Supply what payments were made for the 857,602 tons of scrap metal brought here from Germany up to 31st May; and in what currency.

The question of payment only arose in the case of commercial scrap, which amounted to about 200,000 tons. Payment was made in sterling, but it would be contrary to established practice to disclose contract prices.

asked the Minister of Supply what orders for plant or fittings are being placed with the Royal Ordnance Factories by the British Electricity Authority.

No direct order has been placed, but the Royal Ordnance Factories have orders for components and machined parts for power station equipment placed with them by contractors to the British Electricity Authority.

Can the Minister say whether Royal Ordnance Factories are in the position and have the capacity to make complete plants in order to supply the British Electricity Authority?

No, Sir, they are not equipped to manufacture heavy electrical plant.

asked the Minister of Supply why, in starting period 3 on 1st July, no allocation has yet been notified by his Department to some sections of the steel industry for either their home or export trade.

Steel tube manufacturers could not be notified of their allocations until it was know how much steel would be available, both from home production and imports. They were advised of their allocations on 2nd July. Preliminary advice of export allocations was issued on 12th June and formal licences on 28th June.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that when manufacturers are kept waiting in this way for vital information it plays havoc with the home and export trade, and can he prevent a recurrence of this type of thing?

There were special circumstances on this occasion in view of the number of bilateral trade negotiations pending. My information shows that it has not meant any serious difficulty for the manufacturers.

In view of the tremendous importance of this matter and the key position which allocations of steel hold in the home and export trade, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is his intention to introduce legislation to effect the changes in the Royal Title forecast in the recent proclamation.

No further legislation is necessary.

In considering that answer, has the Prime Minister borne in mind the statement in the second paragraph of the Preamble to the Statute of Westminster that the assent of this House, as of the Dominion Parliaments, will in future be required for any change in the Royal Title; and if that assent is not to be given by way of legislation, is it proposed that it shall be given by way of Motion?

The hon. Member has overlooked Section 7 (2) of the Independence Act, 1947, in which that assent was given.

asked the Prime Minister why the Dominions have not been consulted in regard to the terms of the Economic Co-operation Agreement; and whether any representations have been received from them in this connection.

The question of formal consultation does not arise, as the other Governments of the Commonwealth were not parties to the Agreement. In accordance with established practice, Commonwealth Governments were kept closely and continuously informed on developments in connection with the negotiation of the Economic Co-operation Agreement, and thus had opportunity to express their views. No representations have been received from any of the Commonwealth Governments.

Does not the Prime Minister agree that this matter is certain to be of vital concern to all the Dominions; and is it not strange that since this Agreement is a reproduction of Section 115 of the American Act, there were not direct consultations in the intervening three months?

I have already pointed out to the hon. Member that they were kept closely informed. Consultation is a different matter. The fact is, they were not directly concerned in this particular Agreement.

Did any Dominion express any objection to the terms of this Economic Co-operation Agreement?

No, Sir, no representations were made.

asked the Attorney-General why applicants for appointment by the Lord Chancellor as Commissioners for Oaths are required to provide evidence that they are well affected to His Majesty's Government.

The form of certificate that the applicant "is a person of integrity and well affected to His Majesty's Person and Government" is traditional. In the context, I do not think that this certificate could be regarded as having any political connotation, its intention being to endorse the applicant's loyalty to the King and Constitution as by law established.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that the references to His Majesty's person and His Majesty's Government are clearly severable in the document; and will he give an assurance that if references to His Majesty's Government are deleted from the customary form in a particular case the applicant will not thereby be prejudiced?

I should not be prepared to give any assurance about a particular case until it arises.

Can my right hon. and learned Friend say when this form of words was introduced?

I am afraid I cannot say when it was introduced, but it has been in use for a very long time.

If such applicants were asked to display their good affection to His Majesty's Government, and did so, would not that prima facie be a case for considering them unsuitable as Commissioners for Oaths?

asked the Attorney-General what offices or appointments in the Law Courts are made by the judges.

As the answer is rather long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the importation from abroad of early vegetables and fruit is having an adverse effect on the home market; and what steps he proposes to take to protect home growers.

No, Sir. Licences to import early vegetables are, practically without exception, limited to certain specified periods, beyond which home growers have complete protection against imports. I have no evidence that the demand for early fruit is insufficient to absorb available supplies, or that home growers are not getting reasonable prices for their produce.

While appreciating that the Minister of Agriculture gets no assistance from his colleagues in this matter of increasing home production, might I ask whether he will have a look into this to see whether, in fact, these importations of fruit and vegetables are not having a very damaging effect on the production of home producers?

It seems to me that the hon. Gentleman is wrong in both his surmises.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how the total acreage now farmed by county agricultural executive committees compares with the acreage farmed by them in 1945; and if he has recently reminded committees of the desirability of transferring such land to private occupation as opportunity occurs.

The total acreage farmed by committees was 190,374 acres on 31st May, 1948, compared with 232,514 acres on 30th June, 1945. Committees have recently been told that lands in possession should, where possible, be let.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now able to announce a revision of the feedingstuffs rationing scheme for commercial pigs and poultry, so as to allow increased supplies to those farmers who undertake to produce more for the bacon factories and egg-packing stations.

As my right hon. Friend announced to the House on 25th March, an extension of the scope of the rationing scheme to enable rations to be allowed to farmers who are not at present entitled to a basic ration for their pigs and poultry would have first consideration whenever further supplies of feedingstuffs become available. A plan to give effect to this proposal is in an advanced stage of preparation and my right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement on the subject before the Summer Recess. I cannot yet say, however, whether it will also be possible to revise the rationing scheme on the lines proposed by the hon. Member.

Will the Minister take into particular account the need for supplying more protein to balance up with the extra corn which farmers are to be able to keep from their own growing?

Can the Parliamentary Secretary give an assurance that these proposals, which are almost ready, have taken into account the amount of feedingstuffs we have to let Eire have under the new trade agreement?

asked the Minister of Agriculture what arrangements have been made to ensure a greatly increased output of ploughshares during the next two months, in preparation for the autumn ploughing season.

The main sources of supply of Ransome type shares are producing nearly three times what they were a year ago, and still further production is expected shortly. The other type of share that was scarcest last year was the imported Cockshutt; this share is now being made here. Production of most other types of shares has also increased since last year, and the manufacturers are generally satisfied that they will be able to meet the demands of autumn ploughing.

But how does it happen that the farmer who wants ploughshares today has to go from one store to another, and that retailers are not being able to build up any stock against the autumn demand?

There is some evidence that farmers are ordering very heavily because of the experience they have had, which means that despite this enormously increased production merchants are finding it difficult to build up stocks. I would appeal to farmers not to hoard supplies; it would help things considerably if they would not do that.

Will the Minister look into the distribution of ploughshares? In some parts of the country they simply do not exist, and in consequence a great many ploughs are out of action. It may be that the distribution is at fault.

My right hon. Friend has already promised—and I repeat it now—to look into any difficulty if given the particulars.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what estimate he has made of the number of workers who will be required to handle the crops this year; and if he estimates that this number will be available from all the various sources.

It is impossible to set a figure on harvest labour needs, which depend so largely on the uncertain factors of the weather and the state of the crops. In reply to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave him on 26th April.

Does not the Minister realise that there is a great sense of worry throughout Kent, where the farmers do not believe they will have enough labourers to help when the time arrives for handling their crops?

If the farmers will do what they can to help themselves in building up an individually employed force, with the assistance that we are giving them we shall get by.