asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he has now any further statement to make about new aircraft which B.O.A.C. and B.S.A.A. expect to put into operation within the next two or three years.

No.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the number of Tudor aircraft of different marks ordered by B.O.A.C. and B.S.A.A. since 1945, or by his Department on behalf of the Corporations; at what price these aircraft were ordered; and for what delivery dates they were promised.

In April, 1945, the orders placed by Air Ministry Director General of Civil Aviation on the Ministry of Aircraft Production were for 20 Tudors I intended for British Overseas Airways Corporation, and 79 Tudors II intended for British Overseas Airways Corporation and other operators. Since then, four Tudors I have been converted to Tudors IV and delivered to British South American Airways Corporation and, at the request of British Overseas Airways Corporation, arrangements have been made for the conversion of the 16 remaining Tudors I to Tudors IVB. The order for Tudors II has been reduced to 49, of which 26 were intended for British Overseas Airways Corporation and six (now called Tudors V) for British South American Airways Corporation. The remaining 17 were unallocated. These orders were placed on the basis that prices were to be negotiated and that deliveries were to be made as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what is the field of responsibility of his Department as against that of airport managers of municipal airports appointed by local authorities, for the supervision and administration of safety regulations and general flying arrangements.

The licensing of aerodromes is the responsibility of my Department, and the observance of the conditions prescribed on the licence is the responsibility of the aerodrome authority. If the aerodrome is unlicensed, the proprietor may not permit it to be used by an aircraft in contravention of Article 7A (1) of the Air Navigation (Consolidation) Order 1923, as amended. Subject to the Ministry's overriding responsibility for enforcement of the safety regulations, the general supervision of flying operations including local air traffic control at municipal aerodromes is the responsibility of the aerodrome authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why it is the policy of the Control Commission for Germany to discourage the extension of health insurance to the better-off classes.

This has not been our policy in the British zone, but no steps have been taken to raise the earnings limit in this zone alone, since any alteration of the existing system should apply over as wide an area as possible and be agreed by the Germans themselves. Responsibility for social insurance is now being transferred to the German Bizonal Council, which will be free either to amend the existing laws or to introduce an entirely new system in the combined zones.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the ordinance dealing with the restitution of property to victims of Nazi oppression will be promulgated in the British zone of Germany; and whether it will be in uniformity with the corresponding ordinance in the U.S. zone.

A draft ordinance on this subject has been prepared in Germany and is now under consideration in London. Every effort will be made to arrange for its promulgation in the near future. I am unable to say at present how closely its provisions will conform to those in the corresponding ordinance in the United States zone.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the assets of the Ceara Tramway Light and Power Company and the Para Electric Tramways and Light Company, both British-owned public utility undertakings operating in Brazil, have been confiscated by the Brazilian Government under Federal Decrees; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the British stock and shareholders receive fair compensation, as provided for under the terms of their concessions.

Yes. The Para Electric Tramways and Light Company's concession was expropriated by a Federal Government Decree of 24th September, 1947, transferring its assets without compensation to the municipality of Belem. A note requesting the Brazilian Government to rescind the Decree was delivered by His Majesty's Ambassador at Rio de Janeiro on the 18th December, 1947. Meanwhile, the Company also instituted legal proceedings and it was learned in June, 1948, that their petition to the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil for the annulment of the Decree has been rejected. The Foreign Office is now considering the possibility of giving further official support to the Company to ensure that they receive just treatment.The Ceara Tramway Light and Power Company was expropriated by a Decree of 6th February, 1948, which transferred their concession to the municipality of Fortaleza, though in this case the municipality was required to pay in due course an indemnity to be assessed jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and the municipality. The Decree is not yet in force, however, as the municipality has protested to the Federal Government against this payment. The matter has now been referred to the National Council for Electric Power and the Company has therefore refrained so far from filing a petition with the Supreme Court contesting the legality of a Decree which deprives the Company of the concession without prior payment. In the note to the Brazilian Government of 18th December, 1947, which has already been mentioned, His Majesty's Ambassador at Rio de Janeiro also gave warning against unilateral confiscation of the Ceara Tramway Light and Power Company. The situation is being carefully watched, with a view to further action through diplomatic channels at the appropriate moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why in connection with the Sudanese elections, the minimum age for electors is 25 years; and why the electoral rolls are restricted to males.

The Sudan Administration Conference and the Northern Advisory Council, on which representatives of all Sudanese political parties have been invited to serve, decided that 25 years was at the present stage of development the minimum age at which a Sudanese should vote. The vote has been restricted to males to conform with the views and wishes of the Sudanese people. The introduction now of modern Western democratic ideas on female suffrage would be premature and impracticable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the forthcoming elections in the Sudan will be conducted on the basis of secret ballot; and what are to be the various methods of voting.

Details are clearly set out in the first and second schedules of the Ordinance. In the principal towns, where elections will be direct, voting will be by secret ballot. In the rest of the country secret ballot will be used at certain but not all stages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he has considered a cablegram, dated 14th June, from Mr. Jagan, a member of the Legislative Council of British Guiana, on the strike situation there; what was the purport of the cable; what answer he has made to it; and what action he is taking in the matter;(2) whether, in view of the disturbed conditions in British Guiana, he will arrange that the Commission appointed to inquire into the sugar industry in Trinidad and the Leeward Islands, should inquire also into the industry in British Guiana.

The cable from Mr. Jagan referred to a motion tabled in the British Guiana Legislative Council for an inquiry into the sugar industry and suggested that the Commission inquiring into the sugar industry in Trinidad and Leeward Islands should also investigate the sugar industry in British Guiana. The Commission will be fully occupied with their present terms of reference and cannot extend their investigations to British Guiana. Mr. Jagan has been so informed. As to the action being taken, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Hackney (Mr. H. Hynd) on 7th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the amount of royalties paid by the Nigerian Government to the United Africa Company in respect of minerals mined in Nigeria in the last year for which figures are available; and the total of such payments since 1900.

The amount paid in 1946 was £173,099. Total payments from 1900 to the end of 1946 were approximately £2,880,000.

asked the Minister of Food what amounts of dried fruits he proposes to import during the coming Autumn; and whether, in view of the great demand, the quantities will be in excess of those imported in 1947.

It would be contrary to the public interest to give particulars of our import programmes. I know there is an unsatisfied demand for dried fruit, and we shall buy as much as we can afford in the currency areas open to us.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now consider lowering the extraction rate of flour by at least two and a half per cent.

We should certainly like to do this, but at present we cannot provide the additional wheat that would be needed.

asked the Minister of Food what is the overall percentage saving during the last 12 months for which figures are available in the consumption of bread resulting from rationing; and whether he now proposes to discontinue such rationing.

Deliveries of flour for human consumption in the United Kingdom represented 6 per cent. less per person in the year to June, 1948, than in the year to July, 1946, when rationing began. My right hon. Friend has already said that he will abandon bread rationing the moment sufficient supplies of wheat are assured.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now reconsider making the extra one-third pint of milk which school children receive, available to them from their normal milkmen during the school holidays.

I regret that there has been no change of circumstances enabling me to give any different reply from that given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Mr. Morley) on 8th December when he explained that the proposal would entail too heavy a demand on manpower.

asked the Minister of Food what negotiations are in progress between his Department and the British Millers Mutual Pool Company about the terms and conditions on which the flour milling industry will operate after the 28th August, 1948.

Negotiations have not yet begun but will open shortly.

asked the Minister of Food for what purpose large bundles of Form No. P/BLR. 2, concerning the Poultry (Control and Maximum Prices) Order, 1946, are being sent, unasked for, to surveyors and valuers, who are not livestock auctioneers; and whether he will take steps to avoid unnecessary waste of paper in this respect in future.

I am unaware of any such distribution, but shall be glad to have inquiries made if the hon. Member will give me the names and addresses of the firms concerned.

asked the Minister of Food how the quality, particularly the fibre content, of the oats now being imported from the U.S.S.R. compares with the standard normally accepted in the corn trade.

The general quality and the fibre content are normal for this type of oats.

asked the Minister of Food when the Greek olive oil which is to be sold at a cheaper price than that operating at present will be available in the shops; and at what price it will be sold.

The cheaper Greek olive oil should be generally available in the shops in the next week or two. I understand that supplies are already available in some shops at 5s. 9d. per reputed pint.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will arrange for the importation of a supply of groundnut oil in view of the continued shortage of olive and other oils for which purpose it is suitable as a substitute.

We need all the groundnut oil we can get for rationed foods. We cannot spare any for use as salad oil; but I am glad to say that olive oil supplies should shortly be back to the prewar level.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that, while lettuces have been selling in London for 5d. or 7d. each, growers have been ploughing them in because the prices offered by wholesalers did not cover the cost of marketing; and what steps are being taken to improve the system of distribution, both from the point of view of the consumer and that of the producer.

During the past few weeks the average retail price for lettuces in London was about 4d. each for the round and 6d. to 8d. for the cos variety. Small quantities of poor quality lettuces have had to be ploughed back, but this is not unusual at this time of the year. The corresponding growers' prices have been about 1s. 6d. to 2s. 6d. a dozen for round lettuces and from 2s. 6d. to 5s. for the cos variety, which are not unreasonable for good quality produce. The improvement of the methods of marketing is one of the subjects which has been considered by the Fruit and Vegetables Organisation whose first report has been presented and is now being examined.

asked the Minister of Food if it is proposed to increase the fresh meat ration at the expense of the tinned meat allocation to make up for the cuts caused by the dock strike in view of the fact that none of the fresh meat went bad during the stoppage.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a somewhat similar Question asked by the hon. Member for Aberdeen and Kincardine, Western (Mr. Thornton-Kemsley) on 12th July.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent the action of the Argentine Government, regarding the peso-sterling cross-rate, affects existing food contracts with his Department as regards rates of exchange fixed during the currency of long-term purchase contracts.

No effect; because the prices are expressed either in sterling or in pesos for conversion into sterling at a predetermined exchange rate.

asked the Minister of Food if he will immediately release the Russian grain now stored in the hangars of North Lincolnshire for livestock feeding to the local farmers, instead of retaining it until the English harvest is ready.

No. This grain forms part, of the stock from which rationed feedingstuffs will be issued during the coming Winter.

asked the Minister of Food the total cost per ton incurred by his Department in selling, delivered at Birmingham stations, maincrop ware potatoes drawn from Ministry-owned stocks at farms in the Boston area of Lincolnshire; and how much of this total cost per ton relates respectively to transport and provision of sacks.

The cost per ton is the appropriate fixed grower's price plus 34s. 8d., 18s. 5d. being for transport and 9s. 9d. for the provision of sacks. The balance of 6s. 6d. is for loading and inspection.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that farmers in the Southern counties cannot find a market for their early potatoes; and as these potatoes will not keep indefinitely what action he is taking to prevent the waste of food.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 12th July to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) on this subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to make an announcement respecting an increase of Colonial allowance to agreement men serving at Hong Kong Dockyard.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why a reply has not yet been received to the representations made by men serving in the Royal Dockyard at Hong Kong concerning their claim for foreign service allowances in view of the high cost of living in Hong Kong; and what steps he proposes to take in order to expedite the matter.

The revised rates of Colonial allowance for Hong Kong have now been put to the Staff Side and the new rates will be promulgated as soon as possible. The delay in settling the new rates has been due to the need for detailed examination of the evidence collected on the spot.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will now state the estimated cost of the proposed naval exercises in the West Indies; how much fuel is to be consumed; and what is the number of ships involved.

Fourteen ships will take part in the exercises in the West Indies. It is estimated that 40,000 tons of oil fuel will be consumed but this includes the fuel which would have been consumed had there been no exercise. As I informed my hon. Friend on 14th April, the only additional expense involved in these exercises is in the cost of the extra fuel, which it is difficult to estimate.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what premises and accommodation are being given up by the Admiralty in London in view of the policy of decentralisation and the retention of premises and accommodation in Bath.

As I said on 30th June, the transfer of further parts of the Admiralty headquarters organisation to Bath is a long-term project, the timing of which will depend on reductions in the staff already there and on the provision of additional housing. I do not expect any substantial moves for some time, and I am afraid that I cannot at present forecast what accommodation in London the Admiralty will be able to release as a result.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many candidates and vacancies were there for the second new scheme Dartmouth entry; and whether he has any information to give of the results.

There are 319 candidates for the second entry to Dartmouth under the new scheme in January, 1949, and 29 vacancies. I do not expect to be in a position to give any information of the results until about the end of November.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many of the 514 candidates were found suitable for the first new scheme Dartmouth entry.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave him on 7th July.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the officers and men of the destroyers "Battle Axe" and "Crossbow" which are now taking part in the special exercises with the United States Fleet have only been allowed the sum of £1 per week for their personal dollar expenditure whilst in port with the units of the United States Navy; and whether, in view of the inadequacy of this sum to enable British officers and men to participate adequately in shore activities with their United States colleagues, he will make arrangements for a larger sum to be permitted.

The arrangements in question which arise from the dollar stringency were made before the exercises started. A report of the ships' experience after one week's stay in American waters has led to the conclusion that some increase is justified, and arrangements have been made for an additional sum to be allotted which will give an increase in the allowance of approximately 10s. a week for the remainder of the exercises.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is proposed to reopen a branch post office at Highbury Corner.

I hope it will be possible to reopen a branch post office at Highbury Corner by the end of this year; re-opening has unfortunately been delayed by constructional difficulties and shortages of materials.

asked the Postmaster-General why it is necessary to increase the air mail postage rates between this country and Iraq from 2½d. to 1s. 1d.; and whether he will reconsider the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General why and to what extent service personnel in Iraq have been compelled to pay higher rates on mail despatched from Iraq to this country.

There has been no recent increase in the air mail postage rates from this country to Iraq. The civilian rates in the reverse direction are fixed by the Iraq postal administration, but the rates for service personnel in Iraq are the same as those in force in other areas where the British authorities are responsible for the Forces postal service, and a 1-ounce letter can still be sent by air to this country for 2½d. I understand, however, that certain changes which might affect the rates on letters from members of the Forces in Iraq have been under consideration by the Service Departments concerned, but no decision has yet been reached.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it has yet been decided if the staff of Cable and Wireless, Limited, employed in the United Kingdom are to be transferred to the Post Office; and whether he will give an assurance that in that event they will continue to enjoy the same pay, conditions of service, pension rights, &c.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made on 27th February, 1947, by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer that all the assets of Cable and Wireless Ltd. in the United Kingdom will be transferred to the Post Office and the services integrated with those of the Post Office and that further legislation will be necessary to put the new arrangements into effect. The decision involves the transfer to the Post Office of the staff operating the services to be taken over. The terms of assimilation of staff to be transferred are under consideration and will be discussed with the accredited representatives of the staff concerned.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it was with his authority that a telegrams supervisor at Portsmouth refused to send a telegram sent by Mr. Leslie Holdway to the Prime Minister, particulars of which have been sent to him.

Under the Inland Written Telegram Regulations of 1938 it is the duty of supervising officers to refuse to transmit any telegram which contains anything which is grossly offensive and the supervisor at Portsmouth considered that Mr. Holdaway's telegram came within this category.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the cause of the recent delays in the delivery of letters in the London area.

I much regret the delays brought to my notice by the hon. and gallant Member. An inquiry is in hand and I will write again to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that there is undue delay in the delivery of air mail from this country to South America; and what action he is taking.

As regards South American countries served via the West Indies, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers on this subject given to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis) on 15th June and to my hon. Friend the Member for West Middlesbrough (Mr. Cooper) on 7th July, of which I am sending him copies. I am not aware of delay in the mail services to other parts of South America, but I will gladly have inquiry made if my hon. Friend will let me have particulars.

asked the Postmaster-General to state the expenses per £100 of mean balances standing to the credit of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank in 1938 and 1947, respectively.

The expenses per £100 of mean balance standing to the credit of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank in 1938 and 1947 amounted respectively to 6s. 8d. and 5s. 11d.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that newspapers posted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, on 10th April were not delivered in London until 3rd July, by what means of transport this type of mail is conveyed; and what is the explanation of this delay.

Yes; by sea. The unloading of the ship which carried the mails was seriously delayed owing to the recent strike at the London Docks, but the greater part of the delay was accounted for by the long interval which elapsed between the posting of the newspapers and the departure of the mail from Malaya. I am having inquiry of the Malayan Post Office made on this point and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Defence how many Poles are serving in the three Services and acting as officers in command of British men; and whether he will make a detailed statement on this subject.

At the end of June three Poles were serving as officers in the Royal Navy, 30 in the Army and 71 in the Royal Air Force, a total of 104. All these officers have powers of command over British other ranks in their respective Services.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the strength, in officers and other ranks, of the Royal Army Educational Corps on 1st January and 1st July, 1948.

The strength of the Royal Army Educational Corps on 31st December, 1947, and 31st May, 1948, the latest date for which figures are available, was:

—	Officers.	Other Ranks.	Total.
31st December, 1947	446	2,553	2,999
31st May, 1948	562	3,429	3,991

In addition there was a number of officers of other arms employed full-time on Royal Army Educational Corps duties and filling vacancies in educational establishments as follows:

	Officers.
31st December, 1947	123
31st May, 1948	45

asked the Secretary of State for War how many applications are outstanding for other ranks in the Colchester garrison for married quarters; and how many married quarters are actually in course of construction at present.

One hundred and fifty applications by other ranks for married quarters in the Colchester garrison are now outstanding. Thirty-three quarters for other ranks are under construction now.

asked the Minister of Education why details of the marks obtained by entrants to the admission examinations for secondary schools are not made available to parents by local education authorities.

This is a matter for the discretion of local education authorities who are responsible for conducting the selection tests for admission to secondary schools.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the latest comparative figures for road accidents and what action he proposes to improve the standard of driving and for other safety measures to reduce this serious loss of life.

In the first five months of 1948, 1,619 persons were killed on the roads and 50,251 injured. The figures for similar periods in 1947 and 1939 were, respectively, 1,690 killed and 55,943 injured, and 2,472 killed and 82,553 injured. The propaganda campaign to encourage careful and considerate behaviour by drivers and other road users will continue. The Committee on Road Safety submitted their final report in 1947, and I hope shortly to make a statement on the action I propose to take on those of the Committee's recommendations to which effect has not already been given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the concessions granted to officers of the Colonial Service in regard to paying United Kingdom Income Tax; and whether he will extend a similar concession to European officers and warrant officers serving with the West African Frontier Force.

There are no Income Tax concessions in favour of officers of the Colonial Service. Under the arrangements for the relief of double taxation which have lately been concluded with certain of the Colonies, including West Africa, official remuneration paid by a Colonial Government is not chargeable to United Kingdom Income Tax where the officer concerned is not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, or is ordinarily resident solely in the discharge of official duties on behalf of the Colonial Government. There can be no question of extending these provisions to members of the West African Frontier Force, for their remuneration is paid out of War Office funds.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the inadequate hire car facilities in the scattered parishes of North Westmorland; and whether he is prepared to issue additional licences as well as additional petrol to existing hire car proprietors.

No. I am satisfied after a full investigation recently carried out that North Westmorland is adequately provided with hire car facilities.

asked the Minister of Health if he will inquire into the case, details of which have been privately submitted to him, of a medical practitioner with senior degrees, who proposes to enter the new Health Service, and who has, since demobilisation, built up a considerable specialist's practice in obstetrics and gynæology, who is informed that no compensation is due to him as he is not in general practice; and whether he will make some arrangement to relieve the anxieties of this class of practitioner.

I am writing to the hon. Member about this case.

asked the Minister of Health what institutions in England and Wales are being financed under the National Health Services Act, 1946, to carry out cancer research; and what is the total estimated cost for the present half-year.

This research is being carried out at many hospitals now in the National Health Service, such as the Royal Cancer, the Christie Hospital and others. I am afraid I cannot differentiate research from treatment financially. The hon. Member will remember that research supported by public funds is also in the hands of the Medical Research Council and there are voluntary funds such as the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the British Empire Cancer Campaign.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is proposed in future to require officials in charge of Infectious Disease Hospitals to be vaccinated or re-vaccinated as a condition of service.

There is no compulsion but it is the usual practice for the staffs of these hospitals to receive any necessary inoculations.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the drug streptomycin is in short supply in this country because of the cost in dollars of its purchase from America; and whether he will give the House the present position as regards the supply of this drug.

asked the Minister of Health how the medical advisers to his Department assess the value of streptomycin; whether there is difficulty in obtaining it in sufficient quantities owing to world shortage; and whether its availability in this country is limited by any other factors than unavoidable scarcity.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the production of streptomycin has now been developed in this country; what supplies are now being obtained from the United States; and how many cases there are on waiting lists unable to obtain treatment for lack of this drug.

Streptomycin is not in short supply because of its cost in dollars at all. Production on quite a large scale over here has begun. Already, together with purchases still being made from the U.S.A., it is enough to cover all medical needs for which the use of the drug is so far reliably indicated—and shortly it should do so without any need for purchasing abroad. I am advised as to the purposes just mentioned by the Medical Research Council. There is still some limitation of suitably staffed beds and therefore some waiting lists, but—now that I am in a position to do so, since 5th July—I am asking all regional hospital boards to arrange additional facilities wherever they can.