asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the village of Broughton, Hunts, with a population of approximately 300 people, has bus services to Huntingdon on Saturdays only, and has no bus service to St. Ives, which is the appropriate local food office for the people living at Broughton; and whether he will endeavour to secure a bus service from Broughton to St. Ives.

The licensing authority inform me that the Eastern National Omnibus Company propose to restore the pre-war bus service of two journeys each way between Broughton and St. Ives on Monday, the market day. Their application for a licence will be dealt with by the licensing authority under statutory procedure.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the fact that he is responsible for the maintenance of the trunk road A.48, what action he is taking pending the establishment of a river board, to see that this road is kept open at Ebbw Bridge, Newport, Mon-mouthshire, in time of flood.

Periodic flooding cannot be prevented until there is a drainage scheme for the River Ebbw as a whole. When the trunk road is flooded, traffic uses other roads.

Is the Minister aware that what is wanted is not a catchment board or drainage scheme but that somebody should take responsibility for digging up the silt from underneath this bridge so that the road does not get flooded? His Ministry collects £6 million a year to look after trunk roads; cannot he do something about it?

I am very anxious to assist here if it is at all possible, but I am advised that if I raised the road it would tend to dam up the water. However, I will look into the specific point which the hon. Gentleman has just raised.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the extra bus services on Saturday recently granted for operation by the Premier Travel Company from Offord to St. Neots, Hunts, have not provided the benefit expected by the people of Great Paxton, as the buses are sometimes already full up with R.A.F. personnel before reaching Great Paxton; and whether he will take steps to ensure that other arrangements are made for the R.A.F. personnel, thus preventing them from overcrowding the local buses.

The licensing authority for public service vehicles inform me that the Eastern National Omnibus Company have just applied for authority to operate a bus service from Brampton R.A.F. Station to Huntingdon to connect with a train at 1.05 p.m. for London on Fridays and Saturdays, with return journeys on Sunday night. This application will be dealt with by the licensing authority under the usual statutory procedure.

Is the Minister aware that it is the men from another R.A.F. station and not Brampton who are filling up this civilian bus service, and will he take steps to ensure that when these facilities are granted to the public the intention of the licensing authority is not defeated by Service personnel crowding the buses?

If another station is involved, that is a point into which I should have to look further.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether his Department was consulted, as the highway authority for the Oxford to Cheltenham trunk road A.40, before the decision was taken by the Oxfordshire County Council, as local education authority, to construct new school buildings on the south side of that road at Burford; and whether he received any report from his local officer on the subject;

(2) whether he is satisfied that the construction of the new school on the south side of the Oxford to Cheltenham trunk road at Burford is free from objection from the point of view of road safety; and if not, whether he proposes to require any traffic control on crossing the road or otherwise in view of the fact that the majority of the pupils attending the new school will have to cross the road from their homes in the village of Burford, which is on the north side of the road.

As the highway authority for trunk roads, my consent was necessary before the school huts on the south side of trunk road A.40 at Burford could be erected. From reports I have received, I understand that only a minority of the children attending the school will need to cross the trunk road, and that arrangements will be made for them to do so in organised parties. No serious danger to the children or interference with traffic appears likely to arise.

Is the Minister aware that there is an alternative site on the north side of the road which would stop almost any children needing to cross the road at that very dangerous point? Secondly, did he consider holding a public local inquiry before the opinion of almost everybody in the locality was disregarded?

If in referring to another site the hon. Gentleman means a school site, that hardly comes within my province, and therefore until that issue is raised, I do not think the question of a public local inquiry arises.

asked the Minister of Transport how many applications have been made to the Motor Insurers' Bureau for ex gratia payments under the terms of Note six to the text of the agreement made between the Minister and the bureau; in how many cases has payment been refused; and what is the average amount of the payments made.

I am informed by the Motor Insurers' Bureau that the number of effective applications made to them under the terms of this Note is 202, of which 36 have been refused. Ninety-one cases are still being investigated. The average of the payments already made is £203.

Would the Minister consider asking the bureau to publish an annual report and statement of accounts so that the public can know the scope of its operations?

I will look into that point, but I would hesitate to give a commitment at the moment.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the raising of the school-leaving age to 15 years of age, he will extend the limit for half-fare travel by road to that age.

This is a matter for the British Transport Commission as regards the services for which they are responsible. On other tram and trolley vehicle services, it is one for the undertakers, most of whom are local authorities operating under statutory provisions. On other public service vehicle services, it comes within the jurisdiction of the licensing authorities.

Is my right hon. Friend not in a position to give a lead on this important matter of policy? These children are earning nothing, they travel every day, and it is a great expense to their parents in many cases?

As I have already indicated, this is a matter for the authorities, and I have no jurisdiction to give them a direction.

Is this not a matter of such national interest that it is one on which the Minister could give directions to the British Transport Commission to give a lead?

This is a rather far-reaching issue—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear"]—as to how far transport authorities should carry financial obligations belonging to other bodies, and it is not a matter I could deal with in answer to a Question.

Could the Minister co-operate with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Education to see whether some scheme could not be worked out by which the transport companies and authorities could make a concession and reimburse themselves from the Ministry of Education?

I shall always be willing to enter into discussions, but at this stage I am not prepared to accept a commitment for the transport authorities.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give a lead in this matter, which is important, and consult his colleagues to see whether something can be done?

To give a lead indicates that I should accept the responsibility which, at the moment, I am not disposed to do.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is intended to bring to an end the toll roads and bridges operated under his direction.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the toll roads and bridges owned by the British Transport Commission, and I would refer him to the answer which I gave on 16th February to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leicester (Mr. Janner).

As that answer was completely valueless from the point of view of finding out when the toll bridges are to be ended, would the right hon. Gentleman say now how long it will be before he abolishes these toll bridges and roads?

I disagree that the answer was valueless.

Is it not true that the statute book contains a Bill which gives power to the Minister to abolish these toll roads and bridges? I introduced the Bill in this House myself. It is a question of the local authorities putting pressure upon the Minister to see that these tolls are abolished.

I gave a reasoned answer to show that I circularised local authorities urging them to take steps and saying that grants would be made towards the cost.

asked the Minister of Transport how many copies of the new booklets on road safety issued by his Department for young children have been purchased by education authorities and others; and what further steps he is taking to ensure their widest possible distribution.

Two hundred and eighty-six thousand copies of the Children's Highway Code published by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, with my right hon. Friend's approval, had been sold by the end of June, and sales are continuing at a satisfactory level. Specimen copies have been widely distributed to local authorities and others.

May I ask my hon. Friend if he does not consider it advisable to have a still greater distribution of these booklets, and will he consider whether by advertising, in the Press or otherwise, it will be possible to achieve that end?

Yes, Sir, I will certainly consider that. I am anxious to encourage their distribution as widely as possible.

Will my hon. Friend consider making them available to the public on the bookstalls of railway stations and elsewhere.

I will look into that.

asked the Minister of Transport what materials and how many man-hours labour it is estimated would be required to replace the Pilley bridge, Cheltenham, destroyed by enemy action in 1940, by a Bailey bridge; and if, in view of the inconvenience suffered already for eight years and the continuing waste of time and petrol caused by the need of vehicular traffic to take a circuitous route, he will reconsider his refusal to provide one.

Fourteen tons of steel, one standard of timber and 500 man-hours. There is a temporary footbridge and, as I have already informed the hon. Member, I should not feel justified in taking steps to facilitate the replacement of the vehicular bridge at present.

Is the Minister aware that so long as there is no bridge at this place, hundreds of gallons of petrol are wasted every week? Is not that a matter to which he ought to give his attention, and will not he reconsider it?

That has certainly been taken into consideration, but my hon. Friend knows the general situation regarding work of this description.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the position with respect to property lost on the railways and remaining unclaimed.

Under Section 119 of the Transport Act, 1947, I have the power to make regulations, providing for the safe custody and re-delivery or disposal of any property found on the railway. Meanwhile, the matter is governed by the existing railway conditions of carriage.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that meanwhile the Railway Executive have altered the rule which existed under the private companies by which the finder of such property was suitably rewarded, and will the right hon. Gentleman, therefore, take action with them?

I was not aware that the prevailing conditions had been altered, and if the hon. Gentleman suggests that, it is a matter which I should have to examine.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider a specific example if I send it to him?

Yes, certainly.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will give an assurance that the value of assets now being transferred by steel companies to subsidiary and associated companies in anticipation of nationalisation, will be deducted from the ultimate value of compensation payable to the steel companies when nationalised.

All such questions are being taken into account but I am unable to make a statement at present.

Will my right hon. Friend make it quite clear to the steel companies concerned that he will not tolerate any further deliberate weakening by these companies of the industry's resources?

I think the steel companies are aware that the matter is under review.

Is not this largely a hypothetical question, in view of the likelihood that the saner elements of the Government will force the abandonment of this wild-cat scheme?

When the Minister is considering this question, will he also take into consideration the over-generous compensation paid to coal-owners, and the high prices of shares of coal companies on the strength of these over-generous payments, and not make this mistake with the steel industry?

asked the Minister of Supply why we are exporting refrigerators at an average conversion rate of £355 per ton and the Trade and Navigation Returns show that we are importing refrigerators at £737 per ton, amounting to £130,000 worth of refrigerators for the first four months of this year; and if he will look into this, with a view to permitting British manufacturers to supply the home market and then export their surplus, so saving dollars.

Licences for the importation of complete domestic refrigerators are granted only for limited quantities under the token import scheme and for samples to use as prototypes for manufacture in this country. Imports consist mainly of certain parts not made in this country and of spares for the repair of refrigerators of foreign manufacture. They are of much greater value per ton of steel than complete refrigerators.

Can my right hon. Friend say if he is reviewing the position that has arisen in conjunction with his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that some time ago it was baths, then typewriters, and now refrigerators which are being allowed to come into this country at prices far in excess of the prices we are getting for our exports, and that if this situation is allowed to continue we shall never close the import-export gap?

No, I think my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. Only a very limited number of completed refrigerators have been allowed into this country—none during the first four months of this year. It is only spare parts for existing refrigerators which are allowed in.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that we are charging enough for our exported refrigerators, and can he tell the House how the present price per ton compares with the pre-war price?

Not without notice.

But is my right hon. Friend satisfied that we are charging enough?

I understand that the refrigerator makers are charging as much as the market will bear, and it is for them to fix the maximum price they can get.

Will the right hon. Gentleman read the leading article by the financial editor of "The Times" this morning?

asked the Minister of Supply what encouragement is being given to the motor industry of Great Britain to produce a type of motor car suitable to the conditions prevailing in colonial territories.

The design of motor cars is a matter for the motor industry who are aware of the requirements of the Colonies and other overseas markets. Some inducement to manufacturers to develop larger models suitable for both home and overseas markets was given by the introduction at the beginning of this year of a single registration fee for all sizes of cars. Several new types now coming into production have been specially designed with a view to the export markets.

In view of the fact that the whole volume of production of the motor trade is for the small car in this country and that it is clearly uneconomical to produce a separate type of vehicle for the Colonies with the horse power, springing and clearance which are necessary, would not the Minister consider recommending to the Cabinet a subsidy in order to be able to compete with the American motor cars which are now flooding the Colonies?

No, Sir. The motor companies claim that the new models, which have greater ground clearance and other advantages, are suitable for the Colonies, and that it would be quite uneconomical to make a special type for the Colonies.

asked the Minister of Supply why he permitted, at a recent Ministry of Supply auction sale at Windermere, the sale of lease-lend machine tools to a representative of the Polish Government Purchasing Commission, when we have given an undertaking that such machine tools shall not be re-exported.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) why, at a recent auction sale held under the auspices of his Department, a number of unused hydraulic rifling machines which cost over £3,000 each and are useless except for arms production, were sold to a Pole for despatch to an East European country for £75 each;

(2) why British merchants are debarred from exporting Lend-Lease machine tools to the Dominions while the embargo on the export of such machines, specially designed for the manufacture of arms, to an East European country has been lifted;

(3) whether he is aware that merchants present at the recent auction sales of Government-surplus machine tools protested to the Director of the Ministry of Supply against the sale of such valuable war potential to an East European country; and what was the answer given to these protests.

I will, with the hon. Members' permission, answer this Question and Nos. 26, 27 and 28 together.

On a point of Order. As this is apparently an attempt by the Minister to cover a multitude of sins in one reply, may I ask you, Sir, whether, if the Minister does not by his reply cover all the questions which he says he will cover, I may have the right to have a separate answer to each of my Questions?

I cannot say whether the Minister will give a separate answer or not. It is possible that, if the hon. and gallant Member asks his Questions, he may get the same answer repeated. We had better wait and see what are the answers to his supplementary questions.

The tools were sold to the Poles, following a private agreement between the American and Polish authorities. No rifling machine was sold at this auction to the Poles. A protest was made to the auctioneer and not to a Ministry of Supply official. I understand that the auctioneer replied to the effect that the tools were sold according to the conditions of the catalogue.

Can the Minister say why the Pole was allowed artificially to inflate the price of these tools by bidding them up at the auction when there had been a private arrangement with the Ministry in advance?

The higher the price obtained for these tools, the better it is for us.

Can the Minister say whether, in fact, the lifting of the embargo, enabling the Pole to buy and to sell these war potential machine tools to a Soviet satellite country, was done at the request or suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman's Ministry or any other Department of His Majesty's Government, or whether it was done on the initiative of the American Government alone?

No, Sir. It was done on the initiative of the Polish Government, who approached the American Government and got agreement that the Poles should be allowed to buy these materials.

Will the Minister give an assurance that the Ministry of Supply will forbid the export to Soviet satellite countries of any machine tools in their possession which are suitable only for the manufacture of munitions?

That is an entirely different question. No rifling machines were sold to the Pole on this occasion.

May I have an answer to my question?

The Minister has not replied to Question No. 28—what was the form of the protest made by those attending the sale? Is he aware that there was a howl of indignation that this was the third sale in which valuable war potential material had been bought by a Pole for a foreign Government and that everybody present shouted, "Another one for Stalin"? Why does not the Minister answer that?

I thought I had covered that point. A protest was made to the auctioneer and not to the Ministry of Supply official. The sale was made in accordance with an agreement between the Polish and American authorities.

The Minister will remember that a similar point was raised regarding the jet engines. I understand that the Government have set up a committee, on which the Service Departments are represented, in order to prevent the export of war potential material to the Russians. How does that committee operate in a case such as this? What steps are taken to ensure that the Services' advice is accepted by the Government before material of this kind is exported to satellite countries?

That is a very much wider question. It did not arise on this occasion because no machine tools specialised for war production were sold to the Poles.

Does not the Minister agree that these machine tool auction sales are made a farce if everything is fixed up beforehand with one potential purchaser, leaving British manufacturers to try to bid against him when he has already got Government agreement for the transaction?

So far from being anything which had been fixed up in advance, the machine tools bought by the Pole on this occasion had been on sale by my Department in this country for from one to five years. They had not found a buyer, and we are very pleased that the Poles were able to make use of them and take them off our hands.

Can my right hon. Friend give the House any information as to who were the rival bidders who seem to have been so disappointed in this transaction?

In view of the thoroughly unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's answers, I beg to give notice that I intend to raise this matter on the Adjournment as soon as possible.

Later —

On a point of Order. You will remember, Mr. Speaker, that I rose on a point of Order when the Minister of Supply was attempting to answer four Questions at the same time. You said that if by any chance he did not cover all the four Questions, you would consider the matter when it arose. I was about to rise and suggest that, in fact, the Minister had not covered Question 26 when my hon. Friend the Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll), quite rightly, was thoroughly dissatisfied and said that he would raise the matter on the Adjournment; but that does not cover the point of Order that Question No. 26 has not been answered. You said that you would wait and see.

I thought that I called the hon. and gallant Member every time he rose. I thought that he would ask supplementary questions which would cover each of his three Questions which were being answered together. The only course now is to raise that matter when the subject comes up on the Adjournment.

With great respect, Sir, I could not rise again when notice had been given that the matter would be raised on the Adjournment; otherwise I would have done so.

Possibly the rule that if a Question has not been completely answered it can be put down again might assist the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will relax restrictions on the manufacture of refuse collection vehicles for the home market to enable local authorities to maintain an efficient collection service in the interests of public health since the present shortage of these vehicles may prove a serious threat to the health of the community.

Arrangements have already been made to increase the supply of these vehicles to the home market.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why the Macclesfield Borough Council have not been allowed to buy Dennis vehicles for this purpose?

They can get Dennis vehicles. There has been a special arrangement, to increase the supply of these vehicles to local authorities.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have correspondence showing that they have not been allowed to do so, which is in direct contradiction to what he has said?

I agree that they may have to wait a little while for delivery, but the supply of the vehicles has been increased.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the shortage of plain fencing wire in some areas; and what steps he intends to take to see that the supply is adequate.

There is a shortage of all forms of wire, including fencing wire. Arrangements have been made to improve supplies of wire generally, both by increasing production in this country and by imports.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is taking to increase the supply of bar iron in the smaller sizes used by blacksmiths in country districts.

Arrangements have been made to increase supplies of small size bars to merchants through whom rural blacksmiths normally obtain their requirements.

Is there any reason why the supply of this simple commodity should have been allowed to fall below the demand?

I am afraid that the supply of both quantities and types of iron and steel is below the demand.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since I raised this matter with him about six weeks ago, when he gave me a very comforting answer, the position in Shropshire has deteriorated?

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will meet the production costs during the period of commercial development flying of prototype aircraft so that faults may be discovered and put right prior to final delivery of aircraft into commercial service.

The financial arrangements for the development of prototype aircraft vary in each individual contract, but in general, and except for purely private ventures, the cost of development to prove the suitability and reliability of the type is met by my Department.

Does that mean that the cost of this particular stage of development—that is to say, after the aircraft has come to the flying stage but has not yet been proved as a commercial venture—will be met by the Department, because the aircraft manufacturing industry do not understand or realise the position and are very anxious to have some definition?

I think the aircraft industry are well aware of the position. They are in close and constant contact with my Department and could soon ascertain the position if they were in any doubt.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consult the Air Ministry, where the aircraft or part of it may be of use to the Royal Air Force, to get them to bear part of the development cost?

I do not think there is any difficulty in this matter. I think that there must be some misunderstanding. We bear the cost of the development except for private ventures.

asked the Minister of Works how much longer it is his intention to requisition the club house and sports ground, the property of the Joint Electricity Authority Sports and Social Association, at present used for housing Poles working in the building trade.

I hope to be able to de-requisition this property by the end of August.

May I ask the Minister whether, when he has derequisitioned the property, it is proposed to hand it over to some other Government Department or to the local council or—which is the important point—back to its rightful owners?

De-requisitioning means that no other Government Department or local authority has any claim at all on the property.

asked the Minister of Works whether his recent visit to cement works in Thames-side constituencies enables him to make any new statement about any assistance which the Government may be able to give to firms which have ordered machinery designed to reduce the problem of cement dust.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Works when he proposes to issue the report on the costs of various systems of non-traditional houses in com parison with the costs of traditional houses.

I expect the report to be published by the end of next month.

Is not the Minister aware that his compulsory regulations, discriminating between traditional and non-traditional houses, have led to chaos in the building industry and heavy losses to builders of traditional houses and to brickworks?

No, Sir.

Then the Minister does not know his job.

asked the Minister of Works if he will introduce legislation to provide that persons whose buildings were damaged by enemy action and who did not give notice of that damage by the due date can have their claims re-examined.

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir. Full provision is already made for this matter in Section 31 of the War Damage Act.

In view of the fact that citizens of Britain were compelled to insure at a compulsory premium, and that it is a well known fact that damage from blast very often does not come to light until four or five years afterwards, and that thousands of British subjects are suffering under the gravest sense of injustice, will the right hon. Gentleman have these cases re-examined?

I have answered this question over and over again. The answer is that, although under this Act a definite time limit is laid down in Section 31, the War Damage Commission have permitted claims to be put in until recently. I am informed by the War Damage Commission that now, where good cause can be shown that a claim should be admitted, they do admit it.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that the War Damage Commission take no trouble whatever to find out whether or not the damage is war damage, and say that they can find out by sitting on an office seat?

Is the discretion entirely in the hands of the War Damage Commission, or is my right hon. Friend able to give any advice in cases where there is doubt?

The discretion must be in the hands of the Commission. It is a statutory body, set up by Parliament to carry through this work. I think I may say, without fear of contradiction, that it has carried it through, on the whole, with great efficiency.

asked the Minister of Works if he will circulate in HANSARD a list of the artists whose pictures have been bought by his Department for hanging in embassies, official residences, and office buildings, since July, 1945; how much has been spent for this purpose, and how much of this sum has been spent on purchases from exhibitions of the Royal Academy; and if, when authorising such expenditure, he will bear in mind that there are many artists of distinction who do not exhibit at the Academy, and encourage the purchase of works by such artists also.

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the artists whose pictures have been bought by my Department since 1st April, 1945. The cost of these pictures was £2,913 4s. 6d.; £488 4s. of this was spent on purchases from exhibitions of the Royal Academy. Purchases of the work of living artists are not restricted to pictures exhibited at the Academy and 24 paintings by contemporary artists have been bought elsewhere at a cost of £710 6s.

Following is the list :

Aldridge, Anderson, Blore, Butterworth, Condy, Dahl, Darwin, Devis, Dürer, Fitton, Grant, Green, Griffier, Herd, Hill, Hitchins, Hodgetts, Huggins, Humphries, Jenkins, Jones, Jutsum, Kneller, Knight, Landseer, Lear, Le Bas, Lowry, Morris, Nash, Nicholson, Osborne, Pezare, Phillips, Reeve, Sauter, Smith, Spender, Stadler, Tarttelin, Taylor, Tibble, Turner, Underwood, van Lint, Walker, Webb, Weight, White, Wills, Wissing, Wootton, Workman, Princess Zaid Al Hussein.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will investigate the offer of compensation for removal of fixtures made by the regional compensation surveyor to Mr. W. R Forrest of 2 Corstorphine Hill Avenue, Edinburgh, 12, and see that proper compensation is paid.

The amount of compensation offered to Mr. Forrest for his railings has been assessed strictly in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 4 of Defence Regulation 50B and cannot be increased.

Is the Minister aware that this gentleman had more than 130 feet of railing taken away, and had to spend £26 for wire netting to replace it and that the Ministry have offered 2s. 6d. in compensation? Is that fair?

That was assessed on the value of the railings removed—

On 130 feet?

The question is the weight of the railings removed and the value at the time of removal.

Scrap.

Certainly, it was scrap.

But not railings.

At the time this was done the scrap value of the railings was 25s. per ton and on that basis compensation has been paid ever since the system started during the war.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of his predecessors promised that where it could be shown that replacement of railings was necessary, cost of replacement would be paid?

No, I am not aware of that and I have no power to bear the cost of replacement. My power is, where it is necessary for that to be done, to give sanction and payment for some temporary replacement, not of materials of the same class as the materials removed but of materials suitable for the purpose, where this is essential. But the essentiality has to be proved, and it does not arise in the ordinary case.

Is the Minister aware that the material was temporary and cost £26. Is he aware that it was wire netting used to stop up a gap? Will he look into the matter again?

No, Sir, it is not my responsibility. My responsibility is the payment of the cost of what was removed—not of the cost of whatever is put in the place of whatever was removed.

Can we understand what the Minister means? I understood him to say that he was entitled to pay for some temporary but different material in place of the iron railing—

No, Sir.

If that be the case, why should the Government not pay for the cost of this wire netting and thus do away with this very grave injustice?

That does not arise in the ordinary case, but only in certain cases in connection with public bodies and things of that sort—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"]—churches and places of that sort, where it is absolutely essential from the point of view of public safety that it should be done. It does not arise in the case of the removal of ordinary railings.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that where the railings were removed they were only removed when they could be dispensed with and not when public safety required them to be retained?

Then that relieves me of any responsibility for replacement.

Having some recollection of the circumstances which existed when this took place during the war, may I put it to the right hon. Gentleman that the question of whether the replacement is chargeable to public funds is not based on whether it was the property of a public body, but whether or not the replacement was necessary for the protection and safety of the public?

That is what I said.

For how many years has this been operating on exactly the same basis as now?

Since 1941.

Since the Minister has given such a very unsatisfactory answer, showing that he is not familiar with the working of this system, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that Ivy Farm, Knockholt, particulars of which have been sent to him, is not overstaffed, and that those employed by him there are fully occupied; and whether it would be possible to release some of the staff for productive employment.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that this establishment is not overstaffed; the second part of the Question, therefore, does not arise.

In asking a supplementary question I wish to be quite fair and to say that I have no personal knowledge, but I have lived in this village all my life and the "goings on" at Ivy Farm are a public scandal. The waste of time and manpower is a burden which ought not to be borne by the taxpayer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered a Tass report on Tanganyika disseminated in Soviet News of 7th July; and, as this is an abuse of the privileges of the Soviet Embassy in London, whether he will make representations to that effect to the Soviet Union Ambassador and, in the event of not obtaining satisfaction, withdraw facilities for the publication of this organ.

My right hon. Friend has seen the Tass report to which my hon. Friend refers. As is too often the case with articles on our affairs which appear in Soviet publications, the Tass report contains gross inaccuracies and distortions of fact. Its publication, however deplorable, does not constitute a breach of the privileges of an Embassy.

Is it not possible for us to stop this pernicious drip in London? Could we have equal facilities for telling the Russian people the truth about life in their colonies?

We have two excellent papers, "British Ally" and "British Chronicle," but they stick to the facts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position in regard to the murder of British sailors off Corfu by the Government of Albania.

On a point of Order, Sir, is it open to the hon. and gallant Member for Ayr-Burghs (Sir T. Moore) to place on the Order Paper so insulting and provocative a Question as that which you have just called? You will remember that, in addition to the quite obvious breach of the Rules embodied in this Question, the Attorney-General told us not long ago that this question was under consideration by the most authoritative jurisdiction in the world, the Permanent Court of International Justice.

The hon. Member always rises to points of Order and seems anxious to teach me my business. I hope I know my business better than he does.

With great respect, further to that point of Order, as far as I am concerned I do not challenge or question whether you know your business. I have a deep respect for your Rulings, Sir, and I abide by them, but I want to ask you this question. This matter came up on 21st June and on that occasion I raised a point of Order on the matter. You then said you did not know, when the matter was raised in the first place, that it was sub judice. That was on 21st June. May I respectfully ask whether, if this matter is sub judice, it should be raised on this occasion?

Common courtesy demands that Mr. Speaker be given notice of any question asked him. To shoot at him questions without notice on an obviously difficult matter is very undesirable indeed. These Questions were passed by the Table and, I have no doubt, obeyed the Rules of Order. As far as I am concerned, I am not going to be caught out by last-minute suggestions that a matter is out of Order, because I have confidence in those who pass the Questions at the Table.

May I assure you quite earnestly it is not my intention to catch you out. It is only my intention to try to get this matter straightened out in a way which is common to other Questions of this kind. May I draw attention, with great respect, to an expression used here which has never been used by the Foreign Secretary, that the Government of Albania were responsible for the murder? All His Majesty's Government have asked is that an inquiry should be held and as the hon. Member for Fins-bury (Mr. Platts-Mills) pointed out, that inquiry is now sub judice at the International Court. May I ask, therefore, if it is in Order for a blackguardly Question like this to be put on the Order Paper?

I think the hon. Member himself has gone outside the bounds of Order. This Question is perfectly within the bounds of Order and, of course, any hon. Member is entitled to ask what is the present position. Mr. Mayhew.

The answer is as follows. We are preparing our reply to the Albanian counter memorial, which we have to submit to the International Court on 2nd August. The Court will then decide whether oral hearings are necessary and, if so, will fix a date for them.

Has the hon. Gentleman any idea as to when this premeditated and savage crime will be punished?

I cannot admit those implications, of course, while the case is sub judice, nor can I add to my statement regarding the length of the proceedings.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his right hon. Friend gave an undertaking to see whether these proceedings at the International Court of Justice could be speeded up, because this long protracted delay is bringing the Court into disrepute?

The procedure in this case cannot be specially speeded up. That cannot be done without a reform of the whole procedure. In justice to the International Court I am advised that a complicated case like this would take almost as long before any kind of legal court.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is intended to fix any definite date for the return of prisoners of war who volunteered to remain in this country for agricultural work; or whether they are to be allowed to remain indefinitely.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for King's Norton (Mr. Blackburn), on 7th July.

Can my hon. Friend say whether any decision has yet been taken?

No, Sir. Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at what percentage of 1936 output the production of artificial manure was calculated in the level of industry plan for Germany.

Artificial manures were not separately treated in the Anglo-American level of industry plan, but the position with regard to the three main chemical fertilisers is as follows. No restriction has been applied to production of potash. Phosphates form part of the group of basic chemicals restricted to 105 per cent, of 1936. But within this group no limit has been placed on the production of phosphates which is being increased in every possible way. Production of synthetic ammonia has been provided for at the rate of 124 per cent, of 1936 output.

Is my hon. Friend aware that of the remaining nitrogen plants after the war, which were capable of producing 700,000 tons a year, 70 per cent, are down for dismantling, which is equivalent to the provision of 300 million bushels of wheat which we with America are now busy importing into Germany to feed the people? Is it not about time that this insanity was stopped?

I should require notice of that point, but in connection with the production of foodstuffs we are producing as much as we can.

Could my hon. Friend call the attention of the Secretary of State to Mr. Herbert Hoover's pamphlet on this subject, which is very illuminating?

asked the Prime Minister what are the precise duties he has entrusted to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in addition to those associated with the office.

I have nothing to add to previous replies to Questions on this subject.

As I have not the privilege of having the previous reply by me, could the right hon. Gentleman say just what are those precise duties and possibly add whether they are adequately remunerated?

In the appointment of a Minister either without portfolio or with small departmental duties it is not the custom to detail, except in certain cases, the particular duties assigned to that Minister.

On what subjects are Members entitled to address Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy in this House?

On anything about the Duchy of Lancaster.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number and area of smallholdings which have been established in the County of Bedfordshire during the last 30 years; how much expenditure has been incurred in acquiring the necessary land, if possible giving particulars as to the area and the price of the land in each case; how many approved applicants for smallholdings are still awaiting satisfaction; what it has cost to equip the smallholdings, apart from the cost of the land itself; and what burden, falls upon the county ratepayers in the running of these smallholdings.

Since 1918 the Bedfordshire County Council have established and still retain 881 smallholdings comprising 7,343 acres. 4,895 acres were purchased and equipped at a capital cost of £417,878. The remaining land was purchased by annuities or is held on lease. The Council have 103 applicants on their books but none of these has so far been interviewed. There is an estimated deficiency of £5,290 on the county's smallholdings account for the current financial year. This is equivalent to the product of a ¾d. rate and takes account of holdings established before 1918 as well as since that date.

Will my right hon. Friend call the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of Town and Country Planning to the figures which he has just given when they are considering the existing use value of land under the new Acts?

I can assure my hon. Friend that there is no likelihood of a repetition of what transpired before 1918.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether my hon. Friend's Question indicates that some of his constituents want to come and live in my parish or that some of them are obliged to leave their smallholdings in Ipswich owing to the depredations of jackdaws?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if it was on his authority that the Isle of Ely county advisory officer recently discussed the Eire Trade Agreement with Mr. Dillon in Dublin; and if he approved the publication of the views of that officer.

No, Sir. The officer in question committed an impropriety, for which I am reprimanding him.

While not in any way doubting the sincerity of this officer in serving the best interests of British agriculture, might I ask the right hon. Gentleman to bear in mind that the Fen farmers do not desire Irish store cattle? They would sooner have Lincoln Reds or Aberdeen Angus, which will stand up to the cold East winds?

That may be so, but we must bear in mind that we legislate for the whole country and not just the Fens area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in what circum stances his local inspector of animal diseases was recently called in Bedford to deal with a wild deer at large in the town on Saturday, 10th July.

The hon. Member no doubt refers to Press reports about a deer which broke into a private house in Bedford, got out again with difficulty, was chased through adjoining gardens and was last seen swimming strongly across the Ouse. No officer of my Department was concerned in this incident. I understand that the "inspector" mentioned in some Press accounts was an officer of the Bedford Borough Council, called to the scene by a report that a dog was suffering from rabies.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this incident caused some consternation in Bedford? Several plate glass windows were broken, and the wild deer was locked up in a garage for some time before finally ending the night in a police cell. Will he try to protect his officers from telephone calls about wild dogs when it is, as in this case, merely a deer which got out of a nearby park and has now been captured and returned there?