asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total quantity of sodium chlorate available in each of the last five years giving in each case the amounts supplied to farmers and railways respectively.

I regret that the information is not available in the form in which the hon. Member has asked for it.

Can the Minister give an assurance that the railways are not getting sodium chlorate at the expense of farmers, who are unable to obtain any?

The allocation of this material is made by the single firm in the industry which is responsible for production and that is why I obviously cannot give the figures relating to a single firm. But I understand that after deducting the minimum quantities needed by the railways and certain priority industries the rest is reserved for farmers.

Are the railways getting their minimum quantity at the expense of farmers, who are getting none?

The farmers are getting a considerable amount, but obviously we cannot cut off supplies from the railways so that farmers can get more.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what priority industries have a chance before the farmers?

Textiles, dyestuffs and metal refining, but they have only a relatively small quantity.

Did I understand my right hon. Friend to say that the production and allocation of sodium chlorate are in the hands of a monopoly; and, if so, will it come within the scope of the new Measure?

That does not arise on this Question.

With respect, it arises out of my right hon. Friend's answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the number of private motor cars exported during the last three months to Germany for the use of private individuals in that country;

(2) what are the Government intentions for the future with respect to the despatch to Germany from Great Britain of motor cars sold or intended for sale to private purchasers in Germany.

During the three months ended the 30th June, 137 new cars were exported to Germany. It is not possible to state how many of these cars were for the use of private individuals; the figures quoted would, however, include cars purchased by United Kingdom and United States officials in Germany for their private use. I understand that for the present the resources of the Joint Export Import Agency do not permit the purchase of cars for the private use of German individuals. As soon as private persons in the Combined zone in Germany are in a position to buy motor cars from the United Kingdom, the despatch of such cars will be treated in the same way as the export of any other normal commercial commodity.

Is the President of the Board of Trade fully aware of the appalling shortage of cars for the agricultural community in Cornwall?

Yes, Sir, but these Questions deal with the export of cars to Germany.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the percentage of women's shoes manufactured in this country which are made available for the home market; and whether these maintain an adequate variation of sizes and widths to meet the needs of the population.

About 95 per cent. of the women's shoes manufactured in this country are sold on the home market. With regard to the sizes and fittings produced, there appears to be considerable improvement in supplies of shoes for women whose feet are outside the "average" size range.

In view of the appeal by the Government to women to return to work in the factories, will the right hon. Gentleman realise the importance of these women and, indeed, all others, having comfortable and healthy feet?

Yes, Sir, but the exact production of particular sizes of shoes is a matter for the various manufacturers. The various points raised by the hon. and gallant Member have been brought to the attention of the manufacturers during the last two or three months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the accounts of the Timber Control for the year ended 31st March. 1948, will be published; and whether he is satisfied with the organisation and working of the Timber Control.

With regard to the first part of the Question, I am unable to give a specific date. The trading accounts of the Timber Control for 1946–47 were published, with those of other Government Departments, on 20th January, 1948. I hope that in future the interval between the closing of accounts, and their publication, will be shorter. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir."

Does the right hon. Gentleman also hope that in future the losses will also be smaller?

The losses on this year's trading were due to the fact that world prices rose very considerably, and the increase in world prices was not immediately passed on to the consumer. In fact, the whole of the loss to which the hon. Gentleman referred was quite comfortably taken up out of previous years' profits enjoyed by this Timber Control.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his working party on moths has yet reported; and when the report will be available to Members.

On a point of Order. Can we be told whether this Question relates to aeroplanes or insects or vermin?

No, Sir. A preliminary survey of the extent of moth damage in industry and trade, and in the home, was found to be necessary; a good deal of work remains to be done on the merits of the various methods of prevention. It would be optimistic to expect a report before the end of the present year.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this will cause great disappointment to the women of this country, who will not now be able to deal with this season's moths and the corruption and depredations for which moths are responsible on small and valued wardrobes of clothes?

I am sure that my hon. Friend will agree that the women of this country would have been even more disappointed if we had rushed out a report which did not deal with this important subject as it needs to be dealt with.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say when the report on spivs and butterflies is to be issued?

Will this working party on moths put a stop to the private enterprise of working parties of this particular type of vermin?

If the working party are running short of subject matter, will my right hon. Friend invite them to open the door of the policy cupboard of the Conservative Central Office?

The working party is not running short of subject matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now able to report the result of his discussions with the tanners and leather dressers with regard to the reduction of their profit margin to conform more closely to a figure of 8 per cent. on the capital employed.

A revised basis of assessing full chrome leather prices has been agreed with the trade and the new prices are now being determined.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared to bring within the range of utility footwear one or two types of sheep skin lined bootees since these are popular for winter wear.

This matter is at present under consideration, but I cannot yet say what the outcome will be.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the shoes which his schoolfellows did not wear were of this type?

The shoes which my schoolfellows did not wear, as would have been clear if the statement of the Mayor of Huddersfield had been published in full by the Tory Press, were in fact clogs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now make a statement about the re-opening of closed film studios.

No, Sir, but I would ask the hon. Member to await the statement which I propose to make at the end of Questions with regard to financial assistance to the film industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recommendations made by the Examiner of Controls have received his approval; and, in particular, whether any controls no longer necessary have been removed as a result of the comprehensive review of the controls operated by his Department.

As a result of recommendations by the Examiner of Controls, I have, as already announced, withdrawn the control over the manufacture and supply of toilet preparations and am withdrawing the control over toys as from 31st July. I have also decided to withdraw the control over the manufacture of mechanical lighters. The controls over glue, gelatine and size, leather and paint are to be modified. Other recommendations to enable greater efficiency to be achieved without waste of resources are under consideration.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether, as a result of the removal of these controls, labour has been released for more productive work?

Controls have been removed in those cases in which production was adequate to meet public demand without control, and wherever possible we shall remove further controls and attempt to economise in the amount of labour particularly that dealing with the control forms.

Will the removal of the control on mechanical lighters make any difference in the present tax on lighters?

No, it has nothing to do with the tax.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a shortage of cloth for bookbinding is now anticipated; why less yarn for bookcloth is now being delivered to weavers than last year; why his Department have not answered the letter addressed to them by Sundar Bookcloths Ltd. on 7th June on the subject of the importation of cloth from Germany; and what steps he is taking to prevent a shortage of bookcloth.

There is a shortage of cotton cloth generally, including cloth for bookbinding. The cotton yarn allocation for bookcloth is the same as last year and yarn deliveries to weavers are only very slightly less than last year. As my hon. Friend knows, every effort is being made to increase the production of cloth, particularly by the recruitment of additional labour for the spinning and weaving industries. A reply was sent on 30th June to the letter dated 7th June from Sundour Bookcloths Ltd.

Will my right hon. Friend assure the book publishing trade generally that he will not allow a situation to develop in which, although there is only a limited quantity of paper, they are able to print their books on the paper but have not the cloth with which to bind them?

I will assure them that we will do everything we can to increase the supply of bookcloth, remembering that it is an important dollar export.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be surprised to learn that there are something like four million unbound books lying in the cellars of binders today awaiting the cloth which he has now reluctantly promised?

Is the Minister aware that in the paper mills in Scotland they make what is called "Linson" which enables bookcloth to be dispensed with entirely and makes as good a binding?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a more adequate supply of No. 21 wick for Valor oil cookers can be made available in the rural areas where gas for cooking is not available and cooking is done almost exclusively on oil stoves, since many households have been put to great hardship and inconvenience for long periods as a result of supplies not being available.

Extra supplies should be reaching the shops soon following an increase in output. Priority in distribution is given to rural areas.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether he will take steps to ensure that from now onwards there will be adequate supplies of these vital necessities to the rural areas? Surely he is aware that worn-out wicks are absolutely useless to the rural areas, as indeed the Government are? They do nothing for them.

I will not follow the hon. Member into all his remarks, but I am fully aware of the importance of this wick to rural areas. The supply of No. 21 wick is up to pre-war level and is increasing all the time. There is priority of distribution to rural areas.

There has been a shortage for 12 months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in order to save paper, he will instruct paper manufacturers to produce folding letters similar to the single sheet forces air mail letter, instead of envelopes.

No, Sir. Envelopes are required for a number of purposes for which it would not be possible to substitute folding letters. We are, however, anxious to encourage the use, as far as possible, of gummed labels so that envelopes may be re-used.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the proposal contained in this Question actually has the blessing of the Post Office, and if adopted would mean a saving of two or three thousand tons of paper per year? Would it not be a good thing to look at this matter again?

It would be difficult to enforce or to push in all the places where these things are made and used. I am not satisfied that the saving in paper—I accept my hon. Friend's estimate—would justify the use of manpower in pushing this proposal.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has taken any steps directly or indirectly to reduce the allocation of consumer goods to Burma.

No, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that if there is any diminution of the flow it will directly affect the amount of rice coming out of Burma, which is vitally needed in the Far East?

Yes, that is very much borne in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will publish the promised White Paper giving the review of the operation of the Distribution of Industry Act over the last three years.

As I am anxious that this review should be as comprehensive as possible, the preparation of the White Paper is taking rather longer than was expected. I hope that it will be ready for publication by early September.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will state the percentage increase in the cost of coal to industrial users at the present time, as compared with 1937, based upon the British thermal unit content.

I regret the information is not available.

Is it not possible for the Minister to have another look at this Question and issue some sort of statement as to the cost? Surely he has the figures at his disposal?

The difficulty is, of course, that the precise thermal value of pre-war coal is not known.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he has now approved the draft scheme for compensation to colliery employees declared redundant since nationalisation of the coal mines; or when he expects to be able to give such approval.

No, Sir. The National Coal Board are, however, making every effort to expedite the submission of schemes and I expect to receive them shortly.

Is the Minister aware that he gave me practically the answer, a very courteous one, quite a long time ago and gave us to believe that it would be much sooner? Does he really think that within the next two years something will be done?

Yes, it will be done long before that. The difficulty is that there are a number of different classes of employees, and it is not desirable for schemes for a number of different classes to be submitted separately.

Will the scheme include employees of ancillary industries and trades?

I would prefer to see that question on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement on the closing of a number of pits in the Yorkshire Area.

Since the vesting date, four pits have been closed in the Yorkshire coalfield. Provisional plans already announced by the Chairman of the North Eastern Divisional Coal Board indicate that over the next ten years, the winding of coal from about 20 Yorkshire pits may cease, due to re-organisation of underground haulage arrangements, but that only about four pits will close completely. Final plans, however, will have to be settled by the National Coal Board as part of their long-term re-organisation plans for the whole country.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in carrying out his responsibilities under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946, for approving the fines of development planned by the Coal Board, he will give directions that no colliery is to be closed unless all fit men under 55 can readily be found work in the industry, and unless alternative employment and training to undertake it is available for all those whom, owing to sickness or disablement, it may not be practicable to transfer.

No, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that his answer will cause deep apprehension among the miners in regions where coal seams are such that output is low compared with other areas, and will he take steps to review the matter?

I would not agree with the first part of the supplementary question. My answer does not imply that the National Coal Board or the Government are in the least unsympathetic in this matter but merely that that particular proposal for dealing with it is not practical.

Would the Minister consider this point in the light of other matters, and particularly the stay-down strike which took place at Waleswood a few months ago?

I think we can leave these matters to the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers to settle.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the hardship resulting from the decision of the East Midlands Coal Board repudiating responsibility for certain grants which have in the past been made to clergy in the mining areas, he will give directions that such grants be continued.

As my hon. Friend will no doubt be aware, the National Coal Board announced yesterday that they have decided to continue these grants on a diminishing scale until 1951 in cases where the maintenance of the Churches' work would otherwise be seriously prejudiced. Grants which constitute a substantial part of the income of a particular living agent may in cases of hardship be continued in full and for a rather longer period.

Is the Minister aware that this fair-minded decision by the National Coal Board will be very much welcomed by those concerned, as well as by a wider public, and can he tell me how many incumbents are actually affected by the decision? May I have an answer?

I should have to have notice of the latter part of the question. I have no doubt that the National Coal Board will take note of the first part.

Why is the year 1951 given as a sort of terminating date? Surely, the need will persist, even after 1951?

There is no question of any legal covenant upon the Coal Board. This was a question of what one might term moral obligation. I think they have discharged it very fairly, after consultation with the Church Commissioners.

Is the Minister aware that there is no reason why the miners should support the clergy of the Church of England, and will he get the imposition terminated as quickly as possible?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many prosecutions have been instituted by his Department as a result of the purchase by the National Coal Board of firewood logs at prices in excess of the maximum controlled price.

None, Sir.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why, in the financial directives issued to the Coal Board in page 204 of the Annual Report, he has required the industry to bear the full cost of compensation to the former owners; why he has discontinued the subsidy to the industry given in the period 1942–46 through the Coal Charges Account, amounting to 1s. 9d. per ton in 1946; and whether he will now reduce the payments the Board is required to make to the Exchequer so as to avoid any necessity either to restrict necessary improvements and modernisation, or to raise coal prices.

The Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946, placed on the National Coal Board the responsibility for repaying, over a suitable period, the compensation and certain other costs incurred in the nationalisation of the coal industry. The directives merely specify in detail the manner in which the Board is to comply with the Act. Any reduction in the amounts payable would have involved a subsidy by the Government, which is not considered to be either necessary or desirable. With regard to the second part of the Question, if the hon. Member will refer to page 9 of the Coal Mining Industry Annual Statistical Statement for the year 1946, he will see that, far from receiving a subsidy in 1946, the industry, in fact, contributed a net sum of 1s. 9d. per ton to the Coal Charges Account in that year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether having regard to the economic position of the industry and of the country, he will now introduce legislation to reduce the amount of compensation payable to the former owners, and also the interim income payable while the division of total compensation is under discussion.

No, Sir.

I wish to ask the Minister, very seriously, would it not be very much better that the ex-coal owners should go on the National Assistance Board rather than that the industry should be handicapped in its efforts to get fully reconstructed? Why should money be paid out to these people in this manner? Will he not discuss with the Leader of the House legislation to put a stop to it?

Has the right hon. Gentleman reached any decision with regard to extending the payment of the interim income during the unexpectedly long discussions on compensation generally?

In answer to the hon. Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher) I would point out that this matter was settled by Parliament only two years ago. It would be quite undesirable and, indeed, a breach of faith, in my opinion, to reopen it. As regards the question of the junior Burgess for Cambridge University (Mr. Wilson Harris), I have no further statement to make on that matter.

Is the Minister aware that the latest report of the National Coal Board states that for the first quarter of this year it made a profit of £4,551,000, and that of this sum £3,800,000 is going to the coal owners? What steps has he taken to circulate these figures to the Conservative Head Office in order to get the fullest possible publicity?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give more sympathetic consideration in the issue of supplementary petrol to those men who, owing to their employment and lack of housing accommodation in the neighbourhood, are forced to live at great distances from their homes.

The standard ration should normally be used for such journeys but regional petroleum officers will give sympathetic consideration to applications for small supplementary allowances in special cases.

Is the Minister aware that his Department have twice turned down applications for sufficient petrol to allow men to travel from South Wales to Dorset, that it is impossible for them to go by train owing to the short time for which they can be away from their work, and that consequently they only see their families about once in six months?

If the hon. and gallant Member will let me have particulars, I shall always be glad to look into individual cases.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether it is an authorised practice of regional petroleum offices of his Department to inform applicants for supplementary petrol that if they are engaged upon work for the local authority or Government Department further consideration will be given to their case upon receipt of certification.

Where an applicant bases his claim for a supplementary allowance on the fact that he is under contract to a Government Department or local authority it is the general practice to ask for supporting evidence.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that according to a letter which I sent him, the impression has been gained in the North of England that an architect gets priority if he is doing work in a country district for a local authority rather than for a farmer, and will he dispel that false impression?

I will look into that individual case.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has considered the representations made to his Department by the Surrey County Council on the subject of the hardship to individuals and damage to local government resulting from the deduction of the amount of the standard petrol ration from supplementary petrol allowances granted to members and officers of local authorities; and what action he proposes to take to remedy this.

Yes, Sir; my Department is discussing with the County Councils Association the whole question of the issue of allowances to county councillors and county council officials.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give an assurance that there will be no increase in the price of coal, electricity or gas to the consumer as a result of the increased contributions paid by employers to the National Insurance Scheme on behalf of their employees.

No assurance can be given that this increase in cost, though small in proportion to total cost of production, can be met in every case, either in private or socialised industries, without an increase in price.

May I ask the Minister whether his reply means that the Government will permit private firms and farmers, who are not subsidised by the taxpayer, to increase control prices?

I do not think one can possibly give a general answer to that. Each of these cases is considered on its merits in the light of the general Statement on Personal Incomes, Costs and Prices, issued by the Government.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the nuisance caused by boiler-ash blown over adjacent parishes from dumps at Hams Hall Power Station; and if he will direct the British Electricity Authority to abate this nuisance by wetting the dumps or otherwise.

I have not received any representations in this matter, which is one relating to the day to day operation of the British Electricity Authority generating station at Hams Hall. I am, however, informed by the authority that certain representations were made to them by the Meridin Rural District Council and that steps were at once taken to remove the grounds of complaint. The last part of the Question does not therefore arise.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give some indication of when the nuisance is likely to be abated?

I am informed that is has already been stopped completely.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to state what steps he is proposing to take with regard to applications for the extradition of Dr. Wladislaw Dering as an alleged war criminal.

I regret I cannot yet add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 1st July.

Can the Home Secretary say when he expects to be in a position to announce a decision in this case?

No. I should be reluctant at the moment to announce a date, but the matter is now being energetically pursued.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds permission has been refused for Freda Erna Klara Helsenrath and Klara Anna Maria Nuchling the mother and grandmother, respectively, of Mrs. M. E. Cunningham-Craig, to come to this country where a home is ready to receive them and where the necessary financial guarantees are provided by the British husband of Mrs. Cunningham-Craig whose address and position had been furnished to him.

In present circumstances the admission of foreigners to this country for settlement has to be limited to certain categories. The case of these ladies does not, in my view, come within any accepted category, and I am sorry that I can see no sufficient ground for treating it exceptionally.

Has not the Minister himself stated that the mothers and grandmothers of persons resident in this country, who are widowed and in need of filial attention, come into that category? Is he not aware that there is a grave anxiety on the part of relatives of these people, that the old lady is extremely ill and desires filial attention and, as this matter has been in his hands for a couple of years could he not expedite it?

No, Sir. The elder of these two ladies has a son, a daughter and a son-in-law in Germany. It is not her only relative who is in this country, and on the inquiries I have made, there is no evidence that she is in a distressed position in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will credit recruits of the Metropolitan Police Service with their years of war service for the purpose of pensions and seniority.

No, Sir. This point has been fully discussed by the Police Council, but to concede it would have involved discrimination as between the police and other local government services.

Will the Home Secretary bear in mind the deep sense of injustice that is created among members of the Police Force when one set of men have all the advantages of continuous service throughout the war while others who have been risking their lives in the service of the country have not those advantages?

Subject to the general consideration that I mentioned in my original answer, this is a matter that could be represented to the Oaksey Committee who are now dealing with Police pay and conditions generally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now completed his inquiry regarding the removal this year of all but 13 of the 50,000 gulls eggs laid on Rat Island, near Brightlingsea; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir. My information is that on 10th July there were literally thousands of seagulls on the island.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that what has happened here is a case of private enterprise running amok, and making a fool of itself, and will he see that the county council by-law which exists for the protection of the nests of seagulls on Rat Island is properly enforced in the future?

That is a matter for the Essex County Council, and I have no reason to think that they are failing in their duty.

Would the Minister discourage his hon. Friend from this persistent playing to the "gullery"?

Will the Home Secretary consider representing that the Minister of Health should be appointed governor of Rat Island?

Was it not private enterprise which produced the egg?

No, Sir, I understand that, if the eggs are fertile, it is co-operative.

While congratulating the Home Secretary on his elementary biological knowledge, may I ask him how many thousand seagulls were expectant mothers?

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the private enterprise to which reference was made was that of the gulls?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the status of the Ukrainian prisoners of war now in this country is comparable with that of E.V.W.s or with that of German prisoners who have been allowed to stay on here as civilian agricultural workers; and if he will consider initiating, in addition to courses in the English language, a scheme of general education and study of British institutions similar to that which was of benefit to many German prisoners.

These men are still prisoners of war but, as indicated in the answer given to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, West (Mr. Cooper) on 15th July, selected individuals will shortly be assimilated to European Volunteer Worker status. In addition to the knowledge of the British way of life which these workers obtain from the contacts made in the course of their employment, classes are arranged for them by the local education authorities with assistance from voluntary bodies.

May I ask the Home Secretary on what basis these men are being selected for absorption into industry?

My hon. Friend should put that Question down.

Arising out of my right hon. Friend's reply, and in view of his classification of these people as prisoners of war, can he assure the House that they will not be forcibly removed from this country, but that in fact they are being used as European Volunteer Workers?

I have had a number of questions put to me about these people. There is no decision as yet, and, as far as I know, no consideration has been given to removing them from this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he assumed responsibility for the 8,397 Ukrainian prisoners of war now in this country; and what is to be the future disposal of these men.

So long as these men remain prisoners of war, the War Office is responsible for them, but the question whether a number of them should be allowed to settle in this country as civilians is one that concerns the Home Secretary. No final decision has yet been reached regarding those not selected for assimilation to the status of European Volunteer Workers.

Can the Home Secretary say when it is expected that a decision will be made about those men who have not been allowed to take up civilian occupations?

No, not at the moment.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the War Office refuses responsibility for these men and passes Questions about them on to the Ministry of Labour, but that the Minister of Labour then also refuses the responsibility of answering Questions about them?

As far as I am concerned, I have answered a number of Questions with regard to these cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether prisoners serving sentences in H.M. Prisons have the right to communicate with Members of Parliament.

In view of the facilities which are given to prisoners to make representations to the Secretary of State on matters connected with their trial, conviction or prison treatment, it has for many years been a rule that they are not permitted to make such representations to judges, public authorities or Departments, or Members of Parliament, and hitherto a prisoner has only been permitted to write to a Member of Parliament in special circumstances, for example if he is personally acquainted with the Member or if the Member has written to him. After consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, I have decided that there are grounds for making a concession in respect of prisoners writing to Members of Parliament, and I am issuing instructions that prisoners may be permitted to use letters from their ordinary allowance to write to a Member of Parliament of their choice and that special letters may be permitted in certain circumstances.

Does the Home Secretary agree, therefore, that such people should also be in a position to take legal action against Members of Parliament even if they have not known them before?

If a person has sound ground for legal action against a Member of Parliament, I do not think that I should preclude him from taking that action.

Does the Home Secretary's reply mean that a prisoner, when he writes to a Member of Parliament, has that letter counted against his ration?

In certain circumstances, yes; but in other circumstances a special letter may, and will, be given.

Who decides that?

That will be decided under the regulations which I shall make.

Must the letter be sent to the prisoner's own Member of Parliament or can it be sent to any Member?

It may be sent to any Member of Parliament, but I am sure that hon. Members will realise that, in addition to looking after prisoners, I have some duty in this matter in protecting Members from getting a large number of letters when they are not themselves acquainted with the circumstances of the case.

Could the right hon. Gentleman arrange that they are all sent to the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg)?

asked the Prime Minister if he will move for a Select Committee or appoint a Royal Commission or Departmental Committee to investigate and report on the organisation and functioning of all kinds of sport; and how it can be further encouraged, financed and harnessed for the benefit of the nation.

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister does not consider that the setting up of such a body would be appropriate or would find general support. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Education has wide powers to entertain requests by sports and games organisations for financial assistance.

Will the Minister bear in mind that Government interference with sport of any kind on the scale suggested is part of the stock in trade of all totalitarian States?

The hon. Member ought to know.

I do. Could I ask the Lord President to elucidate that last remark?

No, Sir. I do not think so.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that the recommendations of his hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Radcliffe (Mr. Anthony Greenwood) as to organised leisure will no longer be taken into consideration?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint someone of ministerial rank to lead the United Kingdom delegation at the Office of European Economic Co-operation in Paris.

I have been asked to reply. His Majesty's Government attach the greatest importance to the work of the United Kingdom delegation and have appointed at its head a most experienced official, Sir Edmund Hall-Patch, who has Ambassadorial rank. The Council of the organisation meets both at the Ministerial and at the official level. When meetings are held at the Ministerial level, the United Kingdom representative is my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. If Ministerial meetings are held at which he is unable to be present, arrangements are made for other Ministerial representation. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister considers this is the most effective arrangement and it is working well.

Without in any way reflecting upon Sir Edmund Hall-Patch, for whom I have great respect founded on experience, does not the Lord President think that in view of the fact that the American Government have released their Secretary of Commerce to head their delegation, and also in view of the fact that our delegation is to speak for the acceding Colonial territories as well as for the United Kingdom, it would further this work if someone of ministerial position were appointed? Would he consider this seriously?

The point has been considered. It is, of course, not really possible to make an exact comparison between the constitutional position and the responsibilities of Secretaries in the United States and Ministers of the Crown in the United Kingdom. I can assure the hon. Member that policy is determined by Ministers—[ Laughter. ] Well, it is, but there is a great deal of continuous work which must be done on the spot. There is a great deal to be said for it being done by officials but, whenever it is appropriate, a Minister will go over and be in active operation.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman give a little further consideration to this suggestion, in view of the fact that the success of this organisation is due largely to the fact that the Foreign Secretary of this country responded so promptly to the advances of the United States Secretary of State; and would he not consider the importance of showing what weight we in this country attach to the deliberations of this body by sending a Minister rather than an official?

The hon. Gentleman appreciates that this work must continue over substantial periods. If a Minister is to be set aside for that, it should be the appropriate Minister who is normally the Foreign Secretary. It is impossible to set him aside for substantial periods for the work. Therefore, this is the most practical and effective way of doing it.

Without reflecting on the abilities of the diplomatic official appointed to this post, would it not be desirable, for important jobs of this kind, to have someone who believes in economic planning and has had experience and knowledge of the work?

As a matter of fact, Sir Edmund Hall-Patch has had considerable economic experience in connection with his work at the Foreign Office. Of course, if the presence is required of other officers of State who are experienced in the appropriate way, according to the matters under discussion, I can assure my hon. Friend that they are there, or will be there whenever they are required.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will instruct the Government Film Unit to arrange for a full record to be made of the Olympic Games so that an official State record will be available after the Games are over for use in any country in the world.

No, Sir. The Crown Film Unit will not film the Olympic Games. The film rights have been purchased from the Organising Committee by a commercial company, but copies of the film will be available for record and historical purposes.

Is it the intention of whoever is responsible to see that this film is shown throughout the world, and will my right hon. Friend also consider the preparation of a book with photographs so that the Olympic Games, as run in Britain, can be on record throughout the world?

The understanding with the firm concerned is that the film shall be available for world showing, and everything possible will be done to promote its exhibition throughout the world. I think that means that the point raised by my hon. Friend will be safeguarded.

I do not ask this question in any spirit of levity, Mr. Speaker, but may I ask if this film which is to be made by this company will also show the rations received by British competitors so that that also will be known to the world when the film is shown?

asked the Minister of Labour how many European Volunteer Workers were placed in employment in the coalmining, textile, and agricultural industries in the first six months of 1948.

Coalmining 8,885; textiles 4,215; agriculture 10,722.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the allegations that many of the workers placed in agriculture have already left the farms, and will he explain the discrepancy between his figures and those recently given by the Ministry of Agriculture?

This was a bit of journalistic fiction. It did not account for those employed in Scottish agriculture, nor those individually placed in English and Welsh agriculture.

Is the Minister satisfied that all are employed in the industries to which they have been sent?

I have no evidence at all that they are not so employed.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons have been directed to essential employment under Defence Regulation 58A in the first six months of 1948.

Six.

Can the Minister also give the number of those who have been told that a formal direction would be issued if they did not go quietly?

I am afraid that statistics do not cover cases of that kind.

asked the Minister of Labour how many previously non-employed persons have been found employment in the first six months of 1948.

Six thousand one hundred and fourteen unoccupied persons registered under the Registration for Employment Order were placed in employment, but during the period January to May, 1948, 182,721 persons entered insurable employment for the first time.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he proposes to set up courts of inquiry into the wage claims of engineers and shipbuilding workers, respectively.

I have at present nothing to add to the replies given on 20th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke (Mr. Ellis Smith).

asked the Minister of Labour what plans the Government have to facilitate the provision of satisfactory employment for members of His Majesty's Forces on completion of service under Regular engagements.

The Government recognise that those who devote some years of early life to this service thereby miss opportunities of starting a career in industry or in one of the professions at the normal age. Plans are therefore being worked out to provide an entry into civilian careers for ex-Regulars on completion of their engagements. These will include special arrangements for entry at an appropriate level into the public services and into industry and the provision of training courses where needed. I hope shortly to be in a position to announce the details of these arrangements.

asked the Minister of Labour whether boys approaching the age of call-up for National Service, whose parents are emigrating to Australia, may obtain exemption from service and accompany their parents.

There is nothing to prevent a young man who is approaching the age of call-up from leaving this country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings of the National Investment Council have been held this year; and when the next one is due to take place.

Since the institution of the Council, there have been big changes in the machinery for considering the subjects previously appropriate to the Council, notably the creation of the Planning Board and the Central Economic Planning Staff. As a result, there has been no business so far this year which justified the summoning of the Council.