asked the Minister of Labour the trades for which training is taking place in the Government Training Centre, Hull, and the number of trainees in each trade; the number to be trained in the Rehabilitation Unit; when this unit is to start training; and whether any other training is to be carried out at the centre.

The 66 trainees in the Hull Government Training Centre are being trained in the following trades: Engineering Machine Operating, 19; Coach Body-Building, 17: Men's Hairdressing, 11; Painting and Decorating, 10; Motor Repairing, 5; Watch and Clock Repairing, 4. I expect the two last named classes to be increased by 20 in the next few weeks. The Industrial Rehabilitation Unit will open in the first week of November and will provide places for 120. The remaining space has been allocated to the Disabled Persons Employment Corporation for use as a Remploy Factory.

asked the Minister of Labour the date on which training is to commence in the Remploy Factory, Hull; the number and type of trainees to be entered; and what classes of training is to be given.

There are two Remploy Factories in Hull. At the first of these training started on 28th Jul: and work will eventually be provided for 150 severely disabled workers suffering from all types of disability except tuberculosis. The other factory will provide work for 300 tuberculous persons; training in this factory should start in November. These two factories will provide training and employment in general woodwork and furniture making, including machining, assembly and upholstery.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unfilled vacancies registered at employment exchanges at the latest date for which figures are available.

477,893 at 4th August, 1948.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will place in the Library at regular intervals a statistical table showing the numbers of unfilled vacancies in essential industries registered at the employment exchanges in each region of the country.

I will arrange for particulars of unfilled vacancies in the main industries of the country to be included in the report on the operation of the Control of Engagement Order which is placed in the Library each month

asked the Minister of Labour who decides what are the more urgent requirements or priorities for labour in any given area.

The Ministry of Labour general principles are laid down after consultation with other interested Government Departments and are applied locally.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will extend to ex-Regular members of the Armed Forces the same grants for education and technical training as those which are available to temporary ex-Service men and women.

The Further Education and Training Scheme was designed to assist those whose careers or training had been interrupted, or prevented from starting, by war service. It is therefore not generally applicable to men who chose the Armed Forces as their career. Other schemes to assist ex-Regulars on completion of their service are under consideration, and it is hoped to make an announcement very soon.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men will be called up for military service during the period October, 1948 to March, 1949.

About 75,000.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish a revised table of the periods of service for men called up during 1947 and 1948.

I cannot at present add anything further to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council last week.

asked the Minister of Labour whether students who were due to enter Universities at the beginning of the coming academic year can be allowed to do so even if they are due now to be held in His Majesty's Forces for another three months.

My right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council stated on the 14th September that the slowing down of the release programme would not affect releases in Class B. The existing arrangements for the early release of certain students will accordingly continue to operate and University students who have already been accepted for release in Class B will be released in time to begin their studies in October. The Universities have been informed that they may also apply for the early release of other intending students who were expecting to be released in Class A under the age and service scheme before the beginning of the academic year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of families rehoused in the following divisions in Glasgow: Tradeston, Bridgeton. Springburn, Gorbals and Shettleston.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Government propose to make any contribution to the Appeal Fund being raised by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh in connection with the recent floods in South-East Scotland.

The Government have decided to ask Parliament to vote £20,000 for the purposes covered by the Lord Provost's appeal.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many 100 per cent. disability pensioners are only receiving the basic rate of pension of 45s. from his Department.

Approximately 15,300.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will restore the grant of £50 a year to battery and company quartermasters, granted in paragraph 643 of the pre-war Territorial Army Regulations, in view of the difficulty in recruiting quartermaster sergeants who have sufficient time to keep ledgers.

No payment to battery and company quartermaster sergeants was generally authorised before the war in units which had a quartermaster on their establishment. As full-time quartermasters are now provided for major units of the Territorial Army, it was not considered necessary to re-introduce the special payments to quartermaster sergeants, but I am arranging for the matter to be further examined.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the concern among the agricultural community at the proposed extension of the shooting range at Holcombe Brook near Bury; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

An area at Holcombe Moor, adjoining the present rifle range, is needed for use mainly at week-ends by units of the Territorial Army. There will be no firing apart from that on the rifle range itself, no use of tracked vehicles, and no restrictions of public access, except within the danger area of the range when firing is in progress. Consultations have been held between representatives of the War Department and the local authorities in an effort to meet objections to the proposal; as a result certain adjustments have been made to the boundary of the area. The proposal will shortly come before the Inter-Departmental Committee on Services Land Requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of hon. Members who have responded favourably to his invitation to participate in the Territorial Army Recruiting Campaign.

So far 143 hon. Members of this House have responded favourably to my invitation to participate in the Territorial Army recruiting campaign.

asked the Secretary of State for War what accommodation is available for soldiers at Churchill Barracks, Ayr; and how many soldiers were there in the month of August.

These barracks have a capacity of 10 officers, 20 warrant officers and sergeants, and 250 other ranks. The average daily strength of soldiers occupying the barracks during August was approximately 50 soldiers of the Regular Army; Territorial Army units totalling approximately 1,330 all ranks are also using the barracks. There are also 17 married quarters occupied by Regular soldiers and Territorial Army staff. The barracks are occupied by a depot and spare accommodation must be kept for detachments in transit.

asked the Secretary of State for War what inquiry he has made into the deaths of two Army cadets due to heat stroke while on route march; whether he has examined the evidence given at the inquest at Aldershot on 4th August and the jury's verdict; and what steps he is taking to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

Full inquiries have been made and I have seen a report of the inquest and the jury's verdict. I will circulate a full statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT regarding these deaths and the somewhat similar case which occurred at Ripon about the same time.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many persons are employed in the War Crimes Branch of his Department now and how many were employed at its inception; how many of these are commissioned officers; what is the total cost in salaries and expenses; and what has been the total cost to the Exchequer of war trials to the nearest convenient date.

Records are not maintained in a form from which all the information asked for can readily be extracted. I am, however, obtaining and will send the hon. and gallant Member such information as can be produced without a disproportionate amount of work.

asked the Secretary of State for War the county education authorities in West Wales who have refused to grant facilities for recruitment to the Army Cadet Forces.

According to Press reports some county or municipal authorities in the following counties have refused co-operation; and some have forbidden cadet contingents in the schools they control or assist: Caernarvonshire, Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, Anglesey, Merionethshire and Glamorgan.Good ex-cadets as they join the Army under the National Service Act, are today earning rapid promotion to commissioned and non-commissioned rank, and are taking up the great majority of vacancies for promotion. I hope, therefore that, on further consideration, the authorities in the areas which I have mentioned, if their attitude is correctly reported, will see that this attitude is not only prejudicing the best interests of the country, but is likely to handicap their own boys in securing promotion to commissioned and non-commissioned rank, so that an unnecessarily large proportion of their boys will, through no fault of their own, have to serve as subordinates to officers and non-commissioned officers from elsewhere instead of taking their place as junior leaders.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the estimated monthly rate of demobilisation from the Army during the last three months of 1948; how this compares with the August rate; and what action is being taken to transfer to useful work those who cannot now be fully employed in the administration of the demobilisation procedure.

It is estimated that approximately 23,000 officers and men will be released from the Army during the last three months of 1948. This figure includes men who had left units in distant stations before release was suspended and will not arrive home till October, men who have deferred their release for fixed periods, and men deferred.as operationally vital. It also includes an allowance for the re-opening of release in December. Approximately 28,000 were released in August. Staff of the Demobilisation Centres, who will not be fully employed while release is suspended, have been placed at the disposal of the Commands in which the Centres are situated for use on other work.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present strength of the Polish Resettlement Corps; how many are on the administrative staff of the corps; and when its work is likely to he completed.

The strength of the Polish Resettlement Corps administered by my Department was approximately 22,000 at the beginning of this month. Of this total approximately 8,000 were employed on administrative duties. It is not yet possible to say when the work of the corps will be completed, as this will largely depend on how quickly the remaining members of it can be placed in civilian employment in this country, or repatriated or settled in other countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total net income after payment of Income Tax and Surtax of all persons with gross incomes of £1,000 per annum and over for the financial year 1946–47; and how many taxpayers are included in this group.

The hon. Member will find such information as is available in Table 6 of the White Paper on National Income and Expenditure (Cmd. 7371).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether His Majesty's Government have considered the possibility of negotiating a Treaty with the Benelux countries on the lines of the Anglo-U.S. Treaty for the avoidance of double Income Tax; and if he is aware that such action would be warmly welcomed by the nationals of all the countries concerned.

Yes, negotiations for a double taxation Convention with the Netherlands have already been completed and it is expected that the Convention will be signed very shortly. Negotiations for a similar Convention with Belgium are under way.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the recent decision to reduce the allocation of tobacco, he will now lower the tobacco duty which is causing serious financial hardship to the average working man and woman.

I cannot anticipate the Chancellor's next Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to state when he proposes to pay post-war credits to lower age groups than those to whom at present the payments are being made.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total sum of money staked on race course totalisators during 1947; what revenue would have been gained if the same tax in operation at dog track totalisators were operating on race course totalisators; and what was the actual amount transferred to the fund for improving breeds of horses.

The total sum in 1947, was £21,133,774. The answer to the second part of the Question would depend largely on the extent to which, as a result of the tax, money was directed to other forms of betting. As to his third Question, I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the latest report and accounts issued by the Racecourse Betting Control Board.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the present U.S. dollar holdings of the banks of Malaya; what fraction of these holdings is required by current transactions; and whether he will propose to the Malayan Governments that the balance be released to the United Kingdom against sterling.

Apart from reasonable working balances, all dollar receipts surplus to current approved requirements in Malaya are sold in London against sterling. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will move to set up a Select Committee to inquire into and report upon the advisability of establishing a National Lottery so as to attract funds which will enable Britain to be released from the burden of foreign debts.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the countries to which, and the amounts, respectively, of sterling balances which this country is making available to other European countries as a result of the recent Paris Agreement; and in respect of each country concerned the total sterling balance held at the latest convenient date.

It has been estimated that the countries participating in the Intra European Payments Scheme will need to use, in addition to the proposed sterling grants, approximately the following amounts of their sterling holdings:

£million
Sweden	…	…	…	17
Netherlands	…	…	…	14
Italy	…	…	…	11
Turkey	…	…	…	5
Greece	…	…	…	5

I cannot give our total sterling liabilities to individual countries, since this would involve disclosing confidential information about the balances of those who deposit their money here.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether sterling made available to any Western European country under the recent Paris Agreement will be transferable to sterling accounts of other nations.

The details of the scheme have not yet been settled, hut, as my right hon. and learned Friend explained in his statement on 16th September, we cannot accept any arrangement for the transferability of our sterling contribution which might involve us in gold or dollar loss.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of unrequited exports which will be incurred by this country in the present financial year as a result of the Paris Agreement on European Recovery; and how much of this figure will represent exports that otherwise would have been available for sale in hard currency countries.

For the year ending 30th June next, which is the period covered by the Paris Agreement, we have agreed to make available to other participating countries about £120 million in sterling. Of this we expect that about £30 million will represent the United Kingdom trading surplus with these countries. The rest will represent the surplus of other sterling area countries with the participating countries but I cannot estimate how much of this sum the sterling area countries will in turn spend in the United Kingdom. The hon. and gallant Member will recall that Australia has made a generous contribution. As to the latter part of the Question, we do not intend that our capacity to export to hard currency countries should be diminished by reason of the obligations which we have undertaken to Europe.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the long delays caused by the customs authorities at Heathrow Airport in discharging freight which has been brought to this country by air; and if he will take immediate steps to reduce the time involved.

I am not aware of any such delays, but if the hon. and gallant Member would let me have particulars of cases in which delay appears to be attributable to the Customs authorities rather than other causes, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many dollars were lost through empty berths in British ships sailing eastward from Canada and the U.S.A. during the last six months calculated to the latest convenient date.

This information is not available to His Majesty's Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the customs and excise regulations on packing for shipment to the U.S.A. of horticultural products from the United Kingdom in view of the loss of dollars due to inability to export because of impracticable requirements for packing.

No such regulations are imposed by the Customs and Excise in this country. If the hon. Member will let me have fuller particulars, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Treasury has collected in profits tax in the last monthly, quarterly or annual period for which he has figures.

Twenty-two million pounds in the June quarter of this year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what directions he has issued to the War Damage Commission further than those enumerated in his announcement of 1st March, 1948; and what regulations under Section 31 of the War Damage Act have been issued since that date.

None.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been the cost to the latest convenient date of the Royal Commission on the Press.

The cost up to 31st August, 1948, is about £10,900. I would prefer not to attempt at this stage a forecast of the eventual total cost.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that at the "Raising the Standard Exhibition" at Charing Cross Underground Station by the Central Office of Information, most of the exhibits of flour, cigarettes, pipe tobacco and rum, bear the label of the Co-operative Wholesale Society; and what is the justification for using public money to advertise the wares of any particular trader, co-operative or otherwise.

Yes. I am aware that this exhibition contained a photograph of foodstuffs which bore Cooperative Wholesale Society labels, as well as exhibits bearing the names of other manufacturers. There was no intention of advertising any firm, and, as soon as attention was called to the matter, the markings were, so far as possible, erased.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why a copy of S.R. & O., 1936, No. 1310, which is referred to in S.I., 1948, No. 1841, was not obtainable from H.M. Stationery Office on 17th September; and when the order will be reprinted.

A reprint is not contemplated as the only demand hitherto has been from the hon. Member for one copy and I understand this has now been met.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury which Statutes and Statutory Rules and Orders, now in force, are out of print; and when each will be reprinted.

As far as is known no Statute or Statutory Rule and Order, now in force and for which there is any demand, is out of print in the separate form. All are, of course, available in

	Number.			Annual Cost.
	Office Staff.	Mobile Cinema Operators and Service Engineers.	Total.	Salaries and wages.	Travel and Subsistence.	Total.
HEADQUARTERS	—	—	1,179	£594,108	£52,032	£646,140
REGIONAL OFFICES:				£ p. a.	£ p. a.	£ p. a.
1. Northern	17	12	29	12,158	2,325	14,483
2. East & West Ridings	18	14	32	13,148	2,500	15,648
3. North Midland	17	11	28	11,781	2,250	14,031
4. Eastern	16	11	27	10,895	2,075	12,970
5. London & South-Eastern	23	19	42	16,881	3,225	20,106
6. Southern	16	11	27	11,545	2,200	13,745
7. South-Western	19	15	34	13,979	2,675	16,654
8. Wales	22	15	37	14,644	2,800	17,444
9. Midland	16	18	34	14,184	2,715	16,899
10. North-Western	20	20	40	16,941	3,235	20,176
Total Regional Offices	184	146	330	£136,156	£26,000	£162,156

The numbers employed on comparable work by the Ministry of Information in 1945 were 1,696 at Headquarters and 498 in the Regional Offices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that Purchase Tax makes it impossible for utility garments to be made from any but inferior rabbit pelts; and if, before his next Budget, he will consider removing the Purchase Tax from home-produced pelts.

No. To discriminate against imported skins in this way would be contrary to several trade agreements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Regional offices there are of the Central Office of Information; how many persons are employed at headquarters and in each region, respectively; what is the cost of each and will he make a statement.

The number and cost of staff employed in the Regional Offices and at Headquarters of the Central Office of Information on 1st September. 1948, were as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will have an investigation into the existing methods of the Customs examination of passengers arriving from the Channel Islands; whether steps are taken to acquaint passengers before leaving the Channel Islands what articles are dutiable; and whether, as there are no Customs examination of passengers arriving in Guernsey and Jersey from the United Kingdom, it is possible to grant some concessions on the normal scales charged on articles brought in from foreign countries.

Customs examination of the baggage of passengers arriving from the Channel Islands is no different from Customs baggage examination generally, and there is no occasion for any investigation. British Customs duties are not officially advertised in the Channel Islands or in any other place outside the United Kingdom, but notices posted in ships and in Customs Baggage Halls are available for inspection by visitors to the Channel Islands on the outward as well as on the return journey. Customs examination of passengers in the Channel Islands is a matter for the Insular Authorities and affords no reason for special treatment of passengers arriving in this country.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how far goods brought into the United Kingdom from British Territories, where there are similar Customs duties on articles brought into such territories from foreign countries, must also be subject to duty when entering the United Kingdom; and how far only subject to Purchase Tax.

Imported goods liable under United Kingdom law to duty and Purchase Tax must be so charged. irrespective of any duties or taxes which may have been charged in any overseas country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, in cases in which the drains of a dwelling-house injured by enemy action have been relaid in accordance with existing local by-laws, the War Damage Commission will only sanction payment for relaying according to obsolete standards; and what action he proposes to take.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to my hon. Friend the Member for East Harrow (Mr. Skinnard), on Tuesday, 15th June, 1948.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give an assurance that his regulations will permit Malayan Government pensioners and others at present domiciled in this country, who are now subject to Malayan Income Tax, to take this fact into account in their payment of British Income Tax.

Persons who are liable to pay both Malayan Income Tax and United Kingdom Income Tax in respect of the same income are entitled to a measure of relief from United Kingdom Income Tax in accordance with Section 27. Finance Act, 1920. As regards Malayan Government pensioners it is hoped that it will be possible to arrange for this relief to be taken into account in arriving at the amount of United Kingdom tax to be deducted from the pensions. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as my inquiries are completed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it was by his authority that H.M. Inspector of Taxes at Bath wrote in his own handwriting on the Income Tax Claim for Allowances (51/2545/749) addressed to Mr. G. Beswick, of Willoughbys, Easterton Road, Devizes, that if this form was not returned to his office within seven days, he would be reduced to Code 1; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent such actions.

I have written to the hon. Member about this case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conditions have been imposed by the Government of the U.S.A. as to the expenditure of Marshall Aid; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Economic Co-operation Agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States of America, published as Command Paper 7446.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Marshall Aid has been received at the latest available date; and if he will give details of how it has been spent; what is the balance in hand; and how much more is due and up to what date.

Up to 15th September we received under the European Recovery Programme 219 million dollars in reimbursement of expenditure already incurred by us. The principal items on which this money has been spent are: Wheat and flour 95 million dollars; bacon 28 million dollars; Non-ferrous metals 21 million dollars, all from Canada. Tobacco 16 million dollars, non-ferrous metals 6 million dollars, from the United States. Oil from various sources 39 million dollars and molasses from Cuba 6 million dollars. For the second quarter of this year we have been allocated by the Economic Co-operation Administration 400 million dollars in grants and loans of which 207 million dollars has still to come to us. In the provisional division of aid made by the Organisation of the European Economic Co-operation for the year July, 1948, to June, 1949, and which is subject to confirmation by the Economic Cooperation Administration, our share has been put at 1,263 million dollars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many copies of "Matters of Fact No. 6" were issued by the Central Office of Information; what was the cost; and whether this issue received Treasury sanction.

2,895 copies. The cost was £114. The expenditure on this production is within the delegated powers of the Central Office of Information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in order to reduce expenditure, he will in future refuse Treasury authority for Government posters.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet appointed a Departmental Committee to investigate the question of a depletion allowance in the taxation of British mining concerns.

Yes. I have appointed a Committee under the chairmanship of Sir Eric Bamford, Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue, and including representatives from the Ministry of Supply, the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Fuel and Power, with the following terms of reference:

"To consider whether any handicap is placed upon United Kingdom mining concerns by the absence from the United Kingdom taxation system of allowances for capital expenditure on the acquisition of overseas mineral sources or of rights to work overseas mineral deposits, whether such allowances should be introduced, and if so, what form a scheme of allowances should take."

Any persons wishing to make representations to the Committee should communicate with its Secretary, Mr. G. Smith, Secretaries' Office, Inland Revenue, Somerset House, W.C.2.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the shortage of cigarettes and tobacco, he will take steps to discontinue the present indiscriminate granting of tobacco licences.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to increase production at world competitive prices, he will make an immediate and drastic reduction in the number of civil servants.

:No.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the Civil Service Selection Board at Stoke D'Abernon contains a total staff of 49 people to deal with candidates who arrive in intakes of not more than than 24, he will consider the reorganisation of the Board with a view to more economic administration.

As the hon. Member is doubtless aware, the Select Committee on Estimates, in their recent Report on the Civil Service Commission, made certain recommendations with a view to reducing the cost of the Civil Service Selection Board as soon as conditions permit. The Commissioners are now considering what steps can be taken to give effect to the Select Committee's recommendations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many licences covering the felling of what quantity of timber were issued during the last convenient period for Bedfordshire; and how these figures compare with earlier statistics.

In the eight months ended 31st August, 1948, 87 felling licences were issued for trees in Bedfordshire covering a total volume of 228,000 cubic feet; the figures for the corresponding period in 1947 were 77 licences for 229,000 cubic feet.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what quantity of home-grown timber were felling licences issued during 1947; and how the figure compares with previous years.

In 1947, felling licences were issued for 62.4 million cubic feet of standing timber, compared with 53.7 million in 1946, and 54.4 million in 1945.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in connection with the clothes rationing system, he will consider taking handkerchiefs, collars, towels and sheets off the ration, since the continued austerity tends to lower public morale and appearances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further change in clothing coupon values he proposes to make in the near future.

Handkerchiefs, collars and towels are at a very low coupon rate and the number of- coupons required for sheets was reduced recently. This, with the other recent rationing concessions, has considerably increased coupon spending power and in view of the importance of exports is as far as we can go at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that the supply of footwear has been adequate to meet the demand since all coupons were taken off; and if he will now take off all clothing coupons.

The reply to the first part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir." In reply to the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have just given to similar Questions on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that owing to high, and in some cases, still rising prices, many people especially those in the lower income groups are unable to take advantage of coupon down-pointing of clothing and household linen; and what action he proposes to take to reduce prices.

Our inquiries suggest that while prices have recently had some effect on the demand for clothing, the large volume of half-coupon/half-price sales has done much to reduce the effect of this and that the volume of clothing bought by the public this summer has almost certainly been no less than it was last summer. As regards the last part of the Question, I fear that some further increases in prices must be looked for since the full effects of the increases in the prices of imported raw materials which have occurred this year have not yet been reflected in clothing prices; the further increases in ceiling prices will, however, be kept to a minimum, even at the risk of some depreciation in quality.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what factories in Newport have been allocated to different employers from those arranged at the time of erection; and the numbers now being employed compared with those originally proposed, stating men and women, boys and girls. and disabled, separately.

Two factories in Newport will be occupied by tenants other than those to whom the premises were originally allocated. One of the factories, originally intended for a clothing firm, is complete and is engaged upon the plating and polishing of metal goods. The second factory is still in course of construction. The original tenants were manufacturers of metal nursery furniture; the new tenants are manufacturers of commercial motor vehicle bodies. As I informed my hon. Friend yesterday, I cannot disclose information obtained in confidence about the numbers employed or to be employed in individual factories.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what firms from the Midlands are coming to start production in Monmouthshire; the

Location.		Name of firm.	Remarks.
1. Newport	…	W. Mole & Son, Ltd.	New factory occupied August, 1948.
2. Brynmawr	…	J. H. Stephens (Leathercraft) Ltd.	Occupying temporary premises while waiting for completion of new factory.
3. Cwmbran	…	Sanbra, Ltd.	Factory completed July, 1948.
4. Caerleon	…	Wm. Hunt (The Brades) Ltd.	Occupying existing factory premises.
The best estimate of maximum future employment in these premises is 350 men and boys and 400 women and girls.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why an export licensee was refused a permit to export plums to Eire, thus carrying out a line of policy advocated by the Ministry of Food.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Food is prepared to recommend the export of plums provided that certain conditions are fulfilled, and I regret that this application was refused before verifying whether these conditions could be satisfied.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Sterling Area Trade Agreement with Japan will be announced.

I hope that it will be possible to announce these arrangements in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to develop our trade with the Philippines; and what are we exporting to these islands at present.

The Philippine Republic is regarded as the equivalent of a dollar market, and all possible encouragement location of each factory and the number of people to be employed, stating men, women, boys, girls and disabled ex-Service men separately; and when it is anticipated the new development will commence operations.

Four Midland firms have taken possession of new or existing premises in Monmouthshire since the end of the war, and I am circulating details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken since the 1st of July to improve accommodation for tourists in the country inns of Great Britain.

I have no doubt that the managements of the country inns are always seeking to improve the accommodation they can offer. In so far as they need Government permission or support, their requirements receive sympathetic consideration within the limits of the resources available, and special attention is paid to the claims of hotels and inns which are of importance to overseas visitors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of foreign currency earned this year to the latest convenient date by the tourist industry.

The total expenditure of overseas currency by tourists in the United Kingdom during January to June, 1948, is estimated at £14 million. Though precise estimates cannot yet be made for subsequent months, the holiday season and the Olympic Games have brought large numbers of tourists. I expect, therefore, the rate of receipts in the second half year to exceed that of the first half.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make any statement about the prospects of employment in the Nantlle Valley, Caernarvonshire.

I regret that the position is still as explained in the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on the 11th December last. All Government Departments have been asked to give special consideration to the claims of the Nantlle Valley when projects for the establishment of new factories are under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the recent decision of the Performing Rights Society Limited to increase their charges for royalty in some cases to 15 times their pre-war rate in all places of entertainment; and in view of the fact that the Government is represented at the International Music Convention in Brussels, if he will state the Government's attitude on this matter and whether it is his intention to press for effective control to be placed on the activities of the Performing Rights Society and for a definite scale of charges to be fixed, equitable to all parties.

I am aware that the Performing Rights Society Limited, has recently revised its pre-war scales of licence fees for the public performance of the musical works of which it owns or controls the performing rights. I have no evidence at present that the licence fees payable under those scales will, generally, be substantially greater than those hitherto charged, but if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, and will furnish me with full details, I will look into it.Licences for the public performance of copyright musical works are matters to be settled by agreement between the copyright owners and the prospective users. The Board of Trade has no statutory right to intervene in such matters, but they are fully alive to the importance of public performing rights from the point of view of the public interest.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Phonographic Performances Limited are proposing to reissue their licences with a new condition that records may not be used when there are more than two people present on any occasion; and in view of the fact that this will mean the closing down of dance schools which are not in a position to employ musicians, and the curtailment of the use of records in canteens, clubs, institutions, cinemas, etc., if he will state the attitude of the Government on this matter and whether representations are to be made at the International Music Convention taking place in Brussels, with a view to safeguarding the interests of the licensees.

I am aware that Phonographic Performances Limited have proposed revised licence conditions for the performance of music in certain establishments by means of gramophone records of which the company owns or controls the public performing rights. I understand that one of the effects of these revised conditions may be to restrict the use of records in such places, the object in view being to avoid prejudice to the employment prospects of professional musicians. In reply to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have just given him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that recruitment for the Women's Junior Air Corps is being adversely affected by the absence of an allocation of clothing coupons for uniforms; and if he is in a position to make some grant of coupons to this and other auxiliary bodies.

No, but my right hon. Friend recently set on foot inquiries to see what coupon assistance can possibly be given to National voluntary youth organisations. If any such assistance is possible, the Women's Junior Air Corps would benefit.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of ex-Service men and women have applied for the 26 extra clothing coupons for which they are eligible.

In the case of the first two distributions of extra coupons for the demobilised, 87 per cent. of those eligible applied for the coupons. The present distribution which began only on the 4th August last has another six months to run and no figures are yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied with the response by the cotton spinners concerned to the provisions of the Cotton Spinning (Re-equipment Subsidy) Act; and if he will make a statement.

Up to the present 16 groups, comprising nearly 50 per cent. of the capacity of the cotton spinning industry, have been approved for the purposes of the Cotton Spinning (Re-equipment Subsidy) Act. We do not regard the response to date as unsatisfactory but we should like more groups to be formed and are hopeful that this will occur.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the acute shortage of camera films in certain areas, particularly East Anglia; what proportion of home production goes for export; and if he is satisfied that the quota for the home market is fairly distributed throughout the country.

Yes. I am aware that there is a general scarcity of film for amateur photographers. This is because we are no longer able to import as much as we did before the war and because the demand for essential medical, scientific and industrial purposes has very much increased. These uses together with export (which accounts for half the film made) must have first claim on supplies. I am satisfied that the limited amount available for the home market is fairly distributed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reason for the recent dismissal of men working in the Cornish china clay industry, and indicate the prospects for their re-employment in that industry.

I understand that the reason for the dismissal of about 150 men in the china clay industry is some falling off in the demand for the industry's products, and the prospects for their re-employment in that industry depends on the future level of demand.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the Burgh of Airdrie were asked to reject an offer of £1,500 for the removal of derelict bings by mechanical plant; and whether the approval by his Department of the offer of £7,000 was accompanied by an assurance that this great disparity in price will be distributed in wages.

It is part of the Government policy that site clearance schemes designed to make Development Areas more attractive should not be proceeded with unless the work can be done by manual means without making demands on scarce mechanical equipment. The tender of £7,000 approved by my Department for the work referred to by my hon. Friend was the lowest received for carrying out the work by manual labour. The grant is subject to the terms of the Department of Health for Scotland's Memorandum D.A.C.S. of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that present arrangements for the distribution of available supplies of cigarettes ensure a fair division for all parts of the country.

The distribution of cigarettes is not controlled by His Majesty's Government. But the principal manufacturers inform me that in distributing their products, they try to treat all areas fairly, and from my own enquiries I am satisfied that they achieve a good measure of success.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what he attributes the fact that, in the industries for which reports on production have already been published in the "Board of Trade Journal," the administrative and clerical staffs increased in 1946 by 1,500, although the operatives fell by 5,000; and whether the position regarding this non-productive labour is better or worse now.

The reports so far published on the 1946 Partial Census of Production indicate a relative increase in the number of administrative, technical and clerical workers as compared with operatives in the industries covered, but precise comparisons with the pre-war position may be misleading owing to some changes in definition. Detailed figures are not available for this same group of trades since 1946, but Ministry of Labour returns show that for manufacturing industries as a whole, the percentage of administrative, technical and clerical staff to total employees was 16.0 per cent. at mid-1946 and 16.3 per cent. at mid-1948.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the tonnage and value of the cereals delivered by the Soviet Union from 1st February to the latest available date, arising from the Trade Agreement; and what is the value of the contracts placed by the Soviet Union with manufacturers arising from the same agreement.

Imports of coarse grain under the Anglo-Russian Trade Agreement of December last between the 1st February and 31st August were 525,627 tons with a c.i.f. value of £16,735,207. Tenders for over 95 per cent. of the capital goods covered by the Trade Agreement have been submitted by manufacturers to the Soviet Trade Delegation; orders have been placed for just over £2 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, while the price of men's clothing made to measure has been controlled at 110 per cent. above 1938 prices, the price of utility clothes has been allowed to increase by 200 or 300 per cent. over 1938 prices.

I cannot accept the figures given in the hon. Member's Question, particularly since utility clothes were only introduced during the war. No direct comparison with 1938 is, therefore, possible but the figures in the last White Paper on National Income (Cmd. 7371) showed that the increase in clothing prices generally, including, of course, non-utility clothing subject to Purchase Tax, was less than 100 per cent. between 1938 and 1947. There have been small increases since.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the proportion of utility wool, cotton and rayon cloth in relation to non-utility, produced during the latest month for which statistics are available, showing the comparative figures for 1947 and 1946.

The proportion of utility cloth in deliveries of apparel cloths to the home civilian market were: wool, June, 1948, 72 per cent., 1947 average 78 per cent., 1946 average 84 per cent.; cotton, May, 1948, 66 per cent., January-April, 1948, 75 per cent., 1947 average 80 per cent., 1946 average 83 per cent.; rayon, May, 1948, 71 per cent., 1947 average 72 per cent., 1946 average 77 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that in all cases where the cost of clothing has increased as a result of the withdrawal of subsidy, no extra profits have been obtained by the manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers because of the higher price of the material; and will he publish the relative percentage of profits of the three categories in relation to the cost of material before and after the subsidies were withdrawn.

Increases in manufacturers' prices have been limited so far as possible to the amount of the subsidies that have been withdrawn and, in some cases, have been less than that amount, while distributors' percentage margins have been reduced so as to leave them with about the same cash margins as before. The information asked for in the last part of the Question is not available since the amount of profit earned varies from firm to firm with such factors as relative efficiency and the extent to which sales are made at the full permitted price.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in how many cases he has requisitioned offices or business premises in accordance with the Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Act, 1945, and the Supplies and Services (Extended Purposes) Act, 1947.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what instructions have been given to our representative on the Organisation of European Economic Co-operation regarding the export of goods from this country to Eastern Europe, both in regard to goods, and to value.

None. This organisation is primarily concerned with the trade of the countries participating in the European Recovery Programme with the Western Hemisphere and among themselves.

asked the President of the Board of Trade who will be the directors of the interim Film Finance Company, for providing additional finance to distributors for the production of cinematograph films.

The Board of the Interim Finance Company will be as follow:

• Mr. J. H. Lawrie (Chairman and Managing Director).
• Mr. Nicholas Davenport.
• Mr. S. J. Pears, F.C.A.
• Mr. C. H. Scott.
• Mr. R. J. Stopford, C.M.G.

Until the Company is formed, which will probably be within the next fortnight, these gentlemen will be the members of the Organising Committee.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning under what authority a person wishing to move a field gate to a position 20 yards farther along the main road is required to fill in the application in quadruplicate and to supply four copies of the site plan.

Applications for planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, have to be made to local planning authorities in accordance with regulations made by my right hon. Friend. Under the present Making of Applications Regulations they may require up to four copies of applications and plans. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the regulations and of the explanatory circular which accompanied them.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will make a statement as to the progress made in rebuilding bomb-damaged cities.

This varies widely. Progress up to date has been restricted by the need announced in the White Paper on Capital Investment in 1948, to concentrate available resources on investment which would make an early contribution to our economic recovery. Now, however, as my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade informed the House last Thursday, it has been decided that a small start can be made on the rebuilding of the centres of blitzed cities, in accordance with their plan for reconstruction, even where this condition is not fulfilled. It has further been decided that as I am responsible for approving plans it will be convenient for my Department to deal in the first place with proposals for the rebuilding of the blitzed cities, consulting with other Departments as may be necessary and in particular with the Ministry of Works about the labour and materials involved. My officers are accordingly asking the local authorities concerned for estimates of what can be done within the very limited amount of steel and other materials that is likely to be available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that a number of cases of delay in obtaining sickness benefit have been caused by the failure on the part of certain approved societies, prior to 5th July, to inform their members that, from that date, medical certificates should be sent to the local offices of the Ministry; and whether he will take further steps to ensure that individual members of those societies are instructed how and where to apply for benefit.

Arrangements were made for all members of the smaller approved societies taken over before 5th July and all members of the large societies with claims current on that date to be told individually of the address to which future medical certificates should be sent. I have no reason to think that there was any failure by societies to carry out these arrangements. It was not practicable to send individual notices to the 12 million members of the large societies who were not claiming benefit at the Appointed Day. But wide publicity was given to the new arrangements through the Press, the wireless, the Family Guide and other leaflets and the new medical certificates include clear instructions on the matter. General publicity to spread this information is being continued. Officers of former approved societies who receive certificates mistakenly sent to them will help the smooth working of the scheme by redirecting them promptly but the number of such certificates is now quite small.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why foreigners temporarily working in this country are liable for contributions to National Insurance for benefits such as old age pension, which there is no possibility of their receiving.

The National Insurance scheme is based on the principle of universality. Provision is made for limited exemption from contributions in certain cases of temporary residence in this country but in any such scheme the possibility that particular categories of persons may not qualify for some of the benefits is not in itself a sufficient reason for exempting them generally. The extension of reciprocal agreements is likely to enable a number of these people to benefit from contributions paid in this country.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will give at the latest available date the amount due in National Insurance contributions and the amount actually received.

I regret that precise figures are not yet available. It would be premature at this stage of the new scheme to attempt to make any estimates.

asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) if he will give the number of claims his Department has received under the Industrial Injuries Act from 5th July to 31st August, 1948;(2) if he will give the number of claims his Department has received under the Industrial Injuries Act for industrial diseases from 5th July to 31st August. 1948.

The number of claims received under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act during the period 5th July to 3rd September, 1948, the nearest date for which figures are available, was 97,710, which includes 95,089 claims to injury benefit, 2,433 to disablement benefit, and 188 to death benefit. Cases of industrial diseases are included, but it has not as yet been possible to make arrangements for their number to be separately recorded.

asked the Minister of National Insurance under what authority and what regulation the Area Assistance Board Office at Rhyl, N. Wales, have sent an inquiry to the Secretary of the British Legion branch at Colwyn Bay to find out whether an ex-Service man applying for assistance to the Area Board had received groceries from the British Legion branch; and whether in future the Assistance Board will refrain from making inquiries in cases of this nature.

The applicant himself informed the Board that he was receiving some help from the British Legion. Assistance grants must, by law, be related to need and the inquiry was properly made to find out for what period help from the Legion was continuing in order to determine precisely what assistance was needed. I should add that it is the Board's practice to disregard grants of a voluntary or charitable nature to the extent of the first 10s. 6d. a week; in this case the entire value of the help given by the Legion was disregarded.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what steps he is taking, through employment exchanges or other Government agencies, to make known to those employed in industry and elsewhere their full legal rights under Common Law for damages for negligence in lieu of those to which they may be entitled, in cases of injury under State insurance.

I cannot undertake to advise people as to their Common Law rights, but I may point out that as the result of recent legislation a claim to damages is no longer an alternative remedy but can be pursued concurrently with a claim to benefit under the Industrial Injuries Act.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the increased payment involved to old age pensioners in the increase of 6 per cent., 12½ per cent. and 19 per cent., respectively, in the number of applicantsi.

The present annual cost of old age and retirement pensions is about £265 million. The cost of the various increases mentioned in the number of pensioners would therefore be approximately £16, £33 and £50 million a year, respectively.

asked the Minister of Supply why the Agricultural Machinery Mobile Repair Unit at Kinnell, Angus, have been able to obtain travelling workshops which are not available to other agricultural engineering firms.

No travelling workshop has been sold by my Department to this Unit.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps are being taken to remedy the national shortage of wire rods.

Arrangements have been made to import substantial quantities of billets and wire rods from the Continent. Home production is being expanded, particularly of those qualities which cannot be obtained from abroad. Two new rod mills are being installed at Cardiff and Warrington as part of the industry's long-term modernisation plan.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what investigation is made into the loyalty of persons appointed to the Civil Service to deal with atomic research.

I have been asked to reply. It would not be in the public interest to give any information on this matter.

asked the Minister of Supply why the iron and steel industry was paid a subsidy of £7,500,000 during 1947–48; and to whom and how this sum was disbursed.

Payments amounting to about £11,500,000 were made from public funds in 1947–48 in respect of the following:

(a) The difference between the prewar cost of freight on foreign ore plus 50 per cent. and the cost of such freight at present.

(b) The difference between the cost (including freight charges and import duty) of imported steel and the controlled price in the United Kingdom.

(c) Uneconomical production of home ore.

(d) The difference between the cost of imported scrap (including freight) and the controlled prices in United Kingdom.

Payments in the case of (

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent German prisoners of war who have been allowed to remain in Britain as civilians were given instructions in democracy and passed through de-Nazification tests before being given civilian status.

All German prisoners of war in this country had full opportunity before release to take part in the various courses and other re-educational activities which were organised for all prisoner of war camps. No specific additional instruction was arranged for those who later volunteered and have been allowed to remain here for civilian employment. As regards the second part of the question, no individuals were permitted to remain who came within the categories of persons or organisations declared criminal by the Nürnberg International Military Tribunal or who were held to constitute a danger to military security.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been the cost in dollars to the latest convenient date of the Berlin airlift.

There is no direct expenditure of dollars on the Berlin airlift, but consequential expenditure on the replacement of aeroplane spare parts and fuel required up to the present is estimated at about 500,000 dollars.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what method is being adopted in compiling the panels of lecturers selected for lecturing to the Germans, and if their loyalty to the Crown is confirmed prior to their going to talk to British subjects in the service of the Control Commission in Germany.

Lecturers are chosen with regard to their general suitability and their knowledge of the subjects on which they are to speak. Valuable assistance in suggesting names is given by the universities and other appropriate organisations in this country. All lecturers sent out are, of course, free to talk to British subjects in the Control Commission. Such talks would, however, be incidental to the main purpose of the lecturer's visit, and I have no grounds for supposing that additional inquiries of the kind mentioned are necessary before any such talks are given.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there has been any diminution of commercial representatives accredited by His Majesty's Government to Spain since the withdrawal of our Ambassador from that country.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British subjects are expected to be repatriated from Egypt during 1948; and to which principal destinations they are being sent.