asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the negotiations with the Government of the U.S.A. regarding the possible retention in Germany of equipment scheduled for removal as reparations, have now been concluded; and if he will make a statement.

The recent negotiations with the United States and French Governments with regard to the manner of reviewing in the interests of European recovery certain portions of the reparations lists led to the arrangements announced on 27th October. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of this announcement to which I have as yet nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the papers "Freiheit" and "Neue Volkszeitung" were banned in the British zone at the time of the municipal elections in October, 1948,' on the ground of breaches of Directive No. 40 (2b) of the regulations, which forbids the publication of rumours aimed at undermining the unity of the Allies or creating distrust or a hostile attitude towards the occupying Powers, whilst the majority of the British-licensed Press in the zone incessantly breaks that directive in its attacks on the U.S.S.R. without being banned.

The entire British-licensed Press is, in accordance with the instructions issued to it, free to criticise both the Western and the Soviet occupying Powers, provided that this criticism is fair and objective and is not a deliberate distortion of the facts. Action was taken against the two Communist papers because they published false and malicious statements solely designed to inspire hostility against certain of the occupying Powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that as a result of the recent currency reform in Western Germany, the trade unions in the bizone lost nearly all their funds; and what steps are being taken to reimburse these organisations.

The funds of trade unions in Western Germany have been converted into Deutschemarks at a rate which has been uniformly applied, with- out discrimination, to the monetary holdings of all sections of the German community. The German authorities have been ordered by Military Government to enact, by the end of this year, legislation which will provide inter alia, compensation for special hardship caused by the currency conversion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking to remedy the difficulties caused to workers in the bizone by the rising prices resulting from the recent currency reform in Western Germany.

There has been no rise in prices directly attributable to monetary reform. The hon. Member is no doubt referring to the price increases which followed the removal of the price stop imposed in 1939 and retained by order of the Occupation authorities until April, 1948. As a result of this, open market prices today are considerably higher than the nominal controlled prices of six months ago. However, they are still much lower than the black market prices which the German worker had to pay before monetary reform in order to maintain a moderate standard of living. It is true that wages, which were also stabilised at approximately the 1939 level, have not risen proportionately. The bizonal occupation authorities have, however, empowered the German economic administration to make or permit substantial adjustments, and the responsibility for harmonising price levels and wage levels now rests upon the German authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been the cost of the air lift to Berlin to date; what is the present cost per week; and how much of these, respectively, is being paid by the British taxpayer.

The extra cost to the Exchequer up to 26th October of the Berlin air lift is approximately £2,300,000. The cost per week varies according to the number of sorties, which depends to some extent on the weather, but the average weekly cost during October was about £185,000. I regret that we have no information as to the costs met by the Government of the United States.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who supplies the coal for the Berlin air lift; and from what countries does it come.

All the coal supplied to Berlin by air is from Western Germany. It is flown in by British and American aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been the reason for the delay in recognising the Israeli Government; and if he will now recognise that Government.

His Majesty's Government do not consider that the conditions of statehood required by international law for recognition have been fulfilled. These conditions are that authority must be exercised over a specified territory within definite boundaries, and that the Government seeking recognition should be able and willing to fulfil its international obligations and have a reasonable degree of stability. Moreover, while the Palestine problem is still under discussion by the United Nations, His Majesty's Government do not think it right to prejudge the result of these discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken by His Majesty's Government to assist the relief of the 500,000 Arabs who have been uprooted from their homes as a result of attempts to establish by force of arms a Zionist State in Palestine.

His Majesty's Government have played a leading part in supplying direct aid to the Palestine Arab refugees and in initiating discussion of this tragic problem at the United Nations. The sum of £100,000 was offered by His Majesty's Government for the purchase of immediate necessities and this has been largely used by the Disaster Relief Project Organisation for tents and blankets. United Kingdom delegates at the United Nations are playing a leading part in trying to secure early and effective action on the report recently submitted to Committee 3 by the Acting Mediator and Sir R. Cilento.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the condemnation of Mr. Frederick William Sylvester by a court of the so-called Israeli Government; and what action His Majesty's Government propose to take in the matter.

His Majesty's Government have followed this case throughout with the closest attention. As soon as five British subjects, among them Mr. Sylvester, were seized in Jerusalem, vigorous protests were lodged in all appropriate quarters, including the United Nations Security Council. Action taken by His Majesty's Government includes active assistance in selecting and briefing the best available legal defence. Mr. Richard Levy, K.C., was sent from London to advise the three local lawyers engaged on the case, and one-half of his expenses are being met from public funds. It has been possible to obtain the release of four out of the five men, but Mr. Sylvester was sentenced on 8th October to seven years' imprisonment. Mr. Sylvester's appeal will be heard in Jerusalem on 3rd November and His Majesty's Government have made the best possible arrangements for his legal representation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will instruct the British delegation in the appropriate United Nations Commission to table a resolution urging the adoption of a convention to renounce absolutely the principle of race discrimination or segregation.

By their signature of the Charter the members of the United Nations have already indicated their renunciation of this principle. His Majesty's Government hope that this renunciation will be reiterated by the adoption at the present Session of the General Assembly of a Declaration of Human Rights. This Declaration is to be followed by a Convention and His Majesty's Government are playing a leading part in the preparation of both.

asked the Lord President of the Council what arrangements are being made to ensure that scientific and technological institutions in this country are sufficiently informed about the programme of the United Nations Scientific Conference on the Conservation and Utilisation of Resources which is to take place next May; and what facilities will be given to such bodies to participate.

Up to the present the provisional state of the programme has justified only such limited publicity as will enable Departments, non-official organisations most directly concerned, and various individual specialists to collaborate over items where United Kingdom contributions have been invited. The Secretary-General of the United Nations. on the advice of a Preparatory Committee on which the United Kingdom is represented, is inviting various United Kingdom nationals to contribute papers to the Conference and Departments are now considering what additional persons the Secretary-General might be asked to invite to attend as observers or to participate in discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what period he referred when, on 15th September in the House, he said that the workers in Malaya followed official advice, that there was no chance for Communists to influence them in their ordinary work and that few or no strikes took place.

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend was referring to the period immediately prior to the armed attacks. What he said must he read in its context. As his remarks show, he was indicating the course of the Communist challenge to the authority of Government which, in its earlier stages, was directed to engineering organised strikes on a large scale. The failure of that attempt was due in a large measure to the increasing response of the trade unions to the advice of Malayan Government officials and experienced British trade unionists.

asked the Minister of Food what allocation of dried and crystallised fruit is made to N.A.A.F.1. canteens for the respective purposes of making flour confectionery and of sale over the counter to Service men and to their wives.

Dried fruit is allocated to N.A.A.F.I. family shops on the basis of their registered customers for sale against points to Service men's wives and families; and to N.A.A.F.I. canteens for making flour confectionery at the rate of 3 lb. per week for every l00 men and women. Some of this may be prepared and sold as stewed fruit. No crystallised fruits or uncooked dried fruits are sold by retail through N.A.A.F.I. canteens.

asked the Minister of Food why Mr. Coles, licensed slaughterer, of Yaxley, Hunts, has been informed by the local food office at Peterborough that he may not in future slaughter pigs belonging to self-suppliers of Yaxley and district, including members of the local pig club; that such pigs must be sent to the nearest abattoir four miles away instead of continuing to be slaughtered by Mr. Coles as they have been for many years past; and whether he will take steps to allow Mr. Coles to resume the slaughter of pigs.

As I announced to the House on 23rd February last, the number of slaughterhouses for pigs authorised by my Department has been limited this season as one of the measures to check abuses of the Self-Suppliers of Pigs Scheme. Mr. Coles' slaughterhouse at Yaxley is not one of those authorised, but I am satisfied that the slaughtering arrangements for the area are adequate. There is a slaughterhouse and a bacon factory at Peterborough within four miles of Yaxley and two authorised slaughterhouses within two and a half miles

asked the Minister of Food how much demurrage has been paid during the past 12 months on shipments of grain from the Argentine owing to the delays in loading.

The amount of demurrage paid in respect of grain shipments (including wheat offals) owing to delays at loading ports during the year to the 30th September, 1948, is approximately £53,900. During the same period we earned £53,990 in despatch money.

asked the Minister of Food what action he has taken to ensure that all bakers have sufficient flour to enable them to sell bread to their regular customers up to the end of the present rationing period.

Under the Flour Restriction Scheme bakers may obtain the same amount of flour as they received during the year ended 26th June, 1948, and they will therefore, be able to supply their customers with the same amount of bread. Flour cannot be made available in unlimited quantities and bakers and consumers alike must co-operate in avoiding waste or misuse by feeding to animals. Should local shortages of bread develop, divisional food officers are authorised to deal with them on an area basis. But we cannot guarantee that particular bakers who may have used their supplies improvidently may not run out before the end of the period. To do so would be to defeat the restriction scheme which took the place of rationing. We shall see to it however, that consumers can get bread at one or other of the bakers in their areas.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on the supply of poultry which will be available this Christmas; and how does it compare with last year.

It is too early to be precise, but we are expecting that there will be rather more poultry this Christ- mas than last. There may be rather fewer turkeys but more geese, chickens and hens.

asked the Minister of Food to state the policy of his Department in regard to granting licences for fish frying in areas where the number of shops is deemed already adequate.

The object of freely granting fish-frying licences for a time is to allow would be traders to decide for themselves where new shops are needed and will therefore prove economic to open.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that, owing to the inadequate rations, half of the present racing pigeon stock is threatened with destruction; and whether he will now double the ration allowed to fanciers.

Commodity.				Unit.	Price if Subsidy were completely removed.			Price if Subsidy were reduced by 75 per cent.			Price if Subsidy were reduced by 50 per cent.			Price if were reduced by 25 per cent.
					s.	d.		s.	d.		s.	d.		s.	d.
Bacon	…	…	…	lb.	3	0	¼	2	10		2	7	½	2	5
Bread	…	…	…	3½ lb. loaf	1	2	¾	1	1	½	1	0			10	½
Flour	…	…	…	7 lb.	2	6	½	2	3	¼	2	0		1	8	¾
Shell Eggs	…	…	…	dozen	4	3		3	11	¼	3	7	½	3	3	¾
Milk	…	…	…	quart		11	¾		11	½		11			10	½
Butter	…	…	…	lb.	2	7	½	2	3	¾	1	11	¾	1	8
Cheese	…	…	…	lb.	1	10	¾	1	7	½	1	4	½	1	1	¼
Margarine (Domestic)			…	lb.	1	1	½	1	0	¼		11	¼		10
Cooking Fat (Domestic)			…	lb.	1	3	¾	1	3		1	2		1	1
Lard	…	…	…	lb.	1	11	½	1	8	½	1	5	¾	1	2	¾
Potatoes	…	…	…	7 lb.	1	1		1	0	¼		11	¾		11
Sugar	…	…	…	lb.		7	¼		6	½		6			5	½
Tea	…	…	…	lb.	4	2	½	3	11	¾	3	9	¼	3	6	¼
Carcase Meat (based on present average price of 10¾d. per lb.)				lb.	1	3		1	1	¾	1	0	¾		11	¾

Notes:—

(1) The indirect effect of animal feedingstuffs subsidies on home produced livestock products has not been taken into account.

(2) The subsidy on milk used for home produced butter and cheese has not been taken into account.

(3) The acreage subsidies are included.

(4) The subsidies for Welfare Schemes are not included.

asked the Minister of Food if he will enumerate the foodstuffs the price of which would rise to twice the present level if the subsidy were removed.

Rationed cheese is the only foodstuff the subsidy on which equals or exceeds the retail price.

Former members of the National Pigeon Service are receiving a smaller allocation of pigeon food than before, but a large number of pigeon owners are now receiving an allocation for the first time. I am afraid we could not increase the total supply without diverting pulses and grain from more essential uses.

asked the Minister of Food what would be the prices to the public of essential foods if the subsidies were removed completely; and if they were reduced by 25 per cent., 50 per cent. and 75 per cent., respectively.

The following table shows the prices to the public of essential foods if the subsidies were completely removed; and if they were reduced by 75 per cent., 50 per cent. and 25 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Food how much tinned food imported by his Department is lying in warehouses because it is unsaleable owing to its inferior quality; and. if he will take steps to see that his Department does not pay prices below those necessary to obtain products of good quality.

None. All purchases of tinned food made by the Ministry are subject to guarantees of quality.

asked the Minister of Food why advice centres of his Department are located in hospital waiting-rooms for out-patients.

Advice centres of my Department are not located in hospital waiting-rooms. Food advice demonstrations have been given in hospital waiting-rooms on invitation by the hospital authorities.

asked the Minister of Food why no canned meat is at present being imported from Eire.

Canned meat is being imported from Eire whenever it is available in accordance with the terms of the Trade Agreement of 31st July.

asked the Minister of Food what are his plans for the disposal of potatoes that cannot be sold at the fixed prices.

Sound ware potatoes surplus to market requirements will be bought by my Department under the guarantee and disposed of for processing, export and stock-feeding.

asked the Minister of Food what is the cost, per week, of inspectors and enforcement officers employed by his Department to go round to the farms to find out if they are selling potatoes at less than the fixed prices.

No officers are employed solely on these duties.

asked the Minister of Food to state in convenient salary categories the number of persons employed by his Ministry in August, 1945, 1946: 1947 and at the latest available date.

The total non-industrial staff employed in my Department on the dates referred to by the hon. Member numbered:

1st August, 1945	…	40,030
1st August, 1946	…	46,654
1st August, 1947	…	45,106
1st October, 1948	…	39,491

Records are not maintained in convenient salary categories and I cannot give the information requested without the expenditure of an undue amount of time and labour.

Corbett asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of registration for pig and poultry rations under the original wartime scheme; and the total number of registrations as the result of the extended rationing scheme.

In Great Britain, approximately 458,700 holdings were registered under the wartime scheme. About 73,000 persons applied by 21st August for registration under the extended scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many farmers applied too late for pig and poultry rations under the extended rationing scheme which closed on 21st August; and whether he will reopen the scheme to accommodate late corners.

The number of late applications was approximately 14,000. The scheme will be reopened for a limited period later this month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if it is his intention to introduce legislation amending the Agricultural Wages Regulations Act to enable, the Agricultural Wages Board to make an order for the payment of wages during sickness.

No. The position arising out of the recent decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Smart v. Spencer has been very carefully considered by the Government and I am afraid I can hold out no hope of amending legislation on the lines indicated by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is satisfied that sufficient labour is available for the harvesting of the potato and sugar-beet crops throughout the country.

Yes, reasonably so. The bulk of the potato crop has now been lifted, and unless the weather is very unfavourable, there should be enough labour to deal with the remaining potatoes and sugar beet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what plans he has for linseed production in this country for 1948; what is the acreage to be produced; and if compulsory cropping orders are to be made in order to produce this acreage.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to linseed production for next year, 1949. This I hope will he much above the 1948 figure. No definite acreage targets have been set, but county agricultural executive committees have been asked to encourage farmers to grow as much linseed as possible. Cropping directions will not be used.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total supply of coarse grain feedingstuffs, including unmillable wheat and barley and other cereals retained on farms, available to farmers in 1946–47 and 1947–48 respectively, in the United Kingdom.

Approximately 3,850,000 tons and 3,550,000 tons respectively, not including seed corn. The latter figure was affected by exceptionally low corn yields in 1947; imported coarse grains consumed on farms increased by some 550,000 tons between the two years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take special measures to see that where horses are slaughtered for food, or transported alive for slaughter abroad, their treatment is as humane as possible.

The responsibility of my right hon. Friend in this matter is limited to the protection of horses, whether intended for slaughter or not, from unnecessary suffering during inland transit or sea passage. Orders designed to ensure humane treatment for horses and for other animals while in transit have been in force for many years and, 1 understand, are generally being well observed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many horses were exported from this country for slaughter abroad in the last 12 months.

During the year ended 30th September last, 3,628 horses were shipped to Europe after being certified by veterinary inspectors as capable of being conveyed and disembarked without cruelty and of being worked without suffering. I have no information as to the purposes for which the horses were exported.

asked the Minister of Transport if he accepts the Report of the Working Party on the Turn-Round of Shipping in the United Kingdom ports; and what steps are being taken to implement its recommendations.

Yes. I have brought the recommendations to the notice of the interests concerned and have asked them to let me have reports of the progress made in carrying them out. Effect has already been given to many of the recommendations.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take immediate steps to place dock charges in the South Wales ports on a par with those at Liverpool and London, particularly in view of the fact that the present rates in South Wales militate against greater use being made of its ports.

The docks at the principal ports in South Wales are vested in the British Transport Commission and the question of dock charges is one for their consideration. There are, however, other factors involved, one of the most important of which is the division of charges in the ports between shipper and shipowner. This is essentially a commercial matter but my right hon. Friend is inviting the interests concerned to consider it.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has considered the recent decision of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, a copy of which has been sent to him, urging that far greater use should be made of the South Wales ports of Cardiff, Barry and Swansea, because of the congestion and delay at certain English ports; and if he will make a statement on the position in the ports.

My right hon. Friend has seen references in the Press to the recent discussion in the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. The Working Party on the Turn-Round of Shipping commended to shipowners, and major importers and exporters, the possibility of saving time by the greater use of ports not working to full capacity and my right hon. Friend has asked them to consider what practical steps they can take to give effect to this recommendation. I am glad to say there has been an increase in both the coal and the general cargo traffic handled through Cardiff, Barry and Swansea this year compared with the corresponding period in 1947.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects that the Imperial Shipping Committee will issue its report.

I understand that the Committee's Report on West Indies Shipping Services is now being printed for publication.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the broadcast appeals for older people to stay at work, why the Railway Executive (Western Region) are dispensing with the services of older men who are still fit for useful work.

Questions of employment of railwaymen are primarily matters for the British Transport Commission, who are aware of the Government's policy in this matter. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, I suggest he should communicate with the Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the general support amongst local authorities and other representative bodies in Wales for the addition of a Welsh representative upon the Committee of Road Safety, he is now prepared to authorise the addition of a representative for Wales on that Committee.

The Committee on Road Safety is representative of the principal bodies in Great Britain concerned with road safety, and there should be no question of their not giving full weight to Welsh interests and problems in their advice to me. I do not propose, at present, to add to its membership.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now consider raising the speed at which goods vehicles of 3 tons and over may travel from 20 to 30 m.p.h.

I have already circulated proposals to this effect, and I am now considering the representations which have been made to me by the interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport how many toll gates are now owned by and operated on behalf of British Railways; and when he expects these tolls will be abolished.

Six toll bridges and two toll roads. I am discussing with the British Transport Commission the question of freeing from tolls the two bridges which are on trunk routes As regards the remainder, the local authorities concerned have power to acquire the toll rights and, as I informed them in a Circular dated 19th March, 1947, I am prepared to consider applications for grants from the Road Fund towards the cost of freeing those on classified roads.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the shortage of steel files and of steel for manufacturing them; and what steps he is taking to overcome this shortage.

Yes. Arrangements have been made to increase the home production of the special steel billets from which files are made. Supplies of both billets and files are also being imported.

asked the Minister of Supply approximately how many firearms surrendered to the police have been passed on to his Department by the Home Office since the conclusion of hostilities; what percentage of these has been sold for export and to the home market; what has been done with the balance; and what is the aggregate sum they have fetched.

I regret that this information is not available. These firearms are handed over to the Ministry of Supply by the War Office with other surplus weapons and no indication is given of their origin.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the acute shortage of fencing wire and barbed wire in Scotland; and whether additional supplies for the home market will be made available.

Extra supplies of both types of wire have been sent to the flooded areas of Scotland and this has caused a temporary reduction in supplies to other areas. Production was substantially reduced by holidays during last quarter, but will improve this quarter.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the shortage of galvanised fencing wire in East Kent and elsewhere, and that agricultural production is suffering in consequence; and what steps he proposes to alleviate this shortage.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given today to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. N. Macpherson).

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is taking to increase the supply of tools, especially those for the building trade for the home market.

I was not aware of any general shortage of builders' tools. If the hon. Member has evidence of a shortage in a particular area and will let me have details, I will draw the manufacturers' attention to it.

asked the Minister of Supply how many aeroplanes, jet aeroplanes, jet engines, or other aircraft have been respectively sold, given or lent to the U.S.S.R. since July, 1945; and if he will give details of the types.

No aircraft of any type has been sold, given or lent to the U.S.S.R. since July, 1945. Fifty-five gas turbine engines of types available for export generally have been exported since that date, in fulfilment of contracts placed in August, 1946, and March. 1947.

asked the Minister of Supply what machine tools have been offered for sale by his Ministry since 1st April, 1948; to whom such sales have been made; and what precautions he has taken to ensure that such sales are in the national interest.

Since 1st April, 1948, 13,325 machine tools of all descriptions have been sold. It would not be possible without an undue expenditure of time and labour to give full details of the tools and buyers, but I give below the available information. No machine tool is sold if it is required as a reserve or for other Government purposes. Very few have been exported and the export of tools specifically designed for munition making is controlled by the Export of Goods (Control) (Amendment No. 3) Order, 1948.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the international situation the auction sales of surplus machine tools are to be stopped.

No; for the reasons I have given to the hon. And gallant Member for New Forest and Christ-church (Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre.)

asked the Minister of Supply what were the reasons for the increase in the overall cost of the Brabazon air liner to £12,000,000; how this sum is made up; and whether the contract was put to open tender.

The present estimate of the total cost of the Brabazon air liner project is £11,580,000, £520,000 more than the figure mentioned in the Report from the Select Committee on Estimates. The increase is due mainly to the increased costs of labour and materials on the works services at Filton. These services account for £5,630,000 of the total. The balance of £5,950,000 is the estimated cost of the two prototypes, including engines, and the development and manufacture of special equipment. The contracts for the works services were put out to open tender, but not the contract for the prototypes.

asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of the inadequate publicity that was given to his original notice, he will extend until the end of the year the period of claim in respect of iron railings removed for purposes of salvage during the war.

No. My announcement of 14th April was not the first intimation to the public that claims could be made but a final warning that the long period of grace must end on 1st June, and I am satisfied that adequate publicity was given.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the rapid decay of Donnington Castle; and if, in view of the historic importance of this fortress at the Second Battle of Newbury in 1644, he will take steps to ensure its preservation under the Ancient Monuments Act.

I am aware that Donnington Castle is in need of repair. The owner's agents were informed on September 23rd that the Ministry of Works would repair and maintain it if it were placed in their charge under the Ancient Monuments Acts.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the former British Restaurant at Angus Drive, Ruislip, which was stated by his Department, in January, 1947, to be urgently needed as a maintenance depot, is still empty and is disintegrating; and whether he will see that it is either utilised or pulled down altogether.

I am aware that the building is empty. It was never used as a maintenance depot because my Department agreed to release it for use as a community centre. The ensuing negotiations with the local education authority concerned are not yet concluded.

asked the Minister of Works if he will consider retaining the illuminated fountains in Trafalgar Square permanently; and what is the cost of the necessary lighting and water supply.

From November 1st, the fountains in Trafalgar Square will play daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition they will play on Wednesdays from 5.30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and on Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. The fountains will be illuminated when playing after dark on Wednesdays and Saturdays. These arrangements will cost £72 a week for electric current and £2 15s. a week for water.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, with a view to increasing rural amenities, he will remit the fee charged for the installation of telephones in rural areas.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the arrangement whereby a rural public telephone kiosk may be installed if the local authority concerned agrees to pay £4 a year for five years towards the cost of its provision and maintenance. The matter is being examined to see whether a suitable alternative basis of provision, such as a quota system, can be devised to replace the present monetary criterion.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the public interest in the business of Parliament at the present time, he will withdraw the Government's request to the B.B.C. to shut down broadcasting at 11 p.m. so that half an hour can be devoted each evening to the report, "Today in Parliament," in the Home Programme.

This request was withdrawn in April last.

asked the. Secretary of State for Air on how many occasions during recent months have the Egyptians fired on R.A.F. aircraft from the ground in the Suez area.

On four occasions during recent months Egyptian guns in the Suez area have fired warning shots while R.A.F. aircraft were in the vicinity.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has considered the manifesto of the Young Communist Action Group, of which a copy has been sent to him, advocating the disruption of the National Union of Teachers; and if, in view of the manifesto's support for a Communist conference aimed at destroying social democracy, he will consider so amending the law that those engaged, and about to engage, in the profession of teaching shall be required to take a solemn oath of allegiance to the Crown.

I certainly do not regard the manifesto, which I have seen, as providing any reason for an amendment of the law in the manner suggested.

asked the Minister of Education what is the total number of schools at present recognised by his Department as direct grant schools; and how that figure compares with the number of direct grant schools in 1938.

There are at present 165 grammar schools receiving direct grant from my Department. The corresponding figure in 1938 was 237.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give details of how the £267,000, which the British taxpayer will have to pay this year to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, will be spent; and who is responsible for the expenditure.

The hon. Member will find on page 57 of the documents relating to the Second General Conference of U.N.E.S.C.O., of which I am sending him a copy, a statement of the purposes for which current appropriations have been made. The expenditure of these sums is the responsibility of the Director-General under the authority of the General Conference.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the decision of the County Court judge at Plymouth on 28th October that rent-controlled houses, which previously belonged to a railway company, became decontrolled upon nationalisation; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation to restore control.

My right hon. Friend understands that this decision is to be the subject of an appeal.

asked the Minister of Health what became of the passengers on the 52 vessels which were infected in 1946 with alleged chickenpox on their discharge at the English port; and if they were allowed to disperse throughout the country without any supervision.

I have no information as to the first part of the Question. As to the second part, normally contacts with a case of chickenpox are not placed under surveillance which would only be imposed if there were special circumstances to justify it.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what was the cost of producing and displaying the poster, "Why are Husbands so Forgetful," how many such posters were displayed; and why it was necessary for the Central Office of Information to issue instructions in September for all these posters to be taken down.

The cost of the poster, of which 35,000 copies were displayed, was £125. Instructions were given for its withdrawal when Form C.F.6, referred to in the text, was withdrawn from post offices.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make available to Members a regular statement of the progress of recruiting for the Auxiliary Forces.

Yes. Monthly figures of Territorial Army recruiting are already being issued by the War Office in connection with the campaign recently inaugurated. For the convenience of Members, however, I have today placed in the Vote Office copies of a statement showing recruiting for the second and third quarters of 1948 to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, the Territorial Army, the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and the Royal Observer Corps. I will arrange for similar statements to be made available at quarterly intervals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an assurance that, during the past eight months, he has not changed the principles upon which he previously advised, or refrained from advising, the exercise by the Crown of the prerogative of mercy; and that he does not now automatically advise reprieve from capital sentences.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in Parliament on 10th June last, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will recommend, in the recent case where Peter Griffiths was condemned to death for the murder of a three year old child taken from the Queens Park Hospital, that special recognition shall he given to the police officers in charge of the case, in view of the great difficulties that they overcame.

The chief officers of police concerned can be relied on, in this as in other cases, to see that suitable action is taken, and it would not be appropriate for me to take the initiative in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the dates on which increases in pay were granted, during the war, to the basic grades in the following services, namely, National Fire Service, Civil Defence Service and Police War Reserve; and the amount of the increase on each occasion, together with the rate of pay in force at the end of hostilities.

I am sending the hon. Member the information for which he asks.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the disposal of service fixed assets in Palestine is now complete; and whether it is now in the public interest to make a full statement on this matter.

I cannot add anything to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member on 14th June.

asked the Secretary. of State for War if lie is arranging for any special distinguishing badge to be worn by the Dyaks at present serving with the British Forces in Malaya.

No request for a special badge has been received from the military authorities overseas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations have been made to him concerning the possibility of terminating clothes rationing; and what are his views on such a proposal.

Certain representations on this subject have been made to me recently by one trade body, but other leading figures in the trade have recently made public statements in a contrary sense. I am, of course, in close touch with all competent sources of advice on the clothing supply and demand situation, and I receive regular reports from my two Advisory Committees concerning all aspects of clothes rationing. The rationing of clothing will end as soon as supplies, present and prospective, are sufficient to meet the rising export programme in full, and to leave a reasonably adequate balance for unrationed home demand.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of S.R. & O's. issued during the Session of Parliament ended 13th September; and how many S.R. & O's. are now in being.

The number issued was 2,714: on the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Renton) on 17th March.