asked the Minister of Food whether, following the assurance he gave previously, he will shortly restore the 40 per cent. cut in the supply of milk substitute for calf rearing.

In September manufacturers of calf foods received 50 per cent. of the milk powder they received in September, 1947. In October, 1948, this was mixed to 80 per cent. of the milk powder and the full amount of dried whey powder that they used last year. We intend to maintain this rate for the next few months, after which allocations will depend on available supplies.

asked the Minister of Food at what prices the Argentine Government has offered to sell coarse grains; and how these prices compare with those current in the U.S.A.

No offers of coarse grains have been made by the Argentine Government to my Department recently. We, of course, bought 1,272,000 tons of coarse grain in the Argentine this year, and this grain is now arriving.

asked the Minister of Food what was the average consumption per head in the United Kingdom for the year ended 30th June, 1948, of meats other than carcase and canned corned meats.

17.7 lb. per head per annum net weight.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now able to provide that bananas shall be available to adults below the age of 70 years.

Next year for the first time since the war we hope to import over half the pre-war quantities of bananas, so I am afraid it is impossible to extend their distribution as yet.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now consider relaxing the regulations governing the despatch of food abroad to enable such items as Christmas puddings to be included in parcels from this country.

This has already been done.

asked the Minister of Food (1) what food will be purchased from Canada with the dollars earmarked for the purchase of bacon which Canada is unable to supply; and whether as a consequence, new orders will be placed for Canadian applies;(2) whether, in view of the shortage of bacon in Canada, he proposes to make good the deficiency by increased purchases from other countries.

As I explained to the House last Monday, 1st November, the shortfall in Canadian and other bacon shipments is, we hope, a purely temporary affair, and it is expected that all the Marshall dollars earmarked for the purchase of Canadian bacon will be required to pay for shipments during the year ending next June. We are, of course, making the most strenuous efforts to increase shipments from all supplying countries, but I am afraid that it will be impossible to avoid an interruption in the ration for a short' time. For four weeks from 21st November, therefore, the bacon ration will be 2 oz. per fortnight instead of 2 oz. per week. We shall, however, make up for this by issuing an extra 2d. worth of corned meat on the meat ration in the two alternate weeks beginning 21st November and 5th December.The bacon ration will revert to 2 oz. per week on 19th December and from then onwards its level will very largely depend upon the rate of Canadian shipments.

asked the Minister of Food what, to the latest convenient date, was the allocation of fat to fish friers in Lancashire for the preceding 12 months; and what percentage this bears to the allocation for similar purposes to the whole of the country.

For the 12 months ended 9th October, 1948, fish friers in Lancashire received 6,855 tons of oils and fats. This figure represents some 10 per cent. of the total allocation for the United Kingdom—and the population of Lancashire is also some 10 per cent. of that of the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Food what is the present rate of extraction authorised for flour in the National Loaf; what are the ingredients, other than wheat, and their proportion in the present National Loaf; and what is the bread subsidy at present.

National flour is of 85 per cent. extraction. The ingredients permitted to be used in National bread are those prescribed in the First Schedule to the Bread (Control and Maximum Prices) Order, 1947 (S.R. & O. No. 1867 of 1947), namely:Substances other than National Flour which may be included in National Bread:

asked the Minister of Food what was the total cost per gallon of milk delivered in England by the air lift from Nutts Corner, Belfast, to the place of distribution.

The average cost per gallon of Northern Ireland milk delivered to distributors' premises in England during the months of September and October, 1948, including the price paid to producers in Northern Ireland, the cost of handling in that country and in England, and the cost of land and air transport, was approximately 5s. per gallon.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is satisfied that the price policy of his Department is encouraging the maximum use of fish wastes in the production of animal feedingstuff; and what further steps he proposes to take.

As I told the hon. Member for Ludlow on 26th January last, I am satisfied that whenever practicable all surplus fish and fish waste are processed for use as meal. I am considering, however, a proposal to reduce the maximum price of headless fish so as to remove the financial inducement at present given to head fish at sea. I hope that this will result in the landing of more fish with heads on and a corresponding increase in the quantity of offal for the meal factories.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the amount of subsidies for which the iron and steel trade have had the benefit in 1945, 1946 and 1947.

Figures are not available for 1945. During the year ended 31st March, 1947, the total Government expenditure on subsidies for iron and steel was about £11,250,000 and during the following year about £11,500,000. The difference between the cost of imported pig iron and steel and the controlled price in this country accounted for £3,800,000 and £3,600,000, respectively, of these payments.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will name the iron and steel companies which have received subsidies during the last three years; what was the amount paid to each company; and what conditions attached to the granting of the subsidies.

Particulars of the exact amounts paid to individual firms are not immediately available. I am having the information collected and will send it to my hon. Friend as soon as possible. Payments were made to companies required to undertake uneconomical production to meet the need for maximum output. The conditions under which payments are made vary with individual companies, but in every case care is taken to ensure that only a reasonable rate of profit is made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied that sufficient extra labour is forthcoming for the harvesting of potatoes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Shephard) on 1st November, 1948.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of county organisers to the Women's Land Army appointed at an advertised salary of £250–£300 per annum, the successful applicants to provide their own motor cars.

There are 134 county organisers of the Women's Land Army receiving salaries ranging from £250 to £350 inclusive; 112 provide their own cars, for which the usual allowances are received. Since the last advertisement was issued in April, 1948, 22 organisers have been appointed of whom 17 provide their own cars.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if in view of the fact that pig and poultry feedingstuffs are in some cases still based upon the number of animals kept in 1939, he will now reconsider this system and base rationing on the head of stock kept at the time of application.

No. My right hon. Friend explained in the statement he made on 20th July last why it would not be practicable to give rations on the basis of the actual numbers of stock kept.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what instructions have been issued to the county A.E.C.s with regard to the payment during sickness of the various grades of workers employed by them.

County agricultural executive committees have instructions to make payment during sickness to agricultural workers employed by them in accordance with the arrangements described in my reply of 1st November to the hon. Member for Newbury, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. Administrative and clerical staff now come under the ordinary Civil Service rules. No special instructions have been issued for sick pay in the case of workers in other non-agricultural occupations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department has examined the feasibility of encouraging the growth of crops on the verges of by-pass roads.

Yes, but there are many practical difficulties. The presence of electric and telephone cables, gas mains, drains, etc., at shallow depth often prevents ploughing, while the verges are in many cases too narrow to permit effective cultivation. Moreover, such cultivation is rarely economic. C.A.E.C.s have, however, been asked to co-operate whenever farmers with adjacent land are prepared to bring suitable roadside land into cultivation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many officials paid monthly, and how many employees paid weekly were on the pay roll of the Huntingdonshire and Soke of Peterborough A.E.C. at the latest date for which figures are available; and what were the equivalent figures in 1944.

asked the Minister of Works what action has been so far taken and what action is proposed on the Report of the Committee on the Distribution of Building Materials.

The principal recommendations in the Report relate to arrangements restricting competition and to distributors' margins. As regards the former, I am asking my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to refer one or more cases to the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission when it has been set up. I have discussed distributors' margins with those concerned, and the prices of a number of articles have been reduced; the discussions are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that there is only one port in Transjordan; and if he will arrange for sub-paragraph (c) to Article I of the Annex to the Anglo-Transjordan Treaty to be so amended as to remove any misunderstandings which may otherwise arise in the countries bordering on Transjordan.

The answer to first part of the Question is, "Yes"; and to the second part, "No."

The following table gives the information desired by the hon. Member:—

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when it is proposed to evacuate British troops from Egypt.

British troops are stationed in Egypt in accordance with the terms of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of Alliance of 1936. No negotiations are at present in progress for a revision of this treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions have been issued to our representative on the Far Eastern Commission in respect of the proposed formation of a standing Japanese army.

I am not aware of the existence of any proposal to form a standing Japanese army. There has been no question of sending instructions to our representative on the Far Eastern Commission on this issue and none has been sent. The Far Eastern Commission have decided that all measures necessary should be undertaken to prevent any revival of the Japanese army, navy, gendarmerie, secret police and their administrative organs, and my information is that Japan is now completely demilitarised.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the final amounts due from Malayan property found in Japan have now been agreed; and when they will be paid.

The hon. Member is no doubt referring to Malayan tin and rubber. The final amounts due have not yet been agreed. Identification of the origin and ownership of the property must of course precede agreement on payment. Identification of the tin is taking time because of the innumerable small lots in which it was discovered and handled. Nearly all the rubber has been identified and negotiations over the price to be paid are now proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the recommendations of the Maxwell Committee appointed to inquire into British Control Commission Courts and the administration of justice amongst British subjects in Germany have been carried out and whether he will state the conditions of detention of British subjects now prevailing at Werl Prison.

As I stated in my reply on 20th September, my right hon. Friend does not propose to publish the Maxwell Committee's Report which is a departmental document. Some of its recommendations have been accepted and others are under discussion. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the current prison regulations prevailing at Werl Prison.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what prospects there are of increasing supplies of boots and shoes in the British zone of Germany; and whether sole reliance is placed on production within the zone.

As a consequence of the fusion of the British and United States zones in December, 1946, production statistics are not prepared any longer on a zonal basis. It is therefore not possible to give details of production for the British zone alone, but the following information relates to the Bizonal area as a whole and may be of interest. With regard to the first part of the Question, the prospects are good. By September output had reached a figure more than twice the average monthly figure for 1947 and by the end of this year production should reach the rate of 1.14 pairs for every person a year. This rate would compare favourably with pre-war production, which in 1939 was 1.3 pairs and in 1930 only 1.1 pairs per person. Production by 1950 should be at the rate of 1.2 pairs per person. With regard to the second part of the Question, productive capacity in the Bizone is sufficient to achieve the production rates mentioned above and to deal with all the raw materials likely to be available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is in a position to make a further statement on the Anglo-Danish talks on South Schleswig.

No.

asked the Minister of Health how many horses have been slaughtered in slaughter-houses in the past six months; and what steps he proposes to take to control unnecessary hardship to these animals.

The figures asked for are not available. With regard to the second part of the Question, the treatment of horses and other animals in slaughterhouses is governed, in general, by the Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933. This is administered by local authorities, and I have no specific power to take action.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have as yet used their powers under the Entertainment section in the Local Government Act, 1948.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner), on 23rd September last.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to a recent decision in the Courts that following upon the nationalisation of the railways, the houses owned by the railways are no longer within the protection of the Rent Acts; and if he will take steps to rectify the position.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir J. Mellor) on 1st instant.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will lift the present restriction which prevents consumers changing their coal merchant.

At my right hon. Friend's request the Domestic Coal Consumers' Council recently gave further consideration to this matter and have now recommended that consumers should be given the opportunity to change their coal merchants on 1st May, 1949. My right hon. Friend is considering whether it will be practicable to adopt this proposal, but is unlikely to reach a final decision until early in the New Year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on what duties the 46 officials of the British Food Mission who have been absorbed into the British Supply Office in Washington are now engaged.

The British Supply Office was set up in April to deal with matters arising in Washington from the operation of the European Recovery Plan. Its staff was drawn almost entirely from the British Food Mission which at that time numbered 42 officials in all, including clerks and shorthand typists. Eight members of the staff are still engaged full time on Food matters (chiefly the international allocation of cereals, oils and fats), three have returned to the United Kingdom and the remainder are concerned with handling E.R.P. questions.

asked the Minister of Defence how many U.S. troops, including Army, Air Force and Naval personnel are stationed in this country; in what areas; for how long it is proposed that they will remain; under what agreements they are here; what steps are being taken to arrange for their return home; how much land has been requisitioned or withheld from release for their accommodation; and what expenses fall upon this country in connection with their sojourn here.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave last Wednesday to the hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Platts-Mills). There are about 6,000 members of the U.S. Armed Forces in this country, mainly in East Anglia, Lancashire and the London Area. When the time comes for their return home the United States authorities will of course make the necessary arrangement. No land has been requisitioned or withheld from release for their accommodation, and no additional expense is incurred by this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Air on what authority approval has been given for the provision of gown shops, beauty parlours and drug stores, as amenities for the wives of United States Air Force personnel to be accommodated in the ex-R.A.F. camp at Burtonwood, Lancashire; and whether the cost of these amenities is being borne by his Department.

I understand that the United States Air Force are opening a "Post Exchange," their equivalent of a N.A.A.F.I. They will bear the cost themselves.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will consider discussing with all members of the British Commonwealth the question of coordination within the Commonwealth of all matters relating to research, design and production of equipment for the Fighting Services.

There is already a very considerable degree of co-ordination with other members of the Commonwealth on matters relating to defence research and development, and arrangements exist for discussion and consultation at regular intervals. Discussions on production are also carried on, as necessary.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he intends to follow the precedent of the Minister of Health in the case of the Water Act, 1945, by publishing, in a single volume, the full text of the Statutory Instruments issued under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947.

I am already considering the advisability of publishing in one volume the general Regulations and Orders issued under the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representation he has received from old age pensioners for concession in regard to wireless licences; and what reply he has made.

I have been asked to reply. From time to time letters are received from old age pensioners suggesting that they should pay less for their wireless licences than other people. I am sorry, however, that after sympathetically considering this matter, the Government are unable to give any preferential treatment in this matter to old age pensioners, and I have replied to all representations accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the serious food situation in Long Cay, Crooked Island and Aclin Island of the Bahamas group; and whether steps are being taken by His Majesty's Government to remedy this state of affairs.

The Governor of the Bahamas reports that during the summer Long Cay, Crooked Island and Acklins Island were badly affected by drought. Although grain crops had failed, shops were adequately supplied with foodstuffs and the normal allocations of rice and sugar, under Government control, arrived during the whole period by fortnightly mail services. In view of the ample marine resources readily available, it was not considered necessary to organise free food distribution. The Governor is satisfied that conditions will soon return to normal as winter crops will be available this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many native ex-soldiers of the Gold Coast and Nigerian Regiments, respectively, are in receipt of disability pensions arising from the late war; what is the total sum involved; and what were the comparable figures for December 1945.

I regret that the information required is not available in London. I am arranging for it to be obtained from the authorities in West Africa and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as it is received.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, when the stretch of the Military Canal between Appledore and Iden Lock was transferred from the War Office to the appropriate catchment board, any sum of money was paid to the catchment board in virtue of the fact that this stretch was badly in need of dredging at the time of transfer; and were there any conditions in the conveyance stipulating for its proper upkeep.

The Kent Rivers Catchment Board purchased that part of the Royal Military Canal between Appledore and Iden lock for a nominal sum. The conveyance provides that the Catchment Board Shall be subject to all the liabilities and duties imposed by the Royal Military Canal Act of 1807 (passed for the maintaining and preventing of the canal) and to the Land Drainage Act of 1930.

asked the Minister of Education in how many primary and secondary schools of all types special rooms are set aside and equipped as libraries; and if he will state the percentage of each type of school so equipped.

The great majority of grammar schools and a proportion of other types of secondary schools are equipped with a library, but exact figures of the number of schools so equipped are not available. Primary schools do not normally have a special room set aside for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Education what is the present ratio in the national secondary schools of university graduate teachers to all other categories of teachers; and what was The same ratio in 1938.

On 31st March, 1947, the latest date for which the information is available, there was one graduate teacher for every 1.37 other teachers in maintained and assisted secondary schools. There are no comparable figures for 1938. In March, 1947, there was one graduate teacher for every 0.29 other teachers in grant aided secondary grammar schools; the comparable figure for 1938 was one graduate for every 0.28 other teachers.