asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he is aware of the great amount of work required to be done by valuers and surveyors to carry out the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act before 31st March, 1949; and, in view of the present shortage of petrol and the inability for the necessary work to be carried out in time, what action he is proposing to take.

I would refer to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Western Dorset (Mr. Digby) on Tuesday, 16th November.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning how many motor cars are in the ownership of each of the new town Corporations; and how much has been spent in private hire during the last six months.

My right hon. Friend is not in possession of information of the kind asked for, relating as it does to the day-to-day administration of the respective Corporations.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the continued inferior service of many laundries in the London area, he will take steps to increase the labour force in the industry in order that laundries may be able to carry out more satisfactory work and also give a weekly service to their customers.

My local offices take all possible steps to increase the labour force in the laundry industry, having regard to the competing needs of other work of equal or even greater importance. It is estimated that since the beginning of the present year the labour force of the industry in the London and South-Eastern Region has increased by rather more than 3 per cent. The number placed in the nine months to 29th September, 1948, was 12,300, but this is offset by wastage.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young men apprenticed to engineering have had their calling-up deferred since 1946; how many have been called to the Forces; and how many who have reached the age of 21 years have not been called up.

The information in the form asked for is not available. On 3rd September last, however, there were approximately 22,000 engineering apprentices whose calling-up had been deferred. None of these will reach the age of 21 before 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now consider the revising of form 201 in connection with commutation of pensions so as to bring it more up to date and eliminate some of the questions which are now no longer necessary.

The questions asked on the form are designed to bring out facts necessary for the proper consideration of applications for commutation. A review of the commutation procedure is to be undertaken when certain other pension questions have been considered; the form will be examined in the light of the results of that review.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the case of Corporal Prince-Iles, of which he has been informed, and of similar cases, he will reconsider his predecessor's decision not to grant married quarters to soldiers under 21 years of age, especially those serving in B.A.O.R.

My right hon. Friend does not consider that it would be in the interests of the Army to reverse this decision.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that 22027628 Guardsman Veness, who was sent to Singapore with less than four months' training, was properly examined before his departure, and where, in view of the representation made by his father that he had impetigo; whether he is aware that he had to be sent to hospital on arrival; and what is his present condition.

Before embarkation this soldier received the normal medical examination, and was considered to be fit for overseas service. There is no evidence to show that he was at that time suffering from impetigo, although he had suffered from it for about a week two months previously. During the voyage he developed impetigo again and as a result was admitted to hospital on disembarkation in Singapore. This has since cleared up, but he has now developed ringworm, and is to remain in hospital for a further fortnight. It is considered that on discharge from hospital he will be completely fit. A skin specialist's report obtained from Singapore, following representations received from my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Central Portsmouth in September, stated that he was fit for service in any theatre of operations.

asked the Secretary of State for War what representations he has received from the Council of Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Associations regarding trade union representation for their employees, following their discussions on 16th September last; and what action he proposes to take.

I have now heard from the Council of Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Associations that they agree to the setting up of a central negotiating body and are arranging a meeting to discuss with union representatives the terms of reference and other matters connected with the central body.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a full list of the goods being supplied by the U.S.S.R. under Article IV (2) (c) of the Trade and Payments Agreement.

Talks are still in progress about extending trade with the Soviet Union in accordance with the provisions of Article IV of the Trade and Payments Agreement of December, 1947. I am not yet in a position to report to the House in detail.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why in view of our shortage of dollars, he is permitting the importation of fancy shoes from the United States.

Shoes are included in the token import scheme, which permits the import of 20 per cent. by value of pre-war trade from those countries, including the United States, to whom the scheme applies. As my hon. Friend the Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. Monslow) was informed on 2nd March, this scheme applies only to those countries which offer an adequate return within the framework of our general trade arrangements with them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Christmas shoppers are meeting a dearth of utility clothes and a glut of dearer priced non-utility garments; and whether he will take action to counteract this.

I am aware that utility clothing sells rapidly while high-priced non-utility garments tend to remain in the shops. Steps are being taken to increase the proportion of cloth going into the utility scheme, but it will be some months before the effect of this reaches the shops.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the great shortage of fencing wire and barbed wire in Scotland; and whether additional supplies can be allocated.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. N. Macpherson) on 1st November.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the great shortage of tools in Scotland for the building trade, especially edge tools and boxwood rules; and whether additional supplies can be allocated.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for West Aberdeen (Mr. Thornton-Kemsley) on 2nd November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give particulars, separately for each Colony and Dependency, as to quantities and description of the strategic raw materials supplied to the U.S.A. for stockpiling purposes.

No. It is impossible to distinguish the origin of the various raw materials supplied to the U.S.A. for stockpiling purposes, since these are not supplied by Colonial exporters direct but are supplied to the United States Government from United Kingdom Government stocks or through commercial channels. I cannot, of course, say what proportion of the many colonial products bought in the open market by American buyers ultimately find their way into United States stockpiles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the result of the discussions which have been taking place regarding the construction of a new airport for Nairobi at Embakasi; whether any decision has been taken as to who will meet the cost; whether His Majesty's Government is resolved to maintain the existing East African route from Nairobi as the main trunk line for air services with South Africa; and what information he has about the development of an alternative trunk route by way of Algiers and the Congo.

The Kenya Government, in discussions with representatives of His Majesty's Government in June last, said that for financial reasons they could not afford to construct an international airport at Embakasi but would raise no objection if His Majesty's Government were prepared to bear the major share of the cost of such an airport. The question of the need for a new airport at Nairobi is now under consideration by my noble Friend the Minister of Civil Aviation as part of a general review of the development of imperial trunk routes in Africa, including the possibilities of the route to South Africa via North and West Africa. Pending the completion of this review it is not possible to answer the third part of the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent new agricultural machinery is to form part of Marshall aid from the U.S.A.; and whether he will ensure that such machinery has priority over imports of armaments.

We now expect to be able to continue importing all the parts needed to keep existing machines running, and in addition to import a small number of certain types of machine of which United Kingdom supplies are deficient. I am satisfied that we are obtaining a reasonable share of the United States supplies of agricultural machinery and in these circumstances the second part of the question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why only 10 days' notice was given to German ex-prisoners wishing to remain here after 1948. to find farmers who would billet and employ them; and whether he will give further consideration to the cases of men likely to suffer hardship through not having been able to comply with these requirements.

Although the original announcement gave only about 10 days' notice, agricultural executive committees were later instructed to consider all applications received by 23rd October, more than five weeks after the original notice. No further extension could be given, even if that were desirable, without endangering the repatriation arrangements. As regards the latter part of the Question, my hon. Friend will have seen the reply given by the Lord President of the Council to my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 21st September last.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the scale of rations provided for displaced persons in the camp near Ladybank, Fife; and what wages and/or maintenance allowances are paid.

The European volunteer workers employed in agriculture and resident in Annsmuir Camp, Ladybank, Fife, receive rations on the scale allowed to Category A Industrial Group establishments. The agricultural workers and the domestic staff are paid in accordance with the minimum and overtime rates of wages prescribed in the orders of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board and of the Industrial and Staff Canteen Undertakings Wages Board respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the approximate percentage of the population of Scotland that has joined the National Health Service.

Approximately 94 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total numbers of doctors and dentists in Scotland; and the numbers of each who have joined the National Health Service.

It is estimated that there are some 2,400 doctors and some 1,200 dentists in general practice in Scotland; 2,364 doctors and 1,124 dentists have joined the Service.

asked the Minister of Education who are the members of the Committee for the Education of Poles; what are the qualifications of each member; and how were they selected.

Following are the names of the members of the Committee, with particulars in each case. They were appointed by the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself, after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and others concerned.COMMITTEE FOR THE EDUCATION OF POLES IN GREAT BRITAINSir George Gater, G.C.M.G.. K.C.B., D.S.O.,

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the functions of fighter control units; and whether he is satisfied with the recruiting for them.

Fighter Control Units, which were formerly called Air Defence Units, are part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Their function in war would be twofold: to detect by radar and to plot and report movements of enemy aircraft; and to control the operation of fighter aircraft. In their first function their work and that of the Royal Observer Corps is complementary. They are a key part of the defence of the United Kingdom and the work of Fighter Command, Anti-Aircraft Command and the Civil Defence organisation depends on them. They must therefore be fully manned and prepared to go into action as trained teams at the very outset of an emergency.Recruiting, which is open to both men and women in a large number of trades, has only recently started on a full scale. Results so far are encouraging but there is a long way to go before the target of 20,000 is reached, and volunteers, particularly from among those who had experience of this type of work in the war, are urgently required.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will publish a list of the foodstuffs which continue to be distributed to shopkeepers on the basis of the trade they were doing in 1938.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can give the number of road accidents, air accidents and main line rail accidents, respectively, during 1947, together with the number of killed and injured.

The reports on road accidents submitted to my Department by the police relate to deaths and injuries and I regret that information as to the number of road accidents is not available. In 1947, 4,881 persons were killed and

Except for rationed and certain imported points rationed foods, allocation at the retail stage is not controlled by my Department and I regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member is not, therefore, available. It may be taken, however, that excluding the items mentioned, most manufacturers and most wholesalers still relate distribution to shopkeepers in some degree to the amount of business done before the war.

asked the Minister of Food the proportion of each of the rationed foodstuffs going to commercial catering establishments, canteens, etc. school meals, institutions and the domestic ration, respectively.

Rationed foodstuffs entering civilian consumption in the first quarter of 1948, excluding any quantities authorised to manufacturers and trade users, were allocated in approximately the following proportions:161,318 injured in road accidents. There were 1,381 train accidents on the main line railways involving 121 deaths and 1,328 injuries; in addition, 268 persons were killed and 6,907 injured in accidents connected with the movement of trains on these railways. I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Civil Aviation that there were 81 notifiable aircraft accidents, including accidents which occurred outside the United Kingdom, to aircraft registered in the United Kingdom, in which 93 persons were killed and 98 injured.