asked the President of the Board of Trade the figures of increased production, number of operatives and additional looms in operation, resulting from the Darwen Textile Production Campaign; whether his Department favours such campaigns; and whether he will stress their desirability to other Lancashire textile towns.

During the 12 weeks of this campaign the number of looms running in Darwen rose from 7,240 to 8,235, an increase of 13.71 per cent. and the number of weavers from 1,786 to 2,000, an increase of 12 per cent. The Darwen Production Committee did not include figures of actual output in the basis on which they organised the campaign. I would like to take this opportunity of congratulating the Production Committee and the people of Darwen on these excellent results and of emphasising again, my conviction as to the great good which such campaigns can do.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what amount of raw cotton was imported from the U.S.S.R. in the last convenient period of three months; and how much it is planned to import during the next six months.

No raw cotton has been imported from the Soviet Union since July, 1947. According to indications recently given by the Soviet authorities, none is likely to be available during the next six months.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the considerable nuisance to the people in the Kennington district arising from the quantities of black smoke emitted by the chimneys of the Marmite Food Extract works in Kennington, and in view of the representations made by both the London County Council and the Lambeth Borough Council about this nuisance, he will either allocate supplies of good quality coal for burning in this factory or allow them to use oil fuel for which the company have agreed to make provision and so obviate a nuisance which is the cause of much complaint and discomfort locally.

One of my fuel engineers has visited this factory several times during the past few months and has recommended certain modifications to the plant which should enable the factory to use the mixture of graded and small coal hitherto supplied without causing smoke nuisance. As however these modifications cannot be carried out immediately, arrangements have been made meanwhile to supply only graded coal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that women office cleaners employed by Government Departments receive a maximum of 1s. 8¾d. per hour and messengers between£4 9s. and£4 15s. a week; that these rates of pay are inadequate, in view of the steady increase in the cost of living; and when it is proposed to accede to the union claim for an increase of 3d. an hour for cleaners and 10s. a week for the messengers.

This claim is under discussion with the Civil Service Union. A further meeting with the staff representatives will be held very shortly and I hope a settlement will be reached.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a directive that all Departments of State shall give in their annual accounts the total number of industrial and other staff which they employ and propose to employ during the next financial year.

In so far as they are not already doing so, Departments have been instructed to include this information in future in their annual Estimates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total national expenditure on armaments and the Armed Forces between the world wars.

From 1922 to 1934, both inclusive, the net expenditure on defence remained at a fairly constant level and amounted to approximately£1,458 million, or an average of£112 million per annum. In the next four years covering the rearmament period, expenditure on defence (including£193 million met from issues under the Defence Loan Act. 1937) amounted to£968 million, making a total for the whole period of£2,426 million. This excludes the transitional years immediately following the first world war, and the year 1939 in which the second began.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Civil Departments furnished their Appropriation and Trading Accounts for 1946–47 to the Comptroller and Auditor General after 30th November, 1947; and what action he is taking to impress upon Departments the desirability of presenting such accounts by the statutory date.

Fifteen Civil Departments furnished Appropriation Accounts for 1946–47 to the Comptroller and Auditor General after 30th November, 1947, and five Civil Departments furnished Trading Accounts after that date. The late rendering of Accounts was referred to in the Second Report of the Public Accounts Committee for 1947–48. The Treasury intend to impress on Departments, in circulating the Treasury Minute on that Report, the necessity of presenting Accounts by the statutory date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrears of tax were outstanding at the latest convenient date.

The hon. Member will find the latest available information in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Inland Revenue Appropriation Accounts for the accounting year 1946–47. Information for 1947–48 will appear in the Appropriation Accounts for that year which will be available early next year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the expenses of the National Savings Committee for the year ended 31st October, 1948; and what percentage were these expenses of the net savings.

The answer to the first part of the Question is about£1,100,000. In reply to the second part, the net savings recorded in the same period amounted to£117 million, but it would not be correct to calculate the former figure as a percentage of the latter.

asked the Minister of Health what steps have been taken to ensure that every knacker's yard is licensed by the local authority concerned.

I have no reason to think that the Food and Drugs Act is not being enforced. But if the hon. and gallant Member has information otherwise, perhaps he will let me have it to investigate.

asked the Minister of Health what happen to the horses, cows and sheep after they have been used for the manufacture and production of vaccines, sera, anti-toxins and similar materials, at the various premises licensed by his Department under the powers of the Therapeutic Substances Act, 1925; and, when the carcases are sold for food purposes whether animal or human, what steps are taken to secure that they are free from disease and are otherwise fit for use as food.

My own powers extend only to the standards of the therapeutic products in these cases.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that there exists in the Perry Barr ward of Birmingham sufficient doctors to cater adequately for the needs of the residents therein.

No complaints have been received from anyone resident in Perry Barr about difficulty in securing acceptance by a doctor, with the exception of one lady who has now been accepted.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to provide for the supply free of charge of medicines and drugs prescribed by school medical officers at school clinics.

I understand that medicines supplied at a school clinic would be supplied without charge. If the school medical officer thinks a pupil requires other medicines, he can refer the patient to his National Health Service doctor, who could prescribe for free supply under the Service.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in supplying X-ray equipment to hospitals in the National Health Service; and how many hospitals are without diagnostic apparatus.

179 diagnostic X-ray units have been so supplied, under the arrangements for central provision; some types can now be supplied from stock. Information on the second point is not available, but all hospitals have been asked to state their needs.

asked the Minister of Health why the Royal Eye Hospital, Southwark, has been closed.

The admission of inpatients, except emergencies, has been suspended while the causes of an infection are being identified and removed.

asked the Minister of Health why there are differences in the scales of pay between men and women administrative officers in the National Health Service.

The differences are being abolished.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of the doctors who have signed on as general practitioners under the National Health Service Act, 1946, have been placed on the Special Obstetric List at the higher scale of remuneration; and whether this percentage is uniform throughout the country.

Not all the lists are yet available, so I have not yet got this information.

asked the Minister of Health what have been the number of dismissals from the Dental Estimates Board, Eastbourne, during the last six weeks; what were the reasons for the dismissals and the length of notice given to those dismissed; whether he is satisfied that those dismissed have received fair treatment; and whether he will institute a full inquiry into the administration of the Board.

I understand that the number was 90, that the reason was unsuitability for the work, and that in 83 cases four weeks or one month's pay was given instead of notice, while in the remaining seven cases of persons with less than four months service one week's pay was given instead of notice. This action followed a general review of staff transferred from an approved society. I know of no ground for an inquiry on the basis of any alleged unfairness.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons suffering from tuberculosis were awaiting admission to hospital at the last convenient date; and how many having completed treatment were awaiting admission to a convalescent home.

On 30th June, 1948, the number was 9,208. The information referred to in the second part of the Question is not available; but sanatorium treatment is usually followed by medical care in the home and at the dispensary rather than by admission to convalescent institutions.

asked the Minister of Health whether a patient who has purchased a hearing aid instrument is disqualified from receiving a free one at a later date.

No.

asked the Minister of Health whether hearing aid instruments purchased by a patient will be maintained and repaired by the National Health Service.

No.

asked the Minister of Health when the electrical hearing aids referred to in his pamphlet published prior to 5th July, 1948, will be ready; and whether they will be of the same quality as the ones now obtainable privately for£24, particulars of which have been sent to him.

Over 3,000 Medresco hearing aids have already been supplied to patients. I am advised that this aid gives a performance at least as good as that of any commercial aid available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the facts contained in a letter of 18th November from the hon. Member for Colchester about the difficulties of the Colchester direct labour organisation as a result of delay in the approval of tenders; whether he is aware that, in view of the reluctance of private contractors to build for the council, these difficulties may lead to serious consequences for the local housing programme; and whether, pending his consideration of the special report on the administration of the direct labour organisation, he will expedite the granting of tenders for which approval has been sought.

I am aware of Colchester's difficulties. The estimate submitted by the council was too high. They have, however, now submitted a lower figure which has been approved.

asked the Minister of Health what liaison there is between his Department and those of Fuel and Power and Town and Country Planning in connection with the siting of houses in mining areas.

Headquarters and regional committees of representatives of all the Government Departments concerned and the National Coal Board were set up early last year to consider any questions arising in connection with the provision of houses for miners.

asked the Minister of Health the number of new houses let to coal miners during the last six years in the area of the borough of Swansea, in the Llychur Urban District and the Groes Rural District; and what steps he has taken to ensure that local authorities do give effect to the agreed priorities in regard to building and letting of dwelling houses under their control.

Full general figures are given in the Housing Returns and I cannot see my way to add to these statistics. The claims of priorities are kept carefully in mind by the Welsh Board of Health in authorising contracts and watch is kept on the way the local authorities exercise their discretion in the letting of their houses.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the observations of Mr. Justice Streatfield on 19th November in the King's Bench Division, with regard to his circulars, which purported to sub-delegate requisitioning powers, and criticising them as unintelligible and inaccessible to those whose rights were affected; and if he has any statement to make.

I regret that I have not yet had time to consider this judgment.

asked the Minister of Health if he will extend to all new houses the instruction which has been given to local authorities prohibiting the installation of firegrates and stoves of unsatisfactory types.

I am consulting my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works as to the possibility of including a condition to this effect in licences issued for the erection of houses by private developers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the War Damage Commission is only prepared to replace damaged structures as they previously existed and not in accordance with modern by-laws; and whether in approved cases when severe hardship would otherwise be inflicted he is prepared to waive such by-laws.

If work, in addition to mere replacement for which the War Damage Commission are in a position to pay, is necessary to ensure compliance with the building by-laws, I am ready, on application from the local authority concerned, to consider relaxation of the by-laws under the provisions of Section 63 of the Public Health Act, 1936.

asked the Minister of Health how many properties were still requisitioned at the latest convenient date; and what steps he is taking to ensure that requisitioned houses will be released as soon as possible.

The number of properties held under requisition by my Department on 1st November, 1948, was 97,197. Requisitioned houses will be released as speedily as circumstances allow.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an undertaking to inform the county councils of Berkshire and Hampshire of the results of the trial borings at Brimpton made in connection with the Enborne Valley reservoir project as soon as he receives a report and proposals for further work from the Metroplitan Water Board.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Donner) on 4th November.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement on all the circumstances of the caning of a boy, aged 10 years, at the Church of England School, Twyford, on 2nd July, 1948, which resulted in the child being subsequently treated for nervous and disturbed mental condition; and whether he is satisfied that the punishment was in accordance with his regulations.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to an incident which took place at Twyford in Buckinghamshire on 1st July, 1948, and which was the subject of legal proceedings. The parent's action against the head teacher was dismissed. I have no knowledge of any subsequent medical treatment of the boy. The punishment was recorded in the school's punishment book and the requirements of my Department are therefore satisfied.

asked the Minister of Education why he has discriminated against teachers sent to Canada under the exchange scheme last year by denying grants to them in respect of the cost of living, notwithstanding the fact that such grants were made to teachers proceeding to the U.S.A. at the same time and to Canada this year.

Last summer I received information which led me to decide to make a grant to teachers going to Canada on exchange for the present educational year. The 1947–48 exchange teachers had already completed their year of service, which they undertook without expecting any Exchequer grant, and it is impossible to make them a retrospective payment. The exchange of teachers with the United States is conducted under a separate scheme and under conditions which are not altogether comparable.

asked the Minister of Education what action he proposes taking to ensure that the decision not to allow a child to take the General Certificate of Education before the age of 16 does not retard the development of brighter children.

There is nothing in the new examination system itself to retard a bright child's development. The object of the examination is to test a candidate's educational attainment shortly before he or she is ready to enter a university or profession, and by making papers available at three different levels in a pupil's selected subjects it aims to help the able child to develop his full powers on advanced lines as soon as he can profitably do so

asked the Minister of Education how many dentists have left the School Dental Service since 5th July, 1948; and what steps he proposes to take to build up this service.

I have no comprehensive figures, but I am informed that county authorities employing about 600 school dentists have received 36 resignations since last April. There are similar difficulties in the urban areas and the loss in London is particularly heavy. I am making every possible effort, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, to secure a settlement of the salaries of dentists in public employment. Nothing else stands in the way of steadily expanding the School Dental Service until it is quite comprehensive.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that in his advertisement for young women between 21 and 35 to undertake teaching in the national schools, there was no condition that applicants should furnish evidence of previous national or war service; whether, as this has misled applicants, he will correct the advertisement; and will he state what has been the response to it so far.

The advertisements to which the hon. Member refers were necessarily brief and asked women who were interested to apply for further information. The leaflets which were given to all inquirers referred clearly to the requirement of previous national service, and I do not therefore think that any suitable candidates will have been misled on this point. Since the beginning of the recent campaign to recruit additional women for the Emergency Teacher Training Scheme, about 10,000 applications have been received.

asked the Minister of Labour to state the numbers, the highest and lowest figures and giving the dates on which they occurred of persons registered since 1918 as unemployed, stating men, women, boys and girls separately and collectively, and the corresponding figures at the latest known date.

Unemployment was highest on 23rd January, 1933, and lowest on 17th July, 1944. The figures for these dates and for 11th October, 1948, are given in the following Table:

asked the Minister of Labour what is the percentage unemployment rate for Wales as compared with England at the latest known date.

At 14th June, 1948, the rate of unemployment in Wales was 5½ per cent. compared with 1½in England. It will not be possible to compute corresponding rates of unemployment for later dates until the statistics of the industrial population, as shown by the numbers of cards issued under the National Insurance scheme, become available about the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the position in Knoydart.

In view of the conflicting nature of proposals for the development of the resources of the Knoydart Peninsula which have been submitted by different interests in the locality, I have decided, after consultation with the Highlands Advisory Panel, to invite Mr. John Cameron, formerly of the Land Court, to examine the position and to advise on the best means of securing the full development of the resources of the area taking into account the social, economic and financial issues involved. Mr. Cameron will be given details of the various proposals for developing the area which have so far been put forward, but he will be free to hear any representations and to suggest any alternative or modified proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the reasons why Pastor Kulm is detained in Germany by the British authorities at Kiel and is thus prevented from joining his wife and family at Malmö and restarting his work in that town as pastor to the German community there.

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to Pastor Kuhn who was repatriated to Germany in May, 1946, at the request of the Allied Control Authority in Germany on account of his wartime activities in Sweden. The tripartite travel agreement governing the exit of Germans from the three Western zones of Germany only allows the exit of such Germans in the most exceptional circumstances. I am having further inquiries made in the case of Pastor Kuhn, but so far there is no evidence that sufficient grounds exist for giving him exceptional treatment.