asked the President of the Board of Trade the total cost of factory buildings, with services, which have been built by the Government finance in the Development Areas; and the number of people at present employed in these factories.

Since the passing of the Distribution of Industry Act, total expenditure to 30th September, 1948, on new buildings ready for production at that date was about £12½ million and an additional £2½ million had been spent on conversion of surplus Government factories to industrial use. Total employment at the same date was 22,300 in the new factories and 33,900 in the converted surplus factories.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factories in Scottish Industrial Estates are untenanted.

There are three completed factories which are untenanted. In addition 20 factories being built in advance of demand and at various stages of construction have yet to be allocated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a list of all the goods that have already been delivered to this country by the U.S.S.R. under Article IV (2) (c) of the Trade and Payments Agreement.

Article IV of the Anglo-Soviet Trade and Payments Agreement does not refer to current trade, for which provision is made elsewhere in the Agreement, but to arrangements for future trade. Discussions about future trade are still continuing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why licences for the importation of U.S. bookbinding machinery have been granted when a British firm, of which he has been informed, is able to offer quick delivery of similar machinery produced in this country.

I canot trace the issue, after February, 1947, of any import licence for the type of machinery in which the firm referred to by the hon. Member is interested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the New Zealand Government's recent restrictions on pottery imports will have the effect of cutting the volume of pottery goods which Britain can export to New Zealand down to 8 per cent. of the amount exported in 1938; and, as these restrictions will prevent some firms from fulfilling any export orders to New Zealand for 18 months, what steps he is taking to protect our pottery exports.

The New Zealand Government's programme of import licences for 1949, which of course reflects their policy of keeping their imports within the limits of their current earnings of exchange, provides for a reduction in imports of pottery, although I am not in a position to state the percentage for United Kingdom exports in relation to 1938. I understand that the matter is being considered by the New Zealand Government, and I shall be happy to let the hon. Member have further information as soon as it is available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what controls apply to the production and distribution of washing cloths; and why they are not usually available in chemists' shops but are sold by street vendors and in open air markets in London.

The use of rationed cloth for the manufacture of face cloths, or washing cloths, was prohibited under the Miscellaneous Textiles (Manufacture and Supply) Directions, 1942, but some manufacture was permitted under licence. The Miscellaneous Textiles Directions were revoked on 15th November last, since then there has been no control specifically directed to the production of face cloths; manufacturers of these goods must, however, comply with the provisions of the Rationing Order when acquiring the cloth from which these goods are made. At no time have the channels of distribution for face cloths been subject to control.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why by SJ., 1948, No. 2473, he has forbidden postage stamps to be sent to the Faroe Islands without a licence.

Export licences are now required for sending postage stamps of philatelic interest to the Faroe Islands because the islands have now ceased to be included in the sterling area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that unemployment is rising in those industries in which jute is used as a raw material; and what steps he is taking to increase the import of this article.

I am aware that supplies of jute yarn, cloth and bags to industries using them have had to be curtailed though in most cases this curtailment is relatively small. It is mainly due to the fact that the jute crop in India and Pakistan has been smaller than expected and is insufficient to meet the needs of all consuming countries. I am pursuing with the Governments of the respective countries the question of obtaining further supplies of jute and jute goods for export to the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that suppliers of rust-proof oil, suitable for farm machinery, are allowed to buy empty one-gallon tins, but that it is illegal for them to fill them with lubricating oil for re-sale; and what action he proposes to take to remove this anomaly.

The purpose of the existing restrictions on the use of particular sizes of containers for particular purposes is to effect economies in the use of plate which is in short supply. The restrictions are at present under review by a Committee of the British Standards Institute representing manufacturers and packing interests from which I expect in due course to receive recommendations. No doubt they will be considering the sizes of containers for the oil to which he refers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what persons are authorised by him to sign on behalf of the Board and for what purposes, respectively; and what Statutory Instruments require his personal signature.

There are provisions in Acts of Parliament and Regulations made thereunder to the effect that anything required to be done by the Board of Trade may be done by any Secretary, Under-Secretary or Assistant Secretary or any person authorised in that behalf by the President. As a matter of administrative procedure, however, Statutory Instruments are signed by the President, a Parliamentary Secretary, the Permanent Secretary or a Second Secretary, with the exception of certain instruments relating to enemy property, companies, export licensing and import licensing, which are signed by the responsible Under-Secretary or by a Second Secretary or the Permanent Secretary. Directions, licences and other subordinate instruments which apply only to specified firms or persons are signed by such officers as are specifically authorised by the President from time to time to do so. Orders made under the Goods and Services (Price Control) Acts must, under the provisions of those Acts, be signed by the President or a Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the basis of compensation paid to the retailers in the licensing trade when the Carlisle Scheme was introduced.

The compensation to licence holders in the Carlisle district for loss of their business owing to the acquisition of their premises by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) was assessed on the same basis as the tenant's share of the compensation paid in respect of the non-renewal of an old on-licence. Section 20 of the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910, requires that in the case of the holder of a licence regard shall be had not only to his legal interest in the premises or trade fixtures, but also to his conduct and the length of time during which he has been the holder of the licence, and provides that, if a tenant, he shall in no case receive a less amount than he would be entitled to as a tenant from year to year. In Carlisle most of the license holders held under brewery companies are tied tenants subject to three months' notice. Stocks and furnishings were taken over at an agreed valuation in each case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been spent on building and reconditioning State-management premises, respectively, in the Carlisle area during the periods 1923 to 1939, 1940 to 1945, 1946 to the latest available date, respectively.

The expenditure on additions and improvements to properties in the Carlisle State management district in the periods in question was as follows:

1st April, 1923, to 31st March, 1939.—£278,862.

1st April, 1939, to 31st March, 1945.—£38,070.

1st April, 1945, to 31st March, 1948.—£29,260.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new buildings, destined for the consumption on the premises of exercise-able liquor, have been built in the Carlisle State-management area in the period from 1923 to 1939 and from September, 1945, to the present time, respectively; and how many similar premises were demolished or ceased to be used for that purpose during the same periods.

The number of buildings erected or adapted or so extensively reconstructed as in effect to constitute new buildings in the Carlisle State management district in the period from 1923 to 1939 was 20. In the period from September, 1945, to the present time the number is nil. As regards the second part of the Question the number of premises in which the sale of liquor for on-consumption was carried on in 1923 was 192: at 31st March, 1948, it was 175, a nett reduction of 17.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider introducing a special certificate for experiments performed on monkeys under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, as in the case of cats and dogs.

I have no power to require such a certificate.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons are on waiting list for houses built by local authorities.

The information is not available, but I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular recently sent to housing authorities.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish a monthly housing return, giving the number of houses which have been put to contract and commenced.

No. I consider the present arrangements for quarterly publication of this information are sufficient.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been built by local authorities and by private builders, respectively, for the use of farm workers since 1st January, 1948.

Full general information is given in the Housing Return and I cannot see my way to add to these statistics. The information relating to private enterprise houses is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the hardship caused to those looking for accommodation, especially in the London area, by the premium system practised in connection with the letting of flats; and whether he contemplates legislative action to make premiums completely illegal.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the text of the Bill on rent control referred to in the Gracious Speech.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consult organisations representing property owners before introducing the Bill for the improvement of existing dwellings.

No. But I am ready to consider any representations which they may care to make.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that rural district councils are pooling with other housing subsidy receipts the special subsidy paid to them for council houses let to agricultural workers; and what action he proposes to take, as this is contrary to the intention of Parliament when the special agricultural subsidy was provided.

Yes. This matter is within the discretion of local authorities, and I am not empowered to intervene.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now make arrangements to relax the present restrictions affecting the owners of war-destroyed houses in respect of which a value payment has been agreed, so as to remove the present disadvantage of such owners as compared with those who are able to replace houses in respect of which a cost of works settlement has been made.

It is within the discretion of a local authority to issue licences for the erection of houses for private individuals up to one-fifth of their allocation and I have no doubt that careful consideration is given to any application of the kind in question. The total number of houses which can be built is limited by the labour and materials available, it would not, therefore, be possible to issue additional licences for this type of house.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make special provisions for the re-housing of those families which through lack of residential or other qualifications are not now entered upon the re-housing list of any local authority.

I have asked my Central Housing Advisory Committee to consider what further advice should be given to local authorities on the allocation of their tenancies.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that under the provisions of the Lunacy Act, 1890, as amended by the National Health Service Act, 1946, a person can be seized and removed to a mental hospital against the wishes of the appropriate relative, but must be subsequently discharged on the direction of that relative, unless the patient is both dangerous and unfit to be at large; and what steps he is taking to correct this contradiction in the Act which is causing unnecessary distress.

The amendment effected by the National Health Service Act enlarged the powers of discharge. The operation of these provisions will be carefully observed with a view to obviating anomalies when amending legislation can be undertaken.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that the interests of the public and patients are sufficiently safeguarded by the provisions of Section 74 of the Lunacy Act, 1890.

I am satisfied that, in general, the safeguards provided by the Section in question are adequate. But in view of a recent case to which the hon. Member has drawn attention, the point has been noted for consideration when amending legislation is undertaken.

asked the Minister of Health how many children die each year from bovine tuberculosis; and what evidence has he as to the primary causes of this disease.

About 450 die in England and Wales each year, usually infected by consuming raw milk.

asked the Minister of Health which of the deaths registered in 1947 as due to vaccinia or in regard to which vaccination was mentioned on the death certificate were due to postvaccinal encephalitis; and what was the cause of the other deaths in this category and the ages in each case.

The 13 deaths registered in 1947 as due to vaccinia or in regard to which vaccination was mentioned on the certificate were assigned in the General Register Office as follows:

Post vaccinal encephalitis: 4, age 1 month, 7 months, 3 years and 35 years.

Vaccinia: 1, age 6 months.

Other sequelae of vaccination: 3, age 4 months, 5 months and 14 years.

Disseminated sclerosis: 1, age 31 years.

Encephalitis of unknown origin: 1, age 9 months.

Gastro-enteritis: 1, age 5 months.

Broncho-Pneumonia: 1, age 5 months.

Whooping cough: 1, age 5 months.

asked the Minister of Health whether in view of the pressure of work on doctors, the long waiting in doctors' waiting-rooms and the formal nature of the certificates involved, he will remove the necessity for patients requiring to have their eyes tested by opticians to obtain doctors' certificates saying so.

This requirement was instituted in the light of advice received from the medical profession and I should not feel justified in abolishing it except on professional advice.

asked the Minister of Health what is the approximate cost of an individual Medresco hearing aid, including the proper proportion of the cost of development, research, distribution and fitting.

It would be impossible to assess the items in the last part of the Question, and therefore no useful total figure can be given.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement on the progress made in connection with the adaptation of the Rhydlafar Hospital for civilian purposes.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement but I will communicate with my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to a recent explosion in the operating theatre of the Southend General Hospital, caused by a defective anaesthetic machine, causing the death of a patient; and what steps are taken to ensure that such machinery is in perfect order before an operation is commenced.

Yes. I am inquiring fully into this accident, which I deeply regret, but am unable at present to suggest its cause. Anaesthetic machines are subject to regular technical inspection.

asked the Minister of Health why a person insured under the Act who elects to remain a private patient of a doctor who is taking part in the State service is debarred from receiving pharmaceutical drugs and appliances free of charge under the Act.

Such a doctor would have no responsibility for observing the general conditions which govern prescribing at public expense.

asked the Minister of Health what were the average amounts earned by ophthalmic specialists, surgical specialists, medical specialists, general medical practitioners, dentists and opticians, respectively, during their first quarter's work under the National Health Service.

The information asked for by the hon. Member is not available and could only be obtained by calling for detailed returns which I do not think are justified.

asked the Minister of Health if he will issue a circular to local executive councils in the National Health Service asking them to arrange for dentists in the service to keep a certain time each day free from appointments so as to be able to deal with emergency cases.

I am considering with the dental organisations what can be done on the lines of my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the cause of the strike that now holds up progress upon factories being constructed for Welsh estates; and whether he contemplates initiating some efforts to bring it to an end.

The strike followed the discharge of certain workmen by a firm and it later extended as a result of sympathetic action. I am informed that a settlement has now been reached between the firm and the union concerned in the discharges, and that this will enable work to be resumed generally.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Government training centres are now operated by his Department; how many of these are emergency training centres; what is the total number of staff, showing separately those engaged on instructional work; how many trainees are receiving instruction; and whether any substantial changes are proposed.

Thirty-one Government training centres, including the Oldham Cotton Centre, are now in operation; none of these is an emergency training centre. The total number of staff in post on the 1st November, 1948, was 1,772 of whom 572 were instructors. The number of trainees receiving instruction was 4,304. No substantial changes are proposed but there is and will be continual adjustment of the numbers of staff to meet changing circumstances.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the scale of rations allowed to Category "A" Industrial Group Establishments; and what are the wages paid to European voluntary workers in accordance with the Industrial and Staff Canteen Undertakings Wages Board decisions.

European volunteer workers wherever employed are allowed the same rations and paid the same wages as are appropriate to British workers.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the present composition and functions of the Cost-of-Living Advisory Committee and when it last met.

The composition of the Committee is as follows:Sir Robert M. Gould, C.B., Chief Industrial Commissioner, Ministry of Labour and National Service (Chairman);Professor R. G. D. Allen, O.B.E., Professor of Statistics, London University;Mr. O. W. Cromwell, representing the British Employers' Confederation;Representative of the Trades Union Congress General Council;Mr. J. A. Hough, M.A., representing the Co-operative Movement;Mrs. T. Cazalet Keir;Sir Frederick Leggett, C.B.;

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury for what reason is the special extra duty allowance of 8 per cent. granted to established administrative officers in Government offices in the London area withheld from senior temporary assistants and temporary assistants, known as temporary executives, in the various Government offices, who work not less than the same number of hours per week, but who are paid only 3 per cent. in respect of additional hours above standard attendance; and will he recognise the hours of attendance of these temporary executives by granting them equal treatment.

The excess hours of temporary executive staff are only 3.3 per cent. in excess of their conditioned hours of 44 a week and this accounts for the smaller allowance paid to them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give the amount of petrol allocated to the Central Office of Information Film Service in October, 1947, and the comparable figure for October, 1948; and if he is satisfied that this Department is effecting every possible economy in the use of petrol.

9,013 gallons were used in October, 1947, and 10,262 gallons in October, 1948. The main reason for the increase is that more of the non-theatrical film shows by the mobile projection vans were given in the remoter parts of the country. The Central Office of Information is effecting every possible economy in the use of petrol.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times the National Investment Council has met this year; and the date of the last meeting.

The Council has not met since October, 1947.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if be will now make a statement on the recent Anglo-Italian financial negotiations.

These negotiations were successfully concluded on 26th November. The Italian Government have agreed to introduce measures to ensure that quotations for sterling and for dollars on the Italian market shall be in relation to one another at the rate of $4.03 to £1. A new Anglo-Italian Sterling Payments Agreement co-terminous with the Agreement for European Payments and Compensations has been concluded. Italy will re-enter the transferable account area. A preliminary examination of the probable balance of payments between Italy and the sterling area for 1949 suggested that trade should attain a somewhat higher turnover in 1949 than in 1948.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken to extend or replace the Andes Agreement with the Argentine Government.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 8th November to a Question by the hon. Member for Moseley (Sir P. Hannon).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that some Gurkha Subahdars serving in Malaya are obliged to pay British rates of Income Tax on their pay; and whether these arrangements can be reviewed.

These men are members of the British Army and as such are liable to United Kingdom tax on their Service pay wherever they are serving.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the future trading accounts and balance sheets of the Ministry of Food, deliberately incurred losses arising from basic food subsidies will be separated from the profit or loss resulting from trading.

No. It is not practicable to make the distinction suggested.

asked the Minister of Education under what authority 2,700 Polish students are receiving maintenance allowances while attending British universities and technical colleges, the Polish university college and other Polish institutions; how those students are selected: and what is the total cost.

The authority for the grant of these maintenance allowances is Section 6 of the Polish Resettlement Act, 1947, which authorises the Minister of Education to provide for the Poles such services as a local education authority, or the Minister of Education, is authorised to provide under the Education Acts. The great majority of the Polish students who have received these allowances are ex-Service men and women, and the awards given them are based upon the same conditions as the awards to men and women who have served in the United Kingdom forces. A small proportion are civilian students eligible for grants under the Act. Their selection is the responsibility of the Committee for the Education of Poles in Great Britain. The cost of the maintenance grants to Polish students for the first seven months of the current financial year, that is for the period ending 31st October, 1948, was approximately £393,000.

asked the Minister of Education whether it is possible for free dinners to be provided for children attending schools outside the area covered by the responsible local education committee; and whether assistance can be given towards the cost of transport.

In maintained schools and direct grant grammar schools the dinner payment should be reduced or remitted altogether in case of need. The provision of transport is governed by Section 55 of the Education Act, 1944.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities have implemented Circular 97 on the provision of outside assistance in the school meals service; whether he is satisfied with the progress made in the implementation of this circular; and what steps is he taking to ensure its full implementation in letter and in spirit.

I have no up-to-date figures, but I am satisfied that most authorities have taken steps to implement Circular 97. I am prepared to take up any instance brought to my notice where adequate assistance is not being provided.

asked the Minister of Education how many children, aged two to five years, there are in Wales; how many nursery schools have been provided in Wales; where they are situated; how many children are attending them; whether he is aware of the great demand for further schools: and what proposals and plans he has for their erection.

The number of children in Wales, including Monmouth-shire, between the ages of two and five years, is not known exactly but is about 116,000. There are 34 nursery schools in Wales: these are situated in the Counties of Brecon (1), Flint (1), Glamorgan (12), Monmouth (9), and in the County Boroughs of Cardiff (8), Merthyr Tydfil (1) and Swansea (2). The number of children on the registers of these schools in January, 1948, was 1,870. In addition, there were 24,797 children under five years of age attending classes in primary schools maintained by local education authorities. I am aware of the demand for further nursery school provision, but, except in very special circumstances, I cannot agree to the inclusion of new schools of this kind in the Ministry's building programme until more urgent demands have been met.

asked the Minister of Education when he will be in a position to send a considered reply to a letter dated 6th May, 1948, addressed to his Department, from the Weymouth Grammar School Parents' Association.

I am unable to trace the letter referred to. If the noble Lord will send me a copy of it I will look into the matter.

asked the l4inister of Education how many local education authorities have submitted development plans, including projects for comprehensive or multilateral schools, as defined by Circular 144; how many of these projects have been approved; and how many have been rejected or reduced in number.

In reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Mr. Morley) on 15th July. The plans approved contained 16 comprehensive or multilateral school projects which I have accepted and five which I have rejected.

asked the Minister of Education how many student teachers are employed by the Middlesex local education authority; how many of these are unpaid; and whether it is in conformity with his policy for a local education authority to employ student teachers without pay.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None." The other parts of the Question do not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will now abolish the custom whereby chiefs in Basutoland may call out the men of their districts for unpaid agricultural labour.

The Basutoland Council considered this matter at a recent session and recommended various reductions in customary agricultural labour. These recommendations arc at present under consideration by the Resident Commissioner in consultation with the Paramount Chief.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether the Government of Basutoland will examine the possibility of placing the responsibility for the distribution of lands on District Executive Councils.

I will refer the hon. Member's suggestion to the High Commissioner for Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland for consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will consider altering the composition of the Basutoland National Council to consist of equal numbers of elected and nominated members.

The Basutoland Council has recently been reformed and the elected element increased. Under a Proclamation issued last August the new Council includes 18 members elected by the District Councils and six members elected by various Associations. The other members are nominated by the Paramount Chief; they represent the various districts of Basutoland in numbers which are proportionate to the population of the districts. In view of these facts, I think it would be premature to amend the constitution of the Council further so soon after the last reform has been carried through.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps are being taken to staff the lower grades of the public services in Basutoland with Africans; and how many Europeans are now employed in these grades.

Apart from those posts in the public service which have always been held by Africans, 99 posts in categories formerly occupied by Europeans have been filled in recent years by the appointment of Africans. These include such posts as postmasters, revenue clerks, trained nurses, technical school instructors, gaolers, and Public Works Department overseers. It is also intended that Africans should replace Europeans in 62 further posts in similar categories as and when vacancies arise and suitably qualified personnel becomes available. The total number of posts regarded as "lower grades" is 175, of which 107 are held at present by Africans and 68 by Europeans.

asked the Minister of Pensions, in view of the restrictions imposed on private manufacturers of artificial limbs, what steps he is now taking to provide patients under the National Health Service Act, 1946. with artificial limbs.

I am not aware of any restrictions on private manufacturers of artificial limbs. National Health Service patients now have the advantage of the limb service which my Department has been providing hitherto for war pensioners only. The majority of limb makers are now contractors to my Ministry and negotiations are in progress with others who are interested in coming into the supply scheme. Orders have already been placed with some of the makers under contract, both for new limbs and repairs to existing limbs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present accommodation of the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering; whether it is intended that this accommodation should be permanent; how suitable it is for its purpose; and what arrangements are being made for the accommodation of the permanent staff.

The National Institute of Agricultural Engineering is located at Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire. The property, which comprises the house itself, outbuildings, workshops and cottages, and some 225 acres of land, is being adapted to meet the permanent needs of the Institute and is suitable for its purpose. Most married members of the staff live in prefabricated bungalows let by the Ampthill Rural District Council or in cottages or houses in the grounds of Wrest Park. Living quarters for 88 persons are also available within the grounds for unmarried members of the staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs with what countries have trading agreements been concluded by the Joint Import-Export Agency of the Anglo-U.S. bizone of Germany.

Trade and payments agreements have been concluded with India, Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Uruguay. Agreements with Austria, Czechoslovakia, Egypt and France have been initialled, though not yet signed.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what are the prospects of pneumatic stowage or any other method of stowage being used in the removal of pit tips and the prevention of their formation.

I am informed by the National Coal Board that owing to the additional cost normally involved, the adoption of pneumatic or other mechanical methods of stowing is at present only justified in very special circumstances.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to ensure that the accounts of the National Coal Board whose financial year ends on 31st December are presented to the House as soon as possible.

The National Coal Board are under a statutory obligation to send me their annual report and audited statement of accounts as soon as possible after the end of each financial year. As regards the arrangements for printing and presentation, I can assure the hon. Member that there will be no avoidable delay.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the voluntary arrangements for the limitation of factors' charges, if he is satisfied that there are no charges being made for such services, in excess of the 1s. 6d. per ton, maximum; and what arrangements he has to keep him informed of the actual conditions of this section of the coal distributive trade.

Under the Wholesale Coal Prices Order, 1941, the factors' margin on any class of coal trade is limited to that obtained on comparable business in 1939. Nearly all the factors engaged in the House coal trade, however, agreed to operate a voluntary scheme sponsored by the Chamber of Coal Traders under which this margin was not in any case to exceed 1s. 6d. per ton on house coal. No formal machinery for the systematic ascertainment of factors' charges exists, but I am always prepared to consider and investigate any complaint that charges are excessive and I am in fact having further inquiries made into the case about which my hon. Friend has written to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been spent on building or reconditioning State management premises, respectively, in the Gretna area during the periods 1923 to 1939, 1940 to 1945 and 1946 to the latest available date, respectively.

The following is the information asked for:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new buildings, destined for the sale of excise-able liquor, have been built in the Gretna State management area in the period from 1923 to 1939 and in the period from the end of the last war to the present time, respectively; and how many similar premises were demolished or ceased to be used for that purpose during the same periods.

The following is the information asked for:—

asked the Attorney-General the number of divorce petitions filed; the decrees absolute granted; the number of judicial separation petitions received; and the number of cases in which the King's Proctor intervened in the last period for which statistics are available.

In 1947 there were filed 47,041 petitions for divorce; 58,041 decrees absolute were granted. One hundred and forty-nine petitions for judicial separation were received. The King's Proctor intervened in altogether 30 cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when is it expected that the Zaria-Kano section of the Nigerian Railway will be relaid so as to carry the heavy locomotives and rolling-stock; how many of these engines have been delivered and how many wagons; how many more of each type are under construction; and when will they be delivered.

The re-laying of the Zaria-Kano section of the Nigerian Railways with 60 lb. rails has already begun. About 90 miles of track is involved, and delivery of materials has been promised at a rate which will permit of four miles of track being relaid per month. This work is being done in the ordinary course of track overhaul and sufficient special-type light engines are available to work trains over this section of the line.Thirty-four heavy locomotives have been supplied to the Nigerian Railways since the 1st January, 1946. Fourteen were made in Canada. Twenty were Vulcan locomotives shipped from the United Kingdom last April. These are being used to full capacity on other sections of the line. In addition, 52 locomotives of a similar type are now on order in this country. Delivery of the first batch of four of these is due at the works in December. Thereafter: delivery is planned at the rate of four locomotives in each of the first four months of 1949 followed by two each in May, June and July, and one in August. Delivery will be resumed in November with eight locomotives followed by four in December, and two each in January and February, 1950. This will complete deliveries against the first order for 43 locomotives. Deliveries against a subsequent order for nine more locomotives of the same type are planned to begin in August, 1950, and be completed in the following December. Ten more main line locomotives are on order in Canada and delivery is expected to be made at the end of the first quarter of next year. Fifty hopper wagons have been delivered. There are 571 other wagons on order, most of which are bogie covered goods wagons. The wagons are due to be delivered at intervals over the next 18 months, commencing in December, 1948. In addition, 384 bodies for covered wagons are due for delivery over the period May, 1949, to September, 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present tonnage of groundnuts now lying awaiting transport at Kano; what is the daily rate of despatch to the coast by rail; how many tons of last season's crop are as yet not moved; what is the anticipated tonnage of the new season's crop; what is the price fixed for the producer delivered at rail head; and how does this compare with the price paid last year.

There are some 135,000 tons of 1947–48 crop groundnuts at Kano and other railing points in Northern Nigeria. In addition, up to 18th November, 68,500 tons of the 1948–49 crop had been purchased. The present average daily rate of railings, including groundnuts from French territory, is about 1,000 tons. The 1948–49 crop in Northern Nigeria is estimated at 350,000 tons. The price to the producer is £19 4s. per ton naked ex scale at railway buying stations, as compared with £16 for the 1947–48 crop.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the estimated total value of foreign investments in Malaya; and how much of this has been provided by U.S. capital.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet in a position to state what was the war record of Mohamed Ali bin Ramli executed in Malaya in August.

Mohamed Ali bin Ramli did not serve in any force during the war.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet been informed what were the names of the persons in respect of whose arrest the Government of the Malayan Federation offered a reward of 120,000 Straits dollars; what was the war record of each of these men; and which of them were invited to take part in the Victory Parade in London as representatives of the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army.

The names of the 12 men concerned are: Chian Tien alias Kau Chye alias Lau Kau, Lau Mah, Ong Chien Hwa, Soon Voon Keng, Pai Tze Moke, Wong Ching, Teng Fook Leong, Choo Ah Kong, Pang Kun Yin, Fong Choon Loy, Lee Soong alias Chuah Siew Ngan and Wu Tien Wang. The first eight are reported to have served in the M.P.A.J.A. in various capacities. The war records of the four others are not known, but the last three are thought to have been members of that organisation. The first seven attended the Victory Parade in London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds it was decided to withhold from the Malayan Governors the pre-war power to compel the registration of secret societies.

There is no foundation for the suggestion that powers were withheld. In Singapore the pre-war legislation is in force, with an amendment which allows the Governor in Council to make orders excluding political associations from the operation of the Ordinance. In the Malayan Union (now the Federation of Malaya) after the liberation, the Government, with my approval and on the advice of the Advisory Council, enacted an Ordinance removing the requirement that every society must apply and be accepted for registration before it could function lawfully, and giving the Governor (now the High Commissioner) in Council power to declare any society unlawful. I am informed that in practice this has proved generally as effective as the pre-war legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the High Commissioner for the Malayan Federation first asked for the restoration of the pre-war powers of banishment; how many months elapsed before restricted powers of banishment were given to him; and why full powers were only restored after the campaign of terrorism had started.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Sir P. Macdonald) on 17th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his conversations with Dato Onn bin Ja'afar, President of the United Malay Nationalist Organisation.

I welcomed the opportunity of Dato Onn's presence in this country for a frank and cordial exchange of views, in the course of which I expressed His Majesty's Government's appreciation of the part played by the Malays in combating the present outbreak of banditry in Malaya. I am consulting the High Commissioner about various matters raised by Dato Onn in these discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what agreement has been reached with regard to the insurance of Malayan property arising from the insurrection in Malaya.

The granting of riot and civil commotion covers and the settlement of claims under such covers arising out of disturbances in Malaya are matters which rest within the discretion of individual insurers. It is understood, however, that, provided the situation does not deteriorate, riot and civil commotion cover will continue to be available and it is reasonable to assume that, in the absence of such deterioration, claims will be settled as in the past, with or without admission of liability, as the circumstances of each case would appear to dictate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply he has sent or proposes to send to the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, British Guiana, who have protested against the imposition of the Control of Prices Order on the grounds that the new prices were fixed by a secret committee without full consultation with the trades concerned; and if he is aware that any changes in prices cannot possibly be made by 1st December without severe dislocation of trade.

I have asked the Governor to inform the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce that I see no reason to intervene in this matter. The President of the Chamber was himself a member of the Committee on whose recommendations the Control of Prices Order was based. One month's notice of the price changes was given, and I am assured that this is quite sufficient for the remarking of goods.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that the United State geologists and geodetic engineers to be employed in East and Central Africa will be carrying out work which can be of military value, he will state what security measures he is taking to ensure that no reports or information are imparted to a foreign Power.

The United States geologists and geodetic engineers to be employed in East and Central Africa will work as part of the Colonial Geological Survey Service and the Directorate of Colonial Surveys, and will accordingly be subject to the general regulations regarding security and to the laws of the territory in which they are operating.