asked the Minister of Food what quantities of ingredients for the manufacture of soft drinks have been imported for the 12 months ended 1st July, 1948; and what amount of hard currency is involved.

The imported ingredients used in the manufacture of soft drinks in the year ended 1st July, 1948, were 26,000 tons of sugar, 20,000 tons of fruit juices, 400 tons of citric acid, and 24 tons of essential oils. About £188,000 worth of hard currency was involved.

Does not the Minister think it utterly indefensible that such expenditure should be encouraged for such a purpose, in view of our present necessities?

No, Sir. I think this very moderate expenditure of hard currency is justified.

Is it not a fact that even this modest expenditure of hard currency will be diminished when the new arrangements announced the other day for importing more fruit juice from the West Indies. in the sterling area, are realised?

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider a further reduction of the price of cocoa beans sold by the Government to the chocolate manufacturers, so as to render unnecessary an increased price being charged to the public, in view of the existing low cost of production and the substantial margin of profit being taken by the Government in the price fixed to the manufacturers.

No, Sir, it is surely too soon to consider a further reduction in price, as the present reductions only came into effect on 5th December. The new price is as low as we can reasonably make it at present without running the risk of loss; and retail prices will be going down, not up.

Is it not a very arbitary way of exploiting the consuming public without showing what is really happening? Is not this a monopoly over which there is no public control? No one knows what takes; no one knows whether there is an addition or a subtraction, or what the position is. Could not some facts be given to the public?

There is complete public control over these transactions. They are on public account. I can tell the hon. Member in a word the principle on which they are conducted. They are conducted on the principle that over a period there should be neither a profit nor a loss.

Is it not a fact that a substantial margin of profit is being taken and retained by the Government, but is it not also in accordance with the fact that the money is ultimately going back to the producers in the Colonial territories?

:I think my hon. Friend is referring to the fact that there is a stabilisation fund or something of that sort operating in West Africa, but that is not done by the British Government.

The position needs clarifying.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the present conditions in the slaughterhouse at Newtown, Montgomery; and what steps are being taken to improve conditions at that place.

Proposals for the improvement of this slaughterhouse are being considered by the Ministry of Works. These would include a new entrance to the premises so that animals on arrival may be taken direct to lairage pens without having to pass through a yard in which hides, skins and other by-products await collection.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the remainder of the slaughterhouse will also be improved, in view of the fact that one of the walls is adjacent to a cottage and the blood from the slaughterhouse seeps through to the cottage and causes great inconvenience to the tenants in that cottage?

Yes, I have no doubt that the Ministry of Works have that in mind.

asked the Minister of Food whether arrangements can now be made for young calves to be slaughtered nearer to the grading centres, thereby ensuring that they do not have to endure the hardship of long journeys, standing for long periods and the absence of regular feeding.

The standing instructions to the auctioneers in charge of livestock collecting centres require that any weakly calves purchased for slaughter shall be sent without delay to the nearest slaughterhouse. It is not practicable to do this with all calves, but our local officers are instructed to have full regard to the Transit of Animals Order and to slaughter the calves without delay on arrival.

Is the Minister aware that instructions are really no good? If we have to eat these gentle little things, the Minister must at any rate take precautions to see that their passage to the slaughterhouse is made as easy as possible.

Would it be possible to slaughter fewer calves and so help the stocks of beef?

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the hon. and gallant Member for Totnes recently asked permission from his local food authority to kill a small sheep for consumption by 19 farm workers at their annual harvest home supper and that the request was refused; and on what grounds was this refusal made.

Yes, Sir. A licence to slaughter a sheep is issued only if the meat is to be eaten by the owner's normal household or by his own farm workers during busy seasons of the year.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this was an occasion when agricultural workers gathered together to celebrate the completion of the increased harvest—increased as a result of a year's unrelenting work—and that they were not allowed to eat even an infinitesimal amount of what they themselves had produced?

As I understand it, this was not on an individual farm. It is a very considerable extension if permission is given to farms in general.

Does not a brigadier automatically qualify as a licensed slaughterer?

In view of the very unsatisfactory answer, may I ask the Minister whether he realises that there are two commodities in this country in short supply—coal and food? The coal miner—

That is a long way from this Question. It is an argument.

asked the Minister of Food whether the bacon contract for 1949 with the Canadian authorities has now been completed; and what led to delay in this matter.

There has been no delay in these negotiations, which, as the hon. Member will be aware from a recent announcement. have now been concluded.

If it had been concluded some time ago, would not a lot more bacon have been available to this country?

No, Sir.

Why not?

asked the Minister of Food why deliveries of bacon from Canada will fall short of the agreed quantities; what were the agreed quantities; and what is the expected deficiency.

Owing to a decline in pig production and an increase in consumption of pig meat and pig products in Canada, we do not expect to receive from that country more than 81,000 tons of bacon produced in 1948 against the 100,000 tons we agreed to buy.

I was waiting for the right hon. Gentleman to give the answer to the further part of the Question. Will he answer it? What is the expected deficiency at the end of the year?

The difference between 81,000 tons and 100,000 tons.

I can calculate that for myself; but in view of the fact that there are three weeks left before the end of the year, I should like, before I ask my supplementary question, to know what the deficiency is to be.

That is the estimated deficiency at the end of the year.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the prospects in regard to the agreement which he is making with Canada for supplies in the coming year, and that he will get the supplies according to the stipulated scheme? What steps is he taking to get bacon from other countries, such as Poland?

Roubles or pounds?

In reply to the first part of the supplementary question, the contract has been made for 71,000 tons of. bacon from Canada, which, on the whole, the Canadian authorities believe they will have available. We are taking every step that we can to increase bacon supplies from other sources, including Poland, Denmark, Holland, and many other sources.

Inasmuch as my right hon. Friend said last Wednesday that the cut in the ration was due to the delay in supplies from Canada, may we expect that when the supplies come, the arrears will be worked off, making good the ration that has been decreased in recent weeks? Cannot we get in a little more stock, in order to maintain the meagre ration we are supposed to get already?

We can raise the ration when supplies increase. We cannot keep large stocks of bacon, because that is impracticable for technical reasons.

Is not the solution to the problem an increase in the production of bacon in this country?

That, I am glad to say, is taking place.

asked the Minister of Food what are the arrangements by which maize was lent to Eire; and on what terms is repayment to be made.

We have loaned Eire a total of 46,582 tons of maize by diverting shipments en route to the United Kingdom from Argentina. We shall be repaid in a similar manner from shipments arranged by Eire from the United States.

Was not the maize we bought and loaned to Eire about £30 a ton; is not the maize they are paying back about £17 a ton; are they not selling maize to their farmers at about £20 a ton; and why are we subsidising their agriculture?

There will be no loss to the British Treasury in this transaction.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recall that he gave me an assurance in this House that no maize would go to Eire under this agreement?

No maize will go. We are loaning this tonnage and receiving it back. There will be no net loss of maize to Eire under the arrangement.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us the date on which this loan is to be repaid?

As a matter of fact, we are the people who do not wish repayment to take place too soon, for our own convenience. It can be repaid, I think, early in the New Year, but we do not wish it to be repaid too soon.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that the maize with which we are being paid back will be no cheaper than the maize we are lending?

I can assure the hon. Member—which is surely his point—that there will be no loss to the British Treasury on the transaction.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's earlier answer mean that we have already got all the maize we need at the moment? If so, why cannot it be distributed?

There are considerable stocks at the moment because it is flowing in from the Argentine at a great rate. That does not mean that we have all the feedingstuffs we would like over the whole year. That, of course, is completely met by the repayment later in the year from Eire.

asked the Minister of Food why there is a shortage of maize meal for pig feeding in Northern Ireland, in view of the plentiful supply available in Eire.

Northern Ireland receives her due proportion of all feeding-stuffs, including maize, available for animal feeding to the United Kingdom. I have no means of comparing accurately the supplies available in Eire at any time with those available in Northern Ireland, but I should not have thought that at present maize is plentiful in Eire.

Is not the Minister aware that maize is plentiful in Eire and very difficult to get in Northern Ireland, and that Eire has not so far supplied us with a single rasher of bacon?

Eire, of course, is quite entitled to import maize. She is doing so, but not on our account—on her own account.

Why is there always this bias against Eire?

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that 75 tons of fish which the consignors were advised not to send were condemned immediately on arrival at Billingsgate Market on 14th November last; and whether he will adopt the most effective method of preventing unsound fish coming to the market by discontinuing the payment of carriage charges in such cases.

Seventy-five tons of whiting consigned from a Northern Ireland port on 13th November were condemned on arrival at Billingsgate Market on 15th November. It must have been despatched in poor condition, but I am assured that the Government of Northern Ireland are doing everything they can to improve the preparation and packing of white fish for cross-channel markets. I cannot refuse to pay carriage on fish which has not been condemned at the port of landing, but I am looking into other ways of reducing the quantity of unsound fish reaching inland markets, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries proposes shortly to introduce new legislation on the subject.

Does the Minister realise that there is great apprehension on the part of the Billingsgate authorities over this and other consignments, and will he do something, without further delay, to ensure that there is no repetition of this, in view of the loss involved to the public?

Yes, Sir, we appreciate that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the Ministry of Transport to provide more adequate means for quick transport of such commodities?

I made no attempt to apportion the blame.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that pork is unobtainable by housewives; and if he will take steps to ensure that reasonable supplies of pork are available on the meat ration, if possible in time for Christmas.

I should be glad to do what the hon. and gallant Member suggests if I had the pork. Unfortunately, there is not enough.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how he expects the housewife to feed her family for four days over the Christmas holidays on the present meagre ration? Will he do something to stop the black market and to see that people get better rations?

While accepting the statement that there is not enough pork, will the right hon. Gentleman explain why it is that there was enough pork to enable pork fritters to be on the menu of the House of Commons dining room both last week and today?

That is a question for the Kitchen Committee.

asked the Minister of Food whether nitrogen trichloride is still being used in the manufacture of wheat flour.

Yes, Sir. A scientific committee including Sir Edward Mellanby and Sir Wilson Jameson are reviewing its use and I shall, of course, be guided by their conclusions.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how long the deliberations of this committee have taken? Is he aware that there is increasing evidence from America of the dangerous nature of this drug?

I cannot give the hon. Member the date when this committee will be in a position to report. As I understand it, the most recent work on this question was done by Sir Edward Mellanby in this country.

asked the Minister of Food when cheaper priced sweets will be de-rationed; and what priced sweets and chocolates will continue to be rationed.

asked the Minister of Food if he is yet in a position to make a further statement regarding the abolition of sweet rationing.

I hope to make a statement soon after the Recess about the date and other particulars of the de-rationing of the cheaper types of sweets which I announced on 1st November last.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that 2s. 4d. 1b. would release very many more varieties than 2s. lb.?

I agree with my hon. Friend.

Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman make the announcement before Christmas so that the children can have some sweets for Christmas?

As an alternative to that, we increased the sweet ration for Christmas.

Will the Minister take steps to ensure that when these sweets are derationed they will not go up in price or below the counter?

There is no suggestion of abandoning price control.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of imported barley has been in store since 1st May, 1948; and how much of this is now infested with weevil.

About 72,000 tons of imported barley have been in store since 1st May, 1948. We have had trouble with weevil in about 35,000 tons of it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter to see that this barley is not put in sacks that are placed one on top of another, as that helps the weevil to germinate? Moreover, will he put this barley into circulation?

We realise that there are problems of storage of coarse grains, and that is precisely one of the reasons why we made the loan of maize to Eire.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider it necessary to store this barley for something like nine months when the country is clamouring for barley? Is he aware that very heavy costs of storage are incurred, and that the barley deteriorates?

It is very tempting to increase the feedingstuffs ration further, but the question is whether the ration could be kept up at the higher level.

asked the Minister of Food the value of citrus fruits, imported from Empire countries during the last 12 months with comparable figures for the import of such fruit from foreign countries.

The value of citrus fruit imported into the United Kingdom in the 12 months from 1st November, 1947, to 31st October, 1948, from Commonwealth countries was £4,149,010, and from foreign countries £7,296,578. In addition, we imported citrus fruits to the value of £12,492,298 from Palestine.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the unfavourable results experienced from the Government's bulk purchases of food and cattle feedingstuffs throughout 1948, he will consider purchasing food supplies in 1949 through the ordinary trade channels when practicable.

I do not know of any evidence to support the hon. Member's contention in respect of any staple food or feedingstuff. In respect of minor, miscellaneous or highly perishable foods we are always ready to consider turning the trade over to private importers, if this appears to be in the public interest. We have recently done so in the case of lemons, for example.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the Government's disastrous record over the bulk purchase of food? Would it not be very desirable on a market that is falling to abandon this practice of bulk purchase? He cannot do any good by continuing bulk purchases on a falling market.

I entirely disagree with the hon. Gentleman's statements.

asked the Minister of Food what is the present allocation of sugar and fats to B.W.B. Cakes, Ltd., of Jarrow; how long has this firm been trading; and by whom the allocations given were made.

The allocations to this firm, which has been manufacturing since 14th June, 1948, are made on my authority. One reason why the allocation was made was in order to help the establishment of new industries in this once acutely distressed area. I regret I cannot disclose particulars of individual businesses.

Would it not be more satisfactory if these allocations were dealt with by the divisional food officer who makes the allocations in the district? It would not cause so much suspicion as this case has aroused.

Hon. Members are very often pressing me to act as a court of appeal against local allocations, and in such cases I have to decide whether there should be such a court of appeal. This is one of them.

Surely, in this case no decision was made by the local food office? Has not the Minister thrust it aside and made the allocation?

Whenever a matter is taken out of the hands of the local food office—and I agree that these instances should be minimized—a decision has to be taken at headquarters, and I think that there were good and sufficient reasons, which I can give the hon. Member, for this allocation.

asked the Minister of Food what are the special arrangements being made to obtain limited supplies of sausage casings for this country; and what price is being paid and what facilities given to firms in this country requiring such casings to obtain them direct.

Traders in this country are granted licences by the Board of Trade to export sheep and beef casings to the United States of America and Canada, and to use not more than half the dollars so received to purchase hog casings from these countries at the ruling market prices.

asked the Minister of Food how many pigs have been slaughtered at bacon factories in the past three months compared with the same period in 1947; and to what extent there has been an increase in the slaughterings of sows and gilts suitable for keeping as breeding stock.

In August, September and October his year 217,400 pigs and 7,691 sows were slaughtered at bacon factories, compared with 114,300 pigs and 2,255 sows in 1947. I am afraid we have no separate figures for gilts.

Does not the Minister regard those figures as most alarming? The figure for breeding sows has gone up three times. What steps is he taking to ensure that farmers can keep breeding stock and expand home bacon production?

The number of breeding sows has increased by 50 per cent. Naturally we should like it if none had to be slaughtered. But we must not exaggerate the seriousness of these figures.

asked the Minister of Food how soon he expects to receive the report on the African groundnuts scheme; and if he is yet in a position to make a general statement on the increased cost of the scheme as a whole over the original estimate.

The Overseas Food Corporation have informed me that they hope to be in a position to report to me by the middle of January next the results of the review of the groundnuts scheme on which they are now engaged. As regards the second part of the Question, I shall not be in a position to make a statement on the probable increase in the cost of the scheme, or on the probable increase of its revenues, as compared to the original estimates, until I have had an opportunity of studying the Corporation's report.

As the Minister seems so misinformed, may I ask him to be good enough to read an article in the "Daily Graphic" on 7th December and the leading article in "The Times" today, so that he may see that he is adding another colossal blunder to his already long list? May I ask him how much longer he is going to pour the good money of the taxpayers of Britain down the Socialist sewer? May I—

This supplementary question is getting very, very lengthy.

May I say that it is not Africa that has got nuts: it is this Government.

I am extremely sorry to hear the hon. Member call a part of the British Empire a sewer.

I called you a sewer.

Is it in Order, Mr. Speaker, for an hon. Member to refer to you as a sewer?

In view of the high hopes which have been held out to the British public as a result of this scheme, is it not important that the taxpayers should be informed as soon as possible of the increase in the cost?

Certainly, and of the fact, which seems also to be probable, that the revenues are also very much above estimate.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that it is the policy of his Welsh regional office to consult with the police force and with the Ministry of Labour in all cases where there is an application for a licence for the sale of tea only; and if he will direct this practice to cease.

Such inquiries are made only in unusual cases. I cannot agree we should never make them.

Is the Minister aware that one of my constituents has been refused a license to sell tea on the grounds that the police and the Ministry of Labour are satisfied that the need is met already; can he tell me how the police are able to say that enough tea is being consumed by Cardiffians; and is he not aware that it is objectionable to have the police interfere in questions of this sort?

I cannot agree that it was improper to consult the police on whether there was a consumer need in that particular area. Certainly, we should not take the opinion of the police as final. We consulted the Ministry of Labour and our own officers on the subject. That the police may also have a view on the matter seems to me to be quite proper.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that many bakers are not able to satisfy the increased demands of their customers for bread; and if he will now permit unused stocks to be transferred from one baker to another, or increase the flour allocation where the need is proved.

I am not aware of a general shortage in any area, and I cannot promise any relaxation of the Flour Restriction Scheme to allow individual bakers to cater for increased demands. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 1st November to a Question by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Dodds-Parker).

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that progressive bakers are being penalised and in some cases have had to abandon delivery rounds which they started when bread rationing was abolished. They are being penalised, whereas some small bakers have more stocks than they are using. Would it not be sensible to allow small bakers to transfer their surplus stocks to the larger bakers and thus avoid the temptation to them to deal on the black market?

It is perfectly true that any restriction scheme is undesirable because it does interfere with competition between different bakers, which is highly desirable, and we shall get rid of the restriction scheme as soon as we possibly can. We cannot, however, do without a restriction scheme at the moment.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the point which I have made?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that oranges are frequently obtainable by those who require them for health reasons; and if he will make arrangements for priority to be given on production of a medical certificate.

My medical advisers take the view that there are no illnesses for which it is necessary to make oranges available on production of a medical certificate.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that, in certain instances where oranges may be required for illness, orange juice or orange squash may serve just the same purpose?

I should have thought so, without pretending to be an expert.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will appoint a committee to inquire into the desirability of erecting a bridge over the English Channel as the best method of providing adequate means of communication between the Continent and Great Britain.

No, Sir.

Will the Minister say why he will not consider setting up such a committee, in view of the urgent necessity of close association with the Continent at this time, both from the point of view of trade and in view of the fact that a tunnel is under consideration as a practical proposition? Will not the Minister set up an inquiry into this matter, especially in view of the fact that a tunnel is being considered?

I am afraid that I do not consider this a very practical proposition, and I am much more concerned with using my technicians' ability to get on with schemes which can be brought to fruition.

Would it not facilitate the transfer of funds to aid the Communist parties in Europe?

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the question of road safety at pedestrian crossings of the Portsmouth Road at Esher; and what steps he proposes to take to indicate clearly to pedestrians the crossings they should use.

These pedestrian crossings are properly marked, and in my view, they are at the right places. My right hon. Friend is considering how to improve the observance of pedestrian crossings and intends to institute a special campaign for this purpose next spring, with the help of local authorities and others concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the continuing inadequacy of rural bus services in Essex and elsewhere; and what measures are being taken speedily to improve these services, by the provision of new vehicles or otherwise.

Under present economic conditions the number of new buses which can be made available for the home market is limited. This necessarily restricts improvements in services throughout the country but if my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any special case he has in mind I will make inquiries.

Can my right hon. Friend say, first, why 200 new vehicles were recently diverted from provincial services to London, where there are, after all, alternative means of transport; and can he also say how the position now in rural Essex compares with that before the war, in the number of vehicles and in mileages?

With reference to the transfer of 200 buses to London Transport, that, of course, is a matter for the British Transport Commission and the London Transport Executive. I would remind my hon. Friend that the need in London is very grave and very urgent, just as much so as in other parts of the country. I have not with me the figures for Essex, but I will forward to my hon. Friend the figures for the Maldon district and, if he requires them, the figures for Essex as a whole.

is my right hon. Friend aware that many villages in my division in Essex are completely isolated, without any service whatever; that I have bombarded him with questions on this matter ever since I have been the Member for the division and have not had one reasonable reply from him yet?

I do not agree that Essex is badly served as compared with the rest of the country.

The Minister said that if the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) sent him particulars, he would look into them. Do I understand that he will ask bus manufacturers to give priority to any garage which wants to start a bus service and which. in his opinion, has a case?

There will be no question of priority. I was offering to furnish my hon. Friend with information.

asked the Minister of Transport how many people have been, respectively, killed and injured in Britain in road accidents since 1910.

Between 1st January, 1926, and 31st October, 1948, 148,542 persons were killed in road accidents. Excluding the years 1939 to 1941, when injuries were not recorded, 3,509,113 persons were injured. I am sorry that figures for the years before 1926 are not available.

Will my hon. Friend give wider publicity to these figures, in the hope that those who misuse the roads by their carelessness, will put a stop to this appalling calamity?

Since the war, there has been a widespread public campaign, and I am glad to say that the number of deaths and casualties is slowly decreasing.

asked the Minister of Transport if in view of the help given to motorists during the recent fog by cat's eye reflector studs, he will reconsider his decision to dispense with them in roads provided with street lighting.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now reconsider the decision not to replace road reflecting studs in built-up areas, in view of their proved value to drivers of public service vehicles and others during the recent fog.

As reflecting studs are a valuable aid to night driving, I desire to encourage their use on all roads which carry a considerable volume of traffic and where it is the normal practice for drivers to use their headlamps at night, whether or not such roads are in a built-up area. I do not think that reflecting road studs should be provided solely to meet foggy conditions, as when fog is thick headlamps are valueless and, as a rule, fog lamps are aligned on the nearside kerb, which is a safer guide than the centre line of the carriageway.

Will my right hon. Friend consult the motoring organisations as to whether these reflector studs were not a great help to motorists during the recent fog, and if he finds that their evidence confirms that general impression, will he reconsider his announcement?

I am not quite clear what the hon. Gentleman wishes me to reconsider. My policy is definitely to encourage the use of reflector studs.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that in his reply he gave the impression that it is not proposed to replace them in built-up areas, and does he intend to persist in that policy, as the recent fog has shown that it is just as important to have them in built-up areas as elsewhere, to assist motorists to keep on their proper side of the road?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will read the reply a little more carefully tomorrow, and then, if he has any further points to put to me, I shall be pleased to consider them.

May we have this quite clear—that where these studs exist the Minister will not attempt to get them removed, and where they do not exist he will encourage their being put there?

With the exception of well-lighted streets.

Will the Minister replace these studs in every street where they were previously, in view of the comparatively small cost and their great use; and can he say who will be the judge whether they shall be replaced or not?

Following the Minister's original reply about fog, may I ask whether he will see that street lighting is increased when there is fog, quite apart from this?

asked the Minister of Transport the outcome of his negotiations on 4th November, 1948, with the representatives of the workers' side of the Road Haulage Central Wages Board on the raising of the speed limit from 20 m.p.h. to 30 m.p.h, of heavy goods vehicles.

I am awaiting information as to the result of further discussions which were to take place between both sides of the industry.

Since my right hon. Friend will have to come to some decision on these discussions, does he think that a vehicle of 22-tons gross is likely to be able to pull in an emergency at 30 m.p.h. as easily as it could pull up if it were going at 20 m.p.h.?

When a decision is finally taken it will come before this House, and any relevant points of that description can be considered then.

Can the Minister say when he expects to make a decision, in view of the fact that these vehicles of 22 tons are already regularly doing 30 m.p.h.?

I expect to make the decision in the very near future.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is proposed to re-establish a British seamen's club at Havre.

The Merchant Navy Welfare Board, which is now responsible for the welfare of British seamen overseas, inform me that they are making inquiries as to the need for a club for British seamen at Havre.

Will the Minister ask the Foreign Office to make inquiries of the British Consul at Havre, who said, in no uncertain terms, that a British seamen's club was greatly needed at Havre?

I can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that inquiries are taking place on the spot, and I am sure this body will be only too pleased to meet the need.

If facilities are found to be needed, will funds be allowed to be transferred there to operate the club?

I do not think there is any difficulty about a matter of that kind when it concerns seamen's clubs.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider the reduction of coastal shipping freight rates on the carriage of stone from South Devon to London and other ports.

In accordance with my policy of progressively releasing shipping from control, the rates to which the hon. and gallant Member refers were freed in March, 1946. The rates now charged are not such as would justify any reimposition of control.

asked the Minister of Supply how long the principal scientific officer at the Atomic Energy Establishment at Harwell was employed by his Department before his engagement was terminated in accordance with the Prime Minister's statement of 15th March, 1948.

This officer was employed at Harwell from 1st May, 1947, to 20th April, 1948.

Is the Minister then telling the House that, despite the 10 years' sentence on a Communist scientist passed a short time ago, his Ministry made no attempt to "vet" applicants for these most important positions?

As the hon. Member knows, the Government's policy in this respect was announced in March of this year. Prior to then there was no machinery for dealing with a case of this sort.

But surely the danger existed before that date; and was not it the duty of the Minister to take reasonable precautions?

asked the Minister of Supply how he has disposed of the 20,000 vehicles handed to his Department in Germany by the War Office since June, 1947; and what plans he has for disposing of further vehicles from the same source.

Vehicles not needed locally by the Military Governor or for the German economy have been sold by competitive tender. Tanks and other fighting vehicles have been broken down and the scrap exported to this country. Future disposal will be on the same lines.

asked the Minister of Supply the price per ton of zinc immediately prior to the outbreak of war in 1939; and the latest price fixed by his Department.

The average market price of standard grade zinc in August, 1939, was £14 12s. 7d. a ton. The Ministry of Supply's selling price for this grade is based on world prices and is now £106 a ton.

In view of the fact that the vast majority of this important commodity comes from Australia, outside the non-sterling area, is not this staggering increase in price evidence of grave mismanagement on the part of the Ministry?

The hon. and gallant Member is wrong in his facts. The concentrates come from Australia but the actual metal comes from other countries, chiefly America and Canada.

Is the Minister aware that recent price increases have had the effect of putting British non-ferrous metal price just above world levels, and that in consequence considerable short time is being worked in the non-ferrous metal trade in Birmingham at the present time?

No, Sir. Our prices are based exactly on world levels.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will consult the British Standards Institute with a view to producing specifications of lubricating oils for various purposes.

No, Sir. Except that my Ministry is interested in the standardisation of oils for Service vehicles, I have no responsibility for specifications of lubricating oils.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the difficulty of overcoming the inertia produced by standardisation; and if he will instruct the Advisory Committee on the Motor Industry to consider this danger, while advising on methods of standardising the production of motor vehicles and their components, to ensure that the evolution of new designs of components and vehicles shall not be hindered.

This is a point which my Department and the engineering industries already have fully in mind.

And what are they going to do about it?

In proceeding with standardisation and simplification, for which there is a great need, they bear in mind that beyond certain limits this process is dangerous; but there is a long way to go before they reach those limits.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that after farm water supply schemes have been approved for grant by his Department a delay of six months or longer occurs before galvanised piping can be obtained; and if he can now say what action he is taking to hasten the provision of such essential materials.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for South Molton (Mr. Lambert) on 29th November last.

Some weeks have passed since then and the supply of galvanised piping has not improved. Can the Minister say what he is now doing?

The reply was that the manufacture of these pipes was insufficient, but it is hoped that the amount will increase substantially early next year.

asked the Prime Minister if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a copy of a letter which he has sent to the Civil Service National Whitley Council containing new instructions regarding the purge of Communists and Fascists in the Civil Service.

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a copy of the letter to the Chairman of the Staff Side of the Civil Service National Whitley Council, which I presume the hon. Member has in mind.

Is the Prime Minister not aware that purges, like charity, begin at home; and in order to eradicate the disease of Communism will he direct that all members of his Government should receive a double dose of Conservative castor oil?

asked the Prime Minister if in view of the obligation on the King's printers to reprint the Book of Common Prayer in correct and authentic form, he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to protect the printers in circumstances such as those which preceded the publication of the Shorter Prayer Book.

I am advised that the printers do not need protection in respect of the publication of the Shorter Prayer Book.

Could my right hon. Friend say on what grounds that advice is based, since this publication was clearly the result of unconstitutional action by the bishops?

That is the advice I have. If my hon. Friend has any other question on the legal aspect, perhaps he would put it to the Attorney-General.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that under the Act of Uniformity of 1662 any deviation from the Prayer Book attached to that Act is illegal; that the Prayer Book can be altered only by this Parliament; and what steps will he take to protect the rights of Parliament?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that Question down.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the King's printers have been put in a very invidious position in this matter; that there is a great deal of ecclesiastical and episcopal anarchy surrounding it; and will he, at least in the case of the bishops, represent that a great many churchpeople are seriously disturbed that this Shorter Prayer Book has been put out without any proper authority behind it?

It is not my responsibility to advise the bishops.

Would my right hon. Friend not agree that, from the bishops' own point of view, it would be unfortunate if wider issues of the relationship of Church and State should arise out of this kind of hasty action on their part?

asked the Attorney-General what steps are being taken to prosecute the United States soldier, David Frank Asay, on the charge of robbing and violently assaulting Noreen Dawkins at Liverpool on 8th November; and whether Asay is now in custody.

I have been asked to reply. I am informed that David Frank Asay is in the custody of the United States Air Force awaiting trial by court-martial in accordance with the provisions of the United States (Visiting Forces) Act, 1942.

Of course, I appreciate the difficult circumstances, with the Chief Whip answering for the Attorney-General, but I should like him to look into this question. Is it the case that this American soldier is not subject to the laws of this country, in that he participated in this action with four other English people, and that although the four English people are being tried in an English court this American soldier is not being tried in an English court? May I ask whether the Attorney-General will, in due course, answer why there is one law for American soldiers stationed in this country and another law for English soldiers?