asked the Postmaster-General why the practice. suspended during the war, of informing the public of dates of arrival at their destination of letters and parcels posted in this country to other countries has not been resumed since the war; and when he intends to reintroduce this service.

As regards air mail services to countries outside Europe, the pre-war practice of publishing transmission times was resumed last February; the information is contained in the air mail leaflet obtainable free of charge at any post office. The available Outlets for surface mails are not yet sufficiently regular to permit publication of reliable information about transmission times.

asked the Postmaster-General for how many hours a day the cheap rate for trunk calls was granted before the war; and whether he intends to extend the existing three hours a day. in view of the number of calls which are registered between 6.30 and 9.30 p.m., but which only come through after 9.30 p.m., and are therefore chargeable at the full rate.

Before the war evening cheap rates were applied between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. I regret that, for the present, manpower restrictions preclude any extension of the existing three-hour period

asked the Postmaster-General when a return to penny postage for internal letters will he made.

Not, I regret, m the foreseeable future.

asked the Minister of Defence what steps he is taking to provide men demobilised from the Armed Forces with clothing coupons and money to replace civilian garments.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 17th November to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Ely (Major Legge Bourke).

asked the Minister of Defence on what grounds it was decided to give priority to India in supplying the latest form of jet-propelled fighters as compared with other Commonwealth countries and the countries of Western Europe.

The Government of India has recently purchased three Vampire aircraft for trial purposes. The supply of these aircraft has not been at the expense of the requirements of the other members of the Commonwealth or of the Western European nations.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will ensure that the meat issued for the Christmas ration this year is of better quality than that issued last year.

Meat issued for the ration is always of the best quality available at the time and issues for Christmas will be made accordingly.

asked the Minister of Food whether a new scheme has now been devised by his Department for allocating to retailers goods which are in short supply.

No.

asked the Minister of Food (1) from what countries imports of bacon are expected in the coming 12 months; and in what quantities;(2) to state the countries with which we have signed contracts for the supply of bacon, giving dates and terms of deliveries; the quantities; and the months the contracts cover.

The position in regard to supplies of bacon from the various overseas countries is as follows:

asked the Minister of Food under what circumstances and for what reasons the dismissal of the late food controller in Glasgow took place.

I assume that the officer to whom the hon. Member refers is an assistant in the Glasgow Food Office. He was suspended from duty in connection with certain irregularities which had come to light and was charged with conspiracy by the Procurator Fiscal. I understand that he has been on bail since April last, but that his bail has just been refunded. The case is, however, still sub judice and the question of his retention in the Ministry's service must, therefore, remain in abeyance for the time being.

asked the Minister of Food whether supplies of cheese during November were adequate to honour the ration; whether he is aware that during the third and fourth weeks of November many Mirfield people were unable to get the supplies to which they were entitled; whether retailers and consumers will receive these entitlements at a later date; and what action he will take to ensure better distribution.

The supplies of cheese issued during November were sufficient to meet the ration and I am not aware of any shortage in any area during that month. No complaints of shortages in Mirfield were received by the local officers of my Department but if my hon. Friend will give me details of the complaints made to him I shall be glad to have further inquiries made and let him know the result.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent supplies of raisins will be available this year before Christmas.

The allocation of dried fruit designed to meet Christmas requirements was made on 10th October last. It consisted of currants, dates and sultanas. There were no raisins available for distribution then, and the situation has not changed meanwhile.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the voluntary vacation by the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan of Empire House, Tokyo; and what steps has the British representative in Tokyo taken to maintain this building to house British trading firms and branches of the British Mission.

I was informed in September that the British Commonwealth Occupation Force intended to vacate these offices. The head of the United Kingdom Liaison Mission at once took steps to discover whether any of the accommodation which would become vacant could be offered to commercial representatives from this country.The Supreme Commander's General Headquarters have informed him that they require this particular office space for their own use but that conveniently situated premises, in another building, which is to be de-requisitioned and vacated by General Headquarters, are expected to be made available to private firms on 1st January. The offices in Empire House used by the United Kingdom Liaison Mission will remain at the disposal of the Mission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, because of a trade agreement between the U.S.A. and Jugoslavia, the Jugoslav Government is claiming all dollar assets held in the names of British subjects formerly resident in Jugoslavia and claimed by the Jugoslav Government as either confiscated property or the property of recently nationalised industries; and what steps he is taking to protect these assets until it has been decided, either legally or after a British-Jugoslav trade agreement has been reached, to whom they are to belong.

The difficult legal issues raised by this Question are being investigated by the Departments concerned. I will, if I may, write to the hon. Member very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British subjects in Egypt have been refused renewal of their passports; and what were the grounds for these refusals.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has studied the report of the Acting Mediator on the shooting down of a civilian aircraft over Palestine and Transjordan on 23rd September, 1948; and if he will now say what further action is contemplated by His Majesty's Government in this connection.

The Acting Mediator's report has been closely studied by the Foreign Office, who are in consultation with the dependants of the deceased, with a view to the presentation of a claim for compensation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the result of his promised reconsideration of the position of the Jewish refugees detained in Cyprus.

The matter is still under review and I am not yet able to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken to implement Article III of the Brussels Treaty.

Some items in the programme of work are best undertaken bilaterally and some on a Five Power basis. Among the former such problems as the equivalence of University diplomas and degrees, the exchange of professors and teachers, vacation courses and the exchange of schoolchildren are being tackled. Exhibitions of art treasures and the mutual visits of dramatic and ballet companies and musical performers are being arranged. To facilitate these things the network of Cultural Conventions between the Five Powers is being completed. His Majesty's Government are now negotiating a Convention with Luxembourg.Coming to the items which must be approached by all Five Powers in concert: representatives of the Five Powers who met in London last August and again in Paris in November recommended in particular that the obstacles to the free movement of persons and material connected with the objects of Article III of the Treaty should be examined in the five countries and proposals made how they might be surmounted. The results of these investigations will be studied by the five Governments and it is hoped that they will be able to remove at least some of the obstacles

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what agreement has now been reached between France, the U.S.A., the U.S.S.R. and this country as to the allocation of the war vessels placed at their disposal under Annex XII B of the Treaty with Italy.

This matter was settled in the Four Power Naval Protocol, which was signed on the same day as the Italian Peace Treaty, 10th February, 1947, and is now available as a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he proposes to take to reduce the size of British passports, in view of the bulkiness of the documents which have to be carried by persons of dual nationality and the likelihood of their being lost through not being carried.

British passports conform to the model recommended by an international conference on passports held under the auspices of the League of Nations in 1920. His Majesty's Government would not wish to change the passport without consulting the other interested governments, and as any reduction in size would be made at the expense of the space allotted to foreign visas it is considered unlikely that the change would be popular with the travelling public.Persons who possess two nationalities are not obliged to hold two passports even though they sometimes find it convenient to do so. I should not, however, be justified in altering the size of the passport merely to suit the convenience of this small minority of travellers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what salary he is paying to the 25 U.S. geologists to survey the coast-to-coast African railway; and what salary was offered to British geologists to do the work.

No survey of a coast-to-coast African railway is at present in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals have been made to him recently about the amalgamation of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no such proposals recently and the second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what grant he expects to make during the current year to the Colonial Development Corporation.

£520,000 has been advanced to the Corporation to date. I do not know whether any further advances will be required this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what rule or practice junior officers of either sex in the Colonial Service may not be appointed to serve in the colonial territory in which they have been born or previously resided for any substantial period; and whether he can give particulars and reasons for such discrimination.

There is no such rule; in fact, the great majority of posts in the Civil Service of each territory are held by persons of local origin. If the hon. Member has some particular case in mind, perhaps he will send me details and I will make inquiries about it.

asked. the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is being taken in Kenya to reduce the number of cattle kept by resident African labourers on European farms; and what steps are being taken to develop squatter's villages in these areas.

I am asking the Governor of Kenya for up-to-date information, and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I have received it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made in the settlement in new areas of Africans from eroded areas in Kenya.

New areas are frequently examined from the point of view of suitability for the settlement of Africans from over-populated areas, but the main emphasis is upon improving and conserving occupied land and then resettling the former occupiers on it. Steady progress is being made in all areas. Settlement schemes in progress include Makueni in the Central Province where 75 Akamba families have been settled and Gede in the Coast Province where 342 families have been installed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to which part of China the Malayan repatriates have been sent.

The 52 persons to whom the hon. Member presumably refers were placed on board a ship bound for Swatow on 3rd December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what circumstances assistant superintendents of police in Malaya have been appointed to act as justices of the peace.

I am consulting the High Commissioner and will write to my hon. Friend when his reply is received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the cost, including overheads and value of the land, of the 26 flats erected by the Hong Kong Government at Leighton Hill, for occupation by Government servants; and what is the rent charged to civil servants for a flat.

The cost of the 26 flats in question is approximately £223,000. The site is Crown Land. The rent charged to Government servants is £168 15s. per annum for a five-roomed flat, of which there are 18, and £131 5s. per annum for a four-roomed flat, of which there are eight, in each case subject to a maximum of one-seventh of the officer's basic salary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether arrangements have now been made whereby officers of the former Palestine Government can transfer their credit from Palestine banks to this country.

I have been in touch with the bank concerned, and I am hopeful that the difficulty in effecting transfers will shortly be overcome.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the continued printed and spoken propaganda of the Communist-inspired agitators in British Guiana; what steps he is taking in the matter; and when the report of the Governor's inquiry into the shooting incident during the recent strike is to be published.

As I informed the hon. Member on 5th November, the Government in British Guiana is alive to the need for prompt action to deal with any contravention of the laws relating to sedition, and I am satisfied that this possibility is constantly in mind. As regards the last part of the Question, I would invite attention to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Hackney (Mr. H. Hynd) on the 8th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been sent to the Nicosia Builders and Contractors Association's request to maintain a private defence force against gangsters; and what measures are being taken to maintain law and order in Cyprus, and to provide a greater sense of security than now prevails in the Colony.

The Association has been informed by the Acting Governor that authority cannot be given for the maintenance of private defence forces. With regard to the second part of the Question, normal police measures are taken to safeguard law and order. I understand that the incident which was the immediate cause of the Association's request is now the subject of prosecutions in the local courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the cost, from 15th May to date, of maintaining the Jewish detainees in Cyprus; whether the Government accept the responsibility of financing this expenditure; and whether it is its intention to recover the cost, in total or part, from the Israel Government.

The cost of maintaining the Cyprus camps between 15th May and the end of November was approximately £500,000. With regard to the second and third parts of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for North Salford (Mr. McAdam) on 13th of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the terms under which African labour is recruited for work on the new railway and port in Tanganyika; and to what extent conscription is used.

The terms of service are in line with those ruling in the district concerned at the time of recruitment and are agreed by the local Government. There is no conscription.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when replies will be given to the letters, dated 23rd September and 20th October, sent by the hon. Member for West Middlesbrough to his Department.

The letter of 23rd September was answered on 15th October, and again on 9th December after reference to the Nigerian Government. The letter of 20th October was answered on 25th of the same month.

asked the Minister of Education what communications he has received from the Monmouthshire education committee or any other public body protesting against the continued employment of married women for teaching in schools whilst there are many properly trained young women who cannot secure appointments; and if he will state his attitude towards this question.

I can trace no such communication. There is still a shortage of qualified women teachers in England and Wales as a whole, and the public system of education could not be satisfactorily maintained without a substantial number of married women teachers. I have given local education authorities every encouragement to employ immobile teachers, including married women, and I am satisfied that this will not prevent newly qualified women from obtaining suitable employment.

asked the Minister of Supply why it has been found necessary to increase the maximum prices of zinc and zinc products as outlined in SI., 1948, No. 2592.

The maximum selling prices of zinc and zinc products have been increased because world prices have increased and it costs us more to buy the metal.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the strawberry and flower growers of the Tamar Valley are in need of five-prong and six-prong forks; that these forks are unobtainable; and whether he will take immediate action to improve the supply.

Five- and six-pronged forks are at present being manufactured only on a very small scale. The question of increasing supplies of these forks is now being discussed with the industry.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that many motorcar engines are being broken up for scrap in Sheffield, and that one of the city's largest scrap yards contains a number of crates containing new spare parts and accessories, several of which are marked, Ford CYL Block LV7/F.D. C29A-6012; and, in view of the shortage of such spare parts for the home and export markets, what steps he is taking to prevent this waste.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to spares and accessories bought from the Government depôt at Thorp Arch. Those which he mentions are Canadian manufactured cylinder blocks and other spares, and not motor-car engines. They were sold for scrapping because they could not be used for British manufactured vehicles and efforts to sell them abroad had failed.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the damage done to the country during a critical period of its history by frequently recurring strikes, he will reconsider the question of establishing a special branch of the judiciary which shall serve as a final court of appeal in industrial disputes not amenable to the existing machinery of settlement.

This country has a remarkable record of freedom from serious industrial strife since the end of the war. The very great majority of industrial disputes are settled without any stoppage of work and I am satisfied that the strikes which have recently occurred, which the hon. Member no doubt has in mind, are not due to any inadequacy of the machinery which now exists for the settlement of disputes. I do not think it is necessary or desirable to add to this machinery as suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that there are approximately 300 persons unemployed in the urban district of Sutton and Mablethorpe; and whether he will consider introducing light industries into this area to absorb the seasonal unemployment and to make use of this labour in the national interest.

I have been asked to reply. I understand that in Sutton and Mablethorpe there are only about 60 persons unemployed at present, although in Skegness unemployment slightly exceeds 300. There are always difficulties in finding suitable industrial concerns interested in establishing themselves in areas where unemployment is largely seasonal. But subject to the claims of the development and other areas where unemployment is much more serious, my Department is prepared to consider any proposals for the establishment of small scale industries in seaside and coastal towns.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the great difficulty experienced by Blind Institute Workshops in obtaining from the normal commercial channels sufficient supply of bed ticking to enable the manufacture of mattresses by the blind to be carried on; and that in particular for a considerable period the Newcastle Blind Institute Workshop at Wickham View, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, has been handicapped by reason of its inability to obtain sufficient supplies; and whether he is satisfied that output is adequate.

Supplies of ticking for the home market are limited by the strong export demand for cotton goods, but I expect some early improvement in ticking supplies. I am arranging for the question of the supplies to the Blind Institute Workshops to be taken up specially with the ticking producers.

asked the President' of the Board of Trade (1) the value of all dowel imports during 1947; the value of all import licences granted for dowels during the first six months of 1948; and the value of import licences for dowels granted since the 30th June, 1948 respectively;(2) the value of all broom handle imports during 1947; the value of all import licences granted for broom handles during the first six months of 1948; and the value of all import licences for broom handles granted since the 30th June, 1948, respectively;(3) if he will give the total value which the Government has agreed to take under the various trade agreements for the years 1947 and 1948 for dowels and broom handles, respectively.

No formal import quotas for dowels or broom handles were agreed in respect of 1947. In 1948 separate quotas for these goods under trade agreements were not in all cases specified. In some cases they came within general quotas for a variety of wooden articles. The total of the 1948 quotas under which these goods could be imported was £287,500. Particulars of the actual imports of dowels and broom handles during 1947 are not available. The approximate c.i.f. value of import licences issued in 1947 and 1948 has been as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for War how many printing presses there are in Tripolitania.

One.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what use he intends to make of the Whitchurch Airport, Bristol, or alternatively will he allow the Bristol City Council to use it for other purposes.

The use of Whitchurch Airport by the British Overseas Airways Corporation as a maintenance base for their Dakota aircraft will shortly be terminated. The future of the airport thereafter will be discussed with the Bristol City Council. No definite proposals for the use of the aerodrome for flying or other purposes have been received from the Bristol City Council.

asked the Minister of Transport what have been the numbers of deaths and injuries to people who alight from vehicles at traffic lights for the latest convenient period; and the numbers for each of the last 12 months.

I regret that the figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been called to the pollution of the South Esk River in the Gorebridge area of Midlothian; and if he will institute measures to remedy this nuisance.

There has been some pollution from two small sewers which collapsed when part of the embankment of the Gore Water, a tributary of the River South Esk, was washed away by the floods which occurred last August. The county council are making arrangements to carry out the necessary repairs as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will review the legislation governing salmon fishing in the River Tweed with a view to removing some of the anomalies which at present exist in relation to penalties.

I have set up a Committee which is now considering questions concerning the poaching of salmon in Scottish rivers. The penalties authorised by the Tweed Fisheries Acts, and the legislation affecting Scottish rivers in general, will be reviewed in the light of the Committee's report

asked the Minister of Pensions when the hon. Member for Dumfries may expect to receive an answer from him to his letter of 9th November, requesting the admission of Flight Lieutenant I. A. Dobie to an R.A.F. Hospital for tuberculosis as a matter of urgency.

As the hon. Member was informed in a letter dated 11th December, Mr. Dobie's chest trouble is not considered to be due to his war service and treatment cannot, therefore, be provided as for a war pensioner. Not-withstanding this, in view of the hon. Member's representations, I am making certain inquiries to see whether the provision of sanatorium treatment can be hastened.

asked the Minister of Health whether in view of the increasing public interest in the health services, he will consider the admission of the Press to the meetings of the boards of governors of teaching hospitals.

While I hope that boards of governors will take every opportunity of keeping the closest contact with public opinion, the admission of the Press to their meetings is a matter for their own decision.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, as in a case submitted to him, there is no provision for radio-therapeutic treatment under the new health services for insured persons who are bedridden at home and cannot go to hospital; and whether he will remedy this omission.

I am advised that the limited physiotherapy facilities and staff at present available can be used to most advantage at hospitals and clinics. Regional hospital boards are, however, authorised to arrange exceptionally for home treatment.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that under the present statutory limitations a medical practitioner's income cannot exceed £3,600 per annum gross, whereas that of a dental practitioner can reach £4,800 per annum gross; and if, in view of the fact that the period of professional training for the qualifying diploma in medicine is 57 months, while the period of training for the dental qualifying diploma is 48 months, he will review the position, which is causing dissatisfaction amongst medical practitioners.

I cannot accept many of the implications in this Question, but I am about to review the present scale of dental fees in consultation with the profession.

asked the Minister of Health how many applications for building licences have been received by the Benfleet Urban District Council from persons claiming to have all the necessary building materials in their possession and undertaking not to employ building labour; how many of these applicants had been informed by the Benfleet Council, prior to June, 1948, that the licences would be forthcoming, but were subsequently refused on the instructions of his Department, and in view of the misleading information first given to these persons will he now agree to the issue of such licences outside the normal allocation to the Benfleet Council.

I have not the information asked for in parts one and two of the Question. I am making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister if he will publish as a White Paper or in the OFFICIAL REPORT a comprehensive list of all members appointed to central and regional nationalised boards of a commercial character with details of individual salaries, pensions, and expenses allowed, together with a separate list showing all individuals holding more than one appointment; and what those appointments are.

The members of the Boards of socialised industries, including the executives and the area boards appointed under statute, with details of salaries and allowances, are shown in list A below. The names of those who are members of more than one of these Boards are shown in list B. Some members of public Boards draw pension or retain pension rights in respect of previous employment, but although statutory authority exists for pension arrangements in respect solely of service as a member of a public Board, no such general arrangements have in fact been made.