asked the Minister of Health whether he contemplates houses being erected generally by local authorities to let at economic rents.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement on the Housing Programme published in the Housing Return, 31st May last.

asked the Minister of Health what instructions he has given to local authorities on the lines of the Girdwood Committee recommendations for limiting the use of the price fluctuations clause in the placing of housing contracts.

Administrative action is taken with a view to ensuring the limitation of such clauses in the manner most appropriate to housing contracts.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the great interest being taken by the people of Birmingham in the prototype aluminium house recently erected temporarily in that city; and if it is possible for some of this type to be allocated to Birmingham in the near future so as to ease the great housing shortage existing there.

I am ready to consider proposals if the price is competitive.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many houses have been completed in Wales by local authorities and how many by private builders in each of the years 1919, 1920 and 1921; and what are the corresponding figures for 1946, 1947 and 1948;(2) how many houses were completed in Newport by the borough council and how many by private builders in each of the years 1919, 1920 and 1921; and what are the corresponding figures for 1946, 1947 and 1948.

Full information as to post-war house building is set out in the published Housing Returns. The information in regard to the years 1919–1921 is not available.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built since 1945 up to and including 30th September, 1948, in Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield, respectively; and the percentage in each case against the claims to be met by each authority.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Housing Return, September, 1948, Appendix B. The information referred to in the last part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if in view of the high rents which have to be charged for council houses, he will consider increasing the housing subsidies to local authorities, lower the rates of interest on housing loans and take any practical measures to bring down housebuilding costs.

I am not in a position to add to the report which I presented to Parliament on 24th June last (H.C. 169/948).

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to a recent case in which an owner admitted that he bought two houses in 1945 for £562 and has since offered one of them to the occupier for £1,000; and whether it is his intention to control such abnormal increase in prices.

The answer to the first part is "No." As regards the second part I have no power to enforce such control.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet reached a decision on the provision of unsplinterable lenses under the National Health Service.

This matter is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will authorise the direct use by the public under the National Health Service of the facilities afforded by denture repair undertakings.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the unforeseen cost of the National Dental Service and his own efforts to reduce dentists' hours of work, he will investigate the resources of the dental repair firms and consider how far they can help to meet the large unsatisfied demand for dental treatment.

No. The National Health Service Act provides that dental services under the Act shall be given by registered dental practitioners.

asked the Minister of Health what information he has concerning the abuse of medical prescriptions under the National Health Service.

There are a number of individual cases. Disciplinary procedure is there to deal with them and I want it firmly and promptly used. But I am not aware of any general abuse.

asked the Minister of Health on what date pricing of prescriptions dispensed in July under the National Health Service was completed.

At varying dates in different areas from early September until now.

asked the Minister of Health why Regulation 506, 1948, which provides for full pricing of all prescriptions is not being complied with; and whether he will make a statement on the method now being adopted to price prescriptions being dispensed under the National Health Service.

The present arrangements, which have been agreed with representatives of the profession, were made under paragraph 9 of Part I of the Fourth Schedule to the Regulations. They provide for a chemist to be paid in full for prescriptions the net ingredient cost of which is 5s. or more, and for other prescriptions on the basis of his own average payment per prescription during a previous month, adjusted for any general trends.

asked the Minister of Health how many joint consultative staffs committees have been appointed by the hospital management committees under the control of the Manchester and Liverpool Regional Hospital Boards.

Three: one in the Liverpool regional hospital board area and two in the Manchester area.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total value of estimates approved by the Dental Estimate Board in Eastbourne for each of the months July, August, September, October and November.

The total value of the approved estimates included in schedules sent for payment to executive councils were:

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet approved all the estimates submitted by Regional Hospital Boards for the financial year 1948–49; and whether he will indicate any estimates outstanding.

Statements of probable expenditure for the financial year 1948–49 have recently been received from all Regional Hospital Boards and are being examined. None has yet been approved.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing amongst the staff at Lancaster Moor Hospital; and if he will cause an inquiry to be made into this matter.

Yes. These complaints should be handled by the local machinery which exists to deal with such questions.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of complaints in the Pwllheli area of Caernarvonshire as to the delay in making available to local opticians operating under the National Health Service a sufficient supply of spectacle lens replacements; and if he will take steps to ensure that a sufficiency of such replacements are made more speedily available to the public through the opticians concerned.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Northampton (Mr. Paget) on 9th December.

asked the Minister of Health if his regulations permit former employees of local authorities, who had rights under Local Government Superannuation Acts and who were transferred with their superannuation rights to the National Health Service on 5th July, to resume local government employment and have their superannuation rights transferred back, without loss, to the said Local Government Superannuation Acts.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the serious dissatisfaction amongst nursing staff in the Cardiff hospitals at the recent wage decision which ensures that the domestic staff receive a higher wage than nursing staff; and whether he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the Whitley Council.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give instructions to local executive councils that in all inquiries made of doctors to ascertain if there is reasonable justification for a basic salary professional income should alone be considered.

My reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Shackleton) has already received publicity but I will take the next convenient opportunity of repeating this view in a communication to executive councils.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the acute shortage of crêpe bandages required to meet National Health Service prescriptions; and if he will take steps to make available a proportion of these bandages now held for export.

I am aware that increased demands have resulted in some shortages, but production is being further increased. Exports are already severely restricted.

asked the Minister of Health why no deaf aids have yet been received at the Southend-on-Sea hospital; and when is it anticipated that supplies will be available for distribution.

The hearing aid diagnostic clinic at the Southend-on-Sea General Hospital will be brought into operation as soon as the supply of aids permits, but I regret that I cannot say when that will be. It is not at present proposed to establish a distribution centre there.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish the list of hospitals in Wales where patients may be examined for obtaining a hearing-aid and the list of distributing centres at which these aids will be available and from what date.

A diagnostic clinic for hearing aids is in operation at the Wrexham War Memorial Hospital, and this hospital is also a distribution centre. The Cardiff Royal Infirmary is expected to be able to provide a diagnostic clinic and distribution centre in about three weeks time. Additional diagnostic clinics are to be established at the Swansea General and Eye Hospital on 20th December and, later, at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport.

asked the Minister of Health under what Statutory Instrument he is depriving insured persons, who are under the care of a private doctor, of pharmaceutical benefits for which, under the National Insurance Act, 1946, they have paid in from 7s. to 9s. a week in respect of each insured person; and whether this Instrument has been laid before Parliament.

Section 38 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, limits the provision of pharmaceutical services to persons who are receiving general medical services under the Act, or, in certain cases, general dental services. I would repeat that the use of the Health Service is not in any way dependent on the payment of contributions under the National Insurance Act.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of Cardiff doctors with over 4,000 registered patients; what is the highest number of people registered with any one Cardiff doctor; and how many doctors in Cardiff have applied for the basic salary of £300 because they have not enough patients registered with them.

Fourteen: 7,190: 17. The doctor with 7,190 patients on his list practises in a partnership employing two assistants.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the difficulty caused in Grangetown, Cardiff, by four doctors operating from one small surgery, having closed their other surgery when the National Health Service started; and whether, in view of the daily queue caused, he will take action to ensure that another surgery is made available.

A doctor is required under the regulations to provide proper and sufficient surgery and waiting-room accommodation for his patients. This case has been considered by the Cardiff Executive Council, who have drawn the practitioners' attention to the need for full compliance with the terms of these regulations.

asked the Minister of Health whether the birth certificates of children proved to be illegitimate subsequent to registration are altered by the Registrar-General.

The Registrar-General has no power to alter any birth registration, but any error of fact or substance in a birth entry may be corrected on statutory declarations by two persons possessing the necessary statutory qualification for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Health whether in view of the urgent need for additional institutional accommodation for mental defectives in Essex, he is now able to indicate the extent to which it may be possible to authorise the erection of new buildings for this purpose; and whether he will afford an appreciable measure of priority to such works.

Yes. Work is proceeding on the erection of a 42-bed unit at the Royal Eastern Counties Institution, and the Regional Hospital Board are considering plans for four further units.

asked the Minister of Health why he has rejected the application of the Camborne-Redruth Urban District Council for a grant towards the cost of their water scheme for the Troon area.

I do not consider that this urban area water scheme is appropriate for grant under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 50 additional factories to be brought into production by Remploy Corporation by the end of 1949 are to be sited in Wales; and are those for Ferndale, Porth, Treorchy and Tonypandy included in this programme.

Ten of the additional factories will be in Wales, including factories at Ferndale, Porth and Treorchy. The needs of Tonypandy will be met by the factory at Porth for the time being. The factory at Tonypandy is still in the programme.

asked the Minister of Labour why, in view of the lack of skilled building workers available for essential housing and other building programmes, his Department suspended the training scheme; and if he will consider now absorbing some of the unemployed for this purpose.

Training of able-bodied men for the building industry generally was suspended in August, 1947, because the capital investment programme for 1948 did not justify continuing special measures to add to the building labour force. I am at present considering, with representatives of both sides of the industry, whether the shortages in certain areas of certain types of skilled craftsmen can best be met by resuming, to a limited extent, the training of such men.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the usual Purchase Tax on material is 66⅔ per cent. and on made-up clothes is 33⅓ per cent., the effect of which is to discourage individuals, especially women, making their own; and whether, in view of the necessity for increased production, he will reduce the Purchase Tax on the raw material.

No. The woman who makes her own clothing saves the cost of making it up. The tax is no deterrent since it amounts to about the same, whether she buys the cloth or the finished clothing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his coming Budget, he will consider removing the Purchase Tax on toilet paper.

Before the next Finance Bill is introduced, I will consider the claims of toilet paper along with other commodities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that Income Tax is being demanded from the recipients of small gifts of Savings Certificates made to them as employees for long service, although such gifts would appear to be similar to those already exempted, as Christmas gifts, from taxation; and whether he will take steps to remove this anomaly.

I regret that I cannot extend the concession referred to in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton) on 25th November.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will cancel the withdrawal from sale of S.R. & O., No. 1864, 1941, by H.M. Stationery Office, in view of the fact that, although revoked, substantial reference is made to it in the explanatory note to S.I., 1948, No. 2568.

Revoked orders and instruments are withdrawn from general sale as a safeguard to the public against the supply of incorrect information, but copies of such orders and instruments are always available when specially requested.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury whether it is his intention that the total labour force in the building industry should remain stationary, or decline.

The building labour force cannot be considered in isolation from the economic situation taken as a whole, so that a full statement cannot be made until the Economic Survey is published next year. It is not expected, however, that there will be any substantial change.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number, nature and location of the enterprises to be organised in the United Kingdom and her dependencies by U.S. private investment.

I regret that I cannot predict the future intentions of American investors in this respect. Since the end of the war a considerable number of projects submitted by American firms have been approved, but it would not be in accordance with Exchange Control policy to divulge the nature and location of individual enterprises.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the volume and value in dollars of each specific item of goods imported into the United Kingdom under the Marshall Plan between 3rd April and the end of November, 1948; and if he will give a similar list in respect of additional goods which have been authorised for shipment by the E.C.A. but which have not yet arrived in the United Kingdom.

I have been asked to reply. The hon. Member will find the information for which he asks, by value, and for the six months ended 30th September, 1948, in the first report on operations under the Economic Co-operation Agreement (Cmd. 7570). I am afraid that it would not be possible, without disproportionate labour, either to supply these figures in the terms of volume or to extend them at this stage to cover the months of October and November. Figures for the current quarter will be published in the next quarterly report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give figures estimating the dollar proceeds derived from the British racehorse breeding industry.

I am afraid that the information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available. Our statistics do not enable us to identify separately the foreign exchange earnings of the British bloodstock industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to prevent the drift-away of dental teaching staff from universities, where their present emoluments are much less than the terms which they could earn as general dental practitioners in the National Health Service.

I have been asked to reply. No evidence of any such drift-away has reached me, but if the hon. and gallant Member has any such evidence I shall be glad to consider it

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when compensation is likely to be paid to ex-officials of the Government of Burma, firms and others, who have lost all their property owing to the Japanese invasion.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a statement on this matter.

asked the Minister of Education the number of schools completed and occupied from August, 1945, to the present date; the number of schools which are now under construction; and what additional number it is anticipated will be completed by 31st December, 1949.

Between August, 1945, and 31st October, 1948, the latest date for which the information is available, 31 schools had been completed and occupied and 30 others had been wholly or partly occupied although some work on them was still in progress. Including these 30, the number of new schools under construction on 31st October last was 298. I am unable to forecast how many of these will be completed by 31st December, 1949. All these figures relate to new schools and do not include the provision of new premises for existing schools or additions and extensions to existing schools.

asked the Minister of Education which are the five comprehensive school projects which he has rejected; and why he has done so.

They were new schools proposed in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The local education authority, on consideration, agreed that they were too small to provide efficiently for the purposes intended.

asked the Minister of Education (1) whether in view of the importance of knowledge of the Dutch language in the expansion of British export trade in Holland and in the Netherlands colonial empire, he will give encouragement to the teaching of Dutch and Afrikaans in the secondary schools in this country;(2) if he will present a report of the extent to which the Afrikaans language is being taught in the secondary schools in Great Britain in view of the importance of knowledge of this language in our industrial and commercial relations with the Union of South Africa.

I have no precise information about the extent to which these languages are studied in secondary schools but it is certainly not significant. In view of the many other demands on the schools I am not disposed to take special action. The needs can most appropriately be met within the field of Further Education. The latest available statistics in this field show two classes with 72 students studying Afrikaans and 31 classes with 724 students studying Dutch.

asked the Minister of Education when arrangements will be made for the children of 11 plus to 15 years of age in Burley, Hants, to receive a secondary education.

The local education authority are hoping to arrange for the senior children from Burley to attend a secondary school at either Christchurch or Ringwood from the beginning of next term.

asked the Minister of Education why Mr. Weston Young, of 21, Saxon Road, Meols, Wirral, has received no instalment of his grants under the Further Educational Training Scheme since 5th October, 1948.

A draft in payment was sent to the university at the beginning of the term for Mr. Young but was returned early in November as he was in hospital. A medical certificate was not received until 25th November. Mr. Young was told on 5th December that he would shortly receive payment, and a draft was again sent to the university for him on 13th December.

asked the Minister of Education what action he proposes to take about the intention of Middlesex County Council to admit to none but the new comprehensive schools children living within their administrative range.

None.

asked the Minister of Education why in view of the recommendations of the McNair Report he gave his approval to the decision that when the Clapham and Streatham Hill Froebel College is taken over next year by the London County Council and incorporated in the new college at Wandsworth, the long established three-year training course is to be reduced to a two-year one.

The McNair Committee recommended the general introduction of a three-year course. having regard to the present supply of teachers, I have not yet found it possible to fix a date for giving effect to this recommendation, and for this reason I should not feel justified in approving the immediate introduction of the three-year course at a college which will be fully maintained from public funds.

asked the Minister of Education how many of the ex-Service students at the College of Estate Management who were reading for the B.Sc. degree of London University in 1945, and how many of the ex-Service students reading for the same degree in 1946 were in receipt of grants from his Department.

Four in 1945–46, and seven others in 1946–47, making 11 in all.

asked the Minister of Education when he will make a statement on the report of the Working Party set up to consider University Awards.

I propose to allow time for the interested bodies, particularly the local education authorities and the universities, to comment on the report before I settle my policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will publish the proposals for union between Canada and Newfoundland as a White Paper.

Yes. I will publish the proposals for union between Canada and Newfoundland as a White Paper as soon as possible. In the meantime I will arrange for a copy of the terms of union to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether Newfoundland is now self-supporting; for how many years it has been self-supporting and what is the National Debt per head of population for Newfoundland, Canada and the United Kingdom, respectively.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a White Paper published in June, 1946, in which the financial and economic position of Newfoundland was fully explained. He will see that the revenue of the Newfoundland Government has exceeded its expenditure since 1941. The National Debt per head of the population of Newfoundland, Canada and the United Kingdom is as follows:—Newfoundland, approximately 218 dollars; Canada, 1,037 dollars; United Kingdom, £536.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what proportion of the registered voters of Newfoundland voted at the recent referendum for confederation with Canada; and by what authority certain Newfoundlanders have been negotiating in Ottawa with the Government of Canada.

The number of voters on the register in Newfoundland at the date of the referendum on 22nd July, 1948, was 176,297. 78,451 of them voted for confederation with Canada. This was 44.5 per cent. of the total on the register, and 52 per cent of those who actually cast their votes. The Newfoundland Delegation which has been negotiating with the Government of Canada was appointed by the Governor of Newfoundland.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether, having regard to the terms of the British North America Act, 1867, the undertakings given by the United Kingdom in 1933–34, and the recent referenda in Newfoundland, His Majesty's Government will now introduce a Bill to restore self-government to Newfoundland, so that this Dominion may decide her future, whether by way of confederation with Canada or otherwise, through her own elected Parliament and Government.

No. As was said in the King's Speech at the opening of the present Session, His Majesty's Government intend to introduce a Bill to provide for the confederation of Newfoundland with Canada in accordance with the Agreement which has just been concluded between representatives of Newfoundland and of the Canadian Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any statement to make in respect of early proposed changes in the clothes rationing scheme.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 1st November to the hon. Member for Darwen (Mr. Prescott).

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many coupons are required for a child's dressing-gown and how many for an adult's; and whether he will reduce the number needed for the former.

The coupon rates for dressing gowns are: men's and women's—7 coupons; boys' and girls'—6 coupons; infants'—4 coupons. The coupon pointing for all dressing gowns is low in relation to their cloth content and I do not consider therefore that I would be justified at present in reducing the number of coupons required in any class.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now concluded the proposed agreement with British Columbia for increased supplies of timber to be supplied to Britain.

Yes. Orders have now been placed by the Timber Control with British Columbian shippers for approximately 60,000 standards of softwood to be delivered during the first half of next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what prices were paid respectively for the 15,000 standards of softwood and the 9,000 cubic fathoms of pit props imported from Soviet Russia in 1948; and what are the equivalent prices paid to English growers for the same types of timber.

Prices for 1948 sawn softwood and pitprop deliveries from Soviet Russia are in line with prevailing prices for supplies from other overseas sources but it is not the practice to reveal price details of current contracts. Homegrown softwood, even when sawn, is not comparable with timber from Soviet Russia and it is not possible to relate the prices for overseas supplies of timber to what the grower in this country receives for his trees. As to pitwood, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 2nd November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to announce the names of the members of the Monopolies Commission; and when it is proposed that the activities of the Commission shall commence.

I have now issued a number of invitations and I hope to receive final replies shortly. The Chairman and some of the members have agreed to serve on the Commission, but I do not propose to announce their names until I am in a position to give details of the complete membership. I hope to do this early in January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what additions or deletions have been made to the list of groups approved for the purposes of the Cotton Spinning (Re-equipment Subsidy) Act, 1948, published on 29th July, 1948, in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale; and what are the reasons for each individual deletion.

Since 29th July, Lily Mills, Ltd., has been added to the list of approved groups. There have been no deletions from the list.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the number of British traders in Tokyo at the present time who are there to stay and require offices; how far these numbers have increased in the last three months; and how far have their housing and office requirements been satisfied.

On 10th December there were 76 business representatives of United Kingdom firms or branches of firms, including banking, shipping, insurance and trading interests who have applied for and have Obtained from the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers licences—known as semi-permanent licences—to remain indefinitely in Japan. This compares with 52 three months ago.Generally speaking, office space at present available in Japan for foreign traders is inadequate, but as the hon. Member was informed yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, it is expected that the situation will be eased next month. The housing position is somewhat better than it was, although there are still a number of business representatives of United Kingdom firms, who have "semi-permanent" licences and who therefore require "private residences," living in the commercial hotels provided by the Japanese.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the highest number of factories under construction by Welsh estates at any period in the last five years; and how many do they hope to have under construction during 1949.

The highest number of factories under construction by Wales and Monmouthshire Industrial Estates, Ltd., at any time was 110 in September, 1947. About 65 will be under construction at 1st January, 1949, and this number is expected to decrease steadily during the year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the average length of time taken to construct new factories for Welsh estates during 1947 and 1948 respectively, taking standard factories and others separately.

The time taken finally to complete any given factory is dependent on many factors such, for example, as the time necessary to prepare the site, the size of the factory and any special tenants' requirements. No one factory was both started and completed in 1947 or 1948. Work continued on many factories during both years, while many factories started in 1947 or 1948 are still under construction. In these circumstances, any average figure would give a false picture. If my hon. Friend wants particulars of any specific factories I will, however, be glad to give him all the information I can.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what instructions are given to Empire and foreign visitors, respectively, arriving in this country with regard to the issue of clothing coupons; and what steps are taken to inform them that to avoid Purchase Tax and to get extra coupons, the goods purchased have to be delivered direct to the port of embarkation; and how many coupons such visitors are entitled to receive.

The publications of the British Tourist and Holidays Board, which are widely distributed overseas through consulates, travel agencies, shipping and air lines, etc., describe fully the facilities available to overseas visitors for the purchase of rationed clothing. On arrival in this country all foreign visitors are given a Welcome Card produced by the British Tourist and Holidays Board, containing essential information about all the facilities and formalities of importance to tourists. These include the Tourist Voucher Book Scheme, the Personal Export Scheme and the arrangements by which any visitor staying for 28 days or more receives a clothing book containing a three months ration of coupons.My Department has also issued a leaflet, which has been circulated among traders, travel agencies, etc., giving more detailed information about the working of these schemes, and a poster has been produced which traders operating the Personal Export Scheme are asked to display. These schemes worked well during this year's tourist season but they are now being reviewed with the object of making improvements, both in machinery and publicity, before next season.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the paper allocation to the Bureau of Current Affairs for each year since 1945, inclusive.

This allocation was fixed at 30 tons a month in 1946 and has continued unchanged. The Bureau have, however, consistently used considerably less than their allocation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what difficulties stand in the way of trade between this country and Peru; and what steps are being taken to improve the trading relations between the two countries.

Peru, like other countries, is forced to give priority in the allocation of limited foreign exchange to essential requirements and for this reason our export trade in many types of consumer goods has been limited. Apart from this, there are, as far as I am aware, no special difficulties in the way of trade between the two countries, and I hope that an expansion of trade will, in fact, result from the Anglo-Peruvian Sterling Payments Agreement signed in July last. His Majesty's Government are inviting the Peruvian Government to send a small trade delegation to this country to discuss Peruvian purchases here.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent calls have been made by industry on the Export Credits Guarantee Fund.

If my hon. Friend is referring to the use made of the facilities administered by the Export Credits Guarantee Department, the amount of export business on which guarantees have been given during the year 1947–48 was £186 million and for the first half of the current financial year, £133 million. Claims paid as a result of the war and subsequently, total to over £5½ million of which about £2frac14; million has since been recovered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the present stage of the trade talks between this country and the U.S.S.R.

Talks are continuing, but I am not yet in a position to report to the House in detail.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now reply to the letters, dated 13th July and 7th October, from the hon. Member for West Middlesbrough, in which proposals were made for assisting industry to manufacture in this country those goods which at present are being obtained from hard currency areas.

I much regret that there has been a long delay in answering the hon. Member's letters on this subject. The proposals they contained involved close consultation with other Departments concerned. A reply will be sent within the next few days.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many meetings and at what intervals has the Advisory Panel on frustrated exports set up by the British Chamber of Commerce in co-operation with his Department held; from how many firms have applications been received; how many of such applications have been granted; and what is the average length of time between the receipt of the applications and a decision being made by this advisory panel.

The advisory panel has been in daily session since early in July. Up to 15th December, 1,747 applications have been submitted. Of these 746 have been recommended for release, Two weeks is the approximate average time for a recommendation by the panel.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what decision has been reached on the continuance of the voluntary limitation of advertising.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I have discussed the future of the present scheme with representatives of the Federation of British Industries Advertising Committee and it has been agreed that voluntary limitation will be continued after the expiry of the present scheme at the end of February next with the same general purpose as the present scheme but with some modifications in its details. I understand that the Federation of British Industries will circulate details of these modifications to participants in the scheme and will make them available to the Press.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the volume and value in dollars of each specific item of goods exported to the United States from the United Kingdom between 3rd April and the end of November, 1948; and if he will give a similar list in respect of any goods delivered or scheduled for delivery from the United Kingdom or her Dependencies under the strategic materials requirements of the E.R.P Agreement with the U.S.A.

As regards the first part of the Question, the only information readily available will be found in the Trade and Navigation Accounts. As regards the second part, during the period in question 11,000 tons of rubber, c.i.f. value 5,570,000 dollars, were shipped from the United Kingdom, and 1,200 tons of sisal, c.i.f. value 480,000 dollars, from East Africa from stocks held by the United Kingdom Government. Details of the diamonds supplied through commercial channels are not available for publication.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the allowance of 600 cigarettes permitted from this country to those serving in the British Army on the Rhine has caused a minor black market in the Services, in view of the scarcity of this commodity; and whether, as there is now no black market in cigarettes among German nationals, he will consider revising the regulations concerned.

I am not aware of any regulation of the kind referred to in the first part of the Question. The second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the present state of the negotiations regarding the terms of the compensation regulations required under Section 55 of the Electricity Act; and when it is likely that the negotiations will be concluded.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the fact that it is now 16 months since the Electricity Act was passed and nine months since Vesting Day, what is the reason for the continuing delay in the issue of the compensation regulations required under Section 55 of the Act; and when they can be expected.

Consultations are practically concluded and it is hoped that the draft regulations will be laid when Parliament resumes after the Christmas Recess.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the estimated cost of the illumination by fairy-bulbs of a Christmas tree at Felixstowe; and why permission for such an illumination was refused.

I have no information regarding the cost involved. The illumination was refused when the matter first arose in October in accordance with the policy which had operated since the early years of the war. Subsequently it was decided to modify this policy and accordingly permission for this lighting was given early in December.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that a notice has been issued by the London Electricity Board giving notification to the effect that at the request of his Department the Board has made variations in the tariff in force to apply for the period commencing after the first meter reading following 14th October. 1948, and ending on the normal meter reading next following 14th January of the ensuing year; and why he has insisted on differential costs.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 30th July and to the speech he made on 3rd November during the Debate on the Address.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give figures showing the extent of the gap between the maximum national electrical demand and the generating capacity available to meet it for the Winters 1946–47 and 1947–48; and the estimated figures for the Winters 1948–49 and 1949–50.

The maximum gap between the estimated peak demand and the actual capacity available to meet it was about 2,000,000 kilowatts in the Winter of 1946–47, and rather over 1,000,000 kilowatts in the Winter of 1947–48, which was exceptionally mild. The maximum gap between demand and available capacity this Winter will depend partly on the weather and partly on the effect of the measures taken to reduce peak demand, such as the differential tariff recommended by the Clow Committee. With average Winter weather we think it is unlikely that the gap will much exceed 1,000,000 kilowatts, but if at any time the weather is exceptionally severe the gap might during such conditions be double that figure. I cannot at present give any reliable estimate for the Winter of 1949–50.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the programme figure for anticipated new electrical generating capacity in 1948; and the total capacity of new plant actually brought into service for the 11 months ended 30th November, 1948.

The estimate given in the "Economic Survey for 1948" was 1,150,000 kilowatts. It is now expected that over 500,000 kilowatts will be commissioned in the year. In the eleven months ending 30th November 453,000 kilowatts of new plant have been brought into service.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the estimated capacity of new electrical generating plant to be brought into service during 1949.

My hon. Friend will appreciate that it is extremely difficult to make accurate estimates of this kind owing to the number of unforeseeable contingencies, but it appears from the information at present available that about 1,000,000 kilowatts may be brought into service in 1949.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what inquiries were made into the possibility of supplying electricity to Mr. Macklen's house at Wycke Hill, Maldon, Essex, before a licence for poles in connection therewith was issued and the Parliamentary Secretary's letter of 15th April last was sent to the hon. Member for Maldon.

None. It has not been the practice to make such inquiries. The main consideration governing the licensing of poles has been the production of evidence by the electricity authorities that the purpose for which the supply was proposed to be given came within certain defined priority categories. In this particular case a licence for poles was granted because the undertaking was able to show that the electricity supply was needed on medical grounds.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the long delay in providing electricity to two farmers in the neighbourhood of Tolle-shunt D'Arcy, Essex, particulars of which have been supplied to him; and if, in view of the fact that the various schemes relating to this area were submitted for the approval of his Department some two months ago, he will expedite such approval forthwith.

My right hon. Friend's approval would be required only for the erection of overhead lines and no application for these has yet been received in connection with the schemes to which my hon. Friend refers. I understand that the Area Electricity Board are at present discussing certain points with the local planning authority.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he maintains so strict a specification for poles for overhead transmission lines for electricity when, by using a specification more in line with that in force in continental countries, more home grown poles could be used, foreign exchange saved, and electricity schemes in rural areas speeded up; and if he will reconsider this question.

The British Standards Institute specifications for wooden poles for overhead lines are more stringent than continental specifications but the electricity boards are working to a relaxed specification, which does not compare unfavourably with continental practice. Electricity boards use home grown poles but any extension of their use would involve a more widespread employment of spruce. Spruce has a tendency to break, split and twist and while it can be used within specified dimensions according to the type of line, engineers only employ it to a limited extent, because of possible risk to the public and employees working on the poles and because of the high cost of maintenance.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will reconsider his refusal to allow a further supplementary allowance of petrol to Mr. A. C. Lupton, of Rooksbury Mill, Andover, who has suffered several strokes, lost his speech and ability to write and who is dependent on his car for the sole pleasure left to him in life.

Much as I sympathise with Mr. Lupton, I find that he already receives an allowance greater than that normally granted on compassionate grounds and I regret that I would not be justified in increasing it.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will grant a small allowance of petrol to private motorists desirous of giving driving instruction to the specified holder of a provisional driving licence.

No, any person wishing to give such instruction must, I am afraid, sacrifice a little of his standard ration.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he has completed his consideration of the scheme put before him by the United Commercial Travellers' Association for an increased petrol allowance for its members; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now prepared to review the present basis for the allotment of petrol to commercial travellers as a result of his conversations with the Commercial Travellers' Association.

Proposals have been submitted to my right hon. Friend by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, as well as by the United Commercial Travellers' Association in regard to allowances for commercial travellers. These differ in some respects, and consultations are to take place with the two organisations concerned.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is now the maximum allowance per six months for private hire cars and the mileage this petrol allows, whether he is aware that there is much dissatisfaction among owners of hire cars at the severe restriction in allowances, which means the frequent laying-up of cars for long periods; and if he will immediately raise the standard allocations.

The maximum allowance for chauffeur driven private hire cars is 405 gallons for six months, which, reckoned at an average consumption of 20 miles per gallon, provides approximately 8,000 miles. I am aware of the difficulties of some private hire-car operators but regret that present conditions do not permit any increase.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what action he is taking to ensure that consumer councils under the Gas Act and consultative councils under the Electricity Act are set up before any further decisions on policy and rates are made.

As regards electricity I would refer to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 9th December, to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Major Beamish) about the appointment of electricity consultative councils. As five have already been set up and the remainder will be appointed shortly the Question does not arise.With regard to consultative councils under the Gas Act, consultations with the various interests mentioned in Section 9 (2) of the Act have been taking place and nominations are being sought from the representative bodies concerned.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the inferior quality of much of the domestic fuel which is being supplied to householders; what is being done to improve it; and what measures are in operation to ensure that a customer receives the class of coal for which he is paying.

In reply to the first two parts of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Macclesfield (Air-Commodore Harvey) on 11th November. As regards the last part, special instructions have been issued to our regional ofofficers and to local fuel overseers with the object to minimising the risk of consumers being charged prices higher than those prescribed in the retail coal prices schedules for the grade of coal delivered. Any consumer who believes that he is being charged more than the prescribed price should report the matter to the local fuel overseer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Mauritius have yet completed their consideration of the report of the Mauritius Economic Commission; and what action concerning the recommendation contained in the report they proposed to take.

I am not yet able to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Lady on 24th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the request of the Government of the Indian Union for a plebiscite to be held in Mauritius to determine whether the population of the island wishes to join the India Union or not.

Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations nor myself have received any such request from the Government of India, and the question accordingly does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many ex-Palestine police constables and sergeants have received police appointments in the rank of inspector and above in Malaya and in other Colonial forces; and how many ex-Palestine police officers who were at or close to the retiring age when the mandate terminated and under the special regulations issued could have been retired under a full pension were also given further police appointments, when other younger officers whose careers had been cut short were available for such positions.

Forty-four constables and sergeants of the Palestine Police Force have been transferred to Malaya in the rank of inspector or above and six to other Colonial territories, including three on secondment. In addition, 103 have been transferred in the rank of assistant inspector or sub-inspector. There are no cases in which officers of the rank of inspector or above have been transferred when either at or close to the retiring age, but three officers in this category have been given temporary re-employment on agreement. In these cases experienced officers were required for special duties and younger men would not have been suitable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present rice ration in Malaya; and to what extent the disturbance in Burma is likely to prevent an increase in the near future.

The present rice rations are 8.2 ounces daily in Singapore and 7.6 ounces daily in the Federation of Malaya. Imports in the near future depend on the allocations made by the International Emergency Food Committee, which is now meeting in Washington. Until the allocations for the first half of next year have been made I am unable to forecast what the ration scales in Malaya will be.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has considered the dissatisfaction amongst officers of the Malayan Police at the accelerated promotion of certain ex-Palestine police officers who have been absorbed into the Malayan Police; and if he will make a statement in the matter.

I am aware that there is some dissatisfaction. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, replied to certain matters on 16th November and I am inquiring into further representations which have been made to me by individual police officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any statement on the recent visit of a commission of scientists to the Gold Coast to examine methods of combating the swollen shoot disease of cocoa.

The Commission's Report is being presented this week, and I shall without delay examine it in consultation with the Governor of the Gold Coast. It will be published in the near future and I hope it will be possible to make a further statement shortly.Before they left the Gold Coast, the Commission emphasised publicly that swollen shoot, contrary to some popular beliefs, was not caused by weather conditions or cultural methods but was a contagious virus disease, carried from diseased to healthy trees by mealybugs. The destruction of diseased trees, the source of infection, was imperative; without that, other ideas for rehabilitating cocoa discussed in their report would be meaningless. The Commission stressed the need for accurate, thorough and continuous cutting out and urged farmers to co-operate in it. They commended the work done by the scientists at the West African Cacao Research Institute, in whom they said farmers should have confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government are prepared to make a further contribution towards the cost of repair of war damage in Malta in addition to that already approved by Parliament.

No. I take this opportunity of correcting a statement recently published in Malta implying that His Majesty's Government would be ready to make a further contribution. When the matter was raised with me in March this year by the Prime Minister of Malta and the Minister of Works and Reconstruction, I drew their attention to the statement made by my predecessor in the House of Commons on 9th July, 1946, when it was announced that in addition to the sum of £10 million already approved, His Majesty's Government would, in fulfilment of the promise of further assistance given in 1942, make a grant of a further £20 million. As my predecessor then explained, it was decided in the interests of all concerned that the best course was to fix a total sum to be made available for expenditure on the restoration of war damage and reconstruction. His Majesty's Government regard the total amount of £31 million (including interest on the first £1 million) already voted by Parliament as being a full and final discharge of their undertakings to Malta in this matter.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the outcome of negotiations between the B.B.C. and the T.U.C. regarding recognition of certain trade unions as negotiating bodies within the corporation; and whether he will make a statement on the implementation by the B.B.C. of Clause 8 of its charter.

My right hon. Friend is having inquiry made and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the delivery of letters posted to and from Newport and other towns in South Wales and the North of England regularly takes from two to three days; and whether he will take steps to improve this service.

I am not aware of any regular relay as suggested, but I will gladly make inquiry if full details are furnished.

asked the Minister of Works if he will raise the limit on building free from licence to £1,000.

I do not feel justified in making any further relaxation in these limits at present.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why Mr. H. Stanier, 9, Cleveland Avenue, Scarborough, has not yet received his retirement pension which was applied for in June and was due on 18th October although he received a letter from the Department dated 11th November stating that the award was being made and that he should hear within the course of a few days.

A pension order book for payment of Mr. Stainer's pension at the rate of 26s. a week was received by him on 15th December, 1948. He has also claimed an increase of 16s. a week in respect of his wife. This has been allowed and an additional order book is being sent to him.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that Mr. Joseph Bray, 19, Fernley Villas, Newton Cramlington, was injured at the age of 16 years whilst working underground as a miner in 1914, having a leg crushed and amputated, and is now employed on light work, on the surface at 16s. 7d. per shift, including 1s. a shift semi-skilled money, and therefore is now only in receipt of 2d. per week compensation; and whether he will take steps to increase the compensation paid in this case.

My right hon. Friend has no power to intervene in regard to the rights of injured workmen under the Workmen's Compensation Acts. As regards the possibility of applying the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act to cases which occurred before that Act came into force, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I am sending him in reply to another Question. I would also remind my hon. Friend that an agreed scheme was recently worked out between the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers covering injured miners in receipt of workmen's compensation, and the question whether this scheme covers the present case should no doubt be considered if that has not been done already.

asked the Minister of National Insurance, in view of his undertaking to the hon. Member for Upton, what action he is taking to bring pre-1924 partial incapacity cases under the provisions of the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1946.

I regret that at present it is not possible to add anything to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 23rd March in reply to a somewhat similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ince (Mr. T. Brown). I am sending a copy of this statement to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) if he is aware that Mr. Robert Johnson, 1 South Row, Klondyke Estate, Cramlington, was injured in 1913 whilst employed underground as a coal-cutter, having his spine fractured, and is now employed on the surface at 15s. 7d. per shift, and receives no workmen's compensation; and what action he proposes to take to ensure the payment of compensation in this and similar cases;(2) if he is aware that there are many miners who sustained injuries prior to 1924, who are now only able to do light work with a very low wage but who receive no workmen's compensation; and what action he proposes to take to improve their position.

I can only refer to the statement I am sending my hon. Friend in reply to another question he has asked on the same topic.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what is the number of persons in the category known as the pre-1924 partial incapacity cases for the purpose of workmen's compensation.