asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state, for the satisfaction of his parents, the cause of death of 19114456 Sapper E. G. Digby, who died on 5th November, aged 20 years, and who on his entry into the service was graded A.1.

I am advised that this soldier's death was due to bloodpoisoning, developing from an abscess forming in the spinal canal and arising from a germ infection of the bones of the spine, in the region of the lower neck. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my sympathy with the soldier's parents.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement about the future of the Army Nursing Services.

Yes. His Majesty The King has intimated that as soon as the Army and Air Force (Women's Service) Act has been brought into operation, he will be pleased to constitute the existing Army Nursing Services, namely, the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service and its Reserve, and the Territorial Army Nursing Service, a Corps of the Army, with the title Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of war graves cemeteries in Italy; and the number of men buried in them.

In Italy there are 41,630 1939–45 British war graves in 42 British war cemeteries (including three cemeteries in Sicily) and there are 3,421 1914–18 British war graves in 93 cemeteries of which 14 are British war cemeteries or plots.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now state the result of his decision to reopen the cases against Major-General Kinoshita and Sergeant-Major Yoshida.

Kinoshita has been sentenced to imprisonment for life, and Yoshida to 12 years' imprisonment. These sentences are subject to confirmation.

asked the Minister of Works what is the present stock of clay roofing tiles.

The stock of clay roofing tiles at makers' works at the end of October last was 173,000 squares.

asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of the great interest shown by members of the public in the Debates in the House of Commons, he will consider the fitting of a silent electric annunciator above the amplifiers in the Press Gallery, so that it can be seen in the Strangers' Gallery, and visitors may intelligently follow the progress of the business of the House.

I regret that the temporary system, which was installed to replace the one destroyed by bombing, is not capable of operating any more annunciators.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many disabled ex-Service men of the 1939–45 war have since been certified as insane; and of these men how many are at present in mental hospitals.

My Department has no statistical record of ex-Service men certified as persons of unsound mind. Four thousand. eight hundred and seventy-five pensions have been awarded by my Department for mental disease and on 30th September, 1948, 1,369 of these pensioners were under treatment in mental hospitals.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many totally incapacitated ex-Service men residing in their own homes are in receipt of pensions and allowances of £6 11 s. per week; and how many of these men have been issued with a car by the Ministry of Pensions.

Of those pensioners listed as being in receipt of 100 per cent. pension plus the unemployability supplement, 577 are receiving £6 11 s. per week or more. There are in addition further pensioners who although not receiving the unemployability supplement are receiving £6 11s. per week or more by reason of a higher scale of pension or additional family allowances, but the precise number cannot be stated without examination of a very large number of documents. The distribution of free motorcars to the seriously disabled is only just beginning. Many of the 577 pensioners referred to are in the classes eligible for a motorcar and they will receive a car in due course. As I have already informed the House, 1,500 cars will be provided over a period of two years.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many people in Great Yarmouth qualify for a disablement pension; how many are receiving the basic rate; what is the maximum weekly amount being paid to any one individual; and how many persons in receipt of 100 per cent. disability pension are in full-time employment.

As I stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. G. Thomas), on 14th December, the records of my Department are not kept in a form which would enable me readily to give information in relation to particular cities or towns.

asked the Minister of Pensions why an increase of family allowance to a disability pensioner in respect of a child is only paid from the date of application and production of a life certificate and not from the date of birth; and will he take such action as will give this payment, which is at present refused, for the period between the two dates.

It is only when application is not made within a reasonable period after the birth of the child that the allowance commences from a later date. Since the announcement in December, 1945, many steps have been taken to make pensioners aware of the fact that they can receive allowances for children born after discharge and I should not be justified in altering the present rules in favour of pensioners who unduly delay their applications.

asked the Minister of Health what does a student nurse now earn in her first, second, third and fourth years of training; how much is deducted for board and lodging, Income Tax, and National Health Insurance; and what was she paid before the recent changes, when she did not have to pay insurance or tax, and was provided with free board and lodging.

I am sending the hon. Member full details.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that at a certain hospital, whose name has been submitted to him, a general practitioner practising in the neighbourhood has not been permitted to see the notes of his patients when they go into the hospital; and whether this refusal is in accordance with his instructions.

I have issued no instructions on this matter. I am making inquiries into the case mentioned by the hon. Member and will write to him.

asked the Minister of Health what steps his Department propose to take in connection with the flooding of the Pool River in the borough of Lewisham.

I am making inquiries, and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General whether in view of the long delay in establishing a telephone exchange in the village of Longtown, Herefordshire, he will treat the matter as one of urgency owing to the isolated nature of the parish.

Arrangements are in hand to provide a new exchange at Longtown, but there is, unfortunately, delay in acquiring a site. The community is at present served by a public kiosk outside the Post Office.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how far vehicles within the scope of his Department are suppressed to avoid interference with radio, radar and television; and if he will have the necessary adjustments made to vehicles not already fitted.

In the absence of any complaint, none of the motor vehicles used by my Department has been so equipped. If my hon. and gallant Friend will let me know of any case where Ministry of Fuel and Power vehicles have been the cause of substantial interference with radio equipment, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is yet in a position to announce the constitution of the Gas Council.

Yes. I announced on 13th April and on 5th November the names of the persons I proposed to appoint as chairman and deputy-chairman of the Gas Council and as chairmen of the various Area Gas Boards. These appointments have now been made and the Gas Council has been constituted as follows:

• Mr. A. E. Sylvester—Chairman.
• Colonel H. C. Smith—Deputy-Chairman.
• Sir Andrew Clow—Chairman, Scottish Gas Board.
• Mr. E. Crowther—Chairman, Northern Gas Board.
• Colonel W. M. Carr—Chairman, North-Western Gas Board.
• Mr. Roger Edwards—Chairman. North-Eastern Gas Board.
• Mr. Henry Jones—Chairman, East Midlands Gas Board.
• Mr. G. le B. Diamond—Chairman. West Midlands Gas Board.
• Mr. Mervyn Jones—Chairman, Wales Gas Board.
• Sir John Stephenson—Chairman, Eastern Gas Board.
• Mr. Michael Milne-Watson—Chairman North Thames Gas Board.
• Mr. W. K. Hutchison—Chairman, South-Eastern Gas Board.
• Mr. O. Guard—Chairman, Southern Gas Board.
• Mr. C. H. Chester—Chairman. South-Western Gas Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present f.o.b. price per ton being charged for West African cocoa by the West African Cocoa Board.

There is no fixed selling price for British West African cocoa. Sales are made at world market prices by the Gold Coast Cocoa Marketing Board and the Nigeria Cocoa Marketing Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he proposes to take to implement the Evans Report.

I have discussed the developments recommended by the Commission with the Governor of British Guiana and the Governor-designate of British Honduras. I made reference to some of the steps being taken in the Adjournment Debate on 10th December. I have had some preliminary discussion of the proposals in the report with the Colonial Development Corporation, which is already examining the British Guiana timber project.Much preliminary investigational work will be required before any large scale operations can begin. This is especially the case in British Guiana, where development depends on the provision of improved communications into the interior. As a first step a consulting engineer will leave for British Guiana at the end of this month to examine the possibilities of dredging the Bar, which at present limits shipping, at the mouth of the Essequibo river. Steps are also being taken to institute a ground and possibly aerial survey of the route for an all weather road from Bartica to Potaro, with a branch to Tiboku on the middle Mazaruni, and to draw up detailed specifications and costs. Agreement has been reached with the Governor to establish agricultural stations in the Potaro and Muzaruni areas to conduct cocoa and other crop trials there. A reconnaissance soil survey will also be carried out as soon as possible.In British Honduras the Colony's feeder road programme has been revised in the light of the Settlement Commission report. The revised proposals have recently been approved and work will be started forthwith.I indicated in the House on 10th December that I have decided provisionally to earmark about £2 million, from Colonial Development and Welfare general reserve, as a contribution towards implementing the Commission's proposals. I have in mind that this could be used:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the object of the Order in Council, dated 26th November, 1948, which extends the boundaries of Jamaica and the Bahamas to include the area of the continental shelf which lies beneath the sea contiguous to these territories.

The object is to extend the jurisdiction of the Governments of these Colonies so as to give them control over the sea-bed and sub-soil continguous to their coasts with a view to securing such natural resources as may exist there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many ex-Palestine police officers of the rank of inspector and above were, after having expressed the desire to continue in the Colonial Police service, subsequently called upon to retire after being told that there were no suitable posts elsewhere to which they could be appointed; and how many of these officers have been subsequently recalled from retirement to take up other Colonial police appointments and required to repay the compensatory benefits allotted to them for loss of office when the Palestine mandate ended.

Eighteen officers of the substantive rank of inspector and above were informed that there were no suitable posts in the Colonial service to which they could be appointed and that they must therefore be called upon to retire. Of these none has been required to refund compensatory benefits paid to him. One officer was recalled from retirement to take up a pensionable appointment in the Colonial Police service, but his compensatory benefit had not been paid to him before his recall. One officer has been re-appointed on a temporary basis and in his case no question of a refund arose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many applicants for the Colonial Administrative Service in 1946–47 and 1947–48 were educated in independent schools and how many in State maintained schools, respectively; how many were colonial subjects; how many from each category were successful; and what is the process of selection and the minimum educational qualification required.

I regret that the figures requested regarding the schools of applicants, as distinct from selected candidates, for the Colonial Administrative Service are not available and could only be obtained after very extensive special research. The following figures, however, are available from a special review of recruitment made during the period 1st June, 1945, to 31st May, 1947.During that period 13,726 applications were received in the Colonial Office for posts of all kinds in the Colonial service and of these 2,985 were selected for appointment. Appointments to the Administrative Service totalled 876. Further analysis of 683 candidates selected for the Colonial service between 1st June, 1945, and 30th December, 1946, showed that 363 of them came from independent schools and 213 from public elementary and state-aided secondary schools.These figures are, however, apt to give a misleading impression if taken by themselves. In many Colonies, including particularly the West Indies, by far the greater administrative posts are already held by locally-born officers. The proportion of such officers, who do not pass through the appointments machinery of the Colonial Office but are selected under local arrangements, is continually increasing throughout the whole Colonial service. In order to encourage this desirable development, special steps have been taken in recent years to facilitate the entry of persons born in the Colonies themselves into the higher ranks of all branches of the Colonial service. A Scheme costing £1,000,000 has been made under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act to defray the cost of training persons born in the Colonies who wish to fit themselves for such higher appointments. The number of scholarships awarded under this Scheme was 10 in 1946, 70 in 1947 and 95 in 1948.So far as vacancies filled through the appointments machinery of the Colonial Office are concerned, the process of selection for the Administrative Service is as follows. Vacancies are normally publicised in the Press in the spring of each year and applications are examined during the summer so that selected candidates may enter the course of training for the Colonial Administrative Service

which begins in October. When a candidate's application is received the first step is to examine the candidate's paper record and performance from his school days onwards, and reports are obtained from school masters and others familiar with his career. When these reports have been examined those candidates whose record suggests that they may be suitable are interviewed at the Colonial Office by officers in the Colonial Service Division who have normally had practical experience of work in the Colonies. These interviews are designed to ascertain whether the candidate possesses the character, intellectual capacity and other qualities required. Amongst the qualities looked for are a constructive interest in Colonial problems and freedom from colour or other prejudices which would hinder good relations with the people of the Colonies. Those candidates who are considered

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give an assurance that the U.S. radio receiving station now being assembled in Cyprus after being transferred from Cairo, will be under British jurisdiction; and what is the purpose of this transfer.

It is expected that the American Receiving Station will be established in Cyprus as a United States Government agency. Subject to the usual advantages of such a position, the station will be under British jurisdiction. I understand that the station is being transferred from Cairo in order that it may operate with greater technical efficiency.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the extension of the United Kingdom Private Chattels Scheme to United Kingdom British subjects who have suffered losses in the Far East, announced on 1st December, is limited to losses in colonial territories.

As the hon. Member has already been informed by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, it is proposed to extend benefits on the lines of the free cover of the United Kingdom Private Chattels Scheme to British subjects who have sustained war losses to private chattels in British and ex-British territories in the Far East and who have returned to reside in this country. The existing scheme, which is confined to hardship grants to British subjects returning from captivity, will continue to be applied in relation to losses in other Far Eastern territories

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of men's shirts in Aberdeen; and whether he will take steps to increase the supply.

I have no evidence that supplies in Aberdeen are below the general level. Supplies for the home market are limited by the diversion to export of shirting cloth, and increased supplies are dependent on increased output.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what facilities exist for British businessmen to visit the U.S.S.R.; and to what extent he is encouraging them.

No special facilities exist for United Kingdom businessmen to visit the U.S.S.R. as the point of contact for trade matters is the U.S.S.R. Trade Delegation in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of the spare parts imported from the U.S.A. in the months September, October and November, 1948, for the purposes of assembly into complete cash registers and of servicing cash registers imported before the war, respectively.

Parts imported for the purpose of assembly into complete cash registers are not separately distinguished in the trade returns from parts imported for servicing purposes. The value of all cash register parts (other than empty ribbon spools. parts of such spools and inked ribbons) imported from the U.S.A. in September and October, 1948, was £19,000 and £24,000, respectively. The figures for November are not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many permits have been issued for the importation of spare parts from the U.S.A. for assembly into cash registers; on what date and for what amount the first permit was granted; and when it is proposed to bring this practice to a close so as to reduce unnecessary dollar expenditure.

The information asked for in the first part of the hon. Member's Question is not available. Every effort is being made to establish the manufacture of cash registers in this country as speedily as possible. This is a long process particularly as the programme includes models only recently developed. The importation meanwhile of parts for assembly represents a substantial saving in dollars compared with the import of complete machines

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now announce any further relaxations in the control of flax.

Yes. Government purchasing abroad will cease from an early date in January, 1949, and from that date imports will be subject only to the normal import licensing procedure. The Flax Control's purchases of home grown flaxes will also cease when the 1948 crop has been taken up. I also intend to revoke certain orders under which licences are now required for acquisition, disposal, spinning and weaving of flax.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that reputable and long-established importers of British textiles in the Argentine are in ignorance as to which firms have been given quotas to import; and if, in view of this, he is satisfied that licences have in fact been issued to cover the £2,250,000 under the Andes Agreement allocated for woollen and worsted suitings and coatings.

The Argentine Government have not issued any analysis of the import quota for woollen goods but the indications are that, except for a small reserve, licences covering the agreed quota have now been issued. The distribution of these licences, is of course, a matter for the Argentine Government, whose attention has been drawn to our keen interest in maintaining long-established channels of trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that under any further agreement with the Argentine Government, import licences will be issued for the whole of the amount agreed to and not only for a proportion of the sum.

I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that this point will be very much in our minds in framing the terms of any further trade agreement with Argentina.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the amount of money from capitation grants which now reaches sea cadet units is insufficient to meet the training activities of the cadets; and what steps does he propose to take in this matter.

The system of capitation grants for the Sea Cadets is, in general, in line with that followed by the War Office and Air Ministry in relation to their Cadet Forces. The portion of the grant paid to the Sea Cadet Unit in cash is supplemented by a portion which is paid to a Central Training Fund administered by the Sea Cadet Corps Headquarters; this is largely spent in the provision of additional training facilities and equipment. In addition, the Admiralty provide boats, uniforms and naval and armament stores of various kinds. I am aware that certain Units have represented to the Sea Cadet Council that the cash grants are inadequate but having regard to the total provision made from Navy Votes, I am not at present convinced that there is a case for increasing the caėitation grants to the Units. I will, however, have the matter investigated further.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what procedure will be adopted and what organisations will be consulted when deciding to what extent the recommendations of the Everling Commission on German Universities should be implemented.

The German Länder Government are responsible for all legislation on education matters in the British zone. Implementation of the Report of the Commission set up by the Military Governor to consider the position of German universities therefore rests with them. The Military Governor will give every assistance to the German Governments in this task. As a first step, Ministers of Education of all Länder in the three Western zones of Germany have arranged to meet the members of the Commission and the Rektors of the universities in January to discuss the Report and its recommendations with them. The Commission covers a wide field of interests and includes representatives of the churches, trade unions and co-operatives. Copies of an English version of the Report will shortly be available in this country for organisations and individuals interested in the German educational problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the quantity of newsprint now available in the bizone of Germany and in Japan, respectively.

I shall endeavour to obtain the information and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what answer he has made to the invitation from the Italian Government for an all-party Parliamentary delegation to visit Italy; and if he will make arrangements for such a visit.

The invitation has been accepted and I am making the necessary arrangements for the visit to take place in January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which import duties have been reduced during the period since 31st December, 1947; and by what amount.

As the information requested is somewhat long and detailed and will require some time to obtain, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, write to him as soon as it is available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury which Government Departments have provided housing accommodation for civil servants or temporary staff employed by them; in what places such accommodation has been provided; and, in each case, the number of persons or families so housed.

I regret that this information is not available and could not be secured without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how much Income Tax has been recovered by persons who are unemployed as a result of participating in an unofficial strike during the last two years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give the figures of the total expenditure on public social services in the financial years 1946–47 and 1947–48, respectively.

Following is a Statement giving the figures for 1946–47 (actual) and 1947–48 (estimated). These are comparable with the figures published in the OFFICIAL REPORT for 19th December, 1947, in respect of 1945–46 and 1946–47.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the retailers of goods on which Purchase Tax is payable suffer heavy losses by the sudden reduction or abolition of this tax which they can neither anticipate nor control; and what steps he proposes to take in such cases to refund to these retailers the tax which they have paid in advance on goods and which cannot be recovered from the purchaser.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to Question No. 69 by the hon. Member for the West Division of Dorset (Mr. Wingfield Digby) on 2nd November.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the introduction to a memorandum, entitled "Home Civil Service and Foreign Service—Open Competitive Examination, August, 1948," included the condition that candidates must be under 45 years of age; whether he realises that this condition caused many otherwise suitable candidates to be ineligible to compete; and whether he will, in future, see that suitable candidates with long service in the Army as officers or N.C.O's. are not excluded on the grounds of age alone.

The hon. Member is presumably referring to the regulations for the Open Competition for the Executive Class. These provide, as the main method of entry, for an open competition with an upper age limit of 18½. But in addition, special provision is for the first time being made for a proportion of the vacancies to be filled from those under the age of 45 who have served on Regular engagements in one or other of the Services. This special competition and the extension of the normal age limit for this type of entrant, are part of the Government's policy of assisting the resettlement of ex-Regulars. In providing, however, for this special entry on a career basis to a basic grade of the Executive Class, some upper age limit had to be fixed, and the limit of 45 arrived at was part of a comprehensive agreement between the official and staff sides of the Civil Service National Whitley Council.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what charge is made to each candidate who takes an examination to enter the Ministry of Supply as a civil servant; and how much does the Government pay to the institution which arranges these examinations for them.

Presumably the hon. Member is referring to the fees payable in respect of examinations held by the Civil Service Commissioners. The amount of these fees varies according to the grade or situation concerned and ranges from 2s. 6d. to a maximum of £1, according to the salary and prospects of the post to which recruitment is being made. The expenses of the Commission are shown in the published Estimates for each year, fees received being accounted for as Appropriations in Aid.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the shortage of flour in West Dorset; and whether he will increase the allocation.

My inquiries have not revealed that there is any general shortage of flour in this area, but if the hon. Member will send me details of any case he may have in mind I will willingly look into it.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that some bakers in the Alford, Mablethorpe and Sutton districts, are having considerable difficulty in meeting customers demands for bread owing to the allocation of flour being insufficient; that this is due to future allocations being overdrawn in order to cope with the seasonal holiday requirements of a seaside resort; and if he will reconsider the whole question of flour allocations to bakers in this area.

Since I received this information only yesterday I will, with the hon. Member's permission look into the matter and write to him.

asked the Minister of Food what approximate supplies of bacon are expected during 1949 from the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Eire, and other sources, respectively; how these compare with 1948 supplies; and what approximate quantity is required to provide a 2 ozs. average weekly bacon ration during 1949 as well as supplies to canteens, etc., on the present scales.

Estimated supplies of bacon during 1948 are as follow:

			1948 Tons
United Kingdom	…	…	74,000
Canada	…	…	90,000
Denmark	…	…	22,500
Eire	…	…	——
Holland	…	…	5,000
Hungary	…	…	1,400
Poland	…	…	10,000

In addition to the estimates of imports which I gave in reply to the hon. Member for Ripon (Mr. York) on 15th December we hope to obtain about 110,000 tons from United Kingdom production in 1949. A 2 oz. average weekly ration, together with supplies to canteens, etc., on the present scales, would require about 212,000 tons in 1949.

asked the Minister of Food what approximate supplies of cheese are expected during 1949 from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the U.S.A., and other countries, respectively; how these compare with 1948 supplies; and what approximate quantity is required to provide a 2 ozs. average weekly cheese ration during 1949 as well as supplies to canteens, etc., on the present scales.

The best estimate I can now make of supplies of cheese for the ration in 1948 is 165,000 tons, the sources of which are as follow:

			'000tons
United Kingdom	…	…	22
Australia	…	…	19
Canada	…	…	15
Eire	…	…	1
Holland	…	…	6
New Zealand	…	…	77
U.S.A.	…	…	25
			165

In addition there are 6,500 tons of fancy cheese, either home-produced or imported from Europe, for sale on points.It is not possible at this stage to give reliable detailed estimates for 1949. In the case of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand where we buy the whole production or exportable surplus the supply will depend largely on weather conditions. In the case of Canada we have provisionally contracted to buy about 22,000 tons. No contract for 1949 has yet been entered into with Holland. On the whole, I do not expect more than a relatively small increase over 1948 unless supplies from U.S.A. increase appreciably. I cannot at this stage forecast our dollar expenditure on U.S.A. cheese in 1949. To maintain the present priority ration of 12 ounces per week and to provide an ordinary ration of 2 ounces per week with appropriate allowances to caterers, institutions, services and ships' stores would require an annual supply of about 216,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Food what is the name of the agency which is conducting his body-weight survey; when last a survey was made in Scotland; and at what places.

The body-weight survey is conducted by Social Surveys Ltd., Aldwych House, London, W.C.2. The last survey in Scotland was made during October and November, 1948, at the following places: Aberdeen, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Greenock, Inverness, Johnstone, Kirkcaldy, Paisley and Perth.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of sweets were distributed coupon free through a grocer's firm in Wakefield, particulars of which have been sent to him; why this particular firm was selected; why local wholesalers were not selected who could distribute the sweets quickly; what profit was attached to this contract; and what was the latest date for the consumpion of these sweets before they became unfit to eat.

The transaction to which the hon. Member refers involved approximately 25½ tons of Army surplus boiled sweets which were unsuitable for sale on the ration. The sweets were sold with all faults at the best price obtainable to a firm of licensed wholesalers of chocolate and sugar confectionery in Wakefield for re-sale free of ration exclusively to hospitals, institutions and canteens catering for heavy workers. The gross profit allowed to the wholesalers was 2½d. per 1b. When sold the sweets were quite fit to eat but I cannot say how long they would have remained in that condition.

asked the Minister of Food what is the landed cost per ton of the cocoa at present being purchased by his Department from British West Africa.

I regret that I am not prepared to supply information on the cost per ton of cocoa at present being purchased by the Ministry from British West Africa.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that some wholesale grocers in Scotland had not on 10th December had full delivery of their butter requirements for the fortnight beginning 6th December and that they had only been supplied up to that date with 50 per cent. of the butter which they required for the fortnight beginning 20th December; and what steps it is proposed to take to ensure more reliable deliveries of butter throughout the trade.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent there were delays in meeting delivery orders in butter in some parts of the country during the recent foggy weather; and to what extent this was due to inadequate stocks being carried.

Imports	1946		1947
	Tons	Value £	Tons	Value £
Commodity
Barley	109,755	1,759,199	112,840	3,049,105
Oats	104,806	2,012,889	105,913	2,266,392
Maize	119,335	2,297,280	477,992	10,353,834
Miscellaneous feedingstuffs including by products	115,635	2,871,392	511,800	14,486,350
Re-Exports: Barley
Germany	1,492	32,084	—	—
Netherlands	7,032	149,781	—	—
Oats
Channel Islands	51	935	49	937
Gibraltar	60	1,024	50	830
Maize
Channel Islands	51	536	42	488
Netherlands	2,958	50,879	—	—
Miscellaneous feedingstuffs
Germany	1,536	76,795	—	—

I am aware that there have been delays in the distribution of butter for the ration in Scotland as in a few other parts of the country. Normally at this time of year butter stocks, tend to fall off owing to the seasonality of supplies. Because of slowness of arrivals of overseas shipments and transport difficulties, which were accentuated by poor weather, the position was rather more difficult than usual this year and traders were notified that there would he unavoidable delays in meeting delivery orders for butter in some parts of the country. Supplies are now arriving in larger volume and wholesalers should be receiving their full entitlement. I have no reason to anticipate similar difficulties in the future.

asked the Minister of Food what amounts of feedingstuffs have been imported into the United Kingdom and re-exported in the years 1946 and 1947; and to which countries.

The quantities of coarse grains and other feedingstuffs imported into the United Kingdom for all purposes, including human and industrial uses, during the years 1946 and 1947 and the quantities re-exported during those years are given below. Certain commodities included under the heading of miscellaneous feedingstuffs and imported during 1947 are subject to revision. Quantities are given to the nearest ton.

asked the Minister of Food what was the quantity of barley imported into this country last month to the latest known date; what price was paid; and to what purposes this barley was put.

Official figures are not yet available but according to Ministry of Food records no barley has been imported into this country since October. The second and third parts of the Question do not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Education how many regulations, Ministerial circulars and administrative memoranda, respectively, have been issued by his Department since the passage of the Education Act, 1944; and how many of these have been, respectively, approved and annulled by this House.

Eighty-one bodies of regulations, none of which has been annulled, 193 circulars and 307 administrative memoranda.

asked the Minister of Education how many of the 10,000 applicants, drawn from women between 21 and 35 years of age, in the new recruitment drive have been selected for training.

Ten thousand, four hundred and fifty women have applied for admission to the Emergency Teacher Training Scheme from 24th June, when a new recruiting drive began, up to 9th December. The following table shows the position of these applicants and of some 750 women who had applied before 24th June, but who had not been given a decision by that date.

Accepted for training	2,650
Rejected or withdrawn	6,800
Decision not yet given	1,750
Total	11,200