asked the Minister of Transport the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents which occurred, respectively, in Paisley Road and Paisley Road West in the Tradeston Division for each of the years 1946, 1947 and 1948; and what percentage these are of the total fatal and non-fatal accidents for the City of Glasgow.

Following are the figures:view to the, provision of a satisfactory service.

Part IV of the Transport Act, 1947, gives power to the British Transport Commission to prepare area schemes for the co-ordination of passenger transport services. Meanwhile, any improvement in the services is a matter for the operators concerned in the first place and ultimately for the Licensing Authority under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 1930.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that 75 tons of fish from Northern Ireland was condemned at Billingsgate Market on 17th November, and, in view of this and other similar occurrences, if he will order an inquiry so that steps can be taken to prevent delays in the transport of fish from the County Down fishing ports to the consumers in England.

I am aware of only one such incident. This took place on 15th November and was dealt with in an answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food to a Question by the hon. Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) on 13th December. In that instance there was no indication of any delay in transit. I see no need for an inquiry.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Liner Freight Equalisation Scheme under which subsidies are paid to coastwise shipping companies, amounting to £500,000 approximately per year, has now been reviewed by his Department; and whether he will make a statement on its working.

Yes, and arrangements have been made for the scheme to be extended in its present form until 1st October, 1949, subject to review at any time, particularly in the light of progress made towards the co-ordination of inland transport and coasting liner rates under the provisions of the Transport Act. The answer to the second part of the Question is included in the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 28th June last. Payments under the scheme were £446,957 in respect of 1948 as compared with £462,375 for the previous year.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will now make a statement as regards the additional supplies of water pipes for farm water supply schemes which are available; and whether he will make available an adequate supply of rain-water guttering for both repairs and extensions to farm buildings throughout the country.

Additional plant for the production of steel water tubes has recently been installed, and is now operating. I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works that if use is made of all types of rain water guttering, the supply this year should be adequate to meet all essential requirements.

asked the Minister of Supply what was the value and tonnage of steel exported to France and imported from France during the last quarter of 1947, or any convenient similar period.

About 2,900 tons of steel, worth £110,000 were exported to France in the last quarter of 1947. No steel was imported from France in that quarter.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the demand for arc welding electrodes which rose to a wartime peak of 45,000 tons per annum has continued at that peak during the past three years and that there is a serious shortage of steel wire for their manufacture; and whether, in view of the fact that one ton of electrodes can save an average of ten tons of steel in fabricated work and that the present shortage of wire for the manufacture of electrodes is restricting many engineering industries from using welding as widely as they would wish, he will take steps to ensure an early increase in the supply of the necessary steel wire for this purpose.

Electrode wire is produced from a high grade carbon steel of a rigid specification requiring a high degree of purity. Production of this high grade steel has increased during the past year and has been supplemented in the case of electrode wire by special electric furnace production; it is hoped that this increased production will result in the delivery of electrode wire during the current quarter at the rate of 40,000 tons a year which is the estimated demand for essential purposes.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that in the city of Birmingham, whilst there are over 20,000 building operatives, only 1,450 are engaged on municipal house building; and, in view of the great housing need in that city, what steps he will take to see that more workers are placed on municipal house building.

I am not aware of any difficulty in finding labour for local authority housing contracts in Birmingham.

asked the Minister of Works if his attention has been called to the numerous complaints by householders at the refusal of his Department to replace railings and gates confiscated during the war; and what steps he is taking to replace these gates and railings.

I am aware of the complaints, but I dealt with this matter very fully during the Adjournment Debate on 8th November last. For the reasons I then gave, I do not propose to seek to amend the Regulations to permit any general replacement of gates and railings at the public expense.

asked the Minister of Works which building materials have been reduced in price, and by how much, as a result of the discussions on distributors' margins following the publication of the report of the Committee on the Distribution of Building Materials; and which building materials have increased in price, and by how much, since the discussions on distributors' margins began.

Arising from these discussions, reductions ranging from 2 per cent. to 25 per cent. have been made in the prices of about 30 items of plumbing and builders' hardware. As regards the second part of the Question, I have found it necessary since last October to authorise an increase in the price of six classes of building materials which are subject to price control, but I am not aware of any cases where distributors have increased their margins.

asked the Minister of Works what licences he has issued to Messrs. Heelas, Ltd., Broad Street, Reading, and for what amounts, in respect of alterations and additions to their premises.

In the last two years, nine licences to a total value of £15,950 have been issued to Messrs. Heelas, Ltd., of Broad Street, Reading, for alterations and additions to their premises. Included in this total is one licence for £9,545 for work required to enable the third floor of the premises to be leased to my Ministry for the accommodation of the Ministry of Labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what organisations connected with refugee problems are established and their bona fides recognised by the occupation authorities in the British zone of Germany; and whether, owing to the revisionist propaganda in which some of their members are indulging, he will investigate the status and membership of all these organisations.

The recognition of refugee organisations in the British zone is now a German and not a British responsibility. The Military Governor nevertheless retains the responsibility for watching for any sign of improper activity on the part of these organisations and reserves the right to carry out whatever investigations may be required. I shall be glad to examine any information about the membership of these organisations which my hon. Friend may wish to give me.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the League for German Revival is classed in the British zone of Germany as a political party; what is its membership; and whether, in view of the recent public pronouncements of some of its spokesmen, he will consider refusing a licence and making it an illegal organisation.

The League for German Revival is subject to the provisions of Ordinance 12 of Military Government in the British zone which requires Military Government approval of applications to form political parties or associations at district level. Although the League claims to be "above party" its aims are clearly political and its ultra-nationalistic foreign policy is designed to foster differences between the Occupying Powers. Small groups are scattered throughout the Western zones but exact figures of membership are not at present available. The League for German Revival will not be granted a licence as a political association nor will its supporters be allowed to hold public meetings as long as their declared objectives and ideals remain fundamentally undemocratic, as they are at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the total cost to date to the British taxpayer of the Berlin airlift.

The extra cost to the Exchequer of the Berlin airlift up to 15th January, 1949, is just under £4 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that in the "British Zone Review" for 20th November, 1948, readers were advised to read a book written by Dr. Otto Strasser; and why publicity was given to an author who has been mentioned by the U.S. Military Governor in Germany as one of the sponsors of a revival of German nationalism.

A four-line paragraph about Dr. Strasser's book was inserted in the "British Zone Review" by a junior member of the staff in the editor's absence. It was not intended to indicate approval of the book although it could have been understood in that sense. The officer responsible has been reprimanded.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the British delegation in the Third Committee in the United Nations General Assembly on 22nd October, 1948, voted against the Soviet proposal to add to Article IV of the draft International Declaration of Human Rights an addendum whereby slavery and the slave trade would be prohibited in all their aspects, and requiring all violations of this principle, whether they be of an overt or clandestine nature, to be punished according to law.

The United Kingdom Delegation voted in favour of Article IV (1) of the proposed Declaration of Human Rights which reads as follows:"No one shall be held in slavery or involuntary servitude."The United Kingdom delegation voted against the proposed Soviet addition to this Article because the first part of the addition added nothing to the Article in the form in which it had already been approved, and because the second part was quite inappropriate in a document of the nature of the Declaration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been made by him to the Arab leaders in Palestine arising out of their refusal to permit pilgrims to make their yearly journey to Bethlehem on Christmas Day.

No representations have been made either to Jewish or to Arab Leaders in Palestine.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what requests were received from the Egyptian authorities which led to the shooting down of British airmen by Israeli pilots over the Negev; and whether this was done on the authority of the local R.A.F. commander before or after consultation with Whitehall.

No request was received from the Egyptian authorities in regard to the reconnaissance flights carried out by R.A.F. aircraft over Egyptian territory adjacent to Palestine. But these flights were made in accordance with the rights, and with regard to the responsibilities, of His Majesty's Government. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air explained to the House on 19th January, His Majesty's Government ordered these reconnaissance flights but operational details were the responsibility of the Air Commander-in-Chief.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what requests were received from the Egyptian Government, following upon the entry into Egyptian territory of Israeli forces, for the implementation of the defence provisions of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936.

None.

asked the Lord President of the Council what is the present position with regard to the Committee on Overseas Scientific Relations; and when its report may be expected.

The Committee on Overseas Scientific Relations is a part of the permanent machinery for interdepartmental co-ordination of policy, and no report of its activities is proposed.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will now make any further statement about the arrangements for representation at the United Nations Scientific Conference on the conservation and utilisation of resources to take place next May; and whether any decisions have yet been taken as to who in Great Britain will be asked to contribute papers or attend as observers or participants.

The selection of representatives either as participants or as observers is still proceeding and names will be announced as soon as firm arrangements have been made. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, with the advice of the United Kingdom authorities, has invited some 60 United Kingdom specialists to contribute papers.

asked the Attorney-General whether he has seen two articles in "The People" newspaper of 9th ' January containing the unfounded suggestion that Israel is continually attacking Egyptian territory on orders from the U.S.S.R. to test the Suez Canal defences; that Israel is increasingly controlled by Communists sent and armed by the U.S.S.R.; that the U.S.S.R. is menacing the Suez Canal; and whether he will take criminal proceedings for libel against the persons responsible.

I have considered the articles to which my hon. and learned Friend refers. I do not think that they justify any criminal proceedings on my part.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the approximate numbers of sheep and lambs killed, or maimed so severely that their subsequent slaughter has been rendered necessary, as the result of worrying by dogs, in the United Kingdom for the year ended 31st December, 1948; and, in view of the fact that these attacks take place more frequently by night than by day, whether he will consider introducing legislation compelling rural owners of dogs to keep their dogs under physical control from dusk to daylight.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. As regards the second part, regulations have been in force for many years in all country districts in Great Britain requiring dogs to be kept under control between sunset and sunrise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will introduce legislation amending the Exportation of Horses Act, 1937, for the purpose of increasing the value under which a horse may not be exported from this country from £25 to £100.

I am not prepared to increase the figure to £100 since that would unduly restrict the export of horses for work. Some increase in the figure specified in the 1937 Act may, however, be desirable, and I am arranging for this matter to be considered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the weekly shipments of horses to Belgium and other European countries; and what steps he is taking to prevent the export of horses for slaughter.

For 1948 the average was 39 horses a week to Belgium and 43 a week to other European countries. Under the Diseases of Animals Acts, 1894, to 1937, no horse can be exported until it has been examined by a veterinary surgeon and certified as fit for travel and suitable for work. The value of the horse must also exceed a specified figure. In addition, no licences are granted at the moment for the export of horses to Belgium unless the Belgian importer gives a written guarantee that the horses are required for work and will not be slaughtered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether further arrangements will be made with the Belgian Government whereby horses from this country destined for slaughter in Belgium shall in every case in future be examined here by a veterinary surgeon, on behalf of the Belgian Government, slaughtered, and their carcases sent over with the head, trachea and lungs, as was the case in the past.

Such an arrangement is unnecessary since permits to export horses to Belgium are given only in those cases where the importer has guaranteed that the animals are required for work and not for slaughter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what consultations were held with his Department before the present agreement with Holland regarding onion imports was signed; what was the attitude of his Department; and what steps he is now taking and intends taking to safeguard the home grower.

My Department was associated with the negotiations which led up to the Anglo-Dutch Trade Agreement last year. Under the terms of this agreement, which was entered into in February, an embargo on onion imports was imposed for a period then estimated to be sufficient for the marketing of the bulk of the home crop. The difficulty was the abnormally large home crop which could not all find a market during the period of the embargo.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total horse population of England, Scotland and Wales, respectively.

The total horse population on agricultural holdings in September, 1948, was as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he will give instructions to county council smallholdings committees to increase the number of their smallholdings, so far as this can be done, without disturbance of good sitting tenants.

I am at present awaiting the first report of the Smallholdings Advisory Council, which I set up to advise me on the administration of Part IV of the Agriculture Act, 1947, relating to smallholdings. Until I have received this report, which I hope will be available shortly, and have studied its recommendations, I cannot approve the creation of additional smallholdings by smallholdings authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many additional acres of agricultural land will be sacrificed this year to opencast coal-mining; and how many acres will again come into cultivation from this source.

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power that about 6,500 acres of agricultural land are expected to be needed for opencast coal operations in 1949 and that at least 6,000 acres will be returned to agriculture on completion of coal working.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if it is intended to make any change in the prices of animal feedingstuffs in the near future.

Yes. The prices of animal feedingstuffs (except home-grown grains, both raw and processed) have been stabilised since September, 1940, and at present are considerably below world prices. The Government have now decided that it would be desirable to raise prices substantially to a new level roughly equivalent to the existing prices of home-grown cereals. The opportunity will be taken to correct various anomalies which have grown up in the relative prices of different feedingstuffs.One of the dominant features of our Agricultural Expansion Programme is increased self-sufficiency in the feeding of animals. As I have said on various occasions there is no practical possibility of a resumption of heavy imports of feedingstuffs from abroad on the pre-war scale, and farmers must therefore rely more and more on home-grown feeding-stuffs, more particularly grass, whether as grazing, hay, silage or dried grass. The artificially low prices at which farmers have been able to purchase feedingstuffs have led some to undervalue grass, and one of the main objects of adjusting the prices of rationed feeding-stuffs is to bring them into a proper relationship with the costs of production of home-grown fodder and to impress on farmers the importance and value of grass and other feedingstuffs of their own growing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that work on the Portsmouth and District Survey and Plan has been seriously impeded, and its cost considerably increased by reason of the inadequacy in revision of the maps of all scales available covering Portsmouth and Gosport; and what steps does he propose to take to remedy the position.

I am aware that up-to-date Ordnance Survey maps are urgently required by local authorities. A resurvey of Portsmouth and Gosport at a scale of 50 inches to the mile is in hand, and about two-thirds of it has been completed. Publication of the new plans is proceeding as quickly as possible. A Provisional Edition of the six-inch sheets covering Portsmouth and Gosport was published by 1947.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the continued shortage of soap and soap powders in Newport, particularly in the shops of the Co-operative Society; and whether he will now increase the 1939 allocation, in view of the steady increase in population in this town.

Traders' soap credits are based on their trade in 1945 and are adjusted for subsequent population changes. We are keeping a close eye on the position in Newport.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much round and sawn mining timber was sold to the National Coal Board by the Commissioners of Crown Lands during 1947 and 1948.

None.

asked the Minister of Food (1) from what countries the 843,000 tons of rice imported into the United Kingdom during the first 11 months of 1948 were obtained,(2) how he proposes to allocate the 843,000 tons of rice imported into the United Kingdom during the first 11 months of 1948.

About 42,000 tons of rice was imported into the United Kingdom during the first 11 months of 1948. This included rice imported for victualling ships loading at British ports, and also a large proportion in the form of rough rice which had to be milled in the United Kingdom. The milled rice is now being distributed under the points rationing scheme. The countries of consignment and quantities (in tons) were:

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that in recent weeks meat suitable only for manufacturing purposes has been issued to butchers in Canterbury to meet the domestic ration; and what steps he is taking to ensure that meat of a proper quality will be issued.

No meat classified as suitable only for manufacturing purposes has been included in the ration, either in Canterbury or elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Food if he will issue an extra quantity of sugar now to enable housewives to take advantage of the present supplies of Seville oranges and lemons.

No. My right hon. Friend is unable to do this.

asked the Minister of Food whether his choice of imports from South Africa is restricted under the terms of the gold loan from that country.

One provision of the South African Financial Agreement is that the British Government should permit imports from the Union of certain specified commodities to the value of £12 million in each of the three years 1948 to 1950. There is nothing in this agreement to prevent our buying other goods, provided that South Africa can spare them and we can afford to buy them.

asked the Minister of Food what information he intends giving growers about the disposal of their stock of onions, at present unsaleable owing to Dutch imports; how long the present contract with Holland will last; and if he will give an assurance that in future years no such contract will be entered into that does not contain a clause protecting the home grower.

With regard to the first part of the Question, there is little that I can add to the replies given on 29th November and 8th December, 1948, to the hon. Members for Huntingdon (Mr. Renton) and Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) respectively. As regards the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedford (Mr. Lennox-Boyd) on 21st January. I cannot bind myself as to the terms of future agreements with Holland.

asked the Minister of Food how many horses and ponies were, after removal from work in coalmines, sold to slaughterers and butchers for human food during 1948.

I regret that no information is available of the number of pit ponies and horses sold for slaughter for human consumption.

asked the Minister of Food if there is an entitlement to milk at reduced prices in respect of babies who are being fed on proprietary brands of patent foods.

No.

asked the Minister of Food what profit or subsidy is incurred by the importation and sale of tinned salmon and tinned snoek, respectively, at their present retail prices.

No variety of canned fish is subsidised. The loss incurred on certain grades of canned salmon is more than offset by the profit on other grades. No loss is incurred on any grade of canned snoek.

asked the Minister of Food if his attention has been drawn to evidence given in the Nottingham courts by a local butcher to the effect that he could not keep his customers without an illegal supply of meat because of the competition of other meat traders in the city, who had such supplies available to supplement the legal rations; and what action he proposes to take.

I saw reports of this statement, but the results of investigations by our officers do not justify any such general allegation against meat retailers in Nottingham.

asked the Minister of Food if his attention has been drawn to a recent resolution of the Association of Teachers of Domestic Science, expressing concern at unhygienic methods of storing, handling and distributing foodstuffs in shops and restaurants; and whether he will institute an inquiry into the adequacy of present machinery to safeguard the health of the consumers in this regard.

asked the Minister of Food what action he is taking upon the resolution sent to him by the Council of the Association of Teachers of Domestic Subjects expressing concern at the lack of cleanliness in the handling, distribution and storage of foodstuffs for sale to the public in shops, restaurants and cafes.

Both my right hon. Friend and myself are keenly aware of the need to secure hygienic methods of distributing food. But this is a colossal undertaking, and much of the equipment needed to achieve it is still scarce. A Working Party has just been set up for the catering trade, and my right hon. Friend is now considering, in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland, the best methods of improving conditions in other sections of the food trades.

asked the Minister of Food how many convictions for black-market offences in eggs have been secured during the year 1948.

In 1948 438 persons were prosecuted on 674 charges, on 628 of which convictions were obtained for offences against the Eggs (Control and Prices) (Great Britain) Order.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now satisfied that the stocks of butter in this country are sufficient to enable the trade to honour the present ration during the rest of the winter; and if not, what steps he proposes to take to build up stocks so as to ensure an adequate margin of safety.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative and the second part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Food when he expects his review of the groundnuts scheme to be completed; and if he will make a full statement.

My right hon. Friend hopes to have completed his review of the groundnuts scheme in a fortnight's time and he then intends to make a full statement at the first convenient opportunity.

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of meat killed in this country is killed by the kosher system; and what steps he has taken to assure himself that no cruelty attaches to this method.

The number of animals slaughtered by the Jewish method is not separately recorded but is about 2 per cent. of the total. There is some difference of opinion among experts about the degree of suffering caused by this method as compared with that caused by the use of the humane killer.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now make a statement concerning the investigations of the Fruit and Vegetable (Marketing and Distribution) Organisation.

This inter-departmental body is continuing its work, and the results of its inquiries are being used in the Departments concerned as a guide to administrative action.

asked the Minister of Food why he recently loaned to Eire 46,582 tons of maize which was in course of shipment to Britain; and why was it not used in England to raise pigs and thus save buying bacon from abroad.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Londonderry (Sir R. Ross) on Monday, 13th December, 1948. The loan has in no way affected feedingstuffs rations in the United Kingdom. It represented a temporary diversion of a very small part of our current supplies.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that medicinal paraffin, which some bakers are using in bread, adversely affects and injures people with weak stomachs; and what steps he is taking to ensure that it is not so used in future.

I have not heard of any baker using medicinal paraffin as an ingredient in bread. If the hon. Member will send me further details, I will willingly look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Food to how many industrial concerns giving their employees a free Christmas dinner between 19th December and 27th December he refused permission for turkey to be served.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury if he will make a comprehensive statement in regard to the proposed allocation of steel production during the first half of 1949.

Total allocations of finished steel for the first half are being made on a basis consistent with an annual output of 15 million ingot tons from home production plus expected imports and some supplies of second-hand material, Allocations to Departments conform with Government policy on capital investment at home and overseas and on exports.

asked the Minister of Education how many boys are now being assisted at independent schools with money provided by local education authorities; which authorities are taking part in this scheme; and which schools are receiving pupils.

My approval is only required to general arrangements made by local education authorities for this purpose, and information on individual schools or the total number of day and boarding pupils concerned is not readily available. At least 114 authorities are, however, known to be ready to assist in this way, and in the school year 1947–48 approximately 1,400 boys at independent boarding schools were so aided.

asked the Minister of Education what is the total contribution of his Department towards local education authorities in respect of pupils assisted at independent schools during the last two years, respectively.

I regret that the returns made to me by local education authorities do not enable me to distinguish between assistance to pupils in grant-aided schools and assistance to those in independent schools.

asked the Minister of Education how many junior technical schools have now been converted into secondary technical schools with a four-year minimum programme of study.

Eighty-four.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what discussions on the question of internal security in Cyprus he had with Lord Winster while the latter was in this country; and what conclusions were reached.

I have discussed with Lord Winster many major questions relating to the Government of Cyprus and we are in agreement on all points. So far as the internal security is concerned, the Governor is satisfied that he has the powers necessary to deal with any threat to peace and good order and he will not hesitate to use them if the need should arise. I should add that we both feel that recent disturbances of the peace, planned by a small section of the population for their own ends, must not be allowed to divert attention unduly from the striking advances in the social, industrial and economic life of the Island which have been a feature of recent administration.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning the date on which the Bill on national parks and access to mountains will be published.

I regret that I am not in a position to give the information asked for by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will make a statement on the present position in regard to proposed military training areas on Cannock Chase; and what further action he proposes to take.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War is at present considering the possibility of using any of the alternative areas referred to at the public local inquiry. Further action must await the completion of these investigations.