asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he is aware that Mr. Page, a general labourer employed by the Portsmouth City Council, is not allowed to repair his bomb-damaged house as it may be required in the distant future by the city council; that the council are not allowed to purchase the property until they can make immediate use of it; and that Mr. Page has to pay mortgage interest in the meantime; and what action he is taking in the matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to Section 19 of the Town and Country Planning Act which may provide a remedy for the case. I am writing to him separately about it.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning the acreage in each of the proposed National Park areas now held by Government Departments, under temporary and permanent arrangements, giving the particulars for each Department separately.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what is the total acreage of the proposed new town Peter Lee; and how much land has already been purchased or obtained on lease.

The total acreage of the designated area for the Peter Lee new town is 2,350. Thirty-five and a half acres have been approved by me for purchase by the Development Corporation.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what is the approximate total cost including charges for land, roads, water, drainage and electricity, of the prefabricated houses being constructed at Newton Aycliffe; what is the economic rent; and how much prospective tenants are to be asked to pay.

The estimated total cost of the 100 non-traditional houses is approximately £168,000. These houses form part of a larger scheme, and it should be understood that the cost of land, roads, sewers, etc. properly attributable to these houses has had to be calculated from the total cost of these items and is therefore an approximation. Water will be supplied by the Durham County Water Board and electricity by the North Eastern Electricity Board; no capital expenditure will be incurred by the Corporation in respect of these items. The economic rent for the houses is 19s. per week (exclusive of rates and after allowing for the normal statutory subsidies). This is the rent which will be charged.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will now inform the House when the survey of North Staffordshire will be published.

I have not yet received this report from the consultants. When I do receive it, which ought to be in the near future, copies will be reproduced for distribution to planning authorities.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications for awards under the further education and training scheme were received from South Wales during 1948; and how many were disallowed.

Separate figures for South Wales are not available. During 1948 the Cardiff Appointments Office received 2,506 applications, and 601 applications which had been made at that Office were rejected by the various Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour to state, in each category of employment, the number of unemployed in Blackpool at a convenient date in January, 1949; and the number of unemployed at the same date in 1948.

The tables below give an industrial analysis of the numbers of persons registered as unemployed at the

(a) Numbers of insured persons registered as unemployed at Blackpool employment exchange at 12th January,1948.
Industry	Males aged 14 and under 65	Females aged 14 and under 60	Total
Engineering, etc	180	32	212
Construction and repair of motor vehicles, cycles and aircraft.	58	5	63
Bread, biscuits, cakes, etc., making	25	12	37
Building and civil engineering construction	84	—	84
Tramway and omnibus service and other road passenger transport.	42	2	44
Goods transport by road	38	—	38
Distributive trades	136	85	221
National Government service	101	58	159
Local Government service	69	14	83
Entertainments, sports, etc.	137	76	213
Catering, hotels, etc.	163	211	374
Printing, publishing and bookbinding	16	11	27
All other industries and services	233	80	313
Total—All industries and services	1,282	586	1,868

(b Numbers of persons registered as unemployed at Blackpool employment exchange at 10th January, 1949.
Industry	Males aged 15 and over	Females aged 15 and over	Total
Non-electrical engineering	374	19	393
Manufacture and repair of motor vehicles, cycles and aircraft.	76	10	86
Tailoring	10	19	29
Bread, biscuit and flour confectionery manufacture	31	14	45
Building and civil engineering contracting	246	1	247
Railways	31	3	34
Tramway and omnibus service	56	7	63
Other road passenger transport	64	1	65
Goods transport by road	78	1	79
Distributive trades	230	249	479
National Government service	111	68	179
Local Government service	104	22	126
Entertainments, sports, etc.	307	117	424
Catering, hotels, etc.	446	517	963
All other industries and services	478	257	735
Total—All industries and services	2,642	1,305	3,947

asked the Minister of National Insurance what the position will be when pensionable age is attained of a prospective widow pensioner under the Fourth Schedule to the

The normal qualifying period of 10 years insurance is not required in such a case and she will therefore be able, subject to retirement, to qualify for pension from age 60.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of the number of men liable to be called up under the National Service Act in the year 1949 represents the number liable to register under that Act.

The number of men to be called up in 1949 represents about 57 per cent. of the estimated number liable to register in 1949. The two figures are not, however, comparable. Those called up this year will include many who registered last year and earlier. Those who register this year will include many not due to be called up till next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the houses built by the Aberdeen County Council since 1st August, 1945, is let to agricultural workers.

Up to date, 75 houses, or 10 per cent. of all the houses completed by Aberdeen County Council since the war, have been let to agricultural workers. In addition, 242 further houses, of which 186 are under construction, have been approved for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the dissatisfaction among tenants of Scottish Special Housing Association houses in Shortlees, Kilmarnock, about delay in having maintenance repairs and defects attended to; and what action he proposes to take to improve the position.

I am informed that the Association are not aware of any dissatisfaction among their tenants at Shortlees about delay in dealing with maintenance repairs and defects. Minor repairs are dealt with by the town council as factors for the Association and special steps have been taken to deal with a number of other defects.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of Poles now employed in Scotland who were European voluntary workers or members of the Polish Resettlement Corps.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that sheepskin rugs, which involve no foreign currency, are subject to Purchase Tax at the rate of 100 per cent. as against the 33⅓per cent. charged on all other floor coverings; and whether, in view of the tax relief already given on most other furniture and furnishings and in view of the increasing danger, of unemployment among the skilled workers in the trade, he will reduce the tax to the same level as that imposed upon competitive types of floor covering.

The hon. Member will not expect me to anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to appoint to the Economic Planning Board a member representative of Scottish economy or trade interests.

This would not be appropriate as the Economic Planning Board is not a body on which sectional or regional interests are represented. Its members sit as individuals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of how much of the total food subsidy of £484 million will be saved by abolishing the subsidy on animal feeding-stuffs; and if it is intended that the whole of the consequential rise in the cost of meat, milk and eggs will be Met from the food subsidy account.

As announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture on 24th January, the Government have decided that it would be desirable to raise prices of feedingstuffs substantially. The details of the price increases have not yet been settled and I cannot therefore estimate the effect on the food subsidies. The Question of any consequential adjustments of the prices to be paid to farmers for livestock and livestock products has yet to be discussed between the Agricultural Departments and the Farmers' Unions of the United Kingdom during the Annual Price Review which is to take place this month. The results of this Review will affect the prices paid by the Ministry of Food and therefore the food subsidy total.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a list of those companies which have not accepted his proposal for a voluntary limitation of dividends; and of the explanation for the increase in those cases in which he considers the explanation acceptable.

It would not be practicable to compile such a list. The scheme of dividend limitation was on a voluntary basis and has been observed over a high percentage in terms of issued capital of companies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the fact that a company of which he has been informed have deliberately as a matter of policy broken the agreement to restrict the distribution of profits; and what action he proposes to take.

I am aware of the case to which my hon. Friend refers, and very much regret the action taken upon the facts stated in the directors report. The policy of dividend limitation is however (like other parts of the White Paper policy) on a voluntary basis and I am glad to say that it has been fully observed by the vast majority of reputable companies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any companies are still receiving tax reliefs as a result of their voluntary concentration of production arrangements made during the war.

The war-time taxation provisions affecting concerns involved in an approved arrangement for concentration of industry are still in operation and will apply to any companies which still remain subject to approved arrangements. I understand that all the principal schemes for concentration have now been terminated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what special hotel arrangements are made and at what rates for civil servants who are attending official conferences abroad;(2) what daily allowances of money is permitted to junior Ministers and senior civil servants when they go abroad on official business; and if such allowances are intended to cover all travelling expenses.

Ministers and senior civil servants travelling abroad on official business, are given a daily subsistence allowance at rates which vary with the country and have regard to local prices. They are adjusted from time to time in accordance with fluctuations in such prices. They do not cover railway or other locomotion expenses which are paid for separately. In the case of official conferences abroad, hotel accommodation is often booked and paid for direct by Departments. In such cases a residual subsistence allowance is paid to cover expenses other than accommodation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the approximate annual cost of immediate assimilation of salary increments of women officers in the Civil Service, local government service and teaching profession to those applicable to men of the same or similar grades.

About £1¾ million in the first year rising eventually to £10½ million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether cured herrings were specifically included in the recent trade agreement with Poland; and whether he is taking steps to include them, wherever possible, in future trade agreements.

Yes. The Polish Government has specifically undertaken to authorise the purchase from the United Kingdom in 1949 of cured herrings to a value of not less than £400,000 and if possible to an increasing value in each of the years 1950 to 1953. I hope it will be possible to secure adequate provision for the sale of cured herrings in other trade agreements in the future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a statement on clothes rationing.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend yesterday.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost so far incurred of the census of distribution.

The cost of preparatory work for the census of distribution authorised under the Statistics of Trade Act, 1947, is approximately £7,000. Almost the whole of the cost was incurred in preparing forms of return which will be used in taking the postponed census.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in clarifying with the administrator of the Marshall Plan the application to British foreign trade of the obligation resting upon him to refuse delivery to countries participating in the Marshall Plan of commodities which go into production for re-delivery to a nonparticipating country; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions are continuing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the import of finished granite memorials from Finland has led to the discharge of 60 men formerly employed in the granite industry of County Down; and whether he will in future arrange to import soft wood from Finland in place of finished granite.

Imports of manufactured granite from all sources in 1948 amounted to 76 tons, valued at £3,665, United Kingdom production of granite over the same period exceeded four million tons, and I cannot therefore regard the imports as a serious threat to United Kingdom production. Every attempt is made to secure the maximum supplies of essentials during trade negotiations. For the reason we agreed to imports of granite from Finland, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to a supplementary question arising from an answer to my hon. Friend the Member for East Woolwich (Mr. Hicks) on 18th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade under what authority his Department discriminates between persons desirous of purchasing willow rods and sticks; what is the definition of a willow merchant that must obtain for the discrimination to be favourable to the applicant; and where this definition is laid down.

Under the Control of Willow Rods and Willow Sticks Order (S.I. 1948 No. 461) the Board of Trade has discretion to issue licences authorising persons to acquire willow rods or sticks from growers. In the exercise of this discretion, such licences are issued only to established willow merchants whose business reached a certain level in 1946. This qualification is made clear to all who apply for merchants' licences.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications have been received in the last six months by his Department for permission to export potatoes from the Wash ports to Spain; and how many were granted and rejected, respectively.

Fifteen applications to export potatoes to Spain have been received by my Department in the last six months. All were for seed potatoes and all were granted. I am unable to give separate figures for the Wash ports. No applications to export culinary (i.e. ware) potatoes to Spain have been received by my Department during that period.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the scarcity in West Sussex of men's utility shirts and blue rainproof coats; and what steps he is taking to mitigate the resultant inconvenience to the public.

There is a general shortage of these garments due to the increased level of cloth exports and I have no information to suggest that the shortage is more acute in West Sussex than elsewhere.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, having regard to the dollar situation, what steps are being taken to increase the growth and manufacture of Empire tobacco; and what efforts are being made to encourage its consumption in this country.

Discussions have taken place between United Kingdom tobacco manufacturers and growers in the most important tobacco-producing Colonial territories with a view to assuring the growers that there will be a market here for the increased supplies we need from them. Increasing supplies of tobacco of suitable quality and price from these sources are readily taken up by the manufacturers here, and there is no need for special measures to stimulate consumption.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will exempt from the present suspension of felling licences applications to fell hedgerow timber, applications respecting timber which it is necessary to remove so that the land at present growing scrub or timber may be cultivated for agricultural purposes and applications which involve a pull out of timber across agricultural land under cultivation.

Timber Control area officers have been given discretion to issue felling licences where they are satisfied that this is necessary to facilitate agricultural operations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the great public interest evinced in recent trade agreements concluded by his Department; and if he will consider broadcasting to the nation on the nature and prospects of such agreements and their bearing on the national economy.

In view of the interest to which my hon. Friend refers, my right hon. Friend has arranged to deal with this subject in public at an early date. He is not clear, however, that a broadcast is appropriate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what European countries have no British trade representatives.

All members of the Foreign Service have a duty to maintain and foster British trade. Within that Service there are officers engaged full-time on trade work in every European country except Iceland, Luxembourg and Albania. In the two former, trade questions are dealt with by the British Minister. In Albania we have, at present, no diplomatic mission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to increase the supply of men's corduroy trousers in the slate quarrying districts of Caernarvonshire.

These garments are in short supply generally. The Board of Trade do not control distribution, but I am asking suppliers to try to increase deliveries to this area in view of the special needs of the slate workers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware how difficult it is to purchase oversize underlinen and shirts, and that orders to make shirts cannot be fulfilled owing to the impossibility of obtaining material; and what steps he will take to remedy the situation.

I am aware that shirt manufacturers cannot get as much cloth as they would like because the cloth is being exported. I am not aware of any real difficulty in buying normal outsize underwear though it has sometimes been necessary to help people who require unusually large sizes. Higher maximum prices and replacement of coupon losses are allowed so as to encourage production of outsize utility garments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) when it is proposed to pay compensation for business chattels insured under Part II of the War Damage Act, 1943;(2) whether it is proposed, under Part II of the War Damage Act, 1943, to apply the same uplift of 50 per cent. to the compensation for business chattels as has already been paid for private chattels.

As regards the date of payment of claims under the Business Scheme, I cannot at present add to the answer given on 7th December last to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Bristol (Mr. Awbery) except to observe that more than £39 million has already been paid in respect of these claims. It is not the intention of the Government as at present advised to increase the compensation payable under the Business Scheme.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that there is at present no appeal from a tribunal assessment and, in view of the fact that injustices must sometimes occur, if he will consider recognising such rights of appeal.

An assessment by a tribunal would only be made in consequence of an appeal against an assessment by my Department. I do not think a second appeal would be justified particularly as in assessment cases no questions of law arise. If the hon. Member has in mind a particular instance where a substantial increase in the war disablements has occurred, I shall be glad to look in it.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consult with the appropriate Minister with a view to obtaining priority for disabled ex-Service men in the supply of motor cars.

The question of priorities in the supply of motor cars is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. So far as my Department is concerned, an allocation of 1,500 motor cars has been arranged and these are being distributed among the most severely disabled war pensioners.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent it is intended to continue recruiting to the Territorial Army men in reserved occupations; and whether they will be expected to continue in the Army in the event of war in a part-time or whole-time capacity.

The position remains as stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham (Mr. Fairhurst) on 29th July last. We shall continue to accept volunteers whether or not they are in occupations likely to be reserved in the event of war. They would, if in reserved occupations, not be mobilised for full-time service except in a Service trade appropriate to their qualifications and experience, but some of them might be employed for a time, at any rate, on part-time duties which did not interfere with their civilian employment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange for the payment of a recruiting bonus to those members of the Territorial Army who recruit a volunteer.

The practice of giving monetary awards to individuals for obtaining recruits was reviewed in 1947 and it was decided not to continue it.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the percentage of the Territorial Army to whom No. 1 dress has been issued.

No issues of No. 1 dress have yet been made to the Territorial Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied with the arrangements and amenities available at the Bude practice camp which is to be used by Territorial anti-aircraft units this year.

At the present time it is possible to carry out only a small part of the long-term plan for improving the accommodation at all anti-aircraft practice camps. Within the limitations imposed by shortage of labour and other difficulties, everything possible is being done to improve the existing facilities at Bude practice camp.

asked the Secretary of State for War what tests have been carried out with the Swift training rifle and with what result; and what are his proposals for its use in the active Army, the Territorial Army and in the Army Cadet Force.

Tests with this rifle have recently been carried out by trained soldiers and recruits to ascertain whether it was suitable for adoption for training in the Regular Army. A report on the tests is now being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Army Form 2626 is not available in all orderly rooms of the Army; and whether he will takes steps to see that this form is made available to and brought to the notice of all ranks of the Army at home and overseas.

I am not aware of any shortage of supplies of this form. Ample instructions exist about its use, and the method of obtaining it. The form and some procedures connected with it are being changed as a result of the passage of the Representation of the People Act, 1948. New forms and new instructions will be issued in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for War how long 22075745 Private A. Evans of the Essex Regiment, Hyderabad Barracks, Colchester, had been in the Army before being charged with stealing; on what date he was placed under close arrest; and how long he was under close arrest before being notified of the date of his court martial.

This soldier, who joined the Army on 21st October last, was charged with theft on 29th November when he was placed under close arrest. The trial was due to take place on 11th January but had to be postponed owing to the illness of a principal witness. The soldier was informed on 26th January that the trial would take place on 31st January.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of students in the Territorial corps of each of the following University Colleges, namely, Cardiff, Bangor, and Aberystwyth; what is the cost of each of these corps; and how many commissioned officers of the Regular Army are involved in the training.

There is no University training corps at Cardiff or Bangor University Colleges. Aberystwyth university training corps which has two recruits has no Regular Army commissioned officer at present. It is estimated that the cost of the Aberystwyth university training corps will be about £100 this year.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether compassionate releases are still being granted; and why such a release has been refused to Private A. Chamberlain, R.A.S.C., Camp Office, Klagenfurt Garrison, Austria.

Compassionate release is still granted in the Army in cases of extreme hardship. As my hon. Friend knows, the release of the soldier mentioned in the Question has been given sympathetic consideration. As his presence is not regarded as essential for the running of his father's business I regret that his release cannot be approved.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the discrimination practised by N.A.A.F.I. against the German-born wives of their employees; and if he will take steps ot see that they are accorded the same rights to live with their husbands in our zone as is accorded to the German-born wives of military and control Commission personnel.

This is a matter within the discretion of N.A.A.F.I. I understand that when employment is offered by N.A.A.F.I. it is made perfectly clear that no German-born wives of N.A.A.F.I. employees are allowed to be with their husbands in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for war what were the conditions of award of the Military Medal in 1914–18 and in 1939–45: the amount of financial benefits carried in each case; the annual cost of these benefits; and what would be the estimated annual cost of including those awarded the medal in 1914–18 on equal terms with those of 1939–45.

The Military Medal was given in both wars for individual and associated acts of bravery in the field. Awards for service since 3rd September, 1939, carry financial benefits, but awards for earlier service do not. So far as United Kingdom troops are concerned, benefits comprise an addition of 6d. a day to any service or disability pension in issue and £20 for soldiers leaving the Army without pension. The annual cost of additional pensions at present is in the neighbourhood of £15,000, which will increase as further recipients of the medal are pensioned. If all the recipients of Military Medals in 1914–18 or their heirs Could be traced and £20 gratuities awarded to them the cost would be about £2,250,000. It is not known how many pensioners with medals awarded in 1914–18 are now living, but if these were awarded additional pensions instead of gratuities the total eventual cost would be increased above this figure.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the last date on which any members of the Polish Resettlement Corps will have completed their period of one or two years' service; and whether entrants into the Corps are still being accepted.

October, 1950, but the great majority will have completed their service by May, 1950. Further entrants are not being accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for War what application he has received from the German counsel appointed to defend Field Marshals von Rundstedt and von Manstein and Generaloberst Strauss for British counsel to be appointed to assist the defence upon matters involving British law; and what action he proposes to take upon this request.

An application has been received from the German counsel requesting that they may be given the assistance of British counsel. In reply they have been informed that there is no objection to the employment of British counsel, if they can arrange it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will introduce legislation to make compulsory the paying in and out of all pool moneys through the medium of the Post Office, and to ensure that all orders should be made payable to the particular pool in which the investment is made together with the number of the pool week;(2) if he will introduce legislation to restrict the percentage of pool receipts taken by the promoters to cover expenses.

Both these matters require legislation and my right hon. Friend cannot anticipate the announcement which the Prime Minister has stated that he would make shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of licensed premises in England and Wales, respectively, having an on-licence only, an off-licence only and both an on-and off-licence.

The following table, which relates to the position at 31st December, 1947, gives the information available:

—		Number of licensed premises having
		An off-licence only	An on-licence
England	…	21,389	69,056
Wales	…	459	4,176

An on-licence authorises off-sales also, except where an undertaking has been given, or a condition imposed, to the contrary. I am not in a position to say in how many cases this has occurred.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that many persons living in the Lleyn rural district of Caernarvonshire have to travel distances of up to eight miles to have their Health Service prescriptions made up; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the number of dispensing surgeries in the area is increased.

I understand that all the six doctors with surgeries in the Lleyn rural district dispense for their patients. The doctors in some neighbouring areas normally issue prescriptions to be dispensed by chemists. In case of serious difficulty a patient may apply to the executive council for permission to ask his doctor if he will dispense for him.

asked the Minister of Health to state the amount spent each year on immunising material since the start of the diphtheria immunisation campaign in 1940.

Following is the information desired—

Period.	Amount spent.
		£
October 1940 to March, 1941	…	2,300
Year
1941–42	…	18,006
1942–43	…	15,332
1943–44	…	5,310
1944–45	…	3,633
1945–46	…	12,811
1946–47	…	16,708
1947–48	…	13,988
April to December, 1948	…	19,120

asked the Minister of Health if he has inquired into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, in which a boy certified by his family doctor and a consultant psychiatrist to be in urgent need of medical observation, has been refused treatment by various municipal bodies, and threatens to become a case of juvenile delinquency; and what steps he is taking to remedy this position.

I have been asked to reply. I understand that, in view of the urgency, arrangements have now been made for this boy to go at once to the Child Guidance Centre provided by the local education authority at Canterbury, although the centre has a long waiting list.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he has taken to ensure that skilled building trade workers in Scotland are not diverted from house building to more remunerative types of work, by reason of the raising of the limit within which work could be done without a licence from his Department.

The effect on the labour position in Scotland of the raising of the licensing limit is being watched very carefully. There is no evidence that, over the country as a whole, it has resulted in a diversion of labour from house building. The number of outstanding vacancies for skilled and unskilled men on housing work has, in fact, decreased considerably since July last when the licensing limit was raised.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date the Acting Mediator in the Palestine dispute was informed of the intention of His Majesty's Government to order photographic and other reconnaissance flights to be made over areas where fighting was in progress.

The late United Nations Mediator, Count Bernadotte, was informed in September last of results of photographic reconnaissances over Palestine by R.A.F. aircraft, and expressed appreciation of the information supplied.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of potatoes bought by his Department in Eire at a price of approximately £10 a ton are being resold to Irish alcohol factories at between £3 and £4 a ton; and what is the total loss involved in this transaction.

Thirty thousand tons on which there will be a loss of approximately £206,250.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty which is the fleet carrier which it has been announced may be joining the Home Fleet in March.

H.M.S. "Implacable."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many destroyers apart from those attendant upon the aircraft carrier, and how many submarines will be taking part in the Spring Cruise of the Home Fleet.

Six destroyers and two submarines sailed with the Home Fleet on 31st January. Three more destroyers will join the Fleet at Gibraltar on completion of refits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the names and ages of the members of the Colonial Service Appointments Board; and their educational, administrative and other relevant experience.

The Chairman of the Colonial Service Appointments Board is Sir Percival Waterfield, C.B. He was born in 1888 and entered the Treasury in 1911. He was appointed as First Civil Service Commissioner in 1939 and holds his office as Chairman of the Colonial Service Appointments Board ex-officio.The Deputy Chairman is Sir Maurice Holmes, G.B.E., K.C.B. Born in 1885, he entered the Board of Education in 1909 and was Permanent Under-Secretary to the Board from 1937 to 1945. In 1947 he was appointed Chairman of the East African Salaries Commission, and in 1948 Chairman of the Commission on the Unification of the Public Services of the British Caribbean Territories. His absence from the meetings of the Board whilst in the West Indies has necessitated the creation of an additional post as Assistant Deputy Chairman.The Assistant Deputy Chairman is Sir Owen Morshead, K.C.V.O., D.S.O., M.C., now acting as Deputy Chairman. Born in 1893, he has had long experience of the Cambridge University Appointments Board and has been a Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge, since 1920The other members of the Board are:Air-Commodore C. E. Benson, C.B.E., D.S.O. Born 1895. During the war he was Chief Military Government Officer to the 8th Army in Austria and Italy. In the winter of 1947–48 he visited the Far East on a special mission concerned with the selection of candidates for the Colonial Service from that area. He is a Director of Messrs. Robert Benson Lonsdale and Company and of Lloyds Bank. He has been appointed as an additional Assistant Deputy Chairman during the absence of Sir Maurice Holmes in the West Indies.Sir Frederick Burrows, G.C.I.E. J.P. for Herefordshire. Born 1889 Governor of Bengal from February 1946, to August, 1947, since when he has been Chairman on the Agricultural Land Commission.