asked the Minister of Works if he will give particulars of the eight licences to a total value of £6,405 issued to Messrs. Heelas Limited, of Broad Street, Reading, over the last two years for work required in connection with their own use of their premises.

The following are the particulars:

	£
3rd October, 1946—
Alterations, sponsored by the Board of Trade	500
25th March, 1947—
Decorations and alterations in connection with accommodation made available to the Ministry of Food for the issue of ration books	352
25th April, 1947—
Alterations recommended by the Ministry of Fuel and Power for fuel economy reasons	136
3rd March, 1948—
Alterations to staff canteen sponsored by the Ministry of Food	130
16th July, 1948—
Alterations to accommodate Mass Radiography Unit	378
19th August, 1948—
Alterations	185
10th December, 1948—
Alterations to form staff rest room and gentleman's hairdressing saloon	4,533
23rd December, 1948—
Alterations	190
Total	£6,404

asked the Minister of Works how many claims have been received for compensation for the removal of railings during the war; how many have been dealt with; how many are outstanding, together with the sums involved in each case; and what is the approximate number being settled each month at the present time.

Claims for 738,703 properties have been received, of which 281,625 had been settled and 457,078 remained to be settled at the end of December, 1948. About 20,000 claims are now being settled each month. Some £300,000 will, it is estimated, be paid out as compensation during the financial year 1948–49.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider proposing an international agreement to protect the lives and legitimate pursuits of prelates of the Christian churches, in view of the political sanctions imposed on churches in Eastern Europe.

My right hon. Friend naturally has every sympathy with the intention of this Question. He regrets, however, that he finds this suggestion impractical.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the German Field-Marshals' request for the assistance of British counsel, British currency will be made available to the defence for this purpose.

Provision of foreign exchange for Germans is primarily a matter for the German authorities. If the German counsel representing the German Field-Marshals want sterling in order to employ British counsel they must apply by the appropriate machinery to the German Executive Director of Economics at Frankfurt.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the estimated cost of the prosecution of the German Field-Marshals; and the sum to be made available for the defence.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on 7th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken to restore to the Polish Government State property that has been alienated contrary to the provisions of the Potsdam Agreement.

So far as I am aware no Polish State property has been alienated contrary to the provisions of the Potsdam Agreement except for eleven packing cases containing part of the archives of certain departments of the London Polish Government. These, I am satisfied after careful examination, were in error sent for salvage in 1947. An apology and full explanations were sent to the Polish Embassy when their disappearance came to light last year. If any other property is alleged to have been wrongly alienated the normal legal remedies are available to the Polish Government as provided in the Potsdam Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many applications have been received from the Polish Government, in respect of what property, and with what result, for the return of assets in Great Britain alleged to be Polish State property alienated contrary to the provisions of the Potsdam Agreement.

The disposal of Polish assets which came into the possession of His Majesty's Government as the result of the withdrawal of recognition of the London Polish Government is governed by the Anglo-Polish Financial Agreement of 24th June, 1946. The Polish Government have been currently informed of all the steps that have been taken in this matter and consideration has been given to all the representations which they have made. I regret that it is impossible to set out the details of all the correspondence within the framework of a Parliamentary reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will arrange for a copy of the Yellow Book, published by the Hungarian Government, and containing the documents in the case of Archbishop Mindszenty, to be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider setting up an extra-Parliamentary body to advise him on future appointments of directors of the Bank of England and similar public bodies.

No.

asked the Attorney-General if he will invite the Leasehold Committee to make an interim report dealing especially with private dwelling-houses, in view of the large number of cases arising in the near future.

The Leasehold Committee have now received all the evidence, and it must be left to them to decide whether any particular part of their terms of reference demands especial attention by way of the issue of an interim report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Great Ouse Catchment Board are attempting to make the members of the proposed Bluntisham Internal Drainage and District Board pay 50 per cent. of heavy charges outstanding on the land in respect of drainage works which do not benefit and are not necessary to the land; what increase in the productivity of the land is assumed to result from the said drainage works; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the land is disencumbered from these charges, most of which were imposed upon it without the consent of the owners or occupiers affected by them.

Works were carried out by the Catchment Board both in the existing district, in default of the drainage board, and also, under wartime powers, on land adjoining that district. A scheme to include all these lands in a reconstituted district has been confirmed, but objections have been made and discussions are taking place to see how far they can reasonably be met. If the objections are maintained the scheme can only come into operation with the approval of Parliament. Half the cost of the works, from which the district has undoubtedly derived benefit, has been met by Government grant. The Catchment Board, in an endeavour to help, has offered to meet half of the remaining cost of works done in the existing district, and which would otherwise fall on owners and occupiers therein.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what plans he has in mind for issuing additional rations for pigs and poultry so as to enable young farmers and other new entrants to this field to produce more eggs and bacon.

I have no immediate plans for additional rations for pigs and poultry other than the bonus rations which will be available this year, based on sales of eggs and pigmeat.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider granting increased allocation of feeding-stuffs to commercial pig breeders engaging to send under contract increased numbers of pigs to bacon factories.

I regret that I cannot at present promise any further increase in rations for pigs even in the form of a larger bonus issue to those who send pigs to bacon factories.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many calves, male and female, were approved for the calf rearing subsidy in the last four months; and how many rejected by the certifying officers.

In the last four months subsidy payments were made in England and Wales and Northern Ireland for 245,000 heifer and 106,000 steer calves. Over 7,000 were rejected in England and Wales. No record is kept of rejects in Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of new tenants accepting smallholdings under the Norfolk, East Suffolk and West Suffolk County Councils, respectively, since October, 1945.

Since October, 1945, 270 new tenants have accepted smallholdings under the Norfolk County Council, 24 under the East Suffolk County Council and 49 under the West Suffolk County Council.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what representations he received from the broccoli industry for an increase in the rate of duty on imported broccoli; and what reply he made.

Representations were made on this subject last year, by the National Farmers' Union on behalf of broccoli growers, but I did not consider that there were sufficiently strong reasons for any increase in the existing rates of duty.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he proposes to take action to make illegal the use of gin traps in rabbit burrows.

The gin trap is the only practicable method of destroying rabbits in certain types of burrows. The Sawyer trap is too big for use in such burrows and the use of gas would be impracticable. Wild rabbits cause enormous damage to agriculture annually and, in the interests of food production, it is essential that these pests should be destroyed by every available legal means. The sawyer (humane) traps is not available in sufficient quantity to replace the gin trap to any appreciable extent and will not be so for some considerable time. Only one firm is producing this trap, which is still being subjected to field tests. New legislation would be necessary to make the use of gin traps illegal. In order to encourage a greater use of gas for destroying rabbits, an arrangement has been in operation for the past eight years whereby farmers are able to purchase gassing powder for destroying rabbits at one half the normal retail price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what services are intended to be covered by the charge for overheads now being demanded from farmers employing A.E.C. labour; and what is the amount of this charge.

In the charge for labour hired out to farmers by C.A.E.C.s, the addition made to the basic cost of the wages of the workers and employer's National Insurance contribution is intended to cover wages paid during holidays with pay, sickness, and time when work is prevented by weather. No addition is at present made for cost of services such as administration, transport and the provision of accommodation. The amount of the addition, expressed as a percentage addition to the basic cost of wages and employer's National Insurance contribution, is as follows:

		January and February	March to December
Weekly hiring	…	2 per cent.	15 per cent.
Daily hiring	…	15 per cent.	27 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what checks exist to prevent the tenant or occupier of a house, the property of the Forestry Commission, from spending a greater sum of money on reconstruction, repairs or decoration than would have been allowed if the property had not been leased from a Government department and so exempted from the usual by-laws and licensing restrictions.

A tenant of a Forestry Commission property is bound by the same by-laws and licensing restrictions as a tenant of any other property.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will estimate the value of young Norway spruce and other trees and foliage stolen annually from Forestry Commission plantations for Christmas trees and decorations.

During the season 1947–48, the loss amounted to £122 in respect of trees and foliage. Final figures for 1948–49 are not yet available but are not likely to show much variation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many of the Nash Terrace Houses in Regent's Park are scheduled for reconditioning; and how many have been completed to date.

About 430 houses on the Crown Estate at Regent's Park are being reconditioned. Of these about 250 have been completed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many of the reconditioned houses in the Nash Terraces of Regent's Park have been allocated to Government Departments; and whether any time-limit has been set upon their occupation.

One hundred and ninety-four reconditioned houses have been allocated to Government Departments. As regards the second part of this Question, I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 2 in the Statement of H.M. Government on the Gorell Report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any reconditioned houses in the Nash Terraces of Regent's Park have been let as private residences; and whether it is the intention of his Department to confine such reconstruction to the limits imposed by the Gorell Committee Report.

None of the houses which have been reconditioned by the Ministry of Works has been let as a private residence. Since the date of the Gorell Report about 20 houses have been let, and 26 houses now in the hands of the Commissioners of Crown Lands are being reconditioned for letting, for residential purposes.

asked the Minister of Food at what price his Department imports hares from Australia; at what price these are re-sold to wholesalers; and what is the annual rate of profit to the Department.

From 1st January, 1949, we are paying 5s. 6d. per hare landed in this country. The hares are sold to wholesalers at 7s. each, the maximum price under the Order which covers all rabbits and hares. After payment of expenses in this country there is a small profit to my Department. The annual figure depends on the number of hares we get—at last year's rate it would be about £5,000.

asked the Minister of Food whether any consultations took place between his Department, the Treasury and the Department of Commonwealth Relations before the signature of the recent Anglo-Polish Agreement.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement about the investigation into black market operations in the Northern Region carried out by his Department during October and November, 1948.

asked the Minister of Food what methods of inquiry were used in operation Octopus of which he did not approve; and whether he intends to make a statement on the results of his present inquiry regarding operation Octopus.

asked the Minister of Food how wide and extensive were the inquiries into the black market in the North-East; and why no action was taken against those where a prima facie case had been established.

I propose to make a further statement when the inquiry I have set on foot is completed. Meanwhile there is little I can add to the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Berwick-on-Tweed (Brigadier Thorp) on Wednesday, 2nd February. The methods of which I disapproved involved connivance in offences on the part of officers or agents of the Ministry. As I have already stated, the evidence obtained by the investigation was not such as to justify proceedings.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage increase he has made in the sugar allocations to various manufacturers during the last three months; and how these increased allocations compare in bulk with the total domestic allocation.

During the last three months sugar allocations to manufacturers have been increased by 10½ per cent. or 88,000 tons. This represents about 9 per cent. of the total domestic consumption. The House will recall that the domestic ration was simultaneously increased by 25 per cent. to compensate for the ending of the jam sugar switch with the derationing of jam.

asked the Minister of Food how much sugar is waiting at Queensland ports for shipment to the U.K.; how long it has been there; what is the cause of the delay in shipping; and when he expects loading to begin.

For several months past we have made shipping available to lift Queensland sugar as fast as supplies reach the ports, and there has been no accumulation of stocks earmarked for this country. The Queensland Government have recently expressed their appreciation of the expeditious way in which we have shipped sugar from the 1948 crop.

asked the Minister of Food if he has calculated the amount of meat that would be necessary to saturate the retail market, and thereby avoid the necessity for the continuation of rationing; and how much per head this supply of meat would represent at the present prices, retail.

Allowing for the increase of population and the increase in income as compared with pre-war, I think we should require at least 2,400,000 tons of meat and offal in 1949 to dispense with rationing at present subsidised prices. I give this figure with the greatest reserve as there are so many uncertain factors. This would represent about a 1s. 5d. ration.

asked the Minister of Food why imports of cattle from Eire to Birkenhead have dropped from 3,500 a week to 80.

Landings of cattle from Eire at Birkenhead for slaughter totalled 930 in January. This compares with 5,250 during the corresponding period in 1948, 149 in 1947, and 57 in 1946. This is, of course, the relevant comparison as the exports of fat cattle vary seasonally.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has considered copies of correspondence which have been sent to him about onions which have gone rotten or had to be ploughed in; if he will compensate the farmers concerned for their loss; and what action he intends to take.

I have examined the correspondence but there is, I am afraid, little information that I can usefully add to that already conveyed to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary, in her letter of 21st January. I would however, remind the hon. Member that the marketing of onions is conducted in accordance with the advice which he himself gave to my right hon. Friend on 31st January in connection with potatoes and carrots, namely, that the matter should be—

"left to the growers, the distributors, the public and the housewives."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 31st January, 1949; Vol. 460, c. 1365.]

asked the Minister of Food how many British ships are in Australian ports waiting to be loaded with grain; what is the average length of time they have been there; what is the cause of the delay in loading; what is the amount of the demurrage; and by whom it is payable.

On 4th February six British ships were waiting in Australian ports to load grain for Ministry of Food account. They had been there an average time of 43 days. The delay in loading has been due to grain not being available at the ports, owing to internal transport difficulties in Australia. The demurrage is payable by the Australian Authorities and I am unable to estimate the amount due.

asked the Minister of Food what is his policy for the protection of home produced soft fruits against dumping from abroad; and upon what conditions of weather does the policy depend.

On the experience of the last year when very high prices were demanded and in view of the great unsatisfied need for soft fruits of the consuming public, I welcome all the imports of soft fruit which we can get. On the other hand, it is already clear that there is plenty of room for a further expansion of home production at prices highly remunerative to the growers. Imports of soft fruit during 1948 amounted to less than 3,000 tons compared with estimated home production of over 66,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Food why Haywards Heath was omitted from allocation 23 of oranges last week.

This was because Haywards Heath had orange allocation No. 23 before Christmas.

asked the Minister of Food how many prosecutions were undertaken at the instance of his Department in the year 1948 or the last convenient 12 months; in how many cases a conviction was obtained; and how many enforcement officers are employed by his Department.

In 1948, 10,186 persons were prosecuted on 27,002 charges, of which 25,609 or 94.8 per cent. were successful. The number of enforcement officers employed by my Department on 1st January, 1949, was 968.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the number of bus accidents in the London area in each of the years 1938 to 1948, respectively.

The number of accidents in the Metropolitan Police District involving death or personal injury, in which buses or coaches were involved in the years 1944 to 1948 were:

1944	…	…	…	2,093
1945	…	…	…	2,538
1946	…	…	…	2,636
1947	…	…	…	2,616
1948	…	…	…	2,702

I regret that figures for earlier years are not available, and I have no statistics of accidents which did not cause death or personal injury. The figures include accidents in which persons were injured in getting on or off the vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the difficulties arising in the preparation of annual highways maintenance estimates due to the delay in notifying county councils of the funds likely to be available for the ensuing financial year; and whether such notification can, in future, be made earlier than the latter part of January in each year.

I am aware of these difficulties and do my best to meet them. My hon. Friend will, however, understand that the Road Fund Estimate has to be considered along with all other estimates to be submitted to the House. Although I was unable to do so this year, it is always my endeavour to send out the information to highway authorities early in January.

asked the Secretary of State for All whether he is aware that nothing appears to have been done during the past two years to reopen the road communications at Tang-mere and Oving; and if he will now take immediate steps to restore these essential services to the local community.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has had further discussions with the highway authority about the alternative roads to replace those which must remain permanently closed and I am at present considering the proposals which have resulted from their discussions. The work involved in the provision of alternative roads is considerable and, in view of the present shortage of labour and materials, it is not possible to say when it can be carried out. Meanwhile use of part of one of the roads affected is being permitted.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what is the total amount of British Transport stock which he has consented to be issued in accordance with Section 89 (c) of the Transport Act, 1947, in connection with the acquisition of the balance of the road passenger assets of Scottish Motor Traction; and how this amount compares with the amount that would have had to be issued had compensation been assessed in acordance with Part IV of the Act;(2) what is the number of years' purchase of the average net annual profit of the last three financial years of Scottish Motor Traction, as defined in Schedule 9 of the Transport Act, 1947, represented by the amount of Transport stock to the issue of which he has consented in connection with the acquisition of Scottish Motor Traction by the British Transport Commission.

The arrangement made between the British Transport Commission and Scottish Motor Traction is subject to the consent of the stockholders and, so far as relates to the issue of British Transport stock, to my approval, which I shall be prepared to give in due course. The nominal amount of stock will be approximately £11,300,000, of which £8,400,000 will be issued to the Scottish Motor Traction Company and £2,900,000 to the minority shareholders in subsidiary companies.I am informed by the British Transport Commission that the settlement was reached on the following basis: valuations of the heritable properties, vehicles and other physical assets were made by surveyors and engineers representing the two parties, and followed closely the basis of valuation laid down in the Transport Act, 1947. A prolonged investigation into the profits of the companies was made by chartered accountants acting for the Commission in association with the auditors of the various companies concerned. In the result a compromise figure was reached, which cannot be expressed as an agreed sum multiplied by an agreed number of years' purchase, but the Commission assure me that in this matter they had full regard to the provisions of the Act and are satisfied that their settlement was within those provisions and no more than they would have found it necessary to concede at arbitration.I may point out that in this case the purchase of shares was involved. The Commission thus acquired as part of the settlement the net current assets of the transferred undertakings which would be excluded under any compulsory acquisition under the part of the Act to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that Glasgow Corporation have been in communication with the Ministry of Transport and the British Transport Commission since September, 1948, requesting a meeting to discuss the future utilisation of local railway services in the Glasgow district and surrounding areas, particularly as regards the possibility of such services being electrified; that consultations with other local authorities in connection with the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1947, are being delayed pending the meetings between Glasgow Corporation, the Ministry of Transport and the British Transport Commission; and, in view of these considerations, if he will take steps to expedite the proposed meeting.

I regret the delay which has taken place. A reply will be forwarded shortly.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has any further statement to make as to the export of jet aircraft from this country since the war; and if so, to which countries.

The countries to which jet aircraft have been exported since the war are as follow: Argentina, France, Norway, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Canada, India, and Switzerland.In replying to the hon. and gallant Member's supplementary question on 24th January, about the export of jet aircraft, I assumed that he wished to obtain an assurance that no jet aircraft were being exported to Russia or to any country in Eastern Europe. It is possible, however, that if the question and answer were taken out of their context, it might be inferred that no jet aircraft were being exported at all. This is not, of course, the case, and I am grateful to him for giving me this opportunity to clear up any misunderstanding that may have arisen.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been drawn to the recent severe bench testing in simulated combat conditions to which the Rolls Royce Derwent V jet aero engine has been subjected; and whether in view of the results obtained, he will give an unqualified assurance that this engine will not be sold to the U.S.S.R.

Yes. Rolls Royce Derwent V engines were included in the 55 jet engines which were sold to the U.S.S.R. in fulfilment of contracts placed in August, 1946, and March, 1947. Further sales are not contemplated.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the size of the present stocks of copper in Britain under his control; and if supplies to manufacturers will be assured at their present level during 1949.

The Ministry of Supply's stocks of virgin copper in the United Kingdom on 31st December, 1948, amounted to 98,000 tons. Contracts have been made to cover adequately consumers' estimated requirements for 1949.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will undertake a special salvage drive, having regard to the large amounts of arisings known to exist in this country; and in view of the urgent need for rebuilding war damaged areas, if he will allocate to those areas ton for ton of steel from all arisings obtained in excess of that in 1947.

An intensive scrap drive in this country is already being undertaken by a Joint Committee of the British Iron and Steel Federation and the National Federation of Scrap Iron, Steel and Metal Merchants. This special drive, which has already resulted in greatly increased collections, will continue throughout 1949 The allocations of steel are based on the needs and relative importance of the various users and the amount allocated for a particular purpose could not be related to the amount of scrap collected.

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent the strike of workers at De Havilland company's factories has held up important Government contracts placed by his Department.

About three weeks' output of engines for Vampire and Prentice aircraft has been lost as a result of the strike. This will affect deliveries of aircraft over the next month or two.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the proposal to convert the General Aircraft factory at Feltham into a store for records; and whether, in view of the large number of skilled men with homes in West Middlesex who will become unemployed through the closing of the factory he will endeavour to find an engineering use for the building which will give them employment.

This factory is privately owned and its disposal is, therefore, primarily a matter for the owner. My Department is trying to interest certain engineering firms in the premises, but so far without success.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what procedure British subjects resident in the United Kingdom, as distinct from foreign visitors, may recover Purchase Tax on articles sent by retailers, or by manufacturers or wholesalers on the instructions of retailers, direct to addresses outside the United Kingdom.

A resident of the United Kingdom can arrange for goods to be supplied for export free of Purchase Tax either by arranging with a retailer to refer the order back to registered manufacturers and wholesalers who can export goods free of tax, or in some cases out of tax-free stocks which retailers themselves maintain.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury if he will give in tabular form the total profits made by companies showing returns, the amounts put to reserve and the amounts paid in debenture; and the total wages paid for the years 1938, 1945, 1947 and 1948, respectively.

Estimates of the total wages paid in the years 1938, 1945, and 1947 are given in the Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1937–47 (table 253); much of the other information asked for, although not at present available, will be shown in the next White Paper on National Income and Expenditure.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury if he will give in tabular form as much information as possible to enable a measurement to be made of the percentage of the national income distributed in the form of wages, salaries and profits, respectively, in the years 1939, 1946 and on the latest possible date.

The information asked for is already available in tabular form in the Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1937–47 (table 253).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give consideration to the possibilities of establishing a special pools currency, consisting of postal orders with the word Pools superimposed or perforated on them for the purpose of obtaining a greater accuracy of accounts for prize-giving and tax purposes, the ascertainment of profits, running expenses and to prevent transfers from one account to another.

While my right hon. Friend cannot anticipate the statement to be made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, this seems to be a matter which would be proper for consideration by any Committee of inquiry which His Majesty's Government may decide to appoint.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the number of wild swans being killed in the British Isles for food; and if he will take the necessary measures to protect these birds.

The number of swans killed is not known. As regards measures of protection my right hon. Friend is advised that proceedings can be taken, and have been successfully taken in the past, for the killing of swans, under Section 41 of the Malicious Damage Act, 1861. In addition certain measures of protection are available under the Wild Bird Protection Acts and local orders made under them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police court fines have been imposed for offences under the Licensing Acts on managers of State public houses during the past 10 years; and what subsequent disciplinary action against the offenders was taken by his Department.

There have been two prosecutions of managers for offences under the Licensing Acts in the State Management Districts in the last 10 years; both were in the Carlisle District. In 1943 the manageress of a public house was fined £5 for permitting a lottery to be conducted on her premises and in 1945 the manager of a public house was convicted for selling liquor outside the permitted hours, and was also fined £5. In both cases it was decided, after consideration of all the circumstances and in consultation with the police, that further disciplinary action was uncalled for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give for 1948, for England and Wales, the number of murders known to the police; the number of suspected murderers who committed suicide; the number of person's charged with murder; and the number of those so charged who were found to be insane.

The following are the provisional figures:

Murders known to the police	173
Number of suspected murderers who have committed suicide	38
Total number of persons charged with murder	95
Number of persons charged with murder who were found to be insane. Insane on arraignment	23
Guilty but insane	11

asked the President of the Board of Trade which of the provisions of the General Agreement on tariffs and trade relating to departures from non-discrimination in import restrictions, Command Paper 7258, will apply to the United Kingdom.

Article XIV of the General Agreement (as amended by the Contracting Parties at Havana in March, 1948, to bring it into line with Article 23 of the Havana Charter for an International Trade Organisation) provides two alternative sets of rules relating to departures from non-discrimination in import restrictions designed to safeguard the balance of payments to which countries may choose to conform. The first permits countries to discriminate by means of import restrictions to the same extent as they would be entitled under the rules of the International Monetary Fund to discriminate by means of exchange restrictions, and in addition to maintain and adapt to changing circumstances any discriminatory measures which they were taking on 1st March, 1948. The second permits countries to discriminate where this enables them to obtain additional imports over and above the volume they could afford to purchase on a non-discriminatory basis, provided that certain conditions are complied with. His Majesty's Government are satisfied that the second set of rules would give the United Kingdom the greater measure of freedom and flexibility in import policy, and have notified the Contracting Parties to the General Agreement of their desire to take advantage of these rules. They have also notified the Interim Commission for the International Trade Organisation of their desire to take advantage of the corresponding alternative provisions of the Havana Charter if and when this enters into force in respect of the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when it is proposed to settle the outstanding claims for industrial war damage to plant and machinery.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Bristol (Mr. Awbery) on 7th December last and the hon. Member for Howdenshire (Mr. Odey) on 1st February, copies of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many development councils have been set up under the Industrial Organisation and Development Act, 1947.

Three development councils have been set up. They are for the cotton, furniture, and the jewellery and silverware industries.

asked the Minister of Health the number of patients on the waiting lists of hospitals in respect of each of the London Regional Hospital Boards.

The figures are not available as the lists are under review in order to eliminate duplications.

asked the Minister of Health how many general medical practitioners who had signified their willingness to enter the National Health Service have since gone out of the service; and whether he has any information to show what proportions of such practitioners have ceased to practise altogether, are now carrying on private practices, or have gone overseas with a view to practising abroad, respectively.

From 5th July up to 30th January, 497 general practitioners on the medical list had withdrawn, in addition 103 practitioners had died. Six hundred and two practitioners had joined the list in the same period. I have no information as to the reasons for the withdrawals.

asked the Postmaster-General how many of the staff employed by the Post Office Savings Bank at Kensington are established civil servants; and how many are temporary.

The figures are as follow:—established staff, 3,941; temporary staff, 4,473 full-time, 750 part-time.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider a claim by the postal and telegraph officers in the service to be up-graded to the clerical officer (postal) Treasury class.

My right hon. Friend is prepared to consider any claim which may be put forward by the recognised staff association.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how the allocation of steel to the shipbuilding industry compares with the allocation made for the corresponding quarter last year; and what allocations will be made for the remaining quarters of this year.

The total tonnage of steel allocated to the shipyards for the first quarter of 1949 represents an increase of a little over 5 per cent. on the allocation for the first quarter of 1948, but if account is taken of changes in the basis of steel allocations in the intervening period, the increase is nearly 10 per cent. The total allocation for the second quarter of 1949 shows a reduction of just under 3 per cent. on that for the first quarter. No steel allocations for the remaining quarters of 1949 have yet been made. Shipyard steel allocations cover merchant ship repairs and maintenance as well as new construction.