asked the President of the Board of Trade what allocation of paper has been made available to the publishers of the journal "Freedom First."

No paper has been specifically licensed for "Freedom First," and any paper used has presumably been obtained from printers' or merchants' stocks for the resale of which no licence is necessary.

In view of the fact that this paper is in the unique position of being financed and sponsored by the most disreputable elements in both the commercial and political life of the country, could the Minister use the means at his disposal to find us a copy and put it in the Library?

I am not prepared to use the paper control for the purpose of censorship, even when the hon. Gentleman asks for it. I am quite sure that he is capable of getting his own copies and reading them for himself.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the current price charged for newsprint in Britain compares with the world price; and what is the reason for the difference.

The price at which newsprint is sold is not standard throughout the world, but depends upon market conditions and contract terms. It depends upon the cost of the raw materials and is also affected by the level of output which in this country is still only 50 per cent. of pre-war. In the circumstances, it is encouraging to note that our prices compare favourably with those of the Scandinavian producers, though they are above those at which paper can be bought on long term contracts in Canada.

Is it not a fact that the British Government are paying the Finns £40 a ton for newsprint which they are willing to sell to America for £28 a ton? When will the President of the Board of Trade allow our own mills to renew their direct contacts with the producers of pulp in Scandinavia?

I should want notice of the question, in relation to Finland in particular. It is true that many of the Scandinavian countries are selling in dollars at a lower price than to non-dollar countries because of their need for dollars.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what profits the Government are making out of newsprint?

Not without notice.

Is this a long-term bulk buying contract and, if so, how long has it to run?

Is what a long-term bulk buying contract?

Are the Government buying newsprint on a series of long-term bulk buying contracts and, if so, can the right hon. Gentleman say how much longer they have to run, so that we can take advantage of the lower prices prevailing throughout the world?

The Question mainly refers to newsprint manufactured in this country from pulp bought abroad. As far as the relatively small purchases of newsprint by the Government are concerned, they are not long-term bulk buying purchases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what action is to be taken to consolidate and safeguard our markets for pottery throughout the world; when is it expected that increased supplies will be available for the home market; and when will decorated pottery be allowed to be sold on the open home market;

(2) what action is to be taken to increase the production of pottery so as to cover the difference between supply and demand in the world market and in the American countries in particular;

(3) what action has been taken since June, 1948, to increase the output of decorated pottery, and provide the required supplies of transfers, litho sheets, lithographic printers and decorators; and what further action is to be taken so that the orders received may be met.

Before and during the period to which my hon. Friend refers, the domestic pottery industry has, with the full support of His Majesty's Government, made good progress in increasing its production and its production capacity. Much building work has been done, many continuous ovens and much modern machinery have been installed, and all possible steps have been taken by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service to see that whatever suitable labour has been available has been channelled into the industry, and particularly into its decorating shops. A number of shortages have held up production, especially lithographic transfers.

In order to deal with these shortages, and to see that all necessary steps are taken to increase production, I have set up under the chairmanship of a senior official of my Department, an interdepartmental Pottery Production Committee. Under the aegis of this body steps have been taken to increase by all possible means deliveries of ceramic lithographs to the industry. The ceramic lithograph printers have co-operated loyally in these endeavours, and I am happy to say that deliveries to the industry in the last quarter of 1948 were over one-third greater than average deliveries during the three previous quarters.

Because of the great efforts of managements and workers alike and the factors to which I have referred above, output is rising and markets abroad are being consolidated and won. Demand from abroad, however, in the main still greatly exceeds supply, and I would therefore appeal once more to the industry to do everything it can to meet particularly the needs of our friends in Canada and the United States, thereby helping to reduce the dollar gap. Supplies of crockery on the home market also show a steady improvement but since the lack of decorating capacity is the main bottleneck preventing the industry from still further increasing its exports, I cannot yet foresee when it will be possible to lift the present restrictions on the sale of decorated pottery at home.

While assuring the President that this welcome step forward will be greatly welcomed in the pottery industry, may I ask him whether he agrees that this industry was subjected to most unfair foreign competition in prewar days and, if so, what steps are being taken to safeguard the future of the industry; does he agree also that the most beautiful pottery is now being produced there and can he say when our people will be allowed to get some of it?

I agree that the most beautiful pottery is now being produced and that the industry had to face very unfair competition before the war. The failure to sell more pottery abroad, however, is caused not by foreign competition, but by lack of production.

In view of the well-known fact that cracked cups are apt to increase disease, will the Minister look after the home market irrespective of whether the china is decorated or not?

Yes, Sir. Every step is being taken to look after the home market with plain pottery, but certainly we cannot lose dollar markets in order to supply the home market with decorated ware.

Is the Minister aware that before the war Japanese manufacturers used to imitate both our patterns and designs and the names of our well-known manufacturers, and can he say specifically whether any particular action is to be taken to safeguard this position in future?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will put that question down. It is really a separate question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade where the new factories to be established in Aberdeen are to be located; what they will produce; how many men and women, respectively, they will employ; and when they will be ready to start work.

Thirteen new factories or extensions have been approved for Aberdeen and district, nine in the city itself, three in Bucksburn and one in Pitmedden; they will be engaged, on the production of paper and paper pulp, concrete goods, light castings, fertilisers, clothing, woodwork and grass drying plant, and on the maintenance and repair of motor vehicles (two establishments); one is a laundry. When in full production, they should employ about 220 men and 270 women. Seven of them have already been completed and two more are in course of construction.

While thanking the Minister for that very satisfactory answer, may I ask him if he will bear in mind that considerable unemployment has been caused in Aberdeen by the dismissal of more than 100 workers from the Tullos Factory? Will he do his best to expedite the bringing into operation of new factories at the earliest possible moment?

Yes, Sir, but I would remind my hon. Friend that unemployment is now only about one-fifth or one-sixth of what it was before the war.

I agree.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Government have now finally disposed of the stocks of Australian wool accumulated during the war.

Of the stocks of 6.8 million bales of Australian wool, five million had been disposed of up to 31st December, 1948, by the United Kingdom-Dominion Wool Disposals Limited, the joint organisation set up for the purpose of the disposal of all accumulated stocks of Dominion wool.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if most of this wool was sold for dollars?

I could not say without notice. I should want notice to show into what markets the wool was sold. My impression is that a large proportion of it did go for sale for sterling.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now permit the constituent of the hon. Member for the Western Isles, whose name has been supplied to him, to have wool spun by mainland spinners with the plant suitable for yarns for women's light weight tweeds, and then woven in the Western Isles, where large numbers of weavers have been unemployed since the increased Purchase Tax was imposed on Harris tweed last April; and whether full facilities for exporting to hard currency areas are to be granted.

Yes, Sir. If the weaver in question will apply to the Wool Control he will be given permission to buy a supply of woollen yarn from any mainland spinner for the period beginning 1st March. There is no restriction on the export of wool cloth either to hard currency areas or elsewhere.

Is my right hon. Friend aware, as perhaps he slightly misunderstood the Question, that this is a case of a man who has actually bought wool, but is not permitted to use available spinning capacity on the mainland and to have that yarn woven in the Western Isles? Although he is allowed to have it spun in the Western Isles, where there is no suitable plant, he must not have it woven there. It hardly helps to solve the unemployment in this industry.

I am sorry that the supplementary question does not reduce my confusion on this matter, particularly as my hon. Friend is speaking about spinning capacity, weaving and materials, but I should be very glad to go into the question with my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that large numbers of Harris Tweed small producers in the Western Isles have become unemployed since last April, do not receive unemployment insurance benefit, since they are classed as self-employed, have no adequate alternative source of livelihood and are being forced to emigrate; and what plans he has for providing insurable employment in that area in the immediate future.

I am aware that sales of Harris Tweed fell considerably during the second half of 1948, chiefly in the case of small producers who have no established trade connections, but the production figures of tweed for 1948 exceeded those of 1947. I have no knowledge of emigration as the result of the fall in sales. I cannot hold out much hope of providing more factory employment in the immediate future. But the steps taken by the Government to provide better facilities such as harbours, piers and roads, to improve the prospects of the herring industry and generally to raise the level of employment throughout the Highlands and Islands should influence employment in this part of Scotland for some time to come.

While I am very appreciative of the steps the Government are taking in connection with the fishing industry and other schemes, may I ask my right hon. Friend if he is aware that county councils in the Highlands and the Government's Advisory Panel and all in the industry are very concerned with the plight of the small producer, for whom there is no export industry?

My hon. Friend will realise the difficulties in the export market, both as regards import restrictions imposed by foreign Governments and also the change in world fashion away from tweeds. I would remind him that in the main categories of production output is between 60 per cent. and 70 per cent. above pre-war.

Will my right hon. Friend try to take a very serious view of the peculiar difficulties of this area in which the men who had a considerable home market trade find it difficult—as he so rightly says—to get into the export market and, because of Purchase Tax at 66⁔; per cent., are now unable to continue in the home market?

That is a question on which I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why wool taffeta for shirts is unobtainable in London shops.

Because most of what is produced is being exported to dollar markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet able to make a statement on the further progress which has been made by the Working Party on Export Forms.

Yes, Sir. As I announced on 25th March last, in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Kennington (Mr. Gibson), the Working Party had completed its first interim Report which dealt specifically with Government forms. It has now completed a report on the second stage of its work—the examination of the forms required by shipowners, port authorities, banks and similar organisations in the United Kingdom. This second Report, and its recommendations, will be summarised in an early issue of the "Board of Trade Journal."

The Working Party examined seven major groups of forms, and was able to make recommendations for some simplification of procedure in respect of five of them. The Government Departments concerned are arranging for early discussion with shipowners, banks, and others of the modifications to their present practices which will be necessary to make the recommendations effective.

I believe that the second Report is a most useful document, and I hope that the bodies concerned will find it possible to carry out its recommendations without delay, thus easing the task of "form-filling" for our exporters. The Working Party has now entered on the third stage of its inquiry—the examination of the forms required by overseas Governments.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the question of forms required for sending samples overseas, because that is extremely irksome to a number of exporters when they are trying to do business?

I am not sure whether the hon. Member is referring to Government forms, or forms required by shippers, banks and other people. The second Report dealt only with shippers, bankers and so on.

The CD/3 form and other forms which have to be filled in when exporters send samples overseas.

That was dealt with in the first Report and I should be glad to let the hon. Member have particulars of the findings.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider altering the regulations whereby two collars are supplied with a utility shirt, so that four collars can be supplied in view of the fact that matching collars are impossible to buy and wear out quicker than the shirt.

No limitation is imposed upon the number of collars which may be supplied with a utility shirt.

Would not the release of a greater number of Van Heusen collars very much help to solve the problem?

I do not think that I am in a position to engage in competitive advertising during Question Time in this House. This Question related to utility shirts many of which are of a pattern matching variety.

Is the right hon. Gentleman sure that there is no Board of Trade regulation limiting the number to two collars to a shirt?

There is no regulation. The utility specification relates to two collars, but there is nothing to prevent the manufacturer making three or four.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has been able to purchase from Indonesia any sugar, other food or raw materials.

Negotiations are in progress at the moment.

May I ask if any attempt has been made to point out to the Dutch the damaging effect of the blockade on European and world recovery?

We are engaged in negotiating with the Dutch for the supply of important commodities both from Holland and Indonesia, and we have not been going into the kind of question raised by my hon. Friend.

In view of the figure given out by the Netherlands of a 275 per cent. increase in the production of crude oil in Indonesia, have the Government made any approach with the object of obtaining any of the Indonesian oil?

I should not like to say what we have asked for and what we have not asked for. I can tell my hon. Friend that we have pressed for very considerable quantities of valuable exports and we have every hope of getting them if the agreement is reached.

Might we not get more of these commodities if we were to facilitate the Dutch Government in crushing the anti-social elements in Indonesia, and thereby bringing peace to the country?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to increase the supply of dental X-ray film for use in the National Health Service, especially for the priority services.

Pending the completion of arrangements already in hand for increasing United Kingdom production, a licence has been issued for the importation of dental X-ray film to reduce the gap between supply and demand. There has also been a small reduction in the amount exported. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I, hope that in the meantime dentists will help by using available supplies economically. As regards priority services, my right hon. Friend has asked me to give an assurance that they will not be overlooked.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now say whether wool and cotton mixture textiles will be affected by the relaxations announced in the clothing ration.

For the purposes of the Consumer Rationing Order, woven wool cloth is material containing more than 15 per cent. by weight of wool or animal fibre. All cloths complying with this definition are, therefore, unrationed, apart from the exceptions made in my statement on 31st January—namely, gaberdines and utility cloth in the 236 series.

While welcoming this further relaxation of rationing, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he can hold out any hope that there will be a reduction in price, as regards suitings, for example, made from these textile mixtures?

While we maintain the strictest possible price control on production, any further reductions in price within that control are matters for the trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consult more fully with industries likely to be affected by negotiations with other countries for a commercial treaty before those negotiations commence.

Provision has been made for full consultation where necessary with industries likely to be affected by projected trade negotiations with other countries. I will certainly, however, continue to watch the position and to make any further adjustments in the machinery of consultation that seem necessary.

Will my right hon. Friend remember, while watching this, that the F.B.I. and the trade associations do not always represent the opinions of people on the job?

Yes, Sir, and the main form of consultation is not through such national bodies but via the production department with the individual industries concerned.

Will the right hon. Gentleman watch the interests of market gardeners in this country?

They, like every other production interest, are kept in touch through the appropriate production department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of recent happenings in Hungary concerning Cardinal Mindszenty, he will consider the desirability of breaking off negotiations for a trade agreement with Hungary.

There are no negotiations for a trade agreement with Hungary in progress. Discussions with a Hungarian delegation are, however, in progress in London for the settlement of Hungarian debts to the United Kingdom. It is not intended to break off these negotiations in view of recent happenings in Hungary concerning Cardinal Mindszenty.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of imitation revolvers manufactured by the Kilgore Manufacturing Company, Ohio, and selling in this country for about 6s. each, for the import of which from the United States of America he has granted licences; whether, as these painted black can be used in hold-ups, he will prohibit their importation; and why dollars are being spent on such imports.

These American water pistols are imported under the general heading of toys, dolls, etc., under the Token Import arrangements of which the House is aware. The annual quota for this class of goods is 2,450 dollars c.i.f., which represents 20 per cent. by value of the pre-war trade with the United States. Any risk of misuse by criminals of toy pistols clearly could not be dealt with by import restrictions alone.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that one of the three most sensational hold-ups in past years, namely, the gaolbreak of John Dillinger from an American gaol was accomplished by the use of a pistol that was in fact carved out of wood and had been polished with boot polish? In view of these circumstances does it not show that there is no limit to the ingenuity of hold-up men in building up imitation revolvers?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the comparative cost of nets for the fishing industry, trawl and drift, for the years 1938 and 1948; and how long it is now necessary to wait for fulfilment of orders for nets.

Comparative costs for the years 1938 and 1948 are: trawl nets £12 10s. 0d. and £33 5s. 0d.; drift nets £3 12s. 6d. and £12 0s. 0d. respectively. There is no material delay in deliveries of trawl nets, but fulfilment of orders for drift nets often takes up several months. I am advised, however, that fishermen who have placed their orders in accordance with the usual practice at the end of one season for delivery in time for the following fishing season have been able to obtain reasonable supplies.

Is the Minister aware that my information is that with regard to drift nets the period of waiting is about two years, and that this is a very grave handicap indeed on the whole of the industry, particularly during the East Anglian herring fishing season?

Such inquiries as I have been able to make suggest that while there has been a long delay the position is improving, and it is now only a period of some months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the recent Anglo-United States talks, he will be in a position to reduce the price of tobacco and cigarettes in the near future.

No, Sir.

In view of the saving in dollars that is likely to ensue if these agreements are satisfactorily settled, does not the Minister think that it is time, or that it will be time when they are settled, that a reduction should be made in the cost of tobacco and cigarettes to the smoking public?

These talks were not concerned with prices, but with the amount of dollars which in our present position we could afford to spend on American tobacco. This year's crop of American tobacco will be sold as usual by auction in the second half of the year, and obviously no one can know in advance what price it is likely to fetch.

Is it not the case that in any event by far the greater proportion of the price of cigarettes is the Government tax?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what immediate action he is taking to safeguard the British film industry, in view of the widespread closing of film studios.

I am in close touch with both sides of the industry, and I expect that the immediate position will be somewhat improved by the establishment of the National Film Finance Corporation with wider powers of assistance than those enjoyed by the interim Film Finance Company. I am also considering what, if any, additional measures may be required to satisfy the requirements of long-term policy. I would also refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich (Mr. Reeves) announcing the setting up of a Working Party to examine production costs as a matter of urgency. This is perhaps the most urgent problem facing the industry, but I must emphasise that it is fundamentally one that the industry itself must resolve.

While acknowledging that the President of the Board of Trade has done more than anyone previously to deal with this problem, may I ask him whether it is not a fact that there is a very grave crisis in the film industry, and will he bring it to the attention of the Cabinet?

There is undoubtedly a grave crisis in the film industry. It has been having recurrent financial crises throughout its history, though they have been rather more frequent lately. The first and best thing that the industry can do to get over this crisis is to get its production costs down to a reasonable level. The second thing which is being urgently considered is a redistribution of box office takings as between the producer, on the one hand, and the exhibitors and distributors, on the other.

Is the right hon. Gentleman doing something else, and bring pressure to bear upon his right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to see that he does not take so large a share of the box office receipts?

The hon. Gentleman will not expect me to anticipate the Budget Statement of my right hon. and learned Friend.

Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that so long as the industry continues to organise itself in such a way that its producing side is starved while its selling side is sated, he will not pay too much attention to suggestions of that kind made by the hon. Member for Bucklow (Mr. Shepherd)?

It is an unfortunate fact that in dealing with this crisis we have to take the industry as we find it and not as it ought to be.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the lowest number of spindles he is now prepared to consider for subsidy; and whether he is intending to make any special arrangements in respect of vertical combers.

During the passage of the Cotton Spinning (Re-equipment Subsidy) Act through Parliament, it was made clear that we did not propose to insist rigidly on the figure of 400,000 spindles; I am ready to consider on their merits recommendations by the Cotton Board in respect of somewhat smaller groups which they consider acceptable in other respects. In particular, consideration would be given to a suitably organised vertical group controlling something in the region of 250,000 spindles.

Will the right hon. Gentleman please read the leading article on this subject in the "Manchester Guardian" this morning?

I have read it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to amend S.I., 1946, Nos. 1413 and 1415 so as to make them intelligible.

Both S.R. & O. 1946 No. 1413 and S.I. 1948 No. 13 (which replaced S.R. & O. 1946 No. 1415) are being amended and consolidated, but I cannot promise any great simplification. Our general experience is that the vast majority of manufacturers both understand and substantially comply with the provisions of these and similar orders.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on 1st February a firm was prosecuted at the Old Bailey for alleged offences against these orders and that after four days' hearing the jury said that the orders were too complicated to be understood, whereupon the judge directed an acquittal; what is the use of the right hon. Gentleman making more orders if no one can understand them?

Will the Minister say whether it is the intention of his Department to make these orders understandable only by the experts concerned or is it their purpose to make them intrinsically clear?

It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the remarks made in court. I have been given to understand that within the trade the orders are fairly widely understood. Of course, as long as it is necessary to control prices in the footwear industry at cost plus, it is extremely difficult to find any simplification of the procedure, but we are trying to do that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of spectacle lenses have been exported to the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics since July, 1948.

I am unable to give the figure for spectacle lenses only, but the number of lenses for spectacles, goggles, eyeglasses or monocles exported to the U.S.S.R. from July to December, 1948, was 168.

Will my right hon. Friend bring this answer to the notice of the opticians, because some of them are suggesting to their customers that the delay in the supply of glasses here is not so much due to the vastly increased demand as to the fact that we are exporting lenses by the million to the U.S.S.R.?

I hope that the figure of 168 will lay that particular rumour.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion of that export consisted of monocles?

I have made clear that the figure is the total for all kinds of lenses and I cannot split it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions at present exist on the manufacture of ties in club, school, college, university, etc., colours; and whether he will now relax those restrictions.

There are no such restrictions.

Is it not a fact that 75 per cent. of all ties have to be exported and, that being the case, is it not clear that there is no inducement to manufacturers to manufacture club ties?

The Question related to restrictions. There are no such restrictions, though with the general shortage of home market cloth there may be a tendency for weavers to avoid patterns which entail short runs in production.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is now very difficult to buy a tie in a good, bright, pillar-box red and will he take some action to deal with that problem?

Will my right hon. Friend seek means to export the wearers of these old school ties?

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into this matter again, because all of us need to buy a tie from time to time? Surely, we ought to be able to buy a tie in the colours of the club or school to which we belong?

I have already said that there are no restrictions. This is a question for the manufacturers. It must be for them to judge what the demand is and to try to meet it as they see fit.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what instructions he has issued to his officers in connection with the allocation of petrol to doctors by reason of the coming into force of the National Health Scheme.

Regional petroleum officers have standing instructions to allow doctors sufficient petrol to meet their essential requirements. No special instructions were necessary, therefore, by reason of the coming into force of the National Health Service.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is an impression among some doctors that those doctors who have joined the National Health Scheme are receiving more favourable treatment than those who have remained outside?

That impression is entirely without foundation.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power on what grounds the petrol allocation of Inman Mobile Cinemas Limited, 34, Great King Street, Dumfries, for the period commencing 1st January, 1949, has been cut down by two-thirds on transfer of the firm to the responsibility of his Department.

I regret that there was a misunderstanding in this case. The issue of one-third of the previous allowance was an interim one while the case was being examined with the Ministry of Transport. A further allowance will be issued.

In view of the fact that this company is doing a great service to the community by giving cinema shows in rural districts, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the allowance will not be less than it was before?

No, I cannot give that assurance. We must look into this case, which has certain very special features.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now reconsider his refusal of 30th November to grant extra petrol to Mr. C. Lupton, of Rooks-bury Mill, Mead Hedges, Andover, who had had an attack leading to hemiplegia and is unable to walk; and, in view of the medical certificate which states that Mr. Lupton's general health will not improve unless he has fresh air which can only be obtained for him by drives in his car, if an allocation of petrol will now be made.

I have reconsidered Mr. Lupton's case. I am afraid I cannot increase his present supplementary allowance, but as from 1st May the amount of his standard ration will not be deducted and he will therefore be able to enjoy about 90 miles more motoring a month.

In view of all the facts, ought not the Minister to reconsider this case? Surely, there is a limit to the lack of humanity which is shown by his Department?

I do not agree that there is any lack of humanity in this business. The applicant in question is getting as much as any other person in the same position. He will get a substantial increase from 1st May.

Has the right hon. Gentleman read the medical certificate which I sent him which states specifically that unless he gets extra petrol his health cannot improve?

He will be getting extra petrol.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the Government will now remove the ban on shop-window lighting altogether, in view of the fact that this lighting is only required after nightfall when the peak period load would not be affected.

There can be no question of permitting display lighting during the peak load period, part of which occurs after nightfall during much of the Winter. Moreover a relaxation of the restriction even if confined to off-peak hours would involve additional coal consumption which cannot be considered until at least the end of the Winter.

What really convincing evidence is there that a continuation of this ban is really necessary; are the people of this country to live in perpetual gloom and austerity because we have a Government like this?

I am sorry that the hon. Member should be so distressed about this restriction but before we lift it we must consider first whether we have sufficient coal.

That is not a satisfactory answer. It is thoroughly unsatisfactory.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what are names of the members of the Gas Area Boards constituted under the Gas Act, 1948, appointed since 1st January, 1949; and what are the dates of their appointments.

As the reply consists of a number of names and dates, I will with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. For the convenience of the hon. and gallant Member and the House, I have also included appointments made prior to 1st January, 1949.

While appreciating the Minister's suggestion, with which I agree, can he confirm that all these Area Boards were established by the end of January, and that they consisted of a chairman and three other members?

Yes, Sir, that is the case, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman will see from the list which I am circulating.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now state the result of the consideration which, at his request, has been given by the National Coal Board to the representations from the Marshall Plan Administration for a reduction in the export price of British coal; and if he will make a statement.

As I informed the hon. Member on the 9th December last, the representations received from the Economic Co-operation Administration referred to the export prices of United Kingdom coal in relation to those of Bizone coal. These representations were the subject of a fact-finding discussion between the Board and the coal authorities of the Bizone in December last and the findings of this discussion have been sent to the Economic Co-operation Administration.

Is it not the fact that we have already agreed to reduce the price of our export coal on American instructions—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Will the Minister answer my question without the reference to American instructions—we can judge for ourselves? If it is the case that we have to make up the extra sum somewhere, will the Minister consider taking it off the £164 million which apparently we are going to pay to the former coalowners?

It is incorrect that the Coal Board have reduced their prices on American instructions. It is for the National Coal Board to decide at what price they will sell in the light of the commercial situation.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he now proposes to take to supply Hampshire with Welsh steam coal for agricultural purposes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on 31st January.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that no Welsh steam coal has been available in Hampshire for agricultural purposes since this Government came into office and that this is regarded by farmers as an unnecessary hardship?

There has been no Welsh steam coal in Hampshire since 1944 and it is not thought necessary that there should be.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when it is intended that Regional Consumers' Councils will be set up to consider the problems of industry and of domestic consumers, and to provide some safeguards for consumers' interests which cannot be adequately met by the Central Consumers' Councils now functioning remote from those faced with problems daily, particularly in the iron and steel and other industrial areas of the country.

In their annual reports for the year ended 30th June, 1948, both the Domestic and Industrial Coal Consumers' Councils indicated that they did not favour for the present the appointment of Regional Councils. I will, however, bring my hon. Friend's suggestion to the notice of both Councils.

Could my right hon. Friend say if he has had any representations made to him on the lines of the unsatisfactory and inadequate procedure that applies at present; could he review the whole matter to see if at least the sanction of sitting in public could be applied to the procedure of these councils; and could he introduce a system of decentralisation into the work of these councils?

I am not aware of any representations of the kind mentioned by my hon. Friend. The question whether or not to sit in public is a matter for the councils themselves.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of complaints about delays in delivery to Glasgow coal merchants during December and January last; and what steps are being taken to remedy this situation.

Yes, Sir. Deliveries to merchants in Scotland generally have fallen short because Scottish coal output has been below expectations. To deal with the situation, the Scottish Division of the National Coal Board has been relieved of certain other commitments to supply large coal, and at the same time arrangements have been made for additional supplies to be sent from England.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many tons of coal delivered to Glasgow merchants last month formed the supplies which were sold to customers at the retail prices of 4s. 5d. and 4s. 6d. per hundredweight.

Three thousand, eight hundred and thirty tons of coal from Northumberland were despatched to Glasgow merchants in January, for which the maximum retail price was first fixed at 4s. 5d. per hundredweight and raised to 4s. 6d. per hundredweight on 24th January.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the grave dissatisfaction with these prices, as compared with 3s. 10d. per cwt. which was normally paid for equally good coal for domestic use?

Of course I appreciate that this coal is priced rather higher than Scottish coal, but the price has to cover increased transport costs.

Is it not the case that there have been more exports of Scottish coal over the past year?

Certainly, that is so, as the exports from Great Britain as a whole have increased.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the City of Glasgow, merchants are holding up supplies to ordinary people and selling them after dusk in the residential quarters of the city at higher prices?

I have no information to that effect, but if my hon. Friend will give me details I shall be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Further Education and Training Grants have been allowed under paragraph 5 of his leaflet to men desiring to qualify for a professional career for which their pre-war circumstances did not give them opportunity, but whose war record shows that they have capabilities which would justify the expenditure of public money.

I regret that this information is not available, as separate statistics for this class of case are not kept.

Would my right hon. Friend look into this matter again because it appears that many men who ought to be awarded a grant under this paragraph are not being awarded one on the ground that their career was not interrupted by war service?

I understood that the question merely asked for statistical information, and not merit. On the question of information, it would mean the examination of over 230,000 cases, and I am not prepared to undertake that task.

Would my right hon. Friend give the House some idea of the number of cases in which grants have been made, because there is a widespread feeling among these applicants that the paragraph is, to a large extent, being ignored?

No, Sir. I think, from what information I have gathered by looking over some of the cases, that many of those that have been rejected were properly rejected, but, certainly, the applicants have been disappointed.

Would my right hon. Friend try to put a more generous interpretation upon this paragraph, because, had that been done, quite a lot of applications would not have been rejected?

I do not accept for one moment that there has been any ungenerous interpretation of this paragraph. I am satisfied that where leniency can be shown and we can go over the borderline of the system, we do so, and not the contrary.

asked the Minister of labour if any representative from his Department attended the three days' conference held at Geneva on 31st January, 1949, to consider a model safety code for underground work in coal mines, which conference was attended by representatives from Belgium, Canada, France, India, the Netherlands, Poland and the U.S.A.; and whether he will make the report of the conference available to Members of the House.

This meeting, which was convened by the International Labour Office, was attended by the Chief Inspector of Mines, and was of a preliminary character. In the circumstances, it is not proposed that the report should be made generally available. In the light of the discussions which took place, the International Labour Office will prepare documents for submission to a full technical conference at which representatives of Governments, employers and workers will be present.

When the subsequent conference takes place, will my right hon. Friend see that we have a report of that conference to which he referred in his answer?

It is the regular practice. This is the preliminary conference, and it will be followed by a tripartite conference at the end of this year at which employers, Governments and workers will be represented, and then the draft recommendations will be circulated to the Governments. I think at that point, or at the subsequent point when the report is discussed, it will be circulated.

In view of the fact that this information is very relevant to the consideration of Part II of the Coal Industry Bill at present in Committee, could the right hon. Gentleman make at any rate some part of it available in the very near future?

It will be made available as soon as the actual report is received. This was a meeting of officials to lay down the kind of information to be sought in order to form the basis of discussion, but, most certainly, it will be published as soon as it is ready.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what price Middle East oil is being sold to the British Government.

The British Government buy oil in various parts of the world, and in many cases do not know what is the country of origin. Generally speaking, the contract prices are based upon current world market prices, but in some cases there are long-term supply contracts.

Is my hon. Friend telling the House that he has no idea of, and cannot work out the price of Middle Eastern oil; secondly, is he aware that while the aggregate volume of oil has only increased by 50 per cent. since 1938, the price has more than trebled; thirdly, is he aware that this has a deterrent effect on our economy; and, lastly, what steps are being taken towards the ratification of the Anglo-American Oil Treaty of 1945?

The hon. Member only asked at what price.

May I ask my hon. Friend if I am going to get an answer to at least some of those supplementaries?

The answer to my hon. Friend's first Question is that the price varies from one contract to another. The answer to his other questions is that in this country the economic price of oil is controlled by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of leaflets and organisational charts, describing the Regional Organisation for Industry, which have been distributed in each of the 11 Regions; who is responsible for this distribution; to what types of organisation and individuals this information is sent; and what other forms of publicity are intended to be given to the services that the Regional Organisation has to offer.

Fifty-seven thousand, five hundred leaflets and organisation charts describing the work of the Regional Boards for Industry have already been distributed by the Regional Boards to date. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the distribution in each Region. The Regional Boards for Industry are responsible for the distribution, which in general has been made to industrial firms, Chambers of Trade and Commerce, trade unions, trade associations and other bodies concerned with industry. Every opportunity is taken through the Press, broadcasting and other media to explain the work of the Boards, and as the booklets were issued as recently as the end of last year, it is considered that no further special form of publicity is for the time being necessary.

Would not my hon. Friend agree that if the services of the Regional Organisation for Industry were more widely known, those services could be expanded in the interest of increasing industrial efficiency and productivity; and would he consider what further steps might be taken for this purpose, such as, for instance, the employment of films?