asked the Minister of Food what quantities of gift food in bulk and how many gift food parcels have been received from the Dominions and Colonies during the past three years; and how have these gifts been allocated.

In the three years ended 31st December, 1948, no less than 54,000 tons of gift goods have been received from the Commonwealth and Colonies for general distribution to people most in need. These gifts have been distributed through the good offices and at the discretion of all the local authorities in the United Kingdom, and to over 1,900 hospitals, 2,500 charitable institutions and 1,800 schools. More than 50 million gift food parcels have come direct to individuals through the post from the Commonwealth and Colonies since 1939. I take this opportunity once again to thank the generous donors of all these gifts.

asked the Minister of Food how much cooking fat has been received under the Commonwealth Gift Food Scheme from the National Patriotic Fund of New Zealand; and how has this generous gift been allocated.

The National Patriotic Fund of New Zealand sent us the splendid gift of 4,570 50-lb. tins of cooking fat. This has been allocated to 411 local authorities, 515 hospitals and 424 charitable institutions in many parts of the United Kingdom and is bringing great pleasure to a large number of people. I am sure the House will wish to join me in offering our warmest thanks to the donors.

Will the right hon. Gentleman seek an opportunity of making even better known among the people of this country the extent of these very generous gifts and also an opportunity of conveying to the Dominions and other donors the very grateful thanks of this House?

We do what we can in that regard. We held the exhibition "Britain Says Thank You" in the autumn for this purpose, but I entirely agree that it is a thing we ought to continue to do and which we shall continue to do.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there are many complaints of poor quality meat being issued in the county of Devon; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the south-western counties are to get their fair share of such supplies of good quality meat as are available.

I can assure the hon. Member that the south-west receives its fair share of the better types of meat. I have received no complaints about quality from Devonshire.

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept it that some of the meat is so bad in quality that it really seems a sheer waste of foreign currency to buy it? In regard to the second part of my Question, will he do what he can to convince the people of the south-west that he is right and I am wrong?

I could not agree with the first part of the supplementary question. As to the second part, I can assure the south-west that they probably receive a slightly higher proportion of home killed meat.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the south-eastern counties what is obviously hide is being supplied instead of flesh?

The Question deals with the south-west.

Will the Minister say why the south-west is thus favoured?

We try to equalise this distribution, but it is very difficult to get it exact.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider authorising the sale of unsubsidised white bread in addition to subsidised grey and brown bread.

I cannot add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. J. Morrison) on Wednesday, 26th January.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a very large proportion of the public would be willing to buy white bread at full cost price and thus relieve the Exchequer? Could not the Minister give some reasons against this suggestion other than those he has given? Is it entirely a question of dollars or is it a desire to enforce universal austerity?

Oh, no, Sir; it is a question of dollars. If we reduced the extraction rate, or, as proposed by the hon. Member, reduced it on a high proportion of the bread sold, obviously we should have to buy more wheat, which is largely a dollar commodity. That is the real reason.

asked the Minister of Food (1) whether, in order to protect the health of the public and of children in particular, he will make it clear that any manufacturer convicted of selling adulterated sweets will have his licence withdrawn by his Department.

(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that the cheap sweets which are shortly to be de-rationed, will be of a satisfactory standard of quality and not sold to the public under misleading labels.

Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the sections of the Food and Drugs Act and the Defence (Sale of Food) Regulations which deal with the adulteration of food and the use of misleading labels. I consider convictions under this Act and these regulations, and, if necessary I shall withdraw licences.

Can my right hon. Friend explain why it is that the firm of Verva, Limited, recently convicted of selling as sweets at 3d. an ounce lumps of coloured chalk, which were dangerous to the digestion, are still manufacturing for sale sweets like these pellets I have here that were sent to me by the National Union of Small Shopkeepers, who consider them to be trash? Will the Minister say how they get supplies and are allowed to continue to manufacture?

I cannot go into this case in particular. This is a case where a conviction has taken place. We are certainly willing to consider whether that firm or similarly placed firms are worthy of licence in future.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that under the scheme for control of flour at the source, which has succeeded bread rationing, many bakers are unable to obtain all the flour needed to meet the demand from their customers; and whether he will consider revising the scheme in order to enable the public to buy their full requirements of bread and confectionery from the bakers of their choice.

We cannot yet relax the flour restriction scheme to allow individual bakers to cater for increased demands. Bakers are obtaining the same amount of flour as they received during the year ended 26th June, 1948, and will, therefore, be able to supply their customers with the same amount of bread and flour confectionery.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a number of bakers are only able to keep going at all by drawing in advance on their next quota of flour? Does not this indicate that there is a demand from their customers which at present they are not in a position to meet?

Yes, it is quite true that any scheme of this sort freezes the distribution of flour in the existing proportions to bakers, and that is regrettable, and we should very much like to get rid of it. However, it does not diminish the total amount of flour issued to the country.

asked the Minister of Food why the sale by retail of certain processed nuts is prohibited.

Because we want to reserve them for vegetarian foods and other essential uses.

Does the right hon. Gentleman really think it was worth while prosecuting on 10th February at the Mansion House a lady for selling a packet of peanut kernels for 6d.?

The hon. Member will have seen what the result of the prosecution was. I quote from the Press:

"The summons was dismissed under the Probation of Offenders Act on payment of 5s. costs. This was paid by one of the food officers."

Does that not show what a waste of time the whole thing was?

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now say what allocation of sugar it is proposed to make for home jam making in the forthcoming season.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on extra sugar for jam and marmalade.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now prepared to make a statement concerning the allocation of sugar for home jam making.

asked the Minister of Food if he is yet in a position to make any announcement about sugar bonuses for home jam and marmalade making.

asked the Minister of Food what amount of sugar it is proposed to allocate for home jam making in the forthcoming season.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement as to what provision he is making for an extra allowance of sugar for home jam making; if he is aware that the soft fruit season is approaching; and what steps he is taking to prevent a recurrence of last year's wastage of fruit through lack of sugar.

This year we shall issue 7 1b. of sugar for jam making per ration book during the six ration periods from 24th April to 11th September. Therefore, a family of four will get this year 28 1b. of sugar for jam making over and above the increased ration. The bonuses will be of 1 lb. each, except in the period starting on 19th June, when there will be a 2 lb. bonus.

asked the Minister of Food at what price he proposes to purchase eggs from the Overseas Food Corporation's Gambia poultry farm.

The Overseas Food Corporation does not own or operate a poultry farm in Gambia. Perhaps the hon. Member is thinking of the Colonial Development Corporation.

As I was thinking of the Colonial Development Corporation, will the Minister now answer my Question?

I cannot answer the hon. Gentleman's Question because the Colonial Development Corporation has not yet offered any eggs to my Ministry.

asked the Minister of Food why a licence has been granted for the opening of a co-operative butcher's shop at Hawkinge in spite of the fact that the local food control committee, which includes representatives of the Co-operative Movement, consumers and the local authority have unanimously voted against the grant of such a licence and have refused all similar applications from private individuals.

This licence was granted on appeal to the divisional food officer. The Folkestone Co-operative Society already held 80 meat registrations from customers in Hawkinge, and we think it right that licences should be granted where an appreciable number of people have to travel some distance to the shop where they are registered.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision in view of the very natural indignation which the local food control committee feels at being over-ruled? Will he bear in mind that the local Co-operative supplies less than 10 per cent. of the meat in this village, and that the two butchers there cannot, under the Ministry's regulations, make a profit of more than £15 a week between them? Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that if he insists on this discrimination, it will mean the ruin of those small traders?

I cannot see any reason for reconsidering this decision. I should have to take into account the natural indignation of the 80 meat registration holders were I to deny them the right to shop at the shop they wish to patronise.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is satisfied that the capacity of the canning factories in Cornwall is sufficient to meet the increased supplies of pilchards which are likely to be landed in 1949.

Canning capacity was increased last year, and a further increase is expected this year. A large proportion of the Cornish pilchards are bought for curing, and I have no reason to think that this year's catch will not be readily absorbed for one purpose or another.

Will the Minister, through the canning section of his Ministry, consider a proposal from the Penzance authority and others for establishing a canning factory as soon as possible at Newlyn, as it is expected that the catch will be far greater than hitherto owing to new devices for the catching of the fish?

We will consider that with great interest.

asked the Minister of Food what is the estimated quantity of canned fish that will be imported from France during 1949.

The present estimate is 400 tons.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the fact that price control is removed from cooked fish, he proposes to remove the control on fish cakes.

I will certainly consider this.

asked the Minister of Food the wholesale and retail profit margins allowed on rationed and un-rationed sweets.

The total gross profit margin received by wholesalers and retailers is approximately £24 million a year, but the Ministry does not control the proportions taken by wholesalers and retailers respectively. No sweets are un-rationed as yet.

Is there any control of percentage margins?

Yes, Sir. These percentage margins are very carefully worked out in respect of all the different types of sweets.

asked the Minister of Food on how many occasions and on what subjects he has exercised his powers under Section 9 (1) of the Overseas, Resources Development Act, 1948, in relation to the East African groundnuts scheme.

None, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the Overseas Food Corporation is fully carrying out its obligations under Section 8 of the Overseas Resources Development Act, 1948, in relation to the East African groundnuts scheme.

The Corporation keeps me informed at regular intervals of the progress of the scheme as a whole, including the matters covered by Section 8 of the Overseas Resources Development Act. I also visited each of the three areas of cultivation in Tanganyika last summer.

What steps are being taken to organise the employees of the Overseas Food Corporation there into trade unions?

It is not usually considered to be the employers' function to organise workers into trade unions. In some of these areas, at any rate, I think the African employees are not at a stage of development at which that would be very easy. Of course, the Corporation would not oppose in any way the organisation of trade unions.

asked the Minister of Food if he will ascertain fully the position of supply and demand for chocolate products before including such projects in any scheme of de-rationing, in view of the position, prior to rationing, when chocolate products were unfairly distributed to the general public.

I have now completed careful consultations with the sweet manufacturers particularly on the specific issue of the level at which supply and demand will balance at the slightly reduced prices for various kinds of sweets which will shortly come into force. We have all come to the conclusion that with the addition of a comparatively small amount of ingredients which can be found, it will be possible to de-ration all sweets instead of the cheaper varieties alone, as I had originally proposed. In order to meet the initial demand which will no doubt be high at the start we shall have to postpone the date of complete instead of partial de-rationing to 24th April next in order to allow the manufacturers to build up their stocks. Until that date the ration will remain at its present level of four ounces per week and will be fully enforced.

The industry have given an assurance that the pattern of distribution will remain substantially as at present, so there is no reason to believe that chocolate products will be unfairly distributed. The full de-rationing of sweets will mean a saving of 1,100 staff to the trade and 400 to the Ministry.

Is the Minister aware of the widespread satisfaction with which his announcement will be received throughout the country?

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the fact that imported vegetables are having serious repercussions on the marketing of English leeks, he will assist with the present difficulties and safeguard the future of homegrown vegetables.

The object of importing vegetables is to provide the British housewife with a cheaper and ampler supply than she would otherwise have. This must be the paramount consideration. As a matter of fact, however, the imports we are at present receiving form a small part of our total vegetable supplies and even if they were stopped the effect on the marketing of the heavy leek and other crops might not be appreciable.

Is the Minister aware of the painful way in which the growers in Evesham and other parts of the country have been let down over their leeks and onions? Why did he encourage them to grow as much as they could and then not find a market for their produce? The thing is too bad for words. These men are being ruined.

asked the Minister of Food if he is considering the present marketing arrangements of fruit and vegetables; and, in view of the dissatisfaction expressed by both producer and retailer, what steps he is taking to improve distribution.

The Government continue to receive the advice of the Fruit and Vegetable (Marketing and Distribution) Organisation, presided over by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary and have under consideration various measures, including the amendment of the Agricultural Marketing Acts and the establishment of a Development Council for horticulture.

asked the Minister of Food (1) why, when a farmer or other grower is willing and anxious to sell his potatoes and carrots at less than the fixed price, he is not allowed to do so; and why merchants, who handle his produce, are not allowed to sell it below the fixed price;

(2) why he makes fixed prices for vegetables, thus preventing growers and merchants from selling those vegetables, which are going bad and rotting on their hands.

Potatoes and carrots are the only vegetables for which a guarantee of fixed prices is given to growers, with the object of maintaining the acreage. To allow individuals to sell how and where they please and at what prices they like would soon destroy confidence and make impossible the regular maintenance of supplies to all areas of the country.

Is the Minister aware that the "Financial Times" this morning announced that potatoes are selling in France at ¼d. per lb., and would he rather see them go to waste in England than own up that he is wrong? Is the Minister also aware that if he were the manager of a private concern and carried on the business so badly, he would get the sack?

I should much like to see the hon. Gentleman start a campaign in the agricultural districts of this country for the ending of the guaranteed price for potatoes.

That has nothing to do with the Question, as the right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well.

asked the Minister of Food why, in view of the complaints about dirty vegetables, growers, merchants and their agents are not allowed to wash carrots, while it is permissible to wash turnips and parsnips; and if he will remove these restrictions.

I have already taken up the question of the annulment of the relevant order with the interests involved.

Is it not a fact that a dirty Government provides dirty vegetables?

asked the Minister of Food what is the number of civic restaurants at the present time, compared with the number in 1948, 1947 and 1946.

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can my right hon. Friend give an indication of how serious is the decline?

There has been, I regret to say, a considerable decline in the number of civic restaurants.

May I put a further supplementary question?

The trouble has been that we have been taking 50 Questions a day ever since Christmas, as against 70 before. This is due to a lot of supplementary questions, some of which have been very long, and the answers to which have also been very long. I would commend to the House that if we want really to make Question Time useful, one must think before one asks a supplementary question. A slogan which we used to see when travelling in the train during the war was, "Is your journey really necessary?" I wonder whether I might suggest to hon. Members that they should ask themselves, "Is my supplementary really necessary?"

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. With great respect, I have not put my supplementary question. The Minister, as you will have heard, merely said that he would answer the Question in the OFFICIAL REPORT. All I asked him was whether he would indicate if there was a decline, and he said that there was, and I want to put a supplementary question which is a part of my Question.

The hon. Member asked "What is the number of civic restaurants?" Surely that is a simple Question which does not lead to a supplementary question.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make an extra allocation of sugar to beekeepers.

I am in close touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries who will advise me when there is need for an extra allocation for beekeepers.

asked the Minister of Food how much of the additional £50,300,000 required in the year ending 31st March, 1949, for trading services, net, is represented by estimated increased stocks.

asked the Minister of Food what part of the Supplementary Estimate for his Department is represented by increased stocks.

None, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food what steps his Department takes to revise food allocations from time to time in respect of particular towns, in accordance with the growth or diminution of the population in those towns.

Supplies of rationed foods automatically change with the number of registrations. Allocations of sugar, dried fruit, and fats for making certain unrationed foods are adjusted every six months, where necessary, on the basis of population figures prepared by the Registrar-General. These figures are also made available to manufacturers and other first-hand distributors of foods whose distribution we do not control.

Why not de-ration sugar altogether? It ought to have been done months ago.

asked the Minister of Food why he has declined to accept an invitation for an officer of his Department to address a public meeting in Shrewsbury on "The Law, the Housewife and the Enforcement Officer."

Because my Department has no regular speakers available to deal with this specialised subject and is unable to spare a sufficiently senior officer from his official duties.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether these enforcement officers possess any powers except those of the ordinary citizen; where the ordinary citizen can obtain precise details of those powers; and, if the ordinary citizen has not been able to obtain those details, will he let me have them?

Yes, Sir. If the hon. Gentleman will put down that Question, I will give an answer to it.

I asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he would let me have the precise information?

asked the Minister of Food why he is continuing the ban on the rail movement of potatoes from the Lincolnshire area, in view of the fact that consignees have expressed preference for rail Transport and that approximately 20 motor vehicles a day are at present being loaded fully with potatoes for movement.

The ban is only on rail movement into Lancashire and Cheshire, South Wales and the South-West and was designed to help the clearance of locally grown potatoes. We shall soon be lifting the ban on rail movement into Lancashire, which should help Lincolnshire growers.

Has the Minister considered removing the ban completely, in view of the fact that marketers have requested that this ban on rail movement should be removed?

I think that it will be possible to remove the ban completely in due course.

asked the Minister of Food when he expects his Potato Division will have settled their 1941 accounts; and what are the prospects for the accounts of the years intervening between then and now being settled.

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the outstanding ledger balances of merchants' transactions on the 1941 crop. The clearance of these has been delayed by inadequate records, due partly to a fire. The same difficulty of records has affected settlements for the two or three following years, but it is being overcome and we expect to clear the accounts soon.

Will the Minister try to avoid what happened in my constituency not long ago, when an official came from his Ministry and, having had a very nice holiday in the area, went back again without giving any solution to the problem?

In view of the difficulty which I have mentioned, one must send an official down to try to clear it up.

asked the Minister of Food how many apprentices are employed at each regional slaughterhouse; and what proportion these represent of the total staff.

Slaughtering at Government operated slaughterhouses is done by slaughtering contractors. There is no national apprentice scheme at present, though one is being formulated by the Institute of Meat and the Joint Industrial Council for the slaughtering industry. Local training arrangements sponsored by slaughtering contractors or traders' associations have been encouraged by my officials, but I cannot say how many young men are under specific training at our slaughterhouses.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the concern which exists about the decreasing number of young men learning the skilled craft of the butcher in this trade, which applies not only to home killed cattle but also to the imported cattle; and will he please look into it and see that the numbers in this trade are maintained?

I will certainly consider that.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that marshmen in Norfolk engaged in harvesting litter, shofe and reed do not receive the extra seasonal rations which are allowed to agricultural workers; and, as the work done by these men is arduous, if he will review the matter and place these men in the same position as agricultural workers.

The list of operations was decided, after consultation with the T.U.C. and the National Farmers' Union, as being those jobs which usually have to be carried out against time and weather and so entail long hours of work in the fields. I do not feel that this is one of the seasonal operations for which the extra allowances can be made available.

Is the Minister aware that this work is not only very difficult and arduous but is an essential part of agricultural operations generally, and that there is a good deal of feeling that these men are not getting the same amount of rations as agricultural workers?

We are always willing to consider these borderline cases, but it is very difficult to draw the line at the right place.

asked the Minister of Food how many cases of tinned dripping have been imported into this country from abroad; and how much has been exported during the last 12 months.

We have imported 2,000 cases, equal to 36 tons, of tinned dripping during the last 12 months. We expect N.A.A.F.I. to take it all for the use of the Services abroad.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why tinned dripping has been brought from New Zealand to this country and then exported to Eritrea; and will he say further why we are not importing more tinned dripping from New Zealand when exporters there are anxious to sell it to his Department?

I am sure that we are importing all we can, not without some reference to price, and not without some reference to the effect on our bulk supplies of other commodities. As I say, we are exporting only for the use of N.A.A.F.I.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will arrange for a supply of cheap cartridges to be provided through the National Farmers' Union to enable farmers to destroy pigeons, rooks and jays before these birds seriously interfere with the crops for this year.

Following discussions with the National Farmers' Union a supply of cheap cartridges will be made available, through county agricultural executive committees, to farmers and others taking part in rook shoots organised by the committees. I do not feel justified in providing cheap cartridges for the destruction of wood pigeons and jays.

How can the Minister tell which is which when they are all picking up the seed?

I do not tell which is which; it is the fellow who goes out shooting who does that.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of applications for grant aid under the provisions of the Hill Farming Act, 1947, received and granted in the county of Caernarvonshire since the inception of the Act.

One hundred and thirty-eight proposals have been received for improvement schemes in Caernarvon-shire. Fifty-four have been approved in principle. Fourteen detailed schemes have been submitted; while none of these has been formally approved, authority to carry out urgent work has been given to 19 applicants.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that circumstances have, in many cases, changed since the 22,600 occupational level crossings in Great Britain were first constructed; and what steps he proposes to take to bring up to date the law relating to the risks undertaken by the public in using these crossings, which are now more frequented than formerly.

I have asked the British Transport Commission to examine and report on the whole question of occupation crossings and I cannot say what action may be required until I have received and considered their report.

Is the Minister aware that it was nearly a year ago when this serious question was first brought to his notice; that a number of serious accidents have taken place at such crossings since then; and will he do all he can to expedite the matter?

Yes; but the hon. Member knows, as his own Question indicates, that this is a very considerable problem.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the recent decision in a Cardiff court that pedestrians had not the right of way on pedestrian crossings at traffic lights when they cross against the lights; and what steps he proposes to take to clarify the position in the light of the recent report made to him by the Committee on Road Safety.

asked the Minister of Transport the substance of the recommendations regarding the use of pedestrian crossing places contained in the report of the Road Safety Committee; and what action he proposes to take.

The report of the Committee on Road Safety has now been published and copies are available to Members in the Vote Office.

I intend to lay before the House shortly certain amendments of the existing regulations based on the Committee's recommendations, which will have the effect of removing certain ambiguities. One of them will prescribe that drivers approaching controlled crossings will, when the signals are in their favour, normally have precedence over pedestrians. On uncontrolled crossings the pedestrian's right to free and uninterrupted passage will be maintained.

I have also, in accordance with a recommendation made by the Committee, asked the Road Research Laboratory to undertake experiments to determine whether a warning line on the carriageway on the approach side of an uncontrolled crossing is a useful practical measure to warn drivers to give way to pedestrians already on the crossing and to warn pedestrians that it may not be safe to cross if a vehicle has passed the line.

I am disposed to agree with most of the Committee's recommendations but I am not in favour of the suggestion endorsed by a majority of them that pedestrians should be encouraged to signal their intention to step on to a crossing.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that very full reply, might I ask him whether he has had reports from Leicester and other cities where experiments have been taking place, and whether they confirm the point of view expressed, particularly with regard to the last matter?

The experiments that are being conducted throughout the country are very carefully watched, but I should not like to discuss now the effect of any particular city's experiment.

While appreciating that the Minister is only going to make this suggestion for a warning line, might I ask him to take into account the considerable danger of having a fixed danger line, in view of the different speeds at which vehicles might be travelling?

Yes, I am very well aware of that. That is why I have asked for this to be examined.

The Minister says that vehicles approaching a controlled crossing would, when the lights were in their favour, normally have precedence. Would he indicate what qualification he means by the word "normally"? Why should not they have absolute precedence?

At this stage I would advise the hon. Member to study the report. There will be an opportunity of discussing it more fully and adequately when I lay the regulations before the House.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents were recorded in 1948 in which cyclists were involved; in how many of these were the cyclists children; whether he is aware of the voluntary cycling tests which have been instituted by the chief constable of Newport; and, in view of the large number of accidents and the steady increase in the number of cyclists on the road, if he will recommend all local authorities to adopt similar measures.

Eight hundred and twenty-seven pedal cyclists, including 148 children, were killed, and 37,035, including 7,514 children, injured in 1948 as a result of road accidents. The arrangements for the instruction and testing of child cyclists in Newport (Mon.) are in line with a scheme introduced, with my right hon. Friend's approval, by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. The scheme has been brought to the notice of local authorities and about 100 have adopted it.

asked the Minister of Transport what use he has so far made of his power under Section 63 (4) of the Transport Act, 1947, to direct the British Transport Commission to prepare and submit a scheme for road passenger transport in any area or areas specified by him.

None, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that the Chairman of the Road Executive, at a public inquiry in the past few weeks, indicated clearly that it was the intention that the British Transport Commission should take over all road passenger transport services in the country; that this statement has caused grave concern, especially to municipalities; and will he give an assurance that area schemes will not be formed merely with a view to providing revenue to set off against the losses on the railways?

That rather suggests to me that they are getting on with the job, and that it is not necessary for me to give definite instructions. The hon. Member is fully aware of the general directions given. These area schemes will have to be considered, if necessary, through special Parliamentary procedure

When can we expect the first area scheme to come into existence; and will my right hon. Friend consider giving directions to the Transport Commission to speed up the establishment of these passenger transport area schemes, as thereby road passenger undertakings might be acquired more cheaply than at the present time?

It would be much more expensive.

I do not agree that it necessarily follows that they would acquire road passenger undertakings at less expense than by agreement. It is well known, I think, that the Commission are now going into the question of a north-eastern area scheme; and, of course, others will follow.

Would the right hon. Gentleman like to give an assurance that the formation of any given area scheme will not be followed by an increase in the cost to the public?

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to an accident in Lewisham on 4th February, in which a tram left the rails and ran over the pavement, as a result of which five passengers were injured; and whether he can state the cause of this accident.

I am informed that this accident occurred at 2.57 a.m. A tram proceeding at 15 m.p.h. towards Lewisham ran over a large bolt which had fallen into the groove of the running rail and was derailed. The vehicle mounted the nearside pavement and collided with the boundary wall of a church garden.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of these accidents are due to the defective condition of tramway tracks; that recently a motor cyclist was killed on the Old Kent Road, and that the police evidence at the inquest was that there was a depression of several inches below the rail, and would the Minister take all steps to see that tramway tracks are maintained in a safer condition?

I am well aware of the condition of the tramway lines. A decision has been made to replace them with buses, but hon. Members are aware of the difficulty of getting buses. In this case, however, the accident was not due to a faulty or defective tramway.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is his intention to set up a transport users' committee for the London area; and, if so, when he expects to be in a position to announce its composition.

I am considering the setting up of a transport users' consultative committee for the London area, and I hope to be able to make a further announcement in the near future.

In view of the great dissatisfaction with transport in many parts of London, does not my right hon. Friend think it would be advantageous to have such a committee set up before he finally approves the scheme for London transport submitted by the Transport Commission?

I do not think a consultative committee would affect the decision in regard to the expansion programme of the railway plan for London.

Will there be any ordinary people on the committee?

As a matter of fact, all the people on these committees are ordinary people.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is taking to switch supplies of steel, involved in making goods for Russia, to products which can be sold in the Canadian market in return for produce which can be obtained there at a lower price.

None, Sir. Such goods are exported to Russia in payment for necessary supplies imported from that country. I can assure the House that steel is allocated to firms with every regard to the exceptional importance of the Canadian market.

In view of the wide disparity between what we buy from Canada and what we sell to Canada, is it not an urgent necessity to try and divert some of the steel involved to the Canadian market?

I doubt whether any manufactured products destined for the Canadian market are held up through a lack of steel.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) whether, in view of the sale of the Rolls-Royce "Nene" jet engine to the U.S.S.R., he will now give an undertaking that the De Havilland "Goblin" turbo-jet engine will not be sold or presented to that country;

(2) whether, in view of the sale of the Rolls-Royce "Derwent V" jet aero-engine to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, he will give an undertaking that the Rolls-Royce "Avon" and "Tay" jet engines, the De Havilland "Goblin II" and the "Goblin IV" and "Ghost," the two latter now under development, will, in no circumstances, be sold to Russia or any satellite country.

There is no intention of selling any of the engines mentioned, or any other type of jet aero-engine, to Russia or to any other country in Eastern Europe.

In view of that reply, will the right hon. Gentleman say why these engines were sold, since apparently he now takes the view that it was an unfortunate thing to do?

I think that that is the hon. Gentleman's next Question.

asked the Minister of Supply what types of jet engine were included among the 55 sold to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1947; what were the numbers of each; and why the licences permitting such sales were issued by him.

Twenty-five Rolls-Royce "Nene I" and 30 "Derwent V" engines were sold to Russia. In answer to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on 6th December last.

Did the Minister consult the Dominions before the sale, or was he in too great a hurry to facilitate Russian rearmament?

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the high prices charged for caravans by the firms to which the whole of the limited quantity of timber available is now allocated by his Department, he will make a proportion of this material available to individuals desirous of building their own caravans where urgent need for accommodation can be shown.

No, Sir. It would not be appropriate to divert such scarce raw materials from the manufacturers.

In view of the fact that all the available materials for making caravans go to a few firms and that the prices are very high, will not my right hon. Friend reconsider this decision, specially in regard to timber for those making caravans to be their homes?

I doubt whether that would be practicable. One of the advantages is that we see that a certain proportion of the caravans are exported.

asked the Minister of Supply if he can arrange for the indispensable parts of imported tractors to be made available in this country, as their absence is holding up spring ploughing in Kent.

I am unaware of any such shortage. If the hon. Member will give me particulars of any case of difficulty in obtaining supplies, I will look into it.

Will the Minister take the trouble to inquire of the National Farmers' Union of Kent where he will get plenty of particulars?

I have made inquiries of the Ministry of Agriculture and they have had no representations about a shortage in the Kent area.

asked the Minister of Supply, in view of the fact that the specification and design details of the Medresco hearing aid may be used by any manufacturer free of charge, how he ensures that any instruments sold abroad include in their purchase price a proportionate amount of the British development costs so as to earn a proper amount of foreign exchange from British inventive ability.

Since, in accordance with the traditional practice in matters of medical research, no attempt was made to retain proprietary rights for the Government in the specification and design of the Medresco hearing aid, it would not be appropriate to impose any such charge on manufacture for export.

Does the Minister realise that this represents a not inconsiderable loss of foreign exchange which we can ill-afford at the present time?

No, Sir. On the contrary, we hope this will enable a very large number of these foreign aids to be exported at a reasonable price, thereby increasing our exports.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that great difficulty is being experienced in obtaining batteries for deaf aids; and how batteries may be obtained for aids which were bought prior to the introduction of those which are now provided under the National Health Service.

No, Sir. My information is that there is no general shortage. The batteries referred to in the second part of the Question can be purchased, either from the manufacturer of the hearing aid or from retailers.

If I send to the Minister various people who cannot obtain these batteries, will he see that they get them?

I shall be happy to have any information. I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Supply what attempts his Department makes, in disposing of Government surplus stores, to offer the stores to other Government Departments, or for purchase by nationalised industries, prior to disposal under contract to wholesale factors and retail distributors.

The great bulk of surplus stores are now sold by public auction. Certain classes of these stores are held back, where necessary, to meet the requirements of other Government Departments. I do not think it practicable to extend this arrangement generally to nationalised industries, but specific requests for particular stores are always met as far as possible.

Have cases been brought to the notice of the Minister where the National Coal Board have bought stores at excessive prices from dealers which they could have obtained from his Department? Will he look into this with a view to seeing that, in the national interest, wherever possible, stores are obtained direct through his Department?

The nationalised industries are aware that if they need any stores we are likely to hold in surplus, they can approach us and we shall do our best to meet them. I am not aware of the particular case mentioned by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will have the pictures exhibited in the Palace of Westminster cleaned; and whether he will light the best of them.

Many pictures have been cleaned in recent years, and others needing attention will receive it in due course. The existing lighting system is loaded up to capacity, and in the circumstances I regret that I cannot provide special lighting. I will review the matter when the new sub-station is in operation.

Is the Minister aware that all the pictures in your dining room, Mr. Speaker, are lit, and that there are two or three pictures in our dining rooms that are of considerable interest? Surely, it is possible to light them?

Will the Minister also consider putting curtains over some of the other pictures?

asked the Minister of Works what is the reason for the loss of £882,000 expected from the sale of concrete sleepers during 1948–49.

There was no loss on the sale of concrete sleepers during 1948–49. Production fell short of the number on which the estimate was based so that both expenditure and receipts were less than anticipated.

As this figure is shown in the Supplementary Estimates, surely the Minister can explain why the loss is so great, and why production is continuing on a sleeper the railways do not want?

There is no loss; it is due to a fall in production. The hon. Member will see that there is also a sum of £610,000 in the Estimates as being less than the amount anticipated to meet the cost of production. The rate of production has now been increased and output is up to expectations.

asked the Minister of Works upon what grounds the application for a building licence, submitted on 2nd July, 1948, on behalf of Messrs. A. O. Spurrier, of North Street, Chichester, was refused by his Department, as stated in their letter of 5th November, 1948, under reference 0/12/33517/M.M./P.R.F.

In cases of this nature my Department consults the Government Department concerned. Messrs. Spurrier's application was refused because the Ministry of Food were unable to support it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the cause of this application was traffic congestion, and can he indicate the reason why the Ministry of Food have to decide on a question of traffic congestion?

The hon. Member already has that information in a letter sent to him by the Minister of Food.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a most unsatisfactory state of affairs, and are the decisions of his Department being taken by the Ministry of Food?

The decisions of the Ministry of Food are being taken by my Department. [Laughter.] The laughter will be on the other side presently. In other words, applications for building licences are submitted first to the appropriate Department so that they may say whether or not they approve of the application. It is not until then that we give consideration to the granting of a licence.

If in this case matters of traffic and not of food, are concerned, would not the appropriate Government Department be the Ministry of Transport?

As a matter of fact this was not a question of traffic in the ordinary sense, but a question of approach to the premises in question, and in the letter to which I have referred a suggestion is made by the Ministry of Food on how to deal with it.

In view of the exceedingly unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has advised the U.S. authorities of the difficulties of accommodation in this country for the wives of U.S. Service men now serving in this country; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir. Discussions have been and will continue to be held as necessary with the American authorities with a view to assisting the latter to find accommodation for the wives of United States Service men stationed in this country whilst interfering as little as possible with the normal housing requirements in the areas concerned.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there is some cause of friction here? Is he aware that people in my constituency look upon some of these Americans who are coming over with a lot of money and paying for accommodation as rather undesirable competition? Will he draw this fact to the attention of the American authorities?

I am sure that that point will be held in mind. As I understand the arrangements, there are certain preliminaries to be observed by the United States before agreement is reached about wives travelling here.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, despite the fact that continued occupation of and interference in the internal democratic affairs of Austria is not due to any desire of His Majesty's Government, the British authorities in Vienna persist in prohibiting the operation of independent political parties, in particular the Demokratische Union; and whether he will give instructions that our authorities will henceforth support the termination of such prohibitions as being matters within the jurisdiction of the Austrian Government.

As my hon. Friend has, I think, already been informed, the general question which he raises is under consideration. In the meanwhile the attitude of the British authorities in Vienna has the full approval of my right hon. Friend.