asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the nature of the re-organisation of the factory of Tullos, Ltd., in Aberdeen, which is expected to be of a temporary nature but has caused the dismissal of over 100 workers there; when will this re-organisation be completed; and the workers be reinstated.

I regret that I am unable at the present time to add to the reply given by the Joint Under-Secretary of State to the hon. and learned Member's Question of 31st January.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the demand by Scottish forest workers for an increase in wages, similar to that which has recently been granted to English forest workers; and what action he is taking in the matter.

Scottish forestry workers have, within the past few days, raised this matter with the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board whose function it is to fix minimum rates of wages for these workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the request of the St. Monance Town Council, as set out in their letter of 4th February, for permission to allocate four new houses to persons prepared to build for their own occupation; and what action he is taking in the matter.

Yes. In the special circumstances, if applications for licences are submitted in the usual way I will consider them sympathetically.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state what his decision is regarding the application from the Town Council of Stornoway to the Department of Health to be allowed to proceed with the construction of another 34 traditional houses while the contractor and plant and skilled building trade labour employed on the present building programme work are still in the islands, for work in which, experience has shown, it is not possible to secure these services now.

I recently allocated 40 Swedish timber houses to the town council and will shortly authorise the county council to start 20 traditional houses already contracted for. These houses, all of which are to be built in Stornoway, should fully engage the available labour force for some time. The question of appproving additional houses will be considered in the light of the progress made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is intended to place any of the Swedish timber houses allocated to the Island of Barra at the north end of the island; if not, why not; and to what extent the Department of Health is involved in the distribution planning for the island.

Except for 150 houses required for industrial workers in places nominated by the Government Departments concerned, the distribution of Swedish timber houses within the county was left to the county council themselves, and they decided to build 40 at Castlebay.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what stage has been reached in the negotiations involving the Scottish Department of Agriculture for the acquisiton of a farm in the Isle of Lewis for the purpose of improving the Island's milk supplies and the reclamation of land for agricultural use.

Proceedings have been initiated for the compulsory acquisition of the farm of Tong, Stornoway, to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when work is to begin on Lochmaddy pier, in North Uist island; what is the estimated total cost; and what amount is to be borne from the funds of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland.

The estimated total cost of work on Lochmaddy pier is £20,000 towards which an offer of a grant of £15,000 has been made to the Inverness-shire County Council. I hope that work may commence this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of a demand in the Isle of Lewis that suitable accommodation should be provided in the island for the treatment of mental patients belonging to the islands, instead of at Inverness, where relatives are unable to visit them because of the time, difficulties and expense involved in travelling by sea and rail, and where accommodation is inadequate.

Yes. I understand that the regional hospital board are to consider this matter within the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give any indication as to the position with regard to spare parts for tanks borne on the strength of units.

There is at present a shortage of some ranges of spare parts for British tanks. My Department is in close and continuous touch with the Ministry of Supply with a view to removing the shortage as early as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider instituting a series of refresher courses for staff officers who served in the war and are now in civilian occupations.

The possibility of providing staff training for officers of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers was carefully considered quite recently. I do not, however, think that it is necessary at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War the price of a comparable meal obtainable in a N.A.A.F.I. and in a civilian works canteen.

Prices of meals in civilian works canteens are in many cases subsidised by the firm, so that no real comparison can be made with N.A.A.F.I. prices. I give below a list of prices in N.A.A.F.I. canteens and in typical civilian works canteens.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Imperial War Graves Commission is looking after the graves of British civilians who died at the Stanley Internment Camp. Hong Kong.

The Commission's powers in relation to civilian war dead are confined, under their Supplemental Charter of 7th February, 1941, to the compilation of records. The question of the future maintenance of the graves of civilian internees in this cemetery is under consideration by the Hong Kong Government. The Commission are responsible for the maintenance of a large number of war graves of members of the Fighting Forces buried in the cemetery, and they will be consulted on the possibility of a joint scheme of maintenance of the cemetery as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to frequent complaints about the condition of graves in Gradara British Cemetery, Italy; and whether, as promised, the headstone beams have now been laid, a start made on the erection of headstones and grassing and headstone borders completed.

In 1947 it was found necessary to relay the drainage and readjust the levels of the terraces on which this cemetery is sited. In order that the sloping banks from these terraces should become consolidated, they had to be left undisturbed for about a year; during this time some untidiness was unavoidable. The many technical difficulties arising from the site of this cemetery have now been overcome, and the construction of headstone beams should commence in May. The borders will be completed as soon as the beams are finished, but grassing and planting of roses must wait until October. The final construction of the cemetery and the erection of headstones should begin in September. There are over 1,100 graves in the cemetery. The Commission have received complaints from only one person, to whom a full explanation has been sent.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory messing arrangements made for the men of "F" Troop, Royal Signals, attached to the 41st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, Middle East Land Forces; and what he proposes to do in order to arrest the discontent caused by the poor standard of the food and the unsatisfactory condition of meals served at this camp.

In view the suggestions contained in the Question, I have called for a report on the messing arrangements in this unit. When it has been received I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many foreign workers at the War Office, Long Marston depot, are to be transferred to other work; how many will be retained in employment; and how many British workers will be made redundant.

The number of foreign workers who are transferred will depend on how many British workers accept employment with the War Department at Long Marston. Men employed by a Ministry of Supply contractor who are surplus have been offered employment at normal War Department rates and conditions but so far none have accepted.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will place a map of the Bracknell area in the Library showing on it the various sites suggested and considered for the new town.

Yes.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, in view of the fact that the cost would be non-recurring, he can see his way to applying the pension provisions of the insurance scheme to married women not gainfully employed, whose husbands by reason of age are not eligible for insurance and who consequently can never themselves qualify for a pension.

I regret that, for the reasons explained when the point was raised in the course of the Debate on the Married Women Regulations on 23rd June last year, my right hon. Friend cannot see any way to make special provision for this class.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if, in view of the considerable increase in electricity charges in many parts of the country this winter, he will direct the Assistance Board and its officers to take account of this added burden on old age pensioners and make extra supplementary payments to meet this increase.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will draw the attention of the Assistance Board to the increased electricity charges in many parts of the country, particularly Glasgow, and advise the board and its officials to take account of these costs and make added allowances where necessary to those in receipt of assistance.

I have been in consultation with the Board, who inform me that they do not feel that any special additions to their allowances are called for by reason of these increases. They understand that in so far as the increases are seasonal they should not result in consumers as a whole paying more throughout the year. In other respects the increases affect only those who in the past have been getting their electricity at an exceptionally cheap rate not enjoyed by most people in receipt of assistance.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he has instructed the officials preparing plans for the Festival of Britain, to consider proposals put forward by the "Architectural Review," for a London pier on the south bank of the River Thames.

The Festival of Britain South Bank Exhibition will include probably two piers for the use of passengers by water, and there will be permanent restaurants and other facilities provided by the London County Council on the river front. I do not think we can envisage anything beyond this in present circumstances.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will ask the authorities planning the Festival of Britain to consider proposals for making Chiswick House and its grounds one of the centres of the festival in the Greater London area.

The Festival of Britain have had submitted to them proposals for using Chiswick House and its grounds in connection with the Festival, but I now understand from my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Works, that very extensive repair work is involved and there seems to be very little chance that it would be possible to complete it in time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of sterling and hard currencies, respectively, which has been released by this country to Egypt under the financial agreements concluded between this country and Egypt since VE-day.

The total amount of sterling released up to 31st January, 1949, since Egypt's balances were blocked in July, 1947, is £89.4 million. During the period from January, 1945, to 15th July, 1947, when the hard currency target agreement applied, Egypt's gross hard currency expenditure (including her own earnings) was about £31 million. Since the latter date we have made available to Egypt a total of approximately £8.65 million in hard currencies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that the new import restrictions imposed by the Argentine Government are in accord with the Andes Pact; and what representations have been made to the Argentine Government on this question.

The provisions of the Andes Agreement affecting shipments refer to 1948 only and are no longer operative. No representations in this connection have as yet been made to the Argentine Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will institute an inquiry into the growing tendency towards black market transactions, on account of the incidence of and uncertainty concerning Purchase Tax in the future.

Measures to counter tax evasion receive constant attention. I am not aware of any need for a special inquiry in the case of Purchase Tax, nor do I think it would be serviceable.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury if he will give the total receipts of Purchase Tax during the present financial year to the nearest convenient date and for the corresponding period of the previous year, on each of the articles subject to Purchase Tax which enter into the official calculations of the cost of living index.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the Trading Accounts and Balance Sheets, 1947–48, which for the previous year were published on 20th January, 1948.

Although the Trading Accounts for 1946–47 were presented to Parliament on 20th January, 1948, they were not published until May, 1948. The Trading Accounts for 1947–48 were presented on 18th January, 1949, but they will probably not be ready for publication before April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that measures of exchange control designed to safeguard the resources of the sterling area are exercised equally by all members of the sterling area, and those other countries who have claims on the sterling area, and that allocations from the resources of the sterling area are based on the need of the country concerned to purchase essential commodities.

I have nothing to add to the reply which my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary gave to the hon. and gallant Member on 8th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum has been issued out of the Consolidated Fund as advances to the Overseas Food Corporation; and what outside borrowings of the Corporation have been guaranteed by the Treasury.

The answer to the first part of the Question is £20,700,000. The answer to the second part is "None."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is being done in the interests of holders of Young Loan, German Interest Enfaced 4½ per cent. Sterling Bonds, 1930, on which no interest has been paid since June, 1939; and whether this debt will be cleared out of German assets in this country.

I am keeping the interests of these holders in mind, but see no immediate possibility of Germany beginning to discharge her obligation. As regards the second part of the Question, this suggestion is being considered but I cannot yet make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set out the current allowances granted to officers of the Regular and Territorial Army from Income Tax in respect of the upkeep of their uniform; and show how they compare with similar allowances in 1938.

The Income Tax allowances in 1938 for the cost of upkeep of uniform were £30 for field officers and £25 for other officers in the Regular Army. These allowances are still in force. Officers in the Territorial Army were given an allowance of £7 10s. a year in 1938; as regards the present position, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the Question which he asked on 7th December, 1948.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the names and yearly fees of the British directors of the Suez Canal Company; and what is the average number of meetings held in each year for the last five years.

The present British Government directors are the Earl of Cromer, Sir Ronald Fraser and Sir Francis Wylie. The British commercial directors are Sir Alan Anderson, Major Bibby, Sir Alan Currie, Lord Hankey, Sir Hubert Heath-Evans, Sir Harrison Hughes and Lord Rotherwick. I do not think it is for me to give information on the fees paid to the directors, beyond stating that these vary from year to year, being based, according to the Statutes of the Company, on a 2 per cent. share of the net profits.As regards the second part of the Question special war-time arrangements applied until 1946. The average yearly number of meetings since 1946 of the Committee of Management is 33. The Board of Directors normally meets once a month in accordance with the Statutes, and there is also one meeting of shareholders every year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the product of each penny in the standard rate of Income Tax.

£12 million on the basis of the Budget estimate for the current year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in preparing his Budget, he will consider exempting proportionately from Income Tax those members of His Majesty's Forces who are absent from England for more than three months.

I cannot anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the reason for the differential treatment accorded to General Post Office employees now eligible for establishment, whereby in the case of men who come under the scheme agreed with the committee of the Civil Service National Whitley Council on the establishment of unestablished classes the candidate must have been born on or after 25th June, 1882, whilst under the scheme of establishment of Government industrial employees the date is 16th January, 1884; and if he will take steps to remove this anomaly.

The general policy governing the age limits for establishment in the Civil Service derives from an Order-in-Council of 10th January, 1910, under which, apart from very exceptional individual cases, established civil servants must retire on reaching the age of 65, though they may continue to be employed in an unestablished capacity. It follows from this that establishment after the age of 65 is normally impossible.The Civil Service National Whitley Council agreement covering the Post Office staff referred to was signed in June, 1947, and, as for some of the grades concerned some of the necessary preparatory work had already been done and as the process of establishment was expected to be a quick one, it was decided that for those grades officers under 65 at the date of the agreement should be eligible: hence for them the governing date of 25th June, 1882.In fact, the quick completion of the arrangements involved in this decision proved impracticable and in reaching the January, 1948, agreement on the establishment of industrial employees, involving the selection and certification of nearly 100,000 staff, it was decided that more margin of time must be allowed: hence the governing date of the 16th January, 1884. These latter arrangements are consistent with general policy and were agreed with the appropriate staff representatives. In the circumstances I propose to take no steps to alter them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will be in a position to announce a further general revocation of industrial controls.

My right hon. Friend hopes to announce some further relaxations of control in the course of next month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a statement on the growth of Japanese competition and the steps being taken to meet it.

We are fully aware of the seriousness of Japanese competition as a long-term problem, and, as my right hon. Friend has stated in answer to recent questions on this subject, the whole matter is at present being examined and consultation with industries has begun. The threat is potential rather than actual, since overall Japanese production is still only about half pre-war and exports are only just over a quarter. We shall take every possible step, by representations to the Occupation Authorities and otherwise, to prevent a recurrence of the sort of unfair practice familiar before the war, and wherever possible we shall support measures to raise the standard of living of the Japanese workers and thus avoid low price competition based on cheap labour.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the mining timber of all classes needed to achieve the coal output envisaged in Command Paper No. 7572 on European Co-operation, Chapter 3, is to be found from home-grown supplies.

We are anxious that home woodlands shall provide as high a proportion of our mining timber requirements as good forestry will allow: by 1952–53 this should have settled down to between 10 and 15 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the overwhelming number of anomalies that exist at the present time in the clothes rationing scheme, he will further examine the position before 1st March and make the necessary adjustment, in view of the confusion which exists in the public mind at the present time.

We believe that the policy of de-rationing blocks of goods as supplies come into balance with demand is one which is generally welcomed. I do not think that the public mind is confused by the few borderline differences of treatment which inevitably arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what report was made as to continuance or abolition of clothes rationing by the Committees set up to consider and advise him thereon.

No unanimous recommendation has been made by the Advisory Committees either for or against the abolition of rationing, but before reaching the decisions announced recently my right hon. Friend had the benefit of hearing a statement of individual view from each of the members of the Committees. There were various shades of opinion; many members were in favour of an early end to clothes rationing, but others, including some manufacturers in very close touch with the forward cloth supplies position, thought differently.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state in convenient salary groups the number of cuts in staff in his Department as the result of reduced clothing rationing.

There has for some time been a gradual reduction in the volume of work on clothes rationing. The number of staff engaged solely on that work in the Board of Trade was reduced from 1,297 on 1st November last to 1,152 on 1st February. Part of this reduction was in anticipation of the relaxations in clothes rationing announced on 31st January. A further cut now being made will bring the total reduction since 1st November to 186. It is expected that further reductions amounting to about 100 staff will be possible during the next two or three months. The following table gives particulars of the grades concerned distinguished by scales of pay.

Numbers				Scales of Pay
2	…	…	…	£950–£1,250 a year
1	…	…	…	£850–£1,000 a year
4	…	…	…	£675–£800 a year
2	…	…	…	£400–£720 a year
7	…	…	…	£390–£700 a year
22	…	…	…	£230–£650 a year
2	…	…	…	£150–£450 a year
146	…	…	…	Weekly rates up to 126s. a week.
186

These figures exclude staff employed partly on clothes rationing and partly on other work.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the full value and extent of the subsidies available under the provisions of the Cotton Machinery Subsidies Act; the actual value of orders so placed; the nature of the difficulties preventing the full operation of the Act; and if he will now convene a meeting of the Master Spinners' Federation to consider the expediting of placing orders prior to the expiry of the subsidy period.

During the passage of the Cotton Spinning (Re-equipment Subsidy) Act through Parliament it was explained that a precise estimate of the resulting charge on public funds could not be made, but it was unlikely to exceed £12 million. It is not possible to state the actual value of orders which will eventually qualify for subsidy until claims have been lodged and approved. Sixteen groups controlling 50 per cent. of the spindle capacity of the industry have been registered for the purposes of the Act, but progress in submitting modernisation plans is not as rapid as we should like, although the time taken to prepare these plans is often considerable. There has been continuous contact with the industry on the progress of the scheme and arrangements have already been made with the Cotton Board for a special reminder to firms on the need to place orders within the period specified by the Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the particular qualifications of Mr. F. L. Haxell which caused him to select him as a member of the working party on the film industry.

Mr. F. L. Haxell is Assistant General Secretary of the Electrical Trades Union and was nominated by that union as one of the four representatives of studio employees.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking in order to facilitate the sale of tractors to France, and thus help the British tractor industry to maintain full production.

The Government are facilitating French purchases of essential goods and materials from the United Kingdom and other countries in the sterling area by contributing £50 million for France to draw under the Intra-European Payments Scheme. France has accordingly been able to provide in her import programme for substantial imports of our tractors, and we should not feel justified in suggesting to the French Government that they should curtail other needed imports to make room for more.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many ball point pens of United States manufacture have been imported into this country during the last six months; and the circumstances under which import licences were granted.

Ball point pens are not separately distinguished in the trade returns. Licences to import 5,838 ball point pens from the United States have been issued since 1st August, 1948, no payment being involved. During the same period licences have been issued to import fountain pens under the token import scheme to the value of £437 covering approximately 1,650 pens. It is not possible to say how many ball point pens have actually been imported under these licences.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances an import licence was recently granted to an American citizen to bring into this country 5,000 ball point pens free of duty.

No licence for the import of pens free of duty has been issued. An import licence was granted last December for 5,000 American ball pointed pens for distribution as free gifts, it being a condition of the licence that the pens would not be sold or distributed as advertisements for this particular pen. Customs duty on 4,000 pens imported under this licence has been paid.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the high price of men's suiting, even of utility ranges; and what steps he is taking to reduce these prices which are causing hardship.

I am well aware that the current price of men's suitings, as indeed of all wool cloths, is high. This is mainly the result of the current high price of raw wool. The increase in the price of raw wool has been more marked in the case of the types of wool used in the manufacture of worsted cloths than of those used in woollen cloths, and the price of worsted cloths has consequently risen more than the price of woollen cloths. I am afraid that I can hold out no hope of any reductions in price until world prices of raw materials come down.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that large quantities of home-produced straw, which has been used since 1940 in paper manufacture, is being ousted from the home market by imported esparto grass, and other materials; and whether he will take steps to ensure that all available home supplies are fully used and foreign exchange saved by the prohibition of imports if necessary.

Esparto grass which is imported from soft currency sources is more suitable for the production of certain papers and in those circumstances we are not prepared to curtail the supplies as suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what negotiations are in progress between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the Province of British Columbia for the purchase of timber from the forest areas of that province; and if in the near future timber supplies from this part of the Dominion of Canada can be expected.

No negotiations are in progress between His Majesty's Government

UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS, JULY—DECEMBER, 1948 OF CHINA AND EARTHENWARE
Country			China*		Domestic Earthenware
			cwts.	£	cwts.	£
Eire	…	…	48	2,519	35	648
Channel Islands	…	…	41	1,732	29	1,081
Union of South Africa	…	…	16	885	5	158
Canada	…	…	31	1,522	1	50
Denmark	…	…	31	2,298	44	1,552
Poland	…	…	2,747	25,101	1	6
Germany	…	…	2,439	30,869	1	37
Netherlands	…	…	99	1,102	447	6,638
Belgium	…	…	4	121	158	1,244
France	…	…	325	4,224	1,471	18,146
Czecho-Slovakia	…	…	9,043	104,008	1,656	19,252
Yugo-Slavia	…	…	51	1,163	147	2,655
United States of America	…	…	45	2,162	7	151
Hungary	…	…	567	4,897	1,823	13,405
Japan	…	…	2	88	0	14
All other Countries	…	…	81	2,929	52	1,484
TOTAL	…	…	15,570	185,620	5,877	66,521
* China, including translucent pottery and all pottery known as china or porcelain. but excluding electrical ware and porcelain for laboratory use and for industrial purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the extended delay likely to be experienced at Rhondda factories before the necessary electrical power installation is effected; and if he is taking steps to expedite the work.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of decorated and other pottery are being imported into this country at the present time from Germany and Japan or other countries.

I presume that my hon. Friend's interest is in domestic potteryware and I therefore give below a statement of such imports. I regret that imports of decorated pottery are not separately recorded in the trade returns; they are estimated as about 1 per cent. of total imports.

Electrical power installation in all allocated factories will be completed shortly. The work necessary to complete the installations in those as yet unallocated will depend on tenants' requirements, but every effort will be made to expedite the work when these are known.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of the pre-war trade in imported softwood needed to have been done by a timber firm in order to make the firm eligible for a licence to import timber.

Practically all softwood is imported by Timber Control on Government account, and there is therefore no question of eligibility of firms for import licences.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that restrictions on the import of upper leather from France are likely to lead to short employment in the boot and shoe industry in Kettering; and when the hon. Member for Kettering may expect a reply to his letter of 28th December, 1948, to the Parliamentary Secretary on this matter.

A reply has now been sent to my hon. Friend and I would apologise for the delay. It explains why it is not practicable to allow unrestricted imports of leather from France for purely domestic use but points out that there is no restriction, within reasonable limits, on imports for use in the export trade in footwear. It is hoped that increased supplies of upper leather of a suitable quality will be available in 1949.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent current trade agreements, entered into with the French Government, provide for the importation of French slates; and what is the annual tonnage limit for such imports.

The French authorities have offered 6,000 tons of roofing slates for 1949 and have been informed that the import of this quantity will be permitted if import licences applications are received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the tonnage of French, Italian and Portuguese roofing slates, respectively, that have been imported through South Coast ports during the past three years or nearest convenient accounting period under trade agreements or otherwise.

I regret that imports of roofing slates through South Coast ports are not recorded separately in the trade returns. I circulate below figures giving the total imports into the United Kingdom from France, Italy and Portugal during the past three years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the tonnage of Welsh slate exported or authorised for export to Eire and Bermuda respectively during the past three months; and what limitations as to size or otherwise were imposed in respect of any such exports.

I regret that the information required is not readily available, but I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of bankruptcies reported in South Wales during the years 1933, 1937, 1947 and 1948 respectively.

In the years 1933, 1937, 1947 and 1948 the numbers of bankruptcies in South Wales were 203, 115, 13 and 43 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage in the north-west of England of white pearl glass shades with four-inch base diameters for ordinary household oil lamps; and whether he will give an assurance that his Department is not discouraging either their manufacture or import.

I am not aware of any shortage of these shades. There are no restrictions on their manufacture and our lighting glassware industry has capacity to spare for making them. Substantial imports of lighting glassware are being licensed. If the hon. Member will let me know where in the north-west area they are short, I will bring this information to the attention of the industry so that supplies may be sent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has fixed the price of potato bags at 2s. 10d. new and 2s. 5d. once used, when growers and merchants can obtain them at lower prices.

The Board of Trade do not control the prices of new potato bags. Prices of used bags are agreed with

—				Registered disabled persons			Registered disabled persons recorded as unemployed 17.1.49
				Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
Ferndale	…	…	…	1,196	21	1,217	472	10	482
Perth	…	…	…	1,326	28	1,354	412	4	416
Tonypandy	…	…	…	2,090	29	2,119	717	7	724
Treorchy	…	…	…	1,293	75	1,368	379	19	398

asked the Minister of Labour the number of seriously disabled persons placed upon the special register of disabled persons; at whose discretion were they selected at each of the Ferndale, Porth, Tonypandy and Treorchy exchanges; and if this list is exhaustive.

At Ferndale 53; Porth 76; Tonypandy 66; Treorchy 28. The local Disablement Resettlement Officer makes the classification after consultation with the District Disablement Resettlement Officer. The list is exhaustive subject to the addition of new cases and of cases in which the condition of the individual alters.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he is taking to secure the re-employment of 300 workers declared redundant at short notice by Messrs. Daimler Limited, Coventry.

It is a normal function of the employment exchange service

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons, male and females separately, on the disabled persons' register and the number of such persons registered as unemployed at the latest available date, at each of the Ferndale, Porth, Tonypandy and Treorchy exchanges.

The following is the answer:to assist redundant workers to obtain employment suited to their experience and qualifications. In this case those who have registered are in process of being submitted for other employment.

asked the Minister of Labour how many electrical inspectors of factories in Wales are Welsh speaking.

The electrical inspectors form a small branch of specialists which advises and assists the general inspectorate in electrical matters, whether arising in Wales or elsewhere. No member of the branch speaks Welsh.

asked the Minister of Labour which towns in Lancashire have held cotton production weeks; what results were achieved; and how many other towns are planning such production drives.

Town campaigns to stimulate recruitment and production in the cotton industry have been held in Nelson, Darwen and Heywood, and one is now running at Stockport. Campaigns are being planned for Blackburn and Oldham. These campaigns have achieved noteworthy results, both in the stimulation of recruitment for the industry and in production, and I give below details of the results.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish a list of wage increases granted during 1948 in defiance of the agreement to limit wages; the numbers of work-people affected; and the approximate financial effects of those increases.

No. This is not practicable, but I am satisfied that the principles of the White Paper on Personal Incomes, Costs and Prices have in general been observed by employers and workers in the course of wage negotiations.

asked the Minister of Labour what increases in wages have taken place since he make his appeal for their limitation; how many people have benefited; and approximately how much per annum extra it is estimated has been paid out.

As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member on 20th January information on this subject appears monthly in the Ministry of Labour Gazette, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers unemployed, and the percentage of the total employed population represented by the figures given, in Bristol, Coventry, Exeter, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Norwich, Kingston-upon-Hull, Manchester, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Southampton, South Shields and Swansea respectively at the latest available date.

The following table gives the information desired:

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN THE UNDERMENTIONED TOWNS AT 1OTH JANUARY, 1949.
—	Number of unemployed persons on registers at 10th January	Number unemployed expressed as percentage of the number of insurance cards issued to employees at the employment exchanges in question*
Bristol	3,920	1·2
Coventry	1,377	1·0
Exeter	609	1·2
Great Yarmouth	1,493	6·1
Lowestoft	1,350	7·9
Norwich	1,131	1·4
Kingston-upon-Hull	4,966	3·7
Manchester	6,337	1·3
Plymouth	2,821	3·6
Portsmouth	4,342	4·3
Sheffield	1,800	0·7
Southampton	1,858	2·1
South Shields	2,295	6·5
Swansea	2,978	5·1
* Unemployment figures relate primarily to the areas in which the unemployed persons reside. Insurance cards issued to employees relate more closely to the areas in which persons work than to those in which they reside. The percentage figures for different areas are not therefore strictly comparable.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men, women and young persons are registered as unemployed at the Portmadoc, Caernarvonshire, office of his Department.

One hundred and sixty-three men, 49 women and 12 young persons at 10th January.

asked the Minister of Labour how many bricklayers are unemployed in Scotland; and what steps are being taken to provide them with work.

Four hundred and twenty-five on 10th January. Anticipated vacancies will absorb practically all available bricklayers, though there will always be a number of men out of work for a few days between finishing one job and starting the next.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were trained in the vocational training centres of his Department during the years 1945, 1946, 1947 and 1948, respectively.

The numbers of men and women who have completed training in Government training centres under the vocational training scheme since its inception in July, 1945, are: 1945, 15; 1946, 16,389: 1947, 39,595; 1948, 8,813.

asked the Minister of Labour how many resettlement grants were made to ex-Service men for the years 1945, 1946, 1947 and 1948, respectively: and what was the total cost.

Following is the answer:

	No. of Grants Allowed
1945	3,131
1946	47,896
1947	11,094
1948	5,034
Total	67,155

About 48,000 of these grants involved the issue of free tool kits only at a cost of approximately £150,000. The total cost was about £2,148,000.

asked the Minister of Labour how many rehabilitation units have now been established by his Department; and how many persons are being rehabilitated in these units.

Twelve. The number of persons undergoing courses at 14th February was 758. In addition, at that date, there were 26 blind persons undergoing courses of industrial rehabilitation arranged for them by my Department at the Home of Recovery for the Blind conducted by the National Institute for the Blind at America Lodge, Torquay.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now issue an up-to-date edition of the Industrial Relations Handbook published in 1944.

A revised edition of the Industrial Relations Handbook is in preparation and will be published in due course.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of men and women who have received grants since 1945 to the latest date for which figures are available under the Further Education and Training Scheme, the Vocational Training Scheme and any other similar schemes administered by his Department, respectively; and the total sum of money involved.

During the period July, 1945, to December, 1948, the numbers of persons who received grants under schemes administered by the Ministry of Labour and National Service for the training of those who had undertaken "war service" were: Further Education and Training Scheme, 39,480; Business Training Scheme, 8,000; Vocational Training Scheme, 123,554; Interrupted Apprenticeship Scheme, 75,586. The total sum expended by way of grants for maintenance, fees and incidental expenses was approximately £23,800,000. This figure does not include the capital and running costs of Government Training Centres. The figures include Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of persons registered at the Bishop Auckland, Shildus, Barnard Castle, Middleton-in-Teesdale and Cockfield employment exchanges, respectively, who have been unemployed for over six months and for over 12 months; and what are the comparative figures for 1932 and 1938.

I am sending the information to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women were registered as unemployed on 31st January, 1949, in Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Aylsham, Acle, Loddon, North Walsham and Wroxham, respectively, distinguishing the principal industries affected.

I am sending the information to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women unemployed in Glasgow at 14th February or nearest convenient date; and what progress is being made in the joint examination of this problem by the Glasgow Corporation, the Scottish Office and the Ministry of Labour with a view to finding the suitable employment which would reduce the numbers signing at the employment exchanges.

At 12th February, 18,057 males and 4,371 females were registered as unemployed at employment exchanges in Glasgow. Arrangements are being made for the Glasgow Corporation to discuss the position with a specially appointed sub-committee of the Scottish Board for Industry.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that coal stocks are insufficient to meet the proposed winter allocation to householders in Stockton-on-Tees; and whether he will send additional coal to this area.

I am aware of this, but I would add that deliveries in the Stockton district this winter have been higher than those last winter. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mrs. Castle) on 17th February. The northern region has received a higher proportion of its allocation than the average for the country as a whole and receipts have recently increased. In the circumstances I should not be justified in diverting supplies to Stockton from other regions.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many inspectors of mines in Wales are Welsh speaking.

There are 24 inspectors of mines in Wales. Of these nine speak Welsh fluently and three have a working knowledge of Welsh.

asked the Minister of Health if he will, in view of the increased cost of building, increase the limit permitted to a local authority to loan under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act to enable a larger number of people to acquire their homes by this method.

This is under consideration in connection with the new Housing Bill.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the powers which have been added to and taken from county councils, county boroughs, municipal boroughs, Metropolitan boroughs and district councils, respectively, by legislation passed in the present Parliament.

The following is the statement desired.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the urgent necessity of facilitating interchange of scientific educational and cultural materials between nations by every means, it is His Majesty's Government's intention to give early ratification to the International Agreement for Circulation of Visual and Auditory Materials, drawn up by the recent Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation at Beirut.

His Majesty's Government have every sympathy with the aims of this Convention and the question whether its provisions can be accepted is receiving their careful consideration. It will, however, be necessary to examine its many implications before a definite decision can be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when negotiations with the Israeli Government with regard to the settlement of claims against them will commence.

Discussion of financial and economic questions requiring settlement as between His Majesty's Government and the Israeli Government will begin as soon as the United Kingdom Representative enters on his functions at Tel Aviv. It is hoped that this will be in the latter part of March. Meanwhile the necessary preparatory work is in active progress.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make a statement on the memorandum sent to His Excellency the Governor of Singapore by the Admiralty local staff union regarding pay and conditions of the civilian employees of the Admiralty in Singapore.

I have not received a copy of the memorandum. The salary scales of locally-entered non-industrial staff are at present under review.

asked the Minister of Transport why he amended S.R. & O., 1947, No. 2686 by S.I., 1949, No. 183; and whether there was any urgent need for this amendment.

The amendment enables the British Transport Commission in future to open one Redemption Fund Account for all stock issued in any one calendar year to satisfy rights to compensation under the Transport Act, 1947, in lieu of separate redemption fund accounts for every such issue made during the year. It was desirable to make the amendment before the next issue of stock.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the latest available statistics showing the number of separation orders made in magistrates' courts since 1945.

Following are the figures of maintenance orders and separation orders made in England and Wales for the years 1945, 1946 and 1947. Figures for 1948 are not yet available.

Year	Maintenance Orders	Separation Orders
1945	15,687	354
1946	25,400	738
1947	20,252	498

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the present provisions for African and non-African representation in the Tanganyika Legislative Council; and how the African members are selected.

There are four African, three Indian and seven European unofficial members, and 15 official members of the Tanganyika Legislative Council. The Governor, who is President of the Council selects as the African members persons who are representative of African interests and potential leaders of African political development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that the selection of the new Paramount Chief of the Ga people in the Gold Coast was made in conformity with native customary law.

This is a matter for the Governor. I have asked him for a report and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I receive it.

asked the Minister of Food if he has now revised the prices fixed for fish so as to encourage fishermen to dress fish ashore instead of at sea, thereby making available more offal for the manufacture of fish meal.

Yes; I reduced the maximum first-hand price of headless fish on 4th December last by 3d. per stone and so took away the financial incentive to head fish at sea.

asked the Attorney-General what supervision is kept by his Department over the conduct of justices of the peace, in order to ensure that it remains up to the standard appropriate to the effectual discharge of their judicial and other duties.

Responsibility for the appointment and, where necessary, the dismissal of justices of the peace rests entirely with the Lord Chancellor, except in the case of justices for the County Palatine of Lancaster, where responsibility rests with the Chancellor of the Duchy. These two Ministers have Advisory Committees throughout their respective areas, one of whose duties it is to call the attention of the Minister to any justice whose conduct is not satisfactory. The police also have instructions to inform the Lord Chancellor immediately a justice of the peace is convicted of any offence. On receipt of such information, the Minister concerned takes whatever action he considers to be appropriate.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he proposes to take in the immediate future to clear the land of Grove Farm, Wantage, Berkshire, of the huts now out of use and falling into disrepair, photographs and particulars of which have been sent to him, in order that the owner farming the land may bring back into cultivation the 40 acres that were requisitioned out of a total of 104 acres.

It is hoped to derequisition some four acres of land shortly. The rest of the land is still required for huts housing labour engaged at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell. As and when further land can be spared it will be derequisitioned.

asked the Attorney-General if he has considered the issue of "Review of World Affairs," an intelligence digest, for 3rd January, 1949, and the references contained therein to visits by detectives to Bishop Auckland in connection with alleged licensing irregularities in which a right hon. Member of this House was said to be involved; and if he will consider instituting proceedings for criminal libel against those responsible for this publication.

Scurrilous, offensive and untrue as certain of the statements contained in the issue of the "Review of World Affairs" to which my attention is directed are, they do not, in my view, justify proceedings for criminal libel.