asked the Postmaster-General what are the numbers of telephones installed in the Metropolitan area south of the Thames in 1947 and 1948; and what were the figures for 1938 and 1939.

Twenty-two thousand six hundred and forty-nine telephones were installed in 1947, and 17,641 in 1948 in the Metropolitan borough areas south of the Thames. Corresponding figures for 1938 and 1939 are 16,500 and 14,500.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) why letters posted in London in time to catch the general night mail are seldom delivered in the Central Manchester area by the first post on the following morning;(2) why letters posted in Manchester in time to catch the general night mail are seldom delivered in the Central London area by the first post on the following morning.

I understand this service to be working with satisfactory regularity in both directions, and correspondence posted for the advertised night mail collections is delivered by first post in both Central London and Central Manchester. I shall be obliged if the hon. Member will let me have any evidence he has to the contrary so that inquiry can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Air to make a statement on the scheme for training boy entrants as dental mechanics; and whether it includes instruction in the taking of impressions and the fitting of dentures in the mouth.

Because of the shortage of dental mechanics, the Air Force trade of dental mechanic has been added to the existing trades within the boy entrants scheme. The general features and conditions of the scheme are summarised in Air Ministry Pamphlet No. 54, of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend. In conformity with statutory requirements, these tradesmen will not undertake, and will not be instructed in, the fitting of dentures or taking of impressions in the mouth.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what proportion of airfield construction, including the building of administrative and airmen's quarters, is being done by the Air Ministry Works Department; and what proportion by the Ministry of Works.

All airfield construction, and with minor exceptions all building work required by the R.A.F. is carried out by the Air Ministry Works Department. The Ministry of Works is at present constructing for us a new rehabilitation centre, and doing certain minor services and maintenance at a few properties belonging to them which we are occupying.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Colonel Rhys Davies who is lecturing in the United States of America and is employed and paid by His Majesty's Government for that purpose, in a lecture delivered in Minnesota about the end of January, misrepresented the circumstances under which the election of 1945 was held, attacked the workers in general, and accused the Labour Party of shirking military service during the war in order to prepare for the election; and what steps he will take in relation to the further employment of this individual.

Colonel Rhys Davies is not employed or paid by His Majesty's Government. His lectures are under commercial sponsorship. The latter part of the Question therefore does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what grounds His Majesty's Government made the official announcement at Lake Success that this country had now reached almost complete economic recovery.

I have nothing to add to the reply given yesterday to a Question by the hon. Member for Lancaster (Mr. F. Maclean).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why £20,000 is being spent during 1949 on the provision of three theatrical shows for German civilians.

The amount to be expended in the financial year 1949–50 on cultural relations work in Germany, including the presentation of plays and ballet, has not yet been decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for what reasons German shipbuilders are able to contract to build seven motorships for Norwegian ship owners at a price much below the world level; and whether it is proposed to grant permission for this contract to be carried out.

I am informed that no such order has been placed; Military Government approval would be necessary and I understand that this has not even been sought. The remaining part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many persons are still awaiting trial in the British zone of Germany as alleged war criminals; and by what date it is expected that these trials will be completed.

Three cases of war crimes in the proper sense await trial in the British zone of Germany. In addition, 19 cases of crimes against humanity await the consideration of Control Commission courts and 2,160 cases in which Germans were maltreated by fellow-Germans await the consideration of German courts. I cannot give any date by which completion may be expected.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many persons sentenced to extradition or awaiting sentence in the British zone of Germany as alleged war criminals either committed suicide or attempted to do so in the year 1948.

Four suicides and one attempted suicide occurred in 1948 among persons held in the British zone of Germany whose extradition as alleged war criminals had been authorised; there were neither suicides nor attempted suicides among persons awaiting hearing of applications for their extradition.

asked the Minister of Food what is the retail price and the subsidy per pound of each kind of cheese sold on the ration.

The retail price of cheese sold on the ration is 10d. per pound. The average subsidy on imported cheese is about Is. 1½d. and on home produced cheese about 2s. 4¾d. per 1b.

asked the Minister of Food what is the estimated cost, in pence per pound of sugar produced, of the estimated payment of £4,500,000 to the British Sugar Corporation during the present financial year.

The estimated payment of £4,500,000 to the British Sugar Corporation represented 0.84d. per pound of sugar produced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many United States dollars have been released to enable the Kingston City Council of Jamaica to buy United States coal; and what is the difference in freightage per ton between coal brought from the U.S.A. and coal brought from England.

The import licence issued by Jamaica for this coal represents a release of approximately 60,000 dollars. I understand that the difference in freight from the two sources varies between 15s. and 30s. per ton, depending upon the quantity and method of shipment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the composition of the Education Board in Sierra Leone, and, in particular, how many representatives from the protectorate are included.

I understand that the composition of the Board is under revision and am asking the Governor for the latest information. I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many native administrations in Sierra Leone levy a cess especially for education; and whether they are given every encouragement to do so by the Government of Sierra Leone.

I have asked the Governor for detailed information and will communicate with my hon. Friend when I have received it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will have a copy of the report of the Visiting Mission to the Trust Territory of Tanganyika under British Administration, placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

Yes. I have already done so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many approved schools exist in Nigeria; how many boys and girls, respectively, are in those schools; and to what extent is accommodation adequate.

There are two approved schools in Nigeria, both for boys. Their present strength totals 240. With the extension of delinquency services-further accommodation will be required and steps are already being taken to double the capacity at one of the schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress was made in Abeokuta, Nigeria, in reforming local authority and administration; and along what lines this is proceeding.

When the Alake left the Province, the Egba Central Council was appointed as the native authority for the time being. With the restoration of law and order the main preoccupation of the Council has been the examination of the budgetary position in the light of the abolition of the flat-rate tax on women. The Council appears to command the support of the majority of the people, but the form which the native authority will eventually take remains to be decided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to state the decline in cases of corporal punishment inflicted in Nigerian prisons during the past 10 years; and what effect this has had on discipline.

The number of such cases in 1947 was about one-third less than in 1938. There is no evidence to show that the reduction in corporal punishment has had a bad effect on prison discipline.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the natural attachment of Naval Air Arm personnel for their own service, he will now seek to replace elementary flying training of naval personnel at Royal Air Force stations, by setting up a naval elementary flying training establishment.

I do not think that the reason given by my hon. Friend would of itself justify a change in the existing arrangements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will consider the restoration by public subscription of H.M.S. "Implacable," and the return of the ship, when restored, to the French, from whom she was captured during the Napoleonic wars.

As indicated in the answer given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Keeling) on 16th February, a plan for the future of this ship is now under examination. Should this fail, other suggestions can be considered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the purpose of the visit to the United States of America of Admiral Sir Rhoderick McGrigor, Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet; and why the journey was made in a United States army aircraft and not in a British naval machine.

Admiral Sir Rhoderick McGrigor was invited to return a visit recently made by Admiral Radford of the United States Navy to the Home Fleet Flagship, H.M.S. "Duke of York." He made the journey in a United States aircraft because this was very kindly placed at his disposal by the American authorities.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many applications for purchase of discharge were made in 1948: and what was the number granted.

During 1948, 1,629 applications for discharge by purchase were dealt with at the Admiralty. Of these, 1,027 were approved, 710 by purchase and 317 free.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of men completing 12 year engagements in 1948; and the number re-engaging for a further period of ten years.

The number of men who completed a 12 year engagement in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines in 1948 was 3,990. The number already reported as having re-engaged for a further period of ten years is 804. There are, however, a number of reports outstanding, and it is expected that the numbers finally reported as re-engaging will he about 1,000.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) how many married quarters for ratings have been built or have been made available in the years 1947 and 1948, respectively; and where these married quarters are situated:(2) how many additional married quarters for officers have been built or made available in the years 1947 and 1948, respectively; and where these married quarters are situated.

During the financial year 1947–48, 144 married quarters for officers and ratings were built or made available at home and abroad. The corresponding figure for the financial year 1948–49 is 65.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will announce the constitution and terms of reference of the Pilcher Committee.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Swingler) on Monday last.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make available a copy of the Naval Pay Code which contains all amendments which have been made since its inception.

Yes. Revised Admiralty Fleet Orders are now being prepared and will be issued shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was collected in Customs duty on imports into the United Kingdom of tobacco from Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, respectively, in 1948.

For reasons of staff economy the collection of this information was discontinued during the war and has not been resumed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many medical members are there on the Exchange Control Medical Advisory Committee; how many times did this Committee meet in the year 1948; and how many were present at each meeting.

Ten, exclusive of the secretary and the Treasury medical adviser. There are no non-medical members. The full Committee met five times the numbers present being respectively 10, 9, 10, 11, and 10. In addition, as I have explained previously, each application is submitted to two members of the Committee and, if necessary, to the chairman as well. Members meet informally among themselves at frequent intervals for consultation about cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what payments are made to the Exchange Control Medical Advisory Committee; how much did this committee cost the taxpayer in 1948; and do they receive remuneration or fees for services other than for attendance at the committee meetings.

Each member of the Committee receives an honorarium of £500 per annum in respect of all services. The total cost in 1948 was about £6,500.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for foreign currency for the treatment of disease abroad were considered by the Exchange Control Medical Advisory Committee in the year 1948; and how many of these applications were refused.

From January to December, 1948, 2,907 of which 914 were refused.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations the approximate total of male Eire nationals who served in His Majesty' Forces in the last war.

I have nothing to add to the statements made by the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs in another place on 19th March, 1946, and

County		Description of Scheme	Estimated Cost
			£
Anglesey	…	*Menai Bridge—Amlwch A.5025:Widening between Duias Bridge and Pwll-Coch and Diversion at Pilot Boat Inn.	41,484
Anglesey	…	Telford Road—Menai Bridge A.545: Widening for 400 years from Wood Street, Menai Bridge to Bridge End Caf" near junction Trunk Road A.5	10,800
Brecon	…	Improvement works near Brynarth Farm	11,000
Brecon	…	*Senny Bridge—Gurnos Road A.4067:Abercave Diversion (New Road).	44,022
Caernarvon	…	Improvement of Garth Road, Bangor	29,000
Caernarvon	…	Improvement near Red Gables, Penmaenmawr	24,000
Caernarvon	…	*Criccieth—Pwllheli A.497: Widening and re-aligning for 566 yards westwards from Public Library, Criccieth.	15,502
Carmarthen	…	*Ammanford—Neath A.474: Widening and re-aligning High Street, Ammanford.	25,843
Glamorgan	…	Neath By-pass (New Road)	1,000,000
Glamorgan	…	Terminus Road, Skewen.	37,000
Glamorgan	…	Construction of a roundabout at Ewenny Cross	17,000
Glamorgan	…	Merthyr Slip Road (New Road)	216,000
Glamorgan	…	*Barry—Llantwit Major B.4265: St. Athan Diversion, Boverton to Gileston Farm.	10,127
Merioneth	…	Repairs to embankment supporting road adjoining Bala Lane	93,000
Merioneth	…	Reconstruction of Rhyd-y-main Bridge	30,000
Merioneth	…	Manod—Festiniog Improvement (including Rhiwlas Bridge)	37,000
Monmouth	…	Improvement near Coldra Lodge	38,500
Pembroke	…	Reconstruction of Goodwick Railway Bridge	27,000
Radnor	…	Gaufron Uchaf and Llwyn-y-Brain diversions	28,000
			£1,735,278

Schemes marked with an asterisk are on classified roads: the remainder on trunk roads. In addition there are 63 smaller estimated to cost by the Under-Secretary for Dominion Affairs in this House on 26th March,1946

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department When the next annual return of experiments on living animals will be published by his Department.

I hope to issue a in July.

asked the Minister of Transport what new road schemes it is proposed to start in Wales this year.

The principal road schemes in Wales and Monmouthshire upon which work has started since 1st January, 1949, or is likely to start during 1949, are as follows:about £247,000. I am unable to say what further schemes will be approved and commenced during the year.

asked the Minister of Transport what system of priority exists between shipments to East Africa, on behalf of the Overseas Food Corporation, and private traders; and what approximate delay occurs at present in despatch for the two different categories of shippers.

At Dar-es-Salaam there is appreciable delay and measures are in hand to improve the facilities. In the meantime, a working party representative of all the interests concerned decides which cargoes shall be shipped month by month. The average delay in the despatch of general cargo to the port is between two and four months for all classes of shippers.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of workers employed in all the industries which have been nationalised since 1945; and what is the percentage of this figure of the total working class population.

I am having the available information collected and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why no help is being given to traders or others in this country who wish to visit the Leipzig Fair.

Traffic from the Western zones to the Soviet zone of Germany has been interrupted as a result of the Soviet blockade of Berlin. Sponsorship by my Department of applications from persons in the United Kingdom to visit the Leipzig Fair would therefore serve no useful purpose in the absence of facilities for such visits.

asked the Minister of Health how many beds were available on 5th July, 1948, in the hospitals, excluding mental hospitals, under the Leeds Regional Hospital Board; how many were occupied; what are the corresponding figures at the present time; how many cases are awaiting admission; and what reduction there has been in the number of beds available for the chronic sick and infirm.

The number of beds available—i.e. staffed—on 30th June, 1948, in the hospitals, excluding mental hospitals and mental deficiency institutions, now under the Leeds Regional Hospital Board was 15,516, of which 13,230 were occupied. The corresponding figures at 31st December, 1948, were 16,087 and 12,442 respectively. The number of cases awaiting admission in December was 13,933. There has been no reduction in the number of beds available for the chronic sick and infirm.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether statements concerning number of ponies used at particular collieries; numbers of accidents suffered by them or of injuries arising from accidents, numbers cast, humanely destroyed or otherwise disposed of; and ages of ponies when taken up from the mines for good and disposed of or destroyed, are independently checked and verified as in the case of financial matters in connection with collieries.

In so far as the statistics referred to are collected, they are collected by statutory annual returns furnished by the collieries to the Ministry of Fuel and Power. These returns are scrutinised by the Ministry's statistical staff and any prima facie errors are taken up with the persons responsible for completing the returns. In addition, His Majesty's Inspectors of Mines possess powers to make any inquiry necessary to verify the particulars supplied and use these powers where information appears to be inaccurate.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many of the 1,600 cast or humanely destroyed horses and ponies that were employed in mines in the year ended 30th June, 1948, were over the ages of 15, 20 and 25 years.

I regret that the particulars desired are not available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of horses employed in the mines of South Wales; and the number of ponies employed in the mines of Durham, Northumberland and Yorkshire, who are over the ages of 15, 20 and 25, at the present time.

The number of horses employed in the mines of South Wales and Monmouth at 30th June, 1948 (the latest date available), was 4,068. As regards the second part of the Question, I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Education what are the professional qualifications of the head of his Department's school meals service department; what is the general training of the staff under him; and how many of these have been drawn from the catering trade.

The school meals service is administered in the special services branch of my Department. The officers concerned have the help, on technical and dietetic questions, of His Majesty's inspectors with experience of large-scale catering.

asked the Minister of Education what is the present cost of his Department's school meals service; and what is the estimated cost when such meals become a full financial charge upon his Department.

The net cost of the school dinner service in 1947–48, after allowing for payments by parents and staff, was about £16,600,000. It is estimated that, when provision is available for four million children to have dinner without payment, the cost to public funds would be of the order of £40 million.