asked the Minister of Education if he will reconsider the position regarding secondary school accommodation in Macclesfield, with a view to allotting a proportion of vacancies to rural school children of secondary school age.

No, Sir. Reorganisation of the rural schools in the Macclesfield area must wait until additional accommodation, now being provided in prefabricated huts, is ready.

How can the right hon. Gentleman really say that, when children in villages like Gawsworth do not get a look into the secondary schools in the borough? Why cannot a larger proportion of the places go to children from the villages? Is he aware that there is great concern and indignation on that point?

The reason is that, until the pre-fabricated huts are ready, it will not be possible to deal with the problem in the way that has been suggested. I would point out that, for over 20 years, when there were facilities available, reorganisation has been advocated, but nothing has been done.

asked the Minister of Education whether school managers and school governors who are not members of a local authority are entitled to allowances for expenses and loss of working time.

I understand that it is not contemplated that the prescription to be made by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Health, under Part VI of the Local Government Act, 1948, should cover the case of such members of the managing and governing bodies of schools.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are many working men and women who serve on these committees, which very often meet during the daytime, thereby precluding them from attending unless they are given this kind compensation?

It is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to make regulations under this Act. If my hon. Friend makes a submission to me, I will make it known to my right hon. Friend and see what can be done.

Will my right hon. Friend regard this as a submission, or would he like me to get in touch with him again?

I would like my hon. Friend to get in touch with me again.

asked the Minister of Education what is the average cost per meal per child of the school meals service.

In 1947–48, for England and Wales, the average cost of dinners served to children and staff was 11.8 pence per meal. The net cost, after deducting payments received from parents and others, was 7.6 pence. These figures include the cost of local administration, but not the amortisation of capital expenditure or the supply and replacement of equipment.

Is my right hon. Friend in a position to give any estimate how soon this meals service will become free, as he intends?

No, I cannot.

asked the Minister of Education what notice he has taken of the report, "Out of School," asked for as a matter of urgency on 13th June, 1947, and submitted to him in 1948 by the Central Advisory Council for Education; how many of the 14 recommendations he accepts; and what action he has taken to carry them out.

Copies of the report have been sent to all local education authorities. I propose to draw attention to certain of its recommendations in a document which my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and I are shortly to send to the leaders of local government in England and Wales following the recent conference on juvenile delinquency. Because of the other existing heavy demands on the manpower and resources of local education authorities, I cannot press on them those of the recommendations which involve the establishment of a new administrative machinery, and the appointment of special sub-committees and additional specialised staff.

While I am glad to hear that, will my right hon. Friend say whether clubs dealing with children under the compulsory school age can receive subsidies from his Department?

I would like that question put upon the Paper. At the moment, I do not know the conditions under which they could be granted.

asked the Minister of Education whether his regulations permit a parent, residing in an area covered by a comprehensive school to allow his son to sit for the examination to a local grammar school.

I have made no regulations in this matter, which is primarily one for the local education authority.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the answer given to a parent was, "It will not be necessary for your child to take the examination"; that this means that a child of poor parents is prevented from getting the opportunity of going to a university while a child attending an independent school has no such handicap put in his way; and that this is not equality of opportunity for the children of this country?

No question of the opportunity of going to a university arises at this stage. The education authorities have indicated that, in certain circumstances, and in relation to certain individuals, they are prepared to make exceptions.

Does not my right hon. Friend realise that if the child does not have the opportunity of going to a grammar school, and does not take a foreign language until the age of 16, its chances of getting to a university are very small indeed? This is a very serious question.

asked the Minister of Education how many teachers trained under the emergency training scheme have since resigned and how many have not been found satisfactory during the probationary period, respectively.

I regret that the answer to the first part of the Question is not available. Of the emergency-trained teachers who have completed their period of two years' probationary service in the schools, only one has so far failed to do so satisfactorily.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied with the arrangements for supervising the emergency training of teachers during the probationary period, and will he say what arrangements are in existence as there is some apprehension among local authorities?

It is for the local authorities themselves to make arrangements, so that any misapprehension they may have is due to their own inability to meet the requirements.

asked the Minister of Education whether his Department is still sponsoring lectures on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation; how many have been given; how are the lecturers selected; and what is the maximum fee paid to an individual lecturer.

Yes, Sir; 32 such lectures were given in 1948. Lecturers are selected either from a small professional panel, all of whom have visited U.N.E.S.C.O's. headquarters, or from members of the national co-operating bodies who have volunteered to speak. The maximum fee paid to a professional lecturer by my Department is five guineas; volunteer lecturers receive no such fee.

I am very glad to hear that because I have heard rumours of £30 being paid for lectures. Would not my right hon. Friend agree that great movements do not start by the State paying lecturers, however good the movement is—whether it is Western Union, U.N.O. or U.N.E.S.C.O.—that it is not necessary to pay the expenses, that we should let people in the audience or the enthusiasts pay, and allow the movement to grow on its own?

In the main, I agree with what my hon. Friend says. We are relying more and more on volunteers for this work.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of men against whom maintenance orders for the support of their wives and children have been made by magistrates and justices of the peace in this country have left this country for Eire and are evading payment of orders for the support of their wives and children owing to the fact that the Eire courts have no jurisdiction to enforce a maintenance order made in the courts of England and Wales; and whether he will endeavour to come to some agreement with Eire to enforce orders made in this country against defaulting husbands.

I have no reason to think that large numbers of men are evading maintenance orders by leaving the United Kingdom for Eire. I understand that, when such cases do occur, the Orders cannot be enforced in Eire. The provisions of the Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act, 1920, could have been applied to such cases, if legislation adopting the Act had been passed in Eire, but this has never been done. I will consider with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary whether it would be worth while to ask the Government of Eire if they would like to make an agreement for the reciprocal enforcement of maintenance orders in their country and in ours.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the experience in a large number of cases is that such husbands do go to Eire and that the wives cannot get their maintenance allowances; and, further, in view of the fact that there is shortly to be a change in the Constitution of Eire, will he take immediate steps to see if a reciprocal arrangement can be made so that men of that nature will not avoid their obligations?

I have said that, of course, orders cannot be enforced in Eire—there is no legislation—but, in fact, the Eire police have been helping in persuading the husbands to do their duty. although they do not always succeed. I have also said that I will consider with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary whether a mutual agreement can be made with the Eire Government.

Is the Minister aware that a man in this position does not have to go to Eire and that if he leaves his job and gets another in an Admiralty yard he is free? Will the Minister take that up with the Home Secretary?

Will the Minister consult with the Attorney-General about introducing an Amendment into the Maintenance Bill at present before Parliament in order to cover this particular question?

There is nothing we can do to make legislation effective in Eire.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations which of the Dominions were notified of our intention to land a task force at Aqaba; and how many were invited to participate.

His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom informed other Commonwealth Governments of their decision to send a force to Aqaba, and told them that this was being done in response to a request from the Transjordan Government, made under the terms of our treaty with them. As other Commonwealth Governments are not parties to this treaty, no question of inviting them to participate arose.

Since we were glad of the support of all the older Dominions in this area during the war, ought we not to take heed of their advice in this matter; and does my hon. Friend realise that any isolated military action of our own in this area now is not likely either to protect this puppet State of Transjordan or intimidate anyone else?

Of course, if the Commonwealth Governments give us advice, we shall very gladly listen to them. We have informed them, but have received no advice from them. I am sure that the hon. Member would desire, as would everybody else, that an ally should be protected against aggression if it occurs under the terms of the treaty.

Is not the point perfectly clear that all we have to do is to carry out our treaty obligations, and will the right hon. Gentleman make it perfectly plain that we intend to carry them out whatever may be the opposition of those who have racial affiliations with Israel?

These are really questions for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, but I think it is quite plain that His Majesty's Government desire and intend to carry out their treaty obligations.

On a point of Order. An hon. Member just raised a question in this House regarding what he thought was in the best interests of the House and a matter which should be brought to its notice. Was the noble Lord in Order, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, in referring to the fact that the purpose for which my hon. Friend put his question was to further racial associations with another country?

I said nothing of the sort. What I said was, will the right hon. Gentleman carry out our treaty obligations quite irrespective of any opposition from those who had racial affiliations with Israel? I persist in it.

I do not think a point of Order arises here.

Can the Minister make any statement on the present situation there in view of the rather alarming statements in some newspapers today?

No, Sir, I had better not do that; I think that is a matter which should be left to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.

Will a statement be made shortly?

I have no notice of it

Further to the point of Order raised by the hon. Member—

I have ruled that, in my view, no point of Order arises.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the difficulties experienced by motor manufacturers in selling to countries which discriminate against British vehicles by means of currency restrictions, he will press for the inclusion of cars, trucks, buses and other motor vehicles in new or renewed trade agreements with those countries.

I shall continue to arrange that the position of motor manufacturers in relation to exports are fully borne in mind in the course of bilateral trade negotiations.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the increasing redundancy in the motor industry?

We have to judge every trade agreement on the terms offered on both sides, but we always stress the desirability of relaxing import restrictions on the export of British motor cars and other manufactures.

Is the right hon. Gentleman alive to the seriousness of this matter in Birmingham and Coventry, and will he do everything he possibly can to meet the practical suggestion of the hon. Member for West Coventry (Mr. Edelman)?

Yes, Sir, but in every one of these trade discussions we do what we can to open up the market for British cars.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of our exports of machinery to Canada last year; and what was the comparable figure for 1937.

The value of our exports of machinery to Canada in 1948 was just over £5,100,000 compared with just over £1,400,000 in 1937.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that last year we sent abroad about £250 million worth of machinery altogether, and that the amount going to the Canadian market was disappointingly small?

It was because we felt that the amount could be increased, given co-operation both from our engineering industry and from the Canadian purchasers, that we sent the Gilpin Mission to Canada, and that Mission has just reported.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in how many Canadian centres do the British Trade Commissioners maintain offices; and what is the total staff employed other than clerical staff.

There are United Kingdom Trade Commissioners in five centres in Canada, namely Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg, and Imperial Trade Correspondents at St. John's (New Brunswick) and Halifax (Nova Scotia). There is also an Imperial Trade Correspondent at St. John's (Newfoundland). The total staff other than clerical is 25.

With a view to stimulating exports still further in the Canadian market, will my right hon. Friend consider extending the series of offices into other centres?

Yes, Sir, if that becomes necessary. This matter is under close review at the present moment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent British exports to Canada are obstructed by Canadian patent law.

The term of Canadian patents is generally longer than in this country, and does not depend upon the payment of renewal fees. Apart from these factors, United Kingdom exports to Canada are not, so far as I am aware, at present unduly restricted by Canadian patent law, which operates, like the patent laws of other countries, to confer upon patentees the right to prevent the use by unauthorised persons of the patented inventions within the territory covered by the patents.

Does not Canadian patent law prohibit the import and sale of articles whioh are patented and manufactured in Canada; does not this cover a very wide range of goods; and would not discussions with the Canadian Government perhaps enable us to increase our exports to Canada over this range?

Our information is that the difficulty which I think my hon. Friend has in mind relates to cartel arrangements and not to patents, but if my hon. Friend will let me have any details of what precisely he has in mind I shall be glad to go into it with the Canadian authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the nature and extent of the organised effort in process to stimulate the interest of British manufacturers in the International Trade Fair to be held at Toronto from 30th May to 10th June this year; and what special facilities will be made available to encourage the largest possible number of exhibits of articles needful in the Canadian market being shown at the Fair.

My officials have been working in close and continuous contact with the Canadian Government Exhibition Commission in Ottawa and Canadian officials in London, for the last 12 months to bring home to United Kingdom manufacturers the importance of the Canadian International Trade Fair. They have taken every opportunity to urge United Kingdom participation in the Fair, in view of the paramount importance we attach to the Canadian market.

Is the President of the Board of Trade in contact with the Chambers of Commerce and the various trade organisations of this country with the object of encouraging attendance and the presentation of our exports?

Yes, Sir, with Chambers of Commerce and also with trade associations and development councils.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the report of the recent United Kingdom Engineering Mission to Canada of British industrialists headed by Mr. Harry Gilpin; and what positive action is contemplated in view of the recommendations by Mr. Gilpin for the expansion of Anglo-Canadian trade.

I have considered the report of the United Kingdom Engineering Mission with great care. We are greatly indebted to Sir Harry Gilpin and his colleagues for their most valuable report, which I have publicly commended to the attention of the whole engineering industry. We are doing everything we can to encourage the industry to apply, at once, its positive recommendations.

Does the President contemplate encouraging similar missions to other parts of the Commonwealth in the near future?

I should require notice of that question, but we have already encouraged the sending of similar missions to Canada in different industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in setting up a development council for the woollen industry.

As I mentioned to the House on the 14th September, during the Adjournment Debate on the Pottery Industry Development Council Order, Sir Richard Hopkins, the Chairman of the Wool Working Party, has been discussing this matter, at my request, with both sides of the industry. These discussions have recently been resumed and until I have received and considered his report, I would prefer not to make any further comment.

May I ask the Minister what progress the Committee on industrial productivity, as distinct from the Anglo-American productivity council, is making and—

That is a different question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now satisfied that complete information relating to the British Industries Fair has been made available at His Majesty's embassies, legations and consulates in all foreign countries and throughout the British Commonwealth.

Yes, Sir, I am fully satisfied.

I am delighted that the President of the Board of Trade has said that, but does he realise the importance of the British Industries Fair to the expansion of our export trade; and is he really satisfied that every possible means of publicity has been employed all over the world to call attention to the Fair?

Detailed information of this Fair was circulated to all Government posts overseas in September, 1948, and further material has been continuously sent out since then, including 10,000 copies of the advance edition of the catalogues, both for the London and Birmingham sections of the Trade Fair.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average monthly collection of waste paper for 1943 and 1948, respectively.

The average monthly collections of waste paper for 1943 and 1948 were 58,300 and 62,800 tons, respectively.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how the very satisfactory figure for 1948.reflects the results of the devoted efforts of the Central Office of Information?

Will my right hon. Friend say whether the inflated figures for the year 1948 are due to extra copies of the Conservative Party's Industrial Charter?

Salvage collection is not analysed in that way.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the increased profits of firms retailing boots and shoes, he will take steps to reduce retail prices.

Steps have already been taken. Orders reducing both wholesalers' and retailers' margins for footwear were made on 10th February (S.I. 1949 Nos. 205 and 206). The reduced margins came into operation on Monday, 28th February.

Can my right hon. Friend say when these reduced profit margins will be reflected in lower shop prices? Has not the time arrived when the abolition of maximum prices would lead to even greater reductions to the advantage of family budgets?

No, Sir. If it required the reduction of maximum prices to get a fall of 1s. 7d. in the pound in retailers' margins, I am certainly not satisfied that to take away price control altogether would reduce the price.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the increase in profits of boot companies over the last 12 months, if distributed so as to bring down the cost of boots and shoes, would bring a reduction in price of 5s. per pair?

We have to reckon on the fact that it is not only the big companies who are involved in relation to retailing. Measures taken with these price control orders will make a big difference both to prices and profits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what profit the Government have made during the past 12 months over the purchase and resale of wood pulp for paper, including newsprint.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Holborn (Mr. Max Aitken) on 10th February.

Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman give these facts to the House? If he is making a profit. will he undertake to apply that profit to the reduction of the price of newsprint in the future?

Because, as I told the hon. Member for Holborn, the accounts for 1947–48 are in course of preparation, they will be published very shortly and will be fully available to the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will encourage manufacturers of the latest type of British wire recorders to demonstrate these at foreign trade fairs in 1949, in view of the value of these instruments in education.

The decision as to the best method of bringing their products to the notice of potential buyers overseas must necessarily rest with manufacturers, but it is part of my Department's functions to give advice to them on request on the relative merits of the various fairs in relation to a particular product, and generally on the best means of selling their goods abroad.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the great difficulty that has been experienced, particularly in Scandinavia, where there should be a ready market for these devices, in obtaining specimens which could be exhibited, especially for the use of educational departments?

If my hon. Friend will let me have the particulars I will look into them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now announce the plans for the use of the Squires Gate factory at Blackpool.

I am afraid I am still not in a position to say what will be the ultimate use of the main factory buildings. A portion of the factory covering some 200,000 sq. ft. has, however, been allocated to the Ministry of Supply for vehicle repair work.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are nearly 4,000 people out of work in this area and that it has taken his Department nearly two years to make up its mind on the problem?

I am aware of nothing of the kind. What I am aware of is the fact that the local authority were unwilling to consider the proposals put before them for finding re-employment for this area some two years ago, and secondly, I am aware of the fact that the Board of Trade have no powers to direct private industry into Blackpool. I do not know whether the hon. Member wants to suggest that we should take those powers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the question of what is an economic rent for this factory lies within the power of the Board of Trade?

That has not been the difficulty throughout these very difficult two years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the weight and value of hosiery yarns exported during 1948.

I regret that this information is not available as hosiery yarns are not distinguished separately in the trade returns.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the export of hosiery yarns, which has been considerable, has been made without prejudice to the expansion and development of the hosiery trade in this country?

We have at all times tried to see that there were sufficient yarns available for the hosiery trade and at the same time to deliver all exports, but if the hon. Gentleman has a view, or any particular suggestion, that we have exported too much, perhaps he would let us have his information.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement in any convenient statistical form showing the extent to which motor transport is used for the haulage of opencast coal.

Precise information is not available, but it is estimated that roughly 13¼ million tons of opencast coal were moved by road during 1948, by some 1,400 tipping vehicles, travelling an average distance per trip of 12½ miles and carrying a load of about 5½ tons each time.

Do not these figures show the growing value of road transport for moving heavy freight of this character?

They show the necessity for road transport in moving opencast coal.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what special precautions he is taking to prevent lorry and other accidents to the children living in the small residential area now being entirely surrounded by the Winstanley Hall Opencast No. 3A site.

The residential area near Winstanley No. 3A site lies to one side of Winstanley Park and is not entirely surrounded by the site. The traffic past the houses from opencast coal workings in the area is now less than it was and there has been no suggestion from the traffic authorities that special precautions are required.

Is not the Minister taking any special precautions in regard to other accidents which may befall children through the proximity of this site, such as falling into the workings?

That is a different question of which I should like to have notice.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that yesterday I received a letter from the surveyor of this township indicating that the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll) does not know the site and has never been to the site; and that this is a political stunt being tried out by him which amounts to nothing less than damn cheek and impudence.

I must ask the hon. Member to withdraw that epithet. That is not Parliamentary language.

In deference to you, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, I withdraw the word "damn."

On a point of Order, Mr. Deputy-Speaker. Since when has it been cheek and impudence for a—

Order! The hon. Member has withdrawn, and the matter is closed.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what limitations there are on the complete freedom of choice of a coal consumer to choose his own coal merchant; and whether Fuel Overseers have been or will be instructed to issue licences, as from 1st May, to coal merchants who did not previously deliver coal in the area concerned, but who are now prepared to supply consumers who wish them so to do.

There are no restrictions on the freedom of consumers to change their coal merchants between the 7th–31st March, 1949, except that the merchant chosen must be one already licensed to trade in the district, and that he must be willing to accept the new customer. Outside that period transfers are within the discretion of local fuel overseers and there is a right of appeal to the regional coal officer either by the consumer or by the merchant.

With regard to the second part of the Question, local fuel overseers have authority to register new merchants in any district where there is consumer need for additional distributive facilities. For administrative reasons, however, no new merchants are being licensed during March and April while applications from consumers to change their merchants are being dealt with. Local fuel overseers have already been instructed to resume the normal procedure as from 1st May, 1949.

Can the Minister explain the reason for this limitation in the freedom of choice of the consumer to change his coal merchant?

I am not sure to what my hon. Friend is referring. If he means that they cannot change to a merchant who is not licensed, then I must tell him that some time ago arrangements were made with the distribution trade to license new merchants only where there is an essential need so long as the shortage of coal continues, which is only fair to the existing merchants.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power under what conditions petrol is allocated to Americans visiting this country.

American and other overseas visitors who bring a private car or motor cycle with them or who buy a new one here for subsequent export are granted an allowance to cover the journey by direct route from the port of entry to their furthest destination in the United Kingdom and thence to their port of departure. In addition they receive a special allowance for touring which varies with the length of stay. For example, a visitor who stays one month receives sufficient petrol for 1,000 miles of touring. Visitors who wish to use a car for business journeys in this country, can obtain a separate allowance for this purpose.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that visitors from America and other countries often want to borrow their friends' cars here, which are laid up, but are told that they must either buy a car or bring one over with them, as they cannot get an allowance of petrol to use in their friends' cars?

Yes, Sir. I have frequently explained to the House why it is very difficult to grant an allowance for use in cars belonging to British persons. Obviously in any such proposal there are very grave dangers of abuse, but we are going into the matter again to see if there is any possibility of development on those lines.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the great bulk of the American tourists coming to this country are people of very moderate means, and that some advantage to them in the way of borrowing cars would be very helpful in bringing them to this country?

I am quite aware of that, but I must also be careful to see that as a result we do not lose dollars on balance.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that every dollar's worth of petrol given to an American is likely to be recouped tenfold by the amount of dollars spent while he is using that dollar's worth of petrol?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give further and more favourable consideration to an application for additional supply of petrol made by Mr. J. H. Bushen of Hounslow, in view of the man's disability and the wide area he has to cover in connection with his normal business.

This case has been examined again, but I can find no reason for increasing the allowance above the present level.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this man looks like having to give up his work because he cannot take the risk of travelling in crowded buses and trains on account of his disability, and will he take a more sympathetic view of the case which, in my opinion, deserves much more favourable consideration?

This man is getting the maximum appropriate to his scale plus the maximum compassionate allowance, and he is thus getting as much as any other person in a similar position. I cannot make an exception in individual cases.

Have any other people with whom his case has been compared the same physical disabilities as those of my constituent?

Similar physical disabilities.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will amend the instructions he has given to the Electricity Board so that houses and villages which have been waiting for several years for electricity and which have no gas, shall be given a priority equal to that given to new houses for connection to the public mains.

Electricity Boards have been asked to give supplies to new houses, farms and farm cottages and to existing houses where the present means of heating or cooking are worn out, where the absence of a supply is a cause of serious hardship or where a supply is essential for health reasons. Owing to the shortage of materials and labour I regret that I cannot at the moment extend this list of priority classes.

May I ask the Minister if he has read and, if he has not, if he will now read and study the leading article about himself in the "Financial Times" this morning?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department through what channels application should be made to him for permission for permanent residence in this country on behalf of Mr. Emilio Rossi, restaurant proprietor, of Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire, who lived in Kirkconnel from 1909 until internment in 1940 and subsequent repatriation to Italy on medical advice and now wishes to return to his home and business.

The hon. Member has written to the Home Office on several occasions about this case, and I know of no channel of communication more appropriate than a direct approach. I have considered the applications made on behalf of Mr. Rossi, but I regret that I cannot agree that Mr. Rossi, who in 1943 on medical grounds voluntarily returned to his country of origin which was then at war with this country, should come back to reside in this country.

Is it quite fair to describe as a voluntary decision one taken by a man who was ill at the time, who did not expect to recover, whose brothers live in this country and whose children are here?

The hon. Gentleman should state the case fully or not at all. This man arranged for his wife to go to Italy on two occasions when she was expecting a child so that the children could be born on Italian soil. There is other evidence that this man has always regarded himself as primarily an Italian, and I do not think that, inasmuch as he decided to go to Italy at a time when he might have imagined that Italy was on the winning side in the war, I should now re-admit him to this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive a reply from the Polish authorities in the matter of the deportation order made against Sydney Stanley; and whether, pending the receipt of such reply, he will now make a formal request to the Government of Israel to consider the granting of an entry permit to Stanley in accordance with the application already made to that Government by him.

I hope that a reply from the Polish Government will not be long delayed, but I am unable to say when it may be expected. As I explained to the House on 17th February, Mr. Sydney Stanley, according to my information, is a Pole, and I think it right to deal with him on this basis before I consider whether an approach should be made to any other Government.

Whilst appreciating my right hon. Friend's difficulties in this matter, will he bear in mind, in considering it, that although there may be substantial doubt whether or not Mr. Stanley is a Pole, there is no doubt whatsoever about his right to enter the territory under the control of the present Government of Israel? Will he, in these circumstances, bear in mind that so long as Mr. Stanley goes, where he goes we cannot care less about?

I cannot accept all the premises on which my hon. Friend's deductions were drawn at the end of his question.

Is this suggestion intended to be a punishment to Israel for breaking the standstill agreement?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens have been permitted to enter this country, with a view to permanent residence therein, since June, 1945; how many of these were displaced persons; and what are the conditions under which such entry of aliens is now permitted.

From 1945 to 31st January, 1949, just over 6,000 distressed relatives of persons resident here, refugees from certain European countries or alien husbands of women of British birth and parentage, have been allowed to come to this country for permanent residence. In addition, 76,674 European volunteer workers have been brought to this country and, subject to compliance with the conditions on which they were recruited, will be permitted to remain here. Admission for permanent residence is confined to the classes that I have mentioned. The figures given do not include former members of the Polish and German forces, 156,942 of whom have been allowed to remain in this country.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether every care is taken to see that members of these various classes he has enumerated are in every way desirable residents for this country before they are admitted, and is care taken specially to exclude Communists and near-Communists?

Every effort is made to ensure that these people will be suitable residents in this country, and adequate steps are taken to get the advice of persons concerned with security to that end. But I cannot undertake to have an inquiry made into the political beliefs of every applicant for admission.

In view of the very fine record of this country in regard to refugees, under four successive Governments of different political complexions, will the right hon. Gentleman make use of these figures by sending them to our representatives at U.N.O., because the world ought to know what we have done for political refugees?

I hope that one of the results of this Question will be that greater knowledge will prevail as to what we have done during the very difficult period through which we have been passing.

When the right hon. Gentleman conveys that information to U.N.O., will he also bring out the fact that a great number of these aliens have considerably contributed to the wealth of this country, and that on the whole their presence here has been very useful?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has approved the increase of 5¼d. in the Metropolitan police rate; how much the additional precept will produce; and for what purposes the increase is required.

Yes, Sir. The increase on police account is 5d., producing £1,900,000. This is needed to meet the higher cost of a larger force, necessary arrears of building work, provision of a new type of uniform, and the restoration of balances which are being depleted during the current year to the extent of a 2d. rate. The ¼d. is in respect of probation and is raised only in the Metropolitan boroughs, producing about £50,000.

Is my right hon. Friend really satisfied that it is necessary to impose a 2d. rate merely for the sake of replenishing various balances? As the local authorities in London are in a position much inferior to county boroughs generally, will he consider some form of consultation with the local authorities prior to fixing the Metropolitan police rate?

I am convinced that the balances must be restored. I expected at the commencement of the financial year that the balances would fall by £500,000, but as a matter of fact, owing to increased expenditure they fell by £800,000. It is necessary to have an adequate working balance. With regard to the last part of the question, as I am responsible for the Metropolitan Police to this House, I cannot agree to consult anyone before I submit the Estimates to the House which clearly has the first-right to know about them. I have promised a deputation of representatives of the Metropolitan boroughs and of the local authorities in the outer ring of the Metropolitan police district, after the Estimates are submitted, that I shall be prepared to meet them to explain any items about which they may wish to have information.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman how big are the balances and what is the need for having them so very high?

The reason for having them very high is the fact that £3 million of the rates comes in only during the months of February and March and in consequence it is necessary to have a balance to enable me to carry on during the period. By the end of the year the balance in hand will be £1,300,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, although there is a waiting list of 19,000 people, the Cardiff City housing authority plan for the construction of 1,000 houses only during the current year; and whether he will take steps to have this target increased.

Yes, Sir. Further proposals will be considered in relation to progress made with the initial allocation of 1,000 houses to Cardiff City.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his reply will be received with satisfaction in Cardiff, where the supporters of the Opposition have steadily conveyed the idea that my right hon. Friend was preventing the council building as many houses as they would like?

I am aware that this happens in very many parts of the country, but the election figures are an answer to that silly propaganda.

Does making the target bigger make it easier or more difficult to hit?

The answer is, as the hon. and learned Member should know and as all Members should know, that the size of the housing programme is limited by the available building materials and labour, and that if we added to the housing programme considerably it would be at the expense of other forms of building, like hospitals and such like places. I should like the Opposition to tell us whether they would rather have fewer hospitals.

Would it not be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to carry out the suggestions of the Girdwood Committee and secure a great deal more efficiency in labour and thereby build both houses and hospitals?

The answer is that the Girdwood Committee made no recommendations as to efficiency. The right hon. and gallant Gentleman should read the Report again. It is primarily concerned with the price of houses and not the organisation of the building industry. But I accept, as the building industry is almost entirely a private enterprise industry, that there is room for more efficiency.

I trust that the right hon. Gentleman will read the Report of the Committee and ascertain from it the valuable advice that is given.

The right hon. and gallant Gentleman is only entitled to ask a question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman read the Girdwood Committee's Report with the object of deriving the maximum possible information from the very valuable statistics with which they were concerned, and—

On a point of Order. What has this to do with Cardiff City Housing?

Will the right hon. Gentleman do his utmost to secure that the industry is given conditions under which private enterprise can most efficiently function?

The industry has been provided with all the contracts it is able to carry out, and there is a Committee now appointed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works to go into the organisation and efficiency of the building industry, which was not one of the terms of reference of the Girdwood Committee. And so the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is as inaccurate as usual.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that the information that is to be given by him to the right hon. Member for Woodford (Mr. Churchill) will also be made available to other Members of the House.

No, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a great deal of public interest as well as interest among hon. Members in regard to the secret session between the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister—

And also amongst the Russians.

—and is he further aware that many millions of public money have to be voted by hon. Members of this House on Defence, and are they not just as much entitled to know what it is all about as the Leader of the Opposition?

I do not think the hon. Member is acquainted with the practice, which has been an established one over many years, for the Government, at their discretion, to communicate some information to the leaders of other parties who are Members of His Majesty's Privy Council where it would not be in the national interest to give wide circulation to the information.

Is it not time that this practice was discontinued?

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is aware that Welsh local authorities who have nominated local government officers for membership of the proposed Council of Wales have now been informed that such officers are ineligible for membership; and whether, in view of the fact that the position was not made clear to these authorities when they were invited to make nominations he will allow them to make alternative nominations.

When the local authorities who had nominated local government officers were informed that it was intended that the representatives of the Welsh local authorities on the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire should be members of local authorities, they were also given the opportunity of submitting alternative nominations.

What is the position of the nominee who is clerk to a rural district council and also a member of the county council? Would he be eligible for membership of the Council for Wales in the latter capacity?

It is news to me that the clerk of a rural district council is also a member of a county council, though it may be so. Whilst we did not say so explicitly in terms, it was implicit in the document which was issued that when we asked for nominations it was for members of local authorities, and since there was a request as to the authority on which the nominees are serving. This body will deal with matters of public policy, and, with great respect, I do not think it is appropriate that officers of local authorities should serve as full members on bodies which deal with public policy.

asked the Minister of Labour what negotiating machinery exists for the settlement of disputes relating to conditions of employment and rates of remuneration for those employed in professional sport who are subject to the autonomous control of self-constituted and self-appointed bodies.

I have little information about the arrangements for determining terms and conditions of employment in the various forms of professional sport or for dealing with disputes that may arise. I would, however, inform my hon. Friend that I have quite recently received a letter from the Association Football Players' Union seeking my assistance for the establishment of some form of machinery for negotiation of terms and conditions of employment of professional footballers. The Football Association and the Football League have readily responded to my invitation to meet me for a discussion with the Players' Union, and the meeting will take place on Monday afternoon next.

Is the Minister aware that the British Boxing Board of Control can withdraw the licences of persons engaged in that sport without any appeal to an external authority, thus depriving them of their livelihood? If my right hon. Friend receives representations from any of the boxing organisations, is he prepared to give consideration to the terms and conditions under which people are employed in that particular profession of sport?

Yes, Sir. If either party of any of these sports asks for the help of the Ministry of Labour we shall be glad to do anything in our power to help.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, as the Guide to the Factories Act, 1937, has been of great value to trade union and other bodies but is now out of print and has been superseded by the Factories Act, 1948, and many statutory instruments, he will consider publishing a new guide.

A guide of the kind suggested already exists in the prescribed abstract, Factory Form No. 1, which broadly summarises the main operative provisions of the 1937 Act, as amended by the 1948 Act. I am having this abstract printed in leaflet form.

Is the Minister aware that the 1937 guide has been of inestimable value to works councils and trade union bodies, and if the new extract to which he refers will give the precise and concise information necessary it will be received with great satisfaction all over the country?

We did not want to go to the length of reprinting the old abstract, and if, when my hon. Friend sees the extract, he does not think it covers the entire field, perhaps he will have a word with me to see what can be done.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Messrs. Langley Alloys, Limited, of Slough, have infringed trade union agreements and procedure and have thus provoked a strike of 250 workers; and, as this firm has been executing orders of good quality products for buyers in Holland, Belgium and Switzerland, if he will take all necessary steps to see that the workers resume work with proper trade union conditions and safeguards.

My Department is in touch with the parties and efforts are being made to find a basis on which work can be resumed.

Could my right hon. Friend say whether or not this firm have disregarded the procedure enjoined for arbitration, and if they have done so, whether the trade unions are automatically released from the obligation to observe unilaterally a procedure which the other side have disregarded?

I would hesitate to be involved in this, but let me say that if hon. Members would leave the trade unions and the employers organisations to handle these things it would be a much easier way to get a settlement.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the question I asked was not one of detail in regards to a trade union dispute but a matter of broad and important principle, involving the responsibility of all the Members of this House?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive the report of the Masterman Committee, which is inquiring into the question of civil rights for civil servants.

Shortly.

While thanking the Minister for that very brief reply, may I ask him if he is aware that this large body of men feel that they are suffering under a grave injustice, and will he do something to accelerate the report from this committee so that injustices can be removed?

We are doing our best, and I think my hon. Friend will find that it will not be very long before the report is published.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that it is considered necessary to postpone further increases of salary to higher civil servants, admitted by the Chorley Committee to be long overdue, he will state the net cost of giving effect to the recommendations of the Committee, after allowing for Income Tax and Surtax.

The Chorley Committee estimate the gross cost of their recommendations at £400,000. The comparable net cost, after allowing for likely Income Tax and Surtax charges, is about £180,000.

In view of the very small sum and the enormous services rendered by this loyal class of servants of this House and country, will he reconsider making retrospective any award and accelerating the decision in regard to it?