asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements he has made to facilitate the competition of British commercial interests for a fair share of the import trade of the State of Israel; and if a representative of British trade interests has been appointed to the State of Israel.

Steps are being taken to appoint a commercial representative. The provision of normal export credit facilities, as far as conditions permit, is under consideration.

In view of the immense contributions which this country has made to the establishment of the present State of Israel, is it not the function of the President of the Board of Trade to secure as large a part of their import market as possible?

We are very anxious to develop trade with this country. There are certain difficulties to be ironed out, and there will have to be negotiations about them, but as the hon. Gentleman will see from the answer, we are taking all the steps open to us at the moment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the nature and extent of the organisation which has been created for the development and expansion of British trade in Ceylon.

To assist in the development and expansion of United Kingdom trade in Ceylon, a Trade Commissioner post was opened in Colombo in July, 1946. The Trade Commissioner has two assistants, a market officer and clerical staff.

Will the President of the Board of Trade do everything possible to encourage reciprocal trade relations between Ceylon and this country?

Yes, Sir, that is being done.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he contemplates any proposal for the encouragement of the import of South African wines and brandy to this country with priority over similar articles from foreign countries.

No, Sir. Permitted imports from South Africa of wines and brandy are at present well in excess, by volume, of pre-war imports and compare favourably in this regard with similar imports from foreign countries. As the hon. Member will be aware, South Africa already enjoys some measure of preference in the matter of Customs duties on wines and brandy.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware of the high quality of these wines and brandy from South Africa, and will he do everything in his power to see that they are imported into this country?

I am not sure that it is appropriate for me to make comparisons and comments on the quality of these imports. We approach this matter in relation to pre-war imports from this and other countries.

Will the right hon. Gentleman remember that we are due to make some tangible contribution towards the ideas of Benelux in the Council of Europe?

Will the Minister reconsider this matter in view of the fact that the prosperity of the South African wine trade is very largely dependent on the preference which it receives from this country and remember that once before we ruined the wine trade in South Africa?

It is not a question of reducing preference. The present amount which we are importing is regulated by agreement between ourselves and the South African Government.

That is no reason why it should not be increased.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he hopes to re-open negotiations with the Hungarian Government, with a view to the conclusion of a long-term trade agreement.

No such negotiations are necessary. A three-year agreement about supplies of foodstuffs from Hungary was concluded in June, 1947, and runs to July, 1950.

In view of what the Minister of State said yesterday about Hungary's violation of her treaty obligations, is the President of the Board of Trade satisfied that this economic agreement will be honoured?

Will my right hon. Friend resist any suggestion that political differences with Hungary should impede the development of trade between Eastern and Western Europe on which the fulfilment of the purpose of the Marshall Plan depends?

I think I have always made it clear that we do not regard trade agreements as a means of convincing other countries of our views on what they may be doing in other directions. At the same time, it is a fact that there are certain hold-ups about trade talks with Hungary at the present time because of the Hungarian Government's treatment of British commercial interests in Hungary. and until those are satisfactorily cleared up we cannot go on with the expansion of further trade with that country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the policy of his Department in relation to the export from the United Kingdom of works of art.

The policy is to issue licences in cases where the proposed export does not involve the loss of a national treasure and where an appropriate return of currency is to be received. Temporary exports for exhibition abroad are also approved subject to satisfactory undertakings being given regarding return to this country.

Who advises the Board of Trade on what really are works of art?

Well. it depends on the works of art in question, but the appropriate national gallery or museum authorities usually advise the Board of Trade about both the value and the national treasure worth of any proposed export.

Will the body appropriate to advise on the particular work of art to be exported be consulted?

Yes, Sir. As I said just now, we consult the appropriate national gallery or museum authority, depending on the export in question.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's reply refer only to major works of art, the better known ones, or is a watch kept on the export of such things as old silver; and is it not the policy of the Government to prevent this country being depleted altogether of these things?

Yes, Sir. The hon. Gentleman is quite right; this is not related merely to major works of art. I well remember recent cases involving exports of lesser value—suits of armour, and various other things—which might be regarded as worth keeping in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his return of cars sold for export includes those cars which left this country on a sale-or-return basis.

The export figures shown in the trade accounts cover all cars exported from this country. I am, however, advised that it is not the practice of the motor industry to export cars on a sale-or-return basis.

Does that mean that every car that leaves this country is paid for before it leaves?

Not every car is paid for; many of them are, of course, paid for on delivery. Certainly the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders have told us that they have no knowledge of any cars sent abroad on a sale-or-return basis.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the many statements which are being circulated at the present time about these cars; and would he do something to deny them, or get the appropriate organisation to do so?

I am aware of many statements about exports and the alleged return of exports of both cars and other things. I am trying to check some at the moment. The facts I have stated are the facts given to us by the trading interests concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many washing machines were imported from the United States of America during 1948; and what was their value.

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

Could the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether washing machines have been imported, and would he give this information to the House? British firms manufacturing these machines are now becoming redundant, and it is not necessary to import these machines from the United States.

It is a fact that domestic electrically-operated washing machines are on the token imports list, and the few that may have come in have undoubtedly come in as token imports, with which I am sure the hon. Gentleman would not wish to interfere.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many hosiery repair needles were imported in the year 1948; and what licences for further imports are current.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that hosiery repair needles are being imported for use in conjunction with machines manufactured by a French company established in this country; and whether, in view of the fact that such importation is detrimental to an all British manufacturing company which has been granted a limited production permit of machines and needles, and of the stated policy of his Department, he will reconsider the permission of this import.

I am not prepared to prohibit the importation of these needles. Prohibition could not be justified on balance of payments grounds. It would also lead to suspension of manufacture of machines of which the needles form a small but indispensable part.

Is it fair to this company, which is working on a very low quota, that there should be this tremendous flood of needles from abroad—because it is a tremendous flood—to fit machines manufactured by this French company established in this country; and is that in accordance with the policy which has been laid down?

I cannot accept the statement that there is a flood of needles coming in. Certainly import licensing was not designed, and has never been operated, for the protection of individual manufacturers. What is happening is perfectly fair, and most of the needles are being incorporated in machines now made in this country.

That answer is so unsatisfactory that I give notice that I shall endeavour to raise the question on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why his Department has decided to use View Tree site, at Harley, in the parish of Wentworth, for opencast coalmining, despite the fact that 23½ acres of it is woodland and 78¼ acres is part of a pedigree Ayrshire dairy farm of 112¾ acres, and despite the Rotherham Rural District Council having unanimously decided to protest against any further destruction in the parish of Wentworth.

It is proposed to work this site because it contains an exceptionally rich deposit of about 800,000 tons of very good coal, the value of which is estimated at approximately £12,000 per acre. To win an equivalent quantity from other agricultural land would normally entail the working of about four times the area required at this particular site.

What will the Minister do for Mr. Loveley, the tenant of this farm; will the right hon. Gentleman give him proper compensation to ensure that he is able to keep his herd somewhere else?

I think the hon. and gallant Member will be aware that the question of compensation is really one for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works.

And very unsatisfactory it is.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why his Department has decided to use Boulder Falls site, to the south of the main Wentworth site, for opencast coalmining, despite the fact that it contains a seven acre plantation of immature hardwoods, and despite its leaving the farm tenants of 87 acres with only seven acres.

Because the site contains a rich deposit of 500,000 tons of good quality coal estimated to be worth £6,500 an acre, and because the winning of an equivalent quantity of coal from other agricultural land would normally entail the requisitioning of more than twice the area required here.

Does not the Minister realise that the decision to use this site involves the tenant farmer being put completely out of business, and will the right hon. Gentleman take some steps to see that this man is enabled to earn a livelihood somewhere else in the district, and that he does not have to give up the whole of his farm?

These are very grave issues, and I have a great deal of sympathy with the tenant farmer in question, but the question of compensation is not, as the hon. and gallant Member knows, one which should be addressed to me.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the danger to persons and property caused by rock blasting and the detriment to the health of local inhabitants caused by all night rock tipping at the Winstanley Hall Opencast Coal No. 3A site, he will order an immediate cessation of operations there.

No, Sir.

Is the Minister aware of the large number of letters I have sent to him and his Department, and that on 21st February, I sent him a copy of a letter I had received from the Medical Officer of Health and members of the town council? Is he also aware that I followed that up with an interview, and that as a result of that a meeting is to take place on Monday next on the site with members of the local town council and other people? Is he further aware that I have had letters of thanks from the people in that district appreciating my efforts on their behalf? Is it right, just, honest or honourable for the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll) to clutter up the Order Paper with matters about which he knows nothing?

My hon. Friend has been most persistent on behalf of his constituents, and I can assure the House that with his help and advice we shall be able to deal with this problem.

Will the Minister consider especially the grievances of those householders about whom I have written to him, who have been so shamefully neglected by the hon. Member for Ince (Mr. T. Brown) solely because most of them are Tories?

On a point of Order. Is it in order for an hon. Member to make a charge of that kind against an hon. Member who is a long serving Member of this House without giving some information in confirmation of his statement?

It is very difficult. I allowed the hon. Member for Ince (Mr. T. Brown) to ask the first supplementary question, because it was his constituency and, therefore, he was entitled to say what he had done. If I may say so, it is a little unfortunate that he rather threw the ball into the arena at the end of his question by saying that it was not fair for the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll) to put this question. That is a matter of opinion, but then the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale threw the ball back. Once the ball is in play like that, it is very difficult for the referee, and I suggest now that we had better proceed to the next Question.

The hon. Member for Ince (Mr. T. Brown) played a clean ball but all that the hon. Member opposite did was to throw a handful of mud.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the amount of domestic coal supplied to the city of Bristol is less than is required to give registered consumers their proper allocation; that the number of coal registrations is rapidly increasing; and what steps he is taking to provide the city with sufficient domestic fuel to meet the allocation requirements of all its consumers.

As I have explained on a number of occasions, the maximum permitted quantities are not rations or allocations to which consumers are entitled but are limits up to which they may buy according to their needs if supplies are available. Receipts by merchants against allocations in Bristol have, in fact, been slightly higher than for the country as a whole, but as stocks are low some additional supplies are being despatched. The latest available figures of registrations show that the number of registrations in Bristol increased by 2½ per cent. between May and November of last year which is about the same as the average for the country as a whole.

Is the Minister satisfied that a week's stock in the city is sufficient? Is he aware that the sidings used for coal stocks are now used for other purposes, and will he, in conjunction with the Minister of Transport, see that more sidings are made available for the stocks of coal in the city?

I will look into the matter of sidings, but I am quite satisfied that a week's stock in Bristol should be adequate at this time of the year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the quantity of domestic coal for each registered consumer supplied to the Leicester Cooperative Society for delivery to its customers for the period from 1st November, 1948, to date; and how much short of the 30 cwt. allocation per registered consumer he expects each such consumer to be for the current period when that period ends on 30th April next.

The amount of house coal received by the Leicester Co-operative Society from the 1st November to 5th March represents an average of 16 cwt. per registered consumer which is slightly higher than the average for the Leicester district; the deliveries have also been augmented by withdrawals from stocks. For the half year 1st November to 1st May deliveries are expected to amount on the average to about 23½cwt. per registered consumer.

Could the Minister give any further help in overcoming the shortage? I acknowledge that he has helped already.

I have to arrange for coal to be distributed as fairly as possible throughout the country, but just at the moment, owing to the fact that consumers are free to change their merchants, there is a certain tendency for merchants to get hold of as much coal as possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has any statement to make respecting the Report of the Committee on Mining Subsidence, Command Paper No. 7637.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Mr. Boardman) on 24th February.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now in a position to announce the regulations to be made under Section 23 of the Electricity Act, 1947, for the distribution to local authorities, now incorporated in the North-Western Electricity Board, of the global sum of £5 million.

This matter is still being discussed by my Department with the associations representing local authorities.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is prepared to make a statement as to whether an extra allocation of petrol will be available to motorists for the Summer holiday season.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the steadily improving world supplies of petroleum, he can now say when he will abolish petrol rationing.

As the House will recall, from 1st May onwards, no further deductions from supplementary allowances will be made in respect of the standard ration, the annual cost of which will therefore increase from 120,000 tons to about 360,000 tons of petrol. At this level it will certainly absorb the whole of the savings obtained from suppressing the black market. In view of the fact that any additional imports of motor spirit have to be paid for in dollars, and since, as the Economic Survey points out, we still have a serious dollar deficit, the Government have decided that no permanent increase in the standard ration can yet be afforded.

Nevertheless, in view of the substantial recovery which has been achieved, it has been decided to issue a special summer holiday bonus. This will be done by doubling the value of the coupons for June, July and August in the next standard ration book, so that for these months, each coupon will be worth its face value in gallons instead of half its face value as at present. In order to assist those who wish to take their holidays early, I have arranged for the new books to be available early in May, and I propose to make all the coupons valid from the date of issue. They will continue to be valid, as in the case of the present book, for the five months following the month shown upon them. Thus the value of the next standard ration book will be increased from approximately 540 miles to 810 miles of motoring, and motorists will be able to use all or any of the coupons in the book from early in May till the end of the Summer.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him if he is aware that he made the statement after the Sowerby by-election?

I am sure the House will agree with me that the actual statement itself is almost as important as the result of the Sowerby by-election.

Can the Minister say whether this welcome increase will be given without any increase in the current rate of motor taxation?

That is hardly a question to address to me.

Can my right hon. Friend give the House any estimate of the quantity required for this additional concession?

About 90,000 tons.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the view of an Independent Member of this House he is doing very well?

Will the right hon. Gentleman give consideration to the month of September and to adjustments in the case of Scotland, where September is a very important month of the holiday season?

The coupons are equally valid in September as they are in June, July and August.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were committed to prison in 1947 and 1948, respectively. for failure to comply with wife-maintenance orders.

Two thousand, nine hundred and fifty-five persons were committed to prison in England and Wales for failure to comply with wife-maintenance orders in 1947. I regret that similar information is not yet available for 1948.

Is the Home Secretary aware that there are considerable inequalities in the sentences that have been imposed under these Acts, and is he satisfied with the general working of these Acts?

I have no doubt there are inequalities, because the circumstances of each case have to be taken into consideration and the circumstances vary.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give consideration to the case of men who leave their jobs and get jobs with the Admiralty and thereby escape having to pay maintenance?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and women, respectively, have been reported in the Metropolitan Police area as missing from their homes, without trace, during 1948; and what was the average number during the periods 1945–47 and 1930–39.

The number of persons. including those deliberately concealing their whereabouts, in 1948 was 1,241, of whom 20 men and six women are as yet untraced. The annual average of the three years 1945–47 was 1,613 of whom 15 men and seven women are still untraced; that for the years 1938 and 1939 was 3,552, all of whom were traced. I regret earlier figures are not available.

Has my right hon. Friend any figures for the rest of the country? Can he give us any information to show to what extent the Metropolitan police area is typical?

I have no responsibility outside the Metropolitan police area.

In cases where men are deliberately concealing their whereabouts because there are court orders for maintenance against them and where the police are in possession of information about those whereabouts, can the police make the facts known to those who have to enforce orders?

If there is a court order and the police know the whereabouts of the man concerned, the order is served. When I say deliberately concealing their whereabouts," I expect they include a number of people of fugitive temperament who manage to conceal their whereabouts even from the police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual average cost to each family residing in the Metropolitan area of the Metropolitan Police precept of 1s. 9¼d.

Current statistics do not give reliable figures as to the number of families in the Metropolitan Police District but on the basis of the Registrar-General's estimate that the population of the area is 8¼ million the rate represents an annual cost of 19s. 6d. a head.

Is the Home Secretary aware that I have had a Question down to the Ministry of Health concerning other big cities in the country, and that I already have some information which shows that the rate in other towns is much less than it is in London? Can he also say what benefits the people of London get, in view of the protection given by the police force to a man like Mosley as against that which is given in other parts of the country?

Each police force has to be considered on the merits of the area. After all, the capital city of a country presents peculiar difficulties for its police force. No protection, other than that afforded to the ordinary citizen, is given to the person named by the hon. Member.

Does not that show how much more decent we people in the Provinces are?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expenses are now incurred by the Metropolitan police in respect of imperial and national services; and by how much these expenses have increased since 1911.

As a result of increases in police pay and allowances, and overhead administrative costs, there has undoubtedly been since 1911 a rise in the cost of the national and imperial services rendered by the Metropolitan police, but owing to changes which have occurred over the years in police methods and organisation I cannot at present undertake to make a precise comparison of the costs of these services in 1911 and now. I have been supplied by the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District with certain figures which I am examining with a view to determining what items of expenditure can properly be attributed to national and imperial services.

Does that reply mean that my right hon. Friend is prepared to consider some increase in the amount of the present contribution from the Exchequer, because the present arrangement is based upon 40-year-old conditions which are no longer relevant?

The reply means that I am examining these figures to see whether they represent a fair payment for the services rendered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Metropolitan police authorities notified municipal authorities in London of the increased precept for police expenses for 1949–50.

On 14th February, 1949, Sir.

Will my right hon. Friend examine the constitutional propriety of announcing this increased precept to the local authorities more than three weeks before the estimates on which that precept is based were available to hon. Members of this House? Is it not at least desirable that this House should approve any impost for which the Government are responsible and accountable before taxation is announced or imposed?

I think it is desirable that the rating authorities who have to levy the rate should have the information at as early a date as possible. I think that, quite properly, it was sent out on St. Valentine's Day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the police are making inquiries from relatives and tradesmen about a Wandsworth resident, of whom he has received information.

As I have already informed the hon. Member, these inquiries were properly made in the ordinary course of police duty.

Can the Minister say what exactly are the charges against this young ex-Service man and what crime he has committed? Can he say why the police are pursuing him both at home and in his occupation?

I do not think that is a fair comment on the action of the police. This man has, in fact, been bound over on one occasion.

Hear, hear.

Can the Home Secretary say, before hon. Members without information on the matter applaud him, what exactly was the charge against this young man for which he was bound over and why the police are still pursuing him?

He was bound over for an offence under the Public Order Act, 1936.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what step he is taking to ensure that every county constituency is so divided that there shall be a separate polling place for every parish; and what representations he has received from local authorities under Section 7 of the Representation of the People Act, 1948.

I issued a circular in October drawing the attention of county councils to Section 7, and the responsibility for giving effect to its requirements in county constituencies rests on them. I have received no representation under the Section from any local authority.

In view of the pledge which the Minister himself gave that there would be a separate polling station in every parish, will be at an early date cause a review to be made of the complaints made by local authorities in regard to the carrying out of his pledge?

I have given instructions in the matter. I can say to the House that, taking rural counties as a whole, there has already been a substantial increase in the number of polling stations. For example, in Buckinghamshire there are an additional 65, in Nottinghamshire an additional 84, and in Warwickshire an additional 80. I am keeping the subject under review, for I regard this matter as an essential part of the reforms enacted in the Representation of the People Act.

Will the Home Secretary say whether those increases ensure a separate polling station in every rural parish?

No, I would not say that they go as far as that, but at any rate they are a substantial improvement on what existed in the past. If they are not sufficient, additional polling stations will be provided.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman give his word that there would be a separate polling station in every parish, except in exceptional circumstances?

Yes, I did and I intend to see that it is carried out. The figures I gave were only a few from a list which I have here, and which indicates that I have met with a very considerable measure of success.

What remedy has an elector if there is not a polling station provided in his parish?

The local authority in each area—that includes a parish council or parish meeting—can make a representation to me. Any 30 electors can also make a representation to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received from police officers who attended a meeting at Ridley Road on the 6th March, 1949; and what action he proposes to take in respect of the speech delivered on that occasion by a Mr. Victor Burgess.

I have received a report from the Commissioner of Police on this meeting, which had a maximum attendance of 25 persons. I am not a prosecuting authority and do not initiate criminal proceedings, but I have sent the papers to the Director of Public Prosecutions for his consideration.

Did this man incite his audience against any part of the population by describing them as lower than vermin?

In view of the fact that these papers are before the Director of Public Prosecutions it would be inadvisable for me to comment on any statement that was made at the meeting.

In asking this question I wish to call attention to a custom and practice of this House. The Question deals with a subject on which an answer was given by the Lord President of the Council in the first instance. Naturally, I put the Question down to the Lord President of the Council, as he answered a Question on the same subject in the first instance. Yesterday I received a letter from a gentleman calling himself the Private Secretary to the Lord President of the Council, saying, in the third person, that the Question had been transferred to the Home Secretary. I suggest that where a question has already been answered on the subject by a Minister, it is very undesirable in general to transfer the matter to another Minister.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

In view of the mystery surrounding this matter, would the right hon. Gentleman explain why the matter was originally handled by the Lord President of the Council and has now been handed over to him?

There is no mystery about it. This is a Question which would be normally answered by me. Last week it arose out of the Business answers that my right hon. Friend gave in reply to the Leader of the Opposition.

In considering this matter will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the advisability of not extending the scope of the inquiry to all animals but of confining it to wild animals? Otherwise, the inquiry will take too long.

The question asked last week arose out of specific matters. I will en-deavour to see that the terms of reference are so framed that a reasonably speedy result can be achieved.

When considering the terms of reference, will my right hon. Friend take note of my Amendment on the Order Paper to the Motion on "Cruelty to Wild Animals?"

Note has been taken of my hon. Friend's Amendment, and it will be considered when the terms of reference are being drafted.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very considerable difference of opinion, which is by no means on party lines, on this matter, and that many of us believe that the terms of reference should be much wider than has been indicated? Will the right hon. Gentleman give full consideration to this question upon which, as I said, there is no division on party lines?

I am very anxious to avoid the usual cliche "every relevant factor will be taken into consideration," but the spirit of that well-known Parliamentary statement will be borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the claim by Mr. J. C. S. Hunt of Newport, Monmouthshire, for £32,652 in connection with the manufacture and supply to local authorities of precast concrete units for the waterproofing of Anderson shelters during the late war; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

Yes, Sir. I have fully investigated this case and I am satisfied that there are no grounds for his claim against my Department.

In view of the fact that Mr. Hunt is practically bankrupt and has very little chance of contesting his case in the courts, will my right hon. Friend permit an independent impartial investigation, especially in view of the very large sum involved?

No, Sir, I do not think there is any justification for this matter being further considered.