asked the President of the Board of Trade on how many separate occasions discussions have been held with the Marshall Plan authorities regarding the obligations imposed on the Administrator under Section 117 (d) of the Economic Co-operation Act; and when it is proposed to make public the list of commodities which, under the provisions of this section of the Act, are not permitted to be exported to countries not joining in the Marshall Plan.

We have been in touch with the United States authorities on the application of Section 117 (d) of the Economic Co-operation Act on numerous occasions over the last nine or 10 months. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by attempting to enumerate the discussions which have taken place on the subject. As regards the second part of the Question, His Majesty's Government intend, in the interests of national security, to subject additional goods to export control. In this connection I have nothing to add to the statement which I made on 15th February in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bilston (Mr. Nally).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a list of countries which are at present closed to the importation of British hosiery and knitwear.

Imports of hosiery and knitwear (or of certain classes of these goods as stated) are not at present permitted into the following countries:

• Chile.
• China (hosiery and knitwear of silk and cotton).
• Ecuador (all hosiery and knitwear except cotton goods).
• Ethiopia (hosiery and knitted garments of silk or artificial silk).
• Iran (all goods except ladies' stockings and gloves of natural silk or nylon).
• Jamaica, Kenya, Uganda. Tanganyika, Zanzibar (knitted woollen garments made of cashmere, mohair, camel hair, llama and vicuna; women's and girls' fully fashioned woollen stockings).
• Mexico.
• New Zealand (all goods except the following):
• Children's socks and stockings; babies' clothing; women's stockings, full length, other than those of cotton, silk and/or artificial silk (the term "artificial silk" including nylon).
• Peru.
• Union of South Africa (women's dresses and frocks exceeding£2 in f.o.b. value; stockings of an f.o.b. value exceeding 65s. per dozen).

As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. S. Shephard) on 25th March, 1948, in certain other countries the effect of restrictions and quota regulations seriously limits the ability of the importer to obtain high-class and luxury goods from the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now relax the regulations for licensing the importation of racing pigeons.

I regret that the balance of payments position does not at present allow the unlimited import of racing pigeons, for which only a limited supply of imported foodstuffs is available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what measures of development of hydro-electric power in North Wales have been included in the general programme of the Central Authority, settled with him in accordance with subsection (2) of Section 5 of the Electricity Act, 1947; and if he will publish particulars of this programme in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None." As regards the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to Appendix (b) to the Economic Survey for 1949. I also understand that the British Electricity Authority will publish details of their general programme in their Annual Report.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that a number of commercial travellers and travelling salesmen have already exhausted their petrol allocations for the current rationing period; and whether he has any statement to make.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what further changes he proposes to make in the system of allocation of petrol to commercial travellers.

Commercial travellers, like all motorists with supplementary allowances, receive their coupons in advance for six months, and are expected to make their own arrangements for spreading the use of those coupons over the whole period. I have already announced an increase in the allowances for the next period covered by the commercial traveller's application, and I do not propose to make any further changes.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many coalmines have been closed since nationalisation.

One hundred and twenty-eight mines have been closed and not re-opened, of which 109 employed fewer than 50 wage-earners.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he intends using Stead Lane, Hoyland, and Hoyland commons sites for opencast coalmining.

These sites are included in the production programme but discussions with the authorities concerned are not yet concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the shortage of police throughout the country and the alarming increase in crime which has taken place over the last few years, what steps he is taking to expedite the report of the Oaksey Committee on police conditions.

I am satisfied that the Committee has pursued its inquiry with all possible expedition having regard to the numerous important, and in some cases complex, problems referred to it. I have every hope that their report on police conditions will be in my hands very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those detained in prisons during the last year have been found hanged in cells; and whether he is satisfied that all possible steps are taken to prevent these tragedies.

Since the beginning of 1948 five prisoners have been found hanged in their cells. I am satisfied that every reasonable precaution is taken where suicidal tendencies are suspected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far the terms of the catering wages orders apply to State management houses.

The orders do not apply, but the Government have given an undertaking that the conditions of employment in State managed houses shall be not less favourable than those prescribed by the appropriate wages order.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the Incumbents (Discipline) Rules, 1948 (S.I., 1948, No. 1919), which came into operation on 6th February, 1948, and were laid before Parliament on 19th February, 1948, were not published by His Majesty's Stationery Office until the end of August, 1948.

When these Rules were made they were printed and placed on sale by the Church Assembly and the question of their inclusion in the Statutory Instruments series had not been considered. Subsequently, at the request of the Church Assembly, it was agreed to include in the Statutory Instruments series Rules made under future measures where such measures contain a provision applying the Statutory Instruments Act, 1946, to such Rules. It was further agreed that this arrangement should apply to the Incumbents (Discipline) Rules made in February, 1948, and these Rules were accordingly printed and published as Statutory Instruments in August, 1948.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why it is intended to alter the existing arrangements by which no Statutory Instrument, to which the provisions of Section 4 of the Act of 1946 apply, is sent to the Stationery Office for printing until it has in fact been presented to this House and has received from this House the date to be printed on the Instrument as the date of presentation; and if he is satisfied that there will be no risk of Instruments being published with a statement that they have been laid on a certain date, when in fact they have been laid on a different date, or not at all.

The answer to the first part of the question is, that as the procedure for laying instruments in another place is now regulated by a Standing Order similar to that in force in this House and that as the date of laying before both Houses can now be forecast accurately it is proposed that the arrangements should be altered to eliminate as far as possible the delays which sometimes occurred between the laying of an instrument before this House and its availability to hon. Members in the Vote Office. By beginning the final printing of the Instrument in advance of the date of laying, the time between laying and publication will be reduced—in the case of long Orders and Schedules by several days The answer to the second part of the Question is that it is, of course, appreciated that the new arrangement will lay on Departments the absolute duty of ensuring that instruments are duly laid on the date named on the printed copies, but it is considered that the reduction of the time between laying and publication constitutes an overwhelming case for its adoption. The House can rest assured that all the Departments concerned will take the greatest care to ensure that statutory instruments are duly laid.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when the Civil Estimates, Class III, for 1949–50, were available in the Vote Office.

On 9th March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make about the provision of capital for British Overseas Airways Corporation.

Yes. My noble Friend the Minister of Civil Aviation and I have approved proposals by the British Overseas Airways Corporation for an issue of stock to repay temporary bank advances, to acquire additional aircraft and other assets, and to provide further working capital. Accordingly, the Corporation has today made the following issue of stock at par to the National Debt Commissioners under Treasury Guarantee: £14½ million of 3 per cent. Airways Stock 1980–83.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy with respect to the purchase of hard currency goods by members of the Transferable Account Area, through third countries, for sterling.

His Majesty' Government considers that the traffic to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, which twists trade out of its normal channels, is damaging to the position of sterling, and is approaching the members of the Transferable Account Area as opportunity offers with a view to stopping it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the tension which exists at Richard Sankey & Son, Ltd., Bulwell, Nottingham, by reason of the employers refusing to meet the trade unions who represent an overwhelming proportion of the workpeople employed; and what steps he is taking to avoid stoppage of work.

Efforts to secure a settlement have not so far been successful but my officers are keeping in close touch with the parties.

asked the Minister of Labour how many canteens and how many day nurseries have been provided in the weaving, spinning and finishing sections, respectively, of the cotton textile industry; and what percentage of the total number of factories or mills in each section of the industry is now so equipped.

Exact information is not available, but there are known to be 432 canteens in cotton spinning mills and 372 and 58 in cotton weaving and finishing establishments respectively. Nearly nine-tenths of the spinning mills and over one-half of the weaving and finishing works have canteens. There are known to be 88 and 25 day nurseries for the spinning and weaving sections of the industry respectively other than day nurseries of local authorities. Information as to the finishing section is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of the workers in the weaving, spinning and finishing sections, respectively, of the cotton textile industry is employed in mills or factories equipped with canteens and day nurseries.

Exact information is not available, but it is estimated that the percentage of workers in the spinning, weaving and finishing sections of the cotton industry who are employed in works with canteens are over 90, over 70 and over 80 respectively. The corresponding figures relating to works with day nurseries other than local authority nurseries are about 20 per cent. and about 10 per cent. respectively for the spinning and weaving sections. Similar information as to the finishing section is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered details, which have been sent to him, concerning Mr. Richter, of 33, Keswick Road, West Wickham, Kent, and the failure of the Emergency Bed Service to find him prompt accommodation; and if he will take steps to re-organise the Emergency Bed Service.

The purpose of the Emergency Bed Service is to help doctors to find beds for the comparatively small number of emergency cases not admitted by direct contact between the doctor and the hospital. In this case the Service was unable to find a bed before the doctor himself did. The difficulties are due to shortage of staffed beds, not to the organisation of the Emergency Bed Service.

asked the Minister of Health why he is creating a new post of administrative officer of the Scarthoe Road Infirmary, Grimsby, at £650 per annum since the present master and matron of the infirmary have been doing the work for the past 11 years to the entire satisfaction of the late public assistance committee; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the hospital management committee.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is proposed to provide maternity accommodation and an antenatal and post-natal clinic at Ronkswood Hospital, Worcester; what is the estimated cost of the scheme; how many maternity beds and cots will be available; and how many general beds will be sacrificed to the scheme.

I understand that the Regional Board are considering proposals for these purposes, but they have not yet been submitted to me.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now extend the use of trilene to relieve pain in childbirth.

Where a doctor is in charge of a confinement the decision whether trilene should be used must rest with him. Its use by midwives must depend upon a safe apparatus for its administration by them being devised and research on this is proceeding.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the dissatisfaction amongst members of the medical profession because they are expected to provide vaccination and immunisation services without any payment; and if he will make a statement regarding his negotiations with the British Medical Association on the subject.

I regret that the negotiations in this matter have been protracted. I am doing what I can to expedite a settlement.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make the necessary changes in his regulations to permit dental surgeons in the school dental service to issue National Health Service prescriptions in appropriate cases.

No. I understand that any drugs considered necessary by a school dentist are supplied free of charge under the School Dental Service.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that eight wards containing 200 beds in the Isolation and Chest Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester, are empty owing to the lack of nurses and that over 150 patients are awaiting admission; when did he last take action to help this modern hospital to get nurses; what was the nature of that action and what were its results; and what fresh action does he now propose to take.

I understand that the number of unstaffed beds now is 136, and the number of patients awaiting admission 139. Continuous efforts to obtain staff are being made by the hospital management committee with the help of my Department and of the Ministry of Labour, and these efforts will continue.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the complaints of deaf persons in Swindon that they cannot be supplied with aids to hearing; and if he will take steps to improve the supply.

It is anticipated that the rate of supply will be doubled within the next two or three months.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that he had adequate powers to prevent invalid chairs and other equipment made available to patients under the National Health Scheme from being sold by them.

Invalid chairs and similar articles are supplied only on loan, and persons selling them are liable to prosecution.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total number of deaths from influenza in the 126 great towns in 1947, 1948 and 1949 for the period up to 6th March.

The number of deaths from influenza in the 126 great towns during the nine weeks ended 5th March, 1949, was 996. The numbers for the corresponding periods of 1947 and 1948 were 1,122 and 192 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health how many fully staffed beds in sanatoria are reserved for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in England and Wales; how many patients were discharged from these sanatoria in 1948: in how many of these cases was the report disease arrested, and in how many definitely cured made; and what was the total cost of treatment.

The number of staffed beds for tuberculosis patients in England and Wales is approximately 30,000, but I cannot give a separate figure for pulmonary cases. I regret that the other particulars mentioned are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many hospital beds in Sunderland are at present unoccupied: and what is the reason;(2) how many hospital beds in Sunderland are set aside to be available for emergency cases.

On 31st December, 1948, there were 477 available beds unoccupied, and 266 beds unoccupied for lack of staff, out of a total of 2,022 beds in the hospitals controlled by the Sunderland area hospital management committee. No one reason can be assigned for this. A proportion of the beds available in any hospital are inevitably unoccupied at any given moment because of the need for a working margin, that is to say, in order to allow of changes in occupancy: to keep a small, but not normally fixed, reserve for emergencies; and to make possible the proper classification and separation of different types of case and the necessary separation between the sexes and between adults and children. Seasonal factors such as the occurrence of Christmas also enter in. The fact that there are unoccupied beds does not therefore necessarily mean that more patients could immediately be admitted from the waiting list of that or other hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health when it is proposed to make use of the former military hospital in Shugborough Park, near Stafford, and how.

As I have already informed my hon. Friend, the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board are considering what use should be made of this hospital, which will need considerable adaptation before it can be used for civilian hospital purposes.

asked the Minister of Health if he will reconsider his decision to override the objection of the Lowestoft Town Council to the conversion of Lyndhurst, Gordon Road, Lowestoft, into offices for the new rating and valuation department of the Board of Inland Revenue; why alternative accommodation suggested by the council was considered unsuitable; and, in view of the serious housing situation in Lowestoft, whether he will now agree to return the four flats involved to domestic use.

It is essential that the valuation offices should be ready to operate before the end of this year. All the alternative premises suggested by the town council were unsuitable because of size, construction, or position.

asked the Minister of Health the date on which the last contract for the 1948 allocation of houses in Cardiff was agreed and signed.

8th March, 1949.

asked the Minister of Health the area of ground which has been acquired by the Cardiff City Council for the building of houses in Cardiff during 1950; and what number of houses can be built on this area.

I regret that I cannot add to the information given in the Housing Return, Appendix B.

asked the Minister of Health whether he expects the number of new permanent houses completed in Great Britain during 1949 will exceed or fall below the number completed during 1948.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford (Mr. Austin) on 20th January, 1949.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been completed in the borough of Mossley since July, 1945; and how many are in course of erection.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Housing Return.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the unsatisfactory supply of water in the parishes of Dacre and North Stainley; whether he has yet considered the water supply scheme for the Ripon and Patley Bridge Rural District which was prepared in 1946; and what is holding up the supply of piped water to the villages in this rural district council area.

Yes. The scheme in question was only an outline report by consulting engineers, consideration of which was deferred by reason of consultations between the council and other interested authorities. I am afraid that it has not yet been possible to decide the best method of supplying the area, but I hope that a survey which is being carried out by one of my engineering inspectors will resolve this question.

asked the Minister of Health what is the local rate levied on behalf of police expenditure in Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow; and what is the annual average cost to each family residing in those respective cities.

The police rates levied in Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow for 1948–49 were respectively 1s. 9¼d., 1s. 3½d., 1s. 10d. and 1s. 2d. in the £. The figure for Glasgow is given by courtesy of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The term "family" is hard to define statistically and I am not in a position to give the average cost for each family.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities provide classes in lip-reading for deaf and hard-of-hearing adults; how many of these classes are in being; and what charge is made to the pupils.

Complete figures for 1947–48 are not yet available but in 1946–47 35 authorities provided 125 such classes. The fee charged is at the discretion of the authority and is normally not more than a few shillings part or all of which may be remitted in cases of need.

asked the Minister of Education the names of local education authorities in Wales which have secondary technical schools providing for children of 11 years of age and over; and when it is expected that such provision will be available in Cardiff.

All of the 21 secondary technical schools in Wales are schools which, before 1st April, 1945, were recognised as junior technical schools, with about 13 years as the normal age of entry. Only one of these schools (in Montgomeryshire) has reduced the age of entry to 11. I cannot forecast when secondary technical schools with a full age range will be available in Cardiff because this must depend on the rate at which progress can be made with the erection of new secondary schools generally.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the Report of the Joint Committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the British Paediatric Association, which amongst other things, stresses the great value of nursery schools for children of two and over, he will encourage the building of these schools and encourage local authorities to open nursery schools wherever possible.

I know that nursery schools are valuable in fostering child health and relieving overworked mothers, and I am no less convinced of their intrinsic educational value. For the present, owing to the more urgent need for other educational provision, I cannot sanction the building of new nursery schools except where I am satisfied, after consultation with the Minister of Labour, that they are needed to assist the employment of married women in industry.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of claims made by widows of ex-Service men who served in the 1914–18 war for pensions in cases where they married their husbands subsequent to their Army service; and how many were granted pensions and allowances.

The number of such claims in respect of deaths occurring after 2nd September, 1939, was 2,977. Pension was granted in 1,747 cases. My right hon. Friend has no reliable information as to the number of claims made by widows whose husbands died before 3rd September, 1939, and who were therefore not eligible for consideration.

asked the Attorney-General how many appeals have been considered by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal since its inception; and how many have been successful.

Up to 4th March, 1949, 76,258 entitlement appeals, and 20,298 assessment appeals had been decided by the Pensions Appeal Tribunals. Of these, 21,145 and 6,075 respectively were allowed (the remainder being either disallowed or struck out).

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the proceedings and findings of the Court of Inquiry held into the loss of five Royal Air Force aircraft near the Egyptian-Palestine border on 7th January.

I have now received the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry into the loss of five R.A.F. aircraft near the Egyptian-Palestine border on 7th January and a summary of the evidence and findings together with the comments of the Air Commander-in-Chief is embodied in the following statement:—The Court found that the orders to the pilots on all three missions were comprehensive and clear; the frontier was not to be crossed at any point; no attacks were to be made on ground forces even though they fired on our aircraft; and no attacks were to be made on Jewish or other foreign aircraft except in self defence; these orders were fully understood and scrupulously observed by all pilots. The forces ordered were adequate for the task and the crews detailed were experienced and of high morale. All our aircraft were fitted with guns which were loaded and fit for battle. No other armament was carried.Coming now to the morning tactical reconnaissance, the evidence of the pilots shows that they complied with their flight plan, which provided for them to make a reconnaissance of the Ismailia-Beersheba road from a point east of Abu Aweiglia to the Palestine Frontier (but not to cross the Frontier) and then to turn north and follow the El Auja-Rafah road up to an easily identifiable road block some five miles south-west of Rafah and then to return to base. The weather was clear and the El Auja-Rafah road was identified. The Court found that the aircraft did not cross the Frontier.As the formation turned for base in the vicinity of the road block the Spitfire flown by Pilot II Close was hit by ground fire and he had to bale out. This led the other three pilots very naturally to concentrate their attention on pinpointing the exact place of the parachute descent, and it was while they were so occupied that they were attacked by Jewish aircraft. The element of surprise was enhanced by the fact that the attacking aircraft were Spitfires with British type camouflage and with red airscrew spinners similar to those of the aircraft of 208 Squadron. Flying Officers Cooper and McElhaw were hit before they realised what had happened. It is a reasonable assumption that the same thing happened to Pilot II Sayers, who was killed. Cooper and McElhaw were able to bale out.Evidence given by an R.A.F. officer who subsequently inspected the ground established that all four Spitfires crashed ten or more miles on the Egyptian side of the frontier. He found and identified the wrecks of the aircraft flown by Cooper and Sayers. Cooper was picked up by Bedouins and returned that same night to Ismailia. As regards McElhaw and Close and their aircraft, evidence was given by local Arabs that Jewish forces coming from the east had taken away the pilots and had later removed parts of the aircraft and had buried the rest. This statement was borne out by the signs found by the inspecting R.A.F. officer of many tracks of track and tyre vehicles moving between the area of the crashes and a point to the east. Fragments of two Spitfires were found on the site, one of which was specifically identifiable as belonging to Close's aircraft. Empty Jewish cigarette packets and sweet papers also seen on this site suggested that Jewish forces had been there.The Court inquired into the report that Close, while in Jewish hands, had stated that his formation crossed the frontier and that he was shot down over Palestine. This pilot was injured during his parachute descent and suffered a broken jaw and concussion. In evidence before the Court he confirmed that his instructions were not to cross the frontier and that, as far as he was aware, the flight was carried out according to briefing (this evidence was confirmed by Flying-Officers Cooper and McElhaw). Close also said that for the first six days he was in Jewish hands he was severely grilled by intensive questioning, usually twice a day. The Court found that his memory of what happened during this period appeared to be very hazy; and since he was still suffering very considerable physical and mental strain, they did not feel it proper to press him. The Court's estimate of his condition is confirmed by R.A.F. doctors.As regards the afternoon reconnaissance, the evidence shows that there is little of substance to add to the account I gave on 19th January, except that the leader of the Tempest formation returned fire, though we do not know if the Jews suffered any casualties. The Court considered that the Jewish attack was deliberate and highly skilled, and that the Jews had every intention of attacking any aircraft encountered over this area.The officer who inspected the ground afterwards was informed by the Egyptian army that an aircraft which possibly belonged to the R.A.F. was shot down in combat on the afternoon of 7th January and fell at a point about four miles inside Palestine. This may well have been Pilot-Officer Tattersfield's aircraft. The Court considered that since this aircraft was shot down from a considerable height it may well have travelled several miles before hitting the ground and that it was possible that it did crash a short distance on the Palestine side of the frontier.Evidence was given that between 30th December and 6th January seven previous tactical reconnaissances had been completed without serious incident.Evidence given showed that the instructions for the morning tactical reconnaissance on 7th January were that the aircraft should fly in two pairs, one pair at about 500 feet and the other pair 1,000 feet above. I am advised that the pair is the normal fighting unit for tactical reconnaissance which was used throughout the last war, and the two aircraft fly in wide line abreast to cover each other's tails. The tactics of the sections are evasive, and the reconnaissance is carried out at best height to minimise flak risks with periodic descents to low level to make identifications. In the event of attack by enemy aircraft the cover aircraft gives warning and the section relies on its flexibility and superior performance to evade attack. The Spitfire 18 aircraft with which this formation was equipped were believed to be superior in performance to any Jewish fighter known to be operating. The force despatched was therefore in every way suitable and adequate for the task. The Air Commander-in-Chief has had wide practical experience of wartime tactical reconnaissance operations and enjoys my entire confidence.I am placing in the House of Commons Library a map which shows the route followed by both morning and afternoon tactical reconnaissances with the locations of the crashed Spitfires and other relevant details.

asked the Minister of Works when the projected Remploy factory at Croydon is likely to be in operation.

It is hoped to complete she adaptations at the Croydon Remploy factory by the end of June, when it will be handed over to the Disabled Persons Employment Corporation.

asked the Minister of Works how organisations, clubs and members of the public may purchase surplus Government huts and hangars.

Applications for huts and small hangars should be made to the Regional Disposals Officer of the Ministry of Works. Because of the heavy demand for hutting to meet agricultural, industrial and other important national requirements, priority to acquire surplus hutting can be given only to applications sponsored by a Government Department. The Regional Disposals Officer will tell applicants whether the application might qualify for priority and the Department to which they should apply for sponsorship. Applications for large hangars should be made to the Regional Controller of the Government Department likely to be interested in the purpose for which they are required. Approved applications are then forwarded to my Department.Surplus huts and hangars are offered to priority applicants at fixed prices. Any not required by priority applicants are offered at competitive prices to others in order of application. The number of applications so far received greatly exceeds the number of huts and hangars available for disposal, and therefore even priority applicants often have a very long wait. The purchaser is responsible for dismantling and removal, and for obtaining building licences and clearance from local by-laws and planning regulations.

asked the Postmaster-General how many controlling and administrative officers over 65 years of age are employed by his Department.

One.

asked the Postmaster-General upon what date the present Public Relations Officer to the Department took up his appointment; and upon what date his predecessor retired from the service.

The present Public Relations Officer took up his appointment on 1st May, 1946. His predecessor retired from Post Office service on the 31st October, 1946.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has yet decided upon the prices to be paid for the principal agricultural commodities in the forthcoming year consequent upon the recent Annual Review as required by Part I of the Agriculture Act, 1947.

Yes. Prices for livestock products for the year commencing 1st April next and for clops of the 1950 harvest have been fixed by the Government and are being announced today. The announcement includes revised prices for the 1949 crops, for which a special review was held on account of the rise in wages that took effect in England and Wales on 13th March. Copies of the announcement are being placed in the Library for the information of hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date in November, 1948, the Russian child Yuri Serdyukov was repatriated.

Yuri Serdyukov was repatriated from the British zone of Germany on 8th December, 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Europeans have taken up land for settlement in Tanganyika since 1945; and how many of these have been allocated land on ex-enemy property.

One hundred and twenty-six individual Europeans and 11 European companies have taken up land for settlement since 1st January, 1945. Of these, 87 have been allotted ex-enemy farms. Most of the land allotted to the 11 companies was in extension of existing sisal estates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is possible for sums from the Protectorate Mining Benefits Fund in Sierra Leone to be allocated for expenditure on education in the Protectorate; and to what purposes the fund is at present being devoted.

Yes. In the last year for which figures are available (1947), sums were disbursed as follows:

EXPENDITURE
	£	s.	d.
A. Recurrent Commitments and Schemes—
Payments to Landowners	430	0	0
Local Administration, Forestry Development	586	1	9
Njala Training College	6,164	9	4
Teachers for Native Administration Schools—
(a) Payment to Njala Teachers and other expenses pending absorption in Schools	126	19	2
(b) Probationer Teachers, Native Administration Schools	46	8	9
(c) Female Teachers' Salaries	50	11	3
(d) Teachers in Training	811	17	4
Sanitary Training School	490	13	2
B. Projects entirely or partly provided for in previous years—
Bonthe Domestic Science Centre	10	12	3
Grants for Native Administrations School Equipment	92	16	7
Midwives in Training	118	2	11
Minor Roads in the Protectorate	1,111	15	3
Swamp clearance Northern Province	297	14	4
Bundu Training	605	0	5
Town Planning	768	16	11
C. New Applications—
Furniture and Equipment. Sanitary School	16	9	2
TOTAL	11,730	8	7

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to state, in respect of Northern Rhodesia, Malaya, Sierra Leone, St. Helena, Gibraltar, Seychelles, Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago, how many conscientious objectors were registered, approved or accepted, rejected, sentenced and imprisoned or otherwise punished during the last war; and what were the general instructions respecting conscientious objectors sent from his Department during the war.

It will be necessary to consult the Governors concerned before a full answer can be given to the first part of this Question, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend when this has been done. As regards the second part, Colonial Governments were informed in October, 1939, that the Secretary of State wished to be consulted before legislation was introduced for compulsory military service, with an intimation that it was desirable that conscientious objectors should not be obliged to render combatant military service. Attention was drawn to the procedure adopted in this country under Section 5 of the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939, for dealing with conscientious objectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a list of numbers and titles of all Statutory Instruments and Explanatory Memoranda issued by his Department in connection with the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1948, between the appointed day and the nearest convenient date.

The following Statutory Instruments and Explanatory Memoranda (including leaflets) have been made or issued by the Secretary of State for Scotland in connection with the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1947, between the appointed day and the end of February, 1949.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will give a list of numbers and titles of all Statutory Instruments and Explanatory Memoranda issued by his Department in connection with the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, between the appointed day and the nearest convenient date.

The following is a list of all Statutory Instruments and Explanatory Memoranda issued by the Ministry of Town and Country Planning in connection with the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, since the appointed day. The list also includes a Statutory Instrument issued by the Lord Chancellor in connection with the Act, some Explanatory Memoranda issued by the Central Land Board, and some Ministry circulars and leaflets which contain explanatory matter.1.

asked the Minister of Supply how many sales have taken place of British aircraft to foreign operators in the latest convenient period; what were the types; and what was the price.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 16th March, 1949; Vol. 462, c. 2119], supplies the following information:During the year ended 31st December, 1948, the following types of British military aircraft were exported:

Anson,	Martinet,
Fury,	Oxford,
Magister,	Tempest,
Mosquito,	Firefly,
Spitfire,	Lincoln,
Vampire,	Meteor,
Beaufighter,	Prentice,
Lancaster,	Tiger Moth.

asked the Minister of Food what is the subsidy per pound on each kind of English, Scottish and Welsh cheese sold on the ration at 10d.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 9th March, 1949; Vol. 462, c. 1184–1185], supplied the following information:The subsidies on cheeses made in Scotland, including the subsidy on the liquid milk from which they are made, are: