asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the "Neue Volkszeitung" newspaper has been banned for six weeks by the British authorities; and whether he is aware that the ban adversely affects the election compaign of the Ruhr Communist Party by depriving it of its newspaper during the elections.

This newspaper has been banned because it recently published an article inciting the Germans to resist Military Government instructions on dismantling. In view of the fact that it was suspended for a month last year for another attack on the Occupying Powers, six weeks was considered to be the minimum penalty which could be imposed this time. The Communist Party has two other newspapers in the Ruhr area which can serve their cause in the election campaign.

Is it not the case that the article complained of, which I sent to the Minister, only criticised the trade union leaders in the area for the attitude they have adopted in connection with dismantling, and said nothing whatever about the authorities or criticised them in any way?

That is the usual Communist ingenuity to achieve their objective.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider adapting the August Thyssen Works, near Duisberg, which are scheduled for dismantling for the production of prefabricated steel houses, and allowing them to be retained under international control for supplying the housing needs of Europe's homeless population.

No, Sir.

Does the Minister not realise how difficult he is making things for the trade union leaders in this area of Germany, where there are 200,000 unemployed? Does he not agree that it would be far better for these people to be usefully employed than to be drawing unemployment benefit?

I have given many answers on this point. This Government has done more to get Germany established on a reasonable post-war basis than has anyone else concerned. The remaining capacity of 11 million tons is well accounted for. In the beginning we were faced with demands from, I think, Russia for 5 million tons and from America for 5 million tons. We stood out and succeeded in getting 11 million tons for the Germans.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether this is the plant on which 17 million marks have been expended since the end of the war? May I have an answer?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in accordance with paragraph (d) of Article 5 of the Bizonal Fusion Agreement of 17th December, 1947, the British voting strength is equal to the American on the Joint Export-Import Board.

No, Sir. Under Article 5, paragraph (d) of the Revised Fusion Agreement the voting strength of the national groups represented on the Board of the Joint Export-Import Agency is proportionate to the financial contributions made by their respective Governments to the German economy.

Does the Foreign Secretary recall that on 28th March he or one of his colleagues gave me the answer that we and the United States Government each contributed £15½ million to this body? As our contributions are equal why are our votes not equal?

I do not think that our contributions are equal now.

The answer I received was that they were equal. If the amounts subscribed were equal, why are the votes not equal?

I assure the hon. Member that they are not equal now.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the balance sheet of the Joint Export-Import Agency has been published; and if he will make it available to hon. Members.

The accounts of the Agency for the years 1947 and 1948 will be published shortly. Publication in this country will be in the form of a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he proposes to take on the American representations made to him to allow emigration from overcrowded Japan to British Colonies in South-East Asia.

No such representations have been received. The settlement of Japanese in the British or British protected territories in South-East Asia which they occupied during the war would not in any case be entertained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reports he has received of unrest among any of the native peoples of Africa, consequent upon the passing of the Citizenship Act by the South African Parliament; and if he proposes to advise all colonial Governments that His Majesty's Government would be strongly opposed to the introduction of similar legislation in any British colony.

No such reports have reached me, and I see no necessity for any such communication to colonial Governments. In colonial territories, where the British Nationality Act, 1948, establishing a common citizenship for the United Kingdom and these territories applies, no question of passing similar legislation can arise.

That being so, does the Minister intend to wash his hands of this gross manifestation of nationalism and racialism, as though it did not exist in the Empire at all?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of legislation denying full citizenship rights to British settlers in the Union of South Africa, he will take corresponding action aganst Afrikaner immigrants who, in large numbers, have entered and are entering Northern Rhodesia and Kenya.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on 30th June, which fully explained the position regarding the recent South African legislation; with regard to the latter part of the Question, the answer is "No, Sir."

Is it not a fact that rather heavy emigration of Afrikaners has taken place, which may alter the whole position of Northern Rhodesia and Kenya and even racial characteristics?

There has been a fairly heavy immigration into Northern Rhodesia, but not quite so heavy into Kenya in the last two or three years, but, also, a large number of people have left those territories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representatives of commerce and industry were invited to the official opening of the Colonial Month.

Thirty-five representatives were invited from firms and commercial organisations who were themselves staging special exhibitions or displays as part of "Colonial Month."

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the statement that the interests of the United Kingdom and the Colonies are best served by a flourishing and free international market, given on page 43 of Command Paper No. 7715, entitled "The Colonial Territories, 1948–49," represents the policy of His Majesty's Government.

The hon. Member has slightly misquoted the passage to which he refers, and has taken it out of its context. The views of His Majesty's Government in these matters are those set out in paragraph 224 of Command Paper No. 7715. which should be read as a whole.

Having read the paragraph as a whole and apologising for any misquotations which may inadvertently have occurred, may I ask if the hon. Gentleman will consult with the President of the Board of Trade and the Minister of Supply and get them to re-open the Liverpool Cotton Exchange and the London Metal Exchange?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Kenya Land Control Board have interfered with a free sale of land by Mr. M. B. Tennent of Kupkegora Farm, Kenya, to African Tea Holdings, Ltd., on the grounds that the latter firm already holds sufficient land, and that the sale price was excessive; and whether he will make a statement on the powers given to, or assumed by, the Kenya Government to control the use of land.

I am asking the Governor for information about this proposed sale. With regard to the latter part of the Question, I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for North Croydon (Mr. Frederic Harris) on 9th February last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the 6,000 Europeans entering Kenya for the first time in 1948 have acquired land.

My right hon. Friend is asking the Governor for information, and will write to my hon. Friend when it is received.

With the answer as to the number will the area of land which has been granted also be given?

indicated assent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now make a statement on reforms arising from the recommendations of the African Labour Efficiency Survey carried out in Nairobi.

The Report is under consideration by the East Africa High Commission and the East African Governments, and my right hon. Friend is not in a position to make a statement at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what were the strengths of the various sections of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces of the Royal Navy as on 1st January, 1938.

As the answer consists of a table of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty who is responsible for official music in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

The Royal Marines provide the official musicians in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. I am glad to take this opportunity of stating that they will in future have the help of Sir Malcolm Sargent who has kindly consented to become their honorary adviser in music.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I am delighted to hear that answer?

Can we be told what constitutes "official music"?

It is not a reference to the kind of music, but to the occasions on which the music is to be played.

asked the Postmaster-General why a letter posted in Birmingham on 27th May, 1949, by Coronet Limited, addressed to R. S. Cappell, c/o Hotel Francia, Paris, was opened by his officers.

The letter was opened at the request of the customs authorities under the provisions of the Foreign Postal Packets (Customs) Warrant, 1948, Statutory Instrument, 1948, No. 562.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why this particular letter was selected for this privilege, in view of the fact that it contained nothing except two sheets of notepaper and a pin? Is it a fact that it was selected wholly fortuitiously, or is there any particular reasoning behind the choice of letters?

As the hon. Member knows, these foreign letters are opened for the purposes of exchange control; this was done under that authority.

asked the Postmaster-General when television services will be provided in the East Midlands area.

The B.B.C. hopes that a television station will be working at Sutton Coldfield in the late Autumn. It is expected that the range of the station will be about 50 miles, and that satisfactory service may be obtainable in favourably situated places outside the normal range. The station will, therefore, provide a television service in part of the East Midlands area.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Nottingham is a far greater distance than 50 miles from Sutton Coldfield? Can he say what steps have been taken to see that a television service is provided for the whole of the East Midlands area?

There is a programme for six television stations throughout the United Kingdom, but it may be that places like Nottingham will be able to receive transmissions from Sutton Cold-field, in spite of the fact that it is more than 50 miles away.

asked the Postmaster-General why, by Circular C.68/49, dated 3rd May, 1949, he has instructed his officers to refuse to give a reasoned reply to representations made by associations of postal workers unrecognised by him.

The purpose of the instruction was to remind controlling officers of what, for many years, has been the normal practice in the Post Office in this matter.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why, when a reasonable suggestion is put forward, the person or organisation putting it forward should be denied a reasoned reply?

It would be a rather big undertaking to give a reasoned reply to every letter of this sort from every organisation, recognised or unrecognised.

May we be assured that the Postmaster-General in this consideration, as in others, has abided by the agreed arrangement governing the recognition of associations in the public service, and is still doing so?

Yes, Sir.

Is not it clear to my right hon. Friend from this Question, and several others on the Order Paper, that it is the policy of hon. Members opposite to encourage break-away organisations to try to divide workers in industry so as to make less effective the work of the real trade unions?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my original Question has nothing whatever to do with the subject matter of the last supplementary question? It relates solely to the singling out of one set of associations to be denied the right, otherwise given to all British citizens, of having a reasoned reply from a public Department.

I have answered the Question on the Order Paper.

asked the Postmaster-General how many postal and telegraph officer posts within the Post Office are held by members of the National Association of Postal and Telegraph Officers; and what percentage this amounts to of the total number of such posts.

The National Association of Postal and Telegraph Officers claims to have a membership of 4,765. This represents 21.8 per cent. of the total number of postal and telegraph officers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the claim of the National Association of Postal and Telegraph Officers to represent the required 40 per cent. of the organised staff of the postal and telegraph officer grade; and if he will make a check in order to test the accuracy of this claim.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bexley (Mr. Bramall) on 1st July.

asked the Postmaster-General what is now the average period spent by surface mail between the United Kingdom and Cyprus.

The most recent average transit times of which particulars are available are 25 days for letter and parcel mails, but I hope that an alternative route recently introduced for letter mails will reduce this time by more than half.

If I send to the Postmaster-General a statement from an authoritative source in Cyprus complaining that there have recently been delays of seven weeks—that is between the United Kingdom and Cyprus—owing to mails being casually embarked on slow cargo ships, would he be good enough to look into it.

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that at 12.15 p.m. on 16th May two plainclothes Post Office officials called at 45, Linden Avenue, Herne Bay, the residence of Miss G. I. Clarke, and asked why she had an unlicensed wireless receiving set; that although they produced no authority to prove that they were Post Office officials, and although Miss Clarke told them that she had no wireless set, they entered the house, threatening Miss Clarke with prosecution if she refused entry, searched two rooms, and departed without apology or explanation; and if he will make a statement on this action by his officials.

As the answer is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. [HON. MEMBERS: "No, read it now."] I would, however, like to take this opportunity of personally reinforcing the apologies which have been tendered to Miss Clarke for what was a most unfortunate incident.

May I ask the Postmaster-General if the House may be acquainted with the nature of this answer? Does not this disclose a most extraordinary state of affairs, when plainclothes officers, obviously without producing a warrant or card of identity of any sort force their way into a house, search the house—in which there is no wireless, anyhow—and leave without a word of apology of any sort or kind? May I further ask the right hon. Gentleman if the Post Office have powers of search and entry not given to the Police?

This is a very long statement. I do not quite agree with some of the points stated by the hon. Member, but it is a fact that one of our officers did make a rather unfortunate statement, for which we apologise.

May I make a suggestion? We quite understand that the right hon. Gentleman does not wish to read a long reply now, but could we have it at the end of Questions?

indicated assent.

On 16th May two Post Office officers engaged in inspecting wireless licences called at Miss Clarke's house. They explained who they were, produced their official cards and asked to see the licence. On Miss Clarke's replying that she had not a set, one officer asked permission to enter. Miss Clarke, who was holding the door ajar, was indignant but, when the request was repeated, opened the door. The officer entered and looked into two ground floor rooms through the open doors, and, being satisfied, returned to the doorstep and apologised for having troubled Miss Clarke. It was at this stage that, in the course of further conversation the officer remarked that a warrant to enter could, if necessary, have been applied for. I am sorry that in this case the officer was mistaken in thinking there was justification for this remark and I deeply regret the annoyance caused to Miss Clarke.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that Miss Clarke was quite emphatic that no warrant of any kind was produced when the men arrived, but that they did attempt to produce what she described as "some sort of paper" when they were leaving? Is the Postmaster-General also aware that I can send him details of two cases, one from Surrey and one from Kent, outside my constituency, where almost precisely the same thing has happened?

I should be glad to look into such cases. The statement in the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary is obviously in conflict with what I have just said. This is the first case of which I have heard in over two years since I have been at the Post Office. This is the first complaint to come to my notice.

As the right hon. Gentleman has said that these officers are selected for their tact, good sense and, presumably, knowledge of their powers, and as, presumably, this gentleman is obviously lacking in all those capabilities, has he been sacked?

indicated dissent.

On a point of Order. Quite irrespective of the merits of this matter, the Postmaster-General asked permission not to read the answer because it was so long. The House protested, and when he did read it, it was extremely short. What protection has the House got, Mr. Speaker, against the Minister shielding himself and using that rather easy way of getting out of something? Have you any power to direct the Minister not to do it again?

No; I have no power. I thought that the House exerted its authority on this occasion and determined that the answer should be read.

Further to that point of Order. In the light of my right hon. Friend's reply, is it not apparent that far from shielding himself he was shielding the hon. Gentleman who asked the original Question?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that sub-postmasters, especially in small sub-offices, receive an inadequate remuneration; and what action he proposes to take.

The remuneration of sub-postmasters was revised last year in agreement with the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters, and I am not aware that it is inadequate. The average minimum payments are now more than two and a half times the pre-war rates.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is yet in a position to say when Eastcote will get a Crown Post Office.

Assuming satisfactory completion of the lease, I am hopeful that the new office will be open by the mid-summer of 1950.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the delivery of parcel post in Saltash, Cornwall, is not until 11 a.m.; that if these parcels are collected by the recipients themselves before this hour they are charged 3d. per parcel; and if he will either deliver these parcels at an earlier time or dispense with the collection charge as this matter is an annoyance to the business community in Saltash.

I am looking into this matter, and will write to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General how many new telephone kiosks are to be provided in the next year throughout the country; and what proportion of these has been allocated to Bedfordshire.

We hope to provide about 3,000 new telephone kiosks during the year ending March, 1950, and of these 1,000 have been allocated to rural areas. The quota for the rural areas of Bedfordshire is seven.

Can my right hon. Friend say why such a tiny proportion of new telephone kiosks is being allotted to the all-important county of Bedford?

I assume that it has its proportion in accordance with its population and geography.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give higher priority than at present for the installation of telephones to farmers and others engaged in the production of food.

I consider the present arrangements fair, having regard to the needs of other essential applicants.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now make a further statement about supplies of chocolates and sweets.

Not at present.

Would not the Minister have been wise, before he took sweets off the ration, to have enlarged the ration to see how big the sweet tooth of the nation really was?

The ration was increased before de-rationing took place.

asked the Minister of Food if the conclusion of the Anglo-Argentine Pact will enable him to increase the weekly meat ration; when, and to what figure.

I am not prepared to anticipate future changes in the amount of the meat ration, but it will, of course, be increased as soon as available supplies warrant it.

Is it not extraordinary and deplorable that after four years of Socialism the Minister can hold out no hope of any increase in the present all-time low record of the ration?

I do not either hold out or refuse to hold out such a hope.

asked the Minister of Food what is the total of the subsidy on the sugar allocated to sweet manufacture; and what this subsidy represents in the cost of one lb. of sweets.

This sugar is not sub-sidised.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is taking up all the canned meat available from Australian suppliers.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of of Food what proportion of eggs is allocated to the ordinary consumer; what proportion to restaurants, hotels and other eating places; and if he will give an estimate of the monthly increase per person which would result if the latter proportion were completely allocated in favour of the ordinary consumer.

Since 27th March, when shell eggs were again issued to catering establishments, 5 per cent. of our supplies have gone to them, 93 per cent. to the ordinary consumer, and 2 per cent. to the Services and ships' stores. The usual seasonal fall in production has now begun and the issues to catering establishments will be stopped on 16th July, except where they have residents. This will give the ordinary consumer one extra egg during the next two months.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many officers' and other ranks' married quarters were scheduled for completion during 1949, up to the present date; and how many have been made ready for use.

We aim to complete 2,000 married quarters in the present financial year. No intermediate schedules were fixed. Nearly 1,500 have been made ready for use since last December.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what schemes are in operation at Royal Air Force stations whereunder the wives of officers and men occupying married quarters may leave their children in a nursery on the station while they are away and whether such a nursery service is in operation at Sealand.

There is no official scheme, but at some stations the parents of young children get together and organise a nursery service. There is such a service at the Royal Air Force Station, Sealand. It is open two afternoons a week, and the mothers take turns in supervising it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will arrange for an issue of light raincoats for summer wear for the Air Force.

I regret that for financial and other reasons the issue of raincoats to airmen and airwomen is not practicable at present.

Would my hon. Friend rather see Royal Air Force men decked out in nice new raincoats than with grubby old groundsheets round their shoulders?

I do not agree that the groundsheets are grubby or old, but I would much sooner see them with raincoats.

Will the Under-Secretary assure the House that the Royal Air Force is capable of producing a good umbrella at the moment?

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is satisfied with the way in which officers undergoing their annual training in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve receive their pay and allowances; and if he will expedite the payment of these allowances.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes," and the second part therefore does not arise. If the hon. and gallant Member has any evidence of delay, my right hon. and learned Friend will have it looked into.

How can the Under-Secretary be satisfied when it takes two months to pay the allowances of some of these pilots? Will he look into the matter if I send him evidence?

Certainly; the evidence we have is that it takes a matter of days. I should like to have some evidence to the contrary.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how often medical supplies are delivered to No. 16 Maintenance Unit, Royal Air Force; and if he will investigate the causes of delays in the medical treatment of airmen at this station as a result of periodic shortage of supplies.

Medical supplies to all Royal Air Force units are delivered when they are required. There has been no delay in the treatment of airmen at No. 16 Maintenance Unit because of shortage of supplies.

Is my hon. Friend aware that medical supplies are delivered to this unit only twice a year, and that if they are exhausted before the next delivery date there is delay in medical treatment? Will he fully investigate the position?

I am not aware of anything of the sort. There is certainly a routine delivery each six months, but supplies can be demanded in the intervening period when they are required.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what were the strengths of the various sections of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces of the Royal Air Force as on 1st January, 1938.

The Regular Reserve had 12,000, the Volunteer Reserve 1,000, and the Auxiliary Air Force 2,300.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will take steps to speed up the disposal of books which are unwanted by the Royal Air Force and urgently needed by public libraries.

Every effort is being made to return to His Majesty's Stationery Office books no longer required by the Royal Air Force, and 103,000 were despatched during the last four weeks.

Can my hon. Friend justify the fact that he is sitting on over one million books? Will he not demobilise some of these books together with the men for whom they were intended?

That is neither physically nor numerically correct. The number is less than 200,000, and my hon. Friend will see that very soon, at the present rate, all books we do not require will have been returned to the Stationery Office.

Is my hon. Friend aware that his right hon. and learned Friend told me that there were over one million books now in the possession of the Royal Air Force?

I am not aware of that. I will investigate the position and see which figure is correct.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he has considered the representations made to him by the parish council of Horsham and Newton St. Faiths, Norfolk, concerning recent aerial activity over that district; and what steps he is taking to overcome the difficulties to which his attention has thus been drawn.

Yes, Sir. A letter has been sent to the parish council setting out the reasons why we cannot do as they ask and stop flying from Horsham St. Faith on Sundays. Sunday flying from this airfield has already been cut down as far as possible and is at present limited to seven or eight Sundays a year, when it is necessary for special exercises and training.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the constituents upon whose behalf this Question was put raise no objection whatever to the existence of these exercises as such, the importance of which they fully recognise, but feel that, owing to the close proximity of this airfield to the built-up area, residents there have to bear an unfair share of this unavoidable inconvenience?

It is true that residents there are bearing an unfair share of the unavoidable inconvenience. I very much regret that this training must go on.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what regulations at present exist to limit or control the flying of aircraft at low altitudes and the performing of aerobatics over built-up areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what regulations are laid down for the control of aeroplanes flying low over built-up areas.

Paragraph 717 and Appendix XXVI of King's Regulations and Air Council Instructions, a copy of which is in the Library, set out the current regulations about low flying and aerobatics by Royal Air Force aircraft. The essential provisions of these regulations, which can only be set aside by an air officer commanding and then only for specific operations in specific areas, are (i) flying is forbidden below 2,000 feet except when taking off, when landing, or when made necessary by weather; (ii) aerobatics are forbidden below 3,000 feet, and, in some circumstances, below 6,000 feet. Offences against these regulations are severely dealt with. The usual punishment for an officer is dismissal from the Service.

Will the Under-Secretary say to whom people should report when they have cause to complain on account of excessively low flying?

Yes, Sir. They should complain to the Police.