asked the Minister of Food is he will consult with the potato merchants federation regarding the policy to be adopted next year in clearing potato crops.

Yes. This is our normal practice.

asked the Minister of Food what restrictions there are on the opening of shops or businesses by private individuals unconnected with the Overseas Food Corporation in the areas in Tanganyika leased to the Corporation.

I understand that the Corporation normally lay down certain conditions designed to safeguard public health and to avoid the undesirable siting of shops and businesses, but that apart from this they seek to impose as few restrictions as possible.

asked the Minister of Food what is the present total annual quantity of sugar consumed in Great Britain; and what proportion of this is processed by the largest British refining company.

In the year which ended on 31st March, 1949, total sugar consumption in the United Kingdom was about 1,900,000 tons. Of this, 52.8 per cent. was refined by the largest British sugar refining company, Messrs. Tate and Lyle. Another 23.4 per cent. was processed by the British Sneer Corporation, and 13.1 per cent. by other refiners. Ten and a half per cent. was not refined before being used in food manufacture.

asked the Minister of Food, what steps he is taking to make available more points goods suitable for making workers' sandwiches.

We are issuing as much canned meat and canned fish on points as supplies allow.

asked the Minister of Food, what quantities of bacon he estimates will be available to the public during 1949, 1950 and 1951, or to the most convenient yearly period, from home production and from each country with which he has made, or proposes to make, trade agreements.

During 1949, home production of bacon is expected to be about 130,000 tons and total imports about 126,000. There is still some uncertainty as to the quantities from particular countries. Any estimates I make now for 1950 and 1951 would be very speculative.

asked the Minister of Food, what quantities of eggs he estimates will be available to the public during 1949, 1950 and 1951, or the most convenient yearly period, from home production and from each country with which he has made, or proposes to make trade agreements.

I am afraid we cannot make reliable estimates for 1950 and 1951. In 1949 we expect to get about 3,250 million eggs from home production and about 2,500 million from abroad. But even these estimates are tentative since several of our trade agreements do not specify fixed quantities.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the fatal accident to two children which occurred on the railway line between Lordship Lane and Honor Oak, London, on Saturday, 2nd July.

The two children gained access to the railway from a footpath by climbing over or through an iron fence reinforced with barbed wire; it was programmed for renewal this year with concrete post and chain mesh fencing of the latest type, although the existing type complies with statutory obligations, and trespass at this point had not been prevalent. In view, however, of these very regrettable fatalities, the work is to be done directly the materials can be obtained.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received with regard to increased gas street lighting in Brentford; and what answer he has given.

The attention of my Department was drawn to the desirability of improving the lighting at a road junction in the council's area. This has since been effected. Otherwise no other general approach has been made to the Department.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to receive a copy of the report of the General Council of British Shipping on the shipping contribution to invisible exports; and whether he will make it public.

I expect to receive a statement from the General Council of British Shipping on the results of their inquiry very shortly, but the question whether any part of the information is suitable for publication is a matter for the Council to decide.

asked the Minister of Transport whether all preliminary plans for the erection of the new bridge over the Severn at West Beachley have now been completed and all possible arrangements made pending official approval for proceeding with this scheme.

Such preliminary steps as soil survey, trial soundings and borings have been completed as far as necessary for the present, but the investigations by the National Physical Laboratory, including the tests in the wind tunnel, will not be completed until 1952.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the number of accidents which have taken place at Perth Street pedestrian railway crossing in Hull, he will take steps to render this crossing safe for pedestrians.

I understand that negotiations are in progress between the North-Eastern Region of British Railways and the local council concerned for the provision of a footbridge at this point.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the heavy motor traffic passing through certain residential streets in Southwark, which are used as short-cuts by motor-lorry drivers, notably Townsend Street and Catesby Street; and if he will have inquiries made into the desirability of closing these two streets against through traffic on account of the many children usually playing there, having nowhere else to go.

I have made inquiries about traffic conditions in this area. I do not consider that, on the whole, it would be the right course to close these two streets to through traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the fact that the restitution of property looted by the Nazis has been completed in the American Zone, what steps His Majesty's Government are taking to achieve a similar result in the British Zone.

The term "restitution" is used to describe two processes: the restoration to governments of identifiable property located by the Germans from formerly occupied territories (external restitution), and the restoration to victims of Nazi persecution of identifiable property of which they were wrongfully deprived (internal restitution). Both types of restitution are the responsibility of the individual zone commander and different practices have prevailed in different Zones of Occupation. If the hon. Member's Question refers to external restitution, I understand that the United States authorities have, since 30th April, 1948, refused, with rare exceptions, to entertain new claims though they have continued to deal with claims already lodged. In the British Zone claimant governments have been allowed to submit claims up to 30th June this year. They now have until 31st March, 1950, to find any property claimed but so far unlocated. Thereafter the delivery of goods located will be completed but no new searches will be undertaken.The position with regard to internal restitution is different. I understand that under the internal restitution law of the United States Zone it has not been possible to file further claims since 31st December, 1948. Physical restitution of property claimed is, I understand, still far from complete. Under the corresponding law in the British Zone, which was promulgated on 12th May, 1949, claims may be filed until the end of the present year. I regret that there has been delay in putting into operation the agencies which will deal with disputed claims, but the necessary Regulation will be published on Friday of this week and my noble Friend intends to see that the German authorities give prompt effect to its provisions. There is, of course, nothing to prevent parties to claims reaching amicable settlement out of court, and I understand that experience of the United States zonal law suggests that a great many cases will be dealt with in this way.

asked the Minister of Works if he will state the number of cases in which he has either repudiated or overruled settlements of rehabilitation allowances provisionally agreed on his behalf by professional firms employed by his Department; the grounds on which he took such action in a case, the particulars of which have been supplied to him; and whether the firm concerned in that case is still employed by his Department.

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. No question of repudiation arises as any settlements put forward are invariably provisional and subject to confirmation by the Department. It is, however, the normal practice of professional firms employed by my Department to seek guidance in cases of difficulty before a provisional settlement is reached. In the case which the hon. Member has in mind the firm assessed the amount of rehabilitation allowances on a wrong basis. The firm in question has given satisfactory service and is still employed.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will state what amount of work in the total of £102,546,710, which has been authorised for the whole of Wales, applies to Newport, with details of the actual work to be undertaken in each case.

The total amount for Newport is £5,538,787. The detailed figures for the chief items are:

asked the Minister of Works for what reason a section of Constitution Hill is being resurfaced; what is the cost; and when the road was last resurfaced.

A short section of Constitution Hill has been resurfaced near the Queen Victoria Memorial in order to preserve continuity of the road levels and to ensure satisfactory drainage of surface water. The cost of the work is about £350. Constitution Hill was last resurfaced in September, 1947.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the British Electricity Authority and their predecessors have been unable to introduce gas-washing plant at the Battersea Power Station for the elimination of smoke, grit and sulphur, in accordance with their undertaking of 1947, so that today only 30 per cent. of the emission is washed and that, while the north-west chimney will be reconditioned by the autumn, the installation of 100 per cent. washing will be postponed to the spring of 1951, with the result that much of the discharge of smoke, grit and noxious fumes will continue for another two years and what action he proposes to take.

Yes, I am kept informed of the progress of this work. Battersea is a modern station which produces very little smoke. It is already equipped with mechanical arrestors which eliminate nearly all the grit. While at present only 30 per cent. of the chimney gas is washed to eliminate sulphur, the completion next month of the reconstruction of the northwest tower will result in 70 per cent. of the gas being washed.Every effort is being made to complete the work necessary to wash the remaining 30 per cent., but the space in which the work has to be done is so confined and the working conditions are so difficult, that there is very little hope that this last stage can be completed before the spring of 1951.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he proposes to direct the refunding to electricity consumers of the amounts paid through the surcharge imposed on them during the three winter months less the amounts represented by the rebate during the remaining months of the year.

No.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if it is his intention to allow industrial and domestic users of light and power to exercise voluntary as against compulsory economy during the coming winter period.

The arrangements for load spreading which will operate next winter in the industrial and commercial field were described in the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on 5th July.As I stated on 11th July, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Burslem (Mr. Edward Davies), it is not proposed to continue the differential tariff for domestic consumers, but I must again emphasise that great economy in the use of electricity by all classes of consumers at times of peak demand will be necessary next winter if extensive load-shedding is to be avoided. As in the past, we intend to rely on the voluntary co-operation of all concerned to achieve these economies, although I should make it clear that under Defence Regulations I am empowered to direct any commercial or industrial undertaking to reduce its load if it does not do so voluntarily. It has never been necessary in the past to invoke these powers, and I have every hope and expectation that adequate arrangements in the industrial and commercial field can be made in the coming winter on a voluntary and co-operative basis.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what redress he proposes to give to Mr. W. J. J. Dando, 138, Malefont Street, Cathays, Cardiff, who purchased a car for private hire purposes in view of the fact that an officer of the regional petroleum board gave an assurance that the licence would be transferred from Ystradmynach to Cardiff.

My information is that no such assurance was given to Mr. Dando and, therefore, no question of redress arises. There are already adequate hire car facilities in Cardiff and a long list of applicants waiting for permission to start new hire car services. I see no justification for giving Mr. Dando preferential treatment.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether authority can be given for the issue of a small petrol allowance to members of the British Legion engaged on organising carnivals in connection with the recruiting campaign, similiar to that issued in connection with Poppy Day.

I regret that in our present economic position we cannot afford supplementary petrol allowances for purposes of this kind and, indeed, I am having to consider whether we can continue some of the existing special allowances.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many copies of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Press were ordered to be printed; and whether he is aware that the Report is now unobtainable.

A first print of 5,000 and an immediate reprint of 4,000. Copies are now available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the increased excise duty on lighters is causing British manufacturers to cease producing these articles; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the loss of this valuable export trade to foreign manufacturers.

No statistics are yet available to show the effect of the recently increased excise duty on the production and exports of lighters. I am, however, in consultation with my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, keeping the position under close review.

asked the Minister of Supply how many 20 mm. cannon, 5 and 303 Browning machine guns have been scrapped since the war.

A total of 50,134 20 mm. cannon and 98,682 5 and 303 Browning guns have been handed over to my Department by the Services as surplus. Of these 47,856 cannon and 67,870 Browning guns have been scrapped to date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that importation of queen bees from Holland is likely to lead to serious deterioration of bee stocks in this country by the introduction of disease; and if he will consider stopping such importation at the earliest possible moment.

The health certificate, signed on behalf of the Netherlands Government, which must accompany all imports of Dutch bees, is designed as a safeguard against the introduction of disease, and I see no reason for stopping such importation.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the ratio of the manpower of the Army to total population in the first half of 1949; and the first half of 1922.

On 30th April, 1922, the ratio was 55 military to 10,000 of the total population of the United Kingdom. On 31st December, 1948, the ratio was 86 to 10,000. No later figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can arrange that copies of Command Paper 7715, The Colonial Territories 1948–49, can be sent to all public and secondary schools and in conjunction with the Minister of Education to arrange for lectures and examination papers to be set so as to stimulate interest in these matters.

No. I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education that it is not within his province to lay down curricula for schools and examinations, but attention is directed towards arousing the interest of schools in Colonial affairs by making known and encouraging the use of material about the Colonies and by such measures as teachers' courses, details of which were given by my right hon. Friend in his reply to a Question on this same subject on 27th January this year.