asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that at 11.15 a.m. on 30th June a Post Office inspector called at 72, Meadowside, Eltham, S.E.9, the residence of Mr. R. E. Cross and demanded to see the wireless licence, although he has not got a wireless set; that when Mrs. Cross stated this fact he said he would have to search the house and attempted to force an entry but was forcibly prevented from doing so by Mrs. Cross; that he further stated he would apply for a search warrant; and what action he proposes to take in this case and in others of attempted entry brought to his notice by the hon. Member for Canterbury.

The inquiry officer of my Department who visited No. 72, Meadowside, Eltham, denies emphatically that he attempted to force an entry. He states that he requested permission to enter in order to verify that a wireless receiving set was not in use, but permission was refused and he accepted the refusal. I have no means of reconciling the very different versions of the incident given in the hon. Member's Question and by my inquiry officer; but whichever version is correct, and whatever led to Mrs. Cross's complaint, I much regret any inconvenience or distress she may have felt.

The hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Baker White) has brought two other complaints to my notice. In one, which occurred last January, the Head Postmaster was asked by the householder to verify that the visit was genuine, and he did so. In the other, which occurred in March, the householder reported that the visit had occasioned some distress to his wife and an apology was made. In neither case was any complaint or suggestion of entry or search made. In the hope of reducing to the utmost the occasions of complaint, I have had the instructions about the conduct of these inquiries revised.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the case of Mrs. Cross the inspector who visited the house put his foot in the doorway so that Mrs. Cross was unable to close it, that he refused to accept her statement that she had not a wireless at all, and that he got into a temper and threatened to get a search warrant? Is he further aware that when I asked him on 6th June about the case of Miss Clarke, at Herne Bay, he said that no other cases had been brought to his notice during his term of office at the Post Office? I have brought three other cases to the notice of the right hon. Gentleman, and proceedings reported in the Press yesterday indicate that another case has occurred at Reading.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the new instructions will make it clear to his officers that they have no right of entry, and make it clear to the householder that they can only enter with the householder's consent.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are taken by the Wireless Records branch of his Department to confirm that persons to whom their final notices are sent are still residents at the addresses to which these notices are delivered.

There is a note on every wireless licence asking for permanent changes of address to be notified. My staff can only send the reminder notices to the addresses which people have given. Final notices, which are third reminders, are sent by registered post and therefore the Post Office knows at once if they are not accepted at the place of address.

asked the Postmaster-General why his mail services to Manchuria and the provinces of North and Central China have been suspended.

Transport facilities have unfortunately ceased to be available.

Can my right hon. Friend assure us that the real reason is not that the Americans asked the Government to cut off these communications? Is he not aware that, in fact, the American Government did cut off their communications just a bit before and it was reported that they asked our Government to agree to do the same? In face of that, can he assure us that that has nothing to do with the decision?

The real reason is the one which I have just stated.

Would my right hon. Friend consider appointing the hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Platts-Mills) as a courier to run between the two?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has approved the site at Holme Moss, chosen by the British Broadcasting Corporation for a television station to cover Manchester City and adjoining areas.

Yes, Sir.

Until the station is actually working, which I expect will take some time, has the right hon. Gentleman's Department any objection to a firm like Pye Television and Radio Co., of Cambridge, setting up an installation in that area?

I should like to see that question on the Paper.

Is the Postmaster-General making plans to cover the whole of the United Kingdom and not giving preference to favourite areas?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Postmaster-General the approximate date on which television broadcasts will begin in Yorkshire.

I regret that I cannot give a date at present; but it is unlikely to be less than two years hence.

As many people in Yorkshire and Lancashire would like to have television in their homes and clubs, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that he will keep a close watch on the construction of the new broadcasting station, so that it will be brought into operation as soon as possible?

Yes; the sooner it is brought into operation the better I shall be pleased.

Will my right hon. Friend also keep in mind the fact that there are a great many people in Scotland in the same position?

I did not know that Scotland was in Yorkshire. This Question relates to Yorkshire.

Could the Postmaster-General circulate a list of approximate times by which the various areas in the United Kingdom are likely to get television?

I do not think we are at that point yet.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone kiosks are to be allocated to the Leek and Cheadle rural areas in the coming year.

Fourteen telephone kiosks have been allocated to the rural areas of Staffordshire. Location of the individual kiosks will be fixed in consultation with the Staffordshire Branch of the Rural District Councils' Association when it has assessed the relative merits of the various applications within the county.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask him if I am to understand from it that 14 are allotted to the whole of the county of Staffordshire? Secondly, on what formula does my right hon. Friend allocate kiosks to the rural areas?

We make arrangements for the allocation of these kiosks with the rural authorities' association and the national associations. We leave it to them. We have so many to allocate each year and they allocate them in the best way possible.

asked the Postmaster-General the quotas of telephone kiosks which are to be provided in the rural areas in each county in Wales; how are applications for kiosks to be dealt with; and upon what date will this new plan commence.

The quotas of telephone kiosks allotted to the rural areas of each county in Wales are: Anglesey, 6; Caernarvon, 12; Denbigh, 16; Flint, 5; Merioneth, 13; Montgomery, 16; Brecknock, 12; Cardigan, 16; Carmarthen, 21; Glamorgan, 10; Monmouth, 9; Pembroke, 13; Radnor, 10.

Under the new plan for the provision of rural kiosks, applications are made to rural district councils, and the county branches of the Rural District Councils' Association recommend to the Post Office the order in which the kiosks should be installed in each county. It is hoped that work on the kiosks approved under the new plan will commence in the autumn, but in the meantime work already started on any kiosks agreed to under the previous scheme is being completed.

asked the Postmaster-General how many persons in Blackpool have applied for a telephone to be connected to their homes or business addresses respectively and have not yet been granted one; and how long it will be before the last of those who have applied will be granted a telephone.

In the county borough of Blackpool 1,026 residential and 2,004 business applications for telephones are outstanding. One thousand two hundred and twenty applications were met during the last twelve months. I regret that in view of the shortage of plant and pressure of essential work in the Preston Telephone Area, I cannot at present forecast when all outstanding applications are likely to be cleared.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the proper priority is given to the provision of telephones in Blackpool? Is he aware that some business people and some residential applicants have been waiting for nearly three years since the first date of application?

The last statement may be correct. I am not aware that that is so, but it may be so. In view of the shortage, we have gone to considerable trouble to work out a system of priorities which would be as fair as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can now give an assurance that he will not interfere with the main winter haunt in Britain of anser albifrons albifrons by establishing a range for heavy bombers at Frampton Sand on the Severn.

My right hon. Friend cannot yet add to the reply he gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Major Beamish) on 22nd June.

Can the Under-Secretary of State say what is the reason for the delay?

The reasons for such delay as exists are twofold. First, we have to find another range in that area and, secondly, we have to consult the experts, the greatest of whom, Mr. Peter Scott, is at present in the Arctic.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the estimated selling value of Horsham St. Faith's Air Station.

This would depend on the purpose it was sold for, but it would certainly be much less than the cost of replacement. Since it is not proposed that the airfield should be given up, no purpose would be served by exploring the market.

Is it not clear that, owing to the proximity of this airfield to a great industrial centre, the value of the land and buildings has increased considerably, apart from their particular Service purpose? Could not consideration be given to selling the site and moving to another aerodrome, bearing in mind that the value of the site would help on the financial side?

It is possible that the value of the site has increased for some purposes, but under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, we should have to sell it as an airfield.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the terms of the request His Majesty's Government are making to the Economic and Social Council for an investigation by the United Nations as to the conditions existing in slave camps; and whether he will make a statement.

I take it that my hon. Friend is referring to the forced labour camps which exist in the Soviet Union and certain other countries. The Economic and Social Council at its last session adopted a resolution which declared that an impartial inquiry was desirable into the charges that had been made concerning forced labour in certain countries. The Secretary-General of the United Nations was instructed to ask all Governments if they would be prepared to co-operate in such an inquiry. His Majesty's Government have declared that they would be willing to co-operate in any such inquiry which is generally acceptable, and it is our hope that all other Governments will do likewise. This subject is due for discussion at the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations in the near future.

Can my right hon. Friend confirm whether it is true that the Soviet Government have consistently refused to give permission to the United Nations to visit these camps? Is he aware that so long as this policy of secrecy is maintained the public are compelled, however reluctantly, to draw the worst conclusions about the barbarous conditions that exist?

It certainly is quite true that the delegation from Soviet Russia at the last meeting of the Council at which this matter was discussed refused to admit the terms of a resolution which provided for investigation upon the spot. It is probably true that people will continue to draw regrettable conclusions from the continued refusal of Soviet Russia to accede to such a request.

In view of the original answer of the Minister that there are forced labour camps in the Soviet Union, may I ask him two simple questions? One is: Is it not a fact that the Soviet delegation have tabled a motion at the council in favour of investigation of working conditions in all countries and Colonies, including the Soviet Union? The second question is: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I sent a letter to his neighbour on the Front Bench, in which I showed that the present Foreign Secretary, when he was Secretary to the Transport and General Workers' Union, condemned this story as a lie and a slander, and will the right hon. Gentleman see that the letter is communicated to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations?

The answer to the first part of the supplementary question is that delegations of the Soviet Union have in my opinion continued to evade this question by proposals—

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. My question was: Has the Soviet delegation tabled a motion?

The hon. Gentleman must not dictate to the Minister how he shall answer.

I will answer the first of the three points put to me by the hon. Gentleman bluntly and factually, in a fashion he will not like. It is my opinion that the Soviet delegation—

I want the facts.

The hon. Gentleman shall have the facts, but I am entitled to draw an opinion from the facts. It is my opinion that the Soviet delegation have continued to attempt to evade this issue by claiming that investigations should take place. To that effect they have tabled a resolution which was a counter-resolution to one which demanded an inquiry into labour conditions in all countries. The Soviet delegation have on this subject, as on others, refused to allow United Nations investigators to proceed to the spot to make an inquiry which would satisfy dispassionate witnesses.

On the second point, I am not aware of the letter, but since I saw an article about this in the "Daily Worker," I think it probable that the hon. Gentleman has written a letter in similar terms.

If, as appears probable, the Soviet Government persist in their refusal to allow an inquiry to take place with visits to the actual places, will it be the policy of His Majesty's Government to urge upon the United Nations the desirability of the fullest possible publicity and publication of such facts as can be gleaned without a local investigation?

No, Sir. I do not think that would be profitable or useful or—I am not sure—appropriate, but I am certain that, as long as the Soviet Government adopt this attitude, even people who wish desperately to be friendly with them cannot escape coming to the conclusion that they have something to hide.

As the document quoted at Geneva was dated 1940, what official protests were made between 1940 and 1946 against slave labour in Russia? If the Government object to slave labour, is it intended to continue conscription?

The second part of the supplementary question is a confusion, and in any case it should not be directed to me. My recollection is that the publication date of the Codex was 1943—I might be wrong in that—but at any rate, whatever the date was, we took into account any subsequent amendments to the regulations. The subsequent amendments have been published. I see the hon. Gentleman shaking his head.

I am asking what protests the Government made.

If the Soviet administration publishes alterations to the parent regulations, we are right to assume that the parent regulations are still in force. As to protests, we have several times at the United Nations attempted to have this subject investigated.

Is my right hon Friend aware that I have repeatedly asked the Soviet Government to let me visit some of the slave camps—and have named them—and that I have been consistently refused?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this story about slave labour camps in the Soviet Union is the oldest and the least founded of all the silly anti-Soviet twaddle; and that in 1931 it was the Swedish timber exporters who began the story to prevent the British people from buying Soviet timber, that Goebbels continued it actively for eight or 10 years, and that now His Majesty's Ministers have taken it up? Is he not rather shamed by that?

Whatever may have been the facts in 1931, this is no fabrication of the Swedish timber trade or His Majesty's Government or any other government. It is a publication and an enforcement made by the administration of Soviet Russia—

What about this country 20 years ago?

—and whether the hon. Gentleman likes it or not, these are the facts, and no wriggling can escape from that.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make representations to the Soviet Government to desist from jamming the overseas broadcasts of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

The jamming operations—

I cannot hear the answer.

It must be due to the jamming activities of some hon. Members.

The jamming operations undertaken by the Soviet authorities are clearly part of their general policy of preventing any information from reaching the Russian people other than that which they select and issue themselves. My right hon. Friend therefore doubts whether any useful purpose would be served by diplomatic representations upon this subject.

Is it not most exceptional in peacetime for one nation to jam the broadcast of another? Is there any evidence that any other nations are having their broadcasts jammed? Would my right hon. Friend say that their attitude to the B.B.C. is clear evidence that the Soviet are frightened to allow their workers to know the truth?

What about Northern Ireland?

I cannot answer the first part of the supplementary question without notice, but I am afraid that the second part is completely true.

Have any representations been made? Is it not an admission of defeat not to make representations to the Soviet Government? Will representations be made if this has not already been done?

No formal representations have been made because it is not an accident. If a Government takes such deliberate action to shut out information, it is reasonable to assume that they are not likely to be moved by diplomatic representation from a major decision which seems to them of great importance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what approach has been made to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for assistance in developing the Colonies; what schemes are under review; and, since such help would be a means of easing the dollar problem and advancing development schemes, if he will take steps to secure it forthwith.

I would invite my hon. Friend's attention to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Wolverhampton, West (Mr. H. D. Hughes) on 16th March. The discussions between the International Bank and the Colonial Development Corporation are proceeding. As regards possible borrowing from the International Bank by Colonial Governments themselves, it was explained in the debates on the Colonial Loans Bill that the purpose of that Bill was to enable His Majesty's Government to guarantee any loans from the Bank for which Colonial Governments might apply. No such applications have yet been made, and my hon. Friend will appreciate that I cannot force the pace.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is expected that the 28 American geologists and associated scientists mentioned in Command Paper No. 7715, paragraph 291, will be temporarily attached to the Colonial Geological Survey Service; and what work it is proposed to assign to them.

Negotiations with the Economic Co-operation Administration on conditions of employment have now reached an advanced stage and it is hoped that recruitment will begin in the near future. These technicians will supplement existing geological establishments in the Colonies.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how soon this excellent plan will become a reality?

Quite soon. We have had the preliminary proposals from the Americans and sent them to the Colonies for their approval.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what compensation will be paid to the families of workers who were killed by the police in the riot of June, 1948 at the Enmore plantation, in view of the Report of the Enmore Commission, which states that firing went beyond the requirements of the situation and that many workers were shot in the back.

Actions have been filed in the Supreme Court of British Guiana claiming damages against five police constables and the question of compensation is therefore sub judice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is now proposed to proceed with the trial settlement of about 200 European families in the Kanuku Mountains area of British Guiana as recommended in the Evans Report.

The Report emphasised that European settlement would depend entirely on access by road to the interior savannah country. Any trial settlement must, therefore, wait until there is at least a definite prospect that this long and costly road can be built.

As the number of these displaced persons continues to be great, will the hon. Gentleman say whether he can expedite the matter, as it was recommended by his Committee?

Yes, the hon. Member will realise that the total cost of the road will be £2,750,000 and the matter needs a good deal of consideration.

asked the Minister of Defence in view of mutual obligations under the Atlantic Pact, what further expenditure it is proposed to incur on the atomic bomb.

I have nothing to add to my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Mr. G. Jeger), on 12th May, 1948, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

While thanking the Minister in advance for the copy of the reply I am to have, may I ask him if he is aware that since 17th May the Chancellor of the Exchequer has issued an appeal to all Departments to reduce Government expenditure, and as an atom bomb is unnecessary for the welfare of this country, will he start by reducing this expenditure?

asked the Minister of Defence if he will re-introduce the system of 28 days' agricultural leave for men of the three Services serving in the United Kingdom, to enable farmers whose labour resources are otherwise inadequate, to apply, in cases verified by the agricultural executive committee concerned, for the assistance of specified individuals for this year's harvest.

The scheme to which the hon. Member refers applied to agricultural workers called up for service and there are no longer any such men in the Forces; those called up during the war have been released and since then the call-up of agricultural workers has been suspended. As in the past, however, instructions have been issued which will ensure that the Forces give farmers all possible help, so far as Service commitments allow, with this year's harvest. Arrangements will be made through the local Service commanders and county agricultural executive committees.

Does that mean that if a named individual, who could be accommodated on a farm in an area in which he normally lives, applies for leave to help with the harvest, and the case is verified by the agricultural executive committee, that individual would not get leave?

I did not say that. I cannot judge individual oases. They would have to be considered by their commanding officers in relation to what I have said in my answer.

asked the Minister of Defence (1) why Service doctors at stations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland are not allowed to prescribe for wives and families of Service personnel registered with them on National Health Service forms, so that their patients may be able to obtain necessary medicines from local chemists free of charge instead of having to buy them when they are not available at the station dispensary;

(2) whether he will arrange for. Service doctors at stations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland with whom the wives and families of serving personnel are registered for health service purposes to be registered as medical practitioners with the appropriate Executive Council in respect of such patients.

The participation of Service medical officers in the National Health Service would not be feasible, since the resulting division of responsibility would be bound to give rise both to administrative and disciplinary difficulties. They cannot, therefore, issue prescriptions on National Health Service forms. There is, however, no reason why dependants of Servicemen should have to pay for medicines prescribed by Service doctors, since the Service Departments themselves meet the cost if such medicines cannot be supplied by a Service dispensary. If the hon. Member will let me have details of any case in which this practice has not been followed I will certainly look into it.

Does the reply of the Minister of Defence mean that there is an undertaking on his part to meet the costs of medicaments that have been prescribed in all cases?

Where they cannot be obtained from the Service dispensary.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will state the duties and areas of the 24 pensionable posts of district livestock inspectors, male, advertised in the "Farmers' Weekly" of 8th July, 1949.

The duties will consist, as they do at present, of supervising the grading panels which classify fat stock. The areas will remain unchanged.

Could the right hon. Lady explain why it is that special officers are required to supervise grading?

The hon. Gentleman is displaying an ignorance of the subject. He will remember that these officers were first employed by the Livestock Commission long before the war, and that all we are doing now is to establish 24 of the 36 temporary inspectors.

asked the Minister of Food whether on the resumption of sweets rationing, credit will be allowed to retailers for points lodged at food offices when rationing ceased.

By agreement with the trade, credit will be based on the coupons lodged at food offices during the eight weeks ended 26th March.

Does the reply of my right hon. Friend—which will be greatly welcomed by small retailers—mean that the mis-allocation of supplies while derationing was in force will not penalise the small traders for months afterwards because the larger shopkeepers are holding back mis-allocated supplies with a view to obtaining coupons or points in the first rationing period?

No, I think the trade agrees that they will be treated fairly. The credit will be based on the credit which traders had during the two periods preceding the period at the end of which derationing took place, plus 50 per cent. of that credit. This will enable them to build up their stocks.

asked the Minister of Food the financial loss resulting from the Government agreement to buy Cornish early potatoes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. J. Morrison) on 18th July, which related to the Cornish crop.

While thanking the right hon. Lady for the information she has given in that reply, may I ask her if she is aware that this disastrous agreement completely dislocated the early potato market in Scotland and having regard to the loss the Government sustained, will she give an assurance that no such agreement will be entered into again?

I think the hon. Gentleman is quite wrong. He must make some more inquiries into this question in Scotland. He knows I would never mislead him. He will discover that the Cornish potatoes were disposed of by 13th June and that the Scottish "earlies" did not come into the market until after that date.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that those facts are not quite true? There was considerable dislocation. I hope she will take that from me in the same spirit.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that the farmers of Lincolnshire have made similar protests about these Cornish potatoes, and would she look into the question and give them the answer for which they have asked?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put a Question down. This concerns Scotland.

Is it not a fact that the potatoes of Cornwall left the county in admirable condition, and that it was only due to the delays occasioned by the mismanagement of the Ministry of Food that many hundreds of tons of them languished in British railway wagons instead of reaching the housewife?

Is it not on a parallel with agriculture?

In view of the nature of the particular crop of new potatoes, would it not be better to leave it for another year entirely to the producers and the trade to distribute them, rather than to carry on with the present guarantee?

Come over here.