asked the Postmaster-General how many long-distance telephone circuits are now in use; and how many of these are reserved for the exclusive use of Government Departments.

There are 19,591 telephone circuits over 25 miles in length now in use. Of these, 1,963 are reserved for the exclusive use of the Service Departments, and 510 for other Government Departments.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants were wait- ing for telephones in the Liberty exchange area on 1st January, 1947; how many are now on the outstanding list; and what is the approximate period in which he anticipates that present arrears of work can be overtaken so as to give every would-be subscriber at least some kind of telephone service.

One thousand nine hundred and sixty applicants were waiting for service on Liberty exchange on 1st January, 1947; and 2,500 at the end of June, 1949. About 75 new subscribers will be connected during the next two or three months, and further connections will be made when an extension to take 600 subscribers is completed in October. Further extension of the exchange is dependent upon new building work which cannot be completed for some years.

asked the Postmaster-General what arrangements were made to enable reporters covering the Haigh trial in Lewes to have extra telephone facilities; and whether he is aware of widespread criticism in Lewes that priority should be given for the installation of telephones to report a murder trial when many citizens of the town and neighbourhood have been waiting for long periods for telephone facilities and for telephone communications to be improved.

It is customary for the Post Office to give reasonable facilities to the Press for the transmission of news, and eight telephones were provided in the Lewes head post office for the use of British and foreign reporters covering the Haigh trial. The small amount of work required to connect up these telephones has had a negligible effect on the rate of providing telephones for local citizens.

asked the Postmaster-General when Messrs. Happitime Products, Limited, of 286, Rochdale Road, Oldham, may expect the installation of the telephone for which they have been waiting for some years.

I regret that the cable serving the locality of 286, Rochdale Road is in full use and that all our attempts to persuade nearby subscribers to share a line with the firm have failed. Provision of service for Messrs. Happitime Products, Limited, is therefore dependent on the laying of new cables to their district and in view of the heavy pressure of similar work elsewhere it will be some considerable time before these cables can be provided.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether it is proposed to permit the Tudor II and Tudor V aircraft to operate passenger-carrying services.

Neither of these types has as yet been given a passenger certificate of airworthiness. The Air Registration Board is now considering whether it can recommend to the Minister the grant of such a certificate and what modifications would be necessary for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many years are covered by the assertion that British coal mines are now producing more per manshift than they have for years, made in the pamphlet issued on 26th June, 1949, in the United States of America by the British Government Information Service in New York; and whether he will give the output figures per man in the years 1937, 1938, 1947 and 1948.

The hon. and gallant Member no doubt refers to the Press statement issued by the British Information Services in New York on 22nd June containing answers to questions frequently put by Americans in connection with the dollar drive. In the passage dealing with coal output it was made clear that the period covered was the 11 years from 1938. Nineteen thirty-seven was not included. The British Information Services statement referred to the last figures available at the time, namely, those for May, 1949. Further, it pointed out that whereas in 1938 the weekly average was 4,353,000 tons produced by 782,000 miners, in the week ending the 21st May, 1949, 4,373,000 tons were produced by 726,000 miners. These figures are those issued by the National Coal Board. I give below the output figures requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Self-Control Commission of the German film industry will insist on motion picture producers submitting their production plans, treatments and shooting scripts to the Film Control Board before starting production, in order to secure pre-censorship of films.

No. This Commission, which will be a German body set up by the German film industry, will impose post-censorship in the same way as the British Board of Film Censors in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish as a White Paper, or otherwise, an account of all the circumstances leading up to the disappearance of Miss May Peters from the British Embassy in Moscow, including the correspondence with the Soviet Government on the subject.

I give below the documents bearing specifically on Miss Peters' case. I am also placing in the Library the exchange of memoranda on the general question of interference with Embassy staff, referred to by my hon. Friend on the 11th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered the espionage organised by Major Julian Kajdy, Assistant Military Attaché at the Polish Embassy in London, against this country and the activities under the guise of cultural work by Polish Communists here in order to create bad feeling between Polish and British workers; and what steps he proposes to take to put a stop to both.

As regards the first part of the Question, I understand that Major Kajdy left London a month ago. I also understand that he will not return. As regards the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend has no doubt that we may count upon the good sense and loyalty of the Polish community in this country and he has been happy to note the excellent relations which now exist between Polish and British workers here.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many political searches and arrests there have been in Hong Kong as a result of the passing of the Societies Ordinance.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why 2,000 Chinese homes were destroyed by Hong Kong police in Kowloon on 3rd July, rendering 6,000 Chinese homeless; what alternative accommodation has been offered to these people; and what was the purpose of this action.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the removal of unauthorised squatters' huts which were almost on the touchdown point of Kai Tak Airport. This removal was ordered partly on public health grounds and partly because of fire hazard to the airport buildings and danger in the, event of an accident to aircraft. The squatters, who numbered about 3,000, were given ample notice and removed their own shacks. Those belonging to Hong Kong were offered alternative sites and the remainder were offered assistance to return to their native places in China.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that in spite of the heavy demands on the revenue of Sierra Leone, expatriation allowances to European officers amount to approximately£80,000 per annum; and, in view of this, if he will discontinue these appointments and appoint Sierra Leone graduates with suitable qualifications now in this country, some of whom are unemployed.

The amount of expatriation allowance payable from Sierra Leone revenues is nearer£60,000 per annum. Appointments of European officers to Sierra Leone are made in, accordance with requests received from the Sierra Leone Government. It is the policy of that Government to employ local candidates to the greatest extent possible, and a scheme for the provision of 33 new scholarships to Sierra Leoneans for higher studies in this country has recently been approved. A proposal that still more scholarships should be created is under consideration by the Sierra Leone Government. If there are any suitably qualified Sierra Leone graduates in this country who are at present unemployed, it is of course open to them to apply to the Sierra Leone Government for employment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that during the absence of the Director of Education, Sierra Leone, due to illness, the Principal Education Officer was appointed to act in his place instead of the established Assistant Director of Education, Dr. S. M. Broderick, who is an African and who would normally have been appointed; and if he will make a statement indicating the reason for Dr. Broderick being passed over.

There is no question of Dr. Broderick having been passed over. The Principal Education Officer is next in seniority to the Director, and normally acts in his absence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by whose authority the newspaper "L'Oeuvre," published in the Colony of Mauritius, was forced to suspend publication last year; for how long it was suppressed; and for what reasons.

Publication was suspended by an order of the court. For further information I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Platts-Mills) on 16th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which projects of the ten-year development plan for Barbados have been started; and how much money has been expended on them.

The ten-year development plan for Barbados has not yet been approved by the Legislature. A number of projects which were included in the draft plan have been and are being financed from local revenues, but I am not in a position to say what precise proportion of expenditure will count against the plan when approved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many newspapers in African Colonies have suspended publication by Government order since 1st January, 1949; for what periods; and for what reasons.

I know of no such instance, but I am having inquiries made and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies approximately how many young men and women are being now trained as nurses for West African medical services; how many are being trained in this country; and whether African women nurses will be allowed to continue in service after marriage.

The answer to the second part of the Question is 281. As to the first and third parts I am obtaining the necessary information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a report on "Colonial Month," in London, which has come to an end.

My right hon. Friend feels confident that "Colonial Month" has done much towards the end in view, which was to stimulate greater interest in Colonial peoples and a better understanding of our fellowship with them. We have been greatly helped by all the organisations and firms who participated, and by those who displayed our posters, and are grateful for their interest and assistance. Attendance to date at the Colonial Exhibition is 250,000 and is a record for this site; the Exhibition continues to draw large crowds and in consequence it has been decided to keep it open for a further period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the number of colonial peoples arriving in this country in the hope of securing suitable employment, what consultations have taken place between colonial Governments and His Majesty's Government in this country in regard to controlling, advising and selecting colonial subjects who desire to come to this country for employment purposes.

I am in frequent consultation with colonial Governments about advice to colonial subjects who intend to come to this country to seek work. It is not practicable to control or select British subjects who travel privately at their own expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which Colonies is appropriate birth control information and assistance made available to those desiring it; and in which Colonies is it forbidden.

In none.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he has taken as a result of recent discharged from His Majesty's Dockyard, Malta.

His Majesty's Government regret the necessity for these discharges, and every effort will be made to alleviate the situation by spreading them as fairly as possible over all dockyard activities in which Maltese are employed and more or less equally over the remaining weeks of the financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made towards providing freezing plant for mutton in the Falkland Islands; when it will be in operation; what is the estimated output per annum; and what arrangements are being made to transport it to this Kingdom.

An expert from the Colonial Development Corporation has recently returned from the Falkland Islands where he has been investigating a meat-freezing project. I am informed that his report, when completed, will be considered without delay by the Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why American experts have been engaged to advise on rice production in British Guiana; and what are their conditions of service.

Two American experts have been engaged through the Economic Co-operation Administration because of their specialised knowledge of mechanised rice cultivation. The dollar cost of their salaries during their two to three months' mission will be met from E.C.A. funds. They are also entitled to a subsistence allowance of£2 a day while in British Guiana, which is payable from Colonial Development and Welfare funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now investigated the Kenya Land Control Board's refusal to allow a sale of land by Mr. M. B. Tennent to African Tea Holdings, Limited.

Information about this case has not yet been received from the Governor. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

asked the Minister of Food how much food became bad and unusable in consequence of the strike of dockers in London; and if he will give an estimate of how much this would have been had it not been for the unloading of ships by Service men.

As a result of the strike, 4 tons of pears, 100 tons of onions, 20 tons of French soft cheese, and 30 tons of eggs became bad and unusable. It is not possible to say what would have been the loss had it not been for the unloading of ships by Service men, but the greater part of perishable cargo, meat, buttter, bacon, was safe in refrigerated space.

asked the Minister of Food (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that traders have sufficient stocks of sweets to meet the demand after the re-introduction of sweet rationing;(2) what arrangements he is proposing to adopt in connection with traders' coupon floats when sweet rationing is re-introduced.

Traders will be given credit at 14th August to permit them to obtain supplies equal to 150 per cent. of their turnover in the eight weeks to 26th March, 1949. To a certain extent they will have to rebuild their working stocks out of current deliveries, and even so we cannot guarantee that the ration will be met in the four weeks starting on 14th August. This is the reason that the coupons will be valid in the following period.

asked the Minister of Food how he will ensure that traders who sell sweets before the re-introduction of rationing are not penalised through having low stocks on 17th August.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his Questions today.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that grocers in agricultural districts are unable to supply points goods for farm workers' seasonal allowances, particularly in the Bromyard, Herefordshire, area; and what steps he proposes to take to meet this demand, keeping in mind the large influx of fruit and hop-picking labour which will shortly be coming into the district.

I know of no case where the seasonal points allowance has not been honoured. Arrangements have been made as usual to cater for the increased population in Herefordshire during the hop-picking season.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is satisfied that housewives are now receiving their full allocation of eggs.

Supplies to the London area were held up by the dock strike, but allocations will be levelled up over the next two or three weeks.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that Mr. Needham, of Langthorpe, has suffered considerable loss and damage through the invasion of his premises by weevils from the adjoining foodstore; and whether Mr. Needham will receive compensation for this damage.

I am aware that Mr. Needham has suffered inconvenience from the presence of weevils in his cottage. I am informed that officers of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries have thoroughly disinfested the cottage. I have received no complaint from Mr. Needham of loss or damage.

asked the Minister of Food how much of the weevil-infested barley from the Langthorpe store has been sent to the Tollerton store; and what action has been taken to spray the building in Langthorpe in which the weevil-infested barley was stored.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None." With regard to the second part, I am informed that arrangements have been made for the premises to be thoroughly sprayed.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the ever-increasing uncertainty in the minds of many farmers and horticulturists throughout the country as regards the future of the home market for some types of vegetables which can be produced in great abundance in our own country, he will, after conferring with the Minister of Agriculture, give a specific assurance that the prior place in the home market will be made available for the home producer.

Home producers already supply nearly 90 per cent. of this country's vegetable consumption. Therefore, I see no reason why any such assurances should be expected.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the Government's pronouncement favouring the importation of any foodstuffs for which there is a consumer demand, if the necessary currency can be made available, the Government will, with a view to saving currency and increasing supplies, favour the importation of raw materials as opposed to finished products wherever practicable.

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the proposed increased meat ration, he will now decontrol the price and distribution of poultry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeffington-Lodge) on 25th July.

asked the Minister of Food if he will now announce his proposals regarding price control of homegrown apples.

My right hon. Friend has decided to free home-grown apples from price control from 1st August to 31st October this year, provided that prices remain at reasonable levels throughout. We hope to do the same for pears later in August, if the crop is good.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that, during the past two years, imports of foreign apples during the marketing of the home-grown crop have resulted in waste; and whether, with a view to avoiding such waste in future, he will arrange for the bulk of imports of apples to arrive when homegrown apples are no longer available.

Apart from the small supplies of dessert apples imported from the Continent during the winter months, every effort is made to ensure that the supplies imported from the Southern Dominions during the summer months reach this country and are distributed well before the home-grown crop is ready for marketing. In 1948 and again this year, there have been unexpected delays in arrivals through circumstances quite outside my control, but these belated arrivals, as also the foreign supplies to which I have referred, are quite insufficient in quantity to cause any waste in the home crop.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will extend to National Service men the same facilities of educational and vocational training as that which applies to those on Regular engagements.

No; this is impracticable. The limited resources of the Navy for this purpose must be devoted to the men who have been longest away from civil life. Though the National Service man may avail himself of these facilities in his own time, his working hours are necessarily occupied with Service training and duty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what arrangements have been made for the take-over of helicopters due for delivery to the Royal Navy.

These helicopters will be ferried by naval pilots from the contractor's airfield to a Royal Naval air station as soon as the Ministry of Supply notify the Admiralty that they are ready for collection.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that negotiations about the salary scales of Admiralty electrical engineers have been going on for over two years; that as long ago as the middle of May Dr. Percy Dunsheath reported on the work of these engineers; and when he anticipates that some proposals on the salary scales arising from that report will be made.

I expect that revised proposals will be made to the Association concerned very shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how much longer he expects H.M.S. "Amethyst" will be marooned on the Yangtse; how many men are on board; and how they are provisioned.

A safe conduct for H.M.S. "Amethyst" is still awaited. In the meantime I must, in the interest of the men on board, again ask the House not to press me for details. There are 73 officers and men in the ship. All are safe and well and their next of kin are being kept informed of their welfare. A further link with home has been forged by the B.B.C. who have very kindly provided facilities for special overseas broadcasts to the ship's company an alternate Sundays between 0815 and 0845 B.S.T. This is a special "Listeners Choice" programme, the choice of tunes being signalled by "Amethyst." These programmes can be picked up by listeners in this country and I give the wavelengths at the end of this answer.A supply of emergency stores has recently been sent to the ship and it has been possible to obtain fresh provisions from local sources.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to what extent he is proposing to make reductions in staff in the near future in the Royal Dockyards at home and at Malta.

Apart from the discharge of 50 men over the age of 65 at Chatham, no considerable reduction in numbers at His Majesty's Dockyards at home is likely to be made in the near future. At Malta, between 1,200 and 1,300 employees will be discharged during the remainder of the current financial year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty on what system prize money is being paid out.

As far as possible, claims are investigated and paid in order of receipt. Some claims will, of course, require much more investigation than others, and payment of these may be delayed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many men have been discharged from each of His Majesty's dockyards at home and abroad, since 1st January.

The answer regarding Home Dockyards is contained in the table of figures given below. I regret that comparable figures are not available for the foreign yards.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will place a copy of the Madden Report on the pay and allowances of officers in the Naval Ordnance Inspection Department in the Library.

No. The Report of the Madden Committee is a confidential document intended only for the advice of the Board of Admiralty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if there is any prospect of engineer artificers who contracted, when boys, to serve for 12 years being allowed to purchase their discharge in the near future.

In common with all other ratings engine room artificers are allowed to purchase their discharge, or are granted a free discharge if necessary, in exceptional compassionate circumstances. It was made clear when the new scheme for discharge by purchase was announced early in 1948 that discharges may have to be severely limited in the interests of the Services. It will not be possible to allow less restricted purchase of discharge until the regular strength of the Navy is more stable and balanced than it is at present.

asked he President of the Board of Trade what orders for materials or stores have been given by the nationalised industries in Wales and Monmouthshire to any works or factories operating in that part of the country; and where and to whom.

The nationalised industries have been asked in the national interest to place orders in the Development Areas wherever possible and I am sure they will co-operate. But the House will appreciate that the information requested by my hon. Friend, which concerns the day-to-day activities of these industries, is not available to us.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount in value and quantity of Norwegian talc imported into the United Kingdom during the last convenient period; and what is the import duty on this product.

Imports of talc from Norway in the first six months of this year were 2,367 tons, valued at£17,240. Imports of talc are exempt from duty.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the large number of Nissen huts, concrete emplacements, stretches of barbed wire, beach obstructions and other remnants of defence works which still exist in Great Britain, particularly along the coastline; and if he has any plans for a special effort to remove as many as possible of these obstructions before the opening of the Festival of Britain in 1951.

Obstructions on public land are being dealt with by the authorities owning the land and I understand that a number of schemes, especially at coast pleasure resorts, have been completed. Obstructions on privately-owned land which should be removed in the public interest are being cleared as fast as the resources of my Department permit. I regret it is not possible to promise that this very considerable task can be completed in a short time, or that it can be appreciably accelerated for the Festival of Britain, 1951. If there is any particular obstruction which the hon. Member has in mind I will see whether something can be done.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the numbers on the waiting list in South Wales and Monmouthshire of persons suffering from tuberculosis who have been certified as needing institutional treatment; whether he is aware that none of these unfortunate persons can get into hospitals or sanatoria under five or six months, or even more; and what steps are being taken to improve this position.

My information is that there are about 960 cases. The reason for the length of the wait is lack of staff, which my right hon. Friend is constantly doing all he can to remedy.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what he estimates would be the cost of raising the limit of casual weekly earnings from 30s. to 45s. for widows and from 20s. to 30s. for women drawing retirement pension, respectively.

I regret that the necessary statistics on which to base any reliable estimate of the cost of this proposal are not available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what he estimates would be the total additional cost of re-instituting a pension of 10s. a week, without retirement conditions, for men at 65 and women at 60 years of age for all persons insured for five years prior to 5th July, 1948.

Subject to certain assumptions it is estimated that this proposal would cost about£4 million a year at the end of the first year, rising to£14 million a year in five years' time and gradually declining thereafter. The principal assumptions made are (1) that present ages of retirement remain unchanged; (2) that all those who do not now retire at age 65 men and 60 women would take the option of a 10s. pension, cease to pay contributions and forego increments; (3) that the increase to 26s. would be given at retirement or at age 70 men and 65 women whichever is the earlier; (4) that unemployment and sickness benefit would not be payable after age 65 men and 60 women and that the people concerned would have to have recourse to National Assistance.

asked the Minister of Supply what invitation was extended to the British Overseas Airways Corporation to tender for the maintenance of the Ministry of Civil Aviation's aircraft; and what tender was made.

None.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what opencast schemes are now in operation in the anthracite area of the South Wales coalfield; how many men are employed on each; and what is the output per week.

Five opencast sites are now in production in the anthracite area of South Wales. During the second quarter of this year an average of 96 men were employed at each and the average weekly output from the five was 13,398 tons. One of these sites only started operations in June.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will make a statement concerning the payment of interim income to the former colliery owners for 1949 and subsequent years.

Yes. The Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946, authorised the payment of interim income for the years 1947 and 1948 at the rate of half of the comparable ascertained revenue of the concern during periods defined in Section 22 of the Act. The procedure for settling the amount of compensation to be paid to individual companies has, however, taken longer than was anticipated and the Government has therefore decided to continue payments of interim income for 1949 and subsequent years pending full satisfaction of compensation. The rate of interim income for these years will, however, be one-third instead of one-half of the comparable ascertained revenue and will be treated as advances, or payments on account, against the interest which will eventually accrue on the actual compensation paid. It will therefore not represent any addition to the total payments provided by the 1946 Act. I have today presented a Bill to give effect to the Government's decision.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities have prepared a scheme under the Education Act, 1944, by which grants towards tuition fees of boys at independent schools can be obtained; whether he will name these authorities; and whether there is any central body at whose office information as to such schemes can be obtained.

Eighty-six local education authorities have submitted for my approval their general arrangements for assisting children to attend independent schools and at least 36 more authorities are known to be ready to assist individual children in this way. So far as I know information about authorities' schemes generally is not available from any central source except the Ministry.