asked the Minister of Transport whether he can make a statement with regard to the provision of a toll-free bridge at Selby.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave on 18th October to my hon. Friend the Member for King's Norton (Mr. Blackburn), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent action will be necessary in this country to implement the agreed decisions reached in the Convention on Road and Motor Traffic recently drawn up by the United Nations Conference at Geneva.

The Convention on Road Traffic was signed on behalf of His Majesty's Government at Geneva but has not yet been ratified. It is my desire to answer the hon. Member in some detail and I am circulating a full statement in HANSARD.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now take steps to make it compulsory for pedal cyclists to use bicycle tracks where these are provided.

My policy is to encourage cyclists in accordance with the Highway Code to make fullest use of cycle tracks. I prefer at present to rely on their co-operation rather than to use compulsion.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) how many ships are now being built abroad for British shipowners; and how many British vessels are undergoing major repairs in Continental ship-repairing yards;(2) in how many cases of British vessels being repaired in Continental ship-repairing yards was the work given by tender; and what was the percentage difference between the prices in the British yards and those of the accepted tender.

No ship is now being built in a foreign country for British owners. Two British ships are now undergoing major repairs in Continental ports. In both cases the shipowners invited tenders from a number of ship repairers. The best British estimates were 25 per cent. and 26 per cent. higher in cost, respectively; and 30 per cent. and 100 per cent. longer in time.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the charges previously made for transport of passengers and motor cars to cross the ferry at Kylesku, Sutherland, have now been abandoned; and what steps he is taking to free other ferries in the British Isles from charges.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." The answer to the second part is that the initiative in this matter must come from the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport what by-laws he has sanctioned requiring the Railway Executive to give prior information to the Fire Brigade of any goods trucks containing explosives in transit by rail in the County of London area; and whether he is satisfied that adequate precautions are being taken to avoid possible explosions and fires.

So far none. I am informed by the British Transport Commission that the existing instructions to railway staff require that adequate precautions should be taken to avoid possible explosions and fires. My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary has, however, consulted me on the subject and it is now being discussed between our Departments.

asked the Minister of Transport what measures he proposes to take in fulfilment of his undertaking to the residents of Perivale not to proceed with safety measures at the Medway Junction, Western Avenue, until he had seen a deputation.

I gave no undertaking to see a deputation from the local residents, but I did, in fact, receive a deputation from the Ealing Borough Council introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for West Ealing (Mr. J. Hudson). The whole question of the Medway Parade is still under review.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can now state whether he accepts the recommendations in the Report of the Ferries Committee; and what action he proposes to take to give effect to them.

Yes. The main general recommendations of the Ferries Committee were: that ferries connecting trunk and classified roads should, in the absence of a permanent crossing, be treated as part of the highway and should ultimately be freed from tolls; that the law should be amended so as to permit the acquisition of such ferries compulsorily, if necessary, by the appropriate highway authority; and that the expenditure of highway authorities on acquiring, improving, maintaining and operating ferries should be grant-aided.The Government accept these recommendations, in principle, as a long-term objective, but have decided, with regret, that in present economic conditions it is not practicable to incur the expenditure necessary to make them effective. They recognise, however, that, even if funds could be found, the existing state of the law concerning ferries would hinder the carrying out of the accepted recommendations; and I propose, therefore, to prepare a Bill, for introduction when Parliamentary time can be made available, to modernise the law with a view to bringing those recommendations into effect when resources permit.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking

									1948 First half	1948 Second half	1949 First half
									Tons	Tons	Tons
Bronze	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	836	366	494
Nickel Brass		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	172	61	586
Cupro Nickel		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,103	2,831	1,768
Copper	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	16	37	60
Brass	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	4,821	2,790	5,883
Nickel	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	142	159	85
Other Alloys		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	40	48	21

asked the Minister of Supply why radio-active isotopes have been supplied by the Harwell atomic research station to German universities for the purpose of atomic research.

No radio-active isotopes have been supplied for atomic energy research in Germany. Isotopes have, however, been supplied for medical and general research purposes against orders sponsored by the British Scientific Adviser in Western Germany. The conditions of sale include obligations to publish the results of the research work and to permit visits in connection with it.

I am well aware of the danger to which the hon. Member refers, but I am satisfied that it would not be in the public interest to disclose the steps taken to stop these irregularities.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the output of rolled copper, brass and other alloys of the Royal Ordnance factories, Royal Mint and similar Government-operated factories for the first half of this year and the first and second halves of 1948, respectively.

The output of rolled strip and fillet from the Royal Ordnance factories and the Royal Mint was as follows:

asked the Minister of Works whether he will now say how many hotels, large houses, small houses and flats, respectively, in the London Civil Defence Region, are at present requisitioned by the Government for other use than dwelling accommodation; and how many of each category have been released for use since 30th June, 1948.

Fourteen hotels, 538 large houses, 202 small houses, and 587 flats were held on requisition by Government Departments at 30th September last in the London Civil Defence Region for purposes other than family dwellings. The number of each category released since 30th June, 1948, was seven hotels, 204 large houses, 104 small houses and 636 flats of which two hotels, 82 large houses, 55 small houses and 42 flats have been transferred to the Ministry of Health for housing purposes.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will now say how many hotels, large houses, small houses and flats, respectively, in the United Kingdom are at present requisitioned by the Government for any other use than dwelling accommodation; and how many of each category have been released for use as dwelling accommodation since 30th June, 1948.

The number of hotels held on requisition in the United Kingdom (including London) by all Departments at 30th September last for use other than as family dwellings was 94 and the numbers of large houses, small houses, and flats held by Departments, other than the Health Departments, on the same basis were 1,245, 524, and 643 respectively. Eighty-five hotels, 552 large houses, 365 small houses and 666 flats have been released since 30th June, 1948, of which two, 105, 74 and 45 respectively, have been transferred to the Ministry of Health for dwelling purposes.

asked the Minister of Works for what purpose it is proposed to use the large block of buildings now in course of erection by his Department on the Addison Road bridge site.

This block of offices is being erected by a private developer for lease to my Ministry. It will be occupied by Post Office staff belonging mainly to the Savings Department, and by a number of local offices of other Departments.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will open the Tower of London to visitors on Sundays next summer.

The Tower of London is a place of residence and a military barracks as well as a show-place. Sunday provides the residents and the garrison with a much needed relief from visitors. Moreover, Sunday opening would create serious staffing difficulties. I do not feel that it would be right to interfere with this long standing arrangement.

asked the Minister of Works what is the number of full-time officers of his Department of all kinds engaged on licensing administration in England and Wales and Scotland, respectively.

The number of full-time officers in the Ministry of Works engaged on licensing administration is, England and Wales, 454; Scotland, 35.

asked the Minister of Works (1) what is the estimated cost of his Department's administration of licensing in Scotland, including salaries of officers, office rents and expenses, overhead charges and all incidental outlays for the periods between 1st July, 1948, and 30th June, 1949, and 1st July, 1949, and 30th September, 1949;(2) what is the estimated cost of his Department's administration of licensing in England and Wales, including salaries of officers, office rents and expenses, overhead charges and all incidental outlays for the periods between 1st July, 1948, and 30th June, 1949, and 1st July, 1949, and 30th September, 1949.

The estimated cost of my Department's administration of licensing during the periods in question was:

		1st July, 1948 to 30th June, 1949	1st July, 1949 to 30th September, 1949
England and Wales	…	£650,000	£150,000
Scotland	…	£45,000	£10,000

This includes the actual salaries and expenses of the Department's licensing staff, together with an assessed cost of accommodation and other overhead charges, and the amounts paid by the Department to Local Authorities in respect of the building licensing services carried out by their officers.

asked the Minister of Works what sums have been expended in the purchase of pictures and other works of art for the decoration of Government offices during each of the years 1946, 1947 and 1948.

The expenditure on pictures and other works of art for the decoration of Government offices in the United Kingdom for the financial years 1946–47, 1947–48 and 1948–49 was £650, £850, and £1,710, respectively. These figures include expenditure on reproductions of well-known pictures for rooms occupied by large staffs.

asked the Minister of Works what was the value of works applied for and not licensed in England and Wales between 1st July, 1948, and 30th June, 1949, and 1st July, 1949, and 30th September, 1949, by the Ministry of Works and local authorities, respectively; and what are the percentages of

Period		Ministry of Works		Local Authorities
		England and Wales	Scotland	England and Wales	Scotland
		£	£	£	£
1st July, 1948, to 30th June, 1949	…	246,187,000	27,842,000	97,427,000	3,814,000
1st July, 1949, to 30th September, 1949	…	53,205,000	4,010,000	24,870,000	1,150,000

asked the Minister of Works what was the value of works applied for and not licensed in Scotland between 1st July, 1948, and 30th June, 1949, and 1st July, 1949, and 30th September, 1949, by the Ministry of Works and local authorities respectively; and what are the percentages of these figures to the total value of applications.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position in regard to the discussions arising from the American proposal that German shipyards be authorised to construct ocean-going vessels carrying anti-aircraft armament and in excess of the tonnage and speed limits agreed upon by the British, French and American Governments in April of this year.

No such proposal has been made.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Works (1) what was the value of works licensed in England and Wales between 1st July, 1948, and 30th June, 1949, and 1st July and 30th September, 1949, by the Ministry of Works and local authorities, respectively;(2) what was the value of works licensed in Scotland between 1st July, 1948, and 30th June, 1949, and 1st July, 1949, and 30th September, 1949, by the Ministry of Works and local authorities, respectively.

The value of licences granted is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has taken note of the declaration of the Chancellor of the West German Federal Government regarding Germany's eastern boundary; and if he will make it clear that His Majesty's Government recognise the Oder-Neisse line as the eastern boundary of Germany.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the attitude of His Majesty's Government was made clear in the Potsdam Agreement and subsequently in the Council of Foreign Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the estimated value in sterling of all British assets and investments in China, excluding Hong Kong.

The value in 1941 of the direct British business investment in China represented by physical properties, excluding ships, was estimated in 1947 at about £124 million. To this must be added the capital represented by Chinese Government and railway bonds quoted in London. This amounts to £53 million. I would add that unofficial estimates that have been made exceed these figures.

asked the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean, as representing the Charity Commissioners, if he is aware that the trustees of the Forlorn Hope Estate, Bristol, particulars of which have been sent to him, are requesting tenant owners of houses to pay £112 10s. or 64 years purchase as the price for the ground on which their dwellings stand, the unexpired portion of the lease being 27 years; and if he will withhold his approval of this excessive demand.

The Forlorn Hope Estate, Bristol, is managed as trustees by the Vestry of St. Nicholas by whom a general offer was recently made to their tenants to sell to those tenants the reversion to the 99 year leases under which those tenants occupy the property of the trust. The prices quoted were approximately 60 years purchase with a small addition for legal costs. These offers were made by the trustees on the advice of their surveyors. The trustees sought the general approval of the Charity Commissioners to their offering these freehold reversions at the prices quoted. Such approval was given on the ground that sales on those terms appeared to be advantageous to the charity. If any tenant thinks the price excessive, it is open to him to ignore the offer.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total tonnage produced of opencast coal for the six months ended 30th June last; the total tonnage exported, sold in Great Britain and stocked; and the average price per ton obtained in each case.

During the six months ended 30th June, 1949, 6,241,000 tons of opencast coal were produced and 6,527,000 tons were sold, the excess tonnage being taken from stock. Four hundred and fifty-five thousand tons were exported at an average price of 52s. 10d. per ton. Inland sales totalled 6,072,000 tons at an average price of 40s. 7d. per ton.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average calorific value of opencast coal compared with deep mined coal; and the average cost of production per ton in both cases.

There are many thousands of different kinds of coal and the calculation of a weighted average calorific value for those produced from deep mines and opencast sites, respectively, would involve a disproportionate amount of work. I would, however, refer the right hon. and gallant Gentleman to Annex 3 of the Sixth Report of the Select Committee on Estimates which gives some information on the subject. As regards the second part of the Question, preliminary figures show that for the first half of this year the average total production cost of opencast coal was approximately 43s. 1d. a ton and of deep mined coal 44s. 10d. a ton.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement about the future of the petrol ration.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to the future level of the standard petrol ration.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement as to the future of the standard petrol ration.

In view of the dollar situation, strict economy in the use of petrol is essential. While the standard ration will be continued for the next ration period December-May at the present rate of 90 miles a month, I am taking steps to check the issues of supplementary allowances which, as I have already told the House, have been increasing during the past year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, whether he will restore the concession by which members of the hospitals car service were able to operate under the half-rate licence and insurance scheme, as county councils since the new regulations which cancelled this concession are handiapped in availing themselves of this voluntary and economical service.

There has never been a general concession to members of the hospital car service to operate their cars on a half-rate licence. The hospital car service authorities are permitted to supply coupons for cars licensed at the half-rate only for occasional or emergency use when no car licensed at the full rate is available. It was recently brought to my notice that there was some misunderstanding about this arrangement and I have therefore reminded the authorities that members of the hospital car service who regularly perform journeys on their behalf should have their vehicles licensed at the full rate.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, why schools of motoring have to operate on private petrol; and whether he will arrange for the transfer of this commitment to the Ministry of Transport so that schools of motoring may use commercial petrol in future, with reasonable safeguards against abuse.

Schools of motoring have to use private petrol when operating private cars because the use of commercial petrol in such vehicles is prohibited by the Motor Spirit (Regulation) Act, 1948. The transfer of my responsibilities in this matter to the Ministry of Transport would make no difference whatever. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No."

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that the Law Society are declining to accept applications for posts as area secretaries under the Legal Aid and Advice Act from duly qualified solicitors, simply because they are not members of the Law Society; and whether he will take steps to see that every technically qualified person is permitted to submit an application and have it duly considered for these posts, which are in the main remunerated from public funds.

I am aware that the Law Society require that applicants for the posts in question on the staff of the Law Society must be members of the Law Society. The responsibility for formulating and administering the relevant part of the Legal Aid Scheme is placed by the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, upon the Law Society, which exercises its functions under the general guidance of my noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor. My noble and learned friend is of opinion that the manner in which the Law Society fill these particular appointments is one for the discretion of the Law Society and that it would not be appropriate for him to intervene.

asked the Attorney-General what arrangements are being made to safeguard and transfer pension rights of local government officers who may be appointed to positions under the Legal Aid and Advice Act. 1949.

The local Government officers in question are in the same position with regard to accrued pension rights as all other such officers who leave employment in a local authority to take up other employment, except when rules made under Section 2 of the Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provivisions) Act, 1948, provide in relation to any particular category of officers for transfer value and other payments out of the superannuation funds to which they have contributed. No such rules in force at present are applicable to the officers in question and no representation has been received from the local authorities or any other interested body requesting that the existing rules should be extended to include them.

asked the Attorney-General, in view of the fact that the American and Australian Governments have seen fit to take legal action against Communists in their countries, whether His Majesty's Government will now consider taking similar action in Britain.

If any evidence is forthcoming that a criminal offence has been committed in this country it will be considered, with a view to prosecution if appropriate.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when the Standard Oil Company and its affiliated company Anglo-American are to build the oil refinery at Fawley.

Work on the extensions to the Anglo-American Oil Company's refinery at Fawley began last May and should be completed in 1952.

asked the Attorney-General if he can now give an approximate date when the final report of the Committee which has been dealing with the question of leaseholds will be published.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to state when the final report of the Leasehold Committee may be expected.

asked the Minister of Food if the measures he has taken have yet resulted in an increase in the supply of fish meal for animal feeding.

Production of fish meal for animal feeding in the first six months of 1949 was at about the same annual rate as in 1948, that is, about 50,000 tons a year. The limiting factor is still the supply of fish waste for processing.

asked the Minister of Food what was the total cost of the eight-year inquiry among the public by agents of his Department which has shown that we are eating less meat and cheese and more fish and vegetables than in 1942; and why this investigation was necessary.

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the family food survey. This survey which was started in 1941 is carried out on behalf of the Ministry by a commercial agency at an annual cost of £34,000. It provides a continuous and detailed account of all foods consumed in the home and is essential for the administration of Food Policy.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the large quantities of fruit that are left to rot all over the country; and whether he will make the stores owned by his Department available for its preservation.

I asume that my hon. Friend has apples and pears in mind. This year the quantity of unsaleable fruit is rather more than usual because of the long drought. I am afraid that we cannot find cold storage space for fruit as we must give priority to meat and other rationed commodities.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of barley from the 1948 crop were placed in his Department's depots in Huntingdonshire; how many tons were issued for feeding animals, and how many tons were lost to vermin or had to be destroyed through deterioration.

From the 1948 barley crop 5,289 tons were placed in Ministry of Food stores in Huntingdonshire and 3,179½ tons have been issued for animal feeding. Separate figures for loss by vermin or deterioration are not available, but as far as can be ascertained, total losses from all causes, including loss in transit, amount to only 19½ tons, or 0.38 per cent. of the total quantity placed in store.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of barley from previous years' crops were still held in his Department's depots in Huntingdonshire on 15th August, 1949, or on the latest date prior thereto for which figures are available.

Two thousand and ninety tons.

asked the Minister of Food at what price his Department buys Malayan sago flour; and at what price it sells it in this country.

My Department buys Malayan sago flour at the market price ruling at the time of purchase. The Ministry's selling price in this country is £38 per ton ex-store.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the recent 22 per cent increase in the cost of bread is greater than the increase in the cost of wheat; and what is the reason for this difference.

No. The income from the increased prices for bread and flour almost exactly equals the increased costs of imported wheat and flour.

asked the Minister of Food whether the rations received by European Volunteer Workers employed on the land are the same as those received by British agricultural labourers.

asked the Minister of Food whether European Volunteer Workers engaged, or to be engaged, in iron ore mining receive, or will receive, the same rations as British miners.

The answer in both cases is "Yes."

asked the Minister of Food whether the rations of miners engaged in iron ore mining are the same as or less than those received by men employed in coal mining; and what is the reason for any distinction.

Iron-ore miners receive the same rations as coal miners, with the exception of the special meat allowance, which was given to underground coal miners to stimulate the output of coal.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of soya beans he has purchased overseas this year, from what countries and at what prices; what is his Department's price for soya beans when selling to soya flour manufacturers; and what is the total profit made in these dealings this year.

Purchase of soya beans this year have amounted to 24,446 tons, including 2,791 tons from British East Africa, 100 tons from Nigeria, 1,968 tons from China and 19,587 tons from Brazil. The Ministry of Food's selling price is £59 per ton. It would not at present be in the public interest to disclose the other information for which the hon. and gallant Member has asked.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an estimate of how soon increased milk supplies will enable him to create a priority allocation of liquid milk for old people with retirement pensions.

While my right hon. Friend sympathises with this suggestion, he cannot promise to give extra milk to old people at the expense of other non-priority consumers. Everyone of whatever age with special nutritional or medical needs can obtain a priority allowance of milk under existing arrangements.

asked the Minister of Food whether it is his intention to withdraw all or any of the catering licences issued by his Department to those hotels, restaurants and clubs recently convicted of offences in connection with black-market transactions in poultry.

These firms have the right to appeal against the convictions. Until we know whether they are going to exercise this right, my hon. Friend cannot consider revoking their licences.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a full statement as to the part played by the Food Enforcement Section of his Department in securing the detection and recent conviction of participants in black-market poultry purchases; and what action has been taken to recognise the valuable services rendered by his enforcement officers and the police in destroying the black-market organisation responsible for these illegal transactions.

I cannot for security reasons give a full account of the part played by the Ministry's enforcement officers in the cases which my hon. Friend has in mind. He may rest assured that the excellent work which these officers performed will be noted in their personal records. Recognition of the part played by the police is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs.

asked the Minister of Food, in view of the recent successful prosecutions undertaken by his Department against participants in illegal poultry transactions, and of the fact that the maximum penalties at present provided for in such cases are inadequate punishment for the offences, whether he will introduce legislation to increase these maximum penalties.

No. The maximum penalties at present provided seem to me quite adequate. The actual penalty inflicted in any given case is, of course, a matter for the court to decide, but I may remind my hon. Friend that the chief offender convicted as a result of these poultry transactions was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and a fine of £10,000.

asked the Minister of Food what is the estimated annual rate of subsidy on bread at present; and what was the annual rate just before devaluation of sterling.

The annual rate of subsidy on bread, after taking into account the increased costs of imported wheat and flour and the increased selling prices, is now estimated at £65¾ million. Before devaluation the annual rate was £67 million. Including flour used for other purposes, the annual rate of the combined flour and bread subsidy was £91½ million before devaluation and is now £92 million per annum.

asked the Minister of Food for what length of time flake maize, recently released to the farming community, had been in store; and what steps were taken to ensure that deterioration did not take place.

Maize is released by my Department to the trade as whole grain. It may be flaked subsequently by a processor, who is responsible for the storage and turnover of his own stocks. Adequate measures to prevent deterioration of maize before release to the trade are taken as a matter of normal practice by my Department.

asked the Minister of Food how much cold storage accommodation booked by fruit farmers has been denied them this season by his Department.

No storage accommodation could be booked for apples by my Department this year and I am sorry to say that farmers applying to store 2,680 tons had to be told last June that no space for apples would be available owing to commitments for meat and other rationed foods.

asked the Minister of Food what is the present stock of dehydrated potatoes, and the average age of the stocks.

On 30th September the Ministry of Food held 1,250 tons for animal feeding, processed in March last and 350 tons for human consumption, processed in May, June and September.

asked the Minister of Food how many ships are to be hired by his Department for use as grain stores; for how many ships hired by his Department the discharge of grain has been slowed down; and what this decision will cost in demurrage fees.

I do not anticipate that my Ministry will hire more vessels for storage of grain than the three now under contract. These are the "Doris Clunies," the "Passat" and the "Pamir." The first required extensive repair and alteration on arrival in the United Kingdom and my Ministry took the opportunity to hire her as a store for the duration of the repairs, until the end of November. The other two ships are both sailing vessels which, I understand, are to be laid up or used for purposes other than the carriage of freight. In these circumstances, my Ministry has secured additional storage space without reducing available seaworthy freight. The cost of hiring the vessels is less than the cost which would have been incurred in storing this grain on land.With regard to the second part of the Question, vessels under charter to my Ministry may incur demurrage due to conditions at the port of arrival preventing immediate discharge, or reducing the normal rate of unloading. Likewise they may earn despatch money when conditions allow speedy discharge. My Ministry has not given instructions, nor is it likely to do so, for the arbitrary slowing down of the discharge of vessels under charter. The third part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Food how many seaworthy vessels are now being used for the storage of grain in the ports of this country; and when he expects that room will be found in our granaries and stores to receive this commodity.

None of the three vessels on hire to my Ministry for the storage of grain would otherwise be available for carrying freight. One is undergoing repair and the others are, I understand, to be laid up or used for purposes other than cargo transport. With regard to the second part of the Question, storage space on land is available for grain. It sometimes happens however, that congestion at ports makes it impossible for vessels to discharge immediately on arrival. It was in order to avoid such delay and the consequent payment of demurrage that my Ministry took the opportunity to hire these vessels for storage.

asked the Minister of Food how many sheep carcases imported by his Department from Holland, on or about 26th September, were condemned at Smithfield Market; how many carcases were involved; what was the cost to the taxpayer; who was to blame; and what disciplinary action has been taken against those concerned.

The shipment consisted of 2,067 carcases 55 tons, of which about 1,850 carcases, were condemned. As I told the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Lieut.-Colonel Clifton-Brown) on 19th October, the matter is still under investigation by the Royal Netherlands Government and my Department.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that on or about 13th October, a quantity of British-grown pears were shot into a refuse cart at Covent Garden, and that 20 yards away there was a lorry loaded with Dutch and Belgian pears; and what action he proposes to take to stop such waste of home-produced fruit with the resulting frustration and loss to British growers.

The local authorities concerned cannot trace any condemnations of pears during the last two months, but if the hon. Member will give me more precise particulars I will inquire into the circumstances.

asked the Minister of Food what was the cost to his Department of the pineapples imported under the Anglo-Portuguese trade agreement; and what percentage of profit the Department has made on the transaction.

This information will not be available until shipments have been completed and the proceeds of sale in this country are known, probably about the end of March, 1950.

asked the Minister of Food how he proposes to distribute the 2 million bushels of Canadian apples arriving in Britain from Canada this autumn; and in view of the fact that half of this quantity is a free gift to the British pepple, whether this amount will be allocated without payment by the recipients.

These apples, which have been sold to us by the Canadian Government at half price, will be distributed in all areas according to their population. As consumers cannot always differentiate between home and imported, it would be impracticable to sell them at a specially reduced price.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the large stocks of grain in storage, he will now reconsider the percentage of extraction of flour from the grain in order to give a whiter loaf and increase the amount of provender for cattle food.

No. It is now more than ever necessary that we should economise on wheat usage to save dollars.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the timber shipments from Baltic ports to this country are carried in British ships; and what proportion in foreign vessels chartered by the British Government.

During the nine months ended 30th September, 1949, timber fixtures to the United Kingdom from ports in the Baltic were effected by the Timber Control to the extent of 11½ per cent. in British ships, 3 per cent. in foreign ships on time charter to British operators, and 81½ per cent. in other foreign ships. The balance of 4 per cent. represents purchases on c. and f. terms for which tonnage was arranged by the shippers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, to the nearest convenient date, the number of prefabricated houses exported from this country; and to what countries they were sent.

As I recently informed my hon. Friend in correspondence there are no official statistics of the exports of prefabricated houses as such and the information he seeks is therefore not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the estimates given at the recent British Association Conference as to the inadequacy of the supply of nitrogenous fertilisers in the world, of which a copy has been sent to him; and what steps he proposes to take on behalf of this country to increase the supplies of such fertilisers.

I have seen the estimates to which my hon. Friend refers. Steps have already been taken which should result by 1951 in an increase in the output of nitrogenous fertilisers in this country. Plans to expand capacity still further are under active consideration and, in this connection, the possibilities of increasing our exports to the Commonwealth and other parts of the world will not be lost sight of.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the agreements drawn up at the Conference on Tariffs and Trade recently concluded at Annecy.

The chief matters dealt with at the Annecy Conference were three in number; first, a second round of multilateral tariff negotiations, following the first round held at Geneva in 1947: the object of this second round was to enable certain further countries to accede to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; secondly, a further Session of the Contracting Parties to the General Agreement, and, thirdly, certain matters arising out of the separate Agreement concluded at Geneva in September, 1948, regarding most-favoured-nation treatment for Western Germany.As regards the tariff negotiations, Paper Cmd. 7792 reproduces the Annecy Protocol embodying the terms on which the newcomer countries (Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Finland, Greece, Haiti, Italy, Liberia, Nicaragua, Sweden and Uruguay) can accede to the General Agreement; it also describes the results of the tariff negotiations at Annecy, so far as the United Kingdom is concerned. I have made available in the Library copies of the consolidated Tariff Schedules (published by the United Nations) which embody the results of all the tariff negotiations concluded at the Conference. Certain supplementary explanations are given in an article in the "Board of Trade Journal" of 15th October. The procedure for approval of the accession to the General Agreement of the newcomer countries will not be completed till 30th November: accordingly it is not proposed to lay before the House till after 30th November the Orders implementing the United Kingdom tariff changes agreed at Annecy. A bilateral agreement signed between the United Kingdom and Denmark, consequential on the tariff agreement reached between the two countries at Annecy, is contained in Cmd. 7786.As to the Third Session of the Contracting Parties, paper Cmd. 7791 sets out the various agreements and decisions reached by the Contracting Parties in the course of the Session. As regards Western Germany, a Declaration was made by the occupying Powers regarding the Western German tariff, and a Memorandum of Agreement was signed applying the 1948 most-favoured-nation Agreement to the Western sectors of Berlin. These documents have been published in Cmd. 7790

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the committee which he has set up to look into the export of horses and their transportation and slaughter in this country is likely to report.

The chairman hopes to have the report ready early next year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that in the shipbuilding repair industry unemployment is growing and orders are declining; and whether he will make a statement on his proposals to meet this situation.

I am well aware of the position. The ship repairing industry, which was very much expanded during the war, has been able to maintain an abnormally high level of employment in the post-war period because of the volume of war deferred repairs to merchant ships and the task of reconverting the ships which had been used for trooping and other war services. The present decline in employment is due to the gradual return to more normal conditions in the industry, but my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour, will continue to do everything possible to find alternative employment for the men displaced.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will designate the mat and basket trades as sheltered employments for the blind in view of the fact there are already many out of work and who are unable to engage in any other occupation.

I have no power to confine employment in these trades to blind persons; but I know the important part they play in the provision of work for the blind, and the position is being kept under review on my behalf by the Blind Persons Committee of the National Advisory Council on the Employment of the Disabled.

asked the Minister of Health how far he is financially responsible for the rectification of structural defects in temporary pre-fabricated houses.

The arrangements under which temporary houses were provided are set out in the Memorandum on Temporary Accommodation, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Health if he has completed the collation of the information from local authorities of their housing waiting lists in accordance with his Circular 171/48; and whether this is to be published or available otherwise to Members of Parliament.

No. I am not yet in a position to draw conclusions or to decide when or in what form the information derived could most usefully be presented.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that the majority of the cases of food poisoning reported during the last 12 months are primarily due to lack of care in handling food.

Accurate information is not available at the moment, but it is quite clear that most outbreaks of food poisoning are due to ignorance and lack of care.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that the top row only of the metal framed windows in the kitchen of the High School for Girls, Crossborough Hill, Basingstoke, built in 1946, can be opened, with consequential lack of fresh air and heat; and whether, in the interests of the health of the staff, he will put in hand the minor alterations involved in order to provide adequate ventilation.

I understand that the local education authority have already approved the alterations and will have them done in a few weeks' time.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that grammar school masters in Nottinghamshire, as in an example submitted to him, are expected to fill in record cards in respect of their pupils and are restricted to award a definite percentage of pupils to each grade, irrespective of their ability; what is the ultimate destination of these records; and whether he has considered the possibility of their misuse, causing injury to the individual concerned; and whether he will stop this procedure.

The arrangements for school record cards introduced by the Nottinghamshire local education authority are known to me. Grammar school masters are not required to allocate fixed percentages of their pupils to particular grades. The record cards are confidential and are retained by the school when a pupil leaves. School records were dealt with in Circular 151, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. I have no intention of stopping their use.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the British Government undertook to transmit a Spanish credit of £95,000 to a Swedish firm to purchase 500 Junkers aircraft engines to be installed in Heinkel bombers.

The hon. Member is no doubt referring to the attempt of the Polish Government to sell 500 German manufactured aero engines to the Spanish Government through Swedish intermediaries for installation in Heinkel bomber air-frames, to which the Minister of State alluded in the United Nations General Assembly on 16th May. As all three countries concerned are in the transferable account area, which means that sterling can be freely and automatically used for settlement of direct current

EXTERNAL TRADE OF HONG KONG					£000
Year			Total World Trade*		Trade with United Kingdom†
			Imports	Exports	Imports	Exports
1937	…	…	62,720	53,909	2,921	1,305
1938	…	…	39,236	43,752	3,526	1,326
1947	…	…	99,982	82,224	10,278	2,388
1948	…	…	129,880	100,327	18,808	4,693
1949 (First Eight Months)	…	…	106,399	91,414	14,678	6,010
1949 (Annual Rate)	…	…	141,865	121,885	19,571	8,013
* Including Treasure.
† Excluding Treasure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will identify all the statutory provisions relied upon for the validity of S.I., 1949, No. 1357, as the instrument and explanatory note fail to disclose authority for these regulations.

The only specific statutory powers under which this Order is made are those conferred by Section 5 of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1947, and referred to in the opening words of the regulations. The reference to other powers is a formula which is usually and properly employed in statutory instruments to comprehend such ancillary powers as are or might be brought into play when a specific power is exercised. These ancillary powers are provisions of the general statute law (for instance, in the Interpretation Act and the Statutory Instruments Act), or overriding provisions such as those embodied in the Statute 12 and 13 Vict. Cap. 89, governing the signature of Treasury Instruments by two of the Lords Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the amounts in sterling of exports and imports, respectively, for Hong Kong in each of the years 1937, 1938, 1947, 1948 and 1949.

The information asked for is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether interest on Palestine Bonds has been regularly paid by the Israeli Government since the termination of the Mandate; and how many bonds since that date have been redeemed by the Israeli Government;(2) what undertakings were secured from the Israeli Government on the termination of the Mandate to secure the proper servicing and redemption of Palestine Bonds issued under the authority of His Majesty's Government as the mandatory Power.

His Majesty's Government have no information whether interest has been paid by the Israeli Government on Palestine Bonds or whether or not the Israeli Government has redeemed any of these Bonds. The Israeli Government was proclaimed after the termination of the Mandate and was only given de facto recognition by His Majesty's Government in January, 1949 No undertaking, therefore, could be given by the Israeli Government on the termination of the Manadate to secure the proper servicing, and redemption of Palestine Bonds nor has one been obtained since. The Palestine Bearer Bonds are included in the agenda of the negotiations at present proceeding in Tel Aviv between His Majesty's Government and the Israeli Government on matters connected with assets and liabilities of the former Palestine Government.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many persons in excepted employment before July, 1948, and discharged from the Forces after 6th January, 1946, have been treated as in arrears for the whole of the 1947–48 contribution year, or half or more than half of the 1947–48 contribution year, respectively; how many such persons have refused or failed to pay the arrears; and whether all persons in this class have been identified and notified of their position.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. It could only be obtained from a detailed examination of the insurance records of over 20 million insured persons. With regard to the last part of the Question, notices of arrears accrued during the 1947–48 contribution year have been sent to all insured persons who were in arrears during that year.