asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will give any estimate as to what progress has been made under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, in the preparation of development plans by the local planning authorities in anticipation of the lodging of these plans by June, 1951.

It is too early to attempt any estimate of the progress made, but I am satisfied that planning authorities generally are making good progress.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning (1) under what provision of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, the Central Land Board are insisting upon the payment of development charges before permission is granted to a farmer to erect a dwelling house on his land for the occupation of a son or other person who assists him in the management of the farm; and whether he will take the necessary steps to ensure that the concession referred to in circular No. 62 issued by his Department to all local authorities shall apply to all houses erected for occupation by members of the agricultural population, including those required for farm bailiffs or managers if erected on actual farm land;(2) how he has defined a house qualifying for exemption from development charges under the special concession referred to in circular No. 62 issued by his Department to local authorities.

Under Part VII of the Act development charge is payable before building operations which give rise to charge are carried out. Circular 62, to which the Central Land Board give effect, provides that in the case of certain houses for agricultural workers the collection of charge may be suspended. It fulfilled a pledge given when the Act was before Parliament as a Bill and was designed to encourage the building of cottages for farm workers. The concession does not extend, and I see no reason to extend it, to houses for farmers or for their bailiffs or managers.

asked the Minister of National Insurance for how many children in Newport are family allowances being made; and what is the approximate distribution by size of the families to which these children belong.

I regret that separate figures are not available for individual towns. The latest available figures for Wales as a whole were given in a reply to the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. D. J. Williams) on 22nd July last, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) if he will extend the period after the birth of a child during which maternity grant and attendance allowance can be claimed;(2) to what extent his Department has benefited through the forfeiture of maternity grant and attendance allowance due to late claiming.

It would not be practicable to collect the information asked for about late claims for maternity benefits. As a result of experience gained in the administration of these claims, the time limits for claiming have been substantially extended. A month after the birth is now allowed for claiming attendance allowance, and three months for maternity grant, with an extension to six months in both cases where good cause for the delay is shown. The new time limits have been given extensive publicity.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the number of men and women respectively employed in a clerical capacity, established and temporary, in his Department on 1st January, 1949.

The staff employed in a clerical capacity in the Ministry of National Insurance on 1st January, 1949, was as follows:—

Established:
Men	…	…	…	…	8,587
Women	…	…	…	…	5,674
Unestablished:
Men	…	…	…	…	7,925
Women	…	…	…	…	6,995

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, under his regulations, a contributor is entitled to a receipt for his insurance card when fully stamped and exchanged for a new one.

No, but a statement of the contributions paid and credited in the period covered by a card is in due course sent to each contributor.

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers were registered as employed in the building trade in Newport on 1st January in each of the years from 1932–39 and from 1946–49 and the latest known figures; and how many registered unemployed were recorded on the same dates.

Statistics of employment in industries in local areas are not available

(a) Estimated numbers of insured males in the building industry in employment at the middle of the undermentioned years and (b) the numbers of such persons recorded as unemployed in January and July of the same years.
Year		England			Wales
		(a) Estimated number of insured males in employment at mid-year	(b) Number of insured males recorded as unemployed		(a) Estimated number of insured males in employment at mid-year	(b) Number of insured males recorded as unemployed
			January	July		January	July
1932 (aged 16–64)	…	526,000	234,374	197,194	16,000	13,446	11,674
1933 (aged 16–64)	…	601,000	268,929	142,539	18,000	14,895	10,020
1934 (aged 16–64)	…	667,006	183,582	115,844	21,000	11,766	9,361
1935 (aged 16–64)	…	718,000	186,634	105,980	23,000	11,931	9,924
1935 (aged 14–64)	…	744,000	187,600	106,621	24,000	11,980	9,961
1936 (aged 14–64)	…	803,000	218,645	88,560	25,000	14,212	8,734
1937 (aged 14–64)	…	812,000	142,181	88,187	27,000	11,176	7,576
1938 (aged 14–64)	…	793,000	162,042	114,010	30,000	10,463	8,031
1939 (aged 14–64)	…	794,000	197,317	92,117	35,000	11,980	6,232
1946 (aged 14–64)	…	713,000	5,687	13,441	26,000	833	1,497
1947 (aged 14–64)	…	810,000	21,400	11,226	41,000	1,811	1,507
1948 (aged 14–64)	…	810,000	21,061	15,318	40,000	2,562	2,263
NOTE:—Juveniles under 16 years of age were not insured before September, 1934, and the figures before that date therefore relate to persons aged 16–64. For 1935 two lines of figures have been given, the first excluding and the second including boys under 16.

asked the Minister of Labour how many building workers were registered as employed in the building trade in England and Wales separately on 1st January in each of the years from 1932–39 and from 1946–49, and the latest available figures; and how many were registered as unemployed on the same dates.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 20th October, 1949; Vol. 468, c. 730] supplied the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give an assurance that, in sending units and drafts to Hong Kong, his Department is respecting the entity of regiments, and that everything possible is being done to avoid cross-posting.

Yes. Infantry drafts posted overseas go to a nominated regiment in their own infantry group. Drafts of other arms are posted overseas only to their own regiment or corps. The only

Rank		1st January, 1928						1st January, 1949
		Section						Section
		A		B		D		A		B		D
		s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Private and Lance-Corporal	…	1	6	1	0	1	0	1	6	1	0	1	0
Corporal	…	1	6	1	0	1	0	1	9	1	3	1	3
Sergeant and above	…	1	6	1	0	1	0	2	0	1	6	1	6

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount was paid over to the Inland Revenue in the financial years 1945–46, 1946–47 and 1947–48 in respect of Income Tax and Profits Tax that had escaped assessment in previous years.

My hon. Friend will find this information in the Inland Revenue Appropriation Accounts for the years he mentions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what price the 2½ per cent. Treasury bonds of approximately £21 million in the Post Office Savings Bank and about £201 million in the National Insurance Fund were purchased.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his similar Question on 18th October last, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for War the daily rates of pay for men in sections A, B and D, respectively, of the Army Reserve on 1st January, 1928, and on 1st January, 1949.

The daily rates of pay of the Army Reserve on 1st January, 1928, and of the Royal Army Reserve on 1st January, 1949, were as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give a list of those countries to which the United Kingdom has made interest-free loans; and the amounts involved in each case.

I would first refer the hon. and gallant Member to pages 71 and 72 of the Finance Accounts of the United Kingdom for the year 1948–49 (House of Commons Paper No. 189 of 1949), where details are given of certain outstanding loans, free of interest, to Nauru and Ocean Islands, Aden Protectorate, Jamaica, Mauritius, Transjordan, Greece, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, North Borneo and Burma.In addition the following credits to Poland are free of interest:(

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many points the cost of living has increased since he announced the devaluation of the pound sterling; and what further increases he anticipates.

I must ask the hon. and gallant Member to await the first cost of living figure to be issued after the 18th September which will be that relating to prices on 18th October, published in mid-November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the monthly circulation of the "Bulletin for Industry"; how many copies of a document

LOANS DUE TO U.S.A.—POSITION AT 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1949
Loan	Amount outstanding	Dates of Maturity	Rates of Interest
	$m
1. United States Government Loan under Agreement of 6th December, 1945 (Cmd. 6708).	4,359*	Repayable by 50 annual instalments. The first instalment is due on 31st December, 1951.	2 per cent. (a).
2. Economic Co-operation Administration Loan under Agreements of 26th October, 1948 (Cmd. 7550) and 16th February, 1949 (Cmd. 7606).	313	Repayable by 56 half-yearly instalments beginning in June, 1956 (b).	2½ per cent. (The first payment of interest is due on 31st December, 1952) (b).
3. Reconstruction Finance Corporation Loan under Agreement of 21st July, 1941 (Cmd. 6295).	107	Repayable by 1st July, 1956, from the income, etc., from the collateral pledged as security for the loan.	3 per cent.
NOTES:
(a) There is provision for waiver of interest in certain circumstances under paragraph 5 of the Agreement
(b) Paragraph 4 of the Agreement of 26th October, 1948, provides that in the event of adverse economic conditions the terms of repayment may be modified by mutual agreement.
* This figure includes the amounts due to the U.S.A. under the Lend-Lease Settlement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the purchasing power of the pound ster-

The monthly circulation of the "Bulletin for Industry" is 13,600; the annual cost of printing, including Stationery Office departmental expenses, is £324. Six thousand nine hundred copies of the "Basic Brief on Productivity" have been distributed. It was marked "Confidential" because it was not intended for textual reproduction. It was duplicated and the cost was trifling.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state in tabular form the amounts of loans due to America; the due dates, if any; and the rate of interest.

Following is the information:ling taking the year 1900 as 100, for 1910, 1920, 1930, 1945 and at the latest available date; and the figures calculated over the whole field of public expenditure if the cost-of-living subsidies were disregarded.

Reckoned over the whole field of personal expenditure by the public, the purchasing power of the pound sterling was approximately as follows in the years in question:—

1900	…	100
1910	…	95
1920	…	37
1930	…	58
1945	…	38
1949 (13th September)	…	31

As has been explained on previous occasions, figures which ignore the cost-of-living subsidies would have no real meaning.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will abolish the Purchase Tax on nurses' uniforms which have to be purchased as part of their conditions of employment, and in addition to their ordinary clothing, and for which high prices are demanded.

There is no tax on nurses' utility uniforms. Non-utility uniforms of all kinds are chargeable with the tax and I cannot see my way to make an exception for those worn by nurses.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will be able to exempt from Purchase Tax instantaneous water heaters suitable for operation with bottled gas.

I am afraid that I cannot anticipate the outcome of the inquiries now being make into the application of the Society of British Gas Industries for the exemption of these appliances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total value of the gold mining shares sold by, or on behalf of, His Majesty's Government since 19th September, 1949.

Apart from shares held by the Exchange Equalisation Account, the transactions of which it would be contrary to the public interest to disclose, no such shares have been sold by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, to encourage the special effort now being made to interest more people in the National Savings Movement, he will raise the total of National Savings certificates which may be held by any one person to £1,000 worth.

No. A higher limit on holdings would benefit taxpayers but would not, I believe, bring in increased net savings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to improve the terms offered for National Savings, having regard to the decline in net savings during the past six months.

No. The existing terms are still favourable to the small saver and I do not believe that improved terms would increase net savings to any useful extent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of recent criticism by the Estimates Committee, he intends to continue the use of No. 2, Park Street, for the purpose of dispensing Government hospitality.

The Treasury has under examination the Ninth Report of the Select Committee on Estimates and I hope soon to send to the Committee a memorandum in reply to that Report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to check the evasion of dividend limitation by the issue of free preference shares to ordinary shareholders.

An issue of bonus shares, whether preference or otherwise, does not necessarily imply a breach of the dividend limitation scheme, which is, at present a voluntary scheme which covers bonus issues as well as existing capital. A company which increases the total sum distributed in dividend by reason of a bonus issue is as much in breach of the scheme to limit dividends as one which does so without any bonus issue. In the light of existing circumstances and to avoid abuse and misunderstandings, I have asked the Capital Issues Committee to suspend, for the time being, all applications for permission to make bonus issues.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for permission to issue bonus shares have been received by the Capital Issues Committee since 6th April, 1949; how many have been sanctioned; how many refused; and what was the aggregate nominal value in each case.

Following are the figures:

		Number	Amount
Applications:			£000
Received	…	331	126,000
Sanctioned	…	317	124,000
Rejected	…	14	2,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many different conditions have been attached to the use of sterling since 1945 consequent upon regulations issued by His Majesty's Government; and the terms entered into by His Majesty's Government under trade agreements.

The different conditions attached to the use of sterling, in accordance with the terms of the agreements entered into by His Majesty's Government with the Governments of other countries and otherwise, are laid down in the Exchange Control (Payments) Order, 1948 (Statutory Instrument, 1948, No. 1080) as subsequently amended. I am sending the hon. and gallant Member copies of this Order and of the amending Orders.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what deductions are to be made under Section (b) of Articles six, seven and eight of Command No. 7798 from sums payable to His Majesty's Government by the Czechoslovak Government.

The paragraphs referred to permit of accounting corrections to certain relatively minor sums payable by the Czechoslovak Government. Clearly if any accounting errors come to light before payment is due the sums payable will be adjusted upwards or downwards. Otherwise no deductions are to be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total nominal value of capital issues for which the consent of the Capital Issues Committee was sought in each of the years 1947, 1948 and the current year to date in connection with proposals for the acquisition, amalgamation or absorption of existing undertakings; what was the nominal value of issued capital in the undertakings which were proposed to be acquired, amalgamated or absorbed in the three years, respectively; and what were the amounts of capital approved and not approved by the Capital Issues Committee in respect of the proposals.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury how many contracts for part-time services of professional men are still being continued by any Department due to the fact that peace has not yet been declared and the country therefore still in a state of semi-emergency; and how much money annually is involved.

I know of no such cases. If my hon. Friend has any information perhaps he will be good enough to take the matter up with the Department concerned.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to what extent his regulations provide that British war pensions paid to next-of-kin now resident outside the sterling area are liable to the United Kingdom Income Tax.

These pensions are chargeable to tax: but a pensioner who is not resident in the United Kingdom will be entitled to a proportion of the ordinary personal reliefs and allowances if he is a British subject or a member of certain other categories of individuals mentioned in Section 24 of the Finance Act, 1920.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury over what period of time the amount of £21,548 10s., the debt for Income Tax and Surtax of Sidney Stanley, was incurred.

I cannot give any information about the Income Tax affairs of individual taxpayers. I understand that a Press report of the proceedings of the first meeting of the creditors stated that the Inland Revenue proofs related to Schedule D Tax going back to 1940–41 and to Surtax going back to 1945–46.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury what arrangements he proposes for adjusting the allowances of civil servants in countries whose currencies have not been revalued in proportion with sterling.

Arrangements have been made to protect civil servants employed abroad against a reduction in that part of their remuneration which is assumed to be drawn locally, as a result of the devaluation of sterling.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury what is the amount of the increase which has been made in the dollar allowances to persons visiting Canada and the United States of America for business purposes, in view of the lower value of sterling in North America.

The maximum daily allowance has been increased from £10 to £14 10s.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the fact that devaluation of the pound will increase the cost of imports, he will consider ways and means of allowing existing stocks to be renewed at their replacement value.

Increases and decreases in the cost of imports are always occurring and, as at present advised, I do not think the devaluation of the pound justifies any departure from normal practice in dealing with them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reply he has made to the request submitted by the American pulp and paper industry, and forwarded to him by the Administrator of the Marshall Plan, for a modification in the Canadian contract to supply the United Kingdom with pulp.

This matter was discussed with the United States authorities and it was agreed that no modification should be made to this year's contracts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make arrangements to allow decorated pottery to be sold throughout the country.

Because of the shortage of certain types of labour, we are still unable to produce enough decorated pottery of the right kinds to meet the North American demands. While this is so, I regret that I cannot afford to relax the present restrictions on the sale of decorated pottery at home. As my hon. Friend may be aware from the statement which I made on 22nd March concerning the removal of some industrial controls, certain articles which are not in such great demand abroad may be supplied at home in plain colours. I am in constant touch with the trade about the possibility of making further relaxations as soon as this can be done without damaging valuable exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recent steps have been taken to increase the output of pottery; and what steps are contemplated.

In the reply to my hon. Friend on 10th February I enumerated some of the steps which were being taken to increase the output of pottery, and I propose to give him a summary of the action taken on the report of the Pottery Working Party, in answer to the next Question on the Order Paper. We have persevered with all these measures and the output of the industry has continued to increase this year. Shortages at home are pretty well ended. Export markets, however, continue to demand more decorated ware than we can produce owing to the shortage of certain types of labour. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and I are doing everything possible to help the industry to recruit suitable workers. Deliveries of lithographs, which earlier were inadequate, have much improved and with encouragement from the Government, the printers are doing their utmost to increase still further the volume and variety of their supplies. We shall, with the industry's co-operation, persevere along the lines I have described.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action has been taken on the Working Party's Report on the Pottery Industry.

Following is a summary of the action that has been taken on some of the Working Party's principal recommendations.1. The Working Party recommended that the Government should facilitate the industry's plans for reconstruction. In fact, with the support of the Government the industry has made great strides with its modernisation and re-equipment programme, having completed over £1 million worth of building since the war and having installed some 100 continuous ovens, as well as much other modern equipment, including semi-automatic making machinery. Forty-seven firms in the industry have taken advantage of the Board's Production Efficiency Service in connection with improving their layout and methods (Recommendations 1, 7 and 9).2. New Pottery (Health) Special Regulations have been put into force since the Working Party reported, and draft Pottery Health and Welfare Regulations are now the subject of a Public Inquiry (Recommendation 2).3. A new Wages Structure for the industry came into force in November, 1946, with a provision in the agreement establishing that it should be re-examined annually (Recommendation 3).4. The Finance Acts of 1946 and 1949, by improving the depreciation allowances on building, plant and machinery, have gone a considerable way to meet the circumstances which gave rise to the Working Party's recommendation (Recommendation 4).5. The B.S.I. "Kilns for general pottery industry" Sub-Committee of the Furnaces, Ovens and Kilns Committee, on which the British Pottery Research Association was represented, produced in 1947 a standard schedule for the thermal evaluation of ovens and kilns in the pottery industry (Recommendation 12).6. The British Ceramics Research Association is examining methods of mixing and processing materials (Recommendation 13).7. The British Pottery Manufacturers' Federation has already done a good deal of work on carton packing (Recommendation 16).8. The British Pottery Manufacturers' Federation consider that exports of pottery cannot be promoted by co-operative action on the lines recommended and have not taken action on this recommendation (Recommendation 17).9. Supplies of sanitary earthenware are now reasonably adequate to meet the demands both of the housing programme and the export trade (Recommendation 18).10. The British Pottery Research Association has been fused with the British Refractories Research Association under the title "British Ceramics Research Association." The Director of the new Association was previously Director of the British Refractories Research Association. The results of the Association's work are made known to its members by the issue from time to time of suitable notes. The Association is in the process of being equipped with large modern premises (Recommendation 22).11. A craft training scheme for boy apprentices is already working so far as present accommodation allows (Recommendation 23).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Kingsbridge Rural District Council, having collected, baled, and sorted 30 tons of waste paper, cannot now find a buyer for it; and what action he proposes to take to implement his various orders on waste paper collection and disposal in view of the fact that this situation obtains in many local authority areas.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Symonds) on the 30th June and to the hon. Member for Darwen (Mr. Prescott) on 18th October on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the paper-making industry as to the need for setting up a national straw pulp plant; and what answer he has given.

I am unable to trace any representations from the paper-making industry urging the need for a national straw pulp plant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the retail distributive trade against the cuts made by his Department in the retail prices of utility clothing, footwear and household textiles.

Since my announcement on 28th July of the Government's intention to bring about reductions of approximately 5 per cent. in the maximum retail prices of these articles, I have received representations from the Retail Apparel Margins Committee, the Footwear Distributors Joint Council and other retailers' organisations. The views of these bodies, along with those expressed by manufacturers and wholesalers, were taken into account before I decided how the reductions should be spread between manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the position existing regarding the treaties with Argentina and Brazil, signed several months ago, in which the Argentine agreed to take £100 million worth of goods and Brazil £70 million worth and yet no licences at all have been issued for the import of any goods from this country that are substantially manufactured; and what steps he proposes to take to adjust this state of affairs.

Whilst it is not correct that no import licences at all have been issued in Argentina for United Kingdom goods that are "substantially manufactured," it is the case that import licences have not yet been issued for the great majority of goods listed in Schedule 3 to the Trade Agreement signed this year. The Argentine authorities have informed His Majesty's Government that this is due to an unexpected decline in Argentina's sterling balances since the end of June. The situation has now been further complicated by the recently announced changes in the parity of the peso to the pound. His Majesty's Government's view of the situation has been placed before the Argentine Government, whose response is awaited. I am extremely anxious that stable conditions in the Argentine market for all classes of United Kingdom exports should be restored as soon as possible if this can be achieved under a settlement which is consistent with our interests as a whole.Under the Trade Agreement with Brazil, exports were expected from the United Kingdom in 1949 to the value of £30,775,000 (excluding oil and petroleum); the figure of £70 million is the approximate value of the total estimated trade under the Agreement in both directions. It is not correct to say that the Brazilian authorities have not yet been licensing United Kingdom goods that are "substantially manufactured." Although the Trade Agreement was not signed until 3rd August, the Brazilian authorities continued, in anticipation, to license United Kingdom goods, including a varied range of manufactured products, to the value of £23,600,000 in the first eight months of 1949. Whilst temporary difficulties may now arise as a result of changes in the parity of the cruzoiro and the pound every effort will be made to ensure the maintenance of satisfactory trading conditions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much timber has been exported from this country to France in the last six months.

308 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present monthly production of nylon stockings; what proportion of these are available for the home market; and if the present supplies to the home market are likely to be cut.

The average monthly production of nylon stockings in July and August was 2,150,000 pairs of fully-fashioned stockings, and 700,000 pairs of seamless stockings; 40 per cent. of the fully-fashioned stockings and 50 per cent. of the seamless stockings were permitted to be sold on the home market. The quantity available both for export and for the home market depends on the rate of production of nylon yarn, and while I cannot give a firm estimate at this stage, I expect a steady increase.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether an early report can be expected from the Dollar Exports Board.

The Dollar Exports Board is entirely independent of the Board of Trade or any other Government Department. It is doing very good work in the dollar export field, but it is not for the Government to make a statement on its behalf. I am, however, sending my hon. Friend a copy of two statements on its activities recently issued by the Dollar Exports Board. No doubt the Board will issue further statements on its work from time to time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is proposing to take to stop increases in the prices of toys.

Toys have been free from price control since July last. I understand that certain manufacturers have recently increased the prices of some of their toys, and that some imported toys are also rising in price. The Central Price Regulation Committee are making inquiries about these increases and the question whether price control should be re-imposed will be considered in the light of those inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the allocation of raw silk to manufacturers will be maintained at the same volume as was in operation before the devaluation of sterling; and if he is aware of the fact that a high proportion of these finished goods are exported to dollar markets.

The volume of future imports of raw silk from Japan will depend upon the level at which trade between Japan and the Commonwealth can be balanced, and upon the price charged for raw silk. It is not yet possible to foresee the effect of these factors. I am aware of the importance of obtaining sufficient raw silk to enable exporters to take advantage of opportunities for dollar exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to publish the reports of his inspector concerning certain matters connected with Messrs. A. Reyrolle and Co. Ltd.

I have given instructions that both the inspector's reports shall be published and I hope copies will be available to the public within a fortnight or so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total British exports and imports of commodities in 1928, 1929 and 1930; what was the total amount of those exports to the hard currency countries, and the

—				United Kingdom Exports		Imports
				Total	To present hard currency markets	Total	From present hard currency markets
				£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million
1928	…	…	…	723·6	155·8	1,195·6	423·9
1929	…	…	…	729·3	155·4	1,220·8	421·8
1930	…	…	…	570·8	118·2	1,044·0	333·7
1932	…	…	…	365·0	63·1	701·7	224·0
1933	…	…	…	367·9	72·5	675·0	206·5
1934	…	…	…	396·0	76·3	731·4	226·0
1938	…	…	…	470·8	88·3	919·5	289·2

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that the staff of the Technical Information and Documents Unit is sufficiently equipped both with the necessary German language requirements and with the necessary technical knowledge for the best possible extraction of available information.

The staff of the Technical Information and Documents Unit comprises a sufficient number of officers with German language qualifications and a small nucleus with the necessary technical knowledge to supervise the work that has to be done in abstracting information and making it available. I am also grateful to many branches of industry for assistance rendered in this work.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that dissemination of knowledge gained by the Technical Information and Documents Unit is conveyed only by the medium of industrial research associations, and that many thousands of non-members of these associations are accordingly excluded from the use of such information; and whether, therefore, he will consider giving wider publicity to this service by advertisement in appropriate trade journals to enable individual firms

The following are the figures:to make application for the technical information available to them, or by the issue of a leaflet to the firms concerned apprising them of the knowledge and facilities available to them.

No, the dissemination of knowledge gained by the Technical Information and Documents Unit is not restricted to research associations. In addition to 30 research associations, the Technical Information and Documents Unit also provides a direct service on a selective basis to 91 trade associations, 43 individual firms and 22 technical journals. Non-member firms are not excluded from these arrangements. The question whether and, if so, in what form, wide publicity should be given to the service of this Unit is currently under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the assets and liabilities of the assurance companies at 31st March, 1949; and what were their total investments in Government stocks.

The following is a summary of particulars contained in the balance sheets of assurance companies established and carrying on business in the United Kingdom which have been deposited with the Board of Trade pursuant to the Assurance Companies Acts. The figures, which are the latest available, relate to the year 1948.

ASSETS
investments:—
	£ million
1. (a) British Government Securities	922.6
(b) British Government Guaranteed Securities	208.7
(c) Local Government issues	104.5
(d) Commonwealth and Colonial Government issues	112.9
2. Other investments	921.8
3. Mortgages, loans, property, etc.	371.4
4. Cash and Agents' balances	260.0
	2,901.9

LIABILITIES
1. Capital	56.5
2. Life Assurance Funds (Ordinary)	1,478.3
3. Life Assurance Funds (Industrial)	640.0
4. Other Insurance Funds	292.7
5. Outstanding claims and sundry creditors	266.2
6. Reserves	168.2
	2,901.9

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Hyflo Supercel, imported from the United States of America for brewing processes, prior to devaluation cost £42 per ton and has now been increased by £17 per ton; and what steps he is taking to arrange for alternative sources of supply.

Hyflo Supercel is the trade name for one type of diatomaceous earth imported from the United States. Diatomaceous earths are imported from a number of sources in addition to the United States, including France and Algeria, Spain, Kenya and Norway. Imports are on private account. Users have been encouraged for some time to use material from non-dollar sources, As from 5th October, imports from soft currency sources have been on Open General Licence.

asked the Postmaster-General why the measure of priority for the installation of telephone service which is given to doctors, dentists and dispensing chemists administering the National Health Service is not extended to ophthalmic opticians administering the same service.

The distinction is made because of the liability of doctors, dentists and dispensing chemists to be called upon to give urgent assistance in case of a serious accident or illness.

asked the Postmaster-General why his Department declines to purchase home-grown timber for telegraph poles; and how many foreign and home-grown poles, respectively, have been purchased by his Department in the current financial year.

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. The Post Office makes every effort to obtain home-grown timber for its pole requirements. It is because of shortage of suitable poles from home sources that it has to make large scale purchases abroad. During the current financial year up to the end of September 13,466 poles had been purchased from home and 73,016 from foreign sources.

asked the Minister of Education what is the present ratio of school dentists to school children; and what were the corresponding figures at the end of March and June, 1949, respectively.

Statistics are only collected annually. The latest figures, for December last, show a ratio of one dentist to 6,170 children.

asked the Minister of Education when he expects a report from the panel of His Majesty's inspectors considering illiteracy among Army recruits.

A small working party of His Majesty's inspectors and others has been conducting reading tests among selected groups of school children, and also, for purposes of comparison, and in collaboration with Service advisers, among recruits to the three Services. My right hon. Friend hopes shortly to receive a report based on their investigations, and will then consider what guidance, if any, it will be appropriate to give on the difficult question of illiteracy.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware of the redundancy at the Manchester dry docks; that 900 to 1,000 were employed in 1946 and at the present time only approximately 600 are employed; and what steps are being taken to prevent further redundancy.

I am aware of the position at Manchester dry docks where the numbers employed at the end of September, 1949, were 630 compared with an average of 888 in 1946. The reasons for the fall in employment on merchant ship repairs were explained yesterday in my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Piratin).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a summary of the proceedings and recommendations of the first session of the Council of Europe can be made available to the House.

A White Paper giving the required information is now available in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to further the use of Scottish stone for building in Scotland.

My Department, in association with the Scottish Department and the Scottish Council (Development and Industry), has been examining this matter in considerable detail for some time past. We have collaborated with the Building Materials Committee of the Scottish Council in discussions with the Scottish Quarry Owners Associations, and have recently arranged for the Ministry's Chief Scientific Adviser's Department to make a survey of Scottish stone building with special reference to costs in relation to other forms of building. Building licences are freely granted by my Department for all forms of stone masonry work.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what basis His Majesty's Government has agreed to £8 million as sufficient compensation for British holders of property in Czechoslovakia as set out in Article 1 of Command No. 7797; and at what rate of exchange this sum has been set against the Czechoslovak crown.

The sum in question was accepted as global compensation after an examination of the claims against Czechoslovakia registered with His Majesty's Government and after consultation and agreement with the principal organisations representing British claimants. As this sum is fixed in the agreement in sterling, the rate of exchange with the Czechoslovak crown is immaterial.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what consideration has been given to possible revision of the Congo Basin Treaties relative to Japan; and if he will make a statement on the present position.

As I informed the hon. Member on 26th May, 1948, the Congo Basin Treaties need revision to bring them into line with modern requirements, but other Governments besides His Majesty's Government are directly and equally concerned. I have nothing to add to that statement.As regards the position of Japan in relation to these treaties, I said that the question was under consideration in connection with the Japanese Peace Treaties. No treaty has yet been concluded and the position is therefore the same as it was last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in what respects, since the introduction of the Occupation Statute in Western Germany, the responsibility of His Majesty's Government for German affairs has been modified.

Under the Occupation Statute the German Federal and Land authorities are free to direct their own affairs except in those fields which the Occupying Powers reserve to themselves. These reserved fields are defined in Paragraph 2 of the Statute.The Occupying Powers also reserve the right, under Paragraph 3, to take action in unreserved fields if they consider that to do so is essential to security or to preserve democratic government in Germany, or in pursuance of the international obligations of their governments.The relevant paragraphs of the Statute are reproduced below.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the urgent need for economy, he will introduce legislation to reduce the salaries of Members of Parliament to £600 a year.

No. In any event, the salaries of hon. Members are not regulated by statute but by Resolutions of the House of Commons.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the number of French students at British universities fell from 163 in 1946–47 to 131 in 1947–48 and to 95 in 1948–49; and to what extent practical encouragement is being given by the Government at the present time for a liberal exchange of students between British and French universities.

I have been asked to reply. The reasons for the decrease in numbers appear to be partly financial, and partly in consequence of the recovery since the war of facilities for English studies in France.Out of an annual total of approximately 350 scholarships awarded by the British Council to overseas students to enable them to study at British universities, the following have in recent years been allotted to France: 1946–47–10, 1947–48‴8, 1948–49–9 and 1949–50–12.The arrangements for publicising the offer of these scholarships in France have been found inadequate, and the Mixed Commission set up under the Anglo-French Cultural Convention has now gone into the question of improving them.The Mixed Commission has also undertaken a study of the existing arrangements made by British and French Universities for exchanges of students, in order to see that students are adequately aware of the opportunities open to them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the urgency necessitating the recent circulation of all occupiers of agricultural land with Form R.49 instead of asking for the information with the periodical returns; and what consultations took place with the Central Landowners' Association and National Farmers' Union before the forms were sent out in order to ensure that the purpose of this return should be understood and hence more complete and accurate information obtained.

The purpose of the special inquiry on form R.49 was to obtain, at the suggestion of the National Farmers' Union, additional information about the rents of agricultural holdings which was considered to be essential for the purposes of the annual review of the economic condition and prospects of the agricultural industry that is required to be held early in 1950 under the provisions of Section 2 of the Agriculture Act, 1947. The inquiry was not incorporated in an ordinary quarterly return because it is addressed only to the 140,000 occupiers of over 50 acres, and there was no need to trouble the remaining 230,000.Before the form was issued, consultations took place with the Agricultural Statistics Advisory Committee appointed under Section 77 of the Agriculture Act, 1947. That committee includes representatives of landowners and farmers as well as of persons employed in agriculture.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the question of sewerage has delayed the provision of council houses in Welford, Northants; and when he expects to come to a decision after the recent public inquiry.

Yes. The inquiry disclosed a number of serious difficulties, which are under discussion with the local authority. A decision will be given as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Food why it is necessary to import canned pilchards from Japan; and what price is paid for these per lb.

We buy these pilchards because supplies from other sources, including home production, are less than we need. As we are buying pilchards from many sources, it is not in the public interest to disclose the price paid.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the average length of time taken from initial measurements to final fitting of the applicant, for the supply of an artificial leg under the National Health Service scheme.

The average time taken for supply of an artificial leg under the National Health Service is at present 36 weeks. A considerable improvement in the supply position is expected as a result of the recent introduction of two new contractors and the steps which are being taken to increase the output of existing contractors.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many firms in Scotland are engaged in the manufacture of artificial limbs for applicants under the National Health Service scheme; and in what towns or districts these firms are situated.

One firm in Glasgow is engaged in the manufacture of artificial limbs for National Health Service patients in Scotland. Two other contractors with headquarters in England have agents resident in Scotland, who receive orders on their behalf. These agents are available at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee. In addition, one of the new contractors is expected to have agents in Scotland in the near future. Patients in Scotland as elsewhere have free choice among the limbs made by all contractors.

asked the Attorney-General if he will consider the introduction of legislation to protect small owners of shop and business premises against exorbitant rent charges.

No, not until the final Report of the Leasehold Committee has been received and considered.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) how much anthracite coal was produced in 1948; how much of this was exported; and if he will give the comparable figures for 1938;(2) how much anthracite coal was exported to Canada in 1938; and what was the comparable figure in 1948;(3) what is the weekly output of anthracite coal for 1949; and what was the comparable figure for 1939.

The total output of anthracite from collieries and opencast workings in South Wales and from collieries in Scotland in 1938 and 1948 is as follows:—

			Tons
	South Wales	Scotland	Total
1938	5,539,000	739,100	6,278,100
1948 (estimated)	3,208,600	813,000	4,021,600

The provisional figure of average weekly output in the first 40 weeks of 1949 is 82,300 tons, compared with an estimate of 119,300 tons per week for the corresponding period of 1939.Exports of anthracite in 1948 amounted to 536,100 tons, of which 163,100 tons went to Canada. The corresponding figures for 1938 were 3,562,400 and 1,053,100 tons respectively.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power in view of the fact that a reduction of from ten shillings to one pound per ton in the price of coal is essential and the output at the coalface must be doubled or trebled, what steps he is taking to bring about these changes: and if he will make a statement.

Without necessarily accepting the so-called facts contained in the hon. Member's Question, I am confident that the National Coal Board are doing and will continue to do everything in their power to improve efficiency at the coalface and elsewhere and to reduce costs of production.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he proposes to introduce legislation to give effect in whole or in part to the recommendations made by the Committee on Mining Subsidence which was appointed by him on 3rd January, 1947.

I can at present add nothing to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Miss Lee) on 28th July.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is yet in a position to announce any new appointments to, or changes in, the National Coal Board following the passing into law of the Coal Industry Act, 1949.

The following have accepted my invitation to serve as part-time members of the National Coal Board: Mr. J. H. Hambro, C.M.G., Sir Geoffrey Heyworth, Alderman Sidney Jones, Mr. Gavin Martin, Sir Godfrey Mitchell.