asked the, President of the Board of Trade whether, when agreeing to the removal of restric- tions on the import of Italian rayon piece goods into the United Kingdom, he arranged for this action to be followed by reciprocal removal of restrictions on the import of British woollen and other textiles into Italy.

We have removed our own restrictions on the assumption that other O.E.E.C. countries will in turn be taking similar measures appropriate to their economic and financial position, but we cannot expect that these will necessarily include every product in our own lists.

While I most certainly do not want to oppose anything which would lead to the freeing of inter-European trade, will the right hon. Gentleman not agree that its success must be judged by the degree of reciprocity?

I entirely agree with that statement, and the hon. Gentleman will no doubt have read of further moves which have been taking place on this matter in Paris during the last few days.

How long will the President of the Board of Trade want before reciprocal action is taken?

Negotiations are going on at the present time both in bilateral discussions and on the conditional list, and, as the hon. Gentleman will have seen, a time limit was set for further propositions at yesterday's meeting in Paris.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the resentment amongst the retail traders in Scotland by reason of his cut of retail gross profit percentages, and his failure to take consultations with the trade before making it; and what action he proposes to take to meet their criticisms.

I was informed of the views of retail traders in Scotland and elsewhere at meetings with their representatives which I held in August about the reduction in retailers' maximum gross margins on utility clothing, footwear and household textiles. The views then expressed were taken fully into account before I decided on the extent of those reductions and before I made the orders bringing them into effect. I have undertaken to review the position before the end of the year.

As it would appear that the Minister by reason of this particular action and others has lost the confidence of the trading community, does he not think it would be wise for him to resign his office and allow someone else to carry on?

I have the consumers to think of as well as the trading community. I need hardly inform the hon. and gallant Gentleman that the trading community have done far better in the last four years than they have ever done before in their history.

Will the President of the Board of Trade now consider publishing those retail margins in the OFFICIAL REPORT in order that the House may be competent to judge?

If my hon. Friend will put a Question down I will consider it, but to publish them in the OFFICIAL REPORT would take an undue amount of space. I will consider, however, means of bringing them to the attention of hon. Members.

If some of these clothing retailers think they are not doing very well, would it not be a good idea if Debenhams, with their £1,200,000 profit, their 125 per cent. dividend, and their 300 per cent. bonus issue, helped them out a little?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what sums have been paid to Mr. R. Sullivan, of 48, Endymion Road, S.W.2, in respect of war damage caused by a flying bomb on 16th June, 1944, to the motor yacht "Halcyon" at Cubitts Yacht Basin, W.4; and whether these sums were intended to cover the loss of the vessel itself.

Mr. Sullivan has been paid £110 4s. 8d. in respect of the damage in question, including the loss of the yacht. Mr. Sullivan had not taken out any policy of insurance under the Private Chattels Scheme and consequently was only entitled to compensation under free cover.

In view of the fact that this yacht was destroyed by a flying bomb a short time after Mr. Sullivan had taken up residence there, and that then he fell ill for nine months after the accident, could not my right hon. Friend have a look at it again, because the amount he has quoted is about one-third of the actual sum that Mr. Sullivan paid for the vessel?

That was the limit payable to him under the free coverage scheme, and as he was not covered under the Private Chattels Scheme we could not have gone further. In fact, I ought to inform my hon. Friend that, although Mr. Sullivan was given householder's compensation, there was some doubt whether the tenancy of the yacht counted as a household.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what sum has been paid on claims for war damage to goods insured under the business scheme, in accordance with Part II of the War Damage Act, 1943; and of what sum has payment been deferred.

The total amount paid to date under the business scheme, is approximately £48 million, including £2 million representing accrued interest; payment has been deferred for an amount of approximately £46 million, not including accrued interest, which to date amounts to about £10 million.

Is the President aware that the delay in paying something like half the claims is making the public dubious—or rather not dubious—about the benefits to be obtained from nationalising other forms of insurance?

I do not think that question arises in any sense at all.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how that payment compares with the minimum payments that have been paid overseas in many cases to the same claimants?

That is another question, and if the hon. Gentleman will put it down, I will consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make about the recent cuts in Japanese export prices; what steps he proposes to take to protect British interests; and how far he estimates that they will be affected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the decision of the occupying authorities in Japan to abolish price controls on Japanese manufactures.

There is no reason to think that there will be any appreciable increase in imports of cheap goods from Japan into the sterling area in the near future because it will be necessary for balance of payments reasons to restrict imports from Japan for at least the next year. Nevertheless, I recognise to the full the anxiety which certain of our industries naturally feel about the eventual re-emergence of low cost Japanese exports on a large scale. I shall watch this matter closely and I regard it as of considerable importance that in announcing the abolition of the system of minimum export prices last week, General MacArthur's Headquarters made it clear that "dumping" would be prevented.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether these cuts were made or known about before the present trade negotiations had been concluded, or, indeed, if they have been concluded?

I should want notice of that question. We were informed of the proposed changes a short time before they took place, but we had no opportunity, nor indeed any locus in commenting on them.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that on 26th October "The Times" said that the export floor prices had been abolished for all export goods except silk? Does that apply to raw silk or to silk piecegoods?

I should be glad if the hon. Gentleman would put that question on the Order Paper.

Has my right hon. Friend seen a report which was given great prominence in last Sunday's Press, to the effect that the Japanese had undercut us in a £10 million contract for Siam for the supply of locomotives and rolling stock?

Is the right hon. Gentleman really satisfied that British interests are properly and adequately represented when these matters are considered?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the financial cost of subsidies granted under the Cotton Spinning (Re-Equipment Subsidy) Act in its first year of operation.

No payment of subsidy under the Cotton Spinning (Re-Equipment Subsidy) Act, 1948, was made in the year ending 13th May, 1949, but one claim has since been paid and claims affecting four other mills are under consideration. Modernisation plans have so far been approved for 44 mills out of a total of 270 in groups registered for the purposes of the Act and plans for a further 12 mills are under consideration.

Would my right hon. Friend consider publishing in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the undertakings which have benefited in this way?

I should like to give consideration to that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish in HANSARD a list of Government-owned factories at present leased to private enterprise.

Some 1,300 factories are involved. Since the details asked for would occupy so much space in the OFFICIAL REPORT, I will send the information to my hon. Friend and to any other hon. Members who would be interested to have it.

In view of the fact that many hon. Members in this House are concerned with these factories in their Divisions, could not we have this published in HANSARD; and, secondly, in view of the fact that these factories were leased in the nation's interests, will my right hon. Friend have a survey carried out to see whether they are used to the utmost capacity?

As I said, this is a tremendously long list and would take several pages in HANSARD. I will consider what publicity can be given to it, and I can make a copy available to the Library and lend one to any hon. Member who would like to have it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the negotiations he has conducted with the United States Government with a view to facilitating the export of natural rubber to that country.

At the tripartite discussions in Washington in September, the United States representatives stated that the United States Government was prepared to open to natural rubber a substantial additional area of competition, including a modification of the Government regulations relating to the consumption of synthetic rubber, and that it would review its stockpiling programme. Later in that month, the regulations were in fact relaxed so as to enable United States manufacturers, if they so desire, to use an additional 50,000 tons of natural rubber in 1950. The Bureau of Federal Supplies has also recently announced that it will consider offers for limited quantities of rubber for the stockpile.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any firm figures with regard to the possibilities of stockpiling?

No, Sir, not at this stage.

Were the Dutch, as the next biggest rubber producers, taken into consultation in this matter?

I would like notice of that question.

In view of the proposal to allow £50,000 worth to go into the country, may I ask whether there has been any change in the regulations which said that 62 per cent. of all rubber goods used in the United States must be made of synthetic rubber?

I do not think that my hon. Friend has stated the regulation correctly. The changes do not represent a decision to import £50,000 worth more. It was some modification—I cannot call it more than that—of the regulations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the fact that Government maximum price controls, discarded two years ago, have now been replaced by minimum price controls in the form of a price ring determined by the Yarn Spinners Association, thus acting against the public interests, and what steps he will take in this matter.

The statutory controls, which were withdrawn in April last, prescribed fixed, not maximum, margins. My hon. Friend will have noted from the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bexley (Mr. Bramall) on Tuesday last that the minimum price arrangements made by the Yarn Spinners' Association appear to be of a kind which can be referred to the Monopolies Commission.

In view of the fact that the ex-Cotton Controller, some of his staff and the actual premises are now in the service of this restrictive price ring, will my right hon. Friend take more effective action than referring it to the Monopolies Commission?

We shall keep the operations of this ring under close watch, but the real decision as to whether it is referred to the Monopolies Commission falls on the Board of Trade and not on the officials to whom my hon. Friend refers.

In view of the Minister's statement that this matter could be referred to the Monopolies Commission, could the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that he will, in fact, take steps to refer it to that Commission?

I cannot give that assurance, because I cannot anticipate what references will be made to the Commission, but I can inform the hon. Member that there is a long waiting list, from which the next list of references will have to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now received the detailed information for which he asked last week in order that he might institute an inquiry into allegations against the police contained in a letter recently published in "The New Statesman," written by a correspondent whose real name was not published.

No, Sir.

Would my right hon. Friend consider, in spite of the refusal of the chief accuser to come forward, whether any other action could be taken in this case apart from a statutory inquiry?

No, Sir. One cannot have an inquiry unless one has some evidence to start on. If evidence is produced that the police were, on this or any other occasion, negligent in the carrying out of their clear duty an investigation will take place, but there must be evidence on which to make a start.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the police now know the identity of the writer, that they at once visited his employers and that he got the sack? Is it not a fact that the act of victimisation which the man feared and which the right hon. Gentleman said could not take place has been brought about by the police themselves?

I have seen a statement to that effect in one morning paper but it did not go quite as far as the statement made by the hon. Gentleman.

I am giving the facts.

I have made inquiries of the police at Scotland Yard. They have informed me that they do not know the identity of the person.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the reduction from 5s. per week to 2s. per week in the cycle allowance to the Police Force in Liverpool is causing dissatisfaction; that the 5s. weekly has been in operation for the past 20 years; and if he will give further consideration to the need to revise the 2s. weekly, which is all that he, according to his recent circular, is prepared to approve.

I have received representations on this subject from the Liverpool Watch Committee, but the Department's recent circular, to which my hon. Friend refers, was based on a specific recommendation of the Oaksey Committee and I should not feel justified in reconsidering it, more particularly as existing recipients of the higher rate of allowance will continue to be eligible for that higher rate.

Does not my right hon. Friend realise that the difficulty arising from the reduction of the bicycle allowance will make recruits reluctant to go into the force with their own bicycles, and that the local authority will be compelled in that case to purchase bicycles and to maintain them, which will mean a much greater expenditure?

I should have thought an allowance of 2s. a week for a bicycle to be quite adequate compensation for its purchase, maintenance and use.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that the scheme has been in operation in Liverpool for the past 20 years and that 5s. has been found adequate to meet the whole responsibility?

I am aware that 5s. has been paid in Liverpool, but I agree with the Oaksey Report that 5s. is an excessive sum for this service.

asked the Minister of Health under what regulations superannuation deductions are being made from those employed under the Health Service; what is the authority for these regulations; and where a copy of them can be publicly examined.

The regulations are the National Health Service (Superannuation) Regulations, 1947—S.R. & O. 1947, No. 1755. They are made under Section 67 of the National Health Service Act, 1946. They are on sale at the Stationery Office, price 1s. 10d.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the dentists practising in Lowestoft and North-east Suffolk have withdrawn from the National Health Service Scheme; whether he will state the reasons for this withdrawal; whether he will give an assurance that negotiations are proceeding in order that dental services shall be restored; and what redress or alternative service is available for the public.

I am aware that certain dentists in Lowestoft and Suffolk and in other areas decided not to accept fresh patients under the National Health Service following the reduction in the scale of dental fees in June last. In most areas affected wiser counsels have already prevailed and I hope that Lowestoft dentists will shortly follow this example.

Will my right hon. Friend say whether any active negotiation is going on between his Department and the dentists themselves, because there is growing resentment in my constituency at the attitude of the dentists in going out of the scheme? Is there any redress for people who are entitled to this service?

I see no reason for negotiations. Negotiations have taken place between the representatives of the dentists and my Department. In some instances dentists were refusing to accept patients merely on account of the fact that they had plenty of patients waiting, and after they had worked off their waiting lists their resistance to the National Health Service declined.

In how many other parts of England and Wales are no dental services available for persons who belong to the National Health scheme?

I cannot say at the moment, but if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put down a question I will certainly give him an answer.

Will my right hon. Friend make it clear to the dentists that if they voluntarily come out of the scheme at the present time when we are in these difficulties, the question of their coming back later on will be very problematical?

I am afraid that I have no legal power to refuse to accept into the scheme a dentist who is qualified. I hope that these dentists will realise that their first duty is to their patients.

asked the Minister of Health if he will furnish a list showing the number of general practitioners with 2,500, 3,000, 3,500, 4,000 and over 4,000 patients registered with them under the National Health scheme; and what steps are being taken to reduce those cases where the upper limit of 4,000 patients has been exceeded.

General statistics on this matter are not readily available, but inquiries have been made of a number of areas. As the information supplied by these areas contains a number of detailed figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the right hon. Gentleman indicate what steps he is going to take to see that doctors who have more than the maximum of 4,000—I am informed that there are many—bring their numbers down so that young doctors will not find themselves limited to getting jobs as paid assistants?

Steps have already been taken and numbers are being reduced every week. If the hon. Member will look at the figures I am supplying, he will see that they are not as great as he thinks.

asked the Minister of Health how many potential medical specialists, namely, those with higher medical or surgical qualifications, have been placed in specialist employment since the establishment of the National Health Service; and what proportion of the available potential specialist force does this represent.

The information is not yet available.

If my right hon. Friend cannot get it, will he seek wider by going to the General Medical Council and the B.M.A.? Does he appreciate that if he does not know how many potential specialists there are available and how many of them have jobs, it is quite impossible to plan any kind of system connected with specialists' services?

I am afraid that the hon. Member entirely misunderstands the position. If he had been here for the Debate the other evening he would know that the designation "specialists" has no necessary connection with academic qualifications, and, therefore, the number of potential specialists in the country cannot be known until they are graded.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that most specialists have that title by virtue of their qualifications? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] The country needs the benefit of the skilled services of these potential specialists.

If the hon. Member will do myself and the House the service of reading the Debate he will understand the position, which obviously he does not now.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements are made in institutions controlled by the social welfare committees for aged and infirm inmates to receive chiropody treatment.

Arrangements for chiropody at homes for the aged and infirm provided by local authorities under the National Assistance Act are at the discretion of the authorities.

asked the Minister of Health what was the rate of infant mortality for the latest available period and for a similar period before the war.

The provisional figure for infant mortality in England and Wales for the third quarter of 1949 is 26 per 1,000 related live births; the corresponding figure for 1938 was 42 per 1,000 related live births.

Will my right hon. Friend continue the good work of continuing to save valuable British lives?

Is the Minister aware that during the 20 years of Tory misrule the infant mortality rate was also declining?

Yes, the infant mortality rate was declining but at nothing like the rate it should have done.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the marked discrepancies in the periods of delay in supplying glasses between different firms of opticians; and if he will take steps to ensure that the work is spread more evenly and the longest periods of delay thus eliminated.

I am aware that there are discrepancies and I am in consultation with the industry about the problem.

Will my right hon. Friend press on with the solution of this problem in view of the fact that there are differences as wide as nine months and four weeks, and that undoubtedly many firms are taking orders with which they are quite incapable of dealing?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will arrange for an inquiry into the use and practice of hen batteries which involve considerable cruelty to the birds concerned and cause widespread diseases and inferior quality eggs, many of which are unfit for human consumption.

No, Sir. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 2nd June last, when I said that in the absence of any evidence of cruelty I did not propose to reduce or abolish the battery system of keeping hens. I have no evidence to support the view that, with a normal standard of management, battery birds are either more prone to disease or produce eggs of lower quality than birds kept under other conditions.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a report sent recently to "The Listener" states that many of these birds are kept in unnatural conditions, are unable to exercise their limbs, and are in an extremely poor state of health, and that neither they, after killing, nor the eggs they produce can be considered as fit for human consumption. Would the Minister take such letters as that into account?

I am not aware of the document which the hon. Member is reading.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since I questioned him on this subject in June, I have received many letters from poultry breeders themselves condemning this practice, although not on the lines mentioned by the questioner, that the eggs are bad—they are not—but merely on the question of cruelty? Will not the Minister make further investigation or accept the evidence I have submitted to him?

I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that this matter is constantly under examination and whenever cruelty is proved, which is not the case yet, we will look at it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in view of the possible early finish of the sugar beet campaign, what arrangements he has made for the full employment of hostel labour or casual farm workers throughout the winter on schemes to improve land for fuller production.

County agricultural executive committees have been reminded of the importance of taking early and energetic measures to ensure that their pool workers are kept fully employed in the coming months. It is not, of course, their function to provide work for casual workers who may be seeking employment, though they will do what they can to help.

Is not the point that the necessary work of reclaiming land is the function of the executive committees, and should they not use their fullest endeavours to bring more land into cultivation so as to meet the immediate need?

Current instructions to county agricultural executive committees include, first, the calling of meetings of National Farmers' Union county branches to plan Winter work for pool labour; secondly, to canvass farmers well in advance for Winter engagements, both direct and through the N.F.U. branches; and also various other suggestions have been made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what instructions have been issued to county agricultural executive committees regarding the employment of gang labour on road or other work when enough agricultural work is not forthcoming.

If work in agriculture cannot be found for their employees, C.A.E.C.s are under instruction to make every endeavour to arrange temporary employment in other occupations, in consultation with the local office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much land is being farmed by the Norfolk Agricultural Executive Committee in Methwold Fen; and how long it is his intention to continue the present arrangements.

The Committee farm 423 acres of land under requisition. A decision as to the future of this land will be taken as a result of the review of requisitioned land now in progress.

How long will it take to reach that decision?

I hope we shall make it before the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that Mr. Clayburn, the proprietor of Nirvana Piggeries at Tyersal, near Bradford, has not yet received feedingstuff for his livestock although he took over the piggeries from the previous owner as long ago as August; and, in view of the need for encouraging home-produced meat, whether he will look into the matter and take action to remedy the situation.

I have written to the hon. and gallant Member about this case. As Mr. Clayburn's holding is under one acre in area and was not used for pig keeping before the war he is only entitled to the domestic pig ration of ½ cwt. a month, and this he has been receiving since last August.

As we are importing pork from both France and Belgium, would the right hon. Gentleman reconsider this case? I am only asking that Mr. Clayburn should have the same amount of pig feedingstuff as his predecessor, from whom he bought this piggery?

I think I explained that to the hon. and gallant Member in the letter I sent to him yesterday.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent the Colorado beetle has been kept in check during this year; and how its recorded appearances compare with the same period for 1948.

During the past season no breeding colonies of Colorado beetle have been discovered in this country, whereas there were 11 such occurrences in 1948. Thirty-six single beetles have been found in this country, mainy with imported produce, and 17 on ships, compared with 74 and 278, respectively, in 1948.

x asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the policy of the Land Commission for the sale of individual fields or isolated parcels of agricultural land in their possession to the owners of adjoining holdings where such land could be most economically farmed as part of such holdings.