asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give an indication of the effect which the proposed reduction in the dollar import programme will have on the imports of cotton from the United States.

Imports of cotton from the United States should, taking into account the full use of available supplies from other sources, be at a level sufficient to enable the industry to function efficiently and to maintain the current improved production trend for the present. But I must emphasise that the maintenance of dollar imports of cotton on this scale depends on the success of the industry in increasing very considerably its sales to the dollar markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why 308 tons of timber have recently been exported from this country to France when there is a shortage of timber in Britain.

The types of timber exported did not include softwood or any others which are scarce here.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present position as regards the issue of permits by the Turkish Government for the import of British textiles and other manufactured goods into Turkey.

The Turkish authorities are at present issuing import licences for textiles and other manufactured goods from the United Kingdom on a relatively restricted scale because of the limitations imposed by their sterling resources. They have recently issued revised import regulations with the object of establishing priorities for various classes of goods, in accordance with their relative importance to the economy of Turkey. Details of these regulations will be published in the Board of Trade Journal shortly, and, in the meantime, if the hon. Member cares to let me know of any particular points in which he is especially interested, I shall be glad to look into them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total number of horses exported from this country during the latest month for which figures are available; and indicate how many were sent to each of the countries concerned.

The total number of horses (including ponies) exported from the United Kingdom in September, 1949, was as follows:

Country		Number
Irish Republic	…	108
Belgium	…	25
France	…	21
Federation of Malaya	…	17
Mauritius	…	15
Singapore	…	6
Australia	…	5
Trinidad and Tobago	…	4
Barbados	…	3
Union of South Africa	…	3
United States of America	…	3
Colombia	…	2
Channel Islands	…	2
Ceylon	…	1
Panama	…	1
Jamaica	…	1
Germany	…	1
Brazil	…	1
Kenya	…	1
Falkland Islands	…	1
Sweden	…	1
Total	…	222

These figures include horses exported for all purposes, including those exported temporarily for racing, breeding or exhibition, and also those re-exported after temporary importation into the United Kingdom for similar purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the number of persons adjudged bankrupt for each year since 1921 to the latest convenient date;(2) the number of persons adjudged bankrupt in South Wales and Monmouthshire for each year since 1921 to the latest convenient date.

The number of persons adjudged bankrupt in England and Wales and in South Wales and Monmouthshire respectively in each of the years from 1921 to 1948 was as follows:

Year	England and Wales	Year	South Wales and Monmouthshire
	Number		Number
1921	3,421	1921	243
1922	4,669	1922	373
1923	4,993	1923	358
1924	4,794	1924	341
1925	4,657	1925	351
1926	4,186	1926	282
1927	4,279	1927	301
1928	4,129	1928	307
1929	3,900	1929	322
1930	4,099	1930	264
1931	4,376	1931	233
1932	4,610	1932	262
1933	4,083	1933	209
1934	3,592	1934	152
1935	3,498	1935	167
1936	3,225	1936	132
1937	3,084	1937	117
1938	3,072	1938	92
1939	2,627	1939	71
1940	1,590	1940	54
1941	601	1941	19
1942	350	1942	12
1943	240	1943	6
1944	222	1944	5
1945	202	1945	9
1946	320	1946	5
1947	624	1947	13
1948	1,124	1948	42

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that the system of remunerating the contractors responsible for the operation of No. 2, Park Street, by payment of their expenses plus a fixed sum is an appropriate one; and what action he proposes to take.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer to a Question on the same subject given to him on 25th October by my right hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what were respectively the gross and net dollar contributions to the national dollar exchange position resulting from the operations of British Overseas Airways Corporation, Western Division, in the year ending 29th September last.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to my hon. Friend the Member for West Middlesbrough (Mr. Cooper) on 19th October.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury what steps he proposes to take to relieve the hardship suffered by small traders who pay Purchase Tax on the carriage of goods in addition to Purchase Tax on the price of the goods where the value of the goods is under £20.

For the purposes of Purchase Tax, delivery charges are included by statute in the computation of value; and I cannot see my way to recommend alteration of the law in favour of the particular cases to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated current annual rate of subsidy paid in respect of each item subsidised; and the amount by which each item would rise in price if its subsidy were abolished.

So far as the food subsidies, at present totalling £462.6 million, are concerned, I have nothing to add to the information given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food on 1st November, 1949, in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Central Hull (Captain Hewitson). In addition subsidies or trading losses are incurred on the following raw materials:

Commodity	Estimated Current Annual rate of Subsidy and/or Trading Loss	Price Increase if Subsidy or Trading Loss were eliminated
Home-Grown Flax.	£110,000	£55 per ton
Iron and Steel	£12,500,000	Various according to the product e.g. £2 5s. 0d. per ton on price of wire rod.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the annual rate of payments made to subsidise food under the following categories: the amount paid to reduce the cost of imported food, of imported feedingstuffs, of home-grown food, of home-grown feedingstuffs; and the amounts paid in acreage payments, in fertiliser subsidies, and in any other categories.

The annual rate of payments made—

	£m.
To reduce the cost of imported food is	183.5
To reduce the cost of home-grown food is	211.3
To reduce the cost of imported feedingstuffs is	33.8
To reduce the cost of home-grown feedingstuffs is	2.9
Average Payments	16.1
Fertilizers	15.0
	£462.6

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many appointments to the Land Service or to the staffs of county agricultural executive committees, in order to manage land or advise on land agency problems, have been made from men who have not had at least two years' practical experience since passing their final examinations.

Those duties of the Agricultural Land Service which relate to management of land or advice on estate management are normally undertaken by officers in the higher professional grades, that is those above the basic grade. In these grades there are only three officers out of 120 without two years' practical experience since obtaining the final qualifications for entry into the Service.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total amount of Government grants given in each year since 1939 for farm drainage schemes and farm water supply schemes; and the acreages which have benefited thereby.

The amount of grant authorised in respect of field drainage and farm water supply schemes in each year since these schemes have been in operation is shown below together with the figures showing the approximate acreages which have benefited from the field drainage schemes. Similar figures in respect of farm water supply schemes are not available.

Financial year ended 31st March	Grant authorised	Approximate area land benefited
Field Drainage Schemes	£	Acres
1941	20,700	30,000
1942	286,200	430,000
1943	468,100	520,000
1944	531,700	550,000
1945	686,500	630,000
1946	657,700	550,000
1947	876,900	690,000
1948	823,700	640,000
1949	998,800	660,000

Financial Year ended 31st March				Grant authorised
Farm Water Supply Schemes				£
1942	…	…	…	1,500
1943	…	…	…	8,500
1944	…	…	…	78,000
1945	…	…	…	201,100
1946	…	…	…	441,000
1947	…	…	…	558,900
1948	…	…	…	427,100
1949	…	…	…	417,800

asked the Minister of Education if he will allow the allotment holders at Westcott School, Swindon, mostly old age pensioners, and at Headlands, Swindon, to continue their food production on part of the grounds in question and not dispossess them, as is suggested, in March, 1950.

No specific proposal is before me but I understand that the local education authority consider that, because of the very inadequate playground facilities at the Westcott County Schools, the land, which was bought for educational purposes in 1932, should now be made available for the use of the children attending these schools. I also understand that the Swindon Borough Council have authorised negotiations for the acquisition of an alternative allotments site.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the anxiety of headmasters of secondary modern schools throughout the country who are endeavouring to run large schools which are understaffed because teachers who would be available cannot find houses or accommodation within their means; and what steps the Government propose to take to improve this position.

I have no evidence that secondary modern schools generally are understaffed on account of the difficulties in finding housing accommodation, although I know that this is the case in certain districts. Where the cause is the general housing shortage, the most that can be done is for the local education authorities to endeavour to arrange with the local housing authorities for the allocation of some houses or other accommodation to teachers.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is satisfied that the terms of the Amending Regulations for Handicapped Pupils and School Health Service No. 2, 1949, will ensure that in all cases a return is made by education authorities of the numbers and categories of educationally sub-normal and physically handicapped children attending ordinary council schools; and what special facilities are being provided for them.

These Regulations relate to the School Health Service and do not prescribe or cancel any return about handicapped pupils. I am, however, proposing to call for a new annual return for each category of handicapped pupils showing the number in special schools and the outstanding number awaiting places. This will include educationally sub-normal and physically handicapped children attending ordinary schools pending their admission to special schools.

asked the Minister of Education if, in view of the economy measures introduced by the Government, school buildings in process of construction will be affected; and if schools for which new construction proposals have been approved will be allowed to proceed to completion of contracts for erection and equipment.

These questions are answered in Circular 209 a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education for what reasons it has been decided that Brimscombe Polytechnic, now that it is a modern secondary school, shall no longer be available for political meetings even during a local government election.

I understand that the attention of the governors of this school has now been drawn by the local education authority to the requirements of Section 69 of the Local Government Act, 1933, and that the application which has been made to them for the use of a room in the school for an election meeting will now be granted.

asked the Minister of Education why his Department takes over four months to answer letters from a man inquiring the amount of the grant he has been awarded under the further education and training scheme.

Although I cannot agree that it has taken four months to answer letters from the student to whom I assume this question refers, I regret that there has been considerable delay in reassessing his grant. He has now been informed of the amount of grant payable, and an instalment will be paid to him as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Education whether the York education authority, and the East and West Riding education authorities, grant financial assistance to children from their area who are educated at St. Peter's School, York.

The York and East Riding authorities take up a limited number of places at this school each year, paying full tuition fees. The West Riding authority have no such regular arrangements but they have in some cases granted assistance towards the payment of fees.

asked the Minister of Education what arrangements have been made by the Kesteven, Lincolnshire, education authority, regarding children who cannot be accepted at Alvey School, Sleaford; what transport arrangements exists for children who live approximately three miles from school; what arrangements are made for mid-day meals to be provided and at what cost.

No special arrangements are necessary. These children can attend the nearest primary school which is in all cases within two miles of their homes. Transport is, therefore, not generally necessary—but one boy who suffers from asthma is supplied with transport and other children are allowed to occupy the spare seats. School dinners are available at three of the village schools. The charge to parents at present is 5d.

asked the Minister of Supply what arrangements exist for Government Departments to obtain a refund of Purchase Tax paid on cars.

None. There would be no purpose in making any such arrangement, as Purchase Tax is not paid on cars bought by the Ministry of Supply for Government Departments.

asked the Minister of Supply how many officials are entitled to obtain a car from his Department at the book price after Purchase Tax has been refunded.

There is no arrangement whereby an official can buy either a new or a second-hand car from the Ministry of Supply. Cars of the Official Car Service, which cannot be repaired economically for re-issue to Government Departments, are sold by public auction.

asked the Minister of Food as all merchants and farmers are required to return a form to Stanmore, stating how much grain is purchased and how much is grown, why do merchants also have to send such information to their local food office.

Farmers make no such returns to my Department at Stan-more. A return is made by approved buyers once each month showing their purchases of all grains from growers and sales of seed grain to growers. As a separate piece of machinery to deal with grain supplied as feedingstuffs, they make another return to the divisional feeding-stuffs executive officer in their area of rationed documents received by them for grain supplied as feedingstuffs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered a letter on the charge for prescriptions from a Dundee doctor, a copy of which has been sent on to him by the hon. Member for West Fife; and what statement he has to make about the proposals contained therein.

Details of the arrangements for collecting this charge have not yet been fully worked out, and there is nothing I can at present add to the statement of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 24th October.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will reconsider his refusal to give to Major R. B. W. Bolland, of 7, The Drive, Gosforth, Newcastle, the maintenance grant of £45 or a smaller grant, seeing that he is in the fourth class of pensioners, who through amputation and other disabilities arising from war injuries needs motor transport in order to obtain or retain employment, as was admitted in his letter dated 18th August, 1949, to the hon. Member for Wallsend; and if he will make such grant apply to all similar cases, where the applicants have as Major Bolland has, bought their own cars to enable them to obtain and retain employment, and are in the same medical category.

I shall be able to provide motor cars only for those pensioners who are within the first three classes which I described in the House on 27th July last year. Major Bolland is not within these classes and I am unable to grant him an upkeep allowance as though he were.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the approximate cost to the Exchequer of the recent police gala at Bath in which a large gathering of men, women and children, led by the mayor and the chief constable, were entertained by a mock execution in which, after a procession burlesquing a condemned man's progress from the condemned cell to the gallows, and the spiritual consolations afforded on such occasions, a man was dropped several feet from a gallows with a rope round his neck into water from which his body was solemnly recovered; and if he will disallow for grant the expenditure on this gala.

I am informed that this swimming gala was organised by the Bath City Police Athletic Club; the cost does not fall on the local police fund and the question of the Exchequer grant does not, therefore, arise. I have no responsibility for the conduct of a function of this kind in a local police force and it is not for me as Home Secretary to make any comment on a matter of taste.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the number of motor cars now entitled to duty-free licences in respect of their diplomatically privileged ownership has increased from 294 in 1939 to 780 in 1949; and whether he will now consider taking steps to make it an offence for other motor cars to carry a Corps Diplomatique plate.

I am aware of the information given to the House by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. A C.D. plate confers no exemption from the ordinary traffic regulations, Diplomatic immunity from prosecution depends on the status of the individual and does not attach to his car. I am not aware of any mischief connected with the use of C.D. plates calling for action on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to publicise by Press and radio the present postal method of electoral registration so that the resulting register will be as complete as possible.

Yes. A Press notice drawing attention to the importance of completing the forms of return now being delivered (not necessarily by post) to occupiers of premises throughout the country was issued last week; and I hope, with the co-operation of the Press and B.B.C., to secure further publicity in other ways, including a broadcast which I propose to make on Tuesday next.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the word "forenames" is used in the forms relating to the Spring register of electors, instead of the usual words "Christian names."

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to a Question by the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. D. Marshall.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the recommendations of the Cewgill Report and the Court of Referees as to the revision of government salaries in Malaya have yet been implemented.

No. These recommendations are now being examined by a special Committee under the chairmanship of the Economic Adviser to the Commissioner-General.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received the petition of the Penang Secession Committee; and what reply he has given to it.

I have not yet received the petition.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the further expansion of the neighbouring housing estate where there are now 800 children, he will now extend the speed limit on Belmont Road, Hereford.

I see no sufficient reason for extending the speed limit on this important traffic route. The housing estate has no direct frontage on the trunk road and only one road connection with it along this length.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the operation of the Catering Wages Act in relation to the tourist industry; and whether he can now make a statement on the matter.

In consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, I am having this matter looked into in the light of the experience during the season now ending and I hope soon to be in a position to make a statement on the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statement to make about the continuation of the Control of Engagement Order after the end of 1949.

Yes. The Government has decided, with the agreement of the National Joint Advisory Council, to extend the Order until December, 1950.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of registered unemployed in the South Wales coalfield for each year since 1921 to the latest convenient date.

This information is not readily available and its extraction would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time which would not be justified.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Mr. Thomas Melvern Brown of 140, North Gate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, Register No. N.G.L. 8589, although certified by the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board as suffering from rheumatic valvular disease of the heart, and unfit for military service, has been graded by the Mansfield Medical Board as Grade I and is due to report under the National Service Act at the No. 25 Selection and Basic Training Unit (I.N.P.), Budbrooke Barracks, Budbrooke, Warwick, on 3rd November; and if, in view of the contradictory medical evidence, he will take immediate steps to cancel this call-up.

The calling up of Mr. Brown has been suspended. Further inquiries are being made and I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as they have been completed.

asked the Minister of Health if he will arrange for the waiting-room at the hearing-aid clinic in Hagley Road, Birmingham, to be heated.

This has already been done.

asked the Minister of Health whether the campaign for due return of medicine bottles, as detailed in Health Executive Council Note 28 of August, 1949, has been effective; and whether, in order to make better use of existing bottles, he will authorise pharmacists to make a small charge which will be repaid by them on the return of the bottle.

It is too early to assess the full effect of the campaign, which is a continuing one. In reply to the second part of the Question, I would refer to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for East Nottingham (Mr. Harrison) on 27th October.

asked the Minister of Health what assistance he gives to deaf persons to whom the Medresco deaf-aid is of no use but who can hear with the aid of other appliances.

Non-electrical aids are provided in suitable cases, and steps are being taken to develop a new Medresco aid for the very small minority who need it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Chichester area receives no distribution of hearing aids; what is the reason for this discrimination; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that deaf people in West Sussex are able to receive the hearing aids to which they are entitled.

Although there is no distribution centre in Chichester, I understand that a number of patients in that area have had aids through the centres at Southampton, London and Brighton.

asked the Minister of Health whether his regulations allow British subjects who are temporarily leaving the United Kingdom to have copies of National Health Service prescriptions that they need while overseas.

There is nothing to prevent such persons from arranging with their doctors for copies of any prescriptions, but there is no obligation on the doctor.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider exempting from the proposed charge for medical prescriptions all persons over 70 years of age and all persons suffering from chronic illness demanding frequent prescriptions.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the charge of 1s. for each prescription under the National Health Service creates as serious a financial burden on the person who is off work through sickness or disability as it does on the old age pensioner; and if he will take steps to exclude from the payment for prescriptions all people whose only source of income is sickness or disability payments.

The arrangements for giving effect to the change announced by the Prime Minister on 24th October are under consideration and I am not yet in a position to add to that statement.

asked the Minister of Health if, when granting free National Health prescriptions to old age pensioners, he will consider making a similar concession to persons of proven hardship such as widows, permanent invalids and persons whose only income in many cases is provided by the Assistance Board.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today to my hon. Friends the Members for East Willesden (Mr. Orbach) and North Salford (Mr. McAdam).

asked the Minister of Health what special arrangements he is making for the supply of medicines to patients under the National Health Service Act where the nearest chemist is some miles distant.

The regulations enable people who would have difficulty on account of distance in obtaining medicines from a chemist to be supplied by their doctors.

asked the Minister of Health how much optical material in the shape of lenses and spectacle frames has been imported for provision under the National Health Act; what are the countries of origin; and what is the cost at the latest known date.

It is not possible to differentiate between imported optical material used for Health Service purposes and that used for other purposes. Total

IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM DURING THE PERIOD JULY, 1948, TO SEPTEMBER, 1949, OF LENSES FOR SPECTACLES, GOGGLES, EYEGLASSES AND MONOCLES, AND OF THE FRAMES, OR PARTS OF FRAMES FOR THE MOUNTING THEREOF.
Country of origin					Lenses		Frames, or parts of frames (Value only)*
					Numbers (Single lenses)	Value
						£	£
Irish Republic	…	…	…	…	1,000	63	451
Union of South Africa	…	…	…	…	30,592	2,188	3,473
Canada	…	…	…	…	14,085	1,040	798
France	…	…	…	…	597,476	44,505	86,967
U.S.A.	…	…	…	…	62,982	3,718	2,293
Switzerland	…	…	…	…	191	48	7,091
Czechoslovakia	…	…	…	…	13,531	776	—
Malayan Union	…	…	…	…	168	19	—
Australia	…	…	…	…	1,800	231	4,274
Denmark	…	…	…	…	2,480	33	18
Germany	…	…	…	…	397,839	29,731	—
Netherlands	…	…	…	…	87,218	5,902	44
Italy	…	…	…	…	249,698	18,297	1,042
Channel Islands	…	…	…	…	22,000	1,217	146
India	…	…	…	…	4	2	69
Greece	…	…	…	…	150	50	—
Singapore	…	…	…	…	—	—	114
Gold Coast	…	…	…	…	—	—	10
Belgium	…	…	…	…	—	—	62
Sweden	…	…	…	…	—	—	1,156
Egypt	…	…	…	…	—	—	29
Brazil	…	…	…	…	—	—	2
Austria	…	…	…	…	—	—	40
Siam	…	…	…	…	—	—	2
Sierra Leone	…	…	…	…	—	—	85
Nigeria	…	…	…	…	—	—	18
New Zealand	…	…	…	…	—	—	782
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan	…	…	…	…	—	—	224
TOTALS	…	…	…	…	1,481,214	£107,820	£109,190
*Numbers of frames not available.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to arrange with the Railway Executive for persons visiting long-stay patients in hospitals to be able to obtain return tickets at single fares.

I am in touch with the Railway Executive on this matter but they have not yet been able to announce the list of long-stay hospitals to which these arrangements will apply.

asked the Minister of Health what sum has been allocated

As I informed the hon. Member in reply to his Question on 20th October, the prize fund referred to no longer exists as such, and there can therefore be no question of allocation of funds to it. In administering their endowment funds, however, the West Dorset Management Committee have been asked to bear in mind the objects of the old prize fund, and for the time being are awarding an annual prize of £5. I have asked them to review the matter in the light of the considerable sums they have received from the Central Fund.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the coroner's remarks regarding the recent death, through overcrowding, of a child in Poplar; and what action he proposes to take.

I have seen a Press report of this unfortunate case, and understand that the cause of death was asphyxia from suffocation. I am informed that the family concerned had made no recent application for rehousing. The London County Council are now investigating the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will initiate discussions amongst representatives of the relevant Departments in order to devise means of reducing the delays which occur when different councils and representatives of different Departments do not agree about the exact sites for proposed new houses.

Arrangements have been made with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Town and Country Planning to ensure that the procedure for the approval of sites for housing is as simple and expeditious as possible. If my hon. Friend will let me have details of any particular case which he has in mind I shall be happy to look into it.

asked the Minister of Health the extent to which housing schemes in Birmingham will be affected by the cuts in public expenditure now contemplated by the Government; if buildings in process of erection will be continued without interruption; and if he will keep in view the grave shortage of houses as indicated by the volume of applications now before the estates committee of the city.

I am issuing a circular to local authorities on the effects on housing of the reduction in public expenditure and will send a copy to the hon. Member. I may say at once that the answer to the second and third parts of the Question is "Yes."

asked the Minister of Health how many schemes involving grants or loans to local authorities have been sanctioned by his Department during the last 18 months; what is the total value of such schemes; how much of this is borne by local rates; and what is the Treasury contribution.

The nature of the various grants and other factors preclude the ready ascertainment of much of this information. But during the 18 months to 30th September last the total amount of loans sanctioned was £371 million. For the main services aided by specific grants, the amounts included in this figure were £291 million for housing, £44 million for education, and £29 million for water supply and sewerage.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the increasing pollution of the five most important Somerset rivers and to the resulting injury to agricultural and other interests; whether he is aware that on two occasions his Department has refused permission to the Somerset County Council to institute legal proceedings in cases of serious industrial pollution; and whether he will cancel the present regulations whereby such proceedings may be taken by the county council only with his consent.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of public concern about the pollution of the five main Somerset rivers; and, in view of the danger to public health and the damage caused to agriculture, why, in two cases of the pollution of the Rivers Axe and Brue, he has withheld consent to the institution of legal proceedings by the Somerset County Council against the owners of factories whose effluents are causing the pollutions.

I am aware of instances of pollution in some of the Somerset rivers. My consent to proceedings by the Somerset County Council has been withheld on two occasions since 1943 in order to enable practical measures to be taken, in agreement with the traders concerned, to abate the pollution. My consent to such proceedings is required by the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act of 1876. I understand that this provision has been under review by the pollution prevention sub-committee of the Central Advisory Water Committee, whose report will be available shortly.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from prophylactic measles serum and other deaths from homologous serum jaundice, with their causes, occurred in each of the years 1937–47.

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many labour attaches have been withdrawn from foreign countries during the last three months following his reductions in the Foreign Service for reasons of economy.

None.