asked the Minister of Food why dried fruits are now available in greengrocers' shops, whereas grocers in the same districts have not yet received their allocations.

I think that the dried fruit to which my hon. Friend refers must be unsold stocks held by greengrocers from a previous allocation. The present allocation for both greengrocers and grocers was only released on 7th November, and it is reckoned to take two or three weeks for supplies to reach all shops.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity, by weight, of shelled groundnuts is necessary to manufacture any given weight of margarine.

Edible soft oil, such as groundnut oil, is only one of the oils which are used to make margarine. On the average 739 lb. of soft oils, equivalent to 1,607 lb. of shelled groundnuts, are used, together with additional quantities of hard oils and other ingredients to make one ton of margarine.

asked the Minister of Food whether, when a food retailers' licence has been revoked because of a criminal conviction in respect of food offences, he exercises any discretion to withhold a licence from a subsequent purchaser of the business if grounds exist for a belief that the new purchaser will carry on the business on behalf of the previous licence holder or maintain any financial or managerial connection with him.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Food what is the amount of sugar used annually in the manufacture of beer and soft drinks, respectively.

The amount of sugar allocated this year to the Brewing Industry is 52,000 tons, and to the Soft Drinks Industry 32,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Transport when the regulations concerning the payment of compensation to nationalised road transport firms will be published.

The payment of compensation to nationalised road transport undertakings is a matter for the British Transport Commission. As regards compensation to officers and servants of such undertakings, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) on 24th October.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the extent to which cuts in capital expenditure have deferred work on the electrification of lines by the British Transport Commission.

The application of the recent capital cuts to railway works is now being worked out.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is proposed to make a further examination of the project for a Channel tunnel.

No useful purpose would be served by such an examination. The development of air travel and of train-ferry services has probably made a Channel tunnel less useful than it might once have been. In any event, it is likely to be many years before it would be possible to contemplate the expenditure of the necessary resources in men, materials and money, on the construction of such a tunnel.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now agree to rebuild the Pilley Bridge, Cheltenham, destroyed by enemy action in 1940, as the absence of a bridge causes waste of petrol, inconvenience and annoyance.

I appreciate the considerations to which the hon. Member refers, but regret that, in present circumstances, the construction of a new vehicular bridge must continue to be postponed.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total cost of schemes of new road construction and major improvement approved for grant during the past 18 months in counties and county boroughs, respectively; what percentage of the total cost is accounted for by grant; and whether any steps can be taken to postpone carrying out some of the more expensive projects in consultation with the local authorities concerned.

The figures are as follows:

	Estimated Total Cost	Grant Proportion
	£	per cent
Schemes in the counties of Great Britain	4,981,999	70
Schemes in London and the county boroughs of England and Wales and in the large burghs of Scotland	3,097,524	59

These are, for the most part, relatively small schemes of urgent importance or high economic value, but I am considering whether any postponements could usefully be arranged.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the withdrawal of cargo steamers from calling at Clyde piers; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Clyde and Campbeltown Shipping Company notified me that they would be unable to continue their services after the 30th September and I had no alternative in the circumstances but to ask the British Transport Commission to provide services which would be integrated with those which the Commission already run in the Clyde area. The Commission have done this and although some reduction has been made in the steamer services in the Clyde, I see no reason to doubt that the shipping and road services now being operated by them will meet all essential needs. I am in any case satisfied that the revised rationalised service should be given a trial, but I am sure that the Commission will continue to give careful consideration to all representations from local interests for they will wish to ensure that the position is adequately covered.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will arrange for maps to be placed in the Library of the House of Commons showing how the country is divided into regions for, respectively, railway administration, road haulage services, and the proposed passenger transport areas.

Where regional boundaries have been settled the British Transport Commission will provide copies of suitable maps to be placed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Transport how many non-industrial staff were employed by his Department on 31st December, 1946, 31st December, 1947, 31st December, 1948, and at the latest date for which figures are available.

The figures are as follow: 31st December, 1946, 10,569; 31st December, 1947, 8,778; 31st December, 1948, 7,544; 1st October, 1949, 7,128.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the negotiations with the French and United States Governments in regard to the limits it is proposed to set for West German shipbuilding.

The negotiations are still proceeding and, while they are expected to be concluded shortly, I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals he has received from the German authorities with regard to the abandoning of the present policy of dismantling certain German factories; and what action he proposes to take.

The matter is still under consideration and I cannot therefore add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) on 9th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British personnel are now employed in supervising dismantling in Germany.

Eighty-nine.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, despite the agreements reached with the railway authorities of Eastern Germany, and guaranteed by the Russian occupation authorities following the 39 days' strike of Berlin railwaymen, the authority is now refusing payment of wages in Western currency, and has already victimised over 1,000 of the strikers; and whether he will make representations to the Russian authorities and/or provide relief for the victimised railwaymen living in the Western sectors of Berlin.

Yes. The Allied High Commission, acting through the West Berlin Commandants, has repeatedly tried without success to persuade the Russian authorities to honour their undertakings in this matter. It does not lie within the power of the Allied Commandants to provide special relief from Allied funds to the victimised workers. However, to reduce hardship to those West sector railwaymen working in the Soviet sector, to whom the East German Railway Administration has refused to pay even a percentage of their wages in West marks, the allied Kommandatura has authorised the Magistrat to exchange up to 60 per cent. of their wages into West marks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many German prisoners of war from Western Germany are still held by the Russians, who are known to have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment before the date of their release as prisoners of war became due; and what representations have been made to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on this matter.

I have no information as to the numbers of such men. No representations have been made to the Soviet Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the estimated total expenditure, to the nearest date, by this country since the end of the war on occupation of the British Zone of Germany, and on foodstuffs, raw materials and othe goods sent to support the German economy, respecticely.

Expenditure up to 31st March, 1949, was about £390 million on military and civil occupation costs and about £200 million on supplies and services for the German economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what advice he has given to the Committee of Ministers concerning the Economic Report of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Article 21 of the Statute of the Council of Europe lays down that unless the Committee decides otherwise meetings of the Committee of Ministers shall be held in private. The Committee shall determine what information shall be published regarding the conclusions and discussions of a meeting held in private. It would not, therefore, be proper for me to give details of the proceedings of the Committee in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many import tariffs have been reduced by the United States Government following upon the statement of policy contained in the Tripartite Communiqué made at the end of the financial discussions held in Washington in September.

This communiqué stated that it is the policy of the United States Government to seek further negotiation of trade agreements through which tariff reductions, additional to those already negotiated, might be made within the framework of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act. Steps are in fact being taken under the auspices of the contracting parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade for the holding of a further round of multilateral tariff negotiations next year in which the United States and the United Kingdom as well as other countries, will participate. I am not aware of any reductions of United States tariffs having been made in recent weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what considerations influenced His Majesty's Government to scale down the compensation required from Czechoslovakia for British assets in that country, expropriated, nationalised or otherwise confiscated from the sum of £33 million representing claims lodged with them to the sum of £8 million as agreed by them with the Czechoslovak Government.

The figure of £33,200,000 is merely the total of the nominal values submitted to His Majesty's Government by individual claimants. Some of these values are exaggerated and it is also certain that a number of the claims will prove ineligible for compensation under the recent agreement. Finally, the sum of £8 million was agreed to beforehand as satisfactory by the principal organisations representing the British claimants.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what are the salaries, designations and duties of the 21 officials at present employed by the British Middle East Office in Egypt.

The principal duties of the Head of the British Middle East Office and his staff are to maintain the closest possible contact with all British authorities in the area in order to ensure the proper co-ordination of British economic, financial and social policy in the Middle East and to report on issues of regional importance. The Office also maintains such contact as necessary with the Secretariat of the Arab League.The office includes a Development Division, the members of which advise the Middle Eastern Governments, at their request, on matters concerning economic and social development. Their services are also available to the Governments of British Colonial territories in the area, to the administrations of the former Italian Colonies and to the Government of the Sudan.

Designation.	Salary.
	£
Head of the British Middle East Office	2250
Counsellor (Head of Political Division)	1370
First Secretary and Head of Chancery	985
First Secretary	950
Administration Officer	565
Archivist	460
Assistant Archivist	427
Counsellor (Director of Development Division)	1700
Agricultural Adviser	1700
Statistical Adviser	1500
Forestry and Soil Conservation Adviser	1500
Entomological Adviser	1220
Animal Husbandry Adviser	1500
Health Advisor	1500
Temporary Assistant	460
Clerk in charge of transport	311
Clerical officer/secretary	334
Four shorthand typists (personal assistants)	282

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further proposals to make to the United Nations with regard to the present deadlock over the international control of atomic energy.

His Majesty's Government stand by the proposals of the majority of the Atomic Energy Commission, which they helped to formulate and which were approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 4th November, 1948. These proposals constitute the essential basis for any effective system of international control of atomic energy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the principles agreed at the Canberra Conference of September, 1947, still represents the policy of His Majesty's Government in relation to the preparation of terms of peace for Japan.

No set of agreed principles emerged from the Canberra Conference since it was decided beforehand that the purpose of the meeting was to exchange views, without commitment, on broad lines. The discussions did, however reveal a satisfactory measure of accord among the various Governments represented. The views then advocated by the United Kingdom Delegation are still, broadly speaking, the views of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the cases of assault and injury to two British subjects during a meat-workers' strike in Buenos Aires; and what instructions have been given in the matter to His Majesty's Ambassador.

Yes. His Majesty's Government are aware of the incident. On 26th October His Majesty's Ambassador addressed a Note to the Argentine Government protesting against this cowardly assault, expressing the hope that the offenders would speedily be brought to justice and asking that measures be taken to ensure the future safety of British subjects in the port areas concerned. The Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs in a Note dated 31st October has tendered apologies and has promised a full investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the nature of the discussions on Middle East affairs which are being held in Washington between representatives of the Foreign Office and the State Department.

Representatives of the Foreign Office are visiting Washington for an informal exchange of views with the State Department on various matters of common interest in the Middle East.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will give an estimate of how much additional capacity is likely to become available during 1950 for the manufacture of those types of steel now in short supply.

No additional finishing capacity for the manufacture of those types of steel now in short supply will become available until 1951, but improved supplies of raw material for existing finishing capacity will lead to some increase in production of sheet and wire in 1950.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is taking to encourage motor manufacturers to give priority in delivery of cars to salesmen resident in Great Britain who travel in Switzerland, Belgium and other continental territories on behalf of British manufacturers.

In distributing cars on the home market the motor industry has been asked so far as possible to discriminate generally in favour of customers requiring cars for business or professional purposes.

asked the Minister of Supply what action he is taking to expedite the deliveries of the Princess class flying-boat which have been held up due to non-completion of engines.

I am satisfied that the Bristol Aeroplane Company are doing everything possible to overcome the technical difficulties which have caused a setback in the delivery dates of the Proteus engines, and all necessary assistance is being given by my Department, both to that company and to Messrs. Saunders-Roe, Limited, in their efforts to reduce the consequences of the delay to a minimum.

asked the Minister of Supply whether in view of the saving of housewives' time and drudgery which electrical washing machines can make, he will consider the manufacturing of a Government-sponsored utility washing machine at a price within the reach of the ordinary housewife.

No. I do not consider that electric washing machines come within the category of prime necessities, to which the utility scheme is limited.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that during the past 12 months Messrs. Keystone Ltd. have manufactured slot machines without being licensed to do so; and what penalties he has imposed upon this company.

As the hon. Member was informed in correspondence on 23rd August last, this Company were supplying slot machines without a licence required under the Machinery, Plant and Appliances Order. My Department was satisfied, however, that the Company had contravened the Order unwittingly and proceedings for contravention were not taken. A licence to cover their production to the end of this year was granted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an estimate of the value of goods taken from Germany by the United Kingdom as reparations.

I take it that my hon. Friend refers to capital industrial plant forming part of the reparations due to the United Kingdom. Reparation plant was valued in terms of 1938 Reichsmarks for purposes of division between claimant nations. On this basis the United Kingdom had at the end of October been allocated 93 million (1938) Reichsmarks worth of plant of which Reichsmarks 40 million worth had actually been delivered.

asked the Minister of Works what was the cost of providing and equipping the separate dining room for waitress service at the Government offices at Stanmore for the use of the staffs of the War Office, Air Ministry and Ministry of Food accommodated there.

The dining room for waitress service was provided by converting an existing cafeteria at a cost of £220.

asked the Minister of Works when he expects to have the part of Bellahouston Park on which the Palace of Industry stands, cleared, and the land derequisitioned.

Tenders have been invited for the demolition of the Palace of Industry building. The work should be completed in about three months' time when the War Department, who hold the requisition, will be in a position to release this site. Further work on restoration may be necessary.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that the delay in the supply of bricks in the High Wycombe area is 12 to 15 weeks; if he will state the reasons for this delay; and what steps he is taking to deal with it.

The increase in the rate of production of bricks has not wholly kept pace with the higher level of demand during a year of exceptionally good building weather. I am not aware that the High Wycombe area is receiving less than its fair share and I expect an improvement in supplies.

asked the Minister of Works what are the salaries, designations and duties of the 15 members of his department at present employed in Egypt.

These officers are responsible for the provision, maintenance and furnishing of accommodation for the Foreign Service and other Civil Government staffs in the Middle East.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will give an assurance that, in tightening building controls and reducing the exemption limit of licensing, nothing will be done to curtail the maintenance and improvement of hotels, as such buildings are already in a less favourable position in this respect than private houses and designated buildings, and as they can contribute materially to the dollar earnings of the country.

Hotels cannot escape a share in the necessary reduction of investment in building, but essential maintenance and repair up to a reasonable standard will continue to be allowed. As regards improvements it is proposed to continue, in collaboration with the Board of Trade, the system of giving preference to those hotels which can contribute most to dollar earnings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the numbers of persons employed in the regional offices of Government departments for each separate Ministry as at 1938 and as at the most recent date.

The figures requested are:

Department	1st April, 1939	1st October, 1949
Admiralty	—	60
Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministry of	—	1,002
Central Land Board and War Damage Commission	—	2,495
Food, Ministry of	—	2,999
Fuel and Power, Ministry of	—	2,992
Health, Ministry of	—	1,006
Home Office	125	184
Information, Central Office of	—	303
Labour and National Service, Ministry of	1,616	3,302
National Assistance Board	—	370
National Insurance, Ministry of	—	2,297
National Savings Committee	61	190
Pensions, Ministry of	490	1,975
Post Office	766*	3,863
Supply, Ministry of	—	658
Town and Country Planning, Ministry of	—	351
Trade, Board of	—	1,084
Transport, Ministry of	1,455	2,597
Treasury	—	107
Works, Ministry of	—	3,912
Total	4,513	31,747
* Staff at 1st January, 1939, in North-West, North-East and Scottish Regions, only. Figures for 1st April, 1939, are not available and elsewhere in the country regionalisation did not develop in the present lines until after 1939.
The term "Regional Office" has been interpreted as "Regional Headquarters"; staff employed at local post offices, employment exchanges, food offices, etc., are not included in these figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution the Isle of Man at present makes annually towards the cost of Imperial Defence and other common services; how much the island paid towards the cost of the war; and what increase is proposed in the annual contribution.

The present contribution as fixed in 1866 by the Isle of Man Customs, Harbours and Public Purposes Act, 1866, is £10,000 per annum. The Island has made a free gift of £1,750,000 towards the cost of the war and also a loan of £500,000 free of interest.In April, 1949, Tynwald resolved as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been directed to the judgment delivered by His Honour Judge Langman on 10th July, 1946, in the case of Meredith v. Andrews; and whether he is instructing the county agricultural executive committees to issue certificates in suitable cases where the applicant for possession under the provision of paragraph (g) of the First Schedule of the Rent and Mortgage Restrictions Act, 1933, is the intended occupant and he is occupied or employed at wholetime work on an agricultural holding.

My attention was directed to this judgment shortly after it was given. I am, however, advised that a contrary opinion was expressed in a case in the Court of Appeal in 1948. (Munroy. Daw, 1948, 1 K.B. 129.) County agricultural executive committees have accordingly been instructed that they should continue not to entertain an application for a certificate where the possession of a house is required as a residence for the farmer, and not for a person who is, or is to be, in his whole-time employment under a contract of service.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the subsidies and other forms of financial assistance from the Exchequer paid to

ASSISTANCE FROM THE EXCHEQUER PAID TO AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRY, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38 AND 1938–39
—	1935–36	1936–37	1937–38	1938–39
Agriculture	5,836,000	5,124,000	5,477,000	6,913,000
Air Transport	323,980	310,892	613,532	1,043,354
Beet Sugar	2,286,000	2,981,000	1,218,000	1,753,000
Fishing (Herring Industry)	12,000	47,000	47,000	3,000
Shipping	2,020,049	2,022,015	31,000	31,916
NOTES:—
(1) The amounts given are those actually paid and not those voted.
(2) The table does not include losses on trading by Government Departments; provision by Service Departments to assist their contractors to increase capacity; expenditure provided under general policies such as housing, social services, cost-of-living, the training, resettlement and transference of labour, distribution of industry, improvement of design or research; loans which have since been repaid; or payments during the period in completion of purchases of shares before the period commenced.
(3) The figures given for Air Transport are the net charge on the Exchequer after deduction of contributions made by Dominion and Colonial Governments.

The information required is given in the table below: