asked the Minister of National Insurance how many claims for industrial injury benefit in respect of strained back have been made in the first year of the scheme.

I regret that statistical information regarding the number of claims received in respect of different types of injury is not yet available. It is hoped to publish in 1950 details covering the whole of 1949.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will give an estimate of the saving to the National Insurance Fund which would result if sickness benefit were payable only after the first seven days of incapacity.

If sickness benefit were not paid in any circumstances for the first six working days of illness the annual saving to the National Insurance Fund would be about £8 million. This figure does not include the savings on similar changes which would be necessary in the waiting periods for industrial injury benefit and unemployment benefit.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what have been the three most prevalent maladies in respect of which claims to sickness benefit have been made during the first year of the National Insurance Scheme.

I regret that precise information of this kind is not yet available, but statistics are being collected for 1949 and an analysis of them will be available in the course of next year.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many hostels are now being administered by his Department for civilian Poles; and how many persons are accommodated.

I assume the hon. Member has in mind the hostels administered by the National Assistance Board under the Polish Resettlement Act, 1947. There are 27 of these hostels, and 14,164 civilian Poles are living in them.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what action is taken by his Department to satisfy claims for death grant in those cases where a birth certificate cannot be produced and no trace of registration can be found.

Any alternative evidence which is available including, for instance, baptismal certificates, and entries in family bibles, is collected and submitted to the statutory authorities who decide what date of birth shall be accepted for the purposes of the claim.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what was the average number of people drawing basic public assistance in the City of Portsmouth for the years 1919–23, 1935–39 and 1945–49, respectively.

I am having prepared such information as is available and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will give the text of the card of authorisation used by his officials when entering premises to ascertain whether the provisions of the National Insurance Act are being complied with or to investigate the circumstances giving rise to benefit claims under the Act.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the document which is issued.

asked the Minister of Labour how far there is still a shortage of agricultural labour; and whether it is still the intention to exempt agricultural labourers from National Service.

Partly because of favourable weather conditions during the 1949 season and partly because of the normal seasonal decline in the activity of the industry at this time of the year, there is no general shortage of labour at the present time. Additional agricultural workers will, however, be required in 1950 and for the next few years in order to achieve the production targets set by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Collins) on 8th November last

asked the Minister of Labour the average number of workpeople signing at the Great Harwood, Clitheroe and Padiham employment exchanges for each of the years 1922, 1923, 1948 and 1949.

The following table shows the average numbers registered as unemployed at the Great Harwood, Clitheroe and Padiham employment exchanges in 1922, 1923, 1948 and 1949.

asked the Minister of Labour in view of the fact that Josef Wojciak, a displaced person of Polish origin, was brought to this country by his Department in 1948, why he declined to notify his relatives or to disburse the assets on this man's committing suicide at the Langar agricultural executive committee's hostel on 14th October, 1949.

I am having inquiries made and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour how many insured workers in Newport, men and women separately, received holidays' with pay in 1939 and 1949, respectively.

I regret that information is not available in respect of particular areas

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what local authorities have started to make grants for reconditioning privately-owned houses under the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1949; and whether all other local authorities are now in a position to make such grants.

So far as I am aware, none. I propose shortly to issue a memorandum of guidance to local authorities on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to announce whether the flat rate for transport is to be retained when price control of fish is lifted.

I regret that 1 am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the interests of the mobility of labour, he will refer the question of relaxing regulations governing the exchange of tenancies of local authority dwelling houses to the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee for their consideration.

There are no statutory regulations on this subject and no power to make them. The matter is, however, being considered by the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee in connection with a remit on the allocation of tenancies by local authorities.

asked the Secretary for State of War whether he is satisfied that Service personnel have been made fully aware of their voting rights under the Representation of the People Act: and whether he will instruct the Army Council to issue an order to all commanding officers to bring this to the attention of the men serving under them.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence in answer to a Question on this subject on 19th October, 1949

asked the Secretary of State of War whether the official announcement by Field-Marshal Sir William Slim concerning the arming of Western Germany was made with his authority; and whether he will make a statement.

If the hon. Member is referring to statements recently made by Field-Marshal Sir William Slim at the West Point Military Academy, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff made it clear on that occasion that the subject of arming Western Germany was a matter for politicians and statesmen and not for soldiers.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many recruits from the Borough of Finsbury were enrolled in the Honourable Artillery Company in each of the years since the war.

The number of recruits from the Borough of Finsbury enrolling in the Honourable Artillery Company, including the cadet battalion, in the years 1947, 1948 and 1949 were 13, 49 and 77 respectively. The total of 139 includes 130 cadets.

asked the Secretary of State for War on how many occasions during the last year the playing field at the headquarters of the Honourable Artillery Company, in City Road, Finsbury, was used for sports activities; and on how many of these occasions the ground was made available to local youth organisations.

The use to which the training ground at the headquarters of the Honourable Artillery Company is put is not under my control but I am informed that for the legal and other reasons which have already been made clear to the hon. Member, it is not possible for this ground to be made available to local youth organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that one of the persons against whom he took disciplinary action for recent irregular conduct in his photo-printing subsection, had previously been convicted for stealing photographic material while employed as a photographic printer by the General Post Office; and why he was employed by his Department.

I am aware of the facts referred to by the hon. Member The person concerned had been retained in employment by the Post Office exceptionally as he was regarded otherwise as a trustworthy official, and in these circumstances, I see no reason why he should not have been employed by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War if National Service recruits who, previous to enlistment, have passed Certificate A, parts 1 and 2, are entitled to wear the red star badge during their period of training.

National Service recruits who, while members of the Combined Cadet Force or Army Cadet Force, gained Certificate "A" continue to wear the red star proficiency badge during their training at arms basic training units, infantry group training battalions and training regiments. The badge is discarded on their being posted away from these establishments, or, in the case of men who are posted direct from arms basic training units to service units, on their attaining three months' service.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that no reduction in the programme for expanding the universities will be permitted in connection with the present plan for curtailing capital development works.

I am not at present in a position to add to the statement which I made on 26th October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the estimated expenditure up to date by university institutions on the acquisition of sites and properties and the erection of new buildings or extensions or adaptations and purchase of equipment, in each year since the war, has been met out of capital grants provided through the University Grants Committee.

Non-recurrent grants for the purposes indicated in the Question have been approved, on the recommendation of the University Grants Committee, as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase in the gold and dollar reserves, expressed in terms of dollars, has taken place since devaluation.

The value, at the old rates of exchange, of our reserves of gold and U.S. and Canadian dollars increased from £330 million as at 17th September of this year to £351 million on 30th September. Figures in respect of the end of December will be made available early in January, but I am not prepared to give interim information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure a resumption of payments between Brazil and Great Britain.

There is no general interruption of payments between Brazil and Great Britain. Within recent months, however, there has been a temporary shortage of sterling in Brazil and some exporters have met with delay in obtaining payment for goods supplied.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the facilities available in the Civil Service, when an official is given his notice of dismissal other than on grounds of redundancy, for him to state his case for appeal to some independent tribunal which would be appropriate for officials whether their grade makes them eligible for membership of a trade union or not, and which can make a factual and unbiased investigation.

There are no facilities for appeal to an independent tribunal in the circumstances quoted. The responsibility rests with the head of the employing Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the amount allowed to manufacturers per garment for covering the costs of making nightdresses from underwear cloth, specification.1,111.

The costs of making utility clothing vary considerably from manufacturer to manufacturer, and we do not prescribe any amount, within the maximum price for the complete garment to cover the costs of making.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps he is taking to improve the supply of infants' utility underwear, dress materials and domestic overalls;(2) in view of the general shortage of many items of utility clothing, what steps he is taking to increase output and to ensure that necessary supplies are made available.

There is no shortage of utility clothing and materials made from wool, but the supply of cotton cloth generally is not yet adequate for all home and export demands. All practicable steps are being taken to increase production, including the stimulation of recruitment and the encouragement of modernisation and improvement of amenities in mills.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet received a report from the committee which he set up to consider the organisation and constitution of the British Standards Institution.

No. I understand that the Committee hopes to present its report in about four months' time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of the recent transfer made by the Argentine Government in part discharge of payments due for railway locomotives and other rolling stock, etc.; and whether such sum is transferred without exchange loss.

I regret that the payment of a more substantial sum against these arrears which was recently promised by the Argentine Government has not yet been made. As the contracts in question are expressed in sterling, no question of exchange loss would arise. As I informed the hon. Member on 15th November, the many important issues, including this one, which have arisen under the Anglo-Argentine Trade Agreement are now being discussed with the Argentine Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the reason for the shortage of winceyette in lengths in the shops; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the retail trade receives a fair proportion as well as the making-up trades.

The production of winceyette cloth is still not sufficient to meet all home and export demands. The distribution of cloth supplies is left to the normal trade channels but we keep a watch on the position. The proportion going to the shops this year has shown some increase over that of last year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to increase the flow of overseas visitors to this country.

Both the Government and the British Tourist and Holidays Board are making continuous efforts to attract more tourists to this country, on the lines indicated in some detail on 21st June last during the Supply Day Debate on the tourist industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress which has so far been made in the establishment of Development Councils in the wool textiles and clothing trades, respectively.

The Clothing Industry Development Council Order was approved in draft by both Houses of Parliament during November and will come into operation on 1st January, 1950. The draft of an Order to establish a Development Council for the Wool Textile Industry, was laid before Parliament on 21st November,1949.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the regulations on prices contained in S.I. 1949 No. 1927, and its amendment, are already causing a shortage in utility knitted goods: and whether he will further amend the order to deal with this situation.

As already announced, the maximum prices for some utility knitted goods will have to be increased because of the increased cost of raw cotton and wool. These prices are now under review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what policy he proposes to pursue with regard to heirless property formerly belonging to allied nationals.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to property under the control of a Custodian of Enemy Property belonging to allied nationals, the return of which has not yet been claimed. There will no doubt be cases in which no successor will have been able to establish a good title in English law to some of this property even in the course of a number of years, but it is premature to consider the framing of policy in relation to it, having regard to the existing legal provisions affecting any property remaining so unclaimed whether under Custodian control or not.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to report to the House on the findings of the Monopolies Commission.

No. The reports of the Monopolies Commission on the references now under investigation will, of course, be laid before the House as they become available, in accordance with Section 9 of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act, 1948.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet decided on the steps he proposes to take to prevent increases in the prices of toys.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 15th November to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leicester (Mr. Janner), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of actions taken by other countries to impose new restrictions or limitations on the importation of British textiles, following the devaluation of the pound sterling, and of what steps are being taken to remedy the effect of such restrictions on the textile industry in this country.

Regulations in overseas countries affecting the importation of British goods are constantly changing. I am not at present aware, however, of any action taken to impose new restrictions or limitation on the importation of United Kingdom textiles in consequence of or following the devaluation of the pound sterling. If the hon. Member has reason to believe that there are any such new regulations in any overseas countries affecting textiles from this country, I shall be pleased to have the matter looked into.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much money was received in premiums under the Export Credits Guarantees for the first nine months of 1949; and how much was paid out against claims during the same period.

Under the Export Credits Guarantee Department's guarantees for commercial transactions, the amount of premiums received for the first nine months of 1949 was £861,200 and the amount of claims paid for the same period £132,890.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what loss has occurred by the sale of American plywood bought by his Department; what was the price paid; and the price being obtained per hundred square feet.

No loss has been incurred in respect of the purchase and sale on public account of American plywood. It is not in the public interest to publish details of buying prices of individual commodities. Selling prices are shown in the Plywood Prices (Amendment) Order, 1949 (S.I. No. 2013/49).

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will now require the person who put the stone and slate rubble on the sands at Watergate to remove it so as to ensure the safe enjoyment of that beach by the public.

As I explained to my hon. Friend, the question of the removal of the excavated materials is one, in the first instance, for the county council, as the local planning authority.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning how many workings of new mineral areas in this country have been started since the passing of the Town and Country Planning Act.

The only statistics readily available show that in England, Wales and Scotland the number of quarries and mines (other than coal mines) opened or re-opened in the two years ending last June was as follows: For the year 1st July, 1947–30th June, 1948–226 quarries; 13 mines. For the year 1st July, 1948–30th June, 1949–184 quarries; 24 mines. These figures may not be complete, and I cannot without detailed local investigation, say which were completely new workings and which were old workings re-opened.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is aware that the proposal to carry out hydro-electric engineering works on a large scale in the National Park now being brought into being in the Snowden area, has caused widespread dissatisfaction; o and if he will review the position.

I am aware of the protests which have been received against these proposals. As I explained in reply to a previous Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Caernarvonshire (Mr. Goronwy Roberts) on 28th June, the promoter's intention is to submit the proposals to Parliament in a Private Bill. I am keeping in touch on the matter with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1948, to make suitable provision whereby electors shall not be prevented from voting by reason of stress of weather.

My right hon. Friend is advised that there might well be ground for a petition questioning the result of an election if, for instance, some of the polling stations could not be opened owing to stress of weather. He does not think it would be practicable for Parliament to make any further provision against such a contingency.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the difficulty of obtaining circular saws under six months' delivery; and if, in view of the consequences of this shortage of essential equipment for timber merchants and woodland owners, he will arrange that adequate supplies are made available forthwith.

Yes. I am aware that it is difficult to obtain circular saws quickly, but the position is steadily improving. If the hon. Member has evidence of specific shortages which are holding up essential work and will let me have details, I will ask the trade association concerned to investigate.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he will take to promote the manufacture of television transmission and receiving sets in this country and so promote a flourishing export trade.

My right hon. Friend understands the importance to our economy of promoting the manufacture of television transmitters and receiving sets in this country, and, after consultation with the industry, has informed them that he is willing to consider any way in which the Government can properly assist manufacturers in their efforts to promote production and export in the television field.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is expected that the repairs to A56 at Ramsbottom and Edenfield will be completed; and what steps he is taking to expedite completion, in view of the prolonged inconvenience caused to residents and passengers.

My right hon. Friend expects this work to be completed by the end of January. He regrets that it has taken so long; in addition to the repairs it has been necessary to carry out substantial drainage works.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the number of minor railway accidents which have happened lately.

There has been no recent increase in the number of railway accidents but those reported to my right hon. Friend during the last two months include a number of comparatively minor cases which have received some publicity; five of them are under formal inquiry by the inspecting officers of my Department. It will be appreciated that my right hon. Friend cannot anticipate their findings, but their reports will be published in due course.

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons have been killed and how many injured at the intersection of Thurlow Park Road and Croxted Road, S.E., in the latest three-year period for which figures are available.

Since 1st January, 1947, one person has been killed and nine injured.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to furnish the Trading Accounts, 1948–49, for shipping operations to the Comptroller and Auditor General.

The Accounts are being furnished to the Comptroller and Auditor General this week.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what encouragement his Department is giving to manufacturers in this country of dollar-saving motor spirit.

Petrol which is produced in the United Kingdom from indigenous crude oil or other indigenous raw materials is exempt from the payment of the duty of 9d. a gallon charged on imported petrol or petrol refined from imported crude oil. In addition, the hon. Member will be aware that, with the approval of the Government, the oil companies have embarked on a large expansion of refinery capacity in the United Kingdom for the production of motor spirit and other products from imported crude oil.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many motor vehicle registration books and how many petrol coupons have been stolen or lost in the post in transit to and from his Department; and what steps he is taking to check this abuse.

Figures of these losses are not available from the beginning of the petroleum rationing scheme in 1939, but at present the losses of motor vehicle registration books in transit are at the rate of about 2,000 per annum against at least seven and a half million annual transits. Figures of individual coupons lost are not available but the gallonage represented amounts, in most regions, to less than.05 per cent. of the total issues. In a few localities, however, the rate of loss has been running at a higher figure, and I am indebted to my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General for the co-operation of his investigators in dealing with these cases. A number of thieves have already been convicted as a result of their efforts, which continue to be vigorously pursued. The figures given above include all losses reported as "in transit" and must include some registration books and coupons which are in fact delivered but are subsequently mislaid or lost.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what changes are contemplated or have been made in the organisation of research and development connected with the fuel industries since the enactment of legislation nationalising the coal, gas and electricity industries.

The following changes have so far been made: The National Coal Board have set up their own Central Research Establishment, in which most of the industry's research work will be done. The Board co-operate with other research organisations, including my Department's Safety in Mines Research Organisation, the Fuel Research Station and the Pneumoconiosis Research Unit; and support the British Coal Utilisation Research Association, the Coal Tar Research Association and the British Coke Research Association.The British Electricity Authority has taken over the research laboratory established by the Central Electricity Board, and supports the British Electrical and Allied Industries' Research Association. The Authority co-operates also with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the British Coal Utilisation Research Association and other research associations.The Gas Council has not yet decided its future organisation of research but is meanwhile supporting the Gas Research Board.In pursuance of my duty to secure the prosecution of research into methods of advancing the safety and promoting the health of mine workers, I have taken over the safety in mines research stations previously financed out of the Miners' Welfare Fund, and I collaborate closely with the Medical Research Council on health researches.In addition, my Department is arranging for research and development work on a number of projects—such as underground gasification of coal—which do not fall clearly within the field of any one of the nationalised industries. This work is under the direction of my Chief Scientist, whom I appointed last year. As my hon. Friend is aware, I also set up a Scientific Advisory Council, with a membership consisting of representatives of the nationalised industries as well as other scientists, to advise me on the scientific aspect of my statutory responsibilities, including the fulfilment of my functions in connection with the research programmes of the nationalised fuel industries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many dogs underwent the six months quarantine period in the years 1946, 1947 and 1948, respectively; how many suspected cases of rabies were there in each of these years; and how many confirmed cases.

The figures are given in the following table:

asked the Minister of Works what consultations have taken place in the building industry as a result of the Prime Minister's recent appeal for increased production.

The industrial organisations represented on my National Consultative Council have recently reviewed the machinery for raising productivity through production committees and other means, which they themselves instituted some three years ago. They have agreed in principle to closer co-ordination of their arrangements with the productivity and information services provided by my Department with the object of improving efficiency and output. Details of the new arrangements are at present being worked out.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can give any information about Private A. W. J. Baker of the Airborne Regiment, South Staffs, a prisoner in Russian hands; and what action is being taken to get him set free.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton) on 24th October and my hon. Friend the Member for King's Norton (Mr. Blackburn) on 9th November, 1949.Private Baker absented himself without leave in December, 1947. Since that time the British authorities in Germany have made repeated representations to the Soviet authorities about his case and they will continue to press for his release or for the right to interview him.

asked the Minister of Health whether the drugs aureomycin and Chloromycetin are yet available for use by general practitioners; to what extent the import of these drugs is restricted by the consideration of economy in dollar savings; and whether instructions on the use of these drugs have yet been issued to hospitals.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Blackpool (Mr. R. Robinson) on 1st December, with reference to Chloromycetin. The position is the same as regards aureomycin.

asked the Minister of Health if he will inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a doctor holding an L.D.S., R.C.S. Eng. qualification, who supplied dentures to a National Health Service patient at the regulated price of £9 14s., but because the patient died before completing a form, the Dental Estimates Board reduced the fee by 19s.; and if he will take steps to ensure that the contract with the doctor is carried out.

In such a case the fee payable is within the Dental Estimates Board's discretion. A dentist aggrieved by a decision of the Board can, however, appeal within a month of being informed of the decision; the appeal would be determined by two independent dentists.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Borough of Abingdon and the Rural District Council of Abingdon have exceeded their quota of licences for the erection of houses by private builders; and what action he proposes to take.

Abingdon Borough Council have issued 77 licences and have 100 houses in approved tenders. Abingdon Rural District Council have issued licences for 173 houses and have tenders approved for 322 houses. In neither case has the local authority exceeded the authority given to it to issue licences for the erection of houses by private builders as the greater part of the licences was issued before any ratio between local authority and licenced building had been determined.

asked the Minister of Food how many pheasants have been imported from abroad this year; what was the price paid; and from which foreign countries were they imported.

Pheasants are imported by private traders. The import returns do not distinguish pheasants from all other types of game. I regret therefore, that I am unable to give the information requested.

asked the Minister of Education what alterations have been made to school sanitation in Berkshire to ensure that, where water supplies are available, water-borne sewage will be arranged as well as adequate washing facilities; and whether, apart from major reconstruction schemes of the buildings, these improvements may be carried out.

Water-borne sanitation has been provided at seven county and voluntary schools in Berkshire since the end of the war, and four further proposals are under consideration by the local education authority. As explained in Circular 209, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, it is necessary for local education authorities to concentrate new work at primary and secondary schools on the provision of new places, but if the children's health is endangered by the present sanitary accommodation I should hope to be able to give facilities for this work to proceed.