asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why no reply has been sent to the petition of the Aldermen of Heligoland, handed into the British High Commission of Control in Berlin on 10th June, 1947; and whether arrangements can now be made for the return to their island, after eight years of enforced exile, of the Frisian natives, who were British subjects up to 9th August, 1890, and who are now suffering distress on the Continent of Europe.

The British authorities in Germany are unable to trace the petition referred to. Many representations of German opinion on this subject have been received during the past four years. As regards the future policy of His Majesty's Government towards Heligoland, I have nothing to add at present to the statement by my right hon. Friend on 29th June.

Has not the hon. Gentleman seen the unanimous resolution of the Federal Parliament at Bonn requesting the British Government to restore these unfortunate people to their mother country?

I am aware of many expressions of German opinion on this subject. I have drawn the attention of my right hon. Friend to this Question.

Will a statement be made about this matter at a relatively early date?

I will consider that suggestion.

What is the object now of keeping Heligoland? I thought that the bombing experiments had finished and that there was no further use for it.

I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the purpose of Sir Ivone Kirkpatrick's recent official visit to Dusseldorf; and what was the nature of his address to Ruhr industrialists and bankers on 7th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the purpose of Sir Ivone Kirkpatrick's official meeting with Ruhr industrialists and bankers on 7th December; and what was the outcome of the meeting.

The purpose of Sir Ivone Kirkpatrick's visit was to discuss with the United Kingdom High Commissioner some problems connected with United Kingdom responsibilities in Germany. An announcement to this effect was made from the High Commissioner's Office on 28th November. He took the opportunity to accept an invitation to attend a dinner and to give a statement of British policy towards Germany. I hope that the outcome was a better understanding of British policy.

Can the Minister tell us whether there is any truth in the Press statements that this official met 22 industrialists, bankers, steel magnates and so on, but did not take the opportunity to meet the trade union leaders and the Socialists?

I have no doubt that he did meet a number of industrialists and bankers in the course of his visit and I think that the address he gave was entirely appropriate to that audience. As to whether he saw trade unionists or not, I should need notice of that question.

In view of the very doubtful history of the Ruhr industrialists and bankers in the last 25 years and the very natural nervousness of the German workers, is it really desirable that a high official of the Foreign Office should have private meetings of this kind with them?

Perhaps this kind of person will gain most from that kind of talk.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that those of us who know his official have every confidence that he did a great deal of good in this talk?

I entirely agree with the right hon. Gentleman.

In view of the fact that so far this House has not been informed of the policy towards Germany, how is it that Sir Ivone is able to go and discuss policy with industrialists in Germany?

Can my hon. Friend ensure that this speech is given to as many audiences as possible in the same terms as on that occasion?

I think it has had wide publicity.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent improvements have taken place in Germany in respect of paternity allegations against British subjects, both military and civil; whether the women involved can now take action before a competent court; and to what extent illegitimate children of British fathers and German mothers are now the responsibility of the German authorities.

It is now open to the German courts to hear affiliation proceedings brought against British subjects who are in Germany in a private capacity; it is not, however, at present possible for a German woman to bring proceedings against a member of the Forces or of the Control Commission. As regards my hon. Friend's last point, illegitimate children of German women, being of German nationality, are a German responsibility.

But does my hon. Friend realise that we have a certain moral responsibility as well and, seeing that the matter has been brought up several times in the last two years, cannot he take some steps towards recognising and implementing the responsibility of British fathers in this respect?

It is under consideration whether certain cases of this kind can be considered by Control Commission courts. I would, however, point out that my hon. Friend is asking something for German women which was not granted to British women in similar circumstances during the war.

Are not the circumstances really quite different?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the technical problems resulting from the recent changes in the dismantling programme are under urgent review; whether the dismantled equipment still lying in the premises of steel plants is to be removed; and what decision the Security Board has reached in regard to those recently spared synthetic oil plants which, if turned over to peaceful production can, by reason of the processes employed, be very quickly reconverted for war purposes.

In accordance with the Petersburg Agreement, equipment at the plants concerned which had been dismantled by 24th November will be removed. The only technical problem resulting from this decision which has come to our notice is at the August Thyssen Works at Hamborn, and experts are now examining the problem there. The Military Security Board has not been required to take any decision regarding the synthetic oil plants in consequence of the recent Agreement. The position at these plants is as stated in reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 30th November, and it will be the Security Board's responsibility to ensure that no prohibited items are produced.

Has there not been a great deal too much delay in dealing with all these problems of dismantling and, as a result of that delay, is my hon. Friend aware that a real opportunity is being provided to the Germans to agitate and indulge in propaganda of a most undesirable nature?

I should have thought that quite recently we had made very great progress in clearing up the whole matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the provision of a municipal council or for elected representatives to the Legislative Council of the Colony of Hong Kong.

While I am anxious to reach a decision as early as possible, I have at present nothing to add to the reply which I made to the hon. Member's Question on 16th November.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that as long ago as June he expressed the hope that he might reach a decision on this matter? Does he not think it really necessary to have some form of democratic legislature, municipal or otherwise, in Hong Kong?

Yes, but making constitutions is not too easy or fast a procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if work has commenced on the new airfield at Deepwater Bay, in the new territory of Hong Kong; and what progress has been made.

The Government of Hong Kong have agreed that the Air Ministry should undertake the survey and design of the new airport and supervise its construction. An Air Ministry engineer has paid a preliminary visit to the site and arrangements are now being completed for the despatch of the full survey equipment and staff in January.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that his reply is most unsatisfactory? This matter has been discussed for the last three years. Does he further realise that the air traffic through Hong Kong is the third highest in the world in respect of any airport, and could earn valuable dollars? Will he do what he can to expedite this work?

It is quite true that the airfield is of comparable size to London Airport, but the problem is one of great complexity as problems of security and defence are involved, and also questions of finance. There are other problems all of which have had to be settled before much progress could be made, but I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that the wheels are now going round.

Would not the Secretary of State seriously consider having discussions with the Chinese Liberation Government about the work going on there in view of the fact that the new airfield will become their property?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds the British delegation to the General Assembly voted against the principle of equal education for children of all races in non-self-governing territories.

The vote was not cast against the principle of equal education as such. It was cast because a vote in favour would have implied an admission that the United Nations has a locus standi for interfering in our Colonial administration in a way which the United Nations Charter does not in fact support.

Would my right hon. Friend make it clear that a British representative at the United Nations stated that it was the policy of the United Kingdom to provide equal education in all non-self-governing territories and, in view of the fact that only votes and resolutions, and not the speeches and meetings that lie behind them get attention in the Press, will he publish a full statement of all our votes on questions at recent meetings of the General Assembly?

It is not what is said, but what is done.

I have promised a full statement to be published in the form of a White Paper. On every occasion when a vote of this kind is taken the position of His Majesty's Government is stated and it was so on this occasion.

If it is the policy of the Government to secure equal education for children of all races, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that that is so in all Colonial countries?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what food subsidies were paid, or promised, to Colonies in 1949–50 at the expense of the British taxpayer.

Twenty-eight thousand pounds has been paid to the Turks and Caicos Islands to meet the cost of food subsidies incurred during 1947–48 and 1948–49. No other food subsidies have been paid or promised at the expense of the British taxpayer.

Do I understand that the Vote which was in the Estimates is not going to be expended on these items? Would my right hon. Friend agree that it is a very dangerous practice for the British taxpayer to give foodstuffs to Colonies? If they need assistance and must get it, surely it should be done in some other way?

Yes, but only in the Turks Islands is this subsidy now paid. In other cases where assistance is required it is given through the grants-in-aid.

Is my right hon. Friend fully satisfied that within the Colonies themselves everything is being done to develop the food resources which exist there to a large extent?

That is quite a different question, but the answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how far the wider terms of reference now to be given to the Constitutional Reform Committee of the Leeward Islands cover the examination of the possibility of a fully-elected Legislative Council and election of some members from that body to the Executive Council.

It is not proposed to give wider terms of reference to the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reasons the legislation for the deportation of politically undesirable persons has been introduced in the Leeward Islands; and what right of appeal is to be available to deportees.

No such legislation has been introduced in the Leeward Islands.

Has such legislation actually been drafted and discussed in the Executive Council?

I am not aware that anything of that kind has developed there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state those British Colonies in Africa in which no local defence forces have been raised.

All British Colonial Territories in Africa have local defence forces, except Zanzibar.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the export of coconuts, pineapples and other fruits, palm oil and kernels from West African Colonies is now increasing and is not subject to any restriction; and what action has been taken to secure improvement in quality and packing.

The answer to the first part of the Question is broadly in the affirmative. Exports of palm oil and kernels are centralised through statutory marketing boards. Action is being taken where necessary to improve the quality of produce exported.

Would my right hon. Friend answer the middle portion of my Question? Are there any restrictions about the export of these foodstuffs?

I am not aware of any. It is all done through the marketing boards.

Would my right hon. Friend be prepared to give special encouragement to co-operative marketing of these products?

That is already given. Trading procedure is that cooperatives now function through the marketing board which was set up by the Governor.

Does that mean that these commodities are imported under open general licence, and, if so, can my right hon. Friend say whether his Department can give any assistance to intending importers?

I should like to have notice of that question because there are so many reservations in regard to these trade matters.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when the provisions of the Prize Act, 1948, will be fully implemented and the funds finally distributed.

As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Edinburgh, West (Lieut.-Commander Hutchison) on 9th November, the distribution of prize money to serving officers and men is complete. It is hoped to complete payment to ex-Service officers and men by the end of April, 1950. As the House is aware, the Royal Air Force Prize Fund is being distributed to charitable and other organisations for the benefit of present and past members of the Royal Air Force and their dependants. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Air, informs me that it is hoped to make the major distribution in the near future, but that it is intended to hold a reserve to meet future claims. I understand it is not possible to give a definite date by which the final distribution will have been made.

Is it not true that this matter has been on the agenda of the Air Council for the last 18 months and has not yet been reached?

The hon. Member will have to put down a Question about that matter to the Secretary of State for Air.

Is the Minister aware that he told me a few months ago that the maximum delay in paying prize money would be in the neighbourhood of five months. Under the terms of the answer he has now given, it may well be that ex-Service personnel will have to wait for nearly a year?

Payments are being made fairly rapidly, but as I have said they are completed so far as the actual serving personnel are concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether approval for the issue of a clasp, mine clearance, 1918–19, will now be given to officers and men who are eligible in view of the fact that the Naval General Service Medal, 1915, was not awarded for post-Armistice mine clearance service after 1918, and that the Naval General Service Medal is being awarded to those who carried out mine clearance service after the 1939–45 war.

Mine clearance between 1918 and 1919 was qualifying service for the British War Medal. It is not intended to recommend that a special clasp to the Naval General Service Medal (1915) should be instituted to recognise such service.

Is it not a fact that such a clasp was designed and was withheld on account of cost?

That is quite another question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what Admiralty contracts for warship repairs have been placed this year with Hull ship-repairing firms; what is their cost; and whether, in view of the unemployment among local ship-repair workers, he will consider placing further contracts with Hull firms.

Repairs to two warships have been undertaken during the present calendar year by ship-repairing firms in Hull, at a total cost of about £48,000. The claims of Hull will continue to be taken into consideration, along with those of other ship-repairing areas, when any further work of this kind is available.

As Hull has no building facilities, and employment is entirely dependent on repair work, will the Civil Lord consider further contracts for Hull firms when possible?

I have just stated that Hull will be taken into consideration together with other ship-repairing areas.

Will the Civil Lord remember that Hull is not the only ship-repairing area, and should not the main consideration be one of price?

I am quite aware of the fact that Hull is not the only such area.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the proportion of men in the Royal Navy available to attend divine worship each Sunday who do so; and what has been the trend in numbers since compulsory church attendance was abandoned.

Detailed figures of church attendance are not available but 15 per cent. is thought to be a reasonable estimate. When compulsory church parades were abandoned there was at first a very sharp decline in the attendance but there has been a marked improvement during the past 12 months.

Is my hon. Friend aware that only a very small proportion of shore based officers ever attempt to set an example to their men in the matter of attending to their religious duties? Is that not a matter into which he could cause some investigation to be made?

I would not support the statement made by my hon. Friend. In any case it is a matter for the individual's conscience and not for the Admiralty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty for what reason training establishments have been omitted from the arrangement to hold chaplain's hours in all naval ships and some shore bases.

Boys', artificers' and other initial training establishments are omitted from the arrangement because they already have other facilities for religious instruction. In technical training establishments syllabuses are so tightly compressed that time for chaplains' hours could not be made available without increasing training periods.

Can my hon. Friend say what are the religious facilities he has mentioned?

Certainly. As regards new entry training establishments there is religious instruction of one hour weekly on a compulsory basis for personnel under the age of 18 but on a voluntary basis in the case of those over that age. The instruction is given by the chaplain of the appropriate denomination.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many claims have been received up to 13th December via the War Office from farmers in the South Devon area for loss of cattle and sheep killed by Marine Commandos operating from the Plymouth Command.

None, Sir.

Is my hon. Friend aware that as usual the Admiralty is entirely wrong? Is he aware that on Saturday last a representative of these people visited the War Office, which deals with these claims for the Admiralty, and presented claims for 23 cattle and 101 sheep? If he is not so aware, I would say that this information has been sent to him in a letter, a copy of which I have here and which I shall be glad to let him see.

I can assure my hon. Friend that I have not received any letter or copy of a letter in connection with this large number of animals in respect of which a claim is being made. I can also assure him that no claims have been received via the War Office.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether a decision has yet been reached with regard to paying a gratuity to those who sign on again after 12 years' service, as opposed to those who do not, as is the present practice.

Various alternatives for encouraging a greater number of men to re-engage on completing their first continuous service engagement are still under consideration. As I informed the hon. and gallant Member on 19th October, an announcement will be made as soon as decisions are taken.

Can the Minister answer the point raised in the Question categorically, "Yes," or "No"? It does seem ridiculous that the Navy should be suffering for an arrangement which, although it suits the other two Services, is not suitable for the Navy?

No, Sir. The present position is that in fact gratuities are paid when the men leave, but we are considering this question, along with others, with a view to seeing what can be done in order to encourage men to stay in.

Will the Minister bear in mind that this is a vital question as regards the Navy but not with regard to either the Army or the Air Force? It is not a question to be solved on the principle of uniformity between the Services.

We are fully alive to the importance of the question.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether there has been any improvement with regard to the question of re-engagement in general since he reported to the House last March that only a quarter of those eligible were in fact re-engaging?

I cannot say that the position is altogether satisfactory, but I have no detailed figures before me. If the hon. Member will put down a Question I will give him the actual figures.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is now in a position to announce whether the television transmitter programme will escape economy cuts.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can now indicate the effects of the recent capital cuts on the programme for the extension of television.

The extension to Holme Moss is not affected by the cuts in capital expenditure made so far, but I cannot give any assurance as regards expenditure in later years on the remainder of the plan.

When can we have an assurance that there will in fact be no further cuts?

As soon as the extensions in capital costs have been decided.

That being so, can the hon. Gentleman say when we may hope to be able to get the precise date of the programme which was announced at Radio Olympia by the Lord President of the Council some time ago?

Sir.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether this statement further postpones the setting up of television in Scotland?

I cannot say.

Does this mean that the station at Holme Moss will not be open at the end of 1951?

The hon. and gallant Member has not listened to my reply to the Question.

Could my hon. Friend state when he would be in a position to make any statement, not merely about Scotland or any specific station but about the whole future programme?

That will depend on the programme.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind the importance of this matter in connection with the export trade?

I do not think the export trade is at all affected by the programme.

asked the Postmaster-General what effect the increased output and range of the television transmitter at Sutton Coldfield will have on the location of other stations and the expansion programme of television broadcasts.

None, Sir. The power of the B.B.C.'s television transmitter at Sutton Coldfield has not been increased and it is expected to meet the requirements for which it was designed as part of the expansion programme.

How can the hon. Gentleman make that statement when the transmitter is known to be giving clear pictures 50 miles beyond what was estimated? Surely, if this is the case it must make a difference to future expansion, and would he tell us something more about it?

The hon. and gallant Member may be aware of the fact that the transmissions from Alexandra Palace have been received in South Africa, but we should not say that South Africa can receive British television programmes.

Will the Minister consider stepping up the power of this transmitter so that Manchester and district may benefit immediately?

No, Sir. I do not think it is only the power of the transmitter which affects the radius within which signals can be received.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he can now say how the saving of £12,500,000 on Defence expenditure in this financial year will be made.

The contribution of the Service Departments to the £12.5 million will be about £2 million for the Admiralty, £5.5 million for the War Office and £5 million for the Air Ministry.

Can my right hon. Friend say that there will in fact be any saving at all when all the Supplementary Estimates are taken into consideration?

That remains to be seen when we see the Supplementary Estimates.

Will the Minister be able to give the House details of those figures for each of the Services?

I think that at a later stage that may be possible. I can say now that they will be mainly in respect of a reduction in respect of the somewhat lower uniformed strength; some reduction in the provisions for civilians; and in the provision for works and stores.

Even though this information may be confidential and cannot be given to the House, has it at least been communicated to the Services, because at a time when they are engaged in weapon improvement and increasing barrack accommodation, it is very important that they should know the details?

Certainly, Sir.

Can the Minister give the House an assurance in regard to this £5 million for the Army and the Air Force, that it will not be a case of cutting out something that is afterwards found to be required, and then bringing in a Supplementary Estimate to get it?

These are genuine savings on a programme which otherwise would have to be paid for.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will have published together all the documents issued since 1945 dealing with the atomic bomb; what is the present position of this country in regard to the use of atomic bombs; and what further action it is intended to take.

The only such document published by His Majesty's Government is the Report of the British Mission to Japan on "The Effects of the Atomic Bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki," issued in 1946. A number of documents have been published by the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission and are available in the Library of the House. The policy of His Majesty's Government has been in consistent support of the efforts being made in the United Nations to secure, under proper safeguards, the prohibition of the use of the atomic weapon.

Does the Minister accept the statement that agreement was almost reached among the big Powers concerned a few weeks ago, and if so, is it intended to take the initiative and to ensure that every possible step is taken to reach agreement?

I should say that whoever made that statement could not have read very closely the debates which took place. I would ask my hon. Friend to take the opportunity to read the speeches, both of the Soviet delegate and of the Minister of State.

Is the Minister aware that in the document of the Atomic Energy Commission, which is in the Library and to which he has referred, it is stated very definitely that the only defence against the atomic bomb is dispersal? Is he considering plans to defend us by dispersing London and Glasgow?

I am sure that all the necessary steps which can possibly be taken with regard to the defence of the country are being taken.

Arising out of the answer to the first supplementary question, does my right hon. Friend say that the only attempts made to reach agreement between the Powers on this issue are those contained in the speeches to which he has referred?

No, Sir. I referred to the whole of the discussions in the Atomic Energy Commission, which have been going on for several years, and which have been open to the public, and reports of which are in the Library. We have at all times endeavoured to secure the prohibition of the weapon under proper safeguards.

Does that mean that the only attempts to reach agreement are those to which the public had access? Have there been no private attempts to reach agreement?

I think the proper way to deal with this matter is through the organisation set up by all the nations of the world, without whose complete collaboration agreement in the matter would not be secured.

Is it the intention of the Government to consider the advisability of taking the initiative in this matter in order to make another attempt to try to reach agreement?

I do not think that this country has anything for which to apologise in the matter of the initiative it has taken to endeavour to secure the prohibition of this weapon.

asked the Minister of Defence (1) whether he will propose an amendment to King's Regulations to ensure that National Service men shall have the same rights as other citizens to participate in political activities whilst dressed in civilian clothes;

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will allow other ranks in all the Services to participate fully in electoral activities, including the right to speak from public platforms.

As I said in reply to Questions last week, the Government consider that the time has now come to revert to normal peace-time practice as regards political activities by members of the Forces. So far as Parliamentary candidature is concerned, however, because some members of the Forces have already entered into commitments, the present wartime rules governing those who are actually candidates for Parliament will be continued until after the General Election.

Subject to this exception the normal rules with regard to political activities will apply during the General Election. This means that Service men who are not candidates will not be able to make speeches or in any way associate actively in party affairs, but they can of course freely attend political meetings when off duty, whether in uniform or not, and ask questions at such meetings. This applies to all officers and men in the Forces, including National Service men.

Does my right hon. Friend really think that regulations applicable to the Regular Army of before the war should apply to National Service men today? Does not he further consider that the kind of regulations applicable to the higher civil servants, about participation in political activities, are not really wholly applicable, at any rate to the junior ranks in the Armed Forces today, Regular or otherwise?

We are satisfied after considering every aspect of the matter that, now the Services in general have reverted to fairly normal strength, it is essential to endeavour to keep politics out of the Armed Services.

If high ranking officers in uniform can make political speeches and attack Communism, why should not rank and file soldiers in uniform make political speeches and attack capitalism, which the Minister knows is the enemy of co-operation?

The answer is, of course, that it would not be possible in the General Election for any high ranking officer to do what is alleged.

To make the position clear, would the right hon. Gentleman state the undoubted fact that the majority of National Service men are under voting age in any case?

I should think so. They are under age, but that is not the main consideration in my mind. I want to make it clear that there seems to be no reason why the young National Service man should not go to political meetings for education.

Will my right hon. Friend state ^* just how a candidate is to be defined?

A candidate is one who has been adopted for consideration for election in a constituency.

Would the Minister assure the House that in all three Services where officers and other ranks have been adopted as prospective candidates they will not be moved great distances away from their prospective constituencies if that can possibly be avoided?

The position of a man's station in this connection is a matter upon which it is entirely for the Service Department to judge.

Ross asked the Minister of Defence how much of the proposed programme for housing Service families will be situated at or near the recently formed naval and air establishments in Northern Ireland.

The full programme for Northern Ireland has not yet been decided. However, on present plans provision will be made in 1950–51 for work to start on 36 married quarters for the Admiralty and on 46 for the Air Ministry. The Armed Forces (Housing Loans) Bill does not apply to Northern Ireland and this programme will accordingly be financed from the Works Votes of the two Departments.

Is the Minister aware that, as the housing of the Forces is carried out under a service reserved to this House, to which Northern Ireland pays a very substantial contribution of many millions of pounds, they should be under no disadvantage there compared with the rest of the Service stations?

I do not for a moment think that there will be any question of disadvantage; but certainly, having regard to the general arrangements made by this House for the subsidising of the building of houses for the general population, it is not considered that we can apply this principle of loan outside Great Britain. It cannot be applied in Northern Ireland.

Is the Minister aware that there is a good deal of dissatisfaction among the families of English and Scottish airmen who are stationed in Northern Ireland, because the husbands are fortunate enough to be there and their families are away from them; and is he also aware that absence makes the heart grow fonder—very often of somebody else?

I have already indicated that we are proceeding with over 80 new married quarters in this area in the next year.

asked the Minister of Food why Argentine meat cannot be imported chilled instead of frozen, in view of the fact that this would improve its quality, and that there are refrigerator ships to spare.

To maintain a reasonably level ration we must store imported meat for issue when home-killed supplies are low. Chilled meat cannot be stored in this way.

What is the total tonnage of the 13 ocean-going liners which are being used as floating refrigerators; what is the cost of maintaining them; how long have they been kept like it; and why is this extravagant, costly and crazy policy proceeding?

That is an entirely different question.

Can the right hon. Lady say whether the freezing of Argentine beef is in fact the main cause of the complaint about its quality to which her own meat controller referred the other day?