asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total value of all private account trade passing between Great Britain and the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation countries.

The total value of United Kingdom exports to O.E.E.C. countries in 1948 was £459 million, nearly all of which was on private account. It is estimated that United Kingdom imports from these countries of goods which are at present being imported on private account amounted in 1948 to £320 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what developments there have been in connection with the extension of the Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement of 1947.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the position in regard to the negotiations between the United Kingdom and Hungary for a trade and financial agreement.

Negotiations are continuing. I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked, the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the export of sulphate of ammonia is under the control of his Department; and whether it is his practice to specify the destination and amounts of exports of this material.

Sulphate of ammonia is subject to export licensing. The destination by quantity of such amounts as are available for export is a matter of inter-departmental agreement with the producers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of dollar imports of film base and coated cinematograph film for the years 1947 and 1948.

The value of imports of photographic and cinematograph film base from the U.S.A. in 1947 and 1948 was £1.6 million in each year; there were no imports from other dollar countries. Imports of unexposed sensitised cinematograph film from the U.S.A. were valued at £75,000 in 1947 and £117,000 in 1948. Imports from other dollar countries were negligible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that the plastic industry of Great Britain, at the earliest possible opportunity, is able to do without raw material obtained from milk which might otherwise be used to improve the supply of food and feedingstuffs to the world; and whether he will undertake intensive research to enable the plastic industry to be able to do without raw materials obtained from milk;(2) in view of the fact that no milk products suitable for human consumption are used in the manufacture of plastics, why such products are not available from home sources; and why it is necessary to import them from abroad;(3) what expenditure has been incurred for the past two years in purchasing from the Argentine raw materials derived from milk for use by the plastics industry in this country.

Rennet casein is made from the residue of milk after the fats have been removed. In this country, this residue is used in the feeding of pigs. There were no imports of this material from Argentina in 1948 or 1949, our supplies coming mainly from New Zealand where, I understand, the industry has been established with the encouragement of the New Zealand Government. In the circumstances, I am not prepared to deny the use of this material to industry here while other countries are prepared to supply it I have no doubt that in the plastics industry generally research is constantly going on into all kinds of usable material.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which type of corduroy garments are price controlled and which are not.

All corduroy garments are subject to price control except women's and maids' non-utility outerwear.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the establishment of the Republic of the United States of Indonesia, what steps he is taking to organise adequate representation of British commercial and industrial interests there.

In the past we have been well represented in Indonesia by the Consul-General in Batavia and his staff which is headed on the commercial side by a deputy consul-general, and by other consular establishments elsewhere. The creation of the United States of Indonesia will involve changes in the status and organisation of our consulate-general. Details of the new arrangements are now being worked out but, with the experienced staff who will remain available, these should present no difficulty.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made by smaller Scottish firms in co-operating for the purpose of furthering their exports to the dollar area.

I understand that a number of smaller Scottish firms have this important matter well in mind, and I can assure my hon. Friend that the Government stands ready to advise and help them within the limits of declared policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made during recent months with regard to the introduction of control of the manufacture of veterinary therapeutic substances; and to what extent arrangements have now been made to lay down adequate standards of purity and strength; respectively, for such products and to provide facilities for testing.

A draft order providing for control of the manufacture of veterinary therapeutic substances and prescribing standards and tests of purity is almost ready, and I hope to circulate this draft, within the next few weeks, to representatives of the interests concerned for their comments. Facilities for carrying out check tests of the kind prescribed in the order will be available when the order comes into operation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when payment for wool, supplied by farmers in the Lonsdale Division of Lancaster was due and when it will be paid.

All sheep owners are directed to deliver their wool to authorised collectors, who make payment as soon as the value has been established, usually within ten days after delivery. If the hon. and gallant Member knows of any specific case of undue delay in payment, and will send me the full details, I will gladly look into it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what surveys have been started by the Agricultural Improvement Council, with a view to making an assessment of what are the most urgent matters calling for research; and what progress has been made in each case.

The work of the Agricultural Improvement Council has covered a very wide range of subjects, many of which will be described in detail in the Council's Second Report which it is hoped will be published early next year. I shall be pleased to send the hon. Member a copy and meanwhile 1 give a short list of subjects upon which research has been recommended.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has now given instructions to county agricultural executive committees that an owner or occupier upon whom it is proposed to serve a supervision order should be informed of the reasons why it is proposed to put him under supervision, and that, when an owner or occupier appears before a county agricultural executive committee to make representations against such a proposal, he is informed of the reasons for the proposed supervision.

In accordance with existing instructions in these cases it is the normal practice of county agricultural executive committees to inform the owner or occupier, at the beginning of the hearing of any representations, of the considerations which the committee have in mind in making the proposal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he expects to furnish the trading account, 1948–49, for county agricultural executive committees to the Comptroller and Auditor-General.

I hope that these accounts will be sent to the Comptroller and Auditor-General by the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the scheme for placing the Grassland Research Station under the Agricultural Research Council is now complete; and whether he will make a statement with regard to recent progress in the productivity of grassland in this country, having regard to the comments thereon in the last report of Sir Henry Tizard's Committee on Productivity.

The Grassland Research Station passed on 1st October this year from the direct control of my Department to the care of an independent Governing Body receiving grant aid from my Department and scientific advice from the Agricultural Research Council on the programme of work and on the scientific staffing and equipment. As regards the second part of the Question, 1 have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 30th June, last.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if in making appointments to the staffs of county agricultural executive committees he will in every case consult the chairman of the committee about the need for the particular appointment and the suitability of the person he proposes to appoint.

Chairman of committees are already consulted about appointments to their staffs and have the opportunity to express their views about the need for the appointment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he expects to receive the report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Export and Slaughter of Horses.

I expect to receive the report by Christmas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he has taken to ensure that no subsidy is paid by his Department on sand removed by hauliers from above high water mark at both Mawgan Porth, Constantine Bay and Rock in Cornwall.

My main concern, so far as the payment of subsidy is concerned, is to ensure that the sand is suitable for, and is used for, liming agricultural land. But no subsidy has been paid in recent years in respect of sand removed from the beach at Mawgan Porth, and I am not aware that any has been paid on sand removed from above high water mark at Constantine Bay and Rock.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the Birmingham City Council in giving notice to quit to allotment holders keeping livestock; and what steps he proposes to take.

Yes; I understand that the City Corporation consider that the keeping of pigs on allotments in the City is prejudicial to health and a nuisance.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made to date in the establishment of a station for research into questions relating to vegetable crops.

The main station is being established at Wellesbourne in Warwickshire and a sub-station at Paglesham in Essex. The Governing Body has been appointed and legally incorporated and has been in receipt of grant aid from 1st October, 1949. The director, the secretary, and a number of scientific members of staff have been appointed in addition to the staff of the former Horticultural Research Station of Cambridge University which is being incorporated with the Vegetable Research Station. Plans for equipping the main station and sub-station for the purpose of the research work are now being prepared by the Governing Body.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to state the price at which sugar-beet growers will be able to purchase the dried sugar-beet pulp they are entitled to obtain under their contracts for the 1950 crop.

It has now been agreed with the growers' representatives that the price of sugar-beet pulp from the 1950 crop purchased by them under the terms of their contract will be increased by £1 per ton over the present prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he intends to introduce legislation to strengthen and improve the conditions under which allotment holders and gardeners are producing food.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 24th November to the hon. and gallant Member for Finchley (Captain Crowder), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent his next February price review will take account of any increase in railway and canal freight charges.

Any changes in railway and canal charges which had become effective or were imminent would be factors to be taken into account at the next February review to the extent that they affect the economic condition and prospects of the agricultural industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why his Department continue to send forms to Messrs. Victor Young & Son, of 25, Windmill Street, Gravesend, relating to a matter of which his Maidstone office has been repeatedly notified that Messrs. Young know nothing, in accordance with particulars which have been sent him.

On the death of the previous occupier the land involved in this matter was reported, apparently in error, to have passed into the responsibility of Messrs. Young & Son as agent. I regret that while inquiries were being made the issue of forms to this firm was not suspended. No further forms will be sent to them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will take steps to prevent the wholesale destruction of trees by felling on the Usselby estate which are mainly hedgerow trees, since they give protection from snowdrifts on the A46 road from Market Rasen to Grimsby, and local farmers fear erosion of this light soil if left unprotected.

I am advised that the felling of the timber on the Usselby estate is not likely to lead to erosion or to increase the danger of snowdrifts. Plantations and hedges will continue to give wind protection to the neighbouring farm land. In the circumstances I have no case for objecting to the felling of the trees on agricultural grounds; nor have I in fact any power to prevent it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether British oyster production has now reached prewar level.

No. Production of oysters in 1948 was about 55 per cent. of that in 1938.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the serious depletion of fishing grounds in the North Sea and other near water fishing grounds, he will open negotiations with a view to holding a conference at Ministerial level of those nations whose fishermen use those grounds, with the object of prohibiting fishing at spawning times.

No. The prohibition of fishing at spawning times was rejected by the Overfishing Conference in 1946 as being of doubtful value and incapable of enforcement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has completed his investigations into sterling exchange transactions by Messrs. Thomas Cook and Sons, New York; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no legal power under the Exchange Control Act, 1947, to control the dealings in foreign currency of Thomas Cook's New York Agency, which is an American company incorporated in the United States. It is not an offence against the Exchange Control Act for the company to sell sterling notes at a discount in New York.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will abolish or simplify the forms required for British artists to send their work to America for exhibition, especially form C and CD3; and if he will reconsider the application of present regulation Customs and Excise Group 25A, under which articles are taxed because of their design.

The first part of this Question has been under consideration and I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as a decision is reached. My right hon. and learned Friend sees no occasion for re-considering Group 25A of the Purchase Tax Schedule.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the agreement between the Arts Council and Tennent Productions Limited expires; and whether it is proposed to renew it.

The Council's agreements with their associated companies expire on the 31st March in every year unless they are renewed. It will be for the Council to consider shortly before that date, in accordance with their usual practice, whether this and other agreements should be renewed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place a list of shareholders who received compensation from nationalised industries and the amount they received in the Library.

No. It would be an enormous task to draw up a list, and I cannot see what useful purpose it would serve.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in assessing net true income for the purposes of Income Tax, Schedule D, what were the total amounts paid to political parties, aims of industry and similar bodies, by individuals, firms and companies in each of the groups classified in the annual report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, which were allowed or disallowed, respectively, in computing tax in 1946–47; and whether he will arrange to include these figures in subsequent annual reports of the Commissioners.

This information is not available nor do I think that the work involved in extracting the figures for future publication would be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make about the extra-statutory wartime concessions No. 6 (Income Tax) and No. 2 (i) (Death Duties) which his predecessor announced, on 16th May, 1947, were being continued as a purely temporary measure.

I have decided to withdraw concession No. 6 (Income Tax) under which collection of tax has been deferred in certain cases involving compulsory remittance of foreign currency.In cases where consideration moneys, being the proceeds of such compulsory remittances, have been kept in a specified bank account or in identified investments and collection of tax has been deferred under the concession, I propose that the tax shall be regarded as becoming due and payable on 15th June, 1950, subject to the proviso that if any part of the consideration moneys is remitted abroad before 15th June, 1950, it will be treated for tax purposes as not having been remitted to the United Kingdom and the amount of tax collectible will be reduced accordingly. The proviso will also apply in cases where moneys which have already been received have been kept in a specified bank account or in identified investments but have not yet been assessed to tax and in cases where moneys similarly identifiable are received between now and 15th June, 1950. With regard to consideration moneys received on or after 15th June, 1950, any part which is remitted abroad immediately will be treated, for tax purposes, as not having been remitted to the United Kingdom and will be excluded from assessment to tax. Remittances abroad other than to the Scheduled Territories require Exchange Control permission.Regulation 1 of the Defence (Finance) Regulations with which the Death Duties concession is linked, does not expire until the end of 1950, and I therefore propose that concession No. 2 (i) shall continue for the time being.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far his regulations provide for members of the Women's Voluntary Service, who have been abroad longer than six months and are therefore deprived of their right to vote, to be exempt from taxation.

There are no special Income Tax regulations in regard to members of the Women's Voluntary Service, whose taxation position falls to be determined in accordance with the general provisions of the Income Tax Acts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent sums set aside by co-operative societies for education are assessed for purposes of income and other appropriate tax; and what amounts were assessed and received under this heading by the Treasury in 1938, 1947 and 1948 respectively.

Sums actually expended, unless of a capital nature, are allowed as a deduction in computing the profits of societies for taxation purposes, but I regret that the information for which the hon. Member asks in the latter part of his question is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what concrete steps he is taking to secure American investment in Britain and the Colonial Empire in pursuance of the terms of the Washington Agreement, and of the publicly announced policy of the Government.

The necessary studies are taking place both here and in Washington, but it may be a little time before their results can be announced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Messrs. Harvey and Sons Ltd., tanners and curriers of Bury and Nantwich, having recently doubled their paid-up capital by means of a 100 per cent. bonus issue, are proposing to pay dividend at 20 per cent. on the extended ordinary capital in place of 15 per cent. paid hitherto on the smaller amount of ordinary capital; whether this intention was made clear to the Capital Issues Committee at the time of the bonus issue application; and why permission was granted in view of the Government's policy in the matter of wages, prices and profits.

The dividend limitation scheme is a voluntary one, and it is not therefore the practice, in considering applications for the issue of bonus shares, to require any indication of the future dividend policy of the concern. No such indication was given in this case. As my right hon. and learned Friend has already informed the House, any departures from observing the voluntary limitation of dividends will be taken into account in deciding upon the policy to be pursued when the present scheme comes to an end.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the arrangements recently made by the American postal administration for the despatch of gift parcels to the United Kingdom at reduced postal rates; and if the appreciation of His Majesty's Government will be conveyed to the United States Post Office departments.

I assume the hon. Member refers to the arrangements made under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1948, by which certain elements of the postal charges on relief goods and packages are met from funds made available by the Economic Co-operation Administration. The appreciation of His Majesty's Government for the assistance made available by the Foreign Assistance Act has been repeatedly conveyed to the United States Government.

Stewart asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the entire decorations, fittings, fabric and roofing material of Marks Hall, an historic Elizabethan mansion in Essex, are to be publicly auctioned in lots on 15th December; that the late owner, Mr. Phillips Price, bequeathed Marks Hall to the nation and that it is listed for preservation as a Grade I building under Section 30 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the provisions of this Act are effectively applied.

I understand that Marks Hall is not listed under Section 30 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, and therefore the last part of the Question does not arise. The late Mr. Phillips Price bequeathed the estate to the nation, but with a life interest to his widow, who is still alive. The house is now in very poor condition and could not be restored without unjustifiably large expenditure; the Treasury therefore consented to the auction referred to in the Question as the only practicable alternative to further deterioration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will take action to relax the rules governing the dissolution of medical aid societies who consider their activities redundant as a result of the National Health. Service Act and who desire to dispose of funds in hand.

This matter is regulated not by rules but by statute, and it would not be possible to introduce amending legislation at the present time. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind and will send me details, I will gladly look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the need for saving and the desire by many to build and buy their own houses, he will arrange for special savings certificate issues for saving for house purchase during the present heavy restrictions on private building.

No. The existing issue of national savings certificates and other channels of savings available to the public provide ample facilities for saving for house purchase.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the special concession which has been made in recent years as regards cases in which an employer who had been in the habit of making Christmas presents in goods to subordinate employees decided to substitute gifts of equivalent value in the form of savings certificates, savings stamps, National Savings gift tokens or direct credits to savings bank accounts of the employees is to be continued this year.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the recent curtailment of the investments programme, what new instructions have been given to the Capital Issues Committee.

I have sent a letter to the Chairman of the Capital Issues Committee on this subject, of which the following is a copy:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the practice of His Majesty's Government in the choice of source of supply, as between dollar countries, in Government purchases of food and raw materials.

We naturally make our dollars go as far as we can, by buying on the most favourable possible terms. As between sources which cost us dollars, we buy entirely according to commercial considerations, taking into account price, quality, continuity of supply, reliability of suppliers, delivery conditions, and so on. It is because we want to make our dollars go as far as we can that we are now inviting suppliers in the various dollar countries, where needed supplies are available, to bid competitively for our trade. This applies to most of our dollar imports except, of course, such items as wheat which are covered for some months ahead by existing contracts. Our policy in this matter is of course in conformity with the principles of the Havana Charter for the International Trade Organisation and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his consideration of a reduction in the Purchase Tax on electric water heaters to the same level as the Purchase Tax on gas water heaters, he will bear in mind that the bulk of the heaters supplied are of the immersion type, which are the only type within the means of the general public; and whether he will give an assurance that any concession he makes will extend to immersion heaters as well as thermal storage heaters.

On the advice of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power, immersion water heaters are being excluded from the reduction because they contribute largely to the peak load on the electric mains.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what employment pledge was given to ex-Service men of the 1914–18 war who joined the Civil Service; and how they are affected by the recent economy cuts resulting in redundancy of personnel.

Ex-Service men of the 1914–18 war have preference for retention in temporary Government employment; this means that, if efficient, they will not be discharged till after all other temporary staff in the same grade and redundancy unit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet received the report of the Local Government Manpower Committee; and, if so, whether he proposes to publish it.

I have received this report and it will be published as a Command Paper early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Health why it has been decided that the Beverley Cottage Hospital shall cease to be a general practitioner hospital as from 1st January next; and why this decision has been taken without any consultation with the Hospital Management Committee, the members of the public in Beverley and district or the local medical profession in contravention of the advice given to regional boards in his Department's Circular RHP 49 (132).

I understand that the board took their decision before my circular was issued, but that they have now asked the Management Committee to consider the practitioners' representations. Their object is to make full use of beds, staff and facilities which have not been fully used up to now.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the shortage of flat form ophthalmic lenses and, in view of the delay caused in the provision of certain spectacles where such a form of lens is insisted upon by his regulations, if he will now authorise the provision of toric, or curved, lenses which are more easily obtainable.

No. I do not think the supply position makes this necessary.

asked the Minister of Health why the arrangements for quicker delivery of spectacles in urgent cases, which came into force in April, have not been applied to spectacles ordered before April.

I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Chelsea (Commander Noble), on 14th December.

asked the Minister of Health when Mr. Smith of Chelsea, particulars of whose case have been forwarded to him, may expect to receive the spectacles which were prescribed for him in February.

A letter has already been sent to the hon. and gallant Member explaining the general position, and I am afraid I cannot undertake to intervene further in individual cases. Mr. Smith's best course is to keep in touch with his optician.

asked the Minister of Health when Miss D. S. Scotcher, Calverley House, Crowborough, Sussex, who was ordered new spectacles by her doctor under the National Health Scheme 11 months ago, may expect to receive them.

I fear I cannot properly intervene on behalf of individual cases. Miss Scotcher should keep in touch with her optician.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the salaries of matrons in small hospitals, theatre sisters in general and sister-tutors in general are inadequate, he will arrange for the Whitley Council to review the position.

I understand that a claim on behalf of these grades has just been made by the staff side of the Whitley Council.

asked the Minister of Health if he is now in a position to state his intentions as to the future of the Kingston Victoria Hospital.

I understand that the Hospital Management Committee have been asked by the regional board to suggest an alternative plan which will be considered before any decision is reached.

asked the Minister of Health when the hon. Member for South-East Essex may expect a reply to his letter of 11th July, 1949, about the admission of serious cases to hospitals in South-East Essex.

I have written to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health what date was first given for the completion of the new nurses' quarters at the ex-British Legion sanatorium at Preston Hall, now taken over by his Department, near Maidstone; on what date he anticipates that these premises will be occupied; what is the cause of the delay; who is responsible for the job; how much over-time has been worked, and why; how many nurses are to be accommodated; and what will be the total cost to the National Health Scheme of the premises, equipment and furniture.

No date of completion for these nurses' quarters was fixed at the outset as this was partly a matter of "occupational therapy" and not Wholly an ordinary building contract; it is now anticipated that the premises will be occupied by the end of the year; there was no delay in the erection of the hut, but there was some delay in the delivery of part of the heating apparatus; the work is being carried out by British Legion Industries (Preston Hall) Incorporated; 1,266 hours' overtime were worked on bricklaying and painting, plumbing and carpentry; this was necessary as the disabled patients cannot do heavy work and it is essential to keep a flow of occupational work prepared for them; ten nurses are to be accomodated; the cost is estimated to be £4,532 for building and engineering, plus £1,150 for furnishings and equipment.

asked the Minister of Health how much timber was approved for the new nurses' quarters at the ex-British Legion sanatorium at Preston Hall, now taken over by his Department; why the floor had to be lifted; what caused the ceiling defects; and to what extent the floor and ceiling defects have delayed occupation.

A licence was issued for two standards of softwood; the floor was composed of special tiles, a few of which did not set properly and had to be re-laid; there were some cracks in the ceiling, caused either by shrinkage of timber or settlement; no delay occurred as a result.

asked the Minister of Health why the single settler tuberculosis men patients, at the ex-British Legion sanatorium, Preston Hall, now taken over by his Department, near Maidstone, receive only one tablet of soap each for two weeks; and why they cannot be given the full ration of one tablet each per week.

One tablet of soap per fortnight is retained for laundry and cleaning, in accordance with normal practice.

asked the Minister of Health what instructions he has given to regional hospital boards, hospital management committees, or local authorities as to the professional organisation to which chiropodists employed by them should belong.

None

asked the Minister of Health under what heads Supplementary Estimates will be required for the National Health Service in this financial year.

The hon. Member must await the presentation of the Estimate.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Miss G. Waldron who was admitted to Nelson Hospital, S.W.20, on 27th November suffering from a fractured pelvis, shock and bruises, was discharged to her home on 1st December although the hospital had previously been informed that there was nobody there capable of nursing her; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I am making inquiries, and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether hospital or sanatorium accommodation has yet been provided by the Staffordshire hospital authority for Mr. Harry Leonard, of Aldridge, and Miss Margery Lewis, of Canwell, both of whom are tuberculosis cases and in urgent need of treatment.

I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in cases where parents are prohibited from visiting young children in hospital, he will instruct the hospital authorities to issue more detailed information to the parents as to the patient's progress than is at present supplied.

I am already considering how this problem can best be met.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the arrangements outlined in his circular H.M.C. (49) 22 of 16th February, 1949, whereby facilities were to be granted for reduced fares for visitors to patients at hospitals dealing with long stay cases have not yet been put into effect owing to the failure of the railway executive to take any action in the matter; whether he is aware of the inconvenience and heavy correspondence caused in consequence to Treloars and other hospitals; and whether he will press the railway executive to give effect to this concession at the earliest possible moment.

Yes. 1 hope that the railway executive will be able soon to announce the list of hospitals to which these arrangements will apply.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consult with the Minister of Pensions with a view to transferring the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, to the control of the appropriate Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board; and if he can say if, and when, such transfer will take place.

Nearly half the equipped beds in this hospital are already used by the Board, and the extension of this use is under discussion, but I cannot anticipate the result.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that none of the 34 beds in Wood's Hospital, Glossop. has been occupied for many weeks past; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that this hospital is brought back into use.

Yes; the Hospital Management Committee expect the hospital to be in use again early next month.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that grave inconvenience is being caused by his delay in sanctioning the purchase of No. 28, Marsloes Road, Kensington, W.8, by the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board; and when he expects to be able to announce his decision in the matter.

I have not delayed the issue of sanction but financial negotiations with the London County Council and Kensington Borough Council have been unavoidably long and complicated. The purchase will now shortly be completed.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to furnish the Appropriation Account, 1948–49, for the National Health Service Vote to the Comptroller and Auditor-General.

The Account has already been submitted.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to ensure that when patients summon a doctor for trivial reasons, as exemplified in a case submitted to him, they will be fined, inasmuch as doctors who refuse to obey trivial calls are fined by the executive council affected.

There is no statutory authority for fining a patient. I am unable to accept the implication in the last part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons are accommodated in England in huts or temporary accommodation, built for wartime purposes only, and under the control of local authorities; and what steps are being taken to make this accommodation weather proof in those cases in which such maintenance is the responsibility of his Department.

Eighty-two thousand one hundred and seventy-nine persons in England and Wales were, at the end of October this year, living in these huts. The local authorities will continue to take all practicable measures, with the consent where necessary of my Department, to maintain the huts in an adequate state of repair.

asked the Minister of Health the number of allocations, together with the dates and numbers of houses to be built for let to the Clitheroe Rural District Council; the allocations, dates and numbers of houses apportioned to the village of Whalley; and the total number completed to date at Whalley.

The first allocation to the Council was made in April, 1947, and included 50 traditional and 44 Airey houses for letting. Forty of the Airey houses were subsequently cancelled because of more urgent need for the houses in other areas. The allocation of traditional houses was later increased to 56. In October, 1948, a further allocation of traditional houses was made of which 40 were to be built by the Council for letting. The distribution among the parishes is a matter for the Council. I understand that they allocated 32 houses to Whalley in 1947, but that, except two Airey houses, these were later withdrawn. Twenty-two houses were allocated to Whalley in 1949. To date, two Airey houses have been completed there. Progress has been delayed because of exceptional difficulties in providing a site.

asked the Minister of Health by virtue of what statutory obligation the maximum price of a house is revealed to the builder in the course of the issuing of a licence for a privately built house.

The condition limiting the price must by virtue of the provisions of Section 7 of the Building Materials and Housing Act, 1945, be stated on the licence and must be registered as a local land charge.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the fact that his proposal to curtail the number of houses built under private licence will not achieve any substantial saving in money, materials and labour, or lead to an increase in the number of houses built, he will now reconsider his decision and once more enable local authorities to issue licences for the building of private houses in the proportion of one to four.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Swingler) on 1st December, of which 1 am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health how many complaints and reports he has received regarding the greater difficulty of heating houses constructed with substitutes for timber for floors and other purposes; and whether recommendations have been issued to secure an improvement in this respect.

I have received no complaints of this kind, and have no reason to think that thermal insulation is reduced by using substitutes for timber.

asked the Minister of Health if he will circulate in HANSARD a table showing the number of houses built since 1945, or under construction, to the last convenient date, in the urban districts of Witham, Braintree and Bocking, Burnham-on-Crouch, the Borough of Maldon, and the rural districts of Brain-tree and Maldon; and a table giving comparable figures for a comparable period after the first world war.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to Appendix B to the Housing Return, September, 1949. The information requested in the second part is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the growing practice adopted by certain house agents of making charges for supplying information relative to vacant houses and flats, without actually giving any service, and, as this is contrary to the professional code of the recognised estate agents, if he will introduce suitable legislation to make these practices illegal.

I can hold out no prospect of legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health the number of back-to-back houses awaiting slum clearance in Birmingham on 31st March, 1946; and the number on the register awaiting clearance at the latest convenient date in 1949.

According to the latest available information, the total number of back-to-back houses in Birmingham in September, 1946, was 29,182. Since then, 807 of these houses have been either closed or demolished.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered the evidence submitted to him of the imposition of a colour bar in the allocation of houses by a local authority; and if, without otherwise limiting the discretion of local authorities, he will introduce legislation to enable him to ensure that there shall be no racial discrimination against applicants for council houses who are qualified by need.

Yes. Housing authorities generally have been recommended to allocate their houses according to need. I am assured that the particular authority my hon. Friend has in mind intend to consider all applications on the same basis without discrimination.

asked the Minister of Health how many applications for determination of reasonable rentals have been made to the rent tribunal in Leicester and the rent tribunals in the rest of the country respectively under the provisions of Section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant (Rent Control) Act, 1949; in what number of these applications respectively the rent payable by the tenant has been reduced; and by what approximate percentage.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a statement showing the position on 30th September, 1949.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increasing water consumption in the Stafford area and the dangerously low level of storage capacity at periods of peak flow, he will reconsider the decision to defer for at least twelve months the scheme for a new reservoir at Milford.

No. In reaching my decision I was fully aware of the factors to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give an assurance that the shallow, as well as the deep scheme, for the inundation of the Enborne Valley has now been abandoned.

No proposals for the construction of reservoirs have been submitted to me. 1 cannot predict what will happen in the future, but I understand that the Metropolitan Water Board have no present intention of applying for powers for the construction of a reservoir in the Enborne Valley.

asked the Minister of Health if he has now withdrawn the authority given to the Metropolitan Water Board to carry out boring tests and other investigations in the Enborne Valley; and if, in order to dispel the anxiety still felt by local residents, he will give an assurance that he will not authorise further proceedings in connection with this project reservoir.

No. No proposals for further borings have been submitted to me. If any such proposals were made they would have to be dealt with on their merits after consideration of the views of all the parties affected by them.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the continuing expenditure of moneys by the Metropolitan Water Board in the Enborne Valley for purposes of further research, he will give an assurance that no scheme for the inundation of the valley will again be considered, except in conjunction with alternative schemes elsewhere.

If any scheme is submitted I must consider it and must also have regard to any suitable alternatives elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Health if, following the abandonment of the original Enborne Valley reservoir proposal as an immediate project, he will now reassure the local residents that there is no more probability of this area rather than any other area being approved in the future for reservoir purposes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Donner).

asked the Minister of Health if he has yet decided the best method of supplying water to the Dacre and North Stanley parishes in the Ripon and Patley Bridge rural district; and when he received the result of the survey which his engineering inspector has been carrying out.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No." As regards the second part of the Question, the inspector has completed his report, and I hope that a summary of it will be sent to interested authorities early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent he has used the power given to him by Section 5 of the Water Act, 1945, to require local authorities and statutory water undertakers to carry out surveys of existing consumption of, and demand for, water supplies in their areas; and how many of such authorities and undertakers have formulated proposals for meeting their existing and future water supply requirements.

It has not been necessary to exercise these powers as county and rural district councils and water undertakers have made surveys on their own initiative. In addition surveys of large areas with common interests have been made by my engineering inspectors. Full information of the number of authorities who have formulated proposals is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many disused clay pits and chalk pits contain water unfit for human consumption but useful for industrial municipal purposes; and what steps he is taking to secure the use of such water, so as to conserve water needed for human consumption.

Yes, but whether it could be used depends, among other factors, upon the cost of bringing it in separate pipes to the areas where supplies are needed. I am ready to consider any proposals submitted by the responsible authorities.

asked the Minister of Health if he intends to introduce legislation at an early date to implement the recommendations of the Central Advisory Committee on water pollution.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement on the report of the River Pollution Prevention Sub-Committee of the Central Advisory Water Committee.

I have this report under consideration, and am not yet in a position to make a statement in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health what discussions he has had with the Minister of Food with a view to improving the standard of cleanliness in cafes and snack-bars.

Improvement in the cleanliness of all classes of eating places is now receiving the attention of a Working Party on Hygiene in the Catering Trade, set up, after discussion with my Department by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that great hardship is being caused to dwellers in caravans by local authorities who are seeking to prevent their continued occupation of sites and caravans during the winter; and if he will issue a circular to all local authorities advising them that genuine cases where no other accommodation is available should be given sympathetic consideration.

Persons aggrieved by refusal of a licence under the Public Health Act to use moveable dwellings have a right of appeal to the courts, and I do not feel that a Ministerial circular is necessary at present.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that nine men, whose names and other particulars have been sent him, who served with the Arrow Fuel Works, Newport, for periods of from 40 to 50 years before it was closed down last year, have been out of work since its closure; and what steps he is taking to offer them suitable alternative employment.

So far as I have been able to find out, only one of the nine men named has sought the assistance of my Department in obtaining employment. He has been placed in two jobs since 2nd May and efforts are now being made to find him further suitable employment.

asked the Minister of Labour what supervision and responsibility is exercised in respect of the employment of German women as domestic workers in this country; whether he will arrange for persons speaking German and familiar with Germany to have such supervision; and, approximately, how many German women are now working in this country as hospital and private domestic workers, respectively.

These arrangements are referred to in the Annual Report of my Ministry (Cmd. 7822) a copy of which is in the Library. So far as their welfare outside their employment is concerned, in addition to the help which is available from officers of my Department, arrangements are made for their assistance by various voluntary and ecclesiastical organisations. Many of the members of such organisations speak German and some have a knowledge of Germany. In addition, in view of the fact that there are no German Consulates in this country, I am considering the possibility of appointing a German Woman Welfare Officer to the staff of my Ministry. About 3,000 German women recruited under official schemes are at present working in hospitals and 2,400 in private households. I have no information regarding the number of such women who have come by private arrangements

asked the Minister of Labour what was the average weekly wage of a man over the age of 21 in Birmingham in December, 1937; and what is the present average weekly wage of a man over the age of 21 in Birmingham.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the average number of unemployed in Birmingham during the years 1919 to 1938; and what is the present number of unemployed in Birmingham.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not immediately available and its extraction would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time which would not be justified. The number of persons on the registers of employment exchanges in Birmingham at 14th November was 2,911.