asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the purchasing power of the pound sterling reckoned over the whole field of personal expenditure taking the year 1900 as 100 for 1910, 1920, 1930, 1945 and the latest available date; and the figure at the latest available date taking 1945 as 100.

Reckoned over the whole field of personal expenditure by the public, the purchasing power of the pound sterling in the years in question was approximately as follows: 1900, 100; 1910, 95; 1920, 37; 1930, 58; 1945, 38; February, 1950, 31. Taking the year 1945 as 100, the figure for February, 1950, was 81.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations with the Government of India for a double taxation relief agreement.

Negotiations are still continuing, and I cannot therefore make a statement at the present time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations for the inclusion of the United Kingdom in a European Payments Agreement.

Technical discussions are now proceeding and will I hope lead to a satisfactory solution.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer bow much was received in conscience money by the Treasury for the years 1938–39 and 1948–49.

£6,941 2s. 5d., in 1938–39; £6,282 14s., in 1948–49.

asked the Minister of Health when the second report of the Girdwood Committee on housebuilding costs will be published.

Publication is anticipated within the next two months.

asked the Minister of Health what information or guidance has been communicated to English rent tribunals for the purposes of the Landlord and Tenant (Rent Control) Act, 1949, in regard to the principles to be followed in assessing a reasonable rent.

None.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have availed themselves of the permissive statutory authority to erect special housing accommodation for the aged.

No separate record is kept at housing accommodation erected specifically for aged persons. As at 31st December, 1949, the number of one bedroom dwellings in approved tenders was 29,490 (4.88 per cent. of all approved tenders) and of two-bedroom dwellings 92,414 (15.3 per cent.). The proportion of these intended for aged persons' dwellings is not known. The number of local authorities who had one and two-bedroom dwellings in approved tenders in England and Wales is 603 and 983 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have begun slum clearance schemes; how many houses will be demolished under these schemes; and how many new houses will be required to rehouse the evacuated population.

Since 1945–46 authorities have had 101 orders confirmed in connection with slum clearance schemes involving the demoliton of 782 houses. On the basis of four persons per house 420 new houses would be required to house the persons displaced.

asked the Minister of Health what the position is to date regarding the recruitment of nurses; and if he will give comparative figures.

The total nursing and midwifery staff employed whole-time or part-time in the National Health Service in England and Wales on 31st December. 1949, was 174,000. This was 12,000 more than on 31st December, 1948.

asked the Minister of Health how many nurses have so far resigned after a short period in the National Health Service.

I have no information about the number of nurses who have resigned from the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking in the case of a lady, particulars of which he has been sent, who had her teeth extracted over a year ago and the impressions for dentures taken nearly six months ago, but who still awaits permission from the Dental Board.

The Dental Estimates Board have already approved the treatment proposed by the second dentist to whom the lady in question went.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many health centres are under construction by new building and adaptation, respectively; and how many more have been sanctioned;(2) how many doctors have signified their willingness to transfer their practices to health centres; how many of these are regarded as suitable; and in how many cases the necessary arrangements have been made.

One new building is under construction: one other new building and one adaptation have been approved: other schemes are under consideration. I have no information as to the numbers of doctors willing to transfer their practices to health centres. The present building situation would in any case make it impossible to provide health centres for all doctors who would like it.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated amount owing to doctors, dentists, chemists, opticians, manufacturers of equipment and others under the National Health Service up to the latest convenient date.

The greater part of the remuneration of general medical practitioners is paid quarterly so that the amount due to them at any particular time varies between a full quarter's payment and practically nothing. The bills of dentists and opticians are met monthly but at varying dates. Chemists' bills are similarly paid monthly but only to the extent of 90 per cent. of the balance for that and previous months being paid as and when pricing is completed. A quarter's payment to general medical practitioners in England and Wales is about £10½ million. The monthly bills of dentists, opticians and chemists average about £3½ million, £2 million and £2/ million respectively. Payment to manufacturers of equipment is made on delivery of the goods ordered so that the amount due to them at any given date is negligible.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons are registered at the employment exchanges in the City of Stoke-on-Trent; how many have been found employment since 1946; and how many have been trained and are being trained for employment.

At 16th January, 1950, the number of disabled persons registered at the local offices within the City of Stoke-on-Trent area was 9,236. On 14th March, 1950, there were 701 unemployed, including 208 classified as unlikely to obtain employment except under sheltered conditions. The earliest date from which placing statistics are available is 1st April, 1947. From that date to 31st January, 1950, 6,488 registered disabled persons were placed in employment. Since July, 1945, two hundred and seventeen disabled men have been trained under Government-assisted schemes and six are at present in training.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will arrange for the disabled persons who are registered in the City of Stoke-on-Trent to be trained for employment in the pottery industry, where it is desired, and that they shall be found employment when trained.

Under the Vocational Training Scheme, arrangements already exist for training both disabled and able-bodied men for the pottery industry. Fifty-four disabled men from Stoke-on-Trent have been trained in employers' establishments. All of them remained with their employer on completing their training.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons are registered at Longton employment exchange, Stoke, respectively; how many are ex-miners; and what are the prospects for employment.

On 17th October, 1949, there were 1,642 registered disabled persons at Longton employment exchange of whom 109, including 39 ex-miners, were unemployed. Twenty-three of the unemployed were classified as unlikely to obtain employment except under sheltered conditions. The corresponding figures for Stoke were respectively 1,624; 89 (including five ex-miners); and 29. There may be some difficulty in placing the unemployed but continuous efforts on their behalf are being made by my local officers and during the quarter ended 31st January, 1950, they were able to place 140 and 95 disabled persons in employment from Longton and Stoke respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour how many displaced persons were placed in employment in this country in 1948 and 1949, respectively; and what is the present policy of his Department with regard to providing employment here for these persons.

42,458 displaced persons recruited under the "Westward Ho" scheme were placed in employment in 1948 and 2,517 in 1949. The relatively few suitable women now volunteering are being placed in the textile industries and in certain other kinds of essential work.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress is being made in the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Report of the Joint Advisory Committee on Conditions in Iron Foundries, published in 1947.

The recommendations were numerous and detailed, so that the progress made cannot be briefly described. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the account given on pages 15 to 23 of the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for 1948, of which I am sending him a copy. As regards subsequent further progress, I have no doubt that some account will be included in the Chief Inspector's next Annual Report.

asked the Minister of Labour how many medical practitioners seeking employment are at present on his lists; and whether, in view of the shortage of doctors in hospitals and in general practice, he will take steps to secure appointments for these unemployed practitioners.

There are at present 74 unemployed medical practitioners on the Appointments Register. This number includes 36 foreign doctors, most of whom are Polish. In common with other registrants at Appointments Offices, these men and women are submitted for any suitable vacancies notified to my Department.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in industrial employment who were given holidays with pay in 1939 and 1949, respectively.

About 20 million employed persons are now entitled to annual holidays with pay. The number in 1939 was about 7¾ million. It is estimated that the manual wage earners included in these figures number about 14 million and 4 million respectively, the remainder being mainly salaried employees, clerks, shop assistants and domestic servants.

asked the Minister of Labour what is his policy regarding the issue of labour permits to American artistes and senior technicians who wish to make films in this country; and how many such permits he has issued in respect of the projected film entitled "The Mudlark."

Permits are granted freely in respect of foreign film artistes of international reputation who are required for leading rôles in films produced in this country, and may also be granted in some cases for foreign artistes to play supporting rôles. Applications for permits for foreign producers and directors required by British film companies, whose association has reached agreement on numbers with the appropriate trade union, are also granted. Applications for foreign producers and directors required by American companies making films in this country are considered with due regard to the Government's undertaking in the Anglo-American Film Agreement of March, 1948, to extend all reasonable facilities and co-operation to enable such companies to spend their sterling balances.Permits for three Americans have been granted for the film mentioned.

asked the Minister of Labour when the following Conventions of the International Labour Office will be ratified by the United Kingdom: The Eight-hour Day, The Maternity, The Use of White Lead in Paint, Weekly Rest in Industry, Repatriation of Seamen, Night Work in Bakeries, Marking of Weight on Heavy Packages for Transport by Sea, Hours of Work in Offices, Hours of Work in Coalmines, Annual Holidays with Pay and Holidays with Pay for Seamen.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Conventions Numbers 1, 3, 13, 14, 20, 23, 27, 30, 46, 52 and 91. Convention No. 91 was adopted at the 32nd Session of the International Labour Conference (1949). The policy of His Majesty's Government in relation to the instruments adopted at this Session of the Conference is at present under consideration. For reasons which have previously been made public it is not at present proposed to ratify any of the other Conventions referred to.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the latest unemployment figures in Ramsgate, Margate and Broadstairs at the latest convenient date; and how these compare to the same approximate date last year.

The information table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number of registered unemployed, male and female, at the latest convenient date in the town of Gateshead.

One thousand eight hundred and twelve males and 338 females at 13th February.

asked the Minister of Labour what consultations he had with the Minister of Health in formulating the estimate that 12 per cent. of those due to register with the National Service in 1952–53 would be medically unfit for service.

None. The assumed percentage is 19 not 12.

asked the Minister of Education the name of the local education authority which charges 4¼ per cent. interest on loans to students.

The Kingston-on-Hull local education authority charge interest at the rate of 4¼ per cent. on loans made to students. Loans are limited to exceptional cases which are not covered by the authority's approved scheme of grants, and the number is small. I understand that the authority propose to reduce the rate of interest to 2¼ per cent. in September next.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that a school in France and one in England are exchanging pupils from the same form for a whole term; and whether he will consider extending such a practice to schools under his jurisdiction.

Exchanges of pupils in term-time have been arranged between a number of schools in this country and schools in France. While the initiative must rest with individual schools suitable exchanges have my full support and my Department will continue to assist wherever possible.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he has taken to ensure an early review of teachers' salaries.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement on teachers' salaries generally and in particular as to the relative position of graduate and non-graduate teachers.

I am informed that the Teachers' Panels of the Burnham Committees have given notice to terminate existing salaries agreements on 31st March, 1951, and that the Committees propose to meet at an early date to open negotiations upon new agreements. It is not for me to make any statement at this stage.

asked the Minister of Education how many special schools for handicapped children have been provided under Section 33 of the Education Act, 1944; and how many of such schools are available for the north-west in general and the city of Chester in particular.

Since 1st April, 1945, the date on which Part II of the Education Act, 1944, came into operation, 102 additional special schools have been provided of which 20 are in Lancashire and Cheshire. There are altogether 602 approved special schools in England and Wales of which 96 are in the northwestern counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. None of these is situated in Chester, but it is open to that local education authority to take up such places as may be available in the special schools when they need them.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent local education authorities are providing special education treatment for children whom they decide require it in accordance with the duty imposed on them by Section 34 (4) of the Education Act, 1944.

At the beginning of 1949, the latest date for which figures are available, there were some 45,000 children being educated in special schools, an increase of some 6,500 since the beginning of 1946. As the result of a new return now being obtained, I hope to secure this year full information about the number of children requiring places in special schools which will enable me to assess how far the demand is being met.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will reconsider his decision not to permit the erection of a community centre on the New Addington Housing Estate, since the population is now approaching 9,000.

No. I regret that I am unable at present to consider proposals for building community centres.

asked the Minister of Education what limitations to instruction in decoration classes have been brought into effect in the last year in Warrington.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to a class in home decora-

asked the Minister of Education if he will increase the number of instructional classes available during the day-time for apprentices in the furniture industry.

The improvement of facilities for education in this industry is being discussed by my Department with the Furniture Development Council, who are of course in close touch with the industry. I am aware of the shortage of

asked the Minister of Education if he will reduce the number of inspections of primary schools thus saving waste of time by inspectors.

I do not consider that the number of visits paid by His Majesty's Inspectors to primary schools for the purposes of assessment and assistance is excessive.

asked the Minister of Education the number of cases of malnutrition amongst school children in 1939 and 1949, respectively.

The nearest figures I have are for 1938 and 1948 and they do not provide a direct comparison. The assessments of nutrition for the two years were made on different classifications as follows:—accommodation in one or two areas to meet demands for the part-time training of apprentices, and I am taking steps to remedy the difficulty as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what constitutional procedure is being adopted to effect progressive improvements in the administration of Bechuanaland.

My hon. Friend is presumably referring to the development of the system of native administration in the Protectorate. The framework within which the native authorities function is set out in the Bechuanaland Protectorate Native Administration Proclamation of 1943 which defines the procedure for their appointment and describes their powers and duties. The further developments contemplated in the Bamangwato Reserve are described in paragraphs 20 and 22 of the White Paper which I presented to Parliament yesterday (Command 7913).

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consideration has been given recently to the means by which the economic, educational and social needs of Bechuanaland can be more fully assisted; to what extent literacy and education have progressed in the last 10 years; and what developments have taken place during that period in respect of medical services.

Besides the limited activities which the Protectorate Government is able to promote from its own ordinary revenues of under half a million pounds per annum, the Bechuanaland Protectorate has enjoyed and enjoys generous assistance from grants under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts. The total amount available under 1944 Act is over one million pounds.These grants are being used firstly for the development of water supplies, both surface and underground, which is the primary need of the territory. Other uses are: control of the tsetse fly in the North West; the extension of livestock and agricultural services; the improvement of roads and medical and educational services. A geological survey at a cost of over £98,000 to investigate the mineral resources of the Protectorate is in progress. The Administration hope also to investigate the possibilities of controlling and using the waters of the Okovango Delta in the north for schemes which, if successful, would prove of very great advantage.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations why Mr. and Mrs. Alan Bradshaw have been ordered to leave Bechuanaland; and if, since Mrs. Bradshaw is a close personal friend of the wife of Seretse Khama, he will allow her to remain at Serowe until Seretse Khama can rejoin his wife.

No order of any kind has been issued by the Bechuanaland Protectorate Administration in connection with either Mr. or Mrs. Bradshaw. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the light of the Report on the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Act, 1948, he can account for the fact that the Commission under that Act have as yet made no report on any of the references made to them.

I think the fact is sufficiently accounted for in the Report itself. In their first year, the Commission have had to devote much of their time to developing procedures and methods for a type of inquiry of which there has been no previous experience in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what matters he has yet received reports from the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission; and whether it is his intention that these reports should be published.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on 16th March to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, South (Mr. F. Elwyn Jones). The Commission's reports will be laid before Parliament subject to the provisions of Section 9 of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act, 1948.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is taking the opportunity of the visit of the Premier of British Columbia to discuss arrangements for a larger supply of timber from Canada.

I have had the pleasure of discussing with the Premier of British Columbia many aspects of current trade between the United Kingdom and British Columbia. The hon. Member will, of course, appreciate that our ability to arrange for larger supplies of timber from Canada must be conditioned by the dollars at our disposal.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many Board of Trade factory certificates have been issued in the Greater London area up to the last convenient date since the end of the war; and how many in South Wales.

Between the end of the war and the 31st January, 1950, the Board of Trade approved 940 new factories and extensions in the Greater London Area at an estimated building cost of about £34 million; the corresponding figures for the South Wales development area are 357 and about £40 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to make a decision upon the application made to him last September for authority to increase taxicab fares in the London area.

Before I can arrive at a decision I feel that an investigation by an accountant of eminence of the figures supplied by the cab trade is necessary. At my personal request, Sir Alan Rae Smith has agreed to undertake this task.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of London taxicabs now available for service; and whether he is satisfied that this number is adequate to meet the requirements of the increased number of overseas and foreign visitors expected in London this summer.

Six thousand seven hundred and thirty-two. As regards the last part of the Question, I cannot undertake to forecast future fluctuations of public demand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the size in acres of each county counstituency in England and Wales; and the number of motor cars the candidates in each constituency were respectively permitted to use on polling day.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not readily available. As regards the second part, the maximum number of motor vehicles that Section 88 of the Representation of the People Act, 1949, permits each candidate to employ for taking voters to the poll is one for every 1,500 electors in a county constituency or one for every 2,500 electors in a borough constituency. The approximate number of electors on the 1949 register in each constituency in England and Wales was given in a Statement which I presented to Parliament in December—Cmd. 7840.

asked the 'Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to make it compulsory for returning officers to acknowledge applications to vote by post.

No. The Representation of the People Regulations, 1949, require the registration officer to notify the applicant when he disallows an application; and a form is now available for notifying the applicant when an application is allowed. I will ask registration officers to use this form so far as is practicable, but I should not feel justified in making its use compulsory in every case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many spoilt postal voting papers were returned in England and Wales at the last General Election.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will now give the total number of postal or proxy votes cast in the 1950 February election;(2) what is the total number of voters on the absent voters registers throughout the country.

The following figures are provisional and relate only to England and Wales. The number of people entitled to vote by post at the General Election was approximately 434,000. The number of postal votes returned before the close of the poll was approximately 409,200. Of these, approximately 8,700 were rejected because the declaration of identity was not returned or on one of the other prescribed grounds. The rest—approximately 400,500—were included in the count. The number of proxy votes is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now come to any decision as to whether persons whose names are not on the new electoral register may claim to have their names included upon satisfying the electoral registration officer as to their residential qualification at the relevant date last November.

I have considered the hon. Member's suggestion very carefully, but my conclusion is that no provision for correcting the register after publication, whether by means of a supplementary list or otherwise, would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now give the returns made by agents of election expenses for the February, 1950, election.

The time allowed under Section 69 of the Representation of the People Act, 1949, for making these returns has not yet run out. The information will be collected and presented to Parliament in the same way as after previous General Elections. This will be done as soon as possible, but it is likely to take some time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to enable him to require that the ballot paper to be sent to a person entitled to vote by post in an election shall state the political party of each of the candidates named upon it.

No. As recently as 1948 Parliament enacted a prohibition of party labels on ballot papers, and I am not prepared to propose that this decision should now be reversed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that irrespective of the number of crimes of violence now being committed the degree of violence employed is becoming more brutal; that in many districts women and young persons are going in fear of their lives; and what steps does he propose to take to strengthen the authority of the law in view of the greater violence now prevalent.

The question whether the crimes of violence recently committed involve greater brutality than in the past is a matter of opinion. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that he has no evidence for this suggestion so far as the Metropolitan Police District is concerned. I am aware that differing opinions have been expressed so far as certain other parts of the country are concerned, but I have no information to warrant any modification of the views I have expressed in reply to prevoius Questions as to any suggestion that the law prescribing the penalties for such offences should be amended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many robberies, or attempted robberies, with violence occurred in the Metropolitan Police district and the City of London in the six months to September, 1948, and in the corresponding periods in 1946 and 1947.

During the six months from 1st March to 31st August, 1948, 136 offences under Section 23 (1) of the Larceny Act, 1916, and 44 offences under the remaining provisions of this Section were known to the Police in the Metropolitan Police district and the City of London. The figures were 108 and 36 during the corresponding period in 1946. and 132 and 39 in 1947.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department between what dates he intends to introduce Summer time this year.

From 16th April to 22nd October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider making a further appeal to the public to surrender all firearms that are unlicensed, fixing a time limit and intimating that after that official date any firearm found in the possession of any person will be regarded as a serious crime and punishment imposed upon any person found in possession of such weapons.

I do not think that the time is opportune for a further appeal, but the matter will be kept under review. With regard to the latter part of the Question, the Firearms Act, 1937, provides severe penalties for the possession of a firearm without a certificate, and I have no doubt that proceedings are taken in all appropriate cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether under the Police Acts and Public Order Act he will take action to prevent the road and pavements being blocked by the crowds that accumulate at football grounds for the purposes of collecting Football Association cup final tickets.

The situation on this occasion was exceptional and not likely to occur again. I will, however, communicate with the Football Association and ask them to consider arrangements for the sale of tickets which would avoid the accumulation of large crowds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of foreigners who have been granted British nationality in the past 12 months.

Nine thousand six hundred and eighty-nine persons were naturalised in the period from 1st March, 1949, to 28th February, 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the need for increasing the police force to deal with the present outbreak of crime with violence, he will extend the present age limit for entrants to the Police Force, for those with necessary qualifications, to 35 years of age.

Provision is already made in the Police Regulations for the appointment of men over 30 years of age in special circumstances approved by me on the recommendation of the appointing authority, and I am prepared to give my approval in all suitable cases. Appointing authorities, are, however, reluctant to recommend the enrolment of many men over 30 in view of the need to keep down the average age of the service, and I should not feel justified in suggesting to the Police Council that the present Regulation should be amended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present deficiency in numbers of the Metropolitan Police Force; what was the net increase during 1949 of men in its regular strength; and what has been the net increase to date since 26th May, 1949.

The present deficiency is 4,053 men. There was a net increase of 54 men during 1949 and of 55 men from 26th May, 1949, to date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the wave of crime in the country, he will appeal to members of the British Legion and other old comrades' associations of the three Services to supply men to act as special constables and to assist the police for a period of 12 months.

Members of the Legion and the associations referred to share the general responsibility of all citizens to assist the police wherever they can effectively do so, and chief officers of police will, I am confident, welcome applications to join the special constabulary from individual members of the associations who are within the prescribed age limits and otherwise suitable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the inmates escaped from Gaynes Hall Borstal Institution during the past 12 months; and how many of those who escaped broke into private dwelling houses after escaping and before recapture.

In 1949 there were 117 cases of absconding from Gaynes Hall Borstal Institution involving 84 inmates. Absconders are reported to have been responsible for breaking into 19 private dwelling houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are being made to supply civil defence workers where necessary with the special spectacles which can be worn under gas masks.

This matter is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been given, and to whom, for the maintenance of surface air-raid shelters.

When air-raid shelters were provided by local authorities before and during the last war, those authorities were made responsible for their maintenance and that is still the position as respects the remaining shelters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report and proposals on child and juvenile employment in film production is likely to be available; when this will be implemented; and what interim arrangements for child actors for this purpose have been made.

I understand that the committee on the employment of children in film production and in the theatre hope to report by the end of May, and I will, of course, consider the recommendations as quickly as possible after their receipt. Interim arrangements cannot be made under the law as it stands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authorities have adopted the model bylaw in respect of contraceptives.

I have confirmed bylaws on this subject made by 20 county councils and 181 borough councils.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will amend the regulations relating to the clipping of the ears of pigs at grading sales.

Other methods of marking pigs are now being tested. If the hon. Member has any useful suggestion to offer I should be more than happy to consider it.

asked the Minister of Food when he anticipates having discussions with the Eireann Minister of Agriculture on the price of eggs for 1951.

Within the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Food the number of wild duck imported into this country from Holland during last season; their approximate value; and to what destinations they went for consumption.

Wild duck are imported from Holland by private traders under open general licence and arc distributed through the normal trade channels. As the trade returns do not distinguish wild duck from other types of game, and as we do not control their distribution, I regret that I am unable to give the information requested.

asked the Minister of Food what increase in the importation of animal feedingstuffs he expects this year.

While I want, if possible, to import more animal feedingstuffs this year, the hon. Member will realise that any estimate of the total could only be very speculative so early in the year.

asked the Minister of Works when he anticipates that the extensions to the Quedgeley School will be completed.

Completion of the extensions to Quedgeley School is expected in October, 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the eight wards were contested in municipal elections for the Victoria Town Council in the Seychelles; and in how many wards were candidates returned unopposed.

There are seven wards in the Victoria area and at the elections for the district council held on 4th March one was contested and in the remaining six candidates were returned unopposed.

asked the Minister of Supply on what date the Directorate of Disposals of his Department ceased to sell household textiles through the medium of the Surplus Textile Corporation; and for what reason.

Sales to the Corporation ceased at the end of March, 1949, when the greatly reduced volume of surpluses no longer justified special disposal arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the requirements of the Poisons Act are being complied with in regard to insecticides now in use, in relation to agricultural and horticultural produce.

I have no evidence that the Poisons Rules, which control the sale of poisonous insecticides, are not being observed.