asked the Minister of Food whether he is prepared to allow sweet coupons to be used alternatively for sugar instead of sweets.

I can add nothing to the reply I gave on 22nd March, to my hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mrs. Mann).

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider allowing a pound of sugar per month per ration book instead of jam, so as to enable country people to make their own jam.

As jam is no longer rationed, we cannot go back to this arrangement.

asked the Minister of Food when he expects to increase the present sweets ration from its level of 5 ozs. per week to meet the existing increased demand.

The sweets ration is one of the things I am looking at in my general review of the sugar situation. I would rather not make any forecast as yet.

asked the Minister of Food how many applications, to the most recent convenient date, were made within the last six months to open fried fish shops; and how many were refused.

During the six months ended 16th January, 1950, there were 863 applications for licences to run fried fish shops or mobile vans. Of these 380 were refused.

asked the Minister of Food when he expects to be purchasing eggs from Gambia.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) today.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give a table showing the total, in tons, of animal feedingstuffs available to the agricultural industry during 1949; and an estimate of the total likely to be available in 1950, under the following headings: wheat, wheatenings and offals, barley, oats, maize, oil cakes and meals, other imported feedingstuffs and other home-grown feedingstuffs, stating, where appropriate, the amounts imported.

For the calendar year 1949 the quantities of rationed animal feeding-stuffs distributed in the United Kingdom were, in thousand long tons:

Rationed Feedingstuffs	Imported	Home grown or home produced	Total
Wheat (unmillable)	29	20	49
Wheat offals	115	779*	894
Barley	467	422	889
Oats	117	142	259
Maize	755	—	755
Oilcakes and meals	398	656	1,054
Other feedingstuffs	318	280	598
TOTAL	2,199	2,229	4,498
*The proportion of home-grown wheat to the total quantity of wheat used in millers' grists was 30 per cent. in 1949.

These figures are directly comparable with and subject to the same qualifications as those for the years 1945–48 which were given to the hon. Member on 26th April, 1949. It is too early to say how much of each kind of feedingstuffs is likely to be available in 1950, but it is. hoped that the total of imported and home produced supplies together will be about 6 million tons.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the present proposals of His Majesty's Government for the ownership, regulation and reorganisation of the German coal, iron and steel industries.

The policy of His Majesty's Government with respect to the ownership and reorganisation of the German coal, iron and steel industries was embodied in Military Government Law 75, promulgated in November, 1948, and valid for the British and American Zones of Occupation in Germany. This Law provided that the ownership of the coal, iron and steel industries should be determined by the German Government, that the main combines in these industries should be liquidated, and that their coal and steel properties, together with those of the other main companies operating in the same field, should be available for reorganisation according to plans submitted by German experts and approved by Military Governments.It has been necessary to embark on a revision of Law 75 in order to extend its provisions to the whole of Western Germany and to take account of the formation of the Federal Government. The opportunity has been taken to discuss simultaneously proposals for other changes. Discussions are still proceeding in the High Commission and it is hoped that a revised Law will shortly emerge embodying the principles of Military Government Law 75.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the British Civilian Club in Dusseldorf has refused the High Commissioner's request to offer facilities to German guests; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

Yes. The wishes of the High Commissioner that German guests should be admitted to normal entertainment in the club have my full support, and I am leaving the matter in his hands.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he proposes to accept or reject the advice now tendered to him by the permanent members of the Transport Tribunal under Section 82 of the Transport Act, 1947.

This matter is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will issue instructions to the Traffic Commissioners to grant permission for the use of road coaches in all cases where it is sought by the school authorities to take schoolchildren on instructional visits.

No. With the necessity still to conserve imported fuel supplies, each application is, under existing arrangements, considered on its merits with particular reference to any substantial empty running which may be involved.

asked the Minister of Transport what recommendations upon transport charges in London he has received from the Central Transport Consultative Committee.

I have not received any such recommendaitons.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is intended to fill the vacancy for a full-time member of the Transport Commission.

It is my intention to make this appointment as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to abolish the toll from Swinford Bridge, Eynsham, in order that the people who live south of this bridge may have access to Oxford without suffering the hardship of a toll.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 20th March to the hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Hay), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport why he has prohibited the sale of secondhand ships abroad except to Germany; and whether he will modify this policy in the near future.

I am afraid the hon. Member must have been misinformed. In the 12 months ended 28th February, 1950, permission was given for the sale abroad of 380,243 gross registered tons of secondhand ships, of which only 42,250 tons went to Western Germany.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the experiments with coloured pedestrian crossings have now been completed; and whether any decision has been reached as to their efficacy.

These experiments, which have been carried out by the Road Research Laboratory in collaboration with highway authorities and my Department, have been completed and a report on them is now being studied.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the present arrangements for the provision of shelters at bus stops in villages; and what steps he proposes to take to facilitate or authorise their erection by local authorities or others.

There is no general statutory power to erect bus shelters on the highway, but many local authorities have taken such powers in their local Acts. I hope to deal with this matter when opportunity offers for appropriate legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport whther he is aware of the bad state of repair of trunk roads Nos. 23, 2 and 20, through the London area, and, as these are the direct roads from Folkestone and Dover, if he will have them put into proper order before the Festival of Britain commences.

The responsibility for the maintenance of these raods in London rests upon the Metropolitan boroughs concerned. I understand that the tram tracks on the roads are soon to be abandoned. The roads will then have to be reconstructed. Meanwhile, I cannot urge the responsible authorities to undertake any expenditure which is likely in the circumstances to be abortive.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is satisfied that the supply of sheet steel is adequate for the current requirements of the motor industry.

The output of sheet steel is not yet sufficient to meet all requirements. I am satisfied, however, that the motor industry is receiving a proper share of the supplies available.

asked the Minister of Supply what arrangements he has made with the motor industry for the allocation of cars to the home and export markets respectively.

The motor industry has been asked to limit the supply of cars to the home market to 110,000 in 1950 and to export the balance of its output. Each manufacturer has been given a quarterly quota for the home market on this basis.

asked the Minister of Supply the number of persons who have been discharged as redundant at Birtley ordnance factory during the six months ended at the most convenient recent date, giving the numbers of men and women employees separately; of this number how many have been reemployed in other employment; and what are the prospects of any such persons who have not been re-employed being provided with employment.

Five hundred and ninety-one men, and 37 women, were discharged as redundant from this factory during the six months ended 18th March. I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that 395 men and eight women registered for employment at the local offices in the vicinity of Birtley and so far 164 men have been placed in other employment. The employment exchange service of the Ministry of Labour is giving all possible assistance to the remainder to obtain suitable employment, but the prospects for some of the older less fit men are restricted.

asked the Minister of Supply what are his future plans for the factory owned by his Department at Clayton-le-Moors at present occupied by Messrs. Courtaulds.

Now that Messrs. Courtaulds have announced their intention to vacate this factory, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will be responsible for its re-allocation.

asked the Minister of Supply, since the average age of goods vehicles in this country is now 13½ years, as against an average of seven years before the war, and the operation of such an over-aged transport fleet involves an unnecessary drain on the country's economy, by what date will he be able to permit the road transport industry to have not less than 150,000 new vehicles a year, with a view to restoring the fleet to pre-war standard without undue delay.

I do not accept the assumption that the average age of goods vehicles in this country is as high as 13½ years. I cannot foretell when the economic situation will permit an increase in the supply of commercial vehicles to the home market.

asked the Minister of Works what conclusions he has reached as to the best kind of hedge to replace railings round London parks and gardens; and whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the botanical and popular names of the shrubs which have been found suitable and unsuitable, respectively.

The hon. Member will find in the OFFICIAL REPORT dated 1st December, 1948, column 192, a list of the hedging plants which have been tried. It is too early to reach any definite conclusions, but so far I agree with my predecessor that holly and yew are most likely to stand up to London park conditions. Of the deciduous species, it looks as if hawthorn will be suitable.

asked the Minister of Works how many hotels are still requisitioned by his Department.

The number of hotels held on requisition by my Department is 49.

asked the Minister of Works what is the amount of office accommodation at present under construction in London and the rest of the country for use for public purposes and private firms, respectively.

The amount of office accommodation at present under construction in London for use for public purposes is approximately 2,750,000 square feet, and for private firms 920,000 square feet. For the rest of Great Britain the corresponding figures are approximately 720,000 square feet and 1,280,000 square feet respectively.

asked the Minister of Works on what grounds a permit was granted for the building of an ice-cream factory at Westbury Street, Wolverhampton.

My hon. Friend is, no doubt, referring to a low temperature room which is being erected at a dairy in Westbury Street, Wolverhampton. This work was started in the expectation that it would be done under the £1,000 per annum free limit. Owing to the reduction of the free limit to £500 a licence was required for the balance of the work and has been issued in accordance with the usual practice in such cases.

asked the Minister of Works why the authorisation limit under paragraph (1) of Regulation 56A of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, has been reduced from £1,000 to £500; and whether he is aware that this reduction is likely to cause considerable dislocation in the programme of maintenance work to be carried out by local authorities and statutory water undertakings.

The reduction of this limit is one of the measures taken to bring more building work under control with the object of reducing capital investment in accordance with the Government's decision announced last October. Maintenance work by local authorities and statutory water undertakers is not affected since it is not in any case subject to authorisation.

asked the Minister of Works how many flats and houses in Cardiff are occupied by Government Departments; and how many of these have been acquired since September, 1939.

Sixty-six houses are occupied by Government Departments in Cardiff, of which 13 have been requisitioned and 31 hired since September, 1939. No flats are so occupied.

asked the Minister of Works the total amount, in units of buildings or rooms, of office accommodation now occupied by administrative staff of Government Departments in the city of Leeds specifying how much thereof has been erected within the last five years and how much is requisitioned.

Government offices in Leeds occupy 94 buildings with a total area of 731,500 square feet. One building of 40,000 square feet has been erected during the last five years. Twenty-two buildings, with a total area of 137,250 square feet, are held on requisition by my Department.

asked the Minister of Works if he has considered the recommendations made by Mr. R. O. Lloyd, a copy of which has been sent to him, lately leader of Britain's Industry Productivity Team to the United States of America, especially with regard to building; and what action he proposes to take to implement these recommendations in Britain.

I have seen the statement to which the hon. Member refers, and other statements by individual members of the Team from the building industry which recently visited the United States of America under the auspices of the Anglo-American Council on Productivity. I shall consider what action it falls to me to take just as soon as I have before me the Team's report which I understand is due to be published very shortly.

asked the Minister of Works what percentage of building trade labour in Huddersfield is at present employed on house building.

At the end of January, 1950, about 19 per cent. of the labour in the building and civil engineering industry working in Huddersfield county borough was employed on new house building. This is less than the percentage for the country as a whole due no doubt to the large amount of important industrial building in this area.

asked the Minister of Works whether, as the result of his further investigations, he will move the local food office from Lambeth Town Hall before the end of 1951.

The building which we have agreed to take on lease was gutted by fire during the war and has to be completely reconstructed by the owner. This work is likely to cost in the region of £200,000 and it is bound to take a long time. In addition to the food office, the building will accommodate the offices of five other Government Departments. The owner is willing to expedite the work and it is hoped to provide for occupation of the building by stages, but until tenders have been obtained, it is too early to say what can be done to shorten the time. A further search of the district has failed to produce alternative premises.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that the stone tablet engraved with the names of Members of the House of Commons killed in the 1914–18 war is lying among rubbish in Westminster Hall; and what he proposes to do with it.

The stone tablet is being preserved, with other stone work taken from the war damaged memorial, pending restoration. I will see if the tablet can be stored somewhere else until we are ready to use it.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will consider the provision of a statue or other memorial of James Keir Hardie in the neighbourhood of the Palace of Westminster.

In the absence of a resolution of this House, I have no authority to erect such a memorial.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the maximum supplementary petrol allowance given to sales representatives in nationalised industries, as compared with that given to commercial travellers; and what is the maximum amount of petrol granted by way of supplementary allowance to members of his Department who use their own motor cars on duty.

A supplementary petrol allowance for an employee of a nationalised industry is computed under the same rules as those applied to employees of a private company and for comparable purposes the same allowance would be given. A civil servant authorised to use his own motor car on duty is not given a supplementary allowance; he applies for permission to undertake a specified journey, or specified journeys, by car, and, if permission is given, he receives the coupons required.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will make available the holiday double petrol ration as from 1st May for the benefit of those who have to take their holiday in that month.

I regret that the standard petrol ration books cannot be printed and distributed by 1st May. But I hope to make them available to the general public from 8th May, and the coupons in the books can be used from that date. The hon. Member will, I am sure, remember that the petrol coupons which will be used for the summer bonus are for the rationing period June—November and that, therefore, special action is required to make them available before June.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power on what evidence his inspectors suggested to clients of the White Horse Garage, Cherhill, that they have been offered petrol without coupons at a black market price of 6s. a gallon; and if he will instruct them to cease damaging the reputation of this garage.

My officers have reason to believe that this garage has contravened the Motor Fuel Order, 1948, by supplying petrol without coupons. An inquiry has begun, but has, unfortunately, been delayed by the illness of one of the officers concerned. No publicity has been given to the inquiry and I have no evidence that the reputation of the garage has been damaged in any way. The investigating officers deny that they have ever spoken of a "black market price of 6s. a gallon" to any client of the garage; their statement is confirmed by a third party who was present at those interviews.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how far the British representatives in Japan have been able, by representations to Supreme Commander Allied Powers, to counter the United States attempt to freeze sterling oil out of the Japanese market.

The United Kingdom Liaison Mission in Japan have consistently urged the Supreme Commander, Allied Powers, to take as much crude oil as practicable from sources under British Control. One United Kingdom controlled company is, however, delivering sterling crude oil to Japan under a contract made with a Japanese refinery.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that many people in and near Stroud have no coal and are unable to cook; and why he has refused to take any action to relieve the hardship caused by the failure of the present system.

Rather more coal has been distributed to householders in the Stroud district this winter than last. I am not aware of any case in the district where it has not been possible to arrange a prompt delivery to a consumer who has been in difficulty about coal for cooking and who has asked the local fuel overseer for his help. Additional coal has been offered to merchants in the district who require it; two merchants have accepted this offer, but the majority have refused it, because an undertaking cannot be given that the coal will be in the better quality range. As I explained in my reply of 20th March, to questions by several hon. Members, it is, to my regret, still necessary to supply some low grade coals to the domestic market.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he has not answered the letters written to him by the Stroud Rural District Council about the present shortage of coal in the Stroud valleys.

I regret the delay in replying to these letters. The circumstances are as follows. An unsigned letter was received from the Stroud Rural District Council on 9th March enclosing a copy of a letter dated 7th March addressed to the Ministry's Regional Controller at Bristol. This was acknowledged on 11th March and an investigation of the position was immediately set in train in the Region. In the meantime the hon. Member put down questions on the subject which involved further inquiry and a reply was postponed until all the facts had been ascertained. A further letter was received from the Rural District Council on 23rd March and a full reply will be sent as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will take action to avoid distributive shortage of household coal next winter by authorising the delivery of the full permitted quantity for 12 months in advance during the summer period to those householders who can accept it.

I am most anxious that householders should help the nation, the merchants and themselves by placing orders with the merchants during the summer months. But many consumers have not got facilities for stocking coal and to allow some consumers to stock during the summer the full quantity permitted for the whole year, would imperil the principle of fair shares for all.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that in certain districts of north Berkshire coal merchants have had to decline opencast coal as entirely unfit for domestic purposes; that two trucks were condemned and an equal quantity of coal to that condemned was promised but has not been supplied; that on 10th March the house coal officers' department stated that only opencast coal would be supplied for the Faringdon district where there is now a deficiency of 90 tons although the allocation is for 20 tons per week for 19 weeks; and what steps he is taking to supply good quality coal in adequate quantities.

I would refer to the statement I made on the 20th March in reply to Questions from several hon. Members. As regards Faringdon there appears to be some misapprehension in the third part of the Question. The opencast coal referred to by the hon. Member was part of a general offer early in March to supplement supplies to certain districts in the Southern Region and this offer was accepted by many merchants. Some additional deep-mined coal has now been sent into Faringdon and other districts. As regards the two trucks referred to in the second part of the Question, I am informed that these were refused as long ago as August, 1948, and that this incident does not, in consequence, affect the present supply position.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will arrange the allocation of boiler fuel on the basis of registrations as is done for coal and coke, instead of on pre-war allocations which penalises enterprise and good service.

The proportion of households with appliances which require boiler fuels fluctuates widely from district to district; it bears no relation to the number of registrations held by each merchant. Coke, which is plentiful in most areas and from which the supply restrictions were removed on 1st January, 1950, provides a satisfactory alternative to anthracite in the great majority of appliances; I am satisfied that, generally speaking, every merchant should be able to offer one or other of these fuels to his customers. For these reasons, I regret that I cannot adopt the hon. Member's proposal.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when the National Coal Board Annual Report for 1949 will be available to hon. Members of this House.

I am advised by the National Coal Board that they hope to submit their annual report to me in time for it to be presented to Parliament during the month of June.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the attitude of the Government to the proposal contained in the Westwood Report for the setting up of a Mineral Development Commission.

I am afraid there is no prospect that the legislation required to establish the Mineral Development Commission, proposed in the Westwood Report, can be introduced in the present Session.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many miners have been dismissed since the National Coal Board took over, exclusive of the dismissals due to the closure of pits; and for what chief reasons.

In 1949, 9,500 miners were dismissed for reasons other than the closure of pits and concentration and reconstruction schemes. The chief reasons for dismissals were persistent absenteeism and industrial misconduct. I regret that the figures for 1947 and 1948 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the Government's decision that flogging is no remedy for crimes of violence, he is contemplating introducing legislation to amend the existing law which permits flogging to be a punishment for crimes of violence in prison against prison officers.

Parliament, when passing the Criminal Justice Bill, accepted the views of the Departmental Committee on Corporal Punishment that there were good reasons for retaining corporal punishment as an ultimate sanction for serious offences against discipline in prisons, notwithstanding their recommendation that the use of corporal punishment as a court penalty should be abandoned. No new circumstances have arisen to justify His Majesty's Government in re-opening the decision then taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider introducing legislation to exclude the names of child witnesses from publication in indecency cases.

Under Section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, the court already has power to direct, in relation to any proceedings arising out of an offence against decency or morality that no newspaper report shall reveal the name, address or school, or include any particulars calculated to lead to the identification of any child or young person who is a witness in such proceedings; and I am not aware of any reasons for suggesting a modification of this provision.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what missions have been to Japan from this country within the last six months concerning the Japanese textile industry; and who were the respective members.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why raspberries were not included in the list of horticultural products, the importation of which under open general licence is to be suspended during certain periods of this year.

Fresh raspberries do not travel well and imports have never been more than a negligible proportion of total consumption. The risk of heavy imports leading to glut conditions during the home reason is not such as to justify special restrictive measures.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many married Regular officers and men were serving with the Army on 1st January, 1950.

The number of married Regular officers and men serving on 30th November, 1949, which is the latest date for which figures are available, was 11,130 and 44,198 respectively. In addition, the number of married officers and men serving on short-service engagements on that date was 9,348 and 15,810 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for War the strength on 1st January, 1950, of the Supplementary Reserve and of Sections A, B and D of the Regular Army Reserve, respectively.

It would not be in the public interest to give these details. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the information given on page 30 of the Army Estimates for 1950–51.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any British soldiers were taken prisoner by Malayan bandits; and whether any statement can be made on their treatment.

Up to the present, no British soldiers have been reported as having been captured by terrorists in Malaya.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what gratuities a National Service man who comes into active service in Malaya is entitled.

There is no scheme for the award of gratuities in respect of service in Malaya.

asked the Minister of Education the number of boys' and mixed classes, respectively, being taught by women teachers in primary schools, excluding infants' classes and secondary schools, respectively, in England and Wales according to the latest available statistics.

In January, 1949, women teachers were in charge of 1,639 boys' and 35,727 mixed classes, other than classes containing children entirely under eight, in primary schools (including all-age schools) maintained by local education authorities in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what sums, in addition to the £810,000, of which this House was informed on 14th December last, have been advanced to the Colonial Development Corporation for the purposes of the poultry project in the Gambia.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that at 10 a.m. on the 14th March last, a twinengined fighter aircraft flew at housetop level over the village of Wenhaston, Suffolk, alarming women and children and frightening cattle; and what steps he is going to take to prevent this dangerous practice over villages.

I regret the disturbance caused in this instance. Fighter pilots must, however, be practised in low flying and while authorised low flying areas and routes have been carefully planned to give the least possible inconvenience to the civilian population, it is not practicable altogether to avoid flying over villages in the course of training exercises.