asked the Minister of Food (1) if he is aware that the wholesale confectioner is trading at a financial loss owing to the cuts made in the margins of profits; and what steps he proposes to take to alleviate the situation;(2) if he will discuss the whole question of the margin of profits of wholesale confectioners with the British Federation of Wholesale Confectioners before any further cuts are made.

My information suggests that wholesale confectioners are earning much better profits than before the war. However, we shall be prepared to hear representations from the British Federation of Wholesale Confectioners before any further changes are made in the margin.

asked the Minister of Food if, in the interest of promoting food production in Britain, steps can be taken to ensure first place in the home market to British commercial producers of honey, so as to avoid hardship to home producers who have to face foreign exporters selling lower grades at cheaper prices.

I do not think that it would be in the general interest that we should place any restriction on imports of honey, nor am I satisfied that home producers are suffering hardship as a result of competition from imports. Most of the honey we import comes from the Commonwealth and I am glad there is plenty of it for the public at reasonable prices.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any special steps are to be taken with a view to expediting the improvement of traffic and street signs in the London area before the Festival of Britain, with a view to providing the maximum assistance to visitors.

Yes. My technical officers are consulting with the local authorities, the police and the motoring organisations with a view to minimising traffic difficulties during the Festival of Britain. A special scheme of temporary traffic signs in the Metropolitan area is in preparation. I am also preparing further guidance to local authorities with regard to street name plates.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take further steps to publicise the Transport Users' Consultative Committees other than the laying of a copy of their annual report before Parliament.

I agree that the time has now come to consider the question of giving greater publicity to the part which the Consultative Committees are intended to play under the Transport Act, and I have this matter under review at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to present the first report of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for Wales.

It is only the Central Transport Consultative Committee who are required by the Transport Act to make an annual report to me which is to be laid before Parliament.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the accident on 21st February involving the cargo motorboat "Columba," bound from Cheshire to Newbury, he will take the necessary steps to have the dangerous girders removed from Kennet Bridge, Reading, so that this section of the Kennet and Avon waterway may safely be used.

According to my information this accident did not involve any collision with the girders of the bridge. I understand that a fence to which the "Columbia" was tied was pulled down while the water level was being lowered to enable the boat to pass under the bridge. I should like to be able to assist the responsible bridge authority to reconstruct the bridge with more headroom, but I am unable to make a grant for this purpose while capital expenditure has to be so strictly limited.

asked the Minister of Transport how our present shipping tonnage facilities compare with the pre-war position; and what action is being taken to develop them as a source of revenue to this country.

The total gross tonnage of ships over 500 gross tons on the United Kingdom register was 16·8 million gross tons in 1939 and although over 11 million gross tons were lost during the war the fleet has already been built up to 16·3 million gross tons. The net earnings of the fleet in foreign currency have been estimated by the General Council of British Shipping to have reached no less than £100 million by 1948, and I am confident that the industry will continue to spare no effort to maintain and, so far as possible, increase this major contribution to the national economy.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet filled the vacancy for a full-time member of the Transport Commission.

No.

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

I have not received any such recommendations.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to get the requisite number of signatories to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention.

I regret it is not possible to say when the requisite number of countries will have ratified the Convention to bring it into operation, but I hope the ratifications will not be unduly destruct layed as I am anxious the Convention shall come into force as early as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what conditions have been attached to the loan to the Government of Burma by His Majesty's Government; and what guarantees have been obtained regarding further expropriation of British assets or compensation for those already expropriated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Commonwealth loan to Burma may be used to pay compensation for British firms expropriated by the Burmese Government.

Since the Commonwealth loan is for the purpose of internal rupee expenditure it will not be available for making sterling payments. It will not therefore be available for paying sterling compensation to British firms nationalised by the Burmese Government. As this is a Commonwealth loan, His Majesty's Government have not put forward any conditions relating solely to United Kingdom interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what improvement in the rice marketing terms and conditions for 1950 laid down by the State Agricultural Marketing Board of Burma have been obtained as a result of our £500,000 rice loan to that country.

No such loan has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what discrimination is imposed at Beira against British ships using the port.

Negotiations have just been completed in Lisbon between the Governments of the United Kingdom and of Southern Rhodesia and the Portuguese Government, for an agreement for the development of the port of Beira. In the meantime, it is hoped that as a result of friendly exchanges of views between technical experts on either side, arrangements can be made to ease the present congestion and thus remove the circumstances which have led to discrimination.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the agreement of 19th October, 1948, between the authorities of the combined zone of Germany and the Belgian and Dutch authorities, concerning reciprocal use of waterways and ports, has been extended or replaced by a more formal and permanent organisation.

The agreement of October, 1948, has been replaced so far as the Netherlands are concerned by the transport portion of the Netherlands-German Trade Agreement which was initialled last month. Discussions are now taking place between Belgium and the German Federal Government, which may lead to a similar agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now any further statement to make about the showing of the film "Titanic" in the American zone of Germany.

This film has now been banned throughout the German Federal Republic.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made by the Inland Transport Committee of E.C.E. in the revision of Conventions governing European road and rail traffic.

Existing Conventions governing European Road Traffic have been brought up to date by the Road Traffic Convention and Protocol on Road Signs and Signals of 1949. The main preparatory work for these was done by the Committee. The Berne Conventions which govern rail traffic are being revised by the Office of the Berne Union and not by this Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government are now prepared to suggest to the United Nations that the resolution of 12th December, 1946, in regard to diplomatic relations with the Government of Spain be rescinded.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government will initiate discussion in the United Nations General Assembly with a view to rescinding the recommendation of 12th December, 1946, by which Ambassadors were withdrawn from Madrid.

The answer is "No."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give the status of all men and women at present employed in the Soviet Embassy in London.

Thirty-seven members of the staff of the Soviet Embassy are of diplomatic rank, the remainder being employed in subordinate capacities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what new books of a political, biographical and historical character have been distributed to his information officers overseas since 1st January, on the recommendation of the Central Office of Information.

The number of new books distributed to information officers overseas since 1st January on the recommendation of the Central Office of Information were 12 on historical subjects, two on political questions and none of a biographical nature.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the total amount paid ex gratia to British ex-employees of Chinese municipalities up to the end of 1949–50.

Advances paid under this head up to the end of March, 1950, total rather more than £ 1,420,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a further statement on the claim by Argentina to Deception Island and other British possessions in the Antarctic, and in particular to what extent the Argentine naval expedition in these territories has been increased.

There have been no significant developments since the reply given on 23rd March, 1949, by my predecessor in answer to a Question from the hon. Member for Shrewsbury (Mr. Langford-Holt).With regard to the second part of the Question, there have been no indications that Argentine naval activities in Antarctic waters have been increased nor that they have been inconsistent with the terms of the Tripartite Naval Declarations made on 18th January, 1949, by the United Kingdom, Argentine and Chile, and which were renewed on 18th November last to cover the current Antarctic season.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the circulation of the paper "British Ally"; what number of persons are employed on its staff; and if he will give their names, their salaries, and the cost to the British taxpayer.

I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Lewes (Major Beamish) on 13th March that the Soviet Distributing Agency had informed His Majesty's Embassy in Moscow that the circulation of "British Ally" had fallen from 47,000 to 30,000 copies a week. We are now informed by the Soviet agency that the circulation of "British Ally" fell during January to 15,000 copies a week. The total staff of "British Ally" in Moscow is 21, of whom six are British subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking to assist British diplomatic representatives in the Soviet Union to meet the rise in the cost of living due to the recent revaluation of the rouble.

The emoluments of these representatives are payable on the basis of a fixed rate of exchange. The increased cost of buying roubles as a result of the alteration in the exchange rate is borne by His Majesty's Government and does not affect individuals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been the total cost of scholarships awarded by the British Council from 1945–46 up to March, 1950; to whom these scholarships have been given; and how many of the recipients were nationals of States which give scholarships to British students.

The total cost of the scholarships awarded by the British Council from 1945–46 to 1949–50 inclusive was £902,430. This figure includes awards to the Colonies and the Commonwealth as well as to foreign countries, and the total number of the beneficiaries was 1,705. The awards were of two kinds; scholarships for post-graduate students, tenable for one year or for two years and occasionally extended to three; and bursaries for technicians brought to this country for periods normally of from three to six months to study the methods employed here in their speciality. The foreign countries included in these scholarships and bursaries were 58 in number, and 470 of the beneficiaries came from 16 countries which give scholarships to British students.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now grant official recognition to Cardiff as the capital of Wales.

No. In view of the conflicting claims that have been put forward, I am not prepared to make any recommendation on this matter.

asked the hon. Member for Bristol, North-East, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, why tea and other refreshments are not available in the Lady Members' Room in the same way as in the Members' Smoking Room.

No such request has yet been considered by the Committee.

asked the hon. Member for Bristol, North-East, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, how many articles for which his Committee is responsible are missing since July 1945; and what is their value.

The number is 5,751 at 31st December, 1949. It is not possible to ascertain the value as no records as to cost are available.

asked the Minister of Supply how many standards of softwoods have been recently purchased by his Department on behalf of the War Office for export to overseas stations; what will be the additional cost arising from purchase in this country in place of direct shipment from exporting countries; and whether he can give an assurance that the structures for which this timber is required have been subjected to the same rigorous standards of economy as are applied to British housing.

About 1,000 standards have been purchased to meet needs which could not be satisfied in time by direct shipment from exporting countries. The last part of the Question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Minister of Supply what orders have been placed on behalf of British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways Corporation for the Vickers. Viscount turbo-prop aircraft.

None; but British European Airways Corporation are at present discussing with my Department the arrangements for placing an order on their behalf.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will now permit the manufacture of garden forks with five prongs.

There is no statutory control of production of five-pronged garden forks. A small quantity is being manufactured for export and supplies will be made available to the home market as soon as production resources permit.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that the delay in delivery of light commercial vans is now comparable in length to that experienced with private cars; and whether he will consider allowing a larger proportion of these vehicles to be sold on the home market.

The country's economic position makes it essential that the present rate of supply of commercial vehicles to the home market should be strictly limited.

asked the Minister of Supply what reply he has sent or proposes to send to the representations made by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders protesting against the cut by 27 per cent. of the allocation of goods and public service vehicles to the home market; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the increase of costs to the export market and the rise of unemployment feared by the society.

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the statement published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders on 22nd March. I made a statement to the Press on the same day and a copy was sent to the Society. The statement is appended to this answer. There is no evidence at present to suggest that the policy of limiting the supply of commercial vehicles to the home market will lead to increased costs or unemployment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent tin production is overrunning consumption; and whether he will take steps, through the British representative on the International Tin Study Group, or otherwise, to see that no restriction is placed on tin production since such restriction would artificially maintain the price and thus reduce United States purchases to a minimum.

I have been asked to reply. According to published statistics, world production of tin in the present calendar year is expected to exceed world commercial consumption by about 45,000 tons. I am not prepared to instruct the United Kingdom representative on the International Tin Study Group in the sense suggested in the second part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Works when the repair of the war damage to the waterside front of Somerset House will be begun.

It is hoped to start the work next July and it will take about two years to complete.

asked the Minister of Works how much accommodation in the County of London, formerly used as or suitable for living accommodation, is now used as offices, etc., by Government Departments and the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Seven hundred and ninety-three houses and flats and one hotel are held on requisition and occupied by Government Departments in the County of London for other than residential purposes. There are no complete figures available of the number of Crown buildings, or buildings held on lease by Government Departments, in the County of London which were formerly used as residential accommodation or which might now be considered suitable. My Ministry is not normally responsible for accommodation for the B.B.C. but it holds on requisition 11 houses and flats which are temporarily occupied by the Corporation.

asked the Minister of Works the reasons for the increased cost for fuel, gas and electricity for the Houses of Parliament buildings from £22,700 in 1949–50 to £33,500 in 1950–51.

I anticipate increased consumption of electricity in 1950–51 for the new Chamber and other new accommodation, and also to maintain the recently restored pre-war lighting standards. Provision must also be made for a full year's supply of oil fuel for the new boilers as compared with supply for a short period only in 1949–50. The cost of coal which was previously used was met for technical accounting reasons from Subhead "L" of the Vote for Miscellaneous Works Services.

asked the Minister of Works the reasons for the expenditure proposed for 1950–51 for the protection and maintenance of Chequers amounting to £11,300.

The income of the trust for many years has been insufficient to defray all the necessary expenditure and it has been the practice for Parliament to supplement the trust income by authorising certain expenditure as a charge to the Public Buildings Vote. The additional expenditure proposed is due to certain arrears of maintenance on the estate which should be put in hand.

asked the Minister of Works how much has been spent since 1945 on furnishing the State rooms at 10, Downing Street.

The amount spent since 1945 on furnishing the State rooms at 10, Downing Street is £9,200.

asked the Minister of Works if he will now discontinue the post of Chief Technical Officer (Furniture) at Cairo.

Arrangements have already been made for the work to be carried out by an officer of lower grade, with clerical assistance.

asked the Minister of Works what Government Departments will be housed in the building which it is proposed to reconstruct in Brixton at a cost of £200,000; whether a licence for this amount has already been granted; whether the building will be solely occupied by Government Departments; and why a nearby site in Brixton Road occupied by the Ministry of Works was not used instead.

The district and area office of the Ministry of Food, staff of the War Damage Commission and Central Land Board, the National Assistance Board, the Inland Revenue Department, and the Customs and Excise will be housed in the reconstructed building; 44,000 square feet will be leased by this Department for occupation by Government staff, and 42,000 square feet will be retained by the lessor as private shops and offices; application for a building licence for the whole scheme has been received, and will be granted shortly, after the usual examination to ensure that all reasonable technical economies are observed; of the two sites in Brixton Road held on requisition one is required by its owner and the other is needed for Post Office purposes.

asked the Minister of Works how many licences have been granted in Liverpool for work costing more than £1,000 in 1949–50 to date; and if he will give the location and details of the licences granted.

Approximately 670 licences have been issued by my regional licensing officer since January, 1949, for work in Liverpool costing more than £1,000. This number excludes the licences granted for housing work by the local authority licensing officer. The extraction of the details of all these cases would involve a great amount of work which I do not think could be justified, but I shall be glad to give my hon. Friend information about any particular case in which she is interested.

asked the Minister of Works what percentage of available softwoods are apportioned for house building.

Between 80 and 90 per cent. of softwood available for building is allocated for housing, including both new houses and repairs to houses.

asked the Minister of Works whether the compulsory purchase of the Hans Crescent Hotel has yet been completed; what sum was paid; when it ceased to be used as a transit centre for European workers; to what use has it been put since; and when it is expected to be occupied as a hostel for colonial students.

There was no compulsion about this purchase which has now been completed. The owner's agents have announced that the purchase price was £235,000. With regard to the third and fourth parts of the Question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to his question on 24th October last. The premises should be ready for occupation next September.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that there is a shortage of cement in the London area; that building operations are being hampered on that account; and when he expects the position to improve.

There is a shortage of cement in London due to low stocks following the very high demand during the mild winter. Nevertheless deliveries of cement to the London area in March averaged over 1,000 tons a week more than in March, 1949. The position should steadily improve.

asked the Minister of Works what changes there have been in the arrangements for the conduct of sociological and economic research in the building industry.

Experience has shown that there would be advantages, including economies in staff and expenditure if, as far as possible, one organisation was responsible for all Government-sponsored building research. Accordingly as from 1st April the conduct of sociological and economic research has been transferred from my Department to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, which will thus assume responsibility for all Government-sponsored building research, with the exception of research lying in the field of the Medical Research Council.My Department will continue to suggest priorities and further subjects for research in the light of the research needs of the industry and will encourage the adoption of research results by the industry. In this connection I shall continue to benefit from the advice of my Advisory Council on Building Research and Development, which consists of scientists and representatives of the building and civil engineering industries and associated professions, together with assessors appointed by the Government Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Works how many building workers are now employed in Wales; and how many of these are engaged in building houses.

The number of workers employed in the building industry in Wales at the end of February, 1950, was estimated to be about 48,000, of whom 12,600 were engaged in building houses.

asked the Minister of Works if he has now accepted custody of Donnington Castle, Newbury; and if immediate measures will be taken to preserve the fabric from further damage.

Yes. As soon as the transfer to my Ministry has been completed, work to preserve the fabric will be started.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what representations he has received from the South-East Scotland Electricity Board and the South-East Scotland Electricity Consultative Council regarding the proposed acquisition by the British Electricity Authority of the substantial reserve funds held by the former local authority electricity undertakings in South-East Scotland; and if he will make a statement on this matter.

On 15th March, 1950, my right hon. Friend received from the South-East Scotland Electricity Board a submission regarding the disposal of general reserve funds under the Electricity Act, 1947. I understand that the Consultative Council agree with the views of the Board. The matter is now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the fact that a licence has been granted to erect a refinery in Kent to the Vacuum Oil Company Limited, whether the licence applied for months ago has also been granted to a British oil firm, for a similar refinery in the same vicinity.

No licence has been issued to the Vacuum Oil Company Limited to build a refinery in Kent. The proposed new refinery is at Coryton in Essex. If the hon. Member will indicate the name of the oil company he has in mind in the second part of his Question, I will be pleased to look into it and give him a reply.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what effect he proposes to give to the recommendations contained in paragraph 380 of the Report of the Mineral Development Committee, and when.

It would not be practicable to give effect to these recommendations by themselves without an increase in staff which my right hon. Friend does not consider would be justified.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he proposes to introduce legislation to give effect in whole or in part to the recommendations made by the Committee on Mining Subsidence which was appointed on 3rd January, 1946, and issued their report in March, 1949.

I hope to be in a position to make a statement shortly.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider introducing legislation which will give power to local authorities who already have powers to prosecute in the case of short deliveries of coal, also to prosecute in cases of deliveries of coal of unsatisfactory quality.

No. There are wide variations and the technical and practical difficulties of defining quality, of sampling and testing coal sold in small quantities, and of enforcement would be too great.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has considered samples of fuel received from Mr. G. Selby, 73 Priory Avenue, Chingford, E.4, and sold to him as coal in Ching-ford; whether he is aware that fuel of equally low quality has been sold to old age pensioners of limited means; and what steps he is taking to ensure that, in future, only fuel of high quality is sold as best coal.

Yes. On the general problem of dirty coal, I would refer to the statement which I made on 20th March in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Heeley (Major P. Roberts).With regard to the particular case referred to by the hon. Member, the letter received from his constituent implies that the merchant concerned failed to carry out the complaints' procedure which was agreed between the National Coal Board, the Chamber of Coal Traders and the Co-operative Union in August, 1948, and which was circulated to the members of these two trade associations. I am asking the Domestic Coal Consumers' Council to review the working of this procedure.Local fuel overseers have special instructions which are designed to minimise the risk of consumers being charged prices higher than those prescribed in the Retail Coal Prices Schedules in the grade of coal delivered. Any consumer who believes that he or she is being charged more than the prescribed price should report the matter to the local fuel overseer.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the poor quality of coal delivered to Mrs. Bland of Little Pettings, near Wrotham, Kent, through her merchants, Messrs. A. & H. Hardy, of Dover Road, Northfleet, particulars of which have been sent him; and what actions he proposes to take to improve it.

The consumer should complain to the merchant who in turn should use the machinery, described in paragraphs 286–288 of the National Coal Board's Report for 1948, which has been agreed between the National Coal Board and the distributive trade for settlement of complaints. As regards the general problem of dirty coal I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend in the Debate on 29th March in which he outlined the action that is being taken to deal with this problem.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the Bollington Printing Company, near Macclesfield, is being seriously hampered through shortage of fuel, as a result of which deliveries in connection with the textile finishing trade are very behindhand; and if he will take immediate steps to supply this firm with their full allocation of fuel.

I am informed that this firm have admitted that there has been no stoppage of work or slowing down of production due to shortage of coal. Graded coal forms the bulk of this firm's allocation, the balance being in small coal. Graded coal is scarce, especially in the West Midland Division of the National Coal Board from which the firm draws its supplies.The position of every industrial consumer is reviewed once a month to see whether his allocation is still appropriate and to find out whether he has in fact been receiving his due. In this review, the stock position is of course taken into account. Unfortunately, the Bollington Printing Company had over-estimated its stock and this error was not discovered until the middle of March. Moreover, its stock position was weakened by its refusal in February to accept an offer of small nuts to supplement its supplies of the graded coals programmed in its allocation.I am advised that every effort is now being made by the National Coal Board to meet the firm's full requirements, though it will be necessary to supply a larger proportion of small coal.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to state, in respect to the Midland Region, the maximum permitted quantity of house coal per consumer; the quantity per consumer allo-

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that farm workers in East Fife are unable to obtain adequate supplies of coal; that these men and their families have no alternative means of heat, such as gas or electricity, and that without coal the women in the homes are severely handicapped in their domestic duties; and what steps he has taken in regard to the particular complaint presented to him by the hon. Member for Fife, East, with regard to shortage of fuel at ploughmen's cottages at Strathkinness.

Throughout the period covered by the Question the maximum quantity of house coal which in the Midland Region might, without licence, be furnished or acquired for consumption in any controlled premises is at present 50 cwt. for the year. Of this quantity not more than 20 cwt. might be furnished or acquired during the Summer six months May to October inclusive, and not more than 30 cwt. during the Winter six months.The remainder of the information requested by the hon. Member is as follows:

My inquiries have disclosed no evidence of any special difficulty with regard to supplies of coal to farm workers in East Fife. As regards the last part of the Question, I assume the hon. Member is referring to the letter he sent me about supplies to farm workers at Kincaple Farm, Guardbridge. I have nothing to add to my reply to that letter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) how many complaints regarding the inclusion of slate and other rubbish in consignments of coal were investigated by his Depart- ment in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what was the average percentage of such slate and rubbish in those consignments for which reimbursement had to be made;(2) what is the number of his inspectors employed in investigating the complaints of coal factors, coal merchants and of industrial and domestic coal consumers regarding the admixture of slate and other rubbish included in consignments of coal; what qualifications are required of these inspectors; and at what salaries they are employed.

As is explained in paragraphs 286 to 288 of the National Coal Board's Report for 1948, the settlement of complaints about dirt in consignments of coal rests between buyer and seller in accordance with normal commercial practice. My Department does not employ inspectors to investigate complaints of this nature.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will now restore the 10 per cent. cut in the petrol allocation to hire-car services made at the time of the cancellation of the basic petrol ration for private motorists some three and a half years ago.

Since 1945 the number of hire-cars has greatly increased and is now considerably above the pre-war figure. The amount of petrol allocated to these cars has risen from under 24 million gallons in 1946 to 36 million gallons now. The provision for this service is reasonably adequate and I regret, therefore, that in present circumstances we cannot afford to increase it.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether to save time and congestion on public transport vehicles, he will authorise the issue of a supplementary petrol ration for those who wish to use a motor cycle between their residence and place of work, without insisting on the condition that no public transport is available.

No. Clearly where public transport is available it must be used in the interests of petrol economy.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the hardship which has been caused by his decision not to allow the British Red Cross Society to issue supplementary petrol coupons for the conveying of old and infirm people to clubs; and if, in view of the value that this limited recreation affords to old people, he will reconsider his decision.,

My right hon. Friend is considering what can be done by way of making supplementary petrol available to recognised associations to convey the old and physically infirm to entertainments organised for them.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he expects to be able to increase the petrol allowance of Messrs. Lakers, Limited, 25, Windsor Parade, Chelsfield, Kent, particulars of which have been sent him.

My right hon. Friend, having considered this case, is unable to authorise any increase in the present allowance.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give an estimate of the saving in administrative expenses which his Department would make by abolishing coupons for red petrol and diesel oil.

The issue of coupons for red petrol and diesel oil is mainly undertaken by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport. He informs me that if these fuels were derationed, the estimated administrative saving would be about £125,000. A smaller volume of coupons for red petrol is issued by my Department to farmers, industrial users, etc., and I estimate that derationing would save approximately £29,000 in administrative expenses.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many petrol coupons have been mislaid in the post after dispatch from regional petroleum offices during the past 12 months; and what precautions are taken to reduce such losses to the minimum.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lancaster (Mr. F. Maclean) on 13th December, 1949. Since that date there has been no material change in the percentage loss but further convictions have been obtained against persons concerned in the theft of postal packets containing coupons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what dollar expenditure is involved in the payment of royalties for the manufacture of Coca-Cola in this country, or in the transfer of earnings to the parent company in the United States of America.

Up to the present, none.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the annual expenditure on the Book Selection Section, Reference Division, Central Office of Information; and what books of a political and historical character have been selected by that Section since 1st January.

£1,328. In reply to the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by the Lord President on 28th March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give figures showing the incidence of indirect taxation upon a packet of 20 cigarettes, one pint of beer, bitter ale, standard, one ounce of tobacco, a cinema seat, price 1s. 9d., including tax, a football match admission ticket, price 2s., including tax, a lipstick, price 4s. 6d., a box of powder, price 4s. 6d., and a bottle of proprietary brand of whisky, respectively.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to announce the result of the inquiry by the Inter-Departmental Committee set up to consider and report on the problems arising from the imminent withdrawal of the flat rate for the carriage of fish from Aberdeen to the south.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to publish in full the findings of the Inter-Departmental Committee concerning the fishing industry.

The Report of the Inter-departmental Committee has just reached me and I shall give it immediate consideration in consultation with my right hon. Friends. It has been prepared for the use of Ministers and is not intended for publication.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the low wages being paid to workers in Sierra Leone in Government employment; the discontent caused by these low wages compared with high salaries in the senior ranks of the service for both Africans and Europeans and the absence of any real cost-of-living survey in any of the four West African Colonies; and what steps he is taking to raise these wages.

The wages of all Government industrial workers are determined by the Joint Industrial Councils, on which the workers are fully represented by their trade union representatives. These Councils cover both Government and non-government workers. Minimum wages were raised in September, 1949, by amounts varying from about 6⅔ per cent. for the highest paid workers to about 11 per cent. for the lowest paid workers. Established government employees of all grades received in December, 1949, a cost of living allowance of 12½ per cent. on salaries.The desirability of accurate cost-of living surveys is recognised by the West African Governments, and the Sierra Leone Government proposes to institute a survey as soon as qualified staff is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of the guaranteed price being paid to the West Indian sugar producers is to be set aside for social welfare on the sugar estates; and what welfare schemes have been implemented.

Since 1st January, 1947, payments at the following rates have been made under local legislation into welfare funds for sugar workers:

• Antigua—10s. per ton of sugar exported.
• St. Lucia—10s. per ton of sugar exported.
• British Guiana—10s. per ton of sugar exported.
• Trinidad—10s. per ton of sugar exported.
• St. Kitts—20s. per ton of sugar exported.
• Jamaica—5s. per ton of sugar exported.
• Barbados—9s. 10d. per ton of sugar produced.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what schools and colleges there are in Bechuanaland and other similar African territories for female native education; and what steps are being taken to increase the provision of educational facilities for females in step with that for males.

Almost all native schools in the three High Commission Territories are co-educational, and, owing largely to the preoccupation of boys in herding livestock, they contain a majority of girls. The latest available figures of enrolment are approximately:

asked the Minister of Health if, with regard to the proposed scheme to extend water supplies to the villages of Marlesford, Hacheston and Great and Little Glemham, he will ex

My Department will give its assistance to the local authority but any special action I might take to expedite delivery of these pipes could only be at the expense of other schemes of no less urgency.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what industries poplar timber is imported into this country; what are the main countries of origin; in what sizes in the round or sawn it normally enters the country; and how much was imported during 1949.