asked the Secretary of State for War why the monthly Army List is not now being published; and whether he will say when its publication will be resumed.

Publication of Service Lists was resumed in 1949, and, as stated by the Minister of Defence on 23rd February, 1949, these Service Lists will be on sale yearly. The Army List for 1950 is available now.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent leave to the United Kingdom is normally granted to Regular officers and other ranks serving in North Africa, Malaya and Hong Kong, respectively; and under what conditions and for what periods such leave is granted.

Such leave is not normally granted, save on compassionate grounds, until the completion of a three years' tour of service.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the total inadequacy of the fans and other cooling arrangements for all ranks in the Canal Zone; and if he will take urgent steps to improve these conditions.

An increase in the provision of fans and other cooling arrangements in the Canal Zone depends on an increase in the electricity supply. We hope to be able to arrange this.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning when he proposes to announce the result of the public inquiry into the War Office proposal to acquire additional land for military training at Trawsfynydd, Merioneth.

Soon, I hope.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the number of persons who receive supplementary assistance in respect of pensions, unemployment benefit, children's allowances, national assistance, &c., together with the cost.

On 28th February last about 885,000 persons were receiving assistance grants in supplementation of old age pension, retirement pension or other insurance benefit. Separate figures of the cost are not available, but the total cost of assistance grants is at present about £50 million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Economic Survey for 1950 omits any separate mention of the capital investment programme, and prospects for Wales.

The Economic Survey reviews progress during the past year and prospects for the present year for the whole of the United Kingdom, of which the principality of Wales forms an integral part. It would be impracticable to provide separate figures for capital investment in Wales.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will divide the figures shown in Table 13 of the Economic Survey as other private savings, including additions to tax reserves, so as to show the amount of private saving and that of additions to tax reserves separately for the three years 1948, 1949 and 1950.

Separate estimates for the years 1948 and 1949 are being prepared and will appear in the next National Income White Paper. Separate figures for 1950 are not yet available. In this connection, I should like to draw the hon. Member's attention to the sentence at the end of paragraph 77 of the Economic Survey for 1950, which states that the figure for 1950 for "other private saving" (including additions to tax reserves) shown in Table 13, "is not a forecast but simply a sum it is estimated will be required if a resurgence of inflationary pressure is to be avoided."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will, while preparing his Budget, consider the removal of Purchase Tax from dry batteries.

I am always prepared to consider any matter brought forward by an hon. Member, but I cannot anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an undertaking that, before considering the recent representations made to him to allocate extra dollars for petrol for motoring, he will allocate the full sum necessary to increase the sugar ration.

No. The Government does not treat these individual claims for dollar expenditure piecemeal, but works to a dollar expenditure programme, financed by Marshall aid and from our dollar earnings, which seeks to make the best use of our dollar resources in the national interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what premises in Leigh must appellants appearing before the Commissioners of Inland Revenue attend for the hearing of their appeals; and what is the normal use of these premises.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the General Commissioners of Income Tax. They are independent bodies and neither I nor the Board of Inland Revenue have any responsibility for their accommodation. I understand that meetings of the Commissioners at Leigh are normally held in the Magistrates' Court.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider removing the Income Tax charge on the pay received by members of the Territorial Forces during their annual camp.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with regard to the Defence (Finance) Regulation governing property owned abroad, now that Wartime Concession No. 6 is to be withdrawn and all tax will become due on 15th June, 1950, unless any part of such money is remitted abroad before that date, it is possible to apply to the Bank of England for permission to transfer the money to the country of origin; and what procedure should be adopted.

In the case, of owners who are resident in the United Kingdom for Income Tax purposes or who are still regarded as residents of any of the Scheduled Territories for Exchange Control purposes, permission will not be given for the money in question to be transferred back to its country of origin or to be remitted outside the Scheduled Territories. It may, however, be freely transferred outside the United Kingdom to other parts of the Scheduled Territories. In the case of owners who are no longer resident in the United Kingdom for Income Tax purposes and are resident outside the Scheduled Territories for Exchange Control purposes, special arrangements have been made for the discharge of the relative tax assessments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the proposals for salary increases for public health nurses and domiciliary midwives and nurses have been under consideration since July, 1949, and that a deadlock has arisen owing to the refusal of the management to entertain the proposals; and what steps he will take to bring these salaries into line with the recent increases in the salaries of hospital nursing staff.

As my right hon. Friend last week informed the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. Spence), a claim for salary increases by nurses in these categories is at present awaiting arbitration by the Industrial Court.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information is available at the Department of Health on the number of ploughmen's service cottages in Fife, and in Scotland as a whole, which could be improved by an extension of the provisions of the 1949 Act to cover reconditioning of such houses; and if he will cause a full survey to be made of such houses throughout the country.

No information is available about the number of ploughmen's service cottages requiring improvement. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health stated on 9th March, arrangements are being made for a comprehensive national housing survey to be held in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take on the Final Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the tenure of shop and business premises in Scotland.

My right hon. Friend is considering the Report in consultation with the President of the Board of Trade, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when an experienced timber merchant will be appointed to the Forestry Commission.

The suggestion that an experienced timber merchant should be appointed to the Forestry Commission will be considered when recommendations are being submitted to His Majesty for filling vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Forestry Commission are taking to encourage timber merchants to do the felling, extraction and conversion of standing timber.

The Forestry Commission are already employing timber merchants in suitable cases to undertake the felling, extraction and conversion of standing timber from State plantations and they will continue to do so. Timber merchants are aware of this.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of school classes containing over 40 pupils in 1949; and how many of those classes were in primary and how many in secondary schools.

On 31st March, 1949, there were 5,445 classes with over 40 pupils. Of these, 4,752 were in primary schools and 693 in secondary schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the trading losses or profits for 1948 on the Dunragit Estate, Wigtownshire, owned by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland.

The gross farming profit for Dunragit for the 16 months ended 31st March, 1949, was £5,254. There falls to be taken into account, however, a notional rent of £2,146 for that period, and £961 for interest on capital, leaving a net profit of £2,147.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of sheep in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright on 1st July, 1939, and 1st July, 1949, respectively.

The total number of sheep returned in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright as at 4th June, 1939, ad 4th June, 1949, were 403,539 and 336,790 respectively. Numbers as at 1st July are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the urgent problem of school accommodation in new housing areas in Glasgow; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is seriously concerned about the educational position in the new housing areas of Glasgow and he is allotting as large a share of capital investment as he reasonably can to, the authority. His Majesty's inspector keeps a close watch on progress and constantly gives advice. Architects of the Scottish Education Department visit Glasgow each week to consult with the authority's architects, and the Scottish Education Department are doing everything they can to help the authority, upon whom, however, the primary responsibility rests.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what sum of money will be granted for the improvement of roads and the making of new ones in the seven crofter counties for the year 1950–51.

£120,000 has been included in the estimates of the Department of Agriculture for the year 1950–51 for grant-aiding public works in the Highlands and Islands under the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act, 1897. About two-thirds of this sum will be available towards the construction and improvement of township roads under existing and further commitments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the reason for the continued delay in repairing Helms-dale Harbour, which is in a dilapidated and dangerous state.

This harbour belongs to the County Council of Sutherland who were offered a grant towards the cost of improvement works last August. I understand that the council are preparing to proceed with the work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to say what use is to be made of the Royal Naval Hospital, Port Edgar, when it ceases to be used by the Admiralty.

My noble Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty has agreed in principle that the hospital can be handed over to the Regional Hospital Board for use as a civil hospital. The terms of transfer are under discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is proposed to commence essential repairs and improvements to Dunbeath Harbour.

The main work on the harbour retaining wall is now in progress. Other minor works are also being undertaken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of factories completed and occupied on the Bede Training Estate; the number of factories in the course of erection; and what further developments are planned for the next two years.

Sixteen factories have been completed and are occupied, one factory is in course of erection and an extension to an existing factory is planned. Any further developments in the next two years will depend on suitable applications being received from industrialists.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to enlarge the composition and powers of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission, so as to enable it to deal effectively, without delay, with all the matters referred to it.

The Commission's membership and staff could be enlarged without further legislation; but, before considering whether changes are necessary in the Commission's organisation or structure, we propose to wait for their reports on their first investigations. There is no reason to doubt that their existing powers are amply sufficient to enable them to obtain all the information required for the purpose of their investigations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the price-rings in the sand and ballast industry and of the heavy costs which this imposes on local authority house building and road repairs, he will refer this industry to the Monopolies Commission for examination and early report.

We will certainly consider referring the supply of this commodity to the Commission for investigation and report when the time comes to make the next set of references.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the date when the site development work will begin on the land at Beaufort Road, Birkenhead, and when the building of the first factory thereon will be commenced.

I expect that site development work and foundation work for the first factory on the Beaufort Road site, Birkenhead, will be commenced before the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Pensions to what extent the supply of surgical boots is adequate to the present demand.

The rate of supply during the last three months has exceeded the rate of new orders, and the number of outstanding orders is being steadily reduced.

asked the Minister of Pensions in view of long delays that are occurring in the repair and overhaul of artificial limbs under the National Health Service, and the hardship imposed upon disabled ex-Service men who are unable to continue their employment while their limbs are being repaired, what action he is taking to ensure a speedier repair service for artificial limbs.

The National Health Service has made available to thousands of citizens a better supply of artificial limbs than they were able to afford to buy before 1948. The consequent greatly increased demand has caused delay in effecting repairs, particularly because of the shortage of skilled labour. I believe that all the 18 contractors who supply limbs are doing their best to overcome these difficulties, but I have appointed a Committee, under the chairmanship of my Parliamentary Secretary and with the assistance of my Central Advisory Committee, to investigate the position further and to make suggestions.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent Post Office vehicles are used for conveying Post Office workers between their houses and places of work; and whether such journeys are on repayment.

Post Office vehicles are used to a few places, such as remote radio stations and transferred factories when public transport services are inadequate, or their use would involve excessive travelling time. A charge is normally made.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give details of the school building programme for the Jarrow division for the years 1950–51.

There are no schools on the 1950 building programme for the Tyneside division of the Durham county education authority. The 1951 building programme has not yet been settled.

asked the Minister of Transport how many colonials in Liverpool are registered as seamen un-established and established, respectively; to what extent arrangements have been made with the shipping federation that a rota of employment is worked; if he is aware that some colonials with good discharges have not had a trip for up to 15 months, and that the method of selection is having a disturbing effect on the colonial seamen; and if he will investigate this matter.

The Shipping Federation inform me that last week 80 established and 381 unestablished coloured seamen regarded as suitable for employment were registered at their Liverpool office. The selection of crews is a matter for the industry, but I understand that preference is always given to the established seamen when vacancies occur. It is true that there are some unestablished seamen who have not been employed for 15 months, but owing to the general situation in the Liverpool area the Ministry of Labour have the utmost difficulty in placing these men in alternative shore employment.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many extra dollars would have to be expended in order to double the basic petrol ration.

Doubling the present standard ration of 90 miles a month (excluding the summer bonus) would cost approximately 12 million dollars f.o.b. since any additional consumption in the U.K. at the moment would have a 100 per cent. dollar cost.

asked the Minister of Works what is the number of building trade workers registered at the last available date; and what percentage of that number were employed on house building.

The number of building workers employed by building firms registered by the Ministry of Works at the end of January, 1950, was estimated to be 985,000, of whom 24 per cent. were employed on new house building and a further 26 per cent. on other housing work, including repairs and maintenance.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will consider an arrangement whereby British ex-prisoners of war in Japanese hands may receive compensation at a daily rate for the period of their imprisonment and to the extent to which they failed to receive the amount and quality of food to which they were entitled under the Geneva Prisoners-of-War Convention.

His Majesty's Government has done everything in its power towards the restoration of health and the resettlement of members of the Forces who were made prisoners of war by the Japanese. It is not, however, its policy to give financial benefits to such members other than those given to other ex-Service personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, having regard to the fact that agreement regarding compensation for British property affected by Czech measures of nationalisation and expropriation was made on 28th September, 1949, he will issue the regulations under which claims are to be lodged and payment made, so that those who have suffered from these Czech measures may receive the compensation due to them.

It is hoped to introduce legislation shortly to establish a Claims Commission empowered to adjudicate claims and to distribute the sums due from the Czechoslovak Government under the agreement referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the hon. Member for Bristol, North-East, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if he will improve the consistency of the pudding served in the Strangers' Dining Room as lemon sponge.

Seeing that we received no complaint it may be assumed that the inconsistency lay in the hon. Member's palate, and not in the pudding.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are registered as unemployed in Macclesfield and Congleton at the latest convenient date.

At 13th March, 59 males and 12 females at Macclesfield and 40 males and 7 females at Congleton.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Remploy factories have been completed in Wales; where they are situated; and how many disabled persons are employed in them.

Thirteen Remploy factories have been completed in Wales. They employ 952 severely disabled person of whom 66 are homeworkers.Particulars of these factories are given in the table below:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been done to implement the recommendation of the Kenya Development Sub-Committee on Health in regard to the setting up of a Royal Commission to inquire into the health of all the peoples of His Majesty's dependencies in Africa.

The recommendation of the Kenya Development Sub-Committee on Health was also the subject of an approach in 1947 by the Kenya Branch of the British Medical Association who asked that the Royal Commission should in addition cover population questions. These proposals were considered by my predecessor who, in 1949, decided that as far as the East African Territories were concerned the appointment of a Royal Commission on population would be inappropriate. Further statistical information is at present in the course of preparation and the position will be reviewed again when it becomes available.Innumerable efforts are being made by the Governments of the British Colonial Territories in Africa to improve the health of the people and it is considered that an official inquiry of the kind suggested could not be of real value until a stage has been reached at which it will be possible to draw conclusions from the results of these efforts. I am not, therefore, prepared to recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to develop the Indian Ocean fisheries off the Seychelles and Mauritius.

Two years' survey of these fisheries was completed at the end of last year. The final report will not be available for some months but the results obtained have been sufficiently encouraging to induce a Mauritius company to purchase two ex-corvettes in the United Kingdom for conversion into fishing vessels with refrigerating chambers. One of these has already been converted and is due to begin fishing in the area shortly.In Mauritius a Fisheries Branch, under a Director of Fisheries is responsible for development projects and research. In Seychelles, the Government purchased a vessel last year for use in the fishing industry and it has now been fitted out for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Health whether the decision of the abitrator that the Home and Hospital for Jewish Incurables was not transferred to his Department as a hospital on the appointed day under the National Health Service Act, 1946, has led to a modification of his attitude in any other cases in respect of which arbitration proceedings are pending; which is the next case for hearing and when the hearing is likely to take place.

I am considering some other cases in the light of this decision. None has yet been referred to arbitration.

asked the Minister of Health when Miss Jefford of 71 De La Warr Road, East Grinstead, who is headmistress of a large primary school, may expect to receive her spectacles ordered by her oculist, Mr. Symons of 232 London Road, East Grinstead, in May, 1949, from Messrs. Melson Wingate, Limited, of 105B, Old Christchurch Road, Bourne-mouth, in view of the importance of her work and of the detriment to her health caused through lack of them.

I cannot undertake to investigate every individual case, but have made special inquiries in this instance and am informed that this lady should receive her glasses soon.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the disquiet and distress caused to many patients of Dr. W. F. Jones of Walton, Liverpool, following their summary removal from his list; and if he will issue instructions to the Executive Council that their position is to be reviewed before any final decision is made.

This doctor had over 6,800 patients on his list, the number agreed with the profession as the maximum which normally a single-handed doctor can adequately care for being 4,000. He did not himself take steps to meet the situation and, in the circum- stances, the action taken by the Executive Council seems to me to have been reasonable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what was the number of married Regular officers and men serving with the Royal Navy on 1st January, 1950.

Approximately 8,580 officers and 36,250 men.

asked the Minister of Food what the million tons of coarse grains from Russia and the 1,600,000 tons from the Argentine consisted of; and over what period these were imported.

The one million tons of coarse grains purchased by my Department from Russia, in 1949, consisted of 500,000 tons of barley, 400,000 tons of maize and 100,000 tons of oats. The contract provides for shipment to be completed between 1st October, 1949, and 30th June, 1950. Of the total of some 1,600,000 tons of coarse grains purchased from Argentina in 1948 and 1949, about 1,500,000 tons consisted of maize, and about 100,000 tons of barley. Approximately 1,000,000 tons of the maize and all the barley were shipped between April and December, 1948; shipment of the remaining quantity of maize is due to be completed by June, 1950.