asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will prescribe pulmonary tuberculosis under the industrial diseases section of the Industrial Injuries Act.

The question whether tuberculosis should be prescribed under the Industrial Injuries Act in respect of nurses and other health workers is at present being considered by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many persons are receiving retirement pensions in Cardiff; how many are receiving supplementary pensions; and what is the average amount of supplementary pension being paid weekly.

I regret that the information asked for in the first and third parts of the Question is not available. It is estimated that there are approximately 5,700 retirement pensioners whose pensions are being supplemented in the area served by the two Cardiff offices of the National Assistance Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the restoration of the cut in the housing programme, to what extent he will now permit the resumption of private building.

I am keeping the position with regard to private building under review, but I have at present nothing to add to the statement which I made on 29th March in reply to the hon. Member for Springburn (Mr. Forman).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now announce a scheme whereby officers of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers may train on a voluntary basis.

The provision of training at public expense for officers of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers will be reviewed in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for War at what age limits officers of different ranks will be removed from the Regular Army Reserve of Officers.

The present age limits of liability to recall of members of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers are laid down in Article 522 of the Royal Warrant for Pay, 1940.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is now the normal period of overseas service for regular soldiers; and whether the same principle is applied in a theatre of war such as Malaya as in other stations.

The normal period of service, for regular soldiers, in overseas stations, including Malaya, is three years. Exceptions are made in the case of Europe, where no fixed time is laid down, and in West Africa, where the time is three years and three months inclusive of three months' mid-tour recuperative leave in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking to cut down the amount of paper work in overseas commands.

Instructions to reduce paper work to the greatest possible extent have recently been given to all officers concerned with staff work.

asked the Secretary of State for War what progress he has made in discussion with the Minister of Labour towards fixing a list of reserved occupations on which he can base the posting of skilled technicians in the Territorial Army and Supplementary Reserve.

Discussions are taking place between the Ministry of Labour and other interested Departments, with a view to evolving a suitable procedure for deciding the availability for whole-time military service in war of men in skilled technical occupations who may join the Territorial Army or Supplementary Reserve as volunteers. Considerable progress has been made, but the matter is still under review.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement about the Hamlyn Report and announce his decision upon it.

The Hamlyn Report, prepared at the request of the Council of Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Associations, deals with certain matters affecting the emoluments of officers and other ranks of the Territorial Army and was submitted to my Department early this year. The Report, which contains certain financial recommendations, is being examined. Important points of principle are involved and consultation will be necessary with other Departments. I cannot, therefore, promise a decision in the immediate future.

asked the Secretary of State for War when Driver Dye, whose application for compassionate discharge from the Army was granted on 15th March, 1950, may be expected to return home.

The hon. and learned Member has been misinformed. Driver Dye has not been granted compassionate discharge from the Army.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the £2 million of unblocked sterling balances is held by countries within and without the sterling area, respectively.

If the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the sum of nearly £2,000 million mentioned in the Economic Survey, the answer is: rather over two-thirds and rather under one-third, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of tax paid on betting on the Totalisator for greyhound racing for November and December, 1949.

The receipts of Pool Betting Duty from greyhound totalisators in November and December, 1949, were £599,571 and £595,685 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis of estimate he calculated that the improvements in the balance of payments consequent upon devaluation were attributable to recurrent and non-recurrent items, respectively.

By taking all relevant considerations into account.

asked the Chan cellor of the Exchequer what is the reason for His Majesty's Government failing to reach agreement with the French Government on the question of double taxation when the French Government are ready and willing to accept such an agreement.

Negotiations for a double taxation agreement with France are continuing, and there has been no failure to reach agreement in the sense f a breakdown of negotiations. We are anxious to reach agreement as soon as possible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give the figures of the total expenditure on public social services in the financial years 1947–48 and 1948–49 respectively.

Following is a statement giving the figures for 1947–48 (actual). As regards figures for 1948–49, the alterations in the structure of the social services which came into effect in July, 1948, make it impossible to continue the return in its present form. I am reviewing the question how information about expenditure on public social services can best be made available in future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is proposed to publish the terms of the recently concluded Anglo-Israeli Financial Agreement.

A White Paper giving the terms of the Anglo-Israeli Financial Agreement, signed on 30th March, 1950, and the exchange of letters which took place, is being published tomorrow, 26th April.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why it is necessary for officials of the Inland Revenue Valuation Office to have power to enter private houses when local authority officials who pi eviously carried out valuation work required no such special powers.

The powers t entry given to officials of the Inland Revenue Valuation Office are substantially the same as those previously held by the officials of local authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated cost of exempting Easter offerings to clergy from Income Tax

I am afraid that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much per week, in the new financial year, a family of man, wife and three children will pay in taxation for housing, education and defence, respectively.

It is quite impossible to say how much a particular family contributes as the amount of taxation paid will depend upon many factors but the average estimated weekly cost, per head of the population, is, for defence 5s. 11d., and for the cost of education and housing in the Budget (including, in each case, below the line issues to local authorities) 2s. and 2s. Id. respectively.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what additional proof of need now has to be established by an applicant for a reader's ticket at the British Museum, as compared with the standard of proof required in 1939; and whether the fact that the applicant is a Member of Parliament is regarded in general as a qualification.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "None." As to the second part, admission to the Reading Room is granted on consideration of the particular purpose stated by applicants, and not primarily on that of the qualifications which applicants may possess. The fact that an applicant was a Member of Parliament would be taken as guaranteeing that the use made of the Reading Room would be that stated in the application.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of pawnbrokers' licences issued in the latest year for which the statistics are available.

One thousand seven hundred and twenty-six in the year ended 31st March, 1949.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether in cases where the Civil Service Commis.;ioners refuse to issue to a candidate their certificate of qualification for transfer to establishment on medical grounds, he will consider granting a right of appeal to an independent doctor or medical board.

No. But if a candidate is dissatisfied with a decision and can produce a specialist medical opinion in his favour, it is the practice of the Commissioners to offer him the opportunity of appearing before a medical board of three doctors of consultant rank who have not previously examined him on the Commissioners' behalf.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of hessian in the furniture trade; and what steps he is taking to improve the supply.

I am aware that the furniture industry, like others who use hessian, has had its allocation reduced, in consequence of the restricted supplies which are being received from India. The Board of Trade is endeavouring to secure all available supplies from India and other sources, but I regret that I can see no prospect of the furniture industry's allocation being restored to its former level until exports of hessian to the United Kingdom from India return to their previous level.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware that the quantity and quality of tea chests available to tea producers in India is likely to be inadequate to pack the crop for the British contract in the coming season; and if he will make representations to the Government of India to allow the importation of an adequate supply of chests for this purpose.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Food has no reason to believe that deliveries to the United Kingdom of Indian tea against any contract which may be concluded for 1950 are endangered by the lack of suitable tea chests. The second part of the Question does not. therefore, arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the continued shortage of industrial overalls; and what steps he is taking to make more protective clothing available to the home market.

The shortage of industrial overalls results from a shortage of drill cloths. Although supplies for the home market improved during 1949, production of these cloths is still substantially below the pre-war level. Every practicable step is being taken to increase cotton cloth production, and I am particularly anxious that the proportion of utility cloths should be increased.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any agreement has yet been come to between this country and the United States as to the type of goods that may be exported to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from the two countries.

No. If my hon. Friend has in mind questions of security I would emphasise that what controls should be imposed on security grounds on the export of goods to any particular destination is a matter for decision by His Majesty's Government. We do, however, keep in close touch in this matter with the Government of the United States and our principal partners in Western Europe and, of course, with the other Commonwealth Governments principally concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when it is proposed to pay the agreed claims to traders under Part 2 of the War Damage Act.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on this subject to the hon. Member for Beverley (Mr. Odey) on 21st March last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the special register service of information of his Department circulated, on 17th April, particulars of requirements of the Greek Ministry of Public Works, where in nearly every case the tenders had to be received in Athens on dates prior to 17th April in most cases, and in the latest case, on 22nd April; when the commercial department of the Embassy in Athens. forwarded the particulars to his Department; and what date they were received.

I regret that the handling of these calls for tender was not satisfactory. The documents were sent from Athens on 10th March and were received in London on 21st. Unfortunately, the time taken to produce the notification for issue was unduly prolonged. This delay having occurred, the written notification should not have been issued. The normal procedure where there is insufficient time for written notification is to telephone interested organisations and manufacturers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the steamer "Lysaker" chartered by his Department, arrived at Hartlepool recently, and unloaded a cargo of wood from the Russian zone of Germany at Hartlepool, which was then despatched by rail to Hull; and why was the s.s. "Lysaker" not ordered to dock at Hull.

The cargo in question was one of two of Polish pitwood of a size suitable for saw logs originally intended for Hull. Hull timber merchants refused to accept the first cargo which was unloaded and sold to a merchant inland. The second was diverted to West Hartlepool. After seeing the first cargo unloading., the Hull merchants changed their minds and asked to buy the second cargo even though they knew it had gone to West Hartlepool. This was accordingly arranged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the names of the three firms that have decided, as a result of the representations of his Department, to establish themselves in Portsmouth; and at what dates they became established.

The names are I. and R. Morley Limited, C.W.S. (Mantles) Limited, and E. S. Perry Limited. The buildings for the first two are in course of construction, and that of the third was completed in January, 1949.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make on the Anglo-American Productivity Team report on cotton spinning.

This report is not, of,course. an official document and has been made to the United Kingdom cotton spinning trade organisations and unions. I hope that these bodies, as well as all those engaged in the industry, will give this excellent report the serious consideration it deserves and take appropriate action on its conclusions. My Department is studying the report and, in so far as there are problems on which we can help, I am prepared to consider recommendations from the industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the 1950 census of distribution entails many hours' work for those concerned; and whether he will take steps to decrease the amount of work at present involved.

Steps have already been taken, in consultation with the Advisory Committee, to simplify the forms for the census of distribution, 1951. The information required in this census covers only the most important of the fields of inquiry suggested in the Report of the original Census of Distribution Committee under Sir Richard Hopkins (Cmd. 6764 1946). Small traders in particular will find that the figures required are available from their annual accounts.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning why a permit has been granted for the building of a dwelling house on a plot of land situated in Giles Lane, Canterbury, when, prior to the sale of the land, his Department had stated that this area was scheduled as a green belt and that no further building would be permitted.

This permission was granted by the Kent County Council as the local planning authority. No communication with my Department took place and no statement was made by them.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is now able to make a statement regarding the effect of the Warcop tank range on the path across High Cup Nick, and its interference with mining and agriculture.

As regards High Cup Nick, which lies on the Pennine Way, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn, East (Mrs. Castle) last Thursday. No representations have yet been made to me on behalf of mining and agricultural interests.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that on 12th April six families, including 12 young children, were evicted from Kingwood Common Camp. and that the Henley Rural District Council accepted no responsibility for finding them even temporary shelter; and whether this is in accordance with the instructions of his Department.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him yesterday.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an estimate of the total annual amount of Purchase Tax paid on new equipment for hospitals.

I regret that the information on which an estimate could be based is not available.

asked the Minister of Health when the award of arbitration on the salaries of midwives and health visitors is expected.

The hearing by the Industrial Court took place on 24th April.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the useful work done by old age pensioners' clubs throughout the country; and if he will consider steps to enable him to make grant in aid to encourage their work.

I am aware of the useful work which is done. Local authorities have power under the National Assistance Act to contribute to the funds of voluntary bodies providing recreation for old people.

asked the Minister of Health what were his reasons for authorising the decision to close down the Manse Day Nursery at Hersham in the county of Surrey.

I have not authorised the closing down of this nursery. Proposals by the Surrey County Council for reductions in their day nursery service, entailing the closing of the Manse Day Nursery, are being considered by my Department. but no decision has yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been spent to date on advertising for the new Civil Defence Service; and how many recruits have been obtained.

Since 15th November, approximately £20,000 has been expended from central funds on Press and poster advertising for the Civil Defence and allied services. The number of volunteers enrolled in these services in England end Wales at the end of March was approximately 38,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what steps he is taking to obtain moneys lent by the British Government to British subjects interned by the Japanese during the last war; and how much money is still involved;(2) how much money was advanced by His Majesty's Government to British subjects in occupied territories during the last war; and what proportion of it has been recovered.

Gross expenditure amounted to approximately £14,300,000, including £5,900,000 in respect of the Far East. Approximately £3,175,000 has been recovered. Claims for recovery of the debts still outstanding are no longer being pursued, unless there is reason to 'believe that repayment can be made without undue hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Victor Hill was prosecuted and fined in January at Southampton because of his conscientious objection to serve in any military force other than a world federation army; and if he will consider the possibility of showing clemency in view of the unusual nature of this case.

This man's application for registration as a conscientious objector was rejected by the local and appellate tribunals and he therefore became liable to be called up for military service. In January last, however, he refused to comply with an order of a court to submit himself for medical examination for this purpose, and was fined £20 for this offence. He did not pay the fine and on 30th March was committed to prison for two months in default of payment. I can find no grounds to warrant my advising any interference with the penalty which the court thought appropriate.

asked the Minister of Works how long he expects His Majesty's Stationery Office will take to print the report of the Working Party to the Building Industry; when the report was submitted to His Majesty's Stationery Office; and how many pages it is expected the report will contain.

I expect the report to be published next Monday. It was submitted to the Stationery Office in the middle of February and will contain some 90 pages. Copies will be available at the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Supply how much time a detective from the War Department spent at the Institute of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Foxbury, Chislehurst, about Christmas, 1947; what are the names of the members of the staff there whom he interrogated; and what was the result of the investigations.

The time spent by a superintendent of the War Department Constabulary on this investigation in January, 1948, was 45 hours. The staff interrogated numbered seven, four of whom were severely reprimanded.

asked the Minister of Labour how many grants are being paid by his Department to students attending trade courses; what total annual sum is involved; and if he will give a list of the trades concerned.

The number of persons in training at 6th March last (the latest date for which figures are available) was 5,859. The annual sum involved is of the order of £1,500,000 covering payments of maintenance allowances, fares and class fees. Training is provided in over 100 trades, and I am sending a list to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women over and under 21 years of age, respectively, are employed by football pool promoters in South Wales; how many are registered as disabled persons; and whether he is satisfied that the appropriate numbers of disabled persons are employed in football pool offices.

The statistical information asked for by the hon. Member is not available. I have no reason to believe that undertakings which include football pools do not employ the appropriate number of registered disabled persons.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the minimum rates of pay for adult canteen attendants at industrial canteens.

I am sending the hon. Member copies of the current wages regulation orders I have made under the Catering Wages Act, 1943, to give effect to proposals submitted to me by the Industrial and Staff Canteen Undertakings Wages Board, which contain the minimum rates of remuneration fixed for certain categories of canteen workers.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will reconsider the case of Mrs. D. Philpot, of 61, Stowuplancl Road, Stowmarket, in view of the fact that it has now been established that her husband died from a bacterial infection, and not as a result of nervous hysteria, which was the basis on which the granting of a pension was refused.

I have given most careful consideration to this claim. My principal medical advisers assure me, however, that they are satisfied, in the light of the findings of the post-mortem examination, that the enteritis which was the cause of Mr. Philpot's death was of recent bacterial origin, and that there was no evidence of old-standing infection such as might have been contracted during his service in the 1914–18 war In the circumstances I regret that I am unable to award Mrs. Philpot a widow's pension.

asked the Minister of Food the number of fish and chip shops operating on 1st January, 1949, and 1st January, 1950, respectively; and the number of fish and chip shops that have changed hands during the past 12 months.

The number of fish and chip shops recorded on the dates nearest to the 1st January, 1949 and 1950, was:

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to reduce the long delays which are liable to occur at certain times of day before a caller can get a response from the London toll exchange after dialling.

Regular sampling of the toll service shows that the average time to answer toll calls in London is about nine seconds during the day. There may be occasional unavoidable delays on individual calls during periods of sudden and heavy pressure, but if the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any frequent long delays which he has experienced I will be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has yet come to a decision that the case for penny mid-day letters has been established.

As stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 19th October, 1949, careful consideration has on many occasions been given to this proposal, but apart from the financial loss which would be incurred no way has been found of overcoming the practical difficulties involved.