asked the Minister of Food how many hundredweight, in total, of plums, including fresh, bottled, tinned, preserved, etc., were imported from Czechoslovakia last year or are being imported now.

I should be obliged if the hon. Member would put down this Question again.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent bacon is supplied by his Department to grocers and provision merchants in a variety of prices and qualities; and why his Department does not prescribe that these should be ticketed to enable the housewife to understand the price and quality of her purchase.

Retailers usually buy their bacon in the form of Wiltshire sides at a flat rate price and themselves do the boning and cutting up. I am asking them to use price tickets wherever possible. but I do not want to make an Order because I do not think it is practicable to do it always.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the prosecution by his Department of Mr. and Mrs. Cooper of Bridlington in respect of the loan of one pound of tea to a neighbour and their unconditional discharge; and whether he will see that proceedings are not in future brought in such trivial cases.

It is not the policy of my Department to prosecute in trivial cases. But this was not a matter of neighbouring households. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper run an hotel, and their loan was to another catering establishment whose malpractices over rations led the court to impose fines totalling £168.

asked the Minister of Food what was the consumption of liquid milk per head each day in England and Wales for the years 1938, 1948 and at the present time; and also the figures for Stoke-on-Trent.

It is estimated that the average daily consumption of liquid milk per head in England and Wales in 1938 was 0.43 pint, in 1948 0.70 pint, and so far in 1950 0.75 pint. The only pre-war estimate I can give for Stoke-on-Trent is 0.24 pint in 1935. In 1948 the estimated daily consumption of liquid milk in Stoke-on-Trent was 0.71 pint and up to date in 1950 0.70 pint per head.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that while the capacity of the Liberty exchange is almost exhausted there are some 2,500 applicants in the area for telephones; and what action he is taking to meet this demand.

This exchange has been extended within recent months. Further extension is dependent on an enlargement of the exchange building. As this is a residential area it comes low in our order of priority for new work.

asked the Postmaster-General if the Wembley resident who has been waiting for a telephone since 1940 has now had the instrument installed.

New cables just laid will enable this service to be provided in about a fortnight's time.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will erect a telephone kiosk at the new estate. Princes Risborough.

There is a kiosk outside Princes Risborough post office, about 150 yards from the new estate, but the desirability of providing another kiosk is under examination.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the growing discontent with the telephone service in the Glasgow area; if any record is kept of wrong numbers given; and if a wrong number is given, whether it is automatically charged.

Regular sampling of the service shows that Glasgow compares favourably with other large cities and that there are very few wrong numbers. A charge is registered for a call as soon as the connection is completed. If the caller reports to the operator when he has had a wrong number, the charge is cancelled. Otherwise, no special record is kept.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the chief handicaps towards providing the increasing numbers of private telephones that are being applied for; and if he will indicate future plans to provide this necessary service to all applicants.

The main handicap is limited finance which has prevented making good shortage of exchange equipment and of cables to subscribers' premises. The shortage is being overtaken as rapidly as possible and plans are ready for speeding up development work, as and when the financial position becomes easier.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent the extension of telephone services is being handicapped or delayed by shortages of poles or cable; and what steps he is taking to overcome this difficulty.

The delay in extending the telephone service is due, not to shortages of poles or cable, but to limitations of finance.

asked the Postmaster-General what amount of telephone exchange equipment is available; and what number of underground wires are available for applicants for telephone services in Carlisle.

Only a very small reserve of equipment is at present available at Carlisle exchange, but an extension will be completed in about a year's time. There are spare wires in the underground cables for 150 waiting applicants and new cables should be ready for service next year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will publish a six-monthly supplement to the various volumes of the London Telephone Directory in order to avoid the present delay of up to 15 months between the time when a new subscriber is connected and when his name appears in the full directory.

The interval between successive issues of each volume of the London Telephone Directory cannot be reduced at present owing to the limited availability of labour and materials for this specialised work. The same limitation prevents the adoption of the hon. Member's proposal. When the printing position eases, the object he has in mind would probably be better achieved by a more frequent issue of the complete volumes.

asked the Postmaster-General how many elementary schools in Cardiff are equipped with their own telephones; how many applications have ben made since July, 1945, for telephones to be installed in elementary schools in Cardiff; how many of these applications have been granted; and what degree of priority do applications from schools enjoy.

No applications have been received for telephones in primary schools in Cardiff; the decision whether to apply rests, of course, with the local education authority. Applications from schools are given priority next below the categories which include public utilities, health and life-saving services and firms engaged on production and distribution for export, etc.

asked the Postmaster-General whether in view of the Aberdeen telephone area's shortage of labour in Caithness, he is aware that there are 170 unemployed men registered at Thurso and Wick employment exchanges; and if he will take steps to use the services of some of them so that the urgent telephone needs of the county can be met.

Owing to the limited financial resources available to the Post Office at the present time, growth in the total engineering force has had to be drastically curtailed. Having regard to the national incidence of the demands on the Post Office engineering staff, I regret that I cannot agree to the recruitment of additional workmen in Caithness.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give instructions to the contractors who are trenching and cable laying on the Minehead—Willitone—Taunton Road—A.358 to reinstate the road in an adequate manner after this operation; and whether he will ensure that this is done before the present danger to road users is increased by the large volume of tourist traffic using the road.

Post Office contractors are required under their contracts to restore the road to as good a condition as it was in before it was opened up. I hope the work on the Minehead—Taunton Road will be completed in about six weeks' time.

asked the Postmaster-General in what areas of Britain it is possible to receive a letter on the same day as that on which it is posted.

On weekdays in practically all delivery areas.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the continued dissatisfaction of the residents in Leigh-on-Sea with the present postal arrangements whereby many of those who have to travel up to London every day to earn their living do not receive the morning delivery of letters before their departure; and whether steps will be taken in the near future to ensure an earlier delivery than 9 or 10 a.m.

The absence through sickness of regular postmen and the employment of substitutes new to the delivery walks has caused some delay in completing the first delivery at Leigh-onSea. Everything possible will be done to improve the position.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has now checked the records of the Engineering Officers (Telecommunications) Association to find out what percentage of membership they have.

asked the Postmaster-General when a decision is going to be arrived at in connection with the dispute between his Department and the Engineering Officers (Telecommunications) Association which has been outstanding since October, 1949.

asked the Postmaster-General when he proposes to make a statement upon the recognition of staff associations in the Post Office.

I regret that I am not yet able to add to the answer I gave on this subject on the 19th April.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he proposes to take to improve wireless reception in North Devon.

The B.B.C. aware -that reception of broadcast programmes in North Devon is not entirely satisfactory. The terrain presents difficulties and alleviation could only be secured to the provision of a low-power station which the B.B.C. is not in a position to provide.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the British Broadcasting Corporation has reached agreement with the trade unions desiring to negotiate on behalf of British Broadcasting Corporation's employees.

I have nothing further to report except that I understand no agreement has yet been reached in this matter.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he proposes to exercise his powers under Section 4 (3) of the Licence and Agreement between himself and the British Broadcasting Corporation to stop the broadcast programme entitled "Soviet View," in compliance with the request made to him by the Listeners' Association.

I assume the hon. Member has in mind sub-clause 4 of Clause 4 of the Licence and Agreement.I do not consider that the circumstances call for the exercise of these powers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will publish the numbers of British Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts made by right hon. and hon. Members, respectively, in the last Parliament and in the present.

I am informed by the British Broadcasting Corporation that the number of broadcasts made by right hon. and hon. Members during the last and present Parliaments up to 31st March. 1950. were:—

asked the Postmaster-General what directions he has issued to ensure that motor cars are fitted with suppressors to reduce interference with television reception.

None. Under the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949, I have to consult an Advisory Committee before making Regulations. Consultations are now taking place with the Institution of Electrical Engineers regarding the nomination of a panel of members.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is now in a position to publish the result of the inspection of the Heligoland cemetery which he ordered; and whether he will now decide to cease bombing the cemetery and restore as far as possible the graves which have been damaged.

The inspection of the cemetery at Heligoland showed that the majority of the graves have been destroyed or buried under debris, mainly as a result, so far as could be judged, of the heavy attacks on the Island in April, 1945. There is, however, some evidence of slight damage inadvertently caused by bombing practice since the end of the war. I have, therefore, given instructions that the aiming point which has hitherto been used on these exercises should be moved to a point about 1,100 yards from the cemetery—the furthest distance possible. This will materially reduce the risk of further damage.

asked the Secretary of State for Air on what grounds has the payment of supplementary allowances to married junior officers serving overseas ceased.

I understand that the hon. and gallant Member has in mind Indian transitional allowance. This allowance was introduced on 1st July, 1946, to ease the transition to the new British pay code of personnel who had previously been paid under the Indian code and who had been liable for Indian income tax. Without this allowance the transition would in many cases have involved a substantial reduction in net emoluments. It was made clear at the time that the allowance was a temporary one issuable on the diminishing basis and would cease altogether after 31st March, 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why his Department opposed the amalgamation of the Army Cinema Corporation and the Royal Air Force Cinema Corporation.

The R.A.F. Cinema Corporation belongs to the officers and airmen of the Royal Air Force and operates on non-public funds. Its capital came as a loan from the R.A.F. Central Fund, which is non-public money, and when the Corporation was formed it took over all the physical assets and goodwill from station institutes without compensation. My Department has, therefore, no power to compel the Royal Air Force Cinema Corporation to amalgamate with any other body.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he was consulted before the Ministry of Health requested the Ely Rural District Council to take over responsibility for housing Poles who now live in the hutted camp to the east of Mepal aerodrome; when he expects to begin rebuilding this aerodrome on a permanent basis; and what warning he will give to local authorities of the latest date this camp will be available for housing.

It has now been decided that Mepal will not be retained for R.A.F. use and the airfield has been allocated for long-term agricultural use. The detached site at present occupied by the Poles was transferred to the Ministry of Works in April, 1948. There is consequently no need for consultation with my Department about their housing.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many Egyptian airmen have been or are being trained by the Royal Air Force in this country to handle jet fighters, Lincoln bombers or other British service aircraft.

Since the beginning of 1949 the R.A.F. have given flying training in this country to 13 members of the Royal Egyptian Air Force, including four now attending a course. Of the 13, two were trained on Spitfires, 10 were trained as flying instructors, and one was trained in basic navigation. No training has been given on Lincoln bombers.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the programme of air displays for the summer; and on what dates, and where are they to be held.

Air displays arranged or being arranged by my Department are: Air Training Corps rally at Kenley on 20th May; Air Training Corps rally at Shoreham on 28th May; Air Training Corps rally at Ipswich on 4th June; R.A.F. Display at Farnborough on 7th and 8th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how much money he estimates will be spent in the current financial year on pay and allowances of Regular officers and other ranks in the Royal Air Force, and how much on those of National Service men, respectively.

It is estimated that the cost of the pay and allowances for Regulars and National Service men during the current financial year will be about £48 million and £10 million respectively.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will now restore the meteorological broadcasts from Dunstable, which are so useful to so many farmers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he will now reintroduce air-met broadcasts in the near future.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he is aware of the value to farmers of the meteorological broadcasts from Dunstable; and if he will now restore these broadcasts

My noble Friend is in consultation with the Postmaster-General and the Secretary of State for Air on the question of allocating a frequency appropriate for the transmission of meteorological broadcasts for aviation purposes but I understand that if such a frequency is obtained it can only be outside the ordinary broadcasting bands.I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General on the suggestion that a service of this kind should continue to be available to farmers and others who have hitherto been able to receive it. As no frequency within the range of normal broadcast receivers can be made available for such a service, the British Broadcasting Corporation has been approached. I am advised, however, that the Corporation does not think it would be possible to increase the scope of weather forecasts in its ordinary service without seriously interfering with the normal programmes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation when he proposes to introduce a system of civil airways between Renfrew and Northolt in which positive air control will be exercised.

I hope in the early, autumn.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will make available the document, "Operational Feasibility of Aircraft through Thunderstorms," in view of its importance to aircraft safety.

Yes. This document has been produced by the United States Air Force and it is being made available to British air transport operators with the permission of the United States authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, following correspondence between his Department and the hon. Member for Small Heath during the past four years, he can now offer any hope of an early settlement of the compensation claims by Britishers who owned assets that were seized in Latvia.

I am afraid there is nothing I can usefully say on this question at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how long the British and United States Missions are expected to stay in Greece.

The British Service and Police Missions in Greece are expected to remain until the completion of their task, always provided that the Greek Government so desire. I cannot answer for the United States Missions in Greece.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the projected march of Eastern Berlin youth into Western Berlin at Whitsuntide, he will publish as a White Paper the existing regulations governing rights of entry from east to west and west to east.

There are no restrictions on the ordinary movement of individual Germans between the different parts of the city.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what changes in representation are proposed in the Sudan.

In the speech which he made at the opening of the Sudan Legislative Assembly on 6th March, the Governor-General announced the Sudan Government's intention to amend the Second Schedule of the Sudan Ordinance, 1948, in order to allow for more direct elections and to change the method of representation in the Southern Provinces. No legislation to put this proposal into practice has yet been submitted to the Legislative Assembly, and I understand that the Governor-General's Executive Council still has the matter under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the purpose of Mr. Trygve Lie's official visit; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lie's primary purpose in visiting Europe at this time was, I understand, to be present at a meeting in Paris on 2nd May and to attend to other United Nations business in Geneva and The Hague. He has also made it clear that he regards it as part of his duty as Secretary-General to visit periodically as many of the countries which are members of the United Nations as possible. He took this opportunity to visit London for an exchange of views on the problems which face the United Nations in the present international situation. His Majesty's Government were very happy to welcome Mr. Lie to London and to have had this opportunity to discuss these problems with him.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British journalists have been expelled from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and her satellite countries during the past five years; and from which countries.

In answer to a Question on 21st June, 1948, my predecessor informed the House of the circumstances in which four correspondents were excluded from Czechoslovakia and I am sending the hon. Member the relevant extract from the record. There are two further cases. In May, 1948, Mr. Christopher Buckley of the "Daily Telegraph" was refused a visa to reenter Czechoslovakia and in January of this year Mr. Eric Bourne of the Kemsley Press and Exchange Telegraph Service in Prague was served with an expulsion order by the Czechoslovak authorities. No reason was given. This makes a total of six British journalists.In the case of Poland three journalists have been excluded, two by expulsion and one by refusal of a re-entry visa. The former Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs in answer to a Question in the House on 25th November, 1946, informed the House of the circumstances in which Mr. Derek Selby, at that time correspondent of the "Sunday Times" in Warsaw, was expelled, and I am also sending the hon. Member the relevant extract from the record. In April of this year, Mr. Vincent Buist, Reuter's correspondent. was expelled by the Polish authorities on charges of "unobjective reporting." In September, 1949, Mr. Denis Weaver, at that time "News Chronicle" representative, was refused a re-entry visa to return to Poland.In the case of the Soviet Union, where ther2 are no British Press correspondents other than that of the "Daily Worker," and in the case of the other Eastern European countries within the Soviet orbit, no journalists of British nationality have been expelled, although an American citizen, Mr. Robert Magidoff, who represented the National Broadcasting Company in Moscow and also acted as local correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph agency, was expelled in 1948 on charges of espionage.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many hand-control cars have been delivered to the entitled special cases, such as paraplegics, to the last convenient date; how many he anticipates will be delivered in 1950; and how many of this class will then remain unprovided with these cars.

Up to 26th April, 1950, 1,238 cars have been delivered to very severely disabled pensioners in the eligible classes. Of these, 856 were fully, and 100 partially, fitted with hand-control. The balance to make up the total of 1,500 cars under the arrangements I announced in the House in July, 1948, will, I hope, be delivered during 1950 The needs of the export market are such. however, that it is impossible for me to give an absolute guarantee that every one of them will be delivered by the end of the year. After these cars have been provided there will remain, according to present records, some 280 outstanding applications.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused through delay in the preparation of local schemes by the Charity Commission owing to pressure of work; and whether he will make such arrangements as will enable the Commissioners to expedite the approval of outstanding cases so that developments shall not be unnecessarily held up.

I understand that a progressive reduction in the time required for the preparation of schemes is expected as arrears accumulated during the war period are overtaken

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give estimates of the initial cost, and subsequent annual cost, of making post-war credits repayable on the death of the holder in the case of all estates and all estates of a value less than £2,000 respectively.

I am afraid that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that modern methods, of vaccination frequently leave no scar but are certified as successful vaccinations; and what is the position in regard to persons suffering from smallpox who have been vaccinated in this way, in respect of the vaccinal condition recorded in the smallpox register.

My advisers know of no method that leaves no scar after successful primary vaccination. The second part of the Question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the strength of the Territorial Army Reserve on 1st January, 1938, 1939 and 1950.

On 1st January, 1938, the strength of the Territorial Army Reserve—which then comprised officers of the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers and Officers Training Corps and officers and other ranks of National Defence Companies—was 8,011 officers and 6,413 other ranks. On 1st January, 1939, the corresponding figures were 8,084 officers and 6,461 other ranks. It would not be in the public interest to disclose figures for 1st January, 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the new scale of salaries for members of the nursing profession in Scotland above the rank of ward sister is to be announced in view of the serious anomalies that now exist through the delay in dealing with this matter.

I am afraid I cannot forecast when the Whitley Council will complete their consideration of the claim for increased salaries for senior hospital nurses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the grant of 25 per cent. from Scottish Department funds for the proposed bridge to Bernera, Isle of Lewis, is still available; and if he will estimate when the work is to begin.

I am prepared to offer a 25 per cent. grant towards the cost of this work. I regret that I cannot at present say when a start is likely to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications have been lodged in Scotland by persons desirous of building and having built houses for their own occupation; and how many he has granted.

The answer to the first part of the Question could only be got by a return from the local authorities and we would not be justified in adding to their present administrative burdens for this purpose. As regards the second part of the Question, at 31st March, 4,777 houses had been completed since the war, and 1,423 were under construction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schemes for drainage of agricultural land are being held up because of refusal of grant by his Department.

Of 7,092 applications for grant received in the year 1949–50, 36 were refused on the grounds that the proposed works were ineligible under the scheme. I have no way of knowing, however, in how many of these 36 the drainage projects were held up or proceeded with by the applicants without grant.

asked the Minister of Transport for what reason he has authorised the London County Council to substitute aluminium railings for iron railings on Waterloo Bridge prior to the Festival of Britain at a cost of £30,830.

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The London County Council have recently been informed that, in the present difficult economic situation, I do not see my way to approve this work. I understand that the Council wish to make certain representations to me in regard to this decision and I will of course be ready to consider these.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can now give details of the proposed scheme for the eradication of tuberculosis in cattle on an area basis.

Discussions with the farming interests are still in progress and I am not yet able to announce the details of the scheme. I am, however, sending to the hon. Member a memorandum explaining in broad outline the way in which the proposed scheme is likely to operate.