asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the current figures published his Department for output per manshift overall in the coal mines refer to coal raised and weighed; and whether the figures for 1939 were computed on a similar basis.

The figures of output per manshift in the coal mines published by my Department in 1939 were not for coal raised and weighed, but for saleable coal. So are the figures of output par manshift which are published today.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, owing to the delay in obtaining delivery of fuel, coal permits due on 1st May may be issued one month before to enable people to obtain their fuel by 1st May.

As the hon. Member is aware, every householder is free to purchase a certain total quantity of coal in each period of six months. Within this total, no permits are required. If a consumer needs coal for immediate use, he should be able to arrange with his merchant for early delivery. I see no reason to expect any serious delay in coal deliveries in May. If any difficulty does, in fact, arise, the local fuel officer will help anyone who is in need, and who asks for his assistance.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) what has the weekly tonnage of coal supplied during April for domestic users in Burnley; how far short of the winter allocation was this amount; what were the sources of this supply; and what percentage was opencast coal;(2) if he will investigate the complaints made by the Combined Coal Distributors of Burnley regarding inadequate and inferior coal supplies for domestic users in Burnley during April; and state the total weekly tonnage to be allocated to the distributors for domestic users during the summer period;

I am making inquiries into the various matters which he has raised, and I will write to him as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what has been the result of the representations he was to make to the National Coal Board on the subject of dirty coal.

As the result of my conversations with them, the National Coal Board have instructed their divisions to redouble their drive at the pits for cleaner filling, and for the better manning and supervision of the picking belts. I understand that the divisions are also taking the matter up with their colliery consultative committees. The Board are pressing forward with the provision of more plant for the mechanical cleaning of the coal. They also had a full discussion with representatives of the distributive trade on 4th April. The trade have undertaken to furnish the Board with lists of coals which they regard as inherently unsuitable for household use, and of coals which are inadequately prepared for the domestic market; in each case, the Board will seek either to withdraw the coal from sale for domestic use or to make improvements in its preparation. The question of redress for bad quality coal was also discussed; the Board will try to simplify the procedure for dealing with complaints by merchants and consumers. Further meetings are being arranged.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the figures showing the number of dwelling houses in Glamorganshire, Monmouthshire and Carmarthenshire, which are situated on land known to be undermined or liable to be undermined by colliery workings statutorily notified by previous owners to the Ministry of Mines and the Home Office.

In the coalfields in these three counties, there are about 250,000 dwelling houses which might conceivably be affected now or in the future by mining subsidence. How many are, in fact, in danger, it is impossible to say.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the estimated cost of compensating owners of dwelling-houses for damage caused by subsidence, if the date for making repairs or payments in respect of subsidence damage was altered from 1st January, 1947, to 1st January, 1940.

I regret that I have not enough information to justify me in making the estimate for which my hon. Friend has asked.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to state the figures showing the number of dwelling-houses which have sustained damage from coal mining subsidence during the years ending 31st December, 1939, to 31st December, 1949; the number of cases in which compensation has been paid or repairs executed by the colliery owners working coal seams beneath the areas of subsidence; and the estimated annual cost of compensation or repairs to dwelling-houses and land if all claims in each of the foregoing years had been acknowledged.

I regret that I have not the information which would enable me to tell my hon. Friend how many dwelling-houses were damaged between 1st January, 1939, and 31st December, 1949, or in how many cases repairs were done or compensation paid. I regret that I cannot, therefore, give him the estimate for which he asks.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is satisfied that all reasonable steps are being taken in the sphere of education in the mining industry, especially on the subject of industrial relationships, since the closing down of the Nuneaton Staff College.

Yes. I am satisfied that the National Coal Board are pursuing a progressive policy for the education and training of their employees. Arrangements have been or are being made by the divisional boards to provide courses like those previously given at the Nuneaton Staff College. Some boards have already arranged courses on industrial relationships for the secretaries of colliery consultative committees.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of men in the South Wales coalfield who, having been granted assessments in respect of pneumoconiosis under the Industrial Injuries Act since 5th July, 1948, have continued employment in the mining industry.

Up to the end of 1949, the number was 2,671, including approximately 300 employed on the colliery surface.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will grant an increase of petrol to overseas visitors who purchase a second-hand car or hire a car from a friend.

As my hon. Friend is perhaps aware, I propose to double the present allowance of 250 miles motoring to overseas visitors who borrow cars or purchase them second-hand during their visit to this country. I regret that, for the present, I cannot consider any further increase.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of persons now employed on all work required in connection with petrol coupons, and the annual cost to the taxpayer, including the rent for their office accommodation.

1,862 civil servants are employed in my Department on petrol rationing, and 480 in the Ministry of Transport. The annual cost of their salaries is approximately £785,000. The cost of accommodation, postage and stationery is borne by the Departments responsible for common services, but it is estimated to be about £200,000. The cost for Northern Ireland is £62,000, but I do not know the numbers of their staff.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power on what date his Nottingham office received an application from a lady, whose name has been supplied to him, at Holbeach, Lincolnshire, for additional petrol to visit her husband at Bracebridge Heath Hospital; when this application was answered; and why the petrol was not made available to this lady, in view of the fact that her application was supported by a doctor's certificate.

As the hon. Member has, I believe, already learnt from my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, petrol has been granted to this lady which will enable her to travel by car to see her husband once a week. I must express my sincere regret that, at first, the lady's circumstances were not fully understood, and that in consequence, this allowance of petrol was delayed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the Argentine Government are not renewing permits to reside abroad to British citizens in receipt of pensions from Argentine railway companies, as indicated in the correspondence sent to him; and if he will make representations to the Argentine Government on behalf of these men.

Yes, but I have no reason to believe that there is a permanent stoppage. His Majesty's Ambassador in Buenos Aires has made repeated representations to the Argentine authorities on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what treaties are His Majesty's Government bound to take into consideration when considering applications from Israel for the supply of military equipment.

His Majesty's Government have naturally to take into consideration the implications of the treaties concluded with Iraq in 1930, with Egypt in 1936, and with Jordan in 1946, the latter being revised in 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what requests have been made recently by Jordan for a Royal Air Force training mission; and what has been the decision with regard to these requests.

Requests were made last year by the Jordan Government for assistance in training personnel in flying and maintenance of aircraft. In accordance with our Treaty obligation, this request was met by sending to Amman one flight-lieutenant and two senior N.C.Os. to give instruction in flying and maintenance of aircraft. This is, of course, not an R.A.F. training mission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what types and how many of each type of aircraft have been delivered to each of the Middle East Arab States since the lifting of the arms embargo; and what is the balance in types and numbers of each contract remaining to be delivered.

It would not be in accordance with usual practice to supply detailed information of this kind. A certain number of civil aircraft have been supplied to private firms in Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, and some are being supplied to Israel and Syria. Small numbers of fighter and bomber aircraft have been supplied to Egypt, and a small number of fighters to Iraq. No military aircraft have been supplied to any other country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the estimated value of British assets in China at the time of recognition of the Communist Government; and what are they estimated to be worth now.

As indicated in a reply given on 24th October, 1949, the value in 1941 of the direct British business investment in China represented by physical properties, excluding shipping, was estimated in 1947 at about £124 million. No more recent figures are available, and I am therefore not in a position to give an estimate of their present value. Excluding war losses, which have been assessed at about £14 million, these assets remain in being. Their long-term value will depend, of course, on the future development of China's internal economy and external trading policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what amount each of the countries of the Commonwealth will contribute to the proposed loan to Burma.

Commonwealth contributions to the total of £6 million will be: United Kingdom, £3¾ million; India, £1 million; Australia,£½ million; Pakistan, £½ million; Ceylon, £¼ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will approach the United States Information Service with a view to loaning the exhibit "America, 1950" so that it can be shown at Charing Cross Underground Station or other suitable space to give Londoners and visitors a more accurate impression of American life than is displayed in the average Hollywood film shown here.

I understand that the exhibition to which the hon. Member refers, while admirably designed, is on a very modest scale and is hardly suitable for display at Charing Cross Underground Station or on any other such central site. My Department has, however, been in touch with the United States Information Service in the matter and it is hoped to arrange a further showing of the exhibition elsewhere in the London area.

asked the hon. Member for Bristol, North-East, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, why the prices of most of the individual dishes were substantially increased in the Members' Dining Room on Tuesday, 2nd May, 1950, in addition to an increase of 6d. in the price of the table d'hote lunch.

I am informed that three items only, the poultry dishes, were increased by 6d. each. The luncheon price was altered from 5s. Od. to 6s. Od. to include the 6d. guest charge and the 6d. surcharge that was previously made on this meal in the Harcourt and Strangers' Dining Rooms. Therefore, in the two guest dining rooms the total charge remains the same, and in the Members' Dining Room the extra charge for this meal is 6d. This was done to bring the price into line with the cost in serving poultry.

asked the Attorney-General when the first stage of the legal aid scheme will be brought into operation.

As I stated in reply to a written Question by the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Baker White) on 18th April, it is hoped to bring into force on 1st October that part of the Legal Aid and Advice Act which has not been deferred and, before that date, to provide the public with full information as to how to apply for legal assistance in the classes of litigation which the provisions of the Act will then cover.

asked the Attorney-General when he expects to receive the report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the subject of leasehold reform.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas) and Leicester, North-West (Mr. Janner), on 24th April.

asked the Minister of Food if he will allocate more sugar to large and small manufacturers of soft drinks, particularly where they can show increased turnover since the datum year.

No. My right hon. Friend has no sugar available at present for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to the danger to consumers of strawberries which have recently been sprayed by one of the new insecticides based on the organic phosphorous compound parathion; and what steps he proposes to take to see that strawberries imported from the Continent during June and July are safe so far as this consideration is concerned.

Yes. I understand that the results of the research done on this compound show that so long as it is used on strawberries in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturers there is no danger to consumers. Medical officers of health at sea and air ports already have general powers to examine foodstuffs on arrival and to submit for condemnation any considered to be unwholesome or unfit for human consumption. My right hon. Friend is considering, in consultation with his scientific advisers, whether it is necessary to give these officers special advice about imported strawberries.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the anxiety caused to strawberry growers in this country by his decision to permit the import of 2,500 tons of foreign strawberries in June and July; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure adequate stability of the market for British growers of strawberries.

The production of strawberries in this country is never enough to meet the demand and I have no reason to think that these arrangements, which have been agreed by the Agricultural Departments after consulting the growers' organisations, will upset the market for British growers.

asked the Minister of Food the total cost of the recent issue of new ration books; and if he will give particulars of the cost of the number of persons employed, for how long, including overtime, and the cost of printing and paper.

Ration book distribution began on 17th April and will continue until 20th May. I therefore cannot give the final cost, but I estimate that it will be about £675,000. Of this sum the cost of casual staff (taken on for three to five weeks) will be about £320,000 including overtime, and that of printing and paper about £150,000. Other expenses include the pay of regular staff temporarily used on this work and the cost of advertising and extra accommodation.

asked the Minister of Food why he has dropped his Department's price to soya bean producers from £34 a ton to £30 a ton, but maintains the selling price to United Kingdom manufacturers at £59 a ton.

It should not be assumed that the bulk of our purchases of soya beans are made at the prices quoted by the hon. Member. The selling price to manufacturers is under review.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the great quantity of plums grown in Kent in 1949 that it did not pay the farmers to pick off the trees; and what steps he proposes to take to enable the farmers to dispose of their crops this year.

My information is that there was no abnormal waste of plums last year and that the total supplies were not above average. As the hon. Member will have seen from the statement published in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 29th March, imports of plums this year will be limited during our main production season.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give the total quantity of plums imported in 1949 from all countries other than the Empire, either fresh, tinned, bottled or preserved; and what arrangements he has made for importing such plums this year.

Thirteen thousand three hundred and twenty-six tons of plums of all kinds (excluding prunes) were imported from all sources other than Commonwealth countries in 1949. This quantity does not include imports of unsweetened preserved plums (other than dried), plum pulp and frozen plums, details of which are not available in the Trade and Navigation Accounts.Imports of fresh plums and certain processed kinds are now permitted under open general licence from all countries except Eastern Europe and a few other countries excluded for balance of payments reasons. The open general licence for fresh plums will, however, be suspended from 16th July to 30th September; from 16th July until 15th August imports will be limited to 6,000 tons from all sources and from that date until 30tb September they will be entirely prohibited. These arrangements are, however, subject to review in the light of the size of the home crop.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider bringing to an end the publications known as "Food Leader News" in view of the fact that those who acted as leaders during the war are of the opinion that their usefulness is passed, and that a considerable amount of public money would be saved if these publications were brought to an end.

I can assure the hon. Lady that the 23,000 public-spirited women who are food leaders today do not agree that this leaflet is no longer useful.

asked the Minister of Food what steps are being taken by his Department to obtain an adequate supply of imported canned fruits, such as pears, apricots, pineapple and peaches; how many cases will be available of each variety; and when.

We have already made arrangements to get as much as possible of the coming season's exportable surplus from Australia, South Africa, Malaya, the Gold Coast and Formosa, and we are now discussing grapefruit with Jamaica and British Honduras. At least two million cases of canned fruits (about 40,000 tons) should arrive during 1950, but I cannot say accurately how this will be divided between the different varieties.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is prepared to reconsider applications for licences to open fish-and-chip shops that have been previously refused; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. We shall be announcing very shortly the detailed arrangements for a further relaxation of the licensing of these shops.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that cabbage, for growing which the farmer gets 4½d. per lb., is sold in shops at ls. per lb.; and whether he will prevent this and similar discrepancies between the basic price of vegetables and their price in shops by reintroducing price controls.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 1st May to my hon. Friends the Members for West Ham, North (Mr. A. Lewis) and Willesden, West (Mr. Viant).

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the total supply of rationed food is allocated to commercial caterers, industrial canteens and schools, respectively.

The proportion of total supplies of rationed foods for civilian consumption, excluding those for manufacture, allocated to all catering establishments in 1949 was just over 10½ per cent., of which 4½ per cent. was taken by industrial canteens, 1¼ per cent. by day schools, 4 per cent. by commercial caterers and the remainder by other kinds of establishments.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that in many instances housewives still are not able to check the prices charged for meat, bacon and fish as such prices are not conspicuously exhibited in shops or on stalls; and whether he will now take steps to ensure that such goods should be priced by means of sign or label on individual goods.

As my right hon. Friend told my hon. Friend the Member for Northfield (Mr. Blackburn) on 13th March and my hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mrs. Mann) on 3rd May, we are unwilling to make it compulsory to use price tickets because we do not think this is always practicable. We are, however, asking retailers to use them wherever possible.

asked the Minister of Food if he will take steps to enforce the use by all retail butchers of price tickets.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Northfield (Mr. Blackburn) on 13th March. The various organisations representing the retail meat trade have been asked to advise all their members to put price tickets on joints offered for sale ready cut.

asked the Minister of Food whether, following the abolition of price limits in restaurants, he will make regulations directing that menus and prices be displayed outside all restaurants.

No. This is often done but it is not the sort of action which should be made compulsory by regulation.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now consider reducing the number of points required to buy I lb. of syrup and ½ lb. of semi-sweet biscuits, in view of the fact that they use up the whole of the month's ration of points.

My right hon. Friend will be considering points values in the further review he intends to make of the points rationing scheme. But I must remind the House that the amount of food which can be bought within the points rationing scheme is determined by the supplies available, and points values are only a measure of this.

asked the Minister of Food how much sugar is imported from European countries; and from which countries.

None this year.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now consider allowing people to use their personal points, now used for buying sweets, for extra sugar.

I cannot yet add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 22nd March to my hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mrs. Mann), but we hope to make an announcement about sugar soon.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he proposes to take to estimate the increased cost of distributing the main items of food as a result of the increased cost of petrol on commercial vehicles; and on what date it is anticipated he will be able to give figures in this connection.

No special investigation will be made. In accordance with our usual practice any increased costs will automatically be taken into account when the distribution margins of price-controlled foodstuffs are reviewed.

asked the Minister of Food if he is satisfied that the allocation of tinplate to the canning industry is sufficient to enable all the fruit, vegetables, etc., allocated to it by his Department to be put into containers.

Apart from a small quantity of dried beans, for which there is enough tinplate, my Department allocates no fruit or vegetables to the canning industry.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that, prior to the war, substantial quantities of cream were produced in Cornwall for consumption in and out of the county; and if he will take steps to include Cornwall amongst those parts of the country he permits to produce cream.

This will be borne in mind in the discussions now being held with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will give adequate notice of his decision to allow the manufacture and production of cream to those concerned, so that they may obtain the necessary containers to put it on the market.

My right hon. Friend will give as much notice as he can.

asked the Minister of Food how the supplies of offal to the London area compare with other parts of the country; and whether there is any prospect of an early improvement in these supplies.

Offal is distributed in proportion to butchers' buying permits so that people all over the country can get a fair share. There will be at least a temporary improvement in supplies during the year.

asked the Minister of Food if he will take steps to ensure that the London area receives its full allocation of home-killed meat, so that London housewives can be assured of a fair share of the higher quality produce.

London receives as much fatstock as can be slaughtered in the London area, together with large quantities of home-produced meat brought in from other parts of the country. But it would not be practicable to distribute the same proportion of home-killed meat in London as, for example, in the North of Scotland. This variation existed, of course, before the war in all areas. London ate a higher proportion of imported meat before the war.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage of flour is now treated by means of chlorine dioxide or by agents other than nitrogen trichloride which, it is now accepted, causes epileptiform seizures in some animals; and when will nitrogen trichloride cease to be used altogether.

The exact percentage is not known but it is less than 10 per cent. In reply to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. D. Marshall) on 3rd April.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that many of the bacon factories in the country are still working below capacity because of the lack of labour or the lack of permission to cure ham and bacon in the way for which they were laid out; and what action he proposes to take to deal with these two matters.

Yes, but these are factories which specialised in ham curing and our supplies are not yet large enough to employ them for that purpose.

asked the Minister of Food when he proposes to restore the weight of the two-pound loaf.

No decision has been made. An increase in the weight of the loaf would probably lead to an increased use of flour which it is still desirable to avoid.

asked the Minister of Food if he will publish a list of commodities covered by food subsidies and against them the subsidies paid in 1948–49 and 1949–50 for imported food and home-produced food respectively.

The following is the list:

asked the Minister of Food if he will give details of the application of the £164 million paid from the food subsidy account to cheapen consumers? prices in respect of imported food.

The details of the estimated subsidies on imported food in 1950–1951 are as follows:

asked the Minister of Food whether he will increase the soap ration to those employed in coal delivery.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the improved supply of soap, he will now consider making the children's special soap ration available for children above the age of two years.

My right hon. Friend has the claims of such special groups as these much in mind, but would prefer to increase soap supplies for everybody. This will be done as soon as possible, but I must not lead the House to suppose that it can be done at once.

asked the Minister of Supply on what Government business were two official motorcars, a Humber Hawk, JXX 364, and a Vauxhall, JGF 268, driven by uniformed drivers, engaged when they attended the Pendle Forest and Craven Harriers Point-to-Point at Sawley on Saturday, 29th April.

These cars were used to convey a party of Swedish journalists, who were invited by His Majesty's Government to visit this country to study the British way of life in all its aspects. They had already visited factories, local authorities and newspaper offices in the West Riding and made a special request to visit this sporting event.

asked the Minister of Supply when he will be able to announce the decision of His Majesty's Government with regard to the coming into force of the nationalisation of the steel industry, in view of the difficulty of the industry in raising money for extension of plant while uncertainty on this matter continues.

I am unable to add to the Government statements made during the Debate on the Address in March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is prepared at an early date to meet in London delegates from the Scottish National Assembly to hear the views of this body on matters affecting self-government for Scotland.

So far I have received no request for a meeting on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has been able to provide, in full, all requirements by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board during 1949, of cable and poles for the distribution of elecricity.

There were difficulties in regard to supplies of timber poles during the first nine months of 1949, but since then the position has steadily improved and present requirements are being met in full. Supplies of cable in 1949 were adequate, but there were some delays in actual delivery. These difficulties have now been overcome.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the basis on which allocation of timber and steel is made as between respective Government Departments; and the percentage of the gross total that was allocated to England and Wales and Scotland, respectively, for housing purposes in 1949.

Allocation of timber and steel to Government Departments is based on the needs and relative importance in the national economy of the various uses which they sponsor. I am advised by my right hon. Friends who are responsible for housing that, of the total supplies allocated to Departments in 1949, 33⅓ per cent. of the softwood and 1.2 per cent. of the steel, of which housing is a small user, were provided for housing purposes in Great Britain. The distribution as between England and Wales and Scotland was in the proportion of 6 to I in the case of softwood and 5 to 1 in the case of steel.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what claims have been made on His Majesty's Government under Article 7 (b) of the Anglo-Israeli Financial Agreement; and what is the anticipated total of claims which will have to be dealt with under this part of the Agreement.

The Anglo-Israel Financial Agreement has only recently been signed, and although a number of claims of various types have been received it is not possible at this stage to say which of these fall to be dealt with under Article 7 (b) of that Agreement. It is not expected that the total of such claims will amount to any substantial sum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether persons who are emigrating permanently to Australia and retaining no domicile or other property in this country can be permitted to encash their post-war credit certificates before leaving; and, if not, by what means they will be notified when the time for encashment arrives.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No," except where the emigrant has already reached the age of 65 in the case of a man or 60 in the case of a woman. As regards the second part of the Question, no special notification is given under the present scheme for repayment to elderly people: but an emigrant would be well advised to notify his address abroad to the inspector of taxes named on his latest post-war credit certificate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the position in the discussions with the Argentine.

No, not while negotiations are in progress.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is able to announce the steps he proposes to take to implement the recommendation contained in the Report of the Technical Committee on Petrol Stations which sat under the chairmanship of Lord Waleran of Uffculme.

I have been collecting the views of interested organisations, and the matter requires considerable further examination.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the interruption of intercommunication between the villages of Aldingbourne, Oving, Tangmere and Yapton in West Sussex resulting from the closing of the public highway across Tangmere aerodrome; and what steps he is taking to relieve the inconvenience thereby caused to the inhabitants of the neighbourhood.

I am aware that inconvenience is caused by the closing of the highways crossing Tangmere airfield. Agreement has been reached between the Air Ministry and local authorities on the line of an alternative new route which will connect Aldingbourne, Oving and Tangmere, and I am about to give public notice of my intention to close the roads permanently. I hope to authorise work on the new road and on improving certain existing highways as soon as the order is made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the omnibus service from Southend to the ferry at Wallasea Bay stops at a point two miles from the ferry on Sundays on the grounds that the road is unsafe; and what steps he proposes to take to enable communications in this area to be substantially improved in the near future.

The county surveyor asked that heavy traffic on the two miles of the road from Loftman's Corner to Wallasea Bay should be restricted as much as possible for fear of breaking up the foundations of the road. Four workmen's bus services must be allowed to pass over this section on weekdays for essential purposes, but other bus services are restricted to four return jounneys on Mondays to Fridays and three on Saturdays. Other weekday services and all services on Sundays terminate at Loftman's Corner. Improvement of the road would be expensive and would not be justified in present circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made towards producing a workable definition of the utility type of motor car which will ensure that vehicles, other than those used wholly or mainly for the carriage of goods, will be exempted from the general 30 miles per hour speed limit.

I have considered a number of definitions, none of which has proved suitable, and am now looking at further alternatives. I am hopeful that I will shortly be able to find one which is satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the urgent need for omnibus shelters, particularly in rural areas; and whether he will give local authorities the power to erect these shelters either by regulation or by further legislation.

Many local authorities have powers under their local Acts to erect shelters on the highway, but legislation would be required to confer general powers. I hope to deal with this matter when opportunity offers for oppropriate legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the nuisance being caused along the coast of North Cornwall by the pollution of its beaches by oil discharged from ships; and whether he will take urgent steps to stop it, in view of the approaching holiday season.

I have received no recent complaints of oil pollution in the North Cornwall area. The discharge of oil within British territorial waters is an offence under the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1922, and I do not hesitate to prosecute whenever I obtain adequate evidence. Outside territorial waters the problem requires the co-operation of the principal maritime nations, but shipowners of this and a number of other countries have agreed not to discharge oil within 50 miles of any coast, and from time to time our owners are reminded of this and asked to prevent its happening within that limit.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give further consideration to the request of the Surrey County Council, the Mitcham Borough Council and the Urban District Council of Merton and Morden to allow the erection of a footbridge over the River Wandle alongside the existing Bishopford Bridge on the Tooting-Reigate-Hookwood Road, A. 217, at a total cost to his Department of £600, seeing that his divisional road engineer reports that the provision of a footpath at this bridge is eminently desirable and that all the three authorities named deem such provision urgently necessary in the interests of road safety.

Yes, provided that the scheme is included in the county council's list of priority works to be undertaken with the limited amount of grant that can be made available to them for such purposes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the need for improvement in the Cardiff transport service; and, in particular, whether he will take steps to provide a through service from the district of Ely to the centre of the city.

The provision of bus services is a matter for the operators subject to the licensing control exercised by the licensing authority for public service vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has made to the Traffic Commissioners and licensing authorities that, when considering applications for new or additional bus and coach services, they should regard as an adverse factor the resultant increased consumption of imported fuel.

The chairman of the licensing authority for public service vehicles, as regional transport commissioner, is responsible for the fuel rationing of public service vehicles and has been enjoined to secure reasonable economy. I have not given any general directions under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, to the licensing authorities on this subject. The Act requires them, when considering applications for road service licences, to have regard, among other matters, to the extent to which a proposed service is necessary or desirable in the public interest and the need for saving fuel is a factor which they can take into account. I am satisfied, however, that in accordance with the Act, they regard the need for the proposed service as the main consideration. Fuel would not be withheld for a necessary service.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the last Report by the London and Home Counties Advisory Committee to the effect that there are still substantial arrears of road maintenance to be overtaken, many stretches of roads where surface conditions are exceptionally bad and that it is highly important' to expedite the rate of re-surfacing, both in the interests of road safety and vehicle maintenance; and what steps he proposes to take to meet these recommendations.

Yes, and I am satisfied that so far as their limited resources permit the highway authorities concerned are making the best arrangements possible to meet the needs. In the London traffic area, as elsewhere, the rate of expenditure on road maintenance is at present governed by the necessity of limiting capital investment throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made by the British Transport Commission in the introduction of area schemes for road passenger transport as provided for in the Transport Act, 1947; and what are the reasons for delay.

The British Transport Commission submitted to me at the end of January a scheme prepared in accordance with Section 63 of the Transport Act, 1947, relating to the northern area of England, and I have this scheme under examination. The Commission have not submitted to me a scheme for any other area. The Act requires the Commission to consult local authorities and other persons concerned before submitting a scheme to me, and the preparation of schemes and their examination is necessarily a complicated and lengthy matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cars were stolen in England and Wales during 1950; how many were stolen in the Greater London area; and if he will state in each case the percentage recovered.

During the first three months of 1950, 3,615 vehicles were reported to the police as stolen in England and Wales, including 1,395 in the Metropolitan Police district. No exact information is yet available as to the percentages recovered, but they are very high.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will be responsible for the traffic arrangements prior to and during the 1951 Exhibition; whether any special arrangements are contemplated; and what steps are being taken to prevent further congestion of the main thoroughfares in the vicinity.

Apart from any general orders which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport may make under Section 4 of the Public Works (Festival of Britain) Act, 1949, the police will have their normal general responsibility for the control of traffic, and Section 4 (9) of the Act empowers the Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis and the City of London to make regulations for routes to be observed and for preventing obstruction at any time whilst the Exhibition is open. I have no doubt that the two Commissioners of Police are fully alive to the serious traffic problems which may arise and, in addition to special road works which the highway authorities have at present in hand, proposals for the necessary parking arrangements and the routing of traffic are under the Commissioners' consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the feedingstuff coupons issued by the county agricultural executive committees, are allocated through the committees' discretionary reserves; and what is the proportion of the total issue to farmers and others which is not being taken up at the present time.

For the 12 months ending 31st March, 1950, approximately 7½ per cent. of the coupon issue was from the discretionary reserves. Figures to date suggest that the number of coupons cashed in the three months January to March was slightly in excess of the number issued for that period. Coupons remain valid for a period of two months, and the excess would be accounted for by December coupons being cashed in January. No doubt the bulk of the March coupons were cashed during the month in view of the increase in prices on 1st April.

asked the Lord President of the Council what arrangements are to be made for the catering facilities at the Festival of Britain Fun Fair in Battersea Park; and whether he is satisfied that they will be adequate.

I take it that the hon. Member's Question refers to the whole of the Festival Gardens at Batter-sea Park, and not to the small part of these Gardens which will contain the so-called "Fun-Fair."All arrangements for the Festival Gardens will be made by the Festival Gardens Ltd., a Company which has been specially formed for this purpose, the Chairman of which is Sir Henry French. Detailed arrangements for catering have not yet been settled, and it will be some time before I am able to make a statement.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will consider introducing a cost-of-living bonus to the present scale of old age pensions, and so help to overcome the present financial difficulties of pensioners.

It would be impracticable to introduce a cost-of-living bonus into a contributory insurance scheme. Any pensioner who finds his basic pension inadequate for his needs can apply for supplementation to the National Assistance Board, whose scales, as the hon. Member is aware, are now being increased.

asked the Minister of Education who will be the United Kingdom delegates to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Conference at Florence.

The delegates to the Fifth Session of the General Conference of Unesco will be:

Mr. D. R. Hardman, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education (who will lead the Delegation); General Sir Ronald Adam, Bt., G.C.B., D.S.O., C.B.E., Chairman, The British Council; Sir Henry French, G.B.E. K.C.B., Director-General, British Film Producers' Association; Dr. J. S. Huxley, F.R.S., First Director-General of Unesco; Professor Sir Charles Webster, K.C.M.G., F.B.A., Stevenson Professor of International History, London School of Economics.

asked the Minister of Education if he will arrange for the question of an increase of the pay of teachers to be submitted to an appropriate independent tribunal.

As I have already stated, negotiations in regard to salary scales for teachers are expected to open in the near future. This is the function of the committees which have been set up under Section 89 of the Education Act, 1944, and it would not be appropriate for me to intervene at this juncture in the manner suggested.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give the approximate percentage of classes in Government-aided schools in which the numbers of pupils exceed the number announced as desirable; and how many new rooms or schools would be required to correct this situation.

In January, 1949, the latest date for which information is available, registrations in about 40 per cent. of the classes in maintained primary and secondary schools in England and Wales exceeded 30 in nursery classes, 40 in junior and infant classes, and 30 in senior classes. It is estimated that if all pupils could be registered in clasess not exceeding these totals, about 11,500 additional classrooms would be required. Owing, however, to the uneven distribution of the school population throughout the country the actual requirement of additional classrooms would be greater than this.As I explained in the answer I gave on 4th May, 1950, to questions by the hon. and gallant Members for Wembley, North (Wing Commander Bullus) and Norfolk, Central (Brigadier Medlicott), in a number of cases, particularly in secondary schools, children are taught in smaller classes than are assembled for registration.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why he ended the arrangement under which Royal Air Force units were allowed to buy fresh fruit and vegetables from local growers.

The arrangement was introduced early in the last war as a result of the special circumstances that then existed, to enable units to obtain fresh fruit and vegetables from local growers who held surpluses, and during the war years served a useful purpose. The scheme, however, gave rise to difficulties, particularly in obtaining a regular flow of supplies, either from local producers or from the N.A.A.F.I. Now that marketing has become easier it has been decided that the needs of the R.A.F. would be met more satisfactorily by using the N.A.A.F.I. fruit and vegetable buying and distributing organisation. Wherever practicable, the N.A.A.F.I. meet the requirements of R.A.F. stations by buying from local producers.