asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he proposes to improve both the quality and quantity of coal supplied to domestic users in the Shrewsbury area.

As I said in answer to a recent Question, the supply and quality of coal for household use is now under urgent consideration. I am informed that the district and regional house coal officers have not received any representations from the merchants in the Shrewsbury area about a shortage of supplies. I am advised that the complaints from consumers received by the local fuel overseer were satisfactorily dealt with within a day or two.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that for several months now the ration, or the permitted amount, has not been honoured and, as far as quality is concerned, since the recategorisation by the Coal Board, what should be "National Coal Board best" is nothing more than third-class rubble? When the right hon. Gentleman talks about there being no complaints, he is quite inaccurate.

I have told the House repeatedly that the National Coal Board, after conversations with me, are taking steps to improve both the quantity and quality of the coal. [HON. MEMBERS: "When?"] Of course we cannot get results in a fortnight.

What is the right hon. Gentleman's estimate of the time that will be required before improvements can be made?

I cannot give an estimate, but I hope it may be fairly soon.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether it is possible to keep this opencast coal away from domestic users?

That has nothing to do with this Question, which merely deals with Shrewsbury.

Some of the opencast coal is suitable for domestic use but some of it is certainly not suitable and the Coal Board hope to withdraw it.

In view of the inadequate and inaccurate answer, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter again on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to avoid delivery of non-combustible material in coal supplies; and if, in view of the particulars sent to him concerning Mr. Parsons, 66, Town-court Crescent, Petts Wood, he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the complaints in Caernarvonshire, particularly the town of Caernarvon, about the poor quality of the coal that is supplied; and if he will take action to remedy the position.

In reply to a Question on Monday last, I described the action which has been taken to improve the quality of household coal. I also said that the question of redress for bad quality coal is under review; the National Coal Board have discussed the matter with the coal merchants, and they are trying to simplify the procedure for dealing with complaints, both by merchants and customers.

Is the Minister aware that owing to the recent rise of 5s. a ton, consumers will now have their proportion of expenditure increased because they have to pay 5s. a ton extra for all this slate and slurry which is included in their ration?

I am hoping that the quality will be improved. Perhaps I might say to the hon. Member that I have read the correspondence he sent from Mr. Parsons. I think Mr. Parsons had a genuine difficulty and I hope that the simplified procedure which may emerge from these discussions may help in cases like this, but in general the present procedure has worked well.

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that nearly all these complaints with which he is bombarded would disappear if he would abandon opencast coal mining and get down to deep-mined coal?

No sir. If we did that, we would simply have an industrial crisis on a major scale.

asked the Minister of fuel and power what is the reason for the present shortage of coal on Merseyside

The cold weather after Easter greatly increased the orders for household coal given to merchants by their customers; at that period of the year, the merchants' stocks are at their lowest point; the Easter holidays reduced the supplies of coal coming forward from the mines; supplies in Lancashire have been further affected by a stoppage at the Mossley Common Colliery at the end of April.

Does not the Minister appreciate that these short deliveries mean that people on Merseyside have not got adequate fuel? Will he take steps to see that the reason for this failure of the National Coal Board are fully explained to the public in Liverpool?

I hope that my answer will explain the reasons. I hope, too, that the hon. Member will advise any of his constituents who have difficulties to go to the local fuel overseer, who can usually help in a day or two.

If my right hon. Friend says there is a shortage of coal, why is he proposing to close down Moston colliery in Lancashire which employs, and can usefully employ for many scores of years, five or six hundred men?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to put that question down, and I will deal with it.

Does the Minister mean by his original reply that the distribution of coal is not planned on the assumption that it is a little colder in winter than in summer?

No, Sir, certainly not. A number of contributing causes occurred together this year and unfortunately supplies were not adequate over the whole country to meet the needs of that time. It was due to many causes.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps were taken this year by the regional petroleum officer to ascertain that Hallin, in the Isle of Skye, was adequately served with car-hire facilities; and whether he or a deputy visited the district to ascertain the conditions at first hand.

In view of the need for economy in administration, my officers have had instructions not to make long journeys, or to be away from their regional headquarters, unless there is some useful purpose to be served. The evidence already available shows that there is no need for more hire cars at the village of Hallin, which already has three such cars, and a fourth car not far away.

Does the Minister realise, in the first place, how important transport is to these remote regions? In the second place, does he not think it is most important to ascertain at first hand the conditions actually obtaining in these districts? Further, is he aware that in the Hallin peninsula there are three cars which are all very busy?

I do realise the importance of transport. Therefore, I went into this matter very carefully and I discovered that not one of these four cars—the fourth is only two and a half miles from Hallin—is at present taking the maximum allowance for car-hire work, and none has asked for an increase. It is plain that with the existing cars adequate service is being given and more could be done without adding a fifth car.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give the names and addresses of the 17 applicants on the regional petroleum officer's waiting list who have a prior claim to establishing a car-hire service before Mr. Bain, of Hallin, Isle of Skye.

Applications for petrol allowances are regarded as confidential, and I regret, therefore, I cannot give the information asked for by the noble Lord.

Does the Minister realise that in the Hallin peninsula it is 20 miles from the nearest town of any size, and that to refuse a petrol application there is equivalent to refusing an application to someone in Windsor because there are taxis in London?

I think that the answer which I gave to the previous Question shows that there is not a need for further car-hire services in that area.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in connection with the petrol allowance to disabled and invalid persons, he will give the approximate total amount of petrol granted in respect of the period 1st January, 1950, to 30th March, 1950; and if the Government will now consider increasing the allowance to ease the burden which many of these people are experiencing.

The petrol allowances made to disabled persons and invalids vary according to the degree of disability of the applicant. They may be combined with allowances issued for business or other purposes. No separate record is kept of the coupons issued to disabled persons and to invalids and I regret, therefore, that I am unable to give the estimate for which the hon. Member has asked. I have no evidence of a need for any general increase in these allowances; but if the hon. Member has such evidence, I shall be glad to consider it, and if he will give me information about any cases of hardship of which he is aware, I will look into them at once.

Is the Minister aware that I have from his Midland regional office a file nearly a foot deep dealing with applications from disabled persons in the South Worcester area? Why is it that the Government are so unsympathetic and so lacking in understanding?

I think that the disabled persons, including disabled ex-Service men, have been dealt with very sympathetically, indeed generously. I have already said that if the hon. Member will send me the case he has in mind, I will look into it.

It is the greatest scandal in Britain.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what progress has been made in the Anglo-American oil negotiations.

The discussions are still going on, and it would therefore, I think, be unwise for me to make a statement about them today.

Does not the Minister think that, in view of the widespread rumours that are circulating with regard to these negotiations, it would be helpful if an authoritative statement as to their progress could be made, and does he not think that that would relieve the minds of the many important interests concerned?

I am sure that the hon. and gallant Member would not wish me to say anything that would cut across the discussions. After careful consideration, I think there is nothing useful that I can say today.

Can the Minister say when he might be in a position to make a statement in view of the fact that these negotiations are so important and that if they were really successful they might result in a big increase in the petrol ration or even the abolition of petrol rationing altogether?

Both the United States authorities and ourselves are most anxious to reach a result. I hope that may be soon, but I am afraid I cannot make a prediction.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what estimate he has made of the petrol that will be consumed by overseas visitors, other than those from Canada and the United States of America, during the year.

It is estimated that the petrol used in 1950 by overseas visitors, from countries other than Canada and the United States, will be about 12,000 or 13,000 tons.

Would the Minister consider giving a third more, as many of these overseas visitors are very aggrieved because people coming from the United States receive 33⅓ per cent. more petrol than they do? As it is a small amount, could the Minister give those visitors an extra third?

The hon. Member's question is the first adverse comment I have heard about the decision to give more petrol to dollar visitors than to others. I think it is generally understood how important it is to increase our dollar tourist traffic.

Does the Minister not realise that visitors from the Commonwealth—Malaya and elsewhere—are making just as large a contribution to the earning of dollars?

We have largely increased the allowances to visitors from the Commonwealth.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the percentage dollar content in imports of petrol from Bahrein, Kuwait, Qatar, Trucial Oman, British West Indies, Dutch West India Islands, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Venezuela, respectively.

I regret that it is impossible to calculate the dollar cost of petrol, as distinct from the dollar cost of the other oil products with which it is produced. It would be misleading to calculate the costs of an oil company's operations in one territory alone; most companies operate in many places, including some not mentioned by the hon. Member. In some of the territories which he does mention, the oil is produced by British companies; in others, by companies from the United States; in yet others, by both British and American companies. It is estimated that the average dollar content of oil produced by all British controlled companies is about 30 per cent. of its value; the average dollar cost of oil imported into the sterling area by United States companies is at present about 90 per cent.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the date on which his Department was first approached by the Anglo-American Oil Company in regard to the expansion of the Fawley refinery.

In August, 1946.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the value of the contracts held by British manufacturers which have been cancelled because of the inability of Middle East Pipelines, Limited, to secure wayleave rights from the Government of Iraq; and, in view of the serious effects of this cancellation, both to the main contractors and the subcontractors, if he will arrange for reconsideration of the decision to postpone construction of the pipeline until the autumn of this year and make the necessary representations in order to secure these wayleave rights.

I understand that Middle East Pipelines, Limited, have cancelled no contracts with the main contractors; but my hon. Friend will appreciate that I have no information about what the main contractors may have done with their sub-contractors. Middle East Pipelines must themselves decide if and when they will proceed with their plans; I regret that it does not lie with me to do what he asks.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that when last month Harland and Wolff of Belfast notified sub-contractors in my constituency and elsewhere that all work was to be suspended they asked for details of the storage charges on the assumption that work would be resumed in October, 1953? Surely Middle East Pipelines must have advised their subcontractors that they did not anticipate that they would be able to resume before that date?

I suppose that they must consider the political conditions of the region. I have no information other than that I understood that it had been postponed for a year, that is, from the autumn of last year until the autumn of 1950. I shall be glad to consider any information which my hon. Friend sends me.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will now arrange for the relaxation of the restrictions imposed at his request upon the supply of electricity to houses which have an alternative source of lighting where the existing facilities are unsatisfactory.

In any case where a householder would suffer hardship if electricity were not installed, the area board may, in their discretion, provide it. But unfortunately there is still a shortage of generating plant, and the amount of capital allocated to the development of electricity distribution has been reduced; in consequence, demand exceeds supply, and it is impossible to give electricity to all the householders who want it. For the present, therefore, priority must be given to industry, to farms, and to new houses which have no other means of lighting.

May I ask the Minister when he thinks he will be able to relax these regulations? Cannot he see that they are most unfair to the many people who put in applications years ago and who still see no chance of obtaining a supply of electricity, while there are new houses with many other amenities which have it?

I fully understand that and the grievances involved. It really depends on the scale of the capital investment programme.

asked the Minister of Food what information he has on the variety of cheeses available in the Shrewsbury area.

I believe that most of the ration in Shrewsbury consists of home produced Cheshire cheese and the rest mainly of New Zealand cheddar with small quantities of processed cheese and Canadian Cheshire. There is, of course, a wide selection of unrationed cheeses. The variety of these is so wide I cannot possibly list them.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give me some indication why the choice of rationed cheeses is so much less in Shrewsbury than in London?

My impression was to the contrary, and when I looked at the answer I began to worry about complaints from other parts of the country, including London.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is prepared to contribute to the loss sustained in an experiment to supply packed meals to farm workers in an area of East Suffolk which was started by the Women's Voluntary Service and National Farmers' Union with the encouragement of his Department.

My Department gave all the help it could to this particular scheme, as it does to similar schemes: but it cannot accept financial responsibility for them.

In view of the fact that the loss involved is only something under £5, and as the information obtained by the Ministry as a result of this experiment was most valuable, does not the Minister think that, as a matter of principle, he should contribute?

But Parliament has not voted me that particular £5. In any event, our relationship with the W.V.S. is quite friendly. In other aspects of the very valuable work they are doing, for which we are very grateful, they do in fact have cover, and on balance I think they feel that they are all right.

asked the Minister of Food what reduction in the staff of his Department has been made possible by his decision to withdraw the Meals in Establishments Orders; and what will be the consequent saving to public funds.

The operation of the Order has never required more than a few staff and the saving will, therefore, be negligible.

When the right hon. Gentleman uses the word "negligible ", does he mean there will be no reduction of staff or that there will be a small reduction? Will he say which?

The difficulty is that each of these particular changes which we make does not in itself dispense with a particular section of the staff. It is the overall effect of a large number of such changes. The total effect will be that the staff of our regional organisations will fall by over 5,000 in the six months ending 1st April this year, and that is the way we work it. On any particular aspect of change, it is impossible to measure the precise number of staff involved.

Can the Minister say whether that change leading up to 1st April this year has anything whatever to do with the revocation of an Order which was not revoked until some weeks afterwards?

It was anticipated.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider setting up a small committee to investigate the finances of the vegetable trade from the grower to the consumer, so that the public can know the costs incurred.

I do not think that a committee could provide any information which is not already available to the Government and now under examination.

Is not the Minister aware that very many housewives are unable to purchase vegetables and fruit owing to the very high prices, and does not he think consumers would welcome more information in this matter so that they could use their judgment as to when to follow his advice to hold off buying? Also, if there is some justification for the prices, is not it advisable that the public should know; and is not this a method of doing it?

We have a great deal of information about this matter. The question of publication does not, I think, arise at the moment. What is needed is action, and we are very concerned about that.

Would the Minister institute a weather planning department, and then this difficulty would not arise in the future?

Would the Minister consider it desirable, in order that the public might know the facts, that he should publish a statement of returns to the growers, because the vegetables they are now producing do not provide them with any reasonable profit on their production

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.

When the hon. Member asked me on 27th March about imports of plums from Czechoslokia, I assumed he referred to fresh plums and I am sorry if the information I then gave was inadequate.

While thanking the Minister for this rather belated explanation of a totally inaccurate and misleading answer to a Question, I think it very unfortunate that he did not do this and give the information nearly a month—certainly three weeks—ago. Is he aware that, as a result of his policy of importing plums of all sorts from other countries outside the Empire, many of the farmers in Kent had to leave their plums on the trees because they could not afford to pick them and lose money on them?

We have to balance all these considerations, but I am quite sure that our controls over the import of foreign plums are adequate.

Were these plums imported under open general licence or by his Department?

I should like to have notice of that question.

Can the Minister arrange with the farmers in Kent who are suffering great hardship to let the people of Bermondsey know, and we will come down and pick the plums ourselves?

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that this does not occur again? He imported 13,000 tons of plums last year and did the damage to our Kentish farmers on which I have remarked. Please do not do it again.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent it is his policy to charter Russian ships to carry food cargoes to Britain when British shipping is available.

To the extent required by normal commercial practice.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that owing to the difference in conditions, rates of pay and of taxation, it is most unreasonable to expect British tramps to compete with the Soviet-owned ships?

So far this year we have chartered only two Russian vessels.

Does not the Minister appreciate that in this matter he is not in the same position as an ordinary private trader, and that when he charters Soviet ships it is taken to be an act of policy on the part of the Government? Will he try to base his transactions upon that criterion?

I myself should like to keep politics out of this and to settle our requirements on purely commercial grounds.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the further representations made to him by the Urban District Councils' Association, he will reconsider his decision not to issue extra cheese rations to roadmen employed by urban district councils which have large rural areas.

I am now considering these further representations.;

In considering this matter, will the Minister try to use his common sense and not to be so bound up with red tape? Will he try to give consideration to these urban councils which have large rural areas?

I will go even further; I will use my common sense.

asked the Minister of Food what is the respective annual consumption of dollar-costing imported and home-produced breakfast foods; and what plans he has to increase the consumption of the latter.

Three thousand two hundred tons and 226,600 tons respectively for the year ending February, 1950. I think we had better let people decide for themselves whether they want to eat more home-produced breakfast foods.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is most desirable that people should eat home-produced wheat and cereal foods rather than these imported ones which cost dollars?

In these matters I believe in freedom of choice and not in thrusting food down people's throats.

Will the Minister say why he continues to subsidise these wheat foods and refuses to give any subsidy to oatmeal, which is far more nourishing?

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of "Food Facts" and other Departmental advertising is devoted to recommending home-produced foods and imported foods, respectively.

During 1949–50 the proportions were approximately three for home-produced to two imported.

Does the Minister think that that is a proper allocation of his advertising space, and should it not be his duty to encourage home-produced foods to a larger extent?

I think that on balance that is a fair allocation.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of a considerable demand for an alternative bread to standard loaf; and if he will allow bakers to meet this demand where it exists.

The present Order already provides for the manufacture of several alternatives to the national loaf.

Is the Minister aware that the "several alternatives" are very limited and that in most instances they amount to only one, and that is somewhat restricted?

Offhand, I should say that there are about 20 to 30 different varieties.

Is the Minister aware that flour millers are confident that they could produce a white loaf cheaper and better than the standard loaf today? Has he consulted any flour miller on this question?

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the hardships caused to housewives by the points reductions, he will indicate when the scheme will be reviewed in the light of complaints made.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the difficulties experienced by housewives throughout the country in connection with the recent reduction in the number of points from 24 to 16, as regards the number required for one tin of syrup and one pound of sultanas, the Government will consider down-pointing these two articles of food without further delay.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will reduce the points value of sweet biscuits and syrup in order to relieve the difficulties caused to mothers of young children due to the shortage of sugar.

As I have already told the House, I had these possible difficulties very much in mind when I announced the recent points changes, and I promised to review them after a month's experience. That review will be made, but I would rather not anticipate it now.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that there is a widespread feeling among housewives that, since the changes have been made, they have not been able to obtain fair supplies of rice, biscuits, syrup and other foods, as they could before; and that there is no compensating value in giving them goods they do not want? Will he give an assurance to the House that this position will be remedied?

I am fully aware of the difficulties. We foresaw them. This is an inevitable part of the unwinding of a complicated rationing system. We cannot have more points than there are goods available. That would be silly. It does not help to solve the problem merely to inflate the currency of points. I am aware of the difficulties, and I hope that the review which is about to take place will find an adequate solution.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that already, in less than three weeks, many shops are stocking much of the stuff that is on points which cannot be released because of the inadequate number of points available?

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now in a position to announce his proposals for permitting the sale of cream.

No, Sir, but I hope to be able to make a further statement very shortly, possibly next week.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman do it before the strawberry season comes on?

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the meat allocated to Suffolk butchers to meet the domestic ration is locally produced on Suffolk farms.

About half of the meat supplied to Suffolk butchers during the past month was produced or fattened on Suffolk farms.

Is the Minister aware that his statement will be received with astonishment by people in my part of the world, because their general view is that their ration has chiefly comprised ancient Argentinian cow?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will reduce the cost of 28s. 6d. for a military permit to visit the British zones of Germany or Austria, valid for more than 60 days, since this charge is in addition to that of 14s. 6d., the cost of a passport.

As the fee quoted by the hon. Member is not correct, I am circulating the correct figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT. While His Majesty's Government are generally in favour of reductions, I regret that I am unable to hold out the hope that these particular fees will be reduced.

Whatever the exact figure may be, is the Minister aware that it is rather hard on students, for example, to have to pay such a high fee, and is not it possible for them to get a stamp on their passport, like a visa, at a much lower cost?

I will consider that suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further information His Majesty's Government has about German military and para-military formation in the Eastern zone of Germany.

I have nothing to add at present to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Northfield (Mr. Blackburn) on 5th April. The existence of these illegal militarised formations is a factor which has inevitably entered into consideration during the recent tripartite discussions on German policy.

Does not the Minister consider that these forces are an entire flouting of international agreements, and does he not regard them as a menace?

In view of the fact that this matter has recently been discussed, I would prefer not to add anything to my reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been made by the West German Government to the Allied High Commission with regard to German prisoners of war and civilians detained in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; whether he has considered these representations; and what steps he proposes to take.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action it is proposed to take, in view of the German protests to the British and other Allied Commissioners, against the Russian announcement that all German prisoners in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have been released, at a time when a very large number of such prisoners are unaccounted for.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has received from the West German Government about the number of German prisoners of war and civilians in Russian hands; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement issued on 12th May, 1950, by the three Foreign Ministers on the repatriation of German prisoners of war from Soviet Russia. There is nothing I can usefully add to that statement.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell the House what is his estimate of the number of German prisoners who have died in Russia, and of how many are still alive there?

No, Sir. Owing to the lack of reliable information, no accurate estimates, either of the number of prisoners still in Russia or of those who have died there, can be made.

Cannot the Government give serious consideration to making a protest in the name of this country that will be to some extent the equivalent of the abhorrence with which the whole nation regards this behaviour?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman has not seen a statement made by the three Foreign Ministers?

I know that, but I want something more than that.

Is my hon. Friend aware that for several years hon. Members of the party opposite subscribed to the policy that most Huns were killable and few curable?

Does the hon. Gentleman really mean to tell the House that it is impossible to make any estimate of the number of prisoners who have been held by Russia and of the number who have been returned? Is that what he means the House to understand? [HON. MEMBERS: "Yes."] I did not ask you.

The hon. Gentleman was really referring to me when he said "I did not ask you."

I should be delighted to have your approval, Mr. Speaker, but I apologise for my misuse of language. May I now have the answer from the Minister?

Quite clearly, attempts are made, but we do not consider that any figures which might bear on the matter are sufficiently reliable to be taken into account.

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree, at any rate so far as our own zone in Germany is concerned, that we are responsible for this matter, because the Germans have no diplomatic representation, and it is our business to get the most accurate information if we can?

Here we have what I consider a vigorous statement issued by the three Foreign Ministers responsible for the government of Germany. That statement was issued as recently as 12th May, and I think that a little time should be given to see whether it brings any results.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the basic Control Commission law requiring the Governments of the German Länder to expropriate farmland, where farms exceeded a given size, is still in force.

A British Military Government Ordinance laid down the general lines on which agrarian reform should be carried out in the British zone and is still in force. Detailed legislation implementing the ordinance in the individual Länder is likewise in force.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what advantage there is in keeping these ordinances in force, in the face of informed agricultural opinion in Germany, unless it is the same as that referred to last week and is only to please hon. Members opposite?

No, Sir. This is a question of land reform in Germany, and we are not aware that the majority of the German population is by any means opposed to this one.

Does the hon. Gentleman not realise that this particular policy does not deserve the title of land reform, as it affects only a comparatively small number of farms in the British zone, and the land is not going to be sufficient to settle any large number of people? It is a purely political move and nothing else.

Can the hon. Gentleman think of any legal or moral justification for the use of the forces of an occupying Power for making what is a social arrangement?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that manufactures of German origin are becoming a serious menace to British exports, due to the low prices at which these are offered in foreign markets; and whether he will take steps to stop the export of such goods at artificially low prices.

I cannot agree with the hon. Member that German exports constitute a serious menace to our export trade. They would have to be increased many times before they represented in general a threat equivalent to the German prewar export rate. Nor can I agree, as a result of exhaustive inquiries within the High Commission, that prices are kept lower by artificial or unfair means. There is therefore no justification for action by the High Commission to interfere with the German export trade. Indeed a principal concern of the High Commission is to diminish Germany's dependence on external aid for which an increase of exports is necessary.

Will not the hon. Gentleman look at this very vital matter again, particularly from the point of view that German exports may be going to neighbouring countries, from which they are then exported again, for example, to Brazil, where I know that German competition is a very serious factor against our export trade? This is only the beginning. It should be looked at now and stopped.

Will the hon. Gentleman remember that the same reply was given by his predecessor four years ago about Japanese exports; and will he see that the same policy of waiting until it is too late is not again adopted?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that quite recently the Minister of Health stated that he had bought glassware in Germany in order to drive down prices in this country?

This matter has recently been gone into most carefully by the High Commission, who appointed a commission to investigate the matter. It has been concluded that, at the present time, there is no risk of this excessive competition.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) the number of cases in the last two years in which protests have been made to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and its associated countries in regard to the treatment of British nationals and employees at British embassies and consulates in those countries; and how many of those cases have been satisfactorily concluded;

I propose to circulate the required information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any information with regard to the present whereabouts of Mr. Lamerton, a British subject who disappeared in Budapest in early April last.

I am glad to be able to state that Mr. Lamerton is now in this country.

While noting that this gentleman has returned to this country—and we are glad of it—might I ask my hon. Friend what information was given by the Hungarian Government to the British Legation at the time he disappeared and what steps were taken to protect the gentleman?

We received no information from the Hungarian authorities, but His Majesty's Legation, having received information of the disappearance of this gentleman, persistently inquired of the Hungarian authorities as to his whereabouts.

What was the charge against him?

He was questioned for a considerable period, but no specific charge was made against Mr. Lamerton.

Is any apology being asked for?

We are making a protest to the Hungarian authorities on several grounds; first, that they forcibly expelled a British subject; secondly, that he was held incommunicado for several days; and, thirdly, that the Hungarian authorities persistently denied knowledge of the whereabouts of Mr. Lamerton.

Are we demanding compensation?

We are first making a protest.

As the Hungarians are vitally dependent on us as their chief market, why do we not hit them where they can understand it?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman is not aware that we suspended trade negotiations with Hungary as a reprisal for certain other acts of this kind.

I am not talking about negotiations, but about trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British journalists have been asked to leave European countries under Communist government; and which are the countries concerned.