asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the approximate number and the annual cost of the civil servants administering the rationing and issuing supplementary licences for petrol.

As I said in answer to a Question last Monday, 1,862 civil servants are employed in my Department on petrol rationing, and 480 in the Ministry of Transport. The cost of their salaries is about £785,000 a year. 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 what proportion of the total amount of petrol used in this country is red petrol.

About 60 per cent.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what proportion of the full amount of coal required to enable merchants to supply 30 cwt. per household has been supplied to coal merchants for the six months November, 1949, to April, 1950.

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, 30 cwt. of coal is not a ration which is guaranteed to the householder in the North during the winter, but is the limit up to which he may buy if the necessary supplies are available. During the six months November, 1949, to April, 1950, an average of 25.7 cwt. of coal was delivered to householders in the North. This was about the same as in the corresponding period a year ago. In addition, coke, ovoids and some other supplementary fuels have, this year, been freely available in most areas.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power in view of widespread complaints in the Northfield, Wedley Castle and Selly Oak areas of Birmingham, what steps he is taking to ensure a better supply of coal to housewives in those areas.

I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent there is any immediate prospect of a reduction in the price of coke.

As I am sure the hon. and gallant Member is aware, the price of coke depends chiefly on the cost of the coal from which it is produced. Until the price of the coal can be reduced, therefore, I am afraid that no substantial reduction of the price of coke is likely to occur.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the total cost of machinery, vehicles, etc., purchased for open-cast coal production and supply; and from which countries were machines, etc., imported.

The total expenditure incurred by His Majesty's Government, from the start of operations in 1942 to the end of March, 1950, on the purchase of excavating machinery, vehicles, etc. (including spare parts), for the production of opencast coal, and on materials and the installation of railway sidings, screens, washeries and other servicing plant and equipment, in connection with the treatment and disposal of the coal, has been approximately £14 million. Of this, some £5½ million was spent on excavators and other machines imported from the United States, and some £94,000 on imports from Belgium.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the amount of open cast coal produced in the Burnley area since 1946; and how much per ton has it cost.

About 740,000 tons since 1st April, 1946. Area cost figures are not available for the whole period, but for the last quarter of 1949, which is the latest period for which figures are available, the average cost for about 50,000 tons of coal produced was 45s. 9d. and the average price realised 51s. 5d. a ton.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many private hire motor cars are licensed in this country at the moment; how many operators there are; what is the average size of fleets; and how the total compares with the numbers in 1938.

The owner of any car may do private hire work, if he so desires; he requires no special licence. In the period of June to November, 1949, the number of cars for which petrol allowances were made was 60,131. No record of private hire cars was kept in 1938; when petrol rationing began in 1939, allowances were given for about 26,000 cars. I regret that I have no information about the number of operators or the size of their fleets.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power in view of the important industrial possibilities involved, what steps are being taken to ensure intensive research on the development of gas turbines to run on cheap fuels derived from indigenous coal.

I regard the development of the gas turbine to use coal and cheap fuels derived from coal as one of the most important matters on which my Department is engaged. The Department, with the full support of my Scientific Advisory Council, is directing a wide programme of research on the subject. The programme includes research on other industrial gas turbines to use peat and the firedamp contained in the upcast from collieries. Research into the use of peat, which would be of particular importance in Scotland, is being done in co-operation with the Scottish Home Department.

asked the Minister of Food what allocation of milk he makes to British Railways.

When milk restrictions were in force British Railways were authorised to buy milk in accordance with the scales applying to other caterers. At present they can buy as much as they want, like anyone else.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent it is estimated that the increase in the price of petrol will increase the price of milk.

Not at all.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to people living in the country districts by Flour Order, 1947 (Amendment No. 3) Order, 1948, Statutory Instrument No. 1654; and if he will have it amended.

I am looking into this matter, but I cannot at present add to my reply of 26th April to the hon. Member for Bridlington (Mr. Wood).

asked the Minister of Food what further purchases of Polish frozen egg he has contracted to make; and what protests he has received from the trade against the quality of previous purchases.

Subject to agreement on prices we have agreed to buy frozen egg from Poland for a five-year period beginning in 1949, but it would not help future negotiations with other suppliers if I disclosed the quantities contracted for or the prices so far fixed.The trade have complained about the watery appearance of this egg when defrosted, and the off flavour that affected some part of last year's supply. One is the result of the pasteurising process to which the egg is subjected before freezing. The other, as the hon. Member knows, has been investigated over the past few months by scientific and trade bodies in co-operation with my Department.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that Swedish canned garden peas are being sold in this country at 1s. 3d. for 14 oz., against 1s. for 16 oz. English peas; that Swedish peas are packed in tin-plate exported from Great Britain; and if he will reallocate to the home industry sufficient of the tin-plate, due for export, to enable the industry to deal with all this season's peas.

I know that private traders have imported some tinned peas from Sweden, but I have no information about the source of the cans. Tin-plate makes an important contribution to our export trade and it would be difficult to increase home allocations at the expense of exports.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to persons in many rural areas by the distance of the local food office; and whether he will reduce to a minimum the occasions when a personal visit to the food office is required.

All food rationing business can already be done by post. Mothers can collect welfare foods at a large number of centres in addition to the local food office, and special distribution points are set up when the new ration books are issued each year. If there is any particular problem in the knowledge of the hon. Member I should be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will instruct his inspectors not to bring charges against tradesmen where trivial offences arise solely out of a desire to assist a customer, as exemplified in the case brought against the Suffolk Seed Stores Limited of Wood-bridge on 20th April.

This prosecution was not brought by my Department.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the present high price now being charged, he will consider reimposing maximum retail prices for oranges.

The winter import season for oranges has now ended and supplies from summer sources are only just beginning. It is, therefore, too soon to judge the effect of decontrol, but I am watching the situation.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the difficulties caused to suppliers and purchasers of feedingstuffs by the provisions of the Feeding Stuffs (Rationing) Order, 1949; and whether he will consider the introduction of an alternative system which will give greater flexibility.

I do not think that this Order causes any great difficulties, but I should be glad to examine any specific problems or suggestions for improving the present arrangements.

asked the Minister of Food how far any alteration is proposed in the tea ration; and whether his negotiations with Ceylon and India concerning the supply of tea are now concluded.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make a statement with regard to his negotiations with the Governments of India and Ceylon for the purchase of tea; and how far he estimates that he will be able to maintain the tea ration at its present level.

We have reached settlement in our negotiations with the Governments of India and Ceylon on the basis for our purchases of tea this year. We shall be paying an increase of 4d. over the delivery price for 1949. We have not yet concluded contracts with individual producers, and I cannot at present give any firm estimate of the delivery of tea we shall get this year. The tea ration, like other ration, is reviewed from time to time and if a change is necessary an announcement will be made in the usual way

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make a statement on his future policy with regard to the quantities of pulped fruit now held in this country.

asked the Minister of Food what action his Department is taking to dispose of the pulped strawberries purchased from Holland.

I assume the hon. Member is inquiring about the stocks held by my Department. Our policy is to sell these at the best prices obtainable through recognised pulp brokers.

asked the Minister of Food what contracts he has for the purchase and for the sale of strawberry pulp and plum pulp respectively for this year; and whether any further contracts will be negotiated.

None have been made this year and none is contemplated. As I told the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Alport) on 12th May I cannot at present give details about our sales.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on the results of his experiments in fish albumen.

The Association of Fish Meal Manufacturers are still at work on these experiments, but there is no more definite news as yet.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will give an assurance that salt free from iodisation will always be available for purchase by those who fear that a very small iodine content may affect them adversely.

As the trace of iodine will be very small the Medical Research Council think that adverse effects will be most unlikely; but my Food Standards Committee will bear this point in mind when considering representations about the proposed changes.

asked the Minister of Food whether licences to open fish and chip shops will now be more freely issued.

Yes. Food control committees have now been instructed to grant a licence to any applicant who satisfies them that he intends to open a genuine fried fish business.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will revise present distribution arrangements for eggs with a view to ensuring that the public should be able to buy fresher eggs than has hitherto been the case.

I am not aware of any great dissatisfaction with the present arrangements, but if the hon. and gallant Member has any suggestions for improvement I shall be very glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Food if he will issue a better quality cooking fat to the fish-frying trade in view of the need to encourage the greater consumption of fried fish and relieve the danger of widespread unemployment in the fishing industry.

I am satisfied that the quality of the dripping and palm kernel oil now being allocated is satisfactory. As long as soft oil remains scarce I am afraid I have no alternatives to offer.

asked the Minister of Food what is his estimate of the number of duck eggs likely to be imported during 1950; how this compares with similar imports during the previous three years; and which are the main producer countries.

The only duck eggs imported into the United Kingdom in the past three years were small quantities of privately imported wild duck eggs and duck eggs for hatching. The quantities licensed for importation and the sources of supply were as follow:

asked the Minister of Food if, when making his review of the points rationing scheme, he will take particular account of the hardship imposed by the existing scheme on small families and of the difficulty in obtaining biscuits and syrups.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an assurance that, in future, he will have regard to quality, size and grading when fixing the prices of potatoes.

We have always done this and will continue to do so. Last year's crop, however, was poor both in yield and quality, and, consequently, potatoes of a grade not normally sold even at the end of the season are now being put on the market to make sure that supplies will last out until the new crop becomes available.

asked the Minister of Food what, he estimates, British requirements of shell grit to be during the current year; how much of this requirement he intends to meet by import; and whether he is satisfied as to the quality of imported grit.

Marine shell grit for feeding to poultry can be imported from a number of countries under Open General Licence, and it is entirely for the private traders concerned to obtain the quantity and quality required. A certain amount is produced in Britain, but most home supplies consist of limestone and similar grits. I have no means of estimating the total quantity used.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the difficulties at present incurred by British travellers and businesses at Tientsin; and what steps he proposes to take to assist British subjects and trade there.

I am not aware of any difficulties at Tientsin other than those arising from conditions generally in China.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs his attitude to the new French proposals for international control of heavy industries in Western Europe.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 11th May, to which I can at present add nothing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, when considering the attitude of His Majesty's Government to the French Government's plan for a common policy on the production of coal and steel between France and Germany, he will examine the possibility of inviting all European countries interested in coal and steel production to join in formulating a common production policy for Europe.

All aspects of the French proposal are under careful examination. Since, however, this is a French initiative, any general invitation, such as the hon. Member suggests, might come most appropriately from the French Government.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will authorise the re-introduction of the omnibus service at Abbey St. Bathans, Berwickshire, which was suspended on 8th April, 1950.

The withdrawal of a service to Abbey St. Bathans was part of an adjustment of services in the district and was authorised by the licensing authority for public service vehicles for the Scottish Traffic Area. I have no jurisdiction in these matters unless an appeal is made to me under Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take to improve travelling facilities in the rural areas of Scotland.

The Transport Act, 1947, lays on the British Transport Commission a general duty to see that adequate and efficient transport facilities are provided throughout the country. Subject to the general jurisdiction of the licensing authority for public service vehicles, the responsibility for improving bus services where this is desirable and practicable rests with the operators, of whom the most important in Scotland are now controlled by the British Transport Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in the interests of road safety, he will take steps to remove the anomaly whereby a heavy public service vehicle with over 50 passengers can travel at 30 m.p.h. in a built up area, but a heavy goods vehicle with a low grade freight is not allowed to exceed 20 m.p.h. in the open country by creating uniformity in the permitted speeds for all goods and passenger vehicles.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 1st May to a Question on this subject by the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers).

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the Report of the county road Surveyor of Aberdeenshire where it is stated that under-maintenance of roads has prevailed during the past 12 years to such an extent that the cumulative effect will eventually be a heavy burden and that many unclassified roads in the county are already in a weak condition; and whether he will indicate that increased grants will be made for road maintenance and development in Aberdeenshire in the near future.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the report on road work carried out in the County of Lindsey during the years 1939–49 and to the view of the county surveyor that if progress at something like the pre-war rate is not soon resumed it will be difficult to tackle arrears; and whether he will now give some indication to county surveyors with regard to the long-term plans of His Majesty's Government respecting road maintenance and development.

Apart from one or two Press references, my attention had not previously been drawn to these reports. I have every sympathy with county councils in the difficult position in which they are placed by the need to restrict capital investment on roads. I regret that at the moment I cannot foresee how soon it will be possible to raise the present level of road maintenance and, so far as classified roads are concerned, to increase the amount of assistance from the Road Fund, but I can assure hon. Members that I am bearing very closely in mind the importance of points such as those to which they refer.

asked the Minister of Transport how the cash, provided by the payment by individuals of 2s. 6d. in the £ on the value of articles lost on the London Passenger Transport Board rail service when reclaiming them, is dealt with.

The Regulations made by the Minister of Transport in 1933 provide that claimants of lost property shall pay a fee of sixpence for every £1 or part £1 of the value of the property, and, if the value is £1 or more, an additional sum of one-tenth of that value.The fee accrues to the London Transport Executive towards the cost of administering the lost property scheme, and the additional sum is paid by the Executive to a general fund formed for the benefit of its employees.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the necessity of ensuring the safe running of the railways, he will ensure that track repairs and modernisation of signalling are not deferred or curtailed on British Railways to reduce working costs and capital expenditure; and to what extent this has already occurred.

Expenditure on track repairs to maintain safe running is not restricted under the Capital Investment Programme or as part of the railways' economy campaign. Some track renewals on secondary lines have been deferred owing to cuts in capital expenditure, and speed restrictions are imposed where necessary for safety. Although signalling modernisation is not proceeding as rapidly as I or the British Transport Commission would wish, partly for the reasons which my hon. Friend suggests, safety has shown a progressive improvement in the last two years. No passenger was killed in a train accident in 1949.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that concern is being caused by his failure to reach a decision between alternative routings of the Lea Valley—Norwich Road in the parishes of Nazeing, Waltham Abbey and Roydon; that the development of land in the area is thereby being prevented, both for housing and agricultural purposes; and whether he will come to an immediate decision on the matter.

I am not aware that development has been seriously interfered with or delayed during the investigations which have been necessary before deciding whether to alter the proposed line of this road. Agricultural and planning interests have been closely considered, and I hope very shortly to reach agreement on a new proposed line with the Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport what Regulations are in force regarding the parking of motor vehicles in streets other than defined parking places in the London area.

The London Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Orders prohibit the waiting of vehicles during certain hours in specified streets in London. The parking of motor vehicles on any road so as to cause unnecessary obstruction is prohibited by Regulation 81 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1947.

asked the Minister of Transport when he hopes work to start on a bridge to carry all normal traffic over the railway at Brimsdown, Enfield, Middlesex.

The proposed bridge is part of a comprehensive scheme for the construction of a new road. Work of this character cannot be authorised until the economic situation substantially improves.

asked the Minister of Transport what measures he adopts to prevent the discharging of oil fuel waste into Southampton Water.

The discharge of oil into British territorial waters is prohibited by the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1922, which also provides that, if an offence is committed in or in relation to the waters of a harbour, proceedings may only be taken by the harbour authority. I understand that the Southampton Harbour Board are prepared to prosecute whenever adequate evidence is obtained of an offence under this Act, and that, from time to time, they distribute circulars warning all concerned of the provisions of the Act and seeking their co-operation in keeping Southampton Water free of pollution.

asked the Minister of Transport if the negotiations for the acquisition of certain properties to give a widened and less dangerous footpath alongside the trunk road A 45 in Woolpit village, Suffolk, have been completed; and if he is aware that this has been under discussion with his Department since 1948 and that the increasing traffic on this main route has greatly increased the hazard to pedestrians since that date.

I am aware that traffic conditions in the village of Woolpit call for improvement of the road. The limited funds available for road works do not enable a comprehensive scheme to be undertaken at present, but I hope to put in hand this year some work to improve conditions near the church and so to meet what appears to be the most urgent need.Preliminary discussions have taken place with the owners about the acquisition of the property which would be required: final negotiations will begin as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the average age of cars used in the Government car pool.

The average age of cars in use by the Official Car Service on 1st May, 1950, was three years.

asked the Minister of Supply how many cars are pooled in the official car service; what is their annual cost; what is their annual petrol consumption; and what are the comparable figures for 1938.

The number of cars pooled in the Official Car Service varies according to requirements. The average number in use in London and the provinces during the year ended 31st March, 1950, was 573. The estimated annual cost was £383,000 and the annual petrol consumption 289,000 gallons. There are no comparable figures for 1938.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make representations to the motor manufacturing industry, through the National Advisory Council, to give priority sales to ex-Service men who have lost one or both legs.

The industry is already rendering valuable assistance to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions in the supply of cars to certain classes of seriously disabled ex-Service men. Otherwise, in distributing cars, the motor industry gives priority only to urgent orders from doctors and midwives. I am not prepared to ask them to extend these arrangements, in view of the large number of other classes of users with good claims between whom it would be difficult to discriminate.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the total number of new private motor cars released for the home market from August, 1945, to the latest available date; and the number of such motor cars which have been supplied to the various Ministries.

From the beginning of August, 1945, to the end of March, 1950, about 580,000 cars were supplied to the home market. In the same period just over 10,000 were supplied to Government Departments.

asked the Minister of Works what was the total value of licences to repair or extend licensed premises which were granted by his Department in each of the three periods 1948, 1949 and 1950, to the latest available date.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Works the total amount of building work, other than housing, for which licences have been issued by his Department since July, 1945, in the area of Holborn and South St. Pancras.

asked the Minister of Works the number of building licences granted in Liverpool, other than for housing, for work costing more than £5,000, since 1st January, 1947; the type of building; and the total amount granted in each case.

I regret that the information is not available, and could not be obtained without a considerable diversion of staff from their normal duties.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking, in view of the concentration of building workers and building materials on repairs and other works to the exclusion of house building in the City of Birmingham, to ensure a better allocation of building workers and building materials for house building.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the very full statement made by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health in the course of the Adjournment Debate on 30th March. The level of licensing for maintenance and repair work is at present some 20 per cent. less than in 1949. If my hon. Friend has any evidence of labour shortage on new housing I shall be glad to receive it.

asked the Minister of Works the number of pre-stressed concrete sleepers produced by private firms and the number produced by Royal Ordnance factories in 1949; and the average cost in each case.

186,110 pre-stressed concrete sleepers were produced for use by British Railways by private firms, and 285,490 by Royal Ordnance Factories in 1949. As to costs, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hertford (Mr. D. Walker-Smith) on 12th December last by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the shortage of cement in north Herefordshire is holding up the building of houses; and what steps he proposes to take to make supplies more plentiful.

No. No complaint of the interruption of housing work has been reported to my Ministry from this area.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the acute shortage of cement in Liverpool; and what steps he is taking to speed up supplies.

asked the Minister of Works what steps his regional officers are taking to overcome the shortage of cement supplies in the Liverpool area, which is holding up building work.

After consulting with my regional officers a substantial increase is being made from this week in the deliveries of cement to Liverpool.

asked the Minister of Works how much cement has been imported into Britain; how much has been exported from Britain since 1st January, 1950; and on what date imports from the Continent were stopped.

Between 1st January and 31st March this year, 57 tons of cement were imported and 442,623 tons exported. Later figures are not yet available. Imports from the Continent have not been stopped; in the next two months about 60,000 tons are expected from the Continent

asked the Minister of Works why, in view of the acute housing shortage in the country, priority for cement was given to the building of the Festival of Britain site.

No priority for cement has been given to the building of the Festival of Britain site, which in fact requires less than 2 per cent. of the total supplies to London, the major part of which has long since been delivered.

asked the Minister of Works if, in view of the improved supply of equipment, he will now withdraw the Control of Rates of Hire of Plant Order, 1948.

The Committee that advises me on plant hire rates will shortly review the operation of this control and, when I receive their recommendations, I will consider whether it can be withdrawn.

asked the Minister of Works what action he proposes to take in the light of the report by the Building Productivity Team which has visited the United States of America.

The building team which visited the United States of America under the auspices of the Anglo-American Council on Productivity was sent on the initiative of the industry, and their Report is addressed primarily to the organisations which sponsored the team. I have, however, arranged to discuss their recommendations with the representatives of the industry and the professions on my National Consultative Council. These discussions have started.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the notices served by the Royal Air Force authorities at Tangmere Aerodrome to evict the Service occupants from the married quarters there; and whether, to save these people from having no accommodation to which to move, he will refrain from disposing of any habitable accommodation in the area until he has offered it to the local authority.

No, the serving of notices to quit was not, of course, my responsibility. As regards the second part of the Question, it is the practice of my Department to offer to local authorities any accommodation which is suitable for housing before any steps are taken to dispose of it elsewhere. If the hon. Member will give me particulars of any premises he has in mind I will cause inquiries to be made.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the 2,500,000 bricks, which have been deteriorating in a yard in Blackpool, are no use to the Liverpool Corporation to ease the brick shortage which is slowing down house building; and what steps he is taking to supply Liverpool with bricks.

I am informed that, although 2,500,000 of the brick stocks at Blackpool may not be usable, there are still substantial stocks in West Lancashire, and so far as I am aware no building work in Liverpool is being held up owing to brick shortage.

asked the Minister of Works what has been the result of his action taken regarding the supply of bricks for housing in Liverpool.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to provide supplies of bricks for building purposes in the Liverpool area now that it is known a shortage in the supply of bricks exists.

No cases of shortages have been reported to my regional officers. As well as local bricks, Liverpool is receiving supplies of bricks from other sources.

asked the Minister of Works how many brick-producing works have closed down during the last two years in South-West Lancashire; and what effect this has had on the production of bricks.

Two brick works have been closed in South-West Lancashire during the last two years. The aggregate annual capacity of the two works was 15 million bricks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what conditions United States police are being permitted to question Klaus Fuchs; and what are the principles and precedents involved.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Northfield (Mr. Blackburn) on 11th May.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the report of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission on the supply of rainwater and soil goods, including smoke pipes of cast iron.

As my right hon. Friend said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, South (Mr. Frederick Elwyn Jones), on 16th March, he is hoping to have this report in the summer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of X-ray film; and what steps he proposes to take to increase supplies to hospitals.

I am not aware that there is now any significant shortage of X-ray film. Production continues to increase and home users still have priority. No hospital need now be without supplies, and if my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any case of difficulty I will look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now considered the report of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee regarding the allocation of house tenancies by local authorities; and if he will say what conclusions he has reached thereanent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement about the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee's report on local authorities' methods of allocating tenancies.

The Report is being published today under the title "Choosing Council Tenants" and copies have been placed in the Vote Office.I am indebted to the Committee for the careful study which they have made of this important subject.I realise that not all the Committee's views and recommendations will be generally acceptable to local authorities, in whose hands the letting of houses rests, but I am sending copies of the Report to the authorities so that they may give it the close study which it deserves.

asked the Secretary of State for War when Mr. Cliff Michelmore, of 80, Deerings Road, Reigate, who was employed under the War Office in Germany until 15th January, 1950, may expect to receive his luggage which was dispatched from Germany on 9th January, 1950, and which was last heard of at Stratford Military Forwarding Office about the end of March.

This baggage was received at Stratford Military Forwarding Office on 31st January. Some three months were spent in obtaining from the owner a detailed Customs declaration and, subsequently, payment of duty. The baggage was despatched to Mr. Michel-more on 8th May, 1950, the date on which the duty was received.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the serious lack of camp equipment available to Territorial units undergoing training at Tonfanau Anti-Aircraft Practice Camp; and whether he will take immediate steps to ensure that the supply is improved.

This camp has been equipped to the full scale of accommodation stores authorised for all Territorial Army tented camps this year, which is the best that can be provided from our current resources. The scale is similar to that authorised last year, and is considerably better than the scale in force in 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to develop the idea of Army Day; if he will give directions for units of the Territorial Army to be included in these proceedings; and if he will promote the co-operation of local authorities, trades unions and industrial organisations and also arrange for greater publicity to he given to the event than heretofore.

Consideration will be given, in the future, to the practicability and desirability of adopting the suggestions of the hon. Member.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, what is the purpose of that part of Section 23 (2) of the Air Navigation (General) (Amendment) Regulation, 1950, which requires aircraft to carry two sensitive altimeters.

To implement in the United Kingdom an internationally agreed system of altimeter settings for air traffic control purposes, under which the pilot sets one altimeter on a standard setting of 1013.2 millibars and adjusts the other to a pressure such that it indicates height above mean sea level.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of British Government securities held by owners not resident in the United Kingdom.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that no relief is afforded by the Matrimonial Causes Act 1937, to a person whose wife or husband, having been a certified patient in a mental hospital, after an interval subsequently becomes a voluntary patient and is incurably of unsound mind; and whether he will introduce amending legislation so as to make available facilities for the release from the matrimonial yoke of a spouse who is incapable of enjoying normal matrimonial life through mental disability of the other spouse.

I have been asked by my right hon. Friend to reply. The Matrimonial Causes Act, 1937, enables a petition for divorce to be presented on the ground that the respondent is incurably of unsound mind and has been continuously under care and treatment for at least five years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition. For this purpose, a person is deemed to be under care and treatment while he is detained in pursuance of an order made under the Lunacy Acts (or under the corresponding legislation in force in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands) or while he is receiving treatment as a voluntary patient, being treatment which follows without any interval the period of detention already mentioned. If any interval occurs between the ending of the period of detention and the subsequent voluntary treatment it would normally relate to a period during which the patient was not regarded as insane and it would not, I think, be in the public interest to amend the law so as to permit a period of treatment as a voluntary patient to be taken into account in such circumstances.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the recommendations of the Committee set up to inquire into Poaching and Illegal Fishing for Salmon and Trout in Scotland, he will, in consultation with the Secretary of State for Scotland, consider reviving the Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Bill, 1938, and increasing the scope and terms of that Measure to cover salmon rivers in the rest of the United Kingdom at well.

I am examining the recommendations of this committee so far as they may be applicable in England and Wales, and I hope to make a statement shortly.