asked the Minister of Pensions what are the administrative reasons which prevent his Department from protecting disabled ex-Service men, compelled by their disability to use motor vehicles to get to work, from the financial burden imposed on them by the increased cost of petrol.

An annual grant of £45 towards maintenance and running expenses is received by every user of the cars my right hon. Friend has provided, free of tax and insurance, to seriously disabled pensioners. As for the invalid tricycles which are provided and maintained free of charge for other war pensioners, the recent tax on petrol represents an increase in their running costs of only about one-eighth of a penny per mile. The Government do not consider that an additional payment to recipients of cars or a special payment to users of tricycles would be justified. If such a proposal were acceptable in the form suggested by the hon. Member, the administrative difficulties would include discrimination between expenditure incurred in travelling to work and other uses; the considerable variation in the extent of use by different persons; and the virtual impossibility of keeping pace with changing factors.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is the difficulty in relieving these men in precisely the same way as his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture is seeking to relieve farmers from the effect of this increase? Is not the effect of his answer that the full weight of this duty will now fall upon that section of the community which it is the prime duty of any Government to safeguard?

I would point out that these cars can be used and driven by persons other than the pensioners. So far as they are concerned, the pensioner can be taken as a passenger, and there would be difficulties. Further, I would point out that the recipients of these cars receive an annual grant of £45 towards their maintenance, and a pension tax free on top of their wages. As an ex-Service man myself, I resent the imputation that ex-Service men are not prepared, with the rest of the community, to make their contribution towards the national economy.

In view of what the hon. Gentleman has said about the £45 grant, of which I was aware, can he say what is the administrative difficulty in scaling up that grant to cover the increased charge which has arisen since the £45 was given?

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware of the delay in the supply of motor invalid chairs; and if he will endeavour to remedy this inconvenience to the invalids.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave in the House on 14th March to the hon. Member for Bridlington (Mr. Wood). The heavy increase in orders for motor-propelled tricycles since the introduction of the National Health Service has severely taxed the resources of the industry. Steps have been taken in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works to increase the output of contracting firms and to add to their number. Initial supplies of the new all-weather machines have already been made.

Is my hon. Friend aware that men have been waiting for these chairs for 15 to 18 months? If other Departments are now concerned in the issue of these vehicles, could there not be some arrangement with a view to increased manufacture? Does my hon. Friend realise the great hardship caused in spinal cases, and is he aware that a man who had his back broken in a pit has been waiting 18 months for a carriage? It is misery for such men who are waiting like this, and something should be done about it.

We are aware of the very greatly increased demand by people who were not entitled to this kind of vehicle before the introduction of the National Health Service scheme, which has made it very difficult to supply them as quickly as we would like. We are now in process of taking over the existing contracts for the supply of invalid vehicles from the Ministry of Works and are getting down to the job.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much his Department paid to the Bureau of Current Affairs for posters distributed to military establishments during 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949.

"Map Review" posters distributed to military establishments are purchased from the Bureau of Current Affairs by His Majesty's Stationery Office. I understand that the cost in the period 1st April, 1946, when purchases began, to 31st December, 1946, was some £9,800, and in the three subsequent calendar years was £9,000, £5,400 and £3,600 respectively.

In view of the fact that much of this money was spent on posters of admittedly undesirable content, will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether disciplinary action has been taken against the officer responsible for this misuse of public funds, and who negotiated the contracts on behalf of the B.C.A.?

I could not necessarily admit the implications in the hon. Gentleman's statement on the matter. Therefore, I do not think that any question of disciplinary action arises.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he will now refrain from making any further evictions from No. 8 Families' Camp, Maghull, for the next 12 months or for some other stated period;

(2) whether he will now make available at the Military Camp, Poverty Lane, Maghull, or elsewhere, accommodation for the 19 persons evicted from No. 8 Families' Camp, Maghull, on 30th March, who are still sharing a single room in the British Legion Club, Maghull.

I regret that while I have every sympathy for ex-soldiers and their families in these camps, the grave shortage of Army married accommodation makes it impossible for me to give this assurance. The provision of alternative accommodation for these persons is a matter for the local housing authorities. I have now offered to release Poverty Lane Camp and if the local authority wishes to take it over for housing purposes, an approach should be made to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, to whom I have explained the position.

Am I to understand from that answer that, so far as the right hon. Gentleman is concerned, he has made available sufficient accommodation for the families mentioned in the Questions? With regard to other evicted persons in the future, does the reply mean that they are liable to be rendered homeless, or can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will work in such effective co-operation with other Government Departments and local authorities that there is no possibility of further evicted persons being rendered homeless?

Part of this responsibility must rest, of course, on the local authority. I think we have done our part in releasing this considerable amount of accommodation in Poverty Lane Camp, and I have every expectation, although I cannot, of course, commit the local authority, that they will, in fact, take it up and make it available for these families.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the cause of this intolerable delay—because it has been clear for months that this situation was likely to arise—and why it has taken him so long to reach a commonsense conclusion?

No, Sir. Some time ago I gave an assurance that further families would not be evicted until a decision had been reached on the alternative accommodation at Poverty Lane Camp. That decision has been reached, and I have now announced it.

Am I to understand from the Minister's answer that he anticipates that the accommodation he has now made available will, if taken up, be sufficient to take care of any future evictions which his Department may make from the camp at Maghull?

I cannot speak for the indefinite future, but I understand that this is a quite considerable amount of alternative accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet reached a decision on the claims of the Army Civil Service Union of Singapore for salary increases and housing allowances.

It has now been decided that the claim for salary increases cannot be accepted, and the local authorities have been notified accordingly. The claim for housing allowance is still under consideration.

Will my right hon. Friend look into this matter personally when he gets to Singapore? As it is Government policy to try to encourage trade unions in Malaya, it is very unfortunate that it takes one and a half years for a Government Department to deal with a claim by a trade union.

Is the Minister aware that undue delays in dealing with applications for improved conditions and wages in Malaya has a tendency to create more Communists than we can destroy by our Forces?

I could not agree with that implication.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement as to the future use of the underground shelter at Clapham.

This matter is under consideration. The shelter will not be closed down for the present.

Does my right hon. Friend's answer mean that the Government have decided that this shelter shall not become derelict because it might be of special value in connection with the Festival of Britain next year for the accommodation of or use by parties of young people from other parts of this country or from abroad?

There are many people who wish to use this shelter, and it is not being closed.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now make a statement with regard to the recent fire at Weedon ordnance depot.

The proceedings of the court of inquiry into this fire are still being considered by the Command concerned. As soon as I have received and considered the report, together with the opinions and recommendations of the responsible commander, I will make a statement.

As, apparently, the court of inquiry met on 30th March, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the report will be made available in the lifetime of this Parliament?

Yes, Sir, I think so.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames can hope for a reply to his letter of 27th February, 1950, on the subject of the remuneration of warrant officers serving in the offices of military attachés at British Embassies abroad.

The rates of local allowances for military staff in the British Embassy, Cairo, to which the letter referred, are still under review, but a decision is anticipated in the very near future. My hon. Friend will then reply to the hon. Member's letter to him.

Does that answer mean that not only have hon. Members of this House to wait three months for an answer from the War Office, but, equally, that it takes the War Office three months to make up their minds about the rate of allowance for one warrant officer in one overseas capital?

No, Sir, but the hon. Member was in correspondence with my hon. Friend on this matter, and the decision does involve, first, discovering the area which the hon. Member has in mind, and then settling a matter of some importance in principle.

On a point of order. In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman completely misapprehends the position, I beg to give notice that I shall seek a convenient opportunity to raise the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will at least discontinue the blowing of bugles at Wellington Barracks at the times for getting up, having dinner, and going to bed, in view of the fact that the appropriate times for each are common knowledge.

I fear I can hardly do that. People often, in my experience, need to be reminded that it is time to get up; and they like to hear that it is dinner time. However, there is, in fact, no bugle call at Wellington Barracks for going to bed.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this nuisance is not confined to Wellington Barracks, but applies to all the other barracks in London? Could not this barbarian uproar be restricted to emergency calls and not created just to convey to His Majesty's guard that it is time to get up or to go to dinner? Nobody objects to the emergency call, but only to the ordinary call.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask his hon. and gallant Friend how he was called in the morning and summoned to his meals when he trained with the Royal Air Force?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning how many Tree Preservation Orders he has confirmed; and how many acres of woodland have been affected.

Since 1943 my predecessors and I have confirmed 401 such Orders, covering nearly 20,000 acres.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that that is an exaggeration of the intention of Parliament? Does he think it right that his Department should assume control over British woodlands to a far greater extent, and in far greater detail, than the proper authority, the Forestry Commission, has done? Will he look into it again, particularly in view of the fact that in some counties, notably Pembrokeshire, there were 300 such orders served on various owners of woodlands only last week?

I think it is a very useful function that has been performed by my predecessors and myself in this matter. We are enabled to preserve amenity woods from the slaughterers. I am very glad to say that since I have been in my present office, following the lines of my two predecessors, one of whom was from the party opposite, we have sought to protect amenity woods from being slaughtered by timber merchants.

Is there any period at which these Orders are reconsidered because trees, like men, do not live for ever and a wood of dying trees is a very sad sight?

That is exactly the point I have been impressing on my advisers since I have held my present office. My broad policy has been to prevent clear felling in amenity woodlands and to encourage selective felling with replanting where desirable, and also natural regeneration.

Will the Minister undertake to protect amenity woodlands of Western Worcestershire from the slaughter merchants of the Ministry of Fuel and Power?

That is another Question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the fact that the protection of amenity woodlands, with which nobody disagrees, does not extend to the confirmation of "blanket orders," as I believe his Department calls them, which some local authorities continue to issue? Does he realise that if he does that, he will not be protecting woodlands at all but discouraging their proper management and replanting?

It is open to any person concerned to appeal to me against the local authority decision. A number of such appeals has been made and I always consider them in, I hope, a judicial spirit.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning how many applications have been received for exemption from development charge for land ripe for development; and how many of these applications have so far been disposed of.

Approximately 28,000 and 20,500 respectively.

When does the right hon. Gentleman hope that the balance will be dealt with? Is he aware that this delay is causing considerable inconvenience in the proper development of land throughout the country?

We get on as fast as we can. The figures quoted show we have dealt with nearly three-quarters of the total claims. In many other cases we are waiting for further information. Some of the owners are dead, which leads to delay.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if his attention has been drawn to the threat, on planning grounds, to the continued existence of Bekonscot, at Beacons-field; and if he will give an assurance that he will not allow town planning to interfere with this unique miniature village.

The Buckinghamshire County Council are discussing this with the owner, and will inform me of the outcome.

Will the Minister bear in mind that this little village has given a great deal of pleasure to a great many people? Will he not agree that new planning powers should be exercised very sparingly in a place where an amenity has been enjoyed for so long without substantial objection?

Yes, Sir. The primary responsibility lies with Buckingham County Council. They will let me know the outcome of their talks. There is some argument on the other side, about litter. noise and disorder. Local residents have complained about this. When it comes to me I will certainly consider the question sympathetically.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what measures are taken by him to ensure that in the planning of land use undue quantities of agricultural land are not taken for other purposes; and what machinery exists in his Department or under his control to ensure that these measures are made effective.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, or his representatives, are consulted on all proposals to divert agricultural land to other uses, and I am satisfied that the arrangements are effective.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what economies in the staff of his Department and of local authorities can be expected as a result of the relaxation of controls which he announced on 10th May.

This remains to be seen.

Does that mean that all the appropriate economies will be made?

It remains to be seen how far local authorities—whose staffs I do not, of course, directly control—will be able to save staff. I hope they will because, in my opinion, they have been using staff on trivialities to a considerable extent in the area that has been cleared by my Order. So far as my own staff is concerned, the saving I can hope for will be in respect of having fewer appeals against local authority planning decisions.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what proportion the £50,000 allocated to the heavily bombed cities of the country constitutes of the total sum to be made available toward reconstruction; what period will elapse before further instalments will be made; and in what proportions.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend, the Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool (Mr. Logan) last Thursday.

Is the Minister aware that £50,000 allocated to some ruined cities is chicken-feed compared with the amount required by them to repair their devastated centres? Is he aware that the only way to remedy this is for him to make an immediate substantial promise to increase this amount of £50,000.

My hon. Friend dropped a nought. It is £500,000——

That may be the total, but £50,000 is the figure for separate cities.

The total is £500,000, and Bristol has a fair ration no doubt. I explained to my hon. Friend last Thursday that the whole question of finance for the reconstruction of blitzed city centres is now being reconsidered, and that I hope soon to make a statement.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will provide, for inclusion in the Ministry of Labour Gazette, monthly figures of the numbers of the population on sick benefit and absent from work.

This matter is under discussion and I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why the Assistance Board allowance of 4s. a week to Mrs. E. Bell, Club Lane, North Thoresby, Lincolnshire, has been stopped recently, especially in view of the fact that, through illness, she cannot do regular work to supplement her 26s. a week widow's pension.

Mrs. Bell, who is a widow of 44 living with two children who are working, recently had her needs reassessed following a change in her circumstances and was found by the Board to be no longer in need of assistance. If she is dissatisfied with this decision she can, of course, appeal to the local appeal tribunal.

Is the Minister satisfied that the local authority has sufficient discretion to cover cases like this?

My experience is that the National Assistance Board deals generously with such people.

Does not this mean that we still have a means test running under this Government?

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will take steps to prevent the delay that is taking place at the present time in the payment of sickness benefit.

I have no evidence that any general delay is taking place in the payment of sickness benefit, but if the hon. Member has any case in mind and cares to let me have details I shall be pleased to have it looked into.

Would the Minister look into a case I will send her of a constituent of mine who sent in his medical certificate and claim for sickness benefit to the local insurance office on 20th March and still cannot get payment? Will she note that prompt payment was always made when he belonged to one of the societies before the present scheme came into operation?

Yes, certainly.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why executive officers in her Department are compulsorily retired when they reach the age of 60 years.

There is no such general rule in my Department. Officers are retained beyond the age of 60 if their services are needed and they are fully fit and efficient for the general duties of their grade and are willing to serve where required.

Will the Minister look into cases which have occurred in Blackpool—where she has an office—where persons have been told there is a rule in operation that they must retire at the age of 60?

I think the hon. Gentleman is misinformed. He will know that the office is being closed in Black-pool and transferred to Newcastle. I think there were eight cases of people over 60 who asked to go to towns in the South. We were unable to send them there and, in the circumstances, we thought it better to give them their pension.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she is aware that the National Assistance Department is bringing pressure to bear upon workmen who are in receipt of national assistance by refusing them any further national assistance as soon as they are re-engaged for work unless they ask the employer for an advance before the ordinary pay day, which may be a fortnight after re-engagement, then, if an advance of wages is refused national assisttance is given, but if the advance is obtained, national assistance is reduced by the amount of wages advanced; and if she will stop this practice which causes workmen to beg from employers.

I understand from the Board that they are aware of the difficulties in this type of case and are considering them. I cannot, however, accept the suggestion that they should always be solved at the expense of the Exchequer.

Is the Minister aware that by this system the Department have taken advantage of low-paid workers and are causing such men to live up to two weeks on one week's wage? Is she also aware that this system creates invidious distinctions? When one man gets full national assistance for a week and another gets scarcely any at all for the same week it creates very bad feeling about the Department?

My hon. Friend has not been fully informed of the correct position. There is a growing practice among employers to defer the payment of wages, sometimes to the extent of a fortnight, and the National Assistance Board are now making something like 6,000 or 7,000 payments a week in respect of these cases. I am sure my hon. Friend would be the last to ask the Exchequer to subsidise a private employer who is not fulfilling his obligations.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what steps are being taken to accommodate Poles at present living at Howberry Park, near Crowmarsh, Oxfordshire, when the Hydraulic Research Station is set up there.

It is hoped that these Poles can be found accommodation in either the National Assistance Board's Hostel at Checkendon or some vacant huts at Nettlebed, South.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she is aware that applicants for help from the National Assistance Board in a Cardiff office have to state their circumstances in the view and hearing of other applicants within the room; and what action she proposes to change this system.

The Board agree that the accommodation in their Cardiff offices is inadequate. I am glad to say, however, that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works has now found alternative premises which will be taken over as soon as the necessary adaptations have been made.

Thank you.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if her attention has been called to the fact that Mr. E. R. Guest, the West London magistrate, complained of the way in which her Department conducted its cases, and dismissed them; what steps she is taking to prevent further waste of public funds on such prosecutions; and what disciplinary action she proposes to take against the officials concerned.

I am making inquiries about this case and will write to the hon. Member when I have completed them.

Is it not a fact that these cases are evidence of the inevitable results of State trading? Is the right hon. Lady aware that if officials in private industry behaved like this they would get the sack? Will she take disciplinary action?

The hon. Gentleman has forgotten that I have changed my Department. I do not deal in State trading.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what special steps he has taken with both sides of industry subsequent to 20th October, 1949, to reduce production costs; what response he has received to his appeal; and what further steps he proposes to take to prevent widespread unemployment.

No special steps have been taken on this particular point, but the Government's general policy on increasing production with restraint on profits and wages has been developed on several occasions, in particular in my Budget speech, to which I would refer the hon. Gentleman.

If no special steps have been taken by the Government, when can the nation expect the arrival of the demoralising unemployment which the Chancellor prophesied in the House on 20th October? Could I have an answer to that?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that no more post-war credits will be impounded to pay arrears of Income Tax due to errors in coding on the part of the authorities.

To the extent that tax is unpaid for any year, the credit for that year is less by that amount. There is also the arrangement, announced by my predecessor on 29th October, 1946, by which arrears of tax due at the end of 1945–46 are set off against any postwar credit for the year 1945–46. Otherwise, it is not the practice to refuse payment of credits in order to collect arrears.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman really feel that this is a satisfactory way of implementing the pledge given by the Coalition Government, that post-war credits would be repaid, especially to the aged?

I think it is very satisfactory and convenient.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the terms of the Icelandic Loan precludes the restriction of imports of Icelandic fish.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the loan which the Government of Iceland issued in July, 1949. Nothing in its terms regulates imports of fish into this country from Iceland.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman pass on to the appropriate Minister the need to restrict the importation of foreign fish, before our fishermen are ruined?

I think that the appropriate Minister is fully aware of the effect of the importations of fish.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman think it is a good idea to use British money in order to smash the British fishing industry?

I do not think so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now publish the monthly receipts of Entertainments Duty derived from film exhibitions.

Accurate figures for receipts of Entertainments Duty from film exhibitions are not collected on a monthly basis, but arrangements have been made for the publication of approximate figures, with other statistics relating to the film trade, in the Board of Trade Journal at regular intervals. The first set of figures appeared in the issue of 13th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider remitting the tax on lifeboatmen's gratuities.

No, Sir.

Does not the Chancellor think that this would be a gesture on the part of the Government in consideration of the men who spend their spare time in learning the technique of life-saving; and since he does not know the amount involved, will he really miss it?

That is not the question when one is dealing with the merits of different taxpayers. One must be fair to all; if one makes special exceptions for special people it will create hardships for others.

Is it not very undignified for the Revenue to have to snatch at such small amounts as this in such circumstances? Surely there ought to be some sense of fitness here.

The incomes of many people are made up of an aggregate of small sums.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why a C.D.3 form is required for the export of scientific specimens on an exchange basis to foreign learned and technical societies.

Where exports are subject to the provisions of the Exchange Control Act, the Customs must have evidence either that payment is being made by an approved method or that exportation without payment has been sanctioned. Form C.D.3 serves this purpose, and the permission required for the export of goods on an exchange basis to foreign learned and technical societies is indicated by the Bank of England by an endorsement on the form.

Does the Chancellor not think that this is a rather cumbersome method to cover the export of snakes to the Zoological Society of New York, when, as I understand, a C.D.3 is necessary for every exportation?

There are also business people who export snakes to New York for payment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the conviction last year of a clerk in the Inland Revenue Department for arranging the fraudulent encashment of post-war credits; and what steps is he taking to prevent further occurrences.

The fraudulent claims for payment of post-war credits to which the hon. Member refers were brought to light by the Board of Inland Revenue's own audit staff in the course of normal internal audit. Since their discovery certain additional checks have been instituted, and I am satisfied that every reasonable precaution is, in fact, being taken to prevent this type of fraud.

Has not the right hon. and learned Gentleman considered the likelihood that when repayment of these credits eventually takes place some of the holders of the credits might find that repayment has been made to someone else? If so, what steps does he propose to recover the repayment for the orginal and proper holder?

If the hon. Gentleman will put that question on the Order Paper I will endeavour to answer it.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that the Inland Revenue is remarkably free from this kind of irregularity; and that it would be more suitable to call public attention to the great services to the State rendered by this Department than to malign it?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made towards the settlement of a reciprocal agreement between France and Great Britain on double taxation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his Question on this subject on 25th April, 1950, to which I have nothing to add.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that his reply now, as then, gives the impression that there is some difficulty on the French side, whereas the facts are that this is held up solely because it is the wish of his Department that this good and equitable means of getting reciprocal trade going is being frustrated?

The hon. Gentleman is completely and absolutely wrong, as he might have known if he had studied the records. We enter into a great number of these agreements, and we are anxious to enter into them wherever we can. It is not a question of holding it up.

But that is no reply to my question. In this particular instance, is it not the fact that the hold up is due to the action of the Chancellor and not of the French?

No. It is an ordinary negotiation which is proceeding in the ordinary way.

In view of the entirely unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this on the Adjournment at an early date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of British Electricity 3½ per cent. Guaranteed Stock 1976–1979 was applied for by the National Debt Commissioners; what amount was allotted to them; on behalf of what funds did the Commissioners apply; and how was the amount allotted, apportioned among the said funds.

Investments made by the National Debt Commissioners of funds under their control are shown in the statutory accounts of the funds. It would be contrary to long-standing practice to anticipate publication of the accounts.

Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer say whether the National Debt Commissioners received equal treatment with other applicants, or were they given preferential allotments?

No, Sir.

What does that answer mean?

That I will not say.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of funds under his control that was used to apply for or to underwrite, respectively, the recent Electricity Loan 3½ per cent. Guaranteed Stock 1976–1979.

No, Sir. This would be contrary to long-standing practice.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman say why he has abandoned the questionable policy of his predecessor of cheap money? Is it not becoming evident that he has had to bow to the law of supply and demand? Is he also aware that if any private company kept their records like he tried to do they would be at the Old Bailey?

None of those points arises out of the Question on the Order Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he has given the Colonial Development Corporation as to their attitude to the recently renewed offer of a dollar loan from the World Bank.

It is not correct to say that the International Bank have "offered a dollar loan" to the Colonial Development Corporation. Both the Colonial Development Corporation and the Bank have expressed their willingness to consider whether a new approach acceptable to both parties can be found. In these circumstances no question of advice from me arises.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that while our dollar reserves are rising at their present rate, as he tells us that they are, it is unwise to borrow more dollars at 4 per cent.?

I will certainly bear that in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the understatement in Command Paper No. 7697 by £31,400 of the Air Ministry's Estimated Information Expenditure for 1949–50 was discovered; and how soon thereafter he issued a public correction.

The error was discovered a few days after Command 7697 was published in May, 1949. It was reported to the Public Accounts Committee in June. As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 22nd November, it was not my intention to publish a corrected White Paper at the time, but to show the corrected totals in this year's White Paper. This has been done.

As the right hon. and learned Gentleman well knows, the Public Accounts Committee does not report to the House until the late autumn. Will he say why he did not take earlier steps to make public the necessary correction?

Yes, Sir. It was because it was such a small one that it was not worth the trouble of printing another White Paper.

Is £31,000 such a small matter that it can be ignored?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many district valuers will now become redundant in view of his recent decision that they need not be compulsorily employed by city councils.

None, Sir, since the decision relates to work to be done in the future, and only affects a few local authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the purchasing power of the pound sterling to the nearest convenient date as compared with 20s. in 1945 and 16s. 2d. in January, 1950.

The purchasing power of the pound in March, 1950, was 16s. 1d., as compared with 20s. in 1945.

May I ask the Chancellor two questions? Could we not have the comparison brought more up-to-date than March, and did the figure include the increases in the price of coal, transport and food which have recently been made?

It includes the cost of living figure for March.

Cannot we have a more up-to-date figure than March?

No, Sir.

Why not?

Because the figures have not yet been got out.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases has permission been given to export notes or other tender as set out in Section 22 of the Exchange Control Act, 1947, to private individuals or commercial concerns, respectively; and for what reason was such permission given.

This information could not be produced without a disproportionate amount of work, but, apart from certain exceptional cases, permission to export sterling notes is given only for small amounts which are required to replenish bank tills for the purpose of meeting the requirements of travellers to this country.

Can the Chancellor give any estimate of the total amount of bank notes which have been exported under this Section?

I am afraid not; the figures are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many notices have been served on residents in the United Kingdom consequent upon the powers conferred upon him under Section 30 of the Exchange Control Act, 1947; and the general principles upon which such notices have been served.

Three such notices have been served, all under Section 30 (1) (i) of the Act. They have been served in cases when informal requests by the Bank of England, for information about the assets or business of a foreign company controlled by residents of the United Kingdom, have not been met.

Have they been issued only for the purpose of securing information? Have no proceedings been taken subsequently under the Exchange Control Act?

None has so far been necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the amount of £451,000,000, allocated in the Economic Survey for investment in housing for the current year, will cover the increase necessary as a result of the restoration of the cuts in housing.

It is expected that the restoration of the cuts in housing will cause some additional expenditure in the current year.

Will this mean an increase in the total capital investment for the current year, or will a compensating reduction be made elsewhere?

It will mean an increase in the total, but probably by a comparatively small amount.

Cannot the Chancellor give an estimate of what that amount will be? He must have had some idea before he made that statement.

It is very difficult to know how quickly the local authorities will get on with the re-starting of the programme. It is not possible to make any accurate estimate within this year.

The Chancellor made a statement about this in his Budget speech. Is he so vague about these matters that he cannot give us even a rough estimate?

It has nothing to do with the balancing of the Budget; it is a question of the investment programme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will find means to relieve flying clubs from having to pay the extra duty on petrol used for flying instruction, and so from having to pass on the additional cost to their members, since this must discourage young people from learning to fly.

. No, Sir. I regret that I cannot help flying clubs in this way.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the extra cost is as much as approximately 10s. per flying hour?

I am aware that it is quite a considerable amount, but I still cannot help the flying clubs in this way.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman get into touch with the Secretary of State for Air, to see whether some corresponding arrangements can be made to assist these very important clubs?

The Secretary of State for Air has considered that. As the right hon. Gentleman says, it is within his province.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason he has not exercised the powers of His Majesty's Government under Section 30 of the Exchange Control Act, 1947, to ensure that the British Transport Commission, as effectual owners of the branch of Thomas Cook in New York, comply with the statutory regulations for the sale of currency.

When answering the Question on this matter put by the hon. and gallant Gentleman who is now the Member for Bristol, North-West (Lieut.-Commander Braithwaite) on 15th December last, I was not aware that the sale of sterling notes in New York was not by the American agency company of Thomas Cook, which is a company incorporated in the United States, but by another agency of Thomas Cook which is a branch of a company registered in this country, Thomas Cook and Son (Bankers) Ltd.

That being so, Section 30 of the Exchange Control Act has no application to the agency selling the sterling notes. The position of that agency is determined by Section 39 of the Exchange Control Act, 1947, and by S.R. & O., 1947, Nos. 2039 and 2054. Branches of United Kingdom companies carrying on business in the United States are regarded as residents of the United States for exchange control purposes and, therefore, as I have already said, I have no powers under the Exchange Control Act over the sale of currency in New York by this branch of Thomas Cook and Son (Bankers) Ltd. Nor are they committing any offence under the Act in selling sterling notes at a discount.

The Chancellor said that this was a separate agency. Is it not a fact that this agency, too, is in the effectual control of the British Transport Commission and is, therefore, subject to Section 30 (1, a) of the Exchange Control Act? If that is so, why has action not been taken?

Because Section 30 of the Exchange Control Act applies only to companies not registered in this country.

This is Section 30 (1, a).

If the hon. Member will put that Question on the Order Paper I will have a look at it.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer says "Section 30." In a previous answer this afternoon he quoted Section 30 (1, a), Surely he should know the provisions of that Section.

I do not propose to give an answer on the spot about any provision of the Exchange Control Act.

As the right hon. and learned Gentleman is a trustee of the British people, who are shareholders of the British Transport Commission, does he not think that he should keep his children in order?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will double the £10 motor car allowance for British tourists to France.

No, Sir.

In view of the desire of the Foreign Secretary to facilitate travel between Britain and France, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman say why he refuses to make this concession? If possible, would he say what it would cost in foreign exchange?

We consider the present amount allowed for motor cars is quite sufficient in proportion to the amount allowed for ordinary travel—£50.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that this amount is not sufficient to carry a car half-way through France, and certainly not to the south of France?

But the ordinary travel allowance can do some of the rest.