asked the Postmaster-General if he will publish particulars giving general guidance to the public as to the latest times of posting at head post offices, or their equivalent, so as to secure first delivery on the following morning.

This information is normally shown in the window notice at all head post offices.

If the Minister will look at these windows he will find that it is not stated that many letters are not delivered until the second post. Will he have the correct information shown at all post offices?

I looked at some of these this morning. If the hon. Gentleman has any instances in mind perhaps he will let me know.

The Minister has had a lot of my instances.

asked the Postmaster-General when engaging postmen what preference he gives to ex-Service men; and how many non-Regular ex-Service men he has engaged during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1950.

When engaging outside candidates for permanent appointment as postmen, preference is given first to ex-Regulars and then to non-Regular ex-Service men. In 1949, of the 10,147 postmen appointed, 8,764 were ex-Service men, 6,806 being non-Regulars.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give sympathetic consideration to the claims of ex-Regular service men who are extremely discouraged by the difficulty of obtaining appointments, and at being discharged when they get appointments because they are not established?

They will be given first preference.

Is the Minister satisfied that these men, at the time of engagement, always understand the difference between establishment and temporary employment.

I think all the circumstances of employment are indicated to them, and that they clearly understand them.

What is the maximum age limit at which ex-Service men receive employment in the Post Office?

I should like to see that question on the Order Paper.

asked the Postmaster-General what capital or other sum has been expended on the installation of tyre remoulding plant since 1st January, 1950, for remoulding the tyres of General Post Office vehicles; what further sums he intends to spend on remoulding plant; and whether he is satisfied that the expenditure is justified in view of the remoulding facilities already available at competitive prices by private firms.

Since 1st January, 1950, £10,450 has been expended on plant for remoulding certain sizes of tyre for Post Office vehicles. Another £1,000 may be spent this year. The whole of its capital cost will be saved in the first year of working.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that this decision follows the instruction of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that capital shall not be used on matters of this sort?

As I am saving a substantial sum of money I thought we could meet the expenditure on the work.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these remoulding plants are being set up by the Post Office?

Only one.

Could my right hon. Friend say how much time and money will be saved by the installation of this plant and whether there is any difference in the competitive prices, if such prices have been obtained?

It would be better if we waited to see the results of the first year's working.

asked the Post master-General when it is expected that the new post office at Newport will be completed; and when the new telephone exchange will be available.

The new wing of the post office at Newport should be completed by the end of 1952 and the new automatic telephone exchange by the end of 1953.

In view of the long delay that has already occurred in starting these two projects and in view of their great urgency, could my right hon. Friend see that every practical step is taken in pressing them forward to completion at the earliest possible moment?

I can assure my hon. Friend that we are now pushing on as hard as we can with everything.

asked the Postmaster General how many applications for very high frequency licences are outstanding; and what are the reasons for the delays before granting applications.

Twenty applications are outstanding. Of these, 10 raise a general question of policy which is under discussion with other Departments; and six have been received in the past week The remaining four are for radio service between fixed points. These cases have to be examined to see individually whether communication by telephone line is practicable and, if approved, for the selection of an appropriate frequency—a matter on which consultation with other Departments is required.

Could the whole process be speeded up?

It is being speeded up; a decision was announced a fortnight ago with regard to high frequencies.

Could the Minister say how many licences of this kind have been granted to date?

Not without notice.

asked the Postmaster-General how the recent unrepaired damage to the bodywork of the London district post office van No. 23935 occurred and who was responsible; and why both front wings have not been properly repaired.

The indications are that the van was struck by a passing vehicle which did not stop. The damage was not sufficient to make the van unserviceable and it was, therefore, retained in use until repairs, now in band, could begin in ordinary course.

What steps are being taken to apprehend the passing passenger vehicle?

As there were no witnesses, how could we apprehend it?

asked the Postmaster-General if he has now any further statement to make on the recognition of organisations of employees in the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement about unrecognised unions in the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can now make his promised statement upon the recognition of staff associations in the Post Office.

I have now carefully reviewed the basis on which recognition by the Post Office should be given to new staff associations. In view of the paramount need in the present critical national situation to ensure harmonious working relationships and measures of co-operation between the Post Office and its staff as a whole, I have reached the conclusion that it is desirable to correct certain misapprehensions that have grown up regarding Post Office policy in dealing with requests for recognition of new associations.

Questions of recognition in the Post Office are not, in my judgment, suitable for settlement by reference to any automatic formula. Each case must be considered individually, and in any arrangement which may be made it will be one of my principal objectives to ensure that the interests of the staff are safeguarded. In deciding any particular case it is necessary to take account of such factors as the degree to which the new association is representative of the staff concerned, how far the grade or grades in respect of which recognition is claimed can properly be regarded as a separate entity from the point of view of staff organisation and discussions, and generally the position of the grade or grades in question in relation to other grades in the same organisation. It is essential also to take into account wider questions, such as the effect of a change in representation on the general working relationships in the Post Office.

In the light of these considerations, and after weighing up carefully all the relevant factors, I have come to the conclusion that I ought not to grant recognition to the Engineering Officers (Telecommunications) Association.

When the Postmaster-General says that this is not a matter that can be subject to an automatic formula, is that not a departure from previous practice in the Post Office?

No, Sir.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that this unrecognised organisation, of which, I understand, the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) is the legal adviser, is a break-away body for a recognised trade union, and that there are dangers in the granting of recognition at this particular stage?

While dissociating myself and the organisation concerned from the rather doubtful compliment the hon. Member for Brightside (Mr. R. Winterbottom) has just paid to it, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the decision he has just announced means that he is applying retrospectively his new rule as to recognition? Is he not, in fact, denying to an organisation, which for eight months, under the old rules, has been entitled to recognition, the recognition to which it has been entitled during that period?

No, Sir, I have not changed any rule. What I have read out to the House today follows very closely what the Earl of Selborne, formerly Lord Wolmer, said on this point when he was my predecessor. With regard to the rule which has been mentioned, it has been misquoted, and if the hon. Gentleman will look at the annual conference agenda of the union, which, apparently, he represents, he will find that they also take a view contrary to the one he takes.

Is the Postmaster-General saying that there has been no rule? It has, at any rate, been the rule for some time that if an organisation shows it has 40 per cent. of the members in a grade it can ask for and get recognition? Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman is taking up the position that he is to be the sole arbiter as to whether he will allow recognition or not, whereas previously there was some entitlement to recognition for a body with a proper amount of representation?

I think the question the hon. Gentleman has put clinches the whole business. Since about 1946 or 1947, it has been laid down that a union or an association must have 40 per cent. of the people in a grade in its membership before it could ask for consideration of its claim. I have not disturbed that at all. I am not contesting the figure. I have considered this body's entitlement. It asked me to consider its claim for recognition. I have considered the claim for recognition. Recognition is not automatic on the achievement of 40 per cent. membership, and never has been in the Post Office.

Will my right hon. Friend continue to bear in mind that Tory infiltration may be as dangerous to existing labour relationships as Communism?

I think it is advisable and far better in these disputes between unions that they should be left to the industrial field, rather than brought into the political arena.

Can the Postmaster-General say, in view of his remark that there were 37 different unions engaged in Post Office work, what steps he means to take to bring about, with the T.U.C., a more modern organisation of labour representation?

This is a problem, and a very great difficulty in the Post Office. If the alleged formula applied— the alleged rule applied—I should have 500 unions, and that would be an impossible situation. In such a situation, when there are negotiations, one finds something like a Dutch auction taking place. One organisation asks for so much, and the competing one asks for 4s. or 5s. more than the first asked for. I shall give my attention to this problem once we have got this matter out of the way.

While agreeing with the right hon. Gentleman that this problem ought to be settled on industrial grounds, may I ask him if he is aware that a large number of people in this House and in the Post Office think that this problem is being settled on political grounds?

I want to assure both sides of the House that the decision I have taken follows very closely a decision taken in precisely similar circumstances by a Conservative predecessor of mine.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of their demand for recognition, he has now any statement to make regarding the National Association of Postal and Telegraph Officers.

A claim for recognition has been received from the National Association of Postal and Telegraph Officers. I have come to the conclusion that I ought not to grant recognition.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say for what reason?

For the reason that it is not representative, and that the largest body of workmen is adequately covered by the association of workmen that now exists.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why he has come to the opinion that they are not representative? Arising out of his answer to the previous Question, will he name the 500 unions which have the 40 per cent. membership?

There ought not to be any misapprehension. If the formula that is put forward by the hon. Gentleman were applied to the Post Office we could have 500 unions.

The right hon. Gentleman, when answering the previous Question, referred to a dispute between unions. Surely he could recognise a union that has over 40 per cent. membership without withdrawing recognition from any other union. Will he explain why he refers to a dispute between unions? Secondly, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his predecessor was consulted before——

On a point of Order. May I ask you, Sir, if it is in order for a speaker, when asking a supplementary question to this Question, to tie it up with the previous Question?

That is a matter for me. I was, as a matter of fact, about to rise to say we must not debate this Question. Hon. Members may only ask questions. However, it is a matter for me to decide.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, secondly, whether his predecessor was consulted before the Treasury published this document, "Staff Relations in the Civil Service," last year?

I do not know whether my predecessor was consulted, but there is nothing in that document inconsistent with what I have said from this Box, and if the hon. and learned Gentleman will examine it closely he will find that I am in accord with the document. With regard to the first part of the supplementary, in this case this is a small union; it is a dissident body—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] It is merely a break-away union; it is of no great size; it does not represent a large body of opinion, and as that section of the workmen are now properly represented I do not propose to extend recognition to this organisation.

As you, Mr. Speaker, have pointed out, we must not ask questions unduly long on this subject, so may I tell the right hon. Gentleman that we shall seek an opportunity of discussing this further, in view of his very unsatisfactory reply.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has now examined the undertaking given by the Assistant Postmaster-General on 14th December, 1949, to check the member- ship figures of the Engineering Officers (Telecommunications) Association on 31st December, 1949; and what action he now proposes to take.

Yes, Sir; and in the light of my general statement I see no purpose in carrying out a check at the present time. I have come to this conclusion on the assumption that this Association's membership figures are as claimed.

In view of that answer, does the right hon. Gentleman withdraw the remark that he made two months ago, to the effect that he disputed the figures they had put forward?

I am not certain that I said that I disputed them. What I said was that I could not confirm them, and that is the line I have taken all along; but in this case I assume that they are what they claim them to be for the purpose of the consideration of this question.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's answer mean that he will not recognise this Association, whatever its membership figures may be?

No, Sir. It does not mean that at all.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the existing rules governing recognition of staff associations by the Post Office.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I have already made.

In view of the obscurity of that statement, will the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is his contention that he has announced any change or is merely continuing the existing rules?

I have announced no change at all.

Are we to take it that it is now the policy of the Opposition to encourage break-away unions?

asked the Postmaster-General when his review of the rules governing recognition of staff associations in the Post Office began; and whether he will now state its result.

My review started on my reaching office on 2nd March. I have already made a general statement on this matter.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will arrange for the first postal delivery in Macclesfield to reach business premises by 8 a.m., which is the accepted time for mills and factories to commence work on weekdays.

No. Sir. The first delivery in Macclesfield begins at 7 a.m. and reaches mills and factories in their order on the postmen's rounds. An earlier start is not practicable.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that many of the mails arrive at 9 a.m.; and is he aware that because of this slowness the export trade in this area is hindered?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will let me have details of any mills which are getting their post a bit late I will see if I can make some arrangement to meet the point.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a member of my family received a letter that had been posted in Brussels on the same morning, which shows what the Post Office can do if they really try?

asked the Postmaster-General the number of applicants waiting for telephones in the borough of Mitcham on 1st January, 1949, and 1950; how many installations were made during 1949; and what is the longest period for which anyone has been waiting.

There were 2,076 on 1st January, 1949, and 1,986 on 1st January, 1950; and 456 new subscribers were connected in 1949. The earliest outstanding application was made in 1942.

In view of the very slow reduction in the number on the waiting list, can the Minister take any further action to improve the position more rapidly this year?

The position is being examined.

How much of the great delay in installing telephone equipment all over the country is due to the fact that our equipment is being exported, very often to our trade competitors?

It is largely due to the capital investment programme.

Could the Minister say whether the waiting list is worked through in rotation, or whether there is any scheme of priorities for these applicants?

Schemes of priorities are laid down by the Post Office Advisory Board, on which hon. Members of this House sit.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of applicants waiting for telephones in the borough of Wallington on 1st January, 1949, and 1950; how many installations were made during 1949; and what is the longest period for which anyone has been waiting.

There were 864 on 1st January, 1949, and 1,135 on 1st January, 1950; and 431 new subscribers were connected in 1949. The earliest outstanding application was made in 1942.

asked the Postmaster-General why it is difficult to establish telephonic communication with the Regional Petroleum Office, Bromyard Avenue, London, W.3; and if he will take steps to improve the position.

The difficulty is due to a seasonal rise in the number of telephone calls to that office. I am consulting my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power on the best means of meeting the situation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman treat this as a matter of great urgency in view of the many delays, and also in view of the fact that on Friday, 5th May, the hon. Member for Spelthorne telephoned to this office on two occasions, upon the first of which it took 17 minutes to establish connection and on the second no less than 33 minutes? Will the right hon. Gentleman advise the Minister of Fuel and Power that the quickest way to get over this difficulty is to abolish petrol rationing altogether?

I will certainly draw the attention of my right hon. Friend to this matter, but it is really his responsibility and not mine. He might suggest that hon. Members might write letters instead of telephoning.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is his intention to recommend an increase in the grant to flying clubs under his Department's scheme of flying training for the Air Training Corps, to offset the increased tax on petrol.

Prior to the imposition of the petrol tax, it was estimated that some 225 cadets would be trained by the flying clubs within the total grant of £30,000. As a result of the tax the number of cadets may be reduced by 10 or 12. I am considering whether steps can be taken to avoid this reduction.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how much money was spent in erecting a barbed wire fence round the extreme boundary of the Royal Air Force Station, Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, contrary to Air Ministry Directorate of Works Order D.G.W. No. 594; and how much it will cost to remove this wire and replace it with statutory fencing.

About £430 has been spent at various times since the war on fencing the gaps in the boundary hedge with barbed wire. To replace the barbed wire with cleft chestnut fencing and quickset would cost about £700.

Can the Minister tell us who will bear this cost? Will it be his Ministry or the ratepayers? Is he aware that this is just the sort of thing which hon. Gentlemen on this side of the House mean when they refer to wasteful Government expenditure?

As at present advised, I do not propose to replace the present type of fencing with the type of fencing which will cost £700. The reason why the barbed wire was placed round the boundary was because of the large amount of trespassing that had been taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many applications have now been received from Royal Air Force pilots for pre selection for civil aviation since the publication of his Department's Order A45/50, issued on 19th January, 1950; and what steps are being taken to assist these applicants.

Two hundred and thirty, Sir. A selection board has been set up, consisting of representatives from the civil aviation corporations, the charter organisations, the Services and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Pre-selected candidates will, so far as Service conditions permit, be posted to appointments in Bomber and Transport Commands to help them to gain the experience required for their civil licences.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman satisfied with the progress which is being made under this scheme?

So far, yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps he is taking to secure that Volunteer Reserve Units are spread over a wider area of the country than at present.

A committee, of which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Air is chairman, is already examining the structure of the Volunteer Reserve, including the organisation of Reserve units throughout the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether instead of bombing the island of Heligoland with live bombs, he will use practice bombs, or alternatively, use a target out at sea, or at least some tidal estuary on the mainland of Germany.

No, Sir. Training with live bombs is an essential part of bomber training. The reasons why Heligoland is the only suitable place for bomber training were given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in his statement of 29th June, 1949.

May I appeal to the right hon. and learned Gentleman to give further consideration to this suggestion, which has been made by a very experienced expert who himself has done this bombing and knows what he is talking about?

I also have the advantage of very able experts on this matter, and they take a different view.

Is it the policy of the Air Ministry to go on bombing this island until it does not exist, or at least becomes quite uninhabitable for centuries?

As I have already told the House, as a result of the 5,000 tons of bombs that were dropped on the island during the war the island is now largely a mass of rubble. As regards the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, I am certainly not in a position to say for how long we shall continue to use this island for bombing purposes.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that until comparatively recent times Heligoland was British territory and its inhabitants British subjects? Does that not constitute some reason for treating it as something a little better than a bombing range?

If we are to delve into history perhaps I might remind the hon. and gallant Gentleman that during two world wars Heligoland was a base for very offensive operations against this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that further bombing of the island of Heligoland took place on Monday, 8th May, at a time when 20 Heligoland fishermen were taking refuge in the harbour from the severe storm then raging; and whether he will ask for a report as to how many of the fishermen and boats were injured.

I have made inquiries, and I am informed that there was no bombing of Heligoland on 8th May.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman allow me to send him two German papers with full accounts of the bombing, showing that at least three of these fishing boats were damaged on this occasion? These are telegrams from Cuxhaven, published in these two German papers.

I shall be delighted to receive any information the hon. Gentleman may send me, but I may say that no bombing has taken place at Heligoland since 3rd May.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what arrangements he makes, where a commercial pilot's licence lapses as a result of unemployment, to give assistance to him to regain his professional status.

None, Sir, but full allowance is made for previous experience, and once a licence has been issued only a small amount of recent flying is required in order to keep it current.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that because of legislation since 1945 many older pilots now are out of work, and have not the means with which to renew their licences? Will he consult his right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Air to see whether some arrangement could be made so that these men can carry out their flying with the Royal Air Force?

As far as the basic licence is concerned, it is possible for most of these people to join the R.A.F.V.R. and to keep in flying practice; but it is a very different proposition when we come to the type ratings. Quite frankly, although I have great sympathy with these people, I have not yet seen a practical proposal put forward by responsible people.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he is aware that it is now considered necessary for the safety of aircraft and of the cathedral to instal a light on Salisbury Cathedral spire, now rebuilding; and if he will contribute towards the cost of this light.

No, Sir. An obstruction light is not considered necessary for the safety of aircraft. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that owing to the R.A.F. being in possession of Chilmark quarry from which stone for Salisbury Cathedral comes, it is not possible to use that stone for the rebuilding of the spire? Will he therefore make a gesture and help with the cost of the stone which must be brought from elsewhere?

If the Parliamentary Secretary will not concern himself with the safety of aircraft, will he concern himself with the safety of the cathedral?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what types of aircraft are being developed for service in the islands of Scotland.

There are no aircraft types being specially developed for service in the islands of Scotland. The British European Airways are planning to replace the D.H. Rapide by the Marathon on certain routes, and the Dakota will continue to be used on others for some years.

Can the Minister tell me the length of the landing strip required for a Marathon?

About 600 yards.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what sustenance is provided for the hostages taken from Eritrean villages of the high plateau and ordered to reside in Tessenei in the Western Province, having regard to the fact that six of the 10 persons taken from Zazegga are over 50 years of age.

As my hon. Friend has already been informed, these persons are in no sense hostages. No sustenance is provided by the British Administration for them.

Can the Minister say how long it is proposed to hold these hostages for a crime for which they were in no way responsible and in no way liable?

I cannot give the exact date, because it depends to some extent upon the co-operation received by the authorities from the places where they originally resided. It was non-co-operation which was originally the cause of this.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give, in respect of the village of Zazegga, Eritrea, on which a collective fine of £1,000 has been imposed on account of the murder of an Italian in the locality, the number of inhabitants in this village, and the average annual income per head of the inhabitants.

Approximately 5,000. Sir. It is impossible to ascertain the average annual income per head of the inhabitants, but the wealth of the village may be estimated from the fact that it owns movable property, for example, cattle, with a capital value of about £40,000 and some 2,700 acres of communal land.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will arrange with the British Transport Commission for Service men and women travelling on leave from hospital to be provided with a seat on long rail journeys.

Service and railway authorities already endeavour to ensure that Service patients travelling on leave, whose condition requires it, are provided with a seat. If the hon. Member has any evidence that further steps are necessary, I should be glad to consider it.

Is the Minister aware that I have evidence of men in my constituency who have to travel from the South of England to the North-east of Scotland and have to stand up all night in a corridor when going on leave from hospital? Can he suggest what these Service patients should do?

If the hon. Member will let me have details of that case I will make inquiries. It may be that improvements are required, and I will do my best to see that they are brought about.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that to inform him of particulars of individual cases does not help? What is needed is a general directive to members of the Services as to what steps they should take when leaving, hospital to go on sick leave.

If the hon. Member supplies the particulars, I may be able to reach a general conclusion.

asked the Minister of Defence what steps are taken by the Service Departments to counteract propaganda directed against voluntary service in the Fighting Forces.

Every opportunity is taken by the Service Departments to present the attractions of Service life and to emphasise the importance of service in His Majesty's Armed Forces both Regular and Auxiliary. The Service Departments through their public relations branches would take special action in suitable cases to answer deliberately hostile propaganda. The hon. Member will, however, recognise that the advantage may often lie in ignoring such propaganda.

As the Minister knows, this question was inspired by a recent B.B.C. broadcast entitled "Man at War," which contained the innuendo that there is something shameful in teaching a soldier how to kill. Will he spare a word to condemn such pacifist propaganda?

I have gone into this, but there are varying views about it, and it may well be that it has not done as much harm as the hon. Member thinks.

Can my right hon. Friend say what answer his Department have given to the propaganda contained in the Sermon on the Mount?

asked the Minister of Defence if he has now completed his consultations as to how some financial assistance might be given to Service men who are continually on the move and whose children it is therefore desirable to send to boarding schools and if he will make a statement.

Local education authorities already have powers to assist with boarding education where such education appears to them desirable and the parents' circumstances warrant help with fees. The Ministry of Education have commended to authorities' notice the case of parents whose occupation keeps them constantly on the move. The question whether anything further can be done to help Service parents is being studied.

asked the Minister of Food whether steps will be taken to ensure that groundnuts imported into this country shall be shelled before entry or by the wholesalers; what proportion of unshelled groundnuts are made available for the retail trade; and whether these groundnuts will be sold by weight with the price clearly indicated.

The groundnuts on sale to the public recently came from stocks privately imported, and my right hon. Friend has no power to require them to be shelled before sale, to be sold by weight (except when pre-packed), or to bear price markings. No further private imports are being allowed at present, and no Ministry imported groundnuts are released for retail sale.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that a most unpleasant nuisance is caused to the public by the people shelling groundnuts in cinemas and other places? Cannot he take some action to see that the shelling is done elsewhere?

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that barrow boys in London are selling groundnuts at 6d. for a bag containing a minute quantity, and can he tell the House who is getting the profit from this racket?

Can the hon. Gentleman say how in future, if no groundnuts are to be imported for sale to the public, the public is to have the opportunity of buying them?

May I press the Minister again on this point? Surely it is not impossible to avoid what is admittedly a great nuisance to the public at present by having groundnuts shelled before sale?

As I have already explained, if this be a nuisance it will not be a nuisance that will persist for long.

Is it not a fact that we are dealing only with groundnuts from East Africa, and that the public would be more interested in seeing groundnuts than in worrying about the state in which they arrive?

Is the Minister aware that there is a considerable and widespread dissatisfaction among the worthy people who have to clean out cinemas and other places of entertainment by reason of the fact that he refuses to have these groundnuts shelled?

Would the Parliamentary Secretary assure the hon. Member for Blackburn, East (Mrs. Castle), that no one in Blackburn would be so foolish as to pay high prices for groundnuts?

asked the Minister of Food what restrictions are still in force on the opening of retail food shops; and whether these remaining restrictions can now be removed.

A Ministry of Food licence is still required to sell by retail rationed meat and offal, fresh milk, or chocolate and sugar confectionery. With some other rationed and points rationed foods, certain conditions have to be satisfied before supplies can be made available; but in general, there is no restriction on genuine entrants to the retail grocery and provisions trade. I can assure the hon. Member that these restrictions are constantly under review, and will be removed as soon as the need for them has gone.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in connection with the importation of canned fruit he is table to state the average percentage of syrup content.

I cannot give a figure for all imported canned fruit, but that imported by my Department contains about 40 per cent. of syrup.

Can the Minister tell us why certain imported canned fruit is allowed to come in with a 20 per cent. syrup content, while home canned fruits have always to have 40 per cent., which is obviously very detrimental to home canning?

I have replied for the imports for which my Department is responsible. I have no knowledge about the other imports, but I can assure the hon. Member that the question of fixing standards for all canned fruits is under consideration.

The hon. Gentleman ought to have some knowledge.

When the Parliamentary Secretary says he has no knowledge about imports of a lower content than 40 per cent., will he look at the correspondence I sent him about a week ago?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the high prices still being charged for vegetables is causing many working class families to go short, and of the wide demand that price controls should be re- imposed in order to lower the costs of these essential foodstuffs.

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

Is my hon. Friend aware of the great indignation felt at the scandalous prices being charged for fruit and vegetables, which make it impossible for many working class families to buy them, and will he do something about it?

As my right hon. Friend said on 1st May, there is no quick expedient or short-term solution, and buyers' resistance to unreasonable prices is the only effective means.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that Members opposite clamour for price control whenever conditions make for a shortage, but that when there is a surplus farmers have to plough in their crops because of the large quantities of foreign produce that are allowed to be dumped in this country?

Is my hon. Friend aware that I should like to lead the clamour for recontrol, and that most people will be very glad to see control re-introduced unless prices come down?

asked the Minister of Food (1) in how many towns in Great Britain retail greengrocers are called on by his officials to find out what prices are being charged; how many shops in each town are visited; how often such visits are made; on what basis the towns are selected; and how many officials are employed directly on this work, and how many on collating and typing the information secured in this way;

(2) in how many towns in Great Britain retail fishmongers are called on by his officials to find out what prices are being charged; how many shops in each town are visited; how often such visits are made; on what basis the towns are selected; how many officials are employed directly on this work, and how many on collating and typing the information secured in this way; and why this new investigation has been instituted at a time when the price of fish has been decontrolled.

Fish prices are collected weekly in 165 towns and cover 1,080 shops in all. No officers are employed full time on this work, but the equivalent of 13 officers are engaged on collecting, collating and typing. The corresponding figures for fruit and vegetables are 170 towns, 1,240 shops and 18 officers. Towns have been selected so as to give as representative a picture as possible for the country as a whole. Although fish prices are no longer controlled, it is still our responsibility to watch the position to see whether supplies are available at prices the consumer can afford. This information is also needed for statistical purposes.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that vegetables have been off control for three years, and that for four years his officers have been going to shops in all these different towns filling in two pages of questions which have been sent on to the statistical department at the Carlton Hotel, London? Can he say what use is made of all this data they obtain?

Considerable use is being made of it, as I have already indicated. The question of fruit and vegetables is a matter which is now under very serious review.

Will my hon. Friend in no circumstances allow himself to be intimidated by questions such as these from Members opposite?

I can give my hon. Friend that assurance.