asked the Minister of Labour how many bricklayers were unemployed and reporting to the Liverpool employment exchanges on 13th February, 13th March and 17th April last; how many were signing for less than six days; and how many signed for over six days in the respective periods.

The figures for the three dates were 76, 49 and 41, respectively but most of these are not fully skilled bricklayers qualified for the full range of that trade. An analysis of these figures by length of unemployment is not available.

Will my right hon. Friend ask his Liverpool office why, when there is this large number of bricklayers unemployed, contractors are complaining that they cannot get bricklayers?

Some of the contractors in the trade will not accept these men because they are not fully skilled. We will do our best to see that the men have an opportunity to bring themselves up to a more skilled capacity.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the numbers and percentage of the population of unemployed men, women, boys and girls separately, at the latest known date at Newport; and what steps are being taken to find additional work for men at the docks.

As the reply includes a number of figures I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the Minister say what chances there are of getting increased coal exports through Newport in the future?

The hon. Member will have to put that question to the Minister of Transport.

asked the Minister of Labour when the factory for disabled workers in Newport will be started; how many will be employed; and the types of work it is expected to undertake.

I am at present unable to say when it will be possible to make a start at Newport. Remploy, Limited, need further time to consolidate their trading and financial position and, in the meantime, the building of new factories must continue to be deferred. It is expected that the projected factory will give employment to 100 workers when in full production. No decision has yet been reached as to the type of work to be undertaken.

In view of the fact that this factory has been delayed so long, will my right hon. Friend say when it will be started?

I am sorry, but I cannot. I can tell my hon. Friend, however, what I do not think will be much comfort to him, that we are unlikely to tackle this further extension for quite another 12 months.

asked the Minister of Labour what special action he proposes to take to provide employment for the 160 workers who have, during the last six weeks, been dismissed, and the others about to be dismissed from Messrs. John Lewis shipyard in Aberdeen.

The employment exchange has already found fresh work for some of the men discharged by this firm and is doing all that it can to help the others to obtain suitable employment.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this is not a case of casual or seasonal unemployment, but is due to conditions in the fishing industry as a result of which large numbers of men are finding themselves unemployed? Will he look into the matter with a view to rectifying the situation and preventing growing unemployment in this industry?

I cannot accept in detail all that my hon. and learned Friend has said. I understand that 160 workers in this firm were dismissed, whereas the total unemployment at the moment has gone up by only 45, which means that an equivalent number have been found employment.

asked the Minister of Labour in how many cases have reports been made to him of agreements containing a cost-of-living clause having been varied since 18th September, 1949, in accordance with the policy of His Majesty's Government; in the case of how many existing agreements, of which he is aware, has no such variation taken place; how many workers are affected in each case; and what increases in wages, salaries or other remuneration have taken place since 18th September, 1949, as the result of the operation of such agreements.

As far as I am aware the existing agreements, which cover about 1½ million workpeople, have not been varied since 18th September, 1949. The total increases in rates of wages since 18th September, granted as the result of the operation of these agreements, amount to about £110,000 per week.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the intimation of Government policy which he told us in answer to a Question on 1st November had been given in this connection has had no effect?

Whether it has had any effect or not is difficult to say, because we have no actual information. I have no authority to command information, but have to rely on voluntary information. It is interesting to note that one small area which decided to suspend asked to put it back again with retrospective pay.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now arrange for the resumption of the Annual Supplement to the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" showing the present extent of the practice of co-partnership.

On present information I am not satisfied that the results would justify the amount of labour and expense involved, but I am having the position examined.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the provision of this kind of information is one of the most useful functions of his Ministry? In view of the number of concerns interested in this method of industrial co-operation, is it not important to make known the extent of development during the last 12 years?

I should like to assure the hon. Member that I am in complete sympathy with what he has in mind. I am having the question examined to see whether it is practicable to bring it about.

What steps have the Government taken to encourage the extension of co-partnership?

The hon. Gentleman should have put that down as a separate question.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent and in what areas there is unemployment or short time in the furniture industry.

On 17th April last, 2,998 furniture trade workers were registered as wholly unemployed. Of this number 1,027 were in the London area, 240 in Glasgow, 224 in Liverpool, 64 in High Wycombe and 52 in Manchester. In addition, a certain amount of short time has recently been reported in some areas. On the other hand, a considerable amount of overtime is being worked.

Can my right hon. Friend give any reason for this slight increase in unemployment?

No, Sir, I cannot.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average age of fishermen engaged in the inshore fishing industry in this country.

I regret that this information is not available.

Is the Minister aware that the present state of affairs is such as to be extremely discouraging to young men wishing to come into this vital industry?

With all respect, I cannot see what that has to do with asking for information about the average age of those employed in the industry.

asked the Minister of Education the total annual cost of school attendance services for England and Wales; and the approximate percentage of schoolchildren who are unjustifiably absent from school at any one time.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to ensure that the number of university students will be the same in 1950–51 as in 1949–50; and that the percentage of students in receipt of financial assistance from public funds shall not be less than 70 per cent.

The capacity of universities and the number of admissions are not matters within the control of my Department. On present information, I should expect that the percentage of new students in the academic year 1950–51 assisted from public funds would be of the order of 70 per cent., but with so many uncertain factors my hon. Friend will not expect a precise assurance.

Is it not a fact that there will be 5,000 fewer grant-aided students sent to the universities this year compared with last year? Can my right hon. Friend increase the number of State scholarships or, alternatively, persuade the local authorities to make more awards?

I do not think those figures are accurate.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the financial aid received by a number of students is inadequate, and can he do something to see that local authorities implement the scale he has recommended?

It is a fact that some local authorities are not as generous as others in their grants, but I have done all I can by way of encouraging them. I certainly cannot force them.

asked the Minister of Education what proportion of State-provided schools have no religious education.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to county schools, that is, schools established by local education authorities. No schools are provided directly by my Department. In county schools, as in voluntary schools, Section 25 of the 1944 Education Act requires that the school day shall begin with collective worship and that religious instruction shall be given.

May I ask the Minister whether, in accordance with his recent public announcement; he will make religious education a first priority in his policy?

Is my right hon. Friend not satisfied that the great advance which has taken place in religious education since the day when the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) went to school is producing a more enlightened type of citizen?

On a point of Order. Can you not, Mr. Speaker, do anything to suppress these doubting Thomases?

asked the Minister of Education what is the proportion of men teachers for senior pupils and junior pupils, respectively; and what action he is taking to bring about a more balanced use of teachers.

In January, 1949, the latest date for which information is available, 55.9 per cent. of the teachers of senior pupils and 38.1 per cent. of the teachers of junior pupils, other than infants, were men. It will be necessary to increase these percentages to 60 and 40, respectively, at the earliest possible date if the most effective use is to be made of the available teachers, and I take every opportunity to remind local education authorities of the need to achieve these objectives without delay.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that everything possible is now being done to get an adequate supply of women teachers?

Yes, Sir, I am doing everything which is humanly possible to get them.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities have submitted proposals for abolishing or modifying schemes of divisional administration in accordance with Circular 210.

Five, Sir.

Will my right hon. Friend give the names of those authorities, and make it quite clear that it is not his intention to abolish the divisional executives?

The counties concerned are Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. I would point out, that I included in the circular a note saying that any economies must be consistent with the purposes which the divisional administration were designed to serve. There is no question of abolishing divisional executives under these powers.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has yet received the report of the Foundation for Educational Research on the inquiry into the effects of various forms of punishment and reward on children.

No, Sir. I understand that a first draft of the report has now been prepared and is being considered by the National Foundation for Educational Research. It is hoped that the report will be completed not later than the end of July.

Have facilities been provided for organisations to give evidence at this inquiry?

I could not say whether widespread opportunities have been given to all and sundry, but I know that organisations interested in this subject have been contacted by the Foundation.

asked the Minister of Education when he expects to receive recommendations from the Burn-ham Committee in regard to a revision of teachers' salaries.

The Burnham Committee is to meet at the beginning of June to consider a revision of the current scales for teachers' salaries. The Committee arrange their own meetings and their own procedure and it is, therefore, impossible for me to say when they will submit their recommendations to me.

Would it be proper to bring to the attention of the authorities in question the grave anxiety that is felt in all parts of the House about the present scale of teachers' salaries, with a view to accelerating a decision?

I do not think it would be proper for me to do that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman at any rate give an assurance that when the recommendation is received it will be considered as quickly as possible?

I do not think there is any reason to suppose that any Minister of Education has ever done otherwise with a Burnham Committee Report.

Is it not more important that, not only should it be considered but that their recommendation, if any, for increases in salary should be accepted by the right hon. Gentleman and his colleagues?

If I may say so, I think that remarks of that kind could be made only if a Minister had rejected them.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that local government finances also have to be considered in any revisions of salary of this sort?

asked the Minister of Education how many full-time schoolteachers, male and female respectively, in Buckinghamshire, receive less than £300 per year, between £300 and £400 a year,

asked the Minister of Education the number of local education authorities that have opened county colleges since 1945; and the total number of county colleges and the total number of pupils receiving instruction.

No county colleges on a compulsory basis have been opened, but in 1948–49 there were 160 separate voluntary day continuation schools provided or assisted by public authorities. In that year there were in all 141,000 students between 15 and 17 years of age attending over 700 part-time day classes in establishments of further education. The greater part of this development has taken place since 1945, but I cannot give precise figures.

Will the Minister not agree that perhaps this total is somewhat low, in view of the high hopes we held in 1945?

It depends on what the hopes were as to whether the total is low now. I do not think that it is a low total.

asked the Minister of Education the number of comprehensive and over £400, respectively, and what is the number of graduates in each case.

As the answer contains a number of figures I will with permission circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 16th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd), of which I am sending him a copy.

Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that these are all genuine comprehensive schools, in the sense that they are non-selective and that there is no special place examination attached to them?

I can give this assurance: that they are comprehensive schools in the opinion of the people who are running them; but as every other person seems to have a different idea of what a comprehensive school is, I could not say that they all meet all the requirements of my hon. Friend.

Will my right hon. Friend do everything he can to encourage these schools and so abolish the dreadful system of deciding, when a child is 10 years of age, what its future shall be?

I have been encouraging all kinds of schools, including these, over since I became Minister of Education.

asked the Minister of Education the number of local education authorities who have included comprehensive schools in their development plans.

Eight local education authorities have included proposals for comprehensive, as distinct from multilateral, schools in their development plans, and 33 have included proposals for multilateral schools.

Will my right hon. Friend encourage local authorities to go in for this type of school development?

I have asked local authorities to present development plans. They have made provision for all kinds of schools in those plans, and I am constantly being asked to expedite the approval of those plans. It seems to me that to ask them at this stage to begin revising the plans they have already made would be going a little too far.

asked the Minister of Education what guidance his Department gives to local education authorities on the question of teachers' fees from broadcasting.

This is not a matter on which it would be appropriate for the Ministry to give guidance to local education authorities.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I have been informed that it has been the practice of some local authorities to claim back these fees; and is that not rather mean of the authorities in question?

The contract of the teacher is between the local authority and the teacher himself, and this is therefore a matter for the local authority.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities have sent scholarship boys to schools on the Headmasters' Conference list; and what is the number of boys that have been sent and the total expenditure involved.

I cannot given the particulars asked for, since information is not available in this detail of the extent to which local education authorities pay or assist with the fees at independent schools. The most comprehensive information I have, based on a special return and relating to boarding schools generally and not merely those whose headmasters are members of the Conference, is summarised in paragraph 80 of Chapter I of my Department's Report for 1948.

Is the Minister aware that many teachers are disturbed because in this way we are losing our best pupils from the secondary schools at a critical age to bolster up the fee-paid public schools?

I do not think the figures indicate any need for worry on that count.

Is there any reason why the cleverest boys should not have advantage of the best education, which evidently they were not getting before?

My contention is that they are getting it.

asked the Minister of Education if when considering the overall school building programme, he will give special consideration to those local education authorities who, in addition to their normal school accommodation problems, are having to provide school places for children on large housing estates erected within their areas by other authorities.

I have already taken these special circumstances into consideration in the preparation of the first instalment of the school building programme for 1951.

Is the Minister aware that the schools in five housing estates in the administrative county of Essex have been allotted no less than £620,000 out of a total of £827,000 during the first instalment of the five year programme; and is he satisfied, in the light of those figures, that the county has not been penalised in any way?

I am satisfied that that amount of money was necessary to make provision for the children in that area.

Including the whole of the county?

Is the Minister not aware of the considerable dissatisfaction which exists in the county of Essex as a result of the burden which is inflicted upon many village schools in the county, because of the overwhelming priority given to schools necessary for the accommodation of people decanted into Essex by the L.C.C.?

I would point out that the children who come into the new housing estates have certainly got to be provided for.

asked the Minister of Education what proposals the Buckinghamshire Education Committee has made to him for the revision of educational administration in the county; and if be will state the details.

On 29th November, 1949, I gave my consent, under paragraph 11 (1) of Part III of the First Schedule to the Education Act, 1944, as amended, to the making by the Buckinghamshire County Council of a varying scheme of divisional administration. I understand that the county council are now in the process of preparing their scheme, but it has not yet been formally submitted to me.

In accepting these proposals did my right hon. Friend bear in mind that they did not meet with much local approval, and that on a previous occasion he turned down a similar scheme?

I have not accepted any proposal. All I have done is to give permission for submitting proposals and preparing a scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many British subjects have been repatriated from India at the expense of His Majesty's Government since August, 1947, through the failure of Indian firms to observe contracts made in India.

I am aware of two such cases.

May we take it from that that the Minister is satisfied that the interests of British subjects are being adequately looked after?

Certainly. I am quite satisfied.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware of the hardship caused to British subjects who were members of the non-Secretary of State services in India and resigned their appointments on the transfer of power owing to the change in their conditions of service by reason of the fact that they have been granted no compensation for the loss of their careers; and if he will now place them on the same basis as former members of the Secretary of State services as regards payment of compensation.

The officers concerned were appointed by the Central or Provincial Governments of India, and their conditions of service were regulated by those Governments. Many have remained at their posts; and those who resigned did so of their own accord. They were not dismissed; indeed, the continuation of their existing conditions of service was guaranteed before the independence of India and Pakistan by the party leaders. This guarantee was announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 10th July, 1947, during the Second Reading of the Indian Independence Bill.

In November, 1948, the Governments of India and Pakistan introduced proportionate pension schemes for Europeans of non-Asian domicile who might thereafter wish to retire prematurely, on the understanding that compensation would not be payable in addition. This condition was fair and reasonable, since the employing Governments did not wish to dispense with the services of the officers but were, nevertheless, giving them the option of retirement, and it was accepted by the United Kingdom Government. Some officers had already resigned, and so forfeited their claim to a pension or gratuity from the employing Government. In suitable cases they have been given a grant, at the expense of United Kingdom revenues, towards off-setting this loss. His Majesty's Government can see no reason for giving them, in addition, compensation for loss of career, as the Governments concerned were desirous of retaining their services.

Is the Minister aware that the only reason why some of these officers resigned was because their conditions of service did undergo a serious deterioration following the transfer of power; and if that is so, ought they not to be compensated on the same basis as members of the Secretary of State services?

My hon. Friend realises, I think, the difference between the Secretary of State services and the non-Secretary of State services. I can go into it, but it is a long story. The non-Secretary of State service members were in no case dismissed. Where they have retired they have received either proportionate pensions or, from our own revenues, an equivalent payment. I do not think there is any case for compensation for loss of career like that received by the Secretary of State services.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that, though the conditions of service may technically have remained the same, such intangible matters as chances of promotion did undergo some alteration; and is there not a case on those lines?

I quite agree. But on the other hand, the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to pay these people proportionate pensions, which they were not obliged to pay. There has been a balancing factor on the other side.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet received the report from the committee which he set up to consider the organisation and constitution of the British Standards Institution.

No, Sir. I understand that the committee is nearing the end of its task and is at present engaged in drafting its report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the difficulties facing the film industry, he has considered the advisability of establishing a development council for that industry.

I am reviewing the whole field of policy in relation to the film industry, including the question of the most appropriate form of central organisation.

As this is the first time that the House has been told that the right hon. Gentleman has been considering the possibility of this method of dealing with the problems of this industry, may I ask when he will be able to give us the results of his deliberations?

I think that there will be an opportunity in the near future to discuss film problems. That would be the time when I would give this information to the House.

Is my right hon. Friend taking the views of the Cinematograph Films Council on this subject?

I have taken the views of the Council on the Plant Report and the Plant recommendation for a central body with independent members.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will specify the provisions in our existing international obligations which preclude the granting of a rebate of entertainments tax in cases where a cinema shows a British film.

We are bound under a number of pre-war commercial treaties and under the Geneva Tariff Agreement to treat imported goods no less favourably in matters of internal taxation than like domestic products.

Is the Minister aware that a scheme of this nature is apparently in operation in Italy, with considerable benefit to the film industry and without any objection from the signatories to the Geneva Agreement?

I am well aware of the scheme in operation in Italy. We have been considering it very carefully, but Italy has only acceded to the Geneva Agreement in the very recent past and I am not prepared to say whether she is or is not in default on that Agreement.

Is it not a fact that if some easement of taxation is not speedily afforded, the production side of this industry will collapse? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the industry is of sufficient value to the country for him to address his mind to this matter before the disaster occurs?

That is another question on which facilities will no doubt be available for Debate on a future occasion. This question refers to the granting of a rebate of Entertainments Duty on a discriminatory basis.

Before we have the film Debate to which the right hon. Gentleman called attention in a previous answer, could we have substantial information obtained through the Foreign Office or the right hon. Gentleman's Department, to show what foreign countries are observing this Geneva Convention? My information is that they are breaking it very widely.

I have made inquiries on this question. The information as I have it is that Italy is the only country with a scheme in force of the kind referred to. I should be very glad to consider how we could let the noble Lord and other hon. Members have the information which we have.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what basis dollar allocations are made to private traders to enable them to import cotton dresses, skirts or blouses from the United States.

These imports are licensed under the token import scheme, whereby United States manufacturers are permitted to send to the United Kingdom 20 per cent. by value of their pre-war trade in certain specified goods, including women's dresses. An import licence and the appropriate foreign exchange will normally be granted to any importer whose American supplier is entitled to participate in the scheme.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his explanation, may I ask whether he is aware that when we are being asked to forego extra sugar, canned fruit and salmon, and other dollar goods which cannot be purchased in this country, it is rather tantalising to see advertised in the public Press very simple imported cotton skirts which can be produced equally well—and as cheaply, I hope—in Lancashire?

The House has had many opportunities of debating the token import scheme. We would all feel that the total disruption of this import channel will be regrettable, and as the imports only came to £19,000 in 1949 they would not make much difference to the point which my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now in a position to make an announcement as to the recommendations of the committee, which has been considering the organising and development of domestic food producers, to provide continued protection for domestic poultry keepers against restrictive provisions in tenancy agreements after the Defence Regulation has lapsed.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 11th May to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd).

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are his intentions with respect to the Brownwich Farm estate, near Titchfield, Hampshire.

The future of this property, which was acquired for the purposes of an experimental horticulture station, is under consideration, and I am unable at present to make a statement.

Can the right hon. Gentleman at least inform us whether he has been approached by any planning authorities about the change of function of this property?

Not so far as I am aware.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why no arrangements were made for the accounts of the Land Commission for the year ended 31st March, 1949, to be printed till 20th March, 1950.

Arrangements were made for the accounts to be included in the Second Report of the Agricultural Land Commission which was laid before Parliament and ordered to be printed on 29th November, 1949.

Is the Minister aware that stale accounts are worth only half the value of accounts when they are fresh and, also, that the delay of the accounts for a year looks very bad on the part of His Majesty's Government?

Yes, Sir, but the hon. Gentleman must be aware that printed copies of the Report were available on 16th January, 1950.

Can my right hon. Friend say if the potato acreage is determined by his Department, or left to the haphazard discretion of the farmers?

That does not arise on this Question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why, according to the accounts of the Land Commission, salaries and wages of £3,685 were needed to collect rents of £4,304.

The small acreage of land under the Commission's control during the first year of operation accounts for the high overhead charges as compared with receipts from rents. If, however, the hon. Member has read the report of the Commission, he will appreciate that the functions of estate management are not limited to the collection of rent, and that during the year the Commission spent much time in inspecting properties placed under their charge and considering the works of repair and improvement which were necessary on most of them.

As it is to cost this money, perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will give an estimate of what it will cost the country if the land is nationalised?

If the hon. Gentleman will read the Land Commission's report I think he will change his mind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many fishing vessels were laid up for the week ended 13th May.

In Great Britain on 13th May, 156 fishing vessels, including 16 seine net vessels, were laid up. In addition, some 159 ring net vessels and 250 Scottish herring drifters were kept in port pending the outcome of discussions with the Herring Industry Board about the prices to be paid for herring in the 1950 summer season.

Is the Minister aware of the anxiety that this is causing, and can he tell us how soon he may be able to make a statement? Has he consulted his colleague the Minister of Food about the regulation of foreign imports?

I should have thought that the hon. Member would have heard the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister a few moments ago.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister made no suggestion as to how soon he would be able to make a statement?

Neither do I.

Was not the Prime Minister's answer wholly unsympathetic to the fishing industry?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what information he has as to the number of lambs and sheep killed or worried by uncontrolled dogs last year in Kent; and what action he is taking to prevent this occurring again this year.

During 1949, the police in Kent were notified of 147 sheep killed and 76 sheep injured by dogs. Following discussions with the National Farmers' Union I have considered very carefully whether it is possible to do any more by legislative action to prevent such losses, but have come to the conclusion that none of the proposals discussed would be practicable and effective. In Kent, as elsewhere, local authorities have regulations which make it an offence to allow a dog to be out of control during the hours of darkness, and the police have certain powers to seize stray dogs. I understand that the Kent police are taking energetic action to enforce these provisions.