asked the Minister of Education what steps he takes to encourage local education authorities to obtain fresh eggs and vegetables from local sources for school canteens.

School canteens have to comply with the Ministry of Food Regulations governing the purchase of eggs by catering establishments. It is for local education authorities to make their own arrangements for vegetable supplies to their canteens and to secure the best food value on the best terms.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has yet decided to accede to the request of the London Schoolmasters' Association that their claim for an immediate award be submitted to arbitration.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Shoreditch and Finsbury (Mr. Thurtle) on 8th May, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Education when the Grange Park Primary School in Enfield will be ready for occupation.

I cannot say precisely, but there is some prospect that part of the new school will be ready for occupation early in 1951.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what special arrangements will be made to provide additional accommodation in London for visitors to the Festival of Britain, and especially those from overseas.

All possible steps are being taken to increase the volume of hotel accommodation in London available for overseas visitors, and in this connection I am, of course, keeping a special eye on the needs of those who will be visiting the Festival of Britain. Several Government-held buildings have been offered back to the industry if satisfactory arrangements can be made for their reconversion to hotel use. Also, to ensure that the fullest possible use is made of hotel accommodation, the British Hotels and Restaurants Association are, with the support of the British Travel and Holidays Association, setting up a London Hotels Information Service which will give overseas visitors information about available rooms. The British Travel and Holidays Association is itself setting up a parallel service to collect and pass on information about suitable accommodation available in private houses and hostels and the like.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider introducing legislation to prevent valuable works of art leaving the country.

Works of art may not be exported without an export licence from my Department. Applications are considered on their merits after any necessary consultation with experts at the national collections.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has refused permission for grey cloth, bought from Japan with sterling and printed in England, to be re-exported to the Belgian Congo.

The Belgian Congo is included in the limited list of markets in respect of which traders are allowed to import Japanese grey cloth for processing and subsequent re-export. The total amount of grey cloth which we can afford to import under these arrangements is, however, limited and quotas have been allocated to all the merchant converters who have applied. Imports of additional amounts of grey cloth for re-export to the Belgian Congo are not at present being allowed since such imports might involve us in a loss of dollars.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what interval he proposes to leave between the date of his decision on the application made to him last year for authority to increase London taxi-cab fares and the date for the coming into operation of such increase as he may authorise; and if he will consider the best method of notifying taxi-cab passengers of the fares to be charged, having regard to the time required for the alteration of taxi-meters.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Wembley, North (Wing-Commander Bullus) on 11th May. I hope to announce my decision and its practical application with the minimum of delay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police were engaged in attending the Mosley meeting held on Sunday, 7th May, at Ridley Road; and at what cost.

The total number of police officers of all ranks who were at any time engaged in connection with this meeting is 335. It is not at present possible to say whether any additional cost to the Metropolitan Police fund was involved, but if any additional expenditure is incurred it will not be large.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what orders he has given to the police in regard to the by-law of the Council of the Metropolitan Borough of Hackney, confirmed by him and prohibiting the use in public places of wireless loudspeakers, etc., so loud and continuous as to cause a nuisance to occupants of premises in the neighbourhood, as the Fascist meetings recently held offend against it.

Any complaint made by an occupant of premises in the neighbourhood would be brought to the notice of the operator of a loudspeaker and his attention drawn to the by-law. In the event of his refusing to abate the nuisance, the fact would be reported to the Commissioner's Office so that the question of proceedings might be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any statistics as to what proportion of the 65,166 juvenile delinquents of last year came from homes where the living conditions were unsatisfactory.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied that this year's potato acreage will be sufficient to prevent a shortage.

According to the March forecast, approximately 1,220,000 acres of potatoes will be grown in the United Kingdom this year. This figure is somewhat below the target of 1,300,000 acres, but with a normal yield I estimate that it will be sufficient.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the imports of Icelandic fish last year were 2,300,000 cwts. against 500,000 cwts. prewar; and, in view of the imminent danger of the British fishing industry collapsing and causing widespread unemployment, if he will take immediate steps to control the import of foreign-caught fish.

Imports of fish from Iceland were 1,533,000 cwts. in 1949. In the first quarter of this year they have fallen by 40 per cent. Imports of foreign-caught fish are not the only cause of the present difficulties of the British fishing industry, which, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has already announced, are being examined by the Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will indicate county by county the number of farm workers and smallholders appointed to serve on county smallholdings committees.

When individual appointments have been completed in accordance with approved arrangements, all the new county smallholdings committees will include farm workers or other persons suggested by the agricultural workers' unions. With two exceptions, all committees will include smallholders, the majority of them tenants of county council smallholdings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what representations he has received with regard to the present method of marking the ears of calves in respect of which calf subsidy is payable; and what alternatives have been suggested.

I have received representations from the National Cattle Breeders' Association, the Red Poll Cattle Society and a number of private owners, who have suggested the following alternatives:

(1) The use of an instrument making a hole⅜in. instead of ½in diameter.

(2) The use of tattoo marks.

(3) The acceptance of breed society markings as identifying marks for the purposes of the calf subsidy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the plentiful supply of home-grown feedingstuffs, he will allow sales between farms without coupons.

No. Apart from any practical difficulties, all the home grown feeding grain not used for the growers' own livestock is required, at present, to satisfy the demands on the ration pool.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Society of Civil Servants submitted their claim for improved salary scales for their members; what reply has been given; and on what date was this sent to the union concerned.

The claim was submitted on 28th July, 1949, and a reply was sent on 4th August asking the Society to reconsider it in the light of the economic situation. It was discussed at a meeting on 19th October when the Society were again asked to refrain from pressing it. No further communication has been received from the Society since a letter of 30th November, which said that they would inform the Treasury of the action they proposed to take.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact the technical civil servants are not receiving the equivalent of the trade union rates paid outside the Civil Service, and that they have received no salary adjustment since 1946, he will now agree to grant them an increase on their present rates to compensate them for the increased cost of living since the date of their last award.

I understand that my hon. Friend is referring to a claim made last January by the Society of Technical Civil Servants on behalf of the Tracing Grades in the Civil Service. The Treasury then contested the Society's view that their members were not receiving a fair equivalent of the rates paid outside the Civil Service, especially when superannuation benefits and other conditions of service were measured against those prevailing outside, and I am not aware of any changes in the last few months which would justify a re-examination of this claim.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why, in the April, 1950, number of the Monthly Digest of Statistics, the deaths in the first quarter of 1947 have been omitted.

The figures for the first quarter of 1947 have been given in earlier numbers of the Monthly Digest of Statistics, but the amount of space available for this table permits the printing of figures for only 12 post-war quarters; when figures for the first quarter of 1950 became available it was accordingly necessary to drop the figures for the first quarter of 1947,

asked the Minister of Health if a decision has yet been taken on the future use of the nurses' home at Witham, Essex; and if he will bear in mind the usefulness of this home for maternity cases which would otherwise have to be dealt with at hospitals in other towns.

I am informed that the Regional Hospital Board have decided to continue using these premises for suitable maternity cases.

asked the Minister of Health the number of architects and achitectural staff employed by the North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board.

The architect's department for the Board includes 47 professional and technical officers, of whom 24 are architects and architectural staff.

asked the Minister of Health how many Medresco hearing aids have so far been supplied; and what is the present total estimated demand and the average waiting period.

About 75,000 aids have been supplied; the total demand is unknown The waiting period varies according to the priority of the patient.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the total estimated annual cost of putting into effect his circulars RHB(50) 17, HMC (50) 17, BG (50) 15, requiring hospital authorities to prepare inventories in a prescribed form; and the total estimated annual saving in public money as a result of taking such inventories.

I do not think any useful estimate is possible under either heading.

asked the Minister of Health if he is now in a position to give his decision regarding the closing down of the Manse Day Nursery at Hersham in the county of Surrey.

No. Not yet.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the number of beds unoccupied and understaffed under the Sheffield Hospital Regional Board is 73,432; that the patients' needs absorb only 15 per cent. of the total expenditure; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this unsatisfactory situation.

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. On 31st March the number of beds unoccupied through lack of staff was 3,432, and staff will be obtained to open them as far as this is possible. All the expenditure of the Board is incurred to meet the needs of hospital patients.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are proposed to improve facilities in Wales for students training in the medical profession.

Discussions are now taking place to determine the siting and plans for the Cardiff Royal Infirmary. These plans will provide for a medical school with greatly increased facilities for graduate and postgraduate training.

asked the Minister of Health the number of aged and chronic sick people who are housed in mental institutions in Wales because no other hospital accommodation is available; and what steps he is taking to relieve this problem.

I am not aware that any aged persons not suffering from mental infirmity are being housed in mental institutions in Wales; but I understand that there are, in those institutions, some 663 persons over the age of 65 who are suffering from mental infirmity, but could be appropriately accommodated elsewhere if suitable alternative accommodation were available. I have recently issued to the regional hospital boards some suggestions as to the provision of alternative accommodation for aged persons suffering from mental infirmity.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the fact that nearly as many hospital beds are occupied by mental and mentally defective patients as for all other forms of illness put together, he is satisfied that the supply of nurses coming into mental hospital work is keeping up to current requirements.

No. I should like to see a greater number of nurses taking up work in mental hospitals and institutions for the mentally defective. The recruiting figures have, however, shown a slight improvement in the last 18 months.

asked the Minister of Health how many dentists in England and Wales were undertaking work under the National Health Service scheme at the last convenient date; and how many assistants are included in the figure.

On 1st January, 1950, there were 9,495 dentists on the dental lists in England and Wales of whom 669 were assistants.

asked the Minister of Health what inquiries he has made, through the Dental Estimates Board and otherwise about the direct or indirect saving to the National Health Service, as a result of the efforts of the dental officers of his Department and in respect of the dental officers of the Dental Estimates Board, respectively; and whether the results of these inquiries will be published.

Sample inquiries have, of course, been made by the Board and in my own Department, but I do not think the results of these small samples would justify publication.

asked the Minister of Health when he anticipates that the war-time surplus surgical instruments now at his Department's supply depot at Stonebridge Park, will be unpacked, classified and made available for purchase by hospitals; and why there has been delay in the displosal of these instruments, observing the known need of hospitals for them.

This work has not been unduly delayed and should be completed by the end of 1950. Part of the surplus stocks has already been offered to hospitals and further lists will be circulated shortly.

asked the Minister of Health what consultations are provided for under the revision of terms of service in connection with price reviews respecting chemists under the National Health Scheme; and in what consultations his Department took part in before the reduced charges for medicines were brought into operation on 1st May, last.

Except when three months notice is given, an alteration of the terms of service for chemists must be approved by the Minister after consultation with an organisation which is, in his opinion, representative of the general body of chemists. The Chemists' Contractors' Committee was consulted by letter dated 14th April.

asked the Minister of Health when it is anticipated that there will be published the findings of the Industrial Court, which sat on 24th April last, to consider salaries of nurses and midwives in the National Health Service.

This award has now been published, and I will send the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether, under his Regulations, it is any longer necessary for persons, when notifying changes of address at their local National Registration offices, to have to state their dates of birth.

Yes. The information is required for purposes of identification.

asked the Minister of Health what would be the cost of an all-night chemist service in Salford; and whether his regulations enable the chemists to arrange amongst themselves for the service without having to obtain his approval.

I am unable to give the estimate requested in the first part of the Question. It is open to the chemists to make whatever private arrangements they wish, but I should not feel justified in approving an all-night service as a charge on Exchequer funds.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many doctors in Salford cannot supply drugs as provided for under the emergency regulations for patients who are visited by them late in the evenings and early mornings when chemists are closed; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.

I am not aware that doctors are unable to comply with the regulations, but I will look into any particular case which is brought to my notice.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Robert S. Ward, aged nearly five years, details of whose case have been sent to him, who was tested for spectacles to correct a squint a year ago, has still not yet received them; and, in view of the serious effect this is bound to have on the child's sight, if he will take immediate steps to ensure that they are delivered.

I am making inquiries and will let the hon. Member know the result.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the long delay in the provision of spectacles under the National Health Service in Sheffield; and what steps he is taking to improve the position, in view of the short time taken to complete private orders.

I understand that the delay in Sheffield is no greater than elsewhere. I am in consultation with the industry regarding delays generally.

asked the Minister of Health for what reason his regulations require that time necessarily spent by a Health Service medical officer in attending a criminal court to give evidence in respect of a Health Service patient is not to be considered as spent on duty but is ordered to be debited against the medical officer's annual allowance of leave.

I know of no such requirement; the terms and conditions of service provide for the opposite.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to ensure the erection of flats or small houses for old people without dependants with a view to enabling them to quit houses which they no longer need nor wish to retain.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular issued last November which deals inter alia with this question. It is, of course, for each local authority to decide exactly how much of its housing should be devoted to the needs of old persons, but I have asked all housing authorities to review their programmes with this and other special needs in mind.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that owing to the fact that the Dorking and Horley Rural District Council exceeded their quotation of private building licences in 1949 in order to provide agricultural cottages which were urgently needed, this local authority has only been able to issue one licence for private building this year; and, in view of the urgent need of such housing in the area, if he will consider increasing the allocation.

I am aware that the Council issued an undue number of licences last year; as regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the circular issued to local authorities yesterday of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health the reasons for the instructions given by the Principal Regional Officer of his Department in Bristol that any private building licences classified as promised, upon which the prospective licensee decides not to proceed, are to be cancelled and not transferred to another applicant.

Under the provisional arrangements made to implement the Government's decision in December last year on capital investment, I could only allow local authorities to issue licences in cases where a definite promise had already been made.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, according to published figures of housing returns, Leek Rural District Council have to date built 30 houses and have 36 under construction, whereas the same council have issued 86 private licences under which 83 houses have been completed; and will he explain the disproportion of private licences issued by Leek Rural District Council.

Yes. Most of these licences had already been issued before the number was first limited to a definite proportion of housing allocations.

asked the Minister of Health the total sum authorised and the number of new family units constructed since July, 1945, in the area of Holborn and south St. Pancras.

The number of houses completed are given in the Quarterly Housing Returns. On the question of allocation, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Hardy), on 28th April, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses or separate family units, whichever is available, for which he has authorised change of use from residential to other purposes, since July, 1945, in the area of Holborn and St. Pancras, South.

I have allowed appeals under Defence Regulation 68CA since it came into force on 30th October, 1945, in respect of 19 houses or parts of houses.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that private house owners are gravely concerned at the likelihood of a substantial increase in their rates when the new method of assessment, in accordance with the Local Government Act, 1948, comes into force; and whether he will introduce amending legislation to ensure that privately-owned houses are not treated more unfavourably than council houses in the assessment of rates.

I am not aware of any general concern that there will be a substantial increase in the assessments of private houses at the next revaluation. The matter was fully discussed on the Bill for the Local Government Act, 1948, and I see no reason for contemplating further legislation now.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses out of the 14,500 in the Exchange Division of Liverpool are scheduled for demolition under slum clearance schemes, or redevelopment schemes; and how many families it is estimated will be displaced.

Eight hundred and forty-two houses which are subject to operative demolition orders have not yet been demolished, and 474 houses are included in clearance areas in respect of which orders have not yet been submitted for confirmation. No recent estimate is available as to the number of families likely to be displaced from these houses.

asked the Minister or Health whether he will issue a fresh circular to local authorities requesting them to give special consideration to the needs of married men who are about to be discharged from the Armed Forces, and to regard such men as homeless from the date of their discharge from the Forces, even if, in fact, they are not immediately evicted from married Quarters.

No. I think that the guidance I have already given to housing authorities on this question is adequate.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses of the total number to be built on the St. Paul's Cray estate will carry a State subsidy; and of this number how many houses are of the traditional and how many of the non-traditional type of construction.

Subsidy will be payable in respect of all the 3,939 houses to be built, of which 2,601 are traditional and 1,338 non-traditional.

asked the Minister of Health if the census of population is to be taken in 1951; and how long he anticipates it will take to collect the necessary information having regard to the men serving in His Majesty's Forces overseas and deserters from the Services who may seek to avoid having their names entered on forms.

asked the Minister of Health if it is intended to take a census of the people in 1951.

Yes. The census includes all persons present in Great Britain on census day. The returns are normally collected within a week. No delay is caused through the absence abroad of Service men concerning whom information is collected concurrently by the Service Departments. The census returns are strictly confidential and are used to provide general statistical information only.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of road accidents in 1949 are estimated to have been due wholly or mainly to dogs getting in the way of motor vehicles.

During 1949, 2,187 road accidents causing death or personal injury were reported by the police as being primarily due to dogs being on the carriageway, and this figure was 1½per cent. of the total of such accidents.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will add "Cross Now" signs to the traffic lights at the junction of Strand and Wellington Street, W.C.2, where traffic is particularly heavy.

These traffic lights are of a portable type worked by the police, who, I am informed, arrange to provide reasonably sufficient opportunities for pedestrians to cross. The automatic signals planned to replace them will provide for two periods in the cycle when vehicular traffic will be stopped and pedestrians can cross the carriageway. The design of the installation will, however, permit changes to be made if necessary. Both traffic and physical conditions at this junction are

RECONCILIATION OF FOOD SUBSIDIES IN 1950–1951 WITH THE CASH REQUIREMENTS AS SET OUT IN THE CIVIL ESTIMATES, CLASS IX, VOTE 3
					£m.
Net deficit on sale of commodities, exclusive of Customs Duty	…	…	…	…	326·0
Add Estimated Customs Duty	…	…	…	…	24·0
					350·0
			£m.
Add Cost of Welfare Foods Service	…	…	28·6
Cost of Milk-in-Schools Scheme	…	…	8·4
					37·0
					387·0
Add Subsidies borne on Votes of other Departments:—
Attested Herds Scheme	…	…	2·5
Acreage payments for potatoes and rye	…	…	13·0
Board of Trade fertilizer subsidy	…	…	7·5
			23·0
Total food subsidies	…	…	…	…	410·0
Add Cash required to finance increased stocks at end of year	…	…	24·6
Variations in debtors and creditors	…	…	4·0
Cash required for Subhead G	…	…	1·3
					29·9
					439·9
Deduct Services provided by other Departments without payment in cash:—
Storage, rents, etc.	…	…	1·9
Fuel, light, stationery, postal services, etc.	…	…	4·3
Interest on Exchequer Advances	…	…	8·7
				14·9
Subsidies borne on other Votes	…	…		23·0
					37·9
Net cash requirements (all subheads)	…	…	…	…	402·0
Deduct Cash requirements on subheads A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J and K, less Appropriations in Aid			…	…	16·4
Net cash requirements on subhead H	…	…	…	…	385·6

asked the Minister of Food whether he will present a statement to the House reconciling the food subsidies with the cash requirements of his Department, in accordance with the recommendation of the Select Committee on Estimates contained in paragraph 150 of the Thirteenth Report of last Session.MR. WEBB,

asked the Minister of Food what were the imports of Danish fish both boxed and fresh landed into the United Kingdom for the four weeks before and the four weeks after decontrol.

For the four weeks before decontrol, Danish boxed fish imports amounted to 708 tons and direct landings to 571 tons. For the four weeks after decontrol, the corresponding figures are estimated at 1,060 tons and 1,284 tons

asked the Minister of Food what extensions to existing sugar-beet factories are under construction; and what are projected.

None.

asked the Minister of Food at what price liquid eggs are now being imported into this country; and what price English egg producers get for their liquid eggs.

The only liquid egg (as distinct from frozen egg) imported into this country is a small quantity imported by private traders, and I do not know the price. The great bulk of the some supply comes from damaged eggs sorted out at the packing stations. The packing stations find their own market for the liquid and I have no detailed information about the prices they obtain.

asked the Minister of Food when and where and in what quantity he is going to permit the sale of cream.

I shall be announcing these details very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a National Service man in the Territorial Army who accepts the additional liabilities of a volunteer and subsequently for any reason relinquishes them is still required to carry out the obligations of a National Service man for the remainder of the unexpired period of his National Service in the Territorial Army.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for War how far a National Serviceman in the Territorial Army, who accepts the additional liabilities of a volunteer during all or part of the period that he is compelled to serve in the Territorial Army, is entitled to a statutory period of holidays on full pay from his employment in addition to time off for the purpose of undertaking his annual camp; and if he will give adequate publicity to his answer in the interests of recruiting.

I am advised that the National Service volunteers referred to in this Question are not covered by the provisions of Section 52 of the National Service Act of 1948. This matter is under consideration. I would add that His Majesty's Government propose to grant to all such volunteers who are in Government employment the same privileges of additional paid leave for annual training as are granted to the ordinary volunteer in the Auxiliary Forces at present. The Government hope that their example will be followed, to the greatest extent practicable, by all employers, in view of the great importance to the Auxiliary Forces of securing a high proportion of such volunteers from among National Servicemen completing their period of full-time service.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will further investigate the case of Mr. Clive P. A. Bean of North-gate, Beccles, who has been called up for service with the Royal Air Force, in view of the fact that he has always suffered with a weak heart and has already fainted several times whilst on parade.

As the hon. Member has already been informed, the National Service Medical Board, before finding this young man fit for service, obtained the advice of a consultant cardiologist. I understand that since he was called up he has twice been examined by R.A.F. specialists, who have found him to be medically fit for full recruit training.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in view of Japan's desire to export cotton goods to Africa, what revision to the Congo Basin Treaties is he advocating.

The policy of His Majesty's Government in relation to these Treaties is set out in the replies which my predecessor gave to the hon. Member for Darwen (Mr. Prescott) on 30th November and 25th October, 1949. His Majesty's Government are not at present advocating their revision. In the view of His Majesty's Government, the rights which the Japanese Government derive from the 1919 Convention of St. Germain-en-Laye, of which she was a signatory, were automatically suspended on the outbreak of war with that country in 1942 and remain in abeyance for as long as the state of war persists. The question of Japan's position under the Congo Basin Treaties will have to be considered in connection with the Japanese Peace Treaties.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, in taking ever transport concerns for road haulage in Suffolk, there has been a dismissal of drivers resulting in unemployment; and what similar employment is available to them in the Stowmarket area.

My inquiries do not show that any drivers are registered as unemployed at Suffolk local offices in consequence of the taking over of transport concerns for road haulage in that county.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons directed under the Control of Engagement Order.

During the period 6th October, 1947, to 13th March, 1950, that the Control of Engagement was in force, 29 persons were directed to take new employment and 668 persons were directed to remain in coalmining or agricultural employment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what exactly the naval vessels discovered at Tobermory; and what sum is to be paid by the Duke of Argyll for the service of the Navy in these operations.

Naval vessels have discovered a wreck beneath a mass of silt and have recovered two ornamented medallions. A complete report of the operation, which has now ceased, is still awaited, but it is expected that the sum to be paid by the Duke of Argyll will be between£3,000 and£4,000.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the strength of the National Association of Telephone Supervisory Officers; and whether this union will now receive official recognition.

I have no specific information regarding the strength claimed by the Association. On the evidence before me I am not prepared to grant recognition to the Association

asked the Postmaster-General what is the pay of a senior supervisor, male, on the trunk service, a telephonist, with allowances, and a night duty clerk, respectively.

The scales of pay for male telephone supervising force in London are as follows:

• Senior Chief Supervisor:£540–20–640.
• Chief Supervisor:£430–15–490.
• Supervisor:£390–15–420.
• Assistant Supervisor:£365–15–380.

The maximum of the scale of pay for a male telephonist in London is 140s. a week: in addition some telephonists receive supervising allowances of 9s. or 10s. 6d. a week according to the time spent on supervision. There is no grade of night duty clerk, but allowances of 6s., 8s. or 9s. a week are due to be paid to those telephonists who perform exchange clerical duties, the amounts depending on the time spent on such work. Somewhat lower rates of pay and allowances apply outside London, according to district.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent it is proposed to set up consultative machinery for all employees of the Hong Kong Government on the lines of the existing machinery for European and Chinese civil servants.

The existing consultative machinery, which covers European and Chinese pensionable staff is still in an experimental stage. The interests of the non-pensionable and daily paid staff are protected by a variety of trade unions which have not so far asked for the establishment of such machinery. The need for the establishment of such machinery is appreciated and the matter is being kept under review in relation to the establishment, when possible, of joint consultative machinery for industry generally.

asked the Minister of Works the number of brickmakers who made use of the Regional Inter-Departmental Amenity Committees in 1947, 1948 and 1949.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Works if he will state the amount of steel allocated to the City of London, Clydebank and Greenock for use in reconstruction areas.

It is not the practice to give details of allocations of materials for particular purposes.

asked the Minister of Works what is the statistical basis for the Government's estimates of the distribution of the building labour force, as between housing and non-housing work, in 1938; how far these estimates are based on returns; and how far they are derived statistically.

The estimates of the distribution of the building labour force, as between housing and non-housing work, in 1938 were based on figures given in an article on the Building and Civil Engineering Industry published in the Oxford Economic Papers No. 7, March, 1945. This article gave estimates of the value of output on various kinds of building and civil engineering work based on the 1935 census of production, which the authors claimed was incomplete. The estimates of men employed, which should be treated with reserve, were derived from the value figures by using conversion factors.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the difficulty in obtaining anthracite nuts in the Winchester area; and whether he will take steps to improve the position

For some time now there has not been sufficient anthracite to meet the demand, which has been steadily increasing since the war. The shortage is general, and not confined to any particular area, and, because of the necessity to increase anthracite exports, I am afraid I cannot hold out hope of any early substantial improvement in domestic supplies. Coke, however, is plentiful in most districts and is a suitable alternative for nearly all cooking and heating stoves and boilers.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the pithead price of a ton of Yorkshire domestic coal and Northumberland domestic coal; and what is the cost of freightage per ton to Southampton.

My right hon. Friend's responsibility in this matter is confined to fixing the retail prices for domestic coal in the Southampton area. These are based on the pithead prices charged by the National Coal Board plus freight and costs of distribution. Seaborne Domestic coal supplied to Southampton from Yorkshire and Northumberland is charged by the National Coal Board to the importers at f.o.b. prices which, on the average, are, I understand, as follows:

• Northumberland 1st Grade 54s. 10d. a ton.
• Northumberland 2nd Grade 50s. 11½d. a ton.
• Yorkshire 57s. 7½d. a ton.

The cost of freightage to Southampton depends upon the port of origin and the size of vessel used, but amounts on the average to 14s.8d. a ton. The retail price of coal to the consumer includes in addition the cost of discharging and screening coal at Southampton, transport from the port to the merchant's depot and the costs of distribution by the merchant.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the scarcity of coal supplies in Manton, Rutland, and the neighbouring villages; and whether he will take steps to expedite deliveries to this centre.

The cold spell since Easter has increased the demand for deliveries of house coal in many areas at a time when merchants' stocks, put down in the summer to supplement current supplies in the winter, are naturally depleted; this fact, combined with the effect on supplies of the colliery holidays at Easter, may have resulted in some temporary delays in delivery. The local fuel overseer, however, has not received any complaints from consumers in Manton or the neighbouring villages, and supplies in this area have been well maintained over the winter six months.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many tons of crude oil or petroleum were sold in the last 12 months under arrangements of his Department or with the permission of his Department to Japan; and whether payment was made or arranged in dollars or sterling.

Imports into Japan of crude oil from sources under British control have amounted to 66,000 tons since 1st January, 1950, when shipments of crude oil were recommenced. Imports of petroleum products in the last 12 months consisted of some 3,000 tons of fuel oil. Payment is made in sterling.