asked the Minister of Education if he will make available to hon. Members full particulars of his recently announced proposals for assisting voluntary schools to attain aided status.

I announced these proposals in some detail during the Debate on 4th May and I do not think that any further explanation on my part is needed.

asked the Minister of Education what statistics are kept showing what facilities exist for the teaching of swimming to pupils of State schools; what proportions of these pupils can and cannot swim, respectively, and at what ages; and how the numbers of such pupils able to swim at such respective ages now compares with those in each of the previous 20 years.

The information is not available. I am, however, satisfied that, in general, local education authorities take full advantage of the facilities for swimming instruction at public baths and elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that school children in Gloucestershire have not had their teeth examined for two years; and what steps he is taking to remedy this state of affairs.

Yes. The School Dental Service has been affected by difficulties over the salaries of dentists employed by local authorities. Agreement has now been reached on the establishment of a Dental Whitley Council which is to hold its first meeting on 8th June.

asked the Minister of Education at what rate per year are the 11,500 needed classrooms now being built; and at what date does he estimate that this deficiency will have been overtaken.

The figure in question was a rough estimate, assuming an even distribution of the school population, of the number of additional classrooms needed to enable all pupils to be registered in classes not exceeding 30 or 40. The classrooms now being built are to meet the needs of the increasing school population. Their number bears no direct relationship to the figure mentioned, though they should lead to some incidental reduction in the size of classes.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that managers and governors of voluntary schools have not in some areas received Memorandum No. 199 issued by his Department; what procedure he employs to distribute these memoranda; and whether he will take steps to ensure that this and other memoranda reach all persons and authorities involved with the minimum of delay.

No. This Administrative Memorandum was sent to all local education authorities on 7th February, 1947, when they were asked to send one copy to the managers and governors of each voluntary primary and secondary school and of each transitionally-assisted school in their respective areas. Authorities, who were sent sufficient copies for this purpose, know that they can, if they require them, obtain further copies from my Department.

asked the Minister of Education the number of school inspectors appointed by his Department to serve in Wales; and what number of these are Welsh speaking.

The number of His Majesty's Inspectors of schools appointed to serve in Wales is 48, of whom 43 are Welsh-speaking.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of exports of telephone equipment during 1949 to the sterling area, to soft currency countries, to hard currency countries and dollar countries, respectively.

Exports of telegraph and telephone equipment in 1949 were as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of claims made under the Extended Far Eastern Private Chattels Scheme (War Damage); what percentage of these claims have been accepted; and what percentage have been paid.

Up to 20th May, 3,229 applications had been received covering estimated losses of approximately£3½million. At the same date 1,034 of these applications had been approved for an aggregate sum which, under the limitations of the scheme, amounted to£352,911.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state, in convenient salary categories, the number of persons employed by the Timber Control at Lacon House and elsewhere; and what is the annual cost of the Timber Control.

On 1st May, 1950, the total number of persons employed in the Timber Control was 1,051 at an approximate total cost of£500,000 a year. Assuming that male salary scales were applicable throughout, 36 officers would be paid at£1,000 a year or over; 211 at£700 a year or over but less than£1,000 and 804 at less than£700 a year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that out of a consignment of 200 monkeys from Lagos, shipped to this country on the ss. "Mahout," which reached Tilbury on 25th April last, 102 had died en route; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the circumstances and take steps to restrict the importation of such animals in future, in view of the high rate of mortality in transit.

The rate of mortality in this particular shipment of monkeys, which was consigned from Calcutta and not Lagos, was exceptionally high and I understand that the importers are still investigating the cause. For some years the import of monkeys from Commonwealth countries has been permitted under open general licence and I see no reason to restrict such imports.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the difficulty of maintaining land in cultivation on Mendip owing to the shortage of houses, especially in the neighbourhood of Charterhouse in the Axbridge rural district; and whether he will have the position fully investigated on the spot.

My right hon. Friend is aware that there is a demand for cottages for agricultural workers in this area. The chairman of the Somerset Agricultural Executive Committee held a conference last month to consider the question, and our provincial representative is now in consultation with the principal regional officer of the Ministry of Health to see how far present and future housing needs can be met in the area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what has been the reaction of the County Garden Produce Central Committee to the proposal of the Committee on the Organisation of Domestic Food Producers regarding the future of their organisation.

I have now discussed my Committee's proposals with the County Garden Produce Central Committee, and the National Allotments and Gardens Society have subsequently agreed to delay implementing the decision on the proposal to establish a special rural section pending discussion of details with representatives of the County Garden Produce Central Committee and the Village Produce Association movement. Pending these discussions I do not feel it would be wise to make any further statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will describe briefly the work done by the Village Produce Associations since they were set up in 1939; what has been the average annual subsidy paid by his Department; what is the total membership of the organisation; and whether he will give an assurance that he will continue to take full advantage of the voluntary workers of this movement.

Village Produce Associations have given great assistance in the campaign for increased domestic food production in rural areas including fruit or vegetable growing and the keeping of pigs, poultry, rabbits, goats and bees. In many instances they have been responsible for communal schemes for the cultivation of potatoes and the co-operative disposal of surplus products. They have assisted their members by bulk buying of seeds, fertilisers, etc., and some have purchased small tractors and other implements for communal use.County Garden Produce Committees are at present responsible for the organisation of Village Produce Associations and since 1941 the average annual total of grants paid to these County Committees has been£5,930; the average annual expenditure of the County Garden Produce Central Committee which supervises the work of the County Committees has been£1,220. The total membership of Village Produce Associations is estimated to be about 100,000.My right hon. Friend has accepted in principle the report of the Committee on the Organisation of Domestic Food Producers, which among other things recommends that the National Allotments and Gardens Society Limited, if reconstituted on lines designed to secure specific rural representation, should be recognised as representative of the allotments and gardens movement in both urban and rural areas. He is quite sure that a new body constituted on these lines would be only too anxious to take full advantage of the knowledge, experience and enthusiasm of the voluntary workers of the Village Produce Associations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present average cost of production, including labour and seed but excluding rent, incurred in growing and harvesting 100 acres of potatoes.

Costs of production per acre vary widely according to the circumstances of the farm and the farmer, and my right hon. Friend is unable to make an estimate of the average over the whole country. The best information available suggests that the majority of commercial potato growers incur cost of£45 and£55 per acre, excluding rent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the most recent year when a farmer was eligible to receive£1,000 as an acreage payment in respect of 100 acres of potatoes grown on one holding.

This sum was payable in 1947 and will be again on the 1950 crop.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what were the estimated amounts of capital invested by farmers in livestock, machinery and tenants improvements in the years 1938, 1947, 1948 and 1949, respectively.

No detailed figures are available, but my right hon. Friend roughly estimates that before the war the total value of farmers' working capital in the United Kingdom (excluding land and buildings) was of the order of£300 to£350 million. At the present time the corresponding figure would be about£1,000 million. These estimates do not include tenants' improvements of a class normally supplied by landlords.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made in formulating a scheme for the marketing of home-grown wool; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply on 18th May to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd), to which he has nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has any information how the Colorado beetle, found in a greengrocer's shop in Bridport, Dorsetshire, was brought to this country.

There is no positive evidence how this Colorado beetle, which was found crawling on a pile of bills, was brought into this country. It may have arrived with vegetables imported from the Continent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that a Colorado beetle was found in a Bridport greengrocer's shop recently; and whether he is satisfied that all possible precautions are being taken to deal with this pest.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given today to the hon. Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Digby). The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes."

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent he has given the county agricultural executive committees authority to take the measures they consider necessary to reduce the plague of rabbits; and if adequate supplies of gassing powder are available in all districts.

Powers under Sections 98 and 100 of the Agriculture Act, 1947, have been delegated to county agricultural executive committees enabling them to require the destruction of rabbits in order to prevent damage to crops, etc., and to carry out the destruction in default of compliance with such a requirement. The committees also provide, so far as they can, a rabbit destruction service on repayment. There has been such an unprecedented demand for gassing powder this season that there is at present a general shortage. Consultations have taken place with the manufacturers and my right hon. Friend is informed that the factory is now working to capacity, but that the possibility of increasing production still further is being actively explored.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will increase the quarterly allocation of softwood to agricultural joiners.

My right hon. Friend regrets that the softwood allocated to his Department for all agricultural purposes does not permit of any increase in the amounts now being allotted quarterly to agricultural joiners.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what were the net profits made by his Department in disposing of the home-grown wool clips of 1948 and 1949.

The 1948 wool clip was sold between September, 1948, and July, 1949. The average price realised was 28½d. per pound. The average cost, including the costs of collection, grading, storage, and sale was 28¾d. per pound. On this clip a slight loss to the Exchequer was therefore incurred. Disposal of the 1949 clip will not be completed until the end of July next; the average price now being realised is substantially above that of the previous season, but the final results will not be known until somewhat later in the year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a statement setting out the purpose of the farming operations being carried out by his Department at Martyr Worthy, Hampshire.

The farming operations at Bridget's Farm, Martyr Worthy, are designed to put the farm into a satisfactory condition and so prepare it for use as an experimental husbandry farm, under the direction of the National Agricultural Advisory Service.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the charge recently made against the farm manager and assistant farm manager of the Radnor Agricultural Executive Committee for permitting the carcasses of 120 sheep to remain unburied; how often were the sheep attended to; and what was the explanation for this neglect.

Yes. The sheep were inspected five times during December and on 29th December they were found to be in good condition. Unfortunately a heavy fog from 30th December until 2nd January coincided with a sudden attack of pulpy kidney disease which causes rapid death.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he undertook the responsibility of the payment of£2 imposed by the Painscastle magistrates upon the farms manager and assistant farms manager of the Radnor Agricultural Executive Committee for permitting 120 sheep to be unburied; what disciplinary action has been taken against these officers for neglectful management; and what positions they now hold in his Department.

The farm manager paid his own fine and there was no fine on his assistant. The farm manager has been reprimanded and in view of the circumstances which I have mentioned in reply to Question No. 70, my right hon. Friend regards this action as sufficient. The assistant farm manager is no longer employed by my right hon. Friend's Department as his post has become redundant.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the number of smallholdings and the acreage involved in the schemes so far submitted by county and borough councils under Part IV of the Agriculture Act, 1947.

Schemes involving the acquisition and development of 8,774 acres of land providing for 241 smallholdings have to date been received from smallholdings authorities. In addition, schemes for capital improvements to 228 existing smallholdings on 5,986 acres have been submitted for approval.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give any statistics to show the extent to which the cross-drilling of arable land is practised in Britain; and, in view of the increased production resulting from this practice, if he will take steps to ensure its more general adoption by farmers.

There are no statistics available showing the extent of this practice. Where it has been tried with cereals, to which the hon. Member presumably refers, little, if any, increase in yield has been obtained.

asked the Minister of Agriculture by what amount the cost of agricultural lime to farmers will be increased because of the new haulage rates.

It is estimated that, after allowing for subsidy payments, the cost of agricultural lime to farmers will increase in a full year between 4 per cent. and 5 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will publish a table showing figures in respect of the Forestry Commission, year by year, since its inception for total expenditure; total earnings by way of sales; and acreage of land planted with trees, respectively.

This information is already available in the Annual Reports of the Forestry Commission which are presented to Parliament under Section 7 (3) of the Forestry Act, 1945.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what price the Forestry Commission received from the National Coal Board for pit-props.

Most of the pit-props prepared by the Forestry Commission are sold through agents. In the few recent cases in England and Wales where sales have taken place direct to the National Coal Board, prices obtained varied according to the length and diameter of the props, the average being approximately 5s. per cub. ft. for peeled props delivered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why the Forestry Commission held a Press Conference on 23rd May.

The Commissioners wished to enlist the support of the Press in making widely known the urgent need for rehabilitating some million acres of unproductive woodlands in private ownership.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that oil is being discharged by ships into the sea along the north coast of Devon; and what steps he is taking to prevent the fishing in this area being adversely affected.

Yes, complaints on this subject have been received. Where oil is discharged in British territorial waters proceedings may be instituted by harbour authorities where the offence occurs within the waters of the harbour, and by local sea fisheries committees, fishery boards and river boards or by persons authorised to do so by the Minister of Transport. There is no additional action which my right hon. Friend could usefully take.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the numbers of British trawlers engaged in long-distance and off-shore fishing respectively; how many of these have been built since the war; and how do these figures compare with similar trawlers in commission before the war.

On 30th April, 1950, there were 280 British trawlers engaged in distant water fishery, and 862 trawlers fishing in near and middle waters. In 1939 the numbers were 320 and 1,157 respectively. Since the end of the war 70 distant water trawlers and 50 near and middle water trawlers have been built, 24 of the latter having been built by the Admiralty and subsequently sold to the industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why authority has been given to Pocket Books, Incorporated, of New York, to convert into dollars earnings in the United Kingdom up to a value of 218,750 dollars although all the services that Pocket Books, Incorporated, can provide both on the home market in Britain and in the export trade are adequately covered by British firms.

My hon. Friend is misinformed. No such authority has been given. We have approved an investment project in the United Kingdom by this Company and also a transfer guarantee by E.C.A. for the amount mentioned in the Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was received from Income Tax on allowances paid to members of the Armed Forces during the last financial year and the preceding year; and how much he estimates to receive during the current year.

I am afraid that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times this year a lady whose name has been given him has been asked whether she has sold her house in order to meet a small tax obligation which she has incurred through the failure of his Department to make a proper assessment.

Twice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Purchase Tax is charged on invalid chairs; and whether he will amend the law so as to avoid this impost on cripples.

Invalid chairs are exempt from Purchase Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the amounts collected by his Department during each of the past 10 fiscal years in respect of Stamp Duty on the transfer of freehold and leasehold properties.

The hon. Member will find this information for the years up to 1947–48 inclusive in the Annual Reports of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. In 1948–49, the latest year for which information is available, the yield was£17.2 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the countries with which double taxation agreements have been concluded; and of the countries with which negotiations are in progress for such an agreement, respectively.

Yes. The following is the required information: Double Taxation Agreements have been signed with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and most of the Colonies, with the United States, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Burma and Israel. Negotiations are under way with India and Ceylon, France, Belgium, Norway and Indonesia. Draft agreements have been sent to Pakistan, the Argentine, Brazil and Venezuela. In addition, agreements confined to particular types of income, e.g. shipping and air transport profits, are in existence with some other countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount in Entertainments Duty collected from horse racecourses in the last financial year.

Approximately£1,782,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his regulations permit a foreigner working in the United Kingdom to send money home to his relatives.

Yes, a foreigner working temporarily in the United Kingdom who wants to send money abroad for any purpose will be able to get permission to send home as much of his earnings as he does not need to meet his living expenses in this country. Any branch of a United Kingdom bank will make the necessary arrangements. Full details of these arrangements are now supplied by the Ministry of Labour to all foreigners who are granted permission to work in the United Kingdom. Bank notes either in sterling or any foreign currency should not be sent abroad through the post except to the Irish Republic or the Channel Islands and any notes so sent are liable to be seized by His Majesty's Customs and not returned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many£5 notes,£1 notes and 10s. notes, respectively, have been printed since July, 1945.

I am not prepared to disclose the numbers of notes printed, but figures of each denomination of notes in circulation are to be found in the Bank of England Annual Reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why no date has yet been fixed for the operations of Sections 8, Travelling and Lodging Allowances, and 16, Establishment of Magistrates' Courts Committees, of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1949.

The provisions relating to the setting-up of magistrates' courts committees cannot be introduced in isolation from the financial provisions of the Act, and in view of the present economic situation and the continuing need for strict economy, I cannot say when it will be possible to bring into operation either these provisions or the section relating to travelling and lodging allowances for justices

asked the Attorney-General how many justices of the peace will be compulsorily retired on account of age as a result of the passing of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1949; and what steps have been taken to fill the vacancies that will be created.

On 1st June, approximately 2,030 justices on the English and Welsh Commissions will be transferred from the active to the supplemental lists on account of age under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1949. The figures for Scotland are not yet available. My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has had in mind for some time the replacing of these justices and he has already arranged for new appointments to the Commissions to be made where required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider some special facilities for legless drivers of motor cars to park their motor cars in areas where parking is otherwise prohibited or limited to two hours' duration.

Parking regulations are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, and while the police appreciate the difficulties of legless drivers it is not practicable for them to differentiate between one vehicle and another in enforcing the law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has given instructions for the abolition of fire alarm posts in the County of London and elsewhere.

I have given no such instructions and have no power to do so: the matter is one for the discretion of the individual fire authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present strength of the Special Constabulary in the Metropolitan area; what is the establishment; and how many volunteers under the age of 30 years have been rejected.

The present strength of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary is 3,239 men and 17 women; the establishment provisionally authorised is 10,564 men and 100 women. No record has been kept of the numbers of possible recruits who have telephoned for information or visited police stations but 37 written applications have been rejected because the applicants were under 30.

asked the Minister of Health how many dental students are now under training in England and Wales; how this number compares with the pre-war figure; how far he regards this number as sufficient to meet the country's needs; and what steps he is taking to increase it.

About 2,135, including 482 who took up training during the current academic year. The corresponding pre-war figure was between 1,300 and 1,400 (estimated), including an annual intake of about 280. There is an undoubted need for more dentists, and I am sure dental schools in the United Kingdom are doing everything possible to expand their training facilities to the maximum in order to meet it.

asked the Minister of Health when he anticipates making a water supply available for the Victoria Cottages and the Severn Farm at Quedgeley, Gloucestershire.

The water is supplied by the local water undertaking. I understand that they are awaiting the delivery of special fittings required for the crossing of the Gloucester-Berkeley Canal and will be able to complete the supply on their receipt.

asked the Minister of Health how many people suffering from tuberculosis are waiting for beds in sanatoria; and what is the average period for which applicants have to wait.

Approximately 11,000. The waiting period varies so widely that to average it would have no meaning.

asked the Minister Health the number of tuberculosis patients now awaiting admission for treatment; what is the average waiting period; and how far these figures show any improvement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for The Isle of Thanet (Mr. Carson).

asked the Minister of Health how many areas in England and Wales have been declared as under-doctored; and whether it is necessary for a doctor to provide himself with a surgery as a first preliminary to submitting his name for inclusion in the medical list as a principal in such an area.

I am sending my hon. Friend the current classification of areas by the Medical Practices Committee. It is being revised, and I hope the new classification will be available shortly. It is not necessary for a doctor to have a surgery before he applies for inclusion but the Medical Practices Committee may make the granting of an application conditional upon his acquiring one within a specified time.

asked the Minister of Health what was the average annual cost of drugs per insured person under the National Health Insurance Act before 5th July, 1948; and how this compares with that of drugs ordered by general practitioners for their patients under the National Health Service Act.

The average annual cost of providing pharmaceutical services per insured person in the 12 months ended 5th July, 1948, was 6s. 8d. In the 12 months ended 31st March, 1950, the average cost per head of the civilian population of providing such services was 14s. 7d.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the failure of Government agencies to produce a satisfactory audiometer for the hearing aid scheme, he will consider acquiring privately-produced audiometers, and thus overcome a serious hold-up in the work of aiding the deaf.

I am not in a position to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 16th May.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the growing concern at the lack of facilities to meet essential health services for some 8,000 new residents on the London County Council estate at St. Paul's Cray; and when his decision on the proposals for a health centre, submitted to him on 24th November, 1949, by the Kent County Council may be expected.

An early meeting between representatives of the County Council and officers of my Department is being arranged to discuss these proposals.

asked the Minister of Health under what authority a book is to be placed in the Maudsley Hospital, S.E.5, for the recording of the times of attendance of full-time medical staff.

I understand that the board of governors have under consideration arrangements for recording not the times but the fact of attendance. The matter is one within the discretion of the board of governors.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider including in the Health Service the establishment of special fertility clinics for the investigation of involuntary childlessness as suggested by the Biological and Medical Committee to the Royal Commission on Population.

asked the Minister of Health how many fertility clinics are now operating; and what action he is taking to make these more available.

In 1945, 27 special hospital clinics were in operation. No more recent figures are available; but this work is carried on at a number of other hospitals in addition to those special clinics, and this will be developed as circumstances permit.

asked the Minister of Health whether in view of the strength of local opinion, lay and professional, that the separate existence of the Kingston Victoria Hospital should be continued, he will direct the Regional Board to preserve the integrity of this hospital.

No.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated cost of adapting the Isolation Hospital, Gap Road, Wimbledon, as a hospital for the aged sick; by what date it is anticipated the work will be completed; and what number of aged sick patients the hospital will then be able to accommodate.

An alternative proposal for the use of this hospital is being considered, but I am not yet able to make any statement.

asked the Minister of Health the average waiting period necessary before delivery of bi-focal spectacles under the National Health Service; and what degree of priority is possible for urgent cases.

I have no separate figures for this particular type of lens. Priority is given according to need.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied with the supply of hypodermic needles for the use of diabetics; and whether he will increase the numbers available so that patients do not have to wait long for delivery.

I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Major Johnson) on 6th April.

asked the Minister of Health what steps have been taken to publicise the dangers of German measles in early pregnancy, and the need to notify this illness in order to minimise deafness at birth in children.

The evidence of danger so far available is indefinite, and an inquiry on a national basis is about to be made.

asked the Minister of Health whether a decision has yet been reached regarding the remuneration of medical officers who divide their time between the preventive and curative services for tuberculosis.

This is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health what are the comparative prices for house building for the years 1939 and 1949.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the First and Second Reports of the Girdwood Committee on House Building Costs.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered a letter from the secretary of the West Ham Trades Council, Mr. H. C. Willig, concerning the requisitioning of empty dwelling houses; What was the request made by the trades council; and what reply he has sent.

The letter has only recently been received and I am asking the trades council to supply the addresses of the properties to which they refer.

asked the Minister of Health how many applications for determination of reasonable rentals have been made to the rent tribunal in Leicester and the rent tribunals in the rest of the country respectively under the provisions of Section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant (Rent Control) Act, 1949; and in what number of these applications respectively the rent payable by the tenant has been reduced; and by what approximate percentage.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a statement showing the position on 31st March, 1950.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now prepared to consider granting licences, additional to the allocation to local authorities, to applicants willing and able to build houses for their own occupation without using other labour or making more than a limited demand on scarce supplies of raw materials.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. M. Lindsay) on 11th May of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now make it easier for the owner of a house who wants to live in it himself or to allow his son to live in it, to obtain possession.

This would require legislation for which I could hold out no prospect.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the present building programme in Newcastle-upon-Tyne has almost been brought to a standstill owing to the shortage of building materials; and if he will take immediate steps for the supply of the timber and cement needed for the completion of the current housing allocation.

No. But steps have been taken, and will continue to be taken, to meet particular difficulties if and when they arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange for the restoration to housing authorities of the discretion to issue licences for house private building up to one-fifth of their allocation, to take place during the current year and not merely from 1951.

The arrangement which has been made is designed to avoid dislocation of building programmes already under way, and to enable the future distribution of houses in each area to be settled by the local authority with full regard to the comparative needs of the applicant.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that owing to the serious shortage of facing bricks and timber the county borough of Gateshead is finding great difficulty in proceeding with building on their housing estates; and what steps he is taking to deal with these shortages.

No. But if the council experience difficulty they should consult my principal regional officer.

asked the Minister of Health how many more houses per head of the population there are in Britain today than before the war, taking into account obsolescence and also substandard accommodation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in the course of the Second Reading of the Housing Bill on 16th March, 1949. Figures of the houses completed up to 31st March, 1950, are shown in the Housing Returns.

asked the Minister of Health when further softwood timber supplies will be entering the United Kingdom to ensure the smooth continuation of the housing programme; what amounts are planned to enter; and what action he is taking to ensure that sufficient supplies are made available to Newcastle Corporation to ensure that its building programme does not suffer.

As regards the first part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given by the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom) on 27th April and 16th May. In reply to the last part steps have been taken, as the hon. Member is aware, to see that the housing programme does not suffer from any shortage of timber.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the Report of the Departmental Committee on the rating of site values.

I understand that the Committee are now considering the draft of their Report.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider abolishing the necessity for people to carry identity cards.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Renfrew, East (Major Lloyd) on 11th May.

asked the Minister of Labour how many explosions have taken place during the last six months in factories: how many injuries and deaths resulted from these explosions; and what types of factories were involved.

The latest detailed analysis is contained in Appendix III and V of the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for 1948 (Cmd. 7839) to which I would refer my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware of the long delay in having repairs made to artificial legs; and why it is necessary to send artificial limbs from Glasgow to London for repair.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave in the House on 4th April to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Selkirk (Mr. Macdonald). The contractors find it necessary to send major repairs to their limb-making works largely on account of the importance of securing the expert attention of the skilled workmen who constructed the leg and to whom complete equipment is available. Minor repairs are carried out at Glasgow and other large centres and the possibility of extending the range of repairs which could be undertaken at these centres is receiving the attention of the committee to which I referred on 4th April.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will grant pensions to the widows of disabled ex-Service men of the 1914–18 war in cases where the marriage took place after the disablement of the husband and his death occurred prior to 3rd September, 1939.

This matter has been considered on many occasions. The Government regret that they are unable to give further retrospective effect to the change which they introduced in 1946.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many disabled ex-Service men and women have been provided by his Department with motor cars and motor-tricycles, respectively.

Some 1,300 war disablement pensioners have been provided with motor cars. In addition, 1,248 pensioners are at present using motor-propelled tricycles whilst 66 have electrically propelled tricycles and 58 have auto cycles provided by my Department.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he expects that branded petrol will be on sale to private motorists; and what reason prevents its use now.

My right hon. Friend is keeping this matter under review but I cannot say when it will be feasible to allow branded petrol to be sold. The short answer to the last part of the Question is that under present conditions it would involve uneconomic distribution.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement as to the policy and programme of education and training to be agreed with the British Electricity Authority as required in Sections 5 and 6 of the Electricity Act, 1947.

The Authority continued the policies of the vested undertakings, subject to certain necessary interim measures, until they were able to frame a general programme with the assistance of the Joint Advisory Councils. My right hon. Friend has now received a statement of the Authority's programme and is considering it. I may add that this programme, which has been formulated in consultation with the trade unions concerned through the National Joint Advisory Council of the Electricity Supply Industry, is a comprehensive one covering a wide field. It appears to represent a substantial extension of the schemes which were in force before vesting date.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has agreed to a policy of education and training with the Gas Council as required in Section 4 of the Gas Act, 1948.

At the time when the industry was nationalised there were a large number of existing schemes for the training and education of employees, sponsored by the different gas undertakings. The first step in the preparation of a programme under Section 4 of the Act was the collection of detailed information about all these schemes. The Gas Council have undertaken this work, and are now in process of examining this information with a view to the preparation of a general scheme, or schemes, to be recommended for adoption throughout the industry. The Gas Council are not therefore yet in a position to submit a formal programme under Section 4 of the Gas Act. Active work with a view to the preparation of such a programme is being carried out.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement as to the schemes which have been drawn up for the exercise and performance of the functions of the National Coal Board as to training, education and research as required in Section 3 of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the National Coal Board's Annual Report for 1948. Since the publication of this Report further important developments have occurred which will no doubt be set out in the Report for 1949. My right hon. Friend will certainly take the first suitable opportunity to make a statement on this very important matter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the inability of coal merchants to meet the legitimate demands made upon them for coal deliveries in Tynemouth; and if he will take immediate steps to remedy this situation.

I understand that the unseasonable weather in May has greatly increased orders for household coal and his may have resulted in some temporary delays in delivery to consumers. Supplies to merchants in the district have, however, been well maintained in recent weeks and no complaints have been received through the recognised official channels either from consumers or merchants.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why, in view of the 3s. 1d. increase in the cost of house coal publicly announced as due to increased rail freightage to operate from 8th May, the Southern Regional Office has increased the price of this coal by 1s. 8d. on 23rd April and another 1s. on 1st May, both increases being unannounced to the public, making a total increase of 5s. 9d. in five weeks; and if these additional increases were general throughout the country.

The increase of is. 8d. a ton on 23rd April applied throughout the Southern Region and was in respect of an increase in the costs of distribution by the retail merchants in that Region as established by a costing review. The increase of 1s. a ton on 1st May applied to the Southampton area only and was due to the increased cost of the coal imported into the area. The actual cost of importation is ascertained quarterly and prices are adjusted as appropriate. In accordance with the general practice when local price changes are made, both increases were announced by amendment of the retail coal prices schedules which are publicly displayed in the offices of all local fuel overseers and coal merchants in the area. Price changes which apply throughout the country, such as those due to the recent rail freight increases, of which the increase of 3s. 1d. a ton in Southampton as from 15th May was one,

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any statement to make on the white fishing industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether His Majesty's Government have yet reached a decision regarding the control of foreign imports of fish to this country and the establishment of a white fish marketing board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can now state the result of his consultations regarding prices and the control of foreign imports of white fish.

The whole position of the white fish industry, including the question of imports of foreign fish and the setting up of a White Fish Board, is at present under active consideration by the Ministers concerned. I regret that I cannot say more at this stage.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the percentage of fatal accidents to the men employed in the fishing industry during the years 1945–50.

Following is the answer:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why a Caithness sheep farmer who also operates a spinning mill is compelled to surrender his fleeces to his Department for 2s. 9d. per lb. and to purchase similar fleeces for his mill at 5s. 3d. per lb. plus freight.

Under the Home Grown Wool Order, 1950, which was made jointly by the Agriculture Ministers, all home grown wool is requisitioned and is sold by public auction. Producers' prices are guaranteed and published at the beginning of the season. They apply throughout the season irrespective of the prices realised at the auctions, so that all producers and all users of wool are placed on the same footing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the house building programme for Scottish ex-Service men is being jeopardised by development charge, and if he has any proposals under consideration to remove this impediment in the housing of ex-Service men.

I do not consider that the development charge provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1947, are hindering the erection of houses. If the hon. Member has in mind the case of an ex-Service men's charitable organisation, there is no exemption under the Act for the erection of houses by a charitable body on land acquired after 1st July, 1948, and I see no grounds for proposing such an exemption.

asked the Minister of Works on what date his Department acquired three shops at Blackbird Hill, N.W.9; what rent and other outgoings have already been paid; when they will be occupied; and for what purpose.

My Department leased these shops in September, 1948, to accommodate an office of the Ministry of National Insurance, who did not occupy them owing to reductions in local staff. In order to release requisitioned premises, various re-arrangements in Wembley are in hand and the shops will be occupied by the Customs and Excise Department as soon as adaptation work is completed. The amount of the agreed rent is confidential information which I am not at liberty to disclose.

asked the Minister of Works how much has been spent by His Majesty's Government since 1st October,

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for civil building have been made to the City and Royal Burgh of Edinburgh in 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950, respectively; how many of these have been made by builders and how many by individuals; how many have been granted; and how many are still outstanding.

The following are the figures:1946, in buying property in France for offices and other accommodation; and how much has been spent since that date in reconstruction, redecoration, etc., of British Government property in France.

Since 1st October, 1946, only one property has been bought in France by His Majesty's Government, namely; that acquired in 1947 for Embassy offices in Paris at a cost of£258,000. Since 1st October, 1946, about£100,000 has been spent on reconstruction work, mainly to the new Embassy offices, and about£22,000 on repair, re-decoration, etc., of British Embassy premises in Paris. His Majesty's Government own no other properties in France.

asked the Minister of Works how much was spent out of public funds in renting property in France for office or other uses during 1938 and 1949, respectively.

The amount spent out of public funds in renting property in France for office or other uses was£6,000 in 1938 and£52,000 in 1949. These figures include residential rent allowances paid to members of the Foreign Service.

asked the Minister of Works if he will make a further statement as to the number of permanent and temporary houses under construction in Scotland in March, 1948.

I regret that an error occurred in the figures which I gave on 8th May. On 31st March, 1948, there were under construction in Scotland 47,127 permanent houses and 3,528 temporary houses, making a total of 50,655

asked the Minister of Works if he will give the number of non-employed insured males in the building and civil engineering industry in June and December, 1949, and the latest available date in 1950.

The number of insured males, whose last employment was in the building and civil engineering industry, registered as unemployed in Great Britain, at the dates specified, were as follows:

• 11th April, 1949–37,042.
• 13th June, 1949–31,550
• 5th December, 1949–39,632.
• 17th April, 1950–36,565.

asked the Minister of Works the ultimate cost of the Whitehall Gardens office block.

The estimated ultimate cost of the building is£5,800,000.

asked the Minister of Works by what amount the cost of hydrated lime for building will be increased because of the new haulage rates.

I regret that I cannot give a forecast.

asked the Minister of Food in what circumstances a change of milkman is permitted; and why such change was not freely allowed at the time of the recent issue of new ration books as was the case last year.

After next Sunday registration for milk will be suspended, and domestic consumers, institutions and catering establishments will be able to buy milk from any retailer who is willing to supply them; but registration will have to continue for the welfare and milk in schools schemes. I shall be announcing details of this change in the usual way.

asked the Minister of Food the date of arrival and country of origin of the oldest stocks of carcase meat now held by his Department.

Apart from 200 tons which arrived in September and October last year, all ration meat in store has arrived in this country since the beginning of this year. We have also a small quantity of manufacturing meat—less than one week's needs—which arrived towards the end of last year. All these stocks came from Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, or Uruguay—and of course, are kept under completely safe conditions of cold storage.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there is a large section of the public who are concerned at the conditions under which animals are slaughtered in slaughterhouses; and whether he will make the necessary regulations to stop the method of electric stunning and direct that the use of captive bolt humane killer is made compulsory.

I would like to assure the hon. Member that everything possible is done to avoid unnecessary suffering to animals killed in our slaughterhouses; but I know of no reason to stop the use of the electric stunner, which is permitted under the Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933.

asked the Minister of Food if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list showing the amounts of the different items of foodstuffs imported from Czechoslovakia under the terms of the Trade Agreement of 28th September, 1949, up to 30th April, 1950.

Yes.