asked the Secretary of State for Air what system is to be arranged for choosing men to occupy houses built for the meteorological staff, so that it is manifestly fair to all concerned.

The Air Ministry has a number of housing estates for which all staff employed in the neighbourhood, including meteorological staff, are eligible. The selection of tenants for these houses is determined locally but as differences have developed in the methods of selection, a uniform points system is being introduced. Allocation of civilian quarters overseas is on the basis of the period of current overseas tour so far served. An exception has been made in the case of Gibraltar where, to meet special local conditions, allocation is on a points system.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many houses are being built for the Meteorological Office staff at home and abroad under the Armed Forces (Housing Loans) Act, 1949; and what is the programme of building up to 1951 at home and abroad.

The provision of houses under the Armed Forces (Housing Loans) Act, 1949, for civilian staff at home, including meteorological staff, is under consideration. The Act does not apply to houses abroad. The building programme for overseas areas provides for 51 married quarters to be built for non-industrial civilian staff during 1950–51 and meteorological officers will be eligible for these in common with other staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many of each category of air crew, below the rank of officer, with flying service in the late war, have since joined the Royal Air Force Reserve; how many in each category have since been promoted to officer rank; and how many have left the Reserve.

I am obtaining this information, which is not immediately available, and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, there is a large school for Africans where Communism is taught; the name of the headmaster; and what action does he propose to take in regard to this matter.

If the hon. Member will tell me the name of the school to which he refers, I will look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now allow sweet points to be exchanged for the purchase of extra sugar in order to give greater freedom of choice to the public in general and to old age pensioners in particular who would like more sugar for their tea.

I have gone very thoroughly into the possibility of doing this, but have reluctantly come to the conclusion that no scheme for the exchange of personal points against sugar would be practicable at present.

asked the Minister of Food what was the total subsidy during 1949 on rationed foods allocated respectively to industrial canteens and to commercial caterers.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th May, 1950; Vol. 475, c. 1217] supplied the following information:It is estimated that the subsidies on rationed foods allocated to industrial canteens and to commercial caterers during 1949–50 amounted to £7.4 million and £6.8 million respectively. These figures do not include the subsidies on milk and shell eggs, which are allocated foods, nor those on unrationed foods such as bread, flour, potatoes and fish.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the target figure for recruits under the Government's scheme for Civil Defence.

At the beginning of March local authorities in England and Wales were asked to aim at enrolling by the end of April at least one additional volunteer for each existing member of the Civil Defence Corps, or such number of additional recruits as would bring the total to one per thousand of population, whichever number was greater. This represented an interim national target of approximately 50,000. Peace-time establishments for the local divisions of the Corps are being prepared and I hope to communicate them to local authorities in the autumn. Fire authorities have been asked to aim at recruiting two auxiliary firemen for every whole-time member of the regular Fire Service and one for every part-time member, making a total of approximately 60,000 auxiliaries in England and Wales. The ultimate requirements of the Fire Service have not yet been settled. The immediate recruiting target for the National Hospital Service Reserve is 30,000 volunteers; but considerably larger numbers will ultimately be required. All the foregoing figures refer to part-time personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the number of motor vehicles maintained out of public funds at the British Embassy in Paris on 1st May, 1938, and 1st May, 1950, respectively, and the number of persons employed as drivers, mechanics and in the administration of these motor vehicles on the above dates.

In 1938 the Ambassador's car was the only vehicle at H.M. Embassy in Paris which was maintained at the public expense. No drivers or maintenance personnel were employed at the public expense. Since 1939 the staff of the Embassy has increased threefold. In addition to their own transport needs the Embassy is called upon to meet those of the British members of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation and those of visiting delegations and of important visitors, of whom there are more now than there were before the war. In May, 1950, the number of official vehicles held by H.M. Embassy in Paris was 27. The number of staff directly employed on transport duties was 21. The maintenance of the Embassy vehicles is carried out by private contract. No personnel are directly employed in the administration of the Embassy transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give further particulars about the decision of the Brussels Treaty Powers to institute a cultural identity card which, will give additional facilities to teachers, research workers, artists, scientists and others to obtain additional foreign currency and cheap transport in order to encourage them to travel and reside abroad to improve their professional knowledge and do research work; and who will be the issuing authority for such cards in this country; whether the facilities will be available during 1950; and what steps are to be taken to make the arrangements known to all concerned.

The Brussels Treaty cultural identity card will be available to nationals of the Brussels Treaty countries for

asked the Minister of Health the present death-rate from tuberculosis in the Portsmouth district; and what rate new cases are being notified; and how far these figures show any improvement.

The following are the particulars for Portsmouth County Borough:

asked the Minister of Health the cost of purgatives which are given as a routine habit to male and female patients in the six largest mental hospitals; and also the six largest general hospitals.

The information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health on what grounds Kings Sports Club, Kings Road, Richmond, has been compulsorily acquired; if he is aware that this action will have a serious effect upon the owner's livelihood; and what action he proposed to take to mitigate these circumstances.

The Surrey County Council have been authorised to purchase these premises compulsorily for the purpose of a clinic and welfare centre for the care of expectant and nursing mothers and young children, an ambulance station and a divisional health office. The representations made by the owner, including those as to the financial effect upon him, were carefully considered. He will have a right to claim compensation on the basis laid down by Parliament in the relevant Statutes.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the average cost of main types of non-traditional houses erected in 1949.

The average cost of non-traditional housing schemes submitted for my approval since the end of 1947 is the same as that of ordinary traditional construction. It has been a condition of approval since that date that these types should be competitive in price with brick.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the growing concern at the extent of coast erosion on the Isle of Sheppey; and if he will contact the various authorities concerned, with a view to obtaining some concerted action in the matter.

I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will allow Andrew Gardner, whose case has been sent to him and who is the only child of his sole remaining parent, who is suffering from tuberculosis, to defer his military service, since he has expressed his willingness to join the Territorial Army for training.

No. Membership of the Territorial Army cannot exempt a man from his obligation under the National Service Acts to perform a period of whole-time service. I would add that Mr. Gardner has already been granted postponement of call-up for over three years on the grounds of exceptional hardship. On 11th May, the Military Hardship Committee refused further postponement but gave him leave to appeal to the Umpire, whose decision in this matter is final.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to make a statement about the recent stoppage of work at the Moston Colliery, near Oldham, and on the undertakings given to the men concerned.

I understand that 74 men on the afternoon and night shifts of 17th May refused to leave the pit at the end of their shifts, as a protest against the decision of the National Coal Board to close the colliery down. Similar action was taken by 102 men on the day shift of 18th May. All the men concerned came out of the pit at 8.30 p.m. on 18th May, after having been addressed by the area secretary of the National Union of Mine-workers. The day shift of 19th May worked normally pending discussions between the Board and the Union. I understand that the matter has now been amicably settled, but I have no information as to any undertakings that may have been given.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many Women's Royal Naval Service personnel have been awarded disablement pensions on account of having contracted tuberculosis attributable to naval service in Ceylon.

The information could not be furnished without a considerable expenditure of man-power. I am writing to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of villages without telephone kiosks in each of the Driffield, Bridlington and Holderness rural districts.

The numbers of communities of 100 or more in these districts, without kiosks, are 5, 10 and 18.

asked the Postmaster-General when the residents of Burnham Close, Enfield, may expect private telephone facilities; and whether he will treat, as a matter of urgency, the provision of a public call box in this area.

New cables are needed to serve this locality, and I regret that I cannot say when they are likely to be provided. An additional kiosk will be provided as soon as a suitable site is obtained.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he now has any statement to make on the siting of the proposed television station in Wales.

The B.B.C. has requested my approval of a site in South Wales for a high-power television station to serve the Bristol Channel area. I am having this considered in consultation with the other authorities concerned.

asked the Postmaster-General how the damage to the body of the London Post Office van, registered number GGJ 727, occurred; who was responsible; and when will it be repaired.

The van bears marks of three accidents sustained since its last overhaul in 1945. In two the Post Office driver was responsible. The vehicle is due to be reconditioned in normal course in July.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give details of any economies he has asked local authorities to make since 1st October, 1949, in the use of timber in their housing programmes, apart from the reduction in ceiling heights; and what effect such economies are estimated to have on the requirements of timber in a three-roomed and four-roomed house, respectively, and on the total consumption of timber in the 1950 housing programme.

I am sending the hon. Member copies of circulars and a memorandum issued to local authorities in November, 1949, and March, 1950, repeating existing timber economies and recommending further savings. As, however, not all of these recommendations can be incorporated in every case in view of the great variety of types of houses and methods of construction adopted by local authorities it is not possible to estimate what the actual savings may be.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which Government Departments had tenders approved or licences issued for new houses in 1949: how many such tenders were approved or licences issued in the case of each Government Department; and how many of the houses concerned have been, are being, or are to be erected through the agency of the Scottish Special Housing Association.

I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses of the managerial type have been authorised to be built in the new town of East Kilbride; and what is the superficial area of such houses and their cost.

The East Kilbride Development Corporation have been authorised to build 20 houses of the managerial type in the new town area. The houses are all of five apartments, the superficial area is 1,146–1,150 square feet and the tender price (exclusive of land, roads, professional fees and other overheads) is approximately £1,934.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the present rate of sickness absence in the Royal Ordnance Factories; and what is the estimated cost of the sickness scheme in force in these factories over the past 12 months.

The rate of sickness in the Royal Ordnance Factories for the month of April was 5.8 per cent. The cost of the sick leave scheme for the 12 months ended 31st March. 1950, was £284,235.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total weight of used colonial bagging, for which export permits were granted, in the last three years.

I assume that the Question refers to used wool packs. Export licences for 1,000 tons were issued in 1947, but none was issued in 1948 and 1949.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the beach at Westward Ho is being contaminated by oil discharged from ships; and whether he will take steps to stop this nuisance.

I have received three recent complaints of pollution by oil off the coasts of North Devon, but there was insufficient information about the origin of the pollution to enable me to take any action. A sample from this area examined last month appears to have been in the sea a long time and may well have come from a wreck.The discharge of oil into British territorial waters is prohibited by the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1922, and I do not hesitate to prosecute whenever I obtain adequate evidence. Outside territorial waters the problem requires the co-operation of the principal maritime nations, but shipowners of this and a number of other countries have agreed not to discharge oil within 50 miles of any coast, and from time to time our shipowners and masters are reminded of this and asked to prevent its happening within that limit.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the number of persons whose remuneration is directly or indirectly a charge upon public funds employed in France on 1st May, 1938, and 1st May, 1950, respectively; and the total cost thereof upon each of the above dates.

On 1st May, 1950, the civilian staff, employed in France, of all British Government Departments, including the United Kingdom delegation to O.E.E.C., the British Council, and the B.B.C., numbered about 450, and their total cost was about £500,000 a year. These figures include locally recruited staff. At 1st May, 1938, records show that about 40 civilian staff were so employed at a cost of about £50,000 a year, but, in addition, there were localy recruited staff in the commercial and consular sections of the Foreign Office whose members and cost are not now ascertainable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances taxpayers have been allowed to set-off arrears of unpaid Income Tax for the years 1943–44, 1944–45, 1945–46 against their post-war credits for 1945–46; whether age was taken into account; and if any similar concession has been made in respect of subsequent years.

Arrears of Income Tax for the year 1945–46 and any earlier years, which would otherwise have been collectible under the P.A.Y.E. procedure, were set off against the post-war credit for 1945–46 in accordance with the arrangement announced to the House by my predecessor on the 29th October, 1946. This arrangement applied irrespective of the age of the taxpayer. No such arrangement has been made in relation to tax due for any later years.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will expedite the payment of gratuities, due since January, to workmen discharged as redundant from C.R.E., Hampshire, Milldam Barracks, Portsmouth.

Steps have been taken to expedite payment in these cases.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that many old age pensioners cannot afford to buy enough coal; and whether he will consider a scheme for supplying such persons with fuel at reduced prices.

I appreciate that the present price of coal may create difficulties for old age pensioners or other persons with low incomes. To my regret, however, I do not consider that a scheme for supplying old age pensioners with fuel at reduced prices would be practicable.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the percentage of red petrol and diesel oil used in this country as against the total consumption of petrol and diesel oil.

Just over half the total consumption by road vehicles consists of red petrol and diesel oil.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much of the estimate for 1950 of gross cost in dollars to the sterling area of the production and refining operations of British oil companies relates to new capital equipment; and how much to normal recurrent annual expenditure.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what percentage of the estimate for 1950 of the gross cost in dollars to the sterling area of the operations of British oil companies relates to oil production and refining; and what percentage relates to marketing operations and transport.

I am unable to give a figure for the dollar cost of the transport and marketing operations of the British oil companies, since it is impossible in all cases to say whether a particular item of dollar expenditure is incurred in distributing rather than in producing and refining oil.