asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses it is proposed to have built in the constituency of Edinburgh, South, during the current year by free enterprise, by the local authority and by the Scottish Special Housing Association, respectively.

The Corporation and the Association expect to start 631 and 70 houses respectively in South Edinburgh this year. I understand that in the main private enterprise contractors are employed to carry through the work. In addition, six houses, licensed to be built to private account, are under construction, but I am unable to estimate how many additional licenses will be applied for and granted in the course of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now considered the Report of the Committee on Poaching and Illegal Fishing of Salmon and Trout in Scotland; and what action he proposes to take.

Our studies of the report although incomplete are now well advanced, and I hope to make a statement very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedure he has laid down to enable non-medical and unofficial sources to obtain individual priority for any surgical appliance provided under the National Health Acts.

There is no such procedure. Where there are strong medical or other reasons for a measure of priority, any action necessary is taken by the hospital authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how far the recruiting figures now available for 1949 indicate that his forecast of 20,000 voluntary recruits in 1950 is likely to be achieved;(2) what, based on present recruiting trends, he estimates will be the strength of the Regular Army in April 1951 and 1952, respectively;(3) what is the minimum acceptable Regular proportion of the Army, expressed as a percentage.

My estimate of some 20,000 voluntary recruits annually was based on the recruiting figures for 1949. It is too early to say from the figures so far available for 1950 whether this total is likely to be reached, and I cannot therefore usefully revise the estimate of 178,000, which I gave on 20th March, as the strength of the Regular Army in April, 1951. It would not be in the public interest for me to give an estimate for April, 1952. The minimum acceptable Regular proportion of the Army will vary from theatre to theatre and, within any one theatre, between Arms of the Service, and it is not possible to give a single percentage figure.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the possibility of arranging that, during 1951, when the Festival of Britain will be held, tickets for Trooping the Colour shall be so allocated that a certain proportion are available for the benefit of tourists from overseas.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Regular officers resigned their commissions in 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 and up to date in 1950; and what proportion of these officers were in the 30–45 age group.

During the four calendar years 1946 to 1949 the numbers of voluntary retirements and resignations were 309, 510, 783 and 627 respectively. Approval has been given for 146 officers to retire or resign voluntarily between 1st January and 7th June, 1950. The percentage of these figures represented by officers in the 30–45 age group was 31, 36, 41, 44 and 46 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will cancel the recent increased charges for hire of War Department camping gear on the grounds that youth organisations had already fixed their prices on the old scale of charges.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the great concern caused by the increased charges for the hire of War Department camping gear by youth organisations; and if he will reduce such charges.

These charges represent the actual cost to the War Department. They have been carefully assessed in the light of experience and any reduction would in effect be a subsidy to the hirers. I do not think it is reasonable that Army funds should bear such a charge.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will give, from the facts obtained by the Building Research Centre, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the percentage efficiency of utilisation of coal burnt in modern appliances for open fires by radiant and convection heat in the room and in the whole house assuming that the flue is wholly within the house; and the similar figures for pre-war types of appliance.

The percentage efficiency of the modern open fire providing heat by convection as well as by radiation into the room in which it is situated is usually within the range 30 to 35 per cent. when burning coal. When the heat gained from the flue is taken into account the efficiency of modern appliances should be between 50 and 60 per cent. The majority of pre-war type fires did not make provision for the supply of heat by convection and their radiant heating efficiency when burning coal was around 20 per cent.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will give, from the facts obtained by the Building Research Centre, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the over-all percentage of efficiency of heat from the raw coal delivered to a house with a flue wholly within the house for coal, for gas and coke, and for electricity, all with modern appliances.

I regret that the analysis of the results of the research mentioned by the hon. Member has not yet been carried to a point where definite conclusions could be drawn in the form of comparative figures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the capital cost of £35,000,000 on housing, announced by him on 24th October, 1949, related to 1950 and to what extent to 1951; and whether the restoration of the cut requires the balance of the capital investment programme to conform.

When the capital cuts were announced last October it was stated that the reduction would take place as quickly as possible but that the process would have to be gradual if dislocation of work already in progress were to be avoided. It was not expected that the reduction of £35 million in the housing programme would become effective before the end of 1950. With regard to the second part of the Question, the restoration of the cut would cause a small increase, the size of which it is too early to estimate, in the total investment programme for 1950; in 1951 the housing programme will be accommodated in the general investment programme with necessary adjustments elsewhere.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the compensation to be paid to Sir Leslie Plummer will be subject to either Income Tax or Surtax; and if the amount of the sum will be published.

I cannot give any information regarding the Income Tax affairs of a particular taxpayer. The second part of the Question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Profits Tax was paid in the last financial year by the British Transport Commission.

I regret that I cannot supply information as to the taxation paid by particular taxpayers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the approximate number of pensioned Customs officials resident in this country; and whether he will consider seeking volunteers from their number in order to provide Customs facilities for day voyages across the Channel between Brighton and other South Coast resorts and French ports, respectively, during the forthcoming summer season.

There are about 110 preventive officer pensioners over 70 years of age, and about 100 under 70 years of age. It would not be practicable to mobilise additional pensioner volunteers as suggested beyond those already assisting at the regular ports. Apart from shortage of staff, other difficulties, such as lack of accommodation and facilities at the points of embarkation and disembarkation, stand in the way of these trips being allowed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Italy has signified her willingness to sell oil against blocked sterling; and to what countries such sales can be made.

Payment in sterling for licensed imports of Italian products, including petrol, into the Scheduled Territories is allowed as a matter of course. As a member of the Transferable Account Area, Italy may receive sterling from any other member of that Area for Italian exports (including petrol) to that member. Applications to transfer sterling in payment for Italian exports to countries outside the Scheduled Territories and the Transferable Account Area are subject to the agreement of the Exchange Control authorities in the countries concerned, and are considered individually on their merits by the Exchange Control here.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what undertaking was given by His Majesty's Government to the Canadian Government to give priority in purchase to Canadian wheat; and whether the Canadian Government was asked to give reciprocal priority to Empire-produced sugar.

In the course of the discussions last month about the United Kingdom's wheat requirements in the crop year 1950–51, Mr. Howe, the Canadian Minister of Trade and Commerce, and Mr. Pearson, the Secretary of State for External Affairs, were informed that His Majesty's Government hoped to be able to meet their requirements for dollar wheat from their traditional market in Canada within the International Wheat Agreement, and that this should be possible provided that Canadian wheat could be purchased on no less favourable terms than those obtained by any other buyer in the dollar market, whether in the United States of America or Canada. The answer to the second part of the Question is. "No"

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual amount of Entertainments Duty collected in respect of amateur entertainments; and the estimated annual amount remitted.

All amateur entertainments, as defined in Section 10 of the Finance Act, 1949, are eligible for relief from Entertainments Duty. No information is available as to the amount of duty remitted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why box iron heaters are subject to a Purchase Tax of 33⅓ per cent., whilst gas irons, electric irons and flat irons bear no Purchase Tax.

The exemption for domestic smoothing and pressing irons under Group 12 of the Purchase Tax Schedule does not include cast iron heaters for box irons. These are chargeable under Group 11 in so far as they are articles of domestic ironmongery.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to announce the introduction of the £10 flat rate tax on old motor cars, as in the case of new models.

I have no such expectation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of capital depreciation that has been allowed to farmers in the last 10 years in computing their Income Tax liability.

Until 1949–50 most farmers were assessed under Schedule B. No depreciation allowances were given against Schedule B assessments as these assessments were designed to represent the net profit. The hon. Member will, however, find information relating to the farmers assessed under Schedule D for the year 1946–47 in Table 22 of the 91st Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, and it is proposed to continue publication of this information in future Reports.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the present functions of the Plowden Planning Committee.

The functions of the Economic Planning Board remain unchanged, and are "to advise His Majesty's Government on the best use of our economic resources."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measure of success the timber controller has experienced in his negotiations with Russia for increased supplies of timber for housing from that country.

I have been asked to reply. The negotiations of the Timber Controller in Moscow are not yet complete and it would be premature for me to make any statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now consider relaxing the restrictions at present imposed on the transfer of funds to Dominion countries in respect of pensions payable to retired citizens who wish to join their families abroad.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the restrictions on the transfer of funds during the first four years after emigration to Canada, since no restrictions exist on transfer to any other Commonwealth country. It would not be possible to give preferential treatment to the transfer of pensions so long as the overall restrictions remain necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if carriage charges payable by the customer on goods purchased from a retailer are subject to Purchase Tax under his regulations.

No. The value of goods on which Purchase Tax is chargeable by law includes the cost of delivery to a retailer but does not include additional carriage charges arising after that point.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of tax is levied on cigarettes sold on the cross-Channel services.

Cigarettes are supplied free of duty as ships' stores to vessels operating the cross-Channel services to the Continent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much, in terms of money and not a percentage, the purchasing power of old age pensions has decreased since the present rates were introduced.

About 3s. 2d., calculated on the basis of the official index of retail prices introduced in June, 1947, and the previous cost-of-living index.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that single 24's wool yarns were quoted at 16s. 6d. per lb. on 18th May as compared with 10s. immediately before devaluation; and since this wool is used for the manufacture of utility clothing, if he will make a statement on utility production and prices.

In his reply to the hon. Member for Darwen (Mr. Prescott) on 27th April, my right hon. Friend said that an application from the Wool Textile Delegation for increases in the maximum prices for the various categories of utility wool cloths was being considered. He hopes to make an announcement about this before the end of this month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a further statement on the progress of the project to build a factory in the Nantlle Valley, Caernarvonshire.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on this subject on 23rd May. At the moment I have nothing more to report, but as soon as I have further information I will write to him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent public funds were made available for the recent visit to Japan of representatives of the British textile industry.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present position with regard to the pro posed factory at Blaenau Ffestiniog, Merioneth.

I am now informed that the Ffestiniog Urban District Council have agreed to take a loan from the Treasury for this project and are considering possible sites.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will exempt imports of pirn winding machinery for the weaving industry from import duty.

No. I am not prepared to advise my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to exempt pirn winding machinery from the duties which were imposed under the Import Duties Act, 1932, for the protection of United Kingdom manufacturers of similar machinery.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how far his Department permits the export of industrial diamonds and diamond dies from this country to countries in Western Europe for re-export to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics;(2) what restrictions are at present placed on the export of industrial diamonds and diamond dies to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Industrial diamonds and diamond dies may not be exported to a wide range of countries, including the U.S.S.R., without an export licence. Applications are considered on their merits. Exports to Western European countries are free from this control, except where it is known at the time of export that the goods are ultimately destined for one of the controlled destinations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average monthly collection of waste paper from local authorities; and whether he is satisfied that the present amount collected is sufficient to maintain full stocks at the pulping factories.

I have no information about the current rate of local authorities' collections, but statistics from the mills indicate that with the present rate of consumption, receipts from all sources are insufficient to prevent a fall in the level of stocks held by mills. I hope that this situation will correct itself as the increased pressure of demand makes itself felt.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what obligations the Spanish Government have undertaken under existing trade agreements with this country to facilitate the import of British motor cars and vehicles.

The Spanish authorities undertook in June, 1949, to use their best endeavours to issue, as their sterling position improved, import licences for United Kingdom motor cars and vehicles, among other goods. His Majesty's Government have noted with concern that imports of many classes of United Kingdom manufactures including motor cars and vehicles have been much less than was estimated as reasonable last June. This matter will be pursued in the trade talks now taking place in Madrid.

asked the Minister of Works what quantity of cement it is proposed to import from European countries during 1950.

I am unable to state how much cement will be imported during 1950 since this depends upon the actions of private firms and there is no restriction upon the amount that can be brought in except from certain areas where there are currency difficulties. I am aware of arrangements that have been made to import some 60,000 tons between the latter part of May and the end of June.

asked the Minister of Works what quantity of cement was exported to markets other than dollar markets, and markets which would have drawn on dollar markets during the first three months of 1950; and what is the estimated quantity for the full year.

A relatively small amount of cement earns dollars directly. The bulk of exports goes to sterling area customers who would otherwise have to spend dollars or other hard currencies; there is no means of telling what the proportion of dollars would be. During the first three months of 1950, 4,754 tons were exported which neither earned nor saved dollars or hard currency. The figure for the whole year may be about 20,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what are the estimates for 1950 of the gross cost in dollars to the sterling area of the operations of British oil companies; and the gross amount of various foreign currencies accruing to the sterling area as a result of these operations.

In the forecast of dollar expenditure in 1950 prepared last December, it was estimated that the British controlled oil companies would spend 535 million dollars in 1950 and would receive for their sales of oil outside the sterling area foreign currencies worth £330 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the date of the municipal elections in 1951.

I have fixed Thursday, 10th May, as the day of election for borough councillors in England and Wales for the year 1951.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to replace the destroyed post office at Queen Street, W.1, in view of the urgent need of postal facilities in the region of Park Lane and of the increased user of premises in this area for business purposes.

The site of the former Queen Street branch post office is not large enough for present day needs and it was hoped to open a temporary office in premises in Curzon Street. Unfortunately, these premises have recently been reserved for overseas visitors to the 1951 Festival of Britain and search is therefore being made for other suitable premises.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why members of the 3rd District Midlands Royal Naval Volunteer (W) Reserve have not received payment due to them.

Delay in paying these bounties was due to the late receipt of the claims and to inaccuracies in them. Payment has now been made.

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the fact that, in the year ended 30th April, 1950, 67.9 per cent. of the awards to Oxford and Cambridge were secured by pupils of independent and direct grant schools, what steps he is taking to secure that able children, of rich or poor parents, shall be eligible for places at these schools.

My grant regulations secure that no pupil shall be precluded from entering a direct-grant grammar school by reason of the inability of his parents to pay fees, and regulations made under Section 81 of the Education Act, 1944, empower local education authorities to assist with the fees at independent schools in suitable cases where the financial circumstances justify this. I would point out that the percentage figure quoted in the Question takes no account of State Scholarships and local education authorities' awards to the two universities.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has considered the adoption of any of the recommendations of the Fleming Report of 1944.

Yes. The revised regulations for direct-grant grammar schools embodied many features of the Fleming Committee's Scheme A. It has not been possible to carry out the Committee's specific recommendations regarding independent boarding schools, but in my Department's Circular 120, the hope was expressed that independent schools would be ready in an increasing degree to reserve boarding places for children educated under the public system. A considerable number of places has been taken up, usually by direct arrangement between authorities and the independent schools.

asked the Minister of Education if he will take steps to amend the present regulation whereby teachers' pensions are paid quarterly, so that in future they may be paid monthly, in England, Wales and Scotland.

The quarterly payment of teachers' pensions is laid down by Statute in the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925, and monthly payment could not be arranged without amending legislation. The point has been noted for consideration when legislation on teachers' superannuation is next proposed, but it must not be overlooked that the adoption of monthly payments would increase substantially the man-power employed and the cost of administering the Superannuation Acts.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will consider introducing legislation to ensure that all close scholarships and exhibitions are made available for open competition.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many jet fighter aircraft have crashed and become total write-offs since VJ-day; and how many pilots have been killed or injured.

The accident rate for jet fighter aircraft is no greater than that for comparable piston-engined aircraft, but it would be contrary to public policy to publish statistics in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of commissioned officers in the Royal Air Force holding permanent commissions, short-service commissions, extended service commissions and National Service commissions, respectively, as at 1st April, 1948, and 1st April, 1950.

replied:The numbers are as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will provide a table showing an estimate of the total number of points by which the retail prices index would fall if there were a reduction of one-fourth in the Customs or Excise duties, and in the Purchase Tax, charged on the items used in the calculation of the index; and an estimate of the number of points, included in that total, which would result from reductions of one-fourth in the Customs of Excise duties or Purchase Tax on each of the following items or groups of items: sugar and cocoa, beer and whisky, tobacco and cigarettes, cinema seats and football admission, petrol, clothing and footwear, and household goods and toilet articles, respectively;(2) if he will give an estimate of the number of points the index of retail prices would rise if there were a reduction of one-fourth in the food subsidies as a whole.

It is not possible to give exact figures showing the ultimate effect on the prices of articles covered by the retail prices index of a reduction of one-fourth in the net total of food subsidies. The effect would depend, amongst other things, on the way in which the reduction in the total was distributed between different goods whose prices are subsidised. But, if the retail prices of those food items in the index which are affected were adjusted by amounts equivalent to one quarter of the net subsidies it is estimated that the retail prices index would show a net rise of about 2½ points.As regards the result of reductions of one-fourth in the Customs and Excise duties and Purchase Tax of each of the various items listed, it is estimated that if the retail prices of the articles affected were reduced by an equivalent of such a reduction in the rates of duties and tax, the retail prices index would fall by about five or six points. Between four and five points of this fall would be due to the reduction in duties on drink and tobacco, and roughly one point would be the result of the reduction of taxes, including Purchase Tax, on the other items. I regret that it is not possible to give an estimate in tabular form.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps His Majesty's Government are taking to encourage the extension of co-partnership in industry.

The extension of schemes of co-partnership and profit sharing in industry is a matter for both sides of industry to determine.