asked the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to initiate legislation to make it compulsory for all furniture manufactured in this country to be stamped with the maker's name and address.

I am not yet in a position to say when it will be possible to introduce this legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied with the proportion of the timber now coming from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics which is suitable for house construction; and how the cost, c.i.f., of this timber compares with price asked for comparable Swedish supplies which the Timber Control declined to buy.

In reply to the first part of the Question, the timber bought from the U.S.S.R. includes, as must all major contracts, types required for many uses in this country. I am satisfied that the proportion suitable for house construction is most satisfactory. The answer to the second part of the Question is that the Swedish prices asked seven or more months ago were f.o.b., and no specific quantity of timber was attached to them. If current freight rates from Sweden were added to these prices, the result would be lower than the c.i.f. price of Russian softwood, since freight rates from Russia have, for obvious reasons, increased steeply within recent weeks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that timber scantlings most suitable for houses are 2 in. by 7 in., 2 in. by 4 in. and 2 in. by 3 in., he will state what proportion of timber in the Russian contract conforms to these sizes.

It is not the practice to disclose details of the Timber Control' s contracts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet received a report from the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation on the Italian proposal for the establishment of a preferential tariff area.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of those delegates from Commonwealth and foreign countries who have accepted His Majesty' s Government' s invitation to attend the forthcoming conference on tariffs and trade at Torquay.

Invitations to attend the third round of tariff negotiations and the fifth session of the contracting parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, were issued not by His Majesty' s Government, but by the Secretariat of the Interim Commission for the International Trade Organisation. I understand, however, that this information should be available when the delegates assemble, and I will send a copy to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number and value of machine tools exported to Poland and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics since 1st January, 1950.

Exports of metal working machine tools to Poland and the Soviet Union in the first seven months of this year numbered 293 and 103, valued at £492,235 and £471,337, respectively.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that large orders for webbing equipment have been placed, while sales of webbing equipment have recently taken place; and whether it is the policy of His Majesty' s Government to authorise the auction of serviceable webbing equipment in view of the present very high price of replacement.

No webbing equipment which is of use to the Services has been sold. The recent sales were of equipment which was unserviceable.

asked the Minister of Supply if it is proposed that the five persons appointed to the Steel Board will be given contracts of service; and if he will give the details.

In accordance with the terms of the Iron and Steel Act, the chairman and members of the Iron and Steel Corporation of Great Britain will be appointed by me and will hold and vacate office in accordance with the terms of their appointment. With permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a copy of the standard letter of appointment I intend to use.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why it took until 25th August to arrange a Service funeral for a "Truculent" casualty buried by the Sheerness police on 27th June.

The time taken to arrange a Service burial was due to the number of legal requirements which have to be complied with before a body can be exhumed and reburied. I wish to express my regret for the delay.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that under certain circumstances the increase in the pay of the various ranks of officers in the Royal Navy is entirely cancelled by the taxes and other deductions to which they are subject; and what steps he will take to remedy this matter.

No. I have been unable to find any case in which this is true.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when the report on the recent ammunition explosion at Bedenham may be expected; whether the Special Branch or other departments of Scotland Yard have been called in to investigate the occurrence; and whether any recommendations for awards for gallantry on the part of firemen and others have been or are to be made.

The final report of the Board of Inquiry and recommendations for awards for gallantry have been received and are now being considered. The incident did not occur in the Metropolitan Police area, but the appropriate provincial police forces have made a full and detailed investigation. Their report is also under consideration. Scotland Yard were not called in.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he now has any further statement to make regarding the whereabouts of Captain Vyvian Holt, formerly His Majesty' s Minister in Seoul, and the Bishop of Korea, and the treatment accorded to them by the North Koreans.

There has been no further news of Mr. Holt since the telegram received on 21st July, which was referred to in the answer given to the Question of the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on 27th July, In the absence of any news there is no reason to suppose that he is not still in "the place of safety near Pyongyang" referred to in that telegram, or that he is not being well treated. We believe that Bishop Cooper has continued to be detained in Seoul, and have no reason to suppose that he or any other detained British subject has been ill-treated.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware that certain British newspapers have representatives with the North Korean Forces; and if he will take steps to forbid such contacts.

This question involves difficult problems both of international and municipal law to which the Government have been giving urgent consideration. Meanwhile, no one should be in doubt that the law of treason is applicable in connection with the present conflict. The activities of the only individual at present known to be with the North Korean Forces, as well as those of the newspaper he represents, are being closely watched.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he can make a statement in regard to his proposals for review of the courts-martial procedure.

The recommendations of the Lewis Committee on Army and Air Force Courts-Martial and the Pilcher Committee on Naval Courts-Martial, which conflict in some respects and raise a number of important and complicated issues, have now been considered by His

asked the Minister of Defence if he will give an assurance that all officers and men, including those serving under National Service engage-

asked the Secretary of State for War when he will introduce legislation for the revision of the courts-martial system in the light of the recommendations of the Lewis Committee.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence to the hon. and gallant Member for Stockport (Wing Commander Hulbert).

asked the Minister of Defence if he can give details of the British casualties in Korea up to the last convenient date.

The total casualties sustained in the Korean operations up to midnight, 16th September, were five killed and 23 wounded.ments, employed in a theatre of active operations, shall receive equal pay and allowances for their rank.

No. The main purpose of the new pay arrangements is to stimulate regular recruitment and re-engagement, and, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War explained in the course of the Debate on 15th September, the adoption of the principle suggested by the hon. Member would create more anomalies than it would remove.

asked the Minister of Defence what is the estimated annual cost of increasing the pay of National Service men during the last six months of their service.

Approximately £4½ million.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will consider payment of National Service men engaged in actual fighting, as in Korea, on the same basis as the new rates for the Regular Forces.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave today to the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. M. Lindsay).

asked the Minister of Defence whether, in present circumstances, he will reconsider the question of raising a British Foreign Legion.

Use is already made of alien nationals for defence purposes but the Government do not consider that the formation of a Foreign Legion, with the heavy drain it would place on our limited resources of experienced officers and non-commissioned officers, would be advantageous.

asked the Minister of Defence what is the average annual amount of Purchase Tax paid by the Government on clothing sold to noncommissioned members of His Majesty' s Forces.

Other ranks and ratings receive upkeep allowances calculated to meet the cost of maintaining their kit; some articles are, however, replaced free in the Army and Air Force. Purchase Tax is not charged on articles purchased from Service stores by other ranks and ratings and no payment on account of the tax arises.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of apples for cider and how many gallons of cider were imported into this country for the 1949 season; and whether any are to be imported this season.

Except for 99.2 tons imported from the Channel Islands, no apples for cider were imported between 1st August, 1949, and 31st July, 1950; 1,266,000 gallons of cider (including perry) were imported during that period. I cannot say what imports, if any, will be made during the coming season. Cider may be imported under open general licence and it is usual for some to be brought in, mostly between January and April, for blending with English cider. Cider apples may only be imported under specific import licence. No applications for licences have so far been made.

asked the Minister of Food if he will take action at once to prevent the total loss of several thousand tons of good apples that were blown off the trees in Kent during the recent storms.

Apples which are blown off trees are generally bruised and in the nature of things are not readily marketable at a time when plentiful supplies of good apples are being harvested. I am not clear how far the hon. Member would desire me to interfere with the private trade in this matter, but if he has any ideas of ways in which I could helpfully intervene I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Food if the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has now completed delivery of the coarse grains and other feedingstuffs arranged under the last trade agreement; and what supplies from this source he expects in the coming three months.

Delivery of the coarse grain purchased under the 1949–50 contract was completed in August last. I cannot at present say what supplies, if any, will come from this source in the next three months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a number of companies have recently taken action not in accordance with his dividend limitation policy; and whether he will now make this policy compulsory.

I do not consider that the failure of a small minority of companies to co-operate in the voluntary policy would justify any immediate departure from that policy. As my right hon. and learned Friend has stated several times, he deplores increases in the amounts distributed by way of dividend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much increase there has been in the revenue to date as a result of the increased petrol tax.

Up to the end of August, the receipts from the extra 9d. a gallon on hydrocarbon oils duty-paid at the post-Budget rates amounted to about £29,200,000 (including about £1,800,000 in respect of the new Excise duty on indigenous oils).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the return, month by month, from the Pool Betting Duty on greyhound racing totalisators during 1950.

The monthly figures of receipts of Pool Betting Duty from greyhound totalisators during 1950 are as follow:January, £542,097; February, £475,644; March, £644,358; April, £597,877; May, £587,967; June, £769,847; July, £628,249.The figure for August is not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the actual value and purchasing power of the old age pension of 26s. today, in relation to what it was when it was granted; and what he proposes doing to bring this up to the purchasing power as approved by Parliament.

In reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Darwen (Mr. Prescott) on 13th June last, and, as regards the second part, to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Ilford (Squadron Leader Cooper) on 4th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the hardship caused to serving officers and men who are appointed abroad, and take their families, of the taxation of such rents as they receive from the subletting of their own accommodation units without regard to the expense they have to meet in paying for new accommodation; and whether he will consider allowing the one disbursement to be set against the other income.

I am afraid that my right hon. and learned Friend could not accept this suggestion. Income from letting a house is liable to Income Tax, and the cost of accommodation elsewhere is not an allowable deduction for Income Tax purposes.

asked the Minister of Works what steps are being taken in connection with the plans of future Government buildings to provide adequate parking and garage facilities therein, with the object of avoiding the unnecessary parking of vehicles in the streets in the vicinity thereof.

It is the policy of my Ministry to provide car parking facilities for Government buildings within the confines of the site wherever this is reasonably practicable.

asked the Minister of Works in what sense the term "labourer" is used by his Department; and how many he employs.

The term "labourer" is used in my Department to describe unskilled workmen in the building trades and the Royal Parks. The total number employed at present is 5,320.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the parking places that are to be specially set aside for the use of visitors to the Festival of Britain; and if he is satisfied that these will be sufficient should the exhibition be the success that is anticipated.

The London County Council is responsible for the Festival of Britain car parks and I understand that, after consultation with the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, they are making arrangements for some 12 car parks in Southwark and Lambeth and three car parks in Battersea, which will together accommodate about 6,750 cars. In addition, there will be coach parks at Clapham Common and at Regent' s Park, which will together accommodate about 1,000 long-distance coaches. I have no doubt that the responsible authorities are making the best practicable arrangements.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can give the total figure that has been authorised for the improvement of highways, including the making of miles of footpaths on main roads, by various highway authorities; what schemes are in process and to what value; how many schemes have been approved but not commenced; and if, under present financial conditions, he will consider the postponement of these works.

The information asked for is too detailed to be given within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary Question. Moreover, not all of it is available, and to collect it would involve an expensive investigation.The provision from the Road Fund for grants to be made this financial year in respect of major improvement and new construction on classified roads is £2 million. It is estimated that the work involved will cost some £3 million. In addition, £1 million will be spent on similar work on trunk roads. Further, a certain amount of minor improvement work, which may include the making of footpaths within existing highway boundaries, is undertaken each year as part of the programmes of maintenance and minor improvement work which, so far as classified roads in counties are concerned, is assisted by classification grant from the Road Fund. In accordance with recommendations of the Local Government Manpower Committee, such programmes are not dealt with in detail by my Department.When it was decided about a year ago that capital investment and Government expenditure would have to be reduced, all major improvement schemes on trunk roads and classified roads to which approval had previously been given were reviewed and, where possible, the approval was withdrawn in any case where work had not begun and the scheme was not indispensable either to the continuance of essential communications or to development under another part of the national investment programme, or necessary to deal with a bad danger spot. Since then no scheme has been approved except within one or another of those categories.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the statement of the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis in his Report for the year 1949 regarding the seriousness of the parking problems in London; and what steps he proposes to take to-provide more car parks to ease the problem before 1951.

Yes, and I have this under consideration as part of the general problem of London traffic congestion. The London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee will, I hope, report by the end of this year on traffic congestion in London and they are, I understand, giving special attention to car parking. Under the Public Works (Festival of Britain) Act, 1949, the London County Council have powers to provide car parks for persons visiting the Exhibition. For details of these car parks I would refer the hon. Member to the written Answer I am giving today to the hon. Member for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom).

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the rate of pay for a private soldier, the allowance to his wife,

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is satisfied that the mileage allowance to Territorial Army officers is adequate; and if, in view of the

Following is the information:importance of the Territorial Army, he will increase the allowance towards the cost of petrol to meet the increased price.

The rates of motor mileage allowance payable to all Service personnel who are authorised to use private cars in connection with their duties are under review.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British soldiers serving in Korea have not yet attained the age of 20 years.

The information required is not readily available, nor could it be obtained without a disproportionate amount of work. As no special significance attaches to the age of 20, I do not think that I shall be justified in imposing the burden on Far Eastern Command.