asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the time wasted and inconvenience resulting from the penny half-penny fare in public transport undertakings; and if he has any proposals to simplify fare-tendering and change-giving in those undertakings in which his Department is responsible for approving this rate.

A 1½d. fare is approved or authorised only where a 1d. fare would be inadequate and a 2d. fare excessive. The answer to the second part of the question is "No."

asked the Minister of Transport how many children have been electrocuted in the last year on live rails, other than those belonging to the London Transport Executive; and what steps are being taken to prevent children getting access to these lines.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 16 killed and 10 injured during 1949. As regards the second part, information will be found on pages 28 to 30 of the Annual Report of the Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways for 1949, which it is hoped to publish in a few days. I have arranged for the hon. and gallant Member to be supplied with a copy.

asked the Minister of Supply if he can give an assurance that service Ministries are being given time, before further sales take place, to consider what surplus war equipment they may require.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will give an assurance that machinery requisitioned from Craven Brothers will be paid for at a price not in excess of the contract price to the Russian or Polish Governments as the case may be.

If it is necessary to requisition machines, compensation will be payable under the terms of the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939. It is hoped, however, that machines needed by the Government will be bought under contract. Fair prices will be paid, but I cannot say what relationship these will bear to prices formerly agreed with other intending purchasers.

asked the Minister of Supply in what form he has published his Order under Section 11 (i) of the Iron and Steel Act, 1949, postponing the vesting date.

A copy of the Order was sent on 9th October to each of the companies remaining in the Third Schedule to the Iron and Steel Act and copies were also circulated to the Press on the same date. It was published in the London and Edinburgh Gazettes on 13th October, 1950.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the shortage of tinware and steel drums for the packing of paints and varnish; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent a shortage of paint and varnish in the export and home trade.

There is a shortage of tinplate and sheet steel which is affecting the supply of containers generally. The position should improve when the new mills in South Wales come into production in 1951.

asked the Minister of Supply what was the output of rolled strip and fillet from the Royal Ordnance factories and the Royal Mint for the three months ended 30th September, 1950, in each of the following metals: bronze, nickel brass, cupro nickel, copper, brass, nickel and other alloys.

The output of rolled strip and fillet from the Royal Ordnance Factories and the Royal Mint for the three months ended 30th September, 1950, was as follow:

asked the Minister of Works whether his attention has been drawn to the undue quantity of non-ferrous metal used in brass water fittings prescribed by the statutory water under-takers as compared with the M.O.H. brass water fittings, which were previously sponsored by the Ministry of Health; and what action he proposes to take to prevent this waste.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to water taps specified in British Standard No. 1010. This standard was published by the British standards Institution after long consideration and consultation with all the main interests concerned and I see no reason to intervene.

asked the Minister of Works how much of the new building in Savile Row is to be used by the Ministry of Town and Country Planning; and how much to be let as private flats.

The Ministry of Town and Country Planning will occupy the whole of the building.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that cement exported to the Continent is being re-imported and resold in this country; and what action he proposes to concert with other Government Departments to put a stop to this practice.

No. I have no evidence that any such transactions are taking place.

asked the Minister of Works the number of building workers engaged on house construction in Cardiff; and what proportion they form of the total building manpower available.

The number of building workers engaged on house construction in Cardiff at the end of September was 1,687 or 35 per cent. of the total building manpower available.

asked the Minister of Works (1) the number of building workers engaged on the construction of the new Prudential buildings at Cardiff;(2) what quantity of cement and steel it is estimated will be used in the construction of the new Prudential buildings at Cardiff.

asked the Minister of Works what proportion of the floor space of the new Prudential buildings, situated in the division of Cardiff, North, is earmarked for the use of Government Departments and the Prudential Insurance Company respectively; to what extent his Department is responsible for the erection of these offices; and whether he is aware of the widespread opinion among the people of Cardiff that palatial Government offices should not have priority over housing needs.

Ninety-two men are at present engaged on this building. It is estimated that it will require 960 tons of cement and 1,177 tons of steel. My Ministry have agreed to lease approximately nine-tenths of the building. This accommodation is required to release premises held on requisition or on short-term tenancies which have to be surrendered, including university and residential premises. It is impossible to avoid some new office building if requisitioned premises are to be released.

asked the Minister of Works what quantity of steel, cement and timber were used in the construction of Government offices in Westgate Street, Cardiff; how much floor space they contain; how much did they cost to build.

705 tons of steel, 1,844 tons of cement and 53 standards of timber were used in the construction of these offices, which are 50,500 sq. ft. in gross area, and cost £242,163. A substantial proportion of the materials and money was expended before the war, including two-thirds of the cement and more than half the timber.

asked the Minister of Works whether the facilities at 2, Park Street, London, W.1, will be made avail able to tourists.

Yes. I intend to make the facilities of accommodation and entertainment at 2, Park Street, available to the general public, particularly tourists, so far as they are not required for official purposes. In this way the tourist trade will be assisted, and the cost to public funds on the maintenance of the premises reduced.

asked the Minister of Works if he is satisfied that existing arrangements for the supply of bricks and cement to Merseyside are adequate to maintain the existing rate of building.

Yes, but I am expecting the rate of building to increase, and we are doing our best to encourage local brickworks to reopen, with the assurance that for many years to come the demand for bricks will be heavy.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the dissatisfaction that has been caused in Ilkley by his refusal to permit the war memorial at Ilkley to be completed; and whether he will reconsider his previous decision.

Much as I sympathise with the proposal, I regret that I cannot reverse the decision already conveyed to the hon. and gallant Member in my letters of 13th and 28th September.

asked the Minister of Works what measures he takes to ensure the cleansing of the sand in the children's sandpits in St. James's Park.

The sand is sprayed with disinfectant weekly, and is changed annually.

asked the Minister of Works if he will as a matter of urgency provide toilet accommodation close to the children's playground in St. James's Park.

The children's playground is not well placed in St. James's Park and I am considering whether a more suitable site with better facilities can be provided elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Works what was the cost in the financial years 1948–49 and 1949–50 respectively of the maintenance of the Fire Service College; and if he will in future put this work out to open tender in view of the statement in Section 16 of the Fourth Report of the Committee of Public Accounts.

The cost of maintaining the building, the heating and lighting installations, and the lifts at the Ocean Hotel, Saltdean, at present occupied by the Fire Service College, was £4,580 in 1948–49 and £3,160 in 1949–50. The work is tendered for in competition, with the exception of day-to-day maintenance of heating and lighting installations which is dealt with more economically by the Department's own staff.

asked the Minister of Works for what purpose Charles House, opposite Olympia, has been leased by the Government; what is the floor space and rent; which Department will use it; and how many persons will work there.

The Ministry of Works have leased Charles House in order to provide accommodation for staff of the Post Office and other Departments previously working in scattered requisitioned premises. The building contains about 309,000 sq. ft. of office space and 41,000 sq. ft. of storage space. It will be occupied by about 3,200 staff of the Post Office, Inland Revenue Department, Ministry of National Insurance, National Assistance Board, Ordnance Survey Department, Ministry of Supply and Ministry of Works. It is not the practice to disclose the rents paid by the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will recommend that one of the vacant pillars in the Members' Lobby shall bear a statue of David Lloyd George.

In the absence of a Resolution of this House, I have no authority in this matter.

asked the Minister of Works what was the cost of the gilded figures of the lion and the unicorn that he has installed in Westminster Hall.

The cost of these heraldic figures is £125 each.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what communications he has received from the Egyptian Government in regard to the use of Canal Zone airfields by British troops entering or leaving Egypt by air; and what reply he proposes to give.

In July this year the Egyptian Government addressed a Note to His Majesty's Embassy in Alexandria, calling in question the use of airfields situated in the Canal Zone by British troops entering or leaving Egypt. A reply sent to the Egyptian Government on the 21st September, stated that it had been the practice, established over a long period of years, to use Fayid as a normal point of access to Egypt for members of the British Forces in Egypt arriving or departing by air, and that His Majesty's Embassy were fully satisfied that such practice was fully in accord with our rights under the Immunities and Privileges Convention of 1936.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further action has been taken by His Majesty's Government to ensure the removal of restrictions imposed by the Egyptian Government on the free movement of merchant shipping through the Suez Canal.

The Egyptian Government's restrictions in the Suez Canal, which His Majesty's Government continue to regard as quite unjustifiable, have lately been the subject of further protest by His Majesty's Government and by the governments of other maritime powers. I should, however, point out that the Egyptian Government have not placed restrictions on the movement of shipping through the Canal but have claimed the right to control the passage of war contraband through the Canal to Israel. This question is now before the Security Council.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many fuel overseers are now employed by his Department in the British Isles; and what is their annual cost to the country.

The local fuel overseers and their staffs are employed by local authorities, to whom my Department are indebted for their help in maintaining this valuable service. The present number of overseers is 1,466 and this number is being progressively reduced. Nearly two-thirds of the overseers spend a part of their time on their fuel duties.The Government repay to the local authorities expenses reasonably incurred in maintaining the service. The cost on my Department's Vote this year is estimated at £1,125,000. £115,000 will be met on the Votes of other Departments for the provision of accommodation, stationery and so forth. These sums include payments in respect of some expenditure incurred last year; the cost to the country for this year will be considerably less.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the present emergency, he has any statement to make as to the possibility of a reintroduction of petrol rationing.

I am glad to assure the hon. and gallant Member that the supplies of motor spirit are fully adequate to meet the demand. The question of reintroducing petrol rationing does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he did not agree with the application by the Eastern Electricity Consultative Council to alter the council's scheme to allow for readmission of the Press to meetings of each local committee.

Under the Electricity Act and the Regulations made thereunder by my predecessor, the consultative councils have power to regulate their own procedure, but are required to present, for the approval of the Minister, schemes for the organisation and procedure of their district committees. The councils decided to admit the Press and the public to their own meetings, but. for reaso which they thought strong, they decided that their district committees should meet in private. The chairman of the councils have twice discussed the matter in the last three months; they unanimously agreed that, for the present, this rule should be maintained.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how far he estimates that the lower calorific value of coal has been responsible for the increase in industrial consumption.

No general statistics are available which show the changes in the average calorific value of the coal supplies to industry. But there is no evidence to suggest that there has been any appreciable reduction in the calorific value in recent years.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether coal stocks in all parts of the country are now adequate to meet the maximum demands in a severe winter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent coal stocks for the winter will have approached the planned level of 16.5 million tons by 31st October.

In recent weeks the output of deep-mined coal has been less than the estimate that had been made: the output of opencast coal has been reduced by heavy and continued rain. In consequence, stocks at the end of October are expected to be about 15¾ million tons. To this must be added about 300,000 tons, which, as the result of the summer prices scheme, are now in the consumers' cellars instead of in the coal merchants' stocks. Thus stocks at the end of October will be short of the target by about 400,000 tons. I have given instructions that during November and December deliveries to inland consumers shall be increased by this amount. Thus stocks at the end of December should be the same as if the October target had been reached.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what progress has been made in underground gasification; and whether he contemplates commercial production of electricity by this means.

The work at Newman Spinney on the underground gasification of coal has begun very well. In the first practical experiment that has been made, a seam, which would be wholly unsuitable for any form of mining, was successfully ignited more than three months ago; it has continued ever since to produce gas, and the total gasification of nearly 200 tons of coal has been effected. The quality of the gas so far obtained is good, and it is hoped that the experiment may ultimately lead to the commercial production of gas suitable for the generation of power. More work must be done, however, before a firm conclusion can be reached.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power for what reason it has been found necessary to reduce the allocation of house coal to the rail-borne merchants in Burton-on-Trent for the coming winter as compared with the allocation for the previous winter; and if he is aware that this will involve hardships to consumers in that district by reducing the average monthly delivery to 4 cwts. instead of the maximum 5 cwts.

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

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when the national plan now being prepared by the National Coal Board will be published; and whether it will be in a form requiring it to be brought before this House before receiving his approval.

I am told by the National Coal Board that their proposals for a national plan of reconstruction and investment are with the printers; the Board hope to publish them about the middle of next month. They will then at once submit the proposals to their National Consultative Council, on which all those who work in the mines are represented. Later on, in accordance with the Act of 1946, they will submit the plan to me, with whatever changes they may, as the result of their consultations, consider to be wise; and they will then seek my approval for the main lines of development which they propose. In view of the importance of the plan, and of the public interest which it may arouse, I am arranging to send a copy of it on publication to every hon. Member of the House.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the average quantity of coal merchants have delivered and will be enabled to deliver during the summer and the winter period, respectively, to each registered customer in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

During the summer period of six months ending 31st October, supplies from the collieries are used partly to meet current demand from domestic consumers and partly to build up stocks in merchants' yards. The average delivery to domestic consumers in the northern regions in the period 1st May to 7th October amounted to about 16¼ cwt. The quantity still to be delivered to domestic consumers during the remainder of the summer, and during the coming winter, will depend partly on supplies from collieries, partly on consumer demand and partly on the rate of stock building. Deliveries in Harrogate and Knaresborough for the whole period should not be below the general average for the northern regions.

asked the Minister of Food why it is not possible to buy half-pint bottles of milk in Portsmouth; and if he will take steps to make these available.

A few retailers in Portsmouth bottle half-pints of milk to oblige their customers, but dairymen in that area find that the demand does not justify bottling half-pints on a large scale. If the hon. and gallant Member will let me know more about any difficulties experienced by his constituents, I will see what can be done.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent steps have been taken to build up reserves of food on the same scale as was considered essential during the war.

The hon. Member will not expect me to publish figures. In general our reserve stocks are reasonably good; but my right hon. Friend is considering how far they should be increased.

asked the Minister of Food how much of the £11 million loss by his potato and carrot division in 1948–49 was attributable to subsidies, un-saleable low-quality stocks, destruction of sound stocks, for which no market could be found, and diversion of supplies to feeding stock purposes, respectively; and if he will give these figures for potatoes and carrots separately.

The waste of sound stocks was negligible. The loss shown in the published accounts for 1948–49 arises largely from the necessity of implementing the guarantee of the growers' market at fixed prices. Of this loss, £1,209,816 was incurred on potatoes sold for human consumption and includes the premium paid to growers for keeping for end of season use; £6,369,166 arose from selling raw potatoes for stockfeed; £4,378 was incurred on carrots sold for human consumption; and £515,122 arose from selling raw carrots for stockfeed.

asked the Minister of Food what extra slaughterhouses were made available during the peak killing period for home-produced meat this year.

Nine slaughterhouses have been re-opened at Aberdeen, Clay Cross, Long Eaton, Wigan, Mansfield, Neath, Tibshelf, Nottingham and Oldham.

asked the Minister of Food what assurances were given to his Department by the trades unions of the slaughtering industry as to their ability to deal with the increase in home-killed meat this autumn.

In March, 1950, the Joint Industrial Council for the slaughtering industry representing the employers and the employees assured my Department that it would use every effort to deal with the peak kill by utilising to the full the services of the regular slaughtermen in existing abattoirs. The industry has fully co-operated with my Department.

asked the Minister of Food the average delay that occurred in October between the delivery of fat cattle to the Newbury Grading Centre and their slaughter; and if he will ensure that more adequate arrangements are made for handling fat stock in the period of peak supply next autumn.

During the first three weeks in October the average interval was about 3½ days, during which time the cattle were put on good grazing. The possibility of increasing our slaughtering capacity is under constant review and we are continually making improvements wherever possible.

asked the Minister of Food when a survey of slaughterhouses was last made and with what result; what his plans are for increasing the number; and what steps he is taking to ensure that existing slaughterhouses are used to capacity.

The last survey was made during the past summer and as a result nine extra slaughterhouses have been brought into use. We are encouraging local authorities to erect slaughterhouses at certain places where the existing slaughtering facilities are seriously inadequate and there seems to be a permanent need for additional facilities. In addition, two model slaughterhouses are being erected by the Government at Fareham and Guildford. All practicable steps have been taken to ensure that existing slaughterhouses are used to capacity.

asked the Minister of Food if his attention has been drawn to the criticism of his Department in the annual report of the medical officer of health for the Horncastle Urban District Council area; if he is aware that the attention of his Department was drawn to this matter last year; and what immediate steps he proposes to take to modernise the central abattoir in Horncastle.

I have seen the report. Improvements are being made to the Horncastle slaughterhouse.

asked the Minister of Food (1) if he will consider an advertising policy featuring home-produced foods to secure the maximum encouragement for home food producers;(2) in what proportions advertising is allocated to home-produced foods, Empire-produced foods and others.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 18th October by my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Food what progress has been made in the negotiations with the Australian Government for further supplies of butter for this country.

We have a long-term contract with Australia running to 1955 under which we receive virtually the whole of her exportable surplus of butter. The only recent negotiations have been to fix prices for 1950–51. These negotiations have not yet been completed.

asked the Minister of Food what is the amount of foreign-caught fish, tabulated in categories, including boxed fish, landed in British ports since the de-control of fish to the latest convenient date; and what was the corresponding quantity for the similar period in 1949.

From 15th April until 30th September, 1950, 32,800 tons of foreign-caught fish were imported, of which 18,000 tons were by direct landings, and 14,800 tons were boxed. For the corresponding period of 1949, the quantity was 65,000 tons, of which 46,400 tons were landed direct, and 18,600 tons were boxed. Details of the varieties landed are not readily available, but if my hon. Friend would wish me to do so I can send him information about the countries of origin which would be some guide to him.

asked the Minister of Food how many old ration books have been withdrawn and new ones issued in each of the past five years on the demand of an applicant who has changed his name.

The local food offices do not keep a separate record of ration books issued in these circumstances.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now arrange that tickets shall be attached to all meat on sale in butcher's shops stating its grade and price.

My right hon. Friend hopes to have an early opportunity of discussing this question with representatives of the National Federation of Meat Traders' Associations. Our reports indicate the use of price tickets is gradually becoming more widespread and I hope that the example already set will be followed wherever possible. A price ticket read in conjunction with the price list which the butcher is obliged to exhibit should be sufficient to indicate the grade of the meat.

asked the Minister of Food what quantities of eggs his Department has purchased from the Colonial Development Corporation's poultry farm in the Gambia; and if these eggs are being distributed on the ordinary ration.

The Ministry has contracted to buy the exportable surplus of eggs from the Gambia project for three years from 1st July, 1950, and we expect to receive about a quarter of a million egg:; by the end of this year. These eggs will be distributed by the Ministry in the ordinary way.

asked the Minister of Food how many eggs his Department have now purchased from the Gambia project of the Colonial Development Corporation; and how many he expects to obtain before the end of this year.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) today.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the unfair discrimination in the use of bacon factory residuals by the bacon factories themselves, the majority of which did not deal with these products before the war, he will arrange for a better allocation of these residuals to pork butchers.

These offals are highly perishable and I am satisfied that the present arrangements are the best practicable. Any attempt to spread supplies more widely would increase the risk of loss through deterioration.

asked the Minister of Food what were the quantities of tomatoes imported into the United Kingdom in August and September, 1950, respectively, as compared with the imports in similar months in 1949 and 1948; and what was the average price at which imported tomatoes were sold retail, as compared with the retail price of home-produced tomatoes.

Between 16th August and the end of September, 1950, no foreign imports of tomatoes were permitted. According to my Department's records the quantity imported during the first fortnight of August, 1950, was 2,387 tons. In 1948 and 1949, about 2,000 and 4,700 tons respectively were imported during the month of August and about 1,700 and 300 tons respectively during the month of September. It has not been possible to keep separate figures showing the retail prices of imported and home produced tomatoes respectively at periods when these are being sold together.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the unclean condition in which meat is often delivered to Birmingham butchers; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the transport of meat in Birmingham is brought up to the standard prevailing in other parts of the country and that meat is carried on the hanging gear now standardised in vehicles instead of piled on the floor.

I cannot agree that the delivery of meat in Birmingham is unhygienic. Our instructions about the transport and handling of meat are expressly arranged to ensure compliance with the Public Health (Meat) Regulations and my area officers and agents do everything they can to ensure they are carried out. Light home-killed carcases are hung during transit and the Meat Transport Organisation, Ltd., are endeavouring to extend this system to cover all types of home-killed meat.

asked the Minister of Food why the export licences for Arran Banner seed potatoes are being distributed 90 per cent. to Northern Ireland and only 10 per cent. to Great Britain, despite the fact that the acreages grown by each country are in the proportion of 65 per cent. to 35 per cent. respectively, and that before the war England exported more than four times the tonnage exported by Northern Ireland.

I cannot agree with the acreage or pre-war export figures quoted by the hon. Member. In addition to the comparative acreages, the quantities exported from Northern Ireland and Great Britain in the three years 1947–49 were also taken into account in arriving at this year's quotas.

asked the Minister of Food if he will provide a sugar beet factory in the southern counties of England, so that sugar will be available to end the waste of much fruit which is now grown in this area.

Sugar, whether produced at home from beet or imported, goes into a common pool and is allocated for the ordinary ration or for manufacturing purposes according to priorities laid down by my Department. The existence of a sugar beet factory in the southern counties would not affect the amount of sugar available for preserving fruit.

asked the Minister of Food what is the total number of prosecutions that have taken place for overcharging in the meat trade; and in what districts principally they have occurred.

On the number of recent prosecutions, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Dodds) on 18th October. These prosecutions were widespread throughout the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Food what advances have been made to the Overseas Food Corporation for the East African groundnut scheme and the Queensland sorghum and pig scheme respectively.

Of the advances made to the Overseas Food Corporation £36,519,800 has been allocated for expenditure in East Africa, and £1,500,000 to the projects undertaken by the Queensland-British Food Corporation. Of the first sum, £2,505,600 is recoverable from the East African Railways and Harbours Administration.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now prepared to grant an allocation of tea and sugar for office workers.

Office workers already receive supplies of tea, but I am afraid we cannot at present give them an allocation of sugar; there are many more urgent claims to our limited supplies.

asked the Minister of Food why only certain firms were given an opportunity to purchase at low prices the remaining stocks of Icelandic cod fillets and whole plaice, with the resultant prejudice to many firms who bought from his Department such fish previously at much higher prices.

I am afraid that the hon. Member has got his facts wrong. In fact, our remaining stocks of frozen fish were offered at reduced prices to all the previous buyers in February this year; but the offer was not accepted, nor were any substantial bids made in the spring and summer, despite the fact that it was common knowledge in the trade that we were prepared to accept any reasonable offers. In the circumstances my Department was bound, like any private trader, to make the best bargain possible, and when a suitable opportunity of disposing of our stock came we took it.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give a list of outstanding long-term contracts, including drink, which have been made with other Governments or Colonial administrations and indicate in each case what provision there is for the reduction or review of the rates during the term; and the date when each contract expires.

asked the Minister of Food on what grounds he permits the transfer by sale of a licence to sell sweets, of which the vendor of the business has not availed himself for a considerable time; and how long his Department permits a licence to remain valid when sweets are not in fact being sold under that licence.

Valid licences are transferred when businesses are sold. Licences are withdrawn when a business is closed down; but a confectionery licence would not be withdrawn from a mixed business if the owner continued to trade in other commodities and stated that he intended to resume his trade in sweets.

I circulated a statement of long-term contracts in the OFFICIAL REPORT in reply to a similar Question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 27th March, 1950. With permission I will now circulate a list of additions and amendments to bring that statement up to date.

asked the Minister of Food the amount of oil received from the East African groundnuts scheme to the latest convenient date.

So far we have received 514 tons of oil. Materials now afloat should produce a further 240 tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why no reports under the Inclosure Act, 1845, have been presented to the House since 1934; and when one will be presented.

The last annual report under the General Inclosure Act, 1845, covered the calendar year 1937. Publication and presentation of further reports was suspended in 1939, after the outbreak of war, to save manpower and materials. Publication is now being resumed, and the report for the year ending 31st December, 1950, will be presented to Parliament in due course combined with a report of the proceedings during the intervening period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what assurances he has given to the Wool Marketing Board that sheep farmers will obtain the benefit of the difference between current market prices for wool and the price guaranteed for the home clip by the Government.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend made to the House on the 20th July last when he invited them to approve the Agriculture Act (Extension of First Schedule) (Wool) Order, 1950.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is his policy with regard to the use of guaranteed prices for the encouragement of increases in agricultural and horticultural production.

The Government's policy in this matter is embodied in Part I of the Agriculture Act, 1947, which provides for guaranteed prices and assured markets for the major agricultural products as set out in the First Schedule to the Act. It has not been found practicable to include horticultural produce within this guaranteed price system.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will enforce more rigidly the restrictions on the export of arms and strategic plant and material.

The policy of His Majesty's Government as regards restrictions on these exports remains as stated in the Resolution adopted by the House on 18th September, 1950.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the improved dollar position, he will now import more newsprint.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to similar Questions on this subject on 19th October.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the strategic necessity of an ample supply of heavy engineering earth-shifting appliances, he will consider arranging for the importation of new equipment of this type, in view of the small quantity of this equipment in good condition which is now available.

We imported more than £2 million worth of special types of this machinery from the United States in 1949. A very wide range of earth-moving equipment is manufactured in this country, and, in addition, this type of machinery can now be imported without import licence from Western Europe and the sterling area. I am not aware that there is at present any need to make special arrangements for further imports, but we shall keep the matter under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider a review of the currency restrictions on emigrants from this country to Canada, in view of the falling-off in the number of emigrants since 1948.

I shall certainly continue to keep this question under review, but as my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary said on 17th October, it is still not possible to raise the currency allowance for emigrants to Canada. The information available does not suggest that the falling off in the number of emigrants has been closely related to the imposition of currency restrictions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of those who took part in the recent gas strike have drawn refunds of Pay-As-You-Earn during their refusal to work.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will amend the Rent Restriction Acts so as to protect a tenant from eviction where the landlord loses possession of the house through default on a mortgage agreement.

This question will be considered at the comprehensive review of the Rent Restrictions Acts which the Government intend to undertake, but there is no early prospect of legislation.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that Sheffield is nearly 40 per cent. short of the average national post-war house production, representing a loss of nearly 3,500 houses, he will immediately grant licences for a further 1,000 houses for the City of Sheffield and continue at this new rate until Sheffield has caught up with the level of the rest of the country.

No. My right hon. Friend cannot accept the hon. and gallant Member's figures but in any event the allocations made to the local authority were the maximum numbers warranted by their building capacity. Future allocations will depend upon the progress made on their existing commitments.

asked the Minister of Health how many applications made under Section 20 of the Housing Act, 1949, for improvement grants for dwellings in Cornwall have been approved.

Seven.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that many of the controls imposed on the erection of private dwellings are delaying the erection of houses he will hold a public inquiry to determine what changes are called for to expedite the building of private houses throughout the country.

My right hon. Friend does not accept the implication in the first part of the Question and the latter part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Health what urgent steps he proposes to take to speed up supplies of hearing-aids now in short supply for urgent cases, and if he is aware that at the London Hospital, supplies are inadequate and the position is becoming worse rather than better owing to the growing percentage of possessors of these instruments who need renewals which constitutes a drain on the supplies and lessens the numbers of instruments available for new applicants.

Supplies of new aids are expected to increase and in addition supplies of reconditioned aids are now becoming available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of applicants now awaiting the delivery of hearing aids in the City of York; and how long the earliest such applicant has had to wait for the delivery of the appliance.

Separate information relating to the city is not available.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he has approved the programme of the three Services for additional equipment; and what steps he has taken to ensure that orders are placed with industry with no delay.

Approval has been given to the programmes of the three Services in respect of the additional production of £100 million which I announced on 26th July. Orders to the amount of over £70 million have been placed or are under active negotiation with industry by the Admiralty and Ministry of Supply. As regards the longer term plan announced in August, it has been agreed that, as an interim measure, orders should be placed to the value of a further £100 million in order to ensure that there is adequate capacity for the production of the most important items of equipment.

asked the Minister of Defence what action is being taken to ensure that individuals who continue to express openly pro-Communist views shall not have access to or be employed on the maintenance or preparation of military equipment.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Gosport and Fareham (Surgeon Lieut.-Commander Bennett) on 26th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will ensure that priority is given to Atlantic Pact and Western Union Powers for the purchase of those raw materials produced in the Colonies which are of use in war.

The materials in question are chiefly dealt in on the open market or by private treaty and His Majesty's Government has, therefore, at present no effective control over the destination to which they are sold. The matter is, however, under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in the construction and operation of Nyakasura Government Secondary School, Uganda; and by how much is the cost likely to exceed the estimates for the whole project.

I am asking the Governor of Uganda for a report and will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is received.