asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will ask the National Insurance Advisory Committee, which is at present reviewing maternity benefits, to consider the advisability of making special grants to expectant mothers who are forced to have their confinements at home owing to the shortage of nurses and hospital accommodation.

I am sure the Committee will have taken note of my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether her regulations permit a man, self-employed except during the off-season, when he is ineligible for unemployment benefit, to be excused insurance contributions.

No. As self-employed persons are not entitled to unemployment benefit the question does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is intended to introduce a separate Bill dealing with river pollution in Scotland.

I propose to have consultations with the interests concerned after a Report on this subject which I have just received from the Scottish Water Advisory Committee has been published. I shall consider the question of legislation in the light of these consultations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the approximate amount of pay as you earn repaid to men on unofficial strikes up to the most convenient recent date for 1950, and for the previous year; and how many claims were made in each case.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the national stocks of raw materials and foodstuffs have fallen in the last six months how this amount compares with our improved trading balance with the dollar area; and to what extent these stocks can now be replaced at the same prices as were ruling six months ago.

Stocks of raw materials, excluding petroleum, fell in value by approximately £30 million during the six months ended 30th June, 1950. It is not the practice to publish stock figures for food and petroleum. Full details of the change in our trading balance with the dollar area are set out in Cmd. 8065. The prices of many of the commodities concerned have risen substantially during the past six months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much No. 2 Park Street has cost per visitor per night over the last convenient period.

The total net cost of 2 Park Street over the last financial year was £19,464. This figure takes into account on the one hand the payment to the Ministry of Works for rent, fittings and furniture hire and on the other revenue from sponsored guests and from departments in respect of Government guests and functions. The net cost is naturally attributable to the use of 2 Park Street both as a residential establishment and as a hospitality centre for receptions, dinners, etc. Any calculation of costs spread over the residential guests is therefore misleading. The number of visitors in the period was 2,466 representing 14,758 visitor nights. It is hoped that the net cost in the current financial year will be reduced as a result of the decision to make the premises available for use by private persons and institutions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on an annual basis the increase in wages and salaries and in dividends since the appeal of February, 1948, to restrict dividends, profits and wages.

Estimates of wages and salaries and on dividends and interest paid by companies and public enterprises were given for 1948 and 1949 in Tables 5 and 16 respectively of the last National Income White Paper (Cmd. 7933). Corresponding figures for 1950 will be given in the next National Income White Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the interests of safety, he is prepared to abolish or reduce the Purchase Tax on all electric radiators fittted with approved safety devices, which at the present time are subject to 100 per cent. Purchase Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will, in the interests of safety, abolish or lower the Purchase Tax on all electric radiators fitted with approved safety devices.

I will bear this suggestion in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made since 15th June, 1950, in the negotiations between the Customs and glove manufacturers concerning the definition of industrial gloves for Purchase Tax purposes.

It has still not been found possible to frame a satisfactory definition for the purpose of exempting industrial gloves as such. But discussions on the question of reducing the rate of tax on all sheepskin gloves have been taking place. I hope a conclusion will be reached before long.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total of the estimated annual revenue arising from taxes on private motorists during the current year; and the total expenditure on road maintenance and new construction.

The total estimated annual revenue from taxes on private motorists in the current year is ¢98½ million; this figure includes vehicles Excise Duties, Purchase Tax and an estimate to represent the private motorists' share of the hydrocarbon oil duties. Total expenditure over the whole country on road maintenance, improvement and new construction is approximately £48½ million; of which £24 million is paid from the Road Fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost of repaying post-war credits to those in receipt of war disability pensions.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make dollars available for the purchase of turkeys for the Christmas trade from North America.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far import duty will be payable on imported apples, which will enter Great Britain after 1st January; and for which open general licences are being granted; and what is the amount of the duty.

Fresh apples entitled to Imperial Preference are admissible free of duty. Apples imported from foreign countries during the period 16th April to 15th August are chargeable with duty at the rate of 4s. 6d. per cwt., or alternatively, if they are consigned to registered cider factories, at the rate of 10 per cent. ad valorem. Imports at other times of the year, from whatever source, are exempt from duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of the Excise Duty paid into the Exchequer for sugar refined in the season 1949–50 from British grown sugar beet.

The exact figure cannot be stated since receipts of duty cannot be related to the sugar refined in any particular period, but it is estimated that the amount is nearly £2 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there is any loss to the Treasury in taxation as a result of the transfer of the headquarters of certain copper mining companies to Rhodesia.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the National Union of Manufacturers is not given the opportunity to nominate representatives of industry, whose appointments are made by him to the National Production Advisory Council on Industry, over which he presides; and if he will alter this position, in view of the fact that in all other important industrial matters the Government consults the National Union of Manufacturers.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes;" and, to the second part, that I see no reason to depart from my predecessor's decision in this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of Marshall Aid received by this country out of the 1950–51 allocation.

We have so far received an allocation of 175 million dollars for the current fiscal year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the increased dividends which have been paid, how far voluntary restraint has proved successful; and whether he proposes to adopt other methods of checking this inflationary tendency.

The policy of restraint in the distribution of profits has been observed by the great majority of companies in this country, and I am very grateful for their co-operation. The continuance of this policy is essential at the present time. I have noticed recently some tendency to increase dividends, but it is too early yet to say whether the tendency will persist to an extent which will make it desirable to consider other methods of checking it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the cost of the Work-or-Want publicity campaign; if he is satisfied with its results; and why it was dropped.

About £165,000 was spent on posters and Press advertisements using these words. The answer to the second part of the Question is "yes," and, to the third, that by the time it was dropped it was considered to have done its job. Economic publicity has continued with increasing emphasis upon the needs of specialised groups and audiences.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury (1) what are the net dollar earnings this year put into the sterling area pool by exports from Australia;(2) what are the net dollar earnings this year put into the sterling area pool by exports from the Federated Malay States.

I cannot give information about individual sterling area territories, whether independent countries of the Commonwealth or dependent overseas territories. The net receipts of the Far Eastern Colonies as a whole arising from trade transactions with the dollar area, principally as a result of the Malayan surplus, are estimated at 110 million United States dollars during the first half of 1950. "Invisible" and capital transactions are not included in this estimate. The net receipts in question have subsequently been running at a considerably higher rate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider a special tax rebate for retired Indian (Imperial) Police Officers, in view of the fact that their pension rates have not been increased since 1926.

I cannot agree that these particular pensions should be granted exceptional treatment for Income Tax purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the cost of granting equal increments for men and women employed in the Civil Service.

To give women in the Civil Service the same increment as men (but to make no other changes in their pay) would cost about half a million pounds in the first year rising eventually to £3 million a year. If the corresponding changes in increment only were made in the other public services—including local government the cost would rise to about £1¾ million in the first year and eventually to £10½ million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Departments in which there are grades where women get the same rates of pay as men.

Practically every Department has grades where women, if employed, receive the same rates of pay as men.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is yet in a position to make a statement regarding the claim made by the industrial employees in the Ministry of Works for two weeks' annual holiday with pay.

No, not yet.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what number of employees in each Ministry have taken advantage of the scheme for volunteers for harvesting in 1950; and what has been the total of man-hours lost to each Ministry for the benefit of this scheme.

This year's harvest is not yet finished and firm figures are not yet available of the number of civil servants attending volunteer agricultural camps in 1950.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been the cost to the public of the travelling involved in participation by employees of the Government in the volunteers for harvesting scheme, 1950.

Civil servants who attend volunteer agricultural camps do so on the same terms as members of the public and no separate record is kept of the cost of travel concessions made to them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has yet taken to improve the supply of newsprint in this country.

I have nothing to add to the information given to my hon. Friend the Member for the Test Division of Southampton (Dr. King) in reply to his Question on 9th November on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, according to the reply which he gave on Tuesday, 14th March, a site for industrial development was selected at Muir of Ord without consultations taking place with the local district council and the local amenities committee.

The Muir of Ord site was one of a number regarded as suitable for industry by the Board of Trade and the Department of Health for Scotland when they undertook a survey last year into the general question of possible industrial developments in the Highlands. I can assure the hon. Member that any proposal to develop the site would be the subject of consultation with the local planning authority.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to have abated the obnoxious smells caused by the retting process at the B.H.F. (Flax Development) Company, Limited, Ripley, Derbyshire; and whether he is aware that this nuisance has long continued notwithstanding complaints made by the townspeople.

I am aware that people living near the Flax Mill at Ripley, Derbyshire, have from time to time complained of the smell of retting, and the retting tanks have already been hermetically sealed as far as possible to minimise the escape of retting gases. Full-scale experiments are at present being carried out at the mill to deodorise any gases that may still escape from the retting tanks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether utility cloth, free of purchase tax, is yet available for officers' uniforms.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total amount of steel exported to Canada in 1950 to the latest convenient date; and what are the corresponding figures for 1949.

I am not quite sure what my hon. Friend would include in the term "steel," but United Kingdom exports to Canada of iron and steel and manufactures thereof (Group IIIC of the Trade Returns) together with axles, tyres and wheels for railway rolling stock (from Group IIIS) were 153,000 tons during January-September, 1950, compared with 62,000 tons for the first nine months of 1949.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what countries it is possible for Great Britain to export apples without payment of duty; what countries impose a duty; and what countries prohibit importation entirely.

According to the information in our possession, no Customs Duty is leviable in the following countries on fresh apples imported from Great Britain:

Canada, Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, Zanzibar, Somaliland, Sierre Leone, Barbados, Bermuda, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Antigua, British Honduras, St. Christopher-Nevis, Montserrat, Virgin Islands, Trinidad, Aden, Fiji, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Brunei, Sarawak, Malaya, Singapore, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Falkland Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Faroe Islands, Poland, Brazil, Chile, St. Pierre, Miquelon, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Belgian Congo, French Somaliland, French Cameroons, French Equatorial Africa, Canary Islands, Portuguese India, French India, Timor.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take action to stop overcharging by some manufacturers of women's utility dresses made from rayon cloth, 1005/2 and 1006/2, particulars of which were sent him on 17th November, 1950.

I understand that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to a report that some manufacturers of the dresses in question have been taking advantage of the arrangements which were designed to give wholesalers and retailers a reasonable opportunity of disposing of stocks bought before the manufacturers' maximum prices were reduced last August. The Wholesale Textile Association have now informed me that these arrangements are no longer necessary, and the wholesalers' ceiling prices will accordingly be reduced as soon as possible to correspond with the reduction in the manufacturers' maximum prices.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the anxiety of British commercial concerns in Guatemala arising from the unfavourable balance of trade between that country and Great Britain; what representations he has made to the Treasury to make dollars available for such trade; and whether he will make a statement on the future prospects of trade between the two countries.

I am aware that there is some anxiety on this account. The question of making more dollars available has been under review, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement. I must, however, remind the hon. and learned Member that, as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated on 14th November, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Snow), strict economy in dollar expenditure is still necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many dollars the British motor industry has earned by sales to Canada and the United States of America during the first eight months of 1950.

No figures are available in respect of the dollar earnings of the British motor industry, but United Kingdom exports to the United States and Canada during January-August, 1950, of cars, commercial vehicles, tractors and parts and accessories thereof, as recorded in the Trade Returns, were valued at £22.8 million, which is equivalent to United States $63.9 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is now the policy of his Department to retain former cash margins when prices rise, as in the case of carpets, while still retaining the existing rates of Purchase Tax.

There has been no change of Board of Trade policy in this matter. The gross percentage margins permitted for distributors in respect of price-controlled consumer goods are revised from time to time to take account of changes in costs, turnover and other relevant factors. Thus it is necessary to review the margins when price increases are likely to be accompanied by a substantial increase in turnover. The aim is to hold the net return on capital employed at a reasonable level; but this does not necessarily mean that the new percentage margin will give the same cash margin as the old one.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the British Forces in the Suez Canal Zone are equipped with Centurion tanks similar to those which His Majesty's Government have undertaken to deliver to the Egyptian Government.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Territorial officers and non-commissioned officers have served attachments with the ground forces of Western Union, stating separately those attached to anti-aircraft units.

During the last year two officers of the Territorial Army were exchanged for three weeks with officers of the French Army. Neither were attached to an anti-aircraft unit. Four officers and two other ranks, however, went to France to take part in an anti-aircraft exercise.

asked the Secretary of State for War what facilities exist for officers and non-commissioned officers, both Regular and Territorial, to serve on attachment with United States anti-aircraft forces in this country.

Full co-operation exists between the British and United States anti-aircraft forces, of which advantage will be taken for training purposes whenever necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has reached a decision about the disposal of the huts from his Department's camp at Hutton Cranswick, near Driffield in East Yorkshire.

There are two War Department camps at Hutton Cranswick. Huts will be removed from both sites as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what facilities are granted in Germany to Western Union countries for the provision of radar cover.

While it would be contrary to public policy to give details of the radar cover of Western Union countries, I am not aware of any difficulty in regard to the provision of facilities in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many colliery workers have joined the Royal Air Force since 1st January, 1950; and how many have been called up as reservists.

Information as to the number of colliery workers who have joined the R.A.F. is not readily available and could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of work. No R.A.F. reservists have been recalled this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the percentage of failures in driving tests in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire, Dumbartonshire and Ayrshire, respectively.

I regret that information is not available for these separate areas. The percentage for the South Scotland Traffic Area was 46 in the period from 1st January, 1950, to 4th November, 1950, as compared with 42.8 for the North Scotland Traffic Area.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in view of the obstruction to traffic caused by holding the Lord Mayor's Show during the week, he will make arrangements with the City Corporation to hold it on Saturdays in future years.

I will consider the suggestion in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the congestion in traffic, he will use his powers under the London Passenger Transport Act, 1933, to limit the number of omnibuses in the London streets during the hours between 10.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.

The London Transport Executive already operate fewer omnibuses consistently with the needs of the public between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee are studying the problem of traffic congestion in Central London and when I receive their report I will carefully consider any recommendations they may make.

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent the supply of Centurion tanks to the Egyptian Government is being continued, in view of the inadequate numbers at present available to our own Armed Forces.

I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on Monday, 20th November.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the ship repairing industry on Merseyside.

The available statistics relate to the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry as a whole. The total number registered as unemployed in the Merseyside Development Area at 16th October whose last employment was in that industry was 2,390.

asked the Minister of Labour if his regulations, announced in his reply on 7th November, apply to a man who has been refused by a university, but only for the reason that his two-year period of National Service would have extended beyond October, 1951.

Yes, provided he will have served at least 18 months before release and can, when he applies for early release, produce evidence of acceptance by a university.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether the Government of Kenya has accepted the recommendations of the Glancy Report on European and Asian educational expenditure, and, in particular, whether the Government has accepted the principle that each racial community should bear the major part of the cost of its own education and that the allotment from general revenues to non-native education should be divided equally between the European and Asian communities.

The Glancy Report did not recommend that the European and Asian communities should bear the major part of the cost of their own education. Its recommendations were concerned with the methods by which these communities should finance increases in the cost of their education over and above the level which could and should be met from general revenues and with the allocation between the races concerned of general revenue allotted to non-native education. These recommendations raise wide issues which are at present under consideration by the Government of Kenya.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what agreed scheme or schemes he has received for securing the co-ordination in the national interest of the activities of the two boards relating to carbonisation; and if he will give the House brief particulars of them.

No schemes have so far been submitted to me under Section 51 of the Gas Act, 1950.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones are now outstanding in the county of Merioneth; how many applicants have been waiting for over 12 months; and what action is being taken to supply the demand.

On 30th September, 1950, there were 466 outstanding applications, of which 311 had been waiting for over 12 months. In several parts of the county additional exchange equipment and line plant will be provided in the next two years, but with continuing restrictions on our capital resources I regret that I cannot say when it will be possible to overtake arrears.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that interference from apparatus installed at the General Post Office station, Hillmorton station, is spoiling reception of overseas stations wireless programmes in the Rugby area; and what steps he is taking to remedy this.

I am informed that a wireless relay company in Rugby has recently experienced some interference from a transmission from the Rugby radio station and the matter is being investigated.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total grant made by the central Government to local authorities to cover losses incurred in letting requisitioned property to tenants.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Civil Estimates 1950–51 Class V3. Re-imbursement of expenditure incurred by local authorities on emergency housing in England and Wales is estimated at £16,650,000 and Appropriations-in-Aid at £6,840,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that two tenders for eight houses in two villages in Berkshire are for £1,988 per house including site works in the one case and £1,449 excluding site works in the other and that the total cost is likely to be in the neighbourhood of £2,250 per house in the one case and £1,950 in the other; and since the estimated revenue of the local authority has been based upon the average cost of £1,600 for a post-war house what advice his Department is giving to local authorities in regard to this matter.

I regret that it is not possible to identify these schemes on the information given.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 175,000 council houses, which local authorities will be permitted to build in 1951, will be allocated to the boroughs of Folkestone and Hythe, New Romney and Lydd, respectively.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 9th November to the hon. Member for Southend, East (Mr. McAdden).

asked the Minister of Health what was the net annual addition for the year 1949 of housing accommodation; and the average for the years 1946–49 after making allowance for demolished properties.

As regards new housing accommodation, I would refer the hon. Member to the Housing Return, 30th September, 1950. Figures of demolished properties are not available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total value of rural water schemes submitted for grants under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944; the value of schemes approved but not allowed to proceed; the value of schemes approved and allowed to proceed; and the total value of grants paid out by the Treasury under the Act.

The total value of schemes submitted for grant is £45.7 million; the total value of grant schemes approved is £11.8 million of which all have been allowed to proceed; the total value of grants paid is £1.2 million.

asked the Minister of Health what precautions are taken to segregate the laundry from hospitals treating polio and other infectious diseases in order to avoid the spread of infection; and if he is satisfied that these precautions are adequate.

Infectious disease hospitals normally have their own laundries; failing this soiled linen is disinfected before being sent out. I have no evidence that these arrangements have proved inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the expense to public funds, he will instruct the British Council to discontinue the practice of granting scholarships in this country, which include travelling expenses, maintenance and other allowances at the expense of the British taxpayer, to students from Japan and other ex-enemy nations.

No. The British Council have taken this step with my full support since I consider it desirable that carefully selected young people who grew up under totalitarian regimes should have an opportunity to learn something of this country at first hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the provisions of the Anglo-French Cultural Convention, what special steps are to be taken to facilitate the great increase in the number of French students and young persons visiting Great Britain during the Festival Year of 1951.

The increased numbers of French students and young persons who are expected as visitors during the Festival Year will be able to take advantage of the extra facilities provided by the British Council, the British Travel and Holidays Association and the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges, to accommodate foreign visitors attending the Festival of Britain. In addition, the City Parochial Foundation is arranging a camp at Chigwell to accommodate some 25,000 young foreigners in batches of 2,000 throughout the Festival period and the British National Committee of the World Assembly of Youth propose to invite, among others, a French delegation to take advantage of the accommodation which is being allotted to them for two weeks and to spend a further three weeks in private homes.A further 15,000 young French volunteers are likely to visit the United Kingdom during the Festival Year under the auspices of the organisation "Concordia." I am always willing to consider any suggestions put forward by the Anglo-French Mixed Commission for the removal of difficulties facing students and young people who wish to visit this country.