asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in the light of the present coal situation, he has made a fresh estimate of the increases in output to be expected from certain major industries to meet the needs of rearmament.

The steps being taken by the Government to meet the threat of a coal shortage are expressly designed to safeguard coal supplies for industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the last completed financial year, what was the total amount received for licences on all descriptions of motor vehicles charged to tax, and the total amount received for driving licences; and of the first amount, what proportion was derived from vehicles owned by nationalised transport undertakings.

Vehicles (Excise) duties collected in the financial year 1949–50 amounted to £54,085,120 and fees for driving licences to £1,660,862. It is not possible to distinguish in our statistics the duties paid by any owner or class of owners, but the British Transport Commission's expenditure on vehicles (Excise) duties in 1949 can be deduced from their Report and was £3,102,362.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the fact that the annual revenue from taxes on private motorists is £98,500,000 and that of that amount £24,000,000 was paid to the Road Fund, he will state how the balance was expended.

There is no question of any balance between the two figures quoted by the hon. Member. The £98,500,000 to which he refers is paid into the Exchequer and forms part of the general revenue of the country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make arrangements for old age pensioners to receive their tobacco concession even though they are earning sufficient to make them ineligible for any money payment of pension.

No. Apart from the administrative difficulties, I do not think there are sufficient grounds for extending this exceptional form of relief from taxation to persons who, because of the level of their earnings, are not entitled to pension.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the tax concession made to old age pensioners on tobacco, similar concessions might not be made to non-smoking old age pensioners on fuel, or some other suitable commodity.

No. The purpose of this concession is to give old age pensioners who smoke some relief from the post-war increases in the duty on tobacco, and I can see no ground for an equivalent concession to non-smokers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total number of old age pensioners benefiting from, and the cost of, the cheap tobacco scheme at the latest convenient date.

Approximately 1,800,000 old age pensioners benefit from this relief, which costs about £11 million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to the British Exchequer of the military activities in Malaya in 1949 and in the first six months of 1950.

The Colonial and Middle Eastern Services Vote provides for the excess cost of the British Forces acting in aid of the Government of the Federation of Malaya over the cost of such Forces at their normal stations. I can only give the figures by financial years—£1 m. in 1949–50 and £3 m. in 1950–51. Provision is also made for grants to the Government of the Federation of Malaya towards the cost of internal security measures which it is unable to meet from its own resources; the amounts provided in 1949–50 and 1950–51 are £5 m. and £3 m. respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether negotiations are still proceeding with the Government of India to effect a reciprocal tax relief agreement; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary, on 9th November, 1950, to the hon. Member for Blackpool, North (Mr. Low).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate in round figures the total taxes paid by the coal, electricity and gas industries and the railways in the financial year 1944–45.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that persons in London who, before paying Customs duty or Purchase Tax on a parcel posted to them from overseas, desire to see the contents of the parcel, are required to visit the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, for this purpose before 4.30 p.m., or on Saturdays before noon; and whether, in view of the inconvenience of this for people who are at work all day, he will review the arrangements and have facilities provided either at more accessible places or at later hours.

I am not aware that the arrangements referred to have given rise to any general inconvenience, but if evidence can be produced that this is the case, I will have the matter looked into.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much financial aid has been received by the United Kingdom from Canada and the United States of America since the end of the war; how much from each country separately; and how much is by gift or by repayable loans.

Up to 30th September, 1950, the United Kingdom received from the United States of America $2,066 million as grant under the European Recovery Programme including $380 million conditional aid in respect of assistance by us to other European countries, and $4,073 million as repayable loan. The latter figure excludes $622½ million loan under the Lend-Lease settlement of 1945, of which $605 million is outstanding. During the same period a total of Canadian $1,185 million was received from Canada as repayable loan.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of taxation, per head, collected in Britain in 1938–39; and what, approximately, it will be in 1950–51.

In 1938–39, £18 17s. 9d. per head. In 1950–51 it will be, according to the Estimates, approximately, £72 12s. 7d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can extend the tobacco duty relief scheme to include retired members of the clerical supervisory staffs of the railways.

No. The objections to extending the scope of this concession have been stated on many previous occasions and are still decisive.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make post-war credit repayments in cases of proved hardship.

I regret that this is not practicable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the urgent need for increased coal production, the maintenance of the existing manpower in, and the encouragement of new labour into the mines, he will make regulations to enable all money earnt by miners producing coal above an agreed normal output to be free of Income Tax deductions.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what staff at the public expense, will be accompanying him on his visit to Canada.

My right hon. Friend is not now going to Canada.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of His Majesty's Government regarding the making-up of pay to civil servants who are called up as reservists; and whether the Government will give a lead to local authorities and private employers in this connection.

Under present practice civil servants called up as reservists are eligible for balance of civil pay. Future Government policy in this matter is now under consideration and I am not, therefore, in a position at present to give guidance to other employers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Departments are employing women receiving equal pay with men; and the work in each Department on which women are employed and which carries equal pay.

The following statement shows which Departments employ women who receive equal pay with men and the grades in which they are employed:

Department	Grade
Admiralty	Ancillary medical staff.
Air Ministry	Ancillary medical staff.
Education	Doctors.
Health	Doctors.
Welsh Board of Health	Doctors.
Department of Health for Scotland.	Doctors.
Home Office	Doctors.
Labour	Doctors, ancillary medical, Factory inspectors.
National Insurance	Doctors.
Pensions	Doctors, ancillary medical staff.
Prison Commission	Doctors, ancillary medical staff.
Scottish Home Department	Ancillary medical staff.
Supply	Doctors, ancillary medical staff.
Town and Country Planning	Deputy Secretary.
Treasury	Doctors, ancillary medical staff.
War Office	Ancillary medical staff.
Works	Ancillary medical staff.

Ancillary medical staff include grades such as pharmacists, physiotherapists, radiographers, etc.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what further fall in the numbers of the staff of the Central Office of Information there has been; and what is the size of the staff at present.

Since my reply to the hon. Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) on 17th October, 1950, the non-industrial staff of the Central Office of Information has been reduced by 46, from 1,473 to 1,427. The total staff, including industrial staff, has been reduced by 12, from 1,503 to 1,491.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what decision has been reached as to a general review of the law of copyright.

The question of a general review of the law of copyright is still under consideration, as indicated in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr. H. Nicholls) on 9th November. I am not at the moment in a position to make any further statement on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an indication as to the amount of textile machinery that is idle in Lancashire and Yorkshire due to the shortage of artificial fibres.

Any shortage of artificial fibres would be felt first by the spinners and we have had no complaints from spinners either in Lancashire or Yorkshire that machinery is idle because of such a shortage. We are, however, keeping a watch on the situation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the distribution of British produced newsprint exported during 1950; and what is the anticipated distribution of the 100,000 tons fixed as the quota for 1951.

As regards the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I would refer him to the answer given to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. N. Macpherson) on 13th November. The distribution of the newsprint so far licensed for export in 1950 is as follows:Australia, 76,581 tons; New Zealand, 8,991 tons; South Africa, 7,283 tons; Colonies, 4,236 tons; Ceylon, 1,500 tons; Southern Rhodesia, 750 tons; Irish Republic, 350 tons; Miscellaneous markets, 117 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total amount of timber imported into the port of Sharpness during the first 10 months of 1950.

Imports into Sharpness are included in the Trade Accounts with those into Gloucester and Lydney. Imports into these three places together during January-October, 1950, were sawn, planed and dressed softwood, 10,522 standards valued at £523,000, hewn hardwood, 91,684 cubic feet valued at £31,000, and other timber to the value of £10,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many orders or regulations he made on Price Controls during and since 1948; and how many he has varied and abolished in that time.

As the answer is long, I am sending my hon. Friend two lists to show respectively, which goods in the Board of Trade field of price control are still subject to control, and which have been decontrolled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has studied the circumstances in which certain merchants bought up supplies of certain non-utility and rayon fabrics in anticipation that such fabrics would be included in a higher price category as a consequence of developments in the utility scheme; and what action he has taken or proposes to take to prevent the merchants concerned from securing additional profits as a result of these transactions.

I am not clear what transactions my hon. Friend has in mind, but if he will send me particulars I shall be pleased to look into them. Maximum prices for utility cotton and rayon cloths are, of course, laid down in Orders made by the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a full statement as to the investigations made by his officers since the beginning of 1950 into the circumstances in which certain traders have priced up existing stocks to newly fixed price levels; and what liaison exists between his Department and the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to ensure that the inflated profits made as a consequence of the transactions at the higher rate are properly assessed for taxation purposes.

We have so far had few complaints and little evidence of this practice except in relation to knitting wool, on which I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on the 23rd November to my hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mrs. Mann). If, however, we find other cases where there may be a need for protecting consumers by the introduction, or reintroduction, of price control we shall certainly make full investigation through the agency of the price inspectors attached to the Price Regulations Committees. As regards taxation, I understand that the full profits made on the sale of any such stocks would have to be shown in the trader's accounts, and would fall to be taxed in the ordinary way without any special arrangement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount in dollars earned by British bloodstock sales during each of the last three years.

No information is available of the amount in dollars earned by bloodstock sales nor is it possible to give figures of exports of bloodstock as such exports are not distinguished from exports of other types of animals in the Trade Accounts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the new price increases of cotton, utility cotton and rayon goods, consequent upon the acceptance by his Department of the interim recommendations of the cotton and rayon trade committees, are likely to take effect.

I expect that the orders giving effect to the increased maximum prices for the existing specifications of utility cotton goods which were recommended by the Cotton Utility Scheme Committee will come into operation early in December. The broader specifications for both cotton and rayon cloths are still being discussed with the garment makers. I hope that it will be possible to conclude these discussions in time for a new order for rayon cloths to be brought into force before the end of the year, but the broader specifications for utility cotton goods are unlikely to be in force before the end of January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the number of farmers who were declared bankrupt since the end of the 1939–45 war to the latest available date, together with those declared bankrupt after the 1914–18 war for a like period of time.

Including bankruptcy orders and deeds of arrangement the figures are: for the period January, 1946, to October, 1950, 210; for the years 1919 to 1923, 1,237.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make the licences for the supply of paper for football pools conditional upon the promoters publishing balance sheets showing profits allocated to prize winners and profits taken by the promoters of the pools.

The purpose of licensing the consumption of paper by football pools is to ensure strict economy in this particular use while paper remains in short supply. I do not think that it would be proper to use a control of this nature for the purpose which my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total amount of premiums collected and the total amount so far paid out in settlement of claims under Part 2 of the War Damage Act; and when it is proposed to make payments in settlement of the remaining agreed claims.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19th October to the hon. Member for Cheadle (Mr. Shepherd). As regards the second part, I regret that it is not possible at present to make any statement as to when these payments will be made. Advance payments are, however, being made where the Board of Trade are satisfied that the replacement or repair of the goods is expedient in the public interest or that payment is necessary to avoid undue hardship. The sum of £46 million exclusive of interest has already been paid out on these grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for War what weapons, equipment and vehicles have been provided for the 27th and 29th Brigades from United States Army sources, and how they are to be accounted for.

The United States Army has made available to 27th Brigade a number of rocket launchers, with ammunition. It has also been arranged that they will replace destroyed vehicles and provide certain items of common use. No weapons, equipment or vehicles, apart from some engineer stores, have been provided by the United States Army for 29th Brigade Group. Arrangements have been made for all issues of stores or services rendered between the British troops and other national elements of the United Nations Command to be recorded. The form which ultimate settlement will take has not yet been decided.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the British battalions of the 27th Commonwealth Brigade have been provided with vehicles and weapons suitable for conditions of extreme freezing in view of the fact that until recently it was intended to return them to Hong Kong this year.

The vehicles and weapons with which the British troops in Korea are provided are of normal type. They are, however, considered suitable for the Korean climate with the aid of special cold weather lubricants and anti-freeze solution, the supply of which has been arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the necessary forms by which personnel of His Majesty's Forces apply to be included in the Register of Electors are available to our Forces in Korea.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for War why he cannot yet give the details required concerning the death on 25th October from wounds sustained on 22nd September on active service in Korea of Gunner Mitchell of Leeds.

I am extremely sorry that these details are not yet available. Every effort is being made to obtain them from the American authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for War what considerations led to the selection of Mackinnon Road, Kenya, as a military base; why it has now been abandoned; how much money was spent; and how much of it will have to be written off.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. N. Macpherson) on 22nd November, 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for the Exchange Division of Liverpool can expect a reply to a letter sent to his Department, in answer to letter reference number US/A. 3212, on 9th November, asking for the return of correspondence sent to his Department on 12th October, 1950.

A reply to this letter has now been sent, with the correspondence referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make inquiries regarding the overcrowding of other ranks on the s.s. "Empire Medway" on its recent voyage from Liverpool to the Indian Ocean; and if he will make a statement on the subject.

I cannot agree that this vessel was overcrowded. It has cabin and troopdeck accommodation for 1,329 persons and only 1,235 were carried. The hard lying accommodation was not utilised at all.

asked the Secretary of State for War how far he intends to continue sending abroad for indefinite periods of Service re-called reservists whose period of enlistment or reserve has either expired after recall or likely to expire whilst abroad; and if he will make a statement thereon.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he intends to announce a limiting date of overseas service for reservists who have been recalled to the Service.

I hope that it will not be necessary to send any more Army Reservists overseas. With regard to Army Reservists already abroad, it has not yet been possible, in view of the uncertainty of the military situation, to announce a limiting date of overseas service. The matter is, however, under active consideration and an announcement will be made as soon as it is practicable to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of the 29th Brigade and their reinforcements are reservists recalled for the emergency.

It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

asked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of the officers and men called up from the Reserve to serve with the 29th Brigade had been prisoners of war in Japan, Germany and Italy during the war.

I am obtaining this information and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will secure that in the case where officers under the age of 25 have been, or are, recalled from the Reserve to serve in an emergency, their wives receive an adequate marriage allowance.

These officers receive a marriage allowance of 56s. a week, a rate which is also applicable to warrant officers. If they are unable to meet their essential civilian commitments from their Service emoluments they may apply for a National Service grant to assist them to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for War how long the rule has existed that men who enlisted in a unit of the British Army raised in the Middle East are eligible for disability pension at only two-thirds of the normal rate; and whether he will reconsider this rule in cases where the disabled man is a British subject now permanently resident in this country.

This rule has existed, generally speaking, since the formation of the units concerned. The rate of pension is based broadly on the local conditions and, in accordance with the general principle regarding the payment of pensions, no adjustment is made when the pensioner moves to another country where local standards may be higher or lower.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British troops there are in Trieste and North Africa, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present size of the King's African Rifles and the Royal West Frontier Force; and how this compares with 1st January, 1939.

It would be contrary to practice to publish this information.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning on what grounds Cardiff Rural District Council opposed the television station site at St. Nicholas, Cardiff, and proposed the site at Lythams, Cardiff; and whether he is satisfied that no unnecessary delay arose in determining planning consent.

On the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General on 8th November. I can find no evidence of unreasonable delay by the local planning authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Air on what date he received unofficial intimation of the proposed change of site of the television station from St. Nicholas to St. Lythan's; and on what date it was decided that the St. Lythan's site was acceptable.

The proposal for the siting of a television mast at St. Nicholas was received from the Radio and Cable Board on 15th June, 1950, and cleared by the Air Ministry on 21st June. A request to alter this site was received from the same source on 15th November and cleared the same day. In the meanwhile my Department had received on 12th September from the local works area an application submitted to them by the Glamorgan County Council, as local planning authority, for approval to the siting of a television mast. There was nothing to indicate that this application related to the re-siting of the mast dealt with on 21st June. I regret that there was delay in my Department in clearing this application and that a reply was not sent until 27th October. This correspondence had not been brought to my notice when I replied to the hon. Gentleman's Question on 20th November.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will designate Norfolk and Suffolk Broads as a National Park.

I should be very glad to see the Broads become a National Park, but the National Parks Commission are concentrating this year on the first three National Parks and their programme for next year has not yet been decided.

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements he has been able to make for the sale of any part of this year's East Anglian herring catch to foreign countries.

The general responsibility for developing exports rests with the Herring Industry Board, but sales are effected by United Kingdom exporters. When currency or other difficulties arise the Government is always willing to help to overcome them. Thus the trade agreements with Western Germany, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Austria, France and Poland include provisions for the import of British-caught herring, while there are no restrictions on the import of herrings into Italy and Greece.

asked the Minister of Food if he will publish a list of items upon which he has made a profit and those upon which he has made a loss in bulk purchasing transactions in 1950.

The total of food subsidies is normally fixed at the beginning of the financial year and announced in the Chancellor's Budget statement. This total is built up from estimates of the trading deficits and surpluses on individual commodities in the light of estimated costs and selling prices. These can be divided into two categories:(A) Basic foodstuffs subsidised as a matter of Government policy; (B) Non-basic foodstuffs, on which my Department plans to achieve a trading surplus or on which it aims to incur neither trading surplus nor deficit.It is essential for my Department, if it is to adhere to the subsidy total, to have flexibility of operation as between commodities, and selling prices have to be adjusted from time to time by reference to variations in costs and quantities available for distribution. Accordingly, deficits and surpluses on food trading arise mainly from the implementation of the overall subsidy policy.The latest period for which a return can be made is the financial year ended 31st March, 1950. In that period such trading deficits or subsidies were incurred on the commodities shown at "A" and these were partly offset by trading surpluses on those shown under "B." Not all of these foodstuffs were procured under bulk purchasing arrangements.

"A"—TRADING DEFICITS	"B"—TRADING SURPLUSES
Animal feedingstuffs	Egg products
Bacon	Canned fish
Bread and flour	Canned meat
Shell eggs	Canned fruit
Meat (including carcase, canned corned, poultry and rabbits)	Coffee
	Cocoa
	Dried fruit
Milk	Fresh fruit
Milk Products (butter, cheese, condensed milk)	Oils and fats
	Pulses (edible)
Margarine and Cooking fat	Rice
Starch	Sugar (excluding domestic)
Sugar (domestic)
Tea
Potatoes
Fish

asked the Minister of Food what are the rates paid by his Department to cold store owners for refrigerating English meat per ton or per carcase, both beasts and sheep.

The rates for freezing-home-killed meat are computed on a tonnage basis. They are the same for both beasts and sheep, and are made up as follow:

(1) Handling, i.e. receiving and delivery—London—18s. per ton plus 30 per cent. Provinces—16s. per ton plus 30 per cent.

(2) Refrigerating, i.e. hanging and freezing—30s. per ton plus 30 per cent.

(3) Rent, i.e. storage— London—5s. 6d. per ton per week plus 25 per cent.

Provinces—4s. 6d. per ton per week plus 25 per cent.

It is, of course, most unusual for home-killed meat to be frozen down. Where it is to be chilled only (i.e. stored for short periods at temperatures of about 32° Fahr.) our practice is to rent space on a weekly or monthly basis at an agreed inclusive charge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what tonnage of newsprint it is anticipated will be in demand from certain British Colonies who, in the past, have been small consumers but who, as the result of greater literacy, are now demanding increasing supplies; and from what source it is expected that these demands can be met.

The hon. Member does not say which Colonies he has in mind. The Colonies as a whole need about the same tonnage of newsprint in 1951 as this year. In the main they have been obtaining their supplies from Canada and Scandinavia, but there is an allocation of 5,000 tons from this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which Malayan judges, other than those captured by the enemy, were prevented from performing their functions between 1942 and 1945; and which of them were admitted to pension on the basis of completion of service.

Mr. Justice Horne, Mr. Justice Manning and Mr. Justice Terrell. The first two were on leave in East Africa at the time of the occupation of Malaya and were found employment in that area. Mr. Justice Terrell was retired on pension.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will supply a copy of the print relating to leave and pensions referred to in paragraph 2 of the letter of 15th July, 1930, from his Department in which notice of appointment was given to the Malayan judge referred to in his answers of 21st June, 1950, and copies of such documents issued by his Department between 1930 and 1939 relating to the retirement age of Malayan judges, as were circulated to the persons affected.

I am sending the hon. and learned Member copies of various editions of the prints referred to, including a copy of the fifth edition, dated 1929, which was enclosed with Colonial Office letter of 15th July, 1930.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Malayan judge referred to in his statement on 21st June, 1950, was 50 years of age at the time of his appointment; and, in view of the fact that he was required to give an undertaking never again to practise at the Malayan Bar, what were the pension terms in respect of his compulsory retirement at the age of 55, before seven years' completed service.

The judge in question was under 49 years of age when he was offered appointment in July, 1930, but preferred not to sail to take up his appointment until early 1931, when he was just over 49. On his retirement, in 1942, he was awarded a special judge's pension based on service of 11 years and 4 months. Had he retired at the age of 55 he would have been eligible only for a gratuity of about £1,020.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to ensure that spraying, fertilisation and the selection of planting material is adequately carried out by small growers of bananas in Jamaica, so that their fruit may be of good enough quality to be readily saleable.

Services to banana growers are provided under the auspices of the Jamaica Government by the All Island Banana Growers' Association and are paid for out of the proceeds of bulk sales of bananas. Particular attention is paid to the needs of small growers, who are using the services in increasing numbers.The main services are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent it is his policy to permit the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund to be used for the furtherance of housing schemes for sugar workers in British Guiana.

The fund referred to is controlled and administered by a committee appointed by the Governor. It is intended to use it for financing housing schemes for sugar workers in accordance with the recommendations of the Venn

UNEMPLOYED AT 13TH NOVFMBER, 1950
Industry							Males aged 15 and over	Females aged 15 and over	Total
Shipbuilding and ship-repairing					…	…	143	4	147
Manufacture and repair of aircraft					…	…	42	11	53
Building	…	…	…	…	…	…	113	—	113
Civil engineering contracting						…	63	—	63
Sea transport		…	…	…	…	…	237	9	246
Distributive trades			…	…	…	…	68	67	135
National Government service					…	…	16	8	24
Local government service				…	…	…	24	2	26
Professional services			…	…	…	…	10	38	48
Catering, hotels, etc.			…	…	…	…	66	120	186
Laundries and dry-cleaning				…	…	…	6	16	22
All other industries and services						…	241	184	425
Total—All industries and services						…	1,029	459	1,488

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Venn Report in British Guiana with particular reference to the provision of plots of land for cultivation by regular workers on estates.

I am sending the hon. Member a full statement.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state to the nearest convenient date the number of unemployed in Southampton classified according to trades and occupations and the number at a comparable date in 1935.

The following tables give industrial analyses of the numbers of persons registered as unemployed at employment exchanges in Southampton at 13th November, 1950, and at 15th November, 1937—the earliest year for which an industrial analysis is available. Between the two dates there were some changes in the classification of employments and the figures for industries with the same title may not be strictly comparable.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give in table form the number of unemployed registered at the labour exchanges in West Ham for each of the five years since the end of the war of 1939–45, together with the comparable figures for the five years following the war of 1914–18.

The following table gives the figures for 1922–24 and 1945–50. Figures are not available for 1919–21.

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN WEST HAM AT THE SPECIFIED DATES
—	Males	Females	Total
20th Nov., 1922	15,765	2,477	18,242
26th Nov., 1923	16,908	3,706	20,614
24th Nov., 1924	15,803	3,419	19,222
12th Nov., 1945	167	180	347
11th Nov., 1946	884	164	1,048
10th Nov., 1947	755	242	997
15th Nov., 1948	1,143	286	1,429
14th Nov., 1949	743	311	1,054
13th Nov., 1950	703	385	1,088

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the number of persons who have applied for, and received, general practitioners' attention, hospital attention, dental treatment, optical treatment, maternity attention, hearing aids, spectacles, surgical equipment and false dentures under the National Health Scheme; and the cost of each item, at the nearest convenient date, showing where available the comparisons with the old National Health Insurance Act.

Information in this form is not readily available, but I will consider what information I have of a similar kind and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses, including agricultural workers' cottages, built in East Suffolk in the period from 1945 to 1949.

I would refer the hon. Member to Appendix B to the Housing Return.

asked the Minister of Health what is the basis of allocation of permanent and temporary houses for the town of Framlingham, Suffolk; how many have been built since 1945; and whether the full quota has been built.

In making allocations of permanent houses to individual local authorities account has to be taken of a number of factors including the amount of work outstanding from previous allocations at the time when each allocation is made. The individual allocation can be judged, therefore, only in the light of full knowledge of the local circumstances on which they are based and publication of such figures would be misleading. The temporary housing programme was completed in 1948. As regards the second part of this question, I would refer the hon. Member to Appendix B of the Housing Returns.

asked the Postmaster-General what arrangements are made for the collection of old telephone directories.

In urban areas old telephone directories are collected as far as possible when the new ones are supplied. In rural areas subscribers are asked to dispose of their old directories as salvage, as this is a more economical procedure.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the rates for air mail parcels to troops in Korea; and what arrangements are being made for our Forces in Korea to pay postage home on ordinary letters and parcels.

As indicated in my answer to the hon. and gallant Member's question on 17th November, items up to 4-lb. in weight may be sent as letter packets at the concessionary rate of postage of 6d. for the first 1½ ounces and 6d. for each additional half ounce to British troops in Korea. There is no air parcel service for heavier parcels. I am assured that adequate stocks of postage stamps are available in Korea; inquiry is in hand as to any localised shortage at Field Army Post Offices, with a view to remedying any that may exist. Lightweight Forces Air Letters may be sent home from Korea free of postage without limit of number.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will allow the payment of wireless licences by banker's order, thereby ensuring their punctual payment and saving trouble.

The hon. Member's suggestion is being examined, and I will write to him as soon as my investigation has been completed.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the concern by the people of Swansea with regard to the broadcasting studio at Alexandra Road now being repaired; that a special effort will have to be made, if the studio is to be ready for the Festival celebrations next year; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the special effort will be made.

The repair of their studios is a matter entirely for the B.B.C., and I suggest that my hon. Friend might communicate directly with the Corporation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he has any further information on the possibility of using helicopters for air services between the islands of Scotland.

The introduction of helicopters on services between the islands of Scotland is contemplated when helicopters suitable for this type of service become available in some years' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if, in view of the dangers of foot and mouth disease and swine fever, he will authorise the collection of pig swill by private collectors, possessing the necessary concentrator plants required to sterilise it, from Royal Air Force stations, and not permit the swill to be used on the stations where such machinery is not available.

R.A.F. units are authorised, if they grow vegetables, to keep pigs, and to use their swill for feeding them. All swill retained on stations is sterilised in accordance with the statutory obligations imposed on all stock-keepers. R.A.F. units which do not use their swill in this way are required to dispose of it to contractors possessing the necessary facilities for sterilisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information about steps being taken to simplify travel between the United Kingdom and Austria.

I am happy to inform the House that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, in concert with the United States and French Governments, have decided that as from 1st December, 1950, nationals of the three Occupying Powers will be able to enter Austria without Allied Force Permits so long as they are in possession of valid passports. No visas will be required.Notwithstanding the abolition of Allied Force Permits, nationals of the three Occupying Powers will still require Occupational Forces Travel Permits (grey cards) when travelling into or through the Soviet Zone of Austria (that is to say, the Provinces of Lower Austria, Burgenland and the Muhlviertel of Upper Austria). Travellers arriving in Vienna by air will not require grey cards unless they are proceeding outside the metropolitan area of Vienna. No special documentation is required to enter the Soviet Sector of Vienna.It is, of course, understood that travellers will be subject to Austrian laws and regulations affecting the entry, residence (temporary or permanent) and employment of foreigners, and that persons who are unable to satisfy Austrian immigration authorities that they comply with these laws and regulations will be liable to be refused leave to enter Austria. I am sure that the House will welcome the good will shown by the Austrian Government in making this arrangement possible.His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom after consultation with the other Governments concerned, are arranging (with effect as soon as possible after 1st December, 1950) for the visa-issuing authorities in the United Kingdom and the appropriate British visa-issuing authorities elsewhere to make no charge for visas granted to Austrian citizens holding valid Austrian passports who have occasion to travel to any part of the Commonwealth. Fees paid to the Permit Office, London, for Allied Force Permits whose validity begins on or after 1st December, 1950, will be refunded upon application.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many attested herds and how many supervised herds are awaiting official test in each of the Welsh counties.

The following table gives the number of supervised herds awaiting official test in each county in Wales on 30th September, 1950, the latest date for which reliable figures are available.

				Number of herds awaiting official test on 30th September, 1950
Anglesey	…	…	…	94
Brecon	…	…	…	15
Caernarvon	…	…	…	107
Cardigan	…	…	…	33
Carmarthen	…	…	…	60
Denbigh	…	…	…	61
Flint	…	…	…	16
Glamorgan	…	…	…	16
Merioneth	…	…	…	30
Monmouth	…	…	…	11
Montgomery	…	…	…	57
Pembroke	…	…	…	23
Radnor	…	…	…	5
		TOTAL	…	528

These numbers include herds which, although awaiting official test on 30th September, 1950, were not due for test by that date. I regret that similar figures are not available for attested herds, but, in general, there is no delay in carrying out tests of attested herds when they become due.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent it will be necessary, this winter, to limit supplies of gas coke to consumers.

In order to ensure firstly that the gas works have sufficient coke to make as much carburetted water gas as may be required to maintain gas supplies, and, secondly, that coke supplies are maintained to essential consumers, it will be necessary this winter to curtail deliveries of gas coke to other consumers to a level somewhat lower than last winter. Industrial consumers, together with essential non-industrial consumers such as bakeries, hospitals and the like will receive their full requirements. Total supplies to the merchants as a whole will be at about last year's level, but the level of deliveries to individual merchants will necessarily depend upon the proportion of essential consumers that they have to supply. As I explained on Friday, in answer to the Question put to me by my hon. Friend the Member for Durham (Mr. Grey) corresponding reductions will be made by gas works to consumers other than the essential consumers supplied by them direct.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the present coal situation, he will take steps to secure that consumers of gas and electricity during the winter will exercise the same economy as has already been enjoined on users of coal and coke.

Yes. Every economy will be needed this winter in the use of electricity and gas, as of coal and coke.