asked the Minister of Food how much blood meal is available to farmers as a protein food for livestock; and how much is home-made and imported, respectively.

This commodity is free of rationing or any other control and I do not have the information for which the hon. Member asks. Import licences have been granted this year for 5,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Food at how many slaughterhouses arrangements exist and are used for the collection and processing of blood; and what percentage of the total blood of cattle, sheep and pigs, respectively, is saved and processed.

Arrangements for the collection of blood exist at about 400 out of the total of 600 Government slaughterhouses—but only 12 have adjacent processing plants. Separate figures are not kept of cattle, sheep and pig blood saved, but at present about 20 per cent. of the total supply is disposed of for edible and 40 per cent. for inedible purposes.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give a list of factories making white fish meal and other types of fish meal and their location and their annual output of each grade of fish meal.

Following is the information:Factories which make white fish meal, and other types of fish meal, together with their location are:

asked the Minister of Food what stocks of snoek are still held; and how soon he hopes to liquidate them.

None.

asked the Minister of Food if the offer he made to take a considerable quantity of turkeys from French sources at a price of 6s. 6d. per lb. has been accepted; and for what quantity.

I have made no such offer. The import of turkeys is in the hands of the private trade.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage of the bacon factories are to-day working at full capacity.

Of the 205 factories now working, only six are at present working to capacity. Of the remainder 23 cannot handle their full quota of pigs because of shortage of labour.

asked the Minister of Food what are the main factors which have interfered with his food programme for this year.

The main factors have been as follows: the need to save dollars; the continued shortage of supplies of certain commodities in the non-dollar world; and the difficulties we have experienced with Argentina over the implementation of the Trade and Payments Agreement. The shortage of tinplate has also limited the amount of home food canning.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that there is a shortage of tinned salmon in Suffolk; and what steps he is taking to remedy this.

I know that supplies are generally short, but the available quantities are distributed by the unit voucher scheme to retail grocers in proportion to the number of their registered customers. Retailers in Suffolk, therefore, have their fair share.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that there has been a shortage of sweet biscuits in North-East Suffolk for the past two months; and what steps he is taking to remedy this.

Supplies of sweet biscuits generally are short, but I am not aware of any special difficulties in North-East Suffolk. Manufacturers are, I am sure, doing their best to treat all their customers fairly, but if the hon. Member will let me have the names and addresses of any retailers who feel they have cause for complaint, and particulars of their usual suppliers, I will make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that dried fruit can be purchased in towns in Suffolk in areas where grocers are unable to obtain supplies; what is the allocation of dried fruit to grocers, bakers and greengrocers; and upon what basis such dried fruit and sugar quotas are arranged.

I have not heard of any grocers in Suffolk or elsewhere being unable to get the supplies to which they are entitled on their dried fruit vouchers. If the hon. Member will send me the name and address of any grocer who thinks he is not receiving his voucher entitlement, I shall be glad to look into it. Dried fruit is distributed on the basis of unit vouchers which entitle a retailer to supplies according to their value in terms of units. The number of units entered in a grocer's voucher is that of his sugar registrations. For other retailers who sold dried fruit before the war, but have no sugar registrations, the number of units entered in their vouchers is related to the quantity of dried fruit they handled pre-war.According to the supplies available, the weight value of a unit may vary from one allocation to another, but in each allocation a unit has the same value for every retailer. Bakers do not share in the distribution of dried fruit for household use. In common with other manufacturers their supplies form a percentage of their pre-war usage.

asked the Minister of Food what is the content of the margarine in the present ration; and, in particular, what percentage of animal fat it contains.

Margarine issued for the domestic ration contains no animal fat, in the normal sense of the term. It is at present composed of vegetable oils and marine oils (which are animal) in the proportion of 77 per cent. to 23 per cent.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will amend his regulations in order to permit hotel keepers to serve home-preserved eggs at meals to residents and non-residents.

This is one of several matters connected with next season's supplies of shell eggs which are now being considered.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the compensation referred to in paragraph 18 of the Second Annual Report of the Transport Commission has yet been paid; and whether it is proposed to postpone further acquisitions until the money has been paid for those firms already acquired.

Up to 31st October, 1950, provisional ascertainments of compensation totalling £25,684,000, in respect of road haulage undertakings compulsorily transferred under Section 39 of the Transport Act, have been calculated, pending final ascertainment. With the retention of 10 per cent. in accordance with the Act, this leaves £23,116,000 now payable. Payments on account in cash and stock amounted to £22,413,362. The answer to the second part of the question is "No."

asked the Minister of Transport how many of the road passenger undertakings referred to in paragraph 20 of the Second Annual Report of the Transport Commission have objected to the transfer of their undertakings to the British Transport Commission.

I understand that representations on the subject have been made to the Road Passenger Executive, but the time for making objections to me has not yet arrived.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the authority which in fact decided which of the 17,000 applications for original permits referred to in paragraph 16 of the Second Annual Report of the Transport Commission should be granted or refused.

The British Transport Commission delegated this function, among others, to the Road Haulage Executive by schemes of delegation approved by me under Section 5 of the Transport Act, 1947.

asked the Minister of Transport how many of the 17,000 applications for original permits, referred to in paragraph 16 of the Second Annual Report of the Transport Commission, have been granted; how many of those granted have been limited either as to distance or to traffic; how many were refused; and, of those granted, how many have now been revoked.

These are matters for the British Transport Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the claim of the British Transport Commission made in paragraph 9 of their Second Annual Report that few matters have been referred to the Consultative Committees, he will state the address of the Consultative Committee to which complaints in the Liverpool-Manchester area should have been referred.

A Transport Users Consultative Committee for the North-West Area, which includes the Liverpool-Manchester area, is now in course of being appointed. In the meantime any representations regarding the services provided by the British Transport Commission in this area should be addressed to the Secretary of the Central Transport Consultative Committee for Great Britain, at 22, Palace Chambers, Bridge Street, Westminster, S.W.1.

asked the Minister of Transport how many of the Consultative Committees, referred to in paragraph 9 of the Second Annual Report of the Transport Commission, other than those established for Wales, Scotland and London, were in fact in existence during 1949; and what were their addresses.

None. As I have previously informed the House, however, I am now in the process of setting up eight further Committees, and when this has been done the whole of the country will be covered.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the age limit in force for the engagement of men for service as examiners for the official driving test.

The lower age limit is 30. There is no upper age limit, but care is taken to ensure that candidates over 50 are likely to give a reasonable period of efficient service.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now introduce legislation to enable him to deal with the question of the provision of shelters where omnibus or coach passengers may wait for the vehicle.

As I stated in answer to a similar Question on Monday last, I am in consultation with the bodies concerned as to the proposals which should be laid before Parliament on this subject when opportunity offers.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now sanction the improvements needed to the dangerous Gloucester Lane Bridge, Rodbourne Road, Swindon.

The improvements are desirable but I regret that in present circumstances they must be deferred.

asked the Minister of Transport what were the factors which influenced him to reject the application by the Stratford-on-Avon Borough Council to extend the 30 miles per hour speed limit area on the Alcester Road to cover the stretch between Church Lane and Albany Road.

There is only ribbon development on the north side of this stretch of road for about two-thirds of its length. On the south side, apart from a school, there is no development. It is not my policy to impose a speed limit to meet conditions which occur only at limited periods during week-days, and the best way to protect children crossing roads of this character is to provide an adult patrol. There is no suggestion that speed was a contributory factor in the comparatively few accidents which have occurred on this length of road during the past three years.

asked the Minister of Transport for what reason he confirmed the county council of the County of Southampton (Traffic Regulation) No. 1 Order, 1950, High Street of Hythe, Prohibition of Waiting, without holding a local inquiry, in view of the objections lodged against the making of this order.

The objectors proposed that instead of waiting being entirely prohibited on part of High Street, Hythe, it should be allowed on the west side. The street is only 13 to 14 feet wide and this is insufficient to allow waiting, except for essential access. In these circumstances I decided that a public enquiry was not necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the main factors which now determine priorities in carrying out or completing road works and highway development in this country, in view of the curtailment of the normal capital programme.

My principal object is to ensure that out of the limited resources available the best possible provision is made for road maintenance. Expenditure on works of improvement or new construction is therefore being kept to a minimum. Apart from the completion of work in progress before the curtailment of the programme, such works are being confined to those necessary to preserve essential communications, or to improve the worst danger spots, or to meet indispensable requirements of other parts of the investment programme.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider introducing legislation to make compulsory the placing of rear lights on the extreme right-hand edge of vehicles.

So long as only one rear light is required, I consider that the existing regulation is preferable to the proposal contained in this question. When a suitable opportunity for legislation presents itself, I have under consideration the recommendation as to rear lights made by the Road Safety Committee—namely, that all new vehicles, except pedal cycles and solo motor cycles, should carry two rear lights and one reflector.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in the interest of road safety, he will take steps to ensure the maintenance on all major roads of an efficient system of cats-eye studs or similar devices, having regard to their outstanding value in dense fog.

I fully recognise the usefulness of reflecting studs as a guide to traffic at night and in fog, and I have recommended highway authorities to install them wherever it is appropriate and practicable to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for a complete survey to be made of the congestion of London street traffic on certain routes and at selected points at various times of the day with the object of assessing the periods of time wasted and the estimated cost of these delays in time and money, and of suggesting methods of improving these conditions.

I understand that the Road Research Laboratory are making some investigations into the economic loss involved in traffic delays. Before considering further action, I should like to await their conclusions and the report on London traffic congestion which I am expecting to receive shortly from the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport why a "C" licence is given to an individual rather than in respect of a vehicle; and if he is satisfied that this method is the most suitable that can be devised.

The Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, requires that the grant of a carrier's licence shall be to the person using the vehicle. I see no sufficient reason for any change.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now publish the estimate formed by his Department at the time the Transport Act, 1947, was before this House of the extent to which vehicles operating under "C" licence would increase in the following three years.

The tendency of "C" vehicles to increase in number, which was already in evidence before the war, was recognised, but no definite forecasts were or could then be attempted.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that carriers working for the Sheffield abattoir are replacing their vans with completely enclosed containers to ensure cleaner meat but this step involves an increase in the Road Fund tax from £35 to £50 as well as a restriction to 20 miles per hour because the unladen weight of the van is slightly increased; and if he will consider excluding the container in calculating the weight of the van in such cases.

The weight of the meat containers in question, which I am informed amounts to about one ton, must be included in the unladen weight of the vehicles for taxation purposes (Section 26 of the Vehicles (Excise) Act, 1949) and for speed limit purposes (Section 26 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930). I am not prepared to seek amendment of these provisions.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the total number of passenger omnibuses in use in the area of the Eastern Counties in the year 1930 and the year 1949.

I regret that the only figures available are not comparable owing, amongst other reasons, to changes in the boundary of the Eastern Traffic Area. The number of public service vehicles licensed in that area at the 31st March, 1932 (the end of the first period for which statistics are available) was 2,342. The number owned in the area at 31st March, 1949, was 2,810.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the increase in weight, amounting to 64 per cent. since 1938, of the traffic using the Exeter—Leeds trunk road, A.38, between Gloucester and Bristol, and the large number of accidents which has taken place on this section of the road, he will consider making a special allocation from the Trunk Road Funds with a view to the construction without delay of a 30-foot carriageway where this is practicable.

I have considered carefully conditions on this length of road. I regret that in present economic circumstances I see no prospect of undertaking in the near future the extensive works of reconstruction which I should otherwise be prepared to consider to deal with the increased traffic, but I propose to put in hand a number of less expensive improvements.

asked the Minister of Transport why, in a recent advertisement for appointments as engineer and ship and nautical surveyors, male, in the Marine Survey Service of his Department, an upper age limitation of 42, with extension for regular service in His Majesty's Forces, was imposed; and whether his attention has been drawn to the Minister of Labour's frequent appeals to employers not to impose such upper age limits.

I have arranged that in future there will be no upper age limit for these posts, but the nature of the work makes it inevitable that younger men are likely to prove more suitable for these posts.

asked the Minister of Transport to state the type of machinery to be set up in each district for the examination of charges and referred to in paragraph 349 of the Second Annual Report of the Transport Commission; and what progress has been made with its establishment.

This is a matter for the British Transport Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why he has informed the Soviet authorities that Lieutenant Bystrof, a Red Army officer who has sought political asylum in the British zone of Germany, may be interviewed by Russian officers or his relations; and if he will immediately withdraw this permission.

When the Soviet authorities in Germany ask to interview a person who has sought political asylum, it is our normal practice to grant permission in order that they may be satisfied that the person is not held against his will. I am not prepared to abandon this attitude in the case of Lieut. Bystrov. Any interview must take place on British controlled territory with proper safeguards, and the British authorities in Germany are fully aware of the need to ensure that no political refugee is subjected to intimidation from the Russian side.

asked the hon. Member for Bristol, North-East, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee whether, in the interests of a British industry, he will arrange to include mead in the wine list.

The Committee of the Refreshment Department would be prepared to consider adding mead to the wine list provided there is a demand for it, and if supplies are available at reasonable prices.

asked the Minister of Supply how many new cars and trucks have been registered during the most recent 12 months for which figures are available by Government Departments; local government departments; nationalised industries; and the general public, respectively.

Approximately 143,000 new cars and 100,000 new goods vehicles were registered during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1950. These figures include registrations by local government authorities and nationalised undertakings, details of which are not available, as well as 591 new cars and 825 new goods vehicles registered by Government Departments.

asked the Minister of Supply in which respects it is proposed that the furniture industry is to be called in to assist in the defence programme; and whether any contracts have yet been placed.

It is unnecessary at present to divert the furniture industry from its normal production.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that every aluminium foundry in the country is having its supplies of aluminium cut to 60 per cent. of requirement as a result of Russian outbidding for European supplies; and what measures he proposes to take to safeguard supplies of aluminium and aluminium castings for the defence programme.

There is a shortage of aluminium scrap which is affecting the supply of secondary aluminium used by foundries. The shortage in the United Kingdom has not been caused by Russian buying in Europe. Supplies of both virgin and secondary aluminium are fully adequate to meet the defence programme.

asked the Minister of Supply what progress has been made with the development of a high-pressure heavy oil burner for use with fog investigation dispersal operations.

Satisfactory progress is being made with these experiments.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the policy of His Majesty's Government regarding stockpiling of metals; and if he will make a statement on its progress.

It would not be in the public interest to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer during the Defence Debate on 13th September last.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the anxiety of the Birmingham brass foundry trade and associated industries in regard to the supply of zinc; and what increase in tonnage of this metal he has been able to buy in respect of the first quarter of 1951 as compared with the similar period of 1950.

Yes. A statement on the supply position will be made shortly.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will now allow the private importation of zinc to fill that part of the current demand which his Department is unable to fill.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on 23rd October.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) if he can yet announce the rate at which his Department will be able to supply copper during 1951;(2) if he can yet announce the rate at which his Department will be able to supply zinc during 1951.

No; but a statement will be made about the supply position of these metals shortly.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is yet in a position to make a statement about the supply of vehicles to the home market in 1951.

An increase in the output of motor vehicles cannot be expected in the near future owing to the shortage of materials, and supplies to the home market could be increased only at the expense of exports. Manufacturers' quotas of cars for the home market for 1951 will be at the current annual rate—namely, 110,000 cars. The quota for commercial vehicles will be 95,000, including 8,500 passenger service vehicles. The position will be reviewed from time to time.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the difficulties which are being caused in the electrical contracting trade due to the restriction or prohibition of the importation of metal billets for the manufacture of electrical conduit tubing used in great quantities by the electrical trades; and whether he proposes to take any steps to alleviate the situation.

The import of steel billets is not restricted or prohibited. We are buying all we can from the Continent, the but there are delays in deliveries.

asked the Minister of Works what has been the estimated saving of fuel as the result of the completion of the new boiler house for the Houses of Parliament.

It is too early to make any comparisons but the additional services, such as extended heating and improved ventilation, will make any saving in fuel consumption unlikely.

asked the Minister of Works if a plan and sketch of the new block of Government offices now being built opposite Westminster Abbey can be made available for study in the reference room of the House of Commons Library.

A plan and the perspective drawing is now on view in the rooms of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association so that members of both Houses can have an opportunity of seeing them.

asked the Minister of Works whether in view of the great public interest in the Rubens ceiling for the Whitehall Banqueting Hall, he will extend the public exhibition of the panels of that ceiling at South Kensington for a further week after 16th December.

As it is desired to have the ceiling restored to the Banqueting House in time for the Festival of Britain, a start had to be made on the replacement of the panels in the Banqueting House before the cleaning of the remainder was completed. It is only possible, therefore, to have nine of the panels on view and, as these are in sections, they are likely to be of more interest to the art expert than to the general public. If it is found, however, that the interest is more general than had been expected, I shall be quite prepared to extend the exhibition for a few days. I cannot extend it after Christmas as it will be necessary then to proceed with the re-erection of the panels in Banqueting House.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the large number of forms issued by various Departments is wasteful; and if he will have the whole system overhauled with a view to simplifying the forms and reducing the number issued, as suggested by the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Building Trades Employers' Association, correspondence of which has been sent to him.

I entirely agree that forms should be simplified and reduced in number wherever practicable. Important simplifications have been introduced this year, particularly by the exemption of many small developments from the need to obtain planning permission and by the abolition of the allocation scheme for structural steel. So far as my own Department is concerned, the forms are reviewed periodically in consultation with the representatives of the building industry, and I am always glad to receive their suggestions.

asked the Minister of Works whether it is still the policy of the Government Hospitality Organisation to co-operate with the hotel industry with regard to the provision of facilities for Government guests; and if there has been full discussion with the hotel industry of the proposed extension of the arrangements at 2, Park Street, to provide facilities for persons other than Government guests.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes," and I am grateful to the industry for their ready assistance. The answer to the second part is "No." I explained my purpose in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Hargreaves) on 23rd October.

asked the Minister of Works why his Department have not yet vacated the two stores on the ground floor of the Old Brewery, Link-field Corner, Redhill, Surrey, which they hold on a retention order and to vacate which by the middle of November a promise was given in their letter of 19th September, 1950, to the owners.

The two stores have not yet been vacated because the alternative accommodation is not ready. I hope that the work will be complete early in December. No promise was given that the stores would be vacated by mid-November.

asked the Minister of Works if he can arrange for the stone in the Lobbies to be rubbed down or suitably treated to remove the white powder which rubs off on Members' clothes.

The new stone work in the Lobbies is being constantly treated up to a height of six feet, in order to remove the white powder.

asked the Minister of Works if he will have the stone work in the Ayes and Noes Lobbies washed so as to remove the dust that hon. Members find they get on their clothes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) today.

asked the Minister of Works if any new work has yet been commenced on the site of the old Westminster Hospital, opposite Westminster Abbey; and how long will it be before all the demolition work has been completed.

No new work has been started on the site of the old Westminster Hospital. The Hospital has been completely demolished and the demolition of the Stationery Office building on the adjoining site should be finished by March, 1951. It is hoped to start preliminary site works at the end of December, 1950.

asked the Minister of Works how many members of the Mobile Labour Force have taken paid sick leave during the last 12 months; and what percentage of the total force is represented thereby.

During the last 12 months the number of operatives of the Mobile Labour Force who took one or more days paid sick leave was 1,939. The number of working days for which sick leave was paid was 1.2 per cent. of the working time of the total industrial members of the force.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will make available to Members the Report of the Director of the Mobile Labour Force for the 12 months ended March, 1950.

No. The Director of the Mobile Labour Force makes an annual report to his senior officer for internal purposes only and not for publication.

asked the Minister of Works if he will cause the roof of Westminster Hall to be floodlit in the winter months from 11.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays to Thursdays inclusive, to enable visitors to see its beauty and unique construction.

At present any Member with a party wishing to see the roof floodlit can do so by telephoning the Engineering Control Room at Extension 800. The lighting is, of course, more effective after dark, but I will consider the question of lighting the roof at stated periods.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total distributed stocks of coal and gas oil on 1st October, 1949 and 1950, respectively; and the total make of gas for the years ended 30th September, 1949 and 1950, respectively.

Total distributed stocks of coal on 1st October, 1950, were 14,630,000 tons; at the corresponding date in 1949, they were 15,933,000 tons. It would not be in the public interest to disclose information about the stocks of gas oil and other petroleum products. The total make of gas at gasworks was 469,994 million cubic feet in the 52 weeks which ended on 1st October, 1950; it was 455,126 million cubic feet in the 52 weeks-which ended on 1st October, 1949.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is yet in a position to give any information about the fuel efficiency drive.

A series of conferences is being arranged throughout the the country, to promote increased economy and efficiency in the consumption of fuel and power. Twelve additional mobile testing units of a modified type will be made available as quickly as possible. More technicians will be engaged to give advice to industry on fuel efficiency. More stoker demonstrators are being engaged. The importance of improved domestic grates and stoves is being drawn to the attention of householders and others by the Coal Utilisation Joint Council and the Women's Advisory Council on Solid Fuel. The big savings to be made by the insulation of dwelling-houses and industrial buildings has been impressed on the National Production Advisory Council on Industry, on Regional Boards for Industry, and on local authorities. I am urgently considering further measures to intensify the drive.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what are the comparative figures for coke stocks in the West Midlands area on 1st November. 1949, and 1st November, 1950.

Stocks of coke held by merchants and consumers, other than domestic consumers, in the Midland Region amounted to 120,000 tons on 28th October, 1950, compared with 130,000 tons a year before. Undistributed stocks at gasworks in the West Midlands Gas Board area and at the Staffordshire coke ovens on the same dates were 49,000 tons and 132,000 tons respectively.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what regulations he has made under Section 60 of the Electricity Act, 1947, to prevent personal injury.

The Electricity Supply Regulations, 1937, and the Overhead Line Regulations, as last revised in 1947, both of which contain numerous provisions for preventing personal injury, are still in force; and although they were made by the Electricity Commissioners, they have effect, by virtue of Section 60 of the Electricity Act, 1947, as if they had been made by me under that Section.I am now considering the revision of these regulations, and I hope in due course to lay revised codes before Parliament, as I am required to do under the Act of 1947.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what technical improvements have been made by the British Electricity Authority; and what is the amount of efficiency of generation achieved at steam power stations in this country.

I understand that in spite of the large amount of old plant which is still in use, the average efficiency of the steam stations of the British Electricity Authority in the 12 months ended 30th June, 1950, was 21.41 per cent. The average efficiency in the 12 months which preceded vesting was 20.8 per cent. The present programme of new plant up to and including 1954 provides for 7 million kilowatts of additional power. This plant will all have an efficiency higher than the present average, which I have given above. Some of the stations will, it is hoped, have an efficiency of 29 per cent.For other information, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Annual Report of the British Electricity Authority for 1949–50, which will be published tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the loss of production, danger to workmen, damage to plant and the dissatisfaction occasioned by the heavy power cuts in the Scottish South-Western Region without warning, he is prepared to convene a conference with representatives of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, Glasgow Chambers of Commerce, Scottish Council for Industry and the British Electricity Authority to discuss some method of giving timely warning of such cuts.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the loss caused to production and the danger caused to life by sudden electricity cuts in South-East Scotland; and if he will confer with the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and other interested organisations on this matter.

I am aware of the loss of production, damage and potential danger caused by electricity cuts; as my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour has said, the Electricity Sub-Committee of the Joint Consultative Committee is now considering in consultation with the British Electricity Authority whether anything further can be done to reduce the number and severity of the cuts that must be made.Hon. Members will be aware that the Scottish Board for Industry, which is represented on the Electricity Sub-Committee, is responsible for making in Scotland the load-spreading arrangements by which the frequency and severity of power cuts are reduced. There are representatives of Scottish employers and trade unions on the Board and the Chairman of its Edinburgh District Committee is a member of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. I think the Board, which is already in touch with the British Electricity Authority and the South-East and South-West Scotland Electricity Boards, would be the appropriate body to call a conference, if it thought that such a conference would serve a useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the danger to life and property, he will resume the practice of giving warning before any electricity cuts are made in the West of Scotland area.

As I said on 6th November in answer to Questions by the hon. and gallant Member for Leicester (Captain Waterhouse) and the hon. baronet the Member for Hendon, South (Sir H. Lucas-Tooth), the Electricity Boards endeavour, with the help of the B.B.C. and of the Press, to let consumers know beforehand when they think it probable that cuts will be required. When it is definitely known that a cut must be made, there is not time to give individual warnings to all consumers: but as many large consumers as possible are warned by telephone, before a cut takes place. In most areas, there is a rota system, which enables a consumer to know on which day of the week his supply is likely to but cut. I am not aware that this practice has been changed in the west of Scotland.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that supplies of electricity to non-industrial users in some areas are being completely cut off for progressively longer periods, and why the same object cannot be achieved by reducing the voltage to larger numbers of users.

When the load imposed on the system by consumers exceeds the capacity of the generating plant, some load has to be shed to avert a breakdown of the plant. The Electricity Boards seek to carry out their load-shedding in such a way that inconvenience and dislocation are kept to a minimum, and I am informed that they reduce the voltage of the supply, in areas where this can be done, to the greatest practicable extent. But if this reduction does not reduce the load enough, there is, unfortunately, no alternative but to cut off some consumers altogether.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the amount of the licence or other permit granted for the extension of the Yorkshire Electricity Board's headquarters at Scarcroft, near Leeds; what was the date of such licence; and what is the amount which has been actually spent or the value of work done to date.

Two authorisations under Defence Regulation 56A for the extension of the Yorkshire Electricity Board headquarters at Scarcroft have been issued; the first was issued in January, 1949, and the second in September, 1949. The amounts sanctioned were £7,250, and £32,000. I am informed that these sums have been spent, and that the work is now complete.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to state the stocks of coal held by the British Electricity Authority in May, 1949, and in May, 1950; the present stocks of coal, compared with the corresponding period last year; the present weekly deliveries, compared with the corresponding period last year; and the present weekly consumption, compared with the corresponding period last year.

Stocks of coal held by the British Electricity Authority were 2,827,200 tons on 1st May, 1950; on the corresponding date last year they were 3,084,700. On 24th November, 1950, they amounted to 3,851,800 tons; on the same date last year they were 4,295,300 tons. Deliveries of coal to the British Electricity Authority's power stations in the four weeks ended 24th November, 1950, were 2,548,900 tons; in the corresponding period of 1949 they were 2,418,600 tons. Consumption during the same four weeks was 2,830,900 tons in 1950, and 2,570,700 in 1949.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the price per ton of the coal to be imported into the United Kingdom; and at what average price is similar quality coal being exported from this country.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much dollar exchange has been sanctioned for purchases from the United States of America; and what is the average price being paid for coal already ordered.

The total amount of coal to be purchased abroad is still under consideration. The dollar exchange required will depend upon the cost not only of the coal, but also of the freights; the freight rates will vary with the tonnage and nationality of the ships employed. It would be contrary both to the public interest and to commercial practice to disclose prices, while negotiations for the coal and for the shipping required are still in progress.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he regards himself as answerable to Parliamentary Questions upon the exercise of his powers under Section 3 (4) of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946, whereby he can ask for information from the National Coal Board on the activities of the Board.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is his estimate of the quantity of coal required for the armament drive in 1951; and what is the approximate number of miners likely to be employed for this purpose.

A programme of industrial requirements of coal is drawn up for each period of six months; it is based on the best estimate that can be made of the needs of each industrial undertaking for the period. No separate assessment can be made of that part of the total which may be needed for any special purpose, such as the manufacture of armaments.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can make a statement about the production of town gas by the catalytic gasification of petroleum oils and its possible contribution to the present shortage of coal and coke.

At a research meeting of the Institution of Gas Engineers a few days ago, some advance particulars were given of experimental work which is being conducted by one of the area gas boards, on a process of catalytic gasification of petroleum oils. I regret that it is too soon to assess the practical value of this work, if the present experiments succeed. The successful development of the process may well lead in due course to some saving in the coal and coke used by gasworks, but I am afraid that this is unlikely to be of appreciable help during the present winter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the total amount of gas oil at present held in stocks at gasworks; and what was the comparable figure for the same date in 1949.

I regret it is not in the public interest that information about our stocks of oil products should be made known.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to make Road Haulage Wages Orders and other regulations at present applicable only to vehicles operating under "A" and "B" licences, also applicable to vehicles operating under a "C" licence.

I have been asked to reply. No. Vehicles specified in "C" licences are for the carriage of goods in connection only with the trade or business carried on by the holders. Large numbers of workers employed in connection with such vehicles are covered by Wages Councils and collective agreements applicable to the trades concerned. For any such workers for whom a minimum rate of wage has not been fixed by or under any other enactment, there is procedure under Part II of the Road Haulage Wages Act, 1938, under which complaints as to unfair wages are referred for settlement to the Industrial Court. If my hon. Friend will let me know what other regulations he has in mind, I will look into the matter and write to him.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an undertaking that no foreign workers will be imported into this country to work in British coal mines until the matter has been discussed in this House.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General in view of the fact that it is the declared policy of His Majesty's Government to counter the principle of the closed shop in relations with its staff, whether he will now extend recognition to unions of Post Office employees in addition to the Union of Postal Workers.

There is no closed shop in the Post Office; no Post Office employee is compelled to join the Union of Post Office Workers or any other of the 32 recognised Post Office trade unions.

asked the Postmaster-General why a month elapsed between the date when formal approval of the St. Nicholas television site was sought by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the date when he granted formal approval; why a fortnight elapsed between the date when formal approval of the St. Lythan's site was sought by the the British Broadcasting Corporation and the date when his Department asked officially for the agreement of the Air Ministry; what Government Departments had not officially signified their acceptances by 4 p.m. on 27th November of the St. Lythan's site and on which dates was their acceptance sought; and whether he will take steps to ensure that no further delay is caused by his Department.

Before approving the St. Nicholas television site, I had to obtain clearance from six other Government Departments, some of which were unable to reply without consulting their local representatives. When the B.B.C. subsequently requested my approval for c new site on St. Lythan's Downs, near Wenvoe, the proposal had first to be examined by my technical experts. It was put to the other Departments concerned on 15th November and all of them had signified their agreement, either orally or in writing, by 4 p.m. on 27th November. There has been no delay within my Department in dealing with this matter.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement setting out a detailed list of all the gifts made to Britain by countries of the British Commonwealth and Empire for the new House of Commons.

Yes, the list of these generous gifts is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is anticipated that Army Reservists recalled for service during the present emergency will be released upon the completion of their present obligation, or for what period his regulations enable them to be retained after their present obligation has been completed.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence to Questions on this subject on 29th November, and to my reply to the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Baker White) on 27th November.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and other ranks whose corps is now the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers belonged before the amalgamation to the Royal Engineers, Royal Army Service Corps and the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, respectively.

This information is not readily available and could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schemes have been put forward by the South Ayrshire Hospitals Board to the South-West Scotland Regional Hospital Board to extend the facilities locally for surgical eye treatment; and what has happened to such schemes.

The Regional Board have approved a proposal by the Board of Management for the Northern Ayrshire Hospitals which, when some building work has been completed, will enable six beds in Kilmarnock Infirmary to be set aside for the treatment of eye conditions. I am unaware of any scheme put forward by the Southern Ayrshire Board, who have at present six beds available for this purpose at Ayr County Hospital, six at Ballochmyle Hospital, and four (for children) at Seafield Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of out-patients of Kilmarnock Infirmary and Ayr County Hospital awaiting surgical eye treatment on 1st November, 1950; and how long, in each case, those at the top of the list have waited.

I am informed that 55 persons treated as out-patients at Kilmarnock, and 43 treated as out-patients at Ayr, are now awaiting in-patient treatment. The longest waiting times in the two groups are 11 and 12 months respectively.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury who are the members of the Advisory Committee set up in connection with the work of the Social Survey under the Central Office of Information; what are its functions or terms of reference; and when it last met.

There is no Advisory Committee in connection with the Social Survey Units. The hon. Member is presumably referring to the Scientific Advisory Committee of the war-time Social Survey, appointed by the Minister of Information in 1944 and wound up in 1946.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of recruits in the Wycombe area to the Royal Air Force, within the last year.

Thirty-five.

asked the Attorney-General how many cases were cited before the Leasehold Committee in which ground landlords had evicted tenants under long-term leases from their premises.

As I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Llewellyn) on 12th September, it would not be appropriate to publish parts of the evidence given before the Leasehold Committee out of its context. To quote the number of cases of actual eviction cited to the Committee would, moreover, give no indication of the size of the problem which it was studying. The Committee asked for general criticisms of the law and not for particular cases to be brought to its notice. It was more concerned with the large number of ground leases which are due to fall in the future, and with cases in which at the present moment tenants are being forced either to negotiate fresh leases from fear of eviction or to vacate the premises since they know that there is no defence to an application for eviction by the court.