asked the President of the Board of Trade whether permission may now be given to official bodies, such as county, borough and district councils, to have their crest embossed on crockery ordered for use in their own establishments.

An embossed crest on plain crockery produced by the action of the mould is permitted. If, however, the hon. Member is referring to coloured crests involving a decorating process, I could not agree to the diversion of skilled labour from production for export.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is a very limited concession for which I am asking, and that for many years there has been little outward and visible sign in mayoral, aldermanic and district council parlours of those things which we expect to find there, particularly when entertaining foreign guests?

The pottery manufacturers have always put to me strongly that any change of this kind would lead to a direct loss of dollar exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a larger quantity of British newsprint from the lower priced export surplus available to newspapers in Malaya in 1951.

The whole of the 100,000 tons to which His Majesty's Government has limited exports from the mills in 1951, is already committed. In its allocation, I took full account of representations made both on behalf of the Colonies, and of other parts of the Commonwealth.

Does not that mean that the representations have been ineffective? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that Malaya, which is going through a frightful emergency, needs paper at the right price? In view of the dollars earned by the Colony, would not he consider this matter in the light of existing circumstances?

No, Sir, the representations were by no means ineffective. It would only be possible to increase further the newsprint allocation for Malaya if we were able to reduce other exports.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in considering allocations as between the particular Colonies in other parts of the sterling area, any extra weight was given to Malaya, because it is the only part of the Empire now at war?

We were guided by the Colonial Office in this respect; they gave us their view on shipments to particular Colonies.

I beg to give notice that, as the right hon. Gentleman has given a very unsatisfactory reply. I shall endeavour to raise this matter on the Adjournment at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of the grant or loan made recently by the Film Finance Corporation to the Association of Cinematograph and Allied Technicians.

I cannot give information about the Corporation's day-to-day business; and the Corporation explained, in their first Annual Report, why they themselves withhold detailed information about their loans.

I should, however, correct what appears to be a misapprehension in the hon. and gallant Member's Question; a loan has been made not to the Association of Cinematograph and Allied Technicians, but to the film-producing company called A.C.T. Films Limited.

While welcoming any assistance for the production of films in this country, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether there is any truth in the statement which appeared in an official publication of the Labour Party under the heading "Labour has a direct stake in this film"? If that statement is true will he ensure that in future public funds are not used for party purposes?

I am not aware of the quotation to which the hon. and gallant Gentleman has referred. My interpretation is that it has reference to the fact that this particular film is being organised by a company set up by the trade unions concerned. It is not a question of party purposes.

Is it not true that there are more Communists associated with this venture than members of the Labour Party?

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the quality of utility cloth 207 differs from the quality two years ago.

The maximum price for cloth to which the specification No. 207 may be applied has not been raised during the past two years, despite considerable increases in the price of raw wool and in other costs. Consequently, the quality of the cloth is lower than it was then, but it is not practicable to say in general terms how much lower. Cloth of the quality which was sold two years ago as 207 can now be obtained under the specification No. 211.

Since the public are not aware of this debasement, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that he is taking part in the perpetration of a fraud on the public?

Certainly not. It was announced at the time that we were not going to allow prices to rise as much as they would have risen without control, and it was made clear that there would be some debasement of quality.

Will the right hon. Gentleman read, and will he ask his colleagues in the Government to read, the leading article in the "Daily Mail" this morning, headed "The Great Illusion"?

That has nothing to do with the quality of utility cloth No. 207.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that for the last three months it has been impossible to produce the most expensive Scottish woollen utility cloth, 227C, from poorest carpet wools, and as wool and yarn stocks are being used up rapidly with the result that serious unemployment is threatened, what action he is taking to increase ceiling prices for current utility categories or to issue new categories.

Discussions have taken place with the manufacturers on their proposals for increases in the maximum prices for utility wool cloths—including the woollen cloth 227C—to take account of the rise in the world price of raw wool. I hope to make an announcement shortly.

In view of the rapid rise in raw material prices, is it possible for the right hon. Gentleman to review the utility prices at shorter intervals?

The industry applied for this increase on 27th October, which was some little time after the increase in prices.

If it is necessary to include fibre in woollen cloth, will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that a ticket is attached to the garment so that the public may be informed that it is not pure wool?

That is another question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will ensure that adequate attention is being given to the safeguarding of stocks of strategic raw materials, in view of the necessity of their dispersion from vulnerable dock areas and the possibility of sabotage.

Yes, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make certain that this matter is taken in hand soon, and before any emergency arises, in view of the fact that on one occasion during the war nearly half the hops of the country were destroyed by one bomb?

This is being treated as a matter of urgency; I agree with the hon. Member's view about its importance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is proposed to take any additional steps to assist and stimulate the provision of new buildings and equipment for the cotton industry.

It was made clear, when the Cotton Spinning (Re-equipment Subsidy) Act, 1948, was passed, that the assistance to be given to the spinning section was of a special nature and was intended to be part of a co-operative effort to place that section on a sound footing. I do not think any other measure of financial assistance is now required.

Is the right hon. Gentleman bearing in mind the fact that the time-limit for the present scheme has nearly expired, and that to formulate plans for the future it is necessary to begin thinking now, as it takes a considerable time to put a scheme into effect?

The time-limit has been already extended. I was hoping that people in Lancashire were thinking about the future many years ago and were not waiting until 1950.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that adequate supplies of raw materials are available to meet the domestic clothing needs and to fulfil export requirements.

Our textile industries are very largely dependent on imported raw materials. I cannot give a categorical assurance for the future before we have concluded discussions with certain producing countries, although supplies are assured for a considerable time ahead.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he is not considering the re-imposition of clothes rationing in the near future?

I have already made a statement to that effect.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into account the fact that a very high proportion of the stocks of cotton in the country is practically unspinnable?

I do not agree with that statement but the spread of the stocks among different grades and types has been very much taken into account in our representations to the United States.

How much of the stock of raw cotton is unspinnable and unlikely to be of any use to the Lancashire cotton trade?

I should require notice of that, but I can say that the stocks are not as well balanced as we should like them to be. That is why we need more from the United States.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to give further information concerning the establishment of a consumer advice centre.

I am afraid I cannot add at present to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary during the debate on this subject on 28th July last.

While noting that reply and realising that a considerable amount of work is involved, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend does not think that eight months is rather a long time for his Department to be working on the details of this proposal? Will he hasten matters a little?

We have pushed on with all possible expedition, but we have had other things of perhaps greater importance to look at in connection with consumer protection.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will direct a bonus issue of nylons to shopkeepers throughout Britain during the Christmas season.

No, Sir. I do not control the distribution of nylon stockings, and it is for the manufacturers to plan their home market deliveries as they think best.

Can my right hon. Friend advise manufacturers that there is not a British husband who can buy a pair of nylons for his wife? Is it not grossly unfair that only foreigners can appear with glamorous nylons? Does it not place British men at a great disadvantage?

Although the shortage of nylons is extremely serious, as we all realise, due to the fact that we have to export so many of them, I think my hon. Friend is under-estimating the fairly considerable number of nylons supplied to the home market this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, by Statutory Instruments 1704 and 1707, 1950, he reduced the margin allowed to retailers on the sale of carpets; and whether he is satisfied that such margins will be adequate to permit the maintenance of proper wage levels for the employees of carpet retailers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, in view of greatly increased costs, the price margins on carpets have been reduced for retailers by Statutory Instruments 1704 and 1707, 1950.

I have reduced the percentage margin allowed on retail sales of carpets because it is in the public interest that the retail prices should not rise by more than is necessary to give the traders a fair return. An increase in manufacturers' prices, due to increased raw material costs, is no reason for retailers to have increased cash margins. As regards the wages of the retailers' employees, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 5th December to the hon. Member for Croydon, East (Sir H. Williams).

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how he satisfied himself, in this intricate matter, that he had come to the right decision? In particular, will he say whether he consulted the trade associations concerned?

Yes, Sir. We were in consultation with the trades concerned. As in all these matters of price control, we get from them their full figures on costings to satisfy ourselves that there is a reasonable return, and no more than a reasonable return.

Is it not a fact that these retailers are not allowed any increase in cash margins if prices rise, and that Purchase Tax has been charged on the increased cost of carpets?

Will the Minister say how retailers are to finance their stocks at the new higher prices if they are not to have the money?

This is a question of the cash margins on actual sales. A fair number of goods the retailers are now selling are increasing their turnover, and that in itself increases the amount of cash.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what trade agreements are in existence or contemplated with Indonesia.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to trade arrangements between Indonesia and the United Kingdom. Discussions took place in London in March, this year, with representatives of the Government of Indonesia, and the probable course of trade between the two countries during the calendar year 1950 was reviewed. The arrangements agreed for 1950 provided that foodstuffs and other goods would be available for export from Indonesia to the United Kingdom to the approximate value of £12 million, and that the Indonesian authorities would grant quotas for imports from the United Kingdom to a total of £7.2 million. The question of making corresponding arrangements for 1951 is under consideration.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether it is not a fact that Indonesia might be a possible source of supply for extra tea, so that ultimately we might abolish the tea ration?

Tea is a question for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food. We are, in fact, importing more foodstuffs from Indonesia now, and we hope to increase them still further.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the agreement entered into as regards exports from this country to Indonesia has been carried out?

I should want notice of that question in order to go into individual commodities, but the one or two representative commodities I have a note of here show that Indonesia has allowed more goods into that country than the quota promised.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the fact that the United States Government has stopped the export of war material to China, Hong Kong and Macao, he will take similar action in Britain.

Exports of war material to China are already subject to control both in the United Kingdom and in Hong Kong. Goods consigned to China via Macao are covered by these controls.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he told me on 5th December, in answer to a Question, that 1,500 tons of the best Malayan rubber had been exported to the Soviet Union? What is the good of sending the Prime Minister to Ottawa if the Cabinet are not backing him up to the full?

The hon. Member will realise that, in the debate on 18th September, not only Members on this side, but his own leaders made it quite clear that they were opposed to a total blockade of trade with the Soviet Union, and that rubber was specifically mentioned as something that should not be controlled.

I did not say so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications have been made in the last 12 months to his Department by private traders or associations of private traders for permission to charge increased maximum prices, or increased maximum trading margins; how many of these applications have been refused, how many agreed to, and how many agreed to in modified form; and if he has estimates of how much the extra cost to the consumer would have been if those which have been refused or agreed in modified form had been agreed in full.

No record has been kept of the very considerable number of applications from traders for increased maximum prices or margins which have been refused, or allowed in full, or allowed in modified form. The Board of Trade, in the last 12 months, have made about 150 orders increasing maximum prices in response to traders' applications, after close examination of the relevant facts and figures. In many cases the increases given were less than those which the traders had sought; but I cannot estimate how much the extra cost would have been to consumers if all the applications had been granted in full.

Would it be likely to run into £100 million or so?

It would be impossible to estimate, but the number of applications for price increases this year must have run into thousands.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the percentage of the total production of tinplate of the quality used for canning which has been exported in the last six months; and in what proportion this percentage is allocated to the countries concerned.

No official figures are available, but I understand that deliveries of tinplate of all grades in the six months ended 30th September were 316,000 tons. During the same period, 127,000 tons, or about 40 per cent., were exported; but not all of this was of a quality suitable for can making. With the hon. Member's permission, I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing how these exports were distributed between countries.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether canners have been told that no further tinplate is available for them?

That is a question for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food, who has to deal with the position of the home canners.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether there is any possibility of restriction in the amount of canned foodstuffs because of the restriction on tinplate supplies?

That is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food, but it is true that tinplate for the home canning industry is extremely short and has been severely restricted.

In view of the fact that English fruit canners have been advised of a lesser supply of tinplate for next year, will the right hon. Gentleman take care that our tin is not sent to countries abroad, in order to bring back tinned fruit while our own fruit is rotting on the ground?

Yes, Sir. The supply position is very difficult indeed, but we shall attempt to get a fair distribution as between the home and export markets.

Following is the table:

UNITED KINGDOM EXPORTS OF TINPLATE
April—September, 1950
	Tons
Union of South Africa	10,663
British East Africa	1,982
Pakistan	3,962
Malaya	4,298
Australia	33,367
New Zealand	9,140
Other Comonwealth Countries	12,529
Irish Republic	2,586
Soviet Union	—
Norway	1,869
Denmark	4,248
Spain	1,269
Egypt	1,643
Iran	3,457
Brazil	1,031
Uruguay	727
Argentine Republic	16,071
Other Foreign Countries	17,883
Total	126,725

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value and quantity of pencils imported from France in the first 10 months of 1950; and the corresponding figures for exports to France.

Thirty-five thousand, seven hundred gross pencils of wood, valued at £39,000, were imported from France during the first 10 months of this year compared with exports to that country of 1,400 gross, valued at £2,300. Three thousand, five hundred gross pencils of other materials valued at £10,900, were also imported from France in this period. Exports of these types of pencil were negligible.

Is it not a fact that France places a strict limit on imports of pencils from this country whereas we place no limit on imports from France? Cannot this discrimination be removed?

It is true that we have liberalised in the matter of the import of pencils and that France has not. I would hope that this matter might be taken care of in the further extension of liberalisation by certain European countries in the next few weeks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of wood for manufacturing pencils was imported from dollar sources in the first 10 months of 1950; and what proportion this was of the industry's total requirements.

Wood for the manufacture of pencils is not separately distinguished in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the recent fatal accidents on fair grounds; and if he will introduce legislation to enable him to take action to prevent a repetition of the defects which have caused the loss of life.

I have heard of three such accidents this year in which three persons were fatally injured. Reports before me suggest that in one case there was structural defect in a machine, in another ineffective maintenance, and in the third case no defect of machinery or of maintenance occurred. I doubt if legislation could effectively prevent such accidents which, I am glad to say, are relatively very few.

Is it not a fact that no one is responsible for supervising fairs in any way whatsoever, whereas there is investigation following road and factory accidents? What action does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take?

The figures I have given indicate that the problem is not very great, and I cannot see on whom the responsibility for inspecting these machines should be placed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the extent to which buses and trolley-buses in the London area ignore traffic signals; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that passenger service drivers observe the same rules as others.

The police have standing instructions to deal with such cases which come to their notice. These offences are not confined to any particular class of driver, and the Commissioner of Police is not in a position to say whether the record of bus drivers in this respect is better or worse than that of other drivers.

Quite apart from the drivers who take no notice of lights, what is the right hon. Gentleman going to do about conductors who take no notice of passengers on the footpath?

There is power to deal with them.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the standard of driving of bus and trolley-bus drivers in London is very much superior to that of private drivers?

I was very much surprised to find that this particular type of driver was picked out for this Question, because in my experience, especially having regard to the size of the vehicle that has to be driven, such drivers seem to be most considerate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made or are contemplated to deal with the protection or humane destruction of animals in the scheme for Civil Defence.

I am considering this together with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture. Later the veterinary profession and the appropriate voluntary societies will be consulted.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind, in framing the instructions, the chaos that existed at the beginning of the last war through lack of foresight in issuing the necessary instructions?

That is being considered at the moment.

Will my hon. Friend also try to avoid bringing about indiscriminate slaughter of household pets, such as happened when the last air raids took place?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be able to make an announcement on the introduction of Summer Time in 1951.

This question is under consideration and I hope to make an announcement very shortly.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give me a firm assurance now that there will be no mention of double Summer Time in 1951 when he makes his announcement?

I think the hon. and gallant Gentleman had better wait for the announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to the result of his recent decision to raise the fares for taxicabs in the London area.

I have not sufficient information to enable me to make any statement on this matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have information on the subject? Will he confirm or deny that tips have been reduced to balance the increased charges?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman represents a Scottish constituency, and I should have thought he would be more expert in the matter than I am.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider withdrawing naturalisation papers from people who have been convicted of offences against the laws of this country.

The British Nationality Act, 1948, enables me to deprive a naturalised person of his citizenship if within five years of becoming naturalised he has been sentenced to a term of not less than 12 months' imprisonment, and if I am satisfied that it is not conducive to the public good that he should continue to be a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

I did not ask a Question about a specific person, and I did not understand what the Minister said. I wanted to know if he would withdraw naturalisation papers from anyone who is convicted of an offence in this country. The right hon. Gentleman referred to a particular case.

I am not responsible for the hon. and gallant Gentleman's understanding, but if he would take some advice about the answer I have given he will find that his Question has been answered.

Could the right hon. Gentleman tell the House how many times this action has been taken in the last five or 10 years?

No action has been taken in any case in the last 10 years.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to encourage increased use of the clay tile manufacturing facilities in this country.

It is left to local authorities to specify such materials as they think fit for their housing schemes. These include clay roofing tiles, provided the cost and quality are satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Health what amount was licensed to be spent on the rebuilding of 20 Cedars Road, Clapham, S.W.4.

So far as I am aware this house was not destroyed, so that no question of rebuilding has arisen.

Is the Minister aware that a considerable amount of bomb damage was suffered by this building and that a considerable amount of money has been spent on reconstruction up to roof level? This is a building which could house many families; it has been allowed to remain derelict for several years and is fast falling into decay.

I thought that the hon. Gentleman was concerned with repairs, and so I armed myself with information about them. I understand that licences to the value of £303 have been issued. I will make further inquiries into what the hon. Gentleman has said.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the shortage of accommodation for members of the Police Force, and in view of the fact that the police are a building authority, he will grant licences direct to that authority.

Houses to be erected by a police authority with the approval of the Home Office do not require a licence.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in many cases the provision of much needed accommodation for the police has been taken out of the quota of local authorities, which makes their task much more difficult?

It is obvious that if we have a national housing programme we have to share it among the various applicants for houses. Otherwise, every additional application will be an addition to the programme.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that local authorities are not forced to give up any part of their housing programme to the police, and only do so of their own accord?

I think that it will be found that the quota of local authorities is not reduced in this way, and that it is a national allocation.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the granting of an additional allocation of houses to the City of Manchester for 1951, when good progress has been made with the existing allocation.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health when the non-priority waiting list for deaf aids was closed at King's College Hospital; when it is likely to be reopened and the estimated number of patients certified by their local hospitals as requiring a deaf aid who are waiting to go on this list and be fitted by King's College Hospital.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, May, 1949, and to the last, 2,110. I am informed that from next month the waiting list system is to be re-organised so as to ensure that a fair proportion of patients from each local hospital concerned are fitted each month.

asked the Minister of Health how many children in this country are suffering from muscular distrophy and progressive muscular atrophy; and what steps have been taken to improve research into these diseases.

The numbers are not accurately known, but are not believed to be large. A new investigation at a northern teaching hospital is being undertaken, in addition to the established research unit in London.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether there is any evidence to date of a case of this disease having been cured, and, whether, in view of the large number of cases in the Midlands and some distressing ones in Birmingham, he would consider opening a research station for the Midlands?

I would not like to answer the first question in the affirmative or in the negative and so give rise either to undue pessimism or optimism. It is not always advisable to say that there has been a cure in cases of this kind. There may have been a slight amelioration, and the trouble may recur.

Is it not a fact that a vast deal can be done for these sad cases if, and only if, they are dealt with very early?

Yes. Sir. and that is why I was anxious not to give a false impression.

Would my right hon. Friend answer my second question, which was whether, in view of the large number of cases in the Midlands, he would consider the opening of a research centre?

It would not necessarily add to the facilities available, unless the research centre was adequate.

asked the Minister of Health what further economies he proposes to make in the Health Service between now and the end of the financial year; and how far they will necessitate disposing of the services of further registrars.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to Questions on 30th November.

Does the Minister realise that the economies are causing the greatest concern among registrars at the present time?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will read my answer—

I heard it.

Then the hon. and gallant Gentleman has obviously not understood it.

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind, when he does effect this economy of registrars, that the full impact should not be laid at the doors of registrars in non-teaching hospitals, where there is a great deal of talent?

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that there is a serious lack of facilities for X-ray epilation in the North Riding of Yorkshire; and what steps he is taking to put this matter right.

I am informed that the regional hospital board are considering extra facilities at Scarborough to supplement those now at York.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the North Riding Education Committee, in their last report, said that there is a very great spate of ringworm in the schools in that area, owing to the lack of these facilities?

I do not think that it is due to lack of these facilities.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the serious lack of adequate facilities for the emergency treatment of women tuberculosis cases in the Maidenhead area; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.

It is hoped to open a new ward at Taplow in the new year, for women patients suffering from tuberculosis. The local chest physician can at present nominate a number of such patients for admission to Pinewood Sanatorium, and others can be admitted elsewhere in the region, in their turn.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, except for the one ward in the Taplow Hospital which is now available for male tuberculosis cases, there are no facilities for the emergency treatment of women? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this complete lack of adequate facilities is causing very great anxiety to many relatives in that area?

The absence of accommodation in the hospitals is causing great anxiety to all of us. All I can say is that we are adding to the number of nurses day by day.

Would the right hon. Gentleman not consider sending these women to Switzerland, where ample nursing accommodation is available?

Hon. Members opposite are always making general allegations about expenditure upon the National Health Service, and yet are always asking for more money to be spent.

So that the House may properly understand the facts in this matter, will my right hon. Friend circulate in HANSARD a precise picture of the tuberculosis facilities that existed not only in Maidenhead but in the county exactly 11 years ago?

I have made a number of statements about tuberculosis facilities, and I always ask the House and the country to understand that the larger number of cases notified at the moment is not evidence of retrogression but of progression. We are discovering them earlier, and the fatalities are being reduced.

Surely the Minister will agree that the situation is very distressing indeed, that there is a shortage of accommodation, and that accommodation in Switzerland exists and should be used?

There is nothing more distressing than the fact that the incidence of tuberculosis was not discovered earlier.

rose—

I must point out that the original Question dealt with Maidenhead only and not with the whole country.

On a point of order. Are not questions whether the shortage of accommodation in Maidenhead could be reduced by using the accommodation in Switzerland germane to the subject?

I should have thought that they were quite outside it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now considered the proposal of the British Medical Association that a public inquiry be held in connection with the dispute as to the future use of the Kingston Victoria Hospital; and what action he proposes to take.

The future of this hospital has been very fully and carefully reviewed, both by the regional board and by my own Department, as well as having been the subject of a debate in this House. I certainly do not think that the proposed inquiry would either be appropriate or would add to our knowledge, and I see no reason to intervene.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the major reasons why local opinion feels that injustice has been done is that no opportunity has yet been given for local opinion to express itself directly to those responsible? Would not a solution such as that suggested by the British Medical Association give an opportunity, so far denied, for local opinion to express itself?

I do not believe that there exists in Great Britain any better court of inquiry than the House of Commons itself, especially on a matter of this kind. If the hon. Gentleman thinks that the matter has not been adequately ventilated he can seek further opportunities.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that the opinion of experts in hospital management is much more important than local opinion?

Yes, of course. This is the view which has been taken by the management committee and the hospital regional board, who have had all the facts before them, and, as I have said, the House of Commons as well. If the matter is not yet sufficiently ventilated I shall be most happy to recount the facts again.

Is it not true that the Minister of Health, throughout the whole of the passage of the National Health Service Bill, advocated again and again the establishment of general practitioner hospitals, similar to this one at Kingston-upon-Thames, and that ever since the Act was passed he has closed one general practitioner hospital after another?

The statement of the hon. and gallant Gentleman is as prejudiced and as inaccurate as most of his statements.

Following the twice-given invitation of the Minister, I beg to give notice that I shall seek an early opportunity to raise the matter again.

asked the Minister of Health when, and in what form, he represented to the Durham County Council the undesirability of their proposal to make trade union membership a condition of employment; and whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the correspondence between himself and that council on this subject.

On 6th December, 1946, in a circular sent to all local authorities, and on 17th November in a letter addressed to the county council. I am sending copies of these communications to the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT an up-to-date comprehensive list of all members appointed to central and regional nationalised boards of a commercial character, with details of individual salaries, pensions and expenses allowed, together with a separate list showing all individuals holding more than one appointment and what those appointments are.

I have been asked to reply. I have arranged for the information to be published in the form of a White Paper, which will be available shortly.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when it will be published, so that we may look out for this interesting information?

I hope it will be before the Christmas Recess. I cannot be quite sure, but I believe it will be.

When my right hon. Friend publishes the White Paper, will he include the salaries of people in private industry who are doing similar work and thus show how many people are making great sacrifices to serve the public interest?

That does not arise out of this Question.

asked the Lord President of the Council upon what aspects of the annual reports of the nationalised industries Ministers will in future answer Questions.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer of 27th November to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter), when I explained the principles which govern the answering of Questions relating to socialised industries. The same principles apply to Questions arising out of annual reports as to other Questions, and, as I explained in my answer to the hon. Members for East Fife (Mr. Stewart) and Maidstone (Mr. Bossom) on 5th April, Ministers will answer Questions involving their own responsibilities in connection with annual reports. These responsibilities are laid down in the statutes. Broadly, it is their duty to lay the report before Parliament, and they have certain responsibilities for the form of accounts.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect his statement of 25th October last when he published what he claimed to be a comprehensive list of matters upon which Ministers would be prepared to answer Questions ranging from research to annual reports? Is it not a fact that all Ministers can, and do, evade Questions on the Order Paper by disclaiming responsibility and, at the same time, ensure that no further Questions on the same subject can be asked? Is it not time that the right hon. Gentleman dropped the humbug of pretending that the nationalised industries are accountable through our normal democratic procedure of Question and answer in the House of Commons?

The hon. Gentleman has the making of a first-class Hyde Park orator. I never did very well at that myself. The responsibility of the Minister in relation to the annual report is to lay it. To make the Minister responsible for everything that appears in the annual report would make him responsible for every detail of the management of the socialised industries—[HON. MEMBERS: "Nationalised industries."]—hon. Members may call them what they like; I will call them what I like, too—which would merely mean that the politicians were meticulously running these vast commercial undertakings.

Does my right hon. Friend recall that when the nationalisation Bills were passing through the House—[HON. MEMBERS: "Socialisation."] I will call them what I like, too—the Opposition continually protested that the Ministers were being given too much power over the corporations and demanded that the corporations should be free from day-to-day ministerial interference? How does he reconcile that with the attitude of the Opposition today?

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I cannot reconcile it at all. How the Opposition do I have not the least idea.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that, despite his replies, the situation is confusing? The Table is refusing to take numbers of Questions which ought to be within the purview of what the right hon. Gentleman has said. Will he give serious consideration, as was done in 1946, to the re-appointment of the Select Committee on Procedure and ask them to issue a short report on Questions after having heard evidence by the Lord President and other Ministers?

I can assure the noble Lord that if he will study the various statements which I have made upon the matter he will find that the whole situation is as clear as daylight and that if he follows them he will be all right. I do not think it is part of his duty, in putting a supplementary question, to cast reflections on Mr. Speaker and the Table.

Arising out of the right hon. Gentleman's last answer but one, is he aware that the objection is not to ministerial non-interference but to ministerial irresponsibility for interference?

asked the Minister of Agriculture the result of his consultations with the British Transport Commission and the Road Haulage Association about the introduction of amendments to the Exportation and Transit of Horses Order, 1921, and the Transit of Animals (Amendment) Order, 1931, arising from the Report of the Rosebery Committee.

Following consultations with the Ministry of Transport, the Railway Executive and the Road Haulage Association, an order to give effect to the recommendations of the Rosebery Committee concerning the transport of horses by rail and road has been drafted, and is now being circulated to those bodies for their final observations.

Can the Minister say if the orders will implement all the recommendations contained in sub-paragraphs (u) and (w) of the Rosebery Committee Report?

I cannot be sure offhand, but if the hon. Member will wait just a short time I think the order will be available and he will then be able to see what it contains.

If the orders implement those recommendations the Minister's action will be welcomed throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the rising cost of fertilisers is making it difficult for some farmers to use as much as they would wish; and whether, in the interests of long-term agricultural production, he will either seek the restoration of the fertiliser subsidy or take such other steps as will bring the price down to the 1949 level.

I am aware that the rise in the price of fertilisers causes difficulties to some farmers, but the removal of the subsidy is a factor that was taken into account in fixing farmers' prices at the last February review and I can hold out no hope of the general fertiliser subsidy being restored. The new grants payable to farmers in respect of fertilisers used on grassland do, in fact, bring the cost of these down to or below the 1949 level.

In view of the tendency for these prices to rise further, will the Minister give an assurance that special thought will be given to the problem in the next price review?

Would my right hon. Friend consider making some credit arrangements to enable farmers to spread the cost of fertilisers over the period in which they will get a return?

I am not at all sure that such an arrangement is necessary in 1950.

In dealing with this and associated matters, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that many of us on these benches consider that the subsidies already paid to farmers are more than generous?

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the accommodation available at the Birdingbury Agricultural Hostel, near Rugby; and how many persons are actually living there.

The Birdingbury hostel is at present equipped to accommodate 100 workers. The number now in the hostel is 95.

While thanking my right hon. Friend, may I ask if he will advise the county committees to place any surplus accommodation at the disposal of workers other than farm workers, in view of the acute housing shortage in the neighbouring villages?

Yes, Sir, but I am not aware of any surplus space in this hostel, which is required for agricultural workers.