asked the President of the Board of Trade how he intends to remove the discrimination against imported Canadian Purchase-Tax-paying rubber footwear caused by the bringing of identical and similar British made footwear into the tax-free utility scheme.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to his Question about this matter on 30th November. My consultations with my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, are continuing, and we are hopeful of finding a satisfactory solution to the problem before long. I am not, however, in a position to say when our examination will have advanced sufficiently to enable anything further to be said.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the dollar expenditure on imported timber, both hardwoods and softwoods, during 1949, including the value of any imported under Marshall Aid.

The c.i.f. value of imports of wood and timber into the

—					Sawn Softwood		Pitprops (a)		Other wood and timber	Total
					Standard	£'000	Piled cubic fathom	£'000	£'000	£'000
1933–1938 Yearly average				…	43,759	554	114,385	584	111	1,249
1938	…	…	…	…	40,352	553	120,685	729	114	1,396
1946	…	…	…	…	23,116	934	74,458	1,585	190	2,709
1947	…	…	…	…	39,371	2,073	110,950	2,623	431	5,127
1948	…	…	…	…	35,348	1,946	63,613	1,550	446	3,942
1949	…	…	…	…	38,141	2,033	64,761	1,409	387	3,829
1946–1949 Yearly average				…	33,994	1,746	78,446	1,792	364	3,902
1950 January-October				…	30,012	1,491	47,287	978	188	2,657
(a) Includes other pitwood in 1933.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the selling price of X.3510 poplin pyjamas.

Utility cloth X.3510 is not at present specified for making up into men's pyjamas. An Order will, however, shortly be published permitting this cloth to be used for the manufacture of these garments and specifying the manufacturers' maximum prices for them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total amount of timber imported into Cardiff for each of the years 1945–49 and for the first 10 months of 1950; and how the yearly average compares with the year 1938 and the years 1933–38, inclusive.

Imports into Cardiff are included in the Trade Accounts with those into Barry Dock and Penarth. The following table shows the imports of wood and timber into the three ports together from 1946 to October, 1950, compared with pre-war imports (figures for 1945 have not been published).

asked the Prime Minister whether he is now able to announce the terms of reference and the membership of the Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income.

I have been asked to reply. Yes. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister informed the House on Tuesday, 24th October, 1950, the Chairman of this Royal Commission will be Lord Justice Cohen. The King has now been pleased to approve the appointment of the following members of the Commission:

• Mrs. Vera Anstey, D.Sc.
• Mr. Herbert Lionel Bullock.
• Mr. William Speight Carrington, F.C.A.
• Mr. Wilfred Frank Crick.
• Sir Thomas Harry Gill, J.P.
• Mr. John Eric Greenwood.
• Sir Geoffrey Heyworth.
• Mr. John Richard Hicks, F.B.A.
• Mr. Nicholas Kaldor.
• Mr. William Johnston Keswick.
• Miss Lucy Stuart Sutherland, C.B.E.
• Mr. James Millard Tucker, K.C., J.P.
• Mr. George Woodcock.

The terms of reference are as follows:

asked the Lord President of the Council when the next report of the Medical Research Council may be expected.

A report on the work of the Medical Research Council during the years 1948–50 is in preparation and will be presented to Parliament as soon as it is ready.

asked the Lord President of the Council when the next Report of the Agricultural Research Council may be expected.

The Council has been giving careful consideration to the form of publication most suited to its activities and has decided to issue a pamphlet describing in general terms its organisation and activities and an annual record in summary form of all active work for which it has technical responsibility. Both these publications should be available early in 1951.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the Beveridge Committee on Broadcasting have completed their inquiries; and when their report will be published.

I understand that the Committee of Inquiry into broadcasting under the chairmanship of Lord Beveridge hope to sign their Report tomorrow (Friday). When the Committee have reported, it will be necessary to print what will no doubt be a lengthy document, and it may not be possible to publish the Report until early in January. I can assure my hon. Friend that there will be no avoidable delay in making the Report available to Parliament and the public.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what alterations he is proposing to make in the methods of marketing agricultural produce grown in this country.

Voluntary schemes for improving the grading and packing of agricultural produce are being developed in consultation with producers and the trade interests concerned. In addition the Farmers' Unions have recently promoted marketing schemes for wool and for tomatoes and cucumbers under the Agricultural Marketing Acts and have others in preparation, all of which are designed to secure much needed improvements in marketing methods and arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will review the marketing boards for agricultural produce at present in existence with the view to increasing the representation of the consumer interest on such boards and thereby promoting a greater drive for lower prices and better quality.

The membership of agricultural marketing boards was revised by the Agricultural Marketing Act of last year and I have no reason to suppose that the boards in their new form with the inclusion of members appointed by myself will not have close regard to the needs of consumers and actively promote efficiency and economy in production and marketing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now in a position to make a statement about extra feeding-stuffs this winter for Cornwall.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the uncertainty which at present exists with regard to the availability of feedingstuffs after 31st December, he will make an announcement regarding the winter scale before the Christmas Recess.

Yes. In addition to the Russian grain contract and purchases made in other areas, the Government have authorised the purchase of a substantial quantity of maize from North America so as to maintain the supply of animal feeding stuffs. In order to limit the expenditure of dollars, however, it is necessary to economise in the rationing scheme, and the Government have decided that rations for dairy cows should revert to the level of past winters. That is to say, they will be based on provision by farmers of their own cereal feeding-stuffs for 1⅛ gallons of milk instead of ¾ gallons as at present.The county discretionary reserves for those areas of Great Britain, including Cornwall, which have been hardest hit by the abnormal harvests are being increased. These additions will mitigate very considerably the effect of the above adjustment in the dairy cow rations on farmers who are short of fodder.The present disturbed international situation, however, is putting a heavy strain on shipping, and while every effort is being made to avoid delay in the arrival of supplies, some precautionary measures must be taken. The monthly ration for calves of 6–12 months will be issued for January as usual but the continuation in full of the cereal part in later months is dependent on the prompt arrival of oversea purchases. Further, the bonus ration for pigmeat and eggs due for issue in the four months ending April next will be divided into two equal instalments. The first will be issued as soon as the necessary documents are presented by the farmer, but the issue of the second will similarly depend on the timely arrival of sufficient feedingstuffs from abroad.Ration scales for the rest of the winter period will otherwise remain unchanged.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the aggregate profit made by his Department on the British wool clip for each of the four years, 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949.

Responsibility for the disposal of the United Kingdom wool clip was transferred from the Board of Trade to the Agricultural Ministers in May, 1947. The net profits on fleece wool shown in the Departmental accounts for each of the trading years ending 30th April, 1948, 1949 and 1950 were £546,027, £163,840 and £1,584,990 respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps his Department is taking to ensure that imported honey does not contain the spores of foul brood disease.

None. There is no need for bees to be fed on imported honey and I do not think, therefore, that the introduction of sanitary control on imports would be justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give an estimate of how many tons of cider apples will not find purchasers in Devonshire this year.

The 1950 crop of cider apples was very heavy and much in excess of requirements. It is estimated that about 20,000 tons will not be sold in Devon this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has yet received the Report of the Ryan Committee.

No. I understand that the Report is now in draft and is likely to be submitted very shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the continuance of the subsidy to certain classes of catchers of white fish and also to the pilchard fisheries.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take steps to enable him to make the issue of felling licences in appropriate cases conditional on an undertaking being given that the area to be clear felled will be replanted.

This matter is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what acreage of Forestry Commission land was clear-felled in the year ended 30th September, 1950; and what acreage of the 717 acres clear-felled in the previous year has been replanted.

One thousand one hundred acres of Forestry Commission plantations were clear-felled in the year ended 30th September, 1950. In the year ending 30th September, 1949, 847 acres were clear-felled, of which 447 acres have been replanted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what acreage of land has been acquired by the Forestry Commission in the year ended 30th September, 1950; and what acreage of this land has been planted.

Eighty-nine thousand seven hundred acres were acquired in the year ended 30th September, 1950, including 54,600 acres of plantable land and 1,700 acres of standing woodland. Of the plantable area 950 acres have been planted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what acreage of land acquired in the year ended 30th September. 1950, has previously not been afforested; what acreage was previously forest land; and what acreages of replanting in these areas, respectively, have been planted in the same period.

The figures are: 33,000 acres of land not previously afforested and 23,300 acres of former forest land. About 560 and 390 acres, respectively, of these areas have been planted during the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why uniforms for serving officers or utility cloth for making the same are not yet available free of Purchase Tax; and when either will be.

As I said on 17th October in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Sir W. Darling) the object of utility schemes is to make available to the general public supplies of garments, etc., of sound quality at reasonable prices, and it is in general not applicable to specialised clothing such as officers uniforms.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether as a matter of urgency, he will reduce the Purchase Tax on cartridges so as to enable farmers without undue expense to reduce their losses through rabbits.

The Purchase Tax on cartridges is already at the lowest rate. My right hon. Friend will consider on the next review of the tax and in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries whether any concession can be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long it takes for payment to be given for post-war credit certificates after the certificate and the necessary forms have been presented at the local office.

About a fortnight, normally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has taken note of the rise in industrial profits; and what action he is taking, in view of the partial abandonment of dividend restraint, to ensure that increased profits are returned to those actively engaged in production.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd) on 21st November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he did not nominate a member of the National Union of Manufacturers on to the National Production Advisory Council on Industry; and if he will reconsider this matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave him on 21st November, 1950. The present arrangements are adequate to give the Council representative views on industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the purpose and the cost of the Central Office of Information film, "Wonders of the Deep."

The purpose of this film was to draw attention to an outstanding British scientific and technical achievement. The cost, including wide distribution at home and overseas, was £4,911.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will institute special and distinctive vehicle markings similar in size to those distinguishing Service and Post Office vehicles for the transport of all Departments.

From 1st January next all departmental vehicles will display a Certificate of Crown Ownership. The majority in addition have other distinctive markings. I do not think that any further steps to distinguish such vehicles are necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of subsidising social services in Northern Ireland during the last 12 months.

Nil.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the number of copies printed, and the cost, of the Annual Report of the Central Office of Information for 1949–50, Command Paper No. 8081.

The number of copies printed was 2,625, and the cost, including paper, was £125.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated loss of revenue if motor cars built before 31st December, 1916, were taxed annually at a flat rate of £10 each.

I am afraid the information on which a reliable estimate could be based is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether special consideration is given to seriously disabled persons to avoid, where possible, their dismissal from the public service on account of redundancy.

Departments may at their discretion depart from the normal order of discharge on redundancy in the case of an officer suffering from a disability so serious that, if he were discharged, he would have very substantial difficulty in obtaining suitable alternative employment or in adapting himself to a change of work. This discretion may be exercised even when the Department is already employing the standard quota of 3 per cent. of registered disabled persons.

asked the Minister of Health why the hearing aid for Mr. E. W. Lowry, Grange Farm, Manby, for which he was examined in August, 1949, has not yet been delivered; and what is the cause of the delay.

There is a long waiting list and this patient does not appear to have any special claim to priority.

asked the Minister of Health how many Medresco hearing aids are now being produced each month.

Deliveries by manufacturers are averaging 8,116 a month.

asked the Minister of Health when Mrs. A. I. Scott, of 19, Elm Grove, Orpington, who has been waiting for over two years for her deaf aid, as stated in the particulars which have been sent him, can expect to receive it.

As this patient has no special claim to priority the hospital is unable to say when she will be fitted with an aid.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the West Wilts Hospital Committee have refused an offer of land from Messrs. E. Dennis, Limited, Trowbridge, the acceptance of which would obviate the necessity of demolishing a hangar, pulling up a concrete foundation, and interrupting the repair of agricultural machinery; and if, in view of the desirability to conserve labour and materials for constructive work, particularly in the present international situation, he is prepared to direct the committee to reconsider the matter.

I am informed that the committee have fully considered the offer but are satisfied that the alternative land is not so suitable. Having regard to the other circumstances of this case which are known to the hon. Member, I do not feel able to press them further.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered a case which has been submitted to him where a doctor is unable to get a new car; and what steps he is taking to prevent local breakdowns of the National Health Service due to this cause.

Yes. There are arrangements made between the British Medical Association and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to give all possible preferential treatment to doctors in urgent need, and I understand that those concerned are doing what they can to assist. I myself am not in a position to do more.

asked the Minister of Health why, in view of the announcement that revised salaries for senior nursing staff in mental and mental defective hospitals had been settled on 12th September, no notification of the new rates has yet been received by nurses concerned; and whether he will take immediate steps to avoid any further delay.

Since the announcement the Whitley Council has been discussing certain details without which the new salaries cannot be put into operation. When I received the agreed circular from them it should not take long to put it into force.

asked the Minister of Health whether, at his consultations with the representatives of the doctors concerning the issue of the circular on the reduction in the number of registrars in hospitals, the doctors agreed to the issue of that circular.

The circular was discussed in detail with the profession's representatives, and modifications made to meet certain points they raised; but they did not feel able to agree with the final draft in every respect.

asked the Minister of Health why in the case, particulars of which have been sent to him, of a child who was admitted to Bromley Hospital as a National Health Service patient, and, though transferred to a private ward, was operated on as a National Health Service patient, the child's parents have had to pay not only the accommodation fee agreed upon but also the fees of the surgeon and the anaesthetist who took part in the operation.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the agreement signed by the child's parent which makes it quite clear that the child was admitted as a private patient and that medical fees would be payable.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give consideration to the desirability of requesting those responsible for hospital administration to accept for clerical and other duties registered disabled who suffer from epilepsy and for this reason have difficulty in retaining any position in commerce or industry.

Hospital authorities, like other employers, are required to employ a quota of registered disabled persons, and I should not feel justified in imposing any further requirements on them in this connection at present.

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

I do not accept the implication in the first part of the Question and the latter part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will advise local authorities to derequisition requisitioned houses for owner occupation, subject to satisfactory safeguards for continuance of such occupation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 9th November to a Question by the hon. Member for Billericay (Mr. Braine), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider applications from individual local authorities faced with exceptional circumstances of difficulty in housing matters, for the delegation to such authorities of his powers of requisitioning house property.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to her question on requisitioning on 16th November.

asked the Minister of Health to state the grounds on which he refused the application of the Wandsworth Borough Council for permission to requisition the property at 51 Vant Road, S.W.17, of which he has already received details.

Authority to requisition has not been refused: the Wandsworth Borough Council withdrew their original application, but are reconsidering the matter.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the new houses built since 1945 have been fitted with solid-fuel appliances, regarded as fully efficient by modern standards.

Precise statistics are not available but large nubmers of houses built between 1945 and 1948 were fitted with efficient appliances. Since the end of 1948 it has been a condition attached to the approval of all housing schemes submitted to my Department that the main solid-fuel appliance in each house is one of those tested and passed as efficient by the Ministry of Fuel and Power.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been purchased by local authorities under Circular 92/46 for the years ended 31st March, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950; and how many were purchased and erected in blocks of 20 houses or over.

The reply is as follows:The figures for all houses completed under the provisions of Circular 92/46 are:

HOUSES COMPLETED UNDER CIRCULAR 92/46 ARRANGEMENTS
Period	Number completed	Number in blocks of 20 or more
To 31st March 1947	617	120
1st April 1947 to 31st March 1948	9,120	1,254
1st April 1948 to 31st March, 1949	13,452	6,780
1st April, 1949 to 31st March, 1950	7,191	4,925
	30,380	13,079

asked the Minister of Health for how many empty houses in Shoreham the local authority has sought powers to requisition or to acquire by compulsory purchase to house people needing such accommodation.

Since June, 1948, when it became necessary to apply for special delegations to requisition, the local authority have made applications in respect of eight properties. No application has been made since the war for confirmation of a compulsory purchase order in respect of empty houses.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the certainty that no further land will be available in the near future for house-building in Leyton and similar extra-Metropolitan boroughs, what steps he has considered taking to consolidate inter-borough lists of housing applicants in order that priority and urgency cases can be considered for rehousing over a wider area than the municipal areas in which the applicants now live.

I am aware of the shortage of land within these boroughs and I am promoting discussions as to availability of housing sites elsewhere with representatives of the boroughs and of the Essex County Council. Arrangements of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend for the allocation of tenancies of houses are matters for the local authorities concerned, but advice bearing on this subject is contained in the Report I have issued recently from my Central Housing Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that his Department's allocation of 120 houses to Lancaster is not adequate to meet the serious housing situation there; and whether he will increase it.

The allocation together with the work outstanding from previous allocations, will fully employ the local building resources for the time being, but I have undertaken to review it in the light of progress. At the end of November, 1950, 122 houses were under construction and 64 had not been started.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the seasonal unemployment in the painting and decorating trade, he will consult with the Minister of Works with a view to restoring the system of U licences; and whether he is yet in a position to reply to the appeal recently made to him by the rural district council of Battle on this subject.

Employment in the building industry throughout the country is kept under continuous review and the information available does not indicate that there are any exceptional circumstances in the Battle rural district. The rural district council are being informed accordingly.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to prevent by Order in Council the eviction of any wife or family residing in a tied cottage of a man now fighting in Korea.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to enable him to safeguard the homes of men on active service in Korea whose families live in tied cottages.

I have no power to make an Order in Council, but this matter is receiving consideration.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses bearing a subsidy erected in Essex by the London County Council before and since the war; and the number now being built and to be built by that authority in Essex.

The London County Council erected 25,881 dwellings bearing subsidy in Essex under their pre-war programme and have built 9,629 there since the war. Four thousand two hundred and eighty-eight dwellings are under constructions and a further 7,410 are projected.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to see that undue hardship in housing allocations is not being imposed by any local authority upon residents within its area, solely on account of the fact that owing to an alteration of boundaries the district concerned will pass into the control of another local authority at some future date.

The advice I have already given to local authorities on the selection of tenants should ensure that no such hardship will arise.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects the plans for the evacuation of congested areas in the event of an emergency to be completed.

Plans have been prepared and details are being worked out.

asked the Minister of Health why the projected sewage scheme for the village of Ticehurst does not extend to the hamlet of Flimwell in the same parish.

The scheme has not yet been investigated, but I understand that the district council intend to extend it to, Flimwell later on.

asked the Minister of Health how many children under the age of two are attending day nurseries.

About 13,000.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to empower local authorities to secure the isolation from their employment of persons handling foodstuffs who are suspected of being carriers of infectious disease.

Medical officers of health already have such powers as regards suspected carriers of enteric and dysentery. The subject will receive such further consideration as the conclusions of two working parties, set up by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food, may show to be desirable.

asked the Minister of Health when his review of the possibility of making sanatorium accommodation in Switzerland available to British tubercular patients will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot yet say.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now give the date arranged for the holding of the local in quiry into the acquisition of land by the Corporation of Doncaster for the purposes of the Cautley and Bessacarr main surface water outfall sewer.

The inquiry will be held on 17th January, 1951.

asked the Minister of Health on what date the Haddon Isolation Hospital at Bakewell ceased to be used as a hospital; and what use has been made of the building since that date.

These premises have not been used for hospital or any other purposes since 5th July, 1948. They are, however, being transferred to Derbyshire County Council, and plans have been approved to adapt them for housing homeless families.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the nuisance caused and danger to public health by the dust and sulphur fumes caused by the British Electric authorities' station at Grove Road, St. Marylebone; and what steps he is taking to stop the unsatisfactory conditions prevailing.

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

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the delay which occurs in many cases before persons suffering from cancer seek proper medical attention; and if he will take steps to make it more widely known that valuable remedial measures can be taken in many instances if the disease is diagnosed in its early stages.

I agree that the facts are as stated by the hon. Member. The Central Health Services Council has, however, recently advised that it is undesirable at the present time for any cancer publicity to be carried out by any central Government organisation direct to the general public.

asked the Minister of Health if he will expedite his reply to the representations from the Maldon Borough Council, forwarded to him on 23rd October, on the acquisition of land for refuse tipping.

This reply has now been sent.

asked the Minister of Health the amount of the equalisation grants paid to the Durham County Council for 1949–50 and 1950–51; and whether he will consider exercising the powers conferred upon him to reduce such grants by Section (6) of the Local Government Act, 1948.

The equalisation grant payable to Durham County Council for each of the years 1949–50 and 1950–51 is estimated to be £2,803,509. I have at present no evidence that conditions exist which would justify action under Section 6 of the Act.

asked the Minister of Labour how many individuals are employed, according to the latest available figures, as civil servants, members of the Forces, local government employees and as employees of nationalised undertakings.

Following is the reply:The latest date for which information is available for all of the categories in question is June, 1950. The numbers employed at that date were as follow:

1. Non-industrial staff in the Civil Service	700,000
2. Other national Government employees (e.g., industrial staffs of Royal Dockyards, Royal Ordnance Factories, etc.)	395,000
3. H.M. Forces and Women's Services (at home and abroad)	690,000
4. Local Government employees (including teachers and other school staffs, police, staffs of municipal transport, water supply and other industrial undertakings)	1,420,000
5. British Transport Commission, National Coal Board, Hospital Boards, Gas Council, British Electricity Authority, and other nationalised undertakings and public bodies including all industrial employees	2,510,000

Precise figures are not available for some parts of the field covered by the foregoing items, but approximate estimates have been included in those cases. Part-time workers have been counted as full units.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have been killed or injured through falling from scaffolding or as a result of defective scaffolding during each of the last three years.

The numbers of reported fatal accidents due to falls from scaffolding used in building operations (including working platforms, gangways and runs) were 49 in 1947, 52 in 1948 and 36 in 1949. The corresponding figures of nonfatal accidents were 591, 710 and 906 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the result of his efforts to encourage incentive schemes in the textile industry.

If my hon. Friend has in mind the cotton manufacturing industry, I understand that the scheme suggested in the Moelwyn Hughes Report has been adopted by substantial numbers of employers.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is now in a position to make a statement on his negotiations with both sides of industry and in consultation with the British Electricity Authority, for the general resumption of work on Saturday mornings, so as to minimise the electricity cuts during the other five working days.

I will, with permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to find employment for workers dismissed from the Lancing Railway Works on reaching the age of 65.

In September nine men over 65 years became redundant at Lancing Railway Works. Of these, one man, aged 69, was placed in employment as a handyman painter. The local employment exchange will do what it can to help any workers who apply to find suitable employment.

asked the Minister of Labour why the arrangements he has made to enable students intending to enter a university in October, 1952, who will have been called up after October, 1950, to have three months early release, do not apply to students who have not sat for a scholarship examination.

The arrangements do apply to students who were too young to be called up before October, 1950, even though they do not sit for a scholarship examination. They do not apply to older students sitting a university entrance examination, because in their case the hardship caused by the extension of the period of National Service seems insufficient to justify such a concession.

asked the Minister of Education for what purpose he has made a grant to the West Riding County Council to enable them to acquire on a 50-year lease the major part of the premises at Wentworth Woodhouse; how many persons are at present accommodated there; and what sum has been spent and is proposed to be spent on conversion or adaptation of these premises for the county council's use.

The premises have been leased by the West Riding education authority with my approval for the purpose of a residential training college for women teachers of physical education. There are at present 81 resident students in addition to tutorial and domestic staff. When completed the college will hold from 160 to 180 students and the teaching and domestic staff. The total estimated cost of adaptation is £184,000 of which rather more than £97,000 had been spent up to a month ago.

asked the Minister of Education how many classes contain more than 30, 40 and 50 children in primary, modern and grammar schools at the latest convenient date.

Following are the grammar schools in England and Wales figures for maintained and

—							Primary	Secondary Modern	Secondary Grammar
Classes with over 30 pupils (including those with over 40 and over 50)		…	…	…	…	…	77,259	21,122	7,112
Classes with over 40 pupils (including those with over 50)	…	…	…	…	…	…	33,176	3 816	73
Classes with over 50 pupils				…	…	…	1,494	40	15
Some oi the apparently large classes in secondary schools represent pupils grouped for registration purposes only.

asked the Minister of Education how many men and women teachers will be required to staff the primary, modern and grammar schools of England and Wales at the end of 1953, so that classes will not be overcrowded; how many he estimates will he available for this purpose; and how he proposes to meet the deficiency.

If all available training college places can be filled next year, it is estimated that the number of teachers in maintained primary and secondary schools will be increased to rather more than 229,000 by the end of 1953, and that this will provide enough teachers for the increasing number of children in the schools and, I hope, for some reduction in the number of oversize classes. Neither sufficient teachers nor sufficient school accommodation will be available to make it practicable to require that no class shall exceed the maximum numbers prescribed by Grant Regulations.

asked the Minister of Education what is the number of students assisted financially by each local education authority in England; and what is the average individual grant made by each authority.

As the answer consists of a table of figures too voluminous for circulation in the OFFICIAL REPORT, I will write to my hon. Friend giving him the information he desires.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give the percentages of children from primary schools who pass into grammar schools and technical

I do not obtain regular returns in such detail as this, nor in view of the disproportionate amount of time and labour that would be involved can I see my way to obtain this information.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that the only teachers who do not know the basis on which their salaries are assessed are the principals and departmental heads in training colleges; and whether he will consider giving a lead to local education authorities by publishing the points system in which a just allocation of grades can be made.

The Report of the Committee on Salary Scales for the Teaching Stall of Training Colleges places upon employing bodies the first responsibility for assessing the salaries or scales of salaries of principals having regard to the guidance which is afforded by the scales for other posts under the Report. The salaries so assessed are subject to my agreement. A similar provision is included in the Report of the Burnham Committee on Salary Scales for Teachers in Establishments of Further Education. For salary purposes there is no recognised grade of head of department in Training Colleges.

asked the Minister of Education how many new school buildings have been approved for construction during 1951; where these are to be situated; and for what reason the plan for providing a new school for Brad-well has been postponed.

About 435 new school buildings are at present included in the 1951–52 building programme for England and Wales. The replacement of the Brad-well School premises has had to be deferred because other and more urgent projects must take precedence and the resources which I am able to make available to the East Suffolk education authority are necessarily limited.

asked the Minister of Education how many of the 4,000 independent schools so far inspected by his Department have failed to come up to reasonable standard demanded by his officials.

The term "reasonable standard" is not susceptible of such exact definition as to enable me to give a precise answer to my hon. Friend, but the great majority of the schools so far inspected provide a reasonably adequate education for their pupils. Allowing for the present difficulties in the way of building and of recruiting suitable staff, most independent schools will, I trust, be able to effect any necessary and practicable improvement in their educational standards as a result of discussions with His. Majesty's Inspectors.

asked the Minister of Education what is the total number of pupils attending independent schools; and whether he will break up this total into the various age groups.

I cannot give accurate figures until all independent schools have been inspected, but on present information I estimate that there are about 500,000 children now attending such schools. About 50,000 of them are over 15.

asked the Minister of Defence what action is being taken to allow Service personnel of all ranks who wish to remain beyond their normal retiring age to do so during the present emergency.

An officer who has attained the normal retiring age laid down for his rank may remain in the Service only if there is suitable employment for him. Naval ratings and airmen who have completed time for pension are, with a few exceptions, being retained in the Service at present. Soldiers who have completed time for pension are not being compulsorily retained; they may apply to continue in the Service under normal rules.

asked the Secretary of State for War what facilities for leave and rest in Japan will be available to British troops who have been fighting in Korea; and whether a local overseas allowance will be payable to them in such circumstances, and in what currency.

I cannot yet add anything to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 21st November.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will cause an inquiry to be made and a report issued concerning the conditions existing at Catterick Camp, both in relation to the living conditions of the troops there and the type of discipline imposed.

I am not aware of any cause for complaint concerning the present living conditions or the type of discipline imposed at Catterick Camp. If, however, my hon. Friend will forward me details of any cases she has in mind, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Centurion tanks were sent to Korea, how many have fallen into the hands of the enemy; and if this tank or any of its component parts are still on the secret list.

It would not be in the public interest to disclose how many Centurion tanks have been sent to Korea. One has been reported abandoned and is presumed to have been captured. Neither the tank itself nor any of its component parts are on the secret list.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the loss of a Centurion tank during the present retreat in North Korea; what directives he has at any time issued in regard to the use of such tanks in Korea; and what was the date of such directives.

Yes. No directive has been issued regarding the use of Centurion tanks in Korea.

asked the Minister of Pensions what was the average payment made to the 100 per cent. disabled war pensioner on 31st March, 1950.

Four pounds per week.

asked the Minister of Food why, in view of the continued breakdown in the Government purchase of meat from the Argentine, he does not hand back the trade to private importers.

I certainly have no reason to think that private importers would be able to buy more meat in Argentina than my Department, or buy it at prices more reasonable than those we are prepared to pay. In any event, the resumption of private importing of meat must be determined in the light of our ultimate policy for maintaining guaranteed prices to home farmers and long-term assurances to Commonwealth producers.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now satisfied that there is no need to re-impose the Meals in Establishments Orders.

Yes. Having reviewed the effect of its withdrawal, and having received undertakings from the associations in the catering industry that they will continue to use their influence to keep charges moderate and maintain standards of value and service, I have decided not to re-impose the Orders.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what representations he has received protesting against the proposal to prospect for opencast coal in the Cordwell Valley.

I have received representations about the proposal to prospect for opencast coal in the Cord-well Valley from three local authorities, ten local societies and a number of business firms and residents in the area. Some of the societies also wrote to hon. Members, nine of whom have written to me about it.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) how the stocks of coal in the Thornbury, Gloucestershire, area compare with the stocks at this time of year last year;(2) how the stocks of coal in the Nails-worth, Gloucestershire, area compare with the stocks at this time of year last year.(3) how the stocks of coal in the Stroud area, Gloucestershire, compare with the stocks at this time of year last year;(4) what the stock of coke amounted to in the Dursley, Gloucestershire, area at the last convenient date; and how much coke was sent from the Dursley area to other districts during the months of May, June, July, August, September and October, respectively.

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

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what arrangements have been made, or are contemplated, for the effective co-ordination of the research and development sections of the National Coal Board, the British Electricity Authority and the Gas Council.

The co-ordination of the research and development programmes of the National Coal Board, the British Electricity Authority and the Gas Council is my responsibility, in the discharge of which I have the advice of my Scientific Advisory Council. The Scientific Member of the National Coal Board, the Deputy Chairman (Operations) of the British Electricity Authority and the Deputy Chairman of the Gas Council are members of my Council. I agree with my hon. Friend in thinking that it is of the highest importance that we should ensure the effective co-ordination of all the research and development work which is undertaken in the coal, electricity and gas industries.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the constant electricity power cuts in the Lancaster area are causing serious dislocation to industry as well as to the private citizen; and if he will take steps to remedy this.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) and other hon. Members on the 11th December.

asked the Minister of Transport what total amounts in regard to each administrative county of Great Britain have been approved in the current financial year for schemes of classified road improvement costing over £5,000 each and under £5,000 each, respectively: and what are the equivalent rates per head of population in each county.

With the hon. Member's permission, in view of the great length of the answer, I have sent him a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport by what authority a person is prevented from boarding, or attempting to board, an omnibus other than at a recognised stopping place.

There is no act or regulation which in general terms either permits a person to board an omnibus otherwise than at a recognised stopping place or which prohibits him from doing so. Under Regulations as to the conduct of passengers, however, a passenger may not enter an omnibus if the conductor requests him not to do so because it is full, or because the operator is debarred from picking up passengers at that point by conditions imposed by the licensing authority; nor may a passenger enter an omnibus when it is approaching a stopping place in order to avoid joining the queue.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is now prepared to make regulations under Section 87 of the Transport Act terminating the Railway Freight Rebates Scheme and winding up of the Railway Freight Rebates Fund.

Yes, I am making regulations terminating, as from 31st December, 1950, as respects the British Transport Commission, the system of rebates provided for by the Railway Freight Rebates Enactments, 1929 to 1943, and providing for the winding up of the Railway Freight Rebates Fund and for payment of the balance standing to the credit thereof to the Commission. The Regulations will also provide that the principal of and the interest on outstanding Rebates Stock shall become a liability of the Commission.I have received from the Commission assurances that, from 1st January, 1951, to the date when a Charges Scheme governing the Commission's Railway Merchandise Charges comes into force, payment of the rebates on milk and livestock traffic will be continued, on a voluntary basis, at the present rate of 121 per cent. Any question whether the future charges under the Charges Scheme should reflect rebates which have been allowed in the past is one for determination by the Transport Tribunal when considering the Draft Scheme. Neither the making of the regulations nor the continuance of the rebates on milk and livestock should be regarded as prejudicing the position before the Tribunal either of the industries which have benefited from the Scheme or of the Commission.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning the approximate acreage of land in Essex within 15 miles from London and apart from areas covered by the new towns which is held to be suitable for house-building; and an estimate of the total number of housing units that could be erected on that acreage.

I cannot give the information asked for. It is for the local planning authority, the Essex County Council, to determine, in the first instance, the allocation of land for housing and the densities.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many colliery workers have enlisted at Royal Navy recruiting centres since 1st January, 1950.

Three hundred and seventy-nine.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what immediate steps he is taking to improve security at Chatham Dockyard and other naval establishments in view of the known cases of sabotage, and the recent incident whereby a man gained illegal entry to Chatham Dockyard, boarded and examined equipment on H.M.S. "Sheffield."

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers). The question of instituting more effective security measures is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what assurances His Majesty's Government has received from the Yugoslav Government about the distribution of economic aid in Yugoslavia.

No specific assurances have been either sought or received. When, however, His Majesty's Government informed the Yugoslav Government of their offer of credit facilities of £3 million for the purchase of foodstuffs, consumer goods and any consequential requirements, they suggested that discussions should take place between representatives of the two Governments at Belgrade about the best methods of distributing the goods obtained with it. In accepting the credit the Yugoslav Government made it clear that they were ready to enter into the proposed discussions forthwith.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps His Majesty's Government are taking to publicise the proceedings of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The responsibility for publicising the work of the Council of Europe is primarily that of the Council Secretariat, working in collaboration with the national information services of Member States. From its inception, however, His Majesty's Government have taken an active interest in seeing that information on the work of the Council of Europe is made available both in this country and abroad.Documentation about the Council of Europe is sent to our information officers in all parts of the world for reference purposes and for distribution to the Press. This documentation, of course, includes items on the work of the Consultative Assembly. In particular the Hansard Society's English language summaries of the Assembly's debates have thus been distributed to information officers in foreign and Commonwealth countries. A substantial order has also been placed for the bound volume edition of these reports, which will be offered to appropriate bodies in foreign countries who might otherwise not receive any reports of the Consultative Assembly's activities.In this country publicity has been given to the work of the Council of Europe as part of a series of lectures which the Central Office of Information furnish on request to study groups and similar bodies. I should also point out that White Papers have usually been issued after the principal meetings of the Council of Europe, including, of course, those of the Consultative Assembly.

asked the Postmaster-General what capital expenditure would be required to complete outstanding orders for telephones in Cheltenham.

It is not practicable to make any reliable assessment in the case quoted. Capital expenditure designed to clear up outstanding orders must also provide for development, and for telephone works in the neighbouring areas which are closely interlocked.

asked the Postmaster-General what arrangements he is making for the provision of telephone kiosks on the Regworth and Roseworth estates, Stockton-on-Tees; and what is the distance of the nearest kiosk to these estates.

A telephone kiosk should be available on the Ragworth estate by the end of this month, and one will be provided on the Roseworth estate when a site has been settled. The nearest existing kiosk is about half a mile from both estates.