asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is in a position to make any further statement about financial assistance to Malaya arising out of his recent discussions with the High Commissioner.

Since I stated on 21st June that His Majesty's Government would be prepared to give further financial assistance there has been a considerable improvement in the financial position of the Federation Government and it has been decided that no contribution for 1950, in addition to the £3 million already given, will be necessary. As regards 1951, His Majesty's Government are prepared, in recognition of the increasing part the Malayan peoples are anxious to play in their own defence against external and internal aggression, to meet the cost of raising two further battalions of the Malay Regiment, i.e. the cost of clothing, arms etc., at an estimated expenditure of £1¼ million.I propose, in due course, to seek Parliamentary approval for that part of the overall cost which will fall to be met in 1951–52. The Federation Government will meet the cost of their accommodation and their future maintenance. Should it appear at a later date that further financial assistance in 1951 may be necessary, His Majesty's Government will certainly be willing to review the position. In the meantime, I should like to make it abundantly clear that His Majesty's Government, as they always have been, are willing to give Malaya all the assistance that may be shown to be necessary both for the effective prosecution of the anti-bandit campaign and to enable her to go ahead with her plans of social and economic development. It is His Majesty's Government's desire that the heavy burden that Malaya is continuing to bear in the common effort against Communist banditry should not be allowed to impede, for financial reasons, this very necessary development programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the procedure for reviewing the sentences of persons detained in detention camps in Malaya and the procedure under which they can appeal against such sentences; what is the average length of time between sentence and review, and between appeal and decision on appeal; in what percentage of cases have appeals been allowed; and what steps are taken to ensure that all detainees are aware that they are allowed to appeal.

The superintendent in charge of a place of detention must inform any person committed to that place under an individual detention order of his right to lodge an objection against detention.Objections are considered by committees of review, the members of which are almost all unofficials representing the several communities and the chairmen of which hold or have held judicial office. Committees of review may submit any particular case to a central review commission. The hearing of objections by committees of review during the three months period August to October, 1950, resulted in unconditional release from detention in 6.8 per cent. of the cases heard. The average time between the lodging of an objection to detention and its hearing by a committee of review is ten weeks. Any detainee held under an individual detention order may, after the expiry of 18 months from the date when the order was made, request that his case be reviewed by the Chief Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many civilians are now detained in detention camps in Malaya; how many more are to be accommodated in the further camps, or extensions of existing camps, now or recently under construction; how many of the detainees are political offenders; how many are detained for assisting the bandits; how many are squatters not suspected of such activities but awaiting resettlement; and what steps are being taken to expedite the resettlement of these squatters or to enable them to leave the detention camps by day to cultivate their holdings.

The total number of persons detained in the Federation of Malaya on 15th October, 1950, was 10,949. Of these 8,935 were detained under individual detention orders and 2,014 were groups of persons, mostly squatters, from villages or areas which had given assistance to the terrorists. Whenever possible persons in the latter category are released or resettled under the urgent resettlement operations which are being carried out as part of the Briggs Plan. Squatters merely awaiting resettlement are not detained. It is, of course, impossible to give any indication of the numbers of persons likely to be detained at any future date. For reasons of security it has not been found possible to allow detained persons to work outside their camps.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the policy of working towards self-government in the Colonies, he will make a statement regarding the security of pensions of British civilian officers in the Colonial Service.

I cannot envisage a situation in which the pensions of Colonial civil servants would not be secure. I therefore see no reason whatever for anxiety on their part.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement giving details of the six cost of living indices in Mauritius; and what their purposes are.

The six cost of living indices in Mauritius, which are based on a series of budget enquiries, the last of which was carried out early in 1950, relate to the following classes of workers:

(i) Clerical workers—monthly salary 100–330 rupees.

(ii) Clerical workers—monthly salary 330–550 rupees.

(iii) Clerical workers—monthly salary 550–1,000 rupees.

(iv) Clerical workers—monthly salary over 1,000 rupees.

(v) Manual workers—Artisans.

(vi) Manual workers—Labourers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what instructions are given to foresters of the Forestry Commission in regard to the destruction or otherwise of black game, and their eggs.

The instructions are that only where these birds are present in such numbers as to cause serious damage to plantations are their numbers to be reduced. No action is, of course, taken in the close season.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what principle is agreed in regard to the planting of either oak or beech in the New Forest area; and what trials are carried out to consider the relevant merits of the species.

Oak or beech are naturally regenerated or planted in the New Forest wherever soil and other conditions are suitable. Trials of oak and beech have been carried out over the last 150 years in thousands of acres of the enclosures. In addition, research plots have been established throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the number of service cottages in England and Wales occupied by farm workers by virtue of their employment.

Up-to-date information is not available, but at the time of the National Farm Survey (1941–43) there were in England and Wales 127,600 employees' cottages occupied by farm workers and regulated by the Agricultural Wages Committee's Order as to the value at which they may be reckoned for wages purposes. These include the cottage occupied under licence by virtue of employment and also the cottage let by a farmer to his worker.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will exempt farmers who are satisfied that they are unable to grow a reasonable crop of potatoes on the North Hampshire chalk hills from the overall county percentage quota of potato production.

Since farmers are not compelled to grow potatoes the question of exempting particular farmers cannot arise. County targets are set according to national requirements, taking into account the agricultural conditions in the counties. I understand that after taking full account of the conditions in the North Hampshire area the county agricultural executive committee and local branches of the National Farmers' Union have addressed a joint appeal to farmers to do their utmost to make some contribution to the county potato target.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what changes he proposes to make in the quarantine regulations in the light of modern scientific development.

I understand that the regulations to which the hon. Member refers are those relating to the importation of dogs. I am advised that the incubation period of rabies in canines and felines may be as long as six months and that there is no known way of shortening the period of incubation or of detecting the disease during its pre-clinical stage. I cannot, therefore, agree to any alteration in the quarantine regulations that apply to imported dogs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of United Kingdom producer subsidy paid to producers in Northern Ireland in respect of fat cattle, hill cattle, hill sheep, calves, milk, wheat, oats, barley, lime and basic slag and other fertilisers, for each of the financial years during the period 1st April, 1932 to 31st March. 1950.

I am having the information prepared and will send it to my hon. and learned Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the United Kingdom potato, flax, wheat and ploughed-up grasslands acreage payments to producers in Northern Ireland for each of the financial years during the period 1st April, 1939 to 31st March, 1950.

I am having the information prepared and will send it to my hon. and learned Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the value of all vegetables produced annually in this country for human consumption; and what is the quantity and value of the potatoes grown.

The value of vegetables grown in the United Kingdom in the 1949–50 season and sold for human consumption is estimated at about £70 million. Values per cwt. are ascertained partly at farm gate and partly at point of first destination. The quantity of potatoes grown in 1949 was 9,035,000 tons, of which 5,650,000 tons were sold for human consumption at a farm value of approximately £67 million. These figures do not include production from gardens and allotments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will identify the regulation which authorises the issue of Form C.V. 121 by the Central Land Board; and why the text of the form has recently been changed.

The issue of Form C.V. 121 is authorised by subsections (2), (3) and (4) of Regulation 12 of the Claims for Depreciation of Land Values Regulations 1948, S.I. 1948, No. 902. The text of the form was recently altered in order to make it clear that a claimant who objects to the Central Land Board's valuation may, if he chooses, supply the development value figure only, although the Board prefer that he should give all three figures named in Part II of the form.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost to the United Kingdom of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Customs patrols for each of the financial years during the period 1st April, 1945, to 31st March, 1950.

For each of the four financial years 1942–43 to 1945–46 inclusive the charge was stabilised at £45,000 per annum. Since 1st April, 1946, the annual charge has been based on actual costs, as follows:

	£	s.	d.
1946–47	116,803	18	6
1947–48	119,660	1	6
1948–49	125,467	4	2
1949–50	136,561	15	6

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that Section 62 (1) of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, and Section 59 (1) of the corresponding Scottish Act, produce inequitable results in relation to certain claims made under those Acts; and what action he proposes to take to overcome this anomaly.

The Chairman of the Central Land Board has reported to me that examination of the claims under Part VI of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, discloses that one of the provisions of Section 62 (1) is giving rise to serious anomalies in some cases.It may happen that a piece of land, owing to its proximity to land developed in a particular way, such as an isolated factory, may have had a high value before the Act for the purpose of extending that development, but, apart from the prospect of that special development, had little value save for the purposes to which it was actually being put.Subsection (1) of Section 62 of the Town and Country Planning Act provides that Rules (2), (3) and (4) of the Rules set out in Section 2 of the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919, are to apply in computing values under Part VI as they apply in relation to the compulsory purchase of interests in land. Rule (3) provides, among other things, that the special suitability or adaptability of land for any purpose shall not be taken into account if that purpose is one for which there is no market, apart from the special needs of a particular purchaser. Where, on the appointed day (1st July, 1948), a piece of land was, in fact, held by the owner of the adjoining land to whom, and to whom alone—it possessed this special value, the effect of Rule (3) is to reduce to little or nothing the development value disclosed by the claim, despite the fact that a substantial development charge may be incurred if the piece of land is, in fact, developed in this very likely manner.I have, therefore, requested the Central Land Board, when valuing claims under Part VI to proceed on the basis of disregarding the provision in Rule (3) referred to above, in cases where the land was held before the appointed day by the claiming owner for the purpose of development in connection with his business carried on on adjoining land. Before the scheme is finally made, amending legislation will be needed to give effect to the arrangement which I am now describing, but from now on the Central Land Board will, at my request, proceed on the amended basis.The arrangement which I have described will apply to claims of owners of land held for the extension of their own factory. It will also apply, in some cases, where a building or a plot of land adjoining a commercial property was held before the appointed day for incorporation within that property. It will not apply to any case where the land was not owned on the appointed day by the person to whom it had this special value. Moreover, it will not apply to cases where it is claimed that a dwelling-house might be extended over its garden; or to increase the unrestricted value of a part of a building above that which it would have in the open market, apart from the needs of the owner of the remainder.It would not be practicable at this late stage to allow further claims to be made on the £300 million, even though potential claimants deliberately omitted to put in claims within the time limits prescribed by the Act and regulations, because they were of opinion that the application of Rule (3) would render a claim fruitless. I cannot at present—before the scheme to be made under Section 58 has been drafted—say what steps it will be necessary to take to meet cases of hardship which may be found to have arisen from this cause. If any such cases are notified to the Board, although no action with regard to them can be taken at present, they will be carefully recorded for such consideration as it may be decided to give to them at a future date. The same difficulties arise under Section 59 (1) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1947, and will be dealt with in the same way.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the fact that the average allocation in West Cornwall of dried fruit has been half-pound per ration book over the last three months, he will increase this allocation to meet the needs of those who wish to make their own cakes and puddings for Christmas.

Dried fruit, I am afraid, is generally scarce, but nearly all the available supplies are allocated to traders on the basis of their sugar registrations, so as to ensure that they are fairly distributed throughout the country. Any increase in supplies to one particular area could, therefore, only be at the expense of fair distribution to the rest of the country.

asked the Minister of Food the total amount of United Kingdom subsidy paid in respect of each article of foodstuff consumed in Northern Ireland, including the total amount of subsidy paid in respect of the national milk, milk in schools, and other welfare schemes in Northern Ireland, for each of the financial years during the period 1st April, 1939, to 31st March, 1950.

I regret that I cannot give this information, because my Department's accounts do not differentiate between goods distributed in Northern Ireland and goods distributed in the rest of the United Kingdom. The costs of the Welfare Foods Service and Milk in Schools Scheme were transferred to the Vote of the Government of Northern Ireland on 21st July, 1946.

asked the Minister of Food the amount of United Kingdom subsidy paid in respect of animal feedingstuffs consumed in Northern Ireland for each of the financial years during the period 1st April, 1939, to 31st March, 1950.

I am afraid I cannot give this information, as my Department's accounts do not differentiate between animal feedingstuffs distributed in Northern Ireland and those distributed in the rest of the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Food if he will now increase the tea allowance to people over 60 years of age, and living by themselves.

I am afraid it would be impracticable to vary rations according to the size of the household; and tea supplies do not enable me to increase the ration to all people over 60.

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements will be made for the conduct of the publicity services of his Department following the report of the Committee on the Cost of the Home Information Services.

As was stated in the Report of the Committee on the Cost of the Home Information Services (Cmd. 7836), the Ministry of Food has hitherto made its own arrangements for the production of the main items of its publicity material. It has now been decided that from 1st April next the Ministry should use the services of the Central Office of Information.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider disbanding the Eggs Division of his Department in view of the fact that it cost the country £1,041,000 this year and the fact that he has no future plans for it.

The £1,041,000 given as the cost of the Eggs Division of my Department includes an appropriate share of the expenses of the general food rationing arrangements, and, in particular, a share of the expenses of local food offices throughout the country. Moreover, as well as allocating the whole supply of eggs, the Division is responsible for the purchase of home-produced eggs. This is an essential part of the arrangements for implementing the guarantee provided to home egg producers by the Agriculture Act, 1947. So long as there is this guarantee administrative machinery must be provided for implementing it. If, however, the hon. and gallant Member can suggest any alternative arrangements for ensuring fair distribution of our egg supplies and the implementing of our guarantee to home producers, I shall be willing to consider it.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what total of capital expenditure by local authorities has been authorised as expenditure related to the Festival of Britain;(2) what total of loans to local authorities has been granted for purposes related to the Festival of Britain.

My Department's records of loans sanctioned and of authorisations of capital works otherwise than out of loan are kept under the specific purposes to which they relate and there is no information to show which, if any, of these have been undertaken in celebration of the Festival of Britain.

asked the Minister of Health by what amount expenditure authorised to local authorities in relation to the Festival of Britain is estimated to exceed the probable normal expenditure for 1951.

Much of the expenditure incurred by local authorities in connection with the Festival of Britain will have been undertaken under their statutory powers. Such expenditure does not normally need my authorisation and I have no means of estimating its amount. As regards the extra-statutory expenditure, I have used my powers under Section 228 (1) of the Local Government Act, 1933, to give general sanction for reasonable expenditure, but I have no information to show how far advantage has been taken of this authority.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any statement to make about the housing programme.

Now that both sides of the building industry have given their active support to the adoption of incentive bonus schemes on house building it is reasonable to look forward to more rapid progress and to a reduction in cost. It should, therefore, be possible to obtain more houses for the same amount of capital expenditure; it continues to be the policy of the Government to build as many houses as can be built within the money limit set by the capital investment programme and the available supplies of materials.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of service houses under the control of the Prison Commissioners and occupied by prison officers by virtue of their employment in or about His Majesty's prisons.

2,302 houses or flats owned or administered by the Prison Commissioners are occupied by officers of the Prison Service by virtue of their employment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give an assurance that arrangements for liaison between the Civil Defence Staff College and the Army Staff College are satisfactory.

Yes. Relations between the two Staff Colleges are very close and cordial. In addition to frequent interchange of visits and lectures, arrangements have been made for an instructor from the Army Staff College to be seconded for six months to the directing staff of the Civil Defence College, and one week of each year's course at the Army College is devoted to the study of Civil Defence problems, in which the directing staff and students of the Civil Defence College participate. These arrangements are much appreciated by my Department and are a valuable contribution to the examination of problems of common interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the financial provisions for Civil Defence volunteers who are injured whilst training or on duty and unable to follow their employment.

Benefits in such cases are payable under the provisions of the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are shortly to be taken to implement the Civil Defence Act in the matter of the designation of Ministers not so far designated.

The arrangements for the implementation of the Civil Defence Act depend only in part on the designation of Ministers. Formal designation orders are not, in practice, made until planning has been carried to a point where designation is required to facilitate executive action. The preparation of plans is in the hands of the Civil Defence Joint Planning Staff, whose chairman is responsible to my right hon. Friend and which contains representatives of all Departments which have, or seem likely to have, Civil Defence functions. So far, the only designation orders which have been made deal with the functions of the Minister of Health and the Minister of Food; orders in respect of the Minister of Works, the Minister of Transport, the Minister of

Region					Increase during November, 1950	Total Strength at 30 November, 1950	Strength per thousand of population
Eastern*	…	…	…	…	1,922	9,603	3·17
Southern		…	…	…	1,351	7,435	2·81
South-Eastern*		…	…	…	1,178	7,035	2·77
South-Western		…	…	…	1,293	7,627	2·54
Midland	…	…	…	…	1,393	8,152	1·86
Wales	…	…	…	…	946	4,723	1·83
Northern	…	…	…	…	818	5,717	1·82
North Midland		…	…	…	798	6,126	1·79
London*	…	…	…	…	1,773	14,982	1·78
North-Western		…	…	…	2,042	11,059	1·74
North-Eastern		…	…	…	772	5,493	1·34
					14,286	87,952	Average for England and Wales 2·02
* The figures for these regions have been adjusted to allow for he inclusion within the London Region of certain county districts in Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey consequent upon the reconstitution, in November, of the London Civil Defence Region with boundaries corresponding to those of the Metropolitan Police district.

Fuel and Power and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries will shortly be needed, and it is possible that later orders may be needed in respect of other Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in Cardiff and Wales respectively, have enrolled for Civil Defence since the Prime Minister's appeal for volunteers on the wireless.

I regret that this information is not available from the recruiting returns, but during the months of October and November the combined strengths of the Civil Defence Services in Cardiff and Wales rose from 433 and 4,074, respectively, to 577 and 6,933.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the strength of the Civil Defence Corps and Auxiliary Fire Service on 30th November, 1950; and how many recruits joined the Corps and the Fire Service respectively during the month of November.

In England and Wales during November, 14,286 recruits joined the Civil Defence Corps, bringing the strength at the end of the month to 87,952; and 1,055 recruits joined the Auxiliary Fire Service, bringing the strength at the end of the month to 6,947.Following are detailed figures relating to the Civil Defence Corps:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to the report of the inquest on Robert Boyd, placed by West Sussex County Council for adoption; and whether he will make a statement.

My officers investigated this case last week. The information available to me indicates that there was an error of judgment in placing this child, despite the anxiety of the authority to secure his welfare. I am satisfied, however, that there was full co-operation between the two authorities in exercising close supervision over the child, who was also receiving medical attention.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the estimated maximum demand for electricity from domestic and industrial consumers at the peak period in the winter months; and the extent to which the maximum capacity of existing power stations to supply electricity falls short of that demand.

The latest estimate of the demand at peak this winter if the weather should be as bad as has been experienced at any time during the last 100 years, is 13,700,000 kilowatts. This does not allow for the effect of load spreading or voluntary transfer of demand from the peak. The expected total effective generated capacity is 2,050,000 kilowatts less than this estimated maximum demand.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the loss occasioned by power cuts to production and to goods and materials and the processing thereof in Huddersfield; the extent of such cuts in the last 12 months; and what warning was given before they were made.

I am aware of the losses caused by power cuts, but I have not the detailed information which would enable me to reply to the second part of the Question, and I suggest that the hon. Member should communicate with the area electricity board.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider what steps he can take to discourage the use of electric fires in houses as being wasteful of fuel.

The use of electric fires at peak hours is one of the main causes of electricity load shedding, and efforts have already been made to discourage such use. I am considering what more can be done to encourage the most economical use of all forms of fuel.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in connection with his fuel efficiency campaign, he will say what steps are to be taken to co-ordinate the activities of the nationalised coal, gas and electricity industries, with a view to ensuring that their policy is so arranged as to encourage consumers to use the most efficient form of energy for their heating, lighting and power requirements.

Under existing legislation, national policy for encouraging consumers to use the most efficient form of energy for their heating, lighting and power requirements rests with the Minister of Fuel and Power.The extent to which consumers can be encouraged to use the most efficient form of energy raises wide political and economic questions, with which it would not be possible to deal within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary Question, but I can assure my hon. Friend that it is a matter which I regard as of the highest importance, and to which I give my constant attention.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the tonnage lost in the coalfields during the last six months in consequence of stoppages.

The total tonnage of coal lost in the six months ended 2nd December, 1950, as the result of stoppages at the mines due to recognised holidays was 4,895,000 tons; due to disputes, 562,000 tons; due to accidents, breakdowns and repairs to machinery, 150,000 tons, and due to ther causes 73.000 tons.

asked the Secretary of State for War what training is given to National Service men before they are sent abroad, what period is first served at home; and what is the minimum age at which they are sent abroad.

All National Service men complete their basic training before being sent abroad. The period of this training varies widely as between different arms of the Service. Before being sent to the Middle East Land Forces, the Far East Land Forces or Korea, it is an additional condition that National Service men must have completed at least 12 weeks' service, including 10 weeks' training, 18 weeks' service, including 16 weeks' training, and six months' service respectively. The minimum age at which National Service men may be sent abroad is 19 years in the case of Korea, 18 years in the case of the Continent of Europe (excluding Greece, Malta and Gibraltar) and 18 years 3 months in the case of all other overseas theatres.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can arrange that 7588075 Warrant Officer II J. W. Turner, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, at present at Ordnance Depot, Lagos, should return to this country by 25th December in view of the treatment recently suffered by this soldier, after long service of good character extending over fifteen years, and the difficult position in which he now finds himself if he continues to serve at his present station.

I am looking into this matter and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take immediate steps to restore the sub-post office at Ruswarp, and, if there is any delay, to improvise some arrangement in view of the inconvenience to the village in not having a post office, particularly near Christmas.

I regret that it has not yet been possible to find a suitable candidate for the vacant sub-postmastership at Ruswarp. The postal clerk who already attends in the village for two hours on Fridays to pay pensions and allowances and to transact other Post Office business will, however, for the period 18th to 23rd December, inclusive, be in attendance for a period up to five hours daily.

asked the Postmaster-General how many of the 1,160 telephones connected in Cheltenham since 1st January, 1949, were given priority.

The information is not readily available. I am making inquiry and will write to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Postmaster-General why, under what circumstances, and by whose authority, the Post Office sends letters to subscribers asking them to reveal in confidence the addresses of those whom the Post Office wishes to contact; and whether he will stop this practice forthwith.

When a telephone subscriber owing an account has removed, other subscribers with whom he has had substantial telephone contact may be approached for assistance in ascertaining his new address if other methods have failed. The precise reason for the approach should not be given, and I see no reason to stop the procedure.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephones that has been installed in the Cardiff telephone area since January, 1949, in establishments under the administration of various Government Departments; and how many telephones have been installed for the use of local residents during the same period, making a distinction between private residences and offices.

The particulars desired are as follows:

For Government Departments	1,002
For business	10,629
For private residences	1,393

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give the substance of the replies he has received from the Governments of Spain and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in reply to his approach to them concerning interference with the Home Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the North-East; and when he anticipates that this interference will cease.

The reply from the Spanish Administration indicated their desire to avoid such interference and promised an early revision of the present situation. I am not yet able to say when the interference will cease, but I have replied emphasising the seriousness and urgency of the matter. The Russian Administration has not yet replied.

asked the Postmaster-General what precedents, or comparable examples, there have been for the arrangement and publication of the appointment to the office of Governor of the British Broadcasting Corporation of a member of a committee which is in process of reporting upon the future constitution, control and finance of the organisation for the direction of which he will be responsible; and why such an appointment was made before the committee had reported or the House debated that report.

I know of no reason why the appointment should be governed by precedent. The terms of office of the Vice-Chairman and a Governor of the B.B.C. expire on 31st December, and His Majesty in Council has accordingly appointed their successors.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent he expects a shortage of winter feed in Scotland; and what steps he proposes to take to meet it.

There may be some shortage of home-grown feed this winter in those areas most affected by the bad harvest. Where necessary the seasonal allocations of supplementary feedingstuffs which have already been made to agricultural executive committees for discretionary use to assist farmers in real need are being augmented.

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.

pursuant to his reply on 14th December [OFFICIAL REPORT,. c. 201]: In their review of the general position the Electricity Sub-Committee, in conjunction with the British Electricity Authority, have carefully considered the extent to which Saturday morning work would assist in spreading the peak hour load during the five normal working days.The Sub-Committee have advised me that the present peak hour load on Saturday mornings is calculated to be 77 per cent. of the load on the normal working day as compared with 90 per cent. in 1946 before the five-day week became widespread. A resumption of work on Saturday morning would inevitably entail the risk of load shedding and it would, of course, only affect the peak hour problem if industry took a compensatory morning off during the normal working week. As the arrangements for Saturday morning working vary with each industry, any change involving Saturday morning would require to be considered industry by industry and organised in each particular area in such a way as to reduce the demand effectively on each of the five working days.Whip the Sub-Committee do not wish to recommend against its adoption by such industrial establishments as may find it practicable, they believe that am extension of load spreading on the five normal working days would, in general, be a quicker and more effective contribution towards assisting in finding a solution to this problem.

asked the Minister of Supply why, in view of the present rearmament programme, he has recently disposed of 150 tons of khaki clothing, 21,000 pairs of boots and 3,250 ground sheets.

My Department has been given the fullest possible assurances by the Service Departments that no stores handed over for disposal are required for retention by themselves or the Allies. The stores they declare are usually either unserviceable, damaged beyond repair or obsolete.

asked the Minister of Works how many houses are leased to and owned by Government Departments in Cardiff; which are unoccupied; and for how long have they been unoccupied.

Forty-seven houses in Cardiff are now held on lease or owned by Government Departments. One has been unoccupied for the reason given in my reply to the hon. Member on 17th July. The owner has now agreed to the surrender of the lease early in 1951.

asked the Minister of Works what is the nature of the repairs at present being done to the Guards' Memorial.

Stonework so damaged as to lead to further deterioration of the Memorial is being replaced; lettering so damaged as to make the Battle Honours illegible is being renewed, otherwise the scars of war are being left untouched.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total cost to the taxpayer, from the beginning of the Health Scheme to 1st July, 1951, of the salaries of those senior registrars and registrars who will have been employed in posts in excess of the establishment put forward by him to be effective from that date.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received calling for safe crossing facilities on the North Circular Road, London, at the Brook Road point; and what steps he proposes to take to meet the urgent needs of pedestrians in the area.

The Willesden Borough Council and the Braintcroft and District Ratepayers' Association have suggested the installation of pedestrian crossing and pedestrian-operated traffic light signals at the Brook Road junction. I am advised that those measures would not be appropriate. I am, however, considering in consultation with the Police, whether any improvements are desirable and practicable.

asked the Minister of Transport the percentage, to the nearest tenth per cent., of the total vehicles operating under C licences represented by vehicles up to one and a half tons unladen weight, as at January,1949, January, 1950, and the latest convenient date.

At 31st December, 1948, the percentage was 54.6 and at 31st December, 1949, it was 55.4. The percentage at 30th September, 1950, was 54.9 but this is not strictly comparable with the earlier figures, which were based on fuel rationing. The present figures, based on licensing, include certain additional vehicles which were not rationed through the normal procedure. If these vehicles were excluded the percentage at 30th September, 1950, would have been 55.6.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a list of towns in the United Kingdom in which "No Waiting" restrictions come into force before 11.30 a.m.; and if any undue inconvenience is caused to the delivery of goods.

The list of towns is long and I am communicating it to the hon. Member. Practically all the relevant orders include exemptions allowing the loading and unloading of goods for reasonable periods within the restricted time.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he has taken or is taking to meet the difficulties with regard to transport between Northern Ireland and Great Britain which were pointed out to the Parliamentary Secretary to his Department during his visit to Northern Ireland.

The main difficulties to which attention was drawn were those relating to the high cost of transport which is due to long distances from markets and sources of supply. These costs cannot be treated in isolation, but must be considered in connection with other matters affecting the economic position of Northern Ireland. Attention was also drawn to traffic delays. This is a matter for the British Transport Commission and I have brought it to their attention.

asked the Minister of Transport what parts of Watling Street, Kent, are scheduled restricted as to speed limits.

I have no precise and comprehensive records of the speed limits it, force, but I understand that on the London—Canterbury—Dover Trunk Road (A2) from the London County Council boundary to Dover, the following lengths are subject to a speed limit of 30 m.p.h.:

Locality	Approximate length of Restriction Miles
Strood—Rochester—Chatham—Rainham	7.55
Newington	0.4
Sittingbourne—Green Street	3.25
Teynham	0.5
Oare—Faversham	1.3
Boughton	0.75
Harbledown—Canterbury	2.35
Bridge	0.35
Lydden	0.85
Temple Ewell—Dover	3.00

asked the Minister of Transport why the troopship "Empire Windrush" was delayed four extra days at Port Said and instructed not to dock in this country until after Christmas.

All the arrangements in connection with this ship were made on the assumption that she would arrive at Southampton on 27th December. When the ship sailed from Singapore four days earlier than anticipated, consideration was given to the possibility of speeding up the voyage so as to arrive in the United Kingdom before Christmas, but, at the request of the Service Departments, it was decided to adhere to the original schedule, especially as many of the families to be embarked had based their arrangements on 27th as the arrival date and it was too late to alter these.