asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many African assistant medical officers are employed in Government service in Uganda; how many of them are in charge of hospitals; and how many perform operations.

Fifty-eight African assistant medical officers are in Government service, of whom nine are in charge of hospital units. All perform operations, except one at present on public health duties and two pursuing further study in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision is made to enable African medical officers employed in Uganda to complete their training to qualify as doctors.

Africans holding the Makerere Diploma in Medicine are already eligible to be licensed as medical practitioners on entering the Uganda Government Service as assistant medical officers, and are accorded the title of "Doctor" in East Africa. It is the aim of the College so to improve and adapt its diploma course that the General Medical Council will admit holders of the diploma to the British Register without further qualification such as is required by them at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the rights of hearing accorded to a native of Uganda before an order can be made by the Governor ordering his deportation or directing him to reside in some other part of Uganda; and what copies of the evidence are provided to the respondent.

These powers are preventative and not punitive and provision is not made in the relevant legislation to cover either point raised. The powers are limited by law to cases of conduct dangerous to peace and good order or of intriguing against or exciting enmity against the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the length of the medical course at Makerere College; how many Government scholarships are provided; and whether leave of absence is granted for medical officers to complete the course to qualify as doctors.

The full Diploma Course lasts seven years. All of the 28 students at present taking the course receive Government grants. Selected African assistant medical officers are given leave of absence to acquire special postgraduate qualifications in the United Kingdom to assist them in their duties in, East Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give an assurance that no further constitutional changes will be undertaken in East Africa until the African, Asian and European peoples living in those territories have been fully consulted.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement on East Africa which I made in the House on 13th December. In that statement I explained the basic principles of policy in relation to constitutional changes, and said "Future policy must be worked out in full consultation with those who belong to the territories."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 13th December, 1950; Vol. 482, c. 1173.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the relatives of Sergeant C. E. Vince, Palestine Police, have been hoping to receive a photograph of his grave in Mount Zion Cemetery, Jerusalem, since his death in November, 1947, and that the hon. Member for Maldon has been in correspondence with his Department about this matter since July, 1948; and if he will now renew his efforts to secure this photograph and also satisfy himself that this and other graves of British policemen in this cemetery are well cared for.

Photographs of Sergeant Vince's grave have now been obtained from the Consular authorities in Jerusalem, and have been forwarded to Sergeant Vince's parents. The general question of the care and maintenance of the graves of the British members of the former Palestine Administration is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to the remarks of Dr. F. C. Benham, Economic Adviser to the Government of Malaya, concerning Malaya's need of external finance under the Colombo Plan; and what steps are being taken to remedy this situation.

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to Dr. Benham's broadcast on the Colombo Plan on the 17th October, 1950. As Dr. Benham said, the Governments of the Federation of Malaya and Singapore will do all they can to finance their development plans from their own resources. As regards external finance, I would refer to the statement made in the House by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 28th November last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will, in order to reassure the workers of Malaya, give an assurance that the Registrar of Trade Unions in the Federation does not examine the minutes of the unions' business, nor lists of membership, and that he acts in accordance in this respect with British trade union practices.

The Registrar does not examine trade union minutes, nor has he the power to do so. He has, however, the right to inspect subscription registers, as part of his general supervision of trade union accounts and to safeguard the interests of the members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if it is intended to place on trial the 27 prominent persons in Singapore, including five members of the Co-operative Society Executive, trade union officials, teachers and students, who have recently been arrested under the War Emergency Regulations.

As I have already stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery) it is not yet possible to say how many of the persons recently detained in Singapore under the Emergency Regulations will be charged in court.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what contribution is being made by the Government of the Bahamas to the projected Colonial Development Corporation Agricultural Scheme at Eleuthera.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he proposes to take to control pulmonary tuberculosis in the Bahamas in view of the remarks contained in paragraph III (d) of the abridged medical report for the Colony for 1949.

I am asking the Governor for a report on the present position and will write to the hon. Member when I have received it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the present age limits for African pupils in Nyasaland and what Government-aided facilities exist for their education over the age of 13.

Maximum age limits for entry into each primary grade were introduced in Government-aided schools in 1948. Those now in force for new entrants are: 8 for sub Standard A; 12 for Standard I, rising to 17 for Standard VI.Six hundred and eighty-two Government-aided primary schools provide education from Standard I to Standard III and 14 from Standard IV to Standard VI. There are two secondary schools financed by the Government and a third is expected to open shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what adjustments have been made in the Ten Year Development Plan for Nigeria as the result of lack of revenue; and what action is being taken by the Nigerian Government to secure additional funds to implement the whole plan.

The revised plan has not yet been laid before the Nigerian Legislative Council and I am still in consultation with the Governor on it. I expect that it will be laid before the Legislative Council at its meeting next month and at that time I should be very glad to deal with the point raised. But I think that a statement by me at present would be premature.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will request the Government of Tanganyika to publicise the proceedings of the Trusteeship Council in so far as they refer to Tanganyika so that Africans may understand the recommendations which affect them.

Arrangements have long existed for the supply of large quantities of Trusteeship Council records, and much other United Nations publicity material, to the Public Relations Officer in Tanganyika. These are widely distributed through the usual publicity channels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement as to why the previous Director of Medical Service was asked to retire in view of the fact that the Tanganyika Government is recruiting 20 doctors in South Africa owing to the shortage of doctors in the Medical Service; and what efforts were made to secure Asian doctors from East Africa or unemployed doctors in Malta.

The shortage of staff in the department at lower levels did not in the Governor's opinion justify retention in the service of the late Director after he had qualified for retirement on pension under the relevant Tanganyika legislation. No candidates were in fact recruited in South Africa, but only five vacancies now exist, for two or which candidates are in sight. The Tanganyika Government employ a number of Asian doctors. A Selection Committee for recruitment to the Colonial Medical Service was set up in Malta in September, 1950, and candidates recommended by it have already been selected for colonial appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if any decision has yet been reached as to whether Nkrumah is eligible to stand as a candidate for the forthcoming elections in the Gold Coast.

Mr. Nkrumah has been nominated as candidate for Accra Municipality and his papers have been accepted by the Returning Officer. Any question of the qualification or disqualification of a Member of the Assembly can be determined only by the Supreme Court after the election on an election petition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many officers in the Colonial Service in Kenya, Tanganyika, Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia have acquired land, either in their own name or in the name of close relatives, in the territories in which they serve; and whether the Governments of these territories will now introduce regulations to prevent the acquisition of land by officials and by members of their families.

I am unable to state the number of officers concerned as such cases are not normally reported to the Colonial Office. Under Colonial Regulations an officer may be given permission to acquire land only if it is clear that his private affairs would not by reason of such acquisition be brought into conflict with his public duties and in view of that safeguard I do not think it necessary to invite the Governments concerned to consider the suggestion in the last part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will consult with General Eisenhower and/or with the Atlantic Treaty Powers in order to safeguard stocks of strategic raw materials by placing the bulk of these in areas secure from any danger of being overrun by Communist forces in the event of war.

Our representatives and no doubt those of the other Powers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation will appreciate the importance of ensuring that stockpiles are located with due regard for strategic considerations.

asked the Minister of Defence what is the position of men who have signed on with a Service for short terms and whose contracts are about to expire.

Men serving on short service engagements will be retained beyond the expiry of their periods of service in the same way as those serving on normal Regular engagements, that is, for not longer than 18 months in the Navy, 12 to 18 months in the Army, and 12 months in the Royal Air Force.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will incorporate Polish soldiers, now settled in this country, in the Class Z and comparable Reserves.

Membership of Class Z and equivalent Reserves is confined to men who have been released from service under the Armed Forces (Conditions of Service) Act, 1939, or the Naval and Marine Forces (Temporary Release from Service) Act, 1940, and are liable under those Acts to recall during the present emergency. There are probably a few Poles still living in this country who joined the United Kingdom Forces as volunteers during the war and were released under those Acts. Ex-members of the Polish forces, however, are not subject to those Acts and are not therefore liable to recall.

asked the Minister of Defence when it is expected that a decision will be taken respecting the return to the industry of miners called up for the Services.

asked the Minister of Defence how many miners have volunteered to join the Forces; how many Reservists have been called to the Colours; and whether arrangements are being made for their return to the mining industry.

During 1950, 1,591 colliery workers joined the Army on Regular engagements and 386 joined the Navy. I regret that figures for the Royal Air Force are not available. The number of Reservists employed at collieries who have been recalled to the Forces is not known and could not be secured without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power announced last Thursday in the course of the debate on the coal shortage, ex-miners with at least six months' experience underground who have volunteered for the Forces during the past two years will be allowed to return to mining if they wish to do so. Reservists who have been recalled will not be allowed to leave the Forces.

asked the Minister of Defence whether the pay, bonus and allowances that will become due to Class Z and other Reservists will be free from any outstanding accounts due by such Reservists in respect of previous war service.

In the case of those Reservists who will be called up only for 15 days' training, it is not proposed to take any steps to recover such debts from the emoluments they receive. Other cases will be treated entirely on their merits.

asked the Minister of Defence what is the correct procedure for men in the Reserves wishing to apply for exemption from call-up on compassionate grounds.

Reservists affected by the plans for recall announced by the Prime Minister on 29th January who wish to apply on compassionate grounds for exemption from recall, should address their applications, together with full supporting evidence, to the authority from whom the call-up notice or the warning notice for training has been received.

asked the Minister of Defence if, in view of the urgency of the matter for the people concerned, he is now able to announce a decision concerning similar air parcel postage rates for the Services; and if he will give special consideration to those stationed in combat areas such as Korea.

The Government have carefully considered this matter. They recognise that parcels sent by surface routes to the Far East may take a considerable time in transmission and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War is accordingly considering, as a matter of urgency, the introduction of a bulk parcel scheme which will enable relatives and friends of men serving in combat areas to order goods held in stock overseas to be sent to individual members of the Forces. I hope to make an early announcement on this subject. The possibility of introducing an air parcel service to Korea at concessionary rates has been investigated. The Government have decided that such a concession could not be limited to men serving in combat areas and that the cost involved, which would amount to a subsidy of 73s. 6d. on each 4 lb. parcel, sent by air to Korea, would be prohibitive.

asked the Minister of Food if he is yet able to announce a relaxation of his regulations in respect to the sale of sweets and chocolates in new shops.

I am glad to say that, in view of improved supplies of chocolate and sweets, we have now been able to make some relaxation in our retail sweets licensing policy. In future, where the opening of a new shop would remove inconvenience to the public, food control committees will be able to take a more liberal view of applications for licences. Supplies are not yet adequate, however, to provide starting stocks for all the people who would like to open sweet shops, and the number of new licences which can be granted must still, I am afraid, be limited.

asked the Minister of Food what was done with the beef, mutton and pork from the animals exhibited at the Smithfield Club Show held at Earls Court last December.

This meat was distributed in the London area as part of the ordinary ration.

asked the Minister of Food what are the authorised variations in the standard ration of meat to various trades, institutions, etc., which are above that supplied to the general public.

The normal catering allowance is the equivalent of one domestic ration for every 14 main meals served. The only higher scales are to industrial canteens and for school feeding. The equivalent of one domestic ration is supplied for about every five main meals served in industrial canteens for heavy workers and in miners' hostels; for every nine main meals served in other industrial canteens; and for every seven main meals served in hostels for heavy industrial workers other than miners. There is a flat rate of 2 3–5 of a pennyworth of meat for every main meal in school feeding centres which, at to-day's rates, is equal to one domestic ration for every four main meals.

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the meat available is now going towards the domestic ration; and how is the remainder distributed.

During the seven weeks ended 20th January, 1951, the latest period for which information is available, meat was distributed in the following proportions:

asked the Minister of Food whether, having regard to the reduced meat ration upon which their special ration is based, he will increase the present ration of meat for diabetics.

The Food Rationing (Special Diets) Advisory Committee of the Medical Research Council who are my medical advisers, have considered the effect of the recent cuts in the meat ration on diabetics. They assure me that the present rations allowed to diabetics provide enough protein for any type of diabetic diet. As well as two extra meat rations, diabetics are allowed 12 oz. of cheese a week.

asked the Minister of Food the arrangements whereby people may buy more than one week's meat ration at a time.

Meat coupons in the ordinary ration books may be used in the week to which they relate or in the following week.

asked the Minister of Food what is the estimated annual cost calculated at the present rate of the rebate paid to butchers for not selling meat.

asked the Minister of Food how much rebate was paid to the butchers in Great Britain when the meat ration was 1s., 10d. and 8d. per week; and what was the basic figure in each case.

The rebate paid to butchers for the five weeks from 31st December last on the 1s. 0d. ration (including two-pennyworth of canned corned meat) was 2s. 3d. in the £ or about £300,000 a week. From the 4th February the rebate on the 10d. ration (including two-pennyworth of canned corned meat) will be 4s. 0d. in the £ or about £450,000 a week. The ration has never been at 8d. The cost will form part of my Department's trading results and will be borne out of its trading vote. The cost-of-living figures will not be affected, since the retail prices of meat are unchanged.

asked the Minister of Food how much the increase in the rebate being made to butchers to compensate them for loss of trade will cost the Treasury.

The increase in the rebate to butchers from 2s. 3d. to 4s. in the £ will cost £150,000 a week, while it remains in operation.

asked the Minister of Food how much the extra subsidy to the butchers will cost; on what Vote will it be placed; and if it will be included in the cost-of-living figures.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Members for Louth (Mr. Osborne) and Durham, North-West (Mr. Murray).

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make a statement on anticipated bonus issues of sugar during spring, summer and autumn; and whether such issues will be in addition to the recent increase on the ration.

I hope to make an announcement about this in a week or so.

asked the Minister of Food if he has considered the possibility of making available extra supplies of butter, outwith the ration, as on the same lines as gruyere, blue-vein and cream cheese.

There is no sign that the present butter ration satisfies the demand and I do not think it would be fair to let some people have extra butter. The cheeses my hon. Friend mentions are of a kind which would not be acceptable to everyone on the ration and that is why it was decided to allow them to he sold as additions to the ration.

asked the Minister of Food how the incidence of fowl pest will affect the egg ration; and whether eggs will again be taken off the ration this year during the season when they are most plentiful.

On the first part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture gave on 31st January to the hon. Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser). I hope to be able to take eggs off the ration during the spring, but it is too soon yet to be sure.

asked the Minister of Food what was the difference between the highest price he offered to pay, and the lowest price the Argentine Government were prepared to accept, for their meat supplies; what was the quantity involved; and how much would it have added to the weekly meat ration.

I intend to deal with this Question in the forthcoming debate in the House on the Argentine negotiations.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of meat he anticipates receiving from Australia and New Zealand in 1951.

Australia and New Zealand send us almost the whole of their exportable surplus, but we cannot be sure what this will be in 1951. Last year Australia sent us 126,734 tons of carcase meat and offal and New Zealand 356,468 tons, as well as 11,670 tons and 3,110 tons of canned corned meat.

asked the Minister of Food how many enforcement officers are now employed by his Department; how many of them are men and how many women; and what their respective salaries are.

The number of enforcement officers in my Department on 1st January, 1951, was 581, including 26 women. Thirteen of these (all men) are attached to headquarters and are paid, according to grade, salaries ranging from £550 to £800 a year. The others are paid, according to grade, salaries ranging from £400 to £700 (women, £350 to £450), subject to a reduction for those stationed outside London.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will import reindeer and goat meat to supplement the meat ration.

Subject to the usual animal health safeguards, reindeer meat may be imported by private traders under open general licence. The amounts available of this meat and goat meat would not justify putting them on the ration.

asked the Minister of Food the amount of subsidy per pound paid during the past six months on home-killed meat, taking into account the value of hides and other by-products, and imported carcase meat, respectively.

Because of seasonal variations in quantities and prices it would be misleading to give figures for a period of less than a year. Taking into account the value of hides and other by-products and the stopping of shipments from Argentine and Uruguay, it is estimated that the subsidy on meat for the year ending on 31st March, will be 3¼d. a lb. on home-killed meat and of no measurable value on imported carcase meat.

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the supply of beef, lamb, mutton and pork in 1950 was produced in the United Kingdom.

56.3 per cent. of the beef and veal, 26 per cent. of the mutton and lamb and 67 per cent. of the pork consumed in 1950 was of home-produced origin.

asked the Minister of Food how much meat he has recently bought; and how much more he intends to buy from France.

4,800 tons of beef were recently purchased from France. I am looking into the possibility of obtaining further supplies of meat from this source but I cannot say what quantities or types are likely to be forthcoming.

asked the Minister of Food if he is inquiring into the possibilities of importing beef from Kenya.

I understand that there is, at present, no exportable surplus of beef available in Kenya, as there is an unsatisfied local demand.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the inadequate omnibus services in many villages in East Suffolk, he is prepared to consider authorising his officers to distribute orange juice and cod liver oil to village stores for sale there.

Every effort is made by my local officers to arrange adequate distribution of welfare foods in rural areas; and we are most grateful for the considerable amount of voluntary assistance we receive. East Suffolk is served by 203 distribution centres run voluntarily, as well as by the 19 food offices; and the district nurses also deliver to some of the hamlets. If, however, the hon. Member will let me know of any places where there are particular difficulties, I shall be glad to see what can be done to help.

asked the Minister of Food, in view of the lower price of American wheat as compared with American maize, he will consider purchasing extra wheat in the place of maize, and lowering the flour extraction rate, in order to increase the supply of wheat offals for animal feedingstuffs in lieu of maize; and what saving it is estimated would be effected by reducing the flour extraction rate to 75 per cent. compared with an equivalent quantity of maize.

It would not be economical at present to buy extra American wheat in place of maize because, while the price of American wheat under the International Wheat Agreement is lower than the price of maize, wheat bought outside the Agreement costs more. The full United Kingdom quota under the International Wheat Agreement is needed for flour and bread, even at the present extraction rate, and any additional wheat would, therefore, have to be purchased at the higher figure. In reply to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I give him on 31st January.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent the value of the sheepskins sold by his Department has increased in the past 12 months.

The average net amount realised for sheepskins during the year ending 30th April last year was about 12s. 10d. a skin. If current price levels for skin, wool and pelts are maintained it is estimated that the comparable figure for the year ending 30th April next, will be about 22s, a skin.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to what extent the overtime ban in ship-repair work on Merseyside is interfering with the refitting of naval craft.

The effect of the overtime ban in ship-repair work on Merseyside, so far as the refitting of warships is concerned, is at present negligible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what are our naval commitments under the Atlantic Pact.

We are taking a full part with the other signatories of the Pact in the provision of forces and the development of plans for all naval operations in support of Allied strategy. The hon. and gallant Member will not expect me to disclose our commitments in any detail.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what contracts his Department have placed during the last five years with British Fish Canners, Limited, of Leeds; and what is the value of such contracts.

None.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the establishment and the present strength of the Royal Fleet Reserve.

Twenty-five thousand and 23,378 respectively on 31st December, 1950.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the widow, with two children, of a Maltese workman recently killed in an accident in His Majesty's Dockyard will receive a gratuity and a pension of 13s. a week only; and when these rates were last revised.

The case referred to would appear to be that of the widow of Vincent Cini, a hired engine fitter, employed in Malta Dockyard, whose death, on 18th November, 1950, as a result of injuries sustained while at work, the Admiralty greatly deplores. A gratuity of £89 2s. was paid in respect of his service, and Mrs. Cini was awarded an annual allowance of £35 2s. 2d. together with a gratuity in respect of her children of £39 10s. This award was made under Scale III of the Treasury Injury Warrant, and is related to the pay of the deceased at the date of his death. Awards under the Warrant are a fixed proportion of the injured person's pay at the time of the injury and vary from time to time in accordance with changes in the rate of pay in issue. These rates were last reviewed in 1945.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will reintroduce the priority for Inter-Commonwealth Press cables which existed before the war.

I am not aware of any special arrangements existing prewar for Inter-Commonwealth Press cables. Towards the end of the war arrangements for the handling of Press messages in London were revised and these now provide for more expeditious treatment than previously.

asked the Postmaster-General what cheap cable facilities exist between troops in Korea and their families in the United Kingdom; and why the Expeditionary Force Message facilities have not been given to our troops.

The full range of public telegraph services is available at Commonwealth rates between the troops in Korea and their families in the United Kingdom. These rates are much cheaper than those normally charged for telegrams to and from Korea. The charge for ordinary telegrams at these rates is 1s. a word; and for Commonwealth Social Telegrams it is 6d. a word, with a minimum charge of 5s. In addition the Expeditionary Force Message service at 2s. 6d. for each message was introduced last month.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT particulars of the provincial areas which will obtain delivery next morning by the first and second posts respectively, of letters included in the new late evening London collections.

The proceeds of the 7.30 p.m. collection in the head districts are due to secure first delivery next day throughout England and Wales. The proceeds of the 7.30 p.m. collections in sub-districts and of the 8.15–9 p.m. collections throughout London are due to secure first delivery in London and the greater part of the Home Counties and in some provincial towns outside that area; elsewhere in England and Wales second delivery will mostly be secured.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the time of the first delivery of post in the City of London; and what revision he is contemplating.

The first delivery in the City of London is due to begin at 7.30 a.m. and to finish by 9 a.m.; a revision of these times is not in contemplation.

asked the Postmaster-General how many dog licences were issued by his Department for the country as a whole and for the City of Leeds, stated separately, for the last full year prior to 1939 and for the last ascertained similar period.

The figures were:

asked the Postmaster-General if, to prevent fraud, he will require a photograph of the depositor concerned to be put on each Post Office Savings Bank book, and so dispense with identity cards.

No. I consider it neither practicable nor desirable to impose this obligation upon the many millions of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank.

asked the Postmaster-General why it has been decided to double the size of special issues of postage stamps to commemorate the Festival of Britain; what is the additional amount of paper required; and what extra cost is incurred.

The space provided by the ordinary small denomination postage stamp does not allow scope for a worthy commemorative design and for this reason the dimensions of commemorative stamps are larger than normal. It is estimated that the extra paper required for the two special Festival of Britain stamps will be of the order of seven to eight tons.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his stocks of copper and other raw materials are sufficient to enable him to maintain and expand the telephone services; and whether he will give an undertaking that the telephone position in Sheffield will not deteriorate any further.

The Post Office does not hold stocks of raw materials but takes all possible steps to ensure adequate supplies to the telecommunications industry. Sheffield will receive a due proportion of the equipment available to the Post Office subject to the demands of rearmament and export.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephones are still out of order as the result of the recent severe weather in Northern Ireland; how many of these are located in the Belfast area; and when the necessary repairs will be completed.

Temporary repair of all the damaged lines was completed on 30th January, 11,000 telephones in Northern Ireland, including 6,000 in the City of Belfast, and more than 35,000 telephones in the rest of the United Kingdom, were put out of order by the storm.

asked the Postmaster-General how many persons in the boroughs of Wimbledon and Malden and Coombe, respectively, who have applied for telephones in their business premises and private houses, are still waiting for telephones; and what further delay he anticipates.

In Wimbledon 311 business and 1,265 residential applicants

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new houses have been built in Midlothian for priority classes, miners and others, respectively, by the county council of Midlothian and by the Scottish Special Housing Association, respectively; and how many are in course of erection.

The information asked for is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of inhabited houses in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh for each of the years 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950.

The numbers of inhabited houses shown in the returns by local assessors for the six post-war years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when was the last Scottish Housing Survey undertaken by the Department of Health and the local authorities; and what were the figures for housing need in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, so disclosed.

A survey of overcrowding in Scotland was carried out in 1935. This disclosed a need for 46,633 additional houses in Glasgow, 11,155 in Edinburgh, 5,367 in Aberdeen and 7,552 in Dundee, to relieve overcrowding then existing.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of duty per gallon charged for supplies of fuel for aviation purposes to foreign aircraft refuelling in this country.

The duty charged on aviation fuel supplied to foreign aircraft is the same as that charged on fuel supplied to United Kingdom aircraft, viz., 1s. 6d. per gallon on light hydrocarbon oils liable to Customs Duty and 9d. per gallon on similar hydrocarbon oils liable to Excise Duty. The duty is repaid as drawback in respect of fuel for flights to places outside the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement concerning the recruiting drive for Civil Defence in South Wales with special reference to the number of recruits obtained in each locality, the assistance given by the local authorities concerned, and the steps proposed to improve recruitment.

The broad position is that recruitment to the Civil Defence Corps and the National Hospital Service Reserve has improved considerably during recent months, although recruitment to the Auxiliary Fire Service is less satisfactory. Local authorities have, in general, been alive to their responsibilities, and steps are being taken to improve recruitment by means of publicity and other appropriate measures. I am sending to the hon. Member a table containing the detailed information in respect of each locality for which he asks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether advertisements issued by the British Travel Centre in New York advertising the arrangements made here for the accommodation and care of Americans visiting the Festival of Britain have first to be passed by the Festival authorities in London, or by the British Embassy in Washington, or under what authority are these assurances given.

The British Travel and Holidays Association are solely responsible for the publicity issued by the British Travel Centre, which is their New York office.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what acreage of forest was cut down and cleared in the British zone of Germany in the five years after the war; and how much timber was shipped to this country from Germany in the same period.

Approximately 533,000 acres of forest were cleared in the British zone of Germany in the five post-war years, 415,000 acres of which were cut by the Germans for their own use. British cutting operations accounted for some 99,000 acres, from which approximately one million cubic metres of timber were supplied for German use. Of the remainder, 10,600 acres were cut by Belgium and 8,400 by Holland. According to German statistics, exports of timber, in all forms, to the United Kingdom from Western Germany up to the end of 1949 amounted to 4.5 million cubic metres. Exports after 1949 were negligible.