asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities in the West Riding are among the 20 per cent. who have not adopted the standard figures of maintenance and financial principles set out in Administrative Memorandum No. 332

Two.

asked the Minister of Education how many pre-fabricated aluminium schools are now in course of erection; how many are planned for the present year; and if he intends to continue with this method of construction.

I understand that 10 pre-fabricated aluminium schools are under construction, while 10 others are being erected partially in this form of construction. It is for local education authorities or other responsible bodies to decide the method of construction to be used for school buildings. I have therefore no comprehensive information about the extent to which aluminium will be used in the 1951–52 programme. In view of the shortage of building labour in many areas, I expect authorities will continue to use these components which often provide the only means of building urgently needed schools.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is satisfied that all imported apples and other produce are marked with their country of origin as required by the Merchandise Marks Act.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom) on 29th January.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what price per lb. was paid by his Department for first Lincoln ewe wool to farmers for the 1950 clip; and for what price per lb. was the wool sold by the Government agents on 17th November, 1950, and 26th January, 1951, respectively.

In accordance with the schedule of prices drawn up last May the price paid to farmers for greasy first Lincoln ewe wool of the 1950 clip was 21¾ pence per lb. The prices received for selected parcels of this wool when graded and sold by auction were 102d. per lb. on 17th November, 1950, and 125½d. per lb. on 26th January, 1951.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the future of the Nene and Welland Catchment Boards.

Not yet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that approximately 80 per cent. of the growers in this country were unable to make a profit last year; and what steps he is taking to protect their industry.

I am aware of the difficulties which horticulturists have experienced over the last year but I have no evidence on which to base an estimate of the proportion failing to make a profit. The National Farmers' Union has submitted an application for the revision of import duties on many horticultural products and this is receiving careful consideration. In the meantime imports of a wide range of fruits and vegetables are restricted during the main season of marketing of the home crops.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what evidence he has to show that the spread of fowl pest in this country is due to the importation of infected poultry.

Although it has not been possible to determine with certainty the source of the present outbreaks of the sub-acute form of fowl pest, there is a possible connection with swill from an American camp. There is also evidence both direct and indirect which points to a good number of the outbreaks of the acute Continental type over the past few years as having been connected with imported poultry. The following is the evidence for this:

(i) When outbreaks of fowl pest occur, veterinary officers of the Ministry make inquiries about the source of infection. These inquiries have shown, in a considerable number of cases, a direct connection with imported poultry.

(ii) The distribution of primary outbreaks of fowl pest has coincided to a marked extent, both in time and place, with the distribution of carcases from countries where fowl pest is prevalent.

(iii) The virus of fowl pest has been recovered from the carcases of poultry imported from such countries.

(iv) There have been periods when this country has been free or almost free from the disease and its subsequent reappearance can only be attributed to the introduction of fresh infection from abroad.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will immediately stop the import of poultry from pest infected countries, and continue this ban until this pest has been substantially eradicated.

I have at present nothing to add to the statement by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary in the debate on the Adjournment on 9th February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many separate outbreaks of fowl pest occurred in Great Britain for the last week for which records are available; and how these figures compare with the previous week.

There were 59 outbreaks of fowl pest in Great Britain during the week ended 13th February, 1951, compared with 50 outbreaks during the previous week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in respect of how many acres of agricultural land in Berkshire, during 1950, he gave his consent for transference for purposes other than agriculture.

About 363 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made in the search for a humane and efficient trap for rabbits; and what encouragement his Department is giving to research in this direction.

My Department has examined and tested a number of models in the search for a humane and efficient rabbit trap. The prototype of one design recently submitted has proved to be a definite advance and worthy of extensive field tests under official supervision; a substantial order has been placed for this purpose, and delivery in time for trials during the coming spring is being urged on the manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much was paid in 1950 under the Agriculture Act to other forms of direct and indirect subsidies to farmers.

Direct subsidies to farmers in 1950–51 are estimated at £22¼ million. The Ministry of Food's subsidies on home-grown food in the same year are estimated to amount to £260¼ million, but it is not possible to determine to what extent this includes a subsidy to producers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, having regard to the urgent need for increasing home production of beef, he will introduce legislation to extend the payment of subsidy on steer calves for a further period after 30th September, 1951.

No. The calf rearing subsidy was introduced as part of the agriculture expansion programme to give an initial stimulus to the rearing of more calves suitable for beef. It has served that purpose and I do not consider that

FOUL BROOD DISEASE OF BEES ORDER, 1942
ESTIMATED ADMINISTRATION COSTS IN KENT
					1948			1949			1950
					£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Salaries and Wages	…	…	…	…	343	11	1	360	13	3	398	13	2
Office Expenses (Postages and Telephones)				…	5	8	9	17	7	7	13	0	4
Stationery	…	…	…	…	10	0	6	17	0	8	18	0	0
Travelling	…	…	…	…	169	19	3	468	9	9	455	6	9
	TOTALS			…£	528	19	7	863	11	3	885	0	3

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has under consideration the damage to farming land caused annually in parts of East Sussex by the overflowing of the River Rother and its tributaries; and what measures he is taking to prevent recurrences.

I understand that the Kent River Board, the statutory drainage authority concerned, has under consideration a scheme for dealing with this problem.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take steps to make labour available to farmers for lifting this year's potato crop.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the cost of the administration of the Foul Brood Disease of Bees Order, 1942, under the headings of salaries and wages, office expenses, stationery and travelling expenses for each of the years 1948, 1949 and 1950, for the whole country and for Kent, respectively.

I give below an estimate of the cost of administration of the Foul Brood Disease of Bees Order, 1942, under the headings mentioned in the years 1948, 1949 and 1950 in Kent. A similar estimate for the whole of England and Wales would involve detailed investigation of the position in each county, and the time and labour involved would not be justified, but the total costs of administration are in the region of £20,000 a year.

My Department will again this year operate the usual harvest schemes to supplement the seasonal labour recruited by farmers themselves. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service is arranging for conferences to be held through the year with representatives of the industry and the C.A.E.C.'s to concert action in regard to seasonal labour supplies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has now come to a decision as to the future of the land previously held under requisition by his Department in Methwold Fen; and in particular whether any will be compulsorily acquired by the land commission.

I am proposing to acquire, under Section 85 of the Agriculture Act, 1947, the 153 acres of land at present under requisition at Methwold Fen. The remaining 270 acres which were under requisition at Methwold were released in 1950 and are not being purchased.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of hours worked overtime in Government Departments in the last 12 months; and the total payment made for such services.

The number of hours overtime worked in the calendar year 1950 was about 80 million, and the total overtime payment about £13½ million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of officials authorised to carry out inspections and investigation in business premises without a search warrant; and how many such inspections were carried out in 1950.

Figures of the number of officials who have power to enter business premises, etc., bringing up to date those given in reply to the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) on 23rd May, 1950, can only be obtained on inquiry from a number of Departments. I will have the amended figures circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as they are available. No record is kept of the number of inspections.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the 5,478 officials who may enter private houses and premises without search warrants are men and women, respectively; and if he will give, in convenient categories, their salaries and the total cost to the taxpayer of their salaries and expenses involved in carrying out their duties.

This information is not available centrally; and I do not consider that the time, labour and public money involved in obtaining it is justifiable, at a time when the need for public economy is paramount.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will now consider requesting all Government Departments to cut down their staff by some fixed percentage, as was successfully achieved on occasions during 1939–45.

There has been a reduction of some 36,000 or 5 per cent. in the total number of non-industrial civil servants since October, 1948, as a result of a sustained and selective drive for economy. Possibilities of further economy are under continuous review, though the needs of the defence programme must have first priority. An arbitrary cut of some fixed percentage applying equally to all Departments would be clumsy, wasteful, and harmful to re-armament.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of outstanding post-war credits at 31st December, 1950; and what was the total amount of post-war credits which have been repaid.

The post-war credit originally created amounted to £800 million of which £163 million had been repaid by 31st December, 1950, and about £20 million had been set off against arrears of tax for 1945–46 and earlier years under the arrangement announced on 29th October, 1946, by my right hon. Friend the then Chancellor of the Exchequer. This left about £617 million outstanding on 31st December, 1950.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the national income is devoted to defence.

During the current financial year, it is expected that defence expenditure—at about £825 million will be about 7 per cent. of the national income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what restrictions are placed on advisers to his Department in respect of speculative transactions in commodities and foreign exchange.

In the case of advisers who are civil servants, the principles which are expected to govern their conduct in this respect are as follows:

"Where a civil servant is employed in any Department to which, rightly or wrongly, the public attribute the power of obtaining special information, such as the future course of political or financial events likely to affect the rise and fall of markets, then participation in such transactions is not only undesirable and inexpedient but wrong."

The Treasury is such a Department and Treasury officials are expected not to engage in any speculative transactions in commodities or foreign exchange.This restriction would not formally apply to non-civil servants who might be asked to act as advisers to the Treasury, for instance as members of Advisory Committees, but it is I am sure well understood by all concerned that no one who accepts a position as adviser should regard himself as free to engage in financial transactions which might generally be thought to affect his capacity to render disinterested advice. It is all the more clear that no one who assists His Majesty's Government in any capacity should use for any purpose of private gain any information which he may obtain by so doing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why his regulations provide that the addition of a few words of greeting to cards bearing lists of church services for Holy Week and Easter, circulated by the clergy to their parishioners, renders such cards liable to Purchase Tax.

These cards would attract tax only if they were of the description known as greeting cards when they would be chargeable under Group 34 of the Purchase Tax Schedule. If my hon. Friend will send me a sample of the cards he has in mind, I will let him know if it falls within this description.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider abolishing the Purchase Tax on the uniforms of the Church Lads Brigade.

I would refer to the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Member on 14th November. I have nothing to add to that.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give the approximate number of shillings in circulation; if he is aware of the increasing difficulty of obtaining shillings for gas and electric meters; and what prospect there is of this being alleviated in the near future.

About 550 million shillings are estimated to be held by the public and the banks; and though local shortages of shillings occur from time to time, no general shortage has been reported. Coins are minted to meet public demand transmitted through the banks, and employers of labour could help materially in this matter, if they would ask the banks for shillings and use them in their pay packets.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the great amount of time and consequent cost to every employer, needed each week to work out the tax for Pay-as-You-Earn; and if he will consider some simpler system to avoid this use of labour at this time.

The review of the "Pay-as-You-Earn" system falls within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income which has recently been appointed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what amounts of sulphur he hopes to import into this country in 1951: and of this amount, how much will come from dollar sources.

I am unable to estimate our imports of sulphur in 1951 as this material is almost entirely drawn from the United States where it is under export allocation. No allocation has yet been announced beyond that for the first quarter. Efforts are being made to obtain supplies from other sources, but so far as can be seen, the amounts are likely to be very small.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements he has made to ensure that sulphur stocks, or sulphur imported into this country in 1951, are to be fairly distributed to industry; and whether he has considered any priority list for the distribution of these supplies.

Arrangements are being made to ensure that our supplies of sulphur are distributed to industries in this country in the best interests of the national economy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that as utility trousers for schoolboys do not exceed 33 inches in length they do not fit boys with longer legs; and whether he will make larger sizes available.

Utility trousers are available in all lengths, from those suitable for boys of about 11 years of age up to large men's sizes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of white pigments containing titanium, zinc, lead and antimony; and what steps he is taking to improve supplies.

I am aware that the production of titanium oxide and zinc oxide has fallen owing to the shortages of sulphuric acid and zinc respectively. The supply of these white pigments must remain difficult until our imports of zinc and sulphur improve, and we are continuing our efforts to obtain additional supplies of these materials. The shortage of white lead and antimony oxide is not so serious and results from increased pressure on supplies following the shortage of the other pigments, but steps are being taken to increase production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will list the countries of origin of the softwood imported in 1950, giving the amounts from each country; and whether he will also give the amount of homegrown timber produced in 1950.

Imports of softwood in total during 1950 amounted to 902,470 standards. Information regarding countries of origin is not available but I am sending my hon. Friend a statement showing the countries from which imports were consigned. The production of homegrown softwood during 1950 was 53,240 of standards; of mining timber, 176,950 standards; of home-grown hardwood 37,440,000 cubic feet; of sleepers, 722,000 cubic feet; and 10,665 poles were also produced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to ensure that firms in the silverware and cutlery industries receive the necessary supplies of zinc and copper to fulfil their extensive export orders.

From 1st March next the use of zinc and copper in the manufacture of some articles of silverware, but not of cutlery, will be prohibited. I hope to make an announcement soon about the use of zinc and copper in articles for export. In view of the present shortage of zinc and copper there is little likelihood of manufacturers for export obtaining all the supplies they want.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentages of continuous filament and spun rayon yarn production, respectively, are being exported in the form of yarn.

In 1950, 12.9 per cent. of the continuous filament rayon yarn and 2.8 per cent, of spun rayon yarn produced in the United Kingdom were exported.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider examining, with a view to `revising upwards, the rates at present paid to police officers, particularly in rural areas, who use their private cars for approved police duties.

I hope to circulate suggestions for improving the present allowances to police authorities within the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consult with the principal organisations representing road users before sanctioning the use of plain clothes motor patrols in the Metropolitan area and before giving his support to the extension of the Oxfordshire scheme to other counties.

As I said in reply to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Stockport, North (Wing Commander Hulbert), on 25th January last, the measures taken by the police to prevent and detect breaches of the law are primarily the responsibility of the chief officer of police and my sanction is not required either in the Metropolitan area or elsewhere. I have, however, discussed the use of plain clothes patrols with representatives of the motoring organisations and with chief officers of police and have informed them that I support this attempt to secure a reduction in road casualties by checking reckless and inconsiderate behaviour by a minority of motorists.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the public interest which has been caused by his refusal to disclose who were the sponsors of Professor Fuchs for naturalisation, he will undertake that henceforward arrangements are made for a register to be kept of all such sponsorships which can be open to inspection by interested persons.

I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by adopting the course suggested by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens of military age are now resident in the United Kingdom.

On 31st January, 1951, the number of male aliens over 16 years of age registered with the police as having been in the United Kingdom more than two months was 260,993. Without special inquiry it is not possible to say how many of these are of military age.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement with regard to the position of Class Z Reservists who have joined Civil Defence organisations, and as to the desirability of members of Class Z Reserve joining Civil Defence organisations in the future.

The liability of Class Z (or equivalent) Reservists to return to the Colours over-rides any obligations which they may have undertaken in Civil Defence; but the categories of Reservist who are permitted and, indeed, encouraged to volunteer for Civil Defence are those who are less likely than others to be so recalled. It is the Government's view that all Reservists who are eligible to join Civil Defence should do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities he provided during the recent visit of the American Director of Civil Defence for him to visit the Civil Defence College; and what consultations he and his officials had with the American Director.

My right hon. Friend was very glad to have the opportunity of meeting Mr. Millard Caldwell (the United States Federal Civil Defence Administrator) and his colleagues and arranged for them to obtain from officers of the Home Office and other Departments information about the organisation of civil defence in this country. The programme included visits to the Civil Defence Staff College, one of the Civil Defence Technical Training Schools and the Headquarters of the Metropolitan Police and of the London Fire Brigade. My right hon. Friend had two interviews with the Administrator and his colleagues. The visit, I believe, was of mutual benefit to our two countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is being made to store Civil Defence equipment outside vulnerable areas.

So far as possible it is the practice to avoid vulnerable areas in the selection of sites and premises for the storage of war reserves of Civil Defence equipment. This cannot, of course, apply to the equipment now being issued to local authorities for Civil Defence training. This must be stored in the areas where it is required.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that his recent circular advising hospitals to send their swill and kitchen waste to central concentration plants and not to sell it to licensed collectors, involves those collectors in losses as they have installed the necessary plant to comply with the licence conditions; and if he will accordingly reconsider this circular.

My circular was issued at the request of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries with the object, I understand, of reducing the risk of infection of livestock. I see no reason to reconsider it.

asked the Minister of Health now that the scales of salaries for ranks above that of ward sister have been published, and since matrons and chief male nurses were placed on a par under the Nurses Act, 1950, why there are differences in the rates of salaries between these two grades in teaching hospitals to the disadvantage of the chief male nurse.

The matron has the responsibility for training, and the chief male nurse has not.

asked the Minister of Health how many chronic sick in England and Wales were awaiting admission to hospital accommodation as on the latest available date; and how many beds were empty in appropriate hospitals.

Seven thousand seven hundred and twelve on the 31st December, 1949, the latest date for which complete waiting list returns are yet available. On the same date there were in chronic sick hospitals 7,575 empty beds, more than half of which were unstaffed.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that with the approval of the regional hospital board an additional wing was opened last year of the Home for the Jewish Blind at Rokefield, Westcott, Surrey, but that the wing is now less than half full as the regional hospital board state that the vote is exhausted from which payments can be made for voluntary beds; and if he will make a statement on the subject.

This project was sponsored by my Department as it provides accommodation for blind persons in need of care and attention under the National Assistance Act. I understand that no suggestion was made until last November that beds might be offered to Health Service patients on payment by the regional hospital board. The board has no funds available for this purpose during the current year.

asked the Minister of Health how many mentally defective children in Warwickshire are on the waiting list because of the limited accommodation of the West Midlands Regional Hospital Board.

On 1st January, 1951, there were 54 defective children in Warwickshire awaiting admission to institutions.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give fresh consideration to the question of a new tuberculosis clinic in the Brixton area of Lambeth in view of the fact that his proposed decision to move the old Effra Road tuberculosis clinic to Dulwich will mean a serious loss of amenity to South Lambeth, where tuberculosis is already of alarming proportions and its incidence is steadily increasing.

No. The existing premises are unsatisfactory and the facilities at St. Francis Hospital which is little over a mile away will be excellent. There should be no hardship to patients resident in South Lambeth. I cannot agree that tuberculosis is increasing in Lambeth. Statistics show a decrease in 1950.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons were quarantined during the Brighton smallpox outbreak; and how many cases of smallpox occurred in each of the quarantined families.

My information is that 164 persons in private households were quarantined at some time during the outbreak, and that two cases of smallpox occurred in one of the families concerned.

asked the Minister of Health what progress is now being made in the development of the Medresco bone conduction hearing aid for supply under the National Health Service; and whether he will give an estimate as to how soon the supply will commence.

Considerable progress is being made in determining the performance characteristics which will be best suited for the majority of patients who require a bone-conduction receiver. I regret that I am unable to estimate how soon it will be possible to supply aids with such receivers in the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health what was the average cost per patient of drugs supplied direct to the patient by chemists under the National Health Act in 1950, or for the last 12 months for which figures are available.

The average cost (including chemists' remuneration) of drugs supplied per person on prescribing doctors' lists for the year ending 31st December. 1949, was 15s. 7½d.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of tuberculosis are awaiting admission to hospitals or sana- toria in the areas of each of the four Metropolitan Regional Hospital Boards.

The numbers at 31st December last for the North-West, North-East, South-East and South-West Metropolitan Areas respectively were 1,566, 933, 1,087 and 1,200.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now permit male nurses with five or more years' hospital experience to take the special intensive course of training which prepares them for the qualifying examination to become State Registered Nurses.

The conditions of admission to the special intensive courses of training for State Registration are governed by the Rules of the General Nursing Council which require candidates to have held Class I Nursing Orderly rank, or its equivalent, in the Services of the Crown.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women are now undergoing training under the various vocational training schemes of his Department; and how many of these are over 40 years of age.

On 8th January, 6,341 men and women were in training under the various vocational training schemes administered by my Department. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is now in a position to publish a report from the sub-committee of the National Joint Advisory Council consisting of representatives of the Employers' Federation, Trades Union Congress and nationalised industries, which was set up in 1949 to examine restrictive practices in industry, and which his predecessor promised would make a report to the full National Joint Advisory Council on 31st January.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Barnet (Mr. Maudling) on Tuesday, 13th February.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the fact that foreign labour coming into this country under private contract is liable to suffer from bad conditions of work, whether he will empower local officers to exercise special supervision in such cases; and whether he will ensure that each foreign worker is informed on arrival of the name, address and telephone number of the local welfare officer.

Local offices of my Department are ready in appropriate cases to inquire into questions raised with them by foreign workers regarding their employment. I have no reason to doubt that foreign workers know that they should make any such representations to local offices of my Department and it would not help to give them particulars as suggested regarding a particular officer.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he will introduce overall licensing control for private fee-charging employment agencies;(2) if he has considered the abuses now being practised by certain private fee-charging employment agencies, details of which have been supplied to him; what action he proposes to take to stop these abuses; and whether he will make a statement.

I will, if I may, answer these Questions by referring my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Members for Barkston Ash (Colonel Ropner) and Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton) on Tuesday, 13th February, a cops, of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Labour how much time was lost through trade disputes or strikes for each of the years 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 and each year thereafter up to date.

The approximate numbers of working-days lost through stoppages of work arising from industrial disputes in the years in question were:

1910	9,867,000
1920	26,568,000
1930	4,399,000
1940	940,000
1941	1,079,000
1942	1,527,000
1943	1,808,000
1944	3,714,000
1945	2,835,000
1946	2,158,000
1947	2,433,000
1948	1,944,000
1949	1,807,000
1950	1,388,000

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of British colonial citizens available for employment in this country at convenient dates in 1946. 1947. 1948, 1949 and 1950.

In July, 1949, and in July, 1950, there were approximately 1,400 British colonial citizens registered as unemployed. Statistics for the years 1946–48 are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the grounds on which engineering apprentices who completed their apprenticeship training in 1946, 1947 and 1948 are regarded as outside the field of call-up for National Service.

The grounds are set out in the White Paper on Call Up to the Forces in 1947 and 1948 (Cmd. 6831) in accordance with which call-up has, since 1st January, 1947, been confined, with certain exceptions, to men born in or after 1929. I am sending a copy of the White Paper to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour if he intends to introduce legislation to clarify the position of Members of Parliament in respect of compulsory military service.

No.

asked the Minister of Supply why, when vacancies for scientists at atomic and other research stations are advertised publicly, the name of the place where the stations are situated is also published.

The locations of the Ministry of Supply research establishments, with the exception of Harwell, which is already widely known, are not normally published in advertisements for scientific staff. The advertisements usually mention the broad areas within which these establishments are situated.

asked the Minister of Supply how much scrap metal he has sold in France at about £3 or £4 a ton; and how much of that metal he has bought back at £9 a ton.

None.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he will introduce legislation to employer local authorities to facilitate the interchange of comparable accommodation in cases of serious continuous friction between families in the same house or where young married couples do not desire to live with relatives.

No legislation is necessary. My right hon. Friend is asking local authorities to encourage suitable exchanges both with their own housing estate and as between council houses owned by different authorities.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he will take steps to modify the existing anomaly whereby local authorities may raise rents for council houses indefinitely, while, at the same time, properties belonging to private owners are subjected to rigid rent restrictions.

This would require an amendment of the Rent Restrictions Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many recommendations for the Military Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal, and Military Medal have been received by brigades headquarters since the beginning of the Korean campaign.

I have called for this information from the brigades concerned and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many rifles and of what types, have been sold to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Poland, each Balkan country, China and Egypt, respectively, for each year since 1945.

No rifles have been sold by my Department to any of these countries except Greece and Egypt. It would be contrary to practice to say how many have been sold to each of these countries.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers of the Territorial Army will receive the same bounty this year as officers of the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers or Class Z, called-up for 15 days' training.

It has not been decided that officers recalled for training this summer shall get a bounty. But officers of the Territorial Army are in any case in a different position. As regards them. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Roxburgh and Selkirk (Mr. Macdonald) on 6th February.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the unnecessary suffering which is inflicted on animals, especially pigs, killed outside slaughterhouses on farms and on private property; and whether he will take the necessary steps to ensure that such animals are taken to slaughterhouses or killed on the premises with a humane killed by, or under the supervision of, a licensed slaughterer.

This was the subject of a debate in another place on 16th November, 1950, as a result of which I have arranged for a notice to be affixed to every application for a self supplier's licence to slaughter drawing attention to the desirability of ensuring that animals are slaughtered under humane conditions.Following is a copy of the notice:

asked the Minister of Food the tonnage sugar allocations to individual industries for 1951, together with the percentages of datum usage compared with 1950.

ANALYSIS OF ALLOCATIONS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1951
Sugar as refined				Percentage of Datum
For production of			Thousand tons	1951	1950
Preserves	…	…	194·0	(*)	(*)
Chocolate and sugar confectionery	…	…	183·5	62½ (†)	57½–60
Cake and flour confectionery	…	…	118·9	56½	55
Syrup and treacle	…	…	80·0	(*)	(*)
Biscuits	…	…	52·6	(*)	(*)
Brewing	…	…	45·9	64	64
Condensed milk	…	…	32·5	(*)	(*)
Soft drinks (liquid)	…	…	30·2	59	59
Canning	…	…	15·1	(*)	(*)
Bakers' prepared materials	…	…	13·4	65	65–70
Medicinal preparations	…	…	11·8	80–135	80–135
Table jellies	…	…	11·7	55	50
Ice cream	…	…	10·4	57½	57½
Coffee essence	…	…	7·6	(*)	(*)
Candied peel	…	…	5·3	60	60
Cider	…	…	4·2	75	67½
Breakfast cereals	…	…	3·8	(*)	(*)
Pickles and sauces	…	…	3·5	(*)	(*)
Lemonade powders, etc.	…	…	3·4	59	45
British wines	…	…	3·2	55	50
Cake and flour mixtures	…	…	3·0	66	62
Medicated sugar confectionery	…	…	2·0	62½	60
Miscellaneous	…	…	27·3	—	—
(*) Not allocated as a percentage of pre-war usage.
(†) Calculated on new basis. On the old basis the percentage is 60.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will make a statement arising out of the report made on Prest-wick Airport to the Scottish Council by a Committee under chairmanship of Lord Clydesmuir.

My noble Friend has examined the Report, in consultation with the Secretary of State for Scotland. He greatly appreciates the thorough way in which the Committee have dealt with this technically difficult and controversial subject and is grateful for the conspicuous fairness they have shown in their recommendations.He accepts the first two recommendations of the report, that the construction of a flying boat base as an integral part of the airport would not be justified and that the alignment of runways and pro-

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether, in view of the circuit danger, it is intended to cease flying at Northolt Aerodrome when British European Airways Corporation have completed their removal to London Airport.

It is proposed to discontinue Northolt as a civil airport when British European Airways Corporation completely transfer their operations to London Airport. A decision on the question of military flying will be taken nearer the time. Meantime the integrated traffic pattern employed for these two airports has eliminated circuit danger.

asked the Minister of Works how many properties suitable for use or adaptation for housing are requisitioned in Scotland.

Forty-six properties suitable for use or adaptation for housing are requisitioned by my Department in Scotland, most of which will be de-requisitioned when the office buildings now under construction are completed. I am informed that the Admiralty hold on requisition 59 houses all of which are used as housing accommodation for Admiralty employees, while the War Office and Air Ministry hold on requisition nine and two properties respectively, suitable for housing.

asked the Minister of Works for what reasons his Department refrained from consulting the London County Council, as town planning authority, upon the proposed re-building of Carlton House Terrace, until 6th February, 1951, although the council had informed his Department that they considered that these buildings should retain their external appearance substantially intact.

It was considered advisable to settle questions of access with the Westminster City Council, as highway authority, before consulting the London County Council as planning authority, since these questions had an important bearing on the planning of certain parts of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Works what action he is taking to encourage the use of machine tools now available for building trade operatives, which would thereby make manpower more effective.

Last year my Department organised two exhibitions at which the makers or their agents demonstrated powered hand tools, and three similar demonstrations are planned for this year. Such tools are also featured in two films which are being widely shown by my Department, and a series of lectures on their use is being given. My Department has also supplied photographs and data for a number of articles in the technical Press, and three new advisory leaflets on the subject will appear shortly.