asked the Minister of Food why he increased the price for Commonwealth sugar by a uniform rise of 65s. per ton to £30 10s. a ton, when one country did not make any claim for an increase and another asked for an increase only of 35s. per ton; and, in view of this, why the price for Commonwealth raw sugar in 1951 has now been fixed at £32 17s. 6d. per ton.

A uniform price has been fixed annually for Commonwealth sugar for the past 10 years. When increases of price have been agreed, they have been based upon such evidence of increased costs as was available so as to arrive at a fair average price for all the Commonwealth producing countries. This method has been followed in 1950 and 1951 and has resulted in the price increases referred to by the hon. Member. Discussions will take place during the course of this year with representatives of Commonwealth sugar producers to see what can be done to introduce greater precision into the method of fixing prices under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement. I should add, however, that this uniform price for all the Commonwealth sugar supplies was finally agreed to, after negotiation, at their own united request.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the highest costs of packing materials for margarine are approximately four times the lowest; on what basis he decides which packers to employ; and if he will make a statement on the position.

The estimate quoted by the hon. Member includes both margarine and cooking-fats, and the costs of one firm which only came into production at the end of the period covered. The normal variation in the cost of packing margarine is not nearly so wide as this. But there is bound to be a considerable variation, since some margarine is packed in bulk for trade users, and some in half-pound packets for the ration. Costs are also affected by the general shortage of packing materials and by the extent to which containers can be used more than once. All margarine is packed by the factory which made it, and every effort is made by my Department to see that this is done economically.

asked the Minister of Food what was the value of the imported beef and veal, other than corned, sold on the ration during the year 1950; and what was the value of the imports of canned beef and veal and of any other description of beef and veal not sold as rationed meat during the year 1950.

The values for the year ended 31st December, 1950, were, as shown by the Trade and Navigation Accounts:

	Beef	Veal
	£	£
Bone-in	26,354,867	5,443
Boneless	4,890,549	1,018,535
Other descriptions, including canned meats and edible offals	15,891,924	824,966
	£47,137,340	£1,848,944

Bone-in-beef and veal are sold mainly on the ration, and boneless meat mainly for manufacturing purposes. Of the other descriptions of beef and veal only canned corned meat is sold on the ration.

asked the Minister of Food why, when allocations for school meals are unchanged, butchers who supply meat to the school canteens are receiving the rebate of 4s. in the £.

It would not be practicable to analyse the food office buying permits of about 45,000 butchers, so as to charge different prices for the meat issued for sale to all the different classes of consumers. All these factors are, however, taken into account in fixing the overall figure of the rebate or surcharge; and most school contracts are, moreover, competitive.

asked the Minister of Food what increase over £70 a ton it is proposed to pay the Nigerian Marketing Board for groundnuts; how the present crop prospects compare with those of last season; and what is the estimated total that will be available to his Department in 1951–52.

The price for next season's crop will not be decided until about October this year, and will of course depend on circumstances at the time. Planting has not yet started and it is therefore impossible to predict how it will turn out or what quantities we shall get in 1952. We expect to get about 130,000 tons this year from the crop recently harvested.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he is taking to secure for the inhabitants of Hawnby a supply of milk, during the period whilst the local producer-retailer is not being permitted to continue his supply.

An employee of the producer-retailer concerned contracted typhoid fever and the milk supply was stopped by the medical officer of health. As soon as my Department was notified of this interruption in supply, it arranged for the village to get supplies of bottled milk, and these are now available.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will give an assurance that the plans he is proposing in case he has to reintroduce controls on fish prices will differentiate between the better and poorer qualities of fish; will guarantee a reasonable price to the fishermen at the port of landing; and include assistance over freight charges for the more remote ports.

These problems, and many others, are inherent in any system of control of fish prices, and we shall, of course, have to bear them in mind.

asked the Minister of Food why more care was not taken to check the Spanish translation of leaflet 0.V.1, describing the British rationing system to Spanish visitors to the Festival of Britain; how many were actually sent out; and what steps have been taken to counteract the unfortunate impression thereby made.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Members for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro), Shrewsbury (Mr. Langford-Holt), Sutton Coldfield (Sir J. Mellor) and Croydon, East (Sir H. Williams).

asked the Minister of Food how much rice is available in this country in stocks.

It would not be prudent for me to disclose these stocks of figures.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the increasing problem of traffic congestion in London, when he proposes to restrict the parking of motor vehicles to one side of the street only, using the alternate day method.

I intend to introduce a system of unilateral waiting in certain streets in the central and outer areas of the Metropolitan Police District as soon as the details have been settled.

asked the Minister of Transport why, in rejecting the request to extend the speed limit on road A.265 through Burwash, he has refused to meet on the site those most concerned and the hon. Member for East Grinstead.

My decision not to extend the speed limit on this road was based on evidence that the length in question is not in a built-up area and has not in practice proved to be dangerous. This evidence seemed to me conclusive and I did not see how it could be affected by a meeting on the site. If the hon. Member still wishes, however, I will arrange for my officers to meet him and others concerned on the site.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the high percentage of drivers of motor vehicles who fail to dip powerful headlights; and if he will consider making regulations to compel drivers to dip their lights, under certain circumstances, with a view to reducing the number of road accidents.

Evidence available from a survey of night driving does not support the view that a high proportion of drivers fail to dip their headlights, but I will bear this suggestion in mind when I receive the final report of the Road Research Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research upon their investigation of the dazzle problem.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Great North Road, A1, is in great need of improvement between Eaton Socon and Wansford and that his Department has already acquired, levelled and fenced the land necessary for widening and straightening that part of it which is between Alconbury Hill and Conington; and when the work of improvement will be resumed.

It would cost about £475,000 to complete the improvement work between Alconbury Hill and Conington and I am unable to say when I shall be able to authorise its resumption.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the slow progress being made in introducing area schemes for road passenger transport, he will introduce amending legislation to the Transport Act, 1947.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in addition to the regional consultative committees which he has set up under the Transport Act, 1947, it is his intention to establish district or local committees.

No. There is no provision in the Act for the setting up of district or local committees in addition to the area committees.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the danger both to motorists and to pedestrians at the junction of Cowbridge Road and Lansdowne Road, Victoria Park, Cardiff; and if he will make a statement on this matter and the steps to be taken to remedy it.

I am not aware that this junction is specially dangerous. The question of any improvement would be a matter for the local highway authority to consider in the first instance and they have not approached me in the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will encourage further experiments in road improvements and remodelling as the most likely way of reducing road accidents.

Yes; such experiments are constantly being made and will continue.

asked the Minister of Transport why the traffic lights at Royton are maintained in position but not in use, in view of the fact that there has been no alteration in the large volume of traffic, and that considerations of safety still make these lights necessary.

These signals, which are of an obsolete type, have broken down and should be replaced by a vehicle-actuated installation unless it is decided that this is unnecessary in view of the "Halt" signs now in position. This question is being discussed between the local authorities concerned and my engineers.

asked the Minister of Transport how many pedal cyclists were run down and killed or injured, respectively, on the highways during 1950; and how many motor cyclists were responsible for a proportion of these accidents.

The following is an analysis of the police reports of road

Type of Accident	Primary factor		Killed	Injured	Total
Collision with motor cycle	Action of motor cyclist	…	14	2,379	2,393
Collision with motor cycle	Action of pedal cyclist	…	16	2,398	2,414
Collision with vehicle other than motor cycle.	Action of driver of other vehicle	…	182	12,657	12,839
Collision with vehicle other than motor cycle	Action of pedal cyclist	…	420	16,714	17,134
Other accidents	—		173	11,414	11,587
	Total	…	805	45,562	46,367

asked the Minister of Supply how many rifles have been sold by this country since 15th August, 1945; and what proportion these represent of the total number of rifles available at that date.

I would- refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on 6th February to the hon. and gallant Member for Worthing (Brigadier Prior-Palmer). My Department has sold 234,200 of the surplus rifles. It would

asked the Minister of Supply if he has any further statement to make on the disappearance of Professor Pontecorvo; and what is his present relationship to his Department.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No," to the second "None."

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the extent to which motor cars for export are piling up in London docks and elsewhere; to what extent deterioration is taking place; and if it is proposed to permit any increased releases to the home market as a temporary measure.

I am aware of the motor industry's difficulties with shipping. Manufacturers may, at their discretion, increase supply to the home market to meet temporary difficulties of this kind on the understanding that, as the shipping position improves, they will increase exports later in the year and do their utmost to ensure that supply to the home market corresponds as closely as possible to the quota for the year as a whole.

asked the Minister of Supply what active steps are being taken to regain the world's speed record with British aircraft.

None, at present.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will release sufficient copper to British chemical-making firms to meet the needs of Ceylon and India in their efforts to save Empire tea crops from blister blight.

Normally the copper used for this purpose is obtained from scrap, the distribution of which is not controlled by my Department. I have not received any requests from chemical firms for virgin copper, but I should be unwilling to encourage its use for purposes for which it has not formerly been employed.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is prepared to sponsor a search for copper in the Leek area of North Staffordshire; and if he will give consideration to the possibility of re-opening the Ecton mine and other mines in view of our copper shortages.

I should be prepared to examine sympathetically any scheme for the re-opening of copper mines in this country, but in view of the discouraging terms of the report of the Mineral Development Committee, I should not be justified in offering direct Government financial assistance.

asked the Minister of Supply why specific authority was not sought from the Treasury for meeting the loss of £632,379 on the operation of three steel-making agency factories.

The three factories in question were acquired or built during the war with Treasury approval and their continued operation was not deemed to require a renewal of that approval.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is taking to prevent the hoarding of scarce metals.

The principal nonferrous metals are purchased and distributed by my Department and the distribution of sheet steel and tinplate is controlled by Order to ensure that supplies are used to the best national advantage. To discourage the hoarding of scrap copper, lead and zinc, prices have been controlled and I am considering making an order regulating acquisition.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what proportion of the weekly old age pension is not covered by the contributions of employer and employee paid during the latter's insurable life.

For a person who becomes insured at the minimum age, one-sixth of the cost of the retirement pension is not covered by the contributions of himself and his employer. For the majority of persons now insured (who entered the new scheme in 1948 at higher ages, including those who were insured under the superseded schemes of pensions insurance for much smaller benefits) the proportion not covered is much larger—the higher the age at entry the smaller the proportion of the cost met from the contributions of the insured and his employer.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will give the estimated cost to her Department and the Treasury, per annum, to raise the basic rates of pensions by 4s. for a single old age pensioner and 6s. for a married couple.

About £36 million a year at present, rising to about £75 million in 1977.

asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) what proportion of the 2s. annual increment to retirement pensions, earned by those who postpone retirement, is attributable to the contributions paid in respect of them;(2) if she will give an estimate of what would be the annual effect on the National Insurance Fund of excusing those of pensionable age and their employers from payment of contributions without altering their present rights to increment for postponement of retirement.

The increments to retirement pensions earned by postponement of retirement are broadly equivalent to the amount of the pension forgone and additional contributions paid after attainment of pensionable age. Only a small proportion of the increment is due to the extra contributions. If no contributions were required to be paid by employers of persons over pensionable age or by insured persons themselves between pensionable age and age 70 (or 65 in the case of a woman), the loss to the National Insurance Fund would at the present time amount to over £12 million a year. Not all of this is, however, paid by or in respect of people who will become entitled to increments.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the amount of funds at present available to her Department within the National Insurance schemes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Statutory account recently laid before Parliament showing the balance in the various funds at 31st March, 1950 (House of Commons Paper No. 28 of 1950).

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she is aware that, in the case of an industrial undertaking that closes down for an annual holiday. employees whose time of service does not entitle them to holiday pay are refused unemployment insurance benefit; and what she proposes to do to put right this anomaly.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Parker) on 17th October last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she is prepared to include work as ship's fireman among the industries scheduled in the Industrial Injuries Act for benefit when injury by silicosis is caused.

The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council are at my request now considering the whole question of prescription for pneumoconiosis, including silicosis, and if my hon. Friend has any evidence suggesting that work as a ship's fireman involves a risk of the disease, shall be pleased to pass it on to the Council.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether the Regulations dealing with the prescription of tuberculosis for nurses under the Industrial Injuries Act have yet been made.

Yes, the Regulations have been made and are being laid before Parliament today. They come into force on 1st March.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many cases have arisen of people having to pay for new insurance stamps because fully stamped cards alleged to have been surrendered by them could not be found by her Department; and how many complaints of loss there have been which: have later been rectified by the finding of the cards by her Department.

The information is not available: but I can assure the hon. Member that a claim for an allowance for a lost card is not rejected without a most thorough investigation and it is quite exceptional for a card to be found by the Department after a claim has been, rejected.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will make a statement about the number of sickness benefit claims arising out of the influenza epidemic.

Yes. My Department has had the heaviest load of sickness benefit claims in its short history. I am glad to be able to say that our local. offices and the Central Office, Newcastle, have stood up to the test very well. During the first six weeks of the year the number of new claims to sickness benefit was almost double the figure for the same period last year—just over 2,100,000 compared with about 1,100,000. At one time some 1,500,000 persons—one in 15 of the insured population—were claiming sickness benefit.A rapid rise in claims first occurred in the North, particularly on Tyneside just before Christmas; by the first week in January every part of Great Britain was affected. All offices had to deal with a considerable increase in claims and many of them had four and five times the usual number; at the same time our staffs were seriously reduced by sickness. Special arrangements were put into force area by area as the claims rose. Mobile reserves were formed from staff relieved from other duties, and staff from offices in areas less affected by the epidemic were sent to help offices where pressure was greatest. Thanks to the whole-hearted response by the staff, who worked intensively and for long hours, and to the co-operation of the public, prompt payment of benefit was maintained throughout the epidemic.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he proposes to reallocate to the railways sufficient coal to restore the cuts in passenger services.

The present restrictions on the supply of coal to the railways will continue only for so long as they are required to provide coal for the domestic consumer.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the shortage of supplies of domestic coal in the Shoreham district, and that the public are only obtaining about half of their ration; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the position.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he proposes to take to remedy the inadequate domestic fuel supplies available for distribution in Aylesbury and district.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that merchants' stocks of coal and coke at Huntingdon and St. Ives in Huntingdonshire have dwindled to a dangerously low level; what is the cause of the shortage: and what immediate steps will be taken to ensure that sufficient coal and coke to meet the domestic and industrial needs of the locality will be provided in future.

I have every reason to believe that the supplies of fuel for domestic purposes are spread as fairly as possible throughout the country by those who administer the house coal distribution scheme, but I am making inquiries into the position in the various areas mentioned and will write to the hon. Members as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will take steps to mitigate the effect on coal prices in Cornwall of the policy of supply from Newcastle instead of, as hitherto, from Wales.

I am informed by the National Coal Board that, so far as the availability of coal will permit, supplies for particular consuming areas are drawn from sources which have been found over the years to be the most convenient and economic. But coal must sometimes be drawn from other sources, when the supply or transport situation so demands.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what contracts he has given to Messrs. Williams & Sons, 12, Green Lane, Norton Canes, Cannock, for the proving of land suitable for opencast coal mining.

No drilling contract has yet been placed with Messrs. Williams & Sons.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many ex-miners have returned from the Services to the coal mines; and how many of these are face workers.

During the last six years 58,300 ex-miners have returned to the collieries from the Services, including 1,174 who returned in 1950. I have no information about how many of these were face-workers, nor have I as yet any information about the number who have returned this year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in appealing for economy in the use of electricity, he intends those consumers whose contracts require them to consume or pay for a minimum quantity of current to consume if possible less than that minimum.

Yes. I understand that the area electricity boards' are giving sympathetic consideration to any application for a minimum guarantee to be suspended during the period of the present fuel economy campaign.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the amount of the expenditure incurred by the Yorkshire Electricity Board on extensions to its headquarters at Scarcroft, West Leeds, in excess of the sums authorised; and what instructions he has given or intends to give for prosecution of any offenders.

In 1949 my predecessor approved plans for the extension in stages of the old Yorkshire Electric Power Company's headquarters at Scar-croft so as to enable the new Yorkshire Electricity Board to concentrate their staff as far as possible. The total estimated cost of this extension was £39,250 but this did not include expenditure later found necessary to replace the worn-out heating system in the old building and extend it into the new building, nor did it include electrical wiring and other work that was carried out by the Board's own employees and did not appear in contractors' estimates. The omission of this work from the estimates led to its omission also from the application for authorisation. Nor was any authorisation sought for the extra expenditure arising from increased costs (£8,534), for that arising from requirements of the local authority (£2,969), for the removal and re-erection of outbuildings (£2,020), and for the surfacing of the car park (£60).Except for a very small amount this expenditure was necessary for the proper completion of the building in accordance with the plans which had been approved and, therefore, had the various items been submitted to me before work was started on them, I have no doubt that 1 should have authorised them. I am satisfied, after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works, that this is not the sort of case in which proceedings should be taken, whether they involved a private individual or a public body.

asked the Attorney-General why Statutory Instrument, 1950. No. 1908, which was laid on 30th November, was withdrawn and relaid on 8th December; whether the corrections in Rule 4 were made before the instrument was signed by the Lord Chancellor on 29th November; and, if not, by whom and in what manner correction was authorised.

This Statutory Instrument was withdrawn and relaid because it was necessary to correct a printing error which appeared in Rule 4, when it was laid on 30th November. The correction was made before the Instrument was signed by my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor, but unfortunately this correction did not appear in the copies which were laid before Parliament on the first occasion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to negotiate with the British Transport Commission for a reduction of the rates on home-grown farm produce in view of the fact that the agricultural industry is so heavy a user of rail transport and that the recent increases of rates will damage home production.

I do not think it would be appropriate for me to take action on the lines indicated. The Transport Act, 1947, provides adequate machinery for negotiation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he hopes to announce the result of the February review of agricultural prices.

It is not possible to forecast the date of this announcement. It is, however, hoped to begin consultations with the farmers within the next few days.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the amount so far received by the Treasury in respect of the Special Contribution; and an estimate of the amount still to come.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Sowerby (Mr. Houghton) on 8th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current value of 26s. and 42s., respectively, as compared with October, 1946.

I assume my hon. Friend refers to value in terms of purchasing power over goods and services. About 22s. 2d. and 35s. 10d., respectively, calculated on the figure for January, 1951, on the official Index of Retail Prices introduced in June, 1947, and the previous cost-of-living index.

INCOME TAX—SCHEDULE "D"
Assessments made in 1948–49: Distribution of Trading Profits by Status of Concern and by Range of Profil
Range of Profit		Totals		Individuals		Firms		Companies and Local Authorities
		Numbers	Amount	Numbers	Amount	Numbers	Amount	Numbers	Amount
	Not		£		£		£		£
Exceeding £	Exceeding £	Thousands	million	Thousands	million	Thousands	million	Thousands	million
0-	250	721·5	95·2	641·8	87·9	21·5	2·5	58·2	4·8
250-	500	449·8	152·1	402·4	134·9	28·9	10·7	18·5	6·5
500-	1,000	264·6	179·4	194·5	130·4	49·4	34·8	20·7	14·2
1,000-	1,500	85·1	99·4	53·0	61·7	19·6	23·1	12·5	14·6
1,500-	2,000	44·2	74·1	25·3	42·2	10·5	17·8	8·4	14·1
2,000-	3,000	45·3	106·7	21·8	51·1	11·2	26·8	12·3	28·8
3,000-	4,000	21·3	71·4	7·9	26·5	5·8	19·7	7·6	25·2
4,000-	5,000	12·6	55·3	3·8	16·9	3·6	15·8	5·2	22·6
5,000-	10,000	24·6	163·9	5·2	33·0	6·6	44·0	12·8	86·9
10,000-	15,000	8·0	95·2	·8	9·8	1·6	19·5	5·6	65·9
15,000-	20,000	3·7	62·2	·2	3·8	·5	9·1	3·0	49·3
20,000-	25,000	2·5	53·4	·1	2·1	·3	6·2	2·1	45·1
25,000-	30,000	1·9	48·4	·1	1·9	·2	4·8	1·6	41·7
30,000-	40,000	2·2	72·6	*	1·6	·2	5·9	2·0	65·1
40,000-	50,000	1·4	59·5	*	1·1	·1	2·8	1·3	55·6
50,000-	75,000	1·8	106·3	*	·8	·1	4·3	1·7	101·2
75,000-	100,000	·9	74·0	*	·5	*	2·0	·9	71·5
100,000-	200,000	1·5	196·3	*	·4	*	4·6	1·5	191·3
200,000-	1,000,000	1·0	383·1	*	1·3	*	2·2	1·0	379·6
1,000,000		·2	405·7	—	—	—	—	·2	405·7
All ranges		1,694·1	2,554·2	1,356·9	607·9	160·1	256·6	177·1	1,689·7
* Less than 50.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the actual figures covered by the percentage figures given in Tables 27 and 28 in Command Paper No. 8103.

The information requested is contained in the table below.