asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to persons carrying on business in the provinces by his Department's practice of instituting in the Metropolitan Courts of Summary Jurisdiction all proceedings in respect of offences alleged under the Statistics of Trade Act, 1947; and whether he will review the position.

No question of inconvenience to any trader can arise if he completes the census form and returns it in accordance with the directions given, but I am considering the point raised by the hon. Member.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it a rather remarkable implication of his answer that nobody is ever prosecuted unless he afterwards turns out to be guilty, and is he satisfied that there is no concurrent jurisdiction in regard to prosecutions under this Act?

In reply to the hon. Gentleman's second point, I am in discussion with my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General about this whole question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why there are no adequate reports on many of his trading services to enable the Comptroller and Auditor General to form any opinion as to the state of the store accounts of these services; and what steps he is taking to put these accounts on a proper basis.

While all the Board's trading accounts were sent to the Comptroller and Auditor General by the due date, it was not possible for the Board's examiners to complete their audit by that time, because of the scale and complexity of the accounts concerned. Any discrepancies in the unaudited accounts are corrected in the accounts for the year following. Every effort is being made to secure that future reports will be made available punctually.

How great was the delay in getting these accounts to the Comptroller and Auditor General, and how can the right hon. Gentleman be sure that his trading accounts are showing a profit or a loss if the store accounts are not adequate?

In 1947 the time lag was 12 months. It was reduced to 5½ months in 1950, and we are trying to reduce it still further.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the great shortage of paper used by jobbing printers for the use of business and commerce, particularly ranges such as banks, bonds, writings and printings, both white and tinted; and what steps he is taking to remedy the position.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of paper supplies: and what action he is taking to ensure the best distribution.

Yes, Sir. I announced in the debate on paper and board on 24th November last that I had asked the manufacturers, distributors and printers to operate a voluntary priorities scheme, which will give preference to essential needs as well as fair treatment to the small user. I am watching the position to see if any further steps will be necessary.

As my Question related to a small part of the paper shortage, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that any shortage will be shared equally by private and by public businesses?

The particular small part to which the hon. Member referred has been discussed specifically with the suppliers. I cannot give an assurance or guarantee of supplies without the re-imposition of statutory control.

Does the President of the Board of Trade recall the letter I sent him, which indicated that the present scheme was not working and that a number of firms are at present going out of business owing to the shortage of supplies? Will he look into this matter?

Yes, Sir. I recall the letter, and I am reviewing the whole situation, in the light of other complaints from other industries, to see whether the present scheme can be relied upon to give the desired results.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number and aggregate of advances in the controlled prices of carpets, authorised by his Department since 1st January, 1947, and the current price index relative to a basic figure of 100 on that date; and the current carpet manufacturers' average cost of wool, cotton and jute, respectively, relative to a basic figure of 100 for each commodity on 1st January, 1947.

Since 1st January, 1947, and including the increase which takes effect next Monday, the maximum prices of carpets have been increased on seven occasions. The Board of Trade does not publish an index of wholesale prices of carpets; but such an index for home-produced carpets, using as a base prices in May, 1947, when control was first placed on manufacturers' prices, would be about 200. Of the various grades of raw wool used, prices of some are five times and of others up to six and a half times the January, 1947, figures: the raw cotton component of the Board of Trade Index of Wholesale Prices stood in January this year at 367 on the same base, and raw jute at 235.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his comprehensive reply, may I ask him if he could arrange for the Treasury to have a copy of these figures in view of the thoroughly inflationary effect of Purchase Tax due to the exorbitant rise of wholesale prices, and the grave threat to the carpet industry which is now inherent in the fact that prices are far too high?

That seems to be an entirely different question.

Are these seven increased prices reflected in the cost-of-living index?

I should want notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the aggregate tonnage of waste paper consigned to the mills in each of the months of November, 1950, December, 1950, and January, 1951, was at a rate commensurate with the national requirement of 1,000,000 tons for the year 1951; and the tonnages of waste paper consigned to the mills in each of the three months ended 31st January. 1951.

Mills' receipts for waste paper amounted approximately to 70,000 tons in the four weeks 4th November to 2nd December, 1950; 77,000 tons in the five weeks 2nd December, 1950, to 6th January, 1951; and 73,000 tons in the four weeks 6th January to 2nd February, 1951. These figures represent an annual rate of 907,000 tons, 802,000 tons and 946,000 tons respectively, as compared with an estimated requirement of some 1,000.000 tons a year.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that 20 per cent. of the board-making capacity of the United Kingdom is at present standing idle due to waste paper shortage, which is causing a chronic shortage of packaging materials for the defence programme and essential export trade? Can he tell the House what further steps he is taking to stimulate waste paper recovery through local authorities and others?

I am aware of the shortage of waste paper. The total collected last year was, in fact, the highest ever collected and I am glad to be able to tell the hon. Gentleman that there are now some 1,130 local authorities who have come into the scheme—an increase of 400 over the past few months—and that 879 have entered for the salvage contest.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what grounds a rebate paid to butchers produces a change in the wholesale price index for meat published by his Department.

Surcharges and rebates represent changes in the effective wholesale prices paid by butchers and are, therefore, taken into account in compiling the wholesale price index.

Does this mean that this is an ingenious idea to avoid raising the cost-of-living index figure?

I am surprised that the hon. and gallant Member does not know the difference between the wholesale price index and the cost-of-living index.

It was just because I do know that that I asked the Question. The housewife perhaps might not know that, and I was trying to enlighten the housewife as to the difference.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what number of forms relating to the Census of Distribution have been despatched; and what number have so far been returned as unwanted duplicates.

The number of forms issued up to 1st February, 1951, is 946,955. The large number of names and addresses in the mailing list were obtained from various sources, the list contained a proportion of duplicate registrations, most of which were eliminated in time to prevent the despatch of more than one form. Subsequently, 1,400 more cases of duplication were identified and letters of apology were sent. The number of other duplicate forms returned to date is fewer than 100.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that these forms were sent to the sub-depots of coal and corn merchants, who have no possible separate commercial existence? Is it not an extraordinary waste of effort in launching this census?

It is the first time that this census has been taken. It would be surprising if there were not a few errors out of 947,000 forms, but to avoid them would have meant a greatly increased effort and staff.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what profits his Department made on the resale of imported timber in 1948, 1949 and 1950; and how much of the total sum is being reserved to offset the higher market prices now ruling.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what profits the Timber Control made in the years 1948, 1949 and 1950.

Trading accounts of the Timber Control are not compiled for calendar years. They are prepared for the year to 31st March, and are included in the annual publication "Trading Accounts and Balance Sheets" of Government Departments. The profits of the Timber Control, as shown by the published accounts for the years ended 31st March, were as follows: 1947–48, £3,901,744; 1948–49, £4,011,826; 1949–50, £8,875,938.

I estimate that some £2 million of the profit reserve accumulated by the Timber Control has been used to maintain the selling price of softwood at the levels fixed by the Imported Softwood Prices Order (SI 1950, No. 399) and the balance of post-war profits is maintained as a reserve for possible losses on continuing trading and on terminal stocks.

Do we understand that the Minister is pursuing the prudent commercial policy of setting aside some of the surplus which has accumulated to meet present day very high costs of the softwood timber he is buying?

I have been pursuing that prudent policy now for some three years, more particularly with regard to any possible losses when the price of timber falls.

Do the prices or Timber Control charges cover the cost of replacing stocks?

I would ask the hon. Member to await the arrangements we are making to announce the new prices which are coming into effect.

Is the profit-making of the right hon. Gentleman's Department approved by the T.U.C.?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the current imports of softwood are purchased by his Department.

Privately imported softwood did not begin to arrive in this country until 1st January and accounts for about 15 per cent. of total imports during that month, the remaining 85 per cent. being Government purchases. Government purchases will probably represent about 70 per cent. of our imports in the first half of the year, though the actual proportion will, of course, depend on contracts that may yet be made and the fulfilment of contracts already made both by Timber Control and private traders.

When deciding the price level, will the right hon. Gentleman remember the very dominating influence that these purchases must have over the market and ensure that prices are kept at the most reasonable level?

I will bear that in mind, but the hon. Member will recollect that private imports will account for a higher proportion when the freezing of the Baltic comes to an end next spring.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that his Department is able to safeguard the supplies of timber in this country so that someone does not get away with something for nothing, as has been thought to be the case for a long time?

If my hon. Friend will give particulars of someone getting away with something for nothing in the timber trade, I shall be delighted to look into the matter.

In view of the fact that Government imports will be far greater than those of the private trader, does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it would be quite wrong to attribute to the private trader the rise in prices?

I do not know why the hon. Member is so touchy. No one has talked about attributing the increase to the private trader.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what additional allocation of dollars has been made available to purchase timber from Canada; and what extra quantity is expected to be delivered in Britain this year.

Dollars were allocated which enabled contracts for 490,000 standards of softwood to be placed in Canada in 1950, mainly for delivery this year. The corresponding figure for 1949 was 122,000 standards. I hope that arrivals of Canadian softwood during 1951 will be higher than in any year since the war. I am unable to say in advance what contracts will be placed in Canada this year.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that there will be no delay in the arrival of these shipments'? Is he not aware of the fact that a large amount of timber is waiting in Canada to be shipped, and that it cannot be done because shipping is being used for the transport of coal?

I have already answered Questions about the delay; I have said that there has been some delay. I am glad.to be able to inform the noble Lady that shipping has now been chartered for practically all the timber which we have bought on the Pacific coast.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say how much of the 490,000 standards due for arrival this year will be for ordinary commercial and industrial distribution and how much for stockpiling?

No. It is not possible to say that until I have a better idea of how much is being bought on private account in Europe.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he is to announce the prices at which he is to sell to the timber trade the imported softwoods his Department has purchased.

From today onwards, the new prices will be sent to timber traders who have signified their willingness to buy from Timber Control on the basis which has been approved.

Are the prices being charged greater or less than the replacement cost of the timber, and, if so, by how much?

They are calculated on what is considered to be the normal market price of new timber coming into the country. I should not like to say how they compare with replacement costs in the markets, whether in North America or Europe, but they are supposed to average out on a fair market basis.

When announcing the new timber prices, would the right hon. Gentleman state how much of the increase is due to devaluation, so that the country can see what the position is?

I am not sure what is the object of the hon. Lady. The increase in timber prices has been of the order of some 50 or 60 per cent. since September last. So far as I am aware, devaluation occurred 12 months before that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the policy of allowing exports of rayon filament from the United Kingdom when supplies are inadequate here.

The producers of rayon filament yarn have restricted deliveries for export since the beginning of the year when output began to be affected by the shortage of sulphur. The position is being examined in detail in consultation with the producers of filament yarn to see what further reductions in exports may be justified.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what the percentage reduction made by the producers was earlier this year, and whether that is beginning favourably to affect the supplies of filament yarn to the home market?

Exports of yarn in January were 891,000 lb. against an average of about 2 million lb. last year and that is already having an effect on home supplies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to prevent the hoarding of scarce materials.

I am watching the position, but am not aware of any significant hoarding. Where there are Government operated controls, stocks are taken into account in making allocation of new supplies. In cases where a material is subject to consumption licence, hoarding is virtually impossible. Where distribution is effected by industry in co-operation with the Board of Trade, stocks are normally taken into account in making new supplies available to consumers. If I were to receive evidence of hoarding on a significant scale in cases where there are neither Government operated controls nor informal arrangements with industry, I should be prepared to consider appropriate action.

While welcoming any future action my right hon. Friend may take, may I ask whether he will bear in mind that private hoarding has the effect of still further raising prices and interfering with current production?

Yes, I am aware of it, but I am still waiting to see if there is evidence that it is taking place on a substantial scale.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it would have been better if the Government had done a bit of hoarding of raw materials all last year?

The right hon. Gentleman knows we are to debate that tomorrow, when I shall be delighted to answer any questions he puts to me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will ensure, in his discussions with the Minister of Agriculture and the Secretary of State for Scotland, that the inshore fishing industry will be allocated sufficient manila rope.

I am now discussing with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries arrangements for the distribution of the manila fibre specifically authorised for the manufacture of fishing gear for use by the home fishing industry. In these discussions the interests of the inshore fishing industry are being fully taken into account.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the interests of the near-water fishermen, having regard to the fact that the long distance section of the industry have declared that they require no financial assistance under the Sea Fish Industry Bill?

As my hon. Friend is aware, an allocation of dollars has been made available to bring in these supplies and my right hon. Friends and I are discussing the allocation among the different sections of the fishing industry.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what quantity of manila rope is likely to be made available under this scheme to the fishing industry?

I cannot announce that; it will not be clear until the contract has been completed.

When discussions have been concluded, will the right hon. Gentleman make a statement about the matter?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in connection with the announcement of cheaper nylon stockings, there is any possibility of more of these stockings being available for the home market.

There has already been a very large growth in supplies of nylon stockings to the home market—from an annual rate of 18 millions pairs in the first quarter of 1950 to an annual rate of 39 million pairs in the last quarter—and in present circumstances I see no prospect of increasing supplies further for some time to come.

Will my right hon. Friend take into consideration the fact that many women who are working all day have no opportunity of buying these stockings, and that in areas where these stockings are made there is considerable dissatisfaction because they cannot be purchased by the workers themselves?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in spite of his repeated statements about there being more and more nylons available there appear to be fewer and fewer? Can my right hon. Friend tell us where they are all going, and how a woman purchaser can check whether she is really getting the benefit of any price reduction which he is making?

I have no personal knowledge of where these 39 million pairs are going, but supplies have increased and my impression is that the distribution system has also somewhat improved. I will go into the question raised by my hon. Friend about price control.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the demands of various kinds of re-armament will take away from the production of stockings some of the nylon filament which is already going into the industry, and, therefore, tend to reduce the numbers of stockings available?

It is certainly the case that re-armament will mean an increasing demand for filament of certain kinds of nylon. That is why I said that I could see no prospect of an increase.

Can my right hon. Friend say what proportion of these stockings are sold in a regularly recognised way by the shops and what proportion through irregular vendors?

A very high proportion is sold by shops. My impression is that the numbers being sold through irregular channels are now decreasing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, as a result of his order operating from 1st March, relatively cheap nine carat gold wedding rings will cease to be manufactured; and if he will give sympathetic consideration to the representations made to him by the Jewellery and Silverware Council.

Yes, Sir. I will shortly make an amending order excluding nine carat and 14 carat gold from the prohibition of manufacture in the Copper and Zinc Prohibited Uses (Board of Trade) Order. Meantime, my Department will, on application, grant any licences needed to permit manufacture of nine carat gold rings to continue.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this information will be received with pleasure by many people who are contemplating holy matrimony?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider also making other amendments of a common-sense nature in respect of other consumer goods?

We are, at the moment, going into the question of exemptions for export, but I am not sure that the right hon. Gentleman and I would necessarily agree on what are amendments of a common-sense nature.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of the manufacturers of this cheap jewellery manufacture for export purposes and that if he stops the supply of raw materials we shall lose dollars.

We are making special adjustments for the export industry.

Is the right hon. Gentleman smiling at the description of "relatively cheap" being applied to the jewellery when the jewellery and silversmiths' trade bears an enormous burden of Purchase Tax?

No, I was not smiling.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement following the discussions recently concluded between his Department and the trade delegation from Spain.

Discussions on the progress of Anglo-Spanish trade and payments have just been concluded between representatives of the Treasury and the Board of Trade and a Spanish trade and financial delegation. It is expected that Spain will be able to maintain and possibly to increase the existing rate of supply of important raw materials. Prospects for United Kingdom exports were also reviewed and I trust that, while the increased claims on our resources must mean a reduction in our exports to Spain, special regard will be paid by the Spanish authorities to the interests of our traditional trades.

Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that despite the political policy of the Government towards Spain it is undeniable that the interests of both countries would be served by increased commercial relations? Could he not give the House a little more detail about the scope and character of the recent negotiations?

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that apart from strategic considerations we have never allowed political considerations to stand in the way of our commercial trade—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—and that that point has not always been understood by hon. Members opposite in connection with trade with Eastern Europe. As for the request for fuller particulars of these arrangements. I will see if something can be put in the Board of Trade Journal.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Foreign Secretary to avoid political considerations entering into the question of our relations with Spain?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the shortage of hessian has now reached serious proportions and is threatening the employment of people in Blackburn; and if he will give permission for hessian to be imported otherwise than through the Jute Control.

I am well aware that shortage of hessian has reached serious proportions, but can hold out no hope of any improvement in the situation until there is a substantial increase in supplies from India. The Jute Control is importing all the hessian that is available from any source, and, if purchases were on private account, the total, therefore, would not be increased. It is also essential for all imports to be regulated by the Control in order that the limited supplies available may be directed where they are most needed.

Will the right hon. Gentleman have any further information to give before long on this very important matter, which is causing great anxiety to those whose employment is threatened?

Yes, Sir; I am aware of that anxiety, and I very much hope that the recently concluded trade agreement between India and Pakistan may, before long, have the effect of improving the supplies of jute to this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any statement to make on the new arrangements proposed by the Film Finance Corporation.

I take it that my hon. Friend is referring to the plans recently announced by the National Film Finance Corporation for the use of a portion of the funds still available to them by three new production groups. These proposals are described in an exchange of letters between the right hon. Lord Reith, Chairman of the Corporation and myself, which were published by the Corporation on 25th January; copies are available in the Library of the House. As I said in my letter to Lord Reith, these proposals were approved by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and myself.

In view of the fact that these new arrangements are a disguised subsidy for the Rank organisation and the A.B.C. organisation, could my right hon. Friend say how independent producers who do not wish to be forced to make their films in studios belonging to those organisations can be helped from the funds of the Corporation?

I do not accept in the slightest the suggestion that this is a dis- guised subsidy to either of those organisations. My hon. Friend will be aware of the third group scheme, which is specifically designed for independent producers. In any event, these arrangements do not prevent the Corporation from lending direct to independent producers outside the three group scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which countries have been represented among the students on the courses held during the last 12 months at the Civil Defence Staff College and at the Civil Defence training schools.

Including Crown Colonies, 14 countries outside the British Isles. have been represented among the students on courses at the Civil Defence Staff College and seven at the Civil Defence training schools. In addition, visitors from nine countries have been to the College and from 13 to the schools. I will circulate particulars in HANSARD.

Do those particulars include students from some countries in Western Europe?

Yes, Sir. Most of the countries in Western Europe are included in the list.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long are the courses of instruction, respectively, at the Civil Defence Staff College and at the Civil Defence training schools at Falfield and Easingwold.

Courses at the Staff College at present last for either one week or five weeks, and those at the training schools for five days, one week, or 31 weeks, according to the nature of the course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been issued to industry with regard to the organisation of Civil Defence for factories and offices.

As I have already stated, plans for the Civil Defence organisation in business premises are being worked out with representatives of both sides of industry and commerce and my right hon. Friend hopes to be able to make a statement shortly after Easter.

Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate that industry does not seem to be aware of this, and would it not be a good thing to inform them of what is happening, because they are getting very restive?

I have not noticed a restive spirit in industry in this connection, but I will look into the matter. The statement itself will be made soon after Easter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that, since fire brigades have been handed back to local authorities, they have maintained the standard of efficiency found in the National Fire Service.

All brigades are periodically inspected and reported upon by His Majesty's Inspectors of Fire Services. I would refer my hon. Friend for more detailed information to the annual reports of the Chief Inspector for the years 1948 and 1949, which have been presented to Parliament, and copies of which I am arranging to send to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet received the report of the working party on London taxicabs; and if he will make a statement.

I have received an interim report dealing with the limitation of the number of cabs and drivers in London, and I understand that a further report covering the whole field of hackney carriage law is well advanced and that it is hoped to let me have it shortly.

Will the Committee report on the subject of taximeters, because it is eight months since taxi fares went up and most drivers are finding that the present system leads to very bad business?

I had hoped by now to be able to give instructions that taximeters should be altered; but I received certain representations from the owners to which I have had to give some consideration.

When my right hon. Friend uses the word "shortly," does he mean Within, say, the next 12 to 14 days?

No, I do not think that it will be quite as soon as that.

Does my right hon. Friend propose to publish the interim report without waiting for the final report?

No, Sir. I have not undertaken to publish either report.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total sum under the National Health Service Act now owing to chemists; and whether the new procedure is resulting in quicker settlements.

asked the Minister of Health how far his Department is in arrear in the pricing and paying of chemists' accounts.

The amount due at 31st January last in respect of prescriptions dispensed to the end of December, 1950, is estimated at about £3,500,000. The current procedure is accelerating the rate of pricing, but I am afraid that final settlements are not yet made more quickly. They are now about nine months in arrears. but substantial payments on account are, of course, made monthly.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us of any private business which is nine months behind in checking its accounts and paying them?

I ought to make it clear that, because of the very large amounts that are paid out. on account, chemists are not in any worse position then they would be in if the accounts were up to date.

Is not this highly discreditable to the Ministry of Health? What is to happen to those who have recently set up in business as chemists, as opposed to those who have more ample resources behind them?

As I have already said, we make very substantial payments on account and that ensures that the chemists are not in any acute difficulty.

asked the Minister of Health if, with a view to stimulating efficiency and economy in the hospital services, he is preparing a detailed analysis of hospital costs under the National Health Service.

Yes, Sir. A uniform system for analysing hospital costs in some detail has been introduced for the first time this year and will relate to the year 1950–51 as a whole.

Will the return be in the same form as that issued by the Department of Health for Scotland, which is a valuable contribution to knowledge of costs in hospitals?

Broadly, it is on a similar basis. We are still discussing with the Treasury the best way in which this information can be made available to the House and the public at a suitable time.

Can my hon. Friend say whether these figures will show details of comparative costs between one hospital and another?

That would be very difficult as anyone who knows anything about the subject will agree. It is difficult to secure any fair comparison between one hospital and another. The House had better wait until we are able to publish the details.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many outbreaks of fowl pest have occurred in Cornwall in recent months; how many birds were destroyed; and how much has been paid as compensation.

There have been four outbreaks of fowl pest in Cornwall in recent months, all of which occurred in January. One thousand one hundred birds have been slaughtered, involving compensation of about £2,100.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what assurances he has been given that dead poultry at present being imported from countries where fowl pest is endemic have not suffered from the disease or been in contact with birds that have died from it.

Arrangements have been made with the Polish Government that should ensure so far as it is practicable to do this, that infected poultry carcases are not sent to this country, and an assurance has been given that these arrangements are being complied with. Similar arrangements were made with the Hungarian Government, though at present poultry is not being imported from that country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the import of dead poultry from countries where fowl pest disease is endemic.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the latest figures of the incidence of fowl pest since his last statement; and if he is now in a position to give a decision as to whether an embargo will be placed on poultry imports from foreign countries where the disease is known to exist.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the large number of protests he has now received from branches of the National Farmers' Union, he will ban the import of poultry carcases from countries known to be affected by fowl pest.

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table, giving the number of outbreaks of fowl pest confirmed since 25th January, 1951. I am glad to say that the latest figures show a marked decrease in the number of outbreaks. As regards imports, I regret that I cannot at present add to recent statements on this subject.