asked the Postmaster-General the rate paid to State airlines per ton/mile for the carriage of mail; and how this compares with air freight rates and air passenger rates.

The latest complete comparison available is for the year 1949–50; during that year the average rate paid by the Post Office to the British Air Corporations for the carriage of first-class international mail was approximately 144d. per ton /mile. This was two and a half times the average passenger rate and more than four times the average freight rate.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the British recognition of the People's Government of China and the non-establishment of an embassy of that Government in Britain, what steps have been taken to ensure that correspondence destined for the Government of China recognised by His Majesty's Government is not delivered to the staff of Chiang Kai-shek in London.

This correspondence is being returned to sender until such time as there is in London an addressee to whom it can properly be delivered.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to improve the capacity of the system of cables and wireless to Australia and the Far East.

I understand that arrangements are being made to provide for additional facilities at wireless relay points to increase traffic capacity and continuity of operation under difficult operating conditions. A wireless circuit has recently been opened between Singapore and Japan to improve the position in the Far East. Provision is also being made to renew certain cables in the Red Sea and, as a longer term plan, to recondition and restore to service a North Atlantic cable which will afford an additional outlet to Australia.

asked the Postmaster-General on what grounds he has refused to accept Mr. Peter Lewis, 53, Steyne Road, Seaford, as a business subscriber in respect of his telephone at that address.

Mr. Lewis was provided with telephone service at his Seaford house in April, 1950, at the residence rate; and this rate is still appropriate.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the need for more public telephone kiosks in the rural areas of Norfolk; and if he will say how many of such kiosks are to be provided in that county during the next financial year.

Distribution of the national quota between counties is settled in agreement with the Rural District Councils' Association. The quota for Norfolk for the year up to 31st August, 1951, is 18.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many civilian hourly rated aircraft mechanics are employed at No. 6 Maintenance Unit, Royal Air Force, Brize Norton; how many of these are registered dilutees; and how many were formerly so registered who are now classified as craftsmen.

The number of metal working craftsmen employed on the repair and modification of aircraft at No. 6 Maintenance Unit, Brize Norton, is 134 of whom 77 are registered dilutees. The number of craftsmen recognised as fully skilled who were formerly registered as dilutees is four.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many civilian hourly rated aircraft mechanics are employed at 7 Maintenance Unit, Royal Air Force, Kemble; how many of these are registered dilutees; and how many were formerly so registered who are now classified as craftsmen.

The number of metal working craftsmen employed on the repair and modification of aircraft at the Maintenance Unit, Kemble, is 187 of whom 97 are registered dilutees. The number of craftsmen recognised as fully skilled who were formerly registered as dilutees is 10.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether members of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who respond to the invitation issued by his Department to volunteer for three months' continuous training this summer will be protected from loss of employment and holidays; whether they will also be called this summer for 15 days' continuous training; and whether they will be called for three months' training in future years.

Under the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Training) Bill, members of the R.A.F.V.R. who volunteer or are called up for three months' continuous training this summer are to be protected from loss of employment, but not from loss of holidays although a period of paid leave will be granted during their training. The three months' training period is deemed to cover the usual 15-day annual continuous training for this year. Such members will not be called up for three months' continuous training in future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is in a position to make a statement on the present and proposed military agreement with Burma.

Our relations with Burma on military matters are at present governed by the Defence Agreement annexed to the Treaty of Independence of 17th October, 1947. No new military agreement with Burma is contemplated, nor has any approach been made in this connection to His Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in the light of the Peace Treaty signed with the Siamese Government on 1st January, 1946, especially paragraph (c) concerning postwar strategic co-operation, what consideration has been given to helping the Thai Government to train and equip its armed forces on modern lines in order to enable the Thai people to maintain their independence; what progress has so far been made in this direction; and if he will take urgent steps in this matter in consultation with other interested countries, especially Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America, France and the Netherlands.

Since the signature of the Agreement referred to by the hon. and gallant Member, considerable progress has been made in the training and equipment of the Siamese armed forces. Siamese officers have been trained in this country and His Majesty's Government have supplied Siam with three corvettes as well as aircraft, vehicles and small arms. We have throughout been in close touch with the United States—who have contributed generously to equipping the Siamese defence forces—and the hon. and gallant Member may rest assured that the situation is under constant review in consultation with the other interested countries.

asked the Minister of Defence if he has yet laid down the spheres of responsibility for defence against guided missiles as between the Service Departments.

The problem of spheres of responsibility for defence against guided missiles is being examined by the Service Departments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will ascertain through the Far Eastern Commission how far the recent permission by General MacArthur for the Japanese Government to contact foreign countries and negotiate with them on certain matters, includes negotiations on the repayment of Japan's pre-war debt and interest accrued on loans; and what steps he has taken to discuss these matters with the Japanese Government.

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

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider the practicability of issuing occasional bonuses of tea on the monthly ration.

I am afraid that the supplies available are not at present enough to allow this. But if, as I hope, our tea supplies get better, my right hon. Friend would want first to use them to increase the general ration, rather than to give occasional bonuses.

asked the Minister of Food if he has now reconsidered the question of fish prices; and whether he has any statement to make on control of these prices.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Itchen (Mr. Morley) and West Ham, North (Mr. A. Lewes), and the noble Lady, the Member for Aberdeen, South (Lady Tweedsmuir), on 28th February.

asked the Minister of Food upon what date he expects to receive the report of the inquiry which he has set up into bakers' delivery charges.

This inquiry has not yet been completed, but my right hon. Friend expects to receive a report next month.

asked the Minister of Food how much meat imported in the past three months has been found unfit for human consumption.

Figures are not yet available for the past three months, but during the three months ending 31st January, 1951, which is the latest period for which records are complete, 108 tons of frozen meat, and 34 tons of canned meats imported by the Ministry were condemned as unfit for human consumption.

asked the Minister of Food what was the exact cost to his Department which gave rise to the necessity for the recent increase in the prices of oils and fats to trade users.

It would not be in the public interest to give details of each individual increase in the Ministry's buying prices; but the average increase was that reflected in the increased selling price to trade users.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of the workers' houses, destroyed in Antigua by hurricane last August, have been rebuilt; what provision for completing reconstruction has been made; and to what extent fishermen who lost their equipment are being assisted in respect of replacement.

I would refer to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd) on 28th February. Government are making grants of one-quarter and loans of one-half of the estimated cost of replacing or repairing fishing boats. Grants have also been made from the Hurricane Relief Fund to provide each fisherman with one fish-pot and to meet three-quarters of the damage to other fishing tackle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the new unified currency for the West Indies has not been adopted by Jamaica.

Jamaica uses pounds, shillings and pence. When the matter was considered, there was strong local feeling against making any change.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Nigerian groundnuts are being exported to French Equatorial Africa without paying export tax and then returned in transit through Nigeria duty-free; and what action is being taken to stop this practice.

There is no reliable evidence of any significant movement of Nigerian groundnuts across the border into French territory. The Frontier Control is responsible for the prevention of any illegal traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the future of the Gambia poultry scheme in view of the very small production so far achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the cost involved and of the small results obtained, he will institute a review into the Gambia egg project.

As my right hon. Friend informed the House last Wednesday, he is awaiting fresh proposals from the Board of the Colonial Development Corporation on the future of the scheme. He will make a further statement when these have been received and considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the quantity of feedingstuffs hitherto imported into Gambia for consumption on the Gambia Poultry Farm.

Yes. My right hon. Friend thinks it will be useful for the House to have this information in anticipation of the proposed debate. The answer is that 2,394 tons have been imported.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many acres of the Gambia Rice Farm of the Colonial Development Corporation are expected to be sown with rice or other crops this year.

This is a matter for the Corporation; but I understand that the Corporation have not yet decided their plan for this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the population of the village of Jenderam, Malaya, where police action was taken on 15th February; how many inhabitants were detained; and how many huts were destroyed.

The 1,600 inhabitants of Jenderam, consisting mostly of Indonesians, Malays and Chinese, were detained under Emergency Regulation 17D, which provides for collective detention; they have been evacuated to a camp for screening after which those who can safely be released will be resettled.The reason for this action was that Jenderam had long been a hotbed of Communist activities. It had been a centre for providing supplies and recruits for terrorist bands operating in South Selangor. No information whatever had been forthcoming from the inhabitants. The people are being well cared for and will receive compensation for goods they were unable to take with them. Those who are eventually resettled will of course receive Government assistance in the normal course.This operation was carried out only after careful consideration, and is exceptional; it emphasises by contrast the Government's constructive and progressive policy elsewhere in Malaya in assisting all those who show willingness to cooperate in the restoration of law and order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what categories and nationalities of persons the call-up for compulsory service in Malaya applies.

All males in the Federation of Malaya between the ages of 18 and 24, irrespective of nationality, are liable for compulsory service. It is understood that the present intention is to call up some 20,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Malayan rubber is still being shipped to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and that the ss. "Stanrealm" carried a cargo valued at £4 million to Odessa in January and February; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

Yes. I am aware that the ss. "Stranrealm" when she sailed early last month from Singapore for Odessa was carrying rubber. As far as the last part of the Question is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom) on the 12th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of unemployed in Hong Kong; and whether the number has increased in the last six months.

I regret that not even approximate numbers of unemployed in Hong Kong can be given owing to the very large number of refugees who may or may not be employed. During the last three months unemployment has, however, increased as many small unregistered factories have had to close down and larger concerns have had to reduce staff and work shorter hours owing to financial difficulties, rising costs and shortage of raw materials.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why subsidies on rice and sugar in the Seychelles have been abolished, despite his assurance on 15th November last that the subsidies had been increased; what steps have been taken with regard to the subsidy on maize; and, in view of the hardship suffered by the increase in the price of rice from 60 to 67 cents. and sugar from 56 to 73 cents. per kilo, whether he will take steps to cause the Seychelles Government to restore the subsidies in order to alleviate the hardship.

The reasons for the abolition of these subsidies were that it was found that large quantities of subsidised sugar were being used for the manufacture of illicit liquor, and in the case of rice that large numbers of poor people were selling their coupons to their wealthier neighbours. Subsidies on coconut oil and maize remain; the estimated cost of these for 1951, £32,250, exceeds the total cost of all subsidies (including those for rice and sugar) during 1950. The effect of the abolition of subsidies on sugar and rice will be an increase in cost of about 9d. per month per person if these commodities are bought on the old ration scale.To offset any hardship which may be caused, supplies of sugar cane from Government estates are being put on the market and sugar cane is being issued free to poor children in schools; arrangements are also being made to increase substantially supplies of maize so that poor people may be able to buy it in unlimited quantities. I am satisfied that the Government of Seychelles is keeping a careful watch on the position, and I am not prepared to intervene. The Officer Administering the Government is, however, being asked to see that special attention is paid to the effect of the removal of the subsidies on the nutrition of the poorer classes of the population.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the increased revenue now available from the export of sugar, he will advise the Government of Mauritius to establish a trade school for the training of Mauritians for skilled work in East Africa.

Mr. Wilkinson, the Commissioner of Labour in Mauritius, visited Tanganyika last year to investigate the scope for the employment of Mauritians in East Africa. He suggested in his report that the Government of Mauritius might wish to consider the establishment of a trade school for training prospective emigrant artisans. My right hon. Friend is asking the Governor whether it has been decided to adopt this suggestion, and will communicate with my hon. Friend when he has the reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what quantity of bananas have been exported from the Cameroons during the past four years: what price the exporters and the growers, respectively, received for this; and whether he is satisfied that all shipping difficulties have now been overcome.

Total exports during the past four years were approximately 183,000 tons. The f.o.b. prices paid to the exporters, who are also the growers, were: 1947, £32; 1948, £27; 1949, £30; 1950, £32. Adequate refrigerated shipping space is now available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many paid-up subscriptions there are for the Corona Club and the Corona Magazine.

The number of paid-up subscriptions to the Corona magazine is 1,938. In addition an average of 425 copies are sold for cash, giving an average total paid circulation of 2,363. The Corona Club is a private institution for which I have no responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he proposes to improve the present shipping situation in the Gold Coast.

I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport regarding certain steps to relieve the present shipping shortages on the West African route.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the detailed survey of the coalfield area in the Southern Province of Tanganyika has revealed the existence of coal in workable quantities and of commercial grades.

The Colonial Development Corporation is engaged in the investigation of two coalfields in the Southern Province of Tanganyika, Ngaka and Kitewaka. In the Ngaka coalfield the diamond drilling programme, which has so far covered one-eighth of the area, indicates the existence of 50 million tons of coal, of which 15 million tons would be workable. The coal is of a fair quality with a calorific value of 10,000 British Thermal Units per ton. In the Kitewaka coalfield a geological survey and diamond drilling are just commencing.

asked the Minister of Works when he proposes to derequisition the premises known as Nos. 2 and 4 Queen Street, Belfast, and Nos. 50–54, Castle Street, Belfast, which were requisitioned on 10th September, 1942, for use as a British Restaurant.

Owing to the difficulty of obtaining suitable alternative accommodation for the Ministry of Food, I cannot say when it will be possible to release this requisitioned land which was transferred to my Department in 1948.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department has taken steps to ensure adequate supplies of rubber for all service purposes in Great Britain.

Yes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will publish a new price for roll-on corsets based on costings submitted by the manufacturers on 1st January.

I hope to be able to publish a new order for utility corsets about the middle of March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the result of his discussion with the Canadian Minister of Agriculture regarding a price adjustment on the Anglo-Canadian wheat agreement.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies given to the hon. and gallant Member for New Forest (Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre) on 27th February and 6th March, 1951.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, in view of the National Savings drive, he has considered raising the annual limit on deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank.

Yes, but I think that the present annual limit of £500 is already adequate having regard to the fact that the Post Office Savings Bank is intended primarily for the small saver.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what methods he has used to bring to the attention of the public that it is illegal to transmit money to Gibraltar and other sterling area places in order to buy extra food; and whether he will arrange for notices to be displayed in post offices to that effect, so that customers who have been solicited from overseas may be aware of the regulations before the General Post Office accept their postal orders and transmit the money.

It is not illegal to send money to places in the sterling area provided that authorised banking channels, postal orders or money orders are used. A notice calling attention to this position is displayed in Post Offices. There is no bar to the purchase and imporation of a large range of goods, including many unrationed foodstuffs, which may now be imported under open general licence. A notice in post offices would not be a suitable medium for publicity as to the goods which require an import licence, but repeated warnings have been issued by the Board of Trade from time to time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will give, to the nearest convenient date, the number of claims for depreciation of land values in England and Wales made under Part VI of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947; the number or proportion of these which have been agreed; and the aggregate amount of the agreed claims;(2) if he will give, to the nearest convenient date, the number of claims for depreciation of land values in Scotland made under Part V of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1947: the number or proportion of these which have been agreed: and the aggregate amount of the agreed claims.

By the end of February 828,000 claims had been received in England and Wales and 138,000 in Scotland. About one-ninth had been finally agreed or otherwise determined. Claims so far determined are not a fair cross-section of claims received, and it would be misleading at this date to publish the amount.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many officers and men, respectively, were retained in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines after completion of their period of service during 1950; and how many it is expected to retain in 1951 and 1952.

At 31st December, 1950, 117 officers and approximately 4,000 R.N. ratings and Royal Marine other ranks were being retained. The numbers available for retention in 1951 will be 450 and 11,000 respectively, and in 1952 350 and 6,000 should this measure continue to be necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can supply any record for the year 1945 showing in the age class 0–15 how many diphtheria immunisations were performed; how many boosting doses were given and the total percentage immunised in that year.

The number of children who received immunisation in 1945 was approximately 613,000. The number who were given boosting doses is not known, as the practice of giving these reinforcing injections did not develop to any considerable extent till the following year. It is estimated that 58 per cent. of the child-population at the end of 1945 had been immunised.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has records showing the proportion of children immunised against diphtheria in slum areas.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total capital expenditure on the building of schools for the year ending May, 1951, in Edinburgh and in Glasgow, respectively.

During the year, 1950, the latest period for which figures are available, the expenditure in Edinburgh was £223,923 and in Glasgow £519,671.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he is now making to enable men to register their votes in the event of a General Election or council elections taking place during their 15 days' training.

Sections 12 and 23 of the Representation of the People Act, 1949, provide that a registered elector who is unable to vote in person at a parliamentary or local government election because of his service as a member of His Majesty's Reserve or Auxiliary Forces may apply to vote by post. My right hon. Friends have arranged for reservists called up for training to be individually informed of this and of the procedure for applying.