asked the Secretary of State for War the total British casualties up to date in Malaya and Korea; the number of men under 20 years of age on the date they were killed or wounded; and their average length of service.

Battle casualties suffered by troops serving in Malaya from 1st May, 1948, to 28th February, 1951,

asked the Secretary of State for War why Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes in Germany are forbidden to sell a brand of tobacco of which he has been informed.

The brand in question is not made for export by the manufacturer. The manufacturer, however, has already arranged to supply a small quantity for the particular officer who made the complaint, and this has been sent by post.

asked the Secretary of State for War the circumstances leading up to the charges against Sapper Devaney, at Gibraltar Barracks, Aldershot.

I have called for the court-martial proceedings and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Class Z reservists, who are now farmers, are to be called up for training this year.

Certain farmers who are Z reservists are liable to be called up for training this year.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what applications he has so far received from local authorities or property owners asking for the setting-up of a compensation board in respect of land subsidence in Cheshire, due to brine pumping.

One application from a Parish Council.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if, for the reassurance of property owners, he will reconsider the list of properties in Wymondham, Norfolk, recently scheduled by him as buildings of architectural or historic interest; and if he will give an assurance that in future owners of property will be consulted before scheduling takes place.

The scheduling of buildings does no harm to owners, and it would not be appropriate to consult them in this matter.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning how many permanent houses have so far been completed in the Stevenage new town for new residents there, apart from those built to house the staff of the Stevenage Development Corporation.

Five, but 362 are now under construction.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning the total sum paid by way of salaries and wages to the staff of the Stevenage Development Corporation since its inception; and the total expenditure on all outgoings and overheads so far incurred, including the costs of construction work.

This information is given in the reports of the Corporation published as House of Commons Papers Nos. 113 and 236 of 1949 and 7 of 1950–51.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning (1) what steps he has taken to meet the objections raised by the Metropolitan Water Board and the Lea Conservancy Board with regard to the proposal arrangements for the disposal of sewage from the Stevenage new town;(2) if the difficulties of drainage and sewerage for the Stevenage new town have now been overcome; and, if so, how, and at what estimated cost.

I am now studying the report of the recent inquiry into the Stevenage Development Corporation's proposals for sewage disposal and hope to be able to make an announcement shortly. The estimated cost of the proposals, which are designed for the benefit not only of Stevenage but of certain other districts in the area, is about£2 million, and these proposals include both the laying of a trunk sewer to the Harlow Corporation's intended new disposal works at Rye Meads, and the provision of additional treatment facilities there. The effluent from these works will be disposed of by soakage, and not by discharge into the River Lea, and the proposals are supported by the Metropolitan Water Board and the Lee Conservancy Board.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning how many housing authorities in the North East Region have succeeded during the last two years in acquiring land outside their local government boundary for housing purposes after a local inquiry; and what is the average time taken to obtain ministerial consent measured from the time the request for an inquiry is made to the announcement of the decision.

Only Sunderland. The average time between a direction to hold a local inquiry and my decision is about eight weeks.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning how many houses it is open to the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to complete during 1951.

As many as they can of the 705 houses now under construction and of the further 701 for which tenders have been approved.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he will encourage smaller council houses with a view to reducing rents and economising on materials by allocating to local authorities in terms of amounts to be expended on housing each year rather than in terms of a specific number of houses.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Hendon, North (Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing), last Tuesday.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he will call for a survey of hutted camps used for emergency housing to ascertain how many hutments are no longer fit for human habitation and must be replaced before next winter by alternative accommodation for the families in occupation.

No new survey is required. I have asked local authorities to do their best to re-house these families.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what recent information he has as to the present state of the housing waiting lists of local authorities.

Reliable information will not be available until it is possible to carry out a comprehensive survey on a uniform basis by all local authorities.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what facts he takes into consideration in making his allocation of houses to local authorities.

Principally the local need for houses and the local capacity to build them.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what steps he is taking to prevent the eviction from an agricultural tied cottage of a reservist called up for service; and whether he will delay the granting of certificates by county agricultural executive committees in respect of cottages occupied by men called to the Forces or in which reside men called up for service.

I hope soon to be able to make a statement on this subject.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning in how many roads in the County of London he has decided that no houses shall be converted for occupation by more than one family; and how many houses are involved.

I have made no such decision and I consider it would be wrong to control the conversion of houses into flats; in the County of London or elsewhere, by the application of a rigid rule. In the present housing situation, it is essential that full use should be made of existing dwellings, particularly where they are too large to be occupied by single families and are otherwise suitable for conversion into flats. Proposals for the conversion of such houses should be encouraged by local planning authorities in all appropriate cases.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning how frequently sanitary inspectors inspect the sanitary condition of lavatories belonging to the Railway Executive Committee.

I have no idea.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum he has paid as fees to the surveyors representing applicants for compensation out of the global sum of£300 million under Sections 58 and 60 of the Town and Country Planning Act; and what is the estimated cost of the Government's own surveyors who are administering the compensation payable.

Contributions towards fees are paid after the amount of the claim has been finally determined. The amount paid to the end of February, 1951, was£550,014. As regards the second part of the Question, I regret that it is impossible to give any reliable estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individual claims he has received for compensation out of the global figure of£300 million under Sections 58 and 60 of the Town and Country Planning Acts.

Eight hundred and seven thousand one hundred and three in respect of England and Wales and 137,354 in respect of Scotland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give any indication when the payment of claims for loss of development rights under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, will commence.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 24th October, 1950, to the hon. Member for Tonbridge (Mr. G. Williams).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much profit or loss was made by the Bank of England on the issue of currency notes for the years 1920, 1930, 1940, 1945 and 1950, respectively.

The Bank of England has made no profit either from the issue of Treasury currency notes before 1928 or from the amalgamated note issue since that year. The profit has come to the Treasury. Particulars are given in the annual Finance Accounts of payments into the Exchequer until 1939; since that year the profits of the Issue Department have been paid to the Exchange Equalisation Account under the Currency and Bank Notes Act, 1939.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which charitable organisations obtain wireless sets free of Purchase Tax.

Under Section 2 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1945, charities registered under Section 41 of the National Assistance Act, 1948 (which replaces Section 3 of the Blind Persons Act, 1920) can obtain wireless sets free of the tax provided that they make them available exclusively for the use of the blind, and retain ownership of them for that purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of Purchase Tax paid by the Kent County Council during 1950, in respect of stationery, etc., produced by the county central stores department, for use in their own departments and schools.

I regret that I cannot supply information regarding payments of tax by particular persons or corporations

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what staff is now employed upon the production and distribution of "Broadsheets" on Britain; what number of copies of these broadsheets have been issued and to whom; what was their total cost; and what further broadsheets and at what cost are to be issued during the present year.

This work is carried out by staff responsible for many other duties. The "Broadsheets" are distributed monthly and the present circulation is 70,000. Copies are distributed on request to trade union officials, supervisory grades in industry, industrial students at technical colleges and members of citizenship and educational bodies. The cost of printing and distribution is about£130 per month. The first issue was last October and it is proposed to continue monthly publication

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that each nationalised industry has, in the past 12 months, increased the charges for its services on the ground, among others, that the costs of services provided for it by other nationalised industries have increased; and what steps he is taking to counteract the effect of those increased charges upon the cost of living.

There has been a general rise in industrial costs both in private and nationalised industry in the past 12 months mainly because of higher prices for imports and to a smaller extent because of higher wages. The steps taken by the Government to limit the effects of this through price control, fiscal and monetary policy, international action and the encouragement of greater efficiency in industry as a whole have been repeatedly explained in speeches and answers to previous Questions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken to prevent pensions paid in sterling to Britons, subsequent to the transference of power in India, being subject to taxation in India and in this country.

Relief for Indian tax will be available in accordance with the provisions of Section 36 of the Finance Act, 1950, and the effect should be that in most cases pensioners will be relieved of any burden from double taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the British Government have recently taken to get the Austrian Government to resume service of her pre-war loans.

Repeated representations have bene made to the Austrian Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what decisions were reached at the recent meeting of the Organisation of European Economic Co-operation to solve the adverse balance of payments incurred by Germany.

The Council postponed any final decisions until they had received the new import programme which the German Government undertook to submit. As soon as this programme has been examined by the Managing Board and the appropriate Committees of the Organisation, there will be a further meeting of the Council at Ministerial level to consider the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the pay of Class Z reservists during their 15 days' training will be liable to Income Tax and. if so, what arrangements will be made for tax to be deducted under Pay-As-You-Earn.

This pay will be liable to Income Tax and should be included in the recipient's Income Tax return. It will not however be possible to arrange for tax to be deducted under P.A.Y.E. when the pay is issued.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether His Majesty's Government are satisfied that the recent conversations between the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation and the Raw Materials Commodity Groups in Washington have secured the integration of the interests of members of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation and the Commodity Groups in Washington.

Yes. Following discussions between Dr. Stikker and the Secretary-General of O.E.E.C., and the Central Group of the International Materials Conference, the O.E.E.C. have been invited by the Governments of the United Kingdom, France and the United States to join the Central Group. This invitation was welcomed by the Council of O.E.E.C. at its meeting last week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allow off-licensees to sell quarter and miniature bottles of spirits.

The different sections of the retail liquor trade have put forward various arguments for and against this proposal, which I am examining.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to state the outcome of the negotiations which have been taking place regarding the pay of radio telephony operators employed by the Air Ministry and other Government Departments.

I understand that agreement has been reached with the association representing the staff in the Ministry of Civil Aviation and that on the basis of this agreement new scales have been fixed for the Air Ministry staff.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the need for denying strategic raw materials to countries either themselves engaged in hostilities against United Nations forces or materially assisting countries so engaged, and in view of the marked increase during recent months of exports of raw rubber from British Dependencies to China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, he will review the present policy of His Majesty's Government with the object of placing all possible restrictions on direct or indirect exports of such materials to the countries in question.

It is the present policy of His Majesty's Government to keep a close watch on exports of strategic raw materials to China and the Soviet Union from the United Kingdom and from British overseas Dependencies, and to impose control where the circumstances make this necessary and practicable. These controls are under constant review, and I have nothing to add to the many statements which have recently been made in the House on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much rubber has been shipped to China since 1st January, 1950.

There were no exports or re-exports of rubber from the United Kingdom to China during the period 1st January, 1950, to 31st January, 1951.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to deal with the increasing difficulty of obtaining children's utility clothing.

I have already raised this point with the trade association concerned—the Light Clothing Federation—and will be meeting their two committees on children's clothing at an early date, to consider ways and means of increasing utility supplies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to overcome the present shortage of sulphuric acid needed for agricultural purposes; and what suitable substitute he is making available.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 6th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham (Mr. P. Wells).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the recent further restriction of newsprint, he can arrange for an additional allocation, particularly to the provincial Press, during the period of the municipal elections.

In such cases it is customary for an application for additional supplies to be made to the Newsprint Rationing Committee. I understand that an application has now been lodged on behalf of the members of the Newspaper Society, which represents most of the provincial Press, but that it was only received yesterday. It will be considered by the Committee at their next meeting and I am sure that the Committee will wish to treat it sympathetically.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made with regard to setting up an international commission to control newsprint supplies.

I assume that the reference is to the proposal to set up a Commodity Group for pulp and paper in Washington. I am at present unable to add anything to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 8th February. No decision has yet been taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any steps have yet been taken to reduce the export of newsprint from this country.

My right hon. Friend has taken no such steps, but he is keeping the position under constant review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement concerning the recent talks he has had with the Retail Apparel Margins Committee.

My right hon. Friend had a meeting with the Retail Apparel Margins Committee on Wednesday, 7th March. A full exchange of views took place, and further consultations are now being held between officials of the Board of Trade and representatives of the Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that supplies of hardwearing underpants worn by miners in hot pits are no longer available; and what action he is taking to see that they are again available.

I am aware that miners are having difficulty in obtaining this special type of underpants. We have already taken action to increase supplies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, when Statutory Instrument No. 205 was laid before Parliament it was not accompanied by the Related Schedule U.F. 6 without which Statutory Instrument No. 205 was incapable of interpretation.

Statutory Instrument No. 205 was in fact accompanied by Related Schedule U.F. 6 when it was laid on 8th February, 1951.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the new fees being charged for royalty rights on gramophone records have in many cases been increased as much as 40 times what they were last year; and, in view of the great difficulty thus caused to dancing teachers in carrying out their profession, whether he will include this matter in the examination of the whole subject of copyright which he has undertaken to make.

I am aware that the fees charged for the public performance of gramophone records have been increased recently in certain cases, but was not aware of increases of the order referred to by my hon. Friend. My right hon. Friend is prepared to include the question of performing rights in gramophone records in the general review of the law of copyright which it is hoped can be begun at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much money has been paid up to date to the National Geographical Magazine in the United States of America to advertise the Festival of Britain; and whether he is still advertising in this magazine that food in Great Britain is plentiful.

The advertisements were inserted by the British Travel and Holidays Association. I am sure that the hon. Member will appreciate that it would not be right for me to disclose what they cost. As regards the second part of the Question, I am not prepared to interfere with the general line of the Association's publicity which, in my view, gives a fair picture of the conditions tourists will find in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the application of the National Farmers' Union for the revision of tariffs on fruit and vegetables.

Yes. The application submitted by the National Farmers' Union for the revision of tariffs on fruit and vegetables is under consideration. It covers a wide range of products and the examination of the case for duty adjustment will inevitably take time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement concerning the proposed development council for the cutlery industry.

I consider that a development council could be of great benefit to this industry, but I do not feel able at the present time to press this proposal on it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will identify the powers enabling, other than those specified, to which reference is made in Statutory Instrument, 1951, No. 308; and why these are not identified in the Instrument.

The reference to other powers is a formula which is usually and properly employed in Statutory Instruments to comprehend such ancillary powers as are or might be brought into play when a specific power is exercised. These ancillary powers are other provisions of the enabling Act, e.g. Section 8 (3). and provisions of the general statute law, e.g. the Interpretation Act, 1889. To include these ancillary powers in the Instrument would make the Preamble long and cumbersome and obscure the specific statutory powers under which the Order is made.

asked the Minister of Works how many houses and hotels remain requisitioned by the Government for purposes other than housing.

335 small houses, 765 large houses and 40 hotels were held on requisition by Government Departments for purposes other than housing at 31st December last.

asked the Minister of Works how much office accommodation is at present under construction or licensed to be constructed in the country; and how much of this total is for Government use and how much for private purposes.

7,144,000 square feet of office accommodation is at present under construction or licensed to be constructed in the country, of which 3,157,000 square feet is for Government use, 3,222,000 square feet for private use, 372,000 square feet for local authorities, and 393,000 square feet for public utilities.

asked the Minister of Works what is the total value of the licences granted during, 1950 for building Government offices in London and the provinces, respectively.

Licences to a total value of£3,829,000 and£1,565,000 were issued in 1950 in London and the rest of England and Wales respectively for building offices to be let to the Government.

asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of the hardship involved, he will consider his Department's refusal to remove the works erected by them on land belonging to Lieut.-Colonel Cary Owtram of Newland Hall, near Lancaster.

The removal of these works was not thought to be essential in the public interest. This decision was taken in consultation with the Ministries of Agriculture and of Local Government and Planning, and I see no reason to depart from it.

asked the Minister of Works by what authority Lancaster House, which was given by Lord Levehlume especially to house the London Museum, is being taken by the Government for other purposes.

The lease of Lancaster House, assigned by direction of Lord Leverhulme, expired in July, 1940. My Department now holds the building under a new lease from the Commissioners of Crown Lands.

asked the Minister of Works when the road through Kensington Gardens, from Alexandra Gate, Exhibition Road, to Queen's Gate will be reopened to traffic.

I do not propose to reopen this road.

asked the Minister of Works how soon the London Museum will be returned to its normal home in Lancaster House, St. James's.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Janner) on 27th November last. I cannot say whether the Museum will return to Lancaster House in due course or whether other arrangements will be made for it.

asked the Minister of Works whether he can now issue a licence for the construction of lavatory accommodation at the ground of the Clifton Rugby Football Club.

A licence for this work was issued on 31st January.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the doubt which exists as to whether the proposed new Colonial Office will harmonise with the Abbey and other nearby buildings; and if he will give Members a further opportunity of seeing the model of the proposed new building.

I am aware of the general interest in this matter and I am arranging for a rough block model to be made showing the outlines and proportion of the revised scheme. This will be available for hon. Members' inspection in the rooms of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association on Friday next.

asked the Minister of Works from whom the Westminster Hospital site was purchased; what was the price paid by the Government; and the percentage of the site on which it is proposed to build the Colonial Office.

The site of the old Westminster Hospital was purchased from Messrs. Laing's Properties Ltd. for£405,000. The proposed new Colonial Office will cover about half of the site.

asked the Minister of Works whether he has considered the Motion standing in the names of the right hon. Member for Streatham and other hon. Members, relating to the plans for the new Colonial Office; and whether he will arrange to exhibit publicly a model of the proposed building, so that a further opportunity may be given for the expression of public opinion on the suitability of these plans.

I have considered the Motion standing in the name of the right hon. Gentleman and other hon. Members. The proposals for the new Colonial Office have been very fully considered and discussed in this House and in another place and, as stated in my reply today to the hon. and gallant Member for Norfolk, Central (Brigadier Medlicott) I am arranging for a rough block model to be available for the inspection of hon. Members before the Easter Recess. I do not think I should be justified in delaying still further the preparation of new plans or incurring further expenditure on a detailed model for public exhibition.

asked the Minister of Works how many electric heating units for room heating have been supplied for use in Government offices and other buildings; and what is their total consumption potential.

This information is not readily available and it would require more work than could be justified to obtain it by local inquiries.

asked the Minister of Works whether in view of the view expressed by the Government's scientific advisers that it is not desirable in the present circumstances that electricity should be used for room heating, he will state to what extent such heating is used in Government offices and other buildings for which he is responsible; and to what extent arrangements are being made to introduce up-to-date, efficient and fuel-saving heating arrangements in such buildings.

It is the policy of my Department to avoid using electricity for room heating wherever possible. Generally, electric heating is supplied only in buildings where central heating is not installed or is inadequate and only where there are no fire-places or flues. More economical means of heating are installed when the expenditure can be justified having regard to the length of the Department's tenure of the premises.

asked the Minister of Works if he will now consider removing the spigot mortar mounting from the garden of Mrs. B. M. Jolly, The Limes, Ricking-hall, in view of the inconvenience this is causing, and the length of time it has been there.

No. I regret that for some time to come resources will have to be restricted to clearing good agricultural land.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the present dilapidated condition of the United Kingdom Branch of the Commonwealth Association rooms in Westminster Hall; and what steps he proposes to take to reinstate the premises into a condition worthy to receive overseas visitors.

Yes. Reinstatement of these rooms, which were war damaged, will be carried out towards the end of 1951. Meanwhile the Commonwealth Association have been offered alternative accommodation in the northern end of the Westminster Hall Annexe.

asked the Minister of Works if his attention has been drawn to the fact that of the 10 wash basins installed in the lavatory adjacent to the Members' entrance, one has been broken and three cracked since the re-opening of the House of Commons, due to the bad design of the waste plug, and that nine of the marble, surrounds are cracked; and what steps he is taking to prevent future waste of public funds in this direction.

The basins and plugs have been in use for some years. I will have the question of the design of the wastes looked into.

asked the Minister of Works what steps have been taken in the Palace of Westminster to economise in the use of fuel and electricity.

Lighting in corridors and public places has been halved, by the removal of bulbs. Domestic hot water has been reduced in temperature by 20º F. All foot warmers and ceiling panels for heating on staircases and landings have been shut off. Half of the floor panels for heating have been shut off. Ceiling panels for lighting have been reduced by a quarter, except over the Strangers Gallery, where they have been reduced by two-thirds. These measures, together with a constant watch on unnecessary lights and radiators, have been in operation since the Christmas Recess and have resulted in a 10 per cent. saving on electricity and a 5 per cent saving on heating.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that non-union, unskilled men are employed on renovation work in the House of Lords and that damage can be done to the valuable panelling by men who have no technical knowledge; if he is further aware that this type of work is the normal work of French polishers; and if he will take steps to ensure that only skilled men are employed on this type of work in future.

The firm selected for the renovation work in the House of Lords is well experienced in this type of work and the workmen they employ are fully skilled. I am advised that no French polishing but only cleaning is involved and I am satisfied that no damage will be done to the panelling by the methods employed.

asked the Minister of Works what is the explanation of the ghost voices which are transmitted from the Chamber and from Committee Rooms to other rooms in the House of Commons building; and what alterations would be necessary in order to remedy these defects.

The voices from the Chamber were transmitted from the loud speaker in the annunciator room through an open window and into the windows above. This loud speaker will not in future be used. Voices from the Committee Room to other rooms are being transmitted through the partitions of the rooms and measures to remedy this are being investigated.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will adopt the practice of excluding from an employer's statutory quota of disabled persons those persons whose registrations have lapsed or have not been renewed on review for two years.

This would be contrary to Section 13 (6) of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the protest by the National Dairymen's Association, with reference to the unintelligible wording of the Milk Distributive Wages Council Proposal MD 61; and what action he proposes to take.

I understand that this Question refers to written representations which have been made to the Milk Distributive Wages Council (England and Wales). Under the Wages Councils Act, 1945, and the Regulations, the Wages Council is required to publish full details of its proposals to employers in the trade and written representations with respect to the proposals can be sent to the Wages Council which the Wages Council is required to consider. The proposals in question deal with holidays and holiday remuneration and the Wages Council and the Department constantly endeavour to make these documents as simple as possible having regard to the complexity of the subject.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps were taken to ensure the safety of workers employed by Wood-houses, Liverpool, before demolition was allowed to proceed, as required by Safety, Health and Welfare Regulations, 1948.

The accident which occurred on 23rd February in connection with the demolition operations at the premises in question and which unfortunately involved the death of two employees of Messrs. Woodhouse, has been investigated by the Factory Department. Legal proceedings are under consideration, and in view of this I do not think I should now make a more detailed statement.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the position existing in relation to the dispute between the employees of Messrs. Craven Bros., Stockport, and the firm's management.

I am happy to say that this matter is now settled.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the new French train ferry service on the Dover—Dunkirk run; and what steps he is taking, in conjunction with the Minister of Transport, to avoid the consequent unemployment among local seamen.

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport that increased traffic requirements warrant the new service to which the hon. Member refers. The service is additional to those already provided and no question of consequent unemployment among local seamen will therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers are now unemployed as a result of dismissal from George Beer and Rigden, Faversham, Kent, since this brewery was acquired by Fremlins, Limited, and production terminated.

Three men previously employed at this brewery are now registered as unemployed.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will identify the powers enabling, other than those specified, to which reference is made in Statutory Instrument, 1951, No. 228; and why these are not identified in the Instrument.

The only specific statutory powers under which this Order is made are those conferred by Section 10 of the Wages Councils Act, 1945, and referred to in the Order. The reference to other powers, as already explained in the answer to a similar Question on Friday last, is a formula which is customarily used to comprehend any ancillary powers. It is by way of a legal precautionary device.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now decided what contribution the Terran house will make towards solving Scotland's housing problem; and if he will recommend it to local authorities.

My right hon. Friend has already approved a permanent concrete four-apartment bungalow sponsored by this firm and has brought it to the notice of the local authorities. The firm's proposals for producing a cheaper type of bungalow have been substantially modified and he expects very shortly to receive a report which will enable him to decide whether it can be approved for housing purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks of the Comptroller and Auditor General in paragraph 7 of his Report on the Accounts of the National Health Service in Scotland for 1949–50; and what steps he intends to take to improve and speed up the pricing of prescriptions.

Yes. Under the arrangements made with representatives of the Scottish chemists last November, over 80 per cent. of the chemists affected are receiving a final settlement on a broad basis for the period up to the end of 1950. The remaining chemists have undertaken to help in the clearance of arrears by pricing certain of their own prescriptions. For the future, it is hoped that the actuarial investigations to which the Report refers will provide a satisfactory method of ensuring prompt pricing by abbreviated methods within the capacity of the pricing bureau. Meanwhile an interim arrangement of this nature is in operation for prescriptions dispensed since the beginning of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the 10,000 houses to be built for the National Coal Board in the next two years he has allocated to be built in Fife.

Of the 3,225 houses to be built for this purpose in the next two years, 500 are to be built in Fife, including the burghs, in 1951, and 300 in 1952.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the annual White Paper on Trade and Industry in Scotland may be expected.

My right hon. Friend hopes to present a White Paper on Industry and Employment in Scotland in 1950 early in May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now say what amount has been decided upon as the subsidy for the current year to be paid upon each breeding ewe of hill-sheep flocks.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Written Reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Motherwell (Mr. Alex Anderson) yesterday. I am sending him a copy of that reply.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what period of quarantine is to be undergone by the reindeer he proposes to introduce into Scotland on their arrival in the United Kingdom.

The quarantine requirements and other animal health safeguards cannot be prescribed until details of the proposed importation are submitted to my right hon. Friend by the sponsors of this project, but, amongst other things, strict quarantine for not less than 28 days will certainly be required.

asked the Minister of Health what qualifications are laid down for people to be employed as enumerators in the forthcoming census; whether this work is to be confined to civil servants only or whether suitable unemployed disabled ex-Service men will be eligible for this employment.

Registrars have been instructed to select persons of reasonable intelligence, education, tact and courtesy and with sufficient physical and general competence to undertake the work which is onerous. There are no rigid age limits and appointment is not confined to any particular class of persons. General recruitment has now ceased.

asked the Minister of Health how far the home helps scheme introduced by his Department has been successful; and if he will make a statement as to the future policy.

The home helps scheme of the local health authorities has been in general highly successful and it is my right hon. Friend's policy to encourage its development.

asked the Minister of Health how many nurseries for children have been closed by local authorities during the last year; and whether, in view of the new export drive and the need for all available women workers, he will consider increasing the grant to local authorities to enable day and residential nurseries and nursery schools to be maintained in accordance with the demand.

The particulars asked for in the first part of the Question are not yet available. The percentage grants payable to local authorities in respect of their expenditure on nurseries are fixed by Statute, and the Government see no reason to alter the percentages at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how far the plans for the new 2,000-yard runway at Dyce airport, Aberdeenshire, entail the demolition of any existing dwelling-houses and the closing of any existing rights of way.

A survey of Dyce airfield is now being carried out in connection with my Department's plans and until this is complete it is not possible to say with certainty which dwelling-houses will be affected. The development of the airfield will involve closing a number of highways some of which are only footpaths, and I am consulting my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport about what can be done to minimise the consequent inconvenience.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the United Nations decision to establish an autonomous Eritrea, federated to Ethiopia, he will proclaim an amnesty for all prisoners and others within his jurisdiction who took part in the strife before the United Nations decision.

For over 12 months members of armed bands in Eritrea have been invited by public notice to surrender. In this notice the authorities have promised freedom from prosecution to those who have not been directly concerned in crimes of violence, but it would not be in the interests of justice to offer an amnesty to persons who have engaged in such crimes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make with regard to the future of the British Military Mission to Ethiopia.

It has been decided to withdraw the British Military Mission from Ethiopia and the withdrawal started on 1st March after His Majesty's Ambassador had given three months' notice in accordance with the terms of the Agreement of 1944. This decision has been accepted by the Ethiopian Government who have expressed their appreciation of the Mission's work.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if, as the result of his further consultation with the Prime Minister of Australia, agreement has now been reached on the continuance of the assisted passages scheme to the Dominion after the end of this month.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 8th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Commonwealth Relations what were the conditions imposed by the European Co-operation Administration which prevented the Southern Rhodesian Government from accepting aid in connection with the improvement of outlets to the east coast of Africa.

I regret that I am unable to furnish the information desired since this matter has been the subject of direct negotiation between the European Co-operation Administration on the one hand, and the Southern Rhodesian and Portuguese Governments on the other.

asked the Lord President of the Council the amount of materials, under the categories of cement, bricks and timber, which will be, or have been, used in connection with the Festival of Britain.

I have been asked to reply.No. The Festival of Britain covers the whole of Great Britain and includes, in addition to the official exhibitions and other events, hundreds of unofficial displays, some of which will use some or all of these materials in small quantities. I am not prepared to instruct the staff of the Festival of Britain Office to spend time in working out this sort of calculation when all their energies should go into the urgent task of getting the official Festival events opened on the announced dates.

asked the Prime Minister what arrangements have been made with the American Tourist Agencies to advertise the Festival of Britain.

I have been asked to reply.The Festival Office and the British Travel and Holidays Association are working in close co-operation in all matters concerning publicity for the Festival. It is the normal and continuing responsibility of the British Travel and Holidays Association to promote travel to Britain and they are putting forward the Festival as this year's main attraction. Apart from advertising in the United States, bulletins of information have been sent to all travel agents in the U.S.A. and material such as leaflets and posters produced by the Festival Office have been distributed by the British Travel and Holidays Association in large quantities. The New York Office of the British Travel and Holidays Association maintains close touch with all principal agencies in the United States and both the British Travel and Holidays Association and the Festival Office maintain continuous liaison with the representatives in the United Kingdom. The aim has been to assist the agents to create a demand amongst the travelling public in the U.S.A. to come to Britain with the Festival as a main attraction and to ensure that the agents have the necessary information to meet it.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many boys leaving school entered the mining industry in 1950; how many workers under 21 years of age entered the industry; and how many left, giving the figures for Britain as a whole and for North Staffordshire in particular.

The number of boys leaving school who entered the mining industry in 1950 was 8,453, of whom 136 were in North Staffordshire. In Great Britain 20,272 workers under 21 entered the mining industry in 1950 and 10,443 left. The corresponding figures for North Staffordshire were 481 and 381.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what has been the cost to public funds of the fuel economy campaign to the latest convenient date.

The cost to public funds of the fuel economy campaign up to 5th March, 1951, was£32,000.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the county council of Ross and Cromarty regard the provision of only 12 telephone kiosks in their county, as allocated by his Department for the year 1951, as totally insufficient, having regard to the many remote areas of this county where the provision of telephone kiosks is essential; and whether he will make a substantial increase in this number.

The quota of 12 is two more than that for last year. I regret that it cannot be increased further, in view of the claims of other counties and the limitations on our resources.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the early delivery of mail at 73, St. James's Street, S.W.1, varies from approximately 8.30 a.m. to 9.15 a.m.; and whether he will take steps to ensure that such delivery is brought up to pre-war standards, namely, 8 a.m., save in exceptional circumstances.

The first delivery to 73, St. James's Street, S.W.1, is due to be made at 8.15–8.30 a.m. which is within the recognised time, namely 9.0 a.m., for completion of the delivery in London. There has been a recent change in staffing arrangements, which has involved the employment of postmen new to the duties, and this has led to delay in delivery. I hope that the earlier delivery time will shortly be restored.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the poor broadcasting reception in the Liskeard rural area and elsewhere in South East Cornwall, as explained to him in a letter from the hon. Member for Bodmin; and if he will take immediate action to improve the position.

I understand from the B.B.C. that the Light Programme should be received satisfactorily apart from some fading in mid-winter. Transmissions from Start Point (1052 kilocycles per second, 285 metres) are subject to severe foreign interference at night. Protests have been made which I hope will result in improved reception.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of proceedings, convictions, and charges proved for drunkenness in the Metropolitan Police district and/or the County of London and in the City of London, respectively, during the calendar year 1950; and the comparable figures for 1949.

The following table gives the available information. As a result of the replacement of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1907, by certain provisions of the

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of poultry food which was imported for the Gambia Scheme from its inception to the latest available date.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 7th March to the hon. Member for Windsor (Mr. Mott-Radclyffe).

asked the Minister of Food what was the profit made by his Department on the sale of groundnut oil to manufacturers and trade users in 1949 and 1950, respectively.

Approximately£500,000 in 1949 and£250,000 in 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the previous business experience of each

The present members of the Corporation with business experience, with details of that experience, so far as they are known to me, are as follows:—

Mr. ROBIN BROOK (Deputy Chairman):

Director, Ionian Bank and Hellenic and General Trust since 1946. Director, Bank of England, 1946–49. National Discount Company, 1930–46.

Mr. H. M. GIBSON:

Director, The Co-operative Wholesale Society Limited, and other Companies

Mr. H. HUME:

Chairman, Charterhouse Investment Trust Limited; Chairman and Managing Director, Charterhouse Finance Corporation Limited; Deputy Chairman, Metropolitan Estate and Property Corporation Limited; Director, Associated British Maltsters Limited; Methuen and Company Limited, and several other Companies.

Mr. G. TYSER:

For 30 years Managing Director of Lazard Brothers and Company Limited. Also Chairman of the Mercantile Group of Investment Trust Companies and Joint Deputy Chairman of Phoenix Assurance Company Limited.

Mr. A. J. MITCHELL:

Colonial Service (Public Works Department, Tanganyika), 1930–49. Formerly associated with various engineering firms in the United Kingdom and abroad.