asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning how he proposes to amend the allocation of houses to local authorities in order to provide for the 10,000 houses which are to be built in mining areas.

No amendment in the allocations made to other local authorities for 1951 will be necessary.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning when he proposes to publish plans for a three-bedroomed house costing less than£1,000.

As I stated in reply to Questions last Tuesday, my advisers and I have been studying various plans which have recently been prepared and I hope soon to issue a circular to local authorities on the designs of council houses, seeking to combine economy with the maintenance of essential standards.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether he is aware that local housing authorities, in nearly all cases, decline to allocate council houses to families in which there are six or more children, on the ground that to do so would lead to over-crowding; and if he will issue a circular for the guidance of local authorities with a view to ensuring that families with many children receive the accommodation which they require.

No such case has been reported to me. Local authorities provide houses to meet the needs of families of all sizes and seek to arrange transfers of tenancies in appropriate cases.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning why his Department refuse to issue a licence to Mr. H. G. Tanner, Failand House, Failand, near Bristol, for a prefabricated greenhouse.

This licence was refused by the Long Ashton Rural District Council.

asked the Minister of Works on what date the new office premises in Savile Row were occupied by the Ministry of Local Government and Planning; what is the number of staff occupying the premises; when it is proposed that the building shall be vacated; and what is the estimated cost of removal.

No. 23, Savile Row, was occupied by the Ministry of Town and Country Planning in December, 1950. The building is now occupied by 465 staff of the Ministry of Local Government and Planning and 93 staff of the Ministry of Health. It should be wholly occupied by the Ministry of Health by the summer. The cost of removing the staff of the Ministry of Local Government and Planning is estimated at£750.

asked the Minister of Works how many bricks he estimates will be needed to meet the requirements of the defence programme for the calendar years 1951, 1952 and 1953.

It is impossible to state with precision the requirements of the defence programme for bricks for three years ahead, in advance of the planning of the individual jobs. I have taken account, however, of defence needs in calling for an increase in the production of bricks to a yearly rate of 7.4 thousand million as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the loss and unemployment resulting from his refusal to grant a building licence for the extension of the factory of C. Shippam, Ltd., at Chichester; and if he will reconsider his decision.

Owing to the heavy programme of defence work in this area it is not possible to allow work on the extension of Messrs. Shippam's factory at Chichester, to start for the time being. In view of the undoubted merit of the project the application will be reviewed in six months' time.

asked the Minister of Works how much cement he estimates will be needed to meet the requirements of the defence programme for the calendar years 1951, 1952 and 1953.

It is impossible to state with precision the requirements of the defence programme for cement for three years ahead in advance of the planning of the individual jobs. I have taken account, however, of defence needs in asking the cement manufacturers to be prepared to deliver 9.2 million tons of cement to the home market in the present year.

asked the Minister of Works what progress has been made with the disposal of the assets on the site of the Richborough New Wharf; when this is likely to be complete; and whether he can now give a probable date for the restoration work being carried out.

It has not yet been possible to realise the Government's assets on the Richborough New Wharf site. It has recently been decided that six of the buildings should be retained for storage, and it is uncertain when the site can be released. The extent to which the land may be restored by my Department is now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that Mr. W. J. Avey, 60, Brailsford Road, Brixton, who has had over 31 years' service in Palace Yard and who was given notice to leave on 26th January, 1951, is not entitled to a pension; has not yet received his gratuity and is in financial difficulties; and if he will take immediate action to provide for him.

Mr. Avey was retired on 23rd February last. He is ineligible for a pension under the Superannuation Acts because he was above the maximum qualifying age on 16th January, 1948, when the Scheme of Establishment of Government Industrial Employees was introduced. I regret that he has not yet received the gratuity to which he is entitled, but it is hoped that an award will be made within the next few days.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many copies of the leaflet, printed on art paper, advertising the book, "The Great Exhibition of 1851," were printed by His Majesty's Stationery Office; and what was the cost of this printing.

10,000 copies were printed, at a cost of£17.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total annual increased cost of salaries and wages in the Civil Service awarded since the Royal Commission on Equal Pay reported.

Very roughly,£40 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the yield of Income Tax and other taxes, paid by each of the nationalised industries, in the five years preceding nationalisation giving each industry separately; and what has been the yield to the Exchequer of these industries since they were nationalised.

I regret that the information requested in the first part of the Question is not available. As regards the second part, I am unable to give information about the tax paid by particular taxpayers.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give an estimate of how many women students begin but do not complete university training; how many women graduates work at the profession for which they have been trained less than three years and less than one year respectively.

I have been asked to reply. The data for the estimate asked for in the first part of the Question are not available. Information on the second part of the Question is unobtainable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has decided to bring in any legislation following the Report of the Monopoly Commission on Dental Goods.

It has been decided that the appropriate legislative action on

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the export of brass and copper, brass and copper scrap, and zinc and zinc scrap during the past six months and during the past three months.

Following is the answer:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the excessive cost of leather and other materials required in boot repairing; of the hardship involved to many persons in the lower class incomes; and what steps he is taking in this matter.

I am fully aware of the increased cost of leather and other materials used in boot repairing. These increases are mainly due to the world increase in the price of raw materials such as hides, where there has been a rise of more than 100 per cent. since last June.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the export of sulphur and sulphuric acid during the past six months and during the past three months.

Exports and re-exports of sulphur in the three months ending 28th February, 1951, were 226 tons, and in the six months ending February, were 2,729 tons. United Kingdom exports of sulphuric acid during the same periods were 864 tons and 2,106 tons respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the discharge of amounts due to persons whose claims have been agreed in the business and private chattels scheme of war insurance.

The general payment of claims under the private chattels scheme provided for in Part II of the War Damage Act, 1943, was made in July, 1947. As regards claims under the business scheme, I cannot at present add to the answer given on 27th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery).

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, in view of the housing shortage in Britain, houses to the value of£10 million are being exported to Australia.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 7th November, 1950.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will indicate the nature of the interchange of views that took place on 7th March between him and the representatives of the Retail Apparel Margins Committee; and the result of the further consultations since that date.

I am sorry that I cannot at present add anything to the reply given to my hon. Friend on Tuesday, 13th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether with a view to protecting the home producer of asparagus he will increase the import duty on asparagus from overseas countries.

We are always prepared to consider applications for variations in the rates of import duties: in this case, the growers have already submitted such an application and this is receiving consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give an assurance that in the general review of the law of copyright which is to be undertaken at an early date, special attention will be paid to the desirability of legislation to prevent or deal with any abuse of the monopoly rights conferred upon owners of copyright by the law of the United Kingdom, in accordance with the reservation made by His Majesty's Government in connection with the signature of the Brussels Convention of 1948.

Yes. I assume that the hon. Member refers to the declaration made by the United Kingdom Delegation to the Brussels Copyright Conference when Article 11 of the Brussels Convention was adopted. The Article gives to authors of musical and dramatic works the exclusive privilege of authorising the public performance of their works and the purpose of the declaration was to reserve the right of His Majesty's Government to consider whether any change in the law relating to the exercise of this privilege is desirable. My right hon. Friend is prepared to include this question 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 if he is aware of the difficulties being experienced in many towns in obtaining the necessary supplies of paper for the forthcoming municipal elections; and if he will arrange for an extra quota to the printers to be made in the municipalities for this purpose.

When the voluntary priority scheme for paper and boards was instituted three months ago, the necessity for making adequate supplies of paper available to all political parties for both national and local elections was impressed on the appropriate trade organisation, including the printers, and they have recently been reminded of the importance of this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the latest position in regard to the proposal to set up a development council for the pottery industry; and, in view of the delay, what further action he intends to take.

I regret that I am not yet able to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 22nd February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will furnish the definition of cotton cloth of the specification No. X3315 referred to in Statutory Instrument No. 297 of 1951.

This cloth is a nurses' uniform cloth and is woven with a plain weave from cotton and rayon blended yarns. I am sending the hon. Member a detailed specification of the cloth.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recent steps he has taken to secure a reduction in the export of newsprint to Australia and other countries; and what results he has obtained.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Mr. John Rodgers) on 13th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much softwood he estimates will be needed to meet the requirements of the defence programme for the calendar years 1951, 1952 and 1953.

It would not be in the national interest to divulge the quantity of softwood needed to carry out the defence programme; but I have no reason to believe that supplies will not be adequate to meet this requirement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to assist in making fungicides, containing copper, available for use on tea estates to protect the crops against the serious position which has arisen due to blister blight.

The production of copper fungicides is being affected by shortage of materials, in particular sulphuric and hydrochloric acid. It is expected, however, that reasonable quantities will be available for tea estates in 1951.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any further statement to make as to the freedom of Z reservists aged 40 and over to accept obligations in Civil Defence.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour if Class Z reservists will be paid for any loss of working time caused by their medical examination.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hendon, North (Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing), on 22nd February, 1951.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the numbers of men called up for service with the Army in 1945, 1946 and 1947, respectively.

154,000, 169,600, and 121,900 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour what proposals he is making to place in employment the approximately 1,000 unemployed in Croydon.

The normal machinery of the exchange service is available to all workers who apply for employment. During the four weeks ending 12th March 954 men and women were found work and the total number of unemployed in Croydon fell by 200.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of married women employed in the cotton and wool textile industries on the last date available in 1939, prior to the outbreak of war, and for a comparable date in 1950.

Statistics of the numbers of married women in employment are not available, but estimates of the numbers of married women and widows in the various industries have been obtained from occasional sample analyses. Such analyses were made in 1937 and 1948 and the estimated numbers of married women and widows in the cotton and wool industries in Great Britain were 127,000 and 51,000 in the former year and 89,000 and 38,000 in the latter year. Corresponding figures from an analysis that was made in 1950 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that an inter-union dispute between the electrical trade union and the Transport and General Workers Union is retarding the construction of housing accommodation in London; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this matter.

This dispute arose when an electrician was suspended by the London Electricity Board for refusing to work with a newly promoted mate who was not a member of the same union. The suspension led to a strike of electricians at the Bethnal Green Depot which has since spread to other electricians employed in contracting departments of the London Electricity Board and the Eastern Electricity Board; the number affected being now about 1,700. On 14th March a meeting of the National Joint Industrial Council for the Electricity Supply Industry was held, but since there is also a dispute whether the matter is within the jurisdiction of that Council its efforts to secure a settlement were unsuccessful. A meeting of interested parties was called by our Department for 16th March, but it proved impossible to find an acceptable basis for joint discussions embracing all the parties. My right hon. Friend is keeping the position under review.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that motor lorries with export goods have made the journey to the London Docks on three successive days before being unloaded; that a labour force which before the war handled 1,000 tons a day now only handles 600 tons a day; and if he will cause an investigation to be made into the working of the National Dock Labour Board to increase the efficiency of the labour employed.

The day to day administration of the dock labour scheme is the responsibility of the National Dock Labour Board, to whom questions such as the hon. Member raises should be addressed. I see no reason for making a special inquiry into the working of the Board.

asked the Minister of Labour how far the factory inspectorate is under establishment; and what is being done to remedy the shortage.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the detailed replies to the hon. Member for Luton (Dr. Hill) on 23rd January and the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mr. I. O. Thomas) on 8th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has received from the Herring Industry Board regarding the desirability of improving and maintaining the quality of herring marketed or processed in this country; and whether he will now permit the Board to impose such standards as they consider necessary for this purpose.

No further representations have been made by the Board since I wrote to the hon. Member on 23rd November last. I understand that the Board are consulting the Herring Industry Advisory Council on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the position today in regard to the proposed fishing harbour developments at Carradale; if the modified scheme has passed the development commissioners; and when work on the harbour will begin.

I am awaiting further information from the county council before submitting the modified scheme to the development commissioners. Consequently, I am unable to say whether the scheme will be approved or, if it is, when work on it will begin.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the 20 houses nearing completion in the Burgh of Cove and Kilcreggan were allocated by him; when building commenced; and what further allocation has been made.

The houses were allocated in May, 1948, and building commenced in January, 1950. Eight additional houses were authorised last month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far it is intended that experiments should be carried out in Scotland in the spreading of lime or fertilisers over hill pastures from the air.

Experiments are at present being conducted to ascertain the precise effects on different types of hill land of the application of lime and fertilisers at different rates. The Hill Farm Research Committee are also observing closely commercial operators in this field in both New Zealand and Wales. When these observations have been completed, the subject of liming by aircraft will be further considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of honours graduates, with first-or second-class degrees of a Scottish university in science and mathematics, respectively, entered the teaching profession during the period June, 1945, to June, 1950; and what was the corresponding proportion in the period June, 1925 to June, 1930.

As figures of these categories of university graduates cannot be obtained in the time available, I regret that I cannot give the proportions desired. I am, however, circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the numbers entering the teaching profession, and I will write further to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the numbers at the present time of schoolmasters employed in Scottish schools of all types administered by education committees of counties or cities.

At 1st October, 1950, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 10,129 male teachers employed in Scottish schools under the management of education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the numbers of qualified schoolmasters who are employed in an executive or administrative capacity in the education department, education offices and youth organisations under his control and provide, for purposes of comparison, the corresponding figures for each of these categories as in 1914 and 1928.

Four certificated men teachers are employed whole-time in the Secretariat of the Scottish Education Department, and the corresponding figures for 1928 and 1914 were 4 and 2 respectively; 96 are employed in education authority offices. and 4 in administrative work by grant-aided voluntary youth organisations. I regret that corresponding figures for these categories are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland under what circumstances the Animal Breeding and Genetics Research Organisation are taking over the farm of Mr. John W. Scott, Stanhope, Broughton, Biggar; and if any opportunity was given to this tenant farmer to have a renewal of his tenure.

The Agricultural Research Council purchased the farm of Stanhope in 1949, with a view to setting up under the control of the Animal Breeding and Genetics Research Organisation—an organisation established by the Council in 1945, with headquarters in Edinburgh—a field station for the purposes of research into the breeding of black-face sheep. In these circumstances no opportunity has been given to the tenant to renew his present lease, which expires at Martinmas, 1952. The termination of the tenancy is, however, subject to the provisions of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act, 1949, and in this connection, an application by the Council for my consent to the operation of a notice which they propose to give to the tenant to quit the farm at the expiry of the lease is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many disabled men have been issued with motor cars; and how many are still on the waiting list.

One thousand six hundred and eighty-two war disablement pensioners have been provided with motor cars; 214 applicants in the eligible classes are on the waiting list.

asked the Secretary of State for War what explanation he received of the inadequacy of gallantry awards in Korea and the long delay in considering recommendations, when he discussed this matter with the Commander-in-Chief, Far Eastern Command, in accordance with the undertaking given to the hon. Member for Solihull on 9th March.

The Commander-in-Chief, Far East Land Forces, did not consider that there was an inadequacy in gallantry awards in Korea. He accounted for the delay in passing the recommendations from his headquarters by the need to collate the recommendations which reached him in any given period.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is with his approval that, while five officers have received gallantry awards for service in Korea, only two such awards have been made to the other ranks, and none to private soldiers.

The hon. Member will be aware that on 6th March the award of Mentions-in-Despatches to nine other ranks, including four privates, was announced in the "London Gazette." Recommendations for awards and, in certain circumstances, the granting of awards, fall within the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief, who has recently promised to look into the point the hon. Member has raised.

asked the Secretary of State for War the dates upon which Headquarters, 27th Brigade, received the four recommendations for the Military Medal upon which no decision has yet been taken; and when these decisions can be expected.

These recommendations were received at Headquarters, 27th Brigade, about 3rd October, 1950. One of the recommendations has been overruled. In the remaining three cases the recommendations were amended to Mentions-in-Despatches, and these have been awarded.

asked the Secretary of State for War why "A" Squadron, 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, now serving in Korea, were without adequate supplies of boots as late as 14th February.

I have already informed the House that adequate supplies of boots reached Korea on 3rd and 8th November. I have myself seen the commanding officer of this unit, who left Korea at the beginning of February and who has assured me that all ranks were adequately equipped. It is possible that there may have been some delay in replacing worn out boots owing to the impossibility of small detachments of troops holding reserve stocks.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many time expired men are serving in Korea; and what steps he is taking to have them sent home.

There are 1,266 time expired men serving in Korea. A timed programme for the release of reservists in which top priority has been given to time expired reservists has been sent to Korea. The release of time expired Regular personnel affects all theatres and a release programme, details of which will be promulgated in due course, has been planned on a world wide basis. Both programmes provide for the release of time expired men in accordance with the statement of the Prime Minister on 29th January, 1951.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what date the five men of the 1st Battalion the Worcestershire Regiment, who were killed on 22nd February, arrived in Malaya; and what training they received between the date of their arrival and the date on which they first went into action against the enemy.

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

asked the Secretary of State for War whether special service engagement personnel are to have their Service engagements extended beyond the normal four years and for how long.

Yes. Short service engagements are Regular engagements and as such fall within the temporary ban imposed on the discharge or transfer to the Reserve of all Regular soldiers. It is not intended to retain these men for more than 12 to 18 months beyond the date on which their engagement would normally end.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to secure that agricultural engineers, farmers and agricultural workers are not called up from Class Z Reserve during the hay and corn harvests.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Low), on 20th February.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men medically graded B1 on demobilisation have now been recalled for training as Z Class reservists.

This information is not readily available. In selecting reservists for units their medical category at the time of their release was taken into account. Many units do not require men of the highest medical standard.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men being called up from the Class Z Reserve will be, respectively, over 40 years of age and over 30 years of age; and how many will have begun their military service before 1943 and before 1940, respectively.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered a copy of a letter reference 3/I/MOB/E/(C)A relating to a Class Z reservist; and whether he is satisfied that the man concerned is correctly selected for service in view of his considerable war record and absence of any special technical skill and qualifications.

I have written my hon. Friend about the first part of his Question. The answer to the second part is "Yes."

asked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of the Z reservists being recalled this year he estimates saw service in the last war.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement showing the numbers of Z reservists being recalled this year by age and service groups.

A percentage check is being made of the age and service groups of the Z reservists warned for recall. This check, which should shortly be completed, will enable an estimate to be made of the figures requested and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as they are available.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men in the Army are solely occupied in driving passenger cars.

In the United Kingdom 340 are employed in driving passenger cars. Overseas it is estimated that there are some 300 British soldiers and 600 locally enlisted personnel or local civilians so employed.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the percentage distribution of the 168,700 officers and other ranks described as non-fighting elements of the Army over the main ranges of their duties.

I regret I cannot add anything to the answer given to a similar Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Petersfield (Sir G. Jeffreys) on 27th February.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to amend the Pensions Increase Warrants, 1944 and 1947, in view of the increase in the cost of living since 1947.

No. The Pensions Increase Warrants allow increases of Army pensions on the same basis as the Pensions Increase Acts and corresponding instruments, and an amendment to the Warrants could not be considered in isolation.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how many ex-miners are being released from the Army;(2) if he will publish details of the arrangements for releasing ex-miners from the Army;(3) which classes of soldiers are not eligible for release as ex-miners; and what is the number involved in each respective class.

Ex-miners are eligible for release from the Army if they are Regular soldiers (excluding those on Type C, K or N engagements) and below the rank of acting sergeant, provided they last enlisted from civil life after 31st December, 1948, are up to the required medical standard, have had at least six months' experience of underground work in the mines and are prepared to work underground. Soldiers serving in units employed under the United Nations in the Japanese and Korean theatre are excluded. Release of soldiers will be conditional upon their acceptance by the Ministry of Fuel and Power. Soldiers are not eligible for release if they do not fulfil these conditions. I cannot say how many are involved in each class. Instructions were only issued to all Commands on 23rd February and no figures are yet available regarding the number of soldiers who are being released.

asked the Secretary of State for War from what arms of the Service the warrant officers and non-commissioned officers employed in the War Office on supervisory, typing and other clerical duties are drawn.

Most of these soldiers belong to the Royal Army Service Corps. The balance come principally from the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, the Royal Artillery, the Royal Army Pay Corps, the Royal Engineers and the Royal Signals.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the comments by the coroner at Oxford concerning troops of the Airborne Regiment in the case of a National Service man who died from injuries inflicted upon him by another soldier in Germany; and if he will make a statement.

Driver D. S. Moffat was injured in Brunswick on 31st August, 1949, as a result of being struck by some person or persons unknown. Exhaustive inquiries were made by the military authorities, and identification parades were held, but it was not possible to identify the soldier who committed the assault.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the value of stores now held at Mackinnon Road, East Africa, and what is their nature; how many men are guarding these stores; and how many, uniformed and civilian, respectively, maintaining them.

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

asked the Secretary of State for War what were the circumstances resulting in the escape of several soldiers from the detention cells at Maryhill Barracks on 18th March; and if he will make a statement.

A court of inquiry has been assembled to investigate this occurrence.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make arrangements to enable National Service men who have developed conscientious objections to military service after doing their basic National Service but object to further service with the Territorials, to have their claims for exemption considered by a civilian tribunal before they are called upon for such further service.

I am looking into this matter and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Class B reservists will be called up for refresher training this year; what qualifications they are required to possess; and for what purpose they will be used.

1,938 Regular reservists have been warned that they will be called up for training this year. The great majority of these will belong to Selection B, Royal Army Reserve. The basis on which the selection of these reservists was made is the same as for recalled Z reservists. They will carry out the training appropriate to the unit to which they are recalled.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that recruitment to the Gurkha units of the British Army will in no way be affected by the recent political developments in Nepal.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14th November last to the hon. Member for Paddington, South (Mr. de Chair) and on 29th January of this year to the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir J. Mellor). His Majesty's Government are continuing to recruit Gurkhas to the British Army under the existing arrangements with Nepal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make a statement on the result of the meetings in Paris attended by observers on behalf of His Majesty's Government concerning the implementation of the Schuman Plan.

I am very glad to say that, as hon. Members will have observed from this morning's Press, the discussions in Paris regarding the Schuman Plan, in which the Governments of France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg have been participating, led, on 19th March, to the initialling of a draft treaty by experts representing the six Governments. No observers representing His Majesty's Government have attended these discussions, but His Majesty's Embassy in Paris has been kept generally informed of the progress of the negotiations.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been drawn to the notice of dismissal from their employment to several hundred workers in the motor industry owing to a shortage of sheet steel; and what action he will take to maintain full employment in that industry.

Yes. Every effort is being made to obtain sheet steel from abroad, but I am afraid that some reduction of supplies to the motor industry cannot be avoided until home production increases.

asked the Minister of Supply the contents and value of the German reparations steel works now in store at the Bowerfield works of Messrs. Dorman Long and Company, Stockton-on-Tees; what is being done to maintain it; and what action he is taking for its disposal and use as a steel works.

This plant comprises dismantled rolling mills and ancillary equipment, and as much as is suitable for further use is being sold to steel makers, but some is fit only to be used as scrap. Of some 26,000 tons consigned to the Bowesfield works, 3,204 tons have been sold and offers for 6,371 tons are now under consideration. Until the disposal arrangements are completed the full value of the plant cannot be determined. Meanwhile, the plant still in store is being protected from deterioration.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone kiosks were allocated by his Department for the year 1951 to each county council in England, Scotland and Wales.

Following are the figures under the Rural Kiosk Allocation Scheme for 1950–51. They do not represent the total number of kiosks to be provided; the others, for example, those in urban areas, are not allotted on a county basis.

asked the Postmaster-General how many new telephones have been provided in each ward of Cardiff since 1st February, 1950; and how many demands are unsatisfied in each ward.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange to install a speaking clock for the convenience of telephone subscribers when the new telephone exchange is completed at Cardiff.

Provision has already been made.

asked the Postmaster-General on how many occasions he has attended the conference of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters in his official capacity.

I have not attended any such conference officially.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that there is still no direct road communication between Aldringbourne, Oving and Tangmere in West Sussex; and what progress he has made towards settling the line of a new alternative road.

I am aware of this. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air has not yet made final plans for the alteration of Tangmere airfield, and until I know the extent to which these plans will interfere with the new road I had previously proposed I cannot fix its precise line.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many fowls were ordered to be killed by his Department due to the existence of or suspected existence of fowl pest, in England and Wales and Scotland, respectively, in November, December, 1950, and January, February, 1951.

The numbers of fowls that were slaughtered by the orders of the Ministry of Agriculture in consequence of outbreaks of fowl pest during the four months November, 1950, to February, 1951 were as follow:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether all coal mines in Great Britain now have a piped or natural supply of water fit for drinking by the men and ponies employed therein.

At the great majority of mines there is a piped supply of drinking water at the surface and proper facilities for filling water-bottles. There are some isolated and small mines where there is no piped supply but adequate alternative arrangements are often available. In regard to horses, the law requires that a sufficient supply of pure water, protected from contamination from dust and other deleterious substances, shall be provided daily underground for every horse while in the stables and while at work. I have no reason to think that this is not being generally observed.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what committees exist to advise him on the more efficient use of coal in industry; and in what way industrial management is represented on any such committee.

There is a main Fuel Efficiency Advisory Committee, and a Regional Fuel Efficiency Advisory Committee in each of the 12 regions into which the United Kingdom is divided for administrative purposes. Most of the chairmen and many of the members of these committees are engaged in industrial management. In addition, I can remit to my Scientific Advisory Council, whose membership is predominantly scientific, problems affecting economy and efficiency in the use and distribution of fuel and power.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what approaches he has made to employers' associations in order to obtain their co-operation to promote more efficient use of fuel in industry.

The National Production Advisory Council for Industry, the Engineering Advisory Council and the Regional Boards for Industry have always displayed great interest and activity in industrial fuel efficiency and have been kept abreast of developments by my Ministry at frequent intervals. The Federation of British Industries has a Fuel Economy Committee, operates a technical service for members, and publishes annually "Fuel Economy Review," containing topical articles on various aspects of industrial fuel efficiency. There is active co-operation between the Federation and my Ministry's Fuel Advisory Service.The National Union of Manufacturers have also taken a keen interest in fuel efficiency and have, from time to time, published articles on the subject in their journal. A satisfactory liaison has been maintained with them by my Ministry and they have always shown themselves most helpful. In addition, many trade associations have been approached individually over a period of years and over 50 of them have taken active measures to secure fuel efficiency in their own industries. More recently, liaison with these bodies has been maintained by regional fuel efficiency committees.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the present inadequate meat ration, he will consider making arrangements to enable schoolchildren, during the holidays, to obtain the equivalent of the meat which they receive at school dinners in addition to their ordinary ration.

I am afraid that special temporary rationing arrangements of this sort would not be practicable. I understand that some local authorities do provide school meals during holidays where they think that the demand is sufficient to justify it.

asked the Minister of Food what is the cost price to his Department of the dripping for fish friers which is being sold at£133 6s. 8d. per ton; what are the sources of supply; and what is the difference per ton in the cost price of this dripping and the average cost price per ton of meat.

My Department does not buy or sell dripping, but controls its distribution and price. It is supplied to fish friers and other authorised users by private firms, who produce it partly from imported tallow but mainly from fat obtained from our slaughter-houses. The cost of this fat to my Department cannot be isolated from that of the live animals which we buy, and I cannot, therefore, state the difference between the cost per ton of dripping and the average cost per ton of meat.