asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the names of the firms to whom licences were issued by his Department enabling them to import tortoises into this country during the past 12 months; and whether he has any information as to the extent to which such permission was used by these firms to import tortoises between 1st September last year and the present date.

Sixty-nine licences were issued for the import of tortoises during the period from 1st April to 31st July, 1950, but I regret that, in accordance with normal practice, I am not prepared to publish the names of the firms to whom such licences were issued. On 1st August, 1950, an open general licence was issued which allowed the import of live animals, including birds, fish and insects (with the exclusion of bees) from a large number of countries to which the policy of relaxation of import restrictions has been applied. Since that date, therefore, it has been possible to import tortoises from those countries without separate import licences. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when work will commence on the advance factory scheduled to be erected at Pallion, Sunderland.

In view of the increasing pressure on the programmes of capital investment and Government expenditure, I am afraid that I can give no indication as to when it will be possible to start this work.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what steps he proposes to take to bring a supply of piped water to Cratfield, Suffolk, to ensure that ample clean water is available, both for the public use and to ensure clean milk production.

The provision of piped water to Cratfield is included in the Blyth Rural District Council's Northern Area scheme which was approved last August. Detailed drawings and contract documents are now being prepared by the Council, and it should be possible for work on the scheme to start as soon as the necessary materials, some of which have already been ordered, are available.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning how often he has used his power to vary or rescind a determination of a development charge made by the Central Land Board.

I have no such power.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what directions he has given to the Central Land Board that they shall set out to a developer the basis on which they have assessed development charges and to answer in detail all arguments put forward by the developer against such an assessment.

None. The Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, and the regulations made thereunder lay down the basis on which development charge shall be assessed. The district valuer acting for the Board always tells the developer the amount of the charge he proposes to make and invites him to call and discuss it if he does not agree with it.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will accelerate the fixing of revised prices for surgical footwear, in view of the increases in the price of leather.

Increased prices are considered on application and are dependent on the contractor showing to my satisfaction that he is having to pay more for materials than when the contract was made. A substantial number of contractors have been granted increases. If the hon. Member has in mind any particular contractor and will let me have details I will gladly look into the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the low-power transmitter station for the North-East.

A site for a low-power television station has been selected at Pontop Pike, near Newcastle, and the B.B.C. is now negotiating for its acquisition. In accordance with the Government's decision, announced on 14th March, that the five low-powered television stations should be postponed indefinitely no further work on these stations will be undertaken for the present and I cannot say when it will be resumed.