asked the Minister of Labour to what extent it is proposed to take legislative action arising out of the recommendations of the National Dock Labour Board submitted to him in February, 1949.

The Board suggested that there should be legislation to strengthen the law as regards responsibility for sanitary conveniences. Responsibility has, however, been accepted by the port authorities and the firms concerned, modernisation of sanitary conveniences and various other improvements in health and welfare facilities are proceeding, and as at present advised I do not think further legislation on this point is required at the moment.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the dispute that has led to a total stoppage of work in the nationalised Hants and Dorset Bus Company; what were the grounds for dispute; and with what bodies representing the employees he or the Transport Commission are negotiating.

This stoppage of work arose from a refusal by men employed at the Winchester depot of the company to carry out new duty schedules which were due to operate from 20th May. The stoppage subsequently spread to involve all areas covered by the company. The schedules were submitted to, and agreed by, the National Union of Railwaymen on the 25th April and notices were posted accordingly on 30th April. Individual representations against the schedules were made a few days before they were due to begin, but the National Agreement to which the company is a party provides that when points of difference arise on schedules and a decision is not arrived at by the date of operation, the new schedules shall be worked while they are being given further consideration by the management and the trade union representatives. The company negotiates with the National Union of Railwaymen, with which union they have an agreement regulating the wages and conditions of employment of their workers. The men returned to work on 31st May.

asked the Secretary of State for War to which infantry line regiments it is intended to restore a 2nd Regular battalion.

A 2nd Regular battalion has been restored to the King's Royal Rifle Corps. It is not at present the intention to restore a 2nd Regular battalion to any other infantry line regiment.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has; been called to the criticisms of the financial control and misappropriation of his. Department's funds in sections 9–15 of the Second Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, Command Paper No. 183; and what action has been taken to prevent a repetition of these and similar practices.

Yes. The steps which have been taken in this particular case are referred to in paragraph 10 of the Report. All units and establishments; have been instructed to carry out more surprise checks of cash holdings and a suitable questionnaire has been drawn up for completion by officers making these checks, some of whom may not be trained in accounting duties. In addition, inspections are carried out by trained audit staff.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British military prisoners of war captured in the fighting in Korea are now known to be in the hands of the Chinese Government; and whether he can make any statement about the treatment of these men by the Chinese authorities.

No British Army prisoners have been officially reported by the North Korean or Chinese authorities. From information received from unofficial sources eight officers and 145 other ranks are believed to be or are accepted as being prisoners of war. We have received no reliable information regarding their treatment beyond the reports by returned prisoners referred to by my hon. Friend's predecessor in his reply to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) on 28th February, 1951. With regard to the admittance of International Red Cross Committee delegates to North Korea, I regret that I cannot yet add anything to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 8th and 29th May.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men have been enlisted in the Mauritius Regiment; how many of them are serving in the Suez Canal Zone; and how far it is proposed to increase the number of men enlisted.

There is no Mauritius Regiment but about 6,000 Mauritians are serving in Egypt with the Royal Pioneer Corps. It is not proposed at the moment to increase the number of men enlisted.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the approximate number of Germans and Egyptians in Germany and the Suez Canal Zone, respectively, who are employed in a civilian capacity as drivers of military vehicles or performing other duties which in the event of war would have to be done by men in uniform.

It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the members of the National Rifle Association or the National Small-bore Rifle Association, who are expert marksmen, will be given preference for enlistment in the 200,000 persons defined as the total of the Home Guard.

When the Home Guard is embodied, volunteers from among the members of these Associations will be very welcome. I do not think it will be necessary to give them preference for enlistment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of the Army Council to recognise the gallantry of the Gloucester Regimen; in Korea in a specialised form.

It is not the custom in the British Army to make immediate awards of battle honours to units in the field. Awards to commemorate citations made by Allied commanders may be considered, however, during the campaign. A copy of the official citation has now been received and the question of an award to the two units concerned to commemorate the citation is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many sites have been earmarked for factory development in his Department's new married quarter estate in Colchester.

As I informed the hon. Member on 9th May, 1950, there is no intention to build factory accommodation on the same site as the new War Department married quarters at Colchester.

asked the Secretary of State for War why his Department, on the consideration of an application for a Commission in the Women's Nursing Service, insist upon the production of a birth certificate issued only by the Registrar-General and refuse to accept a certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a local registrar of births.

My Department is prepared to accept either full birth certificate or the shortened version, whether issued by the Registrar-General or by a local registrar of births.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Parachute Brigade are being moved to the Middle East by sea.

It is the normal practice to transport military units to the Middle East by sea.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that arrangements can be made at short notice by the Royal Air Force to lift the Parachute Brigade, wherever it is stationed, overseas or at home, to any part of the world; and what special steps have been taken to prepare for the use of charter companies aircraft or aircraft belonging to British Overseas Airways Corporation or British European Airways Corporation for this purpose.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the replies to be given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Air to Questions on this subject tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to avoid inconvenience to farmers, the call-up of Class Z reservists who are engaged in agriculture could be arranged so that it did not coincide with the harvest.

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

asked the Secretary for War if he will withdraw recruiting poster 5-1964, where words are overprinted on the face of the man picture in the poster thus giving a very bad impression.

I presume that the hon. Member has in mind poster 51–2168, in which case the answer is "No".

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement as to the present position of the stores, equipment and of the disposal of the 250,000 tons of stores of an estimated value of £100,000,000, details of which appear in sections 29 to 32 of the Second Report of the Committee of Public Accounts, H.C. No. 183.

Most of the 250,000 tons of stores referred to in paragraph 29 of this Report are now in depots in the charge of Middle East Land Forces. Other stores have been issued to units, incorporated in building projects, or returned to the United Kingdom. Stores of no further use to the War Department have been or are being disposed of either through Ministry of Supply channels or by the East African Disposals Board.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has considered the recommendations in sections 29 to 32 of the Second Report of the Committee of Public Accounts, H.C. No. 183; if he will give an assurance that if it becomes necessary to supplement or replace existing bulk storage abroad, every care will be taken to examine the suitability and the strategic importance of the proposed sites; and if he will make a statement.

I have read this Report and can give the hon. Member the assurance for which he asks. With regard to his request for a statement, I would refer him to the reply given by my hon. Friend's predecessor to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. N. Macpherson) on 22nd November, 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action he has taken to implement the recommendations in sections 26 to 28 of the Second Report of the Committee of Public Accounts, H.C. No. 183, concerning better supervision of the financal arrangements of the Territorial Army; and if he will make a statement.

This matter is being considered.

asked the Chancellor if the Exchequer if, in view of the consequences that must follow inflation, he will make an appeal to all company directors to exercise the greatest restraint in dividend declarations and, wherever possible, to refrain from increasing dividend distribution during the re-armament period, so as to strengthen the appeal of responsible trade union leaders for an equal restraint in wage increases.

I would refer the hon. Member to the remarks I made on this subject during the debate on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill, when I emphasised very strongly the importance attached by the Government to the need for restraint in this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action had been taken by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in pursuance of Regulation 30 of the Income Tax (Employments) Regulations, 1950, before its rescission on 25th May, 1951; and, in view of the advice of the Law Officers that the regulation was ultra vires, what redress he proposes for persons adversely affected.

Income Tax debts of the type to which this Regulation applied had been recovered by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue as preferential debts in cases of bankruptcy, winding up, etc., in accordance with the terms of the Regulation. The Commissioners are arranging to make any necessary repayments as soon as practicable, on the basis of what would have been paid had the Regulation never been made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now give an assurance that any differentiation of pay of tax officials, as between London and other parts of the country, will not involve reductions for the existing staff.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make a statement on equal pay for equal work arising out of the deputation he received last January on this question from the organisations representing the women civil servants.

I have nothing to add to the answer given on 8th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Itchen (Mr. Morley).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated yield for the current financial year of the Purchase Tax upon naval officers' uniforms.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider abolishing the 12½ per cent. Purchase Tax on school stationery.

I am not sure what my hon. Friend has in mind when he refers to 12½ per cent. Purchase Tax. Under Group 34 of the Purchase Tax Schedule, stationery is taxed at the rate of 33⅓ per cent. of the wholesale value. I am afraid that it would not be possible to provide special treatment for stationery used in schools.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has considered the Report of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on revaluation of currency; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell), on 31st May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will call a national conference of representatives of the trades unions, of management and of the Departments of State concerned, to make urgent recommendations for an increase in productivity particularly in those industries concerned with re-armament and exports.

I doubt if there is anything to be gained from calling such a national conference. The subject of productivity is continually discussed through the recognised channels of the National Production Advisory Council on Industry, the National Joint Advisory Council, the Engineering Advisory Council and the Regional Boards for Industry, all of which consist of representatives of management, the trades unions and the Government Departments concerned. The hon. Member will no doubt also be aware of the many activities designed to promote increased productivity carried on by the Government and industry including, for example, the work of the Anglo-American Council on Productivity, regional and district conferences and a substantial amount of publicity on the subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what allowances in respect of Income Tax for industrial clothing is made to miners, railwaymen, fishermen and shipyard workers, respectively;(2) whether an alteration of regulations is contemplated governing Income Tax allowances in respect of industrial clothing to meet the increased cost of replacements of such clothing and the deterioration of quality necessitating more frequent purchases.

I assume that the hon. Lady is referring to the expense allowances for industrial clothing which the Board of Inland Revenue agree with the trade unions concerned. These allowances vary according to the employee's trade and conditions of employment, and there is no single rate applicable throughout any of the industries mentioned in the Question. Moreover, the allowances usually also include the cost of upkeep of tools. The rates of the allowances are reviewed as circumstances change and in any event the individual employee can claim relief for any excess expenditure which he himself has incurred above the allowances agreed with the union.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider Income Tax concessions to teachers in respect of purchases by them of books which are essential to their daily work.

I am afraid I cannot agree to any special concessions for teachers. They are already entitled, like other employees, to an allowance for expenses which they incur wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of their duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total value of the war damage work which has been carried out in the Borough of Pembroke; and also the amount of value payments which have been made.

No separate records are kept of war damage payments to owners in particular areas. The information is, therefore, not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the value of the amount of war damage work which remains to be done in the Borough of Pembroke.

No separate records are kept of war damage payments to owners in particular areas. The information is, therefore, not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the need to supplement retirement pensions to meet as far as possible the increase in cost of living, he will now allow temporary service, prior to establishment in the Civil Service, to count, in full, towards pension and to apply to those already retired, whose pension would thereby be increased.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is proposed to introduce the legislation, mentioned in the Gracious Speech, for making available to Ministers permanent powers for the control of prices.

I cannot at present say.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the recall of certain Members of this House for training under the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Training) Act, 1951, he will arrange for such Members to use travel warrants issued by the Fees Office for journeys between their military stations in the United Kingdom and either London or their constituencies.

Yes. I think the House will agree that such an arrangement, which applied to Members serving with the Armed Forces during the war, would be appropriate.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what change is to be made in the charges to Ministers for the private use of ministerial cars in view of the increase in taxicab fares.

None. The increase from 1s. 1d. a mile to 1s. 2d. a mile already announced by my right hon. Friend in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Portsmouth, West (Brigadier Clarke), on 24th April already took account of the increase in running costs which have contributed to the increased taxicab fares.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now consider allowing gifts sent or brought back by troops on active service to be imported free of duty up to a larger amount than 10s.; and if he is aware of the feeling of injustice felt by all concerned, at the present arrangements.

There is at present no limit to the number of parcels of 10s. or less in value which members of the Forces may send home free of duty and Purchase Tax. I should not be prepared to raise the maximum value of such parcels without reverting to the labels scheme which operated at the end of the war, when a limit was also placed on the total value of parcels which might be sent home during the year. I do not think that the few complaints we have received about the present arrangements would justify replacing the present simple system with a scheme which would make demands on manpower disproportionate to the advantages achieved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of entertainments tax collected from speedway racing in respect of the years 1947–48, 1948–49, 1949–50 and 1950–51; and what is estimated will be collected for the year 1951–52.

So far as the first part of the Question is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. A. Lewis), on 3rd May last. The estimated yield of Entertainments Duty in 1951–52 from admissions to racing (other than dog and horse racing) after taking into account the increase which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed in his Budget Statement, is £600,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the depreciation of Treasury 2½ per cent. Stock by 36 per cent. resulting from the establishment of credit on a 2½ per cent. basis, a cheap money policy is still the policy of the Government.

It will always be the policy of the Government to raise any money which it needs to borrow, on the cheapest possible terms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if any progress has been made following talks with the trade to increase the supply of children's utility clothing at reasonable prices.

Following consultation with the trade, new schedules of children's utility apparel are being issued. This should result in a substantial increase in the production of utility garments at controlled prices. These new schedules will show some increases in permitted maximum prices, due almost entirely to increases in the cost of materials, mainly cloth. We have been assured by the representatives of the trade that they will co-operate with the Board in making available an adequate supply of children's utility garments at reasonable prices.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any statement to make in respect of cheaper prices for silk articles of clothing, following discussions with the silk textile manufacturers.

If my hon. Friend is referring to the proposal that there should be a utility scheme for certain silk goods, I am not yet in a position to make any statement about the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total of exports of rubber from the United Kingdom to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the months of March, April and May of this year.

During March and April, 1951 re-exports of raw rubber from the United Kingdom to the Soviet Union amounted to 1,269 tons and 861 respectively. Figures for May are not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that all possible steps have been taken by him to obtain sulphur supplies from Norway; and what amount has been received from that country in the last two years.

Yes. Our interest in obtaining supplies of sulphur from Norway has been expressed in the course of trade talks with the Norwegian Government. The normal markets for sulphur recovered from pyrites in Norway are Sweden and Finland, where this material is largely used in the pulp and paper industries. There have been no imports from Norway over the last two years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of engineers' small tools, including high speed steel tool bits, milling cutters, gear cutters, reamers and twist drills, which have been exported to Hong Kong between 1st November, 1950, and 1st April, 1951, or the nearest convenient dates.

In the five months November, 1950, to March, 1951, United Kingdom exports of engineers' small tools to Hong Kong were valued at £89,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what relative degree of priority is given to steel exports to Finland, and to those to hard currency countries and dollar areas.

Exports of finished steel are distributed between countries on the basis of a programme which is agreed between the Government and the steel industry: in planning this programme, we pay regard as far as possible to the needs of other Commonwealth countries, to the desirability of earning dollars and to the terms of undertakings exchanged in the course of trade talks. It is this last main factor which determines the level of importance attached to our exports of finished steel to Finland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to arrange for increasing the hotel accommodation at or near London Airport and so release accommodation in Central London needed for visitors.

Since last September the Board of Trade has sponsored the issue of building licences which will provide an additional 74 hotel bedrooms within a radius of six miles of London Airport.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the large imports of cloth and blanket lengths from Italy are subsidised as these goods are marketed here at far below fair competitive prices.

I have made inquiries and am informed that the Italian Government do not subsidise the export of textiles of any kind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the continuing rise in price of sisal twine, larger quantities can be imported from Empire countries in the sterling area.

So far as I am aware, there are no supplies of sisal twine available from Empire countries or within the sterling area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the Anglo-Polish Trade Agreement of 14th January, 1949, has been carried out up to date.

In 1949 and 1950 Anglo-Polish trade followed broadly the pattern expected, but there were shortfalls in 1950 in deliveries of Polish timber. Bacon was, however, in both years supplied in excess of the quantities promised. We have had to withhold on defence grounds deliveries of machine tools ordered by Poland under the Agreement. For their part the Polish Government are in default on a payment of £400,000 which was due on 31st March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give, as a percentage of our total world trade, the decline in United Kingdom-Commonwealth trade in 1950 as compared with 1949, both in imports and exports, for food, drink and tobacco, raw materials and manufactured goods.

The trade of the United Kingdom with the rest of the Commonwealth in the main commodity classes as a percentage of our world trade during 1949 and 1950 was as follows:

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what is the reason for the delay in reaching a decision with regard to the Bridport Rural District Council's scheme for supplying a piped water supply to the village of Puncknowle, Bridport, Dorsetshire.

The reason for delay is that the Bridport Rural District Council is still negotiating with farmers whose interests may be affected. My right hon. Friend has told the Council that, as soon as agreement is reached, he will approve the scheme.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what was the cost of the inquiry held by his Department at Daventry to decide whether the only public house at Claycoton should be allowed an inn sign bearing the words "The Fox and Hounds," with an arrow pointing to the house as it stands back from the road.

The cost was £10 0s. 5d.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he is aware of the inconvenience and nuisance caused to residents, in and near Western Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, by the gas works now under reconstruction; and what steps are being taken permanently to mitigate the nuisance from noise and dust.

Yes. During this reconstruction some noise and dust is inevitable. If nuisance continues when the work is done my right hon. Friend will send one of his inspectors to report on how to stop it.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether he will send a circular to local authorities discouraging them from employing the term "Civic centre" to describe or to amplify the description of premises for which the traditional expression "Town hall, Shire hall, Guildhall or County hall" might equally be used.

No. My right hon. Friend would regard such a circular as pedantic.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether he has decided to approve the proposed sewerage scheme at Bridlington.

My right hon. Friend has approved the first large relief sewer, and will approve the rest of the first stage work proposed by the council as soon as they have cleared up certain outstanding points.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given to fire authorities to encourage them to retain employees, other than firemen, who attain the age of 65 years.

I have been asked to reply. I am consulting the Association of Local Authorities on this question.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether his attention has been called to the memorandum on rent restrictions and the repair problem, issued by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a copy of which has been sent him; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that adequate repairs to rent controlled houses are and can be effected from the rents receivable.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelsea (Commander Noble) last Tuesday.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what steps he has taken to ensure that local authorities are fully aware that housing allocations by his Department depend now on local performance as well as needs; and if he will say what instructions have gone from his Department to regions on this point.

My right hon. Friend has repeatedly stated this policy both to this House and outside and it has been widely reported. In accordance with this policy his regional officers have already increased allocations to more than 300 local authorities.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether, in view of his ruling not to allow new bylaws to make B.S. 1010 taps compulsory, he proposes to take action to allow those local authorities whose bylaws already make B.S. 1010 taps compulsory to use Ministry of Health "Swan" taps in place of the B.S. 1010 taps.

Yes, if any of them apply to my right hon. Friend for amendment of their bylaws.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what information he has as to how far special consideration is given to the cases of applicants for council houses who are in the Services and have been required to vacate married quarters.

My right hon. Friend has instructed his regional officers to discuss this problem locally with the War Department and with the local authorities so as to minimise hardship.

asked the Minister of Works why women have now been prevented from bathing in the free part of the Serpentine during the early morning.

Since 27th May women have been allowed to bathe from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. without charge.

asked the Minister of Works for the most recent convenient date, the number of houses, offices and other buildings, under separate headings, still requisitioned in the City of Leeds by him as agent for Government Departments or statutory authorities; how many are now empty; and when those empty will be derequisitioned.

At present, nine houses, are held on requisition, one of which is vacant and will be released after huts in the grounds have been demolished in about a month's time. Seven offices and 11 other buildings are held on requisition. Part of one office is at present vacant while repair work is being carried out.

asked the Minister of Works by what authority he has power to shoot birds in the Royal Parks.

Any necessary shooting of birds is carried out in pursuance of my responsibility for the Royal Parks.

asked the Minister of Works (1) when it is proposed to begin work upon the extension of the cooperative abattoir in Cemetery Road, York;(2) when he proposes to release from requisition the slaughterhouse of Messrs. William Wright and Sons (York), Ltd., in Aldwark, Yorkshire.

The release of the slaughterhouse at Aldwark depends on completion of the extension at Cemetery Road. It is hoped to start building the extension to the Cemetery Road, York, slaughterhouse within three months and to complete it by June, 1952. The slaughterhouse at Aldwark will be derequisitioned immediately the new premises at Cemetery Road are ready for use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the authorised establishment of part-time retained firemen in England and Wales; and what is the actual number of firemen now serving in this capacity.

19,000 and 14,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he can increase supplies of round mild steel reinforcing rods in any diameter between ⅜-inch to ⅝-inch, which are urgently needed throughout Scotland for the housing programme.

There is a general shortage of steel re-inforcing rods, arising out of the difficulty in the supply of steel making materials, and I am afraid that in Scotland, as in other parts of the country, it is not possible at present to meet all requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to announce the terms of reference and personnel of the Commission of Inquiry into Crofting Conditions.

Yes. The Commission of Inquiry will have the following terms of reference:

"To review crofting conditions in the Highlands and Islands with special reference to the secure establishment of a smallholding population making full use of agricultural resources and deriving the maximum economic benefit therefrom; and to report."

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the broad principle in relation to the housing needs of the population which justifies the erection by the Scottish Housing Association of 266 houses in Greenock, 154 in Clydebank, 342 in Glasgow and two in Edinburgh during the year 1949;(2) whether he is aware that the Scottish Housing Association have erected one Demonstration house in Edinburgh and 350 Genuine Needs houses in Glasgow as at 31st January, 1950; and in pursuance of what policy this was done.

Calculations expressing housing needs in relation to population showed that Greenock, Clydebank and Glasgow were among the areas where housing needs were greatest to meet general needs in these areas. Edinburgh was not among the areas of greatest need as determined on this basis and the houses built there by the Association were for experimental and demonstration purposes only.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what is the average cost per head per night of maintaining persons in reception centres of the National Assistance Board as compared with the cost in 1937–38 in workhouse casual wards.

The average cost per head of maintaining persons in reception centres is about 7s. 3d. per day; I understand that such information as is available for 1937–38 does not provide a basis for a true comparison of cost.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average cost per head per week for maintaining persons in accommodation provided under Part III of the National Assistance Act as compared with the cost in Poor Law institutions in 1937–38.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 6th February to the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Hayman), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware that children are separated from their parents and made to join separate queues to pass through the turnstiles at the Battersea Park Gardens; and whether he will take steps to allow parents to take young children through with them in view of the distress caused by sudden separation of young children from their parents, which in this instance is worsened by the length of the queues, which do not run parallel, but in opposite directions.

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the Festival Pleasure Gardens are being run by a Company, Festival Gardens Ltd. I have no right to intervene in the Company's operational arrangements and questions of this kind should be referred to Festival Gardens Ltd.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has reached a decision about Mr. Emile Ogier, of "Chez Sauve," Landy Hook, L'Islet, Guernsey, a British war pensioner, details of whose case have been sent to him.

The hon. Member will now have received the reply to the letter he addressed to my Parliamentary Secretary on 7th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what quantity and value of imported feedingstuffs have gone into the Gambia poultry scheme since it was first inaugurated.

The Colonial Development Corporation inform me that corrected figures now available to them show that bulk feedingstuff imports for the Gambia poultry scheme have totalled 2,380 tons. The value of these and of certain vitamins and minerals also imported amounted to £68,354.