asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what recent provision has been made to release shipping for the transportation of grain and other foodstuffs to India in connection with the threatened famine in Bihar.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement that I made in reply to Questions on 31st May. Since then we have assisted India in chartering four more ships from the North American and Australian runs, and another five ships for moving grain from China, representing in all a further 80,000 tons of shipping. So far, therefore, this year we have assisted India in chartering over 90 ships with a total tonnage of over 800,000 tons.

Is it correct that the amount of grain now available in Southern Bihar is considerable and that the transport difficulties, particularly in Northern Bihar, referred to recently in the House have been overcome? Further, has any technical assistance been requested from us by the Government of India?

To judge from statements made by Indian officials such as the High Commissioner in London and Ministers and officials in India, the situation seems to be better than it had once looked like becoming. I cannot, of course, answer about internal transport in India, but the Indian High Commissioner in London said the other day that the main difficulty was not to get food but to transport it from overseas, and that is the line on which we are now working.

When the right hon. Gentleman says that he has assisted in obtaining or chartering 90 vessels, does that mean that any financial burden has been assumed by His Majesty's Government, or is it just technical assistance?

No financial burden is being assumed, but these ships would, of course, otherwise have been used in the main for bringing to this country things which we very much want.

The right hon. Gentleman says that there is no financial burden. I take it that these are not exclusively British ships. Surely on the freight market, there must have been a substantial rise in freights as a result of the Indians coming into the freight market on this scale, whether the ships are English or foreign. Has not that affected our interests?

I did not say that it had not affected our interests, but, clearly, it is our duty to help another member of the Commonwealth in these ways. I am not sure whether it has put up freight rates or whether we have merely diverted important things which would otherwise have been brought here. I should be able to answer that question if notice were given.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what help he is sending to the Government of India to relieve the famine in Bihar where 20,000,000 people are threatened by death through starvation.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what requests he has received from the Government of India for assistance in the relief of Assam and Bihar who are experiencing a food famine.

I would refer the hon. Gentlemen to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Sorensen), the hon. and gallant Member for Macclesfield (Air Commodore Harvey) and the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on 31st May.

Could I ask the Minister two questions? Can he assure the House that everything this country could have done has been done to help in this case, and that the worst threat of mass famine has now passed?

I think I can assure the House that everything that His Majesty's Government could do has been done. Also, India has made it quite clear that our aid in chartering ships was the really vital help they needed. I cannot answer questions that should be addressed to the Government of India, but from public statements it is gratifying that the situation appears to be a great deal better.

Does the Minister agree with the contention in this question that 20 million people are threatened by death through starvation, and does not this conflict with the recent evidence we have had from the High Commissioner to which he has made reference? Secondly, whatever help my right hon. Friend is able to give—and we hope and expect it to be generous—will he resist tying to it any quid pro quo arrangements such as have been suggested from the other side? May we be assured that it will be given out of sheer good will and without any reference to bargaining?

I certainly cannot accept the figure of 20 million people. I repeat what I have already said, that there will be no bargaining in this matter. I should like to refer to part of a statement recently made by the Indian High Commissioner in India that exaggeration does as much harm as complacency in this matter.

Since my figure has been challenged, and that has been accepted by the Minister, may I ask him if he is not aware that it came from a report in the "Economist," a most responsible newspaper, whose figures are usually accepted by His Majesty's Ministers?

Whatever is accepted by His Majesty's Ministers, we are not responsible for internal events in India or for answering questions about them.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress has been made in his discussions with the Government of India concerning the deduction of Indian income tax from pensions payable to ex-members of the Secretary of State's services in India and the Indian Army, who are now resident in the Channel Isles. Eire or the Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the position of the discussions with the Government of India regarding the deduction of income tax from pensions payable to former members of the Indian Army now residing in the Colonies or in the Channel Islands.

As a result of discussions with Indian officials, administrative arrangements are being made, subject to confirmation by the Government of India, under which that Government will levy tax on pensioners in the places named in broadly the same manner as they levy tax on pensioners resident in the United Kingdom. Thus, for instance, under the proposed arrangements, the Government of India would for the next few months provisionally tax the pension of a person resident abroad as if he had no income other than his pension. Details of the arrangements will be sent shortly to all persons who draw their pensions through the Commonwealth Relations Office or the High Commissioner for India.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this arrangement and any other arrangement that involves the payment of Indian income tax before the pension is received by the pensioner must impose hardship upon the pensioner? Is not the right hon. Gentleman under an obligation, which was assumed by the late Chancellor of the Exchequer in a statement to the House on 15th July, 1948, to see, in conjunction with the Indian Government, that he does everything possible to avoid inconvenience or hardship to the pensioners? What is he doing about that?

I am doing everything possible to avoid inconvenience to the pensioners. The new arrangements which I have just mentioned are the result of representations that I made to the Government of India. I hope that that answers the hon. Gentleman.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that these arrangements completely fulfil the pledge given at the time the services of these men were dispensed with?

I think that they satisfy the pledge and that we are doing everything we possibly can. We shall continue to do so.

That was not the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make representations to the Government of India to rectify the anomaly whereby certain former servants of the Crown in undivided India receiving pensions through the High Commissioner for India are less favourably treated than others who, with similar service records, receive pensions through the High Commissioner for Pakistan.

I take it that the hon. Member is referring to the decision recently taken by the Government of India (but not by the Government of Pakistan) to tax the pensions of certain former servants of the Crown. I do not think that I have grounds for making representations against this decision. It is within the legal competence of the Government of India; moreover many governments, including our own, follow the practice of taxing pensions paid from their revenues wherever the pensioner resides. I understand that, in the majority of cases, by the operation of relief granted by the United Kingdom Government, no increased burden of tax will fall on the pensioner.

Does the Minister consider it fair that people who rendered equal service to the Crown in undivided India should now receive unequal pensions merely because of the accident that some of them receive their pensions from the High Commissioner of Pakistan while others, less fortunate, receive their pensions from the High Commissioner of India?

I do not know that I am called on to express my view as to whether it is fair or not. But what I would say is that it is directly within the legal competence of the Indian Government to do this.

Whatever may be the legal competence of the Government of India, the right hon. Gentleman told us at the beginning of Questions that he hoped to save from death by starvation millions of Indians. Does he think it fair that they should reply to that by inflicting hardship on these ex-servants?

I think it would be quite shocking to bargain in that way.

May I ask the Minister if he will refresh his memory in regard to the assurance given by the Prime Minister in this House on 10th July, 1947, in these words:

"… those concerned have the assurance of His Majesty's Government that they will receive the pensions to which they are entitled."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 10th July, 1947; Vol. 439, c. 2458.]

I have no need to refresh my memory on this point, since I looked it up when the hon. Gentleman put down the Question. The reply of the Prime Minister was carefully framed at the time to cover an interim period pending the settlement with India of an agreement which was then concluded between us and the Indian Government.

Will the right hon. Gentleman revise his views on bargaining and remember that on the one hand, although lives have been in question, on the other hand the livelihoods of people who have won a gallant and honest pension in doing their job is under consideration?

I quite agree that various views can be held on pensions. I am prepared to continue representations and to do all I can to protect the interests of these pensioners, but I would not agree that I can deal with this in relationship to the question of help to India over their food shortage.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the composition of the African Advisory Council of Bechuanaland; how are its members chosen; how often does it meet; and what are its powers.

The African Advisory Council of Bechuanaland has no formal constitution. It meets under the presidency of the Resident Commissioner, usually once a year. Its members are chiefs and tribal representatives from areas both within and outside the main reserve. It is thus fully representative of African opinion in the Protectorate. Meetings are also attended by heads of Government Departments and by officers of the district administration. The Council is advisory and it is consulted on all important matters affecting African interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the composition of the European Advisory Council of Bechuanaland; how are its members elected; how often does the Council meet; and what are its powers.

The European Advisory Council of the Bechuanaland Protectorate consists of the Resident Commissioner who is ex-officio President, the Deputy Resident Commissioner, six other official members and eight elected members. The official members are appointed by the Resident Commissioner. The elected members represent eight electoral divisions into which the Territory is divided. All Europeans who satisfy the residence and property or income qualifications are entitled to be nominated for election to the Council and to be registered as voters. The Council usually meets twice a year and its function is to advise the Resident Commissioner on matters directly affecting the European residents of the Territory. It has no power other than that of tendering advice. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Proclamation under which the Council was established.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will consider the possibility of establishing a Legislative Council in Bechuanaland; and whether he will arrange for a party of senior officials and leading Africans to visit other British territories in East and Central Africa to study current developments in the growth of representative institutions.

The aim of His Majesty's Government is to develop representative and responsible institutions in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. A joint council, representative of the European and African Advisory Councils, has recently been established and will be consulted on matters of joint interest to the African and European communities. It would be premature to consider a grant of legislative powers to this body at this stage. I am considering the possibility of visits by representative persons from the Protectorate to other territories to study local African government and, in particular, district councils, which is the field most appropriate to the Protectorate's present stage of development.

How many of these district councils have yet been established, and what will be the speed, approximately, with which progress is made towards the legislative powers which my right hon. Friend has in mind?

Without notice I could not say how many district councils there are in the whole of the Bechuanaland Protectorate. It is difficult to say how quickly progress can be made towards getting legislative powers for such a body as this. It depends upon economic and social development, upon the desires and wishes of the members of the council, and matters of that sort; so I do not think I can give a date.

Could the Minister tell the House how many times the joint council to which he has referred has met?

The joint council has only recently been set up in response, I am glad to say, to representations from both the African and European Advisory Councils. It has met once or twice.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consultation takes place with members of the Commonwealth regarding any decision to establish self-government in a colony.

Whilst the United Kingdom Government alone carry the responsibility for internal constitutional developments in Colonies dependent upon the United Kingdom, we recognise the interest of the Governments of other members of the Commonwealth, and it is our practice to keep them informed of major developments in that sphere. Were any question of admission to full and independent membership of the Commonwealth to arise, all existing members would, following past practice, be consulted.

In view of the alarm and despondency recently expressed by responsible Ministers in the Union of South Africa and in Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia, there cannot have been any great discussion. Can we expect to hold the Commonwealth together if we dish out self-government to primitive peoples without proper and previous discussion with the Dominions most concerned?

We must make quite clear the distinction between the grant of responsible self-government within the Commonwealth, which is a matter for the United Kingdom Government and the territory concerned, and for them alone, and the question of becoming a full member of the Commonwealth, which is of course a matter for all members of the Commonwealth. All steps towards responsible self-government within the Commonwealth are a matter between us and the territory concerned, and we must make that distinction quite clear and abide by it.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what replies were received from India, Pakistan and Ceylon in answer to the invitations inviting them to be represented at the Commonwealth defence talks which are to be held in London in July.

I take it that the Question refers to the meeting beginning on 21st June. It had never been contemplated that the Governments of India, Pakistan and Ceylon would attend this meeting, which is concerned with problems particularly affecting Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia, and also Canada. No question of sending invitations to India, Pakistan or Ceylon arose. The Governments of India, Pakistan and Ceylon have, naturally, been informed of arrangements made for the meeting.

Does that answer mean that since the conference is to discuss Commonwealth security as a whole, we in the United Kingdom are under an implicit obligation to defend India and Pakistan against any external aggression and, in the case of Ceylon, under a treaty obligation to do so, but that these countries are not prepared to co-operate either to defend each other or to engage in any form of Pacific pact or world-wide Commonwealth pact?

It would be quite wrong to draw such conclusions from my answer. This is a particular meeting of certain members of the Commonwealth to discuss problems in certain areas and regions of the world that particularly concern them. That is the only conclusion that can be drawn from my answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps his Department are taking to bring new industry to Dover.

By the establishment of new concerns and the expansion of existing firms, over 1,300 new jobs have been created in Dover and on the industrial estate at Richborough since 1945. My Department will continue to draw the attention of industrialists wishing to establish new projects to the possibilities of this part of the country.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that his efforts to bring fresh industry to Dover are being stultified from the employment point of view by the action of his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War in removing the Returned Stores Group from Dover? Will he make representations to his right hon. Friend about this?

I will certainly look into the matter, but I should not like it to be thought that our efforts were being stultified. The average percentage of unemployment in Dover in April of this year was 2.9; in the years 1934–38, it was 12.3.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction over the legal definition of the term, "British film"; and whether he contemplates making any changes with a view to giving more opportunity to British writers, producers and directors.

At my predecessor's request, comments on this and other provisions of the Cinematograph Films Acts have been submitted by the various trade organisations, and I am reviewing the whole question in consultation with the Cinematograph Films Council.

Will the President of the Board of Trade, when making his review, bear in mind the particular difficulties under which employees in the film industry are labouring and the fact that American films which are produced with a big distribution organisation behind them and have a world wide market do not really need the protection of the British quota?

I will bear these considerations in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total cost of factory buildings, with services, which have been built by Government finance in the development areas and the number of people at present employed in these factories.

The total amount of Government expenditure under the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, in connection with the provision of factory space for private industry in the development areas, during the period from mid-1945 to the end of March, 1951, was £41.13 million. This amount has been expended on the conversion of war-time factories to normal industrial uses; the building of new factories and extensions; the acquisition of land on which to erect these new factories; the provision of services and the development of the industrial estates and group sites which have been established or taken over since the war. At the end of March, 1951, 54,200 men and 54,800 women were employed in the factory space thus available. When these factories are in full operation it is hoped that a further 17,500 men and 16,000 women will be employed.

Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman gone into the reasons why the costs of providing factories are so high in relation to the total number of people employed? They are probably three or four times the normal cost in respect of industry in general.

These involve the development of estates in areas which have been largely left derelict by private enterprise and I am glad to say that they have helped to reduce unemployment in the development areas from 19 per cent. in 1938 to 2.7 per cent. in April of this year.

How much of the £41 million has been spent on new buildings and how much on reconversion of the old factories?

I should want notice of that question.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that in the 1930's it was always recognised that to start large-scale industrial projects in the development areas would be very expensive, and that that was why we were left with poultry farms, market gardening and the repairing of typewriters?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Denmark has recently granted permits to Sweden, Austria, Germany and Switzerland for the importation of hosiery knitwear and general textile goods, but has refused these import licences to British manufacturers; and what steps he is taking to safeguard the traditional Danish market to British manufacturers.

I understand that under current arrangements the Danish authorities are granting licences for hosiery, knitwear and apparel from the countries named. Whilst actual imports from the United Kingdom into Denmark are at about last year's levels, there has been an interruption in the issue of licences. I hope, however, to hear very shortly what facilities will be forthcoming this year. Piece goods imported from O.E.E.C. countries are on open general licence though Danish importers have to pay a deposit.

Is the Minister aware that import licences have been refused partly because the Ministry of Food have refused to pay the price that Denmark requires for her foodstuffs, and will he consult his right hon. Friend to see whether we cannot purchase the goods from Denmark at reasonable prices so that they are prepared to take our textile goods in exchange?

I am very anxious to improve the mutual trading arrangements between Denmark and this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make a statement on the terms of the recent agreement with the Argentine, so far as general commerce and trade is concerned.

As the answer is rather long I will, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the Minister nevertheless say whether the Argentine is still short of sterling and, if not, whether any alleviations of the import restrictions have been given effect to because it was agreed in effect that such alleviations need not wait upon the signing of the Protocol?

That is a rather long question. If the hon. and gallant Member will look at my answer and if, after doing so, he considers there are any points which he wishes to raise, I shall be glad to talk to him about them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet received a report from the administrator appointed under the Distribution of Enemy Property Act, 1949.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the Report of the Committee appointed to advise on the distribution of German enemy property. This Report has been received and is under consideration.

In view of the fact that this Act was passed in 1949 and the Government then said that the assets would be promptly distributed, when can we expect an Order in Council to carry into effect the advice of the Committee, as 17 months have gone by and nothing has happened?

As I am sure the hon. Member realises, the matter is one of very great complication. A Report was received in my Department on 9th March and I shall consider it as soon as I can.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further steps have been taken to implement the Working Party's Report on the Pottery Industry.

With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a summary of further steps which have been taken, since my predecessor replied to a similar Question by my hon. Friend on 25th October, 1949.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action has been taken, or is intended, to increase the output of the pottery industry and pro vide the industry with its needs in man power and raw materials.

Production capacity is being increased each year by provision of new buildings and modern equipment, and a new factory has been started in Durham. The shortage of lithographs has now been overcome, with the co-operation of the printers. Raw material supplies are for the most part satisfactory but my Department has been assisting with some, notably bone for bone china.

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that, relatively speaking, the production of pottery is the country's best business proposition? If so, does he not think that a greater attempt than has been made in the past should be made to increase the manpower, and has he given consideration to the need for making an appeal to women who are not making a contribution to do so over a wider area than has been the case up to now?

I will certainly give consideration to the last part of my hon. Friend's question. The industry has done very well and we are looking to it for still greater efforts in connection with our export trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will work out a system of priority allocation so that when decorative pottery is available for the home market each person and area is treated as fairly as possible.

I will bear the suggestion in mind, but it is much too early to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion since there is no present prospect of the restrictions on home sales of decorated pottery being lifted.

Will my right hon. Friend also bear in mind, that, in the interests of the country, the people of this country have now been denied decorative pottery for 10 years? When decorative pottery is available, will he see that working-class areas get equal treatment with people who shop in Regent Street and places like that?

Yes, Sir. I will certainly have that in mind and I am sure that those who have been unable to get decorative pottery during the last few years will realise the great contribution which the export of that kind of pottery has made to the well-being of the country as a whole.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many increases in wholesale and retail prices have been authorised by him since 1st March, 1951.

For most consumer goods for the control of which the Board of Trade is responsible, the maximum prices chargeable by wholesale and retail distributors are based on maximum percentage margins and they therefore increase automatically in the event of any increase being permitted in the manufacturer's maximum price. There have been 34 orders since 1st March, 1951, raising manufacturers' maximum prices, some of which deal also with distributors' prices. In addition, there have been seven orders relating only to distributors' over-riding maximum prices; but these cover the same ground as orders dealing with manufacturers' prices and are mainly for enforcement purposes.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman be good enough to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the list of those 34 items, with the amount by which each item has been increased?

If the hon. Member will put a Question down I will certainly publish that, but I think it would be impossible to get it into the OFFICIAL REPORT for today.

So that we may get a comprehensive picture, at the same time as publishing that, for the guidance of the House and the public as a whole, will my right hon. and learned Friend consider publishing a list of those commodities not subject to price control where the price and profit margins have increased during the same period as that to which the Question refers?

That would be a matter of utility and interest and it might take some time to compile it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the increases in the prices of children's clothes and footwear in recent months; and what steps he proposes to take to protect the public.

The prices of all children's utility clothes and footwear are already controlled. The rise in prices is almost wholly due to increases in the cost of cloth and leather which are the result of the rise in world prices of the basic raw materials. I need hardly say that we do not allow any increases in maximum prices unless we are satisfied that they are necessary to ensure an adequate flow of supplies to the shops. I hope that the new maximum prices which are now being issued will enable manufacturers to produce children's utility garments in greater quantities.

Since it is generally believed that there has been gross profiteering in the manufacture and sale of these materials, will my right hon. and learned Friend publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the profit margins and prices which are allowed?

The profit margins and prices vary. The margins have not, in general, been increased at all. Increases are due, as I have said, to increases in costs of raw materials and, generally speaking, before any increase is permitted there is an accountant's investigation into the costs of production. One was carried out into the cost of children's underwear and nightwear and another is being undertaken in regard to certain kinds of children's outerwear.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that this rise in price is mainly due to the devaluation policy of the Government and other foolishness they have permitted in the past?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will reconsider export policy relating to electrical generating equipment for use independent of mains current, in view of mounting demand for such equipment in the United Kingdom.

It is not possible to say what proportion of this generating equipment may have been suitable for mains supplies to small communities, but the value of exports of all electrical generating equipment for the first four months of this year has fallen below last year's figures by more than £1 million. It has not hitherto been thought necessary to restrict these exports which are of great importance to us, but I am looking at the whole position again in the light of current production demands as well as export needs.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise the possibility of serious power cuts next winter, in view of the rising production and increased shifts in operation in factories? Would it not be advisable to recognise that every standby plant put into a factory is a direct contribution towards our power requirements?

It is because I realise those circumstances that I am having the matter looked at afresh. I also realise the great importance of keeping up our export trade, especially in those goods in which we have a traditional trade to maintain.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of electrical generating equipment, for use independently of mains current, that was exported to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the 16 months ended 30th April, 1951; the value of electrical generating equipment for mains current exported to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the same period; and whether there are any other classes of equipment contributing to the aggregate export value, including spares, of £6,467,844 during the 16 months ended 30th April, 1951.

As I said in reply to the hon. Member's previous Question, it is not possible to say what proportion of this generating equipment may have been suitable for mains supplies to small communities, but of the total value of exports of generating equipment in the 16 months ended 30th April, 1951, of £6,467,844, £5,516,583 were accounted for by exports of diesel generating sets of a capacity less than 200 kw and although exact figures are not available, the majority of these sets are known to have been of 50 kw capacity.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman really believe that £5,500,000 worth of small generators could have been used by Soviet Russia in connection with the felling of trees?

The hon. Member perhaps does not realise that the total exports of this generating equipment are estimated to amount to a total capacity equal to about two-thirds of the output of the Brighton Power Station.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any electrical generating equipment has been exported to China since the summer of 1950.

United Kingdom exports of generating sets and generators (including parts) to China during the third and fourth quarters of 1950 and the first quarter of 1951 were valued at £17,470, £450 and £12,670, respectively. In April, 1951, the latest month for which figures are available, exports under this heading were £1,410.

In view of the negligible amounts which have been exported direct to China, and the fact that exports to Russia last year were nearly double those of the previous year, it is not conceivable that a large part of the exports direct to Russia have been re-exported by Russia to China?

I am glad to hear the hon. Member say that the exports to China were negligible. I see no reason to suspect that exports to Russia, which were not large in total generating capacity, as I have pointed out, have been sent to China. These exports were provided for the most part under the war-time civil supplies agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to what arrangements are being made for sectional and operational training for Civil Defence volunteers following their basic training; and what efforts are being made to maintain the interest and efficiency of all concerned.

After basic training volunteers will have section training. The syllabus for this is in Training Memorandum No. 5 which was issued to local authorities on 8th May. During and after this training there will be practical exercises ranging from separate sectional exercises to those involving all sections of the local division and, where practicable, of adjoining divisions as well as Army units. In this way it is hoped to maintain the interest and efficiency of members of the corps.

Will these practical exercises, which, I am sure, will do a lot to revive waning interest in Civil Defence, be started this summer?

There have been some already, but in most local divisions it has not been possible to have them because there have not previously been enough men and women who have had their basic training.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will approach the United States authorities to ensure that the results of tests being made at Eniwetok to ascertain the effects of atomic blast on structures and materials of various kinds will be made available to the civil defence authorities in this country.

I do not think it is necessary to make a specific approach on this matter. I am confident that the close relations which have always existed between those concerned with Civil Defence in the United States and this country will ensure that the practical lessons to be derived from these tests in so far as they concern measures of Civil Defence will be made available to us.

May I assume from that reply that the information will be available? If so, will it be made available to the Members of the House for the purpose of study?

I should like to consider the second part of that question. As to the first part, the practical lessons will be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give an assurance that the existing organisation of the fire services is adequate for dealing with fires caused by enemy air attack.

Emergency fire fighting arrangements must provide for the establishment of large reserves of fire service appliances and men and women near areas likely to be heavily attacked. Discussions have taken place with the local authority associations, in England and Wales and in Scotland, as to how these fire fighting reserves can be organised and on the arrangements to be made for dealing with the serious fires that might be expected to follow a heavy enemy attack. It has been decided that, to organise these reserves satisfactorily and to ensure that best use is made of fire fighting resources in the conditions likely to follow an air attack, there is no satisfactory alternative to the unified and central control of a nationalised service. The plans for this purpose will be worked out in consultation with the local authority associations. I should add that this conclusion relates solely to an organisation for war and that, while no pledge can be given which would bind any future Government or Parliament, the view of the present Government is that, if it should become necessary to put the fire service under national control for any future emergency, it should revert to local government control when normal conditions are re-established.

Will the proposals which my hon. Friend has outlined involve legislation, and will the associations of local government authorities be accorded the closest possible consultation in the matter?

The answer is "Yes" to both parts of that supplementary question

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the new rule introduced by the Prison Commission which prevents prisoners in British jails writing to their Members of Parliament, without first going to their prison governors.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) on 31st May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the appropriate regulations or instructions so as to authorise prison governors to permit the marriage during imprisonment of prisoners who are the fathers of babies about to be born to unmarried mothers.

Parliament has recently authorised the Secretary of State to make rules which may provide for the temporary release of prisoners and when these rules are being drafted consideration will be given inter alia to the suggestion made by the hon. Member.

Why is it that within the last few weeks this permission has been refused, resulting in great hardship to the mother concerned and future inconvenience to the child?

Because until these rules are drafted I have no power to grant permission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that this year farmers will be deprived of the customary help of many gypsies who for the first time will remain on their winter camping sites because of the developing practice of preventing those who leave from returning to them when harvesting is over; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that the necessary labour will be available.

I am not aware that gypsies who are accustomed to engage in agricultural work over the harvesting season are being prevented from doing so this year. Reports from C.A.E.C. generally are that many gypsies have already come forward for agricultural work this year.

Will my right hon. Friend consult with the Minister of Local Government and Planning, whose officials during recent weeks heard quite a lot about this problem, and endeavour to find a satisfactory solution to one of the unsatisfactory aspects of the British way of life?

If my hon. Friend can be at all helpful in securing that gypsies and seasonal workers can be made available we shall be glad to consider the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is yet in a position to make a statement in regard to the steps he proposes to take to enable farmers to bring back into production land, especially in County Durham, which has gone out of use due to coalmining subsidence damage.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 22nd February and that of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power on 4th June.

The answer given on 22nd February was not to that effect. If my right hon. Friend will look it up he will find that the reply was that he was giving consideration to the matter but was not yet able to make a statement.

Yes, that is certainly true but any Questions relating to the Turner Report recommendations will have to be addressed to the Minister of Fuel and Power.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how the price of 6s. per lb. for home-grown wool has been arrived at.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the recently published White Paper (Cmd 8239) for an exposition of the factors which governed the fixing at the recent Price Review of the prices for wool and other commodities covered by Part 1 of the Agriculture Act, 1947.

Is it a fact that the farmers had accepted a price of 2s. 6d. per lb. for home-grown wool and that when, at the public auction sales, wool began to fetch 9s. and 10s. per lb. on the world markets the farmers at home were given 6s. to keep them quiet?

No, Sir, I disagree with the last point of my hon. Friend. The guaranteed price was arranged at the February Review and it was agreed that any surplus secured from the auctions of the wool would be put on one side in a suspense account, but would belong to the actual producers of that wool, even though they could not have it distributed for four or five years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what information he has received from the county agricultural committees or other sources regarding the number of animals or birds found injured though alive as a result of the use of gin traps.

No figures of this kind are available.

But is not the right hon. Gentleman conscious that there is general abhorrence at the use of these gin traps? Is he not willing to find an alternative method?

That is a totally different question from the one on the Order Paper.