asked the Minister of Fuel and Power in view of the importance to the national economy of the early and uninterrupted operation of the Margam Strip Mill, what steps he is taking to ensure now that there will no power cuts applied to this undertaking.

Margam is connected with Llynfi power station by two 66 kilowatt lines, and a third is now under construction. Any two of these lines can supply the power which the mill requires; two of them are direct from the power station to the mill. In addition, the Margam authorities are installing three private generating sets, with a total capacity of 18 megawatts; these sets will use waste heat, and will provide an emergency reserve of power, if the grid supply should fail.The work at Margam is a continuous process, and it is the policy of the electricity boards to exempt continuous process plants from power cuts, until all other measures have been taken.New stations are being built, and existing stations extended in South Wales; the total additional capacity will be 735 megawatts, of which 255 megawatts will be commissioned within the next 12 or 18 months. This, I hope, will greatly reduce the risk of power cuts.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement on progress with the Severn barrage scheme.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Sutton (Mrs. Middleton) on 4th of June.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give an assurance that adequate supplies of coal are being made available to merchants at a reduced price of 5s. per ton to enable householders to stock during the summer months against winter requirements; and if he will make a statement on the position.

As I have said in answer to earlier Questions, additional supplies of coal are being allocated to the house coal market, so that both merchants and householders may stock more coal during the summer months than they did a year ago. The details of the summer prices scheme have now been published; I hope it will help to ensure that better stocks are, in fact, built up.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will classify Great Yarmouth and district in the same category as the North-East coast in regard to the allocation of coal in view of the similarity of climate.

In recent years, my Department have been asked to allow the maximum quantity of coal permitted in the north to many districts in the south including Norfolk, Cambridge, the Cotswolds, and Dartmoor. I am afraid that if I did what my hon. and gallant Friend has asked, many other places, including Suffolk and Essex, would make the same request, and, if the request were granted, our present system of allocation would break down. In fact, the Eastern Region now receives more coal per registration than any other area in the south.

asked the Attorney-General the number of persons who have received legal advice and aid under the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949; and the cost to recent date.

The provisions of the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, which relate to legal advice have not yet been brought into force. Legal aid under the Act has been available since 2nd October, 1950, for proceedings, starting in the Supreme Court. Since that date to 31st March, 1951, 15,219 certificates have been issued as well as 2,397 emergency certificates, and approximately 9,000 poor persons' cases under the old rules were taken over by the new scheme in various stages of completion.To the same date, the total cost to the Legal Aid Fund, including preparatory work from 1st September, 1949, was £366,536 of which £172,612 came from public funds, and the remainder from contributions, costs recovered and damages charged to the fund. In so far as these figures relate to the period 1st April, 1950, to 31st March, 1951, they are subject to audit.

asked the Attorney-General the number and percentage at the latest convenient date, of cases in which after a certificate for legal aid has been issued by a local certifying committee the assisted person has not taken up the certificate granted on the ground that he cannot afford to pay his assessed contribution, and what is the cost of the scheme to date.

In the seven month period from 2nd October, 1950, to 30th April, 1951, the Law Society were prepared to grant Civil Aid Certificates in 26,343 cases, but 2,615 applicants did not accept the offer of a certificate. No information is available why these applicants refused certificates, and while some may have done so because they were dissatisfied with the financial terms upon which a certificate would be granted, others no doubt had other reasons, for example, because they had settled their differences since applying for aid so that there was no longer need of a certificate. As to the cost of the scheme, I refer to the answer I have just given to my hon. Friend, the Member for Islington, South-West (Mr. A. Evans).

asked the Minister of Food if he will allow sweet coupons, issued to members of His Majesty's Forces for use at Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes in this country, to be exchangeable in all confectioners shops.

No, because the administrative arrangements that would be needed would involve an unjustified use of manpower.

asked the Minister of Food if his attention has been given to complaints by wholesalers and retailers of confectionery that there is no control of imported fondant for the making of coconut ice and that these imports are adversely affecting the rationing system; and whether he proposes to take action to remove the cause of these complaints.

The complaints in question are not specifically based on the importation of fondant, but we are looking into them and an announcement will be made as soon as the inquiries are completed.

asked the Minister of Food the quantity and value of his purchase of feedingstuffs from the Argentine during the past six months.

During the six months from November, 1950, to April, 1951, we imported from Argentina 182,400 tons of feedingstuffs consisting of oilcakes, maize and wheat offals. The c.i.f. value was £4,217,000.

asked the Minister of Food what stocks of animal feedingstuffs are held at present; and to what extent further stockpiling is contemplated.

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

asked the Minister of Food why, in a case to which his attention has been drawn by the hon. Member for Reigate, an application for extra meat rations was rejected on the grounds of inadequacy of medical evidence without the attention of the doctor concerned having been drawn to his failure to comply with the rules set out in pamphlet Med. 2; and whether he will see that in such a case a temporary ration is issued while the further negotiations with the doctor are proceeding.

As I have explained to the hon. Member, I think it is better to leave it to the Department's medical advisers to decide if the patient's doctor need be advised direct when an application is refused. Food offices already have power to make a temporary allowance if the patient's doctor says it is urgently required pending a decision.

asked the Minister of Food how much pig meat has so far been produced by the Queensland British Food Corporation; at what cost per hundredweight; how much has been exported; and what average price per hundredweight has been received.

The hon. Member's Question involves reference to the detailed records of the Corporation in Queensland, but I will write to him as soon as I have obtained the information.

asked the Minister of Food at what price per ton he has now agreed to import meat from Uruguay.

The prices agreed with Uruguay are the same as those recently agreed with Argentina and published in White Paper (Cmd. 8231).

asked the Minister of Food his reasons for discontinuing the sale of fresh cream from 3rd July.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Wembley, North (Wing Commander Bullus) on Monday, 4th June. Although there should be plenty of milk for the liquid market it will be necessary to safeguard supplies for manufacture of National Dried Milk and cheese for the ration. For that reason, the use of milk for the manufacture of less essential commodities, including cream, will be prohibited after 30th June. To allow traders to dispose of their stocks, sales of cream will be allowed to continue until 3rd July.

asked the Minister of Food how many notices have recently been sent out to retailers regarding forged coupons; and what was the cost.

Two notices have been sent out at a cost including postage of £5,350.

asked the Minister of Food the amount of wastage in the harvested sorghum crops of the Queensland British Food Corporation from depredation by vermin.

As the hon. Member's Question concerns the day-to-day management of the Corporation's affairs, I have passed his inquiry on to the Chairman of the Corporation for reply.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of sorghum have so far been exported by the Queensland British Food Corporation; what was the cost of production per ton; and at what price was it sold per ton.

Twenty-five thousand one hundred and thirty-four tons of sorghum have so far been purchased by my Department from the Queensland-British Food Corporation from the crops harvested in 1949 and 1950, at an average price of £16 3s. f.o.b. (sterling) per ton. The Corporation's development is only now reaching a stage when satisfactory estimates of the cost of producing individual crops can be established, but they expect to be able to provide my right hon. Friend with this information for the current financial year.

asked the Minister of Food for what reason eggs preserved by oil-dipping for consumption during the off season are being released for current use; and what steps are being taken to ensure adequate supplies for next winter.

In reply to the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Dodds-Parker) on 4th June.As regards the second part, with the object of securing better autumn and winter supplies home producers are offered higher prices for their winter eggs rising to a maximum this year of 6s. per dozen. In addition, we are buying all the winter supplies we can from overseas.

asked the Minister of Food what provision he makes for diabetics who are unable to afford the unrationed foods necessary to complete their special diet.

The responsibility of my right hon. Friend is only to authorise the controlled foods which are necessary for medical reasons.

asked the Minister of Food why it is necessary to import potatoes from the Brittany ports of Pole de Leon, Lannion, Pont Rieux, Pont L'Abbé and Tréguier; how many tons of potatoes are in the Ministry of Food and merchants hands at the latest available date; and what is their value.

We permit the importation of new potatoes at this time because we need them. This is done by private traders, and I have no information about present stocks or their value.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what communication he has received from the Federal Government of Western Germany regarding the banning of the Democratic Party in the Saar; and what reply he has sent.

The German Federal Chancellor addressed a note to the Chairman of the Allied High Commission for Germany on the 30th May expressing the concern of the German Federal Government over the action of the Saar Government in banning the Democratic Party for activities contrary to the present constitution of the Saar. No reply has yet been sent by the Allied High Commission to this note.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the attitude adopted recently by the British representative on the Trusteeship Council implies that it is no longer the policy of His Majesty's Government to secure as soon as possible the admission of the Communist Government of China to the United Nations.

His Majesty's Government still believe that delegates from the Central People's Government should represent China in the United Nations. In view, however, of that Government's persistence in behaviour which is inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter it now appears to His Majesty's Government that consideration of this question should be postponed for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the paper entitled "Things British," which is published in Sweden and was previously owned and produced by the British Council, has been purchased by a Swedish interest but still purports to be published by the British Council, and, as its policy is highly critical of the British Government, if he will take steps to ensure that the British Council is no longer associated in any way with this paper.

The paper, "Things English," was sold by the British Council last year to a Stockholm publishing firm who have been solely responsible for its monthly issues since 1st September, 1950. At the foot of the last page of the paper there is the following imprint:

"Things English' founded by the British Council in Sweden."

This statement is, of course, true, but as it is liable to give a false impression I am making inquiries to see whether the present owners would be prepared to omit it in future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made on the negotiations to secure that British citizens injured by the negligence of members of United States armed forces stationed in this country shall have the same rights as those injured by the negligence of members of our own Armed Forces.

The negotiations for a multilateral Agreement on the Status of Armed Forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Powers, to which I referred in replying to my hon. Friend's questions on this subject on the 5th February, have just been completed. The Agreement, which includes satisfactory provisions for the settlement of claims brought by nationals of the host country against foreign armed forces, is expected to be signed very shortly. It will then be laid before the House in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that every Member of the House is receiving a daily copy of the "New York Times" provided by courtesy of the United States Government; and if, in the interest of mutual understanding, he will arrange to return this courtesy by making a daily copy of a representative and independent British newspaper available to every member of the United States Congress.

I will give this suggestion careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what United Nations Commission's reports are now available in respect of allegations of past brutal behaviour by North and South Korean forces, respectively; and whether these allegations have now ceased.

As regards the first part of the Question, the answer is "None," except for the statement issued by the United Nations Commission for the Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea on 21st December, 1950. As regards the second part of the Question, allegations have continued to be made from time to time by both sides.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the Argentinian rejection of His Majesty's Government's protest of 30th April against the establishment of two Argentinian bases at Punta Proa, Port Para- dine and at Margarita Bay, British Antarctica, what action His Majesty's Government now propose to take.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he proposes taking following the Note from the Argentine Government of 7th June, which denies our ownership of the Falkland Islands and refers to our territories in the Antarctic as belonging to the Argentine.

His Majesty's Government do not accept the Argentine Government's contentions and have repeatedly made this clear to that Government. I have nothing further to add to the statements made on 23rd April and 30th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has as to whether 100 officers and men held as prisoners in Chinese hands are held as prisoners of the Peking Government or of the North Korean authorities, and whether they are being accorded the rights of prisoners of war in accordance with the Geneva Convention; and what action His Majesty's representative in Peking has taken to obtain information regarding their whereabouts.

As stated by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War on the 29th May, discussions are proceeding between the International Red Cross Committee and the Chinese Red Cross Society. It is not felt that the interests of prisoners-of-war would be advanced by any protests made by His Majesty's Government at this stage.Since the North Korean authorities have not allowed the International Red Cross Committee to send delegates into their territory the whereabouts of our prisoners of war are not known, but it now appears possible that the number may be greater than the 100 officers and men referred to by the right hon. Member for Streatham; nor is it known what rights are being accorded to them.His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires has not addressed any inquiry to the Chinese Government on the whereabouts of our prisoners of war since they have maintained throughout that such matters are the sole concern of the North Korean authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent His Majesty's representative in Pekin has proper facilities of access to British prisoners of war in Chinese hands.

His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking has no facilities whatever for visiting British prisoners of war. The whereabouts of our prisoners of war are not known. The Chinese Government maintain that United Nations prisoners of war taken in the Korean fighting are solely the concern of the North Koreans. The North Korean authorities have refused to permit the International Red Cross Committee to send a delegation into their territory to visit prisoners of war, and there is no likelihood of their allowing a representative of the British Embassy in Peking to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a further statement on the position regarding the sum of £400,000 due to be paid by the Polish Government on 31st March, 1951.

In reply to an inquiry from His Majesty's Ambassador in Warsaw, an official of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Trade stated orally on 4th May that the Polish Government had temporarily deferred the payment of £400,000 due on 31st March. On my right hon. Friend's instructions, His Majesty's Ambassador on 24th May entered a protest against the failure of the Polish Government to fulfil their obligations and asked to be informed at an early date when payment might be expected. No further communication has yet been received from the Polish Government.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the time required to turn round ships in United Kingdom ports is approximately 40 per cent. longer than pre-war, despite the installation of labour saving machinery; and if he will cause a special investigation to be made into the causes and take steps to remedy this situation.

In view of the very different circumstances obtaining in shipping and cargoes today as compared with pre-war, no realiable statistics of comparative shipping turn-round times are available. My Department are, however, in consultation with the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom, the Liverpool Steamship Owners' Association, the National Association of Port Employers, the Dock and Harbour Authorities' Association, and the British Transport Commission, with a view to establishing a system of turn-round statistics on a uniform basis.Special investigations into shipping turn-round problems have already been made by Working Parties. The recommendations of the Turn-round of Shipping Working Party have been brought to the notice of all concerned, and have secured a wide measure of acceptance and adoption. The report of the Working Party on Port Mechanisation is now being considered in consultation with the national organisations.

asked the Minister of Transport in what material respects the recent authorisation issued by him approving an increase in passenger fares to be charged by the Leeds Corporation Trans port Department differed from the proposals submitted by that authority; and what was the date when the application to increase such fares was made.

I authorised all the proposals as to tram fares, except the proposal that there should be no workmen's return fare for journeys for which the single fare would be 3d. In this case, my authorisation provided for a workmen's return fare of 5d. The application to me was made on 7th February.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that many stone quarries at the present time are working below capacity; that more stone could be turned out from many quarries without increasing the number of men employed therein; that such in creased quantity of stone could be used in roadwork without in any way increasing the present number of men employed on such work; and whether he will take steps to arrange for the better utilisation of this wasted manpower.

Some quarries are at present working below capacity, but I am not aware that output could be increased without employing additional skilled quarry men. An increase in the quantity of stone used would be bound to cause some increase in the number of men employed on road works. There is no shortage of stone for carrying out the authorised programme of road works.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent the decision to construct the Merthyr Tydvil Slip Road near Cardiff, by-passing that town to the east, was based on the need to avoid unemployment in that area; and whether he proposes to take such consideration into account in authorising urgent road maintenance and improvement works in other parts of the country.

This road was constructed for the purpose of assisting industry in the South Wales Development area and improving communications between the industrial development in the Taff Valley and the Valleys to the east. In present circumstances expenditure on road maintenance is based solely on the condition of the roads and the traffic using them, while the small amount of money available for improvements must be limited to schemes necessary to maintain essential communications or to improve some of the worst accident spots.

asked the Minister of Transport what decisions he has reached concerning the recommendations contained in the Report of the Technical Committee on Petrol Stations, which sat under the chairmanship of Lord Waleran.

In consultation with those of my colleagues concerned, I have given careful consideration to this Report and to the views which the interested organisations have been good enough to express on it at my invitation. There is no doubt that the committee performed a very useful task by their investigations into the principles which should govern the location and equipment of petrol stations and the standards of service to be provided by them if the public interest is to be most efficiently served. Their conclusions on these technical matters will form a valuable guide to all concerned.The committee's Report raises the difficult question whether any further measures of compulsory control are required. The committee rightly emphasise that unnecessary control is fundamentally unsound, while recognising that to give full effect to their recommendations would mean enforcing a system of grading stations with consequential limitation of kind and number. Having regard to the powers already available under the Petroleum and Planning Acts in the interests of safety and amenity and to the undesirability of multiplying controls without the clearest evidence of need for them, my colleagues and I have reached the conclusion that we should not be justified in asking Parliament for further powers at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport why Cardiff is not directly represented on the licensing authority for public service vehicles; why the council's nomination was again rejected; and whether he is aware of the indignation which is felt by the council and public alike at Cardiff's lack of representation upon this authority.

The Cardiff City Council is one of 68 local authorities each of which annually nominates one person to a panel from which I appoint one member of the licensing authority for public service vehicles in the South Wales Traffic Area. I also select from the same panel a number of persons who are prepared to act if need be as deputy for that member.I needed three persons to act as deputy this year, and I thus had to choose a total of only four from 68 nominees. It is clear therefore that no local authority, whether large or small, can expect automatically to be represented. I have explained the position to the council.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will issue a direction to the licensing authorities for public service vehicles not to seek assurances from local authorities applying to increase fares on municipally owned road services, that they will not further relieve the rates out of the working of such services, without the consent of the appropriate licensing authority.

The licensing authorities are independent statutory bodies with whose proceedings I am normally concerned only if an appeal is made to me under the Road Traffic Act, 1930. As at present advised, I am by no means satisfied that I have the power to issue such a direction as is suggested. In any case, I should not be prepared to do so, as it is my normal practice to seek such assurances, in similar circumstances, when applications are made to me to authorise or approve increases in trolley vehicle or tram fares. I propose, however, in future, to vary the terms of the assurance sought by me so that it will require only consultation with me and not my consent. It has to be borne in mind that in many cases of this kind the effect of my decision is to authorise fares in excess of the maxima allowed by Parliament.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will impose a speed restriction on Hendon Way, N.W.2, between The Vale and Cricklewood Lane, having regard to the fact that it is a heavily built-up area, and to the frequency with which collisions occur at the junction of The Vale and Hendon Way.

No. The London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee have advised against this in the past and I have accepted their advice. Recent investigation by my technical officers has shown no reason for altering my decision. There have been few accidents recently involving personal injury at the junction of The Vale and Hendon Way. The traffic signals at this junction have been improved and an "all red" period has been included in the phasing of the signals, which should reduce the risk of collision.

asked the Minister of Supply on what basis it was decided that live testing of pilot ejection seats from aircraft should not be called for by his Department; and to what extent he had consultations with the Air Ministry in this matter.

Planned live testing of an ejection seat does not fully reproduce the conditions of an emergency and consequently its value is limited in relation to the risks involved. It has not, therefore, been the practice of my Department to expose men to these risks by calling for such a test. On the second part of the Question, live ejections were, in fact, carried out by the makers of the type of seat which has been fitted into aircraft delivered to the Royal Air Force.

asked the Minister of Supply how many ejection seats manufactured by M. L. Aviation Ltd. have been supplied to the Royal Air Force; and whether it is intended to increase this number in the near future.

None. Improved types of ejection seats are at present being developed and we do not propose to supply the present type of seat made by M.L. Aviation Ltd. to the Royal Air Force.

asked the Minister of Supply on what recent date an ejection seat, manufactured by M.L. Aviation Ltd., was removed from a Westland Wyvern aircraft at the Royal Aircraft Establishment; how this seat compared with that used in the Hawker P. 1081 aircraft in which Squadron-Leader Trevor Wade lost his life; by what make of seat was it replaced; and what was the reason for this replacement.

An ejection seat, identical for all practical purposes with that used in the Hawker P. 1081, was removed from a Westland Wyvern aircraft on 6th May, 1951, and was replaced by a Martin Baker Mark 1 ejection seat. The tests to be carried out by this aircraft involved certain special hazards and, because of the rumours about the cause of Squadron-Leader Wade's death which were then circulating, it was decided to change the seat.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many of the women farm workers who have been classified as seasonal workers, and whose application for unemployment benefit has been refused during the winter months, have worked regularly for not less than nine months of the year and at least 12 days during the off season; and on what grounds women workers who have worked for such periods have been classified as seasonal workers.

I regret that the records do not enable me to give the numbers of women whose claims have been disallowed in the circumstances mentioned. But any woman who thinks her claim has been wrongly disallowed should seek leave to appeal in accordance with the procedure laid down.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she is aware that her representative in Newport recently informed an old age pensioner that the death grant was not available for the purpose of cremations; and whether she will circulate other officers informing them of the fact that it is available where facilities exist.

No, but I will make further inquiries if my hon. Friend will let me have details. Both the regulations and the instructions given to my officers are quite clear on the point referred to, and no further guidance appears necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present caravan population of the country.

I regret that this information is not available. As a by-product of the recent Census, it is probable that when the returns have been more fully examined some information will be available indicating the extent to which people were living in substitute accommodation, such as huts and caravans, at the time of the Census.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the number of local authorities which have established planned caravan sites with all amenities; and if it is his intention to recommend a maximum density per acre.

Local authorities do not require my approval to establish camping or caravan sites, and I have no information as to the number which may have done so. It is not my intention to issue any recommendation to local authorities on the subject of maximum density of caravans per acre.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations which Commonwealth Governments are to take part in the Committee of Commonwealth Defence Ministers to be held at Malta; and which Governments have refused.

I take it that the question refers to the meeting beginning in London on 21st June. Ministers from United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia will attend. Canada will be represented by an observer. No Commonwealth Government refused to attend.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the recent accident at the Festival Pleasure Gardens, he is satisfied that safety precautions are adequate.

I am satisfied that safety precautions being exercised by the Festival Gardens Company are adequate. The Company appointed a consulting engineer to advise them on these matters, and all rides were inspected and passed by him before they were opened. Further inspections are made at fortnightly intervals.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the present total of British investments in the United States of America.

Nominal capital value of United Kingdom holdings of quoted U.S. domestic securities (including those pledged with the Reconstruction Finance Corporation) are estimated as follows:

Expressed in terms of £million
End of Year	At $4·03=£1	At $2·80=£1	$ million
1945	88	—	354
1946	80	—	321
1947	76	—	306
1948	75	—	302
1949	—	115	322
1950	—	117	328

The sterling figures up to 1948 come from a pamphlet published by the Bank of England entitled "United Kingdom Overseas Investments 1938 to 1948."

asked the Minister of Health what steps he intends to take to increase the accommodation for children in mental homes in East Anglia, in view of the large number of cases at present awaiting admission.

The mental deficiency development plan of the East Anglian Regional Hospital Board contemplates among other things the addition of 150 beds for children. A start is to be made on the first phase of the plan this year.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will bear in mind, when considering official proposals for the imposition of a vaccination requirement on entrants to Great Britain, that almost every person who brought smallpox into the country by sea or air in the last seven years was a recently vaccinated person.

No proposals of this kind are under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present prices of softwood timber as compared to the prices prevailing on 1st March last when price control was removed.

I have not enough information about the prices currently being paid for the many species and grades of softwood to give in detail the comparison of prices asked for, but such information as I have indicates that the increase in the general level of softwood prices since price control was removed is of the order of 60 per cent.I should make it clear, however, that the former statutory maximum prices, which had been last fixed in April, 1950, were substantially below replacement costs at the time of their removal on the 1st March last, and a considerable increase in selling prices was essential to enable United Kingdom importers to pay the prices required by overseas suppliers for their timber. Without such an increase, the United Kingdom would not have obtained the timber.Since 1st March, the f.o.b. overseas price of softwood has risen still further and freight rates have continued to increase.In view of these considerations, I have no grounds for thinking that importers and merchants in this country are charging more than a reasonable profit margin, but, as my hon. Friend the Secretary for Overseas Trade stated on 10th April, the Timber Trade Federation is setting up a special committee, including representatives of the major consuming interests, to deal with any price and distribution problems that may arise, and I can assure my hon. Friend that I personally shall continue to watch the position closely.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of communities of 100 or more in each of the Driffield, Bridlington and Holderness Rural Districts which have not yet been provided with telephone kiosks.

Four, eight and 16.

asked the Secretary of State for War what provision is being made to give Supplementary Reserve Officers training facilities such as one-week, two-week and week-end courses as at present provided for the Territorial Army.

The majority of officers of the Supplementary Reserve have a peace-time training obligation and would normally attend a 15 days' annual camp with their unit. If, however, the camp dates are inconvenient, a course or attachment may be authorised instead. In addition, a limited scheme is in operation whereby selected officers may attend week-end training.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his Department has yet purchased Franklands, Fronks Road, Dovercourt, Essex; and what was the amount of the purchase money and for what purpose is the house to be used.

Yes. This property has been purchased for £4,000 for use as a married officer's quarter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many girls have been admitted to Borstals for absconding from approved schools after having been committed as care and protection cases, distinguishing between those who absconded only and those who also committed offences, for the years 1948, 1949 and 1950.

The information asked for is as follows:

NUMBER OF GIRLS SENT TO APPROVED SCHOOLS AS BEING IN NEED OF CARE OR PROTECTION, OR BEYOND CONTROL, WHO WERE COMMITTED TO BORSTAL
Year	(a) As absconders from approved schools	(b) As absconders found guilty of other offences	Total of (a) and (b)
1948	9	3	12
1949	8	1	9
1950	3	3	6