asked the Minister of Food if he will specify the composition of National butter, stating the proportions of the mix derived from different countries; and if he will say why he does not allow New Zealand butter to be sold as such.

The butter purchased by my Department is issued as received from the producers, and any mixing or blending is done by the trade. The proportions vary according to the seasonal supplies from the different producing countries. There is, in fact, nothing to prevent New Zealand butter being sold as such, provided that it is also labelled "National butter," and small quantities are in fact already being sold in this way.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will prohibit the sale of rock without the collection of personal points at the South Bank Exhibition, in view of the fact that the selling of this confectionery off the ration both at the Exhibition Site and by itinerant traders on the south coast beaches is causing loss and hardship to recognised confectionery traders who depend on the summer seasonal business.

These sales are already prohibited, and my Department will welcome any evidence which enables action to be taken against offenders. If the hon. Member has such evidence I should be obliged if he would let me have it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the London talks between Great Britain, France and the United States of America on the subject of Western aid to Yugoslavia have covered the question of military aid in the event of aggression against Yugoslavia; and what conclusion was reached.

The talks which were recently concluded in London between British, French and American officials were confined to the question of economic aid. Separate and sympathetic consideration is being given to the Yugoslav request for military assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made in the proceedings instituted at the International Court of Justice at the Hague by the British Government on 30th September, 1949, against the Norwegian Government in connection with the long standing dispute over fishing rights off the Norwegian coast; and how many cases of arrest in the disputed areas now await the outcome of these proceedings.

The written pleadings have now been completed. It is expected that the Court will hear the oral pleadings in September, and judgment may be given at about the end of this year. The answer to the second part of the Question is "13."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what countries other than the United Kingdom receive a proportion of their oil requirements from the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company; and what steps have been taken to make known to public opinion in these countries, other than by official representation to their governments, the effect of a complete or partial cessation of supplies.

The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, either directly or indirectly through other companies, supplies practically all the major markets in Europe, the Middle East and the Far East, excluding Russia, her satellites and China. Supplies also go to the Western Hemisphere.I have no doubt that the principal customers of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company are well aware of the dislocation that will result if the Persian Government persist in their present policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply has been received to the protest made to the Egyptian Government by His Majesty's Ambassador in Cairo on 28th May in regard to the restrictions on the passage of British tankers through the Suez Canal to Haifa.

No reply has yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will ascertain from the United Nations Organisation what response has been made to the resolution of the United Nations Additional Measures Committee calling upon its members to place an embargo on the export of strategic materials to China.

In accordance with the General Assembly resolution of 18th May, reports were to be made to the Additional Measures Committee within 30 days, that is to say by 17th June. It is not at present known what procedure will be adopted by the Additional Measures Committee for dealing with these reports. In our own case, however, my right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade will be making a statement in the House tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the changed international situation, His Majesty's Government will make it their policy once again to screen officials appointed to confidential posts who, having entered Government service when this country was allied to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, are known still to hold pro-Russian or Communist views.

As the Prime Minister informed the House on 15th March, 1948, it is the policy of His Majesty's Government that no one who is known to be a member of the Communist Party or to be associated with it in such a way as to raise legitimate doubts about his or her reliability, is employed in connection with work the nature of which is vital to the security of the State.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many members of the Foreign Service were affected by the Government's decision to remove from positions in certain categories of the Government's service, officials with Communist affiliations.

Since the Prime Minister made his statement on Communists and Fascists in the public service on 15th March, 1948, three people have been removed from the Foreign Service on the grounds of their Communist affiliations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now make a full statement on the steps he has taken, and will take, to implement the unanimous resolution of the House of 10th May, 1951, requesting His Majesty's Government to give early consideration to the claim of the British Far-Eastern prisoners of war, and the dependants of those who died in captivity, for compensation from the Japanese.

The claim to compensation of British Far-Eastern prisoners-of-war was considered in the discussions with Mr. Dulles which have just ended. I hope that this particular question can be dealt with fully in the course of a debate on the whole Japanese Peace Treaty when the draft Treaty is published in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that on 16th June the Czechoslovak Government opened an exhibition of Czechoslovak products in the premises of the British-Czechoslovak Friendship League, thus making the League a direct propaganda agency of that Government, taking over fully the activities of the Information Section of the Embassy closed down in retaliation for the closing of the British Information Service and British Council offices in Prague; and what action he proposes to take to deal with this circumvention of his action.

Yes. I am aware that a display of Czechoslovak products has been organised on the premises of the British-Czechoslovak Friendship League. I do not, however, quite follow the hon. Member's argument that this makes the League a direct propaganda agency of the Czechoslovak Government.As has previously been stated, the League is registered as a British organisation and, so long as it does not infringe the law of the land, there is no power to interfere with its activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the probable further delays in signing a Japanese peace treaty, and the increasing revenues accruing to the Japanese Government, he will consult with Mr. Foster Dulles and any appropriate members of the United States Government, as to the possibilities of interest payments on Japanese bonds being resumed before the signing of a peace treaty to benefit those holders of the bonds who cannot afford after nearly 11 years of waiting to forego interest on their bonds indefinitely.

No. As I have previously informed the House, His Majesty's Government hope that a peace treaty with Japan will be signed in the next few months; they do not consider prolonged delay to be probable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the present Anglo-Egyptian negotiations and the importance of making clear the position of the United Kingdom in relation to the Sudan, he will give an assurance that it is still the policy of His Majesty's Government that no change will be made in the status of the Sudan as a result of Treaty revision until the Sudanese have been consulted through constitutional channels, and that nothing will be done which may in any way prejudice the ultimate choice by the Sudanese of their future status.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement as to the progress so far made by the Foreign Ministers' Deputies in Paris in drawing up an agenda for the proposed meeting of the Ministers concerned.

Following the Soviet Government's unsatisfactory reply to the offer made by the three Western Delegations in Notes of 31st May, it was agreed that discussions should be resumed in Paris. Unfortunately no progress was made owing to the negative attitude adopted by the Soviet representative. Therefore, on 15th June, the three Western representatives handed to the Soviet representative further Notes containing yet another constructive proposal. These stated that, even if there was not full agreement on the agenda, the three Governments considered that there was a sufficient measure of agreement for the Ministers to meet. It is now for the Soviet Government to respond.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the deaths and accidents that have taken place on the dangerous hill at Upperhulme, near the Roaches, on the Buxton-Leek road; and if he will take steps to have this spot on a main road made safer as soon as possible, because despite the deaths nothing has been done to prevent further tragedies.

There have been 10 accidents on this hill during the last three years, eight involving personal injuries, two of which have been fatal. The Staffordshire County Council are the responsible highway authority, and I understand that their highways committee are to consider the possibility of effecting some improvement at this point.

asked the Minister of Transport by what authority he made arrangements for street repair patching work of less than 50 square yards to be carried out only at week-ends.

As I indicated in my reply on 7th May to a Question by the hon. Member for Hitchin (Mr. Fisher), I made arrangements with the highway authorities concerned that, in view of the extra traffic likely to arise from the Festival of Britain, no resurfacing work should be carried out on main roads in the central area of London before the end of September. These arrangements seem to me sensible and were made under my powers under the London Traffic Act to control the starting date of street works. An exception was made in the case of small patching work which it was arranged should be carried out only at week-ends, but in my earlier reply I should have referred to 50 linear yards instead of 50 square yards.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will request the Stopping Places Advisory Committee to hold an inquiry into the necessity of some of the request bus stops in central London, with a view to cutting these down and thus speeding up public transport services.

I do not think that an inquiry of this kind is necessary. Bus stops are under constant review by the Committee, who pay due regard to the objective which the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Edmonton Borough Council has made it a condition of appointment as borough engineer that candidates must be members of a trade union affiliated to the Trades Union Congress and that failure to comply with this condition renders any employee liable to instant dismissal; and if he will give an assurance that, before exercising his duty of approval of this appointment, he will satisfy himself that there has been an adequate field of selection.

The answer to both parts of the Question is "Yes," but such an appointment becomes subject to my approval only if the council seek grant from the Road Fund in respect of the engineer's salary. I am informing the council that I should regard such a requirement as incompatible with the conditions on which; I make Road Fund grants, particularly the established principle that councils should make their choice from as wide as possible a field of candidates having appropriate professional qualifications.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that level crossings in the Enfield district, and particularly the level crossing at Brimsdown, have a most serious effect on the production of important factories; and what action he proposes to take.

I am aware that these level crossings cause delays to road traffic, and I am inquiring as to the possibility of relieving conditions at these points. It is clear, however, that to solve the problem adequately would involve expenditure such as cannot be afforded in present economic conditions.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total expenditure on trunk roads, classified roads and unclassified roads during the years 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49 and 1949–50; and what is the proposed expenditure for 1950–51 for such roads in each of the Welsh counties.

My hon. Friend will find figures of total expenditure on classified and unclassified roads for the first three years he mentions in the Report on the Administration of the Road Fund for the year 1949–50. I regret that figures relating to the other years are not yet available for such roads.

asked the Minister of Transport what information he has as to the total expenditure on unclassified roads in Wales in 1938–39 and during the latest financial year, including Class III roads; and the average expenditure per mile during each period.

The available information is given in the Reports on the Administration of the Road Fund for the years 1945–1946 and 1949–1950, copies of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration has been given to the possibility of relieving unemployment on Merseyside by authoris- ing the implementation of various overdue schemes in that area for the repair and improvement of the highways.

Up to 1949, some special provision was made for road schemes in areas of unemployment including Merseyside; but with recent restrictions on capital investment and budgetary expenditure it has been practicable to approve only such schemes as are in themselves of the highest priority.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the ammunition on Mr. H. R. Overman's farm at Arthingworth, Northamptonshire, has been potentially dangerous for more than a year and continues to hinder cropping; and when he intends to complete its removal.

I regret that, owing to a shortage of inspection staff and to the severe winter weather, which interrupted the sea-dumping programme, the removal of this ammunition has not yet been completed. Every effort is being made to clear the remaining acre by the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Supply how far the present production of iron and steel is falling short of the country's requirement; to what extent limited supplies of ore, scrap iron, coke and shipping are contributing to the difficulty; and what measures are being taken to overcome them.

We are producing rather less steel than last year against a rising demand, but it is impossible to state the exact extent of the short-fall. Production has fallen because of a substantial decline in imports of scrap and a shortage of imported iron ore due to shipping difficulties. Every effort is being made to increase imports of raw materials and an extensive drive is being undertaken to recover the maximum amount. of scrap at home.

asked the Minister of Supply the estimated increased tonnage required of iron and steel to meet the re-armament programme in 1951, 1952 and 1953.

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

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent unemployment of men and plant at present exists in the iron and steel making industry owing to the shortage of raw materials.

Low stocks and shortage of raw materials are causing interruptions in production at various steel works, but they are mainly temporary and there is at present no serious unemployment.

asked the Minister of Supply what allocation of sheet steel he intends to make to the motor industry for the second half of 1951.

The allocation for the third quarter is about 5 per cent. greater than for the second quarter. I cannot yet say what the allocation will be for the fourth quarter.

asked the Minister of Supply if his attention has been called to the export of machine tools required for armament manufacture in this country and now being imported from abroad; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware that a few machine tools which are being imported for the defence programme are similar to those which are being exported. I have not, however, thought it desirable at present to withhold supplies from export markets, except, of course, from the Iron Curtain countries, unless it is necessary to do so for our defence programme.I am very reluctant to do anything which would interfere with the promises which British manufacturers have made to buyers overseas. The machine tool industry has always depended to a large extent on its exports and more than half our exports of machine tools go to the Commonwealth and the N.A.T.O. powers. Deferred deliveries under these contracts would, therefore, affect the common defence effort and essential industrial development in those countries.Moreover, exports of machine tools are an important factor in our negotiations with countries which supply us with raw materials and other goods which we badly need. I can assure the hon. Member that I am watching the exports of machine tools and that diversions for defence needs will be made if those needs cannot be satisfied otherwise.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she is aware that her regulations, which prevent a woman who marries over the age of 60 years from receiving a retirement pension in her husband's right until three years after the marriage, results in a man who has reached retirement age, and has recently married a woman over 60 years of age receiving no benefit for his wife, while he would be receiving such benefit had he married a woman under 60 years of age; and if she will introduce amending regulations to remedy this anomaly.

The provisions in question were intended to deal with certain comparatively rare types of case. I am not aware that they are leading to any general difficulties, but if my hon. Friend has any specific case in mind I should be glad to have particulars.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if steps can be taken to recompense Mrs. Henman of Luton, a widow employed as an out-worker, who, as a result of advice given to her employer by her department's local office, has been paying insurance contributions at the rate of 3s. 10d. a week for the past three years for a benefit that she cannot receive.

The circumstances of this case have been fully explained in correspondence with the hon. Member. The position is that the contributions were legally payable at the time and my right hon. Friend has no power to refund them. In certain circumstances they might have been of value for benefit purposes.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many male and female old age pensioners live in the Borough of Leyton; what is the present approximate aggregate amount paid weekly to old age pensioners; and what is the estimated amount that will be paid to these pensioners in this borough in December, 1951.

Statistics relating to pensioners are not kept on a basis which would enable them to be broken down by localities to give the information desired.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken or is intended so that raw materials and other resources are allocated and used in the manufacture of what is in the national interest and in order of a priority.

Controls over a large number of materials are already in force, e.g., softwood, sheet steel, tinplate, zinc, copper, sulphur and sulphuric acid, to mention a few. Acquisition by consumers is closely controlled, and in some cases inessential end uses are prohibited by order. Steps have been taken, and continue to be taken, over a wide range of other materials to maintain supplies and control consumption. A large number of satisfactory arrangements have been made with industry so that materials are used for the most desirable purposes, but if it becomes necessary more formal controls will be introduced. The Government have, however, been giving further consideration to the whole question of scarce materials and a statement will be made soon.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many Statutory Instruments are now in force.

I regret that the information asked by the hon. Member is not available, as a day-to-day record of Statutory Instruments in force is not kept. I am, however, glad to be able to inform the hon. Member that a new edition of the Index to Statutory Rules and Orders and Statutory Instruments in Force, revised to the end of 1950, will shortly be published.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions for tax evasion have occurred in England and Wales in 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950; and how many were successful.

The figures for which the hon. Member asks are as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the amount of traffic handled in the commercial docks at Immingham, Grimsby and Hull, respectively, for the first six months of 1951; and also for the first six months of 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938.

I am sending the hon. Member a statement giving him the figures which are available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken or intends taking on the resolution adopted by the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East, Seventh Session, 7th March, 1951, which dealt with the supply of capital goods and recommended the expansion of trade between the European countries and the Far East and Asia.

The Resolution in question accords with the general policy of His Majesty's Government, as evidenced by our participation in the Colombo Plan, of assisting the economic development of the countries of South and South-East Asia. We shall keep in close touch with the Governments concerned and with the Secretariat of the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East with a view to alleviating any difficulties which may be impeding trade between the United Kingdom and the countries in the area.

asked the Minister of Supply what was the value of the artillery components and small arms ammunition sold abroad during 1950; and to what countries were these exported.

United Kingdom exports of small arms ammunition during 1950 were valued at £3,575,000. Military ammunition accounted for £2,443,000 of this and sporting ammunition for the remainder. It would not be in the national interest in the case of exports of this nature to disclose the countries to which they were sent, but there were no exports of military small arms ammunition to China or to any country in the Soviet Bloc. Artillery components are not separately distinguished in the trade returns.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has a further statement to make on H.M.S. "Affray."

I have no further information about the state of the wreck of H.M. Submarine "Affray" than was given in the Admiralty statement issued on Saturday last, which is reproduced below. H.M.S. "Reclaim" will remain in harbour until the neap tides due about 25th June make operations possible once more. Many theories are being put forward for public discussion. The Admiralty adheres to none of them, for not enough is yet known about the state of the wreck to form conclusions. A naval board of inquiry will be set up by the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, in due course. The date for convening it will depend upon what additional information can be secured.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of recent diminution in the land available for allotments in the urban district of Chadderton and the large number of people awaiting the supply of allotments; and what action he proposes to take.

I am aware that 2¼ acres of allotment land was recently taken for building development, but I understand that there are vacant allotments available within reasonable distance. The urban district council are responsible for the provision of allotments, and I have drawn their attention to the need to provide additional land for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the area of land available for allotments in the urban district of Chadderton; and what additional area is planned to become available for use as allotments.

The total area of the allotment sites in the urban district is about 16 acres. I understand that the Chadderton U.D.C. is consulting the planning authority about the reservation of land for additional allotments, but I cannot yet say exactly how much land will be set aside for them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the percentage by which farmers costs in the United Kingdom have risen since 1939. or any other convenient date.

These costs have approximately trebled since 1938–39. The increase covers the changes that have occured both in the quantities of goods and services bought by farmers and the prices paid for them.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what steps he proposes to take to protect leaseholders whose ground rent has been increased to two-thirds of the rateable value of their habitation and are thus prevented from selling their property if they so desire.

This would require legislation of which I regret that there is no early prospect.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he will state the terms and conditions of appointment of the chairman of the Stevenage Development Corporation.

The appointment of members of development corporations and their tenure of office is dealt with in the Second Schedule to the New Towns Act, 1946. The late chairman of the Stevenage Corporation was appointed to be a member and chairman of that Corporation on 26th October, 1949, for a period of three years at a salary of £1,500 a year, with official expenses on the scale of temporary Government commissions.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he now intends to take to improve the reception of the British Broadcasting Corporation's programmes in East Anglia in view of the inconvenience which subscribers are still experiencing due to interference.

I understand from the B.B.C. that reception of the Home Service in East Anglia should be generally satisfactory except in parts of Norfolk.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give an assurance that shop window and sign lighting will be possible in the darker days later in the year to enable shopping to be conducted in greater comfort than was possible last winter.

As the hon. Lady will agree, it is of the greatest importance to reduce the frequency and severity of power cuts. I am now considering what measures will be required to enable this to be done.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what experiments are being undertaken with a view to the development of small and medium-sized hydro-electric projects.

The British Electricity Authority have under consideration a number of hydro-electric projects of small and medium size, and investigations are proceeding to see whether they would be economically sound.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mr. Giddings, Crookwood Farm, Portend, Devizes, conducts a one-man farm; what regard was had to his civilian occupation in deciding his call-up as a Class Z reservist; and for what reason his Department decided on 10th May that exemption could not be granted to him.

Inquiries have shown that Mr. Giddings is assisted in running his widowed mother's farm by his brother and the brother's son. He was made available for training in 1951 by the Ministry of Labour, and his appeal against recall has been refused on the grounds that alternative arrangements could be made for a short period of 15 days and that no undue hardship was involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special steps he is taking to prevent traffic congestion in the inner London area during the Festival of Britain.

Experience so far has shown that traffic conditions in the Inner London area have improved as a result of the special regulations made by the Commissioner of Police under the Metropolitan Police Act, 1839, and the Public Works (Festival of Britain) Act, 1949. As promised in the course of the debate in this House on 10th May, the Commissioner has reviewed the operation of the regulations and is keeping them under review, but apart from some relaxation in respect of certain individual streets, on which he is consulting my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport he has not felt justified in making any changes.