asked the Minister of Health if, in order to avoid disappointment, he will instruct his officers to make no promises with regard to the delivery date of hearing aids.

I do not think it would be reasonable to forbid officers to give the best answer they can to such a natural inquiry from patients.

asked the Minister of Health how long has the present temporary system of paying chemists been in operation under the National Health Service and when does he propose to replace it by a permanent system.

Since the outset. It will be replaced when arrears of pricing have been cleared.

asked the Minister of Health whether the machinery for pricing prescriptions under the National Health Service is now overtaking arrears.

Not yet in every area, but the speed of pricing is steadily improving.

asked the Minister of Health on what grounds he is refusing to allow the use of post hyposan for the treatment under the National Health Scheme of patients suffering from diabetes insipidus.

I have not disallowed the use of this drug, but I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Member when they are completed.

asked the Minister of Health by what date it is proposed to complete the building of the teaching hospital at Heath Park in the Gabalfa Ward of the Cardiff North Division; and what steps have been taken to establish within it a national dental college for Wales.

It is not yet possible to forecast when this hospital may be completed. The University of Wales and the board of governors of the teaching hospital have still to decide what departments should be included in it.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the decision of the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board to limit the admission of expectant mothers to hospital to those cases where abnormal conditions are present, he will now consent to the free provision of maternity outfits to those women who choose to enter private nursing homes when home conditions are, in the opinion of their own doctors, unsatisfactory.

No such decision has been taken, and I have nothing to add to the information I gave in reply to the hon. Member's Question of 19th April last.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that seafarers because of the nature of their employment are deprived of certain benefits of the Health Service; and if he will take steps to remedy the position.

Seafarers are in the same position as other British subjects needing treatment abroad. The National Health Service Acts apply only to this country.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the allegations made by the secretary of the Doncaster branch of the British Medical Association, a copy of which has been sent to him, about the discourtesy and inefficiency of the Regional Hospital Board at Sheffield; how many members of the medical profession sit upon the regional board; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I have no evidence that the position in Doncaster is as has been suggested, nor that the rather vague allegations can be substantiated. I am satisfied that the Regional Hospital Board have treated such representations as the branch has made to them with courtesy and have given them proper consideration; and that, in the appointment of members of hospital management committees, who are not in any case appointed as representatives of particular interests, they have acted generally in accordance with my views. Nine members of the Board are medically qualified.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the shortage and cost of paper and the necessity of giving doctors more time to attend to the sick, he will take urgent steps to reduce the amount of form filling and clerical work generally which at present has to be carried out by the medical profession under the National Health Scheme.

This work has already been reduced to a minimum. I am always ready to consider suggestions, but I doubt whether any further reduction is practicable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why the necessary permission for a supply of piped water to be made available to Mr. I. Litherland, Oakfield, Woodhouse Lane, Sale, has not been granted.

There appears to have been some misunderstanding. Detailed proposals have not yet been submitted by the Sale Borough Council, which proposes to provide the piped water supply, but steps have been taken to ensure that as soon as these are submitted the scheme will be considered without delay.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the famous and hardy breed of Dartmoor pony is fast becoming extinct as a pure breed, through horses and ponies of other breeds being allowed on to Dartmoor; and what steps he will take to ensure the preservation of the breed of Dartmoor ponies in the wild state.

I am aware that some inter-breeding of Dartmoor ponies with ponies of other breeds is occurring among animals living on Dartmoor, but I have no powers that would enable me to prohibit owners of horses or ponies of such other breeds from allowing their animals to be on the moor, nor do I think it necessary to seek such powers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) how many compulsory orders have been issued to enable derelict woodlands to be acquired for the purpose of reafforestation in Wales; and the total acreage involved;(2) how many compulsory purchase orders, under section four of the Forestry Act, 1945, have been issued to date; and the acreage involved for Wales.

Only one compulsory purchase order has been made under Section 4 of the Forestry Act, 1945; and the Forestry Commission was later offered the use of alternative land, and compulsory purchase was abandoned. Less than half an acre was involved. Draft orders have been deposited in three other cases on which public local inquiries either have been held or are being held and on which further proceedings are pending. The acreage involved in the draft orders is 11,807, including the 11,450 acres comprised in the Towy Valley Scheme. One of the draft Orders is in respect of derelict woodlands, and involves 354 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consult with the Kent branch of the National Farmers' Union with a view to making use of their particular knowledge of the worrying of sheep by dogs.

I shall be happy to consider any practical suggestions that the Kent Branch of the National Farmers' Union or any other body can put forward, but for obvious reasons any consultations on a matter of this kind should be with the headquarters of the Union rather than with an individual branch.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the turnover and profit and loss on the farming operation of his department and of the county committees for each of the years 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950.

The accounts for the Agricultural Land Commission have been published as White Papers, and the Trading Accounts for County Agricultural Executive Committees for 1948–49 and 1949–50 are published in the annual volumes of trading accounts and balance sheets for those years. For reasons which I have given in reply to previous Questions, I do not propose to publish accounts for committee operations in earlier years. The accounts of the Land Settlement Association, whose farming operations since 1st April, 1948, have been conducted by the Association as agents of the Minister, may be seen in two Stationery Office publications entitled "Smallholdings Centralised Services," 1948–49 and 1949–50.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of acres within Newcastle-upon-Tyne now occupied by allotment holders; the number of applicants now waiting to take over allotments within the City; whether the acreage planned to be allocated to allotment holders within the city during future years will show an increase or decrease in acreage; and whether he will make a statement.

The total area of land in use as allotments within the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is 246 acres. Most of the sites are administered by local allotment associations who are responsible for letting the individual plots, and I am unable therefore to say how many applicants are waiting for allotments.The area of land to be allocated for use as allotments in future years is a matter to be dealt with in the development plan for the City. The plan has not been completed, but I understand the Corporation are considering the possibility of increasing the total area of land available for allotments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider exempting from Purchase Tax officers' battle dress when purchased through unit stores.

Purchase Tax is charged on officers' battle dress and other uniforms whether bought from official stores or from civilian tailors. Officers receive rates of pay which take into account the tax chargeable on such purchases and they are allowed Income Tax rebates at varying rates for uniform maintenance, on which I have undertaken to consult the Service Departments. In these circumstances I see no reason for providing further relief. I would point out that many civilians are also obliged to buy special clothing for wear in the performance of their duties, and I see no reason for differentiating between the two classes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the fact that Treasury 2½ per cent. stock now stands at about 35 discount, what steps he is taking to compensate investors who took them up in exchange for Local Loans 3 per cent. stock.

None.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury for what reason temporary clerks in the Civil Service under the age of 45 cannot be established; and to what extent temporary civil servants under this age can look forward to establishment on reaching the age of 45.

I would refer the hon. Memmer to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Hopkinson) on 9th May. I regret that I cannot forecast whether there will be further establishment of temporary clerks over 45 as clerical assistants.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury for an estimate of the number of persons who would be involved if the age at which temporary clerks in the Civil Service can be established were reduced from 45 years of age to 40 and 35, respectively.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the current scheme for establishing temporary clerks as clerical assistants. When this scheme was devised in 1949 it was estimated that there were then some 10,000 temporary clerks between the ages of 35 and 44. No later estimate has been made. Neither was it known in 1949 how many of the 10,000 would have satisfied all the conditions of the scheme if temporary clerks under the age of 45 had been admitted.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is in a position to indicate the views of His Majesty's Government on the recommendations of the Final Report of the Committee on the Form of Government Accounts.

Yes. His Majesty's Government find themselves in substantial agreement with the views of the Committee on the main questions canvassed in their Report. In particular, they entirely agree with the central conclusion of the Committee that Government accounts as a whole should remain on a cash basis. They regard this verdict by an expert and authoritative body of the standing of the Committee, including as it did eminent members of the accountancy profession, as of great importance.So far as the detailed conclusions and recommendations of the Committee are concerned, I would ask my hon. Friend to refer to the "Summary of Main Conclusions" listed on pages 57 and 58 of the White Paper, Cmd. 7969. The numbers referred to below are the numbers given in that summary.The Government agree with the conclusions set out by the Committee in numbers 1 to 5, 7, 10, 13 and 19, all of which deal with different aspects of the cash basis of Government accounting.Conclusion 6 recommends that trading funds should be established for large and permanent trading operations of Government Departments. The Government regard this as an interesting proposal, and they appreciate its potential advantages. At the same time, the proposal is not free from practical difficulties, and the Government feel that further study is necessary before a final decision can be taken.Of the other positive proposals put forward in the Report, the Government accept, and propose to put into effect as opportunity offers, numbers 8, 12, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 28. Their acceptance of these proposals is subject to review from time to time in the light of the circumstances, and, in the case of two of them, to the qualifications made immediately below. On conclusion 18, the Government agree that no change should be made in the system of accounting for allied services. As regards telephone and telegraph services, they are not at present convinced that economies would be obtained, by requiring receiving Departments to bear the cost on their own Vote, sufficient to compensate for the additional accounting work involved.On Conclusion 20 (

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to encourage two-shift working in industry.

The present general labour shortage must necessarily limit the extent to which two-shift working can be introduced. Where the need arises my Department assist in the recruitment of workers for additional shifts and, in particular, encourages the working of short shifts, often in the evening, at hours which make it possible for married women to fit in some industrial employment with their domestic responsibilities.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to encourage employers not to fix upper age limits for vacant appointments which they seek to fill.

The policy of encouraging the employment of elderly workers and, where possible, removing age limits for engagement has been endorsed by the National Joint Advisory Council, and a specific request to employers to review their practice in this respect is being widely circulated to employers organisations. In addition, it is the practice of the Ministry's local offices to bring this point to the attention of individual employers in appropriate cases.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a further statement on the recruitment of Irish labour for the coal mining industry.

It has not been found possible to find any considerable number of men from Ireland suitable and willing to work in the coal mines.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a further statement on the recruitment of Italian labour for the coal mines.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Italian workers have been recruited by him for service in the mines in this country; how many are already in this country; and how many are already at work.

Eight hundred and sixty have been accepted. Parties totalling 80 have so far arrived and are at present undergoing a preliminary course o' instruction in English.

asked the Minister of Labour how many regular workers were employed in agriculture in England and Wales in March of this year and the previous year; and whether he is satisfied the numbers are sufficient for an expanding output.

Five hundred and forty-two thousand in March this year and 546,000 in March last year. The agricultural labour force, including non-regular workers should, in my view, be generally adequate to meet production requirements this year.

asked the Minister of Labour what provision is made to supervise the working conditions of foreign girls employed in domestic and other work in this country and to enable those girls to secure redress or amelioration of unsuitable working conditions.

As my hon. Friend has previously been informed, local offices of my Department are ready in appropriate cases to inquire into questions raised with them by foreign workers regarding their employment. Where permission is required for the employment of foreign workers, permits are not granted unless the Ministry is satisfied that the proposed wages and other conditions of employment are not less favourable than those commonly accorded to British workers for similar work.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he has considered making an appeal within a wider radius for women not engaged in industry to enter the pottery industry and take steps to provide transport to enable people to travel between their districts and where they are employed;(2) what action he has taken, or intends to take, in order to increase the urgently required manpower for the North Staffordshire pottery industry.

There has been widespread publicity over the last few years about the needs of the pottery industry for additional workers and there has been a substantial increase in the industry's labour force. The employment exchanges in the area will continue their efforts to recruit workers in the industry, and we shall continue to bring in workers from a distance in so far as they can be accepted and accommodated, but I doubt the usefulness of trying to persuade women to travel long distances daily from surrounding areas where other essential work is generally available for them.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the urgent need for manpower in the Stoke-on-Trent coal industry which will continue during the next five years; and what action has been or will be taken.

Yes. This area is particularly difficult. The opportunities of coal-mining employment in the Stoke-on-Trent district are brought to the notice of all suitable applicants at the Ministry's local offices in the neighbourhood and in the south of England. In addition, publicity is given by posters, cinema slides and advertisements in the local Press. Special steps are proposed for overcoming the shortage of houses for miners.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of men and women are unemployed in Stoke-on-Trent; how many have been out of work 6 and 12 months, respectively; and what proportion are disabled persons.

The numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of employment exchanges in Stoke-on-Trent at 21st May were 490 males and 82 females, of whom 248 and 17, respectively, were registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act. The figures exclude severely disabled persons who are unlikely to obtain work other than under special conditions. The latest date for which an analysis according to duration of unemployment is available is 12th March, when the figures for Stoke-on-Trent were as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will appoint a committee to consider whether the periods of apprenticeship in industry can be shortened so as to reduce the general labour shortage.

No. The existing arrangements for reviewing these matters with industry would appear to be adequate.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps have been taken to bring the Government's policy on fixed age limits for retirement to the notice of the directors of the Bank of England.

The Bank of England are fully aware of the Government's policy regarding the employment of elderly workers.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of people registered as unemployed in Wallasey on 15th June, 1951, or the nearest convenient date.

1,096 at 21st May, the latest date for which figures are at present available.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of men registered for National Service since 1945; the number found medically unfit; the number exempted on account of reserved occupations; and the number deferred and not subsequently called up.

1,588,000 men were registered under the National Service Acts from 1st January, 1946, up to and including the most recent registration day on 5th May, 1951. Between 1st January, 1946 and 29th May, 1951, the latest date for which this information is available, 186,000 men were found medically unfit for service.I have no power to exempt anyone from liability for national service. On 6th April, 1951, the calling-up of 120,000 men, which had been first deferred in 1947 or later because they were employed in coalmining, agriculture or the Merchant Navy, remained deferred because they were still satisfactorily employed in these industries. Corresponding information for men originally granted deferment in 1946 is not available.

asked the Minister of Education why there are no kindergarten schools available for deaf children; to what extent their provision is contemplated; and when such facilities may be expected within a reasonable distance of Shipley.

The lowering of the age at which deaf children first go to school is a recent development and there are not enough places for young deaf children to meet the demand. Since an early beginning is of great importance for these children my right hon. Friend's aim is to secure sufficient additional special school provision to enable every deaf child over the age of two to attend school whose parents wish it. The nearest schools for the deaf to Shipley are at Bradford and Leeds. both of which take children under five. Extensions in progress or shortly to be undertaken at a number of other schools for the deaf in the North of England will provide increased accommodation for young children.

asked the Minister of Education how many local authorities have, since the coming into force of the 1944 Act, obtained powers by private Acts to continue the system by which a parent who accepted a place for his child in a grammar school undertook a legal obligation to leave him there until the end of the year in which he attained the age of 16.

Nine.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will give consideration to the suggestion of the Council of the Association of University Teachers that advanced and scholarship papers in the general certificate of education examination be held earlier in the year, so as to enable intending university students to have time to make adequate arrangements for entrance to a university.

My right hon. Friend would hesitate to make a change of this magnitude without a greater measure of agreement on the matter than exists at present. There is a strong body of opinion in the schools that external examinations should be held as late as possible. The present arrangements, which are based on a recommendation of the Secondary School Examinations Council, are designed to give more time for intending university students than they have had in the past.

asked the Minister of Education when the Annual Report on Education will be published by his Department.

My right hon. Friend expects the Report to be published on 28th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what representations he has made to the Government of Ceylon in respect of exports of rubber to China.

I have informed the Government of Ceylon of our decision to prohibit entirely exports of rubber to China. I have not heard if they have made any announcement about exports of rubber to China from Ceylon. Rubber is not, however, normally exported from Ceylon to China.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he is conducting any inquiry into the law relating to arbitrary banishment or deportation in territories under his control on the lines of the inquiry being made by the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Since my right hon. Friend is reviewing similar provisions in the Colonial Empire there is no need to institute separate inquiries. I will, of course, study the results of my right hon. Friend's review and consider the possibility of applying to the territories for which I am responsible any alterations which may be adopted in the Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations to what extent reafforestation is progressing in Swaziland and Basutoland.

In Swaziland there are two major forestry projects, one undertaken by the Colonial Development Corporation, and one by Peak Timbers, Ltd., a private company. The Corporation's project, which aims at the planting of approximately 75,000 acres in the next five or six years, has made a good beginning. By the end of March, 5,430 acres had been planted with pines, another 3,000 acres prepared for planting and the nurseries contained 5½ million seedlings. I understand that the private development by Peak Timbers Ltd., which began operations before the Corporation, has made excellent progress. This company's afforestable acreage is about 55,000.In Basutoland, the Administration has to contend with unfavourable terrain and climate. In the past, attempts to afforest large areas have not met with success and there are no commercial projects. However, the Administration is very well aware of the need for tree planting on a smaller scale for soil erosion and to produce timber for local use. Under current Colonial Development and Welfare schemes, a considerable amount of this is being done at carefully selected sites. These recent plantations have been successful, but progress is limited by the funds available. The number of trees so far planted is just under 900,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the effect on the cost of living which the Orders issued since March this year permitting increases in maximum prices will have, he will reconsider these Orders and reduce the prices which consumers have to pay.

No. The maximum prices permitted by these Orders were prescribed only after very careful consideration of increases in raw material and other costs. To reduce these prices in advance of a reduction in costs would be likely to result in an inadequate supply of goods which the public requires. Where reductions in costs take place the maximum permitted prices are reviewed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the review of the work and future of the Cotton Board in accordance with the statutory provision contained in the Industrial Organisation and Development Act, 1947, has now been completed; and when the result will be published.

The replies which the Board of Trade has received from the organisations representative of employers and employees concerned show that there is general agreement that the Cotton Board should continue in being. But a number of recommendations have been made for amending the Cotton Industry Development Council Order, 1948, particularly in regard to the incidence of the levy, and I am sorry that I cannot say at present when these outstanding questions will be settled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what licences for the export of heavy duty tyres to Hong Kong or elsewhere during the last six months have been granted to a firm of whose name he has been informed;(2) what licences have been granted to a firm, of whose name he has been informed, for the export of heavy duty tyres during the last six months to Hong Kong or elsewhere.

No licences have been granted to either firm to export heavy duty tyres since 31st March when these goods became subject to export licensing control for all destinations other than the Commonwealth, the Irish Republic and the United States of America. As my right hon. and learned Friend said in a statement after Questions on 19th June, export licences will be required for the export of tyres to Hong Kong from. 25th June, and I may add that the Hong Kong authorities have controlled the export of motor vehicles tyres since the 15th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a firm, of whose name he has been informed, have been making extensive purchases of heavy duty tyres suitable for military vehicles; if he will investigate the activities of this company; and what licences have been granted to this company to export tyres to Hong Kong or any other country during the last six months.

I have no evidence that this firm is failing to comply with our export regulations. No licences have been granted to them for the export of heavy duty tyres since 31st March. As my right hon. and learned Friend has already stated, licences will be required for the export of tyres to Hong Kong as from 25th June. The Hong Kong authorities have controlled the export of motor vehicle tyres since 15th March.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the total sum of money withheld from applicants for maternity grants under the National Health Act for the reason that their applications were made too late, since the Act came into force.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what is the percentage of old age pensioners in Stoke-on-Trent receiving supplementary benefit; and how many men and women over 65 years of age, not entitled to Statutory Retirement Pensions, are receiving National Assistance.

On 29th May last the National Assistance Board office at Stoke-on-Trent (which includes territory outside the county borough) were paying assistance to nearly 5,500 pensioners in supplementation of their pensions. I cannot say what percentage this is of pensioners living in the area as the statistics do not make it possible to give that figure by localities. The Board were also paying assistance to some 370 persons of pensionable age but not in receipt of pensions living in the area.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make up the extra meat allowance for those suffering from steatorrhoea to what it was before the meat ration was cut.

On these matters my right hon. Friend is advised by the Food Rationing (Special Diets) Committee of the Medical Research Council, who have considered the effect on invalids of the cut in the meat ration and have assured my right hon. Friend that since milk is unrationed and supplies of dried milk are available, there is no need to increase the meat ration to patients suffering from steatorrhoea.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now make a statement on the proposed grant to Yugoslavia.

No. I have nothing to add at present to my right hon. Friend's reply of 19th June to the hon. and gallant Member for the New Forest (Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre).

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the present regulations, under which an officer recommissioned in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve receives no issue of uniform if he is recommissioned within four years of his previous demobilisation, involve officers so recommissioned in substantial personal expense and deter former officers of the Royal Air Force from returning to service in the Volunteer Reserve as they would otherwise have been ready to do; and whether he will amend the existing regulations accordingly.

An officer appointed to an auxiliary or reserve commission more than one year but less than four years after the conclusion of previous commissioned service, receives in cash half of what a newly commissioned officer receives by way of outfit grant and kit issued from store. An officer on leaving the service should be in possession of a complete and serviceable kit and I have no reason to believe that the arrangements made for the provision of uniform allowance on rejoining, which are common to the three services, are such as to deter a former officer from returning to service.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the annual charge to public funds in respect of the pay of chaplains of the Royal Air Force.

The estimated cost of the pay of Royal Air Force Chaplains in the current financial year is £150,000. In addition, it is estimated that £58,000 will be spent on marriage and accommodation allowances.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the £25 grant towards uniforms issued to temporary midshipmen Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve is quite inadequate when these midshipmen are sent where tropical as well as ordinary uniform is required; that Purchase Tax has to be paid on the extra uniforms required; and whether, as these temporary midshipmen are doing compulsory National Service, he will ensure that they are not out of pocket as respects purchasing the necessary equipment.

The cash grant of £25 is intended to cover the cost to a midshipman R.N.V.R. of providing himself with one undress coat and one pair of blue trousers. An R.N.V.R. officer is not provided with tropical uniform until he is appointed, for the first time, to a station where such outfit is needed. He is then supplied with all such items from Service stocks without charge.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what percentage of those Royal Naval Volunteer (Supplementary) Reserve personnel who have been asked if they would agree to be recalled in emergency before general mobilisation have replied in the affirmative.

About half of them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why Barracuda aircraft which began to go out of use for operational use in 1944 are still being used in fleet aircraft carriers.

One front line squadron of Barracudas is still in service. It will be withdrawn later this year and re-armed with Fireflies Mark 7. Normally the squadron is based ashore at the naval Anti-Submarine School, but occasionally it is embarked for short periods for exercises with the Fleet. At the moment, it is afloat in H.M.S. "Indomitable" but will be coming ashore again in a few days' time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why air operations due to be carried out in Korean waters from H.M.S. "Glory" were cancelled.

H.M.S. "Glory" was withdrawn from her last spell of operations one day earlier than intended because the aviation fuel had become contaminated by corrosion from inside a rarely used pipe in the replenishment tanker. The corrosion was caused naturally and there is no suspicion of sabotage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has studied Sir Evelyn Wrench's plan. Of which he has been informed, for ensuring that professional men and women from the Colonial Empire should be kept in touch with their opposite numbers in this country; and whether he will call a conference of those bodies specially interested to discuss ways and means.

I am in sympathy with the object of these proposals. There are, of course, already useful links through such institutions as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Commonwealth Press Union, as well as through the British Council and the various professional organisations and also the voluntary Empire Societies. Should such organisations wish to carry their activities further on the lines suggested by Sir Evelyn Wrench, I should be glad to assist in any way I can; but I think that the matter is essentially one in respect of which the initiative should be taken by the interested bodies themselves.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give a list of Statutory Instruments under which on 1st January, 1945, commodities were rationed or their price controlled by his Department, indicating the date on which any such controls have since been removed in whole or in part, and titles of the revoking instruments.

As the answer is rather long, I am sending the hon., Member a copy and am arranging to make a copy available in the Library.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if his attention has been drawn to the harm done to industry, in and about York, by recurring long power cuts; and when he anticipates that an uninterrupted supply will be available.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Portsmouth. West (Brigadier Clarke). on 11th June.