asked the Minister of Food if he will give details of the contracts made with Canadian producers for the supply of cheese, eggs, bacon and other meat in 1951.

My Department has recently signed a contract with the Ontario Cheese Producers Association Marketing Board for the delivery of 20 million pounds of cheese during 1951 and negotiations are now in progress for a further quantity from Quebec. No contracts have been made with Canadian producers during 1951 for the supply of eggs, bacon and other meat.

asked the Minister of Food what reports he has received of the progress of the sorghum harvest under the Queensland British Food Corporation's Scheme; and if he can forecast the tonnage that will be available for shipment to this country.

The Corporation report that the sorghum crop in Queensland has suffered from lack of rain and that yields are lower than last year. The exportable surplus from the crop which is now being harvested will be considerably lower than last year's, but I would not like to give any forecast of the actual quantity until I have the report on the outcome of harvest from the Corporation.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent the allocation of dried fruits made to fruit wholesalers is dependent upon the quantity of imported apples they take through the year.

There is no connection at all between the two. The amount of dried fruit allocated to any wholesaler depends solely on the entitlement of the retailers and manufacturers whom he supplies.

asked the Minister of Food the price of bread at Inverness, at Stornoway and in North Uist Island.

The maximum retail price of an unwrapped 3½ lb. batch loaf is ls. 0d. in Inverness and ls. 2d. in Stornoway and North Uist Island.

asked the Minister of Food what number and proportion of each classification of animals were condemned, either wholly or in part, as unfit for human consumption in 1950 by sanitary inspectors because of tuberculosis, some other form of disease or any other reason.

The figures for carcasses wholly condemned during 1950 are as follows:

	Number of Percentage of carcasses wholly number of condemned	Percentage of number of animals slaughtered
Cattle	48,340	2·09
Calves	22,481	1·67
Sheep and lambs	25,200	0·36
Pigs	16,464	0·52

Records are not maintained of the numbers of carcasses of which parts only are condemned, but the percentages of the weight of meat condemned, including the weight of parts of carcasses condemned. to the total weight of meat produced on slaughter during this period are as follows:

Cattle	…	…	1·95 per cent.
Calves	…	…	1·35 per cent.
Sheep and lambs	…	…	0·33 per cent.
Pigs	…	…	(a) 0·53 per cent.
(a) Does not include condemnations of individual cuts of otherwise sound pigs slaughtered at bacon factories, records of which are not maintained.

A summary of the reasons for condemnation is not available and could not be prepared without a considerable amount of work.

asked the Minister of Food if he has considered the evidence submitted to him by the hon. Member for Walton of the sale of lettered rock without the surrender of personal points by traders in the Festival Gardens Fun Fair, Battersea Park; and if he will now make a further statement on this matter.

Proceedings have already been instituted against certain traders at the Festival Amusement Park, Battersea, for the sale of rock without the surrender of personal points coupons. In the circumstances it would not be proper for me to make any further statement.

asked the Minister of Food what profit he expects to make from the recent purchase of linseed oil from Argentina.

I cannot say what the trading results of individual purchases may be.

Province		British Administration Schools				Private Schools recognised by the British Administration
		Elementary		Higher		Elementary		Higher
		Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls
Asmara and Hamasien	…	2,561	1,384	282	117	1,769	689	582	15
Serae	…	1,065	488	138	—	302	33	—	—
Akele Guzai	…	1,045	276	79	9	—	—	—	—
Western	…	1,590	314	203	6	133	60	—	—
Red Sea	…	397	11	28	—	190	—	—	—
NOTe.—There are also a number of religious and village schools, not recognised by the British Administration, which cater for a large number of pupils. There are some 20 such schools in Asmara alone with an enrolment of about 1,000 pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress is being made by agreement between the Egyptian, Ethiopian and Sudan authorities for the building of dams and the due allocation of the waters of the Nile for irrigation purposes.

There appear to be fair prospects of the Sudan and Egyptian Governments reaching agreement on two important irrigation projects on the Nile, at Sennar and near Merowe, while other proposals are also under discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many boys and girls, respectively, are attending elementary and middle schools in each province of Eritrea; and how these figures compare with the numbers attending in this country.

The figures, which are given below, show the position at 31st December, 1950, the latest date for which statistics are at present available. No useful comparison can be made between these figures and those for children attending school in this country since there were virtually no educational facilities in Eritrea prior to the British occupation in 1941.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether efforts are still being made through the United Nations or other agencies to arrange the repatriation of Greek children from other countries than Yugoslavia.

The International Red Cross, which was entrusted by the United Nations with the handling of this matter, is continuing its efforts to repatriate the children from all the countries concerned. Unfortunately, however, these efforts have so far received no support whatever from the countries within the Soviet orbit.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received any information upon the mass internment of Hungarian families by the Hungarian Government; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter, in view of the Human Rights Clause in the Peace Treaty.

I have nothing to add to the reply given on 20th June to a similar Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what efforts are being made to bring the fighting in Korea to an end now that a year has elapsed since the attack on South Korea.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made today.

asked the hon. Member for Bristol, North-East, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether larger supplies of the more popular brands of cigarettes can be made available to Members in the smoke and refreshment rooms of the House.

The Refreshment Department receives an allocation of the popular brands of cigarettes from manufacturers. Each period the Department orders in excess of the entitlement and up to date the manufacturers have not been able to increase the amount. We have now applied to them again asking for our allotment to be increased.

asked the Minister of Transport how many appeals have been lodged against the take-over prices offered by him under the Road Transport Act; and how many have been heard up to date by the independent tribunal appointed by the Lord Chancellor.

I assume that the hon. Member means to refer to applications to the Transport Arbitration Tribunal to determine disputes as to the amount of compensation which the British Transport Commission offers when road haulage undertakings are acquired by them under the Transport Act, 1947. Up to date 35 such applications have been lodged. Of these the Tribunal has so far heard three cases.

asked the Minister of Transport how many mechanically propelled vehicles were on the roads as at 31st May, 1951; what is the percentage increase over the corresponding figure for 1950; and how far the improvement in the provision of better and wider roads is proportionate to this figure.

Particulars of mechanically-propelled vehicles licensed at 31st May, 1951, are not yet available. The number of vehicles with licences current on 28th February, 1951, was 3,932,617, this being 99,108 or about 2½ per cent. greater than the number on 28th February, 1950. I estimate that total expenditure this year on the maintenance, improvement and construction of roads will show an increase over last year more than proportionate to the increase in the number of vehicles. I cannot at present give the precise figure.

asked the Minister of Transport what evidence is given by statistics as to the proportion of road accidents which occur when men are driving and when women are driving, respectively.

Of the number of drivers of motor vehicles, including motor cycles, involved in road accidents during the month of April (the latest period for which figures are available), 95.2 per cent. were men and 4.8 per cent. women. These figures afford of course no indication as to the relative safety of men and women drivers.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent regional unemployment is taken into account in deciding whether to proceed with approved road works in any area; and whether he will give a list of such schemes as are at present being carried out and which owe their existence partly or wholly to considerations of unemployment.

This was a factor taken into account up to 1949, but in view of recent restriction on capital investment this no longer applies. The list of schemes for which the hon. Member has asked is as follows:CLASSIFIED ROADS

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the need for omnibus shelters particularly in rural areas, when he proposes to deal with the question of conferring on local government authorities general powers to erect shelters.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Sir H. Roper), on the 30th April.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the Caernarvonshire County Council on the subject of the reduction of grants for the maintenance and improvement of trunk roads and classified roads for 1951–52.

I have received a letter dated 15th June in which the county council urge that better provision should be made for such work. I expect shortly to be able to make a further limited allocation of funds for the maintenance and minor improvement of trunk and classified roads. In this allocation I shall pay due regard to the needs of the roads in the various areas, including Caernarvonshire.

asked the Minister of Transport under what authority persons applying for a C carrier's licence are obliged to complete Form Z/F/22a as well as Form GV. 5; and for what purpose this additional detailed information is required.

Applicants for C carrier's licences are asked to give on Form Z/F/22a brief details of such items as the size, unladen weight and carrying capacity of their vehicles: but they are not obliged to do so. Originally devised for fuel rationing purposes, its use is being continued because it provides a simple method of keeping an up-to-date record of the licensed vehicle fleet of the country.

asked the Minister of Transport what acreage of land has been used to make the roundabout on the trunk road at Roundhouse, Sturminster Marshall.

Three acres, of which the central island contains nearly one acre.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is in a position to say how the cuts in the investment programme will affect road grants.

The Estimates for 1951–52 provide for an increase of £2,879,000 over 1950-51 in the grant in aid to the Road Fund, as shown on page 157 of the Civil Estimates Class VI. This provision remains unaltered.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the present regulations governing the marking or lighting of awkward, overhanging loads carried on the roads so that they do not constitute a danger to other road users.

Provisions with regard to the lighting at night of overhanging or projecting loads are contained in Sections 7 and 8 of the Road Transport Lighting Act, 1927. The Highway Code states that during the daytime a load projecting behind a vehicle should be marked at the end with a white cloth or something else which will attract attention.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that London Passenger Transport buses are instructed to go slowly if they are ahead of schedule; and, in view of the traffic congestion caused by this practice, what steps he proposes to take to put an end to it in the same way as he has prohibited the parking of motor cars in certain streets.

I am informed by the British Transport Commission that no such instructions are given. Great care is exercised to adjust schedules to traffic conditions, but these conditions vary so rapidly and so frequently that it is difficult to avoid some slow running occasionally when a bus gets ahead of its schedule. The maintenance of schedules is in the interests of the travelling public, and I do not think that any action on my part is called for. Slow running to the very limited extent that it occurs in practice has no appreciable effect on traffic congestion.

asked. the Minister of Transport what was the total labour force employed on road maintenance, improvement and contruction on 31st December, 1950.

A figure for the 31st December, 1950, is not available, but the total was 93,014 on the 30th September, 1950, and 89,990 on the 31st March, 1951.

asked the Minister of Supply what special allocation of steel he has authorised to contractors of capital equipment for supply to the National Coal Board, or for the supply of steel direct to the National Coal Board or to the National Coal Board suppliers.

There have been no special allocations to contractors, but I have made arrangements designed to ensure that the National Coal Board's reasonable current needs of steel are met.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the difficulty in obtaining steel experienced by Messrs. Joseph Bradbury, of Braintree, and other firms manufacturing transport service equipment and other goods of high export value; and what steps he is taking to assist Messrs. Bradbury to get the relatively small quantity of steel needed to enable them to fulfil their contract with his Department for equipment essential in the construction of Bailey bridges, and to complete other important work outstanding.

Yes. I know that this firm, in common with many other manufacturers, have had difficulty in obtaining all the steel they need for their production. We invited the firm to let us know if they required help on steel supplies to fulfil their contract for Bailey bridge equipment, but they have not yet done so.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he now has any statement to make about the allocation of steel to essential users.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement on this subject which will be made later this week.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is taking to review as a matter of urgency the prices paid for collecting iron and steel scrap.

In their Third Report the Select Committee on Estimates recommended that the prices paid for collecting scrap should be reviewed as a matter of urgency, and I am bringing this recommendation to the notice of the Iron and Steel Corporation of Great Britain. The view which has hitherto prevailed has been that an increase in the price of scrap would not produce any significant additional supplies. The only result would be a corresponding increase in the price of steel. In my opinion, this view is still correct and no increase is warranted in the present controlled prices. which I consider are reasonable.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps have been taken by his Department to encourage the operation of two-shift and three-shift working in the engineering industry so that present plant, especially machine tools, may be put to the maximum use for the re-armament programme; and if he will consider calling a conference of all concerned in the industry so that the question may be fully explored.

The many problems of manning second and third shifts are being actively considered by the Ministry of Labour. Machinery for discussing all aspects of the manpower problems of the defence programme already exists in the National Joint Advisory Council, of which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour is Chairman.

asked the Minister of Supply what procedure is followed for obtaining a licence to build extensions to factories in the aircraft industry.

The procedure is set out in a Government pamphlet "Notes for the Guidance of Industrialists who wish to carry out Building Work." I am sending a copy to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the substantial purchases by United States interests of iron ore from sources which customarily supply iron ore to Britain: and what steps he is taking to ensure that Britain obtains a fair share of the ore available.

Yes. I am aware of these purchases. Supplies of overseas ore currently available to the United Kingdom are, however, reasonable in relation to our requirements.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement in regard to the policy of his Department in connection with the development of helicopters.

My Department is responsible for developing helicopters to meet agreed military requirements, and has accepted the recommendations of the First Report of the Interdepartmental Helicopter Committee on development for civil purposes.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will consult with the United States authorities with a view to securing fulfilment of the outstanding contracts for sheet-steel" between the Iron and Steel Corporation and United States suppliers; and whether he will draw the attention of the United States authorities to the fact that this steel is essential for Britain's defence and export programmes.

The United States Government have now introduced an official allocation system for steel and His Majesty's Government is trying to obtain an allocation for this country. I hope that this will lead to an increase in the supplies of sheet steel.

asked the Minister of Supply when he expects the Brabazon I to receive a certificate of airworthiness; and whether he will consider leasing it to British European Airways for their peak traffic load during the summer, and to the Air Ministry for trooping during the winter.

The Brabazon I has already qualified for a special category certificate of airworthiness to allow experimental flying and demonstration, and it is hoped that this will shortly be extended to cover the carrying of non-fare paying passengers. Much development work remains to be done before a full certificate of airworthiness for commercial service could be obtained, or before the aircraft could be used for trooping.

asked the Minister of Supply if. in view of the shortage of raw materials reaching Tyneside engineering firms, he will expedite the supply of these materials.

The shortage of raw materials, such as iron and steel, is not confined to Tyneside, but is affecting all districts. Endeavour is being made to spread available supplies as fairly as possible.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many claims she has received from contributors who have paid premiums under the National Insurance Act, 1946, at a higher rate than was necessary; what is the aggregate amount of the overpayments; and how much has been refunded to the contributors.

I regret that the precise information asked for by the hon. Member is not available. But since 5th July, 1948, about 170,000 claims for refund on one ground or another have been received, and up to 31st January last some £650,000 had been refunded.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she is aware of the hardship which may arise where a wife has lost her right to claim a family allowance when she has been unable to make application for it for a period of six months through illness; and how far her regulations provide for back payment of the allowance to be obtained under such circumstances.

The Family Allowances Act lays it down that the right to obtain payment is extinguished in cases where orders are not cashed within six months of the due date and my right hon. Friend has no power to modify this provision. As the orders can be cashed by the husband or by an agent no question of hardship should arise from the fact that the wife is unable to cash them herself.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many claims for death grant were disallowed in the year 1950; how many appeals against the decision were made; and in how many cases the appeal was successful.

The precise information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. Appeals were heard in 1950 in 867 cases where death grant had been disallowed or allowed at a reduced rate, of which 308 were decided in the claimant's favour.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many employers, to date, have been fined since the inception of the National Insurance Act for not stamping the cards of their employees; and what steps are taken in cases of this nature to safeguard the credit insurance position of the employee.

Up to 31st May last about 1,750 employers were prosecuted for failure to stamp their employees' cards and most of them were fined. Provided the failure was not due to any negligence or connivance on the part of the employee the contributions due in such cases would normally be treated as paid for the purpose of benefit claims.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many applications for retirement pensions have been refused since the National Insurance Act was passed on the grounds that sufficient contributions had not been paid during the last year of insurance; and in how many cases more than 10 years' insurance had previously been paid.

Failure to pay contributions for one year only would not by itself constitute a ground for disallowance of a claim for a retirement pension. If my hon. Friend has a special case in mind perhaps he will let me have details.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he now proposes to adopt a system of frequency-controlled load shedding along the lines of the invention of Mr. John Redman of Harrow Weald which his Department has investigated.

The frequency relay apparatus invented by Mr. Redman has, I understand, been examined technically by the British Electricity Authority. It is one of a number of devices by which it might be technically possible to control peak loads. Experiments on other devices have already been made by the British Electricity Authority and more may be expected in the very near future. I cannot say which particular device or devices may be adopted.

asked the Attorney-General whether he has now received a report from the Director of Public Prosecutions about Mrs. Monica Felton; and whether he proposes to institute proceedings against her for treason.

asked the Attorney-General if he has yet received a report from the Director of Public Prosecutions on the case of Mrs. Monica Felton; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Attorney-General whether he has now reached a decision about the case of Mrs. Monica Felton.

I have now received a full report. The advice which I have received from the Director of Public Prosecutions and from Treasury Counsel, whose opinion was taken on my instructions, is that there is at present insufficient evidence to found any criminal charge against Mrs. Felton. I agree with this advice, and accordingly do not intend to direct the institution of criminal proceedings against her.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware of recent instances where British citizens have indulged in actions which might be regarded as treasonable but where no prosecution has been initiated because of the nature of the only penalty; and whether he will review the law relating to treason.

While I cannot give any undertaking that a change will be made in the law relating to treason, the Government are considering whether, consistently with the preservation of the personal freedoms which we in this country regard as indispensable, certain changes in the existing law should be made.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will consider introducing a Bill giving magistrates a right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council against the exercise by the Lord Chancellor of his absolute power of removal.

No. I do not think that such legislation would be desirable, or that there is any reason to alter the existing situation.

asked the Attorney-General, in reference to decisions given by the Lands Tribunal on the compulsory purchase of land in any convenient period of 12 months, what was the average ratio between the price fixed by the Tribunal and the offer of the acquiring authority against which appeal was made.

During the 12 months ending on 31st May, 1951, the ratio between the amount offered by the acquiring authority and the amount awarded by the Lands Tribunal was 1::1.379. I should emphasise that this is an average figure and that the amount awarded in each case necessarily depends upon the particular circumstances of that case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made, and what action taken, in the utilisation of United Kingdom sulphur resources.

United Kingdom sulphur resources such as anhydrite and public gas supplies are already used. A start is about to be made on projects which, in due course, will treble production of sulphuric acid from anhydrite and both the coal and steel industries are studying projects for the further recovery of sulphur from coke oven gases. Equipment is also to be installed to recover sulphur from the refinery gases at the oil refinery plants which are being constructed in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he now proposes to introduce schemes for the salvaging of tins, bottles and other food containers which are now in short supply.

I appreciate the importance of salvaging food containers, including tins and bottles, and both local authorities and private undertakings are doing excellent work in this field. The position is being watched and, if necessary, we shall not hesitate to take further measures, but I am not satisfied that these would be useful now.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to make plain to justices of the peace in what circumstances and in what manner their power to remand in custody should and should not be exercised.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton) on 21st June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement with regard to the riots which occurred in Jamaica on 18th and 19th June in which a number of people were injured.

There have been no riots. Some disorder has occurred at meetings connected with the forthcoming Municipal elections. On the 18th June, a few stones were thrown by hooligans at two meetings in Kingston and at about 11 p.m. the police used tear smoke to prevent a clash between some 1,500 supporters of two political parties. Five persons received slight injuries. Proceedings for assault have been taken against four others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, following the recent judgment by the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, he will make a statement on the position regarding the aircraft detained in Hong Kong; and whether he has considered the bearing on the matter of the United Nations General Assembly's resolution of 18th May, recommending an embargo on the sending of materials of strategic value to China.

The decision of the Hong Kong Court of first instance that the legal title to forty of these aircraft lies with the Central People's Government is subject to appeal, and the aircraft will be detained in Hong Kong until the appeal is decided. An action in regard to the other thirty-one aircraft which are detained there has not yet been heard. It is therefore unnecessary at this stage to consider the application to these aircraft of the United Nations resolution.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present position with regard to the control of the manufacture of veterinary therapeutic substances and the prescribing of standards and tests of purity for such substances.

A draft order on this subject was circulated last year to the interests concerned for their comments. A number of amendments were suggested and a revised draft order was subsequently prepared. I expect to receive final comments on the revised draft within the next few weeks, and I hope that it will then be possible to proceed with the making of the Order.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has considered a memorandum which has been sent to him from the Chairman of the Milk Marketing Board proposing the reinstatement of the pre-war marketing powers of the Board; and if he will make a statement.

I have received this memorandum, and it is being carefully considered. As, however, its proposals affect many aspects of the Government's milk policy, it is unlikely that an early decision can be taken on the issues involved.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning (1) to give lists as at a convenient date in 1945 and as at the latest convenient date of the parishes in the Brixworth and Kettering rural districts having sewers;(2) to give lists as at the last convenient date of the parishes in the Brix-worth and Kettering rural districts which have and of those which have not a piped water supply.

I am asking the local authorities for this information which I will send to my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether under his regulations British citizens returning to this country from employment abroad are permitted to bring in their used cars free of duty.

Whatever his nationality, an overseas resident changing his residence to this country may, as a concession, import a car free of Customs charges, provided that it has been in his use and ownership abroad for at least two years and is for his personal use in this country.