asked the Minister of Labour how many working days were lost through industrial disputes officially notified during the five years ended December, 1950, and December, 1923, respectfully; and how many of these days were lost during the same periods in the industries now nationalised.

The number of working days lost in stoppages of work arising from industrial disputes reported during the five years ended December, 1950, was about 9,730,000, and the number during the five years ended December, 1923, was about 178 million. In those industries which had been nationalised up to the end of 1950, the number of working days lost was about 3,770,000 during the five years ended December, 1950, and about 105 million during the five years ended December, 1923.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these figures, which show that the lost time in the nationalised industries is about one twenty-eighth of what it was, will be received with despair by those doubtful elements who continually belittle the post-war recovery of this country?

Would the Minister now give us a fairer comparison, which is the number of strikes and days lost in the nationalised industries in the five years since the war, as against the number of days lost in the industries still under private enterprise?

If the right hon. Gentleman would care to put down a Question I should be very pleased to answer it. But the fact remains that there are fewer strikes in those industries which are now nationalised than there were when they were under private enterprise.

Yes, but is not one of the reasons why the right hon. Gentleman did not arm himself with the necessary figures to answer my right hon. Friend's supplementary question the fact that he knew that the record of the nationalised industries since the war would be shown up very badly?

No, Sir. I armed myself with the figures required to answer the Question on the Order Paper.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, although there are some discontents in the nationalised industries, the men have for long years given the most devoted and loyal service to the industries, and will continue to do so to make them a success?

As the disputes in the nationalised industries today are notorious, and need no figures to prove their existence, will the right hon. Gentleman say how many industries were nationalised in 1923?

Unfortunately, we had not the right kind of Government in those days.

How many of the people who were running strikes between 1918 and 1923 have now got soft jobs in the nationalised industries?

If the hon. Gentleman cares to put that question down I shall be very glad to answer it.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he has taken to encourage the staggering of holidays this year.

Having regard to the activities of the British Travel and Holidays Association and others concerned, it was decided that my Department should no longer itself undertake special publicity campaigns on the subject, and it has not done so this year or last year.

As it is the policy to continue the staggering of holidays, has the right hon. Gentleman asked the Minister of Transport to see that adequate travelling facilities are available for those who take their holidays in June?

The British Travel and Holidays Association have, in fact, been doing that work, and have made representations to my right hon. Friend on those lines. If the hon. Lady would like me to ask the Association to send her a copy of their report, she will see all that information contained in the report.

In view of the fact that the number of people entitled to holidays has increased so greatly since the war, would it not be advantageous to the seaside resorts who have promised to reduce their prices if the number of people going there could be staggered from May to September? Is my right hon. Friend aware that many people are unable to go to these resorts, not only because of the price but because the places are crowded, and ought not something to be done to give these people a better chance?

I think that is quite right. We all like the staggering of holidays, but we must respect the wishes of people who like to go in the summer.

Is it not the case that no real progress is likely to be made in this matter until the apparently insoluble problem of staggering school holidays is settled?

In addition to that there is the problem of the fixed Bank Holiday.

Would the right hon. Gentleman stagger the miners by arranging for a fortnight's holiday for them?

The hon. Gentleman will see that he is a little late if he reads the report from the mineworkers' conference.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an assurance that new scales of pay for factory inspectors will give women factory inspectors equal percentage increases and not lower percentage increases, as was the case in 1946, which made the women's position compared with men worse than the pre-war scale.

The claim for new scales of pay for factory inspectors is under discussion with the staff association, and I am unable to say at this stage how the new scales when settled will be found to compare with the old in terms of percentages.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that on the last occasion an award was made the gap between women's salaries and men's salaries was widened; and will he see that on this occasion women benefit equally with men? Otherwise, there will be trouble.

There would be even greater trouble if the Minister of Labour interfered with free voluntary negotiations between those employed and the employers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the strength of the factory inspectorate is 40 below establishment, while the number of factories has increased from 173,000 to 208,000? In those circumstances, ought he not to grasp every opportunity of encouraging people to join this service?

I am aware that the factory inspectorate is under strength. We, are filling the gap as rapidly as possible.

On this matter, would the Minister have a word with the Treasury. who appear to be the chief offenders? Will he please bear that in mind?

The hon. Lady is asking me to do something that I would not dream of doing in free negotiation. The associations representing those employed and the employers on the Whitley Council must be left to settle their own problems. It is not for us to interfere.

But the right hon. Gentleman is the employer.

Is the Minister not aware that, being the employer of these people, he is responsible for the instructions given to one side of the Whitley Council?

I am well aware of that fact. None the less, the Whitley Council machinery is quite adequate to deal with a problem of this kind.

asked the Minister of Education (1) what type of meatless dinners are provided in schools; and how many of these are of the type consisting of wholemeal bread sandwiches, with a filling of butter, cheese. and fresh green vegetable, and accompanied by a drink of milk:

(2) how many school children, on an average, have dinner provided at school; and of these meals how many are meatless in type.

Subject to the general requirement that the school dinner shall be well balanced nutritionally and designed as the main meal of the day, the dietaries used are a matter for the discretion of the local education authorities and their expert advisers, who give very careful consideration to the children's nutritional requirements. I cannot, therefore say how many of the 2,600,000 dinners served daily correspond with my hon. Friend's description, but of necessity a proportion of the meals are based on such foods as cheese rather than meat, and the use of uncooked green vegetables is steadily increasing.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the type of meal that I have described in this Question was first offered to school children in Derbyshire as their main meal before the war, and not in Oslo as is sometimes thought, and is considered by nutritional experts to be better than the average orthodox meal? In view of the fact that some children do not like meat and find difficulty in eating it, will he consider circularising the local authorities on this point and offering them an alternative?

The advice I have received is contrary to my hon. Friend's suggestion. At present there is a meat allowance for school dinners sufficient to serve meat four days out of five, and we have found that this is the most satisfactory meal and the one most desired by the majority of girls and boys attending school.

asked the Minister of Education in what way it is intended that the school meals service will be limited.

There is no intention to limit the school meals service. As my hon. Friend knows, building to extend the service in existing schools was stopped in the autumn of 1949. The effect of the defence programme is that the resumption of building for this purpose will have to be postponed.

If there is no intention of limiting school meals, why did my hon. Friend say, last Thursday, that they were to be limited?

I did not say that. I said on Thursday last that there would be a postponement of the increases which we had envisaged. We regret the postponement, but the fact is it will take a longer time to reach the capital expenditure which we would have put in our programme.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind, however, that without extensions and without cooking it is possible to offer quite substantially good meals?

Does the Minister's reply cover temporary structures which have been approved for the provision of dining rooms, or does he mean only permanent structures?

If the work is necessary to extend an existing building it will not be reduced, and adequate dining facilities will be part of every new school to be constructed or at present under construction. That is as far as I can go.

Is it not a fact that the school meals' service has been limited recently owing to the increase in cost, with the consequence that a number of children are now unable to pay for the meals?

No, Sir, I would not admit that.

As the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Morley), has drafted a Question that the hon. Gentleman has failed to understand, is it not desirable that both of them should have a course in English?

I am quite willing to take on the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Education when he expects that school meals will be provided at Bronington V.P. school.

Acceptable arrangements for the provision of meals at Bronington Church of England School have been proposed by the local education authority for Flintshire. The. arrangements are, however, linked with proposals to improve the sanitary accommodation at the school, and part of the cost of these proposals will have to be borne by the school managers if the school is to be a voluntary aided school, as they wish. So far, the managers have not been able to satisfy my right hon. Friend that they have sufficient financial resources to sustain voluntary aided status.

Is my hon. Friend aware that discussions on this matter have been going on since 1949, and does he not think that with a little good sense and good will on both sides the matter might be brought to a conclusion?

Yes, Sir. We last got in touch with the managers on 14th June last, and we are hoping for a reply very quickly.

asked the Minister of Education (1) what estimate he has received from the Harlow Development Corporation of the number which the school population is expected to reach in the next five years;

(2) what steps are being taken to provide for the additional school population of the new town at Harlow; and what form does he envisage the improvisation in school organisation will take referred to in a letter from his Department to the hon. Member for Epping, dated 9th June.

According to statistics provided by the Harlow Development Corporation the number of children from 5 to 15 years of age is expected to rise from 275 in December, 1951, to about 2,000 in December, 1954. A new temporary primary school for 200 children has already been opened, a permanent primary school for 560 children is under construction and a secondary school for 960 is to be started in this year's building programme. The building programme for 1952–53 has not yet been settled, but the needs of Harlow will be taken into account. Improvisation would take the form of using for junior pupils accommodation intended for seniors and vice versaas immediate needs required.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary give an assurance that the improvisation will in no way take the form of increasing the size of classes to a point where education becomes ineffective, and will he say why, if he now has these figures, I received a letter from his secretary, dated 9th June, implying that the Ministry did not know how many children were involved?

We know now. As regards the size of classes, naturally my right hon. Friend and myself are determined to do all we can to prevent any increase in their size.

Was it not now rather late to find out how many children there are, if these figures were available before?

No. Sir.

asked the Minister of Education how many children, during the last convenient year, have been reported by local education authorities under Section 5 of the Education Act, 1944, as incapable of receiving education at school.

The number of children reported by local education authorities in 1950 under Section 57 of the Education Act, 1944, as incapable of receiving education at school, was 3,286.

Can my hon. Friend say whether these figures bear any relation to the alternative facilities available for children under the health authorities, and whether these children can be kept in schools where nothing else can be done for them?

I think that the relationship is perfectly adequate.

asked the Minister of Education if, in view of the fact that the premises of Halstead Place and Kevington, St. Mary Cray, both in Kent, are deteriorating he will state what use is to be made of these premises by his Department.

Kevington House has already been taken into use as a primary school. I am at present considering with the local education authority the possibility of including in the building programme for 1952–53 the work of adapting Halstead Place as a boarding special school for educationally sub-normal boys.

Is the Minister aware that since the Government took over these beautiful buildings they are rapidly deteriorating, causing loss to the taxpayer and sorrow and indignation to all the inhabitants of the district? It is an absolute disgrace.

My information is that Kevington House has been put in full repair and is a very adequate building for a primary school. Halstead Place is to be adapted, and when the adaptation is complete perhaps the building itself will have been enhanced.

It is falling to pieces.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when the adaptation of Halstead Place will be effected?

I cannot give that information at present.

asked the Minister of Education how many of the 8,000 places available for women students at the two-year training colleges have not yet been filled.

asked the Minister of Education what number of women candidates are required for 1951 for the two-year training colleges; and whether present applications are as yet sufficient to fill that number this autumn.

The general training colleges are likely to have room for the admission this autumn of very nearly 8,000 women students. Up to 1st July sufficient applicants had been selected to fill about 7,150 of these places, leaving nearly 850 still to be filled.

In view of the great shortage of women teachers in the profession, can my hon. Friend say what action his Department have taken to train more girls? Would not the application of the principle of equal pay be of assistance in this matter?

I can give, very briefly, the steps we are taking. There is the all important one of the increase in grants for training college students by bringing the income scale for students' contributions into line with that used for State scholarships. We have been attempting to persuade children to enter the teaching profession through the Press and the B. B. C. Also, the Ministry of Labour have for some time been giving prominence to the opportunities for training teachers, and some training colleges have been making their own efforts.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us the exact relationship, if they are not quite the same, between the places available in the training colleges mentioned in the hon. Member's Question and the places required to fulfil the educational programme in my Question? Are there enough places available to fulfil the required educational programme?

If all the places I mentioned in answer to the first Question ate filled, after allowing for recruitment from the men's colleges and universities, we expect to increase the total number of teachers at the rate of some 4,000 a year and that would meet, we hope. the 1950 staffing standards.

Can the Minister tell us whether the main trouble is the lack of applicants or the lack of suitable applicants'? Is it that the standard of application has fallen or that there is an absolute deficiency in the numbers?

It is, I think, three years ago since there was a general complaint that there was too large a pool of students waiting to get into these training colleges. We have so increased the accommodation of the colleges that that pool no longer exists, but we are still left with a gap to fill of some 850 between now and the beginning of the next Michaelmas term.

Will my hon. Friend give an assurance that there will be no reduction of the standard required of entrants in his efforts to fill these places?

I can certainly give that assurance.

asked the Minister of Education, for the last scholastic year, what proportion of boys and girls, respectively, left the grammar schools before completing the full course up to the age of 17 or 18.

In the educational year 1949–50 64.5 per cent. of the boys and 66.7 per cent. of the girls leaving grant-aided grammar schools were under 17. The comparable percentages of those leaving before 18 were 79.3 and 83.1 respectively.

In view of the great need for administrators, technologists and scientists what is my hon. Friend's Department doing to persuade a greater proportion of boys and girls to stay on to the age of 17 or 18 in the grammar schools?

My right hon. Friend and I are very anxious that everything should be done to increase the length of the school life in the grammar schools. We are not in favour of legislation in regard to this, but we are in favour of attempting to persuade the local authorities, governing bodies and headmasters, to do everything they can to persuade parents that it is invaluable for those having a grammar school education to complete the full course up to 18 years of age.

Does my right hon. Friend think that the adoption of more comprehensive schools would lead to more children staying at school beyond the age of 15?

That is an experiment which will have to be tried over a number of years before I can answer that question. The picture is perhaps not as black as I have suggested, because the total number of pupils at maintained grammar schools in 1950 at the age of 18 was 14,000 boys and 13,000 girls, compared with 7,000 boys and 6,000 girls in 1938.

Will the Minister consider the question in regard to the answer he gave whereby boys and girls in grammar schools are now leaving before they are 17. because local authorities find that persuasion is now insufficient and are losing pupils even before they are 16?

If my hon. Friend has any suggestions to make to us, we shall gladly listen to them.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will give details of the capital programme for education in 1951 and 1952; and of the extent of the proposed reduction in university building.

On the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave the hon. Members for Devizes (Mr. Hollis) and the hon. and gallant Member for Horn-castle (Commander Maitland) on 28th June. The second part of the Question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Could the Minister state whether there will be a reduction in this building programme or not?

The figure I have already given to the House for the investment programme for education for 1950 is £45.3 million; that was the actual expenditure. The expenditure approved for 1951 is £53 million and, for 1952, £57.5 million. There is no question of a cut in certain parts of the programme. The programme will be increased, but it will not be increased as fast as we had hoped some months ago.

Was not the Chancellor's announcement made since these figures were approved?

No, Sir. These are the actual figures which have been approved for 1951 and 1952.

asked the Minister of Education the number of schools now under construction in Wales for each of the following categories, namely, primary, secondary modern, secondary grammar and special for physically handicapped children.

Forty-eight new primary schools; four secondary-modern schools; three secondary-grammar schools and five other secondary schools are now under construction in Wales. Major extensions to four existing primary schools, five secondary-grammar schools and three other secondary schools are also under construction. No special school for physically handicapped children is included in current building programmes in Wales.

While thanking my hon. Friend for his most encouraging reply to the first part of the Question, may I ask if he is aware that there are special claims for the physically handicapped children, and will he see that they do not suffer unduly through the cuts proposed in the investment programme?

Yes, Sir; my right hon. Friend and I are doing everything in our power to be as generous as possible in providing for the handicapped child.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that if an area as large as Wales does not provide its own schools for severely physically handicapped children they inevitably seek schools elsewhere? As these schools are already overcrowded, will he do what he can to make each area provide its own?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Education the number of technical schools provided in Wales since 1945; the number for which plans have been approved; and the number now under construction.

No new technical college has been completed in Wales since 1945, but five are under construction. Major extensions to four colleges have been completed since 1945 and three extension projects are under construction.

Is my hon. Friend aware that for Wales this means that more will be provided than in the entire years between the wars, and that his answer will be much appreciated?

asked the Minister of Education what further report he has received from the Joint Education Committee for Wales concerning the provision of school accommodation for spastic children; and if he will make a statement.

This question was one of several discussed by officers of the Ministry and the Special Services Sub-Committee of the Welsh Joint Education Committee last April. It was suggested that the building of a school for physically handicapped children, including spastics, should start in 1952–3My right hon. Friend is now waiting for a definite proposal to build such a school.

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that these children will not suffer as a result of the proposed cuts in the investment programme?

Yes, Sir.

Is my hon. Friend nevertheless aware of the very considerable feeling that exists on this side of the House about this problem, and will he do all he can to solve the problem?

We recognise the general shortage of special schools, particularly in Wales, and, as I have already said, we are determined to do everything possible to speed up their provision.

Is the hon. Gentleman taking any steps to provide accommodation for spastic Ministers?

Yes, Sir, and I would propose making the hon. Gentleman the principal in charge.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent the educational needs of deaf children are being met by the provision of pre-school clinics; and how many clinics are in operation.

The educational needs of deaf children are met in special schools, not in clinics. Children not yet attending school, who are suspected of suffering from some hearing defect, are referred to clinics provided by or in conjunction with the school health service in order to ascertain whether they are in need of special educational treatment.

Does the hon. Gentleman consider that the educational facilities for deaf children are entirely adequate?

No, Sir, I do not.

asked the Minister of Education what representations he has received from the Willesden Borough Council with regard to the Gordon Memorial Church of England School, Cambridge Road, Kilburn, N.W.6; if he is aware that the managers have decided to close the school at the end of the current term, thereby waiving the statutory notice under Section 14 of the Education Act, 1944; and, in view of the need in the area for this school, if he will give an undertaking that the school will be reopened next term as usual.

Yes, Sir, my right hon. Friend has been notified of the managers' intention to discontinue this school and is aware of the representations made to the local education authority by the Willesden Borough Council. He has asked the local education authority whether they propose to conduct the school as if it were a county school for the unexpired period of the two years' notice, as they are entitled to do under Section 14 (3) of the Education Act, 1944, or whether they would propose to make alternative arrangements for the pupils.

asked the Minister of Education why, in spite of local objections and following a statement of disapproval by the local planning authority, Coombe Hall, East Grinstead, has been approved for use by the London County Council as a hostel and school for maladjusted children without any further contact or a public inquiry being held.

My right hon. Friend has been in consultation with his right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Planning. While it would have been more usual for discussions to have taken place with the local planning authority about their objections, and it is regretted that this was not done, the hon. Member may rest assured that very full consideration was given to all the objections before consent was given to the proposal.

Does the Minister appreciate that we do not wish to be unco-operative, as he will know from his experience in the starting of a similar school in the neighbourhood, but there is very strong feeling in this district owing to an unfortunate experience not long ago? Bulldozing tactics of this sort will start any school off on a poor wicket vis-a-visits neighbours.

I am very sorry, as I have said.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement as to the payment of salaries to teachers called-up for training with the reserve and auxiliary Forces for the period of their absence.

The Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection of Civil Interests) Bill, which is at present before the House, deals with the salary and superannuation position of teachers who are called-up for three months, or longer, under the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Training) Act, 1951.

The pay and leave arrangements for teachers who are called-up for 15 days' training as Class Z or Class G reservists are within the discretion of employing authorities. There is no reason, so far as I am concerned why local education authorities should not allow their teachers special leave with pay for either the whole, or part, of the 15 days, whether it falls in term time or holiday time, and any expenditure so incurred would be recognised for Exchequer grant.

Is my hon. Friend communicating with local education authorities along those lines?

No general guidance has been issued to local education authorities, but some authorities have applied to my right hon. Friend for advice, and the advice that they have received is along the lines which I have indicated.

Will the Minister tell local authorities about the very welcome statement that he has just made?

I think that the publicity given to the answer will certainly get to them.

Is the position of teachers in direct-grant schools safeguarded?

I should like to look into that point.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that the decision of the Middlesex County Council to close the Hornsey County School is strongly opposed by the parents of the pupils now at the school; that if the decision is upheld it will seriously deplete the number of grammar school places in Tottenham and Harringay; and if, in consequence of the serious consequences of the proposal, he will withhold consent until he has held an inquiry.

The Middlesex Local Education Authority have submitted to my right hon. Friend a proposal to cease to maintain the Hornsey County School and they issued the necessary public notices on 18th May. Objections to the proposal have been received and will be carefully considered before a decision is reached. It would not be proper for me to express any opinion about the proposal until the period for the publication of the notices has expired.

In view of the exceptional nature of the step which the County Council proposed to take, would my hon. Friend ensure that there will be adequate inquiry, even to the extent of receiving a deputation, if led by the Member of Parliament for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) and myself?

I am not in a position to say that a local inquiry must be held. We cannot make such a decision until the expiry of the notices on 18th August.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a petition signed by more than 10,000 people has been forwarded to the Minister, protesting against this action? In view of that fact, is not the Minister at least under a moral obligation at this stage to give a promise to hold an inquiry?

We are bound by the notices, which run until 18th August. My right hon. Friend cannot at the moment give a decision because he is bound by the fact that 18th August is the expiry date.

The Minister has mentioned the decision of the local education committee. Is he aware that in this case the majority opinion on the local education committee is merely an automatic echo of the opinion on the Middlesex County Council? Will he have regard to that fact in deciding whether to hold a local inquiry?

Yes, Sir. Due attention will be paid to representations on both sides.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has considered the proposals from the London County Council to provide 850 extra places at Holloway secondary school at a cost of £370,000, or £435 per place, and 850 extra places at Parliament Hill secondary school at a cost of £395,000, or £465 per place; and whether he has yet reached his decision on these proposals.

These schemes are still being considered and will have to be discussed further with the London County Council. I do not, however, accept the figures of cost per place stated in the Question.

Is the Minister aware that the only way in which the figures of cost per place can be made to look more favourable is by including in the sum the 510 pupils who are already in each of these existing school? Calculation that way simply means that we are writing off the existing cost of the buildings as nil?

Yes. Sir, I am quite aware of that. The question of reducing the cost of these jobs is being taken up at present with the authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make, or publish, a statement on the various schemes by which local education authorities are proposing to pay the special allowances for teachers recommended in the Burnham Award.

No. Sir. This matter is one for decision by individual local education authorities within the broad rules laid down in the Burnham Reports, and my right hon. Friend considers that it would be premature for him to make inquiries at this stage about their intentions.

I am perfectly well aware of that, but it is not an answer to my Question. I am aware that this is a matter for the local education authorities, but a new principle of decision of great importance rests upon it. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that at least three local education authorities have said that they would be glad to know how other education authorities are dealing with this problem, so that they can take tips from them? I am not asking the Minister to interfere but to make available information, so that one local education authority can know what another is doing.

Education authorities have their own associations. They are constantly exchanging information at their conferences and executive meetings, and through their journal called "Education." There is no question of their failing to get tips from each other.

asked the Minister of Education whether it is the policy of his Department that comprehensive schools be organised on a curriculum pattern or on an ability pattern.

My right hon. Friend does not attempt to lay down the basis on which the curricula of grant-aided schools should be drawn up. This is a matter for the authorities of the individual school, subject only to the overriding consideration, laid down in the Act, that the pupils shall be educated according to their different ages, abilities and aptitudes.

Would it not be very much better if the Socialist Party did not undertake propaganda in favour of the principle of the comprehensive school until they had found out how the comprehensive school will work?

I am not quite sure what is in the hon. Gentleman's mind. Any political party or any organisation interested in education has a perfect right to express its views. If the hon. Gentleman is referring to a pamphlet called "A Policy for Secondary Education," there are very many suggestions in it but I think that there is very little that is dogmatic in its pages.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the most noted comprehensive school in this country is Eton, and that Rugby is also a comprehensive school? Would he not agree that what is good for the scholars at Eton and Rugby is also good for the ordinary, normal scholars throughout the country?

Not having been to Eton myself, I am not quite sure of the answer to that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to stop unfair trade practices among Japanese manufacturers and exporters, in respect of home pottery production and marketing.

As my hon. Friend was informed in reply to his Questions on 23rd November and 27th February last, there is now legal protection in Japan against misuse or copying of designs and trade marks, and in one case the Japanese firm has already stopped making the goods in question. The investigations into another case, referred to in the reply of 27th February, have now been settled satisfactorily. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary wrote to my hon. Friend about this on 23rd May.

Is my hon. Friend aware that I received a reply from the Board of Trade on 23rd May saying that the matter was being followed up with the Japanese Minister of Trade and Industry? Is he in a position to give me any further information about that?

I thought that the latter part of my answer gave the necessary information.

Is the Minister aware that pirated designs for textiles in considerable number are exported to markets that Britain has been fulfilling? Will he take this matter up very vigorously?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that merchants are importing foreign cloth which they can sell at a higher price than British cloth although it is of inferior quality; and whether he will arrange for a check on quality by issuing an import licence for each consignment.

In accordance with His Majesty's Government's trade liberalisation policy, most cloth (other than silk or cashmere cloth), in common with many other classes of goods, can now be imported under open general licence from many countries. I would remind my hon. Friend that import restrictions in general can be justified only if they are required to safeguard our balance of payments, and we are not prepared to reintroduce import licensing of individual consignments for the purpose which he has in mind.

As there appears to be no contradiction of the facts outlined in my Question and there appears to be a prima faciecase of discrimination against British cloth manufacturers, would my hon. Friend receive a deputation on the question.

Yes, Sir, I would.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of a ton of hinder twine in 1939, 1945 and at the last convenient date.

The price of binder twine was £41 10s. per ton in 1939 and £83 per ton in 1945. The price for the current season to 30th September. 1951, is £269 per ton.

To what does the Minister attribute this astonishing rise in price? Does he realise that a ton of binder twine, which is about what is used on 1,000 acres of ordinary Eastern counties arable land, costs more than the amount paid to an agricultural worker for one year?

Yes. Sir. The principle rise is in the raw materials, which cost £17 per ton in 1939 and £45 per ton in 1945 and now costs £243 per ton.

Am I right in assuming that binder twine is made of sisal? If it is, is it not possible for some substitute material to be found to meet this appalling problem?

Sisal is the principal component in binder twine.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the large profits made by tobacco companies, he will now introduce price control for tobacco and cigarettes.

Except in the case of some pipe tobaccos, there have been no changes since well before the war in the retail prices of tobacco and cigarettes apart from increases following changes in the tobacco duties. At present, therefore, I do not consider it necessary to impose a statutory price control.

Is my hon. Friend aware that statements are now being made that it is proposed to increase the price of cigarettes and pipe tobacco? Is he also aware that there is very grave concern throughout the country about it, and will he see that there is no increase?

I will certainly consider the matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that if the tobacco companies took a halfpenny off the price of a packet of cigarettes they would turn all their profits to losses?

Can we have a clear assurance from my hon. Friend that his reply was not intended to give the slightest encouragement to the industry, which is making exceptionally high profits, to increase the prices at which they are already doing so well?

I gave no encouragement in any shape or form.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has yet received a report from the Agricuitural Land Commission regarding farm boundary adjustments in the Yetminster area of Dorset; and whether they have recommended that a boundary adjustment scheme should be introduced.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can now make a statement with regard to the discontinuance of allocating feedingstuffs for poultry on the 1939 basis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the increasing dissatisfaction and injustice caused by the retention of the 1939 position as the basis for the allocation of poultry feedingstuffs; and if he is now prepared to revise the arrangements so as to bring them more into line with present day needs.

No, Sir, I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Dorset, North (Mr. Crouch), on 8th February last.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there have been great changes in occupation since 1939 and that a great number of the new occupiers of agricultural holdings are ex-Service men who are anxious to go in for egg production? if the hon. Gentleman would consult the Minister of Food he would find that his right hon. Friend would very much appreciate an increased supply of eggs.

We recognise that, but the difficulty is to devise ways of avoiding hardship to many old-established producers. We have consulted the Ministry's advisory committee about this on many occasions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why he ordered that alt butter had to be marked with the country of origin; and what consideration made him cancel the order.

The Order in Council providing for the marking of butter was made in 1932 under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926. It was suspended during the war and the suspension will continue until May, 1952. If difficulties connected with printing and supplies of wrapping paper had not occurred, the Order would have come into force again in May this year.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that recently grocers and butter salesmen were told to mark their wrappings with the country of origin, but that no sooner had the order gone out than it was cancelled? A number of firms were put to great expense. What happened before the war has nothing to do with what happens now, because before the war we could buy buttter from any country we liked.

I have no information about instructions having been issued. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will send me particulars I will look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give an assurance that as a general rule he will not give clearance to local authorities or other Government Departments intending to acquire agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes without first consulting the owner of the land concerned.

No, Sir. My Department is consulted in these matters in order that the agricultural implications of particular proposals may be fully studied by my officers from the point of view of the broad national interest. My right hon. Friend does not think it would be appropriate at this stage to seek the views of the owners of the land, who will of course have ample opportunities of making their views known before any land is actually acquired.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that that answer is most unsatisfactory, and that however wise his officials may be they cannot be arriving at a decision with the full evidence unless they know the plans of the owner and perhaps those of the occupier of the piece of land? Will he ask his right hon. Friend to look into this again in the light of that submission?

I will certainly bring to the notice of my right hon. Friend the representation which has been made, but the Ministry of Agriculture must look at this from the broad national interest rather than the interest of the owners.

Will the hon. Member consult his colleagues to see if the Ministry could at least inform the owner that it is their intention to take over the land?

When there is intention to acquire, notice will, of course, be served upon the owner.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that in the past a very large amount of land has been wasted and that unnecessary expense has been incurred because Departments have not consulted those who have had long experience in these matters and whose advice would have been of great value?

Will not the hon. Gentleman agree that "the broad national interest," as he put it, cannot possibly be served unless the official making the decision knows all the factors concerned in the case and that the plans of the owner must be an important factor?

I have already said that I will bring that aspect of the matter to the notice of my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the representations made to him by the National Farmers' Union he will reconsider his decision not to proceed with the preparation of film strips showing the precautions to be taken in preventing outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.

This suggestion has been carefully considered, but I am advised that the subject is not very suitable for treatment by means of film strips. Adequate publicity has been and will be given to this matter in other ways.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the evidence that anthrax has been introduced into this country by raw bone meal produced from sun-dried bones, he will stop its importation.

No, Sir. To prohibit the importation of raw bone meal would mean depriving farmers of considerable quantities of an important organic fertiliser and I do not think the risk of disease justifies this in present circumstances.