asked the Minister of Education how the proposed reduction in the cost of school meals will be carried out; what reduction will be made in the cost of meals per child affected per year; and what effect this will have on the health of schoolchildren.

No measure for reducing the cost of school meals is proposed other than the increase in the charge for dinners to 7d., which came into operation last April. Local education authorities co-operate closely with my Department in keeping costs as low as is compatible with efficiency and the maintenance of the quality of the meals.

asked the Minister of Education how many local authorities have provided facilities for the teaching of maladjusted children.

Thirty authorities maintain 11 special schools and 32 boarding homes. Authorities without facilities of their own place maladjusted pupils in special schools or hostels maintained by other local education authorities or voluntary bodies and in independent schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what discussions have taken place with the Indian Government to attempt to establish a common policy regarding trade with China; and what results have been achieved.

I have informed the Government of India of the measures to control United Kingdom exports to China announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade in his statement in the House on 19th June.On the assumption that the hon. Member has in mind trade in goods which were the subject of the United Nations Resolution of 18th May, may I say that the Government of India have informed the Secretary-General of the United Nations that such limited trade as India has with China has not generally involved these goods. They have stated that most of these goods are of a kind which are imported into India and that their re-export from India is prohibited, and that there is no export from India to China of indigenous articles falling within the Resolution.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to implement the recommendation in the Report of the Committee upon Weights and Measures that it shall be made legal to sell milk in one-third pint bottles.

I can assure my hon. Friend that this matter will be borne in mind when legislation is put forward to implement certain of the recommendations of the Weights and Measures Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the prices paid by the consumer for utility cotton, wool, and leather goods, respectively, is represented by raw materials; and, in view of the recent fall in world prices of these three commodities, when he anticipates being able to lower the prices for utility goods.

The percentage of the retail selling prices represented by the cost of raw materials varies considerably from item to item, and it is not possible to give an answer to the first part of the Question which would be applicable to the whole range of cotton, wool and leather goods respectively.As to the second part, so far as it relates to utility clothing, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in the debate on that subject on Tuesday last. In regard to utility cotton cloth and household textiles, I expect that, if prices of raw cotton remain at their present level or continue to fall, we shall be able to reduce manufacturers' maximum prices in the early autumn.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make a full statement, including all the detailed figures of production costs, and wholesale and retail profit margins, which caused him to sanction the recent substantial increases in the permitted maximum prices of utility footwear;(2) if he will cause a special investigation to be made by his Department into the excessive prices of children's footwear and clothing; and if he will publish the detailed results of such investigation.

I would refer my hon. Friend to what I said in the House last Tuesday about the effect of the new Orders on footwear prices. I would refer also to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Deptford (Mr. J. Cooper) last Tuesday, when I stated that the cost of leather to manufacturers has on an average increased by about 70 per cent, between May, 1950, and April, 1951, and that the cost of labour also went up during the same period.As regards a special investigation into the cost of children's clothing, I would refer to the reply given by my hon. and learned Friend on 7th June to the supplementary question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Itchen (Mr. Morley).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the fact that trade associations are insisting on their members selling their goods at the maximum prices authorised by Board of Trade Orders, and that this results in higher prices than are economically necessary and unnecessarily high profits, he will take steps in the interests of the consumers to reconsider the whole list of maximum prices.

I know of no case in which a trade association insists on its members selling their goods at the maximum prices permitted by Board of Trade Orders. On the contrary, I know of many cases where goods are sold below maximum prices. If, however, my hon. Friend has evidence that any trade association is acting in the way he describes, I shall be glad to consider it. As regards the last part of the Question, all our maximum price Orders are under constant review in the light of changing circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many licences have so far been issued under the provisions of Public Notice No. 425, dated July, 1950; and how many of such licences apply to the apparel trade, as regards articles of apparel for research to improve production of women's dresses and similar garments.

Since 1st October. 1950, 143 directions have been made, on recommendations from the Board of Trade, for remission of duty on goods imported under Section 11 of the Finance Act, 1950. Nine recommendations have been made in respect of women's shoes, and one in respect of swimwear and beachwear.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he proposes to take to implement the recommendation in the Report of the Committee on Cruelty to Wild Animals, that the use of the gin trap should be banned by law in this country and that he should approve for use only traps which will catch and kill animals without causing unnecessary suffering.

The recommendation is being considered in consultation with the interests mainly concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what reply he has sent to the representations of the Lincolnshire Pedigree Pig Breeders' Association which have been sent to him regarding the continued lack of protein for the purpose of stock feeding; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply sent to the Lincolnshire Pedigree Pig Breeders' Association. The problem of increasing the supplies of protein feedingstuffs, especially of animal protein, for pig feeding is receiving constant attention.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the cost of the houses being built for agricultural workers in connection with the experimental farm at High Mowthorpe, Yorkshire; and how this compares with the standard council house.

The contract price for this pair of houses is £3,550. This includes a sewage disposal system to meet the needs of three pairs of houses in all. The fact that these houses are a single pair built in an extremely isolated area means that no useful purpose would be served by comparing their cost with that of houses provided by local authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many county council smallholding authorities have completed the constitution of their new committees for dealing with smallholding business under Part IV of the Agriculture Act, 1947.

All county councils have made arrangements for the constitution of their smallholdings committees and my right hon. Friend has approved these arrangements. I understand that committees have been set up in all counties except one.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the rate at which agricultural land continues to be taken for urban development; and if he will give an assurance that the existing safeguards are adequate to prevent an undue quantity of good land from being lost for purposes of food production.

My right hon. Friend is, of course, aware of the continuing demands upon agricultural land for building and other forms of development. My Department is consulted on all such development proposals, and my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the present procedure provides every practicable means of ensuring that no good land is lost to food production where that can be avoided.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what form of appeal there is against decisions of agricultural executive committees.

In appropriate cases, as provided by the Agriculture Act, 1947, and the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1948, to an agricultural land tribunal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are being taken to reclaim the largely derelict 150,000 acres of Sedgmoor.

My right hon. Friend is considering whether or not to refer this area or part of it to the Agricultural Land Commission under Section 84 of the Agriculture Act, 1947

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he proposes to make an order extending the duration of the Agricultural Lime Scheme to 1st August, 1954.

The extension of this scheme is now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what reply he has received to his recent communication to the Essex County Council in regard to Tyler's Common, Upminster; and what further steps he proposes to take in the matter.

I understand that the county council is now giving further consideration to the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what capital expenditure has been approved by his Department during the past five years for the erection and equipment of heated glasshouses and cold stores, respectively.

I regret that the returns available do not distinguish glasshouses from other farm buildings. Since my Department became responsible for the matter they have supported applications for building licences to provide packing and grading facilities and cold or gas storage on farms for some 2,560,000 bushels of apples and pears at an estimated cost of just under £2½million. This figure is exclusive of the cost of the actual plant and machinery but includes the cost of installing that plant. Separate figures for fruit cold stores are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the increased Purchase Tax, announced in the Budget, will be charged to British subjects living abroad who import a car bought abroad before the Budget announcement; and whether he is aware of the sense of injustice felt by Army officers and others at the present ruling, of which he has been sent details by the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes.

Cars imported since the Budget are liable under the law to the increased rate of tax, and I cannot make exceptions in favour of British subjects returning to this country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what dates he met the representatives of the Speedway Control Board to discuss with them modifications in Entertainments Duty on speedway racing.

As my right hon. Friend informed my hon. Friend on 29th May, I saw a deputation representing the Speedway Control Board on 25th January. Officials of my Department had consultations with representatives of the Board on 15th June in connection with the preparation of the new Schedule to the Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rates of pay or allowances can be claimed by members of the 64 consumers' consultative councils set up in association with nationalised industry.

The Chairman of each of the area gas and electricity consultative councils receives £250 a year and the chairman of the Domestic Coal Consumers' Council receives £100 a year. The chairman of the Air Transport Advisory Council, which has also certain executive functions, receives 20 guineas, and members 15 guineas, a day for attendance at meeting. No other salaries are paid, but travelling and subsistence is allowed on the usual scales.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated total annual costs, including remuneration of members, likely to be incurred by the 64 consumers' consultative councils set up in association with nationalised industry.

About £55,000 of which £5,300 is provided by the Exchequer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures showing the gap between imports and exports of this country, together with an estimate of invisible exports to the same convenient date.

The latest figures are those for May, which show an excess of imports c.i.f. over exports f.o.b. (including re-exports) amounting to £97 million. This brings the excess for the first five months of this year to £404 million, as against £165 million for January-May, 1950.A detailed analysis of our balance of payments for the first half of this year will be published as a White Paper in October; no reliable estimates of net invisible earnings are yet available. Nevertheless, taking into account the movements on visible trade since the beginning of the year, there is little doubt that our overall balance of payments will show some deficit in the first half of 1951.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the intention of His Majesty's Government to extend and strengthen existing price controls; and if he will give the approximate date, or dates, upon which precise information as to the nature and extent of price control changes will be given.

The working of price controls continues to be closely watched by the Government. I hope that a statement on the subject will be made in the course of the present month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated cost of the additional Income Tax reliefs in respect of married men and children for 1951–52.

The hon. Lady will find this information on page 21, Table X in the Financial Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many years from now the cost of the full introduction of equal pay in all the public services would reach £25,000,000 a year.

£25,000,000 is the approximate cost of introducing equal pay in full at once. The length of time taken to reach this figure on some gradual basis would depend on the basis adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take on the recommendations made to him in Command Paper No. 8256 that, since discipline in the Borstal service has deteriorated, and absconding has increased, the policy of soft treatment is not a success, and consequently discipline in general requires tightening and punishments increasing.

I still have under consideration the recommendations made by the Committee on Punishments in Prisons and Borstal Institutions. I am not yet in a position to make a statement to the House as to the action I propose to take on these recommendations, but I hope to be able to do so in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the publication of Parts I and II of the report dealing with punishment in prisons and Borstal institutions, when Part III dealing with punishments in remand homes and approved schools is likely to be published.

Parts III and IV of the Report of the Committee on Punishments in Prisons, Borstals, Approved Schools and Remand Homes, dealing with approved schools and remand homes, were submitted some time after Parts I and II. They will be published as soon as possible, but I cannot yet give the probable date of publication.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the circumstances in which 18 abscondings recently occurred in eight days from the Borstal training institution at Hollesley Bay, near Ipswich.

I understand that this batch of abscondings involved 10 separate incidents, with no concerted purpose behind them, but I shall have fuller information when an inquiry which I am having made on the spot by a Borstal assistant commissioner is completed. On the general question of abscondings from Hollesley Bay Colony I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave on 14th December and 18th April last to the hon. Member for Eye (Mr. Granville).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date and in what place the Gov- ernment intends to hold full-scale exercises involving the services, Civil Defence and welfare organisations to deal with an imaginary atomic bomb explosion.

A number of useful small-scale exercises on the ground have been held and the scope of these will be extended as the Civil Defence organisation develops. There have also been several confidential large scale exercises taking the form of conferences attended by representatives of the various civil and military authorities. An exercise of this character, covering the London Civil Defence Region, is at the moment being held in Kensington.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers disqualified from holding a licence have applied to the courts during the last 12 months for which figures are available for removal of disqualifications imposed by the courts; and in how many cases were the licences restored.

During the 12 months ended on 31st March, 1951, 4,589 applications for removal of disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence were received, and 3,680 were successful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the papers which have been sent to him regarding Mr. A. H. Bettany; and whether, in view of the considerations of health involved in this case, he will consider the suitability of exercising the Royal Prerogative of mercy.

From time to time a large number of letters of complaint have been received from Mr. Bettany, the origin of his complaint being certain civil proceedings in which he was concerned before the war, and subsequent criminal proceedings taken against him in 1940 and 1943 for defamatory libels on judges. In June, 1949, he was also bound over to abstain from making further similar libels. His complaints have been carefully examined but have disclosed no ground for action, or for recommending the exercise of the Royal Prerogative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state how many persons with CD. signs on their cars have been summoned for traffic offences in the last 12 months.

No records are kept which would enable me to supply the information asked for.

asked the Minister of Health if he will exempt old age pensioners from paying for dentures and glasses,

No, and I cannot add to what was recently said on this subject during the passage of the National Health Service Act, 1951. I would remind the hon. Member that the Act empowers the National Assistance Board to help persons in need to meet these charges.

asked the Minister of Health what professional organisations of chiropodists he has now recognised; and how far membership of any particular organisation makes a chiropodist eligible for employment in the National Health Service.

I have not recognised any professional organisation as such, and no chiropodist can claim to be eligible for a post in the National Health Service simply by virtue of membership of a particular organisation. To be eligible, a new entrant must not only have passed the appropriate examinations but should also have received suitable training. This principle applies to new entrants to the other medical auxiliary services in the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received from members of the Joint Council of Chiropodists with regard to the recommendations contained in the Cope Report; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received representations suggesting that the recommendations of the Cope Committee's Report on chiropodists will endanger the livelihood of members of this organisation because their qualifications were not acceptable to the Committee. I have explained that the recommendations are concerned solely with employment in the National Health Service, and do not affect practice elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Health what supplies of the drug A.C.T.H. and cortisone are being imported from the United States of America; and what is the cost.

Four thousand five hundred grammes of cortisone and 3,600 grammes of A.C.T.H. were imported by the Department from the American manufacturers during the first six months of 1951. My right hon. Friend does not think it would be in the public interest to publish the prices paid.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken to pro duce the drugs A.C.T.H. and cortisone in this country.

Production of A.C.T.H. has already started in this country and my right hon. Friend hopes that the first delivery against contracts placed by my Department will shortly be accepted. Output is at present limited by availability of animal pituitary glands. Production of cortisone is not yet possible owing to shortage of the essential raw material, ox bile. I must emphasise that the use of both drugs is still experimental.

asked the Minister of Health how far it is the policy of his Department to encourage women to have their babies in hospitals as opposed to having them at home.

It is my right hon. Friend's policy that women shall have their babies in hospitals only if there are adequate medical or social reasons for not having them at home.

asked the Minister of Health the number of gardeners employed on 1st June by the Leeds Regional Hospital Board at their headquarters at the Queen Hotel, Harro-gate; and how many prizes has the Board won at flower and horticultural shows this year.

The answer to both parts of the Question is one.

asked the Minister of Health whether the inquiries into the claims of curing cancer proposed by Mr. Evans last year have been completed; and when he expects to be able to make a report on this matter.

I am unable to add to the reply my right hon. Friend gave on the 31st May to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross).

asked the Minister of Health why dental practitioners are compelled to insert a national registration identity number on all his Department's forms; and if he will give instructions that this practice may be discontinued.

No. It is necessary to be able to identify beyond all doubt the patient to whom the forms relate and the name and address alone are not a sufficient means of identification.

asked the Minister of Health why there has been such long delay in providing Mrs. Green, 148, Goddington Lane, Orpington, with the hearing aid for which she applied in 1948, particulars of which have been sent him; and, in view of the fact that her condition is steadily deteriorating, if he will take steps to expedite the delivery of her aid.

The delay has been due to excess of demand over supply. I am informed that there are no grounds for giving priority to this patient but that the hospital authorities hope to be able to supply her within a few weeks.

asked the Minister of Health how many medical practitioners were under contract to executive councils in the United Kingdom on 1st April, 1951.

At 1st January, 1951, the latest date for which figures are available, there were in England and Wales 17,926 principals. For information relating to Scotland, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will advise regional hospital boards that they should not apply, for the time being, the requirements of the Cope Report as regards the qualifications of medical auxiliaries already in their employ; and whether he will provide that the machinery of registration shall include arrangements for examining the qualifications of persons who are not qualified in the manner recommended by the report.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes"; on the second part, the precise form of the machinery for registration has yet to be determined, but consideration will be given to the inclusion of arrangements of this kind.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the request made to his Department by the dock workers at Immingham, that an ambulance should be stationed at Immingham, has been under consideration for some weeks; and if he will now give instructions for this ambulance service to be improved.

My right hon. Friend has no record of such a request to his Department but understands that representations have been made to the local health authority who have them under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the date on which he received the Report of the Malaria Conference in Equatorial Africa.

I received an advance typescript copy of the Report on 6th February but the printed version did not reach me until 18th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he has taken to expedite the production of iron ore from Sierra Leone in view of the need of such ore at the earliest possible date.

The importance of increasing the production of iron ore in Sierra Leone is fully appreciated. Recently action has been taken to alleviate the shipping shortages which threatened to hold up production and longer term developments are now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Food if he will ensure that the distribution of golden syrup is made more even in view of the difficulty in obtaining it in certain parts of Kent in recent months.

My inquiries show that retailers in Kent are getting their entitlement of golden syrup. There are, however, bound to be shortages from time to time; although twice as much golden syrup is being distributed for domestic consumption as before the war, the demand is still not being met in full, and we cannot, unfortunately, increase production until more sugar is available.

asked the Minister of Food what tonnage of Dutch strawberry pulp was imported by merchants during 1950; and if the weight of such pulp to be imported this season is likely to be greater or smaller.

According to my Department's information about 5,700 tons of Dutch strawberry pulp were imported by merchants last year. As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham (Mr. P. Wells) on 8th May last, fruit pulp is imported by the private trade and I cannot therefore estimate the quantity of strawberry pulp likely to be imported this season.

asked the Minister of Food if he is satisfied that home producers will find a market and receive fair prices for the strawberry crop this season; and if he will give an assurance that he will safeguard their interests by arranging for the restriction of the importation of Dutch strawberry pulp accordingly at any time it becomes necessary.

I have no reason at present to think that home growers will not get fair prices for their strawberries. Unsweetened strawberry pulp is imported by the private trade under open general licence from Holland and other sources, and I am unable to give the assurance requested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will improve the publicity arrangements for Territorial Army recruiting and withdraw the advertisement which appeared in the "Leicester Advertiser" on Saturday, 16th June, depicting strap-hangers in an underground train, which is inapplicable in this county.

I do not think it would be possible to improve these arrangements to any extent without spending more money on them than is available. The answer to the last part of the Question is "No."

asked the Secretary of State for War how many families are at present accommodated on disused War Department sites; how many of these families are likely to be displaced within the next three years as a result of military expansion; and what are the terms of tenure under which these accommodating units are occupied.

There are at present approximately 1.490 families accommodated on disused War Department sites. One hundred and fifty families, and possibly a further 181 families, may be displaced within the next three years as a result of foreseeable increased military requirements. The terms of tenure are a matter for the local authorities and vary according to the site.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the names of the officers appointed to command the Home Guard in the counties of Kent. Surrey and Sussex, and of any assistants to them who have already been appointed.

A number of gentlemen in these counties have agreed to act as commanding officers of Home Guard battalions if and when the Home Guard is raised, end others are being approached. I do not, however, consider it desirable to publish their names at the present stage.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British infantry and armoured divisions there were in June. 1950 and in June 1951, respectively; and how many have now been placed under the command of General Eisenhower.

There were in June, 1950, the equivalent of 5⅓ Infantry divisions and 1⅓ Armoured divisions in the Active Army. In June, 1951, the corresponding figures were 6⅔ and 3. The equivalent of 1⅓ Infantry divisions and 2 Armoured divisions have been allotted to Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers in Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British troops are stationed outside the United Kingdom; and how many of these are stationed in Germany, Malaya, the Middle East and Korea, respectively.

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

asked the Secretary of State for War the total numbers in the Army in March, 1951.

I would refer the hon. Member to the return of Defence Manpower which is placed in the Vote Office quarterly.