asked the Minister of Supply if the Woomera rocket range is now in full use; and to what extent his Department is responsible for its operation.

It would not be in the public interest to answer the first part of the Question. The ranges are operated by the Long Range Weapon Board of Administration, Australia, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Supply.

In view of the great deal of information that has appeared in the technical Press about the progress of guided missile development in Australia and elsewhere, is not the House of Commons entitled to a statement from the right hon. Gentleman?

I should be very happy to make such statements as I can, but I would rather not answer the Question which the hon. Gentleman puts to me: whether the range is now in full use.

If I put down a Question asking for a statement, will the right hon. Gentleman at least say what has already been said in the technical Press?

I will do my best to answer the hon. Gentleman's Questions so far as security permits.

asked the Minister of Supply, in view of the shortage of raw materials in engineering firms, what steps he is taking to ensure the employment of men in works so affected; and what financial arrangements are being made to cover the uneconomic working of plants.

I regret that I cannot ensure continued employment where there is a shortage of materials. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour has, however, asked employers, through their associations, to let local employment offices know in good time where there is likely to be redundancy. Similarly, trade unions have been asked to advise workers whose jobs are coming to an end to register at local offices while they are still employed, so that there may be an opportunity of helping them to find other work without any interval of unemployment.

The financial arrangements of engineering firms are matters for the managements concerned.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that trade unions in the North of England have asserted that employers are being asked to go slow, and that this is neither fair to the workers nor right for the economic use of the plant? Has the right hon. Gentleman been in touch with the trade unions and the employers' associations in order to thrash out this very difficult problem?

Yes, Sir. I am in constant touch with the trade unions and employers' associations.

Is my information correct?

Would the Minister not agree that the only right and proper solution of all these problems is for the Government to resign?

Is not the condition described by the hon. Lady the inevitable result of trying to load on to the engineering industry a re-armament programme beyond its capacity in either labour or materials?

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) if he will make a statement on the development that has taken place of the use of atomic power for industrial purposes; how far new metals, alloys and ceramic materials have been improved in readiness for meeting the needs of reactors; and if he is satisfied that sufficient numbers are receiving technological training to provide all who may be required in the use of atomic power for industrial purposes;

(2) if he has made an estimate of the potential economic value and use of atomic power; with what results; if he will give an estimate of the relative cost of generating electricity by present methods, compared with the cost if generated by atomic power, and of the saving in coal; if consideration has been given to the potential importance of the prospect of the development of backward areas by atomic power industrialisation; and what action is to be taken.

As the answer is rather long, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer: I informed the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes), in reply to a Question on 3rd July, 1950, that considerable progress had been made in the planning of nuclear reactors for use as power units, and in the development of the necessary facilities for investigating materials for use in such reactors. This work has continued and considerable progress has also been made in the technology of the special materials required for reactor construction. Design studies of experimental reactors for marine propulsion and for static use are in progress.

It is too early to make any reliable estimate of the relative cost of generation of electricity by present methods and from atomic power. There is, however, a reasonable prospect that generation from atomic power can be developed on a large scale, and that ultimately the cost will not differ greatly from that of power from conventional sources. The relative cost will vary from place to place, according to the local availability and cost of coal, and to other general economic factors. Generation from atomic energy is, therefore, likely first to offer advantages in particular places, which may include some of the backward areas to which my hon. Friend refers. It is, however, too early to form definite conclusions or to prepare plans for action.

The Research Establishment at Harwell and the production establishments provide technological training courses to staff the atomic energy project itself, and consideration is being given to extending this type of instruction to pupils from industry. The general question of education in preparation for the wide use of atomic power is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education.

asked the Minister of Supply what transfers of staff are taking place from his Department to the Ministry of Materials.

About 175 non-industrial staff and 12 industrial employees will be transferred from my Department to the Ministry of Materials.

Would this include all the civil servants who have been dealing there with the materials which will be transferred from the right hon. Gentleman's Department to the Ministry of Materials?

Not all, but most of them.

asked the Minister of Supply for what new types of military transport aircraft have orders been placed under the re-armament programme.

No orders for new types of military transport aircraft have yet been placed under the re-armament programme.

Why not?

Questions about the requirements of the Air Force should be directed to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Air.

Is the right hon. Gentleman telling the House that the Royal Air Force and the Army have no requirements for transport aircraft? Surely he cannot mean that.

The question of the requirements of the Air Force must be put to the Secretary of State for Air. We effect orders according to the requisitions which come to us from the Service Departments.

Has the right hon. Gentleman had any?

As the aircraft industry can only produce a certain number of aircraft, will the right hon. Gentleman exert his influence on his colleagues to see that our Forces are adequately equipped with transport aircraft? If not, will he say why not?

The choice of aircraft which the Air Ministry require is, of course, mainly a matter for them. We are in constant touch with the Air Ministry about the full employment of the aircraft industry of this country.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the estimated cost to be borne by his Department of the development of the Comet; and how much of this sum it is anticipated will be recovered through the sale of production aircraft.

The estimated cost to be borne by my Department of the development of the Comet, excluding the engines, is about £1½ million. If the estimated sales of production aircraft are achieved, we expect to recover the whole or a substantial part of this expenditure.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement on the tests of the Comet Mark I aircraft.

I am glad to say that the tests are going well.

Is the Minister aware that last week the Secretary of State for Air said that the Air Force was to be equipped with four jet transport aircraft? Are the Comets the ones he had in mind?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that (1) vehicles used by the British Army on the Continent and rebuilt and reconditioned in this country are inspected by four inspectors with power to return the cars to the contractor on account of trivial scratches, involving waste of public money, labour and materials; and whether he will take steps to stop this waste and reduce the number of unnecessary inspectors;

(2) 1947 model motor cars, having been used as little as 5,000 to 30,000 miles by the British Army on the Continent, are rebuilt and reconditioned in this country for £300 each; that, after use by Government Departments, some cars have been declared redundant after 2,000 miles, and, as inspectors may not reassess such cars as reconditioned vehicles, are returned to the contractor to strip out to Class I condition, which may cost a further £300; and whether he will take action to stop this waste of public money;

(3) when motor cars used by the British Army on the Continent are rebuilt and reconditioned in this country, inspectors require stripping out or new fittings for trivial reasons, but involving unnecessary expenditure; and what steps he proposes to terminate this waste of public money.

With permission, I will answer this Question and Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.

On a point of order. I request separate answers in view of the fact that my first Question covers fighting vehicles and the other two refer solely to staff cars.

The Questions are closely related, and I can adequately answer them together.

The right hon. Gentleman said "With permission." Permission has not been granted.

The Minister can read out the same answer three times if he likes.

I did that on a previous occasion, Sir, and I thought the House did not want me to take up time unnecessarily.

The answer to the Questions is: Motor cars used by the British Army on the Continent are not normally returned to this country for overhaul by my Department. A number of surplus cars used by the Control Commission for Germany have been returned to this country and some are at present being reconditioned for use by Government Departments. Everything possible is done to carry out this work with due regard to economy in cost and the use of manpower. As a general rule each vehicle is inspected by one inspector only. If the hon. Member will let me have details of any repairs where he believes there has been unnecessary or trivial work undertaken I will make inquiries at once.

Is the Minister aware that cars which are reconditioned in this country are inspected by a workshop inspector, then by a fighting vehicles inspector, then sent to a reception depot where they are again inspected by two such inspectors, when they are sent to the contractors and the whole of the inside has to be stripped out, including—

That is not a question but an apparent statement of fact. The hon. Gentleman must ask a question.

The information which the hon. Gentleman gives in his supplementary, and which is contained in these Questions, is quite contrary to the information in my possession.

Is the Minister aware that a contractor in my constituency has been required, in the rebuilding and reconstruction of cars, to strip out carpets costing about £9 10s a time regardless of their condition, and has been required to spend hundreds of pounds for quite trivial reasons?

If the hon. Gentleman can give me any instance where the instructions are not carried out I will, of course, go into it immediately, but I am not aware of any such instance.

For what reason are staff cars sent from Germany to this country for repair? Cannot they be dealt with by R.E.M.E.?

I said in the first part of my reply that War Office cars are not sent to this country from Germany. It has not happened for a long time. Some cars belonging to the Control Commission have been returned to this country, because they can be put to very good use in Government Departments here and, where necessary, the repairs are made before they are returned.

In view of the content of my hon. Friend's supplementary, would the right hon. Gentleman personally inquire into the matter to see whether the facts are correct?

That is what I offered to do if the hon. Member would be good enough to send me the facts.

Question No. 12, Sir.

I have answered this together with Nos. 11 and 13,

Will the Minister bear in mind that the quality required and inspections are so rigid that contractors are bound to cover themselves and that that in itself leads to a serious waste of public money?

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that large quantities of scrap metal and non-ferrous metals are being shipped to Italy from the desert clearance scheme in North Africa: and, in view of the shortage in this country, if he will take steps to divert it to this country.

I have no information about the quantities of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal now being shipped to Italy from the desert in North Africa. There are a number of serious practical difficulties involved in securing scrap from this source for the United Kingdom, but in view of our great need of scrap I have arranged for the matter to be further investigated.

How is it the right hon. Gentleman has not the information, because I have been able to get it? Is he not aware that 500,000 tons of scrap metal and 70,000 tons of non-ferrous metals have been shipped through the desert clearance scheme in North Africa to Italy? Do we not need this scrap very badly in this country?

We have got fairly large quantities of scrap from these territories. There are, I believe, comparatively small quantities left, and there are technical difficulties about shipping them to this country apart from the cost, but I will look into the matter once more.

In view of the great hardship both to manufacturers and to the men who are on short time at present owing to the shortage of metal, is it not remarkable that the right hon. Gentleman has not got more information about this considerable stock of metal? Will he not take energetic measures to do something about it?

I have a great deal of information about it. In recent years we have been able to get large quantities of scrap from North Africa. I do not know the exact quantities left, but there are bits of tanks scattered all over the place. I do not know how many or what the total tonnage amounts to, but the total cannot be much.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why payment of a death grant is refused to the next-of-kin when the funeral expenses have been paid by a bank as executors of the deceased's estate.

The fact that a bank acting as executor has paid the actual cost of a funeral would not prevent payment of a death grant to a next-of-kin who had incurred appreciable expense on, for example, mourning or attendance at the funeral. If the hon. Member has a case in mind perhaps he will let me have details.

The hon. Gentleman has not understood the point. The death grant is also refused when the widow is a testamentary residue beneficiary.

If the hon. Gentleman would let me have details I will certainly look into the matter.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will take the necessary steps to have available in future statistics as to the number of applications for death grants disallowed; and the reasons for disallowance.

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend is not satisfied that the value of the information obtained would justify the very considerable amount of work involved in compiling statistics of this kind.

How can the hon. Gentleman expect the quinquennial review in 1953 to be satisfactory, and the House to have adequate information, if this type of information cannot be produced?

We are compiling quite a lot of statistics about the benefits of the scheme in preparation for the quinquennial review.

Would the hon. Gentleman agree that, before we can decide whether the present law is right, we must know the border-line cases which have been refused?

This Question refers to disallowances for death grants. Notice is taken of cases which go to appeal and statistics of that type of case are recorded.

On a point of order. Many hon. Members on this side of the House have great difficulty in recognising certain hon. Gentlemen whom they have never seen before when they get up to answer Questions. Would it not be a good idea if they wore their identity cards?

asked the Minister of National Insurance why the old age pension week starts on Thursday when the National Insurance week starts on Monday.

Pension weeks vary with the day of the week on which payment can be obtained. According to the group of the retirement pensioner this day may be Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, and the days are allocated to secure the most convenient spread of the work of payment falling upon post offices.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that a pensioner whose week starts on Thursday, and who obtains casual work at a reasonable wage, will probably lose two weeks' pension for one pay packet? As that was not the intention, will the Minister have the position altered?

This is a question of the operation of the earnings rule. I would remind the hon. Gentleman that post offices are doing a lot of work encashing orders, not only for this Department but for other Departments as well. The strain of the work is very heavy, and it is therefore advisable that the encashment of the orders should be staggered in this way.

Is the Minister aware that I have written to him—at least, I know him quite well—about a case like this, where the retirement pensioner earned casually more than £2 a week for four consecutive weeks and lost five weeks' pension? I think there is a point here. Will the hon. Gentleman look into it?

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will raise the pension of widows now drawing 10s. per week to bring their income into line with the increased allowances now given to old age pensioners.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-on-Tyne, Central, on 16th March, a copy of which I am sending him. Payment of these pensions is a transitional concession arising from the repealed Contributory Pensions Acts. To increase them would clearly be inconsistent with the principles of the existing scheme of widowhood benefits.

Does the Minister think that 10s. a week is adequate for a widow now? If 10s. was adequate at the time the pension was first granted, it must be quite inadequate now, after the rise in the cost of living caused by the gentlemen sitting opposite.

I would inform the hon. and gallant Gentleman that when he sees the reply to which I have made reference he will learn that to increase the existing rates of widows pensions from 10s. to 26s. per week would cost about £10 million per year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power is he will reconsider the capital expenditure and delivery dates of plant, power houses, etc., so that more power can be available within the next five years.

Every effort has been, is being, and will be made to speed up the commissioning of generating plant. The commissioning has not so far been delayed by restrictions on capital expenditure, and the investment in electricity this year will be considerably higher than it was last year. In 1952, it will be higher still.

Now that the Electricity Authority have been allowed to embark on capital expenditure to meet the country's power needs, may I ask whether the delivery dates are being worked to and whether my right hon. Friend can give an undertaking that as soon as possible, as a result of the increased power available, power cuts will cease?

We shall have to take other measures about power cuts as well as increasing generating capacity. My answer means that we are doing everything we can to increase that capacity as quickly as we can.

Is there any probability that the right hon. Gentleman's efforts in this direction will be any more successful than they are or have been?

I hope they will be more successful. In any case, I am now considering what measures can be taken.

How does the generating capacity of 1951, now counted upon, compare with what was expected in 1950?

I still hope that it will be above what it was last year.

The question is how what is happening now compares with what, a year ago, was thought was going to happen?

The largest increase before the war was 765 megawatts. In 1947 it was 340 megawatts and last year it was 960 megawatts. This year it will be more.

Without any reflection on the Minister, may I ask, in view of his reply, whether he can say why power plant is not being delivered?

The delivery of power plant is a matter for the manufacturers. The Electricity Authority have a progressing department which works closely with the manufacturers. There have been very greatly improved deliveries since the B.E.A. took over.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the nature and extent of the shortages of steel and other raw materials, during the six months ended 30th June, 1951, which have caused delay in structural and erecting work authorised by his Department at power-house sites, and impediments in the expansion of electrical generating capacity; what degree of priority he anticipates that supply of such materials will enjoy in the future; what steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence of such delays; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 2nd of July to the hon. Member for Carlton (Mr. Pickthorn). As I then explained, cases of special difficulty will in future be eligible for preferential treatment under the scheme announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 28th June last.

But since that date Lord Citrine has made his speech at Brighton. Does the right hon. Gentleman deny that the steel which was intended for powerhouse developments and the expansion of generating capacity is being diverted to other purposes? If he does deny it, who is right, Lord Citrine or the Minister?

I never said that there was not a shortage of steel for all the purposes, military and civil, for which the nation needs it. What I have said is that special cases can be dealt with under the scheme which has been produced and I hope we shall keep up a good supply of new capacity.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to the abatement of electricity consumption for domestic purposes during peak-load periods in the forthcoming winter months; and what measures he proposes to take to secure adherence to, and support for, that policy.

I am now considering the measures which should be taken to reduce the peak-load demand for electricity during the winter months. I have every hope that domestic consumers will help, as they did earlier this year.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that Lord Citrine, Chairman of the British Electricity Authority, speaking at Brighton on 18th June, 1951, said:

"We are coming nearer to the position where arbitrary action, enforceable by law, may have to be taken by the Government to secure a substantial reduction in domestic consumption?"

Does the Minister propose to introduce legislation to give effect to that serious threat?

That is another question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear seriously in mind that one of the most practical ways of abating the peak hour demand for electricity would be to give consumers, including householders, more ordinary coal, thus making it unnecessary for them to resort so frequently to the use of electricity?

I am in full agreement with the right hon. Gentleman that domestic electric fires and electric fires in offices and shops are a major cause of power cuts. I hope that their use will be restricted during the coming winter months, and I also hope that next winter we shall be able to give more coal to the domestic consumer, as we are doing this summer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind, in view of his new solicitude for householders, that it is no good suggesting that the use of electric fires should be restricted unless he gives them more solid fuel to use in place of electricity?

I have just said that we are giving the housewives more solid fuel this summer and that I hope to give more next winter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, as the supply of coke is rationed to merchants and not to customers, he will base the merchants' supplies on the number of registrations held by them for coal or put forward some other scheme of allocation which will ensure that each merchant may supply his own customers so far as supplies permit.

I am afraid that the number of a merchant's registered coal consumers would be of little help in trying to determine an appropriate allocation of coke, since many households need no coke at all, while others depend mainly or entirely on coke for their essential needs such as heating and cooking. As I have said in answer to earlier Questions, I am now considering what can be done to improve the distribution of coke.

While quite agreeing with what my right hon. Friend says—and that is why I put the latter part of my Question—may I ask him whether he is aware that, in Coventry anyway, we have many new houses which must have coke and that housewives cannot get hot water if they cannot get coke? Is he also aware that the merchants who have coke are selling it to customers who are not registered with them and that when re-registration comes round they lose those customers to the other men?

It is because of the difficulties which have arisen in distribution that I am now trying to prepare a new and better scheme.

Is the Minister aware that a great number of coke distributors are receiving less during the current 12 months than they received during the last 12 months, that domestic requirements have increased, and that many distributors are very disquieted?

Domestic demands have very greatly increased, just as the industrial demand has done. In the last 12 months the domestic consumer has consumed more coke than in the previous 12 months. I hope that matters may improve.

Does not the Minister think it would alleviate the posi- tion a little if the gas boards returned to the previous practice and supplied coke to the merchants instead of to the merchants' customers?

They are simply carrying out the practice of the past. I think it works well.

asked the Minister Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the fact that producers and merchants have been requested not to take on new customers for coke, he will consider reintroducing the rationing of coke.

As I have said in reply to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Renton), on 7th May, I am now considering what measures can be taken to improve the distribution of the available supplies of coke. I am sure that I can rely on the full co-operation of the producers and the distributive trade and I hope that it may be possible to make satisfactory arrangements without re-imposing statutory control.

Yes, but will the right hon. Gentleman not agree that unless sufficient supplies of coke can be made available, no number of paper plans such as the one I have in my hand—very elaborate and very well-intentioned—is any good, and that unless supplies can be made available coke had better be rationed so that no one gets more than his fair share?

Rationing in most things does ensure fair shares, of course. I hope that if we re-introduce the statutory restrictions that will also be the effect in regard to coke. The difficulties which we have had have been the result of taking off the restrictions, but I hope that we may be able to get fair shares without re-introducing those restrictions.

Could not the Minister get to the root of the matter and encourage the producers to produce more coking coal? Unless that is done, the coking problem will continue.

I am very well aware of that. I am also aware that if we are to have enough gas and coke we must blend coking and other coals. Experiments in blending are going forward very fast.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what reply he has received from the Chairman of the Coal Board to the letter he has addressed to him on the subject of coal stocks for next winter.

The letter to which I think the hon. Member refers was a confidential communication about measures to increase the output from the mines.

If the letter was confidential, why was a statement made to the Press? If the right hon. Gentleman or the Chairman of the Coal Board makes statements to the Press, is it not right that Parliament should know about them?

Neither the Chairman nor I made any statement to the Press.

Does the right hon. Gentleman deny that it was stated in the Press that there was such a statement?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the position with regard to coal stocks for next winter.

On 30th June, the total distributed stocks of coal were 12.5 million tons. This was 1.1 million tons more than on the corresponding date a year ago.

As no statement was made in 1945 that there would be a shortage of coal, can the right hon. Gentleman say what he will do to get over the difficulty next winter?

I am going to do all I can to increase the output of coal and build up stocks.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what progress has been made by the Scientific Division of his Department in formulating a comprehensive and fully co-ordinated national policy for the fuel and power industries, covering production, distribution and consumption facilities, both in respect of indigenous and, where appropriate, imported fuels; when such a policy will be available for publication; and whether he will make a statement.

The whole field of fuel and power policy, including the problems of production, distribution and use, to which the hon. Member refers, is under constant review. But, as I am sure he will understand, it covers innumerable matters which vary widely in character, and which require separate consideration, in the light of circumstances which sometimes quickly change. For these reasons, I do not think that it would serve any useful purpose to attempt to make a comprehensive statement of the kind which the hon. Member has proposed.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's reply mean that he is denying that the Scientific Division already has in hand all the necessary investigations to produce a comprehensive statement? Is his answer a clear denial of that fact?

No, Sir. It means that the Scientific Division, which would in any case not be at all concerned with the preparation of such a statement, is engaged on many matters which I have remitted to it but not with all the matters that such a statement would cover.

While congratulating the right hon. Gentleman on his reply to the Question, may I ask him whether, in order to make it easier for hon. Members to refer to it, it was written by Grimm or Hans Andersen?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power who are the members of the special committee he is setting up to investigate the wider aspects of national fuel policy; what is their reference; and by what date he has asked them to report.

I hope very shortly to announce the names of the new committee to investigate some of the wider aspects of fuel policy. Their terms of reference will be as follows:

"In view of the growing demands for all forms of fuel and power arising from full employment and the re-armament programme, to consider whether any further steps can be taken to promote the best use of our fuel and power resources, having regard to present and prospective requirements and in the light of technical developments."

I shall ask the committee to report as soon as they reasonably can.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that this committee is very much overdue? Would it be possible for him to get an interim report which might be of help in the coal crisis which many people fear will come on us before Christmas?

This is a long-term matter. I shall ask the committee to send me interim or final reports as they think right.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House how this duplicates the duties of the Coal Board? What are the Coal Board paid for if these people have to do the job?

The Coal Board deal with the production of coal—

They do not.

and they have made splendid progress since they took over. The committee is to deal with the best use of coal, a subject which has never yet been properly studied.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now in a position to state what progress has been made with the drafting of safety regulations envisaged in the Report of the Royal Commission on Safety in Mines.

As I said in answer to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Miss Ward) on 7th May, the power to make general regulations under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, was extended by the Coal Industry Act of 1949. Under these two Acts, all the main recommendations of the Royal Commission which require safety legislation, have been carried out by general regulations, or will shortly be carried out by new general regulations which are being prepared.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether there are any prospects of a new Act of Parliament in the next Session of Parliament?

I think a new Act will be desirable in due course, not to make the mines safer, as is sometimes thought, but to add some things in the field of responsibility and penalty, for instance, which cannot be done without an Act, and to consolidate amendments which have been made since 1911.

What are the main subjects with which the new general regulations will deal?

They are very wide. I will send the right hon. Gentleman a summary of them.

Can my right hon. Friend tell the House, by means of a written statement or a speech, how far progress has been made towards the preparation of a new safety schedule?

We have been primarily concerned with making regulations to catch up with technical and other developments under the two Acts to which I have referred. The speed at which those regulations have been made has been so great that the Chief Inspector of Mines has warned us that we may be surpassing the capacity of the industry to absorb the regulations.

Do not the two recent pit accidents in Durham prove the need for greater speed in bringing in the new safety regulations?

I was in Eppleton yesterday and I have also been to Easington, so I am well aware of the disasters to which my hon. Friend has referred. I would merely say that both of them were due to explosions and that the incidence of accidents from explosions has been enormously reduced in recent years.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will report on the progress being made at the oil refinery at Fawley; and if he will make a statement on its significance to the nation's economy.

The refinery at Fawley has been constructed by the Esso Petroleum Company, Ltd. I understand that they hope to bring it into partial operation this month, and most of it will be in use by the end of the year. Between now and Christmas the refinery will turn out about two million tons of petroleum products, including half a million tons of motor spirit.

When it is fully completed in 1953, it will employ about 2,500 workers, and its output will be about 6½ million tons a year, including 1¾ million tons of motor spirit. By the end of 1952, it will also produce about 12,000 tons of sulphur a year.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the nation owes a great debt to the skill, loyalty and hard work of the men who have built the refinery at great speed and under great difficulties?

asked the Attorney-General whether any steps are taken to ensure that anyone seeking aid under the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, in respect of matrimonial relief has first applied for the help of a probation officer to bring about conciliation before legal aid is granted.

No, Sir. It would not be justifiable to require persons, who have reached the stage of seeking a civil aid certificate for the purpose of the institution of proceedings, to apply for the help of probation officers for conciliation.

Bearing in mind that some 80 per cent. of the people who are applying for aid under this Act are doing so in respect of matrimonial causes, does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman feel that some procedure along these lines would help considerably towards avoiding the unnecessary break up of families, which is so vitally important, particularly where children are concerned?

I entirely agree that, wherever possible, spouses who have fallen apart should be brought together again, but it is not feasible, when they have reached the actual stage of applying for a legal aid certificate which asks for matrimonial relief.

Will my right hon. and learned Friend bear in mind that, however desirable it may be to make such an application preliminary to proceedings for a divorce, it would be wholly wrong in principle to impose conditions of this kind on people who apply for a legal aid certificate unless that is applied to all certificates in the same field?

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that the term "probation officer" is more commonly and quite properly associated with magistrates' or assize courts, and will he see that any man or woman seeking matrimonial relief shall not necessarily have to go to a probation officer?

The provisions of the Act dealing with matrimonial relief in courts of summary jurisdiction have not yet been brought into effect. When they are brought into effect possibly further steps can be taken to make the services of probation officers available for conciliation purposes.

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements are made by his Department to ensure that meat is supplied in sufficient quantities to holiday resorts so that the butchers can accept emergency coupons.

:There is a well-established and efficient procedure whereby the Ministry's local officers, in consultation with retailers' organisations, arrange for forward issues to be made to meet this need.

Is the Minister aware that in certain south coast resorts all butchers' shops are displaying notices saying that emergency cards will not be accepted? Does he not think that this reflects badly on the present distribution system?

No, we have had no complaints made to us, but if the hon. Gentleman will bring any cases to our knowledge we will certainly look into them.

Will the hon. Gentleman convey to his right hon. Friend the Minister the title of Lord Carnival, because "carne-vale," when translated, means "farewell to flesh"?

asked the Minister of Food what progress he has made towards implementing the recommendations contained in the report of the working party on the catering industry, entitled "Hygiene in the Public Service," with particular reference to the cleanliness of premises where food is prepared or dishes washed.

The recommendations of the Working Party on Hygiene in Catering Establishments are receiving careful consideration, but they raise several difficult problems on which decisions have not yet been reached.

If some of these problems are so difficult as to require greater time for, or even the indefinite postponement of, legislation, would the hon. Gentleman consider bringing forward piece-meal whatever measures and recommendations his Department has to make, so that before the arrangements for the standard code or the standards for detergents are introduced, we may be able to have a programme for the enlightenment of caterers and consumers?

I am sure the hon. and gallant Gentleman will realise that this report was published only this year, and that it is right to give the various authorities affected and the trade organisations a proper opportunity to consider it also.

Does "working party" mean a committee, or something that neither works nor is a party?

asked the Minister of Food what plans he has for the eventual ending of food rationing.

Our object is to end rationing as soon as the supplies available justify doing so, and we are taking all possible steps to increase supplies of those foods which are still rationed.

Does the Minister not think that after six years of Socialist misrule it is about time—

Imputations and implications are not permissible in supplementary questions.

Will the Minister take care that not only is there sufficient food, but sufficient money to buy that food, before he determines rationing?

Yes; we are continuing rationing for the express purpose of ensuring fair shares.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the increased supplies available at this time, he is prepared now to increase the sweet ration.

Yes, Sir. As already announced the ration will be increased by ½ oz. to 6½ oz. per week for the rationing period commencing 15th July.

Can these increases be sustained permanently or, better still, can my hon. Friend say when rationing will be entirely abolished?

This increase has been made without any further increase of ingredients to the manufacturers and we shall, of course, endeavour to sustain the increased ration as long as we can.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the continuing high retail price of rabbits; and if he will now reimpose price controls.

Rabbit prices have fallen from the peak reached earlier this year and with the good supplies which are expected from Australia this trend ought to continue. My right hon. Friend is satisfied, therefore, that no useful purpose would be served by now reintroducing control.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the best way of bringing down the price of rabbits would be to increase the number on the market by allowing more cartridges to farmers to shoot them? This is particularly necessary in the next two months, when the harvest is cut and the rabbits are vulnerable.

As the hon. and gallant Gentleman will realise, this is a time of the year when we depend largely upon imported rabbits from the Southern Dominions.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is prepared to take the necessary steps to make compulsory the wearing of crash helmets by motor-cyclists and pillion riders.

The British Standards Institution have set up a working party, on which my Department and the Road Research Board are represented, to consider the specification of a crash helmet suitable for civilian use. Legislation would be necessary to make the use of crash helmets compulsory and I am not at this stage in a position to consider this.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has had recommendations to introduce this or not, and if he is aware that doctors and hospitals are viewing with increasing concern the number of head injuries they are getting in from motor-cyclists?

Yes, the steps that are being taken indicate the value of such a helmet, but the question of making any article of wear compulsory is a rather more difficult matter.

rose

The hon. Gentleman never puts down any Questions but asks supplementaries. We cannot have both. Either there must be lots of Questions or lots of supplementaries and I really think it is time that some of those who take the trouble to put down Questions should have a chance.

On a point of order. I am seeking to ask a supplementary question, Sir. I am not quite clear whether your Ruling was addressed to me.

Partly. The hon. Member, after all, has only asked several facetious supplementary questions.

Do I understand, Sir, that no hon. Member is to be allowed to ask a supplementary question unless he has the original Question on the Order Paper?

No; but I think it is a little unfair to hon. Members who have put down Questions that some hon. Members should come in and get a lot of fun in asking rather provocative supplementary questions without putting any Questions down themselves. It is only fair on the others. I am taking my stand on that.

asked the Minister of Transport if the British Transport Commission have yet submitted to him the Road Passenger Transport Scheme for the Eastern Area; and if, in view of the general anxiety and uncertainty which is felt in East Anglia by local interests regarding their future relationship with the new authority or board, he will give an assurance that, in addition to county councils and county borough councils urban and rural district councils and other interests involved, will be given an opportunity of expressing their views to him before the scheme is promulgated.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "No, Sir." Before a scheme is submitted to me the British Transport Commission must consult the county and county borough councils in the area, and the bodies and persons providing passenger transport services likely to be affected. Before making an order embodying a scheme, I am required by the Act to give to anyone who wishes to object the opportunity to do so, and to hold a public inquiry unless all objections are withdrawn.

Is the Minister aware that the apprehension which has been caused by this scheme is due mainly to the publication of the Northern Area scheme, which showed a good deal of lack of understanding of the very varied needs of rural communities, where very small operators who cater for villages often are willing to turn out at any hour of the day or night? The people who live in these small, sparsely settled communities are very much alarmed that if the scheme is centralised, a vast distance away, they will not find the manager there when they want him.

There is really no need for this apprehension, because the Act provides for local opinion to express itself very fully at every stage. The scheme could not possibly become law unless, in the process, it gathers a very large measure of public support in the area.

In view of the declared intention of the Transport Commission to put up bus fares wherever and whenever it can lay its hands on the buses—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] Yes—will the right hon. Gentleman drop these schemes and protect the public against this form of exploitation?

As usual, the hon. Member is very wide of the subject which is being discussed.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in his examination of the recommendations made by the British Transport Commission in their Report to him on occupational and accommodation level crossings; and whether he will lay on the Table of the House a copy of the Report.

The examination of these recommendations is still proceeding. The recommendations deal with the matter from the point of view of the British Transport Commission only and require consideration both by the Government and by highway authorities and others whom they would affect, and whom I shall have to consult. I will make copies of the Report available in the Library.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that it is well over two years since I started trying to persuade him to deal with this matter? Is he going to bring it to a conclusion, so that he can present some proposals to the House within the near future? If so, when?

It is not possible to put a time on a problem of this character, which touches such widespread interests throughout the community. The problem has existed for many generations and nothing has been done.