asked the Minister of National Insurance what steps are being taken to collect and analyse the great mass of statistical information on health, disability and disease, now available to her Department; and whether she will publish a White Paper as soon as possible.

Certain statistical information is already published periodically. Other material of the kind my hon. Friend has in mind is now being collected and analysed and I shall shortly be considering the best way of making it available to the public.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many cases of industrial dermatitis were certified in 1950; and of these how many were accepted as such by the medical boards, giving in each case separate figures for England and Wales as a whole and for Stoke-on-Trent respectively.

I regret that statistics are not kept in such a way as to enable me to give the number of cases where an examining medical practitioner has reported that a claimant was suffering from industrial dermatitis and the diagnosis was respectively accepted or reversed by a medical board.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that considerable confusion and irritation is caused to those who are alleged to be so suffering because of the time lag between primary certification and later examination by a medical board, when decisions are often reversed? The public cannot understand it.

When I tell my hon. Friend that 19,000 cases were allowed in 1949, I think he will agree that those responsible for examining the cases have got on with the job.

I accept that, but what we want is the number refused, not the number of those accepted.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will give consideration to the appointment of a medical officer with experience in dermatology in every industrial centre of any considerable size.

I do not think my hon. Friend's suggestion is practicable. As he is aware, the fullest possible use is already made of the services and advice of the limited number of available dermatologists in connection with claims for benefit under the Industrial Injuries Act in respect of industrial dermatitis.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that dermatology is not a mysterious science and that in the industrial areas I have in mind there are many medical practitioners who are conversant with local conditions? Can she arrange a specific course for them in each area?

I wish dermatology was a mysterious science and then we might attract more doctors. At the moment there is a great shortage of dermatologists, but we are trying to use them in the best possible manner.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why contributory pensioners resident in the Channel Islands are not entitled to more than 10s. weekly.

The pensioners in question are persons who, in September, 1946, when contributory pensions in general were increased, had already qualified for their pensions and were then living in the Channel Islands. The whole cost of that increase had to be borne by taxpayers in the United Kingdom and it was not thought reasonable to incur extra expense in respect of pensioners who had already gone to live abroad.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these persons, some of whom are over 80 years old, have paid contributions for 30 or 40 years? Is it really justifiable in the public interest to compel them to come back to this country where they would be a greater drain on the other social services, in order to draw 26s. a week?

My hon. and galland Friend must realise that the benefit to which they are entitled is related to their contributions. It would surely not be fair to the taxpayers of this country for us to increase the pensions of those who had elected to live in the Channel Islands, where the fiscal system is entirely different and where the Channel Islands Exchequer does not make any contribution to their pensions.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of them would be only too glad to get back to this country if they could get some housing accommodation?

That is a matter for the Ministry of Transport.

asked the Minister of National Insurance on how many occasions since sick pay benefit was available has the benefit been abused; and how many prosecutions have there been.

There have been 919 successful prosecutions since 5th July, 1948, for offences connected with the fraudulent obtaining of sickness benefit. I have no reason to think that the control of sickness claims is any less efficient now than in the past.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that at the Whitley Bay Conference of the Transport and General Workers' Union attention was called to the abuse of sick pay and the resulting loss of time, production and money? What is the right hon. Lady going to do about it?

I think that the hon. Member is a little confused. He is referring to the sick pay scheme of the Royal Ordnance factories, for which I have no responsibility whatever.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many women have been disqualified from drawing retirement pensions owing to the fact that they were over 60 years of age when they married and had not been married three years when the husband retired.

I regret that this information is not available.

In view of the fact that my right hon. Friend recently stated that the numbers were very few, would she not consider annulling the relevant regulations? Does she not consider it rather ridiculous that if a man of 65 marries a woman under 60 he gets an allowance on her behalf, but that if he marries a woman over 60 he gets no such allowance?

My hon. Friend must remember that the woman worker aged 60 or over who is insured in her own right will get her old age pension. If she is a widow pensioner and then marries after she is 60 the three-year rule will not apply. Therefore, if the woman worker and the widow of 60 are excluded there are very few left. My hon. Friend would agree with me that we must prescribe certain rules which should apply to these. There must be a minimum period during which a man should contribute if his wife is to benefit from pension in those circumstances.

What does the right hon. Lady mean by saying that there are very few left if the woman worker and the widow are excluded?

If the hon. Lady will examine my answer she will agree with me. Spinsters who work and are, therefore, insured in their own right and automatically get a retirement pension have to be excluded. A large number of women who marry at 60 are widows who have been insured by previous husbands and are not subject to the three-year rule.

Would the right hon. Lady tell the House if she thinks that this is crystal clear to the pensioners themselves?

I think it is.

Is it not a fact that the three-year rule does not apply if the woman is under 60? Furthermore, the man, whether he be a bachelor or widower, has paid the same contributions and does not only pay for the three years that he is married.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will consider methods to reduce the time now required to make effective decisions of the House to alter the scales and amounts of National Insurance and National Assistance payments.

I am always considering these matters as is the National Assistance Board. But in view of the enormous amount of printing and other work involved in altering millions of order books, in preparing new regulations and explanatory memoranda I cannot hold out any hope that the period required to give effect to changes in rates of pension or assistance can be much reduced.

Would my right hon. Friend look at this matter for the future? Would she try to devise means that would enable the decision of the House to be implemented more quickly on any future occasions?

I am always prepared to look at these matters. My hon. Friend will recall that originally I said that all these increases would take effect on 1st October. I have advanced that date to a month earlier, but it would be quite wrong for me to try to make arrangements which would, in the end, perhaps cause certain disorganisation.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power on how many occasions he has given his consent for the institution of proceedings against the British Electricity Authority for contravention of Regulations 34 and 35 of the Electricity Supply Regulations, 1939.

Consent to institute proceedings against the B.E.A. under Regulations 34 and 35 has never been asked for. It has been asked for once against an area board. On that one occasion I gave my consent to the proceedings; but the applicant decided not to proceed with his case.

Would the Minister make it generally known what that consent implies, and what the obligations are? Is he not aware that Regulation 35 places an obligation on the undertaker to maintain a constant supply of electrical energy sufficient for all consumers? That is the law today. Regulation 34 also places an obligation on the electrical undertaker—

The Question asks only on how many occasions the Minister has given his consent for the institution of proceedings, not what is the content of the law.

Is it not a fact that every industrial consumer who suffers a power cut today should have legislative redress against the Minister under Regulation 35?

I do not understand what the hon. Member means.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the policy of promotion underlying the recent domestic tariffs of the South-West area and other area electricity boards, including, particularly, their encouragement of the use of electricity during periods of peak load and their discouragement of use during the summer quarters, with their consequent policy of promotion of seasonal use and so of power cuts; and whether he will make a satement as to the directions he will issue to the central Authority to initiate a policy designed to promote immunity from such cuts and from the consequent dislocation of production, health and safety of the people.

Under the Electricity Act of 1947, the area boards were given a statutory duty to standardise the tariffs for domestic consumers, in order to remove or mitigate the many anomalies that then existed in the charges made for electricity. The South-Western Board have framed their new standard tariffs in accordance with recommendations which were made by a joint committee of the central Authority and the area boards, to which I gave my approval. I do not agree with the hon. Member that these new tariffs encourage the peak hour use of electricity or discourage its use during the summer months. I do not, therefore, propose to issue any direction either to the central Authority or to the boards, who are as anxious as I am to find some way of dealing with the problem of the peak load.

If the Ministry does not think it has relation to the peak load—and I know that he thinks the Matterhorn is a high peak, which rises steeply—does he recognise the increase as steep for the poor and for those who use electricity for lighting, and that the policy promoted by this new tariff is one of doing down the poor and doing down those who use electricity in a way which causes least drain on the nation's resources?

I do not think that I can accept the suggestion made by the hon. Member. I think that electricity to all consumers is at present extremely cheap.

Has the Minister taken into account the fact that these new charges, which are supposed to be standardised, at any rate in the Midlands, are bearing very hardly on the poorer householders?

No, Sir, I believe that it is still true that electricity to the domestic consumer is cheaper that it was before the war.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what estimates he has made respectively of the aggregate peak hour megowattage of electricity consumed last winter, on the coldest day, for domestic electric fires and of the percentage that electric fire consumption represented of the total electricity consumption at the same time, for all purposes; by how much he anticipates reduction of electric fire consumption of current at peak hours next winter; and how much additional coal he is proposing to allocate to each domestic consumer to offset this curtailment of the use of electric fires.

I regret that I am unable to make the detailed estimates for which the hon. Member has asked. I believe, however, that the use of electric fires has been a major contributory cause of power cuts, and I hope that all who have electric fires in their homes, or in offices and shops, will help to reduce this load during the hours of peak demand. I intend to provide domestic consumers with as large a quantity of coal as the general supply position will permit.

As the right hon. Gentleman is unable to estimate or even assess the amount of electricity used at peak hours by electric fires, how can he determine how much extra coal is wanted in the homes to provide an equivalent amount of heat?

I did not say that I could. I said that I should give as much extra coal as I could to the domestic consumer, and that I intend to do.

Is it not a fact that the domestic consumer will suffer both ways—he will get less electricity for his electric fire and less coal? In the long run shall we not all freeze?

No, Sir. The domestic consumer last year got 2,250,000 tons more than in 1949, and this summer I am giving him 800,000 tons more than last year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can now say what measures he is taking to secure abatement of domestic electricity consumption at peak load hours during the forthcoming winter; and whether such measures will be given legislative effect.

As I told the hon. Member a week ago, I am now considering the measures which should be taken to reduce the peak load demand for electricity during the winter months. I have as yet nothing to add to the answer which I gave him then, except to say that the peak load problem can only be solved by the co-operation of all who use electricity, whether in industry, in commerce, or in their homes.

Or in Government Departments.

Does not the Minister recall asking me to put down the second part of the Question about the legislative methods proposed? May I repeat my earlier supplementary to him? Is it not a fact that Lord Citrine, Chairman of the British Electricity Authority, said that action would shortly have to be taken, enforceable at law, to reduce domestic consumption? Who is right—the Minister or the Chairman of the British Electricity Authority? Is this a case, metaphorically speaking, of the nationalised Citrine tail wagging the ministerial Noel-Baker dog?

No, Sir. The Chairman of the B.E.A. is entitled to put forward the views which he holds. I am considering the suggestion which he put forward and which I have already discussed with him. I shall make a decision about it when I am able to, and I shall then announce it.

How soon will that be?

I cannot say.

In dealing with the peak load problem, will the right hon. Gentleman consider recommending financial incentives to firms who have stand-by plants to encourage them to use them during peak periods?

It is in the interests of the firms to do that without a financial inducement. As far as I am aware, the F.B.I. have not asked for that. They have asked for new conditions for stand-by plants. The B.E.A. have granted them. They have reached agreement.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the severe electricity cuts imposed during the early summer in the Northern Region have now been eliminated.

As I have explained in answer to earlier questions, there are special difficulties in the North-East owing to the shortage of generating plant. I am informed by the British Electricity Authority that the difficulties were aggravated in May by a breakdown at one of the power stations. The set has now been repaired, and is in commission again.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why, when I asked him a Question before, he did not disclose that there was a breakdown in this plant, why he asserted that our difficulties were due, in the main, to full employment, and why it was left to the Northern Regional Board to disclose the truth in this industry so that consumers in the North of England should know? Why does he not tell the truth himself?

The breakdown was a contributory cause. The main cause of the difficulties in the North-East was the fact that, owing to its past history before the war and the mass unemployment that took place, the area was very much less well-equipped to deal with full employment than other parts of the country.

Is the Minister suggesting that the former North Eastern Electricity Company was not one of the most efficient concerns in this country?

I did not say any such thing. I said that the total power supply was wholly inadequate for full employment in the North-East.

Is it not a fact that it is not merely a case of a breakdown in the North-East, but that there is an unusual and dangerously high rate of breakdown at various stations throughout the country?

There has been a high rate of breakdown for many of the stations, and special measures are being taken to deal with it.

Would not the position in the North-East have been improved considerably if the plans to build a new power station at Durham had not been delayed on amenity grounds?

Yes, Sir. That was a very important factor, which delayed the station for two years.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that many coal and coke merchants in South-East Kent are without the supplies to enable their domestic customers to build up winter stocks at this time of year, as advocated by his Department; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the situation between now and September.

In the first nine weeks of the present summer, more coal was sold to domestic consumers in South-East Kent than in the corresponding period a year ago. There have been some difficulties about the supply of coke, but as I have said in answer to earlier questions, I am considering what can be done to improve the distribution.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the domestic cellar in the summer is an important part of the pipeline in the winter; and if it is not filled by September what will happen to those whose cooking and heating, particularly in new council houses, depends on coke?

Some domestic consumers are stocking coke now. The supply has increased, but the demand is greatly increasing, particularly for industry.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the Liverpool area we are not getting sufficient supplies of coal?

How many people in Surrey were robbed to provide people in Kent with all the extra coal which they are alleged to have had?

In the first nine weeks of this summer, the domestic consumer bought 350,000 tons of coal more than he bought a year ago.

In view of the general concern all over the country about fuel stocks in various districts, will the Minister consider issuing a White Paper showing what there is in each region, so that people may know exactly how they stand for the winter?

I will consider that. I have a deep concern about the supply of coal and other forms of fuel. The demand is increasing at so stupendous a rate that it is very difficult for the supply to be maintained.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the difficulties of those householders whose heating apparatus needs coke and who are unable to obtain it as their coal merchant receives no allocation; and what steps he proposes to take to make coke available to those householders.

Domestic consumers do not now register for coke, and they are free to buy it if supplies are available from any merchant in the area where they live. I am aware of the difficulties caused by the rapid increase in the demand; that is why I am now considering how the distribution can be improved.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, at any rate in Coventry, many of the merchants have not got any supplies of coke at all and that householders who have coke-burning appliances can get nothing to burn in them?

If a merchant has no coke it is probably because he did not trade in coke in the past. The coke is being given to those merchants who did so trade.

Was not the coke allocation scheme of which my right hon. Friend is speaking put into effect in 1941, and does he not agree that we have a lot more coke merchants and a lot more houses now?

Yes, Sir. Also, we have more coke, but the demand is increasing in such a way that it is impossible to meet it in full.

When will the Government stop talking about the past and deal with the present?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he has discontinued the issue of permits for additional coal for those having no alternative means of cooking; whether this entitlement is still an additional 10 cwt. per year; what guarantee is given that this coal will be supplied now that permits have been replaced by a system of oral application and fuel office notification to the coal merchant; what check is made to see that the conditions are satisfied before an allocation is made; and what steps he has taken since the change of method from 1st May to inform consumers concerned.

I have not changed the arrangements for granting an extra supply to domestic consumers who can only cook by coal. The amount normally allowed in the North is still 10 cwt. There has been no general change in the method by which these supplies are authorised, but there may have been some local variations to meet special needs. I am making inquiries and I will write to my hon. Friend.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that consumers who visit the Sheffield fuel office are told that they are no longer required to make written application, but may just give their names, and the coal merchant, if in a position to do so, will supply the coal? Will he give special attention to these cases, as there are a large number of consumers in Sheffield who rely on coal for domestic cooking?

I was not aware of what my hon. Friend has said, but I have made inquiries and I shall soon have the facts.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the amount of coal distributed off the ration in Sheffield from 1st May, 1950, to 30th April, 1951, and from 1st May to 30th June last; and what was its quality and price.

I am making inquiries and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the small amount of coal available in Sheffield for building up summer stocks and its uneven distribution between consumers; and if he will take steps to ensure that there is both an adequate and fair distribution of coal in Sheffield this summer so that all classes of consumer may make some provision for the winter.

I am making inquiries, and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I can.

Will the reply be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, and will the Minister say, further, whether, in his view, there will be sufficient coal to maintain the summer stocking programme in Sheffield before the end of the summer?

Normally, Yorkshire is fully self-sufficient in house coal. I hope it may prove to be so this summer, but I have been a little disappointed in the last two or three weeks.

If supplies are disappointing will they be augmented?

I will do my best.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, respectively for the six months ended 30th June, 1951, and 30th June, 1950, the excess of coal consumption over coal production, excluding American coal imports; whether the restriction upon coal exports is to continue for the remainder of 1951; and the revised planned aggregate figure for coal exports during the year 1951.

During the first six months of 1950, the consumption of coal, including exports and bunkers, was 3.7 million tons greater than the output. During the first six months of 1951, it was 600,000 tons greater than the output. I regret that I am not yet able to forecast what the exports will be during the present calendar year; up to the end of June, exports and bunkers were 5.2 million tons.

In view of the Minister's statements upon many occasions in the last few weeks, that consumption is now greatly in excess of coal production, is it his general policy to continue to deplete exports over the next six months in order to satisfy the domestic market?

My policy is to do everything possible to increase output, and I am working on that with all the means at my command. But, of course, if exports have to be weighed against the needs of British industry, I think British industry comes first because then we shall be able to export coal in the form of manufactured goods.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will arrange for drift mining to be used to raise the coal at Ravenstone, Leicestershire, rather than the opencast system.

I understand that the National Coal Board have considered whether it would be practicable to work the coal at Ravenstone by drift mining, and have decided that it would not, owing to the shallow cover and the wet conditions of the site.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the estimated cost per ton of obtaining coal by opencast methods at Ravenstone, including compensation to farmers and restoration work.

The contractors have not yet been invited to put in their tenders for the Ravenstone site, but I am confident that, after all the costs have been met the coal can be worked without loss.

Is the Minister aware that these operations will involve diverting a brook, that they are liable to damage or completely destroy a sewage farm in the neighbourhood, and that it is estimated to require the removal of at least 19 million cubic feet of earth, with all the consequent effects that will have on agricultural land? Will he consider these things very carefully before going into the matter any further?

As to the diversion of the brook, that is an operation that has been carried out many times on many sites and which has never caused any trouble. As for the drainage, drift mining would have been far worse and do much more damage to the land. I understand that there is a very fair chance that after this land has been worked for opencast, and has been restored, the drainage may be better than it was before.

Will the Minister give an undertaking that the operations will not be carried out unless the coal can be produced at an economic price and sold without loss?

No, I cannot give any such undertaking. Opencast working in general is now making a small profit, but we have to have the coal and the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows it.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how the available stocks of coal, anthracite and coke compare with those at a corresponding date last year; and what steps he is taking to safeguard supplies for domestic consumers during the winter months.

On 30th June, the total distributed stocks of coal, including anthracite, were 1,063,000 tons more than they were on 30th June a year ago. The distributed stocks of coke were 138,000 tons less than they were then. As I have said in answer to previous Questions, I am doing everything I can to safeguard the supplies for domestic consumers during the winter months.

Is the Minister contemplating importing coal? If so, when will he make the decision?

That is another question.

It is not another question, but is involved in the latter part of the Question which I put down. Does the Minister realise that failure to take a decision early enough last year led to very chaotic conditions in the freight markets of the world? Will he avoid that this year?

The hon. and gallant Member may be quite sure that I have considered the import of coal.

Does the Minister agree with the statement made by Mr. Horner, that the position would be even worse if the miners had not pulled their punches?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power from what sources additional oil is now being obtained to make up for the loss of oil from Abadan; and what is the estimated weekly cost in dollars of any purchases from dollar supplies.

The British companies are increasing their production of crude oil in other countries; they are refining more crude oil in their installations elsewhere; and they are buying oil from United States companies. I regret that I cannot yet estimate what the dollar cost of buying American oil may be.

Would it not be a good idea if the right hon. Gentleman were to make a comprehensive statement so that the people of this country and the countries who depend upon Abadan should have a better idea than they have at present of the importance of retaining this refinery?

It is, of course, extremely important to retain the refinery, but I have made a statement to the effect that if it were to be closed entirely the deficiency for the countries which depend on Abadan would be much less than is generally supposed.

Does that refer to countries like Pakistan and India, and has there been any communication between the right hon. Gentleman's Department and the appropriate Departments in the Governments of those countries as to what it is proposed they should do?

We have been in touch with suppliers and consumers of oil in all parts of the world.

Is not the Minister's statement extremely dangerous? Does it not give the impression to the world that it does not matter very much whether Abadan remains open or not?

No, Sir. It does not mean that at all. What it means is that it would not be the total disaster for us that is generally believed if Persia were to persist in her present course.

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation so as to secure that solicitors may reduce their charges without becoming liable to penalties.

I presume that my hon. Friend has in mind the provisions of the Solicitors' Practice Rules. 1936, whereby a solicitor may not hold himself out as being prepared to do business at less than certain rates prescribed by those Rules. There is, however, nothing to prevent a solicitor from making a written agreement with a client to charge the client less than the rates I have mentioned and my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor does not consider that there is any need for legislation of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend.

Does not my right hon. and learned Friend know of a recent case in which a solicitor who reduced his fee was fined £100 by the Disciplinary Committee of the Law Society, a penalty which was afterwards upheld in the High Court, and does he think that this kind of price maintenance is good in the public interest?

I am well aware of that decision, but it does not contradict any thing I have just said. There were special circumstances in the facts of that case, which differentiated it from the principle which I have just stated.

Where the applicants for legal aid could save a substantial amount by privately employing the solicitor allocated to them under the scheme, could not solicitors, in these circumstances, act for the client at the normal and much more economical scale of fees?

asked the Attorney-General what amount of public money was expended in free legal aid to Mrs. Priscilla Grant and her stepson in respect of their recent litigation in the Chancery Division regarding a £1,000 football pool prize.

I would remind the House that, as this is a matter of day to day administration of the Legal Aid Scheme, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has no direct responsibility, the Law Society having been entrusted with the administration of the scheme, subject to the general guidance of my noble and learned Friend. As the bills of costs have not yet been taxed, no accurate figure is in any event available. So far as the unsuccessful plaintiff is concerned, she had obtained a Poor Person's Certificate under the Poor Persons' Rules in 1948, which was, under the transitional provisions of the Legal Aid Scheme, converted into a civil aid certificate on 2nd October last.

Bearing in mind that the Judge concerned in this case, Mr. Justice Wynn-Parry, referred to this case as "fruitless litigation," does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman think that it was a gross waste of public money that legal aid should have been afforded in a case of this kind, and can he say why the successful party, who, presumably, secured the £1,000 football pool competition prize, could not have paid his own costs?

If the learned Judge's remarks are set out in full, I think it is apparent that he clearly indicated that he was implying no criticism of the Legal Aid Committee concerned. With regard to the question why a legal aid certificate was granted to the successful defendant, there can be no criticism of that. With regard to the unsuccessful plaintiff, as I have said, she had a poor person's certificate, which was automatically converted into a legal aid certificate under the provisions of the Legal Aid Scheme.

If there is any proper criticism, should it not be against the issue of that poor person's certificate, and not against the Legal Aid Scheme?

Certainly, not against the legal aid certificate; it was automatic.

asked the Attorney-General how many British subjects have been prosecuted for treason since 1945.

Two in the year 1945—in addition to Joyce, who was not a British subject—and two in the year 1946.

May I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether, if the Government are anti-Communist, he will now prosecute the Dean of Canterbury and, when he is convicted, have him publicly hanged?

asked the Minister of Food what information has been obtained by the following-through of consignments of fruit and vegetables from grower to consumer.

This inquiry is still going on.

That is a most unsatisfactory answer. Is there no way of impressing urgency upon the Ministry of Food? Does my right hon. Friend realise that on 11th May his Parliamentary Secretary said in the House that investigations into the question of lettuces had been made? Has he not now, 12 weeks afterwards, reached a conclusion?

I do not think that the hon. Lady has any need to impress urgency upon the Ministry in this matter. This is a delicate matter that does not require handling in a careless way. We cannot allow this particular problem to be settled merely on the basis of platform generalisations. We really must satisfy ourselves about the facts. This year, because of the bad spring, all the crops have been late. I am quite satisfied that the investigations which have been carried out have been abreast of time.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these are not generalisations? Does he know that just over a week ago there were reports in the Press to the effect that lettuces for which the grower received a halfpenny were being sold for a shilling? These reports were in the "Daily Herald." Could my right hon. Friend please do something about it?

asked the Minister of Food if he is now in a position to announce what action the Government intends to take concerning the distribution of home-grown fruit and vegetables.

No, Sir.

I do not know what is a stronger adjective than "urgent," but is my right hon. Friend aware that housewives everywhere are disturbed by high distribution costs? When does he hope that the Government will be able to give an answer?

I am fully aware of the sense of urgency, but, at the same time, I am not prepared to enter into courses of action that might not prove successful. I would much rather take a little longer time to think the thing out clearly and to get all the facts than rush into imprudent action.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that the Government have been working on this problem for several years now and that a perfectly practical plan for marketing can be and has been worked out? Can he say when these paper plans are to be turned into action?

Does the Minister's decision not to enter upon courses that might not prove successful indicate a new policy on behalf of his Ministry?

asked the Minister of Food if he will arrange for retail butchers to display the price per lb. of all foods offered for sale so that customers can see, and will know the prices charged.

I have every sympathy with the object of this Question, and butchers have already been asked both by the Ministry and their own trade organisations to use price tickets wherever possible. As I have previously explained to the House on a number of occasions, it would not be practicable to make this practice compulsory; but I hope that it will become more widespread, especially as meat supplies improve.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that by not doing anything he is enabling butchers to charge far more than they are entitled to charge, and that, in practice, the customer does not know exactly for what she is paying? The butcher actually states a certain price for a weight which is over the amount allowed by the ration and the customer thinks she is getting something for nothing. As a matter of fact, the butcher is doing her down. Will not my right hon. Friend insist on a regulation to alter that situation?

If my hon. Friend will give me evidence to support such charges, I will take immediate action to stop such a practice.

If my right hon. Friend goes to any food office they will tell him what the practice is. There is a typewritten notice at the back of the butcher's shop which people cannot read, and if they did read it they would get less meat.

rose —

There are some very important Questions at the top of the next page, and we must get on.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the avail ability of shipping, he will now reconsider his decision not to allow the importation of cream.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) on Wednesday, 11th July.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it a fantastic argument that just because he and his Ministry cannot distinguish between imported cream and cream produced in this country, consumers should have to do without it at this season of the year when shipping space is available for it?

It is not fantastic. It is an awkward and difficult matter and shipping is not the problem. Obviously, if we could have solved this problem, shipping would not have been a limiting factor. The trouble is to distinguish between imported and home-produced cream, and there is no practical way of doing that.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the in creased supplies of tea available, he will now increase the tea ration.

Arrivals of tea are seasonal in character and although they have lately been good there is no adequate basis yet for an increase in the ration.

Does the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope of an increase in the ration in the near future?

I could not say about that. We cannot test the overall supplies of tea in this country until the late autumn.

asked the Minister of Food what alterations he proposes to make in the allocation of meat to catering establishments, including educational establishments; and when these alterations will come into effect.

Except for school meals, which did not suffer the same reduction, allocations of meat to catering establishments will be increased proportionately with the domestic ration.

Does the first part of that answer mean that no addition at all will be made in the case of school meals?

They did not suffer a cut.

That is not the point.

It is the point. They will, in fact, have the same proportion of increase in their ration as they had before.

asked the Minister of Food whether he restricts the allocation of personal points to an area when some retailers in that area are not using all their available credit; and whether he will make arrangements so that retailers in such areas who wish to expand their business are provided with more ample credits of personal points.

At present additional personal points are normally granted only in areas where retailers as a whole have insufficient points to meet local needs. We are considering with the trade organisations, however, the possibility of giving extra credits to individual retailers to enable them to expand their businesses, and I hope to make an announcement soon. If we can make an effective arrangement, the problem raised by the hon. Gentleman will, of course, be covered.

asked the Minister of Food why it was decided not to locate one of the nine new slaughterhouses, to be provided by the Government, in the County of Devon, in view of its importance as a stock-raising area.

There is an urgent need for additional slaughterhouses over most of the country, and the nine new slaughterhouses are being built where they will make the greatest immediate contri- bution. I can assure the hon. Member that the claims of Devon were fully considered, but on balance of our urgent short-term needs other places had to come first.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that while we have many amenities and assets in Devon, we have not too many slaughterhouses? We feel that we have a very strong claim to one of the nine, but if the Minister cannot give us one of them, will he add a tenth and give us that one?

Devon must take its place in the queue.

asked the Minister of Food what reasons led him to revoke the system of open licences for the supply of starch and dextrine for industrial use; and whether he consulted with the trade before reaching this decision.

Because of supply difficulties, we have had to revoke licences under which manufacturers were free to buy as much starch and dextrine as they wanted, and to substitute buying permits. There would obviously have been a serious risk of panic buying, which would have defeated the whole purpose of the return to a system of allocations, if I had given any advance notice of such a decision.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent local authorities have completed a survey of all feeding facilities in their areas for Civil Defence emergency feeding.

At 30th June, 1951, 133 emergency feeding authorities out of 195 had completed their surveys on cooking facilities.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say what steps he is taking to expedite the completion of the other surveys, in view of the urgency of this matter?

I think that on the whole this is not a bad result. I think we are doing fairly well, but if there is any need to ginger up the rest I shall be very happy to do so.

Do these surveys cover country areas where storage might be offered to our American Allies to stockpile food for their Forces here rather than on the other side of the Atlantic?

I could not say without notice.

asked the Minister of Food what progress has been made with regard to the storage of emergency foodstuffs for Civil Defence purposes; and if any such stores have been completed.

We are taking adequate steps to ensure the provision of food for the civilian population in an emergency; but, for reasons which I am sure the hon. and gallant Member will recognise, they cannot be publicly disclosed.

Would the Minister say whether any of these emergency stocks have as yet been piled or whether anything has been done yet? Is he not aware there is a feeling that the Ministry of Food is lagging behind other Ministries in matters of Civil Defence and food in emergency?

A good deal has been done, but I am not prepared to add to my answer.

Does the Minister realise that many foodstuffs can be kept for many years provided the storage is dry? Will he consider using some of the country houses now lying empty or allowed to go to ruin for the value of the lead in their roofs?

asked the Minister of Food whether in view of the increase in the world sugar production for the past season, he will consider increasing the sugar ration by 2 ozs. per person per week.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member (Mr. C. S. Taylor) for Eastbourne on Monday, 2nd July.

Is the Minister aware that that is not a sound answer at all? Is he aware that the sugar supply of the world is increasing every month? Why is it that the people of this country are denied the simple things which they need in their everyday life? Why is it we have to keep on pressing the Government?

The hon. Member again has his facts wrong. First of all, the supply is not increasing to the extent he supposes, but, equally, the demand is increasing and I claim that on the facts as we can now see them we are getting as much sugar and distributing that sugar as well as we can in this country at the moment.

Thoroughly unsatisfactory. Monstrous.

asked the Minister of Food what relationship the successive increases in the price of breakfast oats in packets have to the increased wholesale price for oats during the past two years.

Since November, 1949, when price control of pre-packed oat flakes ceased the retail price has increased by about 48.5 per cent. and the wholesale price of milling oats by about 30 per cent. The cost of packing materials, however, is a very important part of the total cost of pre-packed oat flakes.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that the increase in the price of breakfast oats seems to be excessive in view of the wholesale price?

I agree that it looks excessive. There is a disparity between the two figures I have given and we are looking into the matter.

asked the Minister of Food whether he proposes to sell to the public dried eggs recently purchased by his Department.

Not directly to the consuming public. It will reach them by way of the bakers and food manufacturers.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision, as it would be of immense benefit to the householder if more dried eggs were available?

We have to consider what is the best way to use this extra supply. I am convinced that the best way to distribute it is in the way we have adopted, that is, to send it out through the bakers and confectioners and, in that way, give it to the consumers.

asked the Minister of Transport how many copies of the pamphlet, "A Message from the Minister of Transport," have been issued; and what was the cost of printing these.