asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many more teams it is proposed to send to the United States of America under the Anglo-American Productivity Council; and from what industries.

I understand that arrangements are well advanced for visits by 10 teams covering such industries as machine tools, constructional steel work, various branches of the food industries, and certain specialised subjects, such as inspection methods and production control.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the discussions he held recently with the Special Economic Committee of the Trades Union Congress on wages, prices and profits.

No. This meeting, like others that have taken place in the past, was private. I hope, however, to deal with the subject mentioned in the Question during the debate next Thursday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of substantially increased profits during the first six months of 1951, he will introduce some form of statutory control of dividends of limited liability companies.

I cannot at present add to what my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary and I said on the Third Reading of the Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions have been given to the British representatives at the July meeting of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations organisation in relation to resolutions or recommendations arising from the United Nations Report entitled, "Measures for the Economic Development of Underdeveloped Countries," and, in particular, whether His Majesty's Government will be prepared to propose the establishment of, and contribute to, an international fund to be used for the implementation of the policy proposed in the Report.

I cannot disclose beforehand the instructions given, or to be given, to the British representatives. The second part of the Question presumably refers to recommendation 14 of the Report, which proposes the establishment of an International Development Authority. At the Sixth Session of the U.N. Economic Employment and Development Commission, held at the beginning of June, this proposal was discussed. The U.K. representative shared the majority view that no new international organisation should be set up before a thorough investigation had shown that none of the existing organisations could handle the task.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the reasons under which he agreed to the issue of 3½ per cent. Gas Stock, 1969–71, at 98 per cent.

I consider these terms appropriate to this particular stock, having regard to market conditions prevailing at the time of issue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take to ensure, by the introduction of legislation or otherwise, that holders of stock in private gas companies receive adequate compensation when their stock is now evaluated in terms of British Gas Stock.

I cannot agree that we should depart from the compensation terms laid down in the Gas Act and agreed by Parliament.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now prepared to grant a currency allowance for tourists to Tangier and currency facilities to British subjects desirous of taking up residence there.

I am not prepared to grant a currency allowance for tourists to Tangier. Residents of the United Kingdom and the Colonies who emigrate to Tangier, like those who emigrate to other countries outside the sterling area, with the exception of countries within the European Payments Union, are allowed to transfer £1,000 during the first four years with an additional £250 per dependent up to a maximum of four. At the end of the four years they are redesignated as residents of Tangier and may transfer their current incomes, including pensions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Austrian Loan Account for 1950–51 was presented in dummy on the 25th April; and when full accounts will be available.

The full accounts were presented in manuscript on 25th April, 1951, and not in dummy. They were not printed in view of the House of Commons ruling of 1940 which laid down that accounts of limited interest should not be printed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the 76th Report of the Public Works Loan was presented in dummy on the 26th June; and when the full report will be available.

The Report was presented in dummy on 26th June in order to comply with Section 5 (3) of the Public Works Loans Act, 1875. The full Report became available on 20th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of exempting from Income Tax, the pay and allowances of men of the United Kingdom Forces on active service in Korea.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the terms of the irrevocable instructions given under Article 13 (c) of the Anglo-Polish Trade and Finance Agreement, 1949, by the Polish Government at the time when the Bank of England opened National Bank of Poland No. 3 Account.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to him on 26th June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that His Majesty's Stationery Office is no longer the distributing agent in the United Kingdom for the publications of the Council of Europe: and what estimated loss to the trading profits of His Majesty's Stationery Office will result from the transference of this function to the Hansard Society.

Any loss to the trading accounts would be negligible. The value of total sales of these publications in the past 13 months was only £277 and the agency terms are designed only to cover the cost of storing and selling.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will introduce legislation to enable post-war credits, which have matured by reason of a deceased person having attained the age of 65 years before his death, to be made available to the executors or administrators for distribution in view of the deceased person's right to have his postwar credits credited to him for his own use during his lifetime, had he made a claim.

I am afraid I could not adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion, which would mean paying out post-war credits to persons below the qualifying age.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why, on or about 1st June, 1951, Mrs. T. Hillen, 13, Pernau Street, Belfast, was charged Customs duty amounting to 15s. and Purchase Tax amounting to £2 3s. 4d. on a cheap gift souvenir, the declared cost of which was 4s. 6d., sent to her through the post by her son A.B. J. Murray, serving on H.M.S. "Amethyst" in the Far East; and whether, in the circumstances, he will remit these charges.

This souvenir was an ivory model of a rickshaw and coolie. It was appraised by an expert at an import value of 50s. and the charges were calculated on this figure. If the hon. and gallant Member considers this value too high, the Customs will arrange for an independent re-appraisal; but otherwise I could not remit or reduce the charges made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to ensure that the design of the national theatre to be built on the site of the South Bank Exhibition will be such that its exterior appearance will be pleasing and dignified and worthy of the position it will occupy in the heart of London.

The National Theatre Act, 1949, provides that a satisfactory scheme for the erection, equipment and management of the national theatre shall be submitted to the Treasury before public money may be made available to the Trustees of the Shakespeare Memorial Trust. When this is done, I shall consult my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Planning and the Royal Fine Art Commission before giving my approval.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is yet in a position to make a statement as to the Government's proposals for retaining civil servants in the service beyond the dates on which they were due to retire under existing age limits.

No. This matter is still under consideration by the Civil Service National Whitley Council.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the first 24 volumes of the Board of Inland Revenue's Official Tax Cases have been out of print for 10 years; and whether he will take steps to set this right.

Yes, but I doubt if the demand would justify the cost of reprinting.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the cost of one complete set of the bound HANSARD of the House of Commons proceedings for the last convenient 12 months.

The price of a set of bound volumes of HANSARD containing the record of debates from 27th March, 1950, to 22nd March, 1951 is £7 1s. 6d. In addition, Volume 479, the Sessional Index for 1950 which is to be published shortly, will cost 11s. 6d.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why he appointed specialists from the Medical Research Council to visit Royal Ordnance factories to examine causes of sickness; how far has sickness with pay increased; and why he proposes to modify the sick pay scheme.

Investigators from the Medical Research Council were asked to examine the working of the sick pay scheme in Government industrial establishments because preliminary reports suggested that sick absence had increased since the scheme came in. But no central records of absence are kept, and until the investigation is finished I shall have no reliable statistics on which to take any decision about modifying the scheme.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, in view of the fact that the Official Calendar will not be reprinted for many months, he will arrange to publish a supplement to the Official Calendar, setting out the establishment of the Ministry of Materials and the changes caused by the transfer of powers from the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Supply.

No, but it is the intention to publish in the Board of Trade Journal shortly a notice setting out the changes, together with a list of the principal officers of the Ministry of Materials.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the Central Office of Information have been instructed not to release for exhibition the film "Auto-Suggestion," dealing with the British motor car industry.

No such instructions have been given.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered a letter sent him by the chairman of the Branded Textiles Group, about a serious threat to the future of the textile industries; what reply has been sent; and if he will publish the two letters in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

My right hon. and learned Friend has told the Chairman of the Group that he will give the fullest consideration to the memorandum which he intends to place before him. The substance of the correspondence from the Group has been published in the Press, and I think it unnecessary to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he took to encourage British glassmakers to exhibit their products at the International Glass Exhibition, held in Paris, in view of the fact that the leading glass-producing countries of the world were exhibiting.

Over a year before this Exhibition took place, the Board of Trade suggested to the domestic glass industry, through the Glass Manufacturers' Federation, that it should participate. When it was learnt that a contribution to expenses would be required, the industry decided against participation; the Board then considered whether help could be given from public funds, but this was not found possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has studied the figures of the European Payments Union Settlement, just published, which reveal that the sterling area is running a deficit; and if he will take the lead in recommending the removal of tariffs and all other impediments to the free exchange of goods and services among the countries concerned.

Yes. I am aware that the sterling area moved into deficit in May and June with the European Payments Union. But I would not regard this as a sufficient reason to seek to divert additional exports to Western Europe or to propose the removal of customs tariffs to this end. As regards other trade barriers we are already, in the general interests of European economic recovery, doing everything we can, and with much success, to promote the removal of quantitative restrictions in intra-European trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the numbers of the present staff in the office of the Treforest Trading Estate; and what increase there has been compared with the number employed in the summer of 1939.

Staff in the Treforest estate office number 22. The general headquarters staff of Wales and Monmouthshire Industrial Estates Ltd., are also housed at Treforest and number 121. In 1939 there were 23 office staff in all at Treforest.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what reminders of the history and the present-day efficiency of our Armed Forces are provided at the Festival of Britain Exhibition on the South Bank.

Appropriate reminders of the efficiency and constructive role of the Armed Forces have been provided at the South Bank Exhibition by the Bailey bridge put up by Army engineers with Army material and by the display of the latest naval and R.A.F. gas turbine vessels and aircraft. The Festival of Britain is intended primarily to display achievements in the Arts and Sciences.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement of the revenue and expenditure at the South Bank Festival Exhibition since the opening date, including interest on the capital outlay.

The takings from admissions up to last Saturday were about £800,000 and management and maintenance costs about £250,000. The Festival Office do not pay interest on the capital outlay.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in order to allow workers who are unable to take holidays during the summer to visit the South Bank Exhibition and the Festival Gardens, he will arrange for these to be left open for the first fortnight in October.

As regards the South Bank Exhibition, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bridlington (Mr. Wood) on 11th July. As has been publicly announced the Festival Pleasure Gardens will remain open until 3rd November.

asked the Secretary of State for War what progress is being made in the preparation of plans to form a Home Guard; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now make a further statement about his plans for forming a Home Guard in the event of a national emergency.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can now make a statement on the implementation of the plans to form a Home Guard.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) on 26th June.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much it would cost, approximately, to provide full-dress uniform for all first battalions of regiments of the line.

The estimated cost during the first year would be some £1,600,000. Annual maintenance thereafter is estimated at £250,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the minimum period of training laid down as necessary for National Service men before they are posted for service in Malaya and/or Korea.

Sixteen weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of the average intake of National Service men into the Army accept regular engagements.

In the first six months of 1951 the number of National Service men accepting Regular engagements represented approximately 3.3 per cent. of the number taken into the Army during that period. Corresponding figures for 1950 and 1949 were 1.81 per cent. and 1.35 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider an alteration in the terms of engagement in the Regular Army, based upon the successful alteration introduced by the Air Ministry for encouraging National Service recruits to engage for a further year with improved conditions of pay, etc.

The question of the terms of engagement that can be offered in the Regular Army is under consideration. Since December, 1950, National Service men who possess qualifications fitting them for training in certain trades have been eligible to enlist on a Regular engagement of 3 years with the Colours and 2½ years with the Reserve, and in this case, if the soldier so wishes, allowance is made in the period of engagement for previous whole-time National Service.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that surplus military stores, equipment and clothing continue to be sold to the public in substantial quantities; if this is done with his authority; and how the prices at which these goods were sold to the present vendors correspond to the cost of their production.

Yes. I am aware that stores, equipment and clothing, which, in the past, have been handed over to the Ministry of Supply as surplus to Army requirements, continue to be sold to the public. The actual disposal of these materials will have been effected by the Ministry of Supply. I understand that they are sold by the Ministry at the highest price obtainable in open competition. Comparisons with original prices, therefore, would serve no useful purpose, and no records are kept.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now make a statement regarding the revision of the consolidated rates of pay applicable to ex-officers re-engaged as adjutants in the Territorial Army.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that certain officers who retired soon after the end of the 1914–18 war are now receiving lower rates of pensions than were originally granted to them under the provisions of the Royal Warrant, 1919; and if he will take steps to remedy this anomaly in view of the rising cost of living.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence to the hon. and gallant Member for Petersfield (Sir G. Jeffreys), on 4th July.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now in a position to make a statement on the instances sent to him of waste and misuse of manpower in the Army.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it was with his assent that on 4th July the American boxer, Ray Robinson, visited Comber-mere Barracks, Windsor, inspected armoured vehicles, was driven round the parade ground in a jeep, and with various other persons, posed for publicity photographs on an armoured vehicle.

Permission to visit the regiment in question was given by the local military authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will provide facilities for parents of Service men who lost their lives in the Middle East and who are buried in Heliopolis Cemetery to visit their graves.

I regret that it is not possible to provide these facilities at public expense. The scheme for assisting relatives to visit war graves did not cover Egypt and in any case terminated, with certain exceptions, on 31st March, 1951.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has considered a letter from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, concerning the conditions and the facilities available for the training of Class Z reservists at the East Wretham Camp, Thetford, Norfolk; and when he may expect a reply.

Yes. A reply to this letter will be sent very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the many complaints made by Class Z reservists called up for training at the East Wretham Camp, Thetford, Norfolk; that most of their time was spent on useless fatigues and guard duties; that they had no training in the use of modern weapons; that the whole of their equipment used for training purposes was of an obsolete character; and whether he will make a statement.

The complaints referred to by my hon. Friend are not borne out by the reports of the senior officers who have visited the units which have undergone training at East Wretham camp. Only essential fatigues and guard duties such as would be necessary in a unit in battle are performed. Training is carried out with the best weapons available.There is not sufficient of the most modern equipment to supply every unit, nor is it possible at all camps for tanks to fire their main armament. Consequently, at East Wretham camp Cromwell tanks were supplied which are adequate for the purpose of tactical training. In some cases the equipment is obsolescent, but it is the same as that used in training units of the Regular Army. If my hon. Friend would care to pay the camp a visit he would be most welcome.

asked the Secretary of of State for War to what extent the numbers of warrant officers and non- commissioned officers leaving the Service at the present time are in excess of what had been anticipated; and whether, in view of the importance of retaining highly-efficient trained cadre. he will make a statement.

Owing to the present retention of Regular soldiers with the Colours, the number of Regular warrant officers and non-commissioned officers leaving the Service at present is virtually restricted to men who have served for 22 years or more with the Colours. The number of these does not vary in any degree from that anticipated.Since the introduction of new rates of pay in September, 1950, the rate at which soldiers serving on Regular engagements have extended their service to complete 12 years Colour service has multiplied several times, while the rate at which men have been re-engaging to complete 22 years' service has also substantially increased.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has considered a memorandum of claims by the War Department storekeepers, received from the Army Civil Service Union at Singapore, in similar terms to those placed before him by a delegation from this union in Singapore in June, 1950; and what steps he is taking to remove the discontent which has been caused by this delay in dealing with these claims.

Yes. The memorandum in question involves a number of issues and these are at present under consideration both locally and in London with a view to finding the right solution.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what regulation, and in what circumstances, soldiers are detained in close arrest for periods up to 90 days without trial.

Under Section 45 of the Army Act, any officer or soldier charged with an offence punishable under that Act may be taken into military custody. Army Council instructions provide that soldiers should not be kept in close arrest unless considerations of security or discipline imperatively so require. They also provide for measures to be taken to ensure that the accused person is either brought to trial or released at the earliest possible date, in accordance with Section 45 of the Army Act.The measures include the compulsory submission of an explanatory report by the commanding officer when an accused person remains in custody for more than eight days without a court-martial for his trial being ordered to assemble, and for further reports every succeeding eight days until a court-martial is assembled or the accused person is released.It is also provided, in accordance with recommendations made by the Army and Air Force Courts-Martial Committee, that a copy of each report should be sent to the Director of Army Legal Services or his deputy, who is required, after receiving three such reports, to make representations to the general officer commanding with a view to expediting the trial or effecting the release of the accused. Only in exceptional cases is an accused person held in close arrest, without trial, for a period approaching 90 days.

asked the Secretary of State for War what reports he has received as to the assistance given to British troops in Korea by the Indian Field Ambulance.

I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the very fine work done in Korea by the 60th Indian Field Ambulance under their commander, Lieut.-Colonel Rangaraj. This unit has won the admiration and respect of all the Commonwealth troops whom it has supported through many a hard-fought action.

asked the Secretary of State for War after what interval of time a Class Z reservist is informed of the results of his medical examination.

The reservist is normally notified whether he is fit or unfit for recall within 15 days of his medical examination.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will increase the five pounds gratuity to reservists who have served during operations in Korea.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for War what representations he has received from the Transport and General Workers' Union concerning the rates of pay of employees at No. 3 Supply Reserve Depot, Taunton; and what steps he proposes to take in regard to the present minimum wage rate of the employees of this depot.

An instruction authorising certain increases of pay was issued by the War Office on 25th June. There was some delay before the increase was paid to the employees at No. 3 Supply Reserve Depot, Taunton, and I regret that it should have been necessary for the Transport and General Workers' Union to make representations to the Department.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether he will now consent to tenants of the Bristol City Council purchasing the houses which they at present occupy subject to a proviso that if the purchaser desires to dispose of the property within a period of five years, it shall first be offered to the local authority at a figure not exceeding the purchase price.

No.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether the statements of house construction costs issued by him under the Local Government Act, 1948, relate to 1938 or to present-day values; and on what evidence he based his conclusion that building costs in Liverpool were 10 per cent. higher than in Birmingham.

The statements relate to 1938 costs. The figures for Liverpool and Birmingham were fixed by reference to actual costs incurred by the two authorities.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning why he will not amend Section 43 of the Housing Act, 1949, so as to allow the permitted selling price of houses built under private licence to be increased in proportion to the rise in the cost of building.

Because this would lead to profiteering through the sale of houses for more than they cost.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether, having regard to the fact that there are many small local building firms not equipped to undertake new housing contracts, but which are well-qualified to undertake the reconditioning of existing buildings, he will consider abolishing the £600 maximum and the need for licensing work for which a local authority has approved an improvement grant.

No. The retention of local quotas for licensing is essential to best use of national building resources, but my right hon. Friend is prepared to consider exceptionally an application from a local authority even though the estimated cost of the works exceeds £600. To increase the £600 maximum would require legislation. My right hon. Friend has repeatedly stated that he is prepared to consider allocations to particular local authorities in the light of their performance.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning how many private building licences have been allocated to the West Riding of Yorkshire for the last three consecutive years.

Each local authority may use up to one-fifth of its housing allocation for the issue of licences. The number of licences actually issued by the local authorities in the county is 3,499.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether he is prepared to give discretion to local authorities to install in new houses grates and stoves other than those on the approved list.

No. This list which can be added to at any time includes all suitably priced grates and stoves of proved efficiency for saving fuel.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether, in order to encourage and facilitate mobility of labour, he will introduce legislation to set up regional and local housing exchanges.

Legislation is not necessary. Local authorities can now arrange for the exchange of tenancies and my right hon. Friend has urged them to do so.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning when he proposes to announce his decision regarding the proposed Birchen Grove Cemetery, Kingsbury.

My right hon. Friend has already announced his approval in principle of the works proposed by the Willesden Borough Council.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what progress has been made on the Hug Bridge water scheme; and if he will give an assurance that the scheme is so planned as to be sufficient to meet future needs.

The first stage of the scheme is complete, the second is well advanced and my right hon. Friend has authorised an immediate start on the last stage. The borough council, who are responsible for the scheme, are satisfied that it will achieve their purpose, and so is my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what is the total amount allocated to local authorities in respect of coast protection: and what authorities have benefited with the grants received or provisionally allocated for each.

Grants under the Coast Protection Act, 1949, are as follow:

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he has yet received a report from the National Parks Commission on the investigations of their sub-committee into the proposed hydro-electric schemes in North Wales; and whether their report will be published.

My right hon. Friend has received a copy of the representations which the Commission have made to his right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power. No doubt the Commission will include these representations in their annual report.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether he will introduce legislation to reform the government of the City of London either so that all its inhabitants and all who work in it may partake in its elections and enjoy the right to stand for elected office, or so that its government may be integrated into that of the London County Council.

No, not at present.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what changes he proposes to make in the Welsh organisation of his Department beyond those agreed between the Minister and the Welsh Parliamentary Party.

My right hon. Friend has decided to set up a Welsh Office of the Ministry of Local Government and Planning. The details of this new development were discussed last week at Cardiff at a very successful conference between the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire and the Permanent Secretary of this Ministry.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning why, without statutory authority, the Central Land Board is seeking to insist on the completion of agreements in respect of farm cottages exempt from development charge at a cost of 6d. in England and 2s. 6d. in Scotland; and if he will direct the Board to discontinue this practice.

Such cases are not exempt from development charge, but under the pledge given in Parliament payment is postponed whilst the house is occupied by a farm worker. To postpone the charge an agreement must be got from the developer to pay if the house later ceases to be occupied by a farm worker. This agreement requires to be stamped according to the law applicable in England and Wales or Scotland, as the case may be.

asked the Minister of Works how soon the new metal flag-pole on the Victoria Tower of the Palace of Westminster will be in service for the flying of its flag.

asked the Minister of Works now that the Victoria Tower repairs to the flag pole are finished, when the Union Jack will again be flown.

Repairs to the flagpole on the Victoria Tower will not be completed until some time in September. It will be possible to resume flag flying as soon as the work is finished.

asked the Minister of Works if he will arrange during the Recess to have the approaches to St. Stephen's Crypt made cleaner, lighter and less unattractive.

Repairs to the approach to St. Stephen's Crypt from Old Palace Yard will be completed during the Summer Recess. Work on the approach from Westminster Hall and on the Crypt itself cannot be started until mid-October.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will now make a statement as to the progress made in applying the recommendations of the productivity reports made by the various working parties which visited America and produced the reports which have been issued in this country; and, in particular, whether any of the recommendations in the report on the building industry have been adopted.

Responsibility for sending productivity teams to the United States and for making use of their reports rests with the Anglo-American Council on Productivity, which is an independent body representing both sides of industry. The only Productivity Team Report which affects my Department is that on building. A great deal has been done to implement its recommendations which were considered in detail, together with those of the Building Industry Working Party, by the National Consultative Council at a series of meetings last year.

asked the Minister of Works if he will take steps to prevent any political party banners or posters being displayed in future from Nelson's statue in Trafalgar Square.

No. Political banners and posters are only allowed during authorised meetings in the Square.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give the number, the amount of accommodation and the cost of all offices erected in London since 1945 for the use of the Government or the boards of nationalised industries, either by the Government itself or by some other agency but for lease to the Government.

Since 1945 the Government has erected for use by its staff in the London area 14 offices which provide 1,100,000 square feet of accommodation at a cost of £3,250,000. Private developers have built and leased to the Government 21 offices providing 1,300,000 square feet at a capital cost of about £4,800.000.Offices in course of construction consist of 16 with a total area of 900,000 square feet by the Government, and 19 with a total area of 1,100,000 square feet by private developers for lease to the Government. Total expenditure on these offices to the end of June, 1951, amounted to about £3,300,000 and £4,150,000 respectively. The figures for nationalised industries will take some time to collect and I will, with permission, circulate the answer later.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the dangerous state of the Tongue-Durness main road; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure public safety.

The responsible highway authority for this road is the Sutherland County Council and I understand that they intend to do what they can out of the resources available to them to improve its maintenance. I have no information that the road is dangerous.

asked the Attorney-General why the High Court Accounts for 1950–51 were presented in dummy on 18th April; and when full accounts will be available.

Under Section 214, subsection 4, of the Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act, 1925, these accounts must be laid before both Houses of Parliament within one month after the 31st day of March in each year. The accounts were presented in dummy on 18th April, 1951. It was unfortunately impossible to lay the full accounts within the period prescribed as they were not ready by that time, and it would have been impossible to get them completed within that time, the necessary information not being available. Work on the completion of the accounts is being pressed on as quickly as possible, but it is expected that the final accounts will not be available before October, 1951.

asked the Minister of Food the number of staff employed at No. 10 District Food Office, Acton; the grades into which they are classified; the duties which they perform; and the salaries paid.

The work of the District Food Office at Acton covers the following local authority areas: Bushey urban district; Elstree rural district; Harrow urban district; Hendon borough; Ruislip and Northwood urban district; Uxbridge urban district; Wembley borough; Willesden borough.The duties carried out in respect of this area include the control of food supplies for retailers, caterers and certain manufacturers; the control and accounting arrangements for milk supplied at a cheap price or free under the Welfare Milk Scheme; the licensing of food traders; enforcement of the Ministry's orders; secretarial work for the food control committees; and the supervision of the 28 local offices in the area.The post of District Food Officer (graded as a senior executive officer on a salary scale running from £900 to £1,075) is at present vacant. The present staff numbers 87, graded as follows:

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider altering the Cream Order, 1951, to permit the sale of cream by farmers using whole milk for stock-rearing purposes, if necessary, under licence from the county agricultural executive committees or under any other safeguards necessary to obviate the use of saleable milk for producing cream.

Licences to make and sell clotted cream are already issued on the recommendation of the county agricultural executive committees to farmers on remote and upland hill farms in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, who rear store calves on the skim milk.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the strength of the police force in Grenada before the riots; and the strength on 1st June, 1951.

The strength of the Grenada police force, excluding the police fire brigade, was 142 immediately before the strike and 173 on 1st June. Corresponding figures for special constables were 54 and 155 and it is hoped that their numbers will have increased to about 200 by the time of their annual training next month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will publish statistics showing the extent of migration from Wales since 1945, with special reference to migration from the land.

I have been asked to reply. Estimates made by the Registrar-General suggest that Wales suffered a net loss by migration of the order of 120,000 persons during the two years June, 1945, to June, 1947—probably ascribable in the main to the return home of war-time evacuees—but that since that time there has been no significant balance of migration movement either way.

asked the Postmaster-General how many times, and on what dates, the Television Advisory Committee has met during the years 1949, 1950 and 1951.

The Television Advisory Committee held three meetings in 1949, on 8th March, 8th September and 4th November. There have been no subsequent meetings. When the Broadcasting Committee was appointed in June, 1949, the Television Advisory Committee was reconstituted with modified terms of reference to prevent overlapping.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what requests for the export of coal and other fuel in excess of the tonnage specified in the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement, 1948, have been received by His Majesty's Government; how far such requests have been met; how far he anticipates that it will be possible to meet outstanding requests; and what quantities of meat and other foods he anticipates receiving in exchange.

No such requests have been received; the other parts of the Question, therefore, do not arise.