asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the numbers of school children receiving school dinners in Fife, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee on 1st March, 1951, and on 1st July, 1951, respectively.

As comparison is most easily effected by a tabular arrangement, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can my right hon. Friend indicate now whether there is any substantial decrease in the numbers, and if there is any decrease and the figures continue to fall, will he indicate what steps he will take to review the position?

As my hon. Friend doubtless knows from an answer which I have given before, there is no substantial decrease over the whole picture. If the general situation should change, I would consider the position again.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many homes are provided for old people by local authorities under the National Assistance Act; the total number of old people in them; and the number of such homes which do not provide for separate sick-bay accommodation.

In Scotland 72 homes with 4,634 beds are provided directly by local authorities under the Act. Some of these beds, however, are available for disabled persons who may not be old. There are also 19 institutions, transferred to regional hospital boards, in which authorities have a right to use 1,339 beds. The total number of persons resident in this accommodation is approximately 4,000. The information asked for in the last part of the Question, I regret, is not available.

If the information asked for in the latter part of the Question is not available, how is it that in a letter which I have recently received from the Department it is said that most authorities have, in fact, provided this sick-bay accommodation? If the information is not available now, how was it available then?

Because it is a subject for each individual authority. Most authorities prefer to have a flexible arrangement relating to the use of their beds; most authorities, I am glad to say, are able to set aside a sick-bay.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what total tonnage of reinforcing steel will be required for the 1951 building programme; and whether he anticipates that supplies will be continuously available.

It is estimated that 1,000 tons of reinforcing steel will be required for the housing programme in Scotland during the remaining five months of this year. The demands of the defence programme make the supply of steel rods particularly difficult. My Department will, however, continue to make every effort to meet the needs of particular schemes.

Is the Minister aware of the virtual hold-up in housing at the moment through shortage of these rods, and is he further aware that even old bedsteads are now being used in place of proper reinforcing steel in order to prevent a complete stoppage? Would the Minister say what he is doing to overcome the immediate difficulty?

I would not agree that there is a general hold-up. I have no information supporting that contention. As I indicated in an earlier debate, wherever a specific supply problem is brought to my attention, then my Department, with my right hon. Friend, attempt to remedy that temporary situation.

Has the Secretary of State noticed that this Question refers to building, without any qualification of any kind, and will he say how much of the reinforced steel will be allocated to the building of ships and agricultural machinery where the steel is very badly needed?

I should not like to give a firm opinion, but the Question refers to reinforcing steel and, therefore, primarily to housing. Although I am no expert on the subject, I should not think that the ships which are built in my part of the world are held together by reinforcing rods.

May I ask for an assurance that the right hon. Gentleman will look into this matter so far as it affects North-East Scotland, and will he accept my assurance that there is a real hold-up there at the present time?

I shall be most anxious to consider any specific information and to give every possible help.

If 500 tons of steel are required for the housing programme, what percentage is that of the total steel required for the building programme in Scotland?

I think 1,000 tons will be necessary for the housing programme in the current year. I regret that I could not make a calculation as to the percentage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to make a statement in regard to an increase in salaries for full-time sheriffs, sheriff substitutes, and members of the Land Court, apart from the Chairman.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement regarding judicial salaries in Scotland.

It has been decided to increase the salaries of whole-time sheriffs and sheriffs-substitute in Scotland by £500. The salary of the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court will be increased by the same amount; the position of the lay members of that Court is under consideration.

Would it not be advisable to treat the members of the Land Court on the same basis as sheriffs and sheriffs-substitute, and would it not also be advisable to treat the Chairman of the Land Court in his proper rank as a full judge of the Court of Session?

I have already indicated that since we were considering what increases were appropriate in this range, an increase has been awarded to the Chairman of the Court. We are actively studying the position of the lay members.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his statement, particularly with regard to sheriffs and sheriffs-substitute, will be welcomed throughout Scotland?

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the recent statement made on behalf of the Government by the President of the Board of Trade that workers must exercise continuous restraint in wage claims? Does this not apply to the legal profession?

I should say that these gentlemen have been restrained and temperate in their attitude.

Too restrained.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that these increases carry with them a corresponding increase in responsibility of the Government to make sure that the profession is open to all who have the talent and is not closed to people for financial reasons? Will he consider the possibility of an inquiry into the conditions of admission to the Scottish Bar with a view to introducing reform in that respect?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this information will cause great concern throughout Scotland and that this decision will be regretted by many people in Scotland? Does he not consider that the Chairman of the Land Court, with already over £2,000 a year salary, is getting enough without this further increase? Is my right hon. Friend further aware that an increase in salary of the sheriff clerks would have been much more justified than in the case of sheriffs and sheriffs-substitute?

Is the Secretary of State not aware that there is no class in the community which has more to gain by an upright administration of justice than the poorest and lowest paid members of the community?

Will my right hon. Friend be presenting a statement to the House so that we can discuss it? I am asking for the information because we discussed the increase in old-age pensions and, since we debated that increase of 4s., I think there is a very sound case for debating the £500 a year increase to the sheriffs.

This increase will take place by administrative action and, subject to your guidance, Mr. Speaker, I should think that any question affecting the Bench would be dealt with by other machinery altogether.

I am not reflecting on the Bench. I am only asking for information

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why three officials of the Scottish Home Department spent the 15th, 16th and 17th of May, and one of them in addition the 18th and 19th, in Inverness going over the accounts of the fire committee.

Three officials of the Scottish Home Department, one of whom was a trainee, were in Inverness from the 16th to the 19th May to make a test check of grant claims of three authorities, including the Northern Fire Area Joint Committee. The claims related to the grants for the police, fire, Civil Defence, children, probation and remand home services.

Is it not the case that the accounts of every local authority and every committee of a local authority are audited by an auditor appointed by the Scottish Home Department and are not these accounts, with the report of the auditor and his remarks, sent to the Scottish Home Department? Is the right hon. Gentleman sure that this is not a waste of public money and duplication?

It is not a duplication. As the noble Lord suggests, other certificates are available. But these test checks, which are made in order to ensure that the committees qualify for grants, are quite normal, and I do not agree that this expeditious and essential check is a waste of public money.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will consult with the Minister of Health, with a view to ascertaining whether any survey has been made in such constituencies in England as are fully equipped with gas and air machines, as to why these are not being used in domiciliary confinements; and if he will have regard to the reasons for non-use before urging such machines upon local authorities in Scotland;

I shall be happy to consider any relevant information about the position in England. But, in some circumstances, gas and air is still, I am advised, the most suitable type of analgesia where a midwife is acting on her own responsibility, and I therefore consider it essential that all local health authorities should provide a sufficient number of the necessary gas and air machines.

I consider the reply of my right hon. Friend shows appalling ignorance of the situation. [HON. MEMBERS "Order."] For example, in Monmouthshire, where there are 72 midwives —[HON. MEMBERS: "Order."] Shall I put it this way? Why is my right hon. Friend not aware that in Monmouthshire, where there are 72 midwives fully trained in analgetics and equipped with 72 machines, they still have no less than 846 mothers who received no analgesia, not even gas and air, from the midwives? Mind you, they were attended by midwives alone.

I am sorry about my ignorance of Monmouthshire, but my time is so much taken up with Coatbridge that I really cannot deal with Monmouthshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many senior secondary schools are at present without a fully-qualified teacher of mathematics; and what steps he proposes in order to ensure that the supply of such teachers is distributed to the best advantage.

I regret that the information for which my hon. Friend asks in the first part of his Question is not available. The staffing of schools is the responsibility of the education authorities and I have no power, nor do I seek power, to direct the transfer of teachers from one area, or one school, to another.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in the adaptation of wards in general and infectious diseases hospitals for tuberculosis patients.

Quarterly progress returns are made by regional hospital boards. The March return showed real progress in the infectious diseases hospitals. The problem is more difficult in the general hospitals, and I would prefer to await the June figures before making any statement. I shall, however, be glad to write to my hon. Friend when the figures become available.

Can my right hon. Friend assure the House that the authorities, medical and lay, of the general hospitals are fully aware of the vital importance of making the adaptation referred to in the Question, even at the cost of some disturbance of their ordinary hospital work?

I must admit that if the authorities are aware of the importance of this modification in the general hospitals, at any rate they have not responded with any marked number of beds so far. I am very glad of my hon. Friend's support, and I shall continue to press for action on this subject, since I agree with him that its importance is very great.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not unduly press the local authorities to disturb the ordinary care of the sick, the need for which is in many cases very urgent indeed and is causing great hardship to people who cannot get admission to ordinary wards?

Of course, I should not be rash enough to make such an interference, but we have already had some success, for example in Edinburgh, where nurses have been made available. My recollection is that it is at the Edinburgh Royal. I am quite sure we can extend that kind of example without causing any inconvenience to the general hospitals and that it will be of benefit to our tubercular cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take in regard to the resolution passed by the Retired Teachers' Association on 25th June, a copy of which has been sent to him, urging the immediate upward revision of teachers' pensions, together with the abolition of the means test.

I have given sympathetic consideration to the resolution, but I can only refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24th April last to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelsea (Commander Noble).

What is the use of increasing the salaries of teachers if the right hon. Gentleman does not increase the pensions as well, since it is the defence against the hazards of old age which will be the greatest incentive to induce people into the teaching profession, as the right hon. Gentleman wishes them to enter it?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman is, perhaps unwittingly, confusing the subject here. Where there is an increase in salaries, of course there is a proportionate change in pensions. The Question refers to a group of people with whom I have every sympathy—retired men and women who are, of course, not affected by salary changes.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that cases of extreme hardship are arising among teachers who retired many years ago from salaries considerably lower than what would be the corresponding salary for equivalent work today? Cannot he regard this as a special case?

I am worried about this, but there is a large group of people affected in this way and I cannot add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend.

In order to attract these people into the teaching profession, could my right hon. Friend not take the necessary steps to ensure that when retired teachers return to the teaching profession they do not lose the pensions they have earned?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of these older retired teachers are finding things particularly difficult at present? Cannot he examine the position with a view to making some easement?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many permanent houses have been built during this year up to 30th June; and how many he estimates will be completed during the remaining six months of the year.

The returns for June are not yet complete. The number of houses completed in the first five months of the year was 8,724. In present circumstances, I am unable to estimate the number likely to be completed by the end of the year.

I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will admit that that is not a very satisfactory answer. Not being a mathematician myself, could I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can give any indication of what his answer means in terms of years before the people of Scotland will be re-housed? If the answer is, as I imagine, about 28 years, will he say how that corresponds with the promise given by many Socialist Ministers, including the late Mr. Bevin, that millions of houses would be built in no time?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that yesterday the hon. and gallant Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore) made an eloquent plea for more slaughterhouses? Will he give us an assurance that slaughterhouses will not have a priority over ordinary houses?

Can my right hon. Friend indicate what proportion of this year's programme for Scottish building consists of three-apartment houses?

I am afraid that I could not without notice.

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot estimate the number of houses which will be completed by the end of the year, is not that a complete admission that the planned economy has broken down?

No, Sir. It arises from the fact that, quite plainly, not all these materials are under our control and therefore could not fit into our planned economy. If I am honest with the House, I hope hon. Members opposite will bear with me for being honest.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that at Symington, Ayrshire, there have been 18 houses under construction for months; that everything has been completed to prepare for their occupancy, except for the necessary joining work, doors, etc., though the necessary timber is lying unused around the sites; and what steps does he propose to take to make these houses ready for immediate occupation.

I am told by the county council that the main cause of delay is the shortage of plasterboard, and that there has also been difficulty in getting enough joiners. The county council are taking steps to ensure that the scheme is fully manned by the contractor, and I have asked my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works to do what he can to accelerate supplies of plasterboard.

While I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that helpful answer, may I ask him to remember that although Symington is a small village and the number of people in it is comparatively unimportant, it is nevertheless rather a tragedy for these people to see the stuff lying about while the houses are not completed? "Houses under construction" does not mean anything to them as long as they have no home to live in.

Is not the trouble at Symington that the local authority does not do its joining work by direct labour and as expeditiously as the Socialist Town Council of Cumnock?

I should certainly like to say that I have had fewer complaints recently from Cumnock than from this other area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision is being made to provide new schools in Midlothian, in view of the large increase in the population and the poor condition of many existing school buildings, especially at Woodmuir and Ratho.

Midlothian Education Authority have submitted to me proposals for four new primary schools and two new secondary schools in the area of their developing coalfield, and work on one major extension to a school is about to start at Gorebridge. The provision of new schools in the developing areas must, understandably, have precedence over replacements.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I remind him that Lothian is a receiving area for Lanarkshire mineworkers and that a due proportion of the building programme is required in Midlothian?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the need for a jetty in the Isle of Eriskay; whether Inverness County Council has yet applied for a grant to assist with its construction; and what steps he is taking to meet this urgent need of this community of fishermen.

Inverness County Council have agreed that a jetty to serve Eriskay is necessary. It is on the list of essential piers in the programme of Highland development. I am awaiting an application by the Council for a grant in this case.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are sometimes inordinate delays in making these applications, and that meantime the fishermen are labouring under most primitive disadvantages in having to land their gear and commodities over rocks and seaweed because of the lack of any pier? Will he go out of his way a little bit to try to persuade Inverness County Council to hurry up, and will he expedite the matter when it comes to him?

I think my hon. Friend has as much power to hurry the county council as I have, but I promise him that as quickly as I have the application I will deal with it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this kind of neglect, which is only too common in the Hebrides, would not be tolerated by the Colonial Office in respect of a desert island at the other end of the Pacific?

If the hon. Gentleman is inviting me to deal with the people of East Aberdeen as we sometimes have to deal with the people of backward areas, I decline the invitation.

Would the Secretary of State agree that when this jetty is finally built it should be called the Mitchell jetty in order to anticipate coming events?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that since this Government came into power there has been more sympathy for the Isle of Eriskay, which was left without a road as well as without a jetty until a few years ago?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the widespread indignation and the loss now being suffered by lobster fishermen in the Western Isles through the operation of the Order restricting the size and condition of lobsters landed or sold; and whether, at least in respect of those caught for retention and feeding in the lobster ponds in the Islands, he will take steps to relax its application.

I realise that the Order may, to begin with, reduce the number of lobsters landed, but it should lead to increased stocks and so benefit the fishermen. I have no power to except from its operation lobsters landed for storage.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that several of these islands depend upon two industries, those of Harris tweed weaving and lobster fishing, and that the first of them has been almost completely wiped out because of the excessive Purchase Tax which robs them of their profit, and which, with excessive distribution costs, makes it impossible for the working classes to buy tweed in the retail shops?

I can scarcely believe that 40 per cent. of the catch will be berried lobster, and I possibly have some slight experience of this subject. The fact is that the catches in Scotland have been dropping, and that unless we do something to remedy what is pretty plainly over-fishing, the end position will be much worse than the present.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he is examining alternative methods for conserving stocks? Would he, in particular, look at the measures which are, I believe, in force in Canada, where berried lobsters are put into ponds and then put back into the sea?

They are very different kinds of ponds from those we use.

I agree.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind how very important this type of fishing is for certain parts of Scotland, particularly along the West Coast? Could he, if necessary, make separate legislation—separate provisions—for fishermen on the West Coast?

I have no doubt that there is over-fishing there.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that alternative proposals have been put forward by many of the fishermen, who have suggested a close time when the fishermen would be least affected by losses, and which period happens to coincide with the heaviest time of spawning? Is he further aware that there has been a decrease along the West Coast because the lobster ponds in the Western Isles have been overwhelmed with landings during the last 100 years? There is no evidence in the practical experience of fishermen that there has been a decrease.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if he concentrates his whole attention on the lobsters of the Western Isles there may be widespread indignation amongst the lobsters along the East Coast, and that they may refuse to be caught?

Has any agreement so far been reached with France upon this subject?

The French do not fish in the waters to which this Question refers.

They do.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the progress that is being made with plans to provide water supplies to rural areas in Ross and Cromarty.

Satisfactory progress is being made within the available resources with the schemes at present in progress. While there were difficulties at an earlier stage with the planning of the additional schemes yet to be undertaken, this work also is now proceeding satisfactorily.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, certainly in Ross-shire, people feel that these schemes are going forward very slowly indeed? I hope that he will look very carefully into the difficulties he talked about to see that they are overcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be able to give a decision on the schemes for the development of the Scalloway-Trondra-Burra Isle area of Shetland.

Technical reports on this proposal will be completed shortly. They will be considered in conjunction with the Advisory Panel on the Highlands and Islands, and a decision will be taken as quickly as possible.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman two questions? First, will he do his best to expedite the matter, which has been dragging on, I think, for some time? Second, can he say whether both the scheme for the causeway and the scheme for an extension of the Blackness pier at the Isle of Scalloway are regarded as alternatives or as separate schemes?

I think it will be found that the two schemes, the one at Blackness and the other the causeway, are mutually exclusive.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there is a very valuable fishing fleet in this area which, with a new type of boat, has not adequate safe harbour facilities, and that a causeway of 500 feet from Trondra to the other side would provide such a safe harbour? Will he give urgent attention to this matter in view of the possibility of unemployment in the area?

The construction of the harbour will provide such accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he contemplates taking with a view to improving the harbour and berthing facilities for the fishing fleet at Mallaig.

The responsibility for carrying out improvements at Mallaig Harbour lies with the British Transport Commission, and I have drawn the attention of the Railway Executive to the needs of the fishing industry.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that Mallaig is the nearest railhead from the Minch fishing grounds for the southern markets? In view of the importance of this, and of the very unsatisfactory nature of the harbour and berthing facilities at present, will he make every effort to get something done?

asked the Minister of Pensions when Mr. John Touhey, 100 per cent. disabled ex-Service man, 6, Benson Road, Waddon, Croydon, may expect delivery of a folding wheeled chair to replace the unsuitable one supplied on 9th December, 1950.

It was very difficult to provide a wheelchair suitable for Mr. Touhey owing to his inability to use a standard model, but after he had been visited by one of my technical officers a chair was specially made. It was despatched to Mr. Touhey by the manufacturers on 27th July.

Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to ensure that the unsuitable chair which has been lying in Mr. Touhey's house since the first week in December last year is collected, because it is in every way new and a suitable chair for presentation to some other ex-Service man?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman may rest assured that we shall collect that chair and make use of it for somebody who really needs it.

asked the Minister of Pensions on what grounds he has refused a pension for the widow of 2nd Engineer William Dunlop, who was presumed drowned as from 26th March, 1942, from ss. "Queen Mary," of whose case he already has details and correspondence.

I regret that I am unable to award a pension to this lady, having regard to the provisions of the War Pensions (Mercantile Marine) Act, 1942. Mrs. Dunlop has been notified that she has a right of appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal against my decision.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that justice has been done to this lady, who lost her husband in 1942 when serving this country in taking troops through the Pacific Ocean; and if this man had been a member of the Royal Navy and had lost his life in similar circumstances, would his widow have been deprived of a pension?

I have already given the hon. Gentleman full particulars in answer to his inquiry, setting out the full facts. I cannot add to that. I can add, however, that I think this lady is entitled to every sympathy, but I am bound by the Act of Parliament, and I hope that whatever assistance we can give to her to take the case to appeal will readily be given.

Is the right hon. Gentleman suggesting that this man was not serving his country and was not on war service at the time of his death?

It is quite improper for the hon. Gentleman to read any such suggestion into what I have said. I said nothing of the sort. I said that we have every sympathy with her.

Why not give her a pension?

Because she is not entitled to it.

Grossly unfair.

asked the Minister of Pensions the cause of the delay in opening the new limbless centre in Leicester.

The delay is largely due to the need for alterations to premises in order to provide the specialised service. Negotiations with the owner are in progress. As I said in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 24th July, I hope the centre will be opened by early September.

Does my right hon. Friend not agree that the owner of the premises is doing a very great disservice to the limbless people of Leicester by not agreeing to the slight alteration required; and will my right hon. Friend point out to the owner that it is a very serious thing to hold up a matter of this sort on the very scanty excuse that he is putting forward at present?

I should not like to say he was doing a disservice. I should like to put it the other way, that he would do a very great service to a number of limbless pensioners in the area if he would hurry up the decision.

asked the Lord Privy Seal the reason for two trains on the Emmett railway at the Festival Gardens proceeding at the same time and on the same line in opposite directions to a head-on collision on 11th July, 1951; what signalling arrangements are in force on this railway; what safety devices are installed; and whether the railway is now closed to the general public.

One of the drivers failed to carry out the very simple system which is in operation to prevent such an occurrence. There is no signalling system, but other forms of control are used. There are no electric or mechanical safety devices installed. The railway is not now closed to the public.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that the two locomotives involved in this head-on collision, named, respectively "Nellie" and "Wild Goose," on the Oyster Creek and Far Tottering Railway, are now restored to full operational efficiency; and will he give the House a further assurance that every step will be taken to prevent a repetition of this very sad episode?

The answer to the first part of that supplementary question is "Yes, Sir"—at least, I think it is. With regard to the danger, if the hon. Gentleman will study the report of the inquest, he will find that the jury added nothing to their verdict of "Accidental death."

Can the right hon. Gentleman say which of the peculiarities of this railway caused it to be the only one in the United Kingdom about whose administration Ministers will answer Questions in this House?

I think the answer to that is that the Festival Gardens are prepared to answer for anything.

Since this railway is always referred to by the name of the distinguished artist who decorated it, is it not only fair to him to point out that he was responsible only for the superstructure and the decorative part of it, and not for the mechanical side of it at all; and would it not also be fair to spell his name correctly?

I can assure my hon. Friend that he did not design the accident.

asked the Lord Privy Seal the casualties sustained on 11th July, 1951, when a head-on collision took place on the Emmett Railway at the Festival Gardens; what arrangements he has made for passengers on this railway to be insured against loss of life and personal injury; and whether he will make a statement regarding insurance of passengers for all risks for the guidance of future passengers on all similar conveyances in the Festival Gardens.

The casualties were, I regret to say, one killed and 12 injured. The Festival Gardens Company insists on all concessionaires being adequately insured against loss of life and personal injury, and the concessionaire concerned was so covered. The Company is itself fully covered against contingency liability, if any.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in order to encourage the sale of season tickets for the South Bank Exhibition, he will reduce the present charges of 25s. and £4 for weekly and monthly season tickets, respectively.

No, Sir. The weekly and monthly tickets, which admit to the South Bank, the Science and Architecture Exhibitions, are already good value, having regard to the prices for single admission to these Exhibitions.

Is it not a fact that the sale of these season tickets has been so small as barely to cover the cost of printing; and would it not help to increase the sale of these tickets if the price were reduced, because obviously the price is so high that the tickets are not being sold?

I do not know about the relative cost of printing and distribution, but there are other difficulties, and I am satisfied that the prices we are charging are not unreasonable in the circumstances.

asked the Lord Privy Seal the number of schoolchildren visitors to the South Bank Exhibition up to the last convenient date.

Four hundred and seventy thousand schoolchildren have so far visited the South Bank Exhibition in school parties. The latest available returns show that altogether there have been over 800,000 admissions at half-price.

asked the Lord Privy Seal the income and the maintenance costs of the South Bank Exhibition up to the last available date.

Up to last Saturday, 28th July, the admission revenue at the South Bank Exhibition from the opening date was about £860,000 and the running expenditure about £280,000.

Are the figures my right hon. Friend has given up to expectations; and does he not think that with a shorter season, and a change in policy and in some of the exhibits, it could be continued in 1952; and if not, will he give an assurance that the site which has given pleasure to so many millions of people will not be derelict in 1952?

The figures are getting very near to what we anticipated. I have already answered questions about the continuation of the South Bank. I am open-minded about it, and, if conditions and attendances prove that it is desirable to keep it open longer, we will see if we can find some way of doing so.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when a decision on this matter will be finally taken?

I should not think it would be possible to take a decision on the South Bank until towards the end of the summer period, because that is the time when we expect the greatest attendances. Until those have been achieved it would be unwise to attempt any calculation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the Festival of Britain Council will have an opportunity of stating their objections before a decision is taken?

They have already been asked to do so.

asked the Lord Privy Seal, in view of the recent Anglo-Canadian and Anglo-Russian contracts for imports of softwoods into the United Kingdom during 1951, what will be the total estimated imports of softwoods, excluding pit wood and plywood, during the calendar year 1951; what will be the aggregate number of standards of softwood for which his Department will issue consumption licences during the calendar year 1951; and whether he can state the comparable figures for total imports and total consumption in respect of the calendar year 1950.

I am not prepared to forecast arrivals of softwood up to the end of this year, except to say that they will be pretty good, since there are so many hazards which may prevent the fulfilment of present estimates. Our imports of sawn softwood should be very much greater than in 1950, when they were some 825,000 standards. The present rate of consumption is about 1.1 million standards a year as compared with just over one million standards in 1950. The future level of consumption must depend on the adequacy of our stocks for commercial and other purposes, and on our balance of overseas payments.

While not wishing to press the right hon. Gentleman in regard to strategic requirements, may I ask whether he can give the House an assurance that the stockpiling programme for softwood timber is proceeding satisfactorily and in accordance with the schedule originally arranged by his right hon. Friend, the former President of the Board of Trade?

I am not quite sure about the schedule prepared. I can only assure the hon. Gentleman that by Christmas of this year it will be very much higher than I ever anticipated.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if there is now an early prospect of additional supplies of newsprint becoming available to allow the newspapers to fulfil their functions more adequately; and what provision has been made for special allocations of newsprint during the period of a General Election.

In view of the need to restore stocks of newsprint to a safer level, I do not think that there is any early prospect of an increase in consumption by newspapers or other users. The question of special allocations to meet a General Election will be considered when the need arises.

As that need may possibly arise quite quickly, have the Newsprint Supply Company been authorised by the Government to issue, say, enough additional newsprint for another four pages on to the 1½d. paper during the period of the election so that they are all ready with their stocks to meet that demand?

We will have a look at that when the time comes. I do not anticipate that it will come in the immediate future.

In view of the dramatic increase in the price of newsprint, does the right hon. Gentleman think that it will be possible to hold the General Election at all?

asked the Lord Privy Seal why the timber for housing work has not been cut into the scantlings required at its place of origin, instead of the tree-trunks being shipped to Great Britain, thus wasting freight charges upon a quantity of wood which is not used.

If the hon. Member will give me particulars of the imports of tree-trunks to which he refers, I will look into the matter. It is usual to import timber for housing in the form of sawn softwood of recognised dimensions.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great many tree-trunks have been imported in this way, and that it is perfectly proper and easy to do it the other way, which is the normal way in ordinary commercial practice?

I have asked the hon. Gentleman for particulars. It does not necessarily follow that because logs come in they are not wanted. Wood used for shoring, pile work on docks, and so on, is brought in as bulk timber. If the hon. Gentleman will let me have particulars I will certainly examine them.

Is the Minister not aware that, if he will look into this question of logs coming in in that way he will find straight away that a good many of them are being cut up afterwards for use in housing work?

If the hon. Gentleman will send me particulars I will look at it.

I will certainly send particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Mrs. Martin received no information from his Department about her son, since died of wounds received in Korea, between 18th April when she was informed that he was severely wounded and about 22nd May when she flew out as he was dangerously ill, in spite of the fact that she herself knew of his whereabouts and informed his Department accordingly.

The hon. and gallant Member will by now have received a letter from my hon. Friend explaining in full the circumstances of this tragic case.

Is the Minister aware that if this lady had not heard by chance that her son was in a Danish hospital ship, he might have died without the War Office knowing anything about it until afterwards? Will he give an assurance that when there is no news, as in this case, nothing is ever taken for granted until the fullest possible inquiries have been made?

Certainly, Sir; but the difficulty was, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman says, that this man was in a Danish ship and was then transferred to an American hospital, and he did not come under our direct jurisdiction during that period.

Is it not the case that if, when this lady began to make inquiries, the fullest possible inquiries had been made at the other end—and it is at the other end that I suggest the fault lies—information could have been given?

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that in the special circumstances existing in Korea, with so many different nationalities, the arrangements for pooling and exchanging information are adequate?

We do our best in that direction. It does produce, of course, a complication, and we are always trying to improve these arrangements, but delays do sometimes arise because of that factor.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many different bodies were identified as that of 1115452 Gunner Ernest Clinton; and on what grounds.

Only one body was so identified. The evidence of identification consisted of statements signed by two of this soldier's comrades and countersigned by his battery commander. I am sending the hon. Member copies of their statements giving the exact grounds of identification.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say, in these circumstances, why he referred to a second body in reply to a supplementary question by me last month?

There were other bodies exhumed at the time, and sketches were made of the tattoo marks on these bodies. One of these sketches, as the hon. Member knows, was sent to Mrs. Clinton, and she was clear that this was not of the body of her husband.

asked the Secretary of State for War the grounds on which he is satisfied that the fact that release by purchase during the first three months of attestation was in suspense was drawn to the attention of a young soldier, particulars of whom have been sent him; and whether he will reconsider his decision to refuse release to this man.

Recruiting instructions require recruiting officers to make clear each clause in a soldier's attestation, and they are particularly careful to explain the present position as regards Clause 8. The recruiting officer has stated categorically that he never fails to comply with recruiting instructions, and I am therefore unable to accept the soldier's contention that, in his case, these instructions were not complied with.