asked the Secretary of State for War in view of the fact that the rates of pay of French and Greek other ranks serving in Korea are all increased to the American level; whether he will make similar arrangements for British troops and ensure that soldiers from this country do not have to pay Income Tax on their pay, as in the case of Canadian and Australian troops.

No. As I explained to the House on 29th May, the British pay code takes account of the fact that officers and men serve a substantial proportion of their service overseas and pay Income Tax at United Kingdom rates, whether they are serving at home or abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for War the age on arrival at Singapore and at his death of the late 22332305 Private B. J. Leedham, who was killed in Malaya while serving with the 1st Battalion the Worcestershire Regiment.

Private Leedham's age on arrival at Singapore was 18 years 9 months. His age at his death on 8th March, 1951, was 19 years 5 months.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what action has been taken by his Department, in accordance with its assurances, to prevent the military activities of Trawsfynydd Range from interfering with the life and work of the neighbouring farms;(2) whether he has now completed his investigation into the firing of bullets from the Trawsfynydd Range into the vicinity of certain farm buildings where farmers were working; and what steps are being taken to prevent such dangerous occurrences in future.

The incident to which the hon. Member refers occurred on 28th June, when bullets landed outside the Trawsfynydd practical training area, and in the assembly area which adjoins it. I have ordered a full inquiry to be made so that suitable disciplinary action can be taken and in order to avoid a repetition of the incident. So far as I am aware there have been no other reports of military activities interfering with the life and work of the neighbouring farms.

asked the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made towards making a permanent arrangement for the administration of Grove Park Camp, Iver, Buckinghamshire.

Negotiations for the permanent administration of this camp are proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now make a statement on the special recognition to be awarded to the Gloucestershire Regiment.

His Majesty has approved the wearing of a special emblem by officers and other ranks while serving with the 1st Battalion the Gloucestershire Regiment and "C" Troop, 170th Independent Mortar Battery, Royal Regiment of Artillery. The emblem will also continue to be worn by those who were present in these units in the action in Korea, irrespective of the unit in which they may be serving. The emblem will take the form of a strip of blue watered silk ribbon within a gold frame and will be worn horizontally near the top of each sleeve.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many reservist badges have been sent to members of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers and the Supplementary Reserve of Officers; and what was the total cost of these badges.

10,900 of these badges have so far been distributed. As my hon. Friend stated on 29th May, the badges were bought before the war at a cost of 2s. each and are being distributed at a cost of about 7½d. each.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the smallest currency issued to the British Armed Forces in Korea is a 3d. note.

Although the British Armed Forces are paid in British Armed Forces Special Vouchers, of which a 3d. voucher is the smallest denomination, tokens and coin of lesser value are used to provide small change for the troops in the canteens. etc.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects to receive information as to the confirmation or otherwise of the sentences passed by field general court martial upon the 11 members of the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the sentences of the field general court martial on the 11 men in the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers serving in Korea have been confirmed; and if he will make a statement.

I regret I cannot yet add anything to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Sowerby (Mr. Houghton) on 17th July.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the British interests involved in Persia, he will ensure that all commercial information media coming from Persia, including films, shall have the widest possible distribution.

I have been asked to reply. The distribution of commercial information media is not a matter for Government Departments. But I am sure it would be the wish of the whole House that the widest possible distribution should be given to any material that helps to present the British point of view in this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent he proposes to restrict imports for the second half of 1951 in order to achieve the total imports for the year of£3,200,000,000 as was estimated in the Economic Survey; and what classes of imports will be most affected.

I would refer the hon. Member to what I said on this subject in the debate last Thursday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that during the past two years the Interim Index of Industrial Production has increased from 129 to 146, he will say what change in production costs there has been in that period.

The trend of unit costs of production is determined by a number of factors including, besides the actual quantity of output recorded in the Interim Index of Industrial Production, the consumption and prices of raw materials, changes in wage rates and other factors affecting labour cost, and in numbers employed and hours worked. The available information on all these factors is not sufficient to enable me to make a reliable estimate of the change in production costs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Annual Abstract of Trade is not published until more than two years after the end of the last year covered by it.

Because the Annual Statement of Trade comprises over 2,500 pages of closely printed statistical tables, and takes a long time to prepare and print.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why a married woman who becomes 60 years of age before her husband becomes 65 years of age is not entitled to immediate repayment of any part of the post-war credit certificates in respect of income part of which was earned by her, unless an application for separate apportionment was made within three months of the date of each such certificate.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. and learned Member for Hove (Mr. Marlowe) on 23rd November and 5th December last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent he has authorised the purchase of low-grade wheat and coarse grains in Canada this season in order to supplement supplies of feedingstuffs for cattle, pigs and poultry in the coming winter.

We have, so far, purchased 54,000 tons of feedwheat and 50,000 tons of barley from Canada for this purpose. It would not be in the public interest to disclose the extent of any further authorisations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered a memorandum sent to him on delays experienced in obtaining clearance through Customs of important publications of the United Nations sent from the United States of America; and whether he will take steps to bring about an improvement.

The delays have been caused by the late receipt of advices of despatch sent from New York and not by Customs clearance, which is usually effected within 24 hours of presentation of the import documents. Steps to secure more speedy delivery and distribution of copies are being taken jointly by the Stationery Office, the United Nations representatives, and the shipping agents in London.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the heavy expenditure involved in the upkeep of British diplomatic. missions in Communist countries of Eastern Europe due to artificially high exchange rates, he will take steps to see that a proportion of British exports to those countries sufficient to cover those costs are paid for in their own domestic currencies.

In accordance with inter-Governmental agreements and commercial custom our trade with these countries is conducted in sterling. Much as I deplore the unreasonable exchange rates fixed by their Governments for diplomatic and similar expenditure, I do not favour any departure from a sterling basis of payment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take the necessary powers to enable him to forbid the transfer of sterling from the commercial to Embassy accounts of the Soviet Government and the other Eastern Europe Communist Governments represented in the United Kingdom, and to compel them to acquire the sterling for the use of their Embassy services by converting their currencies into sterling at rates corresponding to those fixed by them.

I am afraid that the hon. Member's suggestion would not be effective in preventing the payment of Embassy expenses out of commercial accounts without a degree of detailed control both here and throughout the sterling area which would be completely impracticable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that although the coin trade were given to understand that an adequate supply of Festival year coinage sets were to be issued, the supply is unequal to the demand, so that the sets are unobtainable at the South Bank Exhibition, coin dealers are obliged to turn away orders and a source of profit to the Treasury is lost; and whether he will ensure that in future there is better advance planning of similar profitable issues by the Royal Mint.

No undertaking was given about the number of specimen sets of 1951 coins to be issued. Limited quantities are on sale at the South Bank Exhibition on Saturday afternoons and on one other day each week, but no further orders are being accepted from coin dealers. This is because the Royal Mint, after performing its primary function of supplying ordinary coinage to this and to many overseas countries, gives priority to the Festival Crown pieces, of which more have been issued in the past three months than of any previous Crown piece in any year in this century. The minting of specimen sets can be undertaken only to the extent that surplus capacity exists at the time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make dollars available for British capital investment in oil development in Alberta.

Yes, if I am satisfied that a sufficiently good case exists.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional revenue he expects from the new rate of taxation on cinemas, which comes into operation on 5th August; what additional revenue he estimates he would get if theatres, music halls and football matches were taxed at this new rate.

The additional revenue from the revised full scale of Entertainments Duty is estimated at£6½million in a full year. As regards the second part of the Question, the additional yield would depend on a number of factors, in particular the effect of the increased duty on admission prices and attendances, which for an increase in duty of this order cannot be predicted with sufficient certainty to enable a firm estimate to be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the consultations with the Service Ministries on the subject of the revision of the existing tax-free allowances for officers of His Majesty's Forces in respect of the maintenance of their uniforms have now been completed; and if he will make a statement.

These consultations are still proceeding, and I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now announce any alterations in the present allowances of supplies of duty-free cigarettes to aircraft.

Consultations have been taking place and I hope that a decision will be reached very shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what royalties were paid last year to the United States of America on the manufacture of penicillin.

This information is not readily available and in any case, since only two firms are concerned, to divulge it would involve disclosing transactions by individual businesses and thus be contrary to Exchange Control practice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will remit the present Purchase Tax on motorcyclists' crash helmets on the ground that they can reasonably be regarded as a necessity.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the continued rise in the cost of living, he will now institute a full inquiry into the whole question of the level of pensions, covering ex-Service men, widows. old age and National Health pensioners in order to bring these in line with the present-day requirements.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent he expects to be in a position to pay the first instalment of the repayment of the American Loan without introducing a supplementary Budget.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the December payment of interest as well as amortisation. I am not yet in a position to say whether circumstances will justify a request for the waiver of the interest, but, in the meantime, as I stated in my Budget speech, provision has been made for the payment in this year's Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give the sterling value of hard currency introduced by visitors to this country from 1st April, 1951, to the latest convenient date; and the comparable figures for 1949 and 1950.

Estimates of dollar earnings from tourism in the first half of this year are not yet available, but will be published in the next Balance of Payments White Paper. The number of visitors from the United States and Canada in the second quarter of this year, excluding those in transit, is estimated provisionally at 58,200 compared with 60,400 in the second quarter of last year and 48,200 in the second quarter of 1949. There is, however, some evidence that expenditure per head is higher than last year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the proposal of the Indian Government to tax the service pensions of former British officers of the Indian Army, contrary to the agreement and understanding between the British and Indian Governments; and what steps he proposes to take to compensate those concerned and to see that they get the pensions to which they are entitled.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 18th June in the Committee stage debates on the Finance Bill, and also to the reply of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations to a Question from the hon. and learned Member for Kensington, South (Sir P. Spens) on 26th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is intended to assess Income Tax on the Wholesale Co-operative Society in respect of its non-mutual trading activities such as the supply of goods to bodies not registered as co-operative societies.

I cannot furnish information as to the Income Tax liabilities of particular taxpayers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a further statement regarding the setting up of a committee of inquiry to examine questions arising from the present system of Purchase Tax in relation to classes of goods for which utility schemes exist.

Yes. I am now in a position to announce the immediate setting up of the committee, under the chairmanship of Sir William Douglas, G.C.B., K.B.E. Members of the committee will be:Mr. D. Barber, C.B.E., Secretary of the Retail Distributors Association.Mr. E. W. Goodale, C.B.E., M.C., of the Federation of British Industries.Mr. W. T. Caves, O.B.E., Secretary of the Wholesale Textile Association.Mr. W. C. Heywood, C.B.E., of the International Union of Dyers, Bleachers and Textile Workers.Mr. C. D. Worswick.Mrs. Margaret Allen.The terms of reference of the committee will be:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated loss to the Exchequer in Profits Tax and Surtax in the current year, and in a full year, which will result from the implementation of the Government's dividend limitation proposals.

I cannot say what the loss in a full year would be as this depends on the extent to which dividends would have increased if no action had been taken. There will be little or no loss this year as neither the Surtax nor, generally speaking, the Profits Tax on the dividends in question would have been paid during the current year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many nylon stockings have been confiscated by Customs and Excise in each of the last three years; and how such stockings are distributed after being seized.

Nylons are not distinguished from other stockings in the Customs records. The numbers of pairs of stockings seized in the last three years were as follow:

1948–49	…	…	…	49,130
1949–50	…	…	…	74,930
1950–51	…	…	…	59,570

They were sold through the Surplus Textiles Corporation for the benefit of the Exchequer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present size of the National Land Fund; and when he will be able to publish details of receipts and outgoings of this fund for the last financial year.

The present size of the National Land Fund is£53,400,000. The account of receipts and payments for the financial year 1950–51 is with the Comptroller and Auditor-General and will be published when his audit is completed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average time that a Communist in the Civil Service remained suspended, under the arrangements made by the Prime Minister for security in the public services.

The average length of time for which persons thought to come within the scope of the Prime Minister's statement of 15th March, 1948, have been suspended is about five months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid out in wages during the year ended December, 1950, to Communists suspended from the Civil Service under the arrangements made by the Prime Minister for security in the public services.

About£8,000 was paid in 1950 to civil servants coming within the scope of the Prime Minister's statement while on suspension leave during that year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much rubber has been shipped to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the last month.

In the month of June exports to the Soviet Union of imported raw rubber from the United Kingdom were 788 tons. The exports of rubber from Malaya to the Soviet Union were recorded at 1,200 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what relaxation of prohibition of British imports to the Argentine has occurred since the recent trade agreement was made.

The position is that goods are not admitted into the Argentine without import licence except goods purchased on Government account which require authorisation by the Central Bank. Since the signature of the trade protocol on 23rd April, discussions have been taking place at the Mixed Consultative Committee in Buenos Aires. A very small quantity of United Kingdom goods is already being licensed, but we had hoped that by now the Argentine authorities would have felt able to issue a reasonable number of import licences for traditional United Kingdom exports. I understand, however, that the Argentine authorities are now engaged in the preparation of new import regulations in the light of the discussions at the Mixed Consultative Committee. I trust that these regulations will be issued soon and will produce an improvement in the situation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantities and values of ladies' hats imported from Germany for the years 1949 and 1950, and the first six months of 1951.

I regret that the information is not available as imports of ladies' hats are not separately distinguished in the trade returns.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will refer to the Monoply Commission the restrictive practices of the Newsreel Association of Great Britain and Ireland, Limited, who have threatened to boycott any films taken by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company unless the oil company undertake to supply their films exclusively to members of the Newsreel Association.

My right hon. and learned Friend will be prepared to consider the supply of news films as a possible subject for reference to the Commission when he comes to select further references, but hon. Members will realise that there will be a lot of other important subjects to consider at the same time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why partial payment for business chattels under the War Damage Act, 1943, Part II, is made conditional upon any charge for interest being waived.

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. As from 21st October, 1946, the position has been that where an advance is allowed on a claim under the Business Scheme the amount of the advance carries interest to the date of payment, but the interest is deferred and is payable along with the rest of the claim when the latter is fully discharged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what is the amount of the claims still outstanding on business chattels under the War Damage Act, 1943, Part II.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that six years have elapsed since the end of the war, he will now fix a date for the general payment of business, scheme claims under the War Damage Act of 1943 (Part II).

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer given on 26th July to the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro).

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will give the figures for capital equipment, including steel, turbines, cement, industrial machinery, machine tools and railway equipment, that were exported in the first half of 1951 and the first half of 1950 to the receiving countries of Southern Asia that have joined the Colombo Plan;(2) to what extent the British Government was able to meet orders for capital equipment from the receiving countries of Southern Asia who have joined the Colombo Plan in the first half of 1950 and 1951.

The countries in Southern Asia which, up to the present, have decided to participate in the Colombo Plan are Ceylon, India, Pakistan; the Associated States of Indo China; the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, British North Borneo, Brunei, and Sarawak.The development schemes which make up the programmes of these countries are being undertaken by many agencies, both Government and private. The capital goods required are ordered, like other requirements, through normal commercial channels and the United Kingdom Government, as such, are not called upon to meet these orders.Our exports to these countries of goods included in Trade Groups III C, D, F, G and S, which are mainly capital goods, but include some consumer goods, in the first six months of 1950 and 1951 were respectively£60m. and£68m. These figures do not, of course, distinguish between capital goods required for Colombo Plan projects and those required for other purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recent progress has been made with the proposal to set up a Development Council for the Pottery Industry.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 14th June.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends to take to protect the consumer against high prices of linoleum.

There is a statutory control over prices of linoleum. The maximum prices which manufacturers are permitted to charge are not excessive having regard to their costs and the production processes employed in this industry

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications he has received from the Midlands, including Leicester, for industrial development certificates; and how many he has felt able to grant.

In the Midland and North Midland Regions 1,749 applications for industrial development certificates for new factories and extensions exceeding 5,000 sq. ft. have been received since 1st July, 1948, and 1,428 certificates have been granted. Of these, 63 applications have been received in respect of Leicester and 58 granted.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what were the figures for housing in Britain during the six years after the First World War, compared with those for the six years ending June, 1951, in respect of new houses, built or rebuilt, adaptations, uninhabitable war-damaged houses repaired. habitable war-damaged houses repaired, requisitioned houses, huts, Service camps and total new homes. respectively.

The number of new houses built in England and Wales between January, 1919, and September, 1924, was 398,466 and the number built in Scotland between January, 1919, and December, 1924. 34,982. Any war-destroyed houses rebuilt would be included in these totals.No information is available as to the number of houses provided by means other than the erection of new houses, or as to the number of occupied war-damaged houses repaired.The numbers of houses provided in Great Britain in the six years ended 31st March, 1951, are contained in the Housing Return for that month. They are:

New permanent houses (built and rebuilt)	865,409
Temporary houses	157,146
Conversions	137,134
Repair of unoccupied war-damaged houses	144,986
Requisitioned properties	23,306
Temporary huts	2,835
Service camps	27,340
Total	1,358,156

The number of occupied war-damaged houses repaired in this period by local authorities is approximately 775,000. The number repaired by private builders is not known.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning by how many the allocation of houses to the Heston and Isleworth Borough Council was reduced for 1951 because of the allocation of licences for the building of houses within the borough granted to the British Overseas Airways Corporation for housing their employees

None

Sixty-six had been completed by 30th June last. No statements of final costs have yet been submitted to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he is aware that certain housing schemes in Ilford, details of which have been sent him, are now stopped for lack of steel; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this.

Yes. My right hon. Friend has given the Council a certificate for preferential treatment for 40 tons of steel for their flats.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether he has now investigated the complaint of the hold-up in preparing housing foundations in Stoke-on-Trent due to the shortage of mild steel bars; and what action he has taken to assist.

Yes. My right hon. Friend is giving the Council a certificate for preferential treatment for 110 tons of steel.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether he will now sanction increases in the permitted selling price of a house where price rises of labour and materials have resulted in increased final costs of houses, provided such increases are approved and licensed by the local authority; whether he will deal speedily with cases for increases submitted by the County Borough of Wallasey; and if he can estimate how many houses are completed but unoccupied pending the clarification of this issue by his Department.

My right hon. Friend is prepared to consider applications from local authorities. He has already replied to the applications made by Wallasey in regard to two houses. He has no knowledge that houses remain unoccupied on this account.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning why proposals for the revision of valuation lists are not communicated to owners of tenanted houses, but only to the tenants; and if he will restore the former practice of rating authorities in this respect.

Because the tenant and not the owner normally pays the rates. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "No."

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether the conference of the Crickhowell and Brecknock Rural District Councils, to discuss a water supply scheme for Bwlch, Breconshire, has taken place as undertaken on 19th April, 1951; whether he is aware of the serious shortage of water in the village at present; and whether anything can be done to remedy this immediately.

My right hon. Friend is disappointed that the two councils concerned have not yet reached agreement, as to the best scheme of water supply. It is hoped that they will soon settle this matter, and so avoid the inconvenience of the present arrangements.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning when he transmitted to the National Council for Local Authorities' Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical Services his decision with regard to paid leave for Army Class Z and Royal Air Force Class G reservists; and why, when notification was given, it stated that the decision is for this year only without prejudice.

My right hon. Friend has had no communication with the National Joint Council on this matter.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether, in those cases where there is agreement between county districts either as to amalgamation or as to an alteration of boundaries, such amalgamation or alteration will be permitted to take place under the provisions of Section 146 of the Local Government Act of 1933, after the end of the present year.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if the gypsy survey has yet commenced; what are the proposals in this respect: and what form will the survey take.

My right hon. Friend is considering how best to arrange for the inquiry promised in his reply to the hon. Member on 10th July.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning, what further steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to collect more waste paper; and, in view of the threats in certain cases made by the district auditor to disallow the amount of bonus that may be paid to men engaged on this work, if he will give an assurance that he will not surcharge local authorities for any such disallowed amounts.

My right hon. Friend is pressing all local authorities to collect all the waste paper they can.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he will now make a statement about his proposals for assisting local authorities to expand their towns.

The Government have decided to introduce legislation to give financial help to borough and district councils, who will undertake major expansion, in order to relieve overcrowding in congested and overcrowded areas. This financial encouragement for expanded towns will reinforce the policy of building new towns in order to enable overcrowded population and over-concentrated industry to be dispersed.

asked the Minister of Works if he will replace with a fence the high wall surrounding the east side of Osterley Park so that travellers along Syon Lane may enjoy the beauty of the park.

No. The wall does not form part of the property leased to my Department

asked the Minister of Works what tonnage of steel will be required to complete the new Colonial offices at Princes Street, Victoria Street: and how much of that has been delivered to the site up to 20th July.

Seven hundred and twenty-one tons of steel had been delivered to the site of the new Colonial Office up to 20th July. Approximately 6,230 tons will be required eventually to complete the building.

asked the Minister of Works how many visitors have been to the Tower of London on Sundays; and if he will make a decision before September on the extension of the experimental period to enable visitors and tourist agencies to make the necessary arrangements to ensure a maximum attendance.

The attendance at the rower of London on Sundays, 22nd and 29th July. was 2,696 and 8,182 respectively. I appreciate the value of an early decision about an extension beyond September, but I must be guided by experience over the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will cause to have placed in Westminster Hall an inscription commemorating the fact that Sir Thomas More, Member of Parliament, Privy Councillor and Lord Chancellor, stood his trial and was sentenced to death there in July. 1535.

I am considering the possibility of putting up a tablet in Westminster Hall recording all the famous trials that have taken place there: it would, of course, include that of Sir Thomas More.

asked the Minister of Works if he will have placed in the Library or Tea Room the plans and elevations of the buildings that are to be erected in the vicinity of the Houses of Parliament for the services of Parliament.

The plans and elevations of buildings to be erected in the vicinity of the Houses of Parliament for the use of Parliament will be displayed in the Library or Tea Room in due course. No such drawings are at present available.

asked the Minister of Works if he will arrange for the ventilation of the telephone boxes in the Palace of Westminster.

All telephone boxes in the Palace of Westminster are ventilated. Those installed in connection with the rebuilding of the House of Commons are attached to the mechanical ventilating system in use in that building. Other boxes are ventilated by the normal means of a grille placed in the roof.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is able to make a statement upon the recommendations of the Leggatt Report on the London Docks, following his discussions with the employers and trade unions.

These discussions are not yet completed. As soon as conclusions have been reached my right hon. Friend will issue a full statement in the form of a White Paper.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average number of persons required in connection with each£1 million spent on the re-armament programme; and the approximate total number of persons now employed on the re-armament work.

The Supply Departments estimate that, on an average, a year's work for some 1,400 persons within this country is required in connection with each£1 million spent on the production of equipment and stores for the re-armament programme. The total number of persons so employed at the end of March is estimated to be about 600,000.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what is the body responsible for deciding the wages rates and the hours worked per week in the Wallsend Remploy factory; if the disabled men in the factory have any direct representation; and if he will consider intervening to get a 40-hour week established for these men and with a higher weekly wage than the present£4 8s.;(2) how many men in the Wallsend Remploy factory receive the rate of 2s. per hour or£4 8s. per week; how many get the highest rate of 2s. 6d. per hour; how many receive intermediate rates; and what are the skilled trades for which these men are being trained;(3) if he is aware that married men working in the Wallsend factory for disabled men, who have three children and who pay 12s. per week rent, can get their income made up under National Assistance in September to£4 17s. 6d. when they are not working, which is 8s. 6d. more than the wages paid in the Remploy factory; and if he will therefore recommend an improvement in the wages paid.

Wages and conditions at Remploy Ltd. are negotiated with the trade unions concerned and my right hon. Friend does not propose to interferes with these arrangements. The usual trade union machinery is available for representations to be made to the management. At present, 10 of the severely disabled men employed at the factory get 2s. per hour, six men get 2s. 6d. per hour, while the remaining 29 get intermediate rates. They are mainly employed on woodwork.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an assurance that a statement will be made to this House as to the Government's policy as to the future of Statutory Instrument, 1940, No. 1305, before a new Order is made and laid.

My right hon. Friend will make a statement on Thursday next.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is prepared to take to obviate the hardship which arises as a result of the delay of nearly two weeks in many cases which occurs between the time when an unemployed man obtains employment and when he receives his first wages.

The arrangements for the payment of wages are a matter for the two sides of industry to settle by agreement. I am aware from information received from the National Assistance Board that cases of hardship occur in the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers and I trust that employers will be prepared to consider ways and means of meeting these difficulties.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) why the National Service registration of Mr. D. D. Marsden, The Oakes, Cottam Lane, Preston, was changed from agricultural worker to corn miller without informing him at the time; and under what authority this was done(2) if 22483660 Trooper Duncan D. Marsden was registered as an agricultural worker when he was called up for National Service; and by what authority the registration was changed.

I am looking into these cases and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she is aware that old age pensioners in hostels controlled by Glamorgan County Council have been required by the National Assistance Board to pay a proportion of the cost of new spectacles supplied to them; what steps she proposes to discontinue this practice; and whether she will make a statement.

The National Assistance Board do not levy or collect charges for spectacles under the National Health Service Act, 1951. But where the charge is levied on a person who cannot meet it the Board do, in appropriate cases, make a grant to enable him to do so. Grants meeting the charge in full have, in fact, been made to the three pensioners in Glamorgan County Council hostels who have applied for them.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that there is a delay of up to two years in the delivery of three-inch to six-inch iron water pipes; and, in view of the fact that rural water schemes are being held up and becoming much more costly, what action he proposes to take to make supplies of pipe available.

Yes. I am aware that there is between 18 months to 2 years' delay in delivery of these pipes. Increased production depends on additional labour to work extra shifts. Plans are in hand to provide housing accommodation for additional labour for one of the largest producers in the country, but it is not expected that they will be completed before 1952.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will release to the home market motor vehicles which have been allocated to the export market, but have been standing for over three months either on the quayside or in field adjoining the factories awaiting shipping space.

Manufacturers may, at their discretion, divert to the home market export vehicles for which shipping space is not available, on the understanding that, as the shipping position improves, they will increase exports so that supply to the home market corresponds as closely as possible to the home quotas for the year as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why there was a delay of five years in reaching agreement with the French Government for the payment of compensation to British owners of shares in nationalised French gas and electricity undertakings and what was the total amount of compensation paid.

The negotiations for an agreement on this question, involving important points of principle on both sides, were extremely complicated and difficult and their conclusion was delayed by several serious disagreements. The main cause of delay in the early part of the negotiations was the question of the transferability of the sums paid in compensation. Thereafter, a further delay arose from the unwillingness of the French Government to grant most-favoured-nation treatment to British interests without equivalent treatment to French interests in British nationalised industries.This difficulty was overcome at the end of 1950 and, despite further differences of detail, the agreement was finally signed in Paris on 11th April, 1951. Complete figures of the sums paid in compensation are not available, since the closing date for declarations under the agreement has been extended to 11th September, 1951.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the names of members of the Central Transport Consultative Committee; the names of members of Transport Users' Consultative Committees for Scotland and Wales. and for the respective areas in England; and indicate the name of the secretary and official addresses of the Committee in each case.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT yesterday.

asked the Minister of Transport how many meetings of the Stopping Places Advisory Committee were held in 1950; and what were the totals of cost and allowances incurred.

The Committee met during the year ended 31st December, 1950, on 39 occasions, 28 of which were outdoor meetings entailing 40 site inspections. No allowances were paid to members of the Committee. The cost of the meetings would be represented mainly by an apportionment of the salaries of those who took part in them, but could not be accurately calculated without a great deal of trouble.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to cases where women have gone through the ceremony of marriage and had children and have later been declared unmarried on the grounds that they were under 16 years of age when the marriage ceremony was performed; and whether he will introduce legislation to amend this law.

I am aware of the cases to which my hon. Friend refers and my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor proposes to request the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce to consider whether any amendment should be made in the law in view of these cases.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power with what other Government Departments he consults before giving permission for poles to be erected to carry a supply of electricity to a farm and what is the average time taken to decide on any such application.

Before I consent to electric lines above ground, except in built areas, I normally consult the Air Ministry and the Admiralty and the Ministry of Works (Ancient Monuments Board). In addition, the local planning authority must consult any interested persons or bodies, including the regional offices of Government Departments where necessary. The average time taken by my Department to deal with applications is three to four weeks, but the time taken may be considerably more in those cases where the local authority or the planning following percentages of allocations to authority raise objections, and exercise all distributors:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the present serious shortage of coke in many parts of East Suffolk is causing inconvenience to residents, especially in view of the fact that many have to use coke for domestic purposes and in order to obtain supplies of hot water; and what steps he intends to take to improve the position.

As I have said in reply to previous Questions, the present demand for coke is running at an extremely high level. In the first 11 weeks of the present summer period, merchants in East Suffolk sold nearly 1,000 tons more coke than in the corresponding period a year ago. I am aware of the difficulties caused by the rapid increase in demand and consideration is being given to ways and means of improving distribution to ensure, so far as possible, that supplies are available where most needed.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) what are the stocks of coke and coal in the area covered by the Gloucester Rural District Council as compared with this time last year;(2) what are the stocks of coke and coal in the area covered by the Thorn-bury Rural District Council as compared with this time last year.

I am making inquiries and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what percentages, region by region, of the allocation of coke for the first 12 weeks of the summer period were actually delivered to merchants within those weeks.

Deliveries of gas coke in each Gas Board Area in the first 9 weeks of the summer represented the following percentages of allocations to all distributors:

Scotland, 128; East Midlands, 103; Northern, 145; West Midlands, 117; North-Western, 114; Wales, 103; North-Eastern, 97; London, Eastern and Southern, 253.

Deliveries of hard coke from supplying regions in the first 11 weeks of this summer represented the following percentages-of total allocations (excluding blast furnaces):

asked the Minister of Health what were the waiting lists for admission to sanatoria for tuberculosis patients from the Wolverhampton and Wednesbury districts, month by month, from June, 1950, to June, 1951, inclusive.

The information, as far as it is available, is as follows:

WOLVERHAMPTON
30th June, 1950	…	…	65
31st December, 1950	…	…	60
30th April, 1951	…	…	59
31st May, 1951	…	…	49
30th June, 1951	…	…	53
WEDNESBURY
30th June, 1950	…	…	25
31st July, 1950	…	…	22
31st August, 1950	…	…	25
30th September, 1950	…	…	27
31st October, 1950	…	…	26
30th November, 1950	…	…	24
31st December, 1950	…	…	29
31st January, 1951	…	…	27
28th February, 1951	…	…	25
31st March, 1951	…	…	21
30th April, 1951	…	…	19
31st May, 1951	…	…	20
30th June. 1951	…	…	22

asked the Minister of Health (1) what percentage of the finally-calculated value of prescriptions dispensed in England during May, 1950, was paid by him on account in June, 1950; and what percentage had been paid by the end of December, 1950;(2) what percentage of the finally-calculated value of the prescriptions dispensed in Wales during May, 1950, was paid by him on account in June, 1950; and what percentage had been paid by the end of December, 1950.

85½per cent. of the finally calculated value of prescriptions dispensed in England in May, 1950, was paid on account in June, 1950: the supplementary payment in December, 1950, increased this figure to 90 per cent. For Wales, the corresponding figures are 83½per cent. and nearly 88 per cent. For England and Wales together the figures are 85½per cent. and 89f per cent.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will review the working of the Mental Deficiency Acts and amend them in order to provide stricter safeguards for the individual against wrongful certification and detention.

The working of the Mental Deficiency Acts is kept under constant review in the ordinary course of administration. The possibility of amending the Acts is receiving active attention.

asked the Minister of Health the number of people who died as a result of accidents or drowning, other than through road accidents, in 1950.

The provisional number of deaths registered in England and Wales in 1950 as due to accidents (including drowning) other than road vehicle accidents is 9,582.

asked the Minister of Health the number of homes for aged persons provided by local authorities under the National Insurance Act, 1948.

At 1st January, 1951, the number of homes provided by local authorities in England and Wales under Section 21 (1, a) of the National Assistance Act, 1948, for persons who by reason of age, infirmity or other circumstances are in need of care and attention not otherwise available to them was 718.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what is the Government's policy with regard to the continued use and expansion of mobile radio services, since, in other parts of the world, these are being developed at great speed and rendering valuable service to the community;(2) what are the various categories of user and the number of licences and equipment in each category of the mobile radio services;(3) on what basis applications for licences for the operation of mobile radio services are judged; and how far the importance of the service is taken into consideration when deciding whether exclusive or widely-shared frequency channels are allocated;(4) how many licences have been issued for the use in the United Kingdom of mobile radio services.

I assume that the' information is required mainly in respect of land and marine mobile radio services operated on very high frequencies by public utilities and other organisations. The general importance of these services is recognised and it is the policy of my Department to be as helpful as possible with regard to applications for frequencies and licences. The general conditions under which such applications are granted are explained in Post Office memoranda B.R.1 and B.R.3, which for a number of years past have been supplied to applicants. I will arrange to have copies of these memoranda and of the standard form of application placed in the Library. The relative importance of the various categories of service is taken into account when assigning frequencies.The frequencies used for the aeronautical mobile service, and for public maritime mobile services operating in the high and medium frequency bands, are assigned as a result of international agreement. Licences to participate in these services are issued on request to owners of ships and aircraft registered in the United Kingdom, on condition that they comply with international and national requirements.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is in a position to state what decision has been reached regarding the future of the Telecinema, South Bank.

No, but, as my noble Friend Lord Morrison stated in another place on 25th July, the possibility of keeping the Telecinema for use a national institution is being examined.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the case of subscribers whose business is of a confidential nature, and who use their private telephone to a great extent for business or professional use, he will make exceptions to the recent decision of his Department that telephones for new subscribers or telephones for existing subscribers removing to another address can only be installed if an agreement to share the line is signed.

The rule was introduced over 3½years ago with the special object of enabling the Post Office to utilize its limited resources to give service to the maximum number of people. As a result, there are over 150,000 subscribers now on the telephone who would otherwise have still been on the waiting list. I am satisfied that, if the rule is to be effective, exceptions must be kept to an absolute minimum; and this view is fully supported by the Post Office Advisory Council.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will estimate the saving to the taxpayer in capital outlay and annual education costs by the education of 500,000 children in independent schools.

It is not possible to make the estimates asked for by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how far his Department accepts general responsibility for the welfare and accommodation of colonial students in Great Britain; and how far that responsibility is shared with other Departments.

My Department alone is generally responsible for the welfare and accommodation of colonial students in the U.K. and the British Council act as my agents in this respect on behalf of all students sponsored by my Department to the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the money value of gifts given or promised by the British taxpayers to British Colonies and Dependencies such as Protectorates from 1900 to the end of the war in 1945 and from that time till the nearest date for which figures are available.

The total sum given to Colonial Dependencies by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom between 1920 and 1945 was approximately£70,118,000. Figures for the years before 1920 are not readily available. Financial assistance to the Colonies during that period was, however, on a smaller scale than in subsequent years. For the period since 1945 the total figure required is£240,340,000. Of this sum,£93,670,910 was either issued or waived up to 31st March, 1951;£45,288,333 has been provided in 1951–52, leaving a

—		Issued 1920–1945	Issued 1945–1950/1951	Estimated 1951–1952	Further Amounts Promised	Totals
		£	£	£	£	£
Colonial Development and Welfare.		19,169,000	41,588,576	19,500,000	78,911,424	140,000,000
Grants in Aid of Administration		27,994,000	4,695,000	2,070,000	—	6,765,000
Grants in Aid of Reconstruction and Rehabilitation.		—	3,427,000	1,423,000	50,000	4,900,000
Grants to Malta for War Damage.		10,000,000	4,640,000	2,800,000	12,560,000	20,000,000
Far East War Damage Compensation.		—	608,334	10,348,333	9,860,000	20,816,667
Grants/or Internal Security (Malaya, Africa, West Indies).		—	15,345,000	2,922,000	—	18,267,000
Cost of forces in Malaya		—	4,000,000	6,225,000	—	10,225,000
Food Subsidies		—	2,567,000	—	—	2,567,000
Miscellaneous		2,805,000	3,637,000	—	—	3,637,000
TOTAL	£	59,968,000	80,507,910	45,288,333	101,381,424	227,177,667
CLAIMS WAIVED
Loans written off under Colonial Development and Welfare Act, 1940.		10,150,000	—	—	—	—
Cost of Military Administration in Far East.		—	10,000,000	—	—	10,000,000
Defence expenditure in Fiji		—	2,068,000	—	—	2,068,000
Cancellation of North Borneo commitments for period prior to 31st December, 1946.		—	1,095,000	—	—	1,095,000
TOTAL	£	10,150,000	13,163,000	—	—	13,163,000
GRAND TOTALS	£	70,118,000	93,670,910	45,288,333	101,381,424	240,340,667

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish a statement showing the value of the imports and exports of each Colony, Protectorate and Trustee Territory during 1950; and balance of£101,381,424 to be made available in later years.The main items are as follow:The figures do not include (

The information required, in so far as it is available, is contained in the following table: