asked the Minister of Food whether he will make a statement on the food stock and supply position.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the House last Friday.

asked the Minister of Supply what information has been secured by his Department about the growing number of illegal transactions in the disposal of steel; and what action he proposes to take.

would refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd).

asked the Minister of Supply if he will give an estimate of the extent to which the cost of the rearmament programme is likely to be affected by the increased cost of steel.

It is estimated that the increase in the price of steel approved in August, 1951, will raise the cost of steel used directly in the whole re-armament programme by approximately £20 million. The higher price of steel will also increase the cost of machine tools and other plant used to produce defence equipment, but it is not possible to estimate by how much.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will state the retail price of all rationed commodities at 24th October, 1951, the amount of subsidy for each commodity, and the price without subsidy.

The following are the details:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the statement in Moscow, a copy of which has been sent him, that negotiation is the only way out of the existing world situation; and whether he will take steps to bring about such negotiation as soon as possible.

As has frequently been stated in the past, His Majesty's Government are always prepared to enter into negotiations if there is a real likelihood of useful results being achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement as to the Government's attitude towards the exchange of opinion between the Governments of Western and Eastern Germany regarding the unification of Germany on a democratic basis.

His Majesty's Government, together with the French and United States Governments, have always supported the peaceful unification of Germany as soon as it can take place on democratic lines ensuring the creation of a free Germany able to play her part in the peaceful association of free European nations. They have accordingly welcomed the proposals made to this end by the German Federal Government, in the course of the recent exchanges with the authorities in Eastern Germany.In response to a suggestion of the German Federal Chancellor, His Majesty's Government and the French and United States Governments have now proposed that the United Nations Assembly should consider the appointment of an impartial international commission to carry out an investigation in the Federal Republic in Berlin and in the Soviet zone, to determine whether existing conditions there make it possible to hold genuinely free elections throughout these areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will bring to an end the requirement that a birth certificate must be produced when application for a passport is made.

No. The production of authoritative evidence of British birth or descent is an essential factor in establishing British nationality. A birth certificate provides this evidence in the most convenient form and is, in most cases, easily obtainable. Alternative evidence of British nationality can, however, be accepted, if necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the intentions of the Government in regard to partnership in the Schuman Plan for coal and steel.

The attitude of His Majesty's Government to the Schuman Plan was stated in a Declaration issued in Washington on 14th September by Mr. Acheson, Monsieur Schuman and my right hon. Friend's predecessor. The relevant passages of this Declaration were as follows:

"The Three Ministers recognise that the initiative taken by the French Government concerning the creation of a European coal and steel community and a European defence community is a major step towards European unity. They welcome the Schuman Plan as a means of strengthening the economy of Western Europe and look forward to its early realisation. … The Government of the United Kingdom desires to establish the closest possible association with the European Continental Community at all stages in its development."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will arrange for United Nations stamps to be available for sale in this country for sterling.

A letter has recently been received from the United Nations Postal Administration concerning arrangements for the sale of United Nations stamps for philatelic purposes. This letter is being considered, but meanwhile United Nations stamps will be on sale in Paris during the current session of the United Nations Assembly, and arrangements have been made for a limited number to be imported from France for sale by dealers in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who, at present, exercises responsibility for relief work in Korea; in addition to the £10 million contributed for this purpose by His Majesty's Government, how much is available; and how relief and reconstruction is now proceeding.

The responsibility for relief work in Korea is at present held by the United Nations Civil Assistance Command. By far the largest contribution has been made by the United States Government through the Unified Command. Excluding what the United Kingdom and United States have contributed, the total of cash and commodities pledged or contributed from all other sources amounts to about $24 million.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why persons in receipt of supplementary pensions were not given the full benefit of the recent increase in pensions.

As supplementary assistance is based on need, some reductions in assistance were inevitable as the result of the new rates of pension and assistance fixed in the summer. But over three-quarters of the pensioners concerned have received the full benefit of the new pension rates. Of the remainder, all except a small number have had their incomes increased.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. John Bryan of Stoke-on-Trent, who died recently as a result of silicosis following a lifetime's work as a china turner; and whether his dependants are to receive compensation for his death.

I understand that the hon. Member has in mind a possible claim to Workmen's Compensation. As he knows, such cases are decided by the ordinary courts and I have no power to intervene.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will pay the full sickness benefit contribution to ex-Service pensioners irrespective of whether the pensioner is receiving other assistance, in view of the fact that the full contribution has been paid by the pensioner for the benefit of such sick pay.

Personal sickness benefit is normally payable in full to an ex-Service man with a war disability pension. and 1 assume that my hon. Friend is referring to adjustments which may have to be made in some cases to prevent overlapping of increases for dependants under the different schemes. The National Insurance (Overlapping Benefits) Regulations, 1948, which govern the position, gave effect to recommendations made by the National Insurance Advisory Committee. I am sending a copy of the Committee's Report to my hon. Friend. I see no reason to differ from the Committee's conclusions.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will arrange to issue all old age pensioners with a free purchasing voucher, enabling them to buy one hundredweight of coal per week; and what is the estimated cost if limited to the winter period.

I have no power to make such arrangements. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will take immediate steps to safeguard the domestic consumer's ration of coal during the coming winter.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement I made to the House on 8th November.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the shortage of domestic fuel in Accrington and the fact that merchants are introducing an unofficial rationing system; and, in view of the special requirements of that area, whether he proposes to allocate additional supplies.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the shortage of domestic coal in Bristol; and what steps he proposes to take to meet effectively the demands of the householders during the coming winter.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement which I made to the House on 8th November. As regards the incidence of the shortage as between one part of the country and another, there are established arrangements, which have stood the test of some years experience, for ensuring a fair distribution of available supplies.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what stocks of coal and coke for domestic use are now held in the Eastern Region; and how these stocks compare with the amounts held at the corresponding period a year ago.

Stocks of house coal held in merchants' yards in the Eastern Region on 27th October last amounted to 83,000 tons, as compared with 167,000 tons at the corresponding date a year ago. For coke, the figures are 13,000 tons this year, as against 22,000 tons a year ago.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much coal and coke for domestic use is now held in the Scottish Region; and whether he is satisfied that these stocks are adequate for a normal winter.

Merchants' stocks of house coal, coke and anthracite and boiler fuel in Scotland on 27th October amounted to 197,000 tons. This compares with 264,000 tons at the same time last year.As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer to the statement which I made to the House on 8th November.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that there is a shortage of coke in rural districts in Huntingdonshire and that this is a handicap to people who rely upon coke for cooking and for heating bath water; and what steps are being taken to overcome this shortage.

There is not sufficient coke available to meet all demands, but I do not think that the shortage in the rural districts of Huntingdonshire has been any greater than in other parts of the country.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in the interests of conserving our resources of fuel and power, he is prepared to make arrangements to suspend mid-week sport.

I understand that when this was reviewed last winter, there was no evidence that mid-week sport in general had any effect on the production of coal. The St. Leger was the exception to this rule, and the Stewards of the Jockey Club kindly consented to have the race run on a Saturday this September. I am, however, having the evidence examined again, and if necessary I will consult my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the present position of the experiment in the underground gasification of coal conducted under the auspices of his Department.

The experimental work is being continued at Newman Spinney, near Sheffield, and preparations are being made to conduct experiments at Bayton, in Worcestershire, where it is expected that two coal seams will be ignited early in 1952. The seams and geological characteristics differ at the two sites, thus permitting the techniques to be tested in different conditions.The experiments are on a relatively small scale, designed to discover the technical and economic facts necessary to determine whether a full-scale operation should be planned.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when it is proposed to publish the Report of tile Working Panel on Supplies of Solid Smokeless Fuel.

It is not proposed to publish the Interim Report of the Working Party to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what plans he has for expanding the production of solid smokeless fuel; and what percentage increase in present production is anticipated during the next five years.

Plans for expanding the production of solid smokeless fuel are primarily the responsibility of the National Coal Board and the Gas Council. But, as I said in the House on Thursday last, the supply of boiler fuel is below the demand, and I shall carefully watch the progress that is being made to increase the output of solid smokeless fuels generally.I understand that the industries concerned are not yet in a position to make reliable forecasts of the increased production of smokeless fuels expected in the next five years.

asked the Attorney-General whether it is proposed to accept the recommendations of the Committee into the Law of Intestacy.

My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has this question under consideration.

asked the Attorney-General the number of cases affected by the postponement of the Hull Quarter Sessions on 8th October; the number of cases in court when the sessions were adjourned on 31st October; the number partly heard; and the number of cases whose remand in custody was extended because of the postponement and adjournment, respectively.

There were 20 cases affected by the postponement of the Hull Quarter Sessions on the 8th October; the number of cases remaining in the list when the Sessions were adjourned on 31st October was four, of which one was part-heard; the number of cases in which remand in custody was extended because of the postponement was 11 and because of the adjournment, four.

asked the Minister of Health what instructions or advice have been given to local authorities relating to the recent increase of 4s. per week to old age pensioners resident in hostels; and whether any part of the increase has actually reached the pensioners by way of pocket money.

The amount of pocket money that these pensioners may receive is governed by Statutory Regulations which do not authorise me to give instructions to local authorities in the matter. I have no record of the amounts of pocket money actually paid.

asked the Minister of Health if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the schemes which have been postponed by the regional hospital boards as a result of the instructions issued prior to 25th October to cut their estimates on capital expenditure.

I regret that I have no detailed information on this point.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now indicate the form in which the Government will review the position of pensioners, including war pensioners.

We are reviewing these important questions in the course of the Government's general review of expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of tax collected for the period January to September, 1951, inclusive, from the Pool Betting Duty imposed on greyhound racing totalisators.

The amount of Pool Betting Duty collected in the period January to September, 1951, in respect of greyhound racing totalisators was £5,137,838.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when His Majesty's Government proposes to proceed with the abolition of the purchase tax.

In the circumstances explained to the House last week, I can see no early prospect of abolishing this tax. For the rest, I cannot anticipate Budget decisions.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make free milk available to children over five years of age who are denied school accommodation.

No. The powers of local education authorities do not enable them to include in the milk in schools scheme children who are not in attendance at school.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the discontent among the civilian employees of the three Service Departments in Singapore and Malaya because of the delays in dealing with wage claims; and what action he proposes to take in this matter.

For many months the unions representing local non-industrial employees of the Service Departments in Singapore and Malaya have been pressing that local government rates of pay should be applied to employees of the Service Departments.The pay policy adopted by the Service Departments has been to keep broadly in line with the level of total emoluments paid by the general body of local good employers, private as well as public, for similar work. This policy has recently been reaffirmed and the local commanders-in-chief have been instructed to inform the unions accordingly in reply to their representations.The commanders-in-chief have power to review the pay and allowances of local employees at any time, and in conformity with the policy described many improvements have been made recently.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the Government will amend the Town and Country Planning Act so as to abolish the development charge in rural areas.

I am not yet in a position to make any statement about possible amendments of this Act.