asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has not approved the application of the Salford City Council to pave and make up the five avenues in Salford.

Because I cannot, in present circumstances, add to the substantial amount of private street works which the council have already been authorised to carry out this year. I hope to be able to reconsider the position next year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to receive the report of the Committee on the Rating of Site Values; and if he will make the report available to the House immediately it is received in view of its importance and interest to local authorities.

The Secretary of State for Scotland and I have just received the Committee's report, and are arranging for it to be published.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how soon he will be able to inform the war-damaged cities the amount of money they will be permitted to spend in reconstruction in 1952.

I regret that I cannot yet say what allocation for non-housing reconstruction can be granted to these cities. I will do my best having regard to all other needs.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on the effects likely to be produced on the reconstruction programmes of bomb-damaged cities by the Government's policy for restricting building and raising interest rates, respectively.

As regard the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the answer just given to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. J. J. Astor).As regards the second part, the rebuilding of the central areas of blitzed cities is being carried out almost entirely by a variety of private bodies. I cannot say what effect the increase in the interest rates will have on these various bodies and persons.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he will take to ensure that information which comes into the hands of a local authority while acting in the capacity of agent for a Government Department is not used for other purposes not connected with that Department.

I understand that my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind information which local authorities obtain in their capacity as registration and licensing authorities for motor vehicles. I consider it undesirable that such authorities should use this information for their own purposes except, in keeping with the governing Regulations, in their capacity as a police authority and I am informing them accordingly. The Regulations define the circumstances in which this information is to be made available to other bodies.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he will take to ensure that information which comes into the hands of a local authority in Scotland in the course of acting as agent for a Government Department is not used for other purposes not connected with that Department.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I have given today to a similar question by him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of houses and flats originally intended for completion in the borough of Wandsworth during 1951; the revised number under the new policy of his Department; and the number to be allocated for 1952.

Wandsworth were allotted 450 dwellings for 1951, and I do not propose to alter this figure. A provisional allocation for 1952 will be issued shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give an assurance that, in framing his housing programme, due consideration will be paid to the special needs of rural areas.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in the forthcoming review of housing finance with the local authorities, he will also review the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts, and the effect of the increased Bank Rate upon that scheme.

The forthcoming review is a review under the provisions of Section 16 of the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1946. It does not extend to the rate of interest on advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts. These advances, of course, have never involved any question of direct subsidy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will increase the allocation of houses to Cheadle rural district, Staffordshire, in order that they may be able to transfer tenants from the unsatisfactory Women's Auxiliary Air Force huts in which some 20 large families now live.

Yes. I shall be willing to increase the allocation in accordance with progress made. While I have every sympathy for the families referred to, it is, of course, for the council to select their tenants on the basis of relative need.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the number of houses condemned as slum dwellings and unfit for human habitation, over-crowded and grossly over-crowded, at the outbreak of the last war.

Information available for England and Wales is as follows:

(a) Slum clearance
Number of houses in local authority slum clearance programmes up to 31st March, 1939	472,000
Number of replacement houses completed or approved up to 31st March, 1939	308,536
Number remaining to be dealt with	163,464
(b) Overcrowding
Number of overcrowded houses disclosed by the 1936 Survey	341,554

Information is not availbale as to the number remaining to be dealt with at 31st March, 1939, but at that date 23,915 houses had been erected specifically for the purpose. In addition, overcrowding was relieved to some extent by the erection of houses for other purposes (including slum clearance) and by exchanges of tenancies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now take steps to see that no money due on the sterling balances is released in Egypt until the present international position is clarified.

I am not in a position to make a statement on the far-reaching proposal made by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been received in Purchase Tax for the months of September and October on woven and printed piece work against the corresponding period last year.

I regret that the information requested is not available There are no separate records of the receipts of Purchase Tax paid on woven and printed piece goods.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to prevent the Ministerial Salaries Act, 1946, applying to those Ministers who, by reason of the recent reduction of salaries, are now receiving less than £5,000 per annum.

I am advised that it is far from clear that the Ministerial Salaries Act, 1946, can be interpreted as the hon. Member suggests. But I can assure him that none of the Ministers concerned intends to ask for any salary or allowance as a Member of the House of Commons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures have been taken to secure an interim distribution of dollar aid before the end of the year.

I assume the hon. Member refers to the provision made by the United States under the Mutual Security Act of 1951 for the support of North Atlantic defence. We have made it known to the United States authorities that His Majesty's Government expect to receive their due share of any such support.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that the introduction of the increased bank interest will in no way adversely affect local authorities, especially with regard to their housing programmes.

As I informed the House in my recent speech, the increase in the rate for long-term advances to local authorities by the Public Works Loan Board will be one factor to be taken into account in the discussions with local authorities which my right hon. Friends the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the Secretary of State for Scotland propose to open in the very near future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the unfair burden placed upon old age pensioners and those of limited means who have to have battery-operated wireless sets in the purchase of new batteries at excessive Purchase Tax charges; and whether he will exempt these batteries from Purchase Tax for all old age pensioners on production of their pension order book to the extent of four batteries per year.

I regret that I cannot adopt the hon. Member's proposal, but I have noted the effect of the Purchase Tax on the price of radio batteries. For the rest I cannot anticipate the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make earnings on overtime work exempt from Income Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the need to increase coal production, he will introduce legislation to make possible as a temporary experiment the payment of all overtime or extra production by the coal face workers free of taxation; and review the experiment at the end of six months in the light of experience.

The suggestion that overtime pay should be exempt from tax has been considered on several occasions in the past. It has hitherto proved impossible to find a method which is both fair and practicable. The question is, however, within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income, to which some evidence has been submitted. I do not underestimate the importance of finding ways and means of encouraging extra effort.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions were given to the British representative on the Executive Council of the International Monetary Fund before the loan of £3 million by the Fund to Persia was authorised; and what further action the British representative has been instructed to take.

The proposed borrowing by Persia from the International Monetary Fund amounts only to a temporary withdrawal of Persia's own gold subscription to the Fund. We have not opposed the transaction and we propose no further action.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider making a special campaign to encourage the taking up of National Savings investments in view of the financial position of the country.

The "Lend Strength to Britain" savings campaign, which was suspended during the election, has been resumed and I have assured the Chairman of the National Savings Committee that it has my full support. The National Savings Movement is, of course, a non-political organisation and I welcome this opportunity to appeal to all hon. Members to do everything they can to ensure that the campaign is successful.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider remission of Purchase Tax on television sets, to those areas where delay of installation of television service prevented purchase of untaxed sets.

I can understand the feelings of people who live in such areas, but I am afraid that it is not practicable to vary the Purchase Tax on a regional basis.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon what assumptions as regards the volume of exports and imports, the terms of trade, and net invisible earnings, respectively, his estimate of a United Kingdom balance of payments deficit of £500 million to £600 million for 1952 was based.

It is not the practice to give details of estimates for periods so far ahead. The estimate was based on market prices and trends and on import programmes prevailing shortly before I addressed the House on 7th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to be in a position to make a statement on the restriction on individual shareholdings in co-operative societies.

I hope to make a statement on this question before long.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the Central Office of Information's failure, through its "Work or Want" campaign, to bring home to the nation the seriousness and urgency of its economic position, what new action he proposes to take, through the Central Office of Information, to achieve this object.

The Government intend to continue putting the facts of our economic situation clearly before the country, and will use all means appropriate to that end.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase both the total sum allowed to be invested in the Post Office Savings Bank and the annual limit.

A draft Order, presented on 9th November, provides for the raising of the aggregate limit upon deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank and the Trustee Savings Banks from £2,000 to £3,000. The Order cannot be made until it has lain before Parliament for 40 days. I consider that the present annual limit of £500 is adequate, having regard to the fact that the savings banks are intended primarily for the small saver.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government intend to recast the existing system of taxation on industrial and commercial profits; and how this will operate.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Financial Secretary on 15th November to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up a committee of investigation to fully examine the present system of Entertainments Duty, with a view to alleviating the present penal taxation on the sport of speedway racing.

The hon. Member will recall that in the course of the debates on the last Finance Bill my predecessor undertook to have the structure of the Entertainments Duty reviewed before the next Budget. That review is in train. Representations about speedway racing made by the controlling body will, in common with other representations, receive full consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now publish the Treasury Minute in reply to paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Third Report of the Committee on Public Accounts.

The Treasury Minute in reply to the Reports of the Committee of Public Accounts will be furnished to the Committee in the near future. The normal practice is for the Committee to present the Minute to the House shortly afterwards as an appendix to one of their own Reports.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of Treasury 2½ per cent. Stock was taken up on its issue by Government Departments; what profit or loss has been made on any stock sold; and what profit or loss would be made if any stock now held were sold at the current market price.

In accordance with long-standing practice, I am not prepared to add to or to anticipate, the information laid before this House in the statutory accounts.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Government Departments are reluctant to employ an applicant who has suffered from tuberculosis; and whether he will circularise all Departments with instructions to accept any such suitable applicants, provided a doctor's certificate is obtained stating that the person concerned is free from infection and physically capable of doing the work.

A past history of tuberculosis is not a bar to employment in the Civil Service if the candidate is fit for the work of the post and not likely to be a danger to his colleagues. In cases of doubt medical advice is obtained.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to what extent psychiatrists or psychologists are still employed to give reports on candidates for the Civil and Foreign Services at staff colleges or other institutes for the training of these candidates.

There are in the Civil Service no staff colleges or other institutes for the training of candidates for the Civil and Foreign Services. I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the employment of psychologists in connection with the recruitment of civil servants. One psychologist is so employed at the Civil Service Selection Board.

asked the Minister of Labour when he expects to receive the report of the committee under the chairmanship of Sir Thomas Gardiner which has been examining the organisation and structure of the professional Civil Service; and whether the report will be made available to hon. Members.

I assume that the Question refers to the Committee on the Organisation, Structure and Remuneration of the Works Group of Professional Civil Servants, of which Sir Thomas Gardiner was Chairman. The Committee reported on 1st August, 1951. Copies of the Report are available either from H.M. Stationery Office, by whom it was published on 18th September, or to hon. Members in the usual way.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends to take to increase trade with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the countries of Eastern Europe.

Except in the case of Hungary where special considerations are involved, we are buying all we can afford from the Soviet countries in Europe, including considerable supplies of feedingstuffs, timber, and foodstuffs such as bacon. Strategic considerations, shortages of raw materials and the demands of our re-armament programme would make any increase in our exports difficult unless these countries were willing to take some of the wide range of consumer goods which we have available for export. Of such willingness there is at present little sign.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Japanese firms are already copying British designs in textiles; and what steps he is taking to protect our industries in this respect.

I am not aware that this is being done on any considerable scale but if my hon. and gallant Friend has any information on the subject, we will be pleased to consider it. In the past two years His Majesty's Government have brought several cases of the copying of textile designs to the attention of the Japanese authorities, who have prevented the further use of the designs. We expect to receive the continued co-operation of the Japanese authorities in this matter in accordance with the Declaration in the Preamble of the Peace Treaty and with Japan's obligations under the Industrial Property Convention of 1934. It is also important that United Kingdom traders should help themselves by registering their designs in their principal markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he will take to ensure that timber continues to be imported through South Wales ports when softwood buying passes out of Government hands.

I have been asked to reply. I think it must be left to the importers and the shippers to decide which ports it is most convenient and economical to use, but I can see no reason why timber should cease to be imported through South Wales ports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that international barriers to trade seriously affect the wool textile industry and that the maintenance of the present volume of exports is endangered; and what action he proposes to take to overcome this;(2) if he will re-open negotiations with other countries, with a view to the removal of tariff barriers and other restrictions upon international trade.

We are well aware of the difficulties facing the wool trade in export markets and of the importance of maintaining and, indeed, of increasing the volume of our exports of wool textiles. My right hon. Friend hopes shortly to discuss these matters with a deputation from the industry.Our own balance of payments difficulties and the restrictions which beset world trade today make it more necessary than ever to avail ourselves of every opportunity to secure freer entry for our exports to overseas markets, and this will continue to be the primary object of policy in all trade negotiations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to get a new industry established in Blaenavon.

The Board of Trade will continue its efforts to interest industrialists in the possibilities of Blaenavon, but the hon. Member will be aware of the difficulties we have had in the past in doing so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities and values of roll films have been imported, and from which countries, during this year, and up to a recent convenient date.

Following is the answer:

IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM OF UNEXPOSED ROLL FILMS AND FILM PACKS
(other than cinematograph film)
	January to September 1951
	Hundred	£
Channel Islands	15	92
Southern Rhodesia	23	54
Kenya	*	2
Australia	762	3,654
Canada	21,150	152,176
Bermuda	4	95
Trinidad and Tobago	4	19
Irish Republic	3	31
Sweden	71	332
Norway	17	20
Germany, Western	571	9,014
Netherlands	112	910
Belgium	12,408	56,298
France	6,560	40,555
Spain	*	5
Italy	16,504	68,703
Burma	3	19
United States of America	30	1,777
Argentine Republic	*	1
Total	58,237	333,757
* = less than half the final digit shown.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will refer the nationalised industries to the Monopolies Commission for investigation.

We have no power under existing legislation to refer the nationalised industries to the Monopolies Commission for investigation and report. This is one of the matters which my right hon. Friend is considering in preparing new legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will review all regulations restricting the size, quantity and contents of food parcels received from abroad.

The existing arrangement permits the entry duty free and without import licence of bona fide unsolicited gift food parcels addressed to individuals in this country provided that they are clearly marked as gifts and do not exceed 22 lb. gross in weight. There is no restriction on size other than that applicable to postal parcels, or on content, except on parcels from the Irish Republic.I see no grounds at present for varying this arrangement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of aircraft and engine spares exported to Egypt since 1st June, 1951.

The value of engines, air frame and engine spares, including tyres and tubes, exported to Egypt from 1st June to 30th September, 1951, was £258,000, about a third of which represented exports to the B.O.A.C. and their associates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to control the prices of toys during the Christmas season.

I am glad to say that plenty of toys of nearly every kind are available to the public. Competition is keen, and if the public buy with discrimination they will get value for their money. We do not consider price control to be necessary.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will take steps to secure that all portable gas and electric fires are fitted with suitable guards, and arrange for the publication of the relevant specifications as agreed by the British Standards Institution.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 13th November to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Blenkin sop).

asked the Minister of Works the number of bricks required to build 200,000 and 300,000 houses, respectively, on the same size and design.

I cannot estimate the number of bricks required without details of the size and design of the house which the, hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Minister of Works the number of bricks used in domestic house building and repairs in 1946 and 1951, respectively; and if he will give the estimated numbers available for 1952.

I regret that statistics are not kept of the consumption of bricks in particular classes of building work. The total production and consumption of bricks for all purposes is likely to be about 6,000 Million in 1951. I am discussing with the industry the prospects for expanded production during 1952.

asked the Minister of Works why, before deciding to keep open the Battersea amusement park for anything up to five years, he did not consult hon. Members representing seaside and holiday, resorts which have suffered considerable loss due to this competition during 1951.

Before it was decided to keep open the Festival Pleasure Gardens the possible economic effects were studied, including those on seaside and holiday resorts The information available to the Government does not support the suggestion that seaside and holiday resorts have suffered considerable loss due to this competition during 1951. Any such attraction which brings more visitors to this country or persuades them to stay longer is of value to us, and I hope that the proposal to continue the Festival Gardens will be looked at from a national point of view.

asked the Minister of Works how many new factory buildings are under construction in the North-Eastern district; and to what extent this work will now be prevented from being completed.

There are 30 factory buildings under construction in Northumberland, Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire areas. The restriction on the starting of new buildings, recently announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, does not apply to work already under construction.

asked the Minister of Works how many new schools and hospitals are under construction, or approved, in the North-East district; and to what extent they will be allowed to be completed.

On 1st October, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 76 new schools under construction and three schools approved to start in November, in the area of Northumberland, Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire. It is intended that these schools should proceed to completion as quickly as possible. There are no new hospitals under construction or approved in this area.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give an assurance that any intended Government cuts or restrictions in building will not apply to West Ham, in view of the fact that this is the worst bombed borough in the country.

No. The reductions announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 7th November are designed to enable building schemes to proceed more quickly by reducing the overload of work, and I have every confidence that the building work in the bomb damaged areas can be speeded up if the available labour force is concentrated on few jobs.

asked the Minister of Works when the existing obstructions in Star Court to the proper entry of Members of Parliament will be cleared away; and to what extent it is intended to use Westminster Hall, permanently, as a furniture store.

I hope that Star Chamber Court will be clear of all obstructions by the end of the year. It was never intended to use Westminster Hall as a furniture store. Owing to the extreme shortage of storage accommodation in the Palace of Westminster the furniture temporarily removed from the Grand Committee Room and from the Chapel of St. Mary in the Crypt and rooms on the west side of Westminster Hall, which are under repair, was temporarily placed there, but it has now been removed. I have given instructions that Westminster Hall shall be kept clear of such encumbrances.

asked the Minister of Labour what is now the number of vacancies in the factory inspectorate.

There are 34 vacancies in the general inspectorate.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statistical table showing the numbers of unfilled vacancies in essential industries registered at the employment exchanges in each region of the country at the latest date for which figures are available.

As the table is too extensive for publication in the OFFICIAL REPORT I am sending the information to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state to the last convenient date the amount per annum which is being paid by his Department by way of subsistence allowance to persons working away from home.

Lodging allowances to the total of about £325,000 were paid in the year ending 30th September, 1951, to persons transferred to work away from home.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed men and women there are in Stoke-on-Trent; how many are disabled; and what is being done to utilise their services.

The total numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of employment exchanges in Stoke-on-Trent at 15th October were 500 males and 113 females, including 215 males and 16 females registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act. The figures exclude 102 disabled persons (all men) classified as unlikely to obtain employment other than under sheltered conditions. All possible efforts continue to be made by the employment exchanges to assist these unemployed persons to find work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of a decrease in winter milk production; and what steps he is taking to counteract it.

I am not aware of a decrease in winter milk production in Scotland. The quantity of milk produced for sale during October, the first month of this winter, showed an increase of approximately 6 per cent. over the corresponding figure for October, 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Government's policy as regards the building of halls in small towns and villages in Scotland.

As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 7th November no building except housing and other work which is exceptionally urgent in the national interest can be started during the next three months. The position will be reviewed as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that one of the principal reasons for the failure to achieve any substantial industrial expansion in the north of Scotland is the high cost of transport to the southern markets; and whether he will examine, with the Minister of Transport, the possibility of reducing freight charges on long hauls by means of a flat rate for merchandise.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and I are aware of the high cost of transport from the North of Scotland to the southern markets. I understand that the British Transport Commission are now preparing for submission to the Transport Tribunal a draft scheme of freight charges and have undertaken to keep in mind the recommendations of the Committee on Highland Transport Costs which was appointed by the Scottish Council, the Scottish Board for Industry and the Advisory Panel on the Highlands and Islands.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce legislation this session to restore the grants for reconditioning rural cottages.

I have noted this point for consideration at the first opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an assurance that work on the new hospital at Alexandria, Dunbartonshire, will not be retarded by the proposed ban on new building.

Work on this hospital commenced some time ago, and is not therefore affected by the arrangements for The postponement of starting dates recently announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Progress will, of course, depend upon the availability of capital investment and materials.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to present the Catto Report to the House.

I understand that the Committee expect to complete their report in March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nurses were engaged whole-time, and how many part-time, in nursing tuberculosis patients in hospitals and sanatoria in September, 1951.

On 30th September last there were 1,274 whole-time, and 527 part-time nurses engaged in nursing tuberculosis patients in Scottish hospitals and sanatoria.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes meeting the representatives of the local authorities' associations in order to discuss the repercussions of the increased interest charges to be paid on moneys borrowed from the Public Works Loan Board for housing and other purposes.

I have drawn the attention of the associations to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 7th November, and have asked them to consider their position preparatory to a meeting on housing subsidies to be arranged as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of National Insurance to what extent under his regulations persons in Scotland, in receipt of supplementary pensions, are entitled to the full benefits of the recent increase in pensions; why such persons have recently been refused the full benefit of that increase; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the bon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Brightside (Mr. R. E. Winterbottom) on 12th November, in which the information given applies equally to Scotland as to the country as a whole.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what cuts are contemplated in the capital investment programme as outlined in the publication. "Plan for Coal."

As the Government's investment plans have not yet been drawn up, I am not able to make a statement on the future level of colliery investment. The need, however, for a high level of investment in the coal industry is fully appreciated by the Government, and the capital development at present being undertaken by the Board is not being retarded by any limitation on capital expenditure.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will introduce legislation to amend the definition of a displaced pupil in the Education Act, 1944, in order to reduce the financial burden of voluntary schools.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15th November to my hon. Friend, the Member for Ealing, South (Mr. Maude).

asked the Minister of Education if she will set out the detailed building programmes, in terms of schools, for 1952–53, submitted by local education committees in the counties of Northumberland and Durham prior to 25th October, and the details of the building programmes accepted prior to that date.

As the list is rather long I will send it to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Education if she will consider making some contribution towards the expenses of our Olympic Games team for Helsinki in 1952.

No such contributions have been made in the past, and I cannot give any encouragement to the suggestion that a different policy should be adopted on this occasion.

asked the Minister of Supply what measures he proposes to take, following the Report of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission on the electric lamp industry.

My right hon. Friend has asked the Electric Lamp Manufacturers' Association whether they accept the recommendations of the Commission and what action they propose taking to implement them. Further action will be decided in the light of their reply.

asked the Minister of Supply if his attention has been drawn to the recommendations of the Monopolies Commission relating to the electric lamp industry; and if he will consider the immediate acceptance of these recommendations as a step towards the reduction of the cost of living.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave today to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Fenner Brockway).

asked the Minister of Supply what action he proposes to take on the Report of the Monopolies Commission on the Electric Lamp Industry, and when.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave today to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Fenner Brockway).

asked the Minister of Supply what steps are being taken to overcome the shortage of tacks, nails and eyelets in the boot trade.

The shortage of nails and tacks for the boot trade is due to the shortage of wire. Every effort is being made to increase the supply of wire.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will reconsider the case of those Service pensioners who, because they were placed on the retired list prior to September, 1950, do not obtain the benefits of the increases announced in July, 1951.

No. The position of men who left the Services before the operative date of the recent improvements in retirement benefits cannot be considered in isolation from that of other State pensioners.

asked the Secretary of State for War why regimental fitters of the Royal Armoured Corps are being transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; and whether it is proposed to have no regimental fitters in Royal Armoured Corps regiments in future.

Regimental fitters of the Royal Armoured Corps are being asked to volunteer to join the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as part of the second phase of the formation of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. This policy is designed to save manpower. By 31st March next year the light aid detachments of regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps will be manned by Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer fitters.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes club in the centre of Southampton has been closed down; and whether Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes is making any alternative provision for troops in and around Southampton.

This club was opened during the war and was never intended to be permanent. The lease on the premises was not renewed, since the conditions which justified the opening of the club no longer existed. The club is not being replaced. Units in the area, however, are provided with N.A.A.F.I. canteens in their barracks or stations.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is yet in a position to make a statement announcing a settlement of the wage claims of yard craft officers.

No. I hope, however, to be able before long to make proposals to the officers' organisations.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that skilled craftsmen are leaving the dockyards because of the higher wages they can obtain in other employment; and what steps he proposes to take to arrest this loss of men essential to the full and adequate manning of the dockyards in the present circumstances.

The wages of craftsmen in H.M. dockyards are settled by negotiation with their trade union representatives on the Shipbuilding Trades Joint Council, and are based on those paid in the engineering industry. They are thus broadly comparable with those paid in outside industry. There is no evidence that any large numbers of craftsmen are leaving the dockyards simply because higher wages are offered by private employers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give, by counties of England and Wales, a list showing the acreage of common lands and manorial wastes over which the owner of the soil of the common or waste has by deed given the public rights of air and exercise since the passing of the Law of Property Act, 1925, until 31st December, 1950; and a list of those counties in which no action has been taken.

I am sending a copy of the lists to the right hon. Gentleman. They are very long for publication in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the names of those commons in respect of which application was made to his Department during 1950 under Section 194 of the Law of Property Act, 1925, to make an enclosure, specifying in each case whether a public inquiry has been held; the area of land sought to be enclosed; the purpose for which it was proposed to enclose the land; the area thrown into the common in lieu of the land enclosed; the result of the application; and the reason, in any case where consent has been given without an area being thrown into the common at least equal to the land enclosed, for not requiring that course to be allowed.

Following is the information required: