asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will reduce the cost of radio licences for all old age pensioners.

The Government regret that they are unable to give old age pensioners preferential treatment in this respect.

That is the same answer as one of my hon. Friends received last week. Could not the Assistant Postmaster-General look at the matter again? It is a very small request; it is only asking for a reduction in part. Would he please look at the matter again?

The licence now works out at two-thirds of a penny a day, and if a reduction were made to a halfpenny it would certainly not make much difference. May I remind the hon. Lady that successive Governments have looked at this very sympathetically, but have always come to the same conclusion.

I am sure the Government would not wish to suggest that any reduction in the expenditure of old age pensioners would not be good at the present time.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is satisfied that work on the television transmitter at Wenvoe, Glamorgan, is being carried on with all possible expedition; and whether he is now in a position to state when the transmitter is likely to come into service.

Work on the television station at Wenvoe is being carried on as quickly as possible, but it is too early to say when the station will come into service.

Will the hon. Gentleman study every possibility of accelerating progress?

Yes, Sir.

Has the Minister made any provision for the distribution of television sets in the area covered by this new station?

The Post Office is not responsible for the sale of television sets.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he anticipates it will be possible to provide a better broadcasting and television service for residents in the North-East of England; and, in particular, when work will be resumed on Pontop Pike television station.

The best hope for an improved sound broadcasting service in North-East England lies in the use of very high frequencies, but owing to defence and economic requirements it is too early to say when this will be possible. For the same reason I am unable to forecast when work will be resumed on the Pontop Pike television station, but it will be as soon as circumstances allow.

Is it not a fact that there are two transmitters at Holme Moss, one a main transmitter and the other a low-power transmitter, and cannot consideration be given to using the low-power transmitter for Pontop Pike?

That is another question. Perhaps my hon. Friend will put it down.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why a wavelength has been made available for the United Nations whilst for a considerable time this facility has been refused for the North-East coastal area.

At the request of the United Nations the proceedings of the Sixth Session of the General Assembly are being relayed for about 4½ hours during the day time by the B.B.C. transmitter at Daventry on the wavelength 464 metres. These relays have been made possible by a temporary re-arrangement in the B.B.C.'s European Service which normally uses this wavelength during the day. The wavelength continues to be used for the Third Programme from 6 p.m. onwards.

Is the Assistant Postmaster-General aware that people in the North-East have felt the full effect of a disgusting Home Service transmission from Stagshaw, and that when in July, 1945, the B.B.C. commenced to operate for the North-East on the frequency transmitter for Northern Ireland it was explained that the arrangements was only of a temporary nature until a further wavelength was secured? Is he aware that since then a wavelength has been secured and yet the North-East has been denied this facility? [HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]

Can he tell us how long North-East folk will have to tolerate this disgusting state of affairs, or whether they have to reconcile themselves to the fact that what was said at the time to be a temporary arrangement is now to be permanent?

Supplementary questions should be kept short.

The matter raised by the hon. Member does not really arise from this Question. The only solution is the introduction of a very high frequency.

Does the hon. Gentleman not agree there is no community of interest, as far as local affairs are concerned, between Northern Ireland and the North-East of England? Does he not agree that this very populous and very important and highly productive area of the country should have its own wavelength as soon as possible?

I agree about the hon. Member's second point. I hope he does not ask me to express an opinion on the first point he made.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he has considered with the British Broadcasting Corporation what steps will be necessary to give television coverage to the county of Merioneth; and if he will make a statement.

Even if it had been possible to complete the B.B.C.'s original plan for giving a reliable television service to about 80 per cent of the population, Merioneth would not have been covered. Fortunately, the B.B.C. has had reports that the Sutton Coldfield Station is being satisfactorily received in parts of the county of Merioneth.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the new television station at Kirk o' Shotts will be in full operation.

The B.B.C. hopes to begin experimental transmissions on low power as soon as the radio link with Manchester is available; this is expected to be in February, 1952. It is too early to say when the station will be in full operation.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when regulations under the Wireless Telegraphy Act will be made to deal with interference to television reception from petrol-driven vehicles.

No decision has yet been reached. For new vehicles it is essential before making regulations to be sure that supplies of suppressors will be available to manufacturers. As regards vehicles already on the road, we wish to proceed as far as possible by voluntary methods.

Do I understand now that the only reason why interference from these vehicles cannot be suppressed is due to the shortage of suppressors?

That is in respect of new vehicles.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what progress is being made with the plans to provide television for the people of Aberdeen and the North of Scotland.

Aberdeen is one of the five low-powered stations which it was decided to postpone indefinitely and no work will be undertaken there at the present time. But the B.B.C. has gone so far as to carry out tests with a view to finding a site for a television station near Aberdeen.

Why has it been postponed indefinitely? What prospects are there of Aberdeen ever having a television service?

The decision to postpone it was taken by the last Government. I can give no idea when work will be put in hand.

Will my hon. Friend make sure that all these people in the rural areas in the north get telephones first before the equipment is used for the purpose of television?

Would the hon. Gentleman inquire whether the apparatus has already been purchased for the low-powered stations and whether the saving which will eventually be effected will be commensurate with the loss of service which will be experienced by the people in these distant areas?

My information is that it has not been purchased.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what pensions are received by sub-postmasters; and what is the basis of arriving at that pension.

Sub-postmasters are not eligible for pensions under the Superannuation Acts, but they can qualify for gratuities under certain conditions laid down in the Act of 1949.

Does the Minister realise that despite the recent increase in salary these sub-postmasters rank among the worst paid officials in the country? When economic conditions improve, will he look favourably on some improvement either in their salary or in their pension?

I suggest that the hon. Member should look at the Regulations under which sub-postmasters can get gratuities. They are somewhat complicated, but I will send him a copy if he cares to read them.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many persons are employed in the Post Office Public Relations Department, and at what annual cost; and what were the figures before the war.

I assume the hon. Member refers to the public relations staff at Post Office headquarters. This numbers 40, including clerical, at a salary cost of £28,000; these figures include three special men on productivity and four from Cable and Wireless, at a total salary of £6,500. Before the war, the staff was 69 at a salary cost of £26,500; these included the film unit (now with the Central Office of Information) numbering 33 at a salary cost of £10,500.

Can my hon. Friend say whether, in view of the need to reduce national expenditure, any economies in Public Relations staff are under consideration?

Yes, Sir. The question of reducing the cost of the Public Relations Department is under investigation.

Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that the Public Relations Department of Cable and Wireless is completely integrated with the Post Office?

There are four members from Cable and Wireless who are included in the figures I have given.

Does not the Minister feel uncomfortable through being surrounded by so many Public Relations officers in view of his previous strictures on them?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will arrange for a telephone kiosk and additional letter boxes to be erected in the new Gaer Estate at Newport, in view of the recent increase in population in this area.

A telephone kiosk will be erected in the Gaer estate as soon as the necessary wayleaves have been obtained from the local authority; the provision of an additional letter box has been delayed by supply difficulties, but it should be in position in a few weeks.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many free postage air parcels were carried to the troops in Korea and the Far East last Christmastide.

Sixteen thousand four hundred and thirteen.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the report of the committee inquiring into the claims of breakaway unions in the Post Office will be issued; and if he will give an assurance that he will not recognise E.O.T.A. or any other such breakaway union prior to the findings of the committee.

I hope that the committee's report will be available early in the New Year; meantime I can give the assurance asked for.

Whilst thanking the hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask that he should communicate the text of that reply to his hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury?

In view of that brief and satisfactory reply, can my hon. Friend tell us what is its purpose and give a reason for the letter from the E.O.T.A., received by many of us this morning, to the effect that he had already turned down their application?

I have seen this letter from the Engineering Officers' (Telecommunications) Association which attributes to me a statement that I have absolutely refused to recognise their union. That is completely untrue because this is the first statement I have made on their union either in this House or outside. I hope they will have the courtesy to apologise. A trade union that makes irresponsible statements of this sort certainly does not do its case any good.

asked the Assistant-Postmaster General how many non-recognised staff associations, below 40 per cent. representation of the respective grades, have made application for full trade union recognition; and if he will state the names of such organisations.

Seven staff associations have applied for recognition, or for extended recognition; their names are as, follows:

• Engineering Officers (Telecommunications) Association,
• National Association of Postal and Telegraph Officers,
• National Association of Telephone Supervising Officers,
• National Guild of Motor Engineers,
• Telephone Sales Supervising Officers' Association,
• National Guild of Telephonists,
• Telecommunications Traffic Association.

Information about their current membership figures is not available, and I cannot therefore say how many are below 40 per cent. representation of their respective grades.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what reductions he is making in the number of official cars attached to the headquarters of the Post Office Department.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many official cars are now available in the pool at headquarters; and what reductions have been made in the past month.

The headquarters pool of cars has been reduced from 14 to nine.

Is my hon. Friend aware that his action in bringing about this considerable saving will be highly thought of throughout the country, and that it shows that this Government are going to do this job quickly?

Is my hon. Friend aware that these reductions could probably have been made months or even, years ago?

Would the hon. Gentleman take careful note of the amount of time wasted by officials through immobility?

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that this reduction would not have been made if it had led to any reduction in efficiency. The reduction has taken place by the pooling of cars, including the pooling of the car previously used by the Postmaster-General.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the financial basis between the Post Office and the Ministry of Health for the work done at the Cwmcarn factory for the repair of hearing aids.

Repair work on hearing aids at the Cwmcarn factory is being carried out experimentally under a noncompetitive order on the basis of a schedule of estimated prices for specific repair operations. Post Office costs including an addition of 12½ per cent. to cover overhead charges, will be borne by the Ministry of Health.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the findings of the Terrington Committee are likely to be issued.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on this point to the hon. Member for Brightside (Mr. R. E. Winterbottom).

I gather from the Minister's earlier comments how satisfied he is with E.O.T.A. May I ask if he is aware that his comments now will make E.O.T.A. more satisfied with him than his former comments did?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will consider the issue of special and individual designs in postage stamps for Scotland.

No, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that this could be done with great benefit to the trade and industry of Scotland,.and with considerable profit to his own Department by the sale of such stamps to stamp collectors all over the world?

There has been no previous request for this except from the hon. and learned Gentleman, and there are very great difficulties in the way. May I point out to him that already on the existing stamps Scotland has pride of place by the thistle in the top right hand corner?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will consider permitting approved individuals and firms to install additional telephone apparatus at the addresses of existing telephone subscribers, and so reduce the delay and expense of such work being carried out by Post Office engineering staff.

I can appreciate my hon. Friend's point of view on this subject, but he will understand that there are serious technical and administrative difficulties in making a general arrangement on the lines he suggests. I am, however, examining how far such approval might be given in special cases.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the inadequate telephone facilities available for the residents in the Caerau and Ely Racecourse Housing Estates, Cardiff; and whether he will make a statement.

A kiosk was provided on the Ely Racecourse Housing Estate on 7th November. There are now five kiosks in or near these two estates, and these should meet requirements.

Is the Minister suggesting that the five kiosks are in the Caerau and Ely Racecourse Housing Estates, or in the other part which is by far the bigger? I believe he will find that there is only one on the Caerau estate.

I am suggesting that there are five kiosks in or near the estate.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what arrangements exist to enable a current telephone subscriber to take over another existing line upon removal to a new address.

A removing subscriber is normally allowed to take over an existing line at his new address; the only exceptions are where waiting applicants in the immediate locality have stronger claims to the use of the line. If the hon. Member has in mind any particular case of difficulty, I shall be glad to make inquiry.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware I have already sent him details of a constituent precisely in the position I have described?

The hon. Member will have a reply.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will issue a statement of the progress being made with the extension to the Sale telephone exchange; and how soon are would-be subscribers in Sale likely to be connected up.

Installation of equipment in the extended exchange should begin next spring, but it is too early to say when the work will be finished and applicants provided with service.

Will my hon. Friend do all he can to hurry up the work?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many subscribers have been added to the Byron telephone exchange this year; and how many applications are now outstanding.

One thousand and twenty-five subscribers have been added and 1,778 applications are outstanding.

Is the Minister aware that his predecessor promised me more than a year ago that 2,000 subscribers would be added to this exchange within 12 months? Will he try to see whether more rapid progress can he made?

The extension of the building necessary for the extension of the exchange is due to begin on 1st January.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of telephones installed in the county of Merioneth during the 12 months ended 31st October, 1951; the number of outstanding applications; and to what extent adequate construction is in progress to meet the demand.

The number of telephones installed is 135; and the number of oustanding applications is 357. I regret that our limited resources do not enable us to provide sufficient plant to meet the demand as rapidly as we should like.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General in what cases it is the policy of his Department to charge excess rentals to telephone subscribers who live beyond a certain distance from the nearest telephone exchange; and how this is computed.

Excess rental is normally charged where the subscriber's premises are more than three miles radial distance from the nearest telephone exchange. The additional annual charge is £1 3s. 0d. for each furlong beyond these limits.

Am I to understand from the hon. Gentleman that the charge is computed from the telephone exchange itself or from the three-mile limit?

It is computed from the telephone exchange itself.

Is that not rather unfair? Would the hon. Gentleman consider arranging it so that a man who lives three miles and one furlong from the telephone exchange does not have to pay the excess when a man who lives two miles seven furlongs away does not have to pay any rental at all?

I will look into that point.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why bills sent out by the Northern Telephone Area for telephone calls on the Archway Exchange have not been delivered; what was the total of the bills concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The loss of these telephone accounts is as yet unexplained, but inquiries are continuing. Accounts for some subscribers on Enfield exchange as well as for some on Archway are concerned, the total amount involved being £13,620. Duplicate accounts are being sent out.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider introducing a full-scale interdepartmental inquiry into this inefficiency?

A departmental inquiry was instituted long ago.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what opinion has been formed as a result of examining the engines of M.I.G. 15 fighters as to what technical benefits have derived from our sale to the Russians of Nene engines.

Examination of captured parts of M.I.G.15 engines has shown that M.I.G.15 fighters are powered by engines which are copies of the Nene. Some of these have been developed to give increased thrust. It is thus reasonable to suppose that the Russians have derived substantial benefits from the sale to them of the Nene engines.

Shame!

Is it not the fact from my hon. Friend's answer that the sale of these engines was not merely an act of foolishness but that it struck a real blow against the free world?

I think it was certainly unfortunate.

In view of the disclosure made by the Minister about the benefits alleged to have been derived from the sale of the Nene engine, will the Minister disclose the whole of the facts which have now been made available to the air experts?

What facts has the right hon. Gentleman in mind?

If the hon. Gentleman will make inquiries and sees fit to make the necessary disclosures he will discover that his statement is a travesty of the facts.

Withdraw!

The right hon. Gentleman will be aware that this answer has been most carefully vetted and prepared by the Ministry.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware, and is the Minister of Defence who is now present aware, that the statements made to me by the intelligence experts are contrary to the statement made by the Minister?

I say that my answer was based on information supplied by our intelligence experts.

Has the hon. Gentleman communicated with the Ministry of Supply, which was the Department responsible, and is he aware that the experts of the Ministry of Supply stated that it was quite impossible that the Russians could learn from these engines anything that they did not already know?

rose—

We cannot debate this matter at this moment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he can now make a statement on the future of the Princess flying boats.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on the future of the Princess flying boat.

I regret that I cannot yet make a statement.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it was originally intended that these flying boats when in operation would be based on Southampton Marine Airport? Can he give an assurance that that is still the case?

I am not able to give any assurance about anything to do with the Princess flying boat at this moment. My noble Friend is well aware of the urgency of a clear decision in this matter, and it will be made as soon as possible.

Does my hon. Friend appreciate that if these flying boats were available today they could be of great assistance to our country, and will he try to come to an early decision in this matter?

I have said that a decision will be arrived at as early as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why the claims made by Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel during their three months' call-up, in respect of loss of wages, have not been met.

Members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force called up for three months received Service emoluments together with a special bounty. No undertaking was given that any difference between Service emoluments and civilian wages would be made good, but National Service grants were paid in 192 cases where it was clear that hardship would have resulted from the call-up.

Does my hon. Friend realise that some airmen were down by as much as £3 10s. a week? Will he investigate whether or not certain airmen have resigned their positions in the squadrons as a result of their loss of pay?

Maximum National Service grants are £3 a week, and therefore for men earning very high wages or salaries clearly there is a loss, but I think my hon. and gallant Friend must agree that that is unavoidable

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the reason for the delay in paying 1298452 L.A.C. P. D. Bennett, No. 11 School of R.T.G.C.T., Royal Air Force, Hednesford, Staffordshire, his pay and ration allowance money; whether he is aware of the hardship this delay has caused; and what steps he is taking to remedy this.

Owing to an unfortunate series of administrative errors, L.A.C. Bennett was not given the usual advance of 14 days' pay and ration allowance before he went on terminal leave, nor was the money due sent to him by post when it should have been. L.A.C. Bennett should by now have received a money order for £20 and, in accordance with the usual practice., he will be sent the balance owing to him on 26th November, the last day of his service in the Royal Air Force. I am grateful to the hon. Member for bringing this case to my notice, and I very much regret any hardship which was caused to the airman concerned.

While I thank the Minister very much for that reply and ask him whether he is aware that my constituent has received this money, may I ask him if he will now take steps to prevent such a thing happening again?

It was due to one of those unfortunate series of incidents which occur from time to time. I have looked into the matter myself, and I do not think it will occur again.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what proportion of those who qualified as Service pilots in 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950, respectively, had previously qualified as glider pilots.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that some years ago the practice was instituted of having some cadets take gliding instruction before flying instruction? Unless figures like these are available it is impossible to assess the value of preliminary gliding training.

Pilots' records do not show whether they have had gliding experience before flying. On the other hand, as the hon. Gentleman knows, considerable tests have been carried on at Cranwell and elsewhere into this matter, and these are perhaps the best tests, because one can carry straight through to see what is the value of gliding training.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it is because no such records are kept of a pilot that I put down the Question?

Is it not a fact that the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. de Freitas) was formerly Under-Secretary of State for Air and should have kept the records?

asked the Prime Minister what action is taken in regard to the pay, allowances, and personal effects of Service men taken prisoner in the Korean war, including men originally reported missing or killed and subsequently unofficially reported to be prisoners; and what special arrangements are made for the maintenance and welfare of the families of these men.

Pay and allowances continue to be credited to a prisoner's account. Dependent relatives receive the same allowances and allotments from pay as they were getting before the man was taken prisoner. The welfare organisations would consider sympathetically cases of particular hardship. Personal effects are sent to the next of kin or other authorised representative. This also applies to men reported missing or killed and later presumed to be prisoners.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has yet been able to look into the matter which he was good enough the other day to say that he would look into—the question of paying some part of the special Korea gratuity to the families of these men?

I will look into it and I will write to the hon. Gentleman on the point. If he is not satisfied perhaps he will put another Question on the Paper.

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government will make representations through the appropriate channels to ensure that the Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Forces in Korea, shall not authorise the issue of statements affecting the lives and safety of large numbers of British troops without prior consultation with the senior British military representative in that theatre.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make representations to the United Nations Organisation to ensure that official statements concerning the lives of British prisoners of war shall not be issue before he has been consulted.

The nature of General Ridgway's statement of 17th November, which has been fully reported in the Press, shows that no such representations were or are needed.

But in view of the fact that these Press statements do and must cause a great amount of distress amongst the relatives of missing men, does the right hon. Gentleman not consider it advisable in these circumstances that he should be consulted before these statements are made public?

I really do not think I could lay down that principle. The great mass of the Forces engaged in Korea are provided by the United States. The overwhelming sacrifices of blood loss has fallen upon them. The general commanding, in whom we have gathering and growing confidence, General Ridgway, has himself rebuked an utterance which he considered was calculated to cause unnecessary alarm and despondency, and has himself given out figures which are much more moderate and much more authoritative, but, nevertheless, extremely painful.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that when the original announcement was made it was made by a junior officer at General Ridgway's headquarters about these atrocities to prisoners, and it was at that time assumed that those may have affected British lives? Lest that sort of situation does arise again in future, will my right hon. Friend make representations that this sort of announcement should not be made without consultation with the senior British representative in the theatre or the command?

I do not think I can make any further statement on that point.

asked the Minister of Defence whether, in view of the desirability of our troops in Korea receiving parcels with the minimum of transport delay, he will arrange for a reduced air mail postage rate for Christmas parcels.

asked the Minister of Defence the cost of providing the free air mail parcel service to the troops in Korea last Christmas time; and what would be the cost of a similar concession this year.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will make similar arrangements this Christmas to those made last year to convey by air one postage-free parcel to the troops in Korea.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he proposes to make available the same special free parcels facilities for troops serving in Korea at Christmas as were given last year.

asked the Minister of Defence if he has now reached a decision concerning the suggested Christmas concession of postage-free parcels, air mail, to His Majesty's Forces in the Far East; and if he will make a statement.

The cost of last year's concession was about £37,000. We hope to repeat it this year, at an estimated cost of £58,000 if the maximum advantage is taken of it; but, as my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the War Office explained on my behalf in the debate on the Adjournment last Thursday, certain practical transport difficulties remain to be overcome.

Has my right hon. Friend also considered making these facilities available to troops who have been moved to Egypt in recent weeks?

We will look into that.

is the right hon. Gentleman aware that 12 months ago he regarded the concession as a cheese-paring one? Has he changed his mind?

:If it were then a cheeseparing one, at any rate the right hon. Gentleman should be satisfied that this time less cheese is pared, so that the sum is much greater. On the other hand, he may have his anxieties as to whether it is not a sign of the rise in the general cost of living in all directions.

One could understand the right hon. Gentleman's reply if he had really agreed to provide more than one free air parcel.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that nothing whatever stands in the way of these parcels reaching our troops by Christmas, because there is some alarm about possible transport delays?

We shall do our best to carry out the policy indicated.

asked the Minister of Food why he has not given the same concessions regarding the auctioning of fat cattle at the Scottish Fat Stock Show as he has given to the English show.

asked the Minister of Food why equal treatment in the auctioning of stock has not been granted to Edinburgh and London at their forthcoming fat stock shows.

Arrangements for the disposal of fat stock exhibited at this year's Smithfield Show are experimental, but if they are successful and are well received by both producers and butchers I will willingly consider extending the arrangements to Edinburgh and other fat stock shows.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend conduct these experiments both in Edinburgh and London contemporaneously and so relieve the feelings that Scotland is being treated differently from England?

That certainly would not be my intention. I do not know whether it is possible at this stage to extend these arrangements to Scotland, or to other centres, this year, for they were come to some time ago, but I shall be very happy to look into the matter.

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend not agree that—perhaps as was usual in the past—the Ministry of Food have entirely forgotten about Scotland?

I can promise my hon. and gallant Friend that from now we shall remember it very much more.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will reintroduce points rationing in the near future.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he is proposing to take, following the cut in food imports, to ensure the fair distribution of scarce foods; and whether he intends to re-introduce the points system for non-rationed foodstuffs.