asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an assurance that neither freight nor passenger charges will be increased on British Railways without a full investigation into the part railway services should play in the life of the nation.

I regret that I cannot give such an assurance.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now revoke the Emergency Powers (Defence) Standing Vehicles Orders, 1939 and 1940, in view of the fact that the reason for their imposition no longer exists.

Representative organisations have been consulted on the proposal to revoke these Orders and make a new Regulation under Section 30 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, continuing the restriction on motor vehicles and trailers on roads outside built-up areas only. While some have expressed no objection to the proposal and a few have not yet replied, a number of important associations have objected to it. I am therefore giving further consideration to the whole question.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will undertake that any changes which he may introduce in the incidence of development charge upon the building of dwelling-houses shall be retrospective, so that those who are now ready to start building may proceed without fear that they will thereby lose the benefit of any such changes.

I cannot at present add anything to my reply given to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on the 12th November.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if his attention has been drawn to an experiment carried out at a Midlothian colliery in the use of coloured enamel plates in refuge holes on an underground haulage road in order to find out the colour made more readily visible in the light of electric safety lamps; what further experiments have been carried out to confirm that a shade of green, known as Light Brunswick, stands out best in these conditions; and whether he will make regulations to ensure that where paint has to be used below ground, this colour is employed.

I am aware of this experiment, to which publicity was given by H.M. Divisional Inspector of Mines for the Scottish Division in his annual report for 1950. I am informed that some further limited experiments on the use of paint of this colour have been carried out in Scotland, but with varying success. The law requires refuge holes to be made readily visible by whitewash or otherwise, and many places below ground have to be kept white for the sake of good general lighting. I see no justification at present for requiring the use of a specified colour for these or similar purposes in mines.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if his attention has been drawn to the successful use of green-wash in place of whitewash in the underground stables in the East Midland Division; whether he is now satisfied that the experiment in the use of green-wash has been beneficial to the ponies housed in the stables in question; and if he will make Regulations to enforce this practice in all pits.

I am aware of the experimental use of greenwash in underground stables in the East Midlands Division and that beneficial results have been claimed. There is insufficient evidence at present, however, to justify its use being made compulsory. Nothing in existing Regulations prevents greenwash being more widely used.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give the number of new power and generating stations constructed in each of the six years following the First and Second World Wars, respectively.

Four stations were constructed in the six-year period from 1919 to 1924. Sixteen have been constructed in the six-year period from 1946 to 1951.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will give the number in receipt of disability pensions in each of the six years following the First and Second World Wars; and the total amounts of moneys paid in each of these years.

The following table shows the mean number of disablement pensions in payment in each of the first six complete financial years following the cessation of hostilities in 1918 and 1945, and the total amounts (including supplementary allowances) paid to disablement pensioners in each of those years.

asked the Minister of Food what is the total of advances to date to the Queensland British Food Corporation through the Overseas Food Corporation and the Queensland Government; and to what extent these are in excess of original anticipation.

The total of the advances made is £A2,500,000. This is the original estimated requirement.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the unfavourable state of production, he will appoint a committee to investigate the activities of the Queensland British Food Corporation and to consider whether they ought to be modified or ended.

The Chairman of the Corporation is paying a periodic visit to Queensland early in the New Year to attend meetings of the Board. It would be premature to make any statement until I have had an opportunity of discussing the position with him on his return and with the Queensland Government, who are our partners in the undertaking.

asked the Minister of Food what was the amount paid to British farmers for fat cattle, sheep, pigs and calves, respectively; and what were the numbers of each bought in the 12 months ending 31st March, 1951.

The following table gives the information:

asked the Minister of Food what slaughterhouses have been closed within the last few years in the Reigate and Redhill area; and for what reasons.

Since February, 1944, my Department has ceased to use the slaughterhouses at 9, High Street, Redhill; 2, Linkfield Corner, Redhill; and 8, Cromwell Road, Redhill, because of complaints by the local authority about the unsuitability of the sites and the inadequacy of the buildings.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation how much factory space and how many houses are being demolished to make London Airport adequate for traffic; and if, to secure better and less wasteful results, he will consider developing other airports.

At present, twelve cottages are being demolished in connection with the development of London Airport. No factories are being demolished.I am satisfied that this work is essential to meet the needs of the rapidly increasing air traffic.