asked the Minister of National Insurance how many pensioners are receiving the 4s. increase; how many pensioners there are whose birthday came after 1st October, 1951, and who, in consequence, are not drawing the 4s. increase; the number of non-contributory pensioners; and the number of new pensioners coming in each week.

The information asked for is as follows:

Number of retirement pensions increased under the National Insurance Act, 1951	just over	4,000,000
Estimated number of pensioners who have attained pension age since 1st October, 1951 and are not therefore entitled to the 4s. increase until age 70 (65 women)		30,000
Number of non-contributory pensioners	about	400,000
Number of new retirement pensioners each week	about	5,000

asked the Minister of National Insurance the number in receipt of family allowances in each of the six years following the Second World War; and the total amount of money paid in each year.

The information is given in the following table:

FAMILY ALLOWANCES
1. Number of families in receipt of allowances at 31st December of each year.
Thousands
1946	1947	1948	1949	1950
2,539	2,754	2,883	2,971	3,050

2. Expenditure in each financial year.
£ thousands
1946–47	1947–48	1948–49	1949–50	1950–51
32,125(a)	56,905	59,485	60,867	62,000(b)
(a) Family allowances did not come into payment until 6th August, 1946.
(b) Provisional figure.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will make a statement on coal prospects for the next 12 months.

I am not, at present, in a position to add to the statement I made on 8th November.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many tons of coal have been imported so far this financial year; and what were the countries of origin.

During the seven months April to October, 1951, inclusive, 435,200 tons of coal were imported from the U.S.A., 10,100 tons from Canada, and 2,400 from Nigeria.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the average price paid for coal imported from the United States of America during the financial year ended April, 1951.

The average cost per ton including freight, insurance and unloading charges, was £6 19s. 8d.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power by what method the Government intends to decentralise the coal mines; and when legislation to this effect will be introduced.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Durham (Mr. Grey) on 19th November, 1951.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what experiments have been undertaken in different types of heating at Lockleaze Housing Estate, Bristol; and what recommendations he is making as to the use of any of them.

Three different systems of heating have been installed in six houses in Bristol which were specially built on what is called "the open plan design."One system uses low pressure hot water; the second warm air with ducts; and the third warm air without ducts. I have not reached any conclusions because I have not yet received information about the costs of these experimental systems and what the people think about them.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is now in a position to state what reduction is contemplated in the building programme for new power stations or to extensions for existing stations.

No such reduction is contemplated but shortages may compel some postponement.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much electricity was produced in each of the six years after the First and Second World Wars, and in the year immediately preceding the outbreak of the last war.

The answer is as follows:

ELECTRICITY GENERATED BY PUBLIC SUPPLY STATIONS
	Million kWh
1919	3,650 (estimated)
1920	4,275
1921	3,890
1922	4,541
1923	5,289
1924 (a)	6,022
1938	24,372
1946	41,253
1947	42,580
1948	46,493
1949	49,061
1950	54,965
12 months ended October, 1951	59,933
(a) Prior to 1938 the figures refer to financial years.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will re-introduce petrol rationing during the period of the present financial difficulties confronting the country.

As the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster explained on 14th November in another place, the greatest part of the petrol consumed in this country is coming from U.K. refineries. Indeed, before the end of next year the output of petrol is expected to equal consumption.The shaping of future policy must depend on the economic situation but I am not at present of the opinion that the financial saving from the re-introduction of petrol rationing would warrant either the economic disturbance to the country or the administrative cost involved in setting up the organisation required to operate such a scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to Formosa.

Yes. It will be remembered that at the Cairo Conference in 1943 the United States, the United Kingdom and China agreed that after the war Formosa should be restored to the Republic of China. The Cairo Declaration also expressed the determination of the three Powers that in due course Korea should become free and independent, and their acceptance of the principles of non-aggression and no territorial ambitions.The decisions taken at Cairo were re-affirmed by the Potsdam Declaration of 1945, to which the U.S.S.R. subsequently adhered.The Formosan problem has now become an international one, and concerns a number of nations other than those which subscribed to the Cairo and Potsdam Declarations. It is, however, only one of the factors contributing to the present tension in the Far East, and in the view of His Majesty's Government the first and most urgent step towards a lessening of this tension is the achievement of a settlement in Korea. When this has been achieved, it will be possible to proceed with the discussion of other problems, including that of Formosa.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give the particulars of the present number of officials and staff at the British Embassies in Paris and Rome with details of the annual expenditure for salaries, compared with numbers and expenditure in 1938.

Full details of the estimates of staff and expenditure at the British Embassies at Paris and Rome in 1938–39 and 1950–51 will be found in Annex 5 the Seventh Report of the Select Committee on Estimates, which examined the Foreign Service earlier this year.Since the estimates for 1950–51 were drawn up the staffs for which the Foreign Office are responsible at these posts have been cut by 29 and 27 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many foreign students holding scholarships financed through public funds by the British Council are now in this country; and what is the total estimated cost to the taxpayer.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 186. The total estimated cost which covers fees, maintenance and fares, is £93,560 in the present financial year.

asked the Attorney-General whether His Majesty's Government proposes to take action to implement the recommendations of the Porter Committee, to reform the law relating to libel, presented to Parliament in 1948.

asked the Attorney-General whether he intends to introduce legislation for the purpose of giving effect to the recommendations of the Porter Committee on the law of libel so far as such recommendations relate to substantive law.

asked the Attorney-General when he will introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Porter Committee for the amendment of the law of defamation.

asked the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to amend the law of defamation, either generally in the light of the recommendations of the Porter Committee or particularly in regard to what, in such Committee's Report, is described as unintentional defamation.

asked the Attorney-General when it is proposed to introduce legislation to amend the law relating to libel in accordance with the recommendations of the Porter Committee.

I regret that I am unable at the moment to say when it will be possible to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations of this Committee.

asked the Attorney-General what progress has been made by the Royal Commission on the marriage laws.

The Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce was appointed in August of this year. During September memoranda were prepared, by the Chairman and others, dealing with the present state of the law and outlining the problem which confronted the Commission. These were considered by the Commission at its first meeting on 8th October.Notices were then inserted in the English and Scottish Press, inviting the submission of memoranda not later than 20th December, 1951. I understand that the Commission intends to hold a series of meetings early in the New Year, to consider any memoranda which may have been submitted, and to decide on the procedure to be adopted as regards the hearing of oral evidence.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the prohibition of the import of canned fruit, an increase of tins to British canneries will now be given to enable them to continue canning surplus apples which cannot be absorbed as fresh fruit.

Imports of canned fruit are to be restricted, not prohibited. In any case, such restriction as takes place will not of itself free any tinplate to enable us to increase supplies to British canners.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on recent negotiations with Australia and the Argentine for supplies of meat and New Zealand for dairy products.

Recent negotiations with Australia on meat supplies resulted in a 15-year agreement of which I am placing copies in the Library of the House. There have been no further negotiations for the purchase of meat from Argentina since those which ended in April last with the signature of a protocol supplementing the Trade and Payments Agreement of 1949.We have a long-term contract with New Zealand on dairy products which runs until 1955 and under which we take almost the whole of New Zealand's exportable surplus. There is provision for an annual review of prices and last June it was agreed that prices should be increased by 7½ per cent.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage of the rationed meat issued for consumption in the United Kingdom is issued to restaurants, canteens and clubs, respectively.

The figures for the first six months of 1951 are 3.9 per cent. to restaurants, 3.4 per cent. to industrial canteens, 5.6 per cent. to day-school canteens, and 0.3 per cent. to clubs.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of carcase meat was sold to the United States Forces stationed in Great Britain in the past month.

None. The United States Forces in this country bring in their own supplies of carcase meat.

asked the Minister of Food if his attention has been called to the increases in the prices of the basic materials used in the confectionery trades during the last three weeks; and if he will control the prices of these goods.

There have been no recent increases in prices of basic materials. If the hon. Member has in mind the higher prices which I understand are being charged for such supplementary materials as sweetened fat and fondant, these have never been controlled in price and my right hon. Friend does not intend to introduce control now.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the recent Mass Observation Bulletin, an extract of which has been sent to him, regarding the shopping habits of working-class housewives in which it was found that on Fridays and Saturdays they spent three times as much money as mid-week; and if, in view of this, he will take steps to prohibit the practice of raising prices at week ends of many vegetables and fruit.

My right hon. Friend has seen this extract. He does not believe that it would be in the interests of the housewife to interfere with day to day fluctuations in fruit and vegetable prices.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an assurance that there will be this year an adequate supply of poultry for sale for Christmas; and if he will lift the embargo on poultry from Europe to ensure that there will be no shortage of small birds.

Home production of poultry has increased during the last six months and it is hoped that this will largely offset the loss of supplies caused by the ban on imports from countries where fowl pest is endemic. Such restrictions are under constant review by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture.

asked the Minister of Food the prices paid per dozen for winter eggs and spring eggs, respectively, during 1950 and 1951; and what prices have been agreed by his Department for the next six months.

Following is the information:The following is the full range of prices paid to producers for hen eggs of first quality in 1950 and 1951:

		per dozen eggs.
1950		s.	d.
5th Jan. to 18th Jan.	…	5	6
19th Jan. to 15th Feb.	…	5	0
16th Feb. to 23rd Aug.	…	3	9
24th Aug. to 20th Sept.	…	4	6
21st Sept. to 20th Dec.	…	5	0
21st Dec. to 3rd Jan., 1951	…	4	6
1951
4th Jan. to 28th Feb.	…	4	6
1st March to 30th May	…	3	6
31st May to 20th June	…	4	0
21st June to 8th Aug.	…	4	6
9th Aug. to 17th Oct.	…	5	0
18th Oct. until varied	…	6	0

Deductions in Great Britain from the above prices for second quality eggs and for dirty eggs otherwise of first quality were Is. per dozen until 16th May, 1951. On 17th May, 1951, the rate of deduction for second quality eggs was increased to 1s. 6d. per dozen, the rate for dirty eggs otherwise of first quality remaining unchanged at 1s. per dozen. Deductions in Northern Ireland for second quality eggs and dirty eggs otherwise of first quality were 1s. 6d. per dozen throughout the two years.Prices to producers for duck eggs were at a lower level than the above prices for hen eggs. On 17th May, 1951, duck eggs were removed from control and from that date duck eggs were permitted to be sold free of price or other control. The Ministry of Food undertook, however, to buy duck eggs through the packing stations at seasonal prices advertised in the Press from time to time as appropriate.Following the review of agricultural prices under the Agriculture Act, 1947, in February, 1951, the Agricultural Departments of the United Kingdom and the Ministry of Food announced that the top winter price of 6s. per dozen for hen eggs in 1951–52 would fall by six stages to 3s. per dozen at the close of the production year which ends in March, 1952. This announcement is subject to any changes which may be necessary as a result of the special review of agricutural prices now taking place.The prices to operate from April, 1952, will be considered in the review of agricultural prices in February, 1952.

asked the Minister of Food when he proposes to bring forward legislation which will empower him to give added protection to the public from the risks of food contamination due to dirty or improper handling or storage, and from the risks derived from chemical substances which may be added to foodstuffs and which have not been proved harmless.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 19th November, to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore).

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that duck eggs may be poisonous unless boiled at least 10 minutes and should be eaten within three or four days unless kept in refrigerators; and whether he will arrange that printed cards containing these instructions be placed prominently on the counters of all shops where duck eggs are sold.

There is some slight risk of infection which makes it desirable to cook duck eggs thoroughly. This point receives wide publicity and I do not think we need special placards on the subject.

asked the Minister of Food what is the amount of the subsidy on the soft oils provided for manufacturers of non-rationed foods, such as potato crisps; to what extent post-war entrants into the business are excluded from this subsidy; and whether he will re-examine the position.

There is no subsidy on oils supplied to trade users, such as manufacturers of potato crisps. The second and third parts of the Question, do not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Food what is the amount of subsidy at present being incurred on feedingstuffs imported by the Animal Feeding Stuffs Division and Cereal Imports Division of his Department.

It is estimated that these subsidies will amount to about £26.9 million in 1951–52.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the fish industry and the agricultural industry in the North of Scotland, by reason of their remoteness from the large consuming centres of Southern Scotland and of England, find difficulty in competing with the similar industries in England; that this is prejudicial to producers and consumers alike; and what steps he proposes to take to secure fair and equal treatment for all concerned.

As regards fish distribution I told the hon. and learned Member on 12th November, the White Fish Authority are now considering the question of equalising transport charges.I am not aware of serious difficulties in the case of farmers, but if the hon. and learned Member has any particular points in mind, I shall be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the allocation of currants, raisins and other ingredients required for Christmas puddings in the City of Aberdeen is inequitable; and if he will increase the allocation in sufficient time to enable Christmas festivities to be traditionally celebrated.

No. If the hon. and learned Member has any specific case in mind I shall be glad to have particulars.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will authorise a new zebra crossing in the Risco Road, Newport, opposite the Rougement Private Preparatory School, in view of the large number of small children attending from adjoining areas, the dangerous main road at this point and the number of other children using this crossing from other roads in the immediate neighbourhood where a pedestrian crossing has recently been removed.

According to my present information, neither the traffic nor the number of pedestrians justifies a crossing here. If, however, the school can arrange for an adult patrol I will consider authorising a sign to hold up traffic while schoolchildren cross the road.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the difficulties experienced by motorists in seeing some of the new zebra-marked pedestrian crossings at night in wet weather; and whether steps can be taken to render them more visible in such conditions.

This matter is under urgent examination by the Road Research Laboratory and my Department. As soon as these investigations are concluded, I will see what can be done.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the removal of the only pedestrian crossing on the A 2 road at Newington, near Sittingbourne, constitutes a danger to schoolchildren and others; and if he will, in the interests of road safety, have it restored immediately.

I do not think that conditions here, with a heavy traffic flow and relatively few pedestrians wishing to cross the trunk road, justify a crossing. If an adult patrol is organised to see school-children across the road to and from school, I would consider authorising a "Stop—Children Crossing" sign.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will cause his public relations officer to publicise how pedestrians and motorists should use the new zebra crossings since many pedestrians are under the impression that they have to stand on the crossings in order to let motorists know that they desire to cross.

This was dealt with in a recent broadcast but I will certainly consider the issue of further guidance. I am advised that pedestrians do not obtain precedence on a crossing until they actually step on to it but the most important thing to remember is that both pedestrians and drivers should behave reasonably and carefully.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the grave disquiet felt by the residents of Harringay at the absence of adequate safeguards at the dangerous junction of Endymion Road and Green Lanes, Harringay; and if, in view of the Tottenham Borough Council and his Department having agreed to the erection of traffic signals. when these signals are likely to be erected.

In present circumstances it is unlikely that delivery of the necessary equipment can be obtained in less than six to nine months.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the number of road accidents resulting from the road surface in the immediate proximity of traffic-controlled lights and pedestrian crossings being insufficiently proofed against skidding; and whether special steps can be taken to ensure that at an early date all such road surfaces are rendered less slippery.

I have no information that any considerable number of accidents are due to this cause. Highway authorities are well aware of the danger of slippery roads, especially at places where motor vehicles may have to pull up quickly. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind I will gladly look into it.

asked the Minister of Transport the gross, and the net receipts, respectively, from fees for driving tests for the latest convenient period; also the percentage of applicants qualifying at the first attempt, at the second attempt and at the third or later attempts, respectively.

In the year ended 31st March, 1951, receipts from fees for driving tests amounted to £258,500. Expenses, including administrative costs, were estimated at £341,500, an excess of £83,000 over receipts. Candidates are not asked for information about previous failures, and records of failures are not kept.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present position in regard to the draft byelaws submitted last June by Trinity House for an increase in pilotage rates for the port of Falmouth.

The Corporation of Trinity House have informed me that in view of the increase in tanker traffic through Falmouth they propose to defer submitting their observations on the objections which have been lodged against the draft byelaws until the figures of pilots' earnings for 1951 are available.The interested parties have been so informed and have raised no objection.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps it is proposed to take to increase recruitment to the mines.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) on 15th November, 1951.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will inform the House of the cost of building the new Embassy in Rome and the date of its completion.

The cost of new Embassy Offices at Rome is estimated roughly at £400,000. So far, only trial holes have been dug and no drawings have been prepared. A start on the new building will be deferred for the time being.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will make a statement about the stocks of non-ferrous metals and sulphur held in this country at the beginning of this month; and the supply prospects for the new year.

Provisional figures for United Kingdom stocks in the country at the beginning of this month of sulphur and of the principal non-ferrous metals for which figures are published are as follows:

	Tons.
Sulphur	108,900
Virgin copper	122,800
Refined lead	45,000
Virgin zinc	35,700
Zinc concentrates	64,000
Virgin tin (exclusive of producers' and Government stocks)	1,800

Sulphur, copper and zinc are at present subject to International Materials Conference allocations and our future supplies will be affected by Conference decisions. World supplies of lead are improving and it is expected that in 1952, the requirements of British industry will be met. Supplies of tin for the United Kingdom should present no serious problems.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations why our representatives on the United Nations Trusteeship Committee at the United Nations voted against the resolution proposing that representatives of the natives of South-West Africa should be allowed to state their case to the United Nations.

I have been asked to reply.The United Kingdom Representative's vote is explained by the speech which he made to the Committee at the time. I shall be glad to send a copy of the full speech to the hon. Member. Briefly the position is that the only petitions provided for in the United Nations Charter are those relating to Trust Territories, and South-West Africa is not a Trust Territory. Furthermore, to give an oral hearing to the Herero chiefs would appear to involve a departure from the opinion of the International Court of Justice.

Period		Local Authorities (all assisted)	Private Enterprise		Remarks
			Assisted	Unassisted
1.1.1919–31.3.1920	…	576	139	30,000 (estimated)	The local authority houses were built to let. The numbers of private enterprise houses built for sale and to let respectively are not known. The size of the local authority houses was in general less than 1,000 sq. ft. Information is not available as to the size of private enterprise houses.
1.4.1920–30.9.1920	…	2,926	2,486
1.10.1920–30.9.1921	…	47,651	20,294
1.10.1921–30.9.1922	…	85,976	20,189
1.10.1922–30.9.1923	…	25,241	748	52,749
1.10.1923–30.9.1924	…	14,544	21,915	73,032
1.4.1945–31.12.1945	…	366	—	901	All the local authority houses were built to let. About 10 per cent, of the private enterprise houses were built to let, the remainder being for sale. The private enterprise figures include about 2,000 agricultural houses erected with Exchequer subsidy; the remainder were unassisted. The areas of local authority houses range generally from 550 to 1,150 sq. ft. according to bedroom types. The areas of the private enterprise houses are not known but were subject to a general maximum of 1,500 sq. ft.
Year 1946	…	18,729	—	26,780
Year 1947	…	84,475	—	30,202
Year 1948	…	170,788	—	18,882
Year 1949	…	142,415	—	19,275
Year 1950	…	140,678	—	24,108
1.1.1951–31.3.1951	…	32,955	—	3,906

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of houses built in each of the six years following the First and Second World Wars, showing the numbers for sale and to let and the size in each instance.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation what estimates he has as to the respective costs of land runways for aircraft and sea-berths for flying boats.

Not enough evidence exists to enable me to make an accurate comparison between the cost of an aerodrome suitable for modern transport aircraft and that of a comparable flying boat base. There are few sites which could be economically adapted for flying-boat operations, and the data at my disposal suggests that, in general, development of a flying boat base would be the more expensive.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to alleviate the shortage in hospitals of X-ray film.

During 1951, the amount of X-ray film supplied to the home market, of which much the greater part goes to hospitals, is likely to be about 7½ per cent. more than during 1950. Despite this increase, some hospitals are experiencing difficulty because of the steady increase in the demand of the medical services as a whole. A small increase in supplies is expected during the next few months, and a substantial increase early next year as a result of a major expansion in output. In the meantime, in consultation with my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Health, I am closely watching the position, and have made arrangements with the manufacturers to make emergency supplies available to hospitals in serious difficulty.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the national production figures for the year preceeding and the six years following the outbreak of the First and Second World Wars.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to index numbers of production. There are no official figures available for the year preceding and the six years following the outbreak of the First World War. The present interim index of production is based on production in 1946, and details covering the period from 1946 are published in the Monthly Digest of Statistics prepared by the Central Statistical Office and published by His Majesty's Stationery Office.Evidence available suggests that production in 1938 was not very different from 1946. No figures are available for the period 1939 to 1945.

asked the Minister of Education what is the number of new schools built in England since October, 1945, to October, 1951; and how many places have been provided.

Between 1st October, 1945, and 1st October last, 649 new schools were completed in England. During the same period, 610,215 new places were brought into use.

asked the Minister of Education (1) how many new schools have been built in Keighley since 1st January, 1914, to October, 1951;(2) how many school places have been provided in Keighley since October, 1945, to October, 1951.

Between the two wars three new schools were built in Keighley, and two others to provide 640 places are now under construction. Since 1945, about 160 school places have been brought into use in hired premises.

asked the Minister of Education if she will give the number of children in receipt of cheap and free dinners and cheap and free milk at school in each of the six years following the First and Second World Wars, and the cost of the same in each. year.

The figures are as follows. I regret that the information is not available entirely in the form in which it is asked for.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the acreage, location and quality of the land in Scotland under the control or use of his Department which could otherwise be used for food production; and what steps he is taking to keep this acreage, location and quality, under review, in view of the need for maximum home production of food.

My Department controls some 41,000 acres of freehold, leasehold or requisitioned land in Scotland. The land is held mainly in small acreages in many parts of the country although there are five training areas at Stobs, Kirkcudbright, Gareloch, Barry Links and Dreg-horn of over 1,000 acres. The bulk of the land is grazing land, much of it rough pasture.It is the Department's policy to let for cultivation or grazing as much land as possible consistent with military requirements and some 33,000 acres are so let in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will give, for the summer of 1939, or the most convenient date prior to the war-time expansion and subsequent nationalisation of the Fire Service, the numbers of Fire Service personnel in county borough and non-county borough fire brigades, respectively, who were part of the polices forces of their towns or cities;(2) if he will give lists of the county boroughs and non-county boroughs, respectively, in which, prior to the war-time nationalisation of the Fire Service, the fire service personnel formed part of the police force of the towns or cities concerned.

The returns of strength of the police forces in England and Wales on 29th September, 1939, showed that in the county boroughs 1,098 police were employed whole-time as firemen and 849 police were employed as auxiliary firemen. The corresponding figures for the non-county borough police forces were 36 and 247 respectively. A list of the county boroughs and non-county boroughs in which at that time police were employed as whole-time firemen or auxiliary firemen follows:

COUNTY BOROUGHS AND NON-COUNTY BOROUGHS WHERE POLICE WERE SERVING AS FIREMEN IN 1939
County Boroughs
Barnsley.	Norwich.
Blackburn.	Nottingham.
Bradford.	Oldham.
Bristol.	Plymouth.
Burnley.	Portsmouth.
Canterbury.	Rochdale.
Cardiff.	Rotherham.
Carlisle.	St. Helens.
Dewsbury.	Salford.
Doncaster.	Sheffield.
Dudley.	Southport.
Gateshead.	South Shields.
Great Yarmouth.	Stockport.
Huddersfield.	Sunderland.
Kingston-upon-	Swansea.
Hull.	Tynemouth.
Leeds.	Wakefield.
Lincoln.	Wallasey.
Liverpool.	Walsall.
Manchester.	Wigan.
Merthyr Tydfil.	Wolverhampton.
Newcastle upon	Worcester.
Tyne.	York.
Northampton.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will state his reasons for continuing to order the slaughter of poultry affected with fowl pest; and why vaccination is not permitted.

The policy adopted in this country aims at the total eradication of fowl pest. The only way in which this can be achieved is by the slaughter of affected birds and, where necessary, contacts. In countries where the disease has become very prevalent, widespread vaccination is a useful method of reducing losses, but it cannot bring about eradication of the disease. The adoption of vaccination in this country would inevitably lead to the perpetuation of fowl pest as an endemic disease.So long as there is a chance that it will be effective, we shall continue the eradication policy which is not only in the best interests of the poultry industry as a whole but also the most advantageous to the national interest.