asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on food subsidies for each year separately since the end of the war; and what has been the average price level of the food subsidised taking 1945 as 100 per cent. basis.

The following are the amounts spent on food subsidies, starting with the financial year 1945–46:

£265.5 million.	£484.5 million.
£325 million.	£424.8 million.
£391.6 million.	£400.3 million.

The average price levels of subsidised foods have been calculated for the calendar years starting with 1945 and taking that year as 100.The average prices asked for in the second part of the Question are:

100.	113.2.
101.5.	120.6.
102.3.	127.7.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the cost of food subsidies in each of the six years following the First and Second World Wars.

The cost of food subsidies since the Second World War has been as follows:

				£million
1945–46	…	…	…	265.5
1946–47	…	…	…	325.0
1947–48	…	…	…	391.6
1948–49	…	…	…	484.5
1949–50	…	…	…	424.8
1950–51	…	…	…	400.3

The main element in these figures is the net trading deficit of the Ministry of Food, incurred in order to keep down the cost to the consumer of basic foodstuffs. During and immediately after the First World War, it was the Ministry's general policy to be self-supporting. It did, however subsidise the growing of potatoes at a cost of £965,000 in 1918–19. There was a bread subsidy, for which the Royal Commission on Wheat Supplies accounted, costing approximately £50 million in 1918–19, £50.5 million in1919–20, and £39.7 million in 1920–21. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in 1921–22 incurred a total loss of £18.2 million on a guarantee of minimum prices for wheat and oats.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the general inconvenience caused to individuals who do not have banking accounts when repayments of Income Tax are made by cheque; and what action he proposes to meet this.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 22nd November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will exempt from Purchase Tax television sets purchased through a society for the deaf for those who are totally deaf.

No. It is impossible to consider requests for a concession of this sort in isolation from other requests relating to other articles of particular value to other afflicted or disabled persons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Royal Commission on the taxation of private profits and income is expected to report.

The Commission has received a good deal of written evidence, and has held several public meetings at which it has taken oral evidence. I understand however that the evidence so far received is far from complete and that it will be a considerable time before the Commission will be ready to report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the home production of roll films is sufficient to satisfy demand; and whether he will restrict imports and so save foreign currency.

Home production of roll films is more than sufficient to meet home demand, but a considerable proportion of supplies is exported. We do not propose to put any further restrictions on imports of roll films.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why representatives of the cotton textile unions were not invited to the initial discussions on raw cotton imports.

It was certainly my right hon. Friend's intention to include representatives of the trade unions from the start and the meeting on 16th November included representatives of all sections of the cotton industry. Though the interests most immediately concerned with the purchase and sale of raw cotton—the raw cotton merchants, the Raw Cotton Commission and the cotton spinners—were invited to be separately represented, all other sections of the industry, including the trade unions, were represented by members of the Cotton Board. One of the representatives of the Cotton Board who attended was in fact a trade unionist. It was agreed at the meeting that every section closely concerned, including the spinning and weaving trade unions, should be separately represented on the Committee which is now being set up under the Chairmanship of Sir Richard Hopkins.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will greatly simplify the Census of Production.

My right hon. Friend is carefully considering the future programme for censuses of production in order to secure economy of effort both in industry and in the Board of Trade. It is not desirable to alter the arrangements for the Census to be taken in 1952 in respect of production in 1951. The Order defining the scope of this Census has been made and the forms are already printed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of foodstuffs imported from Eastern Europe, particularly Bulgaria, Hungary and Roumania, during the last two years; and the value of commodities imported from the same source during the period.

Value £'000
—					Food and Drink (i)		All other Imports
					Year 1950	January—September, 1951	Year 1950	January—September. 1951
Hungary	…	…	…	…	328	—	46	4
Bulgaria	…	…	…	…	1	0	52	46
Roumania	…	…	…	…	373	1,274	197	114
Soviet Union	…	…	…	…	13,621	21,855	20,603	17,642
Poland	…	…	…	…	14,191	14,111	4,973	2,408
Eastern Germany	…	…	…	…	(ii)	—	(ii)	2,001
Czechoslovakia	…	…	…	…	3,084	3,136	5,698	4,557
TOTAL	…	…	…	…	31,598	40,376	31,569	26,772
(i) Class 1 (less tobacco) of the Official Import List.
(ii) Imports from Eastern Germany were not shown separately prior to 1951.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number employed at each of the Grenfell factories situate in Rhondda; and how this number compares with the estimated figure of the employment that might be attained when they were let.

The four Grenfell factories in the Rhondda are employing together 275 workers. These factories were designed to provide employment for 100 to 150 persons in each factory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will amend Part I of Statutory Instrument, 1951, No. 6, in the Rayon Schedule (W.R.I.) so as to indicate whether the utility mark may be affixed to pique provided the other stipulations laid down in the Schedule are observed.

I am aware that difficulties have arisen in the interpretation of the technical details of this Order, and we are considering the question.

The value of foodstuffs imported from Eastern Europe (excluding Finland and Yugoslavia) in 1950 was £31.6 million, and in the first nine months of this year £40.4 million; total imports during the same periods were £63.2 million and £67.1 million.The details of these imports are as follow:

asked the Minister of Works whether he will make arrangements to postpone further capital expenditure on the building of the new Colonial Office in Parliament Square, and other Government offices, having regard to the urgent need for homes.

The foundations of the new Colonial Office will be completed but present conditions make it necessary to defer the superstructure of the building. The building of new Government offices is for the time being prohibited except where work has begun or in other very special circumstances.

asked the Minister of Works how many steel-framed office blocks are under construction in Manchester at the present time; and how many of these are intended for use as Government offices, either temporarily or permanently.

There are three steel-framed office buildings under construction at present in the Manchester City Council area. A part of one of these buildings will be used as Government offices temporarily.

asked the Minister of Works how many steel-framed office blocks are under construction in London at the present time; and how many of these are intended for use as Government offices, either temporarily or permanently.

Thirty-Seven steel-framed office buildings are at present under construction in London, of which seven are Crown buildings and 11 will be leased for use as Government offices.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will introduce during the present Session legislation based upon the Report of the Gowers Committee on Houses of Historic Interest.

This matter is being given urgent attention, but I cannot yet say whether a Bill will he introduced during the present Session.

asked the Minister of Works when the flag will next be hoisted on the Victoria Tower.

The flag will be flown again from the Victoria Tower when Parliament meets after the Christmas Recess.

asked the Minister of Works (1) if he will itemise the new building and renovation projects in Scotland which will be cancelled arising from the new policy of economy;(2) if he will state the total capital expenditure for new building and renovation work in Scotland which will be cancelled for the next three months arising from the new policy of economy.

I must emphasise that the policy as announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is not to cancel approved projects but to reduce, for a few months, the rate of starting them. It is too early yet to itemise the projects affected in Scotland or to give the total cost of the work involved

asked the Minister of Works how many tons of waste paper is now available from the surplus Festival of Britain books and catalogues which were not used; and what is the financial loss involved.

About 1,600 tons of paper were used for Festival Office books and publications put on sale. About 350 tons of surplus publications are to be pulped. The total estimated cost of production of the publications printed for sale is approximately £370,000 and the revenue from the sales and advertisements in the publications and for pulping is around £350,000, after allowing for discounts to booksellers but not for distribution costs at the exhibitions.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to ensure a continuity of employment for the men employed on rebuilding in the city of Bristol in view of his decision to restrict further building work for three months; and to what extent war-damaged towns will be placed in a different category for capital allocation from those that were undamaged.

The Government's decisions are intended to enable building schemes to proceed at a better pace by reducing the overload of work and care will be taken to maintain continuity of employment. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. J. J. Astor) on the 20th November.

asked the Minister of Works what action he has taken, or proposes to take, to ensure that the recommendations of the Report of the Monopolies Commission on the supply of cast iron rainwater goods are carried out by the industry concerned.

asked the Minister of Works what regulations he proposes to make in consequence of the Report of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission on rainwater goods.

My Department has held discussions with representatives of the manufacturers and merchants concerned and has received an assurance that new trading arrangements to carry out the recommendations of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission will replace the present agreements. I should like to place on record my appreciation of their co-operation.

asked the Minister of Works when the remaining window will be replaced in St. Stephen's Hall; and if he will give an assurance that it will contain the coat of arms of the borough of Accrington.

Owing to the need to carry out repairs to the stonework of the remaining window in St. Stephen's Hall it will not be possible to reglaze the window until 1953, although the stained glass has been made. The windows in St. Stephen's Hall are being restored exactly as they were before the war. This means that the arms of the Borough of Accrington which were not included in the earlier window will not be in the new one.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will arrange for free public access to the riverside walk in Battersea Park throughout the winter months this year during which the gardens themselves will be closed.

I understand that the London County Council and Festival Gardens Ltd. have agreed to open to the public as much as possible of the riverside section of the Gardens during the winter months. Details of the boundaries are now being settled.

asked the Minister of Works whether the moving of the staff of the Ministry of Local Government and Planning consequent upon the reorganisation of that Department is now completed; and over how many premises they are now dispersed.

The movement of the staff of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government is not yet complete. The staff occupy accommodation in six premises.

asked the Minister of Works what quantity of steel will be recoverable from the South Bank Festival site; and how much of this will be available for house building.

It has not yet been decided which South Bank Festival buildings are to be demolished, or which are to be demolished and re-erected elsewhere. I cannot, therefore, say how much steel will be recoverable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works as representing the Lord President of the Council, what research has been made on the problem of miners' emphysema; and what are the findings as to this condition being specific to mining as an occupation.

Research on industrial pulmonary diseases, including those associated with coalmining, forms a substantial part of the work of the Medical Research Council and is also in progress in a number of universities. Emphysema may occur in association with pneumoconiosis but there is no evidence that emphysema is in itself an occupational disease specific to mining.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether the research work conducted in Cardiff by the pneumoconiosis research unit is to be published; and when a report may be expected.

The results of work carried out in the Pneumoconiosis Research Unit are published, as they become available, in scientific journals. Over twenty pages have so far been published and these are listed in the Medical Research Council's reports to Parliament. In addition the Council have themselves sponsored a publication entitled "Social Consequences of Pneumoconiosis among Coal Miners in South Wales" by C. M. Fletcher and P. Hugh-Jones. This publication is available from H.M. Stationery Office.

asked the Minister of Labour how many building trade workers were unemployed in Scotland on the latest date for which figures are available.

Two thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine at 15th October, of whom 269 were building trade craftsmen.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in order to check the present competition between separate unions for higher wages, he will consult with the Trade Union Congress and the employers' organisations for the establishment of a national wages policy.

It has been the policy of successive Governments, and one which this Government hopes to continue, to encourage the settlement of wages and connected questions so far as practicable by the two sides of industry through our traditional system of collective bargaining. It is my intention to maintain close and constant touch with all sides of industry on wages questions in relation to our economic circumstances.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will arrange with the local omnibus company for travelling facilities to be afforded to the employees of the Remploy Factory in Abertillery at the end of their day shift, in view of their physical disability and the steepness of the hill leading from the factory to the town.

I am informed that the local omnibus company is willing to extend one of its services to the Remploy Factory, and is now seeking the necessary sanction from the licensing authority.

asked the Minister of Labour whether an additional factory in Rhondda still forms a part of the future programme by the Remploy Corporation; and when it may be possible to give effect to the proposition.

Yes, but I am unable to give a forecast of when building may commence because, as the House is aware, it is not proposed that Remploy Limited should build any new factories until the present organisation and trading position have been consolidated.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of lost working days through industrial disputes is represented by 35 per cent. and 65 per cent. in the nationalised industries and other industries, respectively, during the period 1st January, 1950, to 30th September last.

1,001,000 and 1,832,000, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the response to the appeal sent out by his officers in Bristol inviting skilled men who have retired to return to their trade; and if he will make a similar appeal throughout the country.

On 14th October retired workers in the Bristol area who were skilled in certain engineering occupations were invited to register for employment. Up to 23rd November, 30 applications for employment and a large number of inquiries had been received. Employment exchanges throughout the country have been instructed to invite retired workers to return to their trade where there is an unsatisfied demand for labour which they can supply.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the shortage of labour on Merseyside, if he will take immediate action to augment the building labour force in this region.

There is a general shortage of building craftsmen but on Merseyside it is much less acute than in most other parts of the country.

asked the Minister of Labour what is now the normal time after registration that a young man can expect to be called up for National Service; and to what extent this period can be reduced if the potential Service man makes special application on grounds of hardship.

The interval between registration and call-up varies between about six and 22 weeks. Where a young man specially desires early call-up, the interval can be reduced to about three weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers engaged in building were called-up for National Service from Wales in 1950; and in the first nine months of 1951.

I regret that the information is not immediately available but I am having inquiries made and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour why, in view of the present shortage of food and suitable labour locally, the application for deferment of National Service made by the Poultry Association of Great Britain for a farm worker engaged in pig and poultry husbandry at Tyler's Green, High Wycombe, was refused.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the application made in respect of Mr. Gilbert Plumridge of Ashwells Farm, Tylers Green, High Wycombe. This application was rejected by the National Service Deferment Board on the unanimous advice of the local Agricultural Advisory Panel, who consider that it should be possible for the remaining staff to carry on the work of the farm without any appreciable loss of production.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish tuberculosis patients have now been flown out to Switzerland for treatment; and how many more it is planned to send.

One hundred and eighty patients have been flown out to Switzerland since June. This completes the original programme and no further flights will be made during the winter. Thereafter when patients return on the completion of their treatment they will be replaced by others.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what sanatoria accommodation is available in Scotland for ex-Service men suffering from tuberculosis.

Ex-Service patients are admitted to National Health Service sanatoria in the same way as other members of the public. In addition the Scottish Branch of the British Red Cross Society have two sanatoria in Aberdeenshire primarily for ex-Service men.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what cuts in the school building programme are contemplated for 1952.

I am unable to say, at this stage, what the school building programme for 1952 will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the waiting lists of patients for surgical eye treatment at Kilmarnock Infirmary and Ayr County Hospital; the number of beds available for such treatment; and the average waiting time.

One hundred and twelve adult patients are on the common waiting list for the three Ayrshire hospitals which take surgical eye cases. The number of beds normally set aside are Kilmarnock Infirmary 1 (for emergency), Ayr County Hospital 6 and Ballochmyle Hospital 6. There are also four beds for children at Seafield Hospital, Ayr, which has a waiting list of 74 child patients.Patients requiring treatment urgently are accepted at once. For most other patients I am informed that the usual waiting time is at present about one year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Scotland's housing programme.

I shall do all I can to expand the Scottish housing programme, but I cannot forecast the rate or scale of the increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will investigate the working of the industrial key workers houses scheme, as its application is causing discontent in some areas.

In general, the scheme is working satisfactorily. I understand, however, that particularly in Kilmarnock, questions have arisen about the choice of tenants for these key workers' houses. This is primarily a matter for the local authority but arrangements have been made whereby differences between them and any particular firm can be considered by the Board of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses in Scotland were scheduled as slum dwellings or unfit for human habitation at the outbreak of war in 1939; and what are the corresponding figures now.

A return by local authorities showed that at the end of 1938, 66,000 unfit houses were still occupied. Later figures are not available and the present position could be ascertained only by a general survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in reference to housing, to what extent redevelopment and improvement areas are considered apart from normal allocations.

In determining the number of houses which local authorities are to be authorised to build, my Department take account of all relevant factors, including where appropriate the need for accommodation to rehouse families in areas which are to be redeveloped.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the number, location, management and staffing of hospitals in Scotland which deal with maternity cases; how many expectant mothers have availed themselves of them during each of the last five years, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the success and progress of this service in Scotland.

The number of hospitals in Scotland with beds set aside for maternity cases is 100, the number of maternity beds being 2,862. The detailed statement for which the hon. and learned Member asks will take a little time to prepare, but I will send it to him shortly. It is not possible to review the maternity service within the scope of an answer, but the House may like to know that over 60 per cent. of the expectant mothers in Scotland now have their babies in hospitals and other institutions, and that the maternal mortality rate is now just over 1 per 1,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to demolish air raid shelters still standing in the back courts of tenement buildings in Glasgow.

In present circumstances these shelters must be retained except in cases where they are a danger to public health or safety.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will receive and consider submissions from the local authorities in the Dunfermline burghs on the need for new industries.

I am at all times prepared to receive proposals for industrial development from local authorities and to consider them in consultation with my colleagues.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes in order to increase the tillage area.

I hope for some extension of the 1952 tillage area in Scotland as part of the expansion programme, under which farmers are being asked to maintain at least the present acreage of potatoes and sugar beet, to increase the acreage under wheat, and to secure the greatest possible production of oats and barley for the maintenance of our increasing livestock population. These objectives have already been discussed with the chairmen of agricultural executive committees. The Government have under urgent consideration the whole question of food production, including the optimum balance to be aimed at between crops and livestock production.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons, of each sex, have been recruited and are now undergoing training under Statutory Instrument, No. 1341, Section 69, in each of the three categories enumerated under Section 2 thereof.

By 22nd November the number of persons already selected was as follows:

Regulation 2		Total	Men	Women
Paragraph 1	…	345	185	160
2	…	244	159	85
3	…	22	14	8
TOTAL	…	611	358	253

Statistics of the numbers who have started their courses are not yet complete, but it is known that 89 men and 133 women are already at the training colleges.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in finding accommodation for a hearing aid clinic in or about Stirlingshire.

Despite every effort it has been found impossible so far to obtain suitable premises for a hearing aid clinic in the Stirling area. The search for premises capable of adaptation for the purpose is continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement about his proposals for private house building in Scotland.

Yes. I have decided that local authorities may from now onwards increase the number of licences for the erection of privately built houses from the present ratio of one-tenth of their total programme to one-fifth.The existing arrangement under which the issue of licences is limited to persons in special categories will come to an end. I am asking local authorities, however, to give favourable consideration to applications from people who are already on their waiting lists for houses to let and from others who can prove an urgent housing need. Subject to this local authorities will be left to decide individual applications on their merits.The normal maximum size of house for which licences may be issued will be 1,500 square feet. The controlled selling price to be inserted in the licences will be fixed by the local authority on the basis of the cost of building their own houses, making allowance for differences in size and specification.As houses can usually be built most quickly and efficiently in groups, local authorities will be encouraged to issue block licences to builders for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Pensions why he has made the supplying of motor cars and tricycles to a disabled person conditional on employment being obtained; and if he will reconsider this decision.

There is no employment condition attached to motor cars supplied by my Department to very seriously disabled war pensioners. The employment condition to the supply of motor tricycles for use by war pensioners and National Health Service patients is only applicable to those who, because they are less seriously disabled, would not normally qualify for such a machine but nevertheless need it in order to obtain or retain employment.

asked the Minister of Pensions how far his Regulations provide, when naval, military or Royal Air Force personnel are killed or wounded in the Canal Zone, for them or their dependants to be eligible for maximum war pensions.

The Instruments which I administer make full provision for compensation to such persons in all cases in which the disablement or death arises from service in the Armed Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will permit members of the Forces to retain part-worn clothing, in view of the fact that the clothing allowance is seldom sufficient to cover the loss of value on exchange.

I see no reason for a change in the existing practice. I cannot accept my hon. Friend's contention that clothing allowance is insufficient, since this allowance has been substantially underspent by the Army as a whole in each of the years since it was re-introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for War what percentage of the Army requirements of canned vegetable products were placed with canneries in South Wales.

During this calendar year contracts have been awarded to a firm in South Wales for approximately 0.7 per cent. of the total quantity of canned vegetable products ordered by the War Department for the Army and the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers serving in Germany have married German women; how many have been refused permission to do so; how many have married without permission; how many of those who married without permission have been punished by posting to another theatre; and how many of those so posted have been free subsequently to rejoin their wives, and after what lapses of time.

I regret that some of this information is not readily available. Since 1947 permission to marry a German woman has been given to 7,342 soldiers. No records of permission withheld are available before the end of 1949: in 1950 and 1951, 12 men were refused this permission. Three hundred and five cases of soldiers who have married without permission since 1948 are recorded. Posting to another theatre, where the soldier has married without permission and it has been ascertained beyond reasonable doubt that he knew that this would be a breach of regulations, has been carried out in 37 cases since this procedure was introduced in April, 1951. A soldier so posted may apply, on arrival in his new command, for his wife to join him, in the same way as any other man posted to that command.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to consolidate the Army Act, 1879, and subsequent Army Acts having regard to the fact that there has been no consolidation since 1879 and amendments have been made in most years since 1879.

The Army Act, in a consolidated form, was last reprinted in 1949. A further reprint, with amendments, is contemplated next year.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether increases in pay of the Armed Forces result in a proportional increase of half pay.

No. But half pay is no longer a current provision for the Army except in the case of field marshals. The half pay rate for field marshals was increased as part of the recent improvements in retirement benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give an estimate of how much public expenditure would be involved if all Army pensioners were to receive an increase in their pensions equivalent to that recently awarded to men who left the Service after 1st September, 1950; and what action he is proposing to assist those Army pensioners who did not receive the recent increase.

If all existing Army pensioners were to have their pensions reassessed to the new rates, irrespective of the rate of their existing pensions, the additional cost would be some £4½ million a year. This figure does not include any provision for terminal grants, which were given for the first time in the latest improvements.In answer to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I would refer him to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to Questions on this subject on 20th and 21st November.

asked the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made in the provision of further amenities for His Majesty's Forces in Korea.

Progress in this important field has continued. In particular the planned improvement in free cinema and live entertainment is taking effect. N.A.A.F.I. arrangements, including the provision of mobile and static canteens, have improved. A scheme for the purchase of gifts through N.A.A.F.I. mobile shops, which was held up by transport difficulties, has now started. More books and gifts of warm clothing have been sent out. Deficiencies of broadcast receivers have been made good and the British Broadcasting Corporation has provided additional programmes designed for the forces in the Far East.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent the outbreak of epidemic haemorrhagic fever has affected our soldiers in Korea; and what steps are being taken to deal with it.

No British troops in Korea have been reported to be affected by any new disease such as that mentioned in recent Press reports. Following the reports, information about the disease was called for and I will write to the hon. Member when this is received.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, whether, in view of the efforts of the Communists in Malaya to curtail the output of raw rubber in that country, he will consider setting up a synthetic rubber plant in this country in view of the great importance of this commodity.

While fully appreciating the great importance of protecting rubber estates and all those who work on them against Communist attacks, I do not think there is reason to fear that the required supplies of natural rubber will not be available for manufacturers in this country.

asked the Minister of Supply what action His Majesty's Government proposes to take in the light of the findings and recommendations contained in the Report of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission on the Supply of Electric Lamps.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Fenner Brockway), on 20th November.

asked the Minister of Supply what was the delivery period for cast-iron pipes for water mains in July, 1951, and October, 1951; and whether any firm dates for delivery can be offered in the future.

The delivery period for orders placed in both July and October this year was between 18 months and two years. Makers adhere as far as possible to the delivery dates promised when the order is received.

asked the Minister of Transport when the new parking place at the civic centre in Newport will be available as a temporary omnibus station; and when the present arrangements at Factory Road will cease, in view of the growing inconvenience to local residents.

I understand that the Newport Borough Council have not been able to secure agreement with the local interests concerned on the proposed new bus station at Faulkner Road, and that an alternative site has been proposed.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can see his way to increasing the capital expenditure allocation for electricity in order to allow urgent schemes of electrification in rural areas to be proceeded with.

The Government is at present reviewing the entire field of national investment and my right hon. Friend is therefore not in a position to make a statement about any part of it.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the fact that coalite is now a part of the domestic allocation, hardware and other shops will continue to be allowed to sell coalite in unrestricted quantities.

Yes; in 28 1b. lots as heretofore.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how far he has proceeded with the scheme, initiated by his predecessor, for the formation of a panel of architects to advise him upon the construction of buildings in the Colonies; and whether he will give the names of those to whom invitations to serve on it have been sent.

We are working on this but it would be premature for me to make any statement now.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will issue instructions that, in future, Election literature is not to be unduly delayed in local offices in an effort to co-ordinate deliveries, as this practice during the recent Election led to official polling cards being slipped inside Election Addresses and delivered in this way.

I was not aware that any poll cards had been delivered in the manner described, but if my hon. Friend will let me have particulars I will look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what age group or groups the two experimental detention centres proposed to be set up will take.

Premises for one detention centre have been acquired, and negotiations are proceeding for a second. If this is acquired, my intention is that one should take boys aged 14 to 16, the other boys aged 17 to 21.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent Civil Defence recruits in Kent fall short of peace-time requirements.

The number of recruits falls short of the provisional peace-time establishment by 11,000.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of medical staff other than those assigned to hospitals, and non-medical staff there are employed by each regional hospital board.

The statement below gives the number of medical staff other than those assigned to hospitals, and the number of non-medical staff employed by each regional hospital board, excluding in each case Blood Transfusion Centre and Mass Radiography staff.

Regional Hospital Board	Medical Staff	Non-medical Staff
Newcastle	3	87
Leeds	5	96
Sheffield	5	80
East Anglian	4	84
North West Metropolitan	4	160
North East Metropolitan	5	107
South East Metropolitan	5	108
South West Metropolitan	4	158
Oxford	4	68
South western	4	85
Welsh	6	141
Birmingham	3	110
Manchester	5	98
Liverpool	5	129
TOTALS	62	1,511

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council whether, in view of the fact that restriction of the annual grant to the Medical Research Council to the current level may automatically enforce reductions in the volume of research owing to increased costs of material goods, salaries and services, he will confer with the Chancellor of the Exchequer with a view to increasing the next grant and so avoid endangering the national effort in medical research.

My noble Friend is well aware of the importance of maintaining the national effort in medical research to the fullest extent compatible with the present general situation, and when the Council's estimates have been received he will be prepared to make such representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer as may seem advisable in the circumstances.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he will give any information about the objects of the Conference now taking place in London under Government auspices to consider intra-European technical assistance projects; and what particular projects are under consideration.

I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the International Symposium on the Organisation of Scientific and Industrial Research which took place in London from 12th to 15th November. This Symposium constituted the concluding part of the programme of investigation undertaken by O.E.E.C. Technical Assistance Mission No. 81.The object of the Mission, on which most of the O.E.E.C. countries were represented, was to examine the organisation of research in applied science in various European countries with a view to the exchange and sharing of experience in this field.The object of the Symposium, at which the Mission was joined by several directors of research organisations in member countries, was to review the work of the Mission and to discuss the basic issues which had emerged.