asked the Minister of National Insurance how many widows in the city of Aberdeen are in receipt of 10s. a week only; and whether he will review these payments so as to make for these widows provision commensurate with the increased cost of living.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar Question put to me by the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas), on 19th November, 1951.

But my question relates to Aberdeen and not to Cardiff. Will the right hon. Gentleman answer about Aberdeen? Can he see his way to make some provision for these old ladies, many of whom are in dire straits having regard to their small incomes?

I told the hon. Member for Cardiff, West, that my records did not enable me to give the number of pensioners in a certain area. There are however in Scotland as a whole about 25,000 of these widows. With regard to the second part of the supplementary question, these are part of the transitional arrangements and no change in them is intended at the present time.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will take steps to simplify the rules and conditions of the needs test for the non-contributory pension, and meanwhile publish a simple explanation of the present conditions, together with examples.

No, Sir. I cannot under-take to introduce legislation for this purpose. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave last week to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Vaughan-Morgan).

Does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that I am asking for something rather more than was contained in the Question asked by the hon. Member for Reigate? I am asking whether the Minister will give some examples of the complicated exercises in arithmetic which people must comprehend to know where they stand under the Old Age Pensions Act, 1936.

There is an explanatory leaflet, which is as clear as we can make it, and of which the hon. Member has no doubt seen a copy, and for further information on this complicated subject I would refer him to the second chapter of the Report of the Assistance Board for 1949.

Will my right hon. Friend look again at the so-called explanatory leaflet? Does he feel that for the sort of people the benefits are intended a sentence like the following is intelligible:

"… the means of each partner are reckoned as half the combined means of the two, and each partner is allowed the benefit of the £39 deducted from means other than earnings."

Well, I think I can understand that—

But the right hon. Gentleman does not need it.

—but this is necessarily a very complicated subject.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will take steps to end the unsatisfactory position of those in receipt of modified retirement pensions who were insured for longer than the minimum period of five years required to qualify for the pension in full under the old scheme.

These people only had restricted rights under the contributory pensions Acts. They therefore fall within the classes for whose transition to the National Insurance scheme special provision had to be made. These provisions seem to have worked satisfactorily and I cannot undertake to re-open them now.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that, although they may have worked satisfactorily to his Ministry, they have not worked satisfactorily to the people who find their pension cut down even though they have far more contributions to their credit than many who are drawing pensions in full?

These transitional arrangements were devised by my predecessor the right hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths). They are very complicated, but they will gradually expire.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that applications by widows for death grants under the National Insurance Act, 1946, are being rejected because such applications are made more than one month after date of death; and, in view of the fact that this action is contrary to the ruling laid down in paragraph 13 of Leaflet N.I.49, if he will issue instructions that such applications are to be received.

This leaflet sets out the position under the current Regulations correctly and contains a warning that a claim may be prejudiced by delay. I cannot therefore agree that it is misleading. In any event, I have no power to issue instructions about the application of the Regulations to individual cases.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it states that a claim should be made within one month after the date of death and that delay in making a claim may prevent its success, and that it goes on to say that, if there is a good cause for delay, the time for claiming may be extended within certain limits? Will my right hon. Friend consider the case of Mrs. Wilding, of 72, Court Road, Eltham, if I send him particulars?

These individual cases are decided by the statutory authorities, as the hon. Member knows. However, I would inform him that the leaflet to which he refers has been re-drafted and that a new issue came into circulation in June, 1951. I think the new leaflet is even more definite upon the question of the time limit than the previous one was.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what annual payments are made by his Department to the Ministry of Health in respect of the National Health Service; of what approximate amounts; and in respect of what sections of the Service.

The total amount estimated to be paid by way of appropriation in aid for the National Health Service in the year 1951–52 is £40,100,000, of which £4,100,000 is in respect of Scotland. The payment is a general contribution towards the cost of the Service and not in respect of any specific sections of it.

Thank you very much.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how far pensions and benefit rates will be increased to meet the higher food prices.

I am not at present contemplating any increases of this kind.

Shame.

When the Minister says that he is not at present contemplating any increases, does he mean that he intends to bring forward legislation to meet these new increased prices to the full?

When I say that I am not at present contemplating any increases, that is exactly what I mean. I could not accept the view that any changes in price call for automatic adjustments in the rates of pension or of benefit.

Was not something said during the Election by the right hon. Gentleman's party about increasing family allowances if prices went up?

No. I think the undertaking that was given was that there would be a review in relation to pensions. As the right hon. Gentleman will observe, however, the Question relates to benefit rates as well as to pensions, and therefore I answered it in the form in which I did.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many old age pensioners were in receipt of old age pensions at the last convenient date; and how many of this number were in receipt of joint pensions as man and wife.

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any general idea as to how great a proportion of the total number is made up of married old age pensioners?

This is rather complicated by the fact that the hon. Lady's Question includes, as I understand it, not only retirement pensioners, but also non-contributory old age pensioners. It would be preferable if the hon. Lady would study the rather elaborate statistics which I am circulating and then, perhaps, put down another Question.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average amount of free and concessionary coal delivered to miners' households in 1950; how this compares with the normal ration; and what steps are being taken to induce economy.

Ten tons and about two tons, respectively, Sir. Entitlement to concessionary coal is governed by longstanding local wage agreements, but I understand that the National Coal Board, in consultation with the branches of the National Union of Mineworkers, are doing what they can to effect economies in the various divisions.

As this concessionary coal amounts to five million tons per annum, is it not clear that there can be no inducement to miners to forgo their concessionary coal, which is part of their pay, unless some much larger cash allowance is made to them? Could not there be some agreement made to give a larger cash allowance, in lieu of this coal, which could be free from taxation?

Will the Minister give an assurance that he will not in any way interfere with wages, conditions and coal concessions until the Mineworkers' Union deals with matters such as this?

This is a delicate matter. There is a network of local agreements, and the question has to be approached most carefully. It is primarily a matter for the industry and the National Coal Board.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that any young Conservative sitting on the benches opposite who wants to enjoy the benefit of concessionary coal has only to apply to the Coal Board for a job and he will get the concessionary coal with it?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of miners' lodges which have refused to allow Italian workers to be employed in the mines.

I understand that the number is 105.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement as to what directions he will issue to the National Coal Board under Section 3 of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946, for the use of Italian labour.

The National Coal Board are anxious to use more Italian labour and they need no stimulus from me.

As British miners—with some exceptions—will not allow Italian labour to work in the same mines with them, is there any other way of getting enough coal than by working some mines exclusively with Italians, even though it may take some time to train them as face workers?

I think that is an interesting idea with a view to overcoming the difficulties, but I think it also raises other difficulties of its own, and in any case it is a matter for the National Coal Board.

is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this problem will only be solved by persuasion and that if the big stick is used the problem will be more difficult than it is today?

Yes, Sir, I entirely agree with the hon. Member, and I should like to ask him for his co-operation in this matter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power under what circumstances hotels and service flats are granted licences for additional coal and coke by local fuel overseers.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can give assurances that priority in delivery of coal will be given to old people and occupants of tenements, where storage capacity is so small that stocks cannot be built up during the summer months.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will state for each of the last five years how much coal was used in, produced in, imported into and exported from Scotland; and what he estimates will be the corresponding figures for the present year.

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the Minister state now whether he can so organise his distribution of coal that Scottish coal will be used as far as possible in Scotland and in this way save freight charges?

I understand that as a result of arrangements going back some time, it is useful for certain grades of Scottish coal to cross the Border and also for certain types of English coal which are required in Scotland to go the other way.

The maximum permitted quantity is, in general, related to the needs of the ordinary domestic household. Hotels and blocks of flats are typical examples of larger premises, whose minimum needs in most cases exceed the maximum permitted quantity, and, where the local fuel overseer is satisfied that this is so, licences are issued for additional supplies.

Is the Minister aware that these establishments have not had any cut in their supplies of fuel but that the ordinary domestic consumer has had his supplies cut by the terms of the recent announcement? Does the right hon. Gentleman think that this is fair and reasonable?

These establishments have had a cut in relation to that part of their total fuel allowance which is accounted for by the maximum permitted quantity. It is true, however, that they have not had a cut with regard to the additional amounts allowed by the local fuel overseer. That is the kind of trouble which is inevitable when cuts of this kind have to be put into effect at short notice as the winter is approaching, because, I am advised, it would involve the issue of one million extra authorisations, which, I am afraid, the organisation is not able to do.

Will the Minister have a look at this question again, because it seems apparent that fires are much easier kept going, and heating is much more easily effected, in establishments of this type than in many hundreds of individual homes? Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is better to have the heating in individual homes rather than in hotels of this kind?

I have sympathy with what the hon. Member is suggesting, but I have explained that it is not practicable, in the time, to do what we should like to do.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how the present stocks of coal in this country compare with stocks held on the same dates in 1949 and 1950.

As the answer is a table of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

As there are only three figures involved in the answer to this Question, will the Minister say why he cannot give an answer now?

I am afraid there are many more than three figures in the table I am proposing to circulate.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can forecast a reduction in the price of coal; and at what stage in the industry's development he expects it to be able to absorb wage increases without increasing the cost to the consumer.

No, Sir, not at present, and I am sorry that I do not feel able to make the forecast which my hon. Friend asks for in the second part of her Question.

While appreciating and welcoming the improvement in the conditions of the lower paid pitmen through the new wage award—long overdue—at the same time may I ask my right hon. Friend if he will bear in mind that the general community, old age pensioners and workers in other industries, are entitled to expect some benefit from the vast sums of money that have been spent in capital equipment of the mines? Will he kindly look into that aspect of the matter and give the House a full statement at a fairly early date?

I am afraid that is a matter for the National Coal Board.

Is it not a fact that the price of coal compares very favourably with the price of other commodities?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what progress has been made, to date, by the committee established to investigate wider aspects of national fuel and power policy, the terms of reference of which were announced on 9th July, 1951; what are the names and status of the persons now serving on this committee; whether interim reports or recommendations will be published; and when the final report of the Committee can be expected.

The Committee are studying a great deal of technical and economic information, and I cannot say when their final report can be expected. They have been asked to make interim reports if they can do so usefully. I will circulate a list of the members in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that this Committee will consult prominent industrialists and fuel technologists in addition to taking information and evidence from officers of his own Department and of the nationalised boards? Secondly, in view of the fundamental importance of publishing the findings of the Committee, will my right hon. Friend endeavour to expedite this publication?

I will consider that second point. With regard to the first point, I am sure that the Committee will do what my hon. Friend suggests.

Is it not a fact that there are industrialists on the Committee?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what planned additional megowattage will become available in each of the years 1951 and 1952 under the power-house expansion programme in the United Kingdom; how much additional coal will thereby be required for power-house consumption; and what steps are in hand to assure a proper balance in the capital development plans of the National Coal Board and the British Electricity Authority.

As the answer must necessarily be long and contains many figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what progress has been made in regard to systems for warning users of electricity of impending power cuts.

The electricity boards are continually trying to improve their local systems of warning by telephone and private radio. In addition, this winter, the B.B.C. will broadcast warnings on the Light Programme wavelength of 1,500 metres when load shedding is imminent. I should like to thank the B.B.C. for all the help they have given us in this matter.

How far has the telephone been used, and how far can the load shedding be arranged on particular days, fixed in advance, with particular firms?

I understand that the telephone has been used to a different extent by the area boards in consultation with local industry. I should like notice of the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power at what steam pressure, and superheat temperature, boilers are now being supplied to the British Electricity Authority.

I would refer the hon. Member to Chapter 2 of the Third Report of the British Electricity Authority and Appendices 15, 16 and 17 of the same Report.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, whilst I anticipated that answer, the information there is not quite correct and that there is ample evidence that Statutory Order 2596, passed in this House in 1947, has not been complied with?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the policy of the Government regarding factory installation of generating equipment for use independent of electricity mains consumption, and particularly including auto-diesel sets, back pressure turbines and reciprocating engines; and whether he is satisfied that all contractual restrictions and financial discouragements have now been removed by the British Electricity Authority in respect of independent electricity generation.

This is a matter I am looking into and I am not at present in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what expenditure he has authorised on repairs, adaptations, additions and decorations to Whersted House, near Ipswich, since the property has come into the ownership of the Eastern Electricity Board.

My predecessor issued five authorisations under the Defence Regulation 56A for the rehabilitation and extension of the Eastern Electricity Board's Headquarters at Wherstead, amounting in all to £111,500.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that this huge sum of £111,000 spent on a property which I believe cost in the neighbourhood of only £12,000 was in fact justified? Will he be good enough to look into it and report further on whether he finds there is cause for complaint about what is really a huge sum for this purpose?

I am prepared to examine this matter, but I am not at this moment aware how much of this sum has already been spent.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has considered the possibility for new generating plants of firing them by oil instead of coal.

Yes, Sir, I am already studying this matter and I am grateful to my hon. Friend for bringing it forward. The use of oil however arises more helpfully in regard to existing power stations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the policy of firing water tube boilers by fuel oil is a very expensive and uneconomic proposition? Further, is he aware that it has a very deleterious effect on men who have to work in the power stations, particularly so far as cleaning of boiler tubes is concerned?

I am advised that it is technically possible, and that in a very acute coal situation it may have to be considered.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will have the complete transcript of the proceedings of the Scarcroft case put in the Library for the use of hon. Members.

Yes, Sir. In the exceptional circumstances of this case my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary is arranging for a complete transcript to be put in the Library.

While thanking the Minister for that answer, may I ask if he is aware of the great service this will be to the cause of truth in view of the fact of the venom and malice imported in the Yorkshire Press to the reporting of this story?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) what steps were taken in his Department to check the accuracy of the information upon which the former Minister of Fuel and Power gave an answer to this honourable House on 4th December, 1950, which subsequently proved incorrect;

(2) in connection with the incorrect answer given to this honourable House by his predecessor on 4th December, 1950, if he will make a statement as to whether he has exercised his powers under Section 6 (4) of the Electricity Act, 1947, of obtaining from the area board concerned information relative to this matter.

In the time available the information had to be obtained and checked by telephone.

Arising out of my statement a week ago, there is a further development of which I should inform the House. When I saw the part-time members of the Board last Wednesday they brought to my notice information which showed that the officer of the Ministry who was instructed to obtain and check the information from the Board may himself have been aware of the inaccuracy of the answer he agreed with the Board.

I have instituted immediate investigations into this matter, which are not yet completed. I will certainly, if necessary, exercise my powers under Section 6 (4) of the Electricity Act, 1947.

Will my right hon. Friend report to this House the result of these inquiries as soon as they are complete?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will publish the records which he examined in connection with the incorrect answer given to this honourable House on 4th December, 1950, by his predecessor.

No, Sir. This is contrary to precedent.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can now announce the names of the new chairman and deputy chairman of the Yorkshire Electricity Board; and whether he has any statement to make about the other members of the Board.

Yes, Sir. I have appointed as Chairman of the Yorkshire Electricity Board Mr. J. S. Pickles, at present Chairman of the South-West Scotland Electricity Board. He will take up his appointment tomorrow, 4th December.

I have accepted Mr. Newey's resignation with effect from Saturday last, 1st December. I have not yet appointed his successor, but hope to do so shortly.

I do not propose to make any change in the part-time members of the Board as a result of the recent case. Very full inquiries were made by the Director of Public Prosecutions and no charge was made against the part-time members. I am satisfied that they did not know that unauthorised expenditure was taking place and were entitled to assume that the responsible officers of the Board would obtain all necessary licences and consents from the Government Departments concerned, for the various activities of the Board.

Do I understand that Mr. Pickles is a Yorkshireman?

Yes, Sir. He is a Yorkshireman who has absorbed economical ideas of administration while in Scotland.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Pickles has now left the South-West Board of Scotland, it would be a good opportunity for putting it under the Secretary of State for Scotland?

That is another question.

Can my right hon. Friend say whom he is appointing in the place of Mr. Pickles?

No, I could not say that yet.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how far the production of methane gas from sewage sludge by certain local authorities has proved to be an economic sources of fuel and power; and what further research on the subject is proceeding, or is contemplated.

The process is economic at large sewage works but not at small ones. Investigation is continuing into the fermentation process.

Does my right hon. Friend think that in the nearly foreseeable future there is any chance of it being developed economically elsewhere?

I think it is only applicable to the large works, and there what it does is sometimes to provide enough power for the undertaking itself. I understand that at present there are about 1,000 million cubic feet of this methane gas produced, which is roughly equivalent to 23,000 tons of coal.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total value of the licence granted to the South-Eastern Gas Board in connection with any works of reconstruction at the Head Office, Park Lane, Croydon.

The authorisations granted in connection with work at this office cover an estimated total cost of £307,707,

Can my right hon. Friend make some inquiries why this very large expenditure is taking place, as the building seemed perfectly all right before it was taken over by the South-Eastern Gas Board?

I cannot make a comment on an authorisation given some time ago, but I can, of course, make some inquiries.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that on the termination of many shop and other business tenancies the tenants are being charged excessive rentals for continuation; and whether, in view of the hardship involved to tenants in obtaining alternative accommodation and losing the goodwill of their businesses, he will introduce legislation to deal with this position.

The hon. Member is, I am sure, aware that under Part 2 of the Leasehold Property (Temporary Provisions) Act shop tenants may, during the period ending with 21st June, 1953, apply to the county court for a renewal of their tenancies on terms to be fixed by the court. Consequently, if demands are made upon them for excessive rentals their appropriate course would be to avail themselves of the provisions of this Act. I am not yet in a position to make a statement about further legislation on this subject.

While fully appreciating what is contained in the Act to which the hon. and learned Gentleman has referred, may I ask if he is aware that that does not go very far? There are many tenancies not covered and quite a large number of people in shop tenancies, surgeries and offices are being affected in consequence of the fact that there is at the present time a shortage of accommodation, and would he rapidly do something about it?

The late Government no doubt gave consideration to that problem before the introduction of their Bill. That Bill was limited to shop tenancies, and at the present moment the whole matter is under review.

asked the Attorney-General whether he has any statement to make regarding the Government's intentions to reform the law of leaseholds.

I have nothing to add to the answer my hon. and learned Friend gave on 19th November to the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. West).

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that if the Government do not do something about accepting a general principle of leasehold enfranchisement in this matter, they are in for a first-class row in Wales; and as this is one of the things which his party did not promise at the General Election, is there any hope of us getting it?

The Government are fully aware of the necessity for taking action with regard to the problem left behind by the late Government.

asked the Attorney-General how many certificates were granted during the first year of the legal aid scheme; and how many of them were granted in respect of proceedings in the divorce court.

By the end of the first year of the Legal Aid Scheme, 35,820 Civil Aid Certificates had been issued. Five hundred and thirty-seven were awaiting issue to applicants who had accepted the terms offered to them. Of the 36,357 certificates issued and awaiting issue, 29,365 were in respect of matrimonial proceedings in the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court.

While it is no reflection upon the scheme, which in the main provides wider general facilities for divorce proceedings, will the hon. and learned Gentleman examine complaints which have been made that applicants under the scheme are in some cases paying more for undefended cases than they would have had to pay if they had employed a private solicitor?

We shall be very glad to examine any information on that matter which is put before us.

asked the Minister of Food if he will accept the suggestion of the trade that representatives should discuss with him the problem of distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables.

I am always ready to consider constructive suggestions on such matters.

Would it be possible to get a definite answer from the Ministry? There is a great deal of dissatisfaction about this matter. May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he would agree to discuss, and publish the results of that discussion, with the trade upon the distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables?

I am prepared to consider anything upon this important and difficult matter. It is only the Retailers Federation which has issued a pamphlet on the matter, which I think referred to a Commission. There is no doubt of what they have in mind, and I would welcome any suggestion put forward which would lead to a solution of the problem.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider appointing a Commission to inquire into this matter?

I will consider it.

Does the Minister recall that the late Government, on the eve of the Election, produced a scheme without any consultation with the trade?

asked the Minister of Food what steps he proposes to take to make available promptly, daily and at moderate cost for the people of London and other south of England consuming centres the large supplies of fish landed at Scottish ports; and in particular what his plans are to avoid waste of this food.

As regards transport charges I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave him on 26th November. I have no reason to suppose that fish landed at Scottish ports is not being disposed of satisfactorily.

Is not the obvious way to solve the problem not by having fish distributed and charged for by weight plus distance, as at present, but by weight only, as letters are carried at present, which makes the Post Office such a profitable concern?

As the hon. and learned Gentleman knows, the White Fish Authority has been considering this question, and as I said on 26th November, as soon as we hear from them it will be for the Ministry to decide what to do.

asked the Minister of Food what special Regulations he is making with regard to the allocations of food to hotels and boarding houses during the Christmas holiday.

None, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that if no regulation is provided that supplies of poultry and food to hotels should be restricted, housewives of this country will be very disappointed, in view of the pledges given by the party opposite during the Election that there would be supplies of red meat?

In the first place I would not describe poultry as red meat. The only thing that happened last year was an Order restricting, I think, turkeys for one day during the Christmas period, and that has not been a very satisfactory scheme to carry out.

asked the Minister of Food if he will state the quantity and value of hog casings imported from the United States of America during this year.

19,813 cwt. valued at £914,845 were imported from the United States during the first 10 months of this year.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that there is a manufacturer in my constituency who is unable to sell hog casings because of these imports, and that his firm are not allowed to export to other countries?

Without these imports we would be seriously short, because the home supplies would be nothing like sufficient.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that his Department refuses to help my constituent to find an outlet for them in this country, and will he take steps to rectify that position?

asked the Minister of Food if he will re-introduce price control on fish in view of the continual rise in price of this commodity.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Islington, South-West (Mr. A. Evans) and Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Morley), on 12th November. I should add that prices for cod and haddock and similar varieties have in fact fallen during last month.

asked the Minister of Food what tonnage of tinplate he proposes to allocate to the canning industry in 1952.

I am not yet in a position to give any figure.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware of the anxiety felt by canners in all parts of the country at the present moment and also of the rumours floating around that there is going to be a heavy reduction, which rumours are worrying them very much? Will he make an announcement at the earliest possible moment which will reassure them?

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that a very large part of the fruit crop in Worcestershire and Hertfordshire was wasted last year as a result of the policy of exporting tinplate instead of giving it to our home growers?

Most of the allocation goes to the food industry, not particularly to the fruit industry. My hon. Friend will be aware, of course, that there has been a supply difficulty for some time.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend bear in mind the necessity, from the growers' point of view, of planning for this coming crop, and for them to know that they will receive a fair share of the canning materials so that they can plan accordingly?

Yes, I will give them information as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that top grade suckled calves are being purchased in north of Scotland store sales and taken to the north of England and there graded; and what steps he proposes to take to stop the premature slaughter of calves and heifers.

I am aware that the sale of suckled heifer calves for slaughter has been greater this year than previously. My Department, in conjunction with the Agriculture Departments and the National Farmers' Union, are considering what can be done to encourage the feeding of suitable animals to higher weights.

Will the Minister look into the fact—because it is a fact—that these calves are fetching very high prices in Scotland and are being sent south across the Border and there slaughtered?

I will.

asked the Minister of Food if he will revise the fat stock terms for sheep and lambs by the introduction of a graduated in-wool premium from the beginning of January so as to avoid the shearing of sheep before sale, or alternatively a hold-up of fat sheep until the in-wool premium becomes payable on 18th February.

The prices for fat sheep and lambs including the special temporary premium for sheep in wool for the 12 months ending March next were fixed at the last February review, and I do not think it is necessary to make an adjustment for the first three months of next year. The prices can, of course, be reconsidered at the time of the next review.

Is there no chance of making an adjustment from January next, because what is happening is that these sheep are being deprived of their winter coats at this time of the year in order to get the extra price for the wool?

Yes, but this was agreed with the Department of Agriculture and the National Farmers' Union. The purchasing officers have the right to penalise people who put sheep in that condition on the market.

asked the Minister of Food what total value of canned meat, meat products and fish and fish products bought by his Department for human consumption since 1945 has been released for sale as dog and cat food.

From time to time small quantities of canned meats found to be unfit for human consumption have been sold, under proper safeguards, to manufacturers of cat and dog foods. Separate records of these small sales have not been maintained. No fish products have been released by my Department for this purpose.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that apparently large quantities of these meat products can be purchased in many parts of England, and can he give any further information about the wastage of previous purchases in this way?

My information is that the quantity is not large, but that it is small. If my hon. Friend has any information on the subject, I will look into it.

Is the Minister aware that many dogs and cats are also rejecting this food?

asked the Prime Minister which Ministers are now entitled to the use of official cars.

Sir, Ministers assigned police protection will have cars provided for their personal use for all purposes, paying a mileage rate of 1s. 6d. for private journeys. At present these Ministers are my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and myself.

No other Ministers will have cars personally allotted to them. They can draw on a pool of motor cars for official purposes. In the case of Cabinet Ministers and Ministers in charge of Departments, "official purposes" includes journeys to and from their official work within seven miles of the Palace of Westminster.

The use by Ministers, other than the three first mentioned, of official cars for private purposes on repayment will cease altogether.

A pool will be formed for official cars in London whether belonging to the Ministry of Supply pool, to the Service Departments or to other Departments.

Consequential arrangements will be made for the use of cars by Service officers and civil servants in the London area.

Is not it important, in view of recent developments, to include the Minister of Food among those Ministers given police protection?

asked the Prime Minister when he intends to initiate an all-party conference to consider proposals for reform of the House of Lords.

I am not at present in a position to make a statement with regard to the conference to which my hon. Friend refers. It could in any case not be held before some time next year in view of the pressure of urgent business before the Government.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the conferences and the North Atlantic Council meetings held in Rome; what were the questions considered; upon which was agreement reached; what appointments have been made to command all Western naval forces in the Atlantic, North Sea and the English Channel; and what are the conditions of appointment.

asked the Prime Minister what conversations the British representatives to the meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in Rome have had on the formation of a European army; to what extent they have been asked to contribute to that army; and what is the policy of the Government with regard thereto.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will define the policy of His Majesty's Government towards the creation of a European army.

I suggest that the hon. Members await the statement which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs will make later on on the political matters involved, and the statement which I will make in the Defence debate on Thursday.

asked the Prime Minister whether the statement of the Secretary of State for the Colonies at Singapore on 29th November, that the Government may reconsider the recognition of Communist China, represents the policy of His Majesty's Government.

No change is at present contemplated in our policy towards China.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, on the tape machine on Thursday, there was a report containing a statement that the Secretary of State for the Colonies had said at Singapore that the Conservative Government might review the question of the recognition of Communist China; and that, on the same afternoon, in another place, the Lord Privy Seal stated that Commonwealth unity had, in fact, been broken when the late Government recognised the Chinese Peoples' Government? Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake that, during his visit to the United States, this is not one of the problems to be discussed?

The first part of the hon. Gentleman's Question seems to be covered by the statement I have made. Certainly, I have no desire to embark upon a discussion of what may or may not be discussed when I visit Washington.

Will the Prime Minister tell his right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary that, if he does not stop saying in Malaya that political progress must be put into cold storage, we shall have lost Malaya before he gets back?

I should have thought that a rather more kindly feeling would have been expressed towards my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary, who is undertaking a mission of great difficulty, not unaccompanied by danger.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman and some of his hon. Friends have conveyed the some sentiments to the House when my right hon. Friend the Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Strachey) went to Malaya?

I do not remember that any controversy of this character arose on the subject.

Does not the Prime Minister recollect the slanderous attacks made upon my right hon. Friend?

I am afraid I am not so deeply versed in slanderous attacks as the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will issue as a White Paper the disarmament proposals presented to the United Nations Assembly by the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, respectively, together with the amendments submitted by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to the United States proposals.

The disarmament proposals presented to the General Assembly of the United Nations jointly by His Majesty's Government and the Governments of France and the United States of America have already been presented to Parliament in Command Paper No. 8414. The various proposals of the Soviet Union are being made available to hon. Members in the Library of the House.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that answer, may I also ask him whether, subsequent to the present discussions by the joint committee in Paris, the documents which are produced may also be circulated in a similar way?

I will gladly consider that.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Argentine Government in defiance of the agreement to abstain from naval demonstrations during the Antarctic summer, proposes to send an air and military expedition to the Falkland Islands; and whether he will lodge a protest.

I understand that the Argentine Government propose to send a relief expedition to the Falkland Islands Dependencies early this month. According to my present information, the number of ships included in this expedition does not contravene the Tripartite Naval Declarations exchanged between His Majesty's Government and the Governments of Argentine and Chile.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that President Peron, in February of this year, publicly stated that he had refrained from military occupation of the Falkland Islands, because scientific expeditions would, bit by bit, give him possession?

I am dealing with the Falkland Islands Dependencies. There is no question of any kind of an expedition to the Falkland Islands of which I am aware. As regards the Dependencies, the arrangement is a complicated one, but, if my hon. Friend would like to see it, I will have its terms circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, so that hon. Members can judge for themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Governments of Chile and Argentina on their occupation of British territory in the Falkland Islands Dependencies.

His Majesty's Government have on a number of occasions protested to the Argentine and Chilean Governments against their unwarranted acts of trespass on British Antarctic territory. The texts of these documents are available in the Library. During the summer of this year, there have been no further acts of trespass warranting representations to these Governments.