asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that contrary to the understanding given in the debate on the Second Reading of the National Health Service Act, 1951, aged pensioners who are in receipt of a supplementary pension from the National Assistance Board and who require to be provided with spectacles or dentures are being refused assistance from the Board to enable them to pay the charge for such spectacles or dentures; and what steps he is taking to see that the intentions of Parliament in this respect are carried out.

The Board inform me that these cases are dealt with on the same basis as other requests for single payments. I do not think this conflicts with anything said during the debate.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when he expects the National Insurance Advisory Committee to make its recommendations with regard to time limits for benefits under the National Insurance Act.

I understand that the Committee is likely to report early in the New Year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to begin the statutory review of the working of the National Insurance Acts.

Section 39 of the National Insurance Act, 1946, provides for a comprehensive review of the National Insurance Scheme as at 31st March, 1954, and quinquennially thereafter and an interim report in any year when there is no comprehensive review. The first interim report for the period 4th July, 1948, to 31st March, 1950, was published in February this year. It is hoped to publish the second interim report for 1st April, 1950, to 31st March, 1951, early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what priority will be given to the coal industry in the allocation of steel in the next two years.

The great importance of the coal industry is being kept fully in mind in the allocations under the new scheme recently announced.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what arrangements he has made for advising members of the public how to economise in the use of fuel.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to promote fuel economy.

I have not so far made any changes in the existing arrangements but I intend to examine them in order to see if they can be improved.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what progress has been made, and what is shortly expected, in the annual X-ray scheme for miners.

Unfortunately, ordinary mass radiography is not suitable for use in such a scheme. Preliminary trials are now being given to a modified system using somewhat larger film.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what additional fuel will be needed for the new power stations under construction or approved; and if this will be met from United Kingdom resources.

Sixteen million tons, but this modern plant will replace older plant which would otherwise consume 21 million tons to produce the same amount of electricity. It will be seen therefore that the need for coal does not depend on the building of new power stations but on the demand for electricity and we must certainly hope that the necessary home coal will be available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what were the distributed stocks of coal at the latest available date.

Distributed stocks of coal on the 17th November, 1951, were 17.1 million tons.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to bring about a uniformity of charges in tariffs for the domestic supply of electricity.

My predecessor earlier this year agreed the general principle recommended by the area boards and British Electricity Authority to simplify and standardise methods of charge. This was required by the Electricity Act, which did not however require a complete uniformity of charge.

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to provide that before the Lord Chancellor removes a justice of the peace from the commission he shall hold a judicial inquiry.

No.

asked the Attorney-General when the committee appointed to consider the law of civil liability for damage done by animals is expected to issue its report.

The Committee only commenced its examination of this very complex subject in October and it is too early to forecast the date of its report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now give an estimate of the number of British-owned cars stolen or destroyed during recent incidents in Egypt, with their value.

Six private cars belonging to Royal Air Force personnel and two Royal Air Force welfare buses have been destroyed. Their value is estimated at about £3,500. At least fourteen other cars belonging to Army personnel valued between £250 and £800 each have also been burnt.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many cases of violence to British women and children occurred during recent rioting in Egypt; and in how many cases hospital treatment was necessary.

Since the beginning of the disturbances one woman and one child, of whom the woman received hospital treatment, have reported injury. There were also on 16th October a number of incidents in which women and children were terrorised and their houses looted during the disturbances in Ismailia, but no physical injuries were caused.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the circumstances which led to the temporary release from Werl Prison of the former S.S. General Kurt Meyer; and whether the Canadian Government was consulted or informed before this prisoner was released.

Meyer was released from Werl Prison on seven days' compassionate leave. The granting of leave for strong compassionate reasons or to attend to urgent family business is recognised German penal practice, which applies to the war criminals at Werl.The Canadian Government were not consulted or informed before the prisoner was released on compassionate leave, but a Canadian Order in Council had previously enacted that Meyer would be dealt with in the same manner as the other prisoners detained at Werl.

asked the hon. Member for Woolwich, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether, in view of the long Christmas Recess, he will take steps to ensure that the non-permanent staff under the control of the Kitchen Committee do not suffer the complete loss of earnings during the Recess.

The procedure regarding payment of wages to the staff of the Refreshment Department, during the forthcoming Recess will be the same as that which has been followed for the past six years.Non-permanent staff are paid wages for the periods for which they are engaged and in accordance with the agreements entered into with them.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that a large proportion of eggs produced on farms in

ESTIMATED AVERAGE COSTS—1951
Commodity		Home-Produced Supplies	Imported Supplies (a)
Beef	…	£161 a ton ex slaughterhouse.	£116 a ton c.i.f. (frozen fore and hind quarters).
			£113 a ton c.i.f. (boned and boneless).
Mutton	…	£199 a ton ex slaughterhouse.	£75 a ton c.i.f.
Lamb	…	£254 a ton ex slaughterhouse.	£138 5s. a ton c.i.f.
Pork	…	£234 a ton ex slaughterhouse.	£187 5s. a ton c.i.f.
Shell Eggs	…	£6 16s. 6d. a box of 360 ex packing station.	£4 6s. a box of 360 c.i.f.
Wheat (milling)	…	£28 6s. 8d. a ton ex farm.	£33 10s. a ton c.i.f.
Barley (feeding)	…	£26 a ton ex farm (b).	£32 15s. a ton c.i.f.
NOTES:
(a) The prices for imported supplies are based on the figures published in the Trade and Navigation Accounts for the period April—October, 1951.
(b) The controlled maximum price for barley sold other than for human consumption is £26 a ton. It is estimated that the weighted average price realised by farmers on the sale of all Home Grown barley is £42 a ton.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture assures me that, with care, winter eggs need not be discoloured. The higher price which clean eggs command should encourage farmers to produce them.

asked the Minister of Food what promise he can hold out of food becoming more varied and cheaper so as to decrease the cost of living.

This must depend on our general economic position and in large part upon our ability to send to other countries more of the goods they want from us.

asked the Minister of Food how the prices now being paid to British farmers for the main foods for human consumption and coarse grains compare with the cost of similar imported supplies.

The commodities and the basis on which comparisons can be made are as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the number of people employed by his Department in Egypt, together with their salaries, designations and duties.

My Department employs the following people in Egypt:

No.	Designation	Salary Scale (a)
1	Sea Transport Officer, Grade I	£1,100–£1,285
3	Sea Transport Officers, Grade II	£690–£915(b)
4	Sea Transport Officers, Grade HI	£385–£675
2	Higher Executive Officers	£715–£865
3	Executive Officers	£250–£700(c)
2	Storekeepers	£370–£460

In addition my Department normally employs about 25 clerical and 80 industrial staff who are recruited locally.This staff is responsible in the Middle East for:

asked the Minister of Transport what period he has allowed under Section 76 of the Transport Act, 1947, as the limit for the submission of charges schemes by the British Transport Commission to the Transport Tribunal.

In August last my predecessor allowed a further period of two years for the submission of outstanding charges schemes. As he indicated in the House on 23rd July, this further period is likely to be required for the draft scheme for dock charges, but the Commission then expected to need only a few months for the submission of a draft merchandise charges scheme. Some further time may, however, be required to enable all those concerned to consider the matter in the light of the Government's intentions in regard to transport.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the desire of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to retain 23 of the former 58 pedestrian crossings in the borough; and whether, in view of the heavily trafficked trunk road which passes through the borough, he will agree to this suggestion.

I have looked very carefully into the case presented by the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to retain 23 uncontrolled pedestrian crossings. I have authorised 20 crossings, and I believe that this is as many as should be allowed in the interests of the success of the new scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will arrange to have a special form of lighting on the kerb and above all zebra crossings so that they may be more easily seen at a distance by motorists at nights.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Janner), on 26th November, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a third fatal accident has taken place on the zebra crossing in the Birmingham-Wolverhampton New Road, near St. James' Vicarage; and whether, in view of the fact that large numbers of school children use this particular crossing, he will institute a speed limit on the Oldbury and Tividale part of the Wolverhampton New Road.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a third fatal accident has taken place on the zebra crossing on the Birmingham-Wolverhampton New Road, near St. James' Vicarage; and whether, in view of the fact that large numbers of school children use this particular crossing, he will institute a speed limit on the Oldbury-Tividale part of the Wolverhampton New Road.

I was shocked to hear that another child had been killed at this place and I am considering urgently what can be done for the safety of pedestrians on this road. After studying the whole problem of traffic conditions here I am not satisfied that a speed limit is the right answer nor am I satisfied about the wisdom of having uncontrolled pedestrian crossings on this road.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will have the pedestrian crossing near St. Michael's mission school, on the main London—Dover Road, Sittingbourne, restored, in view of the widespread concern of parents, the aged, and others at its removal.

I understand that this crossing was not greatly used except by schoolchildren and in any case I do not think that an uncontrolled crossing is a sufficient safeguard for young children. I think that they could be better protected by an adult patrol. If a patrol is provided, I am prepared to authorise a special sign which can be used to hold up traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the present omnibus service in the Eltham district is becoming inadequate in view of the increasing population; and if he will consider inquiring into the present transport facilities.

This is a matter which should be taken up with the London Transport Executive or if necessary with the Transport Users Consultative Committee for London.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will extend the provisions of the Order under which motor vehicles may be left unlit in streets which are adequately lit and where there is no danger of accident because the vehicles are unlit.

Under the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations, 1950, a Chief Officer of Police may consent to the parking of vehicles without lights in any authorised parking place if he is satisfied that it is adequately lighted. I do not propose to extend the Regulation as suggested because on present evidence I am not satisfied that it is practicable to define in general terms those places where the parking of unlighted vehicles would be free from danger in all circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road accidents have occurred at Virginia Ash Cross Roads, Henstridge, during the last 20 years; how many deaths resulted; and how many people have been injured.

Since 1st January, 1939, there have been 33 accidents at these cross roads, involving one death and 24 cases of injury. Accident statistics for earlier years are not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the dangerous condition of the main road between High Wycombe and Beaconsfield, near the Loudwater crossroads; and whether he will take steps to improve the lighting, move the pedestrian crossing and omnibus stops and make the existence of the 30-mile limit more apparent.

I have called for a report about conditions at this junction and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make it compulsory for all left-hand drive vehicles to have some sort of automatic trafficator.

It is intended eventually to require direction indicators and stop lights on motor vehicles generally. There is no evidence that left-hand drive vehicles not so fitted are an appreciable source of accidents and I should not feel justified in treating them specially in this respect.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the large number of accidents which take place at the bottle-neck in Langham Road, Bowdon, Cheshire, and in connection with which the local council has for the past 20 years urged structural alterations; that, owing to the refusal of his Department to allow a major road improvement scheme, only minor adjustments can be made; and whether, as the scheme would only cost about £5,000, he will permit the work to be carried out, in view of the increasing danger to pedestrians and traffic alike.

I am informed that during the last five years two accidents have occurred at this point, neither of which involved injury. In the present need to restrict expenditure I regret that I am unable to approve a major improvement scheme here.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is expected that the reconstruction of Park Street Bridge, Selby, will reach completion.

If delivery of the necessary steel is not further delayed, I expect this work to be completed in June or July next.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total cost, to date, of the road improvement, known as the Winston By-pass, near Barnard Castle; and when he expects the work to be completed.

This road improvement has cost approximately £62,000 to date. The work is expected to be finished in about a month.

asked the Minister of Transport what amount was collected at the Sandwich, Kent, toll-bridge during 1950.

I am informed by the Sandwich Borough Council that the gross takings at this bridge for the calendar year 1950 were £13,698 1s. 5½d., this amount being subject to deduction of various expenses and Income Tax being payable on the balance. I am told that the toll has not been increased since 1905.

asked the Minister of Transport how many derailments and other accidents on railways have been brought to the notice of his chief inspecting officer during the past 12 months on the main line north from Euston, together with the total number of killed and wounded.

During the 12 months to 19th November, 1951, I received statutory reports of 66 train accidents, including 27 derailments, on the main lines from Euston to Carlisle, Glasgow, Birmingham, Holyhead, Manchester and Liverpool. These 66 accidents included the serious derailment at Weedon on 21st September, 1951, in which 15 persons were killed and 50 injured, and another 10 accidents in which 30 persons were injured slightly.

asked the Minister of Transport what recent proposals he has received from the British Transport Commission for an increase in railway freight charges; and what is the present position in regard to them.

I would refer to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Dorset, South (Viscount Hinchingbrooke), on 30th November. I have just received the report of the permanent members of the Transport Tribunal and am considering it.

asked the Minister of Transport what report he has received from the Consultative Users' Committee in regard to the modification of the steamer service on the Firth of Clyde, which he has recently submitted to that Committee.

I have not yet received this report.

asked the Minister of Transport when a reply is to be given to the pay claim in respect of the coastguard force submitted on 14th August, 1951.

I hope that a reply will be given within the next fortnight.

asked the Minister of Supply why contracts for the supply of £240,000 sterling worth of Royal Air Force shirts have been placed with a firm or firms in Italy, which is to the detriment of English producing firms.

I am told that last June, when these orders were allocated to the European textile industry, the materials position in this country was such that the order could not have been fulfilled here in the time stipulated.

asked the Minister of Supply if he has now arrived at a decision regarding an increase of pay for test pilots employed by his Department.

No. The Institution of Professional Civil Servants did not accept the offer made by the Ministry of Supply and asked for their claim to be referred to the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Supply what changes have recently been made among those employed at his establishment in Salwick, Lancashire; when these changes were decided upon; and what efforts have been made to find work elsewhere for those whose employment has been terminated.

The labour strength has been reduced by 409 as the result of a decision taken last August. Practically all the redundant employees at the Salwick factory were offered alternative employment in a Ministry of Supply establishment in the neighbourhood and 123 accepted this offer. There is close col- laboration with the Ministry of Labour in helping the balance to find other employment.

asked the Minister of Supply what changes he proposes to make in the headquarters organisation of the Royal Ordnance factories.

I am studying the proposed changes in the organisation of the headquarters of the Royal Ordnance Factories put forward as a result of the inquiry initiated last year by the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Supply whether any conclusions have yet been reached in the negotiations with the United States authorities for the shipment of steel to this country; and if he can give details.

The United Kingdom has so far been authorised to place orders for 93,000 tons of ingots and has been allocated 25,000 tons of finished steel for the first quarter of 1952. This will be debited against the total tonnage of steel which the United Kingdom have asked for in 1952. Negotiations are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will allow the admission to this country of a blind refugee, of whom he has been informed, from Europe provided that the requisite funds for the refugee's maintenance and training are guaranteed by an approved body; and if he will make a statement.

This refugee, who is aged only 25, is in a home for the blind in Austria. Though some funds in aid of his maintenance and training here have been generously offered, I am advised that they would not cover more than the first three or four years of his residence, and he would thereafter be, to a considerable extent, a charge on public funds. When the scheme for admitting to the United Kingdom up to 2,000 of the refugees still in the care of the International Refugee Organisation was drawn up, it was decided that persons whose presence here would impose a long-continuing liability on public funds could not be included, and I have regretfully come to the conclusion that this principle must be maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to rectify the anomalies of, and the injustices caused by, the present nationality laws.

I understand that my hon. Friend has in mind the fact that under the British Nationality Act, 1948, a person who is a citizen of an independent Commonwealth country is not normally also a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies. All such persons are, however, British subjects under the Act and I am not aware of any injustices or of anomalies that would warrant a departure from the general principle on which the Act is based.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give an assurance that there will be no reduction in the standards of housing accommodation provided by both local authorities and private builders, and that sizes of rooms and other amenities will be maintained up to those laid down in the current Housing Manual.

My right hon. Friend hopes that local authorities will use their 1952 allocations to build houses of the types described in the circular he sent them on 27th November. These types maintain present standards of room sizes and living space within a smaller superficial area. As regards houses erected by private builders under licence, the size will take account of the size and composition of the proposed occupier's family, subject to a maximum of 1,500 square feet and the general specification must be equivalent to those laid down in the scheme operated by the National Housebuilders Registration Council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the number of houses built during the six years before the last war; and during the six years after the last war.

The number of houses built in England and Wales in the periods mentioned were:(1) 1

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now make a further statement on the proposed new town of Congleton.

Consultations with the local authorities concerned began on 25th September and are proceeding. When these are completed I shall consider whether I should make a draft Designation Order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the value of gifts made or promised by Britain to her dependencies and mandated territories from 1919 to 1945 and from 1945 to date.

Grants made by His Majesty's Government to British dependencies and mandated territories and expenditure incurred on their behalf from 1919 to 1945 totalled £161,010,000 approximately. The sums given or promised since 1945 amount to £254,598,000 approximately, of which £123,191,940 had been issued by 31st October, 1951.The hon. Member is, of course, aware that during the war the Colonies gave to His Majesty's Government cash gifts alone amounting to £24,014,948.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing the balance of international payments of each Colony, Protectorate and Trusteeship Territory for the years 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the unsatisfactory state of the sewage supply at the village of Hindon. Wiltshire; and if he will take steps to have the plans which are afoot to remedy this carried out at an early date.

Outline proposals for the construction of new works submitted in October have been approved in principle but the final stages of the preparation of the details of the scheme are not yet completed and I cannot, at the moment, forecast when the work will commence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to assist in the formation of a centre for West Indian students in London.

The West Indian Governments were informed by my right hon. Friend's predecessor of the proposal to set up a centre for West Indian students in London and invited to approve it in principle. They were also asked if they would contribute towards the capital and recurrent costs. Certain only of the Governments have so far replied and I am making further inquiry of the remainder.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the quantities and values of children's shoes imported into the United Kingdom from Eire in each of the 11 quarters during the period beginning 1st January, 1949, and ending 30th September, 1951.

Imports from Eire of children's leather boots, bootees and shoes (other than overshoes, slippers, houseshoes and sandals) during the 11 quarters from 1st January, 1949, to 30th September, 1951, are given in the table below. Children's footwear of other materials and types is not shown separately in the import statistics.

Period		Dozen Pairs	Value £
1949—
1st quarter	…	1,830	16,308
2nd quarter	…	1,411	13,249
3rd quarter	…	1,721	14,132
4th quarter	…	1,521	13,000
1950—
1st quarter	…	3,762	30,433
2nd quarter	…	3,013	25,296
3rd quarter	…	1,221	11,008
4th quarter	…	901	7,619
1951—
1st quarter	…	1,856	18,318
2nd quarter	…	5,123	55,794
3rd quarter	…	8,615	99,579

asked the Minister of Labour what are the present duties and salary of the Labour Counsellor at Cairo; and whether it is intended to continue to fill this post.

The present duties of the Labour Counsellor at Cairo lie within the field of social, industrial and labour affairs and are:

(a) To advise the Heads of the Missions to which he is appointed;

(b) to ensure that His Majesty's Government are kept fully and correctly informed on all important developments;

(c) to disseminate information on British policy, practice and developments.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how much additional newsprint was allowed to the newspapers for use in connection with the 1951 General Election; and, if, in future, he will ensure that such special issues are used only for the purposes intended.

I have been asked to reply. About 7,500 tons. It would be impossible to check exactly how each newspaper used its allowance, but my information is that in general the additional newsprint was used for the purpose for which it was intended.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will examine the range of prices charged to our troops in Korea by Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes with a view to their reduction wherever possible.

I am satisfied that the board of management of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes are keeping a close watch on these prices.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make representations to the United Nations authority in Korea in order to establish British centres dealing with the despatch of news by British and Commonwealth correspondents about British and Commonwealth troops in Korea.

No. Arrangements for this purpose already exist which, I am informed, meet the requirements of correspondents assigned to cover operations of British and Commonwealth troops in Korea.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the increasing difficulty in obtaining deliveries of plain galvanised fencing wire; and if, in his next allocation of materials, he will bear in mind the needs of essential fencing for agriculture and forestry.

I am aware of the shortage of galvanised fencing wire. Under the new steel allocation scheme the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture for Scotland will issue authorisations for fencing wire for agriculture and forestry.