asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to ensure that trades or firms appearing before the Monopoly Commission are given copies of all evidence which could be held to reflect upon their trade or industry.

I attach great importance to firms and trade bodies being aware of all the matters relevant to the Commission's consideration of their activities. I know the Commission are fully seized of the importance of this, and that they give ample opportunities to firms or trade bodies to correct any mistakes of fact and defend any activities whose effects on the public interest may be under consideration. I do not think any steps on my part are needed.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the industries already investigated do not feel that they had, and, in fact, have not had, an opportunity of hearing the evidence against them, and, in the interests of justice, is it not important that they should be so enabled?

Representations of that character have not been brought to me. My impression is that everyone concerned is impressed by the fair and impartial way in which this particular tribunal has conducted its affairs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the cost to the taxpayer of the bi-monthly bulletin. "Trade Link."

£213 per issue.

May I ask my right hon. Friend if he is of opinion that even this modest sum is justified when it involves the distribution of a largely useless publication to a number of manufacturers who can make no use of it?

I think that this publication does, in fact, serve a useful purpose, but the whole of our overseas information expenditure is, of course, under review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken by European countries affected by our new import restrictions to reduce their imports from this country.

:None, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of our best customers in Europe have been badly hit by these new import restrictions, which have increased their own balance of payments difficulties, and will he keep the House appraised of any retaliatory measures which these countries feel obliged to take?

These import cuts were, of course, necessitated by our balance of payments difficulties, but, up to the present, there has been no case of retaliation on the part of our friends on the Continent of Europe.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why no representatives of the textile workers' unions were invited to his recent discussion with regard to the future of the Liverpool cotton imports.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Boardman) on 27th November and to the hon. Member for East Dumbartonshire (Mr. Bence) on 29th November.

As those answers did not contain any information, will the right hon. Gentleman now tell the House whether it is a matter of Government policy that, when they talk about consulting the trade unions or the T.U.C., they first consult the employers and come to their conclusions and then tell the trade unions what they have decided?

I have had consultations on this matter with the Cotton Board, on which, of course, the trade unions are represented. At that time, it was suggested that it might be useful in any inquiry which should be set up that the unions should, in addition, be separately represented. I had further consultations, I hope of a mutually profitable character, with the unions on the matter.

In any event, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake in future to consult with the trade unions first, and not consult them second?

I do not think there are any complaints on either side about my handling of this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can yet say what change is to be made in the policy of priorities for the Development Areas.

I am anxious that the Development Areas should make their maximum contribution to the urgent needs of production for defence and exports, and we shall continue existing arrangements whenever they will assist the Areas to attain this objective.

Do I take it that the recent announcement of a standstill on new building will not affect new factory buildings in the Development Areas, and also that new factories will get adequate supplies of materials, as they did when the previous Government were in office?

The priorities will be used in the context of the policy which I have just enunciated, namely, the furtherance of the defence programme and exports.

Do I take it that factory building will not be cut, but will continue, as it did under the last Government?

Every case will, of course, be considered upon its merits, and factory building which is calculated to improve the export position of the country will be furthered. So far as I am concerned, if defence contracts can be steered in the direction of the Development Areas, I shall certainly do my best to see that that is done.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, during the period of the last Government, we were unsuccessful in getting private enterprise to take advantage of the facilities offered by his Department in the Development Area of the Highlands, and that, as this is not a place where labour can be diverted to anything else, will he do his best to see that private enterprise does make use of these facilities?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will be careful when he speaks of trying to steer rearmament contracts into the Development Areas, because if he concentrates upon that, when the rearmament work is finished, it may well be that there will be no work for these people in the Development Areas?

What I said was that I will endeavour, as far as possible, to steer the defence contracts in the direction of the Development Areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that goods manufactured in Wales are frequently described on the articles themselves as being manufactured in England; and whether he will take steps to secure a correct description as to the place of origin on all articles made in Wales.

It is for the courts to decide in any particular case whether this practice infringes the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887, and it is open to any person to test the matter in the courts. I am advised that it is not practicable for me to take any action.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will consult with his right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary in order to consider what steps can be taken to remove this anachronism and slander which is occurring in his own constituency?

I am informed that it is open to the hon. Gentleman himself to test this matter in the courts.

Is it not also open to the right hon. Gentleman himself?

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the number of persons employed in his Department has been increased since 1st November last.

Twenty-six, Sir.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why, at a time when all kinds of cuts have been imposed, the staff in his Department has been increasing?

Some of the cuts imposed were import cuts requiring a certain amount of staff to deal with them. I am considering this matter. It is, on the whole, rather a modest figure, and I hope that before long it will be reduced to a figure at least no higher than that at which I started.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will announce the names, individual qualifications, composition and terms of reference of the Committee which he is setting up under the chairmanship of Sir Richard Hopkins for the purpose of working out the best practicable scheme for the importation of raw cotton, together with the date of their first meeting and the expected date of their final meeting.

The terms of reference of the Cotton Import Committee which the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and I are setting up under the Chairmanship of Sir Richard Hopkins are:

To consider and report to the President of the Board of Trade and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on the question how in the current foreign exchange position cotton can best be supplied to the United Kingdom cotton industry on the most advantageous terms as to quality and price.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether this statement implies any change in the Government's policy as enunciated by the Prime Minister at Liverpool recently regarding the future of the Liverpool Cotton Exchange?

No, Sir. The Government's policy remains as stated by my right hon. Friend in his speech on 2nd October.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether the trade unions have accepted his invitation to serve on this Committee with those terms of reference?

Yes, Sir, they have accepted on those terms of reference.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to maintain the supply of tax-free utility clothing.

I understand that there is no shortage of utility clothing at present, and no special action seems necessary to maintain supplies.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the utility scheme has been the housewife's best safeguard against excessive prices at a time of rising costs, and will he give the House a firm assurance that the rumour which is going round that the Government intend to tamper with this scheme is false, and that he will, in fact, maintain it?

The hon. Lady should not pay too much attention to these rumours.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will pay forthwith the agreed sum due in a case of war damage, of which he has been given the particulars in view of the urgent need and the long delay in payment.

The claimants to whom I understand my hon. Friend refers, made no application for early payment until 19th November this year. Any delay that has occurred since then is due to the failure of the applicants to supply the information asked for. This information has since been obtained, and I have given instructions that the claim should be paid with accrued interest.

Thank you very much indeed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider restricting the importation of edible gelatine into the United Kingdom to the global maximum value of £5,000 per month, in view of the adequate home production of this product and the declared need of keeping down unnecessary imports to the lowest level.

No, Sir. The measures of import restrictions recently announced were made necessary by our balance of payments position. I do not intend to extend them further.

In view of the fact that restrictions are taking place, would it not be a sensible thing to restrict commodities, such as those mentioned in this Question, while home production is adequate?

These import cuts were imposed not for protective purposes, but in order to assist our balance of payments position. This particular commodity happens to be on the common list on which all countries in Europe seek, if they can, to avoid imposing quantitative restrictions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost for last year of the cleanliness campaign of the British Tourist and Holiday Association.

I am informed by the British Travel and Holidays Association that they have not incurred any expenditure on the, campaign for cleanliness in catering establishments, apart from expenditure on the storage and distribution of publicity material. This has been ordered by the British Tourist and Holidays Board, which was merged with the Travel Association in April, 1950. For the year ended 30th November, the latest convenient date, the Association inform me that the net expenditure incurred on storage and distribution was approximately £67.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, whether, to save dollar expenditure on paper, he will introduce legislation to prevent commercial undertakings from distributing unsolicited advertising matter to householders.

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir. In the absence of comprehensive control over the distribution of paper, a prohibition of unsolicited advertising matter would have a negligible effect on our total import requirements.

Would the Minister look at this and see whether in our present position of shortage, both of paper and purchasing power, it is sensible for a firm to send unsolicited this kind of thing to citizens and very likely get it paid for by striking off the cost against their Income Tax?

I shall, of course, look at whatever the hon. Baronet sends me, but I would remind him that with the high cost of paper and certain existing legal restrictions the prohibition which he suggests might, in the absence of a full control, result in diversion which would be useless, and that full control, if it were adopted, would involve the use of staff and office accommodation which would certainly not be justified.

Could not the hon. and learned Gentleman and his party, with all the influence they have with private trade, let it be known among private traders that this sort of thing is indecent at a time when the country has not sufficient resources to meet legitimate needs?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, although the right to vote by post is not restricted to persons in the United Kingdom, an applicant for this right has to name an address in the United Kingdom to which a ballot paper is to be sent; and whether, to save the delay entailed by redirection from such address to a place of residence abroad, he will propose that the law shall be altered.

I doubt whether any general scheme for voting by post from abroad would be practicable. Certain classes of absent voters who may be abroad at the time of an election are, however, entitled to vote by proxy. The question whether this right should be extended, or any other changes made, will be considered if an opportunity arises for amending legislation.

I am much obliged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the form of application to vote by post owing to change of residence implies without statutory authority that the new address of residence is in the United Kingdom; and whether he will alter the form.

The form will be altered at the next printing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to increase the number of motor vehicles permitted to carry voters to the polls at elections, in view of the great hardship imposed on electors in rural areas through the present limitations on the number of permitted vehicles.

I cannot promise legislation on this subject at present.

Does the Home Secretary realise that in a widespread division, such as Hexham, many of the electors are more than five miles from the nearest polling station and with the present limitation we have less than one-third of a motorcar for each polling district? Is it not most undesirable that any obstacle should be put in the way of electors casting their votes?

I realise there is a problem. I do not rule out the possibility of legislation; but I say the subject is not one for immediate action, and clearly the usual consultations must take place before we deal with matters, such as this, which are the subject of legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to electors in Cardiff by the refusal of the Cardiff City Corporation to grant adequate polling booths in the recent General Election; and whether he will hold an inquiry into the action of the corporation.

I have no power to take the action suggested by the hon. Member. If, however, 30 or more electors in the constituency concerned submit a representation to me in pursuance of Section 11 of the Representation of the People Act, 1949, I shall of course give consideration to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will revise the rules made under the Representation of the People Act so as more adequately to ensure that persons who are not absent voters and who have made no claim to be treated as such are not deprived of their right to vote in a mistaken belief that they had received the facilities of absent voters.

No, Sir. I do not think that any alteration of the rules could prevent mistakes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what cases a prisoner is allowed to make application to be regarded as a postal voter; and whether he will ask Parliament to alter the law which allows him to vote when the prison is in a different borough, urban district or rural parish from his home, but not when it is in the same borough, urban district or rural parish.

All persons detained in prison or in a Borstal institution who are entitled to vote are allowed to apply to be treated as absent voters. It is for the registration officer to decide whether the application should be allowed. The question of prisoners voting will be reviewed when an opportunity for amending legislation occurs.

Unless the prison authorities are going to send to the polling station accompanied by a warder a man who is eligible to vote and goes to prison in his own borough, does not the Home Secretary agree that it is quite ridiculous that one person should be enfranchised and another disenfranchised just according to where they live?

I will see that that point is considered.

Could we be informed whether these people were influenced electorally by the Tory Party slogan. "Set the people free"?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now arrange for the proceedings of the Council for Wales to be published and accessible to the Press as are the proceedings of this House.

This is a matter for the Council to decide.

Does the Home Secretary realise that when the Council was originally set up there was a directive from the Government? Could not a similar directive be given now in view of the fact that bodies of this kind seldom flourish in conditions of permanent secrecy?

I feel that they flourish better if they manage their own affairs. I should like to see that tried first.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of persons allocated by his Department to deal solely with Welsh affairs; and what is their status and salary.

As my functions as Minister for Welsh Affairs are not executive, I do not think I shall need, at present at any rate, a large staff specially appointed for the purpose. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, who will have a principal, on a salary of £950-£1,375 per annum as his personal assistant exclusively for Welsh business, will be Chairman of the conference of Heads of Government Offices in Wales, and, as a result of this and other arrangements which have been made, both he and I will be able to call on the experience of senior officials throughout the Government service with special knowledge of Welsh affairs.

Do I understand from the Minister that, in short, one person will be the total increase of staff to give full time to Welsh problems?

I hope the hon. Gentleman will not understand that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now give recognition to Cardiff as the capital city of Wales.

I have no power to recognise Cardiff, or indeed any other place, as the capital of Wales.

Am I to understand that the Minister has consulted with the Under-Secretary for Welsh Affairs? Is he further aware that there is an overriding desire throughout Wales—[HON. MEMBERS: "No"]—is he further aware there is an overriding desire in the enlightened parts of Wales, that Cardiff should be recognised?

If the hon. Member can secure general agreement throughout Wales as to the place which should be its capital, he does not need any puny words of mine.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that he has a far more important problem to exercise his mind in relation to Wales than this Question? Will he agree that, if at any time any question of recognition should arise, at least one place, Aberystwyth, has superior claim?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring into consultation at the appropriate time the two organisations representing the officers and men of the Fire Service when making plans for the nationalisation of the Fire Service in the event of war.

I will consider this at the right time, but I do not contemplate that it will be necessary to consult these organisations on any matters except conditions of service. A considerable part of the plans must of course be treated as secret.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that industrial injury benefits provide inadequate compensation for members of the Auxiliary Fire Service injured while undergoing training; and if he will introduce legislation to provide an adequate pension in such circumstances.

I understand that my hon. Friend is mainly concerned with a sick pay scheme to deal with temporary loss of earnings in the normal occupation. I have received representations on this subject which I am considering in consultation with those of my colleagues who are also concerned.

Would the Home Secretary bear in mind that there is at the moment an Auxiliary fireman who in a civil job was earning about £9 a week and is now reduced to about £3 a week industrial injury pay? If my right hon. and learned Friend is able to do anything, will he make it as retrospective as possible?

Certainly, I will take what my hon. Friend says into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now reviewed the expenditure on the Fire Service College; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir. The College has settled down in its new premises at Wotton, and I hope that next year its value will be increased by the provision of courses in emergency fire fighting for senior officers as part of the plans for the re-establishment of the National Fire Service in the event of war. As a result of a reduction of expenditure and an increase of the number of students, the College is now running at a cost per student week which is about half the corresponding cost in 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, under the Police Pension Regulation, certain classes of police widows receive only 26s. a week, 4s. a week less than the amount that widows in similar circumstances would receive were they beneficiaries under the National Insurance Scheme; and what action he is taking in order to end this anomaly.

This point is covered by the Police Pensions Regulations, 1951, which were approved by Affirmative Resolution yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that certain classes of police widows have to make monthly applications for their pensions; and whether he will substitute a system of quarterly application for the present arrangements.

I am aware that it has been the practice of some police authorities to require police pensioners to furnish monthly certificates of identity and it is, of course, essential that police authorities should take proper precautions to safeguard public moneys paid out by way of pension. It rests with individual police authorities to lay down such requirements as they think necessary and while I hope that these requirements will not be such as to inconvenience pensioners unduly, I should not feel justified in prescribing any standard procedure.

Is it not an example of excessive bureaucracy that pensioners who have been receiving a pension over a number of years should have to establish their identity month after month? Is it not something which is obviously absurd and should be corrected?

In the Metropolitan area life certificates are furnished yearly and in the meantime the receiver is satisfied by the receipt signature of the pensioners. Quarterly certificates are required in the case of someone other than the pensioner himself. Widows' pensions are paid weekly by the order book method. If the hon. Member has any improvement to suggest I shall be very glad to consider it, but that seems to me to be a reasonable method.

Is it not the case that widows in particular have to establish identity month after month? Surely in the case of a police force with its power of inquiry the police ought to work up some system by which these widows will not have to establish identity month after month but quarterly, which surely should be adequate?

If the hon. Member will give me particulars of the police authority in whose area he suggests that takes place, I will look into it and try and discover the reason. He will appreciate that I am the police authority only for the Metropolitan area and that is why I referred to the practice in that area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he has given to a request from the National Association of Retired Police Officers that he should receive a deputation.

The Association asked me to receive a deputation to discuss their application for representation on the Advisory Council of the National Police Fund and the provision made in the Police Pensions Regulations for awards to certain police widows I have informed the Association that, as regards the first point, application is being considered by the trustees of the Fund, and that in view of the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 15th November. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by my receiving a deputation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has completed his investi- gations into the pensions paid to relatives of policemen who lose their lives in the performance of their duty; and if he will make a statement.

I am looking into question, which my predecessor had under consideration, but I am not in a position to make any statement at present. We had some discussion on this last night.

May I ask whether my right hon. and learned Friend can give any indication as to when he will be in a position to make a statement, or is this matter covered by the general review of pensions which is being carried out by the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

I am sorry that my hon. Friend was not present at the debate last night when this matter was discussed. The position on this matter was indicated at that time and I do not want to go over it in detail today.