asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air in how many fatal accidents jet fighters have been involved in the last six months; and how many of these have occurred in Lincolnshire.

Between 1st June and 30th November of this year there were 45 fatal Royal Air Force jet aircraft accidents; two of these were in Lincolnshire.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any investigation was made as to the suitability of the site at Greenham Common before a decision was taken to authorise the construction of this airfield; and to what extent their decision was based on the recommendations of those responsible for the investigation.

A full investigation into the suitability of the site at Greenham Common was made before the decision to construct the airfield here was taken. This investigation included load bearing tests on the sub-soil and 42 borings were taken. It was recognised that the siting of some of, the aircraft dispersal areas might give rise to difficulty but it was, and still is, considered that this disadvantage was far outweighed by the favourable nature of the site as a whole. The decision to develop this airfield took account of this investigation of the site.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he intends to fill the vacant place on the board of the Colonial Development Corporation; and if he will bear in mind the need of a member with experience of tropical agriculture.

My right hon. Friend hopes to announce, at any rate, one appointment, very shortly. Experience of tropical agriculture is of immense importance to the Corporation; but it does not necessarily follow that it is as members of the board that persons with special qualifications in that field can best serve the Corporation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what are the qualifications of the engineers engaged in making the survey of the Okovanga Swamps; how much was allocated for this project; when the sum was allocated; and what is the total expenditure to date.

The amount allocated in June, 1950, for the preliminary survey of the Okovanga area was £28,000. The rest of the information required will take a little further time to obtain. I will communicate with the hon. Member when I receive it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Ministries are authorised to allot subsistence allowance to workers; and what are the qualifications of workers for this allowance.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to industrial workers not directly employed by the Government. The Ministry of Labour and National Service and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries pay allowances, in the following circumstances:The Ministry of Labour pay lodging allowances to workers transferred to certain important industries if they are married men or men with equivalent responsibilities and have volunteered to work away from home.The Ministry of Agriculture pay subsistence allowances and lodging allowances to workers employed under arrangements made by County Agricultural Executive Committees, who have been sent temporarily to work in districts away from their homes.As well as these allowances, settling-in grants are paid by those two Departments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what number of official cars is in use in the London area by the officials of the Ministry of Supply, the Ministry of Works and the other principal Ministries.

At the latest date for which figures are available the total number of cars in use in London by all Departments was 491. This total includes London regional offices. As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, the question of these cars is at present under energetic and urgent review.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total number on the staffs of public relations officers of all Government Departments; and what is the total annual cost.

The latest available figures are those of the provision in Estimates for 1951–52, which were as follows:

(a) Home Departments—824 staff costing £543,800.

(h) Overseas Departments—1,554 staff costing £1,472,450.

The figures include staff locally engaged overseas, and clerical and typing staff, but not other ancillary staff such as messengers. The Central Office of Information is not included; and the figures of cost relate to staff only.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the necessity to obtain the consent of the Postmaster-General before a sale of the new 3 per cent. Defence Bonds (Conversion Issue) will militate against conversions and subscriptions; and what steps he proposes to take to overcome this.

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to the fact that the consent of the Postmaster-General is required for the transfer of 3 per cent. Defence Bonds (Conversion Issue) from one member of the public to another. This condition is common to the Conversion Issue and to the current tap issue of Defence Bonds. I have no evidence that anyone has been deterred from accepting the conversion offer or from subscribing to the current tap issue by this condition and I see no reason to alter it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fresh instructions he has issued to the Capital Issues Committee.

I have addressed a letter to Lord Kennet, Chairman of the Capital Issues Committee, the text of which is given below. At the same time, as on previous occasions, the banks are being asked to ensure that the credit policy of the banking system should operate in conformity with the same general principles as those set out in my letter to the Chairman of the Capital Issues Committee. I am confident that, in their operations, the banks will have full regard as heretofore to the Government's economic policy. I regard it as most important that the banks and accepting houses should continue to intensify their efforts to restrict credit to essential purposes and, in particular, to ensure the highest priority for our defence programme and for our exports. I am also asking that banking facilities should not be given for the speculative buying or holding of securities, real property or stocks of commodities; that finance for hire purchase should be limited; and that notwithstanding the statutory exemptions of borrowings made in the ordinary course of business, bank advances should not in general be made for capital expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, before the Japanese Peace Treaty is ratified, he will satisfy himself that adequate safeguards exist for the protection of legitimate trade union rights in Japan.

His Majesty's Government have watched with satisfaction the institution and growth of democratic trade unions in Japan and the enactment under the Allied occupation of legislation designed to improve industrial relations and working conditions. My hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that last June, Japan was re-admitted to membership of the International Labour Organisation.In applying for membership Japan gave evidence of her desire to give effective recognition to the principles of freedom of association and of collective bargaining, and to maintain satisfactory working conditions. His Majesty's Government, who attach the greatest importance to the fostering of healthy and democratic trade unions in Japan and elsewhere, welcome this decision and look forward, after the entry into force of the Peace Treaty, to a progressive development in Japan of the sound labour practices instituted during recent years.

asked the Minister of Food which countries purchase sugar from this country and the respective quantities supplied over the twelve-month period

EXPORTS OF SUGAR AND IMPORTS OF CHOCOLATE AND SUGAR CONFECTIONERY AND SWEETENED BISCUITS FROM THE COUNTRIES TO WHICH SUGAR WAS EXPORTED DURING THE TWELVE MONTHS NOVEMBER, 1950, TO OCTOBER, 1951.
—				Exports of sugar (produce and manufactures of the U.K.)	Imports
					Chocolate and sugar confectionery (including fondant, etc.)	Sweetened biscuits
				tons	tons	tons
Austria	…	…	…	641	152	339
Belgium	…	…	…	224	5,866	12,072
France	…	…	…	44	4,596	344
French Somaliland	…	…	…	447	—	—
French possessions in India		…	…	492	—	—
Greece	…	…	…	937	—	—
Germany—Western	…	…	…	78,789	91	93
Iceland	…	…	…	1099	—	—
Italy	…	…	…	842	38	4
Trieste	…	…	…	2896	—	—
Norway	…	…	…	6020	1,088	5
Portugal	…	…	…	69	—	—
Spain	…	…	…	123	6	—
Canary Island	…	…	…	704	—	—
Sweden	…	…	…	661	3,113	1,365
Switzerland	…	…	…	81,905	165	2
Yugoslavia	…	…	…	5905	—	—
Iran	…	…	…	119,868	—	—
Israel	…	…	…	7,133	368	1
Lebanon	…	…	…	17,916	—	—
Liberia	…	…	…	25	—	—
Morocco	…	…	…	5,306	96	—
Saudi Arabia	…	…	…	3,654	—	—
Syria	…	…	…	6,757	—	—
Ethiopia	…	…	…	1,432	—	—
Union of South Africa	…	…	…	5	8,454	—
Siam (Thailand)	…	…	…	2018	—	—
Aden	…	…	…	5,633	—	—
Bermuda	…	…	…	516	—	—
British West Africa:
Gambia	…	…	…	1,530	—	—
Sierra Leone	…	…	…	2,108	—	—
Gold Coast	…	…	…	16,835	—	—
Nigeria	…	…	…	11,548	—	—
British East Africa:
Tanganyika	…	…	…	1,062	—	—
Zanzibar and Pemba	…	…	…	2	—	—
Kenya	…	…	…	2,818	13	—
Uganda	…	…	…	1	—	—
Nyasaland	…	…	…	2	—	—
British West Indies:
Leeward Islands	…	…	…	3	—	—
Windward Islands	…	…	…	78	—	—
Trinidad and Tobago	…	…	…	11	—	—
Barbados	…	…	…	16	—	—
British Honduras	…	…	…	6	—	—
British Guiana	…	…	…	29	—	—
Falkland Islands	…	…	…	116	—	—
Gibraltar	…	…	…	1,462	1	—
Malta and Gozo	…	…	…	7,389	—	—

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Food the amount paid to Welsh farmers for fat cattle, sheep, pigs and calves respectively; and what was the number of each bought in the year ended 31st March, 1951.

During the year ended 31st March, 1951, my Department purchased 122,553 cattle, 1,131,464 sheep and lambs, 154,130 calves and 57,402 pigs from collecting centres in Wales and Monmouth. In the same period payments amounting to £11,302,774 were made to the producers who use these centres. I regret that it is not possible without unjustifiable labour to apportion these payments over each class of stock purchased.

asked the Minister of Food whether he still proposes to appoint a public relations officer in his Department.

No.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will give a table of subsidised food commodities giving the amount of the subsidy in each case for 1950–51; and the estimated subsidy for 1951–52, giving the figures of home produced and imported food separately.

As regards the first part of the Question I would ask the hon. Member to await the issue of the Ministry of Food's trading accounts, which will be published very soon and will provide him with the detailed information he required.The ceiling for food subsidies in 1951–52 is £410 million representing about £250 million on home production and about £160 million on imports.

asked the Minister of Food the number of prosecutions that have taken place under the Food and Drugs Acts during the past three years; and the comparative figures for 1929, 1930 and 1931.

The Food and Drugs Acts are administered by local authorities and local food and drugs authorities. I regret that the figures asked for are not available in respect of the earlier three years and could not be provided in respect of the more recent period without disproportionate effort.

asked the Minister of Food the number of prosecutions for offences against the food Regulations, other than those under the Food and Drugs Acts, which have taken place during the last three years; and the comparative figures for 1940, 1941 and 1942.

During the three years ended 31st December, 1950, 24,526 persons were prosecuted on a total of 66,114 charges. The number of charges in the years 1940, 1941 and 1942 was 73,705 but the number of individuals concerned in those years could not now be ascertained without unjustifiable expenditure of staff time.

asked the Minister of Food what is the estimated yield of sugar from the present sugar beet campaign.

Five hundred, and fifty thousand tons in refined value.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of sugar have been imported from Australia this year to the end of November; and how many tons were imported in the corresponding period last year.

The United Kingdom imported 145,360 tons of sugar from Australia from January to October, 1951, and 186,520 tons in the corresponding period of 1950. I regret that official figures for November, 1951, are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Food the quantity of Commonwealth sugar purchased by his Department for the 12 months ended 31st August, 1951; the quantity of such sugar imported into the United Kingdom during the same 12 months; the destination of the difference between these two quantities; whether the sugar so diverted from the United Kingdom was replaced by dollar sugar; and to what extent the United Kingdom's sugar requirements during that period were regarded as notionally filled by Commonwealth sugar.

I propose to give my hon. Friend the figures for 1951 calendar year, as this is the method by which we purchase Commonwealth sugar. The quantity of Commonwealth sugar purchased by my Department for the 12 months ending 31st December, 1951, is 1,490,000 tons. Of this amount 751,000 tons has been allocated for shipment to the United Kingdom. 429,000 tons to Canada, and 310,000 tons to Importing Colonies and other countries in the sterling area for whose requirements the United Kingdom is responsible. The sugar so diverted from the United Kingdom is being replaced by non-dollar sugar to the extent that this is available but in the main by dollar sugar. The domestic sugar requirements of the United Kingdom in 1951 notionally will have been met wholly from imported Commonwealth supplies plus homegrown production.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he proposes to take to implement the recommendation of the Turner Committee on mining subsidence.

My right hon. Friend cannot at present make any statement regarding possible further legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what action he proposes to take on the recommendation of the North Thames Gas Consultative Council that the 1948 Gas Act should be amended to provide that a police officer must accompany any official sent to force entry into private premises.

My right hon. Friend will consider the Consultative Council's suggestion, but he has only just received it.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how far his Regulations allow a householder who does not get delivery before the end of January of his full allocation of coal for the current period, to carry forward his entitlement into the following period.

The current direction does not provide for the carry over of any undelivered quantity. It does however, provide for account to be taken

ACTUAL EXPENDITURE OF REGIONAL HOSPITAL BOARDS, HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES AND BOARDS OF GOVERNORS FOR THE YEARS 1949–50 AND 1950–51 AND ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR 1951–52 EXPRESSED AS A COST PER HEAD OF ESTIMATED POPULATION.
Region		Capital Expenditure per Head of Population						All other Expenditure per Head of Population
		1949–50		1950–51		1951–52		1949–50			1950–51			1951–52
		s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Newcastle	…	3	4	6	0	3	6	3	5	8	3	13	8	4	1	4
Leeds	…	3	1	3	4	4	2	3	15	1	4	2	8	4	13	3
Sheffield	…	3	4	2	7	3	8	3	3	3	3	8	4	3	17	1
East Anglian	…	3	0	3	4	5	7	3	7	4	3	15	4	4	0	6
North West Metropolitan	…	6	2	6	4	4	5	5	17	8	6	12	0	7	5	8
North East Metropolitan	…	3	10	4	3	5	5	5	8	5	5	19	5	6	10	8
South East Metropolitan	…	4	9	4	8	4	11	5	5	4	5	16	9	6	7	7
South West Metropolitan	…	5	0	5	1	5	5	6	1	4	6	5	5	6	19	4
Oxford	…	4	2	4	5	5	6	4	0	11	4	14	9	5	3	2
South Western	…	4	3	4	11	3	10	4	9	2	4	18	2	5	9	3
Wales	…	2	9	3	2	5	1	3	10	6	4	0	1	4	8	8
Birmingham	…	4	3	2	10	3	4	3	9	7	3	16	1	4	5	4
Manchester	…	2	9	2	0	3	4	3	9	2	3	15	0	4	3	0
Liverpool	…	3	7	4	4	4	6	4	7	0	4	16	3	5	5	2
(NOTE: The above figures are based on the estimated population of each Region at mid-1950.)

asked the Minister of Health whether he will indicate in a table, for the financial years 1949–50, 1950–51 and 1951–52 the expenditure, actual or estimated for capital and for all other items together, respectively, of the hospital authorities per head of estimated population for each hospital region of England and Wales, including therein the expenditure of Boards of Governors as well as those of Regional Hospital Boards.

The following table gives the information asked for:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will indicate in a table, for the financial years 1949–50, 1950–51 and 1951–52 the expenditure, actual or estimated, for capital and for all other items together, respec-

Region				Capital Expenditure per head of population						All other items of hospital expenditure per head of population
				1949–50		1950–51		1951–52 (Estimated)		1949–50			1950–51			1951–52 (Estimated)
				s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Northern	…	…	…	12	8	14	6	15	6	5	0	1	5	15	0	6	7	0
North-Eastern	…	…	…	5	6	8	4	10	1	4	6	5	4	16	2	5	5	4
Eastern	…	…	…	7	6	11	5	13	7½	6	3	6	7	3	4	7	17	0
South-Eastern	…	…	…	6	6	8	0	10	0½	4	9	7½	5	4	0½	5	9	4½
Western	…	…	…	5	8	6	1	6	11	4	16	1	5	6	11	5	11	7
The population for the three years has been taken on the 1951 census. The figures represent actual expenditure.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of their inadequacy, he will review the present car allowances to National Health Service staff who use their own cars on official business.

This is under review at present.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider giving priority to persons on the waiting list for hearing aids if their hearing has so deteriorated that it interferes with their business or profession.

Hospitals have already been asked to give what priority they can to those who are handicapped in their employment for lack of an aid.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of Ceylonese nationals resident in the United Kingdom during the years 1930, 1939 and 1950, respectively.

I regret that the information is not available.

The following is the table for which the hon. Member has asked:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will tabulate the 1951 housing allocation and the 1952 provisional allocation to each of the metropolitan boroughs.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the concern of the Crayford Urban District Council over the reduced housing allocation for 1952 as compared with 1951; and, in view of the general expectation of a larger allocation, if he will receive a deputation from the Crayford Urban District Council as a matter of public interest and urgency.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what basis housing allocations have been made to local authorities for 1952.

The practice has been for housing allocations to local authorities to be based within a total national programme on the relative need of each local area for houses and the local capacity to build them. Regard is also had to the number of houses left over, for one reason or another, from last year's allocation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what safeguards exist or will be introduced to prevent labour and building materials being drained away from local authority building to new house building by private enterprise for sale and non-essential building work.

It will be for local authorities to decide, in the light of their knowledge of local needs and resources, what proportion of their allocation of houses, up to the limit of one-half, should be built privately under licence. They have been advised—in the Appendix to Circular No. 73/51—to spread over the year the issue of such licences as they decide to grant, so as to avoid any dislocation of the local house-building programme. Other building work is controlled by both licensing and the system of starting dates; on this I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made on 7th November by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of his proposal to allow an increase in the private building ratio and the prevailing uncertainty concerning the future of the development charge, imposed under the Town and Country Planning Acts, which is acting as a deterrent to private building, if he will now make a statement about his intentions in the matter of the charge.

The Government are considering whether the Parts of this Act relating to compensation, depreciation of land values and development charges should be modified or altered; but the subject is a complicated one and there is no easy solution. Even if the Government decide that amending legislation should be introduced, it will hardly be possible to do so this session.Meanwhile anyone who holds or can get a licence enabling him to build himself a house would be ill-advised to defer starting in the hope that if he waits for a time he may avoid payment of development charge As I said in reply to the hon. Member for Durham (Mr. Grey) on 27th November, development charges on new housing are part and parcel of the whole system embodied in the Act; and the question whether any alteration can be made in the matter of these charges must, therefore, await the Governments review of the Act and Parliament's decision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, having regard to the substantial increases in wage rates since 1948, he will give consideration to introducing legislation to amend the Local Government Act, 1948, so as to increase by 25 per cent. the amount permitted to be paid to wage earners who have to sacrifice wages to undertake local government work for which they have been appointed by their fellow members, or meetings of the local authority, to attend which they have to lose time.

No.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will state the number of applications which have been made to the National Assistance Board by aged pensioners already in receipt of an allowance from the Board for grants to pay the charges for dentures and spectacles, respectively; and, of each number; the number of cases in which grants have been made and the number in which the Board has refused to make grants.

I regret that the available records do not enable me to give the information asked for by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Pensions why his representative from the Department's office at Bassal Road, Fishponds, Bristol, who called on Mr. R. G. Sayer, of 12, Rodbourne Road, Wellington Hill West, Henleaze, Bristol, on 23rd October, 1951, on finding no one at home attempted to obtain information from neighbouring houses; and if he will give instructions that this practice should cease.

Such inquiries as were made were directed to ascertaining from next-door neighbours whether anyone was at home. No attempt was made to obtain other information from neighbours and I do not think the matter calls for further attention on my part.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will state the net income that would have accrued to the British Broadcasting Corporation from licences issued during the year ended 31st March, 1951, if 15 per cent. of net licence income had been retained by the Treasury, 7½ per cent. had been deducted by the Post Office for expenses, and Income Tax had been on the same basis as for that year, the respective deductions and balance retainable by the British Broad- casting Corporation being shown in monetary units of the £1 sound and £2 television licences.

85 per cent. of the net licence revenue for the year ended 31st March, 1951, would have been £10,280,000. Assuming that the B.B.C.'s expenditure and other revenue had remained unaltered, the Corporation estimates that the provision for Income Tax would have been £538,000.If the Income Tax liability were deemed to be divisible between the sound and television licences and other income in proportion to the revenue derived from each, the division of the £1 and £2 licences receipts would have been:

—	Sound £1	Combined Sound and Television £2
	(Shillings)	(Shillings)
1. Collection, management and interference service. (7½ per cent, of gross revenue)	1·50	3·00
2. Exchequer. (15 per cent, of revenue)	2·78	5·55
3. Balance in hands of the B.B.C. after tax	14·97	29·95
4. Income Tax	0·75	1·50
	20·00	40·00

asked the Minister of Supply what steps should be taken by engineering firms engaged in export trade to British Colonies to obtain the necessary licences for steel as the nature of the production does not qualify for a D.O. Order.

At present only sheet steel and tinplate are subject to control. Licences are issued to engineering firms by the Ministry of Supply, certificates for preferential treatment being granted exceptionally where important civil orders are being held up by lack of steel. Control will be extended to other types of steel from 4th February, 1952. There are no special arrangements for exports to British Colonies.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will restore to the Berkeley, Gloucestershire, Post Office, facilities for issuing tractor licences in addition to the present facilities for issuing car licences.

Although last year's 5s. tractor licences could not be renewed at post offices because of the increase in the rate of duty to £2 as from the 1st January, 1951, the normal facilities for renewal will again be available this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will list those trade agreements between His Majesty's Government and foreign countries which cover the import of both fresh and preserved fruit and vegetables to the United Kingdom; what is the duration of these agreements; which of them are subject to annual review either as to quantity, value or type of commodity imported; and when, in the coming year, the several reviews of those agreements which are open to annual review will take place.

The following are the foreign countries with whom the United Kingdom Government has trade agreements or bilateral arrangements covering the import of these goods:

• Sweden, for 12 months expiring 31st December, 1951.
• France and French North Africa expiring 31st December, 1951.
• Portugal for 12 months expiring 31st December, 1951, but extended to 31st January, 1952.
• Spain, for 12 months expiring 30th June, 1951, but extended to 31st December, 1951.
• Federal Republic of Western Germany, for 9 months expiring 31st December, 1951.
• Denmark, for 6 months expiring 31st December, 1951.
• Switzerland, for 12 months expiring 29th February, 1952.
• Netherlands, for 12 months expiring 31st March, 1952.
• Belgium, for 12 months expiring 30th June, 1952.
• Italy, for 12 months expiring 30th June, 1952.
• Czechoslovakia, for 5 years expiring 30th June, 1954.
• Poland, for 5 years expiring 31st December. 1953.
• Yugoslavia, for 5 years expiring 31st December, 1954.

The agreements lasting for a year or less are normally re-negotiated shortly before their expiry. The import quotas in the five-year agreements with Czechoslovakia, Poland and Yugoslavia are subject to annual review, but in the case of the last two countries no dates have so far been fixed for the next review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing what current Government agreements exist in respect of the export of tinplate; the names of the countries with which these agreements have been made; the amount of tinplate involved in each case; and the dates and duration of all such agreements.

Apart from tinplate which is made available for canning foodstuffs imported by the Ministry of Food, there are understandings about the supply of tinplate in 1951 with Denmark. Finland, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and the Netherlands. I am satisfied that it would not be in our interest to make public the details of these undertakings. In accordance with letter No. 5 annexed to the Protocol supplementing the 1949 Trade and Payments Agreement with Argentina (Cmd. 8231), His Majesty's Government expressed their intention to use their best endeavours to make 27,000 tons available to Argentina in the period 23rd April, 1951, to 23rd April, 1952. Most of our tinplate exports are sent to the Commonwealth.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consumer goods he has offered to supply to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and what the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has offered in return, and in what quantities.

There has been no such exchange of specific offers. In the course of conversations initiated last September the Soviet commercial representative in London was given a list of a wide range of consumer goods which we have available. There is no indication, however, that the Soviet authorities have seriously in mind making purchases of such goods. For our part we cannot afford to buy the less essential goods which the Soviet authorities are anxious to sell here, unless there is full reciprocity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will exempt the new factory to be erected at Cleveland Street, Birkenhead, from the operation of the ban on new building, having regard to the special circumstances of the case.

This building project is one of many now under review, and I am unable at present to say whether it will be possible to accord it exceptional treatment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many people, men and women, were employed in the factories administered by the North Eastern Trading Estates Limited on 31st October, 1951.

The number of persons employed in factories administered by the North Eastern Trading Estates Ltd., on 30th September, 1951, the latest date for which this information is available, was 16,530 men and boys, and 27,210 women and girls, making a total of 43,740.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many bankruptcies have taken place in the distributive trades during the past three years; and the comparative figures of 1924, 1925 and 1926.

The numbers of bankruptcies and deeds of arrangements in the distributive trades in each of the years referred to by the hon. Member were as follows:

1948	…	260	1924	…	2,627
1949	…	379	1925	…	2,628
1950	…	430	1926	…	2,363

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the serious congestion of traffic at Chepstow; and whether he will consider the by-passing of that town by the construction of a bridge over the Wye at Beachley and the construction of a road from the present South Wales road at Tidenham to the proposed bridge.

I am aware of the traffic conditions at Chepstow. In addition to the bridge over the Wye and the road to Tidenham it would be necessary to construct a new road to Haysgate. The scheme would involve capital expenditure of an order which I regret cannot be incurred in present economic circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport on what date the Filton bypass was closed to traffic for work to begin on extending the aircraft runway; under what Order the closure was made, and when a new alternative route will be provided.

This by-pass was closed to traffic on 29th January, 1947, by an order of the Minister of Supply made under Defence Regulations. Notice was given by my Department in August, 1950, that it was proposed to make an Order under the Civil Aviation Act, 1949, to close the by-pass permanently and to provide for an alternative route. Objections were received and it has become necessary to re-examine the question of the alternative route. I cannot at present say how soon it will be provided.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of A, B and C road haulage licences, respectively, in issue at 31st October, 1938; and at the same date for each of the years 1947 to 1951.

Figures for 31st October in each year are not available. The following table gives the information required for the end of June, 1938, for the end of December for each of the years 1947 to 1950, and for the end of

		Licences in issue				Vehicles authorised
Date		"A" (including Contract "A")	"B"	"C"	Total	"A" (including Contract "A")	"B"	"C"	Total
30th June, 1938	…	26,966	34,120	178,298	239,384	93,216	54,906	365,025	513,147
31st December, 1947	…	23,037	32,508	253,548	309,093	97,877	64,418	487,151	649,446
31st December, 1948	…	23,730	32,390	311,811	367,931	90,521	65,573	590,516	746,610
31st December, 1949	…	21,263	32,341	351,230	404,834	66,042	63,418	672,301	801,761
31st December, 1950	…	18,643	31,616	378,664	428,923	56,237	63,123	733,044	852,404
30th September, 1951	…	17,853	31,367	397,789	447,009	53,787	62,347	781,781	897,915
(NOTE: Vehicles owned by the British Transport Commission do not require carriers' licences.)

asked the Minister of Transport the number of original permits issued by the Road Haulage Executive under Section 52 of the Transport Act, 1947; the number revoked; and the number currently valid.

I am informed by the British Transport Commission as follows:

Number of original permits issued	12,035
Number as reduced by the subsequent acquisition by the Commission in 1950 of a number of the road haulage undertakings concerned before the general review of permits at the end of their first year's currency	11,855
Number revoked at the end of their first year's currency	5,049
Number currently valid	6,806

asked the Minister of Transport in how many cases of acquisition of road haulage undertakings under the Transport Act, 1947, provisional ascertainment of compensation had been made up to 31st October, 1951; the amount involved and the sum paid out as at that date; and in how many cases compensation had not yet been provisionally ascertained.

The number of cases in which provisional or final ascertainments of compensation had been calculated in respect of transfers of road haulage undertakings acquired by the Commission following notices of acquisition under

asked the Minister of Transport the number of road haulage undertakings acquired by the British Transport Commission by 31st October, 1951; and the number of vehicles and trailers involved.

I am informed by the British Transport Commission that the figures asked for are:

Number of road haulage undertakings acquired	3,727
Number of vehicles	43,731
Number of trailers	4,998

asked the Minister of Transport how he has accounted for the £42,000 paid to his Department by the War Office for earlier use of the buildings at 222 Marylebone Road now used as the headquarters of the Railway Executive.

I presume my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the sum of £42,150 10s. 5d., which was paid by the War Office to the Railway Executive in February, 1949, as compensation for dilapidations during military occupation of No. 222 Marylebone Road. My Department was not concerned in this transaction.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much land is held by his Department for military purposes in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively.

The total area of land, freehold, on long lease and requisitioned under Defence Regulation 51, held by my Department in each country is England 385,000 acres, Scotland 41,000 acres, Wales 48,000 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many students are enrolled each year by the War Office correspondence course department; how many complete their courses; and how many pass their examinations.

Some 15,000 students from the three Services undertake these correspondence courses each year. Detailed records of completion of courses and of results, where the course leads up to an examination, are not kept. To undertake this task would be difficult and costly, since many students continue their courses or take their examinations on returning to civil life. A recent sample investigation showed that about 10 per cent. of the students completed their written work, and some 38 per cent. completed more than half of it. From time to time students write to report their success in examinations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in his review on 3rd January, 1952, of the sentences imposed on the mutineers of the 1st Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers, he will consider suspending the rest of the sentence as from that date.

The sentences on these men will be reviewed by the superior military authority in the normal way. I cannot anticipate the outcome of this review.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements he is making to see that men on active service in the Far East are enabled to vote in the 1952 local government elections.

So that all those eligible to vote might be included in the spring 1952 electoral register before it closed on the qualifying date, all commanding officers were reminded of their responsibility to ensure that all officers and men under their command were made aware of their voting rights. In particular they were required to ensure that any unregistered Service man was given a Service voter's declaration card and it was stressed that, as those serving overseas may vote only by proxy, a proxy should be appointed on the declaration card, even though the man completing it was in the United Kingdom at the time of his declaration. Commanding officers were also required to certify that this review of Service voters in their unit had been made.

asked the Minister of Works when the inadequate provision for National Insurance claimants for sickness and other benefits and the overcrowded conditions of the staff at the Ministry's local office, Pontypridd, will be remedied.

It is hoped that the local office of the Ministry of National Insurance will be moved to more suitable premises about the middle of 1952.

asked the Minister of Works what is the number, the maximum capacity and the current output of the brickworks in operation in the Midlands now and in 1939, respectively.

There are some 90 brickworks in the Midland region (Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire), and their maximum capacity in the most favourable circumstances is estimated to be about 600 million bricks a year. The output of these works from January to October, 1951, was equivalent to an annual rate of 443 million. I regret that comparative figures for 1939 are not available.

asked the Minister of Works if he will make an inquiry into the cause of the failure of the main contractor at the Kelvin Hall section of the Festival of Britain Exhibition; and what effect such failure has had on the subcontractors.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the plight in which the sub-contractors to the Kelvin Hall section of the Festival of Britain Exhibition have been placed owing to the failure of the main contractor; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into all the circumstances.

The Festival Office entered into a contract with the main display contractor for the Kelvin Hall Exhibition and is carrying out its contractual obligations. The Festival Office was not a party to the sub-contracts and has, therefore, no contractual obligation to the subcontractors. I have considered whether any extra-contractual payments would be justified in order to relieve the sub-contractors of any part of the loss which they may unfortunately suffer in consequence of the failure of the main contractor. After full consideration, however, I regret that I cannot direct the Festival Office to go beyond its contractual obligations. The taxpayer has paid for the work done and there is no justification for asking him to pay again.