asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of exports during 1951 to the dollar area are paid for in transferable sterling.

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to exports ostensibly sent to other countries but subsequently forwarded to the United States. No figures of such exports are available, but such evidence as I have indicates that they are a very small proportion of the total exports either of the United Kingdom or of the whole sterling area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that tax concessions made by colonial Governments with a view to encouraging the establishment of new industries are being nullified by the operation of United Kingdom double taxation agreements; and whether he will take steps to prevent this.

I am aware of the point with which my hon. Friend is concerned, but I cannot accept that the operation of United Kingdom double taxation agreements is to blame. Under these agreements, which have done much to foster development in the Colonies, the United Kingdom tax bill is reduced by the amount of the colonial tax. Colonial tax, in these circumstances, ceases to be an effective burden and a reduction of colonial tax is therefore inevitably of no avail as an inducement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Economic Survey for 1952 will be published.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue an Economic Survey for 1952 before the Budget.

I hope that an Economic Survey for 1952 will be published in April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make provision for the £10 flat-rate car tax to apply to all cars and not only to those registered after 1st January, 1947.

I have not lost sight of this problem, but I am afraid I cannot anticipate my Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what terms have been agreed for the new 300 million dollar aid.

I said in the course of my statement on 29th January that this aid is in support of our defence programme. There are no terms in the sense of new commitments; but some details have to be agreed, and these will be reported to the House in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer his policy on the control of bonus share issues.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 4th December last to the Question by the hon. Member for Stechford (Mr. Jenkins).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what imports are to be affected by the new cuts.

I have nothing to add to the information given in my speech of 29th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effects his proposed cuts in the Central Office of Information expenditure is anticipated to have on his Welsh office.

The staff of the Welsh Office of the Central Office of Information will be reduced from 33 to about 13 as a result of the decision to abolish the mobile film unit and lecture services and reduce the number of touring exhibitions. In addition, the possibility of securing further economies by transferring the Welsh, as well as other film libraries to the Central film library, is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is intended to restore the Mithraic Altar, the only one its kind in the country, to its position in the British Museum.

The British Museum possesses two sculptured groups, both representing Mithras slaying the Bull, from Mithraic shrines in Italy. Both are at present in a basement available to students, and the larger of them will be placed on public exhibition during this month.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will put a stop to the growing practice by certain sections of the Civil Service of stamping their letters with a rubber-stamp signature, since the practice is open to abuse and is discourteous to the public.

The general practice is for all ordinary typed letters to members of the public to be signed. Rubber stamp signatures are used for letters of a formal character, generally where large numbers are involved, and for purely routine communications. I do not consider that this practice, which is in the interests of staff economy, implies any discourtesy to the public.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what further action has been taken in regard to His Majesty's Customs sending a letter of apology when registered postal packets to Northern Ireland are opened in error.

Instructions have been issued that a separate letter of regret explaining the error shall in future be sent to the addressee in any such case. I am obliged to my hon. Friend for bringing this matter to my attention.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he now has any statement to make on the Government's policy concerning the age of retirement in the Civil Service.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has decided to revise Civil Service retirement policy with the object of facilitating and encouraging the continuation in employment of civil servants over 60 years of age. Instructions are about to be issued to Departments to the effect that, while 60 will continue to be the minimum age of retirement, it will not in future be regarded as the normal age of retirement, and that officers between 60 and 65 years of age who wish to stay and for whom there is useful work should be retained so long as they are fit and efficient.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury which Government Departments have now responded to the request of the previous Minister of Labour to retain employees after the age of 65 years.

On the Government's policy concerning age of retirement in the Civil Service I have nothing to add to my reply to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay). The policy we are pursuing in the Civil Service is, of course, in accordance with the principles recommended by the Minister of Labour to employers as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for War what were the numbers of persons employed in his Department on 1st November, 1951, and on the latest date for which figures are available; and what further proposals for economy he is considering.

I regret that the figure for 1st November, 1951, is not available. The strength of the War Office, counting two part-time staff as one whole-time, was, on 1st October, 1951, 7,277, and on 1st January this year, 7,422. I am at present examining ways and means of reducing the staff.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give the amount, per mile, mileage allowance granted to civil servants who use their own cars for purposes of their Department; and which Ministers have made claims for this allowance since 1st November, 1951, showing the amount paid to each Minister, separately.

I am sending to the hon. Member a copy of the circular setting out the current rates. In reply to the second part of the Question, no payments have been made though a claim has been received in the last few days.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the minimum age that has to be attained before an applicant is able to take out a dog licence.

The law relating to dog licences does not lay down a minimum age for the applicant, but only for the dog.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury how much foreign currency has been provided in the last 12 months for the purpose of journeys abroad by Ministers, Peers and Members of Parliament on official or semi-official business.

The information about Ministers is not centrally available and it would take a disproportionate amount of labour and time to obtain it. No separate record is kept of grants of currency to peers and Members of Parliament for the purpose of journeys abroad on official or semi-official business.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when the trustees of the History of Parliament will be presenting their annual report.

I understand that these trustees will present their annual report at the end of the financial year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how the periodical, "Report to Women," is distributed; and how far the statements made therein represent the policy of the Government.

For the last 18 months "Report to Women" has been issued on request to members of Women's organisations, women councillors, National Savings committees, journalists and others. Within the broad limits of accepted national policy it gives factual information on economic subjects of interest to women. The future of this, as of other publications of a similar character, is under consideration.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury if he will give an assurance that travel allowances for students, scholars and artistes and other similar categories will not be interfered with under the new system.

I can assure the hon. Member that genuine needs will continue to be met but, within this, we shall make economies where we can.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the percentage increase in the price of text books for 1952 as compared with 1951 and 1950.

I have no official information on which to base a reply, but I am informed that the cost of text books during 1952 is likely to be substantially greater than in 1950 or 1951.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the practice of granting 25 per cent. of a Government contract in the furniture and clothing trades to a Development Area firm that has submitted a tender when the accepted tender is from a firm outside the area, still operates.

There are, of course, a number of Departments concerned in placing contracts, but there has been no change in the procedure for offering Development Area firms a share of a Government contract at the established competitive price.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the cuts being made in Government expenditure, he will consider abolishing the Census of Production.

No. Censuses of production, which have been taken in this country since 1907, provide information valuable to government and industry. My right hon. Friend is, however, carefully considering the future programme of the Census in order to secure economy of effort, both in industry and in the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation this Session to implement the unanimous recommendations of the Committee on Resale Price Maintenance which issued its Report in June, 1949, particularly the recommendation that steps be taken to render illegal the application of sanctions which extend beyond the remedies open to an individual producer for any breach of resale price maintenance conditions.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement with regard to bulb imports from Holland in 1952.

Bulbs may at present be imported from Holland without restriction under open general licence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when it is proposed to reopen the Liverpool Cotton Exchange.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which my right hon. Friend made during the debate on the Address on 9th November last, and to the answers which he gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll) on 6th December, 1951, and 31st January, 1952.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make representations to the United States of America concerning the unfair competition against British producers created by the subsidy paid to American importers of apples into the United Kingdom; and what further action is contemplated.

Under a commitment entered into by the previous Government, a strictly limited quantity of American apples is being imported. The present import licensing arrangements ensure that these imports are spread over the period from Christmas until early spring, when most of the home crop of dessert apples has already been consumed.This commitment must be honoured, but, when any further arrangements are being considered, the point to which my hon. Friend refers will be borne in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the area of factory space in the industrial estates at Carfin, Chapelhall and Newhouse; and the number of persons employed in each of these estates, respectively.

At Carfin there are 193,700 square feet of factory space and 548 persons were employed there at the end of 1951; at Chapelhall in 198,500 square feet 442 persons were employed; and at Newhouse in 690,300 square feet 2,363 were employed. A number of firms will, however, be coming into production on these estates in the next few months, and the employment figures should improve thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will institute a competition for the design of a house to be constructed as far as possible from local materials and suitable for erection as a croft or cotter house in the Highlands and Islands.

My right hon. Friend does not propose to institute a competition, but he is investigating the possibility of making adjustments on the present standard plans for crofter houses in order to effect economies in construction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, now that it is known that agricultural damage alone to Orkney will exceed £450,000, he will make an additional grant over the £20,000 so far promised by the Government.

I cannot at present add to the statement which my right hon. Friend made on 29th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent it is still possible to obtain timber houses from Norway.

I am informed that prefabricated timber houses may at present be imported from Norway without an import licence.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory conditions of the Kingston Hostel, Neilston; and whether he will consider what arrangements he can make to rehouse these tenants under more satisfactory conditions.

I am aware that conditions are not satisfactory at this hostel. The rehousing of the 86 families living there is a matter for the local authorities concerned and I propose to offer to increase their authorised programmes to enable them to rehouse the families.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland have asked his permission to sell to individuals, houses which were built for renting.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr. Manuel).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications to buy houses at Merrylee have been received from tenants of existing houses belonging to the Corporation of Glasgow.

Applications have not yet been invited; but the Corporation tell me that out of 1,031 inquiries which they have already received 77 have been from tenants of Corporation houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what cuts have been imposed on the school building programme of Glasgow education authority.

None; but some slowing-down of the programme is inevitable on account of steel shortage.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is now in a position to make a statement about the basic rate of disability pensions.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will raise the basic rate of all war pensioners to meet the increasing cost of living.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement and I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Norfolk, Central (Brigadier Medlicott), on 29th January.

asked the Minister of Pensions the regional and total number of his Department's staff who have been given notice of discharge; what further reductions are contemplated; and which of his Department's services to the disabled ex-Service men and women will be abandoned or curtailed as a result.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many of his staff have been dismissed by him, or are under notice of dismissal; and how many of these are over 65 years of age and over 60 years of age, respectively.

Notices, effective from the end of March, 1952, have been or are in course of being issued to 297 staff, including 120 regional staff; of the 297, 185 are over 65 and one is between 60 and 65 years of age. A further reduction of about 200 by the end of June, 1952, is contemplated. I can assure the right hon. Member for Southwark (Mr. Isaacs) that there will be no abandonment or curtailment of my Department's services to the disabled.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of free motor cars issued to disabled pensioners in Wales during 1951; the total he estimates for distribution in Wales during 1952; and the number of applicants still awaiting a motor car.

Eight, 11 and 15, respectively.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many of the 1,400 awards of pension, made in respect of disablement or death from cancer, accepted by his Department as attributable to or aggravated by service in the military Forces during the 1939 war and since were in respect of cases suffering from a spindle cell sarcoma.

I regret that this information could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the dissatisfaction at the low rates of pay to the British troops in Korea in comparison with the Service men of the other United Nations Forces fighting alongside them; and if he will give consideration to altering this state of affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the pay of British Service men in Korea compares unfavourably with that of men serving in other United Nations organisation units there; and if he will review the position immediately.

It is a fact that British rates of pay are lower than most United Nations contingents in Korea. The British.pay and allowance code is, however, based on the principle that troops receive the same rates of pay wherever they are called upon to serve and whatever tasks they have to perform.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now satisfied that our troops in Korea have got adequate winter clothing, Army cookers and space heaters; and if he will make a statement giving the reasons for the delay in issuing a sufficient number of these articles.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer on 29th January to several Questions on the supply of winter clothing. I am not aware that there has been any shortage of Army cookers. I would ask him to await my reply to a later Question on the provision of space heaters.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements are made for the issue of space heaters to British troops serving in Korea.

The United States manufacture a space heater well suited to Korean conditions and, since nothing of this type is manufactured in this country and the United States undertook to supply our troops with space heaters, it was agreed last August that our needs in Korea should be met in this way. In the event, owing to shortages in their stocks, deliveries were slower than expected and our men have had to bear their share of the deficiency. The position was that 1,500 of these heaters were issued in October and towards the end of last month our full needs, 3,900 heaters, were met.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the men and women serving in Korea have now been issued with appropriate winter clothing.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for War if all British Service men in Korea have now been supplied with warm clothing; and if he will make a statement as to why satisfactory arrangements for supplies were not made earlier.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) and to my answer to several Questions on this subject on 29th January.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements have been made for the entertainment of troops serving in Korea over the past nine months.

In the months July to October, 1951, three concert parties from the United Kingdom and one from Australia visited this theatre. Because of the climate, the Command asked that no parties should be sent out between November and February, but exceptionally an individual artist gave performances during the last two months of 1951. During the period a Divisional concert party was also formed and toured the theatre. A specialist was sent out to help this party and to make arrangements for the professional parties.Two 16-mm. projectors have been provided for each unit of a lieut.-colonel's command and an Army Kinema Detachment has been formed to help in the arrangements for this type of entertainment. Films are supplied from this country by the Army Kinema Corporation and are also obtained from the United States Army. The Command reports that cinema facilities are satisfactory but that the climate on occasion prevents their full use.

asked the Secretary of State for War why offers by British artistes to entertain British troops in Korea have not been accepted.

During the winter months the Command asked us not to send out parties, but from March onwards we are sending out four parties from this country. The hon. and gallant Member will realise that everyone who applies cannot necessarily be accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for War why discrimination is exercised in the granting of gratuities to men serving in the Far East; and why the 29th General Hospital No. 1 Independent Field Records, 31 Command Pay Office, and the Commonwealth Divisional Battle School have not received them.

I presume that the hon. Member refers to the Korean Service Gratuity which has been granted expressly to officers and men on the strength of units serving in Korea itself. This gratuity is provided in recognition of the special nature of service given in Korea and is not payable to those on the strength of units serving outside Korea, even though they come under the United Nations Command. The four units mentioned are not in Korea and officers and men in those units are, therefore, not eligible for the award.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that it costs 2s. to send a Sunday newspaper by air mail to the troops in Korea; and whether he will take suitable action to have this charge reduced.

My Department sends Sunday newspapers by air to Korea, on the scale of one for every five men. The supply covers a wide range of newspapers and the numbers of each are based on the circulations in this country. I think it should hardly be necessary to supplement these arrangements which are provided at no cost to the men.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Service men posted from Hong Kong who have left their families behind in Hong Kong have been deprived of the special Hong Kong allowance; and if he will take steps to remedy this.

Unless there is a prospect of officers and other ranks who have been posted from Hong Kong to Korea being re-united with their families either at Hong Kong or another station abroad within six months, families are conveyed home to the United Kingdom at public expense in order that accommodation may be freed to enable other families to join their husbands at present serving in Hong Kong.As the tour of duty in Korea is more than six months this rule has been applied and families who remain in Hong Kong after the offer of a passage home do so of their own choice and cease to draw local overseas allowances. The families are made fully aware of the conditions regarding passages and allowances if they should elect to stay in Hong Kong. I am not prepared to modify this rule.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers are employed as personal servants or as grooms or as waiters in officers' messes.

The information required is not readily available, nor could it be obtained without a disproportionate amount of work.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in view of the lack of married quarters at Newton Abbot, he will reconsider the decision to transfer there the depot of the Royal Corps of Signals from Pocklington Aerodrome, Yorkshire.

I am sorry that it is not possible to reconsider this move. It is part of the general plan for the accommodation of the Army at home and its particular implications were carefully considered before the decision was taken. I realise that there are at present no married quarters at Newton Abbot, but I hope that the officers and men who need married accommodation will get some immediate help from the hiring scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Egyptian Customs duty is added by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes to the price of wines and spirits sold to the British Army in the Canal Zone.

Customs immunities and privileges for His Majesty's Forces in Egypt are governed by a Convention concluded between His Majesty's Government and the Egyptian Government under the 1936 Treaty of Alliance. This provides for full duty to be paid on wines and spirits imported by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many of the troops in the Canal Zone are not located in places where there are Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes or other facilities for evening recreation and refreshment; and what steps he is taking to improve the facilities.

As a result of the loss of Egyptian labour, the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes have been forced to suspend their service in 41 of the 85 canteens in the Canal Zone. These 41 canteens are, however, at present being run by Army units who draw their supplies in bulk from N.A.A.F.I. stores. It is hoped that N.A.A.F.I. will soon be able to resume the running of these canteens by sending out volunteers from their staff in this country.Major-General Feilden, the General Manager, has just flown out to the Canal Zone to expedite these arrangements. Where units during the present operations are temporarily out of reach of the normal canteens, arrangements are made for them to draw bulk supplies from N.A.A.F.I. stores for distribution among the men.

asked the Secretary of State for War what meals are issued to the troops in the Canal Zone after tea.

The daily ration is designed to provide four meals a day and that is normally the practice. If my hon. Friend has some special case in mind, perhaps he would send me details of it.

asked the Secretary of State for War what percentage of the British troops stationed in the Canal Zone of Egypt are operational troops; and what percentage belong to staffs, Services and units which are non-operational.

It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

Hughes asked the Secretary of State for War what is his estimate of the increased expenditure on the Army in the Suez Canal area since the request of the Egyptian Government for the withdrawal of British troops.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 30th January.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to see that compassionate postings are permitted in appropriate cases.

The system of compassionate posting was abolished in January, 1947, because, with the introduction of a comparatively short term of national service and with the majority of the Regular Army overseas, it became impracticable. Deserving compassionate cases are dealt with in other ways, by the grant of compassionate leave or release when this is justified.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has investigated the circumstances in which 11 other, ranks of the Royal Engineers fainted during a recent parade at Kitchener Barracks, Chatham; and why the unit was ordered to parade in wintry conditions without gloves or greatcoats.

The circumstances of this case are being investigated. When this has been completed, I will write to the hon. and gallant Member.

Lipton asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers serving in the British Army of the Rhine are in hospital suffering from malnutrition or illnesses arising therefrom.

I have had no reports from British Army of the Rhine of cases of this kind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has now commenced the review of the position under the Rent Restriction Acts; if he will give particular attention to the need to make better provision to meet the cost of keeping controlled houses in repair; and if he will make a statement.

I am not yet ready to make any statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he can yet announce the regulations under which local authorities can sell council houses.

I have the matter under consideration and will make an announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that many local authorities are proposing to increase the rent of council houses in consequence of the increased interest rates on borrowed money; and whether he will now make a statement as to the Government's intention in regard to rates of subsidy.

The fixing of rents is entirely a matter for the local authority, but any such increase by reference to the increase in the interest rate must have been made without awaiting the results of the subsidy review. As regards the last part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Gravesend and others on the 29th January.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the hardship caused when the rate of interest, payable under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts, is altered after the date of execution of the mortgage deed; and whether he will introduce legislation to provide that there should be six months' notice before the introduction of new rates of interest.

The rate of interest payable on advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts is required under the Housing Act, 1935, to be a rate one quarter of one per cent. in excess of the rate fixed for loans to local authorities out of the Local Loans Fund one month before the date on which the terms of the advance are settled. I cannot hold out any hope of legislation on this matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what are the conditions under which a local authority may raise its housing loans to run for a period of less than 60 years.

Local authorities borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board for new housing schemes are required in all cases to borrow for the normal period of 60 years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that there are no arrangements for transfers of private building licences by mutual agreement between local authorities in Northern Ireland and local authorities in the rest of the United Kingdom; and whether, in view of the fact that this procedure is encouraged in Great Britain by Section 6 (1) of Circular 57/50, he will examine suitable reciprocal arrangements to achieve the same purpose as between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

I am prepared to consider individual cases of difficulty which are brought to my notice.

Freeman asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many crematoria he has authorised to be built each year since 1945; and how many are now in existence in the country.

No authorisations to build crematoria were given in the years 1945 to 1949; one was given in 1950 and three in 1951. There are now 59 crematoria in England, Scotland and Wales.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the Government's policy of restricting credit facilities to firms and businesses, he will circularise all local authorities to pay all moneys due by them to firms and individuals with the same degree of promptness as prevails in commercial transactions generally.

By their nature the public funds which local authorities control cannot always be disbursed with the simplicity of commercial transactions. But I have recently called attention to the importance of avoiding undue delay.

Greenwood asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what guidance he has given to joint planning boards, established in National Park areas, about the undesirability of holding their deliberations in camera.

None, but I am drawing the attention of the boards to the two Reports of the Consultative Committee on Publicity for Local Government.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress is being made with the provision of coastal footpaths.

The National Parks Commission have submitted to me a proposal for a long distance path along the north coast of Cornwall which I am now considering.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what capital expenditure will be allowed during 1952 to Southampton for the purpose of reconstructing its bombed areas.

The progress of reconstruction in the blitzed cities will depend largely upon the availability of steel. Steel is being made available for all projects actually in progress in Southampton.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total figure of licences for new projects for the reconstruction programme of bombed towns issued in the years 1950 and 1951; and what was the total estimated cost of these projects; and whether he will now make a statement on the number of such licences with the cost of the projects involved to be issued in 1952.

In 1950 and 1951, 136 licences were granted for building work, costing approximately £8,825,000, of which some £6 million was completed by the end of last year. In addition, 8 projects costing £538,075, part of the 1951 programme, have been licensed this year. Whether further new projects can be licensed later in the year must depend primarily on the steel position.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what consultations he has had with the local authorities concerned about the amount of steel which will be available for reconstruction programmes in bombed towns during 1952.

The allocation of steel for blitzed city reconstruction was decided by the Government in the light of the demands upon the total amount of steel available. It was fully recognised that the allocation fell far short of the cities' needs, but this was inevitable in view of the general steel situation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total figure of licences for new projects for the reconstruction programme of the City of the Plymouth issued in the years 1950 and 1951; what was the total estimated cost of these projects; and whether he will now make a statement on the number of such licences with the cost of the projects involved to be issued in 1952 for the same city.

In 1950 and 1951, 28 licences were granted for building work in Plymouth costing approximately £1,456,000, part of which falls in 1952. No new licences have been issued in 1952. Whether further new projects can be licensed later in the year must depend primarily on the steel position. Priority should, in my view, be given to finishing what is in hand.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence of the flooding in the Sheringham Road area of the Borough of Poole.

I have under consideration an application from the town council for loan consent for remedial works estimated to cost £35,000. Technical details are awaited from the council.

asked the Minister of Works what is the cost of the canary-coloured rep curtains and pelmets which, by an instruction given in 1949, are being fitted to the windows of Government offices in Soho Square and elsewhere; how often it will be necessary to remove these curtains for cleaning; and if he will stop this expenditure of public money on amenities which do not make for more efficient and economical working in Government offices.

The cost of fitting sun blinds and sun curtains to the windows of Government offices has been approximately £150,000 since replacement was started in May, 1949. The frequency of laundering needed will vary from place to place, but is expected to average once in two years. Sun blinds were normally provided before the war for windows exposed to the sun. For some time after the war blackout curtains served the purpose but as these fell into disrepair they had to be replaced, not as an amenity, but to safeguard the efficiency and health of the staff. The programme has nearly been completed.

asked the Minister of Works why the Annual Report of his Department for 1950, which was signed by his predecessor in April, 1951, was not presented to Parliament until August, 1951; and when it was available to hon. Members in the Vote Office.

The Report was sent to the printers in April. In accordance with usual practice it was presented to Parliament shortly before its publication on 10th August, 1951, when copies were placed in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Works, in view of the shortage of scrap iron, if he will now arrange for the material of the Skylon to be put to some useful purpose.

I cannot decide the future of the Skylon until I have had a reply, which I am expecting shortly, from the London County Council, to whom it is now on offer. If they do not want it I shall have it dismantled without delay.

asked the Minister of Works if he and the London County Council are agreed on the terms and conditions on which Festival Gardens, Limited, will occupy a part of Battersea Park during the next few years.

The Leader of the London County Council and I have agreed on certain points of general policy to be followed in the future operation of the Festival Pleasure Gardens. The detailed terms and conditions on which Festival Gardens, Limited, will continue to occupy a part of Battersea Park will be incorporated in an occupation agreement now being negotiated between the London County Council and the Company.The following are the letters:

White asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the dispute at Covent Garden Market, which has been reported to his Department.

I understand that work was resumed yesterday.

asked the Minister of Labour how many decorators are unemployed on Tyneside; and what steps he is taking to absorb this pool of unemployment.

On 14th January, 345 painters and decorators were registered as unemployed at employment exchanges on Tyneside. Local authorities, public utility undertakings, Government Departments and other bodies have already been urged to put in hand as much painting and decorating work as possible during the winter months, and this kind of work is licensed freely. Efforts are also being made by employment exchanges to find suitable temporary employment for these men.

asked the Minister of Labour if, when considering plans to switch men at present engaged in nonessential work into employment of greater national importance, he will draw up a scheme listing those industries which would be eligible to apply for labour under such a scheme, on the lines of the arrangements which were in force during the last war.

Information about the most important types of production and service is given to all employment exchanges and kept under review. This enables special attention to be focused on filling essential vacancies. These arrangements are similar to those in force during the last war.

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers formerly working in the factory producing optical instruments at Mauchline are now unemployed.

Two workers formerly employed making spectacle frames at Mauchline are registered as unemployed.

asked the Minister of Defence what priority is given for the manufacture of aircraft and ancillary equipment for the Royal Air Force.

The highest priority is given for the latest types of aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will set out in tabular form details of the United Kingdom's assistance to Empire coun- tries by way of gifts and loans since the war.

Following is a table showing the financial assistance given by H.M. Government since the war to the non-self-governing Territories of the Commonwealth.

	Grants	Loans
	£	£
Colonial Development and Welfare Acts	51,156,784	1,762,976
Grants in aid of Administration	5,649,800	—
Grants in aid of Reconstruction	3,455,600	—
Grants to Malta for War Damage	6,350,000	—
Far East War Damage Compensation	4,783,334	163,008
Grants for Internal Security (Malaya, Africa, West Indies)	12,289,875	—
Cost of Forces in Malaya	8,425,000	—
Food Subsidies	2,567,000	—
Miscellaneous	3,637.000	1,292,064
Claims waived:
Cost of military administration in the Far East	10,000,000	—
Defence expenditure in Fiji	2,068,000	—
Cancellation of North Borneo commitments for period prior to 31st December, 1946	1,095,000	—
Totals	£111,477,393	3,218,048

NOTES:The figures shown are made up of the amount issued during the period 1st April, 1946, to 31st December, 1951, with the addition of half the amounts issued in the financial year 1945–46 so as to cover the post-war period as completely as possible.The figures do not include the following:

Harvey asked the Minister of Food what were the total supplies of tinplate made available for the canning of soups and other foods during 1951.

About 136,000 tons of tinplate were made available for the canning of thermally processed foods, including soups, in 1951.

White asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that both the market tenants and the trade union representing market porters are of the opinion that an inquiry should be held to review the practices and customs in the London fruit and vegetable markets governing the handling systems, and payment for handling; and whether he will take the necessary steps to establish an independent committee of inquiry empowered to make recommendations designed to bring the system up to date and thus cheapen the cost of fruit and vegetables to the consumer.

I have seen reports in the Press than an inquiry has been suggested, but in the absence of further particulars I could not usefully comment on the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the increasing damage being done by the jettisoning of oil refuse from oil-burning and oil-carrying vessels and if he will institute an inquiry with a view to eliminating this danger to bird life and coastal resorts.

I am aware that considerable pollution of parts of our coast by oil occurs from time to time, but it is extremely difficult to discover its source and I have no evidence that the jettisoning of oil refuse from oil-burning or oil-carrying ships near our coasts is a major cause. The analysis of samples of oil washed ashore last year on the Cornish coast suggested that the oil had been in the sea for a considerable time. It may have come from vessels sunk during the war or it may have drifted in from many miles out at sea.My Department has recently made extensive inquiries of the authorities around the coast and other interests concerned When the replies have been collated I will consider what further action I can usefully take in the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take powers to make safety regulations to protect the crews of British-owned ships on tow from any foreign or overseas port, since he already has such powers regarding ships on tow from British ports.

Under Section 457 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, it is an offence if any person sends, or attempts to send, a British ship to sea in such an unseaworthy state that life is likely to be endangered. This applies wherever the ship may sail from, and I am advised that it applies to ships which are being towed as well as to ships proceeding under their own power. My existing powers to require standards of safety are, I think, generally adequate.As regards ships which are being towed to this country to be broken up, my hon. Friend will be aware that these ships differ considerably in the problems they present. I have arranged for officers of my Department to consider with representatives of the interests concerned whether the existing arrangements can be improved.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps his public relations officer has taken recently, and proposes to take, to publicise how pedestrians and motorists should use the new zebra crossings.

Guidance has already been given in the official Press announcement issued when the new Regulations came into operation, and in unofficial broadcasts, television programmes, newsreel films and newspaper articles.I hope myself to broadcast a short statement on 14th February. Meanwhile, I have brought to the notice of the Press generally some useful notes issued by the West London Road Safety Committee after consultation with my Department.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will exempt old age pensioners from paying the charges on deaf aids, surgical appliances and surgical boots.

asked the Minister of Health if he will exempt old age pensioners from the payment of 1s. for their prescriptions.

No, unless they are already receiving Public Assistance grant or are otherwise unable to meet the charges without hardship.

asked the Minister of Health whether the proposed 1s. charge is for each complete prescription or for each item on a prescription.

The charge will be levied in respect of each prescription form, irrespective of the number of prescriptions contained on it.

asked the Assistant Postmaster General what will be the site of the new television transmitting station which is to replace Alexandra Palace; by when the new station will be in operation; and how far its completion will improve reception in the South Downs area between Brighton and Eastbourne.

I am informed by the B.B.C. that tests have been started with the object of finding a suitable site for a new television transmitting station if if it is decided to move from Alexandra Palace when the current lease expires in 1956. It is not yet possible to say how reception in the South Downs area would be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is prepared to grant immediate financial assistance to British employees whose contracts have been broken by the Egyptian Government and who are in need.

As indicated in the supplementary answer given by my right hon. Friend on 30th January to the hon. Member for Itchen (Mr. Morley), His Majesty's Government are offering financial assistance in cases of need.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the numbers of cattle being exported to the Continent via Dover and Calais; and what action he proposes in this matter.

Cattle shipped from Dover to Calais during the last three months have been entirely from the Republic of Ireland and have passed through this country in transit only. I do not think there is any action I should take about this trade.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what arrangements have been made for reimbursing loss of wages incurred by victims of industrial injury in having to attend regional limb-fitting centres for treatment in their normal working time.

There are no arrangements of this kind in operation.