asked the Minister of Food if he will consider shortening the period of notice required of pig producers desiring to sell their pigs to his Department.

There is so much to be done between the date of notice and the reception of the pig that it would be very difficult to reduce the period.

asked the Minister of Food the reasons for the continued retention of restrictions upon the owner-rearing and subsequent owner-consumption of pigs reared on the owner's premises and fed with the owner's swill.

Regulations are necessary to maintain the general rule that all pigs must be slaughtered for the ration. The working of the arrangements is always carefully watched and will be reviewed again this spring.

But does my right hon. and gallant Friend realise that there is a close association between the identity card and the Regulations governing the slaughter of a pig, in that both of them are an infringement of the rights and liberties of the subject? Why should not any householder who wants to raise a pig, feed a pig, kill a pig, and eat a pig not do so without Ministerial dispensation?

There is one important point which arises out of that. Much as we all desire what my hon. Friend wants, the fact is that there is not sufficient feeding stuffs at present to ensure that this could be done without certain restrictions.

My Question asks why the owner should not feed a pig with his own swill.

It would not be a very good pig if it was fed on swill alone.

Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree that in all these cases it is desirable that the local authorities should be able to inspect the pigs when slaughtered, whether they are privately owned or not, in view of the fact that the owner who has fed and reared the pig does not know if it is diseased when he kills it?

They are, in fact, expected to do so.

asked the Minister of Food if his attention has been drawn to the need for a new bacon factory in Norfolk; and if he will give favourable consideration to the early construction of such a factory.

Foot and mouth disease restrictions recently delayed the killing of some pigs in Norfolk, but the facilities for dealing with pigs produced in the county are adequate under normal conditions. I doubt, therefore, whether capital expenditure on a new bacon factory there could be justified at present.

Will the Minister at least bear this possibility in mind not only for normal requirements, but because the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease indicated that such a factory would have been of the greatest possible convenience and would have saved a great deal of food?

Normally, transport facilities from Norfolk to the Midlands, where the factories are situated, is quite satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Food when the present meat agreement with the Argentine expires; and what steps he is taking to seek to renew it and to ensure a continuous supply of meat to this country.

The period within which the quantities of meat specified in the current Protocol were to be delivered ends on 23rd April. The question of new arrangements is under consideration, but I cannot make a statement at present.

Does the Minister propose to initiate discussions on behalf of the Ministry or propose to leave the market open to private enterprise traders who, we understand, can flood the country with meat if only the Minister will give them the opportunity?

I am sure the hon. Gentleman appreciates that the arrangements which have to be discussed before 23rd April cover a great many other commodities than meat.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman really believe that private enterprise can persuade Peron to send meat to this country?

I am certain that what private enterprise did in the past it will do again.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that President Peron has said that he would welcome a resumption of private enterprise buying because the Argentine would get higher prices for meat?

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing in Birmingham over the quality of meat at present being distributed in the city; and if he will take steps to see that the quality is improved.

No, Sir; Birmingham has had its proper share of best quality meat.

Is the Minister aware that considerable numbers of housewives in Birmingham are complaining that the quality of meat they are receiving is worse than they have ever experienced, especially some of the lamb, which is mutton, and the pork, which is quite uneatable and almost 90 per cent. of which is bad?

There has been no general complaint received from Birmingham—none at all. I would point out that of the home-killed meat distributed a slightly higher proportion goes to Birmingham.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that this dissatisfaction exists not only in Birmingham, but all over the country—dissatisfaction which has not just started but which has continued the whole way through under the regime of the late Government?

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on the domestic meat ration, in view of the 50,000 tons shortfall of supplies from the Argentine.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) on 4th February.

In view of the claims of the so-called experts and of the Tory Party that private enterprise can buy meat cheaper and in greater quantity, will the Minister give an assurance that he will allow private enterprise to buy meat from the Argentine?

Certainly, as soon as we can rectify the position created before we came into office.

How long does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman intend to take refuge for his inefficiency and complete inability to respond to the needs of housewives by making extravagant allegations against the late Government which he knows are untrue?

The question now under discussion, meat, has nothing whatever to do with me because the protocol which was supposed to bring the meat in was signed by the late Government and does not expire until the end of April.

Were we not told during the General Election, and have we not been told since by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman and his new political friends, that they could do better than the late Government, and when are they going to do so?

I will repeat with the greatest pleasure the statement that we can do better than the last Government, but I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to have a little patience.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give an assurance that when this contract ends he will allow private enterprise to buy the meat if they can do it better and cheaper?

I will make the same observation to the hon. Gentleman as I made to his right hon. Friend, and that is to have patience.

asked the Minister of Food when the present meat ration will be increased.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) on Monday, 4th February.

But does the Minister realise that that reply is no reply at all, that the meat ration is far too small, and that housewives are waiting for an increased ration? Does he really rely on the Argentine agreement only? Where are all the men who were to scour the world looking round for meat?

At this time of the year Argentine supplies are of great importance to this country and—

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman rely on the Argentine?

At this time of the year. We cannot avoid that very well, because at this time those supplies are coming in. The fact is that, low as the ration may be, it is substantially higher than it was this time last year.

In view of all these replies of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will he consult his noble Friend in another place with a view to taking down the motto, above the door of the Ministry of Food, "We not only cope: we care"? Will he have it removed immediately?

asked the Minister of Food whom he has appointed to fill the existing vacancies on the buying commission for meat.

As there is no buying commission for meat, I am not clear what the hon. Member has in mind.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman assure the House that when the commission is appointed to negotiate a new agreement he will appoint experienced meat traders to buy for the Ministry of Food and not allow these traders to go to the Argentine to negotiate for the private interests which they represent?

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of deer meat has been imported from the Scandinavian countries since 25th October.

Private imports of deer meat are not recorded separately in the official trade returns and I therefore cannot state what the quantity has been.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider including it in the meat rationing scheme, because venison is a particularly red meat?

The total of all the imports of game mostly from Sweden, is only 60 tons, so it is hardly worth while.

asked the Minister of Food what price was paid for lettuces and other vegetables at the various stages of distribution, namely, grower, wholesaler, retailer and customer, as revealed by the inquiry now completed by his Department; and what percentage increase this was at each stage.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will publish the results of the inquiries made by his Department following through the prices of fruit and vegetables.

This inquiry was strictly limited in scope and in particular did not extend to a costing of actual distributive operations. To publish particulars which could only give an incomplete picture of the position would, therefore, be misleading.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that when I asked for this inquiry to be made in May last it was specifically with regard to lettuce and other vegetables? Will he therefore look at the matter again and see if this information can be made public?

I understand that out of thousands of transactions, covering many varieties, which take place every day in this country this inquiry covered only 47 transactions and was, therefore, quite misleading.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the inquiry was pursuant to an undertaking I gave to the House and that it would be an advantage to all hon. and right hon. Members if they had the information, however incomplete it would be, because there is a real need of information on this subject?

I do not agree. If only 47 transactions were inquired into I cannot see what possible value it would be.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that this inquiry was asked for because all quarters of the House agreed that the cost of distribution was one of the major reasons for the high price of vegetables? Are the Government prepared to do anything to bring down the cost of distribution?

Of course we are. Although the number of transactions investigated was very small, on the whole those inquired into refuted many of the assertions about the gap.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will take steps to expedite the White Fish Authority's consideration of a flat rate for transportation of fish.

I understand that the White Fish Authority are now working out the details of their transport scheme and are anxious to bring it forward as soon as is practicable.

asked the Minister of Food what dollar expenditure is incurred by importing hog-casings from the United States of America; and what measures are being taken to encourage the use of hog-casings from the sterling area.

One thousand five hundred and twenty-two tons of hog-casings valued at £1,331,923 c.i.f. were imported from the United States of America during the year ended 31st December, 1951. There is no restriction on their import from the sterling area.

In view of the unnecessary dollar expenditure which has been and still is being incurred, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman stop American imports of sausage skins until all available supplies from home sources and from the sterling area are utilised?

We shall, of course, try and save all the dollars we can, but the fact is that at the moment the main source of supply is the United States.

asked the Minister of Food what progress has been made in the construction of the new abattoir at Sunderland.

A decision has yet to be reached about the site for this slaughterhouse. Planning approval was not given for the site originally suggested and the suitability of another site is being considered.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the price of rabbits in the shops of Coventry averages 6s. to 7s. 6d. for a medium-sized rabbit, namely, 2s. to 2s. 6d. per pound; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the situation.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will introduce price control on the selling price of fish, rabbits and poultry during the period of the import cuts.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that fish prices reached new record high levels in January, 1952; and whether he will reconsider the question of controlling the price of fish.

With permission I will answer these Questions together.

On a point of order. Is it not an innovation in the procedure of the House to couple a Question about fish with other Questions under the designation of rabbits?

The genera do seem to be distinct but perhaps the answer will resolve the difficulty.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, South-West (Mr. A. Evans) and the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Morley) on 12th November. I do not think it would benefit the consumer to re-impose price controls over these commodities.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that the answer of the fish traders to the suggestion was that if one controlled the price of fish the fish would then disappear? Does he approve of the ethics of such a situation? Will he deal with the matter?

I do not know about the ethics, but I have to face facts as they are—which is not a bad thing to do sometimes, if I may say so. Experience has shown that that is what does happen, and I would remind the hon. Lady that the late Government took off control for the reason that the fish was neither better in quantity nor in quality as a result of control.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend not aware that not even he can, with impunity, defy the law of supply and demand and that he cannot produce rabbits out of a hat?

Is not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the last Government did successfully control the price of fish and that during the last war price control proved very satisfactory? In view of the fact that my Question deals with poultry will he give an answer to that, because the birds do not fly away?

I do not know about flying, but the same thing applies to poultry, fish and rabbits. When there is control they disappear.

On a point of order. My Question, which is a very important one, refers specifically to fish and to the facts of the situation as they were in January last. Could I seek your guidance, Mr. Speaker, as to whether, if the Minister is allowed to go over the whole range of prices in one answer, I can question him about the price of steel about which we are all concerned at the moment?

The hon. Member cannot go as far as that.

With regard to the new high record levels in January, I am going to refer to the price in February, which was less than half the price of January. The main reason for the high price in January was the conditions under which the fish had to be caught. Out of 42 days in that period, gale warnings were issued on 31 days.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend invite the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Hale) and the hon. Member for Coventry, South (Miss Burton) to go to the White Sea in a deep-sea fishing vessel and see the difficulties of catching and landing fish? If he would do so I should like to arrange the visit for them.

Would the right hon. and gallant Gentleman like to take the risk of standing in a housewives' queue when they are buying fish on the limited income they have at the moment?

Is the Minister and his hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Air Commodore Harvey) aware that one does not go to the North Sea to catch rabbits? Might I also ask whether, if the Minister of Food went to the Argentine to get red meat the price of rabbits would come down?

asked the Minister of Food the nature of the proposed reductions in imports of canned and fresh fruit from Western Europe; the types of fruit affected by such import reductions; and the total estimated value, in 1952, of the import reductions.

No further reductions of these imports are at present proposed over and above those foreshadowed in the Press announcement on 7th November, 1951. The main types of canned and fresh fruit affected are soft fruits, apples, grapes, etc. It is impracticable at this stage to make reliable estimates for the year about reductions and savings on individual items in the import programme.

Would the right hon. and gallant Friend say what arrangements are in hand by his Department to offset these reductions in imports by an increase in home-produced fruit? What assurance will the Minister of Agriculture be giving to farmers that when they produce more fruit there will be a market for it in this country?

I think there will be no question about a market at this juncture.

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend realise that, in the last few years, all efforts for an increased production of fruit at home have been stultified by the effects of dumped fruit imports?

asked the Minister of Food what part of the shell-egg consumption of the United Kingdom, during 1951, was imported and what part home-produced.

Of the controlled supplies of eggs consumed in the United Kingdom during 1951 about 23 per cent. were imported and 77 per cent. home-produced.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on the egg allocations for this year.

There have been 14 allocations on average in the first six weeks of this year. I cannot say how many there will be over the rest of the year.

Can the Minister say whether he expects the allocations to be as good as last year's, and if he is getting enough feedingstuffs to give us an increase in egg production?

I think we can expect as many as last year because we had then a particularly bad early spring flush. It is a very risky thing to say, but I think we shall be no worse off; but a lot depends upon the hen itself.

Are there enough feeding-stuffs for increased egg production?

Can the Minister assure us that, in the next rationed allocation, eggs of such small size as the one I have here—[HON. MEMBERS: "Throw it"]—will not be included? In view of the inquiries he made rising out of a Question I had on the Order Paper, but which was not answered because of the recent adjournment of the House, will he give an assurance that housewives are not compelled to receive eggs of this small size on the ration, and that they can refuse them and demand eggs of a reasonable size?

I am sorry about that egg, but I think it is an imported egg. I think I recognise the size of it. Our own are very much better. Naturally, I will do what I can to improve the position.

On a point of order. Is it in order, Mr. Speaker, for the hon. Lady the Member for Liverpool, Exchange (Mrs. Braddock), to produce a china egg which purports to be a shell egg? Is not that bogus evidence?

Further to that, will it be in order if I throw it at the hon. Gentleman to prove that it is an egg, Sir?

Certainly not.

asked the Minister of Food by what procedure retailers are permitted to sell unrationed eggs which have failed to hatch out after a period of artificial incubation.

Eggs which have been incubated for any period and which are marked with the letter "H" are excluded from the operation of the Eggs (Great Britain) Order, 1951, which controls the sale of eggs. These eggs may, therefore, be sold freely, but the public should know that they deteriorate very quickly.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that most of these eggs have deteriorated by the time they reach the shops? Is it the policy of the Government to encourage the sale of these dud eggs other than by way of use as missiles at election time?

This has nothing to do with us. Before the war most of the eggs of this sort were sold for pig food. They are all marked "H," so the public can take them or leave them as they wish.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the rising cost of living, he will conduct an inquiry into the system of distributing household commodities with the purpose of eliminating wasteful complications and unfair profits.

I am not sure what commodities the hon. Lady has in mind. But my reply to her Question on 4th February about specific foods applies in substance to food generally, and I cannot usefully add to it.

Are we to understand from that answer that H.M. Government are not prepared to bring down the cost of living by reducing distribution costs? If so, what is the use of the Minister of Food when he cannot give a good answer to any question at all?

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements he is making for the next issue of ration books.

New ration books will be issued between 17th of April and 7th of May at special distribution centres. The arrangements will be similar to those which, I understand, worked well last year.

What action does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman intend to take to prevent the abuse of the rationing system, through the abolition of identity cards?

We went into that matter very carefully because we are very much affected as a Ministry, and we are satisfied that the steps which we have taken will be sufficient to prevent any abuse.

Will the Minister give an assurance that there will be a general increase in all rations in accordance with the Tory Party's Election promises?

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend say that no proof of identity will be required apart from the production of the identity card number, which people know?

asked the Minister of Food what are the results of his investigation into the measures which might be undertaken to reduce undesirable risks involved in the sale of overspilled beer; and if he will take action for the progressive substitution of line glasses instead of the usual brim glasses.

The investigation is incomplete, but so far there is little evidence of danger to health. I have noted the suggestion made in the second part of the Question.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not think that it makes nonsense of the clean food campaign if the unsatisfactory practices associated with the overspilling and the re-sale of overspilled beer are not dealt with? Does he not think that it is essential to provide larger glasses to give customers full measure and drastically to reduce overspilling by unsteady hands?

I have said already that the inquiry is incomplete. With regard to the second part of the Question, big items of expenditure are involved.

As long as the right hon. and gallant Gentleman considers it necessary to make investigations into the risks run by beer drinkers, in view of the very considerable amount of beer that they drink, does he not think that the time has come for examining those risks that they appear to think desirable rather than undesirable?

Is not beer an antiseptic?

asked the Minister of Food what action he proposes to take to ensure a fair distribution of scarce foods, in view of the increasing difficulty in obtaining non-rationed foods consequent upon import restrictions; and if he will introduce points rationing at an early date.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Gravesend (Sir R. Acland) and Wandsworth, Central (Mr. Adams), on 21st November, 1951.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider that points rationing would be too expensive? If so, would he give consideration to a system of unit vouchers for retailers as in the case of dried fruits, particularly in view of the canned meat situation which is becoming desperate, through unfair distribution?

I do not accept the suggestion about unfair distribution. As I said in answer to a previous Question, I am always watching the matter very closely. The fact is that the commodity position in these articles at the moment is far better than it was when the points rationing scheme was abandoned.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the principle over-ruling all these matters is this: that if we restrict consumption we restrict production?

asked the Minister of Food if he can yet make a statement about the sugar bonuses for jam making in 1952, comparing them with the allocations for 1950 and 1951.

asked the Minister of Food the amount of sugar he expects to allocate to housewives this year as bonus issues for jam making.

I regret that I cannot at present add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dodds) on this subject on 30th January.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that the housewife wants some information in order to make preparations, and is he aware that he is rapidly earning the name of "The housewives' nightmare"?

I am sorry to hear that, but I will let this information be known as soon as I possibly can. I have already pointed out that on more than one occasion it has been the end of March before the bonus was announced, so there is nothing peculiar in the present position.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that on more than one occasion there has been a bonus issue of extra sugar for marmalade making in January, and we have missed that? Surely it is time we had some improvement in the position.

I shall do it as soon as I possibly can, but I would point out that before this Government came into office the equivalent of three bonuses had been cut by the late Government.

Would my right hon. and gallant Friend not agree that the present sugar supply position would be very much better if the late Government had given to sugar producers in the Commonwealth a satisfactory deal, such as my right hon. and gallant Friend has given?

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that jars of fishpaste and sandwich spreads are being sold at the equivalent rate of between 12s. and £1 per pound and whether he will take steps to control the retail price of these commodities.

Fish paste and sandwich spreads are available at a wide range of prices from about 5s. per lb. and 4s. 4d. per lb. respectively. I do not propose to control the retail prices of such commodities.

Does the Minister think that that is a fair, equitable price for these commodities? Does he not think that they could and should be reduced? Does he not think that they should be controlled?

The most popular sell at 4 oz. for 1s., and the more expensive ones, like "Gentlemen's Relish," at a much higher price.

asked the Minister of Food on how many occasions this year has his Department withdrawn hides from public auctions; and what is his policy in this connection.

Less than 3 per cent. of the total quantity of hides offered have been withdrawn at 10 of the 18 public auctions held between 1st January and 16th February. My policy is to obtain reasonable prices based on current values and, in accordance with established trade practice, reserve prices are fixed for each auction.

Is the Minister aware that some of the prices his Department is expecting to get are well above the world prices, and that manufacturers are called upon to pay these higher prices for British hides and are unable to compete in foreign markets?

Only 3 per cent. of the total volume have failed to reach those prices. By far the greater part of those were in one particular auction.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give the same opportunities with the same conditions at all Christmas Fat Stock Shows in 1952 as were given to butchers to buy fat stock at the Smithfield Club Fat Stock Show in 1951.

The arrangements at Smithfield last year were an experiment. The results are now being studied with a view to deciding future policy, and an announcement will be made as soon as possible after discussion with the interests concerned.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware of the important part fat stock shows play in improving home livestock? Is he aware that if all fat stock shows have equal treatment in the current year he will have more and very much better quality English meat?

Yes, I realise the importance of fat stock shows, but I cannot hold out any hope of being able to extend the arrangements next year to what will be about 300 or 400 shows. It is physically impossible at the present time.

asked the Minister of Food what was the total home production of milk in the years 1950 and 1951, respectively.

Gross production of milk in the United Kingdom in the years 1950 and 1951 was 2,239 million gallons, and 2,152 million gallons respectively. Of this, 356 million gallons were retained on farms in 1950, and 360 million gallons in 1951.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend assure us that he will try as soon as possible to stop this serious decline in our milk production?

Yes, certainly; but I would point out that the decline in the first five months of last year was almost entirely owing to the bad weather.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's reply mean that there is a possibility of milk having to be rationed this summer?

I certainly hope not.

asked the Minister of Food how many Statutory Instruments affecting the price of food or the amount of the ration have been made from 1st November, 1951, to 28th January, 1952; how many of these introduced a reduction of price; and how many involve an increase of ration.

Thirteen Orders affecting the price of food to the consumer or the amount of the ration have been made in this period. None introduced a price reduction; two introduced a ration increase.

Yes, but is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that we remember those two and others as well? Is he attempting to say that this lamentable record is also due to the late Government? Will he say how long the late Government's actions are to dominate his policy, and when he will really consider the question of resignation, or else of doing something?

It is not a question of my blaming the late Government. I can compare figures. There were 35 Orders in the last year increasing prices, not seven.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend contemplating rationing either potatoes or bread, as the inefficiency of the late Government led to?

No.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the tea ration.

No, Sir.

Why not? Is not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that very considerable disquiet has been aroused about tea by obnoxious pamphlets which have described it as of inferior quality, and suggesting that the second cup is not as strong as the first, and saying that there is no excuse about dollar expenditure in connection with the buying of tea? Has the Minister's attention been drawn to a particularly tendentious pamphlet called "Over the Tea Cups," issued by an organisation describing itself as the Conservative and Unionist Central Office?

The hon. Gentleman asked me if I had any statement to make. The answer is still, No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food which items of food have suffered a decrease in rationed amounts since October, 1951.

Meat only.

Although the reply is "meat only," are these decreases in accordance with the promises made to the electors at the General Election?

Is it not a fact that the meat shortage is due entirely to the Socialist policy of bulk buying and of not allowing competent merchants to work under free and healthy competition?

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say, speaking on behalf of his hon. Friends on the back benches, whether those on the back bench are now totally opposed to all kinds of red meat?

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) the names of the meat buyers who have been negotiating meat agreements on behalf of the past Government, so that he might know that they are men skilled in private enterprise buying?

Did they go out on their own account or on the Government's account?

asked the Minister of Food the aggregate amount per annum of the increased margins he has recently granted to distributors.

The increase in grocers' retail margins was given to meet an ascertained fall in nett income due to higher wages, transport charges and higher costs of packing materials, etc. The aggregate yearly value will depend on the total quantities of groceries and provisions distributed over the year and will certainly be less than the increased costs.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman tell the House what was the aggregate assumed for the purposes of these negotiations?

An estimate of something in the nature of £10 million.

Will this £10 million be borne by the housewives through increased prices?

Eventually, of course, all price increases will be passed to the consumer if they exceed the ceiling which was laid down by right hon. Gentlemen opposite.

asked the Minister of Food which items of food have increased in price since October, 1951.

Taking the increases on all kinds of food both rationed and unrationed and including all seasonal rises, the number of increases is 16.

Are those famous 16 items, in which prices have been increased, in accordance with what we were commonly led to believe by the Election promises of hon. Gentlemen opposite?

At least it is not such a rapid rise as was the case previously. The hon. Gentleman must realise that it takes a little time to stop these increases.

Has the Minister any proposals at all for bringing any of these prices down?

The right hon. Gentleman knows as well as anybody that the proposals put forward by the Government are aimed at stabilising these things.

Was there any single item of food which did not have an increase in price under the previous Administration?

asked the Minister of Food whether the stock of animal feedingstuffs, stored at Perseverance Mill, by Huncoat Station, near Accrington, is now properly housed, restacked and protected; and what steps he is taking to see that there is no recurrence of the deterioration brought to the attention of his Department in October, 1951.

Yes, Sir. Every precaution is being taken to see that the goods are properly stored and kept in good order. We are clearing the site as quickly as the weather allows.

asked the Minister of Food when he will make an allocation of bananas to fruit retailers who at present have no allocation.

I am examining these arrangements and my Department will shortly discuss possible changes with the trade.

What happens to the banana allocations of retailers who go out of business? Will the Minister do what he can, as quickly as possible, to help small shopkeepers by a more equitable distribution of the present supplies?

I appreciate that there is considerable hardship involved under the system existing today. We are looking into it, and I will bear the hon. Gentleman's point in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans have been, and are intended to be, made for the resurfacing of the Bristol Road, Birmingham, following the ending of the tramway system in June, 1952, and the completion of the present extensive works connected with new water mains.

The Birmingham Corporation are the responsible highway authority. They inform me that schemes are being prepared now for resurfacing the carriageway of this road where necessary, including the length affected by the removal of the tram track and the laying of new water mains.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider appointing a delegation of hon. Members to visit Korea during the Easter Recess or other convenient time.

I cannot feel that such a delegation is necessary.

While I do not overestimate the value of a Member of Parliament as a tonic to morale, would it not be reasonable, by now, for men to have expected someone from this House to have gone out to see the conditions with which they contend?

I have not facts at my disposal to enable me to estimate with any exactitude the improvement in morale which would follow from a visit to Korea by the hon. Gentleman.

Cheap.

Might it not have another effect, if the right hon. Gentleman permitted it—that it would enable hon. Members who have constituents in Korea to acquaint themselves with the circumstances under which our soldiers are fighting out there?

It is a question of balancing loss and gain.

Would the Prime Minister not reconsider his decision in view of the fact that when I was in Korea last month the troops I saw there expressed the desire for more live entertainment?

That aspect should no doubt be considered.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the intended visit of Ministers to Australia to view the intended atomic energy experiment in that country.

No Ministers will be visiting Australia to view the test of the United Kingdom's atomic weapon there.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware how glad we all are to hear that?

Will the Prime Minister invite a delegation of the Christian churches, headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, to see the explosion of this infernal machine and to report progress?

I am not quite sure about that. Anyhow, as the whole of the preparations were made by the right hon. Gentleman opposite, when he was Prime Minister, perhaps the hon. Member for Ayrshire, South (Mr. Emrys Hughes), would ascertain from him whether he desires a delegation of Christian churches to examine the infernal machine, for which he has accepted responsibility.

On a point of order. In view of the complete evasiveness of that answer, and owing to the fact that I was no more responsible for the last Government than the Prime Minister was responsible for Mr. Neville Chamberlain, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter at the earliest possible opportunity on the Adjournment.

asked the Prime Minister what regulations govern the continuation of salaried service with a private company on appointment to Ministerial office.

I have recently issued general guidance on this subject, and as the text is rather long I will circulate a copy in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of Communist infiltration, he will introduce legislation to make all persons employed in national and local government take an oath of allegiance to the Queen, on the lines of the oath taken by Members of Parliament.

I am not aware of any sufficient reason for this change.

Does not the Prime Minister think that action should be taken soon to stop this Communist menace, which is the root of all our troubles? Does he not realise that there is no difference in principle between Socialism and Communism?

Will the Prime Minister undertake to see that before anyone is allowed to take a solemn oath of this kind he will be found to be in a fit state to do so? [Laughter.]

I have not got the point of this hilarity. I very much doubt whether it is the Communists in this country who are the root of all our troubles. They certainly have a large measure of assistance from fellow-travellers and others who give sympathetic aid to their views.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he proposes to pay compensation to prisoners of war in Japanese hands according to Article 14 of the Peace Treaty.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary on 20th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what contribution has been pledged by the United Kingdom to the 1952 technical assistance programme of the United Nations; and how this compares with her contribution in the first financial period.

A sum of £450,000 has been pledged for the 12 months of 1952, compared with a contribution of £760,000 for the first period of 18 months.

Is it not really deplorable that this country should reduce an already paltry contribution to the world fight against poverty to an even more paltry one; and is not this economy most unwise in view of the fact that such an investment in technical assistance is the best defence we can have in making a world attack upon poverty?