asked the Minister of Food how far the Government are relying on British farmers to grow more linseed for the 1952 harvest, in view of the present high cost of imports; and if he will state the terms on which his Department will buy home-grown linseed.

We hope that farmers will do their best to extend the production of linseed, which is one of the crops in the scheme of ploughing up grants referred to by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture in his statement on 4th February.The minimum price for seed from the 1952 crop was announced on Wednesday, 20th February, but actual buying prices will be related to the prices of imports current at the time of purchase.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the fact that estimated butter imports in the United Kingdom for 1952 are 272,000 tons against 497,000 tons in 1938, what action he is taking to explore new sources of supply; and if he will make a statement on the position.

I am buying the maximum quantities of butter which Australia, New Zealand and Denmark are willing to supply. The only other significant sources of supply are in Europe, and I am buying all I can get from such sources at reasonable prices.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the supply of tin-plate for the canning of domestic foods for 1952 will fall short of the official Ministry of Supply's estimate and that there will only be two tins in 1952 for every three available in 1951; and if he will give an assurance that a fair share of the total supplies available will be kept for domestic canning.

I am not aware of any such estimate of supplies for domestic canning, nor of any ground for fearing the reduction to which my hon. Friend refers. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "Yes."

asked the Minister of Food what are his present agreements with the Republic of Ireland for the supply of live cattle, dead meat, vegetables and other agricultural produce to Britain.

Following is the information:

The Annex to the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement of 1948 (Cmd. 7504) governs the supply to the U.K. of live cattle, sheep and lambs and of dead meat; under its provisions, we are entitled to not less than 90 per cent. of the total Irish exports of live cattle. In May, 1951, a supplementary arrangement was made covering live pigs, pigmeat and bacon, under which we are to receive not less than 90 per cent. of the combined total exports of these items by the Irish Republic. A contract has been negotiated recently for the supply of eggs in the period ending February, 1953, and discussions on condensed milk are taking place.

There is no agreement about vegetables, which may be freely imported from the Republic.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider granting a ration priority in offal to children from the ages of six months to two years in place of the ration of meat as such.

I could only give a priority if I were to ration offal. There are certain provisions for the diet of young children and I do not think we should add to them.

asked the Minister of Food how many allocations of meat for making meat pies are made in Corby, Northamptonshire, at present; what is the total quantity so allocated; what increases there have been in the number of allocations and in the total allocated during the last five years; when these increases were made; and on what population basis those allocations have been, and are being, made both in Corby and generally.

There are at present three meat manufacturers in Corby, 12 general butchers' shops and three butchery vans. Allocations of meat to manufacturers are related to their pre-war trade. Allocations of meat for manufacturing purposes to general butchers and butchery vans are in proportion to the number of their registered customers. There is no special allocation of meat for pie making as traders are free to make a variety of meat products.Two of the general butchers and all of the butchery vans have been licensed during the past five years.The rates of allocation for manufacturing purposes have been changed on 36 different dates in the past five years in accordance with variations in the supplies available. All such changes apply nationally.

asked the Minister of Food if it is his intention to permit the manufacture of cream this year; and if he will indicate the date when this may commence.

No. I am afraid that the quantity of milk which could be spared for this purpose this year is likely to be so small as to make reasonable distribution impracticable.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to the Government's policy with regard to the system of bulk purchase.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he proposes taking to safeguard the rights of this country to use the wavelengths which are being relinquished as a result of the reduction in overseas broadcasting supported by, a grant-in-aid from his Department.

No wavelengths now in use are being relinquished. The question of taking action to safeguard this country's rights to use them does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in the case of British nationals summarily dismissed by the Egyptian Government despite regular contracts of service, he will pay any compensation due to these people, and stop this amount from any agreed payments due to the Egyptian Government.

The answer given by my right hon. Friend on 30th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Alport) describes what Her Majesty's Government are doing to help these British nationals. No agreed payments to the Egyptian Government exist, which could be used to give financial assistance in these cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from which countries under Soviet influence he received official protests about the recent London conference organised by the Eastern and Central European Commission of the European Movement, to which he sent a message; and what replies have been sent to these protests.

Protests about this Conference have been received from the Governments of Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Roumania. No replies have yet been sent.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further representations he has made to the West German Government on action to be taken against the neo-Nazi movement.

Such action is primarily a matter for the German authorities acting under their constitution and no formal representations have been made. But the problem has been the subject of continuing discussion with the German Federal Chancellor and other members of the German Federal Government, who are well aware of, and share, Her Majesty's Government's strong opposition to all neo-Nazi movements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he has received from the Government of Burma to his official proposal that a United Nations Mission should investigate the activities of Chinese Nationalist forces in Burma.

No reply has been received from the Government of Burma.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what contribution was paid by Her Majesty's Government in 1951 to the United Nations Technical Assistance Fund; and what contribution it is proposed to pay this year.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Blackburn, East (Mrs. Castle).

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the rapidity with which the material on zebra crossings wears out; and what more suitable alternative materials are available or are being developed.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will provide for the use of a more durable and adequate method of maintaining the white lines on zebra crossings.

I know that the white material on some of these crossings has deteriorated and I am drawing the attention of local authorities to the need to keep the stripes in reasonable condition. I am also having experiments made to test a number of more permanent forms of marking, but it may take some little time to reach conclusions.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can now make a statement on the results of the experiments carried out for the suitable lighting of zebra crossings.

I have just received a report on these experiments, but I shall need to study it carefully before I can make any statement.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the shortage of garage accommodation in many parts of London; and if he will advise that certain suitable streets should be designated for the parking of cars without lights.

Yes. There are a number of authorised street parking places where the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has given his consent to the parking of vehicles without lights. I am sending the hon. Member a list.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will complete the appointments to the Transport Users' Consultative Committees of the eight areas: North East Yorkshire, North West, East Midland, West Midland, South West, East Anglia, South East.

All these committees are complete except for three casual vacancies due to death and resignations.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has given consideration to the proposals for the implementation of the London Plan Working Party Report put forward by the Joint Conference of Local Authorities in north London; and whether he is now prepared to make a statement on priority measures for relieving pressure on transport in the north London area.

I am aware of the need for improved transport facilities for the North London area, and I am at present studying the proposals to which the hon. Member refers. I am not yet able, however, to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of road accidents in fatal and non-fatal categories in 1938, and the corresponding number in 1951, together with the number of registered vehicles at both dates.

In 1938, 6,648 persons were killed and 226,711 injured in road accidents. The figures for 1951 were 5,250 killed and 211,243 injured. Excluding agricultural engines, which are rarely on the roads, the number of vehicles with licences current at any time during the September quarter was 3,065,753 in 1938 and 4,342,826 in 1951.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road accidents have occurred in Dorset during the year 1951, and how many of these were attributed to uncontrolled dogs being on the road.

1,422 road accidents involving death or personal injury occurred in Dorset in 1951. Of these 13, including two fatal accidents, were attributed by the Police primarily to dogs being in the carriageway.

asked the Minister of Transport the reasons for the delay in reaching a decision on action to reduce fatal accidents on Linden Road, Birmingham, near the junction of that road with Woodbrooke Road and Bournville Lane.

I do not think there has been any avoidable delay. I understand that a scheme for improving these road junctions was recently approved by the appropriate Committee of the Birmingham Corporation, who are the responsible highway authority, and that the work will be put in hand shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport when the promised public inquiry, under Section 23 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, into the Medway town omnibus disaster is to be held.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on this matter on Thursday last.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission on Road Safety.

I am not satisfied that I should be justified in recommending the appointment of a Royal Commission. Very comprehensive investigations have been made into this question in recent years and I have the benefit of the advice of a Standing Committee on Road Safety, which is widely representative. I do not think that a Royal Commission on Road Safety would add substantially to existing knowledge of the problem.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the danger to the public caused by allowing horses to be either ridden or led after dark without a light; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the matter.

I am aware that this practice has its dangers, although it is not the cause of more than a fractional percentage of total road accidents. I will see whether advice on this subject can be included in the Highway Code when it is next revised. Meanwhile, I will consider other means of bringing the matter to the attention of those concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps have now been taken to overcome the dangerous overcrowding outside Morden Underground station during rush hours owing to the inadequate nature of the omnibus station.

After discussion between my Department and the other authorities concerned a scheme has been prepared for certain road works to improve conditions at this point. This is now being considered by the Surrey County Council and the Merton and Morden Urban District Council, who are the highway authority responsible, but I cannot at present commit myself as to the priority that can be given to it.

asked the Minister of Transport what results have been obtained from the experimental traffic island at the junction of Clayton Street, Westmorland Road and Scotswood Road in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

The experimental traffic island has proved of considerable benefit to pedestrians, but other traffic has not been materially assisted. The Corporation of Newcastle-upon-Tyne are in touch with my Department about possible improvements in the traffic system here.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that there is a large body of opinion in Sheffield which feels that the tramway fares should not be increased until all reasonable methods of economy and administration have been instituted; and whether he has yet received the report of an inquiry recently held regarding tramway fares in Sheffield.

Public notice was given in local newspapers of the proposed increases in tramway fares, and representations in regard thereto were invited. No such representations were made. I have received the report of the inquiry and, after full consideration, have authorised the corporation to make the increases proposed as from 9th March.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to recent legislation passed by the French Government authorising special capital expenditure for road development and providing for the establishment of a special highway fund for this purpose to be financed partly from a budgetary allowance and partly by 20 per cent. of the revenue from motor-fuel taxes, of which particulars have been supplied to him; and whether he will arrange for an expert study of this proposal, having regard to the delays and difficulties in carrying out the 10-year capital road programme in Great Britain.

I am obliged to my hon. Friend for calling my attention to this legislation, but he will remember the provisions of the 1936 Finance Act under which the Road Fund ceased to be financed from the proceeds of motor taxation. I would remind my hon. Friend that restriction of capital investment due to present inadequacy of national resources affects all such investment however financed.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider making a grant to enable the local authority to acquire the toll-gates at Penmaenpool and Penrhyndendraeth, respectively, in the county of Merioneth.

I regret that with the limited funds at present available for roads I am unable to make grants to highway authorities to assist them in acquiring toll undertakings such as those referred to in the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the disadvantages of maintaining the separate Road Fund, if he will take steps to enable him to treat the various receipts into, and issues out of, this Fund in the same way as other receipts from taxation and expenditure on public works.

Since the 1st April, 1937, the Road Fund has been maintained by moneys provided annually by Parliament under Section 33 of the Finance Act, 1936. It is for all practical purposes treated as a voted service, and the special legislation that would be necessary to replace it by such a service would not be justified at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the representations made to him by the furniture trade on their present position under nationalised transport; and what answer he made.

Yes, I wrote to the Associations suggesting that their complaints about charges for the conveyance of new furniture by road could appropriately be referred to the Central Transport Users Consultative Committee and I understand that they are taking this course.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that although applicants for motor-car driving licences are obliged to testify that they can read a number plate at 25 yards, no further steps are taken to ensure that the eyesight of drivers is sufficiently good to prevent accidents or to oblige them to wear suitable glasses whilst driving if that is desirable on safety grounds; and whether he will take action in this matter.

In the absence of any evidence that defective eyesight of drivers is an important factor in road accidents, I do not think that any further steps in the direction suggested by the hon. Member are necessary. A requirement that some individuals should wear glasses when driving would be unenforceable.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in addition to the decisions of the Central and Transport Users' Advisory Committees and the assurance that the Railway Executive will inform the appropriate area of any proposed withdrawal of railway service, he will also introduce legislation to provide an appeal to an independent court of law.

No. For the reasons set out in the answer which I gave on the 4th February to my hon. Friend's Question on this subject, I do not consider that legislation on the lines suggested is either necessary or desirable.

asked the Minister of Transport when the report of the public inquiry into the Bury railway bridge disaster is to be published.

Investigations by the Inspecting Officer of Railways who conducted the inquiry into this accident are not yet completed and I am not able to say when his report will be published. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that this will be done at the earliest possible date.

asked the Minister of Transport the capital cost of producing 1,000 h.p. of new rail haulage capacity calculated at January, 1952.

The British Transport Commission inform me that on 1st May, 1951, the latest date for which figures are available, the capital cost per 1,000 draw-bar h.p. of the British Railways' standard Class 5 4–6–0 steam locomotive and of the C.C. electric locomotive for the Manchester/Sheffield line is £13,300 and £17,650 respectively. They are representative types.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that this island is treated as a unit for postal purposes but not for the carriage of essential foods, such as fish and agricultural produce; that this causes unfair competition, which penalises producers and consumers; and if he will introduce legislation to amend the Transport Act to provide for standard freight charges irrespective of distance covered.

There are fundamental differences between postal charges and transport charges and it would be impracticable for the British Transport Commission to charge to all consigors standard freight rates irrespective of distance. I could not contemplate legislation on the lines suggested.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are taken to make it clear to men joining or wishing to leave the Merchant Navy that they will still be liable for National Service if they obtain their discharge.

Merchant seamen born in 1929 or later who leave the Merchant Navy before reaching the age of 26 become available, if medically fit for service, for call-up under the National Service Acts. Wide publicity has been given to this fact through the journals of the officers' and men's organisations.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps have been taken to recover the wages owing to Joseph Cordina and John Vella, seamen of Cardiff, who were paid off a Norwegian ship at San Francisco in October and whose wages were paid by the captain to the Norwegian Consul and retained by him, it now being three months since his department were made aware of the facts on file No. M6393/51.

These seamen were, as the hon. Member states, serving in a Norwegian ship. They were, therefore, subject to the Norwegian maritime laws.I have made inquiries of the Norwegian authorities and am informed that instructions were recently sent to the Norwegian Consulate General at San Francisco that the balance of wages of these two seamen who were discharged for misconduct, should be paid over to H.M. Consul General. In the case of John Vella, who was found guilty in a San Francisco court of assault upon the chief engineer, a deduction amounting to approximately £17 is being made by the Norwegian authorities to cover the cost of dental treatment undergone by the chief engineer in consequence of the assault.In the meantime, the cost of maintaining and repatriating the seamen has been borne by my Department. This in both cases exceeded the amounts of the wages which I understand are being paid over to the Consul General, and there will thus be no balance payable to the seamen.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations have been made to him by exporters of pedigreed livestock, in particular pedigreed cattle, at the delay in obtaining accommodation for sea transport; and whether he will make a statement.

I have not received any recent representations of this kind. Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend would let me have any information on the subject in his possession.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the fact that the experience of three of the four permanent members of the British Transport Commission has been primarily related to railways, and that the Commission lacks persons with wide experience in road transport; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this matter.

I am aware of the previous experience of the Members of the Commission and I shall bear this factor in mind, among others, when considering appointments or re-appointments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent the present orders which govern the export of horses from this country are applicable to countries outside Europe.

The general provisions that relate to the method of carrying horses and the fittings of vessels apply to horses carried to any port outside Great Britain. The special provisions requiring horses to be subjected to a veterinary examination before shipment and specifying a maximum age and certain minimum values, which were designed to prevent the export of old or worn-out horses to the Continent for slaughter, apply only to horses carried to a port in Europe outside the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take the necessary steps to arrange that the present provision making it obligatory to rest cattle after their arrival at ports in this country prior to their being moved inland shall equally apply to horses arriving at such ports.

It is not considered desirable to require all horses to be detained for a rest period on arriving at ports in this country since it is often preferable that horses that have made a short sea journey should go on at once to their destination. A provision was included in the Transit of Horses Order, 1951, which makes it an offence to carry a horse in a road or rail vehicle if, owing to fatigue, it cannot be so carried without unnecessary suffering. This should ensure that a horse requiring rest after a sea journey is detained until it is fit to travel.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the desirability of introducing legislation dealing with the use of toxic chemicals in agriculture; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes; but I cannot yet say when it will be possible to introduce such legislation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give particulars of the agricultural training schemes provided by his Department; and say what further provision is to be made for training town boys who wish to enter the agricultural industry.

Particulars of the three adult agricultural training schemes run by my Department, as part of the Government's Vocational Training Scheme administered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, are as follows:

(1) The General Training Scheme provides 12 months' practical training in agriculture or horticulture on a farm or holding approved as suitable for the purpose. It is open to any able-bodied man or women over 18 years of age who is not already qualified to undertake skilled work in an occupation in which there is a reasonable prospect of regular employment.

(2) The Ex-Regular Training Scheme provides a course of practical training in agriculture or horticulture on approved farms for ex-Regular members of H.M. Forces, who have not learnt a skilled trade. In addition, if they complete this practical training with outstanding success, trainees are offered a further year of higher training at a Farm Institute.

(3) The Disabled Persons Scheme provides training in agriculture and horticulture of a kind similar to that offered under the Ex-Regular Scheme. It is open to all disabled persons over 16 years of age who, in the opinion of the Ministry of Labour, need training for suitable employment and qualify under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944.

Training costs nothing to the trainee under any of these Schemes, and weekly training allowances, scaled according to age and sex, together with allowances for travelling expenses and dependents' maintenance if necessary, are also paid during training. Details of each of these Schemes and the precise conditions which apply are given in the publicity leaflets issued by the Ministry of Labour and National Service.There are also two juvenile training schemes for town boys who wish to take up work in agriculture. The "British Boys for British Farms" Scheme is operated by the Y.M.C.A., with financial assistance from the Exchequer in respect of each boy trained and placed; it offers agricultural training to boys between the ages of 15 and 17. The boys are housed in hostels and trained on surrounding farms for eight to 10 weeks, before the Association seeks to place them in work with a farmer.Secondly, there is the Town Boys and Girls Training Scheme which is run directly by my Department through certain County Agricultural Executive Committees. It enables boys and girls over 15 years of age, who would otherwise have no ready access to agricultural employment, to receive up to 13 weeks' training on selected farms. This Scheme, in its present form, was started in 1951 as an experiment to attract boys and girls to agriculture in areas where it was thought there was a demand not entirely met by the Y.M.C.A. Scheme. So far it has been restricted to 15 counties, but after longer experience of its working I shall be prepared to consider extending it further.

asked the Minister of Supply what percentages of disabled persons are at present employed in the Royal Ordnance factories at Swynnerton and Radway Green; and why men suffering from pneumoconiosis are being rejected for employment at the Radway Green factory.

Approximately 13 per cent. at Swynnerton and 14 per cent. at Radway Green. Men are rejected for employment only when their disabilities make them unfit for the particular jobs available.

asked the Minister of Supply what advice the Motor Advisory Council has tendered to him about the prospects of selling a substantial number of additional vehicles abroad this year, particularly in countries outside the sterling area.

The National Advisory Council has expressed the confidence of the industry in its ability to maintain a high level of exports. No figures have been mentioned. It is, however, generally recognised that market conditions abroad are becoming difficult.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will now give details of his new allocation system for steel; and what priority will be accorded to the manufacturers of agricultural implements and spare parts.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a booklet published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office as a general guide on the working of the Scheme. On the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture on 29th November last.

asked the Minister of Supply what percentage of last year's allocation of steel to the motor industry he expects to make available to it in the course of 1952.

Only sheet steel was allocated last year. The figures do not therefore provide any basis for comparison with 1952 when all types of steel have been brought within the allocation scheme.

asked the Minister of Supply when he expects to be able to make an announcement in respect of steel allocations to bicycle manufacturers for the second period of this year.

Allocations for the second quarter have now been issued to bicycle manufacturers. The allocation to the industry as a whole is much larger than that for the first quarter.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the impending reduction of cars and commercial vehicles for the home market and the consequent greater need for repairs to old vehicles kept running, he will ensure that an increased allotment of steel for the provision of spare parts will be allowed to manufacturers.

Yes. The allocation of steel for the production of spares has been increased for the second quarter of this year.

asked the Minister of Supply what action he proposes to take arising from the recommendations of the Monopoly Commission on the supply of electric lamps.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 4th February.

asked the Minister of Supply what were the reasons for his Department's estimate of February, 1951, that tinplate supplies for the current year were expected to be 950,000 tons, whereas now it is anticipated that there will be little more than 750,000 tons; and when he expects the production of substantially over one million tons per annum, promised for 1953, will now be achieved.

I understand that the estimate was based on the expectation that the new tinplate plant at Trostre would be completed before the end of 1951. It is unlikely to be completed before the second half of this year. No firm estimate of tinplate production for 1952 can be given, nor is it possible to say when a total production of one million tons a year will be reached. This depends not only on the completion of the Trostre plant, but also on the extent to which raw materials can be made available.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will set up a priority scheme for the allocation of hematite pig-iron.

I am considering a separate allocation scheme for hematite pig-iron.

asked the Minister of Supply what sums, up to the end of 1951, were spent on the Woomera Range in Australia; and what was the nature of this expenditure.

The cost of the Woomera Range in Australia is being borne, in the main, by the Australian Government.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will state the total cost of the development of the atomic weapons to be tested in Australia in the near future.

Expenditure on basic research and general development in the field of atomic energy is so intermingled with the production of the first test weapon that it is not possible to give the estimate of cost asked for by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is taking to improve the output of steel.

The expansion of the output of steel depends primarily on obtaining increased supplies of raw materials. The procurement of materials is the task of the steel industry. However, the Ministry of Supply maintains very close touch with the industry in this important matter and I am satisfied that every effort is being made to improve the position.

asked the Minister of Supply how many official cars and drivers are now maintained for the use of Ministers, compared with February, 1951.

With the exception of the three Ministers for whom police protection is provided, cars are no longer allocated for the use of Ministers individually. The number of Ministers' cars in February, 1951, was 36.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that the rate of sickness benefit payable to married women is 16s. per week; and whether he will consider introducing amending legislation to raise this to 26s. per week.

I am aware that the National Insurance Act provides a special rate of sickness benefit for married women, but I see no reason for altering this arrangement.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that the increased cost of living is causing extreme hardship amongst old age pensioners; and whether he will increase the basic pension to meet these increased costs.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, having regard to the cost of living, he will increase the rate of retirement pension to 40s. per week.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that since 3rd December there has again been a rise in the cost of living which is causing hardship to old age pensioners; and whether he will now raise the pension in order to alleviate the distress of the old people.

I cannot add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on Tuesday, 29th January, 1952.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he has yet replied to the representations recently made to him by the Old-age Pensioners Association for an immediate increase in the old-age pension; and, if so, in what terms.

No.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what amount, to the nearest convenient date, has been expended by the National Assistance Board in helping persons to meet the charge made for dentures and spectacles supplied by the National Health Service.

Up to the end of January, 1952, assistance grants for dentures and spectacles amounted to £54,160, and £88,723, respectively.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many men and women, old age or retirement pensioners, have opted to return to employment as allowed under Section 7 of the National Insurance Act, 1951.

Some 2,500 men and 240 women exercised the option to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will take into account the special needs of the blind in his review of basic National Assistance allowances and supplementary allowances.

The National Assistance Regulations already make special provision for blind persons. Any review of the assistance scales is a matter for the National Assistance Board in the first instance.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why no arrangements are 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.

Such persons will usually be in receipt of a disablement pension reflecting the severity of the injury, and I can see no grounds for adding a new benefit to compensate specifically for loss of wages during limb-fitting.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that men now reaching 65 years of age in some industries are made redundant and are losing the opportunity to increase their retirement pension; and if he will take steps to give them the same pension as those who retired before October, 1951.

It would not be possible to make the rates of retirement pension depend on conditions of employment in particular industries. I would, however, remind the hon. Member that the Government are at present engaged on a review of the position of pensioners generally.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many cases of benefit sent by post from his offices have been reported as not reaching the addressee; if he is aware that the envelopes in which the benefit is sent make the contents unmistably clear so that it is easy for them to be stolen; and if he will consider some method which will reduce the possibility of theft.

Of an annual total of 42 million postal drafts sent by post, some 22,000 are reported as not received, but in one-quarter of these cases the complaint is withdrawn. The amount of fraudulent encashment is relatively small; the majority of the missing drafts are never cashed. Whatever type of envelope was used in such large numbers, its appearance would soon become familiar.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the number of applications made for certificates of disablement for silicosis and pneumoconiosis for the year 1951; and if he will give the figures of certificates granted and refused, with particulars for South Wales and other coalfields, separately.

WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ACTS
Applications for certificates of suspension or total disablement in connection with workmen's compensation or benefit schemes relating to silicosis, asbestosis or pneumoconiosis during the year ended 31st December, 1951.
—	Workmen examined	Certified as disabled
All industries including coal mining:
Applications dealt with by Pneumoconiosis Medical Panels throughout the country	1,013	423
Coal mining:
Applications dealt with by Pneumoconiosis Medical Panels—
(a) throughout the country	948	384
(b) in Cardiff and Swansea	403	100

INDUSTRIAL INJURIES ACT
X-ray examinations and first medical examinations dealt with during the year ended 30th September, 1951 in connection with claims to benefit arising from pneumoconiosis (including silicosis and asbestosis).
—	X-ray examinations		First medical examinations
	Total	Referred for medical examination	Total	Disease diagnosed
All industries including coal mining:
Claims dealt with by Pneumoconiosis Medical Panels throughout the country	11,444	5,881	5,815	3,493
Coal mining:
Claims dealt with by Pneumoconiosis Medical Panels—
(a) throughout the country	10,637	5,204	5,133	2,994
(b) in Cardiff and Swansea	6,777	2,290	2,444	1,206

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will take steps to speed up the payment of compensation to the many small shareholders of previous colliery undertakings; and if he is aware of the additional cost occasioned by this delay, owing to increasing cost of money and consequent rising normal amount of stock to be issued in satisfaction of the balance of the global sum for coal compensation.

The valuation of the nationalised colliery interests is a most complicated matter, which is bound to take a long time. I regret the

The latest available information is as follows:cost and inconvenience caused by delay and have done what is possible to mitigate it by making payments on account. Compensation issued now totals £157,860,645, of which £17,650,073 is refund of capital outlays of companies.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now announce his decision regarding the re-registration of coal consumers this year.

Change of coal registration will be allowed again this year. An announcement giving details of the procedure will be issued in a few days' time.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what were the circumstances which led to the resignation of the newly-appointed Chairman of the Yorkshire Electricity Board; and if he will announce the name of his successor.

Mr. J. S. Pickles asked if he could return to the South West Scotland Electricity Board for personal reasons. I have appointed Mr. D. Bellamy, formerly sub-area manager in Hull, to be Chairman of the Yorkshire Electricity Board.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now make a statement as to his findings regarding the incorrect information supplied by his Department last year in connection with the building licences granted to the Yorkshire Electricity Board.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now in a position to report the result of his Departmental investigation into the circumstances in which his predecessor was provided with inaccurate information for a Parliamentary answer.

Yes. Sir Godfrey Russell Vick, Q.C., Chairman of the Bar Council, was good enough to accept my invitation to inquire into and report upon the circumstances in which this incorrect information came to be given. He has interviewed all the officers of my Department and of the Yorkshire Electricity Board who were able to thrown any light upon the matter and he has now sent me his report, copies of which I am placing in the Library. The Government, and I am sure all hon. Members, are most grateful to him for a characteristically thorough investigation.I think a fair summary of his conclusions is that the main responsibility for the incorrectness of the information given by my predecessor must rest on the senior officers of the Yorkshire Electricity Board. They had ample opportunity of correcting the form of reply which had been suggested to them by an officer of my Department as being the correct way of expressing the information he had been given at short notice over the telephone. But though misled by this information, the Departmental officers concerned must bear some responsibility for allowing the draft reply to go forward when it should have been obvious that no satisfactory reply could at that time be given.Part of the difficulty in this case arose out of the form of authorisation which dated from the early days of the war and was designed to meet war-time conditions. I am arranging to alter the form of authorisation for building work on offices, showrooms and the like so as to make it quite clear that the work is controlled not only by the plans but by the sum of money specified in the authorisation.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the amount by which the Yorkshire Electricity Board exceeded the amount licensed for building work.

The Yorkshire Electricity Board pleaded guilty to a count in an indictment of having incurred unauthorised expenditure of £41,217 19s. 4d. at Scarcroft.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking regarding those persons whose appointments to the North Western Area Electricity Board terminate during 1952.

The present terms of appointment of the persons concerned expire towards, or at, the end of the year, and in due course I shall consider the action to be taken in accordance with the powers conferred upon me by the Electricity Act, 1947.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps are being taken to revise, bring up to date and reprint the Electricity Supply Regulations, 1937, for securing the safety of the public and for ensuring a proper and sufficient supply of electrical energy, in view of the manifold developments of electrical appliances during the last 15 years; and whether his revised regulations will deal with initial and periodical inspection of domestic installations.

The revision of the Electricity Supply Regulations, 1937, is at present being considered.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement as to the general directions he will give to the British Electricity Authority to ensure that discriminatory charges, based not on the amount of electricity consumed, but on the number of rooms, whether in use or not, occupied by the consumer, shall not be made.

Domestic electricity tariffs have for many years contained an element varying in accordance with the size of the house, the number of rooms, or the rateable value, and I do not propose to issue any general directions to the British Electricity Authority in this matter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can now give any indication with regard to the priority to be given to steel supplies to projects for the erection of plant and the manufacture of machinery and apparatus likely to result in a more efficient utilisation of coal in this country.

I am considering, in conjunction with my colleagues, the measures to be taken to secure this object.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that certain ground landlords are now offering the freehold of some of their London properties at prices ranging from 45 to 50 years' purchase of the present ground rent; that the offer is not open to negotiation and is kept open for three months only; and whether he will introduce legislation authorising owners of leasehold houses to buy their freehold at not more than 30 years' purchase of the existing ground rent.

The hon. Member's suggestion appears to contemplate a form of leasehold enfranchise- ment. As I have previously informed the House, I am not in a position to make a statement on this subject.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many applications for licences for the repair, maintenance, extension and improvement of garages have been sponsored by his Department.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the repair, maintenance, extension and improvement of petrol filling stations. I have no responsibility in this matter.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, at what price he has sold tin to the United States authorities; and what profit or loss this represents on the basis of the latest market prices.

Under the recent Agreement the United States authorities will pay £944 a ton f.o.b. for Straits tin or its equivalent. Her Majesty's Government have the option to deliver up to 5,000 tons of the total of 20,000 in other qualities, for which the price will be £936 a ton f.o.b. The latest market quotations are £978 settlement price for cash tin in London and £958 in Singapore. Since the price varies from day to day and since it is impossible to say at present in what proportions the different brands of tin will actually be delivered or on what market they will be bought, the calculation asked for by the hon. Member cannot be made.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will cause a survey to be made into the copper deposits at Parys Mountain, Amlwch, Anglesey.

Recent inquiries show that these deposits are not likely to yield a return sufficient to justify a further survey.

asked the Minister of Health what alternative means will be provided for continuing the mobile van film shows given by the Central Office of Information for the purpose of training hospital staffs.

Many large hospitals have their own projectors. For others who need to use films in training alternative arrangements are being considered.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an estimate of the number of teeth extracted, the number of teeth filled and the number of sets of full upper and lower dentures supplied in the nine months ended 31st December, 1951.

It is estimated that during the nine months ended 31st December, 1951, some 9,100,000 teeth were extracted apart from those in emergency for which no data are available; 7,600,000 teeth were filled and 970,000 sets of full upper and lower dentures were supplied.

asked the Minister of Health what advice he has received from the Health Service Advisory Council regarding the proposed imposition of charges in the health service.

I have received no advice from the Central Health Services Council in this matter.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give a list of the different appliances supplied under the National Health Service, with the number and value of each, for the year 1951, or the latest available period.

Statistical information in the form asked for is not available and the cost of providing it would be disproportionate to its value. The great variety of appliances supplied to patients through the hospitals in England and Wales during the 12 months ending 21st December, 1951, can, however, be broadly grouped under the following headings for which the numbers and cost are given below:

Appliance	Number supplied in 12 months	Cost
		£
New surgical footwear	46,465	395,000
Appliances for lower limbs	28,280	156,000
Trusses	19,085	35,000
Abdominal appliances	107,282	375,000
Suprapubic and kindred appliances	15,570	55,000
Appliances for upper limbs	3,593	12,500
Spinal supports	58,656	410,000
Head and neck appliances	11,732	58,000
Elastic hosieries	35,520	80,000
Wigs	9,756	125,000
Prostheses (artificial breasts, ears, eyes, noses, etc.)	11,715	29,000
Artificial arms	1,937	51,500
Artificial legs	11,383	330,000
Artificial arm appliances	4,058	15,000
Artificial eyes	7,682	12,000
Invalid chairs and tricycles	10,108	685,073

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what alternative means will be provided for continuing the mobile van film shows given by the Central Office of Information for the purpose of recruiting and training Civil Defence and Fire Service personnel.

Arrangements will be made to make use of locally owned projectors for necessary training and recruitment purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the recommendations contained in the Report of the Joint Committee of the British Medical Association and the Magistrates Association on the Law in Relation to the Illegitimate Child, a copy of which has been sent to him; and whether he will take steps to implement them.

I would refer to the reply given on 21st February to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Parker).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the remaining Sections of the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, will be brought into operation.

My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to make an order bringing subsections (1) and (3) of Section 18 and Sections 19 and 20 into force on 1st April, 1952. He is sorry that the present economic condition of the country would not justify the bringing into force of the other parts of the Act that are not at present operating, and he cannot say when it will be possible to bring them into force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the amount of expenditure incurred under the Licensing Act, 1949, in preparations for the extension of State management of the liquor trade to new towns.

The amount falling on the Vote for the State Management Districts, England and Wales, is estimated to be approximately £860.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what animals are used in this country for experiments in connection with atomic energy research; and whether he will give an undertaking that dogs will not be used for this purpose.

Research on the biological effects of atomic energy is in progress at a number of centres; experimental work involves the use of animals of different species such as mice, rats, guinea pigs and monkeys. All this work is primarily directed towards the protection of human beings exposed to radiation or to the improvement of methods of radiotherapy and no guarantee can be given that dogs will not be used.

asked the Minister of Works what progress has been made with building a new Embassy in Rome.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Reeves) on 26th November, 1951.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the confusion that has arisen through the unequal allocation of steel to different Government Departments and of the insufficient steel allocated to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this problem.

The guiding principle in allocating steel has been to meet the needs of exports, defence and of essential investment, such as coal mining, to the fullest extent possible with the supplies available, and at the expense of home consumption and less essential home investment. The economic crisis demands that this principle should be strictly applied.The particular allocation to which the hon. Member refers is sufficient to meet the requirements of housing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been drawn to the invalidity of the comparison of farmers' incomes in 1939–40 and 1949–50 made in Table 53 of the 94th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, having regard to the fact that farmers paid Income Tax in 1939–40 on Schedule B rental assessments and not on Schedule D as in 1949–50; and if he will arrange for more adequate figures to be published in future.

Table 53 of the 94th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to which my hon. Friend refers relates, as the heading of the table indicates, to assessments under Schedule D. It does not relate to total farming income. This point was clearly brought out in paragraph 94 of the 92nd Report; the Report in which these figures were published for the first time. To avoid misunderstanding however, the note will be repeated in future Reports.Figures for total income from farming in 1938 and in the post-war years are to be found in the National Income White Papers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the figures of the tax receipts for each month of 1951 on greyhound racing totalisators.

The monthly figures of receipts of Pool Betting Duty for greyhound totalisators during 1951 are as follows:

	£
January	406,318
February	437,975
March	534,240
April	546,809
May	694,858
June	586,402
July	634,082
August	750,944
September	546,209
October	564,243
November	517,462
December	445,806

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the proposed purchase of manuscripts and early printed books by the Trustees of the British Museum.

Early in 1950 the Trustees of the British Museum learned that a notable collection of books and manuscripts from the Library of the Earl of Leicester at Holkham Hall was about to be offered for sale. It was recognised that the collection contained printed books and manuscripts of the highest national importance which ought to remain in the country. The Trustees accordingly asked Sir Stafford Cripps, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, for Exchequer help in purchasing some of the outstanding items which were beyond their own means, and he agreed to ask Parliament for a grant.The price of the selected items is £95,000 which is a fair one to both parties. I have agreed, subject to the approval of Parliament, to make an Exchequer grant of £74,500 towards this sum. The remainder has been promised by the Pilgrim Trust and the National Art Collections Fund, which have each offered to contribute £10,000 and the Friends of the National Libraries who have offered £500. The National Art Collections Fund's contribution comprises a gift of the same amount recently made to it by Miss A. M. Savill. The generosity of these contributions, for which the Government are most grateful, provide evidence of the importance attached by these bodies to this purchase.More recently a famous 10th century Anglo-Saxon manuscript, the Helmingham Hall Orosius, has been offered to the Trustees for £10,000. This is a reasonable price and I have agreed, if Parliament approves, to meet £7,500 of the cost from Exchequer funds, the remainder being contributed by the Trustees from their trust and other funds.These two purchases together will cost £82,000 and a Supplementary Estimate has been laid before the House. I need hardly add that I should not ask the House to consider such purchases at a time like the present were I not convinced that these manuscripts and books must be preserved for the nation and for posterity.The following is a description of the Holkham Library items and the Orosius manuscript:

asked the Secretary of State for War when he intends to publish the full statement on the Ismailia incident; and whether he will include in it a copy of the various directives sent to General Erskine relating to his handling of the situation in general and this incident in particular.

I would refer the hon. Member to my detailed account of this incident which I gave in reply to a Private Notice Question by the right hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Bevan) on 31st January.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Z reservists were warned for service in 1951; how many applications for deferment were made; how many were granted; how many reservists completed their training; and how many were aged 45 or over.

190,092 Z reservists were warned that they would be recalled for training during 1951. Of these 140,085 completed their training, 49,910 were exempted for various reasons and 97 failed to report. Details of the numbers who applied for deferment and of those granted deferment are not readily available. It is not known whether any man over the age of 45 reported for training: in all cases, however, that came to the notice of the War Office where a reservist had been warned but would be 45 before his training date the call up was cancelled.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give the numbers of Z reservists; the percentage of the total Z Reserve called up in 1951 in age and service groups; and the percentage of the Z Reserve who will have been called up by the end of 1952.

The present strength of the Z Reserve is 2,829,278 other ranks. Some 6.7 per cent. of the available Z reservists were selected for training in 1951. The distribution by age and service groups was as follows:—

	per cent.
1–10	Nil
11–20	.09
21–30	2.21
31–40	5.16
41–50	13.52
51–60	15.51
61–70	15.74
71–80	14.21
81–100	Nil*
101–110	14.15
111–120	17.24
121–130	19.77
131–140	22.00
141–148	18.99
* The number of reservists in these groups is negligible.

By the end of this year some 14.9 per cent. of the present strength will have been selected for training. Allowing for wastage on medical and other grounds, it is thought that about 11 per cent. Will, in the event, have received training.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will endeavour to make a reduction in the prevailing air mail postage charges to members of the Forces now stationed in Egypt.

No. I do not think that I should be justified in pressing for a reduction in the present concessionary rates. In any case the time taken by surface route is only about 18 days.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals or recommendations he has now received from the White Fish Authority regarding the fishing industry in Scotland; and if he will make such proposals available to Members of this House.