asked the Minister of Works whether he will cause a plate to be placed in Westminster Hall to mark the spot from which His Majesty King George VI last addressed the assembled Houses of Parliament.

I do not feel that it would be entirely appropriate to cause a plate to be placed in Westminster Hall to record His Late Majesty's reply to the Addresses of Parliament on the occasion of the opening of the New Chamber. I do, however, propose to lay a plate in Westminster Hall recording the Lying-in-State of His Late Majesty.

asked the Minister of Works what economies are proposed in the maintenance of the fabric of the Palace of Westminster.

The question of economy in the maintenance of the Palace of Westminster, as of other buildings, is constantly under review. Costs have been rising and there is a limit below which maintenance expenditure should not be reduced.

asked the Minister of Works if he will reconsider his proposal to purchase on behalf of Government communications a site at Hindringham, Norfolk, for the purpose of erecting a radio station; and if he will re-site the radio station on land of less agricultural value.

The site at Hindringham meets the stringent technical requirements for a radio station. No other suitable site of less agricultural value has been found and it is hoped that all but a negligible proportion of the Hindringham site will remain in cultivation.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that his Department have, in view of the demands of the defence programme, refused permission to Messrs. King Brothers, of Lady Lodge Farm, Orton Longueville, near Peterborough, to erect 50 pig sties; that labour and materials are already available and work can start at once; that as soon as the work is completed pigs can be produced at the rate of about 800 per year; and how long it will be before the necessary licence is granted.

This application was not rejected, but in view of the heavy load of work in the area the applicant was told that work could not start before August next. The case has since been reviewed in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and a licence has been issued so that work can start immediately.

asked the Minister of Works why he is refusing sanction for the restoration of the George Cinema, Beith, destroyed by fire.

In order to direct building resources to more essential work a ban was imposed last June on the issue of licences over £5,000 for places of entertainment. I regret that there can be no general relaxation until conditions improve. There is an acute shortage of building labour in this area and reconstruction of the George Cinema, which would cost £20,000, would delay essential work, including housing.

asked the Minister of Works when it is proposed to re-erect the memorial to the leaders of the antislavery movement formerly in Parliament Square; and where it is proposed to place it.

The site for the re-erection of the Buxton Fountain has not yet been selected. In accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Square (Improvements) Act, 1949, it will be necessary to obtain the consent of Parliament to any alternative site. If the fountain is re-erected elsewhere, I have been asked by the Anti-Slavery Society to commemorate, at their expense, by means of a tablet in Parliament Square, the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 and the emancipation of slaves under the British flag in 1833, and the part played by Parliament in these notable measures.It has been suggested that this commemorative tablet should stand at the north-east corner of St. Margaret's Churchyard and I have given instructions for a model to be prepared so that Parliament and the public may judge of the suitability of the site and the tablet.

asked the Minister of Works what is the annual cost of upkeep of Hyde Park, Regent's Park, Greenwich Park and St. James's Park, respectively.

A schedule showing the estimated expenditure on the Parks is published annually in the printed Estimates. The estimated expenditure for the current financial year, including the Supplementary Estimate is:

	£
Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James's Park	156,632
Regent's Park and Primrose Hill	81,505
Greenwich Park	33,615

This includes the cost of any new buildings but does not include the cost of the services of the Metropolitan Police in Hyde Park. Separate figures for Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James's Park are not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what investigations have been carried out since the war by the Industrial Research Units of the Medical Research Council; and how many of the reports on them have been published.

Research on industrial health and allied subjects is undertaken in many of the units of the Medical Research Council and a large number of investigations have been carried out since the war. Detailed information on this work and lists of publications are given in the Council's Reports to Parliament for the years 1945–48 and 1948–50.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the possibility of organising regular State lotteries; what is his estimate of the amount of annual revenue that could be raised by this means; and whether, before making a decision in this matter, he will take into account the successful experiences of other Governments which have organised State lotteries.

The Royal Commission on Betting, Lotteries and Gaming reported in March last year its conclusion:

"That there is no important advantage to be gained by the establishment of a national lottery and that there is no reason, in this particular case, to depart from the general principle that it is undesirable for the State to make itself responsible for the provision of gambling facilities."

In reaching this conclusion the Commission had in mind the small amount of additional revenue that seemed likely to be raised by a national lottery, and their attention was drawn to the national lotteries held in other countries, where circumstances are, for the most part, very different. For my part, I see no reason to differ from this conclusion, which endorses the conclusions of previous Royal Commissions and the decision which all my predecessors for over 100 years have reached.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to release post-war credits to persons who are desirous of using them for the purpose of making a deposit when purchasing a dwelling house under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act.

I regret that I cannot anticipate my Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the practice of his Department in the event of the death of a person entitled, by reason of age, to immediate payment of a postwar credit in regard to the payment of the amount to which he was entitled to his estate.

If a post-war credit holder, having reached the qualifying age, makes an application for payment but dies before it is received, it is made to his estate. If no application was made, the legal personal representatives may have the post-war credits transferred to themselves or to any other person, but payment of the credit can be made only if the transfer is to a beneficiary of the estate, and then not until the beneficiary has reached the qualifying age.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now consider abolishing the levying of Purchase Tax, where applicable, on small unsolicited gifts from friends in Commonwealth countries.

I am afraid that it is impracticable to give any such general concession in favour of gift parcels.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will, so far as it is practicable, have included and separately set out in the Annual Estimates of Expenditure the estimates of each Department's expenditure in Wales and Monmouthshire.

I regret that I cannot authorise the disproportionate expenditure of time and administrative effort which would be involved in the production of any more detail than is already shown in the Estimates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what grounds the decision was taken to run down strategic reserves;(2) what arrangements he is making to improve the stockpiling of strategic reserves.

The decision was to slow down the general rate of stockpiling and in the case of some commodities to use stocks acquired for the strategic stockpile in order to reduce the current level of imports. It is very desirable to strengthen our stocks, but at present it is more important to reduce our overseas expenditure and to maintain the supply of materials to industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what decision has been made in regard to claims under the Town and Country Planning Act and the repayment of the development charge to those whose claims are approved.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Minister of Housing and Local Government on 26th February, that a review of the financial provisions of the Act is in progress.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the economy arising from the domestic usage of the slow-combustion fire; and if he will abolish the Purchase Tax on it in order to encourage its more widespread adoption.

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to solid fuel fires: these are exempt from Purchase Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost last year of work done by agency typists for the Civil Service.

About £34,500.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many temporary civil servants over 60 years of age will be redundant because of the recent economy measures.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Stirling and Falkirk Burghs (Mr. M. MacPherson) on Tuesday, 19th February.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been the total cost of the industrial paid sick leave scheme operated in certain Government establishments since 1948.

The scheme covers 46 Departments, some of which do not maintain complete central records of paid sick leave. In the circumstances, I do not think the cost in clerical man power of a special inquiry into the total cost would be justified at the present time.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether a decision has been reached about modifying the working of the sick pay scheme in Government industrial establishments in the light of the investigation of the scheme by investigators of the Medical Research Council last year.

The recent investigation, the results of which have not yet been considered by the Medical Research Council, has not brought to light any evidence of serious abuse of the scheme. It has, however, given rise to certain suggestions by which the scheme might be improved. It is hoped to discuss these with the trade unions concerned in the near future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that over £13,000,000 was spent last year on overtime working by the Civil Service and a large amount on work done by agency typists, he will suspend dismissals of civil servants until their work can be covered in normal working hours by full-time staff.

I regret that I do not consider that the present working hours of the Civil Service should be reduced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions still remain under his regulations on the manufacture of china with coloured decoration for sale in the home market.

Under the Domestic and Ornamental Pottery (Manufacture, Marking and Supply) Order, 1950 (S.I. 1130), a manufacturer is not allowed to manufacture domestic pottery without a licence granted by the Board of Trade. With certain exceptions, decorated china cannot be supplied to the home market. The principal exceptions are china tea pots, teapot stands, sugar bowls and coffee pots with no decoration other than colouring in the glaze, which can be supplied freely on the home market, and export rejects supplied under licence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will cause the Monopolies Commission to investigate the practices of the British Oxygen Company which are adverse to the interests of the iron and steel industry and other large-scale users of industrial oxygen.

My right hon. Friend will bear in mind the supply of industrial gases when further references to the Monopolies Commission are selected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the annual cost to his Department and the number of people employed by his Department since January, 1947, in administering the utility scheme.

This information is not readily available, and my right hon. Friend doubts whether in present circumstances the expenditure of staff time necessary to extract it would be justifiable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that firms in the United Kingdom making nylon stockings are now unable to sell abroad in competition with local manufacturers; and if he will allow these frustrated exports to be released on the home market, so that the stocks held by manufacturers may be reduced to a reasonable size.

No. I know that it has become more difficult in recent months to export nylon stockings and most other textile products, but I understand that the best known brands are still selling well overseas.With regard to the second part of the Question, there is no prohibition of the sale of nylon stockings at home, but each manufacturer's allocation of nylon yarn depends upon his exports of stockings. Owing to the difficulties in export markets I understand that some manufacturers are temporarily increasing their deliveries at home, but when overseas demand revives exports must again have first claim on supplies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what number of persons, men and women, separately, were employed in North-Eastern Trading Company factories in Sunderland on 1st November, 1951, and on 1st February, 1952.

The comparable dates for which official statistics are available are 30th September, 1951, and 5th January, 1952. On the 30th September, 1951, 1,470 males and 4,074 females, making a total of 5,544, were employed in factories in the Sunderland area administered by the North-Eastern Trading Estates; corresponding figures for the 5th January, 1952, were 1,257 males and 3,592 females, making a total of 4,849.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking in view of the recent fall in the number of persons employed in the factories administered by the North-Eastern Trading Estates, Ltd.

The recent fall in the number of persons employed in these factories is due mainly to the current decline in general demand for textiles and clothing. My right hon. Friend is watching the position closely in consultation with my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Labour.As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, employment in these factories on 5th January, 1952, was over 3,000 more than a year ago.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the quantities and values of children's shoes imported into the United Kingdom from Eire during the month of January, 1952.

Imports from the Irish Republic of children's leather boots, bootees and shoes (other than overshoes, slippers, houseshoes and sandals) in January, 1952, were 2,018 dozen pairs, valued at £26,213.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the risk of damage to the harvest caused by calling up at seed-time agricultural workers engaged in arable farming; and whether he will postpone such call-ups.

No. The representations I have received have not been directed to this particular point.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider rearranging the procedure for examining claims for the deferment of agricultural workers so that claims for deferment may go to the National Service advisory panels before, instead of after, screening by officials.

The only cases screened out by officials are those which are clearly outside the scope of the deferment arrangements. All applications within scope are referred to the National Service advisory panels, with a factual report from the county agricultural officer.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to many farmers whose agricultural workers are called up for full-time National Service; and if he will introduce legislation under which such men can be called up for part-time service with the Territorial Army and thus be able to continue with their employment on the land.

No. An arrangement of this kind would be of no help in meeting the manpower needs of the Armed Forces for their current commitments. The demands of National Service must necessarily cause some inconvenience to employers in many important industries.

asked the Minister of Labour how many agricultural workers from Ayrshire he has called up for military service up to the end of January, 1952.

Up to the end of January 1952, 43.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Mr. John Bennett, out on licence from the Calder-stone Institution, sought employment at Renshaw Street Employment Exchange, Liverpool; that he was informed that he was eligible for National Service, and after medical examination was graded A1; and if he will make a statement.

It was not known that this man was out on licence from the Calderstone Institution. As soon as that was brought to notice his registration for National Service was cancelled.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement upon the position of skilled labour in the iron foundries, in view of the threatened shortage of scrap and pig-iron.

There is a large unsatisfied demand for skilled workers in the iron foundries and the number registered as unemployed is negligible.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the numbers of unemployed persons signing at the following Employment Exchanges in Lanarkshire at the latest available date: Airdrie, Coatbridge, Bellshill, Uddington, Hamilton, Motherwell, Wishaw and Shotts; and how these figures compare with the October figures.

The table below gives the information desired:

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE UNDERMENTIONED EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES* AT 11TH FEBRUARY, 1952, AND 15TH OCTOBER, 1951
Employment Exchange		11th February, 1952	15th October, 1951
Airdrie	…	1,159	794
Coatbridge	…	1,454	1,076
Bellshill	…	728	429
Uddingston	…	445	290
Hamilton	…	1,181	894
Motherwell	…	1,306	649
Wishaw	…	831	577
Shotts	…	284	222
* Including youth employment offices where appropriate.

asked the Minister of Labour how many textile workers in the Scottish Border counties were unemployed at the latest convenient date.

Three hundred and ninety-four at 11th February, including 274 in Selkirkshire and 31 in Peebleshire.

asked the Minister of Labour to what factors he attributes the increased unemployment in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, East (Mr. Bence) on 28th February.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed registering at Kilmarnock and Newmilns, respectively, at the nearest available date; and on the corresponding date in 1951.

The figures for Kilmarnock were 516 at 11th February, 1952, and 353 at 12th February, 1951. The corresponding figures for Newmilns were 84 and 62 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the furniture trades in the Beith district.

Persons resident in the Beith district register at the Kilbirnie Employment Exchange when unemployed. The number of persons in the furniture and upholstery industry registered as unemployed at that exchange at 11th February, 1952, was 44.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons registered as disabled persons in Sunderland are at present unemployed.

Six hundred and thirty-three at 18 February, including 117 severely disabled persons who were classified as unlikely to obtain employment other than under special conditions.

asked the Minister of Labour how many cotton mills in Rawtenstall, Haslingden, Bacup and Ramsbottom, respectively, were closed wholly or partially in the latest week for which figures are available; and how many cotton workers registered as wholly or partially unemployed in the same period.

The table gives the information desired:

	Number of mills wholly or partially closed during week commencing 11th February, 1952	Number of cotton workers registered as unemployed on 11th February, 1952
		Wholly Unemployed	Temporarily Stopped
Rawtenstall	3	22	35
Haslingden	3	3	56
Bacup	2	14	15
Ramsbottom	6	1	31

asked the Minister of Labour how many cotton mills were closed in Stalybridge, Hyde and Dukinfield, respectively, during the week ending 1st March; and how many cotton workers were registered as unemployed during the same week.

I understand that during the week ending 1st March, no cotton mills were closed in Stalybridge and Hyde; two were closed in Dukinfield. The numbers of persons last

NUMBERS OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT DURHAM, SPENNYMOOR AND HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES
Date	Durham Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office			Spennymoor Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office			Houghton-le-Spring Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office
	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
16th July, 1951	285	49	334	164	22	186	312	139	451
13th August, 1951	232	72	304	159	48	207	361	169	530
17th September, 1951	278	94	372	180	48	228	361	176	537
15th October, 1951	315	175	490	167	58	225	369	192	561
12th November, 1951	274	181	455	199	55	254	392	196	588
10th December, 1951	294	423	717	212	63	275	406	215	621
14th January, 1952	373	513	886	222	102	324	435	307	742
11th February, 1952	389	588	977	235	64	299	432	352	784

asked the Minister of Labour to give a statement showing the number of unemployed and the number of workers on short time in each of the employment exchange areas in Lancashire and Cheshire at the latest available date, broken down into separate industries.

The extraction of all the information asked for by the hon. Member would involve an inordinate expenditure of staff time. I am, however, having a table prepared showing the number of unemployed in each industry in the North-Western Region as a whole I will send it to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed, male and female, in the employment exchange areas of Durham City, Spennymoor, and Houghton-le-Spring for each month commencing with July, 1951, to date.

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour what action he is taking to prevent unemployment arising out of the severe reduction of steel supplies allocated to Tyneside shipyards.

To meet a situation of this kind the employment exchange endeavours to secure as early notice as possible of any impending redundancies, with a view to placing workers in other suitable employment as early as possible, thus avoiding or minimising any resulting unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and the number of women registered as unemployed, and the percentage of such unemployment, at the last week in January, 1951, and 1952, at the Borough Employment Exchange.

The numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of the Borough Employment Exchange at 12th February, 1951, and 11th February, 1952, were as follows:

	Males	Females
12th February, 1951	696	123
11th February, 1952	973	372

The total numbers of employees in the area of the Borough Employment Exchange are not known, and it is accordingly not possible to compute the percentage rate of unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to state the Government plans for Scottish housing.

I would refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to my replies of 27th November to the hon. Members for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) and for Woodside (Mr. W. G. Bennett).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that a tenant who has obtained from the sanitary authority a certificate that the house he occupies is not in a reasonable state of repair is sufficiently protected against any claim for the payment of rent increase permitted under the Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1920, during the currency of the certificate; if he is aware that certain property agents in Glasgow are seeking to violate the provisions of the Act in this respect and that no penalty is provided therefor in the Act; and if he will introduce legislation so to provide a deterrent penalty.

If a tenant obtains a certificate from the local authority that the house is not in a reasonable state of repair and serves a copy of it on the landlord he can withhold the 40 per cent. increase in rent permitted under the 1920 Act. I am not aware that any difficulty has arisen in Glasgow in operating this procedure but if the hon. Member has any information which he cares to send me I shall be glad to consider it.The position in regard to sanitary certificates will be examined when a general review of the Rent Acts is undertaken, but I can hold out no hope of early legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to amend the law relating to the time limit for bringing actions at law against public authorities in Scotland by extending that time to 12 months.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave to the question on this subject asked by the right hon. and learned Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Wheatley), on 26th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is meant by the expression "janitorial services" contained in paragraph (b) of the Scottish Education, Department Circular 231, dated 21st February, 1952.

The hon. Member will not require from me any information regarding the classical derivation of the word "janitorial." The words "janitorial services", could be expressed—but at greater length—as services undertaken by those who are appointed to carry out functions or duties for which school janitors are responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of Scottish industrial development.

The Government intend to further industrial development in Scotland by all possible and practicable means. My noble Friend the Minister of State for Scottish Affairs is concerning himself especially with Scottish industrial questions and he and I are in close touch with the Ministers Departmentally responsible on questions of importance to Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that there were 1,054 painters unemployed in Scotland as at 14th January; and whether he will now cancel that part of his Circular 231 to education authorities asking them to reduce their expenditure on painting work.

I am aware of the position. In view of the need for economy in public expenditure I cannot withdraw the suggestion in the circular, but I have already taken action, after consultation with the Minister of Works and the Minister of Labour, with a view to minimising this seasonal unemployment as far as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the hopeful results of the use of isonicotinic acid hydrazide in the treatment of tuberculosis; and whether he can give an assurance that steps are being taken to test and follow up the possibilities claimed.

The right hon. Member has no doubt in mind Press reports of results obtained in America. Under Medical Research Council auspices, laboratory tests of this and related drugs have already begun in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now able to announce his plans for the better development of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and improved communications.

The Government are pressing forward with the published programme of Highland development as quickly as the resources of the country allow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now increase the Government grant for aid to Orkney owing to the recent gale; and whether, in addition, he will consider the provision of interest-free loans.

On present information I have no reason to believe that further financial assistance from the Exchequer is necessary. The main need is materials to repair damage and the Departments will continue to facilitate their delivery through the normal channels.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students who have taken degrees at Scottish universities are receiving grants from local education authorities in Scotland to attend full-time courses of study at Oxford and Cambridge; and what is the total amount of the grants concerned.

Two at Oxford and none at Cambridge. The amount of the grants is £263.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students are receiving grants from local education authorities to attend full-time courses of undergraduate and post-graduate study, respectively, in Dominion and foreign universities, other than Eire, respectively.

Two are attending undergraduate courses and three are attending post-graduate courses at foreign universities. There are none at Dominion universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the interested bodies in Scotland, which were invited to submit their views to him on the recommendations in the Report on Libraries, Museums and Art Galleries, published as a Command Paper in May, 1951, have yet so submitted their views on the important questions involved; whether he is yet in a position to state his conclusions on those recommendations and views; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

All the bodies who were invited to submit their views have done so except the Town Councils of Aberdeen and Dundee. I am not yet in a position to make a statement of policy.

asked the Secretary of State for War is he is aware that men who are being called up for their period of National Service training and are skilled craftsmen such as carpenters and joiners are being told that they cannot be classified as such whilst on National Service unless they sign on for a period of not less than three years; and if he will, in view of the demand for such craftsmen on the erection of houses, reconsider this policy and retain them not longer than the National Service period and at their trade as far as is practicable.

Whenever practicable National Service men are employed in their trades or equivalent Army trades. This is, however, often not possible for skilled craftsmen, such as carpenters and joiners, since the Army's needs are met almost entirely by Regular soldiers. For this reason National Service men in these trades can only be sure of being posted to a Corps which caters for their particular trades if they undertake a Regular engagement.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that dictatorial methods are being used in some units of Her Majesty's Forces to induce National Service men to sign on for an extra year's service, thus making them Regular soldiers with liability to be drafted to Germany but, failing to comply with this threat, they will be drafted to serve in the Far East; and if he will issue instructions to commanding officers to end this.

No dictatorial methods of this kind are in use and no instructions have been issued that they should be used. The hon. Member may, however, have in mind the recent case in which the posting instructions for certain National Service men were altered and their unit, in informing the men of their new postings to a unit which would be going to the Far East, pointed out that they might continue to serve with their own regiment if they were to undertake a Regular engagement. I have looked into that case and I think that the unit acted in good faith in trying to let the men have all the facts on which to make their choice.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many drill halls in Wales have been authorised to allow the sale of intoxicating drinks on Sundays.

Ninety-six.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what authority the consumption of intoxocating drinks is allowed at drill halls in Wales on Sundays, in view of the fact that licensed premises are prohibited from retailing such sales by Act of Parliament.

Under my authority, by virtue of Section 5 (f) of the Licensing Act, 1921.

asked the Minister of Education when it is proposed to open Apsley House to the public.

I am not yet able to give a date for the opening of Apsley House to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons were present to hear the address given by the General President of the Northern Rhodesian African Congress to the Working Committee at Kitwe on Christmas Day, 1951.

Three persons attended. The meeting was abandoned and the General President did not deliver the speech, although it was sent to newspapers with the information that he had done so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what consideration has so far been given to the method of distribution of the assets to be made available for ex-prisoners of war of the Japanese under Article 16 of the Peace Treaty; and how much he estimates each individual will get.

Under Article 16 of the Japanese Peace Treaty, Japan will transfer its assets in neutral and ex-enemy countries to the International Committee of the Red Cross which will liquidate such assets and distribute the resulting fund to appropriate national agencies for the benefit of former prisoners-of-war and their families on whatever basis it may determine to be equitable.The method of distribution of these assets will, therefore, be a matter for determination by the International Committee of the Red Cross after the Peace Treaty has come into force.Until this method has been decided it will not be possible to estimate how much each individual will obtain of these assets.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total number of personnel and vehicles at Her Majesty's Embassy in Paris at any convenient date in 1938, in 1951 and today, respectively.

The staff of Her Majesty's Embassy in Paris was 56 in 1938, 174 on 1st April, 1951, and is 155 now. In 1938 the Ambassador's car was the only official vehicle provided. On 1st April, 1951, there were 27 official vehicles and there are now 25 serving not only Her Majesty's Embassy but also the United Kingdom Delegation to O.E.E.C.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the approximate cost of transport for members of Her Majesty's Embassy in Paris in 1938 and in 1951, respectively.

In 1938 the only official vehicle at Her Majesty's Embassy in Paris was that supplied for the use of the Ambassador. Its operating costs were met by the Ambassador from his representation allowance.In the twelve months which ended on the 30th September, 1951, the total operating cost of the joint transport pool serving Her Majesty's Embassy and the United Kingdom Delegation to O.E.E.C. (including the cost of operating the cars supplied for the use of Her Majesty's Ambassador and the Head of the Delegation) was approximately £10,700.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, before next winter, he will take steps to consult with the Meteorological Office about the possibility of improving the criterion for assessing the sub-division of the country into zones for the allocation of domestic fuel, with a view to improving the present arbitrary division which leads to undue hardship in certain areas.

No. Information as to climatic conditions over a long period of years was taken into account when the zones were fixed.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 700 dentists, referred to in a Treasury Minute on a Report of the Committee of Public Accounts as having been the subject of disciplinary action, were employed by bodies corporate; and how many were individual dentists practising on their own account or in partnership.

So far as can be readily ascertained, 27 of the 700 disciplinary cases related to dentists employed by private bodies corporate and the remainder, with one exception, related to dentists practising on their own account or in partnership.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Barnsley Hall Hospital, Worcestershire, consumed 3,000 tons of coal, approximately, per annum; that proposals to re-equip power and heating arrangements at the hospital thereby saving 540 tons of coal per annum were first made in 1947; that consistent refusal of his Department to sanction a loan to meet the estimated cost of £6,000, approximately, has resulted in progress being negatived; and whether, in view of the urgent need for coal conservation, he will now sanction the requisite loan.

This proposal could not proceed because the metal needed was not available. No question of sanctioning a loan arose; nor does it arise now, as the hospital is now vested in the Minister of Health. The Regional Hospital Board were informed about the proposal when the hospital was transferred; and the possibility of proceeding with the scheme will be considered when the controlled materials can be made available.

asked the Minister of Health what discussions he has had with the Society of Chiropodists about the recommendations of the appropriate Cope Committee on Medical Auxiliaries; and how far he is proposing to introduce legislation in the near future to give effect to the Committee's recommendations on the establishment of official registration machinery.

No discussions have yet taken place, as I have not yet received the written observations of all the bodies concerned on the memorandum I have sent to them. Until discussions have been held it would be premature to consider the question of legislation.

asked the Minister of Health why his Department's report for the year ended March, 1950, was not published till the end of 1951.

This was due to a number of exceptional factors. The Report dealt with the first full year of the National Health Service and my predecessors decided to make changes in the form of the Report to take account of this. This involved a considerable amount of recasting. A further cause of delay was the transfer of functions to the newly established Ministry of Local Government and Planning early in 1951.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the payment of compensation in cases such as that of Mrs. Howe, of Liverpool, seeing that the vaccination which caused the death of her baby was performed at the urgent desire of his Department that infants should be vaccinated.

I cannot accept the hon. Member's grounds for suggesting that I should make a payment: nor have I the power to do so.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will publish in the telephone directories the regulations governing the telephone service, in so far as they may affect subscribers.

Copies of the telephone regulations will be available for reference in every telephone manager's office and head post office. The expenditure in paper and printing involved in reproducing the regulations in all telephone directories could not be justified.