asked the Minister of Agriculture the total estimated cost of the £5 per acre grant to farmers for the ploughing up of lands which have been under grass for four years or more.

No precise estimate is possible; but as I have already said, I hope that 500,000 acres of land will be ploughed up and sown to crops this spring, in which case the cost would be £2½ million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the campaign for greater food production is being hampered by landlords refusing permission to tenant farmers who wish to plough up grassland; and what action he proposes to take to remedy this matter.

No. I have no reason to suppose that the co-operation of landlords generally in the drive for increasing food production by ploughing up grassland will not be readily given.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what assistance is now available to organisations wishing to establish co-operative grass drying facilities; and whether he has considered further encouraging this provision.

None. I do not consider that I should be justified in bringing fresh legislation before the House at this juncture to reinstate the special assistance given to co-operative grass drying during the development stage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take steps to prohibit foxhounds being brought from a foot-and-mouth disease area into a non-infected one.

I am advised that the bringing of foxhounds from an area infected with foot-and-mouth disease into free country does not involve any material risk of the spread of infection, and I should not therefore feel justified in prohibiting such movements. Hunting is prohibited inside an infected area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider making compulsory the vaccination of all bulls at artificial insemination centres with polysalent serum against foot and mouth disease.

No. I am advised that vaccinated bulls might become infected and, while showing little or no sign of illness themselves, be capable of passing on infection. A vaccinated bull might, therefore, be the cause of widespread dissemination of the disease before it became suspected as a source of infection.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to a recent case where 140 donkeys were imported from Ireland to this country for re-export to the Continent for slaughter and which were found by his port veterinary inspector to be unfit to travel; and whether he will issue a new order to prevent the cruelty at present involved in this traffic.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is yet in a position to make an order under the Diseases of Animals Act to regulate the import of horses and donkeys from the Republic of Ireland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to issue an order regulating the import of horses and equine animals into this country from Ireland.

Only 18 of the 140 donkeys recently exported from Eire were presented to my veterinary inspector for examination and all were rejected as ineligible for shipment to the Continent, though not on the ground that they were unfit to travel. The donkeys had previously been examined by veterinary officers of the Goverment of Eire before shipment from Eire, and I am informed that every one was found to be fit to travel.I hope to make in the near future an Order ensuring suitable conditions of travel for horses and donkeys brought into this country by sea. My powers in this respect are limited to the protection of animals from unnecessary suffering on the journey and I have no general power to regulate the importation of horses from Eire.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount borrowed from the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation in 1951.

The last published figures relate to the year ended 31st March, 1951. Mortgage loans completed during that year totalled £4,120,788. New lending has increased substantially in recent months and is currently running at the rate of about £6 million per annum.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are being taken to notify the individual owners of sites at Peacehaven and adjoining estates where and when to register claims for compensation arising from the compulsory purchase of these estates.

A certificate authorising the compulsory purchase of the land has not yet been made, so the question of compensation has not arisen.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent, under his regulations, expenses incurred by private companies in connection with free services rendered by those companies to members of Her Majesty's Government are eligible for inclusion in those companies expenses for the purposes of tax assessment.

If such a question arose in a particular case it would have to be determined, on a review of all the facts, in accordance with the Income Tax law. It would not, however, be permissible to discuss the tax treatment of a particular case by way of Question and answer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the administrator of Roumanian property will make a payment to claimants; and what is the cause of the delay.

The necessary directions to the administrator are now being prepared and will be issued as soon as possible. I regret the delay, which has been due to the difficulty of devising a fair and practicable scheme of distribution.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce the purchase tax on hand-woven tweed.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

REMITTANCES TO U.S.A. AND CANADA BY UNITED KINGDOM EMIGRANTS
£ million
—			1946	1947	1948	1949	1950	1951
U.S.A.	…	…	0·8 (a)	3·1	4·6	3·4	2·3	2·4
Canada	…	…	1·0(a)	5·5	8·3	4·8	3·4	4·3
Total	…	…	1·8 (a)	8·6	12·9	8·2	5·7	6·7

TRAVEL BY UNITED KINGDOM RESIDENTS
£ million
—	1946	1947	1948	1949	1950	1951
U.S.A.:
Business (b)	2·7	2·8	2·2	2·1	2·4	2·5
Personal	1·6	2·6	0·4	0·3	0·2	0·6
Trave Agents' Remittances (c)	0·6	1·2	1·0	0·4	0·4	0·3
Total	4·9	6·6	3·6	2·8	3·0	3·4
Canada:
Business (b)	0·8	0·9	0·7	0·7	0·9	0·9
Personal	0·8	1·4	0·6	0·4	0·2	0·8
Travel Agents' Remittances (c)	0·3	0·9	0·9	0·2	—	0·1
Total	1·9	3·2	2·7	1·3	1·1	1·8

FILM REMITTANCES TO U.S.A.
—		1946	1947	1948	1949	1950	1951
		£	£	£	£	£	£
Royalties, etc. (d)	…	16,963,419	13,420,362	9,920,236	5,897,670	6,993,668	8,726,541
NOTES:
(a) From May only. Figures of amounts spent on emigration before May, 1946, are not available.
(b) Allotments for official travel have not been included in these figures.
(c) Remittances by travel agents cannot be divided between business and personal travel and have therefore been shown as one item.
(d) This covers all remittances by film companies other than profits and includes besides royalties and imports of films and cost of bills, posters and other materials (but not unexposed films for re-sale). Payments to unremittable accounts under the Anglo-American Film Agreement are excluded from the figures.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount of money taken by emigrants from the United Kingdom to Canada and to the United States, respectively, in each of the years 1946 to 1951 inclusive; the total amount allowed for expenditure on business and other travel in Canada and the United States, respectively, in each year during the same period; and the total amount spent annually during the same period on the importation of films from the United States.

The following table gives the information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will prohibit the export of iron and steel scrap.

Iron and steel scrap may not be exported without a licence from the Board of Trade, and our policy is to refuse such licences in present circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quota of cut flowers allowed to be brought into this country; and if he will give details of the amount of flowers imported.

The value of quotas for cut flowers, which have been agreed in bilateral negotiations with various countries, for import during the year ending 30th April, 1952, is estimated at £550,000 of which £480,000 must be imported between 1st December, 1951. and 30th April, 1952.Total imports by value of cut flowers from all sources during the calendar year 1951 were £2,151,439 Of this total, imports from the Channel Islands, which are not subject to import licensing restrictions, amounted to £1,408,421.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that American produced ladies' frocks in silk, cotton and rayon are still being imported from the United States of America; what is the value of these imports during the past six months; and to what extent payment has been made in dollars.

Yes. In the six months ended 31st January, 1952, cotton, silk and rayon dresses were imported from the United States at a landed cost of about £23,000. Most of this sum will have been paid in dollars. Practically all the imports concerned have been allowed under the token import scheme, but they also include a small proportion of dresses for copying purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet come to any decision in regard to the future of the Utility scheme.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 28th February on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the obscurity as to the meaning of the Miscellaneous Goods (Maximum Prices) (Amendment No. 10) Order, 1952, No. 311, Goods and Services (Price Control) Miscellaneous Goods (Maximum Prices); what effect this Order will have on prices; and if he will take steps to ensure that Orders issued by him have a clear statement in the Explanatory Note as to what is meant in the Order.

No. The Explanatory Note makes it clear that the effect of this Order is that the Order which it amends now applies to typewriters and domestic woodware only. Supplies of other goods formerly covered by the Order are, generally speaking, plentiful, and there has been no general rise in their prices since decontrol.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of requests received by his Department from factory tenants under the administration of the North Eastern Trading Estates Limited for permission to extend their present factory space to facilitate increased employment and production or to relieve overcrowded conditions; and how many such applications have been agreed.

In the three-year period 1949–51 inclusive, 105 such applications were received, of which eight were subsequently withdrawn. Of the remainder, 40 were approved and 18 are still under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what Government Departments have laid contracts with firms in the North East, under the rearmament plan; and if he will consider the desirability of such contracts being extended in view of the increase of unemployment in the area.

The Admiralty, War Office, Air Ministry, Ministry of Supply and Ministry of Works have all laid contracts with firms in the North-East Development Area since the present re-armament programme began. As I informed the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Peart) on 6th December, I am anxious that the Development Areas should make their maximum contribution to the needs of production for defence and exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the proportion and the volume of total exports covered by export credit guarantees for the financial years 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1949–50 and 1950–51; and what is the proportion estimated for the current financial year.

Shipments declared under Export Credit Guarantee Department policies for the financial year 1950–51 represented 12.6 per cent. of the total value of United Kingdom exports and re-exports during the period and that the comparable figure for the current financial year is estimated to be of the order of 15 per cent.The proportion of the total value of United Kingdom exports and re-exports and the value of exports covered by export credit guarantees in recent years are as follows:

Year		Proportion of total exports	Value of Shipments declared under E.C.G.D. policies
(1)		(2)	(3)
		Per cent.	£ million
1946–47	…	8·0	82·9
1947–48	…	8·3	108·3
1948–49	…	9·6	168·6
1949–50	…	11·5	217·9
1950–51	…	12·6	295·4

Shipments declared in the period April-December, 1951, totalled £307·4 million representing 14·7 per cent. of the total value of United Kingdom exports and re-exports during the period. It is estimated that for the current financial year the proportion will be of the order of 15 per cent.(

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the economic position, he will restrict the importation of foreign asparagus into this country between 16th April and 30th June to 20 tons.

The figure of 100 tons for imports during this period, which I gave in reply to a question by my hon. Friend on 28th February, will be subject to review in the light of supplies available from home production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will increase the rate of duty on the importation of asparagus from foreign countries between 1st March to 15th April to 1s. a lb. or 25 per cent., whichever is the less.

I am already considering an application by the National Farmers' Union for an increased protective duty on imported asparagus. A public announcement was made concerning this application on 30th October, 1951, inviting representations from interested parties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the representations made to him by the British Medical Association, stating that some doctors cannot find the money to pay down the deposit of one-third for the purchase of a motor car and the remainder in 18 months; and what proposals he intends to enable young doctors to meet this difficulty.

I am still considering the representations made to me on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider setting up a committee of inquiry, as suggested in the Report of the Joint Committee on Psychiatry and the Law appointed by the British Medical Association and the Magistrates' Association, a copy of which has been sent to him, in respect to bringing the law relating to the maintenance, custody and welfare of illegitimate children more into line with current thought and practice.

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 what steps he proposes to take to implement the recommendations of the Gower Report in regard to conditions in offices.

I regret that I have nothing to add to my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Park (Mr. Mulley) on 6th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to secure adequate safeguarding of gas and electric fires in view of the growing number of accidents caused thereby.

A Bill for this purpose has been introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mr. Bullard), and has been put down for Second Reading on 14th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in relation to the proposed Bill to extend the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1909, to exhibitions of noninflammable films, he will take into account the special position of village cinemas, both static and mobile, and will make such exemptions as are reasonable having due regard to the safety of the public.

It is the intention that the general standards of safety required at cinema exhibitions where only non-inflammable film is used should be laid down in regulations made under the Bill; there will be full consultation with all the interests concerned before the regulations are made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to make it an offence to deny British subjects the right of admission to public places of entertainment solely on account of their colour.

While I fully share the hon. Member's view as to the undesirability of discrimination against coloured persons, whether or not they are British subjects, I think that this matter is not best dealt with by legislation and should be regulated preferably by the influence of enlightened public opinion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the amount of food and tobacco and tobacco goods stolen by raiders or van thieves in any large quantities during each of the

—				Thefts of cigarettes and tobacco			Thefts of food
				Number of cases	Value of goods stolen	Value of goods recovered	Number of cases	Value of goods stolen	Value of goods recovered
					£	£		£	£
1949	…	…	…	13	34,100	6,700	7	13,300	6,500
1950	…	…	…	11	40,200	16,700	8	15,500	5,200
1951	…	…	…	12	45,000	18,000	19	39,800	16,700
TOTAL	…	…	…	36	119,300	41,400	34	68,600	28,400

Analysis of the total figures for the 3 years according to the method of the crime
Thefts effected by—	Thefts of cigarettes and tobacco			Thefts of food
	Number of cases	Value of goods stolen	Value of goods recovered	Number of cases	Value of goods stolen	Value of goods recovered
		£	£		£	£
Breaking in	13	25,900	3,400	12	27,600	13,100
Robbery	2	19,000	2,000	1	5,000	2,700
Larceny from unattended vehicle in street	16	55,000	31,800	17	30,200	11,500
Other larceny	5	19,400	4,200	4	5,800	1,100
TOTAL	36	119,300	41,400	34	68,600	28,400

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the case of a Birmingham man whose car was stolen from the premises of the Tardebridge County Club, Redditch, by Borstal boys from an institution opposite the club, during the night of 22nd-23rd February; that the car was hidden in the grounds of the institution for six days and the number-plates repainted, the ignition rewired, and aerial disconnected, after which the boys drove the

The following are the figures for thefts of tobacco and foodstuffs valued at £1,000 or more in the Metropolitan Police District during the years 1949–51.car to Bristol, where it was recovered by the police; and if he will give an explanation of the lack of control and observation on the part of authorities of this institution.

On 16th February three inmates of Hewell Grange Borstal institution brought into the grounds of the institution a car which they had taken from a nearby country club and hid it behind bales of hay in an isolated barn, where it remained undiscovered until they drove in it to Bristol on 22nd February. I much regret the trouble caused by this escapade, but my inquiries do not show that the authorities at the Borstal were negligent. The boys have considerable freedom of movement in their own time within the bounds of this "open" Borstal, and once the car had been hidden there was nothing to excite suspicion on the part of the authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when equipment for the training of Civil Defence headquarters personnel will be issued, in view of the fact that volunteers have been enrolled for this branch since 1949 and little training in their potential role can at present be given them.

Most of the indoor training of the headquarters section can be carried out with non-specialised equipment, such as maps, tally-boards, etc., which local authorities can provide for themselves. I hope that, in the course of the next few weeks, it will be possible to make a start on providing from central supplies such specialised equipment as is necessary for outdoor training, e.g. in technical reconnaissance.

asked the Minister of Health if he will put into operation an assisted scheme for chiropody for pensioners.

I regret that in present financial circumstances it is not possible to contemplate the extension of these facilities.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage of hospital accommodation for aged and chronic sick in the Durham County Council area; and how he proposes to improve this situation.

Yes, but I hope that it will be possible to make an additional 34 beds available during this year.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give an estimate of the cost of the alternative arrangements he proposes to make for showing training films in hospitals that do not have their own projectors.

The cost will depend on the extent to which hospitals wish to make use of alternative arrangements, and no estimate is therefore possible.

asked the Minister of Health what alternative means will be provided for the production of films now made by the Crown Film Unit for the training of hospital staffs.

Any films it is decided to make for this purpose will no doubt normally be commissioned from documentary film companies.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that it is proposed by the authorities concerned to close down the White House Hospital, Eaton Socon, Bedfordshire, which is the property of the Huntingdonshire County Council, and is managed by the East Anglian Hospital Board; and what use for hospital or other public purposes will be made of this building in future.

Yes. I understand that the future of this former public assistance institution, which has been used jointly by the county council, who own it, and the regional hospital board, has not yet been decided by the local authority.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that there are a number of doctors and dentists of wide experience domiciled in this country, some of them British subjects; and what steps he is taking to utilise the services of these professional men and women.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind doctors and dentists trained in other countries. The Dentists Bill is intended to facilitate the registration of foreign-trained dentists. I am not advised that any change is necessary in the present legislation applicable to doctors

asked the Minister of Health what changes will take place in the allocation and distribution of deaf-aids to patients; and if he will give an assurance that the same priorities which are given at the present time will be continued under the amended Health Service Regulations.

I do not contemplate any change in the system of distributing aids nor in the granting of priorities.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities exist in Wales and Monmouthshire for effecting repairs to hearing aids supplied under the National Insurance Acts; how far qualified technicians are employed; by whom are they appointed; and if he will give the annual cost of this service.

Provision for minor repairs is made at the Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Wrexham, Bangor and Aberystwyth hearing aid centres. Eight qualified technicians, appointed by the various hospital authorities administering the centres, are occupied for part of their time at an annual cost of about £1,000. This figure does not include the cost of spare parts, which is not easily ascertainable.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the fact that 1,284 applications for hearing aids are pending in Newport, he will accelerate delivery to Newport, as this figure is a much larger proportion than in other towns in the country.

I am glad to say that the delay in obtaining hearing aids in Newport, which is not due to any local shortage of aids, is continually being reduced.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the stopping of the building of the aged persons' homes in Aigburth and Croxteth, Liverpool, is causing disquiet in Liverpool; and, in view of the need for these aged persons' homes, if he will reconsider the matter.

I regret that some postponement of the building of these homes must be accepted until supplies of steel become more adequate to meet the many demands made upon them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will cause an inquiry to be held into the death of Sidney George White at the Old Manor Mental Hospital, Salisbury; and, in particular, how he came by the serious injuries from which he died.

asked the Minister of Health if, in order to allay public anxiety and in fairness to the hospital, he will order an inquiry into the death of Sidney George White at the Old Manor Mental Hospital, Salisbury.

The Board of Control have called for the depositions before the Coroner with a view to deciding whether they will hold a statutory inquiry on oath under the provisions of Section 332 of the Lunacy Act.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the public concern at the announcement by the Kent County Council that, following the closing of 12 nursery schools in 1950 and 1951, and 12 remaining schools are to be closed on 31st March; and if he will refuse his sanction to the council's proposals to close these nursery schools.

I am informed that there are only two nursery schools in Kent, and assume that the question refers to day nurseries. I have received the Kent County Council's proposal for the closure of their day nursery service and am considering it.

asked the Minister of Health how many certified mental deficiency cases in Liverpool are awaiting admission to institutions; and, in view of the length of time some have been waiting, what special steps are being taken by the Liverpool regional hospitals board to deal with the matter.

The number of mental defectives in Liverpool awaiting admission to institutions is 101. The Liverpool Regional Hospital Board has plans at a very advanced stage for building a new institution, and plans for an extension to another institution are being examined though the rate at which building work can proceed must depend on the place that can be found for it in the general building programme.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to provide employment for the large number of painters at present unemployed in Scotland.

Local authorities, Government Departments, public utility undertakings and other bodies have already been urged to put in hand as much painting and decorating work as possible during the winter months, and this kind of work is licensed freely. Efforts are also being made by employment exchanges to find suitable temporary employment for these men.

asked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies exist for factory inspectors; and what steps are being taken to bring the present strength up to full establishment.

There are at present 30 vacancies. This figure will be reduced to 22 if the remaining eight successful candidates from the autumn, 1951, competition accept appointment. Two open competitions will again be held this year.

asked the Minister of Labour for how many years the shortage of factory inspectors has existed; whether he will quote comparative figures for the last five years; and to what reasons he attributes the continuing shortage.

Recruitment was suspended during the war years and there was therefore an accumulation of vacancies when open competitions were resumed in 1947. The number of vacancies at 1st March in each of the last five years was as follows:

1948, 32; 1949, 50; 1950, 56; 1951, 49; 1952, 30

The main reason for the continuing shortage is the heavy demand in both industry and Government service for persons with qualifications similar to those required in recruits for the factory inspectorate.

asked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies exist for women workers at the Radway Green, Cheshire, and Swynnerton, Staffordshire, Royal Ordnance factories; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with them.

At Radway Green there are at present 41 vacancies for women workers with a possibility of a further small number of vacancies in the next few months. At Swynnerton it is estimated that over the next four months about 850 additional women workers will be required.In reply to the last part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 31st January.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women are registered as disabled in Sunderland; and what steps are being taken to provide employment through an extension of Remploy factories in the area.

There are 3,548 men and 388 women registered as disabled in Sunderland (including Pallion and Southwick-on-Wear). On 18th February 633 of these were unemployed, including 117 severely disabled persons who were classified as unlikely to obtain employment except under sheltered conditions. Remploy Limited, whose factories cater only for the severely disabled, are not in a position, at present, to start any new building projects.

asked the Minister of Labour the figure of the increase in the number of unemployed persons in Derby on 11th February, 1952, or the latest available date, as compared with 10th December, 1951.

The number registered as unemployed at Derby at 11th February, 1952, was 485 compared with 292 at 10th December, 1951.

asked the Minister of Labour how much the Youth Employment Service is expected to cost during 1952; how many people are employed in administering it; and how many young people are expected to be placed in employment as a result of it.

I am having the information extracted and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to make a further statement about the establishment of a revised cost-of-living index.

Yes. I have decided to accept the recommendations of the Advisory Committee following their examination of the working of the present Interim Index of Retail Prices. The temporary modifications which they suggest until the next index based on the results of a family budget inquiry can be instituted will be brought into effect forthwith. I am arranging for the immediate publication of the Advisory Committee's Report, copies of which will be available in the Vote Office tomorrow afternoon.

asked the Minister of Labour how many agricultural workers have been called up for National Service during the last convenient period of 12 months; how many applications for deferment have been granted; and how many refused.

Prior to 1st November, 1951, no regular full-time worker in one of the main agricultural occupations was called up so long as he remained satisfactorily so employed. Between 1st November, 1951, and 31st January, 1952, 5,601 agricultural workers in the 1933 age class were called up. During the same period, 5,810 applications for deferment were granted, and 1,454 refused; in addition 1,553 applications were rejected as being ineligible for consideration under the deferment arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the effect of the re-arrangement of the duties of district officers in the Gold Coast; and to what extent these offices are now being filled by the appointment of Africans.

District commissioners, renamed Government agents, will act as local agents of the central Government, and in particular will represent the Minister of Local Government in connection with local government reform and administration.Recruitment to the Gold Coast Administrative Service has, since the summer of 1951, been confined to Africans. Five out of the 98 administrative officers in the field are Africans, and four more Africans have recently been selected. There are also eight African administrative officers serving in Ministries in Accra. The rate of future African recruitment to this service depends on the availability of suitable candidates.In addition a new cadre of African executive officers is being created to relieve district commissioners of many of their routine duties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent, when authorising block capital expenditure by the Colonial Development Corporation in any particular Colony, as required by statute, it is customary to ascertain whether the project can, in fact, be carried out by private enterprise, thus freeing Colonial Development Corporation funds for other development schemes required by the Governor-Legislative Council of the Colony for which money from private sources is not readily available.

For the reason which my hon. Friend gives I consider that, as a general rule, it is preferable that the Colonial Development Corporation should keep its capital for projects which could not, or otherwise would not, be undertaken by private enterprise. It is impossible to lay down a hard and fast rule, however, because, if the Corporation is to fulfil its statutory obligation to break even, it must be permitted to engage in some schemes which might be sufficiently remunerative to attract private investors also; this is bound to apply where the Corporation, as it prefers, is associated with an existing commercial firm. It is, however, usually impossible to be sure whether or not private enterprise would undertake any given project if the Corporation did not.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that families who were bombed out in the borough of Hackney, and rehoused in Marlborough Court, W.8, are now threatened with eviction on the grounds that they have not found alternative accommodation; and what action he proposes to take to help these people.

In view of the pressure on Hackney's housing resources, my right hon. Friend has arranged to put half-way house accommodation at the disposal of seven families from that area, now living in Marlborough Court, until such time as they can be permanently rehoused. The Hackney Borough Council have agreed to rehouse the other families from their area, with the exception of two single people, who should be able to make their own arrangements.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will reconsider his decision not to issue loan sanction or a licence to enable the Sheerness Urban District Council to construct a reinforced concrete wall at Cheyney Rock and Barton's Point, Sheerness.

My right hon. Friend is prepared to sanction a loan but he can make no promises yet about licences for controlled materials.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why his local insurance officer has not yet given his decision in the case of Mr. D. M. Pitt, of 68, Brunswick Place, Hove, reference N.I. No. TY/51/67/91A; and when this decision may be expected.

The insurance officer's decision has now been communicated to the claimant in this case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why the air exercises, "Operation High Time," were held during the negotiations at present in progress between Her Majesty's Government and the Egyptian Government.

This exercise was part of the normal operational training of the Royal Air Force and its timing had no other significance.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give details of the method of allocation of tinplate in the food canning industry.

Tinplate for food canning is allocated to can fabricators on behalf of my Department by the Administrator of Tinplate Distribution. Food canners receive supplies from the fabricators on the basis of their pre-war usage, after their priority requirements for Services contracts, dollar exports and milk and fish cans have been met; but there is also provision for supplies to new canners and for additional supplies where necessary to established canners.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of tinplate for food canning purposes will be available in 1952: and what quantities were used or available for use for this purpose in each year between 1945 and 1951.

The tonnage for 1952 is not yet known. The tonnages used in the years 1945 to 1951 for canning thermally-processed foods were as follows:—

1945	…	…	…	…	112,000
1946	…	…	…	…	115,000
1947	…	…	…	…	127,000
1948	…	…	…	…	131,000
1949	…	…	…	…	151,000
1950	…	…	…	…	140,000
1951	…	…	…	…	136,000

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the capital value, expressed at present market value, of the vehicle-repair organisation, including the machine tools installed, recently set up at Yeading; and how many vehicles were repaired there during the three months ended 31st December last.

The present market value of the vehicle-repair organisation is estimated at £660,000, made up as follows:

		£
Land and buildings	…	500,000
Plant	…	125,000
Stock	…	35,000

asked the Secretary of State for War to give the number of Z reservists called up in 1951, in age and service groups, as a percentage of the total reserve called up in that year and not as a percentage of the number in each age and service group available for call-up.

The distribution by age and service groups of the Z reservists selected for training in 1951 was as follows:—

Age and Service group			Per cent.
1–10	…	…	Nil
11–20	…	…	·11
21–30	…	…	13·46
31–40	…	…	9·25
41–50	…	…	16·94
51–60	…	…	12·23
61–70	…	…	17·57
71–80	…	…	11·22
81–100	…	…	Nil
101–110*	…	…	3·93
111–120*	…	…	4·17
121–130*	…	…	3·54
131–140*	…	…	4·49
141–150*	…	…	3·09
* These are post-war groups which, therefore, contain fewer reservists than the earlier groups·