asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent the oil re-refining industry is working to full capacity; and, in view of the dollar oil imports the industry is capable of saving, what steps he is taking to ensure full production.

I do not have this information but if my hon. Friend would care to discuss the second part of the Question with my Department I shall be glad to make the necessary arrangements.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what measures are being taken to encourage British companies to develop the oil resources of the Commonwealth and Empire.

British companies are both producing oil and exploring for oil in the Commonwealth, including the Colonies and British Protected States of the Persian Gulf. It will be appreciated that the development of oil resources in other countries is hardly something which the Government of this country can initiate, but my Department is doing all that it can to foster the development of oil in the Commonwealth.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how far his committee on the co-ordination of publicity will ensure in the interests of economy that the expensively produced brochures advertising the greater use of gas and electricity should cease, since consumers are at the same time being asked to restrict the use of both services.

I have taken up the question of these brochures with the boards and in addition the co-ordinating committee has reviewed the publicity arrangements generally. As a result I hope that new principles will shortly be adopted and that purely promotional advertising will be discontinued.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what action he proposes to take as regards the stocks of domestic coal left in merchants yards, at the end of the fuel year, as the result of registered consumers not taking up their full allocation.

I do not think any special action is called for.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the economy of fuel ensured by the usage of certain modern types of domestic stoves and grates what publicity he has given to this; and if he would consider the possibility of offering financial and other inducements for the substitution of these fixtures for uneconomical existing fixtures.

The Coal Utilisation Council and the Women's Advisory Council on Solid Fuel are giving continuous publicity and instruction in regard to these matters. No doubt largely as a result of this the demand for the appliances exceeds the supply and special inducements are unnecessary at present.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that development projects at the Bradford Colliery, Manchester, have been delayed because of the shortage of steel; and what steps he is taking to secure the necessary steel for the coal industry, in view of the urgent need for more coal.

Yes, and I am making further inquiries, but generally the National Coal Board is receiving the steel for its essential needs.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent any revision has taken place in the plans for new mining projects put forward by the National Coal Board last year.

So far, none.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he proposes to take, and when, to restore the flat rate for the transport of fish from Aberdeen and other north of Scotland ports to the south of Britain.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and gallant Friend to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Donnelly) on 25th February.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of potatoes of the 1951 harvest it is estimated will be surplus to normal requirements for human consumption; and what steps he proposes to take to avoid any waste of these.

The potatoes offered to the Department at the guaranteed price will be sold for human consumption or as stock-feed. I cannot at present estimate what quantity will be required for the former purpose.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he proposes to take to reduce the number of enforcement officers of his Department.

The number of enforcement inspectors has been much reduced in recent years, and no further reduction is contemplated at present. My right hon. and gallant Friend is keeping the matter under review.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will take steps to ensure that his enforcement officers do not possess powers in excess of those possessed by the police.

The powers of these officers are narrower than those of the police, except that they have authority to enter and inspect premises used by food undertakings. They need this power for the proper performance of their duties.

asked the Minister or Food the amount of the subsidy on meat, in total, and the amount per lb.: and what will be the reduction per lb. of the subsidy, following the Budget proposals.

The total subsidy for the year 1951–52 is estimated at £45 million or an average of about 3½d. per lb. over the whole year. But because of higher costs of procurement in the latter half of the financial year, which are continuing, the increase of 4d. per lb. announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will still leave some subsidy in payment. It is impossible at this stage to estimate the amount.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that when application is made to a local food office for change of retailer by someone acting for the holder of a ration book, permission is not given unless the applicant is aware of all the Christian names of the person concerned; and, in view of the fact that this leads to annoyance to those catering for a number of individuals, if he will arrange for all Christian names to be put on ration books in future.

No. We need full Christian names for purposes of identity, but it would take up valuable time and require additional staff to write them in full at busy centres when ration books are being issued.

asked the Minister of Food if he will ascertain from the Government of Australia how far the severe drought now being experienced in the Dominion will result in any curtailment in the food supplies to the United Kingdom.

The recent drought has reduced production of meat, milk products and other foods. It is too soon to say precisely how this will affect food shipments to the United Kingdom which have been declining for some time for other reasons. We are in constant touch with the Australian authorities.

asked the Minister of Food what are the present respective increases in the price of pre-packed oatflakes and milling oats, compared with 1949; and to what extent the cost of packing affects the price of pre-packed oats.

I am advised that the present prices of popular brands of pre-packed oatflakes are on average about 58 per cent. above their level in November, 1949. The ex-farm prices of milling oats are about 20 per cent. above the controlled prices prevailing at that date. Packing costs now represent around 20 per cent. of total costs of production.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are being taken by his Department to minimise the nuisance caused by oil washed on to the beaches round our coasts, particularly the north coast of Cornwall.

I am most anxious to solve the serious problem of oil washed on to beaches round our coasts but my difficulty is to establish the source from which pollution arises. All complaints are investigated and action is taken whenever possible, but I seldom obtain adequate evidence on which to take proceedings under the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1922. Outside territorial waters, the problem requires the co-operation of the principal maritime countries. As my hon. Friend knows, shipowners of this and a number of other countries have, for many years, agreed not to discharge oil within 50 miles of any coast and masters and chief engineers of ships entering U.K. ports are notified of their obligations under this voluntary agreement and under the Oil in Navigable Waters Act.My Department has recently made extensive inquiries of the authorities around the coast and other interests concerned and I can assure my hon. Friend that I am considering every means by which this nuisance may be removed.

asked the Minister of Transport the progress made to date by Glasgow Corporation in the Whiteinch-Linthouse tunnel project.

In order to assist the Corporation in preparing detailed plans for the adjoining areas consultants have been appointed to report on the line and levels proposed for the tunnel, and tenders are being obtained for the taking of borings. These will probably be carried out next month. I cannot in present circumstances say when it will be possible to authorise the work itself.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to introduce new Regulations to regulate the speed of trolley-buses; and, in particular, if he will limit their speed to bring it in conformity with that of other public-service vehicles.

My Department is preparing, in consultation with the interests concerned, a revised model code of safety provisions for trolley-buses which will form the basis of new Regulations for a number of individual trolley-bus undertakings. These Regulations will replace those already in force and in cases where Regulations have not yet been made will incorporate the existing speed restrictions subject to which the routes concerned have been authorised. These restrictions vary from 5 m.p.h. to 25 m.p.h. on specified lengths of road and impose a 30 m.p.h. limit outside those lengths. The new Regulations will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give an assurance that the driving tests imposed before a licence, P.S.V., is issued, qualifying a man to drive a public passenger vehicle, where charges for transport are made, ensure a higher standard of driving than those imposed to obtain a licence to drive a private car.

A proper standard of competence is required in each case. It is not practicable to lay down comparative standards.

asked the Minister of Transport when the traffic lights will be reinstated at the main-road junction at Royton.

I am informed that the new traffic signals now being installed should be working by the middle of April.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the introduction of a zebra crossing at the intersection of Kilburn Park Road and Carlton Vale, in the borough of Paddington.

This is a matter in the first instance for the Paddington Borough Council. If they propose a zebra crossing here, I will consider it.

asked the Minister of Transport what amount of steel was allocated to the Transport Commission for the last two quarters and during the comparable period for 1949 and 1950.

It is not the practice to disclose particular allocations.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of serious unemployment in Britain, arising directly out of decisions of Commonwealth Governments, he will call a Commonwealth conference to consider ways and means to combat this threat to our economy.

The Commonwealth Finance Ministers, after their Conference in January, re-affirmed the need for frequent and comprehensive consultation between Governments within the Commonwealth on the problems of the sterling area. They stated that steps would be taken within the next few months and from time to time to review progress on the measures which were then being taken and which were proposed.It is not true that serious unemployment in Britain has arisen directly out of the decisions of other Commonwealth Governments or from any other cause. The situation in the textile industry, however, causes anxiety and will receive the utmost attention from Her Majesty's Government. I am glad that there is to be a debate upon the subject this week

asked the hon. Member for Woolwich, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, how many members of the staff of his Department have been dismissed recently; for what reason; and what will be the saving, per week, effected.

Thirteen persons have been dismissed as being redundant. The amount saved is £75 10s. per week plus the saving on insurance and the cost of meals supplied. It is estimated that the amount saved in a full year will be approximately £4,000.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the level of production of locomotives for export from the Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows is now threatened in consequence of the shortage of steel; and if he will ensure an increased supply of steel to enable this factory to continue working for export.

Allocations of steel to this firm have been made on the same basis as to other locomotive manufacturers. As and when supplies of steel improve, the possibility of increasing allocations will be examined.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will take steps to see that adequate supplies of the essential materials, especially steel, will be made available to the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industries of Southampton and its surrounding districts.

I have been asked to reply.The allocations of steel to ship-repairing firms are sufficient to meet their reasonable requirements. Steel allocations to shipbuilders are somewhat below requirements, but I hope to increase them later in the year when improved steel supplies become available.

asked the Minister of Supply at what dates Government contracts for cloth were placed with Japan during the last two years; what were the total amounts in yards and value of such orders; and when their delivery will be completed.

Twelve contracts for 20½ million yards of cloth were placed with firms in Japan between February and September, 1951. The total value of these contracts was £8,132,000. Deliveries are likely to be completed by next August.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has appointed anyone to fill the vacancy on the Iron and Steel Corporation.

Yes. I have appointed Mr. Robert Marshall to be a part-time member of the Iron and Steel Corporation of Great Britain. This brings the membership up again to the statutory minimum.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the cost of a helicopter supplied by his Department.

It would be contrary to established practice to disclose contract prices.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why he has decided to close the National Insurance office at Clayton-le-Moors.

In the interests of economy. Most of the work of the office is already done by correspondence and a part-time service for callers will be provided on the premises.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, in view of the fact that accounting machines which are very largely used in preparing pay rolls, are not equipped to handle halfpennies, he will consider altering the division of the increased 1s. 3d. a week contribution between the employer and employee so as to avoid the use of halfpennies.

The increase in the contributions for National Insurance and industrial injuries insurance have not been finally settled and I shall try to avoid the use of halfpennies.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what is the estimated increased income to the Insurance Fund, arising from the increased employees', employers' and State contributions, respectively.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Ince (Mr. T. Brown).

asked the Minister of National Insurance the estimated increase to the National Insurance Fund which will accrue from the increased contributions of 7½d. and 5½d. when they become operative.

If National Insurance contributions of employed persons and employers were respectively increased by 7½d. for men and 5½d. for women, with appropriate additions for self-employed and non-employed persons, it would produce about £60 million a year and would attract an Exchequer contribution of about £10 million.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware of the hardship caused to injured workmen whose compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act has not been increased to meet the rising cost of living; and if he will take steps to raise the legal maximum to those men who have been suffering from industrial injuries for many years.

No, I cannot accept the statement that men in receipt of Workmen's Compensation are suffering acute hardship. If they are not working they will normally be receiving benefits, pensions or allowances under the National Insurance or Industrial Injuries Acts in addition to their compensation.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the number of persons in Sunderland who have received financial assistance through the Assistance Board to help them receive spectacles and dentures from the National Health Service.

From the three offices of the Board in Sunderland, which cover territory outside the area of the county borough, 636 persons have received grants in respect of the cost of spectacles and 173 in respect of the cost of dentures.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the number of persons in receipt of contributory and noncontributory old age pensions.

At 31st December last about 4,260,000 persons were receiving retirement and contributory old-age pensions, and about 398,000 were receiving non-contributory old age pensions (including blind persons' pensions).

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will consider amending the National Insurance (Non-contributory Old Age Pensions) Regulations, 1946, Statutory Rule and Order, 1946, No. 1400, Regulation 2 and the Schedule thereto, to ensure that the method of calculating the income of a claimant from the yearly value of property shall be founded upon the actual income received in the preceding year.

No.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the estimated cost of increasing the basic pension by 5s. per week to all old-age pensioners now in receipt of pensions through his Department, giving the cost for males and females separately.

The cost to the National Insurance Fund would be about £56 million a year—about £20 million for men and £36 million for women.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will consider the revision of the present table of yearly means of claimants to noncontributory old age pensions, in order to bring the figures against which the rate of pension per week is calculated to amounts which have a closer relation to the present cost of living.

No.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will give his consideration to the plight in which many widows will find themselves when the Budget proposals become fully effective; and if he will promote legislation to remedy this by increasing their pensions.

The changes in National Insurance benefits to which my right hon. Friend referred in his Budget speech will include increases in the widowed mother's allowance and widows' pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions he has given to the Metropolitan Police as to their action in cases where a person, having left his car in the street, becomes intoxicated and decides to walk home; and whether it is still the practice of the police in such cases to arrest him for being drunk in charge.

Police action under Section 15 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, in regard to the arrest and prosecution of persons for being in charge of vehicles while under the influence of drink, must depend on the circumstances of each individual case. My right hon. and learned Friend has no power to give instructions to the Metropolitan Police as to their action in the circumstances described in the Question and he is informed by the Commissioner of Police that no such instructions have in fact been issued.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of all wage increases granted to the police services since 1946 to the latest stated date.

Following the recommendation of the Oaksey Committee an increase in pay was awarded to all ranks of the police in July, 1949. The details of the increase are set out in the Statement on Pay and Conditions of Service of Police (Cmd. 707) published in May, 1949.In August, 1951, the constables, sergeants and inspectors were awarded a further salary increase of the order of 20 per cent. following the recommendations of the tribunal presided over by Sir Malcolm Trustram Eve, and following this award superintendents and chief superintendents were given an increase of £150 a year. The pay of chief constables and assistant chief constables is still under review.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what is the estimated additional revenue for each of the services affected by the proposed increased charges.

The estimated additional revenue from the tariff changes included in the Financial Statement is as follows:

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will give full details of all salary increases made in the General Post Office manual and staff services since 1946 to the latest date.

Wage and salary increases that took effect on or after 1st January, 1947, for the Post Office staff of about 330,000 amount in all to some £44 million pounds a year, including the increased cost of overtime, pension liability, etc. It is not practicable to give details of every increase; but, if the hon. Member will let me know of any case in which he is particularly interested, I shall be glad to let him have fuller information.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what is the estimated cost of the proposed General Post Office at Tyldesley, Lancashire; what is the proposed starting date; and when is completion estimated.

A preliminary estimate of the cost of the building is £20,000. In view of present building difficulties, no starting date has yet been fixed, but if conditions improve a start will be made in 1953–54. It should take about twelve months to complete the work.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications for telephone service are at present outstanding in the borough and rural district of Necastle-under-Lyme.

On 31st December, 1951, 709 applications were outstanding in the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme and 165 in the rural district. Forty-five applications were in course of being provided, or under investigation.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to improve the supply of cement in the north-east, as building and civil engineering contracts are being held up due to shortage, and operatives are becoming unemployed.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 21st March to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. F. Willey).

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the general shortage of small fuel economy fires, of the 14-inch type, which are the normal size required for most working-class houses; and, in view of the need for fuel economy, what steps he is taking to encourage production of such sizes.

I am not aware of a general shortage of small solid fuel economy fires.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons registered at the Tooting Employment Exchange on the latest available date; and how these figures compare with the previous two years.

1,327 at 11th February, 1952; 1,013 at 12th February, 1951; and 1,187 at 13th February, 1950.

asked the Minister of Labour how many vacant jobs for men

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if, in view of the latest developments in the two-engined hover-plane or helicopter, he will arrange

At 13th February there were 2,403 vacancies for men notified to Employment Exchanges in Berkshire and remaining unfilled. The number of unemployed men on the registers of those Employment Exchanges at 11th February was 635.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unfilled vacancies there are in the Royal Ordnance factories in the counties of Staffordshire and Cheshire at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many there are in the coalmining industry in the same areas.

At the middle of March there were on the books of the Employment Exchanges approximately 500 unfilled vacancies in the Royal Ordnance Factories and 1,600 in the coalfields in the two counties.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of unfilled vacancies in the Midland and North Midland regions in coalmining, agriculture and horticulture, and building, respectively, at the latest date for which figures are available; and how these figures compare with those for 24th October, 1951.

The following table gives the information desired:for experiments to be carried out with one of these machines for the purpose of revolutionising transport problems between the mainland of the West Highlands of Scotland and the Inner Hebridean islands.

No, not at present. The twin-engined helicopter is still in the prototype stage. Because it differs radically from all other types in design and operating techniques, a considerable period of basic research and development flying will be necessary before experimental services can be started on selected routes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the restrictions placed upon the import of goods into France will have a disastrous effect upon the export of lobsters from Scotland; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

The new French quotas have not yet been fixed. If, however, these quotas turn out to bear with undue severity on the trade to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, we shall do our best to persuade the French authorities to help us in this matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the uncertainty in the fishing industry about future arrangements after the present white fish subsidy comes to an end; and what steps he is taking to relieve this uncertainty.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether a decision has yet been reached on the scales and conditions of white fish subsidy to operate after 31st March.

It has now been decided that the existing scales and conditions of subsidy will continue unchanged until 31st July. As regards the position after that date I cannot at present add to the reply given on 28th February to my hon. Friends the Members for Banff (Mr. Duthie) and St. Ives (Mr. G. R. Howard).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has considered a petition which has been sent him by the residents of the upper part of the village of Warton, near Carnforth, Lancashire, asking for consideration of their plight as the result of a continuing shortage of water; and if he will cause immediate inquiry to be made into this matter, with a view to effecting some improvement.

I am happy to say that works recently carried out have afforded an ample supply of water for the residents of Warton.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses are included in the lands scheduled for compulsory acquisition in the development plan for the Maidstone constituency of Kent, made under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947; where his Regulations provide that a list of these may be seen; and what, under his Regulations, is the latest date for representations to be made against the inclusion of such houses in the areas scheduled for compulsory acquisition.

The Kent County Council have not yet submitted the development plan to me and consequently I have not yet got the detailed information asked for. When the county council submit the plan, they must give notice in the Press that they have done so; and they must allow at least six weeks thereafter for the lodging of objections with me. Copies or extracts must be deposited at convenient places for the information of the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the progress in afforestation in Scotland to date; and the programme for the future in terms of development and likely numbers to be employed, with an estimate of the phasing of the developments.

The total area of plantations belonging to the Forestry Commission in Scotland is about 290,000 acres, and the number of workers employed by them is about 4,200.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will give a list of the various types of artificial limbs and appliances supplied by his Department; the number of each type supplied; and the cost during 1951 or the latest convenient period.

As regards the supplies by my Department to National Health Service patients, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 25th February. Statistical information concerning the supplies by my Department to the war disabled—which is kept in a slightly different form—is given below in respect of the 12 months ended 21st December, 1951: