asked the Minister of Food if he can now say the amount of the allocation of tinplate to home food-canning factories for the current year.

I am not at present in a position to give this information.

asked the Minister of Food for an up-to-date list of foods that have increased in price since 1st November, 1951; and whether he has any statement to make about measures to halt the continuing rise in food prices.

Up to 16th March there have been increases in nine items in addition to those listed in my reply to the hon. Member on 25th February, the details of which are given below.As regards the second part of the Question, the whole policy of Her Majesty's Government is designed to strengthen the economy and to protect the purchasing power of our people against the risks to which the policy of the late Government was exposing them.

asked the Minister of Food if he will assist the cotton industry by encouraging millers to use fewer paper bags and more cotton bags for the packing of flour.

No. I understand that the packing machinery in general use is designed for paper bags and cannot be adapted to cotton.

asked the Minister of Food whether, to protect both public and trader, he will introduce safeguards against the import of low grade and bad quality oranges and bananas.

The risk of serious financial loss should be a sufficient deterrent to fruit importers.

asked the Minister of Food the estimated home cheese production for 1952.

A little more than last year's total of 44,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Food the amount of the subsidy on cheese for the years 1950 and 1951, and the estimated amount for 1952, giving the figures for home-produced and imported cheese, separately.

Following are the figures for the financial years to 31st March:

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the anxiety caused to parents through the removal of the three Belisha crossings on the Bath road, Bristol; and, as these were used by a large number of children going to and from school, if he will allow them to be replaced.

I am not sure to which crossings the hon. Member refers. I have agreed to the retention of two uncontrolled crossings on the Bath Road which I understand have not yet been striped. I am aware that the Bristol Corporation wish to retain a number of crossings which are little used except by school children. For my policy on this I would refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sparkbrook (Mr. Shurmer) on 24th March.

asked the Minister of Transport how many pedestrians in each age group, and how many

asked the Minister of Transport how many fatal road accidents occurred in the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1951; and how this figure compares with the two previous years.

Road accidents in the West Riding of Yorkshire resulted in the deaths of 340 persons in 1951, 348 in 1950 and 331 in 1949.

asked the Minister of Transport why he has withdrawn the licence granted to Northern Roadways Limited, to run services from Scotland to

I regret that all the information asked for is not available. The following are the available figures:London and other towns, thereby depriving 30,000 potential passengers of cheap transport.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that Northern Roadways Limited offers a service on terms more favourable to the travelling public than those provided by nationalised transport undertakings, as a result of whose representations their licence is to be withdrawn; and whether he will withhold consent to this elimination of private enterprise in the interests of public monopoly to the detriment of the travelling and tourist public.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement I made in the House last Friday.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will appoint a Departmental committee to investigate the adequacy of the roads or otherwise, the conditions created by the increasing speed, and volume of traffic, and the accidents on the roads.

For the reason which I gave to the hon. Member on 24th March in reply to his Question about the appointment of a Royal Commission, I do not think it necessary to appoint a Departmental committee.

asked the Minister of Transport how much of the £1 million allocated for the prevention of road accidents will be used in improving conditions on the Bristol—Gloucester road.

These funds will have to be carefully distributed as the year goes on among schemes from all over the country. A number of improvements have already been put in hand on this road, and I doubt whether I shall be able to afford to commit any more in 1952–53.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the reports of the Ports Efficiency Committee will be published.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals have been made by the German Government for the payment of British occupation costs after this summer.

Until the entry into force of the contractual agreement now under negotiation with the German Federal Republic, the Federal Government will continue to pay occupation costs on the present basis. As I informed the House on 28th February, the Federal Government has agreed that thereafter, until 30th June, 1953, it will pay 850 million Deutschemarks a month to cover the German contribution to the European Defence Community and the support of Allied forces in the Federal Republic. The division of this amount between the two types of expenditure is now the subject of negotiation, and I am not yet in a position to make any further statement.

asked the hon. Member for Finchley, as representing the Church Commissioners, what proportion of the Church Commissioners' income comes from rents of land and other real property.

The total income of the Church Commissioners for the year ended 31st March, 1951 (including trust income with the income of the general fund) was derived as to 23 per cent. from rents of land and other real property and as to 77 per cent. from other sources chiefly interest and dividends on Stock Exchange securities.

asked the hon. Member for Finchley, as representing the Church Commissioners, what is the total acreage of agricultural land belonging to the Church Commissioners; and what steps they are taking to assist in increasing the productivity of their farms.

The total acreage of agricultural land owned by the Church Commissioners at 31st December, 1951, was about 260,000 acres. During the three years ending on that date the Commissioners spent nearly £1,650,000 in re-equipping and repairing their farm properties, of which over £1,130,000 was on re-equipment and modernisation of farmsteads.

asked the hon. Member for Finchley, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church Commissioners are aware of the immediate need to augment clerical incomes to a minimum figure of £500 a year; and what steps they are, therefore, taking in this matter.

Yes. The Church Commissioners are actively co-operating with the diocesan finance boards in order to raise the incomes of the clergy to the full minimum in the shortest possible time. Although the main challenges to the parishes must be diocesan, the Commissioners, after consulting with the diocesan representatives, have promised to help not only by continuing their assistance of this object at the aggregate rate of £350,000 a year but also by earmarking for it a further sum of £500,000, the first distribution from which will be made shortly.

asked the Minister of Supply why he maintains the Telecommunications Research Centre when the Dollis Hill Research Station of the General Post Office fulfils the same purpose.

The reason is that the two establishments fulfil very different purposes.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will re-open the Steeton Royal Ordnance Factory, Yorkshire, in view of the availability of local labour.

No. It would not, I am afraid, be justified since there is already sufficient capacity elsewhere for the armament production for which this factory is equipped.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will give details of the changes he is making in the organisation of the Royal Ordnance factories; and whether he will give the names of those who will form the Board of Management, and who the chairman of that board will be.

The main change is the establishment of a Board of Management. The Chairman of the Board is the Controller of Supplies (Munitions) of the Ministry of Supply. There are three nonofficial members, Mr. C. E. K. Hague, of Babcock and Wilcox, Limited, who is Vice-Chairman; Mr. Henry Benson of Cooper Brothers; and Dr. James Taylor, of I.C.I., Limited. The other members are Ministry of Supply officials. The Board will be assisted by an Executive Committee under the Chairmanship of the Director-General of Ordnance Factories which will be responsible for the execution of the policy decided by the Board.A number of other changes are being made to give the Royal Ordnance factories greater autonomy in finance and administration.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will take further steps to improve the collection of steel scrap, in view of the disappointing results of the scrap drive to date.

The collection of scrap for steel making is the responsibility of the steel industry itself. They are at present taking steps to intensify the drive, and I am, of course, doing everything I can to assist them.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will keep in mind the Derby railway workshops when allocating defence equipment orders.

Defence orders will be allocated to the railway workshops at Derby, as well as to those elsewhere, when there is suitable work for which it is necessary to supplement existing industrial capacity.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is yet in a position to say how many widows in Scotland are in receipt of 10s. a week only; and when he will be in a position to review these payments, so as to make for these widows provision commensurate with the increased cost of living.

The answer to the first part of the Question is approximately 25,000. As regards the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply given below to my hon. Friend the Member for Finchley (Mr. J. E. Crowder).

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will increase the pensions of widows who are at present only receiving 10s. per week.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is now in a position to increase the pension of 10s. at present being received by many widows.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he can now say when he expects to be able to announce the increased pensions for those widows who are only entitled to 10s. a week.

No. Most of these widows are working and are fully covered by the National Insurance Scheme: If necessary help can be obtained from the National Assistance Board. I do not think there is any ground for reviewing this type of pension which was carried over from the old scheme and has no counterpart in the modern National Insurance arrangements.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he has now considered the report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee on Maternity Benefits; and what action he proposes to take on the recommendations contained therein.

Yes, and I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the work of the Committee in preparing this most valuable report. I am taking the necessary steps to give effect to the recommendation for amendment of the regulations governing payment for confinements abroad. The other recommendations would require legislation and will be further considered when an appropriate opportunity arises.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will defer the closing of the National Insurance Office at Clayton-le-Moors until the hon. Member for Accrington has had an opportunity of raising this matter on the Adjournment.

No. I think this matter has been adequately ventilated on the local advisory committee.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will take early action to amend the present regulations regarding the time limit for claiming benefit, to permit those suffering from loss of memory or others with a good cause to claim benefits due to them after the time limit has expired.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what action he proposes to take to implement the recommendations of the National Insurance Advisory Committee as to the time limits for claiming benefits.

I would refer my hon. Friends to the replies I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell), and my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Angus, South (Captain Duncan), on 31st March. The regulations already provide for the extension of the time limits where there was good cause for delay.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction caused by inadequate assessments of degrees of disablement in cases of industrial injuries; and whether he will consult the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council thereon.

No. The assessments are made by independent medical boards and medical appeal tribunals, and I have no reason to think that they do not conform to the principles and standards laid down in the Act and Regulations.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will set up an inquiry into anomalies of pensions for women, in view of general confusion and dissatisfaction with the present system.

No. I am not aware of any general dissatisfaction with the existing system, but I will look into any particular points which my hon. Friend has in mind, if he will let me have details.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will amend the regulations, hitherto in force, affecting the maximum quantities of coal to be taken by householders in the summer and winter period so that the full quantity allowed during the year may be taken during the summer if so desired.

No. I do not think that such an alteration in the restrictions which have been in force in past years is either necessary or desirable.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what action he is taking to obtain the scientific utilisation of coal and the maximum by-productions from coal; and what steps are being taken to obtain oil from shale.

My Department is carrying out research and development work into many aspects of the scientific utilisation of coal, and with the assistance of my Scientific Advisory Council I maintain contact with scientific work in the whole field of fuel and power. Coal is carbonised at gas works and coke ovens operated by the gas boards, the National Coal Board and the Iron and Steel Industry, and I am satisfied that adequate attention is paid to the maximum recovery of by-products.Oil is produced from mined shale by the petroleum industry; production in 1951 amounted to 105,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he anticipates that the gas industry's staff pension scheme will be brought into operation.

This scheme has been submitted for my approval and is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now make a statement on the results of the latest consideration of the Severn hydro-electrification scheme.

Further consideration of the Severn scheme awaits the result of experiments to determine the effect of the barrage on the Bristol Channel Ports. The construction of the model for this work cannot start until the building of the new Hydraulics Research Station at which the work will be done is sufficiently advanced.

asked the Attorney-General how many applicants have been granted legal aid under the Legal Aid Scheme since its inception; and if he will give an assurance that sufficient facilities are available to the courts to enable them to deal expeditiously with the increased number of cases.

52,509 applicants had received Legal Aid between 2nd October, 1950, and 29th February, 1952, the last date for which statistics are available. The courts appear able to deal expeditiously with the work, but further facilities can and will be provided should it become necessary to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will order an inquiry into the methods by which the two great petrol companies have endeavoured to share the monopoly on all retail petrol sales throughout the country; and how much money each of the firms has expended in the process of securing these contracts, written or otherwise, with the petrol fillers.

Without expressing any opinion on the allegation contained in the first part of the Question, my right hon. Friend will consider the supply of petrol as a possible matter to refer to the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission, when further subjects are selected.With regard to the second part, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power told my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Shepherd) on 17th March that he was seeking further information about the costs incurred by petrol distributors in connection with exclusive selling arrangements. I understand that these inquiries have not yet been completed, but that the Minister of Fuel and Power would not think it proper to divulge the costs incurred by individual companies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportions of softwoods were allocated for building, industrial packaging and other purposes for each quarter of 1950 and 1951.

I have been asked to reply. It is not the practice to give details of such allocations.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will consult with the United States Government to widen the terms of reference of the International Materials Conference to enable plans to be considered for the orderly marketing of strategic stockpiles no longer required, and to stabilise commodity prices, once the urgency of rearmament is passed.

The disposal of stockpiles is unlikely to become an issue in the near future. The Government fully appreciates the desirability of keeping commodity prices stable at reasonable levels. This has been the subject of much international discussion; and when particular commodities present problems, there are arrangements for consultation between the countries concerned. On all these matters we are working very closely with the U.S. authorities.The primary function of the International Materials Conference is the allocation of scarce materials on which it is doing most valuable work. I doubt whether it is desirable to vary its terms of reference, particularly as they do not exclude discussion of price stabilisation.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what is the anticipated cost to the taxpayer in disposing of jute at the lower price recently announced which had been bought by him at the higher price of over £200 a ton.

The loss resulting from the disposal of raw jute and jute goods at the prices recently announced is estimated at £4,800,000. Previous profits on post-war trading amounted to some £6 million. The average cost of the jute was substantially below the £200 a ton quoted by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Supply the number of home-based civil servants of his Department serving abroad in the clerical, executive, works group, including mechanical and electrical engineers, scientific, technical, draughtsmen and other categories, respectively.

The number of home-based civil servants of the categories mentioned in the Question serving outside Her Majesty's territories at 1st April, 1952, is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many people he employs in the advisory and trading services, separately; what were the corresponding figures for each of the five previous years; and what was the annual cost.

The following are the figures:

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the permanent complement of non-industrial posts in his Department in the minor and manipulative grades; sub-clerical and typing grades; clerical grades; executive bades; administrative grades; and professional and technical grades, respectively; and whether he will state, in respect of each group, the number of staff in post at the latest convenient date.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Pensions what steps he has taken to ensure that the economy discharges of staff in his Department have been carried out consistent with the relevant agreements, with the recognised staff associations, on redundancy and retirement procedures; and whether he is aware that the representations protesting against the procedures followed have emanated from an unrecognised and unrepresentative body calling itself the National Association of Temporary Civil Servants.

There has been full consultation with the Staff Side of the Departmental Whitley Council at all stages. I can assure the hon. Member that the selection of staff for discharge has been wholly consistent with the relevant agreements. I am aware of the protests to which the hon. Member refers in the second part of his Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many doctors are employed under Part IV of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act, 1947; and what is the approximate average salary per year for each for this service.

The average number of principals providing medical services under Part IV of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act, 1947, in the year ended 31st March, 1951, was 2,415. Their total remuneration before deduction of superannuation contributions (but excluding the Exchequer superannuation contribution of £253,299) was £5,220,544. This represents an average of £2,162 per doctor.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of dissatisfaction in the present arrangements for livestock transport in the country districts; and if he will take immediate steps to discourage further curtailments of this service.

I am not aware of this dissatisfaction, but if my hon Friend will give me more precise details and the districts concerned, I shall be glad to look into the matter with the other interested Departments.

asked the Minister of Food how many livestock collecting depots have been closed or transferred in the last 12 months in Scotland.

A new centre has been opened at Jamestown to replace one closed at Dumbarton because of the sale of the premises for other uses. There have been no other changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take steps to ensure a sufficient supply of Roter tablets for patients suffering from peptic ulcers who have the use of such tablets prescribed for them by their medical practitioners.

I am advised that these proprietary tablets manufactured abroad cannot be regarded as essential. I am therefore unable on medical grounds to recommend that import restrictions should be waived in this case.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the quantities in tons of farm products listed in the First Schedule of the Agriculture Act, 1947, produced for the years 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938 and for 1946 and each consecutive year to the present.

Following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which countries have applied to the Government of Hong Kong for the issue of essential supply certificates for pharmaceutical products; for which products such certificates have been applied for; and which applications have been granted.

Applications for such certificates are not made to the Government of Hong Kong by the Governments of countries from which the drugs are supplied, but by importers in Hong Kong.