asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the loss in rates suffered by the City of Glasgow due to the exemption from rating of Territorial Army premises.

I am informed by the local authority that the amount of rates which would have been leviable in 1951–52, on premises in Glasgow occupied by the Territorial Army if those premises were not exempted from rating, is £10,377.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many first offenders under the age of 18 have been sent to Borstal institutions in Scotland during the past six months.

Two.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what local health authorities have not taken powers to operate B.C.G. vaccination schemes under Section 27 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act, 1947.

Three local health authorities, the County Councils of Berwick, Roxburgh and Selkirk have not yet taken power to provide B.C.G. vaccination, but they are actively considering joint action.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of dentists taking part in the general dental service and the school dental service, respectively, in Scotland, at nearest available date; and how this compares with the same date last year.

The School Dental Service in Scotland at the end of 1950 employed the equivalent of 94 full-time dentists. At the end of 1951 the figure had risen to 104 and by March, 1952, to 115. The number of dentists in the General Dental Service at the end of 1950 was 1,251 and at the end of 1951—the latest available date—1,254.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the decision of Kilmarnock Town Council to increase substantially the rents of 160 houses in Bellevue housing scheme, Bonnyton, which were built under the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1933; and whether he is satisfied that this decision is in accordance with Section 73 (3, a) of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1950.

These increases are part of a general increase which the council have decided to make in the rents of their pre-war houses. I have no reason to think that the Council are not complying with the requirements of Section 73 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will circulate in HANSARD a detailed statement showing the rates of local overseas allowance payable in the various theatres to single men and to married men whose wives are living with them at their duty stations, including cases in which the wife remains at one duty station while the husband is posted elsewhere.

DAILY RATES OF LOCAL OVERSEAS ALLOWANCE
SINGLE
Duty Station	General Officer		Brigadier		Colonel and Lieut.-Colonel		Major, Captain and Subaltern		Warrant Officer Class I		Warrant Officer Class II and Staff Serjeant		Serjeant		Corporal and below
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Egypt	3	0	2	8	2	4	2	0	2	8	2	4	2	0	1	8
Sudan	3	0	2	8	2	4	2	0	4	0	3	6	3	0	2	6
Cyrenaica	Nil		Nil		Nil		Nil		1	1		11		9		7
Tripolitania	2	6	2	2	1	10	1	6	1	4	1	2	1	0		10
Eritrea	Nil		Nil		Nil		Nil		1	3	1	1		11		9
Cyprus	2	6	2	2	1	10	1	6	2	1	1	10	1	7	1	4
Malta	3	3	2	11	2	7	2	3	1	9	1	6	1	3	1	0
Gibraltar	Nil		Nil		Nil		Nil		Nil		Nil		Nil		Nil
Trieste	Nil		Nil		Nil		Nil			9		7		5		3
East Africa	2	9	2	5	2	1	1	9	2	9	2	5	2	1	1	9
West Africa:
Gold Coast	Nil		Nil		Nil		Nil		4	3	3	9	3	3	2	9
Lagos	2	6	2	2	1	10	10	1	6	4	3	3	9	3	3	2
Nigeria less Lagos	Nil		Nil		Nil		Nil		4	3	3	9	3	3	2	9
S. Leone and Gambia	2	6	2	2	1	10	1	6	5	9	5	3	4	9	4	3
Malaya and Singapore	11	9	10	9	9	9	8	9	6	3	5	9	5	3	4	9
Hong Kong	7	9	7	0	6	3	5	6	5	0	4	6	4	0	3	6
Bermuda	18	3	17	0	15	9	14	6	10	6	9	6	8	6	7	6
Caribbean Area	7	6	6	9	6	0	5	3	5	0	4	6	4	0	3	6

MARRIED
Duty Station	General Officer		Brigadier		Colonel and Lieut.-Colonel		Major, Captain and Subaltern		Warrant Officer Class I		Warrant Officer Class II and Staff Serjeant		Serjeant		Corporal and below
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Egypt	18	3	17	0	15	9	4	6	17	0	15	9	14	6	13	3
Sudan	22	3	20	9	19	3	17	9	21	3	19	9	18	3	16	9
Cyrenaica	14	3	13	0	11	9	10	6	14	0	12	9	11	6	10	3
Tripolitania	18	3	17	0	15	9	14	6	15	3	14	0	12	9	11	6
Eritrea	14	9	13	6	12	3	11	0	15	6	14	3	13	0	11	9
Cyprus	19	6	18	0	16	6	15	0	14	0	12	9	11	6	10	3
Malta	13	9	12	6	11	3	10	0	10	6	9	6	8	6	7	6
Gibraltar	12	9	11	9	10	9	9	9	9	3	8	6	7	9	7	0
Trieste	14	9	13	6	12	3	11	0	5	3	4	9	4	3	3	9
East Africa	18	3	17	0	15	9	14	6	16	1	14	10	13	7	12	4
West Africa:
Gold Coast	24	0	22	6	21	0	19	6	23	6	22	0	20	6	19	0
Lagos	21	9	20	3	18	9	17	3	22	3	20	9	19	3	17	9
Nigeria less Lagos	21	9	20	3	18	9	17	3	22	3	20	9	19	3	17	9
S. Leone and Gambia	21	9	20	3	18	9	17	3	21	3	19	9	18	3	16	9
Malaya and Singapore	58	9	54	3	49	9	45	3	22	6	21	0	19	6	18	0
Hong Kong	36	0	33	6	31	0	28	6	17	0	15	9	14	6	13	3
Bermuda	33	6	31	0	28	6	26	0	26	0	24	0	22	0	20	0
Caribbean Area	23	0	21	6	20	0	18	6	20	6	19	0	17	6	16	0
The rates shown are those for officers and other ranks in public quarters. Where public quarters are not available higher rates are paid, at most stations, to those living in private accommodation in order to compensate them for the excess cost of this accommodation over the cost in the United Kingdom.
When the husband is posted away from an overseas station and his family are unable to accompany him, the difference between the single and married rates of allowance for his rank at his former station may be issued in respect of his family if the family are likely to re-join him overseas within six months.

Following is the statement:

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the numbers of men who have registered for the Home Guard in each of the counties and county boroughs of England and Wales at the latest date for which figures are available.

I cannot give the figures for county boroughs and all counties separately, but an analysis of registrations by Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association areas is available, including Scotland, as well as England and Wales, up to 26th April, as follows:

TERRITORIAL AND AUXILIARY FORCES ASSOCIATION
	Number of Registrations
Aberdeen County, City, Banff and Kincardine	239
Anglesey and Caernarvon	153
Angus and Dundee	163
Argyll	125
Ayr	153
Bedford	272
Berkshire	355
Brecknock, Hereford and Radnor	197
Buckingham	330
Cambridge and Isle of Ely	240
Cardigan, Carmarthen and Pembroke	161
Chester	774
Cornwall	388
Cumberland and Westmorland	362
Denbigh and Flint	230
Derby	375
Devon	826
Dorset	396
Dumbarton	46
Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Wigtown	147
Durham	703
Edinburgh, Lothian and Peebles	438
Essex	1,555
Fife	133
Glamorgan	644
Glasgow	275
Gloucester	709
Hampshire and Isle of Wight	1,163
Hertford	631
Huntingdon and Northampton	422
Inverness, Caithness, Moray, Nairn, Ross and Cromarty and Sutherland	223
Isle of Man	34
Kent	1,933
Lanark	149
Lancaster (West)	1,200
Lancaster (East)	1,078
Leicester and Rutland	409
Lincoln	708
London City	416
London County	1,736
Merioneth and Montgomery	82
Middlesex	1,716
Monmouth	251

	Number of Registrations
Norfolk	630
Northumberland	552
Nottingham	599
Orkney	3
Oxford	296
Perth	109
Renfrew and Bute	106
Roxburgh, Berwick and Selkirk	102
Shropshire	231
Somerset	903
Stafford	579
Stirling and Clackmannan	88
Suffolk	694
Surrey	1,758
Sussex	1,413
Warwick	1,243
Wiltshire	393
Worcester	340
York (East Riding)	352
York (North Riding)	361
York (West Riding)	2,017
Zetland	17
TOTAL	35,326

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of those who have so far registered for the Home Guard are Z reservists.

This information is not available and could only be obtained after considerable administrative effort. The Reserve liability of volunteers is checked with record offices by the Home Guard unit concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War what plans exist to raise the Home Guard in Northern Ireland in peace-time.

It is proposed, in agreement with the Government of Northern Ireland, to raise 10 battalions of the Home Guard in cadre form at an early date. These battalions will form a military force under the command of the General Officer Commanding, Northern Ireland District. Their role in war, organisation and conditions of service will be similar to those of the Home Guard in this country except that the lower age limit for enrolment will be 30 instead of 18. Apart from this, Regulations for the Home Guard, 1952, will apply to Northern Ireland. I hope that registration of volunteers will begin next month.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the effects of Gunner J. O'Leary, missing in Malaya since 2nd March, 1951, will be released to the soldier's parents by the Combined Records Office, Bournemouth.

The personal effects of this soldier are being released at once to the person legally entitled to receive them.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that soldiers of the Regular Forces whose period of service expired just prior to the operation of the new scales of pension and retired pay now find themselves at a considerable disadvantage as compared with those enjoying the new rates; and whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that all time-expired soldiers of identical rank and length of service receive the same pension.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to Questions on this subject on 20th and 21st November last year.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the increased expense of fares, he will increase the number of free travel warrants granted in each year to soldiers of the Regular Forces.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for War how far it is still necessary for a soldier, serving on an overseas engagement, to seek the permission of his commanding officer before writing to the Member of Parliament in whose constituency his home is located about what he considers a grievance in regard to his engagement or circumstances of his work.

It is usually best both for the man and his unit if in military matters a complaint is made initially in the manner prescribed in Section 43 of the Army Act, and his attention is drawn to this fact. Even so, nothing is done to prevent a soldier writing to his Member of Parliament on any matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the British market is overstocked with Continental tie material; and what steps he is taking to protect home industries connected with the manufacture of ties.

The textile market as a whole is overstocked, but I am not aware that tie materials are in a worse position than other fabrics. Both made up ties and tie materials are included among the items of which we have recently had to restrict imports from Western Europe because of our balance of payments difficulties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give additional orders for the manufacture of nylon for parachutes to textile firms in the Macclesfield area, to stimulate business and relieve unemployment.

I understand that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply has at present under consideration tenders for the manufacture of a fairly substantial quantity of nylon fabric for parachutes, and that due regard will be paid in placing the orders to tenders submitted by firms in the Macclesfield area.

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 the latest available date.

Employment in factories administered by North-Eastern Trading Estates, Limited, in the Sunderland area on 29th March, 1952, which is the latest date for which this information is available, was 1,344 males and 3,422 females, making a total of 4,766.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the approximate prices in 1938 and 1950, and

Commodity and terms of sale (a)	Unit of Sale	Average Price		Latest Available Price (b)
		1938	1950
WOOL: world auction prices, converted to a clean basis, delivered London—
Merino, 64's	d. per lb.	21·3	162·4	116·0
Crossbred, 50's	d. per lb.	13·8	89·7	57·0
COTTON: American middling, 15/16 staple, Raw Cotton Commission issue price (c)	d. per lb.	5·3	35·8	41·0
RUBBER: ribbed smoked sheet, London, one month future	d. per lb.	7·2	33·7	32·1
LEAD: soft foreign pig, delivered consumers' works	£ per ton	15·3	106·4	163·0
COPPER: high conductivity electrolytic, delivered consumers' works	£ per ton	45·4	178·8	231·0
ZINC: good ordinary brand, delivered consumers' works	£ per ton	15·3	119·2	190·0
STEEL: billets for re-rolling, soft basic tested and guaranteed, delivered consumers' works	£ per ton	8·4	17·1	25·7
SULPHUR (d)	£ per ton	4·4	10·0	15·7
(a) The terms of sale apply to the 1950 and 1952 prices in all cases; for 1938 the prices given are those most nearly comparable.
(b) For week ending April 26th, 1952, except for sulphur, for which the average price for March is given.
(c) Prices for Egyptian cotton are omitted since the predominant types grown and sold have changed considerably since 1938.
(d) Average values of imports, c.i.f.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Agreement of 2nd November, 1950, concerning the import of educational scientific and cultural materials has not yet been ratified.

While, in practice, the United Kingdom already accords to such imports treatment substantially in accordance with the arrangements provided for in this Agreement, ratification would involve entering into a commitment to this effect for a minimum period of three years. Before giving such an undertaking, Her Majesty's Government naturally wish to be reasonably assured that there is some prospect that other important countries will reciprocally undertake to give

The table below gives the information required in respect of representative grades:United Kingdom exports of these materials similar treatment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to an announcement made by Patons and Baldwins, Limited, that fixed selling prices for their knitting wools have been restored with a mark-up averaging 42.86 per cent. on costs; and, in view of this and similar cases, if he will reconsider his decision not to proceed with legislation designed to prevent the fixing of minimum prices by manufacturers.

My right hon. Friend is aware of this announcement. No such decision as the hon. Member suggests has been taken, but my right hon. Friend does not intend to introduce legislation on the subject during the present Session.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the purchasing power of the £ sterling now, as compared with 1st November, 1951.

Figures for the dates mentioned are not available but taking the figure for October, 1951, as 20s. the corresponding figure for March. 1952, was 19s. 4d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the large annual sum which by way of compensation is paid to the former railway stockholders should be a national charge; and if he will consult the Minister of Transport to devise means whereby this annual sum should, in future, be paid by the Treasury instead of by British Railways.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. I am not willing to conduct the consultations described in the second part.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to implement the aims of Her Majesty's Government regarding the liberalisation of imports, the freeing of international payments and the expansion of trade.

We must clearly get our balance of payments right before we can proceed further in this direction.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his regulations provide for persons normally resident in the country to claim Income Tax allowance for living accommodation occupied by them in London in pursuance of their business activities, notwithstanding Section 137 (c) of the Income Tax Act, 1952.

If the hon. Member refers to the cost of maintaining a second private residence, no part of which was occupied for the purposes of the business, that cost would be wholly inadmissible in assessing business profits to Income Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his regulations provide for companies operating in the Metropolitan area to maintain living accommodation for the companies' directors or staff without the said accommodation being a personal Income Tax charge on the occupants, notwithstanding Clauses 123 and 137 of the Income Tax Act, 1952.

The cost of maintaining such living accommodation would be deductible in computing the company's profits for Income Tax purposes if it was incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the company's trade. The value of the benefit would normally be taxable as gross emoluments if the recipient was an employee earning £2,000 a year or more, or a director. In other cases the question of liability of the recipient would depend on the facts, but there are instances where liability would not arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of money to be spent with the textile industries in connection with the re-armament programme.

The £4,700 million defence programme included approximately £200 million for expenditure on clothing and textiles.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the effect of the Agricultural Prices Review upon the Cost-of-Living Index.

As I have already told the House, the total effect of the reduction in the food subsidies on the Cost-of-Living Index, when in full operation, will be a rise of about 4½ points. Towards this the effect of the Agricultural Prices Review, which I allowed for in my Budget calculations, will contribute something rather more than one point.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether rises in food prices to the consumer resulting from the recent farm Price Review were included in the figure of 1s. 6d. per head per week given by him in the Budget.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much Purchase Tax the present D Scheme is estimated to produce from leather footwear products in the United Kingdom;(2) how much Purchase Tax was derived from leather footwear products in the United Kingdom in the financial year 1951–52.

It was stated in reply to my right hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Leicester, South-East (Captain Waterhouse), that the yield of Purchase Tax from footwear of all kinds is expected to amount to about £3½ million under the D Scheme, as compared with about £3.3 million on the previous basis of taxation. I am afraid that the material on which these estimates were based does not permit a detailed analysis to be made as between the different kinds of footwear.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated capital movements during 1952 to date; and how far have they affected the improvement in the sterling area gold and dollar accounts.

I am not sure what my hon. Friend has in mind. I assume he is referring to the benefit to our receipts in March, which I mentioned in my statement of the 4th April, resulting from a revival of confidence in sterling. It is impossible to measure the effect of such movements, and I cannot add to what I said then.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Sussex County Cricket Club will have to increase the normal gate charge in the light of the new entertainment tax; that, following the increase from 1s. 6d. to 2s. in the gate charge last year, attendance at county matches fell from 93,413 in 1950 to 77,232 in 1951; that a further increase is bound to result in still lower attendance figures; that this will mean that the club will be unlikely to collect so much as last year in entertainment tax; that the finances of the cub are likely to be seriously jeopardised; what representations he has received about the position of other county cricket clubs; and if he will make a statement on the imposition of this tax.

I am aware of the figures quoted by my hon. and gallant Friend, though I am not sure that they necessarily carry the implications he suggests. I have received various representations concerning other county cricket clubs, which are being carefully considered, but as to the last part of his Question I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend to await the forthcoming debate on Clause 2 of the Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider compensating British Royal Air Force and other prisoners of Germany, who were maltreated, or the widows and dependants of those who were murdered, out of funds which may be paid as the result of the negotiations with Germany concerning pre-war debt compensation; or, if not, whether he will assure the negotiators for the other countries at the present conference that the moneys allocated to Great Britain to pay off pre-war debts will not be confiscated to set against moneys claimed for war damage.

These negotiations were for the purpose of arriving at a basis for the settlement of Germany's external pre-war indebtedness to private and Governmental creditors, the former being much the greater. Payments in respect of these old debts are not compensation and no question arises of their diversion to either of the purposes that the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Japanese assets in Malaya, Hong Kong and other Colonies were confiscated after the Japanese surrender; to what purposes they have been applied; why companies with a claim in Malaya were not compensated out of assets confiscated in other British Colonies; and why, therefore, holders of Japanese sterling bonds in England or neutral countries, should be asked to forgo what is owed to them, for this purpose, if other Japanese moneys in Hong Kong and elsewhere are not similarly used.

I am informed that the value of the Japanese assets in Government custody in Far Eastern British territory is estimated as follows:

Malaya	£4,666,000
Singapore	£2,570,000
North Borneo	£1,258,000
Sarawak	£336,000
Hong Kong	£1,250,000

These assets can be retained by Her Majesty's Government under Article 14 of the Treaty of Peace with Japan which came into effect yesterday. They therefore have not yet been applied for any purpose.Other British Far Eastern territories as well as Malaya have substantial claims in respect of acts by the Japanese during the war. It was decided not to pool claims and assets amongst the Far Eastern territories partly because the principal assets are not easily realisable and, in practice, can, therefore, only be fully exploited locally. There is no reason to suppose that under these ararngements Malaya has received less than its fair share.I am informed that, in the territories to which I have referred, a large proportion of the former Japanese assets has been earmarked for the purposes of local war damage compensation schemes.The claims of holders of Japanese sterling bonds are a different matter. Under Article 18 (

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount paid to charities under deeds of covenant in the latest financial year for which figures are available; and how much of this was repayment of Income Tax and how much relief, from Surtax.

The total amount paid to charities under deeds of covenant in the year to 31st March, 1952, is estimated at £9½ million, of which about £4½ million represents Income Tax repayments. The Surtax relief given to the covenantors is about £½ million. This amount is decreasing rapidly as no Surtax relief is due in respect of deeds executed after 10th April, 1946.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of seven-year deeds of convenant to charities, and the total number of seven-year deeds of covenant, in the latest financial year for which figures are available.

The total number of seven-year deeds of covenant in force in the year to 31st March, 1952, is estimated at about 600,000, of which about 550,000 were in favour of charities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is intended to apply the proposed increase in duty on light hydro-carbon oils to the white spirit used by dry cleaners as a cleaning solvent.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a fuller White Paper, with the usual figures, on the national income.

As stated in the foreword to the White Paper on Preliminary Estimates on National Income and Expenditure (Cmd. 8486) it is intended to issue a further publication giving more detailed figures.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the opinion of qualified oculists that the use of contact lenses justifies a lowering of the required standard of unaided vision for clerical and executive posts in the Civil Service, he will issue instructions that the wearing of such lenses is not to be regarded as an automatic disqualification for applicants for posts in the Board of Customs and Excise.

I presume that the hon. Member has in mind posts in the Departmental grade of officer of Customs and Excise, for which grade I am satisfied that a certain minimum standard of unaided eyesight is necessary because of the nature of the duties performed. In these circumstances it is failure to reach this standard which disqualifies, not the use of a particular type of correction to normal.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what were the circumstances that decided him to allow the appeals against the refusal of Newcastle-upon-Tyne Corporation to allow a house in Clayton Road, Jesmond, to be used as a social club, and another in the same road to be used as a furniture company offices.

My right hon. Friend allowed the appeals because in each case there was no likelihood of the premises being used for housing and the purposes for which it was proposed to use them were unobjectionable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many appeals he has received against refusals of Newcastle-upon-Tyne Corporation to allow houses to be used for other than living premises; and how many of these has he allowed.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 19. Of these one was withdrawn, 10 were allowed, and one is still pending.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) how many additional houses it is proposed to build in the city of Stoke-on-Trent to meet the needs of the National Coal Board; if be is aware that delays will be inevitable unless immediate steel supplies are forthcoming for foundation work; and what arrangements have been made to provide the necessary amount of re-enforcing steel to offset mining subsidence;(2) if he will speed up decisions from his Department as to the nature of the re-enforcement necessary for houses built and subject to mining subsidence in the City of Stoke-on-Trent;(3) whether he is aware of the difficulties the City of Stoke-on-Trent is experiencing in carrying out its housing programme as a result of coal mining subsidence and the lack of adequate steel supplies required for re-enforcement; and what action he is taking to deal with the problems.

The question of augmenting the normal local house-building programme to take account of the needs of the National Coal Board is being discussed with the council this week. Agreement has been reached on the nature of steel reinforcement to be provided for two types of foundations and that for a third type is being examined. Sufficient steel has been made available to ensure continuity of building during the next period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will draw the attention of local authorities, by circular, to the desirability of giving high priority on the housing lists to married men discharged from Her Majesty's Forces because of ill health.

The circular which my right hon. Friend sent to local authorities on 31st January should, he thinks, ensure that adequate consideration is given to such cases. He is sending his hon. Friend a copy of the circular.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many rent tribunals will remain in existence in Lancashire and Cheshire when his proposed reductions have been made effective.

Three.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to prevent buildings of historical or special architectural interest in the City of Lichfield, which have been scheduled by him under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, from being damaged by motor traffic.

My right hon. Friend knows of no buildings of historic or architectural interest in Lichfield which have been or are likely to be damaged by motor traffic. If the hon. Member will let him have particulars about any building that he may have in mind he will gladly have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when approval for the scheme to prevent a recurrence of the flooding in the Sheringham Road area of the borough of Poole is likely to go through, in view of the fact that in February last an investigation was promised at an early date.

BRITISH SUBJECTS EMIGRATING (a) FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM
MALES
—		To Australia		To New Zealand
		1946	1951 (b)	1946	1951 (b)
Occupation:
Agricultural		65	1,472	42	223
Commercial, Finance and Insurance		415	2,403	175	704
Professional		222	1,158	175	380
Skilled Trades	Mining and Quarrying	17	360	5	19
	Metal and Engineering	303	3,770	142	435
	Building	236	1,281	21	135
	Other	169	3,812	90	648
Transport and Communications		55	1,078	27	182
Labourers, not in Agriculture or Transport		23	1,622	13	63
Others		339	2,712	176	541
Children under 15		…	8,427	…	1,067
Children under 18		1,029	…	642	…
TOTAL		2,873	28,095	1,508	4,397
Age:
Under 5		…	3,354	…	471
5–14		…	5,073	…	596
15–19		…	1,563	…	215
Under 12		922	…	570	…
12–17		107	…	72	…
18–19		28	…	9	…
20–24		166	2,851	34	524
25–29		248	3,348	101	473
30–34		281	2,917	145	391
35–44		496	5,210	258	739
45–54		303	2,134	134	392
55 and over		277	1,570	174	546
Not specified		45	75	11	50
TOTAL		2,873	28,095	1,508	4,397
(a) Travelling direct by sea to take up residence for a year or more.
(b) Estimates based on a 50 per cent. sample.
… Not available.

The investigation has been made and I am awaiting my inspector's report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will furnish an analysis by age, sex and trade of persons who left the United Kingdom for Australia and New Zealand, respectively, in each of the years 1946 and 1951, with the intention of taking up residence in those Dominions.

Information is available only about emigrants travelling direct by sea.The tables below give details in respect of British emigrants:

asked the Minister of Food the amount by which it is estimated that the profit margins of manufacturers and distributors will be increased during 1952–53 as a result of the Feeding Stuffs (Prices) Amendment Order, 1952 (S.I. 1952, No. 759).

There is no increase in the profit element of the margins of manufacturers or in the margins of distributors as a result of the Feeding Stuffs (Prices) (Amendment) Order, 1952.

asked the Minister of Health what was the average cost of prescriptions issued in Huddersfield in each of the first four years of the National Health scheme.

5th July, 1948, to 31st December, 1948, 2s. 9½d.; 1949, 3s. 0½d.; 1950, 3s. 3d.The figure for 1951 is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health what was the average cost of a National Health Service prescription in Harrogate, Ilkley, Dewsbury and Barnsley, respectively, in each of the years 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951.

Separate information for Harrogate and Ilkley is not available. The figures for 1951 are not yet completed. The information available is as follows:

	Barnsley		Dewsbury
	s.	d.	s.	d.
5th July, 1948, to 31st December, 1948	2	6·8	2	5·2
1949	2	8·2	2	7·8
1950	2	11·5	2	10·6

asked the Minister of Health what was the average cost of a National Health Service prescription in Bath and Bournemouth, respectively, in each of the years 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951.

Figures for 1951 are not yet completed. The information available is as follows:

	Bath		Bournemouth
	s.	d.	s.	d.
5th July7, 1948, to 31st December, 1948	3	5	3	4·5
1949	3	8·6	3	9·7
1950	3	10·2	3	11·9

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will introduce new regulations for shipbuilding and ship repairing following upon the preliminary draft of a new code issued by his Department in August, 1950.

It is proposed to discuss the preliminary draft with representatives of various interested bodies and then to prepare a revised draft, which, under the statutory procedure, will have to be published and objections considered before the regulations could be finally made. The right hon. and learned Gentleman will appreciate that the task is a substantial one, involving consideration of a good deal of detail by parties concerned, and I am afraid that some time must inevitably elapse before the new code can be finally settled. I will, however, do all I can to speed up the procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about constitutional changes in Jamaica.

Yes. I have sent the following message to the Governor of Jamaica.I have considered the reports which you have made to me on constitutional questions in Jamaica following your discussions with representatives of the two political parties and with the unofficial members of the Legislative Council.I understand that there is general agreement amongst those whom you have consulted that changes should be made where the working of the existing Constitution has shown that they are most needed, namely, in the Executive.I welcome the proposal to relieve the pressure of work in the Executive Council by the establishment of separate Ministries and the allotment of executive functions to Ministers.I also welcome the proposal that the number of Members of the House of Representatives on the Executive Council should be increased so that they form a majority of the Council. If this change is made, it will be necessary to delete from the Constitution the provision which requires the Governor to obtain the agreement of the Executive Council before using his reserve power.I agree in principle with the proposal that the appointment of Members of the House to the Executive Council, and their removal, should be undertaken by the Governor on the recommendation of the leader of the majority party.You have requested, and I agree, that a period should be allotted to provide an opportunity for public discussion of these proposals. I look forward to receiving thereafter your detailed proposals so that I may decide as soon as possible what changes in the constitutional instruments I should advise Her Majesty to make.