asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) in view of the resolution adopted by the West German Bundestag on 8th February, 1952, that the German Federal Republic must demand the restoration of full legislative powers and must in principle be free to decide what legislation and Acts of the occupation should be preserved, what instructions have been given to the representative of Her Majesty's Government on this matter as concerns the contractual agreements now being negotiated between Her Majesty's Government and the German Federal Republic;(2) in view of the resolution adopted by the West German Bundestag on 8th February, 1952, to the effect that all differences arising out of the contractual relations between the Federal Republic and the Allied Forces must be subject to arbitration by impartial arbitration tribunals composed upon a basis of parity, what instructions have been given to the representative of Her Majesty's Government on this subject in negotiating the contractual agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the West German Government.

As already stated in answer to the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, East (Mr. Bence), today, in the working out of the contractual relations, account has naturally been taken of the resolutions of the Bundestag as of all other relevant factors. The House will be informed of all the provisions of the agreements when the negotiations have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider making the necessary proposals for the calling of a Four Power Conference to discuss the settlement of the German problem.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend to the hon. and learned Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Bing).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the purpose of the visit of Mr. Paul Mason, an Assistant Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to Moscow.

Mr. Mason supervises the Foreign Office Department dealing with relations with the Soviet Union. He was paying an informal visit to Moscow in this capacity to gain firsthand acquaintance with the work of Her Majesty's Embassy. Such visits by senior officials are a normal practice, which I am sure the House will welcome. During the visit Mr. Mason paid a courtesy call on the Soviet Minister for Foreign Affairs.

asked the Minister of Food what allocation of sugar is to be granted to the canning industry for this year's crop; and how it will compare with last year's allocation.

Eighteen thousand and fifty tons which is the same as last year's allocation.

asked the Minister of Food when an announcement may be expected about the new system of sugar allocation between food manufacturing firms, following the import cuts in sugar announced last November.

My right hon. and gallant Friend hopes to be able to consult the trade within a fortnight. I cannot yet say how soon it will be possible to introduce an alternative scheme.

asked the Minister of Food what cuts were made in sugar allocation to firms within the Food Manufacturers' Federation, following the import cuts of last November.

The industries represented by the Food Manufacturers' Federation, which comprise only a part of the sugar using industries, have had their allocations cut by some 15,000 tons per annum. This cut has been apportioned by the Ministry among individual firms irrespective of membership of the Federation.

asked the Minister of Food what representations he has received from manufacturers whose supplies of fondant sugar have been cut off as a result of the cancellation of import licences last November; what machinery exists in his Department for keeping in contact with these independent manufacturers; and whether he will reconsider his rationing arrangements so as to spread the burden of these cuts more equitably over the whole industry.

A number of manufacturers have drawn my right hon. and gallant Friend's attention to the hardship, of which he is well aware, caused by the cuts in imports of fondant. Manufacturers, whether they belong to trade organisations or not, are free to put their case to my Department and frequently do so. As regards the last part of the Question, my right hon. and gallant Friend is considering the problem and hopes to consult the trade on it within a fortnight.

asked the Minister of Food how much sugar is available from dollar sources and at what prices; and if he will take steps to explain to the British people that sugar rations could be materially increased if the price, quality and quantity of our dollar exports were improved.

There is enough dollar sugar in the world to free us from sugar rationing. It is impossible to estimate what the prices would be under such conditions of altered demand. The importance of increasing exports to earn more dollars with which to buy this and other desirable foods has been emphasised again and again by members of Her Majesty's Government, and cannot be repeated too often.

asked the Minister of Food how, in fixing selling prices of tea, he ascertains the percentage of expensive high-grown flavoured teas and of low-grown, cheap, common teas in the blended packets sold; and how he secures quality in proportion to price.

The Tea (Prices) Order confines the range of blends to those on sale on 1st February, 1947, and prescribes the maximum addition which may be made to the prices on that date. Successive Governments have secured the close cooperation of the trade in carrying out the requirements of this Order and my right hon. and gallant Friend is satisfied that this co-operation continues.

asked the Minister of Food what it is estimated will be the price of the best blends of tea when the subsidy is withdrawn on 15th June.

There are several thousand individual blends. The trade have undertaken to market sound quality teas at 3s. 8d., 3s. 10d. and 4s. per lb. after 15th June. I cannot say how far other teas will be sold below maximum prices. but as the hon. Member knows this is a highly competitive trade.

asked the Minister of Food how many representations he has had from food manufacturing firms, outside the Food Manufacturers' Federation, following the import cuts of last November.

Seven firms in the industries generally represented by the Food Manufacturers' Federation have made individual representations. We do not know whether these firms are members of the Federation or not, for we do not ask.

asked the Minister of Food what have been the losses on potatoes used for stockfeeding for each year separately since 1945.

Separate figures are not available for the 1945 and 1946 crops. Subsequently the losses on stockfeed potatoes, including those processed for this purpose, have been:

asked the Minister of Food what the prospects now are of increased egg supplies this summer.

I hope we shall be at least as well off this summer as last though the final outcome is beyond human control.

asked the Minister of Food what is the quantity and value of poultry imported from Australia, New Zealand and Denmark, respectively, since 1st January, 1952.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on the surplus foods available in Canada; what they consist of; and what steps he is taking to secure them for the British people.

As a consequence of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, Canada's exports of livestock and fresh meat to the U.S.A. have been stopped for the time being. This may lead to a surplus of meat in Canada in the course of the year, but it is too soon to estimate the size of this potential surplus. As to the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. and gallant Friend on 7th April.

asked the Minister of Food (1) how many prosecutions have taken place under the Food Standards (Preserves) Order, 1944, in the 12 months ended 30th April, 1952; and with what results;(2) how many sample tests have been taken by his officers and those of the administering authorities under the Food Standards (Preserves) Order, 1944, in the 12 months ended 30th April, 1952; and if he can give a report of their findings.

The latest information relates to the year ended 31st December, 1951. Two thousand eight hundred and seventeen samples of preserves were analysed on behalf of local authorities in England and Wales. Of these 64 did not fully comply with the standards. One prosecution was undertaken and resulted in conviction.

asked the Minister of Food what action he proposes to take on the Report of the Food Standards Committee on jam and marmalade.

I cannot yet add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Mr. Baker White) on Monday, 5th May.

asked the Minister of Food whether the dissolution of the Currant Exporters Union in Greece which has now been decided on will lead to the abolition of currants control by his Department in the very near future.

I am informed that the dissolution of this Union is still under consideration. As regards our own future arrangements, I cannot at present add to what my right hon. and gallant Friend said on 21st April.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the loss of cattle sustained in the recent drought by the Queensland Corporation with the consequent reduction in supplies to Great Britain, he will take all steps possible to discover alternative sources and so prevent a further reduction in the weekly ration.

Although the Queensland Corporation's cattle have been little affected by the drought, I fear that exports of meat from Australia generally will be seriously reduced by it. We shall take all possible steps to make good from other sources any fall in imports we suffer.

asked the Minister of Food how far, having regard to the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Meat Inspection, he has arranged for each of the experimental and demonstration slaughterhouses to be under the supervision of a veterinary officer, in order to ensure the efficient ante mortem inspection of all animals received for slaughter, the highest standard of meat inspection and also the most expert examination of the practical problems of providing adequate meat inspection services.

Responsibility for the inspection of meat rests with local authorities. My Department will be prepared to discuss arrangements at the experimental slaughterhouses with the local authorities concerned, and the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Meat Inspection will be borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Food when he will restore the butter ration to four ounces.

I regret that I cannot forecast ration levels.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give details of food and feedingstuffs of which his Department is the sole purchaser and if he will say which purchases are from overseas and which from home.

The following list shows the main groups of foods and feedingstuffs which are procured from home and overseas sources by my Department as sole purchaser. Most of these groups also include some individual items which are not purchased by the Ministry.

Main groups of commodities purchased by the Ministry of Food as sole purchaser

• ^*Imported cereals.
• ^*Rice.
• Sugar.
• Carcase meat and offal.
• ^*Canned corned meat.
• Bacon.
• Milk.
• Milk products.
• Eggs and egg products.
• Oilseeds, oils and fats.
• ^*Coffee.
• ^*Dried fruit (excluding figs and dates).
• ^*Canned peaches, pears, apricots, grapefruit, pineapples and mandarin oranges, and mixtures containing one or more of these kinds.
• Starch.
• Animal feedingstuffs.
• ^*Canned salmon, crab, sardines, sild, pilchards and herrings.
• Bananas.
• ^*Welfare orange juice.

The Ministry purchases of the items starred are confined to imports.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give a list of food and feedingstuffs which are subject to price control.

Following is the information:

• Foods
• Bacon and Ham.
• Bananas.
• Barley.
• Biscuits, sweetened.
• Bread.
• Butter.
• Canned Fish, Imported. (Certain varieties only.)
• Canned Fruit, Imported. (Certain varieties only.)
• Canned Meats, Home Produced and Imported. (Certain varieties only.)
• Cereal Fillers.
• Cheese, types suitable for ration.
• Chocolate and Sugar Confectionery.
• Chocolate Couverture.
• Coffee. (Pure and Mixtures.)
• Condensed Milk, canned.
• Cream, clotted.
• Dredge Corn.
• Dried Fruits. (Certain varieties only.)
• Dripping.
• Eggs in Shell.
• Egg Products. (Dried Egg and Frozen Egg.)
• Flour.
• Glucose, liquid.
• Invert Sugar.
• Lard and Compound Cooking Fat.
• Margarine.
• Meat and Edible Offal.
• Meat Products, Home Produced and Imported. (Certain varieties only.)
• Milk.
• Oats.
• Potatoes, Ware and Seed.
• Rice and Rice Products.
• Starch.
• Sugar.
• Syrup and Treacle.
• Tea.
• Wheat and Wheat by-products.
• Animal Feedingstuffs
• Animal (Protein) Feedingstuffs.
• Cereal by-products.
• Dried Potatoes.
• Dried Sugar Beet Pulp.
• Feeding Grains.
• Locust Beans.
• oilseed Cakes and Meals.
• Processed Feeding Grains.
• Tapioca Roots.

Compounds and Mixtures containing any one or more of the above.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement detailing the various bulk purchase contracts relating to food supplies and indicate which he does not intend to renew.

I will place in the Library a copy of the Ministry of Food Bulletin for 10th May, 1952. This will contain details of all contracts now current, which covered two seasons or more when they were made by the Ministry. Any announcement about renewal or non-renewal of particular contracts will be made at the appropriate time.

asked the Minister of Food what is the weight and value of the paper required for the additional six pages of coupons in the new ration books.

One hundred and eighty-four tons of paper worth about £23,500.

asked the Minister of Food the reasons for increasing the price of coffee and coffee compounds by 5d. per lb. as from 6th May.

Because of the higher average purchase price which the Ministry has agreed to pay certain colonial planters and increased costs of roasting, packing and distribution.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence whether any decision has yet been come to about the appointment of a commander for the sea, land and air Forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in the Eastern Mediterranean; and whether he can make a statement.

No decision has yet been reached, and I regret that I am not at present in a position to make any statement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence whether he will now reduce the period of extra service imposed on Regular Service men at the expiration of their normal service time; and whether he will reduce the period of National Service from two years to its former period of 18 months.

Subject to the requirements of the international situation the Service Departments intend progressively to release Regulars retained beyond their normal term of service. Arrangements have now been made for all retained Regular Service men in the Army and the Air Force to be released by September, 1953; in the Navy it is hoped progressively to reduce the length of retention from 1953, but it is not yet possible to state when all retentions will cease.The answer to the second part of the Question is "No."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence for how long, and to what extent, the napalm bomb has been used in Korea by British troops.

The napalm bomb is a ground attack weapon. As the R.A.F. unit in Korea is a maritime reconnaissance squadron no need for its use by the R.A.F. has arisen.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give figures to show the extent to which passenger traffic, by omnibus, between Edinburgh and London, has grown over the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the present unsatisfied demand for seats.

The licensing authority is informed by Scottish Omnibuses that the number of passenger journeys made in their vehicles between Edinburgh and London in the five years 1947–1951 were 26,007; 40,420; 41,021; 43,630; and 51,702 from Edinburgh to London and 25,794; 39,930; 40,627; 42,801 and 51,054 from London to Edinburgh. Northern Roadways say that the passenger journeys in their vehicles from May to December, 1951, were 10,891 southwards and 8,588 northwards.Scottish Omnibuses state they had a waiting list of 5,249 southwards and 5,098 northwards just before their vehicle allowance was increased on April 25th.Northern Roadways say they have at present a waiting list of 4,241 southwards and 2,200 northwards. The same persons may, of course, figure on the lists of both operators.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to introduce a new constitution in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement

No new steps are being taken. The constitutional offer of 1948 still remains open.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that no topographical survey of the Cayman Islands has ever been made; and whether he will examine the desirability of such a survey.

We have not surveyed the Cayman Islands yet. Our resources are still concentrated on producing maps for urgent territorial development schemes, which must have priority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further consultations have taken place and what progress has been made in respect of the diminution or abolition of corporal punishment as penalties inflicted on offenders in colonial territories; and what correlation there is between the reduction of the number of sentences of this form of punishment and the incidence of crime.

Most colonial Governments have now reported what action they consider can be taken in this matter. In 10 territories corporal punishment for adults was not in force. Five others intend that it should be abolished and most of the rest propose that further limitation should be placed upon the types of case in which it can be awarded. It is too early to hazard any estimate whatever of the effect of the recent changes on crime.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what the general principles are upon which Governors of Colonies can decide to exclude from their territories British citizens born in neighbouring British Colonial Territories.

In most Colonies there is legislation providing that British subjects, as well as aliens, may be refused admission on certain specified grounds. In addition, there is usually a residuary power under which the Governor-in-Executive Council may refuse admission to any person who is considered to be an undesirable visitor. Decisions are taken in the light of local conditions and on the merits of each case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what advice he proposes to give to Colonial Governments in view of the fact that the benefits intended to be conferred upon new industries by colonial legislation exempting them from taxation for a given initial period accrue to the United Kingdom Treasury as a result of the operation of double taxation agreements.

The whole question of tax incentives by Her Majesty's Government to industries operating in the Colonies is at present under discussion, and I regret that I can say no more at this stage. I should point out, however, that the difficulties to which my hon. Friend refers were not created by the double taxation agreements. They existed before these agreements came into force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many students from British Guiana are at present studying in Britain; and whether a student's centre is available for their use.

The number is 180. There is no centre for British Guiana students alone, but the hostels and centres of the British Council are open to them together with other colonial students.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the quantity of peanuts, lying at Kano. awaiting transport to the coast.

The quantity of groundnuts lying at Kano on 24th April and awaiting transport to the coast was 255,800 tons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the campaign for the voluntary cutting-down of cocoa trees achieved success in the Gold Coast; how far seed trees have been planted; whether all these are proving to be disease-resisting or immune from disease; and what are the prospects in regard to the industry during the next five years.

The campaign to publicise the "New Deal" for cocoa and to win the co-operation of the farmers made possible the recent decision of the Gold Coast Government that general cutting out of diseased trees shall begin again forthwith. Considerable replanting has taken place in recent years and this will now be intensified. No type of cocoa tree which can resist disease or is immune from it has yet been developed. There is no slackening in world demand for cocoa and the prosperity of the industry will depend on the effectiveness of the measures to he taken to rehabilitate it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Mr. William Strachan the Secretary and representative of the Caribbean and West Indian students at present in London and the secretary of their British organisation, at present on a tour of the West Indian Colonies at the request of the students has been denied entrance into the island of Trinidad by the Governor, Sir Hubert Rance, as an alleged undesirable character and thus excluded from making contacts between Trinidadian students in Britain and their friends and relatives in Trinidad; and whether this action was approved by him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds Billy Strachan, a Jamaican who served as a flying officer in the war, has been excluded from Trinidad.

I am not aware that Mr. Strachan is either an official or a representative of the recognised organisation of West Indian students in London. He is a Jamaican by birth who is a member of the British Communist Party. He was deemed to be an undesirable visitor to Trinidad under the Trinidad Immigration (Restriction) Ordinance. The decision is not that of the Governor personally but of the Governor in Executive Council, a majority of whom are elected members of the Legislature and hold ministerial portfolios. The matter is not one which requires my approval and I am not prepared to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Councillor Mrs. J. Jagan of Georgetown, British Guiana, was classed as an undesirable citizen of the West Indies and as such was refused leave to land in Trinidad as a temporary visitor.

Mrs. Jagan was deemed by the Governor-in-Council under the Trinidad Immigration (Restriction) Ordinance, to be an undesirable visitor to Trinidad, and consequently became a prohibited immigrant. This is a matter within the discretion of the Trinidad Government and, as I have explained in reply to an earlier Question, I am not prepared to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how long the present term of office of Sir Hubert Rance, Governor of Trinidad and Tobago, is to last; and what is his estimated gubernatorial pension on retirement.

Approximately another three years. Sir Hubert Rance's eligibility for a pension under the Governor's Pensions Acts will depend on his length of qualifying service at the time of his retirement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will secure information and publish in HANSARD in respect of differences of service, emoluments and amenities afforded to Africans, Indians and Europeans, respectively, in the Kenya medical and civil services.

No. To comply with this request would involve publishing in HANSARD a list of many hundreds of posts in the Kenya Service. I am, however, sending the hon. Member a copy of the Kenya Estimates which contains many of the particulars in question. Broadly speaking, conditions of service are based on the recommendations of the Holmes Commission, except that, apart from an element of expatriation allowance in European emoluments, the salary scales and conditions of service attached to the numerous grades are assessed on the nature of the duties and not according to race.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the decisions recently taken for the development of British Honduras; and what are the main results which it is hoped to achieve as a result of the decisions.

The British Honduras Government are now completing the first stage of their Development Plan. I have recently approved the second part of the Plan, which involves expenditure of about £1,400,000. Towards this, grants amounting to …800,000 will be made from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds. Certain projects will be financed by loan.Most of this expenditure will be on the improvement of agriculture, electricity, roads and port facilities. It is hoped by improving existing methods to encourage efficient cultivation of new areas, thereby demonstrating the agricultural possibilities of the country.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement on the recent engagements in which the Royal Marines have been concerned in Malaya.

For the greater part of its two years' service in operational conditions in Malaya, the Third Commando Brigade has been responsible for the security of the State of Perak in conjunction with the police. Troops have had ample opportunities to engage Communist bandits and have accounted for 172 bandits killed and 50 captured at a loss to themselves of 4 officers and 17 other ranks.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that considerably more than the month allowed for comments from the relevant trade unions has now elapsed, he will announce the policy of the Government on the Terrington Report on Post Office Employees.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that some two months have elapsed since he invited the associations affected by the Terrington Committee report to comment on its recommendations and gave them a month in which to do so, he will now announce the decision of the Postmaster-General on the recommendations of this report and on outstanding claims for recognition from various associations of Post Office employees.

My noble Friend has not completed his consideration of the Report and of the comments made on it and I am not, therefore, yet able to make a statement on the matter.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General which associations among those affected by the Terrington Report, whether recognised or not, have so far responded to his invitation to furnish their observations on the Report.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my Written reply of 6th May to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Pitman).

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is satisfied that, in connection with the increased postal rates to come into effect on 1st May, an extra burden will not be thrown on Post Office counter clerks, sorters, etc., in checking the postage and notifying the public of understamped letters.

Changes in postal rates make some extra work at the outset. It is largely temporary and cannot be wholly avoided, although publicity and the co-operation of the public can do much to reduce it.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will consider issuing stamps valued at one shilling and threepence to meet the new air mail rates.

This proposal is being carefully studied and if, as seems likely, it is found that there is sufficient demand for a stamp of this value it will be issued in the permanent series.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that there was delay in the collection and delivery of mail from Netteswell, Essex, on Monday, 21st April; what was the reason for this; and if he will take steps to prevent a recurrence.

I am not aware of any delay to the collection or delivery services in this area on 21st April, but if the hon. Member will let me have particulars I will look into the matter.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is prepared to initiate action in view of the difficulties about copyright in sport in television which has been a contributory factor over many years in preventing some of the outstanding sporting events being seen by viewers, and which is likely again to prevent the Derby being televised this year.

My noble Friend feels that it would be inappropriate for him to intervene in this matter while the question of copyright is being examined by the Copyright Committee appointed by the Board of Trade.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of television licences taken out in each of the last six months; and if he can give an estimate of how far the increase during some months was attributable to the activities of the Post Office detection van and the publicity given to its movements by the British Broadcasting Corporation's television newsreel.

In the six months ended 31st March, 1952, the number of television licences increased by approximately 500,000. This increase has no doubt been influenced by the opening of the B.B.C. stations at Holme Moss and Kirk O'Shotts, by Post Office publicity and the use of a detector van, and by publicity in the B.B.C. Television Service and the "Radio Times," but I cannot estimate how far it may be due to any particular cause. The monthly figures are as follow:

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation what machinery exists for determining the requirements for civil aviation aeroplanes.

Requirements for civil aircraft are considered by the Inter-Departmental Civil Aircraft Requirements Committee on which the Departments concerned and the air corporations are represented. The Committee is concerned with the design and development of future civil aircraft types and with the review of progress of aircraft under development.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation whether, when considering the introduction of helicopter services between London and provincial centres, he will bear in mind the need of a suitable service for Sheffield.

When commercial helicopter services can be introduced the claims of Sheffield will certainly be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Dyaks have been recruited for service in Malaya; in what units they are serving and what steps are taken to ensure that they behave in accordance with the laws and usages of war.

There are at present 264 Dyaks in Malaya operating as trackers. They are serving with all the British battalions, two battalions of the Malay Regiment, two battalions of the King's African Rifles and a Gurkha battalion.As regards the third part of the Question, they invariably operate with, and are controlled by, officers or non-commissioned officers of the units to which they are attached.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present number of dentists registered under the provisions of the Dentists Act, 1921, without university qualification, who are listed by local executive committees for the provision of dental treatment under the National Health Service Scheme and who will be entitled to retire on pension after 1958.

There were 3,821 dentists registered under the provisions of the Dentists Act, 1921, at 1st January, 1952. I regret that the rest of the information required is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost per head of the local population for National Health Service prescriptions in Dewsbury, Barnsley, Bournemouth and Bath, respectively, in each of the years 1948, 1949 and 1950.

The average cost per person for whom doctors prescribe is as follows:

asked the Minister of Health what was the average cost of prescriptions issued in Stockton-on-Tees in each of the first four years of the National Health Service.

I regret that the information is not available as the figures are included in those for the Durham County Executive Council.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average cost of prescriptions issued in Sunderland in each of the first four years of the National Health Service.

The information available is as follows:

asked the Minister of Health the number of people waiting to be admitted to mental hospitals in Tunbridge Wells; and what is the average length of time that a patient has to wait for admission.

Five persons are awaiting admission to the mental hospital serving Tunbridge Wells. The average waiting period for certified patients is one week for men and two weeks for women; for voluntary patients it is one week for men and possibly some months for women.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of alastrim or mild smallpox have been recorded in Rochdale during the past three months; how many of them were recorded in vaccinated persons; how many were fatal; and what was the cost of isolating those that were isolated.

One hundred and thirty-eight cases have been notified in the outbreak in the Rochdale area. Individual vaccinal particulars are being compiled but are not yet complete. There have been no deaths. It is not practicable separately to compute the cost mentioned in the last part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the mild disease recorded as smallpox at Rochdale resulted in no deaths while vaccination was the cause of the death of a previously healthy young man; and whether, in view of the more serious results of vaccination, as compared with this mild form of smallpox, he will discourage vaccination during such outbreaks.

I am aware of the facts mentioned but am unable to accept the hon. Member's deduction or do as he suggests.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet received the report of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission on the supply of insulated electric wires and cables.

Yes. I received this report on 25th April. It will be laid before Parliament as soon at it is printed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the average salary increase granted to the 8,504 established civil servants in receipt of salaries of £1,000 per annum since 1946 to the latest convenient date.

These civil servants comprise a very large number of different grades each with different rates of salary. The calculation of the average increase could not be undertaken without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour and its result would be quite meaningless. If the hon. Member will let me know which particular grade he has in mind I will let him have details of the actual increases received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far, when he made his calculation that the effect of the reduction in the food subsidies may involve an average cost per head of the population of Is. 6d. a week, he made allowance for reductions in rations.

The calculation of ls. 6d. a week on a ration book was made on an estimate of ration levels for 1952–53. A calculation based on the present actual level of rations would give about the same figure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the amount of the food subsidy which is necessary on an average to lower the interim cost-of-living index one point.

During 1951–52 the subsidy cost of one point in the interim index of retail prices (which varies according to the food considered) averaged between £40 million and £50 million. There is no reason to expect any substantial change in 1952–53.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the extent to which greater fuel saving might be achieved by increasing the efficiency of stoking, he will consider the desirability of calling a conference at an early date of representatives of employers and trade unions concerned, with a view to evolving a plan for the certification of stokers.

The certification of stokers is being considered by my Fuel Efficiency Advisory Committee. I propose to await their recommendations before considering the desirability of calling the interested parties together.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in fluoridation of water supplies, the fluorine is added in the form of salts, or in what other form is it added.

In this country fluoride is not yet added to water supplies. In the United States of America, however, there is a growing practice to make such an addition and the fluoride is usually added as sodium fluoride, sodium silico-fluoride (fluosilicate) or hydrofluosilicic acid. The first two of these compounds are solid salts, but are usually made into an aqueous solution before adding to the water. Hydrofluosilicic acid is purchased as an aqueous solution.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many townships formally approved under the Hill Farming Act are owned by the Department of Agriculture.

Three.

Price asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will introduce legislation to increase the scale of lump sum gratuities payable under the Industrial Injuries Act where a final assessment of under 20 per cent. disablement has been made.

I would refer the hon. Member to the second schedule of the Family Allowances and National Insurance Bill presented to this House on 22nd April.

asked the Minister of Labour how many registered disabled persons were unemployed in the borough and rural district of Newcastle-under-Lyme at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of them had been unemployed for more than six months and more than 12 months. respectively.

At 17th March, 1952 the number was 140 including 59 unemployed for over twelve months and 18 for between six and twelve months.