asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will consider the publication of cables and discussions concerning the meat negotiations with the Argentine last year. which were held up because of our inability to supply coal, petrol, tinplate and steel at prices and at quantities required by the Argentine, in order to teach the British people that extra meat imports must not be expected unless greater exports are made available;(2) what additional exports he has been asked for by countries from which he has been attempting to secure additional food supplies.

It would be undesirable and contrary to well established practice to publish the details of the diplomatic exchanges which take place in the course of trade negotiations and Her Majesty's Government could not agree therefore to make public correspondence relating to the meat negotiations with Argentina last year.I do not think that it is practicable over the whole field of our trade negotiations with other countries to relate as closely as my hon. Friend suggests the possibility of increased supplies of foodstuffs to increased supplies from the United Kingdom of the commodities he has in mind. But I would certainly agree with the moral that my hon. Friend seeks to draw that we shall only be able to buy essential foodstuffs and raw materials overseas on the scale we need if we in turn can sell the essential commodities which other countries want at the price they are prepared to pay.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the estimated total value of the Government orders for woollen textiles in 1952.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind orders under the scheme for placing additional defence contracts for textiles up to a value of £20-25 million. I cannot say how much of the £20–25 million will be spent on wool textiles. A substantial contract for khaki serge has, however, recently been placed under these arrangements, and further contracts for wool goods will be placed by the Ministry of Supply in the early future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the application made to him on behalf of doctors for some relaxation in the restrictions on the hire-purchase of motor cars: and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. To assist doctors in their service to the public, I am willing to consider applications for licences from doctors in or entering general practice who do not own and have not recently owned a car, allowing them to pay off the balance of the purchase price in a longer period than the maximum of 18 months laid down in the Hire-Purchase and Credit Sale Agreements (Control) Order, 1952. Applications will not normally be considered in respect of cars costing more than £800, and the maximum period for repayment will be three years. Doctors who satisfy these conditions may apply for licences through their professional organisations or direct to the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date the Report of the Copyright Committee will be published.

I understand that the Copyright Committee are engaged in drafting their Report, but I cannot forecast when this will be completed and the Report presented and published.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what support he has given to the Wool Committee of the International Materials Conference for the banning of further wool stockpiling; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply. No proposal to ban further stockpiling has been put forward by the Wool Committee of the International Materials Conference. No question of support by Her Majesty's Government therefore arises. Our own wool stockpiling programme is proceeding according to plan.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will instruct his representatives on the Rubber Study Group in Ottawa, to raise the question of the selling price of 23c. per pound, which has been fixed for synthetic rubber, and the effect this is likely to have upon the sales and price realised for natural rubber.

Instructions to this effect have already been given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to increased pensions for retired civil servants.

I have as yet nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Leeds. Central (Mr. Porter), on 23rd April.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been brought to documents issued on 1st March, 1952, by the Central Office of Information under reference R2323, 2324, 2325, 2326 and 2327, entitled Government and Administration of the United Kingdom; and, since such publications are not a useful expenditure of public money when the same material is already available in standard works, if he will secure their discontinuance.

These documents were produced by the Central Office of Information at the request of the Foreign Office, Commonwealth Relations Office and the Colonial Office for overseas circulation. The information they contain is not readily available in concise form elsewhere. The answer to the second part of the Question is, No.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the value of £2,000 in terms of the value prevailing when this figure was chosen for the level of income at which Surtax begins.

Surtax, then called Super-tax, was charged at £2,000 for 1920–21 for the first time. It is estimated that in March, 1952, £3,000 had approximately the same value in terms of purchasing power as £2,000 had in 1920–21.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the internal purchasing power of the pound sterling to the nearest convenient date, as compared with 20s. in July, 1945.

About 13s. 10d. in March, 1952, as compared with an average of 20s. in 1945.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement with regard to the capital requirements of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board.

Yes. The Board have proposed a further issue of stock for the purpose of repaying temporary advances from the Scottish Banks and defraying further expenditure on constructional schemes, and for other authorised purposes. These proposals have been approved and accordingly the Board have today issued to the National Debt Commissioners under Treasury Guarantee £20 million of North of Scotland Electricity 4¼ per cent. Guaranteed Stock 1974–1979 at £98 10s. per cent. The effect of this issue is to increase the outstanding capital of the Board to £62 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date it was announced that the additional foreign travel allowance in respect of a motor-cycle would be limited to £5: on what date the limitation took effect: and what amount of foreign currency he estimates will be saved by this restriction.

This allowance was announced on 31st March and took effect from 1st April. Previously there had been no fixed allowance for motor-cycles. It is not possible to estimate the financial effect of the change.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the Navy List, containing both the Active List and the Retired List could be bought in 1938 for 4s. whereas today the Active List costs 25s. and the Retired List 12s. 6d.

The difference in price is due to three factors: the increased size of the Lists, the increased production costs, and a necessary change of practice affecting the Active List.Up to 1939, official and sale copies were printed together as a single edition at a low average cost per copy. The official and sale copies of the Retired List are still printed as a single edition; but, for security reasons, the post-war sale edition of the Active List is prepared in a different form from the official copies and is printed from separate type; the edition is small and a relatively high price is unavoidable. The price of 25s. does not, in fact, cover the cost of production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the infestation of Irish cattle with the warble fly, he will issue regulations so that these cattle may be treated with anti-warble fly dressing at their port of entry into this country, thereby reducing the spread of the warble fly in this country.

The Warble Fly (Dressing of Cattle) Order of 1948 provides that infested cattle that come into the ownership of any person at any time during the dressing season (15th March-end June) shall be dressed within seven days. I am not satisfied that I should be justified in requiring all Irish cattle to be dressed at the port of entry to this country, especially as a similar order to ours operates in Northern Ireland and cattle from Eire are dressed at the port of embarkation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why his advisory leaflet No. 383 on the control of cockroaches omitted to mention that local public health departments can give information on such control as well as his Surrey headquarters.

I agree that this leaflet should have referred inquiries to their local authorities and not to my Department, and I much regret this omission. Arrangements are being made for a correction to be published.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider, with a view to action, the advantage to the agricultural industry which would follow if the price talks began in September instead of February, so that the award could be made by December, and by this means enable farmers more effectively to plan each year's cropping.

There are many strong arguments in favour of holding the Review as soon as the necessary statistical data become available. I am, of course, willing to consider my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion, but he has perhaps overlooked the fact that the crop prices fixed after any annual review do not relate to the immediately ensuing harvest but to the one after that.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the farm survey for the county of Staffordshire is now complete.

All holdings in Staffordshire of 10 acres or over, and those of less than 10 acres with land under tillage, have been visited under the Farm Survey. The Survey is continuous and about one-third of the holdings have been visited a second time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consult with the Minister of Food with a view to reviewing the effect of the foot-and-mouth disease standstill orders on pig breeders owing to the serious loss of feedingstuffs and money involved to breeders who cannot send their pigs to market or slaughter.

Every effort is made by my Department and the Ministry of Food to see that there is as little delay as possible in the marketing of pigs which are ready for slaughter. I regret that some hold-ups do occur, but I could not agree to any general or substantial modification of the foot-and-mouth disease restrictions which would defeat the object for which they are imposed, and I have no power to pay compensation for any consequential loss that farmers or others may suffer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what amount included in the £39 million authorised by the new farm price review will be necessary to maintain the price guarantee to farmers of 6s. 0½d. per lb. for the home wool clip.

The guaranteed price of wool for 1952–53, which was determined as part of the recent price award, is 4s. 6d. per lb. and not 6s. 0½d. per lb. No part of the £39 million is attributable to maintaining the price of wool.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made in regard to the measures taken to combat fowl pest in this country.

The measures being taken to combat fowl pest are resulting in a reduction of the incidence of the disease. In the first four months of 1952 there were 100 outbreaks of fowl pest in Great Britain affecting 13 counties, compared with 457 outbreaks, spread over 57 counties, in the same period last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the sheep population in Wales in 1938, 1946. 1950 and the latest available date.

The total numbers of sheep and lambs in Wales in the relevant years were as follows:

—	June	December
	Thousands	Thousands
1938	4,568	3,445
1946	4,050	3,093
1950	3,870	2,871
1951	3,835*	2,963*
* Latest available dates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a statement on the whale catch for the season just ended: what agreements have been reached for next season: and what reports he has received as to the enforcement of the international agreements and their efficiency in preserving stocks.

The total catch of baleen whales in the Antarctic Pelagic Whaling Season just ended was the equivalent of 15,971 blue whale units, compared with a total of 16,413 blue whale units last year. Arrangements for next season will be discussed at the Fourth Meeting of the International Whaling Commission to be held in London in June. Reports from expeditions on observance of the International Whaling Convention, 1946, are not yet all available, but they also will be taken into consideration by the International Commission. So far, the agreement seems to be having the desired effect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with provisions of Anderson shelters in urban areas

It is not intended at present to manufacture or distribute Anderson shelters, but plans have been made for their rapid production, if required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made up to date with recruiting for the Civil Defence service.

At the end of March, approximately 191,000 volunteers had enrolled in the Civil Defence Corps, 12,000 in the Auxiliary Fire Service and 21,500 in the National Hospital Service Reserve in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what alterations have been made in the payment of overtime to the London Metropolitan Police Force.

The Police Regulations provide that compensation for overtime is to take the form of time off but that, if time off cannot be granted within three months or such shorter period as the Chief officer of Police may fix, overtime payments may be made to those entitled to them. Since 1946 it has been the practice in the Metropolitan Police to make immediate payments but the Commissioner of Police has decided to revert to the normal system and to make it the normal rule to give time off rather than a monetary payment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full or part-time officers, respectively, employed on immigration duties, have been rendered unemployed as a result of the abolition of the passport and travel permits as between this country and Ireland.

Twenty-five full-time temporary immigration officers have been given notice as a result of the withdrawal of this control. There are no part-time immigration officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the regulations in force governing the production of statements made to police officers by witnesses of road accidents when such statements may be required by injured persons or their legal representatives.

The practice of chief officers of Police in these cases is not governed by Regulations. The general question of making statements available to civil litigants was, however, considered by the Supreme Court Committee on Practice and Procedure and, as the result, a common procedure was recommended to Chief Officers of Police: as these suggestions are somewhat detailed, I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that on Thursday, 1st May two police officers were stationed in Montague Place, Bloomsbury, from 11 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. for the purpose of turning away motorists from their accustomed parking places in order that the site might be kept clear for a Communist meeting to be held at 7.0 p.m., and if he will instruct the Commissioner of Police to ensure that in future police officers are engaged upon more useful occupations.

The parking place was temporarily closed to facilitate the task of the police in keeping order in the vicinity of the meeting and to prevent damage to the cars. A temporary alternative parking place was provided nearby.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is intended to bring Section 8 of the Justices of the Peace Act into operation.

Under an Order in Council made last November, Section 8 of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1949, will come into force on 1st April next.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make arrangements by which it would be possible for those persons engaged in vegetable growing, horticulture and who are liable for National Service to have their call-up deferred during the spring and summer months.

I have already announced that the calling-up of agricultural workers in England and Wales will be suspended during the main harvest months of September, October and the first half of November. That represents a considerable easement at the most difficult part of the year, and I could not extend it to the spring and summer months.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will insist on more stringent methods than those laid down in B.S.I. 1762, for the cleaning of secondhand rag flock, when it is to be used in the manufacture of woollen felt which is used in the manufacture of filling material for hospital mattresses purchased centrally by his Department.

No. My right hon. Friend has no evidence that the standard of cleanliness laid down in the appropriate British Standards is inadequate.

asked the Minister of Health how long the batteries for use with the hearing aids supplied under the National Health Service are expected to last; and what instructions are supplied to patients using these aids as to the renewal of batteries.

This varies with the type of aid, the type of battery and the amount of use to which the aid is put. The effect of these varying factors is set out in a memorandum of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. Individual instructions are given to patients according to their needs.

asked the Minister of Health how many hearing aids have been fitted and supplied under the National Health Service scheme at the Truro fitting clinic since it was established.

Sixty.

asked the Minister of Health how many people in West Cornwall whose applications for hearing aids under the National Health Service scheme have been approved have had their names on the waiting list for more than a year; and how many for more than two years.

One hundred and thirty-six for more than one year; none for more than two.

asked the Minister of Health how many people in West Cornwall whose applications for hearing aids under the National Health Service scheme have been approved, are still waiting for them; and how many names were on the waiting lists on similar dates in 1950 and 1951.

The figures are 409 and approximately 800 and 600.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of outstanding applications for wigs, surgical boots, belts and hosiery at 1st May, 1952.

The nearest date for which figures of outstanding orders are available is 11th April, when they were in England and Wales:

Wigs	1,889
Surgical footwear	15,505
Surgical abdominal supports	14,450
Elastic hosiery	4,882

asked the Minister of Health the number of people in Cardiff on the admission waiting lists of the Cardiff Royal Infirmary, St. David's Hospital and the Llandough Hospital, respectively.

The numbers are 1,863, 161 and 1,318, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, if people seeking admission to the Cardiff Royal Infirmary pay a fee for prior examination by a specialist, they are able to obtain priority over people awaiting admission for treatment; and whether he will make a statement.

No, but if the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any case he may have in mind, I will be pleased to make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health when building operations are to commence on the proposed new training hospital at Cardiff.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 15th November, 1951.

asked the Minister of Health whether the committee appointed by his predecessor to examine the need for the registration of opticians has yet made its report; when it will be published; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis) on 3rd April. The Report is being published today.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of ocular tuberculosis are known to his Department; and what steps he is taking to acquaint regional boards with the fact that such cases can now be treated in the ocular tuberculosis unit at Swanley, Kent.

This condition is not separately notifiable and the number of cases is not known; the present waiting list for the unit is seven. The availability of the unit is generally known through the hospital service, and at the present experimental stage special publicity seems neither necessary nor desirable.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of ocular tuberculosis have been admitted to the ocular tuberculosis unit at Swanley, Kent: and how many beds are at present occupied by such cases.

Since it opened on 7th June, 1951, 53 patients have been admitted. Twenty beds are at present occupied.

asked the Minister of Health in what circumstances chemists are permitted to make a charge for dispensing proprietary medicines prescribed under the National Health Service; and what is the total annual cost of such charges to the Exchequer.

A chemist is paid a dispensing fee as part of his remuneration for dispensing any medicine or appliance. The individual fees are set out in the Drug Tariff. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will examine the possibility of making a cash grant to the National Health drivers of motor-propelled invalid chairs to bring them into conformity with those using similar vehicles supplied by the Ministry of Pensions.

My right hon. Friend is at present examining this matter.

asked the Minister of Health what improved health services he has introduced during the past six months; and what improvements he proposes to introduce in the current year.

It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government continually to improve and develop the Health Service. Any major changes will be brought to the notice of Parliament in the usual way from time to time.

asked the Minister of Health how it is proposed that residents in the Llanwrtyd Wells urban district and the adjoining parishes should register births and deaths; whether he is satisfied that the transport facilities are adequate to register deaths at Builth Wells; and what suggestions he has to meet the request of the urban council of Llanwrtyd Wells for more convenient facilities.

Under the approved scheme for the area, which came into force in 1934, births and deaths can be registered in Llanwrtyd Wells on any Wednesday afternoon between two and three, or on other days of the week in an office open all day at Builth Wells. I understand that a bus runs between Llanwrtyd Wells and Builth Wells four times a day in each direction. Responsibility for facilities meeting the needs of the area rests with the Breconshire County Council in the first instance and my right hon. Friend sees no reason to intervene.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any statement to make on the escape of John Thomas Straffen from Broadmoor on 29th April in daylight.

My right hon. Friend has received a full report on this incident from the Board of Control but he is not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the escape of John Thomas Straffen from Broadmoor on 29th April, he will give instructions that homicidal maniacs are to be kept under close guard and observation for at least one year after committal.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he proposes to take to provide greater safeguards against any further attempts to escape from Broadmoor Lunatic Asylum; and if he will institute some method to give warning to the local inhabitants when escapes occur.

asked the Minister of Health if he will ensure that inmates of such institutions as Broadmoor are denied all access to ordinary civilian clothing.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take immediate steps to tighten up the security arrangements at Broadmoor.

As stated on Tuesday last, the Government have decided to arrange a further independent inquiry into the questions of security that are involved, and the arrangements will be announced to the House as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that Salop County Council has now considered and adopted a recommendation of their education committee that three of their six nursery schools, namely, those at Hodnet, Donnington, and Harlescott, Shrewsbury, be closed as from the end of the summer term 1952; that there is strong local opposition to this decision; and if she will refuse to sanction it.

I have only today received official intimation from the authority of their proposals, and of their reasons for making them. I am aware of the representations which have been made against these proposals, and shall take them into account in coming to a decision.

asked the Minister of Education why her relaxation of the 16-year old rule for entrants for the General Certificate Examination does not become operative until next year; and whether she will bring this into effect as from the December examination this year.

The autumn examination is generally regarded as supplementary to the summer examination of the same year; and it is important that the heads of schools should have proper notice of any major changes in examination arrangements. For these reasons, I have been reluctant to modify the decision that I announced last January to make no change in the published arrangements for the 1952 examinations. I should of course be ready to consider any advice that the Secondary School Examinations Council might wish to offer me on the question whether the changes recently announced should apply to the examinations that will be held this autumn.

asked the Minister of Education why a grant has been refused to enable Horsemoor Green, Langley, to be prepared as a playing field; and if she will reconsider this decision.

A grant has been refused because the limited funds avail-to me at the present time for grants under the Physical Training and Recreation Act do not enable me to undertake any new commitments of this kind. For the same reason I am unable to reconsider this decision.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware of the action of the East Suffolk County Council who are compelling 90 children from Aldeburgh to proceed to their school at Leiston by cycle instead of by train; and if she will consider advising the use of a bus instead.

I am aware of the authority's action and consider it justified. Senior children in this county have for many years been provided with bicycles for short journeys of this length to school, and I understand that other forms of transport would be much more expensive. Only senior children who are medically fitare expected to cycle, and waterproof clothing is provided.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will relax her regulations on school transport to enable children living within the distance limits to be conveyed in school transport where seats are available.

This is a matter for decision by the local education authority. If an authority decided to adopt such a practice, I should welcome it provided that no additional public expenditure was involved.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will make a statement on the recent modification of Government policy in its attitude to the transport to school of infant and junior children, for distances under the statutory distance.

I have nothing to add to the advice which I gave to local education authorities in December last. I then stated in Circular 242 that in the present financial circumstances I did not regard it as normally justifiable that children should be conveyed to school free over distances less than those laid down in the Education Act, 1944, though I was prepared to consider other arrangements to meet any exceptional difficulty.

Price asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware that transport for school children is being wi'hdrawn in the Drybrook, Ruardean Woodside and Pludds districts of the Forest of Dean and that consequently children are having to walk as, long as three miles to school and in some cases over steep hillsides and across streams without bridges; that the county education committee have been pressed to make this economy by her department; and whether she will look into the matter and give instructions that the transport may be restored.

I have advised local education authorities that I do not consider it normally justifiable in present circumstances that children should be transported to school free over distances less than the three miles for children over eight and two miles for younger children prescribed by the Education Act, 1944, but that I am ready to consider any exceptional cases. I understand that the Gloucestershire Authority will be considering protests which have been made by parents against the withdrawal of school 'buses in these cases, and it would not be appropriate for me to anticipate their conclusions

asked the Minister of Education if she will publish information showing the percentage of university successes and failures among students sent by local education authorities to the university on local education authority's awards for the year 1948.

The examination results achieved by students holding awards from local education authorities are published each year in the Annual Report of my Department as their awards terminate. The information to be published in this year's Report about students whose courses terminated in 1951 will relate largely but by no means completely to students who began their courses in 1948 and who completed a course lasting three years.

asked the Minister of Education what plans are being prepared by her Building Research Department for prefabricated schools or prefabricated classrooms; and what methods are being studied of reducing the steel content of new school building.

My Department are co-operating with local education authorities and manufacturers in the development of several prefabricated systems of construction suitable for multi-storey school buildings. As announced in Circular 245, I have asked the Building Research Station to study the use of steel in school building, and to make recommendations.

asked the Minister of Education the number of classes in primary schools in Cardiff with over 40 on roll; the number of secondary school classes in Cardiff with over 30 on roll; the estimated increase in the Cardiff school population next year; and the number of additional teachers it is proposed to recruit.

In January, 1951, which is the latest date for which information is available, there were 210 junior classes in Cardiff with more than 40 children on the register and 196 senior classes with more than 30 children. I estimate that the increase in the school population of Cardiff between January, 1952, and January, 1953, will be in the region of 1,600 pupils. I have no information as to the number of additional teachers which the local education authority propose to recruit, but I have no doubt that the authority will be able to provide an adequate staff if the most effective use is made of the teachers available, both men and women.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will consider, in conjunction with the Minister of Education for teaching purposes and as a general aid to navigation and farming, the reinstatement of the airmet broadcast of synoptic weather information.

The Meteorological Office is ready to resume forecasting for the Airmet Service at any time but, as my hon. Friend the Assistant Postmaster-General said in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. C. S. Taylor) on 5th March, there is still no prospect of a suitable frequency being made available for this purpose.In the circumstances, my noble Friend and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served at present by fresh inter-Departmental discussions on the value of Airmet. We do, however, appreciate that several classes of the community, including private fliers and farmers, are anxious that the service should be restored. I can assure my hon. Friend that if the situation changes the claims of Airmet will be given every consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will publish a list showing the numbers and ranks of air attaches and their assistants, now, and at a convenient comparable date during 1951.

The information for which my hon. Friend asks is given below.

asked the Minister of Food the total amount and value of tomatoes and tomato juice, respectively, imported into this country during 1951; and how he expects that these amounts will compare with imports during 1952.

Imports during 1951 were:

	Tons	£(c.i.f.)
Fresh Tomattoes	188,100	20,419,500
Canned Tomattoes	77,021	7,740,920
Tomato Juice	1,831	126,344

As these commodities are imported by the private trade, I am unable to give an estimate of the quantities likely to arrive during 1952. Imports of canned tomatoes and tomato juice will be less than in 1951 because of the import cuts which have had to be made for balance of payments reasons. Similar cuts have not been imposed on fresh tomatoes though as my hon. Friend knows imports are restricted during the main season of home production.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the exact pension rights under his regulations of a blind woman insured in her own right; and how far the receipt of retirement pension by her husband will modify the pension payable to her in any way.

A blind woman insured in her own right may qualify for a retirement pension under the National Insurance Scheme at age 60 in the same way as any other insured woman. This pension is not affected by the receipt of a retirement pension by her husband. If the hon. Member has an individual case in mind, perhaps he will let me have particulars.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is now in a position to make a further statement about the annual allowances which are to be made to pensioners using motor tricycles supplied to them for their war disablement.

I am glad to say that. on reconsideration, it has been decided that the annual allowance to be made to such pensioners as a contribution towards the recent increases in the duty on petrol will be £3 for motor tricycles of all types. The allowance will be paid with effect from the 1st May, 1952, and application will not be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many civilian men and women are employed by the War Department at the Central Ordnance Depot, Bicester, and at No. 15 Command Engineer Depot, respectively.

At the beginning of this quarter, the civilian staff at the Base Ordnance Depot, Bicester, was 976 men and 395 women; and at No. 15 Command Engineer Depot 27 men and one woman.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total military establishment of both men and women at the Central Ordnance Depot, Bicester, and at No. 15 Command Engineer Depot.

The Base Ordnance Depot, Bicester, has a military establishment of 4,335 all ranks, and its posted strength on 31st March was 3,476, of whom 134 were women. No. 15 Command Engineer Depot has a military establishment and a posted strength of two.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why Post Office savings book number 29995, which was held by his office at Penarth on 4th December, 1951, for checking, has not been returned to the holder; and why no duplicate book has been issued despite two applications on 22nd January and 5th February.

The bank book No. 29995 was returned to the depositor in normal course after it had been checked against the official record of the account. When the depositor reported that the book had not been received a duplicate book was issued on the 9th February, 1952. This book also appears to have gone astray. Further investigations are being made into this case on the spot and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as they are complete.