asked the Secretary of State for War why Mrs. Davies, of 191, Whitton Dene, Isleworth, was dismissed from her post as telephone operator at Eastern Command Headquarters, Hounslow, despite an excellent assessment of her ability, conduct and health; and if he will inquire into the circumstances of the dismissal.

My hon. Friend will now have received my letter on this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is concern over the issue of equipment to the Home Guard; and whether he will institute priority in the supply of weapons or otherwise ensure adequate and early deliveries of proper equipment.

Enough equipment and weapons are now available within commands for all units of the Home Guard and it will be issued as soon as they are ready to receive it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to require the labelling of mattresses with a description of their upholstery or filling.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the answers which my right hon. Friend gave to his Question on 13th March and to the Question by the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis), on 8th May. I would add that standards of cleanliness are already prescribed under the Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Steel Window Frame Makers Association fix the prices to be inserted in every schedule, give different prices to each contractor and thereby decide the firm who shall get each contract, and convey the impression that competition is operating; and if he will take steps to end this monopolistic practice.

Without expressing any view on the allegations contained in the Question, my right hon. Friend will bear them in mind when he next selects matters for reference to the Monopolies Commission. If the hon. Member knows of particular cases, I shall be glad to have details.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the damaging effect on the basket-making industry which the importation of cheap quality shopping rush bags and baskets is causing; and, as these articles are produced by sweated labour, if he will prohibit their importation.

Rush bags and baskets were removed in March from open general licences, and will be restricted under import quotas, details of which will soon be announced. These restrictions have been imposed on account of our balance of payments. It is, however, open to any industry to apply for increased protection against foreign competition through the tariff, and certain basket manufacturers have already been advised of the procedure for making such application.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what basis recipients of the Census of Production form for 1951 are selected.

Census of Production forms for 1951 were sent to all undertakings in the field of production whose names were included in the Census of Production register. This register is based on information supplied by the Ministry of Labour and National Service, the Ministry of Fuel and Power, the Ministry of Works and other sources, and every effort is made to keep it up to date

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many people, men and women, were employed in the factories administered by the North-Eastern Trading Estates Limited on the latest available date.

On 29th March, 1952, the latest date for which official statistics are available, factories administered by North-Eastern Trading Estates, Limited, employed 16,669 men and boys and 25,216 women and girls, making a total of 41,885.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that private woodland owners are being prevented from carrying out their normal annual planting programme, planned in accordance with the wishes of the Forestry Commission, owing to the refusal of import permits for the regular annual supply of seed: and whether, in view of the need to increase the national timber reserve, he will ensure that such permits are granted.

We consult the Forestry Commission before deciding whether to permit private imports of forest tree seeds and the difficulty to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers should therefore not arise. If he has any particular case in mind, and will let me have the details, I will look into it.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what has been the cost, to date, to the United Kingdom of the International Materials Conference; and how many British people are employed.

I have been asked to reply. The United Kingdom contributes to the office expenses of the Conference and pays the salaries of three interpreters and a stenographer. The Deputy Secretary of the Conference is a British civil servant. Another British civil servant is to be added to the Secretariat in the near future to replace an officer who was seconded from May to December, 1951.The total cost of the saries and allowances of the British staff, and of the contribution to the office expenses, in the period 31st March, 1952, was £18,900, In the current financial year it is expected to be about £22,500.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, whether, in view of the importance of facilitating trial of the raw cotton purchasing proposals of the Hopkins Report, combines and groups of mills will be permitted to opt out in respect of their individual mills and not be required to do so in respect of the whole combine or group.

Yes. Provided that combines and groups of mills are prepared to keep individual records and stocks for each unit in the combine or group, they may make a separate option for each unit. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the letter in which all users of raw cotton were informed of this.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, why lead, zinc and copper are being sold by Her Majesty's Government to British consumers at prices much above what overseas competitors in Europe and the United States of America are paying.

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne) on 16th May last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plays are at present running at theatres in the West End of London without entertainment tax having to be paid as a result of facilities granted by the Arts Council.

The conditions governing exemption from Entertainments Duty are laid down by statute and do not depend, either in the West End of London or elsewhere, on the grant of facilities by the Arts Council.The Arts Council are not associated with any plays at present running in the West End.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total equivalent in pounds sterling of the foreign currency released by his Department for the payment of commercial broadcasts from foreign stations by British firms.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 15th May to the hon. Member for Cheadle (Mr. Shepherd) by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Economic Affairs,

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer approximately what proportion of rubber boots and shoes likely to be sold in this country in the coming year will be free of Purchase Tax; and how this proportion compares with the figure for the previous year.

It is not possible to make precise estimates, but it is certain that at least half of the rubber footwear sold in this country in the coming year will be free of tax; the rest will pay only a small margin of tax. The proportion sold tax free during the previous year was well under one-fifth; the rest paid full tax at the rate of 33⅓ per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he approved of the £10,000,000 issue of stock of Distillers Company, Limited; if he is aware of the considerable expense incurred for advertising an issue which was heavily oversubscribed; and what steps he will take to reduce unnecessary expenditure in future capital issues.

Consent was given following the normal examination by the Capital Issues Committee. I am not aware that expenditure on advertising was disproportionate, having regard to the size of this issue. The Treasury cannot be expected to decide what expenditure will be sufficient to ensure the success of an issue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the fact that he does not propose any exten- sion of the field of repayment of postwar credits this year, he will make a statement on the circumstances in which he would feel enabled to extend the field of repayment in future years; and the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the eventual repayment of such credits.

This is a matter which must be considered from time to time in the light of the circumstances then existing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost of paying out post-war credits. of deceased persons to the next of kin irrespective of age.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Morley), on 6th December, 1951.

asked the Chancellor a the Exchequer if he has considered typical examples, particulars of which have been sent to him, of waste of public money and extravagance in schools and public offices; and what action he proposes to take.

It is the duty of all authorities to carry out their functions efficiently and economically, and I am satisfied that on the whole a high standard of administration is secured. The hon. Member has brought to my attention instances of apparent waste cited at the Women's Liberal Federation Conference. If the cases cited can be backed by facts I would recommend that the ladies concerned should bring them to the notice of the authorities with sufficient detail to enable them to be identified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now announce the date upon which the application of equal pay to women in the public services will begin.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is intended to implement equal pay in Government, local government and the teaching profession.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement made by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in the course of the debate on 16th May on the Motion by the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Pannell).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the distribution of all houses authorised since 31st October, 1951, as between one, two and three-bedroom types and the comparable figures for houses then in course of erection prior to that date.

The available information is as follows:

LOCAL AUTHORITY HOUSES—ENGLAND AND WALES
ANALYSIS BY BEDROOM TYPES
PERIOD 1ST OCTOBER, 1951, TO 31ST MARCH, 1952
—	One-bedroom	Two-bedroom	Three-bedroom
In approved tenders	7,251	34,171	44,300
Completed	5,673	25,172	43,786

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of houses of all categories which had been authorised and the number on which work had commenced, respectively, on 31st October, 1951.

My right hon. Friend would refer the hon. Member to the Housing Returns published quarterly, especially Summary Table B.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of houses which have been authorised and the number on which work has commenced, respectively, since 31st October, 1951.

My right hon. Friend is unable to add to the information given in the published Housing Returns.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of houses allocated in the last quarter of 1951; the number of houses put out to tender; and those started and the number of these same houses completed to the latest available date.

My right hon. Friend is unable to add to the information included in the published Housing Returns.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that local authorities in two holiday resorts permit council house tenants to advertise their premises as boarding houses in the local guides; and whether, in view of the housing shortage, he will issue a circular to local authorities indicating the undesirability of using subsidised houses as business premises.

My right hon. Friend thinks this is a matter which is best left to the discretion of individual authorities.

asked the Minister of Works whether, since less work can be carried out under the £100 free limit owing to the rise in building costs, he will now raise that limit.

The rise in building costs is one of several factors to be taken into account in deciding on the amount which may be spent without licence in the period 1st July, 1952.

asked the Minister of Works if he will make a statement on further changes in the licensing system particularly a relaxation of the £100 a year free limit in building.

I am not yet able to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Works the total number of officials employed at his Edinburgh and Glasgow offices, respectively; the number of architects at Edinburgh headquarters; and the annual wage and salary costs.

The total number of officials employed at my Edinburgh and Glasgow offices is 482 and 193 respectively; the number of architects employed in the Architects Branch at Edinburgh headquarters is 16; the annual wage and salary costs of the total staff is £415,000 approximately, and of the architects £20,000 approximately.

asked the Minister of Works how many pelicans have now been allocated to St. James's Park; what are their respective countries of origin; and how many birds there are of each sex.

Six pelicans are now in the park, of which four came from Texas and two from Pakistan. There is still no indication of the sex of any of these pelicans.

asked the Minister of Works how many applications for licences to trade in Trafalgar Square he has received under the Trafalgar Square Act, 1844, and the Parks Regulation Acts, 1872 and 1926; how many of these are from disabled ex-Service men and physically disabled persons; and how many licences he intends to issue.

Of the 415 applications I have received for licences to trade in Trafalgar Square, 81 are from disabled persons and 35 of these from disabled ex-Service men. I am still awaiting detailed information from 153 applicants. I will decide finally how many licences are to be issued when I have reviewed all the applications in detail, but the number will probable be six.

asked the Minister of Works to what extent the 375 cars possessed by his Department's car service will, in the near future, come under the control of the official car service recently transferred from the Ministry of Supply.

Of the 325 passenger cars in the Ministry of Works car service when the Ministry of Supply car pool was taken over, 79 were chauffeur-driven cars and of these 72 are being absorbed into the Government car service; 246, being self-driven cars, remain outside the Government car service.

asked the Minister of Labour how many textile workers at Braintree and Bocking, Essex, are now unemployed or on short time.

The figures for 12th May will be available in a day or two and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Government training centres are being closed; and what alternative measures are proposed to meet the need for more skilled workers in industry.

Three Government training centres have been closed in recent months and it may be necessary to close others in view of the need for economy in the administration of the Government Vocational Training Scheme. No overall reduction in the number of trainees will, however, result. A wide variety of training trades continues to be provided at the remaining centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the report of the Herring Industry Board for 1951.

The Report is being printed and should be ready for publication early next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the response of the boards of management of hospitals to the circular issued by his Department in June, 1951, drawing attention to activities in which economies might be possible.

I am satisfied that this particular circular served a useful purpose, but I still expect all hospital authorities constantly to maintain a vigilant scrutiny of their expenditure so that all practicable economies may be achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to check the losses which have been frequently shown on hospitals' market gardening accounts.

I have arranged for the market gardens at the hospitals where losses have been returned to be investigated at an early date by a horticultural expert. The action which will be taken will depend on the results of the investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many examples of overstaffing have been brought to notice by the reports of his adviser on hospital domestic administration; and what action he has taken on them.

This official has drawn attention to possibilities of reducing domestic staff at 21 hospitals, but many of these possibilities depend on the purchase of labour-saving devices or the employment of senior supervisory staff. The boards of management have been asked to consider her recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered paragraph 157 of the Report of the Royal Commission on University Education in Dundee, Command Paper No. 8514, dealing with the bursary policy of education authorities; and whether he will make a statement.

I will not be in a position to make a statement until I have obtained and considered the views of the parties concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) the number of cases before the various Glasgow courts since January, 1945, where prisoners have made allegations of brutal treatment at the hands of the police when being arrested, conveyed to the police stations or detained; the names of prisoners, police officials and dates of allegations; and how many police officers have been dismissed in consequence;(2) The number of police officers in Glasgow, the names, rank, service and charge in each case, where they have been brought before the courts, since January, 1945; in how many cases they have been found guilty, not proven, and not guilty, respectively; and the names of those charged who are still in the police force;(3) The number of constables and other ranks who have been before the Chief Constable since January, 1945, on charges of indiscipline; and the number and names of the men discharged and those still retained, respectively each year since that date.

Since 1st January, 1945:

(a) 16 prisoners have made allegations of assault by police officers. In 15 of the cases the allegations were investigated by the Procurator Fiscal who found no ground to justify proceedings. In the other case, the jury at a fatal accident inquiry was satisfied that the injuries were not due to any violence by the police. None of the officers has been dismissed.

(b) 30 constables, 2 sergeants and 2 inspectors, with service ranging from 9 months to 25 years, have been tried in the courts, on a variety of charges—8 under the Road Traffic Acts, 11 of offences involving dishonesty, 8 of assault (in two cases while off duty), and the remaining 7 of a miscellaneous character. Of the officers concerned 20 were found guilty, and 7 not guilty. In 6 cases the charge was found not proven, and 1 case was dealt with under the Probation of Offenders Acts. Of the 34. 18 are still in the force.

(c) 99 constables, 4 sergeants and 2 inspectors have been charged with offences against the Police Discipline Code. Of these, 102 were found guilty and punished. 9 constables, 1 sergeant and 1 inspector were dismissed, 2 constables were required to resign and 2 constables resigned. Of the remainder, 58 are still in the force.

I am concerned with disciplinary cases only if they come before me on appeal from the decision of the disciplinary authority and I am accordingly not in a position to give particulars of the individual officers concerned in the cases referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the additional financial cost that would be entailed if teachers' pensions were paid monthly instead of quarterly as at present.

It is estimated that the monthly payment of pensions to teachers in Scotland would entail an additional cost of £3,000 a year for the further staff required in the Paymaster General's office. Further accommodation and a considerable quantity of additional forms and stationery, the cost of which cannot be precisely estimated, would also be necessary. The change would also entail an additional charge of £360,000 in the year of change because of the alteration in the incidence of payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average pension at present being paid to retired police officers of all ranks.

Particulars of the expenditure on police pensions in the year ended on 15th May, 1952, and of the numbers of beneficiaries will not be received until later in the year. I regret, therefore, that I cannot state at present what is the average pension figure, but I will let the hon. Member have the information when it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the cost per head of

—		Inverness		Elgin		Hamilton		Kilmarnock
		s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
1948 (from 5th July)	…	4	3½	4	6½	3	0½	3	3¼
1949	…	4	10½	5	1¼	3	6¼	4	0¼
1950	…	5	5¼	5	4	3	10¾	4	5¼
Figures for 1951 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the details of the total annual cost of upkeep of Duke Street Prison, Glasgow; the number of prisoners and number of employees, respectively: the salaries of each official, including the Governor; and the total wage and salary bill per year.

The total annual cost of upkeep of Duke Street Prison (including

Approximate figures for Inverness, Hamilton and Kilmarnock are as follows:—

—	Inverness		Hamilton		Kilmarnock
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
1948 (from 5th July)	5	2	4	4¼	4	3¾
1949	16	7	13	3¾	14	1¼
1950	19	10	16	1¾	17	7¼

Figures for 1951 are not yet available.These figures are slightly inflated because some prescriptions dispensed by chemists in these towns relate to persons living in the adjacent rural areas. In the case of Elgin this factor operates to such an extent that the corresponding calculations are valueless.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average cost of a National Health Service prescription in Inverness, Elgin, Hamilton and Kilmarnock, respectively, in each of the years 1948–50.

Approximate figures are as follows:wages and salaries) for the financial year 1951–052 is estimated £20,614.The number of prisoners on 14th May, 1952, was 66 and the total prison staff was 33.The salaries of prison officers are published in the annual Estimates. These salaries have recently been increased by amounts ranging up to 15 per cent. Total wage and salary payments at Duke Street Prison amounted to £15,435 in 1951–52.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons whose full-time services are required for each inpatient in the hospitals of England and Wales.

It is estimated from the latest available figures that the staff employed in 1950—many of whom provided services for out-patients as well as in-patients—were equivalent to 0.872 persons per occupied bed.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons in his Department are employed in studying comparative hospital costs; how many are so employed by the regional hospital boards; what professional qualifications are looked for in recruiting such staff; how far there are arrears of work in this sphere; and what practical economies in hospital expenditure have been achieved so far by the comparative studies.

The study of costs is inseparable from other aspects of hospital financial administration and no separate special staff are employed. As it is also a continuous process there are no arrears in the usual sense of the word. It is not possible to pick out specific economies which were originally suggested by a comparison of costs, but I am sure that this aspect of hospital administration has paid, and will continue to pay, excellent dividends.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the isolated position of the Island of Mull, and the rareness of foot-and-mouth disease on this island, he will cause to be held a special inquiry on the recent outbreak there with a view to establishing its source, type, and method of introduction.

Inquiries have already been made by the Ministry's veterinary staff, and there seems no doubt that infection was introduced into the Island of Mull by the movement of calves from an infected source on the Scottish mainland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the cucumbers, cherries, strawberries, gooseberries, currants and rhubarb, which it is intended to be permitted to be imported between June and December of this year he estimates could be produced by smallholders in this country if these imports were not licensed.

It is too late to increase home-grown supplies of these products this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the imports of apples and pears, which it is intended to permit to be imported between July and December of this year, he estimates could be produced by growers in this country if these imports were not licensed.

It is too late to increase home-grown supplies of these products this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give an estimate of the average weight of edible food produced and length of time it takes to reach maturity for cattle, sheep and pigs, respectively; what amount of food is consumed in each case, in weight and calorific value per annum; and, of this, how much has to be imported.

The estimated average weight of meat obtained is 40 lb. from fat lambs, 60 lb. from fat sheep, 165 lb. from pigs and 580 lb. from beef cattle. Fat lambs are slaughtered at from 3–12 months, and sheep at any age after 18 months. Fat pigs are ready for slaughter at about 7–8 months, and beef cattle at 2½–3 years.For pigs, about 5–6 lb. of meal, equivalent to 10,000–12,000 calories, are required to produce 1 lb. of meat. Owing to wide differences in methods of management and the high proportion of grazing in the diet of sheep and cattle. it is not possible to give a similar estimate for them.Taking account of the feeding value of grass and hay, the proportion of all animal feed which is imported or derived from imported materials is estimated at 11½ per cent. For pigs taken by themselves this percentage is no doubt appreciably greater; for sheep and beef cattle it is negligible.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why he is precluded from consulting the Post Office Advisory Council concerning the incidence of impending changes in telephone charges.

noble Friend could not otherwise have avoided anticipating the Chancellor's Budget statement.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the public resentment caused by firms making contraceptives sending their literature to any couple who advertise their engagement in the public Press; and whether he will introduce legislation to prevent this practice.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Gorbals (Mrs. Cullen) on 9th of April.

asked the Minister of Food what imports of apples from dollar countries are planned for the period 1st June to 31st December.

Owing to our balance of payments position it is unlikely that any further imports of apples from dollar sources can be permitted this year.

asked the Minister of Food (1) how many carcases, and of what tonnage, of imported mutton and lamb were found on examination to be affected With caseous lymphadinitis and dealt with under the Imported Food Regulations, 1937, between 1st January, 1945, and 31st December, 1948.(2) how many carcases, and of what tonnage, of imported mutton and lamb were found on examination to be affected with caseous lymphadinitis between 1st January, 1948, and 31st December, 1952; and how many carcases, and what tonnage, were passed fit for human consumption in that time, under Regulation 62B, M.O.F. 1 48, after treatment.

I regret that the statistics kept by my Department are not in a form which would enable me to give this information.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage of bread is sold in wrappings.

This information is not available.