asked the Minister of Food what sugar allocation has been made to beekeepers for season 1952; and what was the corresponding allocation for 1951.

The standard allocation for both years was 15 lb., but because of prolonged bad weather, an extra 5 lb. was given for the winter of 1950–51.

asked the Minister of Food what is the approximate average sugar content of sweets on sale in this country.

About 40 per cent. in terms of sugar allocated to the industry by my Department. But by the use of unallocated ingredients the total sugar content is raised to a general average estimated at rather over 60 per cent.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is yet in a position to state when the preliminary stages will be completed and when effective negotiations will be begun on the supply of meat from the Argentine.

As I have already informed the House, I will make a statement at an appropriate time.

asked the Minister of Food how much meat which would otherwise have been shipped from New Zealand to the United Kingdom will now be diverted to Canada.

I cannot say exactly at present. The amount will depend on the quantity of meat of suitable types available in New Zealand and on how long the trade between Canada and the United States remains suspended. Every ton of meat so diverted from the United Kingdom will be replaced by Canada. In addition, we expect to get some extra meat from Canada for sterling under the arrangements agreed for sharing the profits of the sale of New Zealand meat in the U.S.A.

asked the Minister of Food why the price of meat is being increased by 4d. a lb. before the negotiations for the procurement of meat this year from overseas have been completed.

Because the retail price increases necessary to bring the food subsidy figure down to a rate of £250 million a year are not determined alone by the procurement costs of individual commodities.

asked the Minister of Food what was the cost of the campaign organised by his Department of the poster advertising, and slides shown in the local cinemas which was specially arranged in Oldham and district with reference to the notification of change of ration books.

£14 4s. 6d.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make arrangements for persons living in the North Hyde, Southall, area to obtain new ration books without having to travel to the food office at Isleworth, in view of the distance and expense involved.

There is no need for North Hyde residents to travel to Isleworth for new ration books. The Southall Food Office will always accept applications and arrange for the books to be sent by registered post.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that bakers with small businesses in rural areas are finding it extremely difficult to carry on business, except at a loss, whereas considerable profits are made by bakers, including the co-operative societies, with large scale plant and big businesses; and whether, without increasing the global figure received by the trade, he will reallocate the profit margins on a more equitable basis.

The cost investigations made by my Department show that the profits of individual bakers are not necessarily related to the size of the business and a redistribution on the basis suggested would, therefore, not be justified on the facts.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the continual complaint of South Wales fish friers that Irish potatoes are not suited to their needs, he will consider granting permits to buy Lincolnshire potatoes to those friers who are prepared to pay a surcharge.

The reasons why this is not possible have been fully explained to the hon. Member in the letter which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary sent to him on 6th May.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider making arrangements to use the drying capacity in one or more of the factories of the British Sugar Corporation in order to convert into animal feeding stuff the surplus of ware potatoes still remaining on the farms.

Essential maintenance and reconstruction work is being carried out at the factories in readiness for next season's sugar-beet campaign. None can, therefore, be made available for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent polyoxy-ethylene or related compounds are used in the making of bread and other food products.

My information is that these compounds are used very rarely in this country, if indeed they are used at all.

asked the Minister of Food when the hon. Member for Attercliffe may expect a reply to his letter of 22nd April concerning the 2,400 tons of good quality Argentine pork and 10,000 tons of sugar lying at Hamburg which Her Majesty's Government have declined to admit into this country.

A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 21st May.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make a further statement on the fruit content of jam.

I hope to make a statement very shortly.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will include silage under the heading of haymaking as a qualification for the special allowances for food for agricultural workers.

The cutting and carting of grass for silage making is already included under the heading of haymaking.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that produce brokers are offering for sale imported fondant and flavoured syrup, 35 per cent. of which is water, at prices, approximately, £100 per ton higher than sugar; and what steps he proposes to take to utilise our scarce currency for the purchase of sugar instead of expensive substitutes.

I am aware that importers are asking high prices for imported fondant and flavouring syrups but our non-sterling expenditure on these products has been very severely reduced and is firmly restricted through import licensing control.

asked the Minister of Food what security regulations exist to ensure that unauthorised persons cannot gain access to his food storage depots within the area of the Stratford-on-Avon parliamentary division; and what protection is afforded against damage to stores by rats and other vermin.

Security arrangements are in force at all these storage depots. They are managed on my behalf by selected wharfingers. Where necessary watchmen are provided during periods when wharfinger staff are not operating. Access to these depots is permitted only after identification is established proving official business. Protection against damage by rats and other vermin is organised by qualified officials and regular inspection is carried out to ensure its efficacy.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is satisfied that the necessary repairs are being carried out with the utmost dispatch to the roofing of the Snitterfield unrefined sugar storage depot; and what has been the wastage of sugar as a result of exposure to the elements during the last 12 months.

The re-roofing of this depot is almost complete, and I am satisfied that the work has proceeded as quickly as circumstances permitted. There has been no exposure of this sugar to the elements and no wastage from this cause.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of liquid egg was imported from China in 1949, 1950 and 1951, respectively; and what amount is expected in 1952.

Liquid egg from China is invariably shipped in hard frozen form. The Trade and Navigation Accounts show that the following quantities of frozen egg were imported into the United Kingdom from China in the years stated:

asked the Minister of Food how many establishments in the United Kingdom are engaged on the process of the breaking out of home-produced shell eggs and the canning and freezing of liquid egg food; and where they are situated.

Eight, situated at the following places:

• London (2 establishments).
• St. Ives, Huntingdonshire.
• Retford, Nottinghamshire.
• Bootle.
• Drighlington, Yorkshire.
• Belfast.
• Ballymena, Co. Antrim.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has decided to dispense with the British Government purchasing mission in Lisbon; and what method of procurement of sardines was arranged with Portugal in the trade discussions concluded on 5th April last.

This Mission will be closed at an early date. No specific method of procurement was laid down in the recent trade agreement.

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will give active support to the proposal to create a fund for the revival of the former Duke of York's Camps for boys as a memorial to His late Majesty King George VI.

The resolution passed at the Mansion House on 15th May provided that part of the National Memorial to King George the Sixth would take the form of a philanthropic scheme to benefit the entire country and be associated with the late King's name. The Executive Committee which has been formed will doubtless consider the proposal to which my hon. and learned Friend refers, together with the other suggestions which they are receiving.

asked the hon. Member for Woolwich, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether he will issue instructions that the herrings sold in the dining room are served with roes.

I am informed that the herrings being landed in this country at present are mostly "spents" recovering from the winter spawning season, and are therefore without roes. Herrings with full roes will not be available until August. I will comply with my hon. Friend's request as soon as it is possible to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the long delays that have taken place in remedying the dangerous traffic conditions outside Morden Underground station; what progress has been made in the discussions on this matter; and what priority can be given to the road works needed to improve conditions at this point.

The scheme for road works to improve conditions at this point has now been approved by the Surrey County Council and the Merton and Morden Urban District Council and work has been put in hand.

asked the Minister of Transport how far the £479,000 balance of the £750,000 promised for Highland roads is earmarked for new schemes; and how far any proportion of it is to be used on schemes which in any event would have been undertaken with the normal annual grants.

A sum of £331,000 is earmarked for new schemes. None of the £479,000 will be spent on schemes which would have been undertaken had the special funds not been made available.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish the report on motor cycling accidents submitted to him recently by the Road Safety Committee; and what recommendations contained in it he proposes to adopt.

This report was published on 20th May, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the Committee's recommendations.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in order to reduce the number of motor cycling accidents, he will require future applicants for motor cycle licences to pass the training test devised by the Royal Automobile Club and the Auto-Cycle Union.

No. Apart from other considerations, this training scheme, although valuable, could cater for only a minority of new motor cyclists.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the traffic congestion in Central London is still acute and is the cause of great waste of time and petrol; and if he will now, as a matter of urgency, speed up the extension of unilateral parking orders in this area.

As my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, my right hon. Friend is now considering an experiment in unilateral waiting in certain selected streets in London. Objections have been lodged against the proposals to prohibit loading and unloading of vehicles in the selected streets. It is hoped to reach a decision on this in the near future.

asked the Minister of Transport, whether, in view of the danger to pedestrians, he will authorise the Wandsworth Borough Council to put a zebra crossing at South Side, Clapham Common, from the Clapham South underground railway station to the South London Hospital for Women.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to introduce measures for lighting zebra crossings; and if he will recommend twinkling lights for this purpose.

My right hon. Friend is studying this question and will let the hon. Member know as soon as he reaches a decision.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the need for suitable coach parking places at weekends in North-West Central London to assist the Metropolitan Police in traffic control; and if he will consult with the Commissioner of Police and the Railway Executive with a view to the use of St. Marylebone Station which is deserted at weekends and would appear to be suitable for such a purpose.

We are doing what we can to help operators, whose responsibility it is, to find a site for a permanent coach station in North London. If my hon. Friend would let me have details of the site he has in mind at St. Marylebone Station, I will have inquiries made to see it if is suitable.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the serious traffic congestion occurring at various points on main roads in Cheshire and in particular on A.50 at Holmes Chapel, on A.34 at Cheadle and A.550 and A.5117 on the approach roads from the north and west from Chester to Queen's Ferry where at Whitsuntide weekend in 1951 there was a complete hold up from Queen's Ferry Bridge for 4¼ miles to Welsh Corner; and to what extent remedial action can be undertaken in the near future.

My right hon. Friend is aware that there is traffic congestion at times in various places in Cheshire as elsewhere. Since Whitsuntide, 1951, traffic conditions at Queen's Ferry have been improved by the construction of a roundabout in place of the traffic signals. In present economic circumstances, the limited funds available have to be concentrated on small schemes at danger spots.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to restore the 30 m.p.h. speed limit signs on the Manchester—Chester main road to a point south of the cross roads leading to Bowdon and Dunham Massey, so that traffic from Chester approaching these dangerous cross roads is compelled to slow down.

No. This road is not in a built up area. Urgent consideration is, however, being given to improving the layout of the cross roads and the working of the traffic lights there in order to lessen the risk of accidents.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has reconsidered the representations made to him on the subject of congestion at the Torpoint Ferry, especially in the light of the proposed fare increases suggested by the Cornwall County Council; and what financial aid he can offer to assist in obtaining a third ferry.

I have considered the representations to which the hon. Member refers but I have no funds from which I can make a grant towards the cost of a third ferry.

asked the Minister of Transport by what amount the revenue from British Transport Commission passenger services in the London area, including those of London Transport and the suburban lines of British Railways, was estimated to increase in a full year, following the fare increases that took place on 2nd March; and how much of this increase represents rises in sub-standard and concessionary fares.

Revenue from the British Transport Commission's passenger services in the London Area, including those of London Transport and on the suburban lines of British Railways, was estimated to be increased in a full year following the fare increases on 2nd March by £12,500,000. Of this amount I am informed that some £1,250,000 represents the special increase in substandard and concessionary fares additional to the normal increase.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can now announce what changes will be made in London transport fares to bring them into line with those outside the London area.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in his discussions in regard to modifications of the recent fare increases in the London area; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, as the London fare increases have yielded an additional £2,500,000 in the 11 weeks ending 17th May last, he will expedite the introduction of a revised scheme of fares for London.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the result of his consultation with the British Transport Commission in regard to the fare increases that have already taken place in London; and what action he proposes to take.

The Commission's proposals for modification of certain fare increases raise a number of points on which further discussions will be necessary. These are being dealt with urgently.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now state the terms of reference to the Central Transport Consultative Committee in regard to sub-standard and concessionary fares.

The proposals which the British Transport Commission have submitted for modification of certain fare increases raise points which will require further discussion. I am, therefore, not yet in a position to make any statement about a reference to the Central Transport Consultative Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the hardship which London season ticket-holders and shift-workers are experiencing whilst new fare proposals are being worked out, if he will direct the Transport Commission to return the fare structure to the position which held before the recent increases, until such time as revised proposals are ready.

No. The difficulties about this were made quite clear in the debate on 28th April last on Transport fares.

asked the Minister of Transport how much longer he expects to be in making up his mind about the claim made by railway pensioners for increased pensions to meet, the rise in the cost of living.

This matter is engaging my close attention, but I am not yet able to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the delays caused in the development of the docks at Avonmouth; that some work has been held up after commencement and some unable to start because of the shortage of steel; and, in view of the importance of our ports in the scheme of re-armament, if he will take immediate steps to increase the supplies.

Delays have occurred in the completion of certain works at Avonmouth because the contractors concerned were unable, prior to the reintroduction of steel allocation, to place orders for the necessary steel. We are fully aware of the importance of making the best possible provision for our ports, but with the present shortage of steel it is inevitable that some desirable and even essential schemes should be delayed from time to time.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the result of the appeal to him arising from the inquiry at Ayr last October to provide an omnibus service for the village of Drybridge.

The inquiry into this appeal is being held in Glasgow today. My right hon. Friend will announce his decision as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport what instructions he has issued on the taking over of further road carrier businesses by the Railway Executive.

None. I have no reason to believe that any such acquisitions are in contemplation.

asked the Minister of Transport what feeder and delivery services he proposes that British Railways shall retain in connection with the White Paper proposals on Transport Policy; and what is his estimate of the number of vehicles to be retained by British Railways for this purpose.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the terms of the Bill to give effect to the White Paper on Transport Policy.

asked the Minister of Transport what road haulage companies were taken over by the Transport Commission, which previously the railway companies owned, or in which they had a financial interest; and what was their capital value, the estimated profit made in the year 1947, and the number of vehicles in each company.

I have asked the British Transport Commission to let me have such information as is available, and I will arrange for a statement to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport how far the amount of compensation to be paid to the displaced staff of the Road Haulage Executive is to be deducted from the initial annual sum of £4,000,000 payable to the Transport Commission for losses incurred by the railways as a consequence of the proposals in the White Paper on Transport Policy.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the terms of the Bill to give effect to the White Paper on transport.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the decision of the management of Citroen, Slough, to dismiss 50 per cent. of their production workers and 23 per cent. of their staff, he will either increase the quota of their cars for home sale or utilise their facilities for supplementary work on Government contracts.

I am prepared to examine any proposals from the company for the use on Government contracts of any spare capacity they may have.

asked the Minister of Supply why the recent purchase of steel amounting to 150,000 tons from Japan for this country was handled by an American merchant house, shipped by an American shipping agency, and largely financed by an American Bank, when, in each case, there were several British concerns in Japan ready to quote who had asked his Department to be allowed so to do; why they were not; and why they were given erroneous information on this subject officially both in London and Tokyo.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he takes with regard to those purchases from abroad in which his Department are interested to make sure that there is no unnecessary dollar expenditure, and that British firms in the country of purchase are employed, and not American firms; why Sir William Reardon Smith and Company, whose agents are American, and Messrs. Barnett and Company, whose representative in Japan is an American firm, were the only firms used in the recent purchase of Japanese steel; and why no tenders were invited from British firms with British representatives in Japan in spite of the protests of the British Chamber of Commerce in Tokyo.

The purchases referred to were made by the British Iron and Steel Corporation, Limited on their own account. The choice of banks, merchant houses and shipping agents is left to the importing organisation concerned, and it is not the practice for the Government to intervene in these commercial arrangements. I am not aware that any official information on this subject has been given by any Government authority in London or Tokyo.Dollar purchases are approved only when essential supplies cannot be obtained from other sources and when the consent of the Treasury has been obtained. The transfer of foreign currency must be done in accordance with the Exchange Control Act.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the present average cost of the raw material for cathode ray tubes for commercial use.

I am informed that the glass bulb for a 15-inch television cathode ray tube costs £2, and the remaining materials about 7s. 6d.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is now in a position to make a statement on the proposed allocation scheme for hematite pig iron.

Further examination of this matter has revealed considerable practical difficulties in introducing a separate licensing scheme. I am, therefore, examining alternative means of dealing with the problem.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the purpose of sending form No. C.86/M/I.F. to firms which use only solid fuel, the allocation of which is fixed by the Ministry of Fuel and Power.

The purpose of this form is primarily to obtain the information about fuel stocks, receipts and consumption required by the Ministry of Supply and the Ministry of Fuel and Power for arranging the distribution of fuel supplies to iron foundries.

asked the Minister of Supply how soon he considers it will be possible for him to withdraw his request to the Minister of Fuel and Power to deliver coke to the iron foundries on a lower scale than normal.

The request referred to was made by my predecessor nearly a year ago. The state of our coke supplies would not, I am afraid, justify any change of policy.

asked the Minister of Supply what time limit has been agreed between himself and the Electric Lamp Manufacturers' Association for bringing into effect the full implementation of the agreed proposals arising from the report of the Monopolies Commission on the electric lamp industry.

The Electric Lamp Manufacturers' Association have given an undertaking that all the necessary changes in their rules and methods will be brought into effect not later than 1st July next.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will state, for the latest available date, the numbers of men and women, respectively, in receipt of retirement pensions and old-age pensions, respectively.

The approximate numbers at 31st March, 1952, were as follows:

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will make a statement giving the reasons for persons in receipt of retirement pensions being restricted to working a maximum of 12 hours in any one week to earn their maximum of £2 if they are to continue to receive their full pension.

The 12 hours' rule has been adopted by the statutory authorities in deciding in certain cases whether a person can be treated as having retired and be awarded a pension. It has no application to persons actually in receipt of retirement pensions who, if under 70 (65 in the case of women), are subject to the, earnings rule of £2 a week.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that the increase in war pensions, in some cases, is increasing the widows' pension so as to bring the income to over £104 per year, that is, 35s. to 42s. per week; that in these cases exemptions from insurance contributions are being cancelled and the full weekly contribution rate is being required to be paid; and if he will consider raising the exemption limit.

Certain deductions are made from income when applying the contributions exemption limit, and an increase of income to a total of 42s. a week would not cancel the exemption. If the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any case she has in mind I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will arrange for his local offices to issue, free of charge, duplicates of the free medical certificate supplied to National Health Service patients when these are necessary to enable patients to secure payments of benefits from friendly societies or sick clubs.

Extracts of National Insurance medical certificates are already supplied, free of charge, at the request of a claimant to any registered friendly society or trade union of which he is a member. My right hon. Friend would not feel justified in extending this arrangement further.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will state, in respect of the latest year for which the statistics are available, how much was contributed and received in benefits, respectively, by men and women.

Following are the estimated amounts of contributions paid and benefits received under the National Insurance and Industrial Injuries Schemes

asked the Minister of National insurance what supplementation of the normal unemployment benefit will he paid to those workers in the textile, rayon and other industries who are stood off while accumulated stocks are being cleared.

There are no statutory provisions for supplementing unemployment benefit other than National Assistance, which is available in cases of need.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether his attention has been called to the case of a girl 18 years of age, previously living in Newport, who died on 12th March, 1952, and whose parents have been refused the death grant as no National Insurance contributions had been paid by her prior to death; and, in view of the fact that she was a permanent invalid from birth and unable to work at any time and therefore unable to make any contributions to this fund herself, he will amend the regulations to enable such applicants to claim this benefit, particularly in view of the expense falling on the applicants, who were themselves fully insured since the birth of the deceased.

I am looking into this case, details of which were received on 23rd May, and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will state the number of recognised cases of pneumoconiosis in the borough and rural district of Newcastle-under-Lyme at the latest date for which figures are available.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what progress has been made in returning the gas and electricity industries to municipal and private ownership.

This is a matter which would fall to be considered when a review of the existing organisation of these industries is undertaken.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many persons are now employed in the offices of local fuel overseers; what is the annual cost thereof; and, in view of the need for national economy, if he will now take steps to direct their energies into more productive channels.

Local fuel overseers and their staffs are appointed by the local authorities concerned. The number employed on 30th April, 1952, was 4,088, of whom 1,714 were part-time only. During the last financial year the total cost was £1,070,219, of which £949,966 was provided on my Department's Vote, the remainder falling on the Votes of other Departments for common services such as office accommodation and stationery. The present system of control will be removed as soon as sufficient supplies of coal are available to justify that course.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will state the reasons for allowing the two recent increases in the retail price of petroleum spirit.

The increase on 12th March was due to the Budget increase in the Customs and Excise duties. The increase on 19th May was on account of higher ocean freight charges and increased cost of distribution in this country.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement on the progress made in dust suppression in the South Wales coalfield; and how far the experience already gained provides for a hope that the incidence of pneumoconiosis will be reduced.

So much progress has been made in the South Wales coalfield that appropriate dust suppression measures have for some time past been in force wherever they are thought to he required. For the last two years the main effort has been devoted to improving the standard of application. I am confident that the incidence of the disease is already being reduced, and I have every hope of further reductions.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent the Royal Navy is dependent on the United States of America for supplies of high-octane fuel; and what steps are being taken to remedy that situation.

the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent British airlines are dependent on the United States of American for supplies of high-octane fuel; and to what extent, it is estimated, this dependence will be remedied when the new large oil refineries in Great Britain are completed.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent the Royal Air Force is dependent on supplies of high-octane fuel from the United States of America; and what steps are being taken to remedy the situation.

The requirements of the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy and the British air lines for high-octane fuel are supplied by the British and American oil companies who distribute this fuel. Only small quantities are currently made in the United Kingdom and the companies draw the bulk of their supplies both for the United Kingdom and for the rest of their world-wide trade partly from their refineries in the East and West Indies, and partly from the United States of America. With the completion of the United Kingdom refinery expansion programme the quantity of aviation spirit made in this country will be substantially increased. The United Kingdom will, however, still import part of its supplies.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the general principles of the proposals with regard to standardisation of electricity tariffs approved by his predecessor in 1951.

The general principles for the promotion of the standardisation and simplification of methods of charge which were recommended by a Committee of the electricity boards and received the general approval of my predecessor last year were as follows:—(1)

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what approach has been made to him by the British Electricity Authority in connection with re-orientation of the proposals for hydro-electric schemes in North Wales and the withdrawal of the Ffestiniog proposals; what reasons were advanced by the British Electricity Authority for such withdrawal; and whether he will make a statement upon the future policy of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the development of hydro-electric power in North Wales.

The British Electricity Authority have informed me that some doubt has arisen about the suitability of a site proposed for a reservoir in the Ffestiniog scheme. They have, therefore, stopped further action on this scheme until they can be satisfied on this point. It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to encourage the development of hydro-electric power wherever it is economically justified, in so far as this can be done without causing disproportionate loss in other directions.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether plans and application for sanction of capital investment have yet been laid before him by the British Electricity Authority in connection with the promotion of private bills by that authority for hydro-electric schemes at Rheidol, Mawddach, Conway, Snowdon and Nant Ffancon.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is proposed to commence negotiations with the Japanese Government regarding her sterling balances.

The present Sterling Payments Agreement with Japan expires on 31st August. Discussions with the Japanese Government are, therefore, likely to take place during the summer, but no arrangements have yet been made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the light of the progress made on the assessment of claims on the sum of £300 million set aside under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, he will make a statement about the future collection of development charges from persons who possess agreed claims.

Yes. In future when a development charge becomes due from a developer who possesses a claim the value of which has been determined, the Central Land Board will accept a charge upon that claim as security for an amount not exceeding 80 per cent. of the face value of the claim. Only the balance (if any) of the development charge will be immediately payable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amounts received from United States Governments by British Governments since 1914, in the form, respectively, of loans, Marshall Aid, and actual and projected grants for defence aid; the total sum of loans repaid and of loans still outstanding; the total of interest paid on these loans and the

The information asked for is contained in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the distinct and additional new town requirements of the East Kilbride Development Corporation which contributed to standards necessitating the expenditure of £30,253 on building a substantial bridge over the Kittoch Burn.

This bridge, which is being constructed by the Lanarkshire County Council as highway authority, has been designed by them to enable an underpass to be constructed by the East Kilbride Development Corporation to connect one part of the new town area with another and so to avoid direct access across the main traffic highway.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which types of prefabricated houses built in the immediate post-war period are best surviving the stress of wind and weather; and what is their expectation of life as habitable homes.

All permanent non-traditional houses built by local authorities have been approved for subsidy purposes as having, with proper maintenance, an estimated life of at least 60 years. I have no reason to suppose that any particular type will wear better or worse than others in similar circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional financial burdens will be incurred by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board during the current financial year as a result of the increase in the rate of interest charges; and what further burdens of this nature are estimated for the two following years.

The rate of interest on the Board's last stock issue on 8th May, 1952, of £20 million is 4¼ per cent. Had the issue been made, like the previous one, at 3½ per cent. the annual interest charge would have been £150,000 less.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the salary scale for probation officers in Scotland in 1938; and also the date and amount of subsequent increases up to the present time.

The salary scales payable to probation officers in Scotland in 1938 were:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications he has received under the special recruitment scheme for teachers; how many have been accepted provisionally to undergo preparation for full acceptance; how many have been accepted who are graduates, intend to become graduates, ordinary and honours, intend to train as non-graduate teachers, and intend to be teachers of technical subjects, respectively.

The figures on 1st May, 1952, were as follows: