asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he allows apples to be imported from abroad which are subsidised by the Government of the exporters.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Arbuthnot) on 5th February. No further arrangements have been made for imports of such applies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the Telex international teletype equipment exported since 1945.

I regret that this information is not available. Exports of this equipment are not recorded separately in the trade returns.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how far steps have already been taken to explore the possibilities of opening up new markets both in the east and west for textile goods, especially in the non-dollar areas.

We bring promptly to the notice of our exporters advice received from our officers overseas who are constantly exploring such possibilities. We are also taking every opportunity, both in our bilateral trade talks and in our day-to-day contacts with foreign Governments, to develop facilities for our exports of textile goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the growing practice of furniture retailers to circumvent the Hire Purchase and Credit Sale Agreements (Control) Order, 1952, by schemes of rental agreements; and what steps he is taking to check such practices.

Furniture, other than office furniture, does not come within the provisions of this Order. With regard to articles falling within its provisions, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 6th May to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for York (Mr. Hylton-Foster) about alleged evasion of this Order.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what actions are being taken to enforce the provisions of the Quota Act upon all British cinemas.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Aston (Mr. Wyatt) on 10th April. The investigations to which he referred are being urgently pursued.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take in view of the reduction in the number of people employed in the factories administered by the North Eastern Trading Estates Limited.

Since 5th January, 1952, the number of men and boys employed in these factories has increased by 188 and the number of women and girls has fallen by 566. The total number employed is about 1,136 more than a year ago, and the rate of unemployment at 2.9 per cent. is below the rate of the Development Areas as a whole. My right hon. Friend will watch the position carefully in consultation with my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Labour.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the value for which licences will be issued for the importing of fruit pulp in the period 1st July, 1952, to 30th June, 1953; the estimated value of the corresponding imports in the year ending 30th June, 1952; and the actual value of the corresponding imports in the year ended 30th June, 1951;(2) the value of licences issued for the importing of fruit pulp in the period 8th November, 1951, to 30th June, 1952; and what was the actual value of the imports in the corresponding period ended 30th June, 1951.

Licences issued for the importation of fruit pulp and bulk frozen fruit in the period 8th November, 1951, to 30th June, 1952, from the O.E.E.C. and other countries upon which restrictions have recently been imposed amount to about £895,000. The addition to the quota of £480,000 originally announced was necessary to permit the performance of certain contracts which had been entered into before the restrictions were imposed last November.A quota of £1 million has been announced for imports of fruit pulp and bulk frozen fruit from the same countries in the year 1st July, 1952, to 30th June, 1953. Imports from the same sources in the year ended 30th June, 1951, are estimated by the Ministry of Food to have been nearly £2 million. Imports of most types of fruit pulp from the sterling area can be made under open general licence. I regret that the other figures for which my hon. Friend asks are not readily available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the part the earlier repayment of post-war credits could play in stimulating the textile industry during the period of recession due to the lack of purchasing power amongst the public; and what action he proposes to take.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Gateshead, West (Mr. J. Hall) on 15th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the tax reliefs granted to German manufacturers who have good export records; how far these reliefs conform to the principles of international trade practice; and whether he will consider giving British exporters the same advantages.

I am aware of the tax reliefs given by Western Germany to exporters. I doubt whether it would be possible to substantiate a case that these reliefs are contrary to international obligations. I am always ready to consider any practicable method of helping British exporters but can give no undertaking as to methods.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now able to make a statement as to the results of the promised conference to consider what could be done to help public service pensioners.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Financial Secretary's reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Merton and Morden (Captain Ryder) on 15th May. The review, which is of necessity complicated, is proceeding.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he hopes to announce the date on which a beginning will be made with the introduction of equal pay in the public services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he now expects to begin discussions with the staff side of the Whitley Council about the new policy of equal pay for equal work in the public services.

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 Chancellor of the Exchequer how far his appeal for wage restraint applies to public servants of £1,000 a year or less who have not received an increase in salary since March, 1946.

My appeal for wage restraint applies to all members of the community, whether employed in the public service or in outside industry though, as I said, there may be a case for some very moderate adjustments in certain instances.Any such cases, however, would require to be examined individually on their merits and I cannot give the hon. Member any formula of general application.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has refused the request of the Israeli Government for a £5 million loan to purchase oil supplies to be refined at the Haifa refineries.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Aston (Mr. Wyatt) on 21st May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can now say when he intends to make the pound sterling freely convertible.

I cannot add anything to the reply given to my hon. Friend's Question on this subject on 24th April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assurances he has been given by the Trades Union Congress leaders on the policy of wage restraint after his special meeting with the National Joint Advisory Council; and if he will make a statement.

I did not seek assurances from either side of industry. I invited the Council to consider in whatever way they thought suitable the statement I made to them on our present economic problems and I am awaiting their observations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amounts outstanding of Japanese loans; and what discussions have taken place with the Japanese with a view to them paying off these loans.

Outstanding Japanese sterling loans, including those with options for payment in other currencies are estimated at about £62 million. Arrears of interest amount to about £33 million. I am glad to say that the Japanese Government have now indicated their readiness to start negotiations with the bondholders for a settlement of outstanding indebtedness.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent Her Majesty's Government will insist that the Japanese Government shall stand by the undertaking that she would repay with capital and interest on Japanese bonds at the rate of 4.02 dollars to the £.

I have no reason to doubt recent reports that the Japanese Government intend to honour, at the appropriate rates of exchange, the dollar option clauses in certain Japanese bonds. Her Majesty's Government are certainly concerned to uphold the sanctity of all such contractual obligations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the discussions on reciprocal tax arrangements between the United Kingdom and India; and whether he will make a statement.

There was some further discussion in London in February of this year. The points of difference remain, but I am still hopeful that we shall in due course succeed in reaching a satisfactory settlement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses and flats have been de-requisitioned during this year; and whether, in view of the continuing shortage of housing accommodation, he will discourage local housing authorities from derequisitioning houses and flats which they control.

1,446 houses and flats were released from requisitioning between 1st January and 30th April, 1952, as compared with 1,220 for the same period last year. Houses which are derequisitioned remain available for occupation. Where a local authority desire to retain control for the discharge of their housing duties, it is open to them to make use of their powers for acquisition under the Housing Acts.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the fact that the agreement between the British Surveyors' Association and the Federation of Master Builders constituting a national schedule of day work charges needlessly increases the cost of housebuilding and repairs by some 40 per cent., what action he proposes to take to bring the schedule to an end and to substitute for it one more equitable to the community as a whole.

Day work rates are not used for housebuilding, and would be used for repairs only when no other method of charging is practicable. In any event my right hon. Friend has no authority in the matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on how the prefabricated houses built just after the war are standing up to climatic conditions; and what is their estimated life.

Generally the temporary bungalows are standing up to climatic conditions satisfactorily. It is not possible to estimate their life with any precision. If properly maintained they will be fit for occupation for a considerable time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the difficulties facing private builders on account of the requirement of the New Streets Act, 1951, to deposit with the council concerned a sum of money against the estimated cost of adequate road construction; and whether he will assist the firms concerned to meet this obligation.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the obligations imposed by the Act. He is looking into the problem of how they may be met in the least onerous way.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that three-bedroom houses at the Crawley New Town are 42s. per week and that many workmen are finding it difficult to meet such rents; and whether he will discuss this matter with the New Town Corporation with a view to making it possible for rents to be fixed at a level which the average workman can pay without serious financial difficulty to the family.

My right hon. Friend is aware that a few houses are let at the figure mentioned by the hon. Member, but the great majority are let at substantially lower figures. The adoption of the new designs should help the Corporation with the problem of rents for future houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why there was even a small increase in the occupation of Service camp huts in England and Wales during the month of March; and whether he will circularise local authorities regarding the desirability of evacuating such dwellings.

This small increase was mainly due to the completion of conversion schemes which had been previously authorised. Large-scale evacuation of these dwellings is not yet practicable, but local authorities have been advised that huts in a bad condition should be taken out of use as soon as possible and the occupants rehoused.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the predicament an airman's wife, of whose identity he has been informed, who has a young child, is expecting another in September, is under notice to quit her present lodging, and is unable to secure accommodation from the Witham, Essex Urban District Council, or in an unoccupied hut at the Polish camp controlled by the National Assistance Board at Rivenhall; and if he will consult with the National Assistance Board with a view to the release of these unoccupied huts for emergency housing in this and similar cases.

My right hon. Friend understands that this lady has found lodgings in one of the Witham Urban District Council's houses. Her application for permanent accommodation will be considered together with others on the authority's list when houses are available for letting.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the estimated number of self-build housing associations now existing; how many projects are now operating; the number of houses involved; how many copies of circular 44/52 have been sold; and what are the main difficulties in respect of the projects that so far have been brought to his attention.

My right hon. Friend regrets that the information for which the hon. Member asks is not available. Circular 44/52, which was issued for the guidance of local authorities, is not on sale.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government his estimate of the number and types of new dwellings necessary to meet the housing needs of this country; and if he will take steps to secure the approximate aggregate total of present urgent housing applications registered with local authorities.

It is not possible to make any reliable estimate. At the moment my right hon. Friend is more concerned with meeting these needs than in adding them up.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have housing estates or sites in the county of Essex outside their own boundaries; how many dwellings have been constructed by the London County Council in Essex; and how many are still projected.

The reply to the first part of the Question is four, including the London County Council. The answers to the other parts, in terms of post-war dwellings, are 15,002 and 6,426 respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now in a position to approve a scheme to prevent a recurrence of the flooding in the Sheringham Road area of the borough of Poole; and if he will state on what date work is likely to start.

Yes. The scheme has been approved in principle. The Poole Town Council hope to be in a position to start work on or about 1st August.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now state what steps he proposes to take to reform local government administration.

If, as my right hon. Friend assumes, the hon. Member refers to the structure and function of local government, he is not yet in a position to make any further statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the latest reports on the alarming condition of certain parts of the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, which have been sent him by the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion, he will reconsider his decision not to approve further restoration works to the buildings on the Royal Pavilion Estate or to issue further consent to a loan in respect of their cost because of the reduction in the amount allocated for local government services commended by Ministers for the capital investment programme.

My right hon. Friend is considering the Corporation's latest proposals and will be communicating with them shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he can give the number of successful applications to local authorities for improvement grants under Section 20 of the Housing Act, 1949.

One thousand six hundred and ten up to 31st March last.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the present totally inadequate arrangements, he will take steps under Section 5 of the Water Act, 1945, to obtain a proper survey of consumption and demand of water for the camp erected for the Youth Peace Festival to be held in Sheffield at Whitsun, in order to ensure that this camp does not become insanitary and a threat to the public health of the district in which it is situated.

My right hon. Friend understands that the local bodies responsible for water supply and sanitation are aware of the physical needs of the camp and they naturally have no responsibility for the doctrinal side.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many licences for new projects in the reconstruction area of Southampton have been issued since 25th October, 1951.

Four.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on the licences to be issued this year for new projects in the reconstruction area of Southampton.

My right hon. Friend will be able to sponsor the issue of a licence for the rebuilding of one shop for which all the steel was in hand before the steel allocation scheme came into force. He cannot yet say whether licences for any further projects can be issued this year.

asked the Minister of Works the general position about present stocks and production of bricks, timber, cement, steel and other building materials; and what are the prospects for the remainder of the current year.

Production of bricks increased by 13 per cent. and of cement by 10 per cent. in the first quarter of 1952, compared with the same period last year. Stocks are generally adequate. Local shortages in Scotland and the North of England have been due to heavy defence demands in those areas, and to difficulties of transport.The supply of timber and steel is not a matter for my Ministry, but I am satisfied that having regard to existing difficulties building gets a fair share.Apart from items made from steel and other metals in short supply, I do not anticipate difficulty in other building materials.

asked the Minister of Works how many Temporary and how many established specialist and technical officers were serving in the Transport Section of his Department on 1st April, 1952; and how many on 1st April, 1951.

The specialist and technical staff of the Transport Section in all parts of the country amounted to 46 (of whom 23 were specialists) on 1st April, 1952, and 51 (of whom 21 were specialists) a year earlier. All these officers—except one specialist—are temporary.

asked the Minister of Works the number of firms in the building trade in Scotland; and the approximate number of operatives for the years 1945 to 1951, inclusive, and on the last available date.

The number of firms in the building and civil engineering industry in Scotland and the number of operatives working there were approximately as follows:

—			Number of Firms	Number of Operatives
May, 1945	…	…	6,600	49,000
May, 1946	…	…	7,600	84,000
May, 1947	…	…	9,200	105,000
May, 1948	…	…	9,200	115,000
May, 1949	…	…	9,200	116,000
May, 1950	…	…	8,800	111,000
May, 1951	…	…	8,800	112,000
April, 1952	…	…	8,500	112,000

In addition to the firms in the building and civil engineering industry given above, about 900 specialist firms were engaged on construction work and employed about 12,000 men.

asked the Minister of Works how many workers there were in the building industry on 1st January and 1st April, 1952, respectively.

The numbers of male operatives, aged 16 and over, employed in the building and civil engineering industries in Great Britain on 1st January and 1st April, 1952, were estimated to be 964,000 and 966,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Works what action he is taking to secure increased supplies of cement to builders in the north-east of England.

I have asked the cement companies to send increased supplies of cement to the north-east and, in spite of great difficulties, they have done so. During the past seven weeks, the rate of deliveries into the Northern Region have been nearly 30 per cent. greater than in the corresponding period last year.

asked the Minister of Works what is the cause of the delay in leasing a part of the South Bank site to the British European Airways Corporation.

This proposal must be considered in relation to the development of the site as a whole, but I hope an early decision will be reached.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the numerous applications for licences for repairs to properties damaged by mining subsidence in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and of the hardship caused by including the value of these licences in the council's financial quota for repairs; and if he will give instructions that these applications should be dealt with separately.

The special needs of local authorities in whose areas mining subsidence is prevalent are well understood. My present information is that the arrangements in the Newcastle-under-Lyme area are satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give preferential treatment to local authorities in areas affected by mining subsidence when fixing the financial quotas for property repairs.

Preferential treatment in the way suggested is already given to local authorities in whose areas mining subsidence is prevalent.

asked the Minister of Works if he will now state how many licences he intends to issue, or has issued, for the purpose of trading in Trafalgar Square; and on what basis he is making these allocations of licences.

I intend to issue licences to self-employed people capable of giving good service to the public but likely to find difficulty in making a living in another way, with a preference for disabled ex-Service men, and to restrict the number to six, four for photography and two for corn selling.

asked the Minister of Works how far he can help in the preservation of buildings of national historical interest which belong to local government authorities; and whether he will help in the preservation of the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, in view of its serious state of disrepair.

I am always ready to advise local government authorities and other owners on the treatment of ancient monuments and at the request of the County Borough of Brighton my officers have advised on the repair of the Royal Pavilion, Brighton.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement about the progress of his talks with trade unions and employers on the subject of a proposed workers' charter.

The hon. Member is misinformed. No such talks are in progress. Matters of common concern to the Government, employers and workers are, however, discussed regularly through the machinery of the National Joint Advisory Council.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the threat to the employment of men in the furniture industry in Cardiff; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this.

I am aware that there is some unemployment and short-time working in the furniture industry in Cardiff. The remedy is to find other employment for redundant workers and the employment exchange will do this as far as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed registered at each employment exchange in Pembrokeshire, at the latest convenient date; and at the corresponding date in 1951.

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that there is insufficient trade union representation on the Scottish North-East Regional Hospital Board and on the Hospitals Board of Management in Aberdeen; and if he will take immediate steps to rectify this.

The hon. and learned Member will have had my reply to his letter on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are made for the printing and publicity of his Department; how, on what principle, and to whom contracts for this work relating to his Department are allocated; and, in particular, how many such contracts now exist between his Department, directly or indirectly, with the firm of D. C. Thomson Limited, Dundee.

All printing arrangements for my Departments are made by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, who follow the principle of competitive tendering and accept the lowest satisfactory tender in each case. I understand that no contracts exist between that Department and the firm mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will arrange with local authorities for the adoption of a uniform system of cost accounting for those parts of the Health Act for the administration of which they are responsible.

Arrangements are in operation to this end, and preliminary results have already been published by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now prepared to give a grant towards the Opinan-Laid road in the county of Ross and Cromarty in the interests of increased agricultural output.

On the evidence at present before me I am not satisfied that a grant for the construction of this road would be justified in the agricultural interest, but I shall review the position in the light of the further application which has been received from the county council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent recent experience has shown any types of non-traditional houses to be superior to others in speed of erection and value for money; and what recommendations he is making based upon his experience.

It is not possible to make a fair comparison as regards value since the types vary so much in plan, construction and the materials used. Similarly, speed of erection is governed by many varying local circumstances. As, however, non-traditional types as a whole can be built on average more quickly than traditional houses, I have suggested to local authorities that up to 50 per cent. of their programmes should consist of those types.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the cost, per head of the local population, for National Health Service prescriptions in Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline, Elgin and St. Andrews, respectively, in each of the years 1948–50.

Since a substantial proportion of the prescriptions dispensed by chemists in these towns is for persons living in adjacent areas figures based on the resident population would be valueless. It is not practicable to determine the cost of the prescriptions dispensed for residents alone.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made towards setting up river purification boards.

With a view to the publication of the relevant draft Orders at the earliest possible date, I have opened negotiations with the local authorities concerned about the setting up of 10 river purification boards.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many recipients there were of 100 per cent. war disability pensions at the end of 1945; the numbers in each of the other graded disability groups; what the pension rate was for each grade of disability; and how these figures compare with 31st March, 1952.

The estimated number of recipients of disablement pensions from my Department at the end of 1945 in respect of each degree of disablement and the basic pension rate for each at that time are, as follows:

Degree of disablement				Number	Basic pension rate*
per cent.					s.	d.
100	…	…	…	58,300	40	0
90	…	…	…	2,800	36	0
80	…	…	…	17,300	32	0
70	…	…	…	28,100	28	0
60	…	…	…	41,850	24	0
50	…	…	…	65,050	20	0
40	…	…	…	79,100	16	0
30	…	…	…	154,600	12	0
20	…	…	…	179,600	8	0

It is estimated that, in addition, some 34,550 were then receiving other pensions and allowances, mainly allowances for disablement assssed at less than 20 per cent., making a total of 661,250.As regards the last part of the Question, I refer the hon. Member to the figures which I gave in my reply on 20th May.

asked the Minister of Pensions to what extent the reduction of staff by 394 recorded in Command Paper No. 8557 will necessitate the cutting down or arrested development of any of the services performed by his Department in the interests of war pensioners or their dependants.

I can assure the hon. Member that such services and their development will not be affected by the staff reduction in question.

asked the Minister of Pensions in the event of a war pensioner who has received a postal draft in advance payment in respect of the recently announced pension increases dying before the expiry of the period covered by the advance payment, whether it is his policy for a claim for refund to be made on his dependants.

Where these circumstances unhappily arise, a refund will not be claimed.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is satisfied with the assurances given by the Electric Lamp Manufacturers Association with regard to the Monopolies Commission's recommendations; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that the assurances are put into practice.

Yes. The Association is taking or has taken specific action on those recommendations which require it. The implementation of those of a continuing nature will be watched closely by the Ministry of Supply.

asked the Minister of Supply how many defence orders have been allocated to the railway workshops at Derby since 7th April, 1952.

Since 7th April, 1952, one defence order has been placed with the British Transport Commission involving the use of the railway workshop at Derby. Part of the order will be carried out at Derby and the balance at other railway workshops.

asked the Minister of Supply what investigation he is making into the possibility of mitigating the shortage of steel by greater use of timber.

I have been asked to reply. An investigation is being made, but it is not yet possible to indicate with what results.

asked the Minister of Health what subjects now stand referred to the Central Health Services Advisory Council.

I think it is more appropriate that any account of the varied work in which the Council is from time to time engaged should rest upon their own annual report, which I lay before Parliament, or upon any other special reports which the Council may themselves wish to have published.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will suggest to local authorities that they should adopt a uniform system of cost accounting for those parts of the Health Act which they are responsible for administering.

This is primarily a matter for the local health authorities themselves. Some statistics comparing costs have already been published by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants and the Society of County Treasurers.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether telephone accounts can be rendered quarterly instead of half-yearly.

I regret not. The change would involve a large increase in staff which could not he justified now.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of applicants waiting for telephones in the borough of Wallington on 1st January, 1951 and 1952; how many installations were made during 1951; and what is the longest period for which anyone has been waiting.

Seven hundred and ninety-six on 1st January, 1951, and 453 on 1st January, 1952. Nine hundred and thirty-one new subscribers were connected during 1951. The earliest outstanding application was made in 1944.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he will supply a pillar box at Bramble Road, Swindon, and also a telephone service.

A letter box has been supplied and is in service; there are two telephone kiosks within about half-a-mile of Bramble Road, and I do not think an additional kiosk in that road itself would be justified by the use likely to be made of it.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he hopes to be able to supply a telephone service at 25, Wills Avenue, Swindon.

I am sorry that it may be 12 months before this telephone can be installed. A new cable is needed, and cannot be provided at once because of the amount of more urgent work on hand.