asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now received the Report of the Copyright Committee; and when it will be published.

No, Sir. I have not yet received the Committee's Report. I understand that progress is being made with drafting it, but I cannot yet forecast when it will be presented and published.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now consider the advisability of reconvening the conference of Commonwealth Ministers with a view to securing a broader co-operative economic policy.

It is our hope to discuss these matters with other Commonwealth Governments. Our object would be a frank and full discussion with them on our common interests in this field. In the meantime, the close and frequent consultation between Governments in the Commonwealth, which the conference of Finance Ministers in January reaffirmed as their aim, is proceeding as a matter of day to day business.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when this conference of frank talking to each other will take place? Can he give a specific date? Is he aware that the situation in Lancashire is growing progressively worse week after week and that people are tired of waiting for the Government to do something? Nothing appears to be being done.

The question of the timing and of consultation will, of course, be a matter for the whole Commonwealth as well as for the United Kingdom. On the question of Lancashire, the hon. Gentleman will be aware that I am having discussions at the present time on that particular matter.

Has the President of the Board of Trade seen the report of Mr. Menzies's speech yesterday, in which he said that there was no time to lose before comprehensive consultations on the lines of a new Commonwealth conference were put in hand? Are we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's earlier answer that the Government have decided to summon such a conference, or at least to ask immediately the other members of the Commonwealth whether they are in favour of such a conference?

I not only saw the report of Mr. Menzies's speech, but also had the great privilege of listening to it. On the question of the timing of a conference, the Government are just as seized of the urgency of our problems as is anybody else, but I think it would be wrong to announce timings of conferences. I think the right hon. Gentleman would agree that the preparatory work before the conference is often as important as the conference itself.

I asked the right hon. Gentleman whether the Government had approached the other members of the Commonwealth suggesting that such a conference should now be held. Will he give me an answer to that question?

Her Majesty's Government have not summoned a Commonwealth conference in that sense at all. Their policy is as stated in the answer to his Question which I gave the hon. Gentleman.

Does the answer given by the right hon. Gentleman mean that the Government are content to engage in unilateral discussions with the various Commonwealth countries? Would it not be more advisable, and, indeed, is it not urgent, that there should be a general conference in view of the common interests involved?

I have already said that I think there are substantial advantages in having a general conference, but that, at the same time, that is not the only method of consultation. I rather agree with the view expressed by the right hon. Gentleman's own Government when they were in office, that a formal high level conference such as contemplated is by no means the only method of securing these ends.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman agrees with Mr. Menzies that comprehensive consultations were extremely important and necessary and there was no time to lose?

If the right hon. Gentleman will read my answer, he will see that in fact I did say that I thought there was substantial virtue in having a conference of this character.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now completed his examination of our future external commercial policy; and what decision has been reached.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a statement on the attitude of Her Majesty's Government towards the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

As I indicated on 8th May in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston, North (Mr. J. Amery), this examination raises fundamental and complex questions of economic policy. It is unlikely that I shall be in a position to make any further statement before the Summer Recess.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that nobody apparently wants this Agreement because nobody is trying to ratify it? Is not that a very good reason for starting the business of getting rid of it altogether as far as the Empire is concerned?

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise—it is not at all a difficult conception—that it is quite ludicrous that this country should remain in its present condition and continue to try and force its products into those markets that quite clearly do not want them and will do their best to keep them out while half the world is waiting to receive them?

There may be specific arguments for departing from the policy pursued by this country for the past six years, but at the same time, before we make alterations of a dramatic character affecting many people besides ourselves, very careful consideration should be given to the course we adopt.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether arrangements can be made for the import, free of duty, of small quantities of fabrics which British textile machinery makers require for experimental purposes.

Section 11 of the Finance Act, 1950, provides that duty-free Licences may be granted by the Treasury, on the recommendation of the Board of Trade, for goods imported for examination or tests with a view to promoting or improving the manufacture of similar goods in the United Kingdom. My Department is always ready to consider applications.

Could the President of the Board of Trade please expedite the granting of licences, because the delay to which the imports of these experimental fabrics are subject is discouraging foreign buyers of British textile machinery?

I am aware of one case, upon which I think my hon. Friend has written to the hon. Member. I am anxious that these applications should be expedited, and I think that if the applicant in that case had stated quite fully what his purpose was he would have had his application granted rather more quickly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recommendations he has now received from the Cinematograph Films Council about the prosecution of film quota defaulters; and what action he proposes to take.

In respect of 55 theatres out of 105 cases of first feature default so far examined by the Cinematograph Films Council the advice given me is such that I would not be justified in issuing a certificate under Section 13 of the Cinematograph Films Act, 1938. I am considering which of these cases are suitable for prosecution. As regards supporting programme defaults, investigations are still proceeding. In the circumstances it would be best for me not to make any further comment.

Will the right hon. Gentleman speed up his consideration of these widespread defaults in order to make the quota effective? Will he also look very carefully at the recommendations of the Cinematograph Films Council in view of the fact that the most notorious defaulters are represented in that Council and sit in judgment upon themselves?

With regard to the speed of my operations, I am doing a good deal better than the previous Government did. For the quota year 1948–49 no prosecution was heard until November, 1950.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he told me some weeks ago that the question of the prosecution of the Empire Cinema, Leicester Square, was under consideration, that cinema having shown one British film in the last two years? What is happening about this prosecution?

I am now, as in duty bound, taking the advice of the Cinematograph Films Council. When that advice is received, as it has been in these cases, I am examining the question of evidence and so forth with regard to prosecution.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman say he was considering the prosecution of this cinema before he received the advice of the Cinematograph Films Council?

If the hon. Member has a question on a particular cinema, perhaps he will put it down.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the alarm caused to many cotton spinners and manufacturers by his decision to extend the markets to which Japanese cloth brought here for processing may be re-exported; and whether, in view of the fact that this cloth was imported on condition that it would only be re-exported to a limited number of specified markets, he will agree to restrict severely any new extensions in order to give absolute priority to all-British cotton goods, the export of which can give greater benefit to Lancashire.

I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the issue of new licences to import Japanese cotton and rayon grey cloth is at present suspended. There are, however, importers already holding licences granted on their undertaking to re-export these goods to certain markets after processing in this country. My decision to consider any such individual cases for re-exporting the goods to a limited number of additional markets was intended to help move the present heavy stocks and so clear the way for new orders for Lancashire cloth. Each application will be considered with this object in view. I am not aware that alarm has been caused by this decision, which has been taken in the best interests of the Lancashire cotton industry as a whole.

Whilst thanking my right hon. Friend for his answer, may I ask if he does not agree that these re-exports of Japanese cloth must displace cloth that could be manufactured in this country and that, although the quantities which may be re-exported may not be great, the psychological effect of re-exporting Japanese cloth at the present time is very great indeed, particularly in Lancashire where spindles and looms are stopped for want of orders? Will my right hon. Friend bear that in mind?

I will certainly bear in mind the points my hon. and gallant Friend makes. There is, in fact, only one such case. The Manchester Chamber of Commerce were informed of what was happening, and I certainly had no complaints from them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent international agreements prevent the United Kingdom from cutting out altogether imports of fondant and sugar-fat mixtures from foreign countries.

We have obligations under the O.E.E.C. Liberalisation Code and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade not to administer import restrictions so as to cause unnecessary damage to the commercial and economic interests of other countries. However, these obligations quite apart, in determining the level of our import of particular commodities, we obviously must have regard as a practical matter to the desirability of admitting certain quantities in the interests of our general commercial relations with foreign countries. We have in fact already cut imports of fondant from foreign countries from about £8 million in 1951 to a rate of approximately £3 million in the first quarter of this year.

Would my right hon. Friend not agree that as we now have to meet our E.P.U. deficits in gold, and assuming that we are taking what sugar we can get from Empire sources, it would be very much cheaper for us if we were to buy real sugar from Cuba for dollars? As regards G.A.T.T.—the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade—is my right hon. Friend not aware that the American slang expression for a revolver is a "gatt," and is it not high time that this highly dangerous weapon was removed and prevented from threatening our trade?

I was in fact basing my answer not on the terms of international trading agreements so much as the practical desirability of not stopping all imports to this country because, if we do, we shall not be able to export. I really think that practical side must be borne in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take in respect to the evasion of the Hire Purchase and Credit Sale Agreements (Control) Order, 1952, following consideration of the details sent to him by the hon. Member for Dartford in respect to rental agreements.

Investigations have been made into certain alleged hire agreements which may be in breach of the Order and the question of instituting proceedings is now under consideration.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the need for urgency in this matter? Does he appreciate that most of the business is going to less scrupulous traders and that, unless a decision is made quickly, the other traders will have to introduce a similar technique and the whole object of the Order will be lost?

I am grateful to the hon. Member for calling my attention to an important matter. As I said, I am considering the question of prosecution at the present time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reply he has made to the letter sent to him by the Textile Officials' Association enclosing a resolution passed at the Association's annual conference at Southport, urging the Government to stimulate the purchase of textiles on the home market, and to take further steps to keep the overseas market open.

I have thanked the Association for their letter and noted the points made in the resolution, copies of which have, I understand, been circulated to all Lancashire Members of Parliament.

Is not the President of the Board of Trade aware that Lancashire needs more than thanks for bringing these matters to his attention? Does he not appreciate that statistics on unemployment published in today's papers are conclusive proof that the Government in fact have taken no effective steps whatsoever?

This resolution was not one to ask me questions about particular aspects of policy but was couched, in perfectly proper terms, to draw my attention to certain problems that exist. I do not think a point arises on giving courteous thanks for that. It was a proper thing to do. If the hon. Member has any questions on specific details of policy, perhaps he will put a Question on the Order Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in the textile producing areas there is now a danger that shortage of purchasing power will cause slump conditions in other industries; and whether he will take immediate steps to remedy this position.

I am, of course, aware of this possibility, but there is little evidence of any substantial increase in unemployment in industries other than those concerned with textiles. The Government are watching the situation and have already taken substantial action to assist the textile areas.

Is the Chancellor aware that in actual figures there may not be a lot of evidence; but the slackening down of the number of industries in which there is now no overtime being worked, or in which piece-work earnings are dropping, is quite alarming? Would not he agree that where one has 140,000 or 150,000 people who were earning £7 or £8 per week and who are now drawing 30s., some effect is bound to be felt?

We have done our best to help, within our powers, and we shall continue to do so. The hon. Member is correct in saying that if there is a substantial area of unemployment there must be some effect on the ancillary trades concerned.

Is not the Chancellor of the Exchequer aware that whole paper mills are now being closed down in Midlothian?

I am aware of most things; but if the hon. Gentleman will give me details I shall be only too glad to have them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish in the Trade and Navigation Accounts the details of the imports and exports of all forms of gold and silver in the same way as for other metals.

No, Sir. The United Kingdom Trade Accounts now include only those items of commerce which constitute merchandise trade. Gold bullion and monetary items are consequently excluded. This exclusion conforms with the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund.

Can my right hon. Friend give the reasons for this?

I understand that the reasons which the International Monetary Fund put forward are that gold is used both as money and as a commodity and that it is not always possible to distinguish between the two in transactions; and also that changes of ownership of gold often take place without transhipment and, therefore, the returns would be misleading. Those are the views put forward, but I must say that the contrary views can be held.

Why is there this secrecy about the movement of gold? In view of the right hon. Gentleman's reference to the fact that some of it is used for commercial purposes, can he explain why the gold which is put in teeth, and which is of less value, costs more than the gold that is put into Fort Knox?

The right hon. Gentleman has defeated me in the latter part of his question. I think the point is that it is not a question of secrecy but that the figures would be quite meaningless if published.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to restrict the importation of German and Japanese Coronation souvenirs, in order that British manufacturers, who are now experiencing a recession in trade, may obtain the maximum benefit possible.

Import licences are not being issued for any goods from Japan which might be sold as Coronation souvenirs. I hope to make a statement shortly with regard to imports from other countries.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that unfavourable remarks were made about foreign souvenirs during the Festival of Britain, and will he make certain that this does not occur again next year?

I was not responsible for these matters during the Festival of Britain. I hope my hon. Friend will await the statement which I hope to make shortly on the whole question of imports of Coronation souvenirs.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of these souvenirs have already come into the country? In view of the speed exercised in cutting out the import of food and other essential supplies, why was action not taken much more speedily in this matter?

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) why the permitted imports of foreign strawberries in the period 1st June, 1952 to 31st December, 1952, have been raised from £65,000 to £165,000; and when the decision was taken to make this change;

(2) what consultations his Department had with the representatives of British strawberry growers before raising the permitted imports of foreign strawberries from £65,000 to £165,000 in the period 1st June, 1952 to 31st December, 1952; and what steps were taken by his Department to make this change known to the horticultural Press.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why his decision to raise the import quota of foreign strawberries for the period 2nd June to 31st December from £65,000 to £165,000 was not, in accordance with usual procedure, published in the Board of Trade Journal.

The additional £100,000 for strawberries is intended to reduce the hardship which our import cuts will inflict on a locality in France which is economically dependent on a crop of strawberries grown specially for the United Kingdom market. The total quota for strawberries in the last seven months of 1952 is, nevertheless, much smaller than the quota provided for June and July, 1951, before severe restrictions were imposed on imports. In these circumstances, no formal consultations were held with representatives of United Kingdom strawberry growers. The decision was communicated to the French Government, in response to representations which they had made to us, on 15th April, 1952. The global quota was published on the same day.

Will my right hon. Friend consult with the Minister of Food in order to ensure that these strawberries go to the Northern market as well as the Southern market, so that there may be equal distribution of imported and home strawberries over the whole country?

I will convey that point to my right hon. Friend.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, while ensuring that the growers have reasonable prices, see that there is a sufficiency of supplies so that the industrial towns in the North, as the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Baker White) has said, can get strawberries at a reasonable price?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reasons for increasing the value of licences for the importing of fruit pulp in the period 8th November, 1951, to 30th June, 1952, from the £480,000, originally announced, to £895,000.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to his Question on 27th May. The additional licences were issued, at the request of the Governments concerned, in cases where the sudden incidence of our import restrictions had interfered with the performance of outstanding contracts and caused exceptional hardship to exporting interests abroad, for example, where pulp had been specially prepared for the United Kingdom market and was unsaleable without serious loss elsewhere.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the quantity and value of fruit pulp imported in the first four months of this year were actually higher than those imported in the first four months of the previous year? In view of the fact that there is every prospect of a very fair crop of home grown soft fruit, is my right hon. Friend aware that this is very discouraging to the home grower and will he see that these quotas are observed and tightened up?

While appreciating the point made by my hon. Friend, I must point out that we do try to administer these cuts, if we can, in a way which has some regard to contract obligations. We do it in the hope that other people will also do it for us.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of contracts placed for British textiles by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and her satellites and by China as the result of the International Conference in Moscow.

So far as I am aware, no contracts for the sale of textiles have been concluded as a result of the Moscow Conference.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the Government orders placed in the North-East Development Area during the six months ended 31st March, 1952, relate to engineering and electrical work.

The information for which the hon. Member asks is not readily available and could not be obtained without an expenditure of time and labour which could not be justified.

Without pressing the right hon. Gentleman on that matter, may I ask him to pay attention to the fact that there is a feeling in the North-East that they are not getting a fair proportion of these types of contracts? These particular trades are rather slacker than we expected them to be.

I will call the attention of my right hon. Friend to that point.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the report of the inquiry at present being held into the administration of the Development Areas.

I understand that the inquiry will take another two or three months to complete.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what trade agreements which he has made recently provide for the import to the United Kingdom of foreign soft fruit and vegetables, including tomatoes.

There have been no recent trade agreements containing provisions of this kind. There are, however, certain small quotas for some kinds of fruit and vegetables, not including tomatoes, from Yugoslavia, and of bilberries from Poland under the five-year Agreements which were concluded with these countries in 1949.

Is there any intention to conclude such pacts in the near future?

That is a different point.

asked the resident of the Board of Trade how far e plans to lower the import quota foreign tomatoes at the height of the Scottish growers' season this summer.

As was stated in the Board of Trade Journal of 2nd February last, the open general licence for tomatoes will be suspended this year from 16th June to 15th October inclusive. During this period the quantities of imports to be licensed are 3,600 tons from 16th June to 30th June, 7,200 tons from 1st July to 31st July, 2,300 tons from 1st August to 31st August, and none from 1st September to 15th October.

Both the periods of suspension of the open general licence and the quantities to be imported during those periods will be subject to review in the light of supplies available from home production.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that imports last year were lower than the quotas, which is an argument for lowering the quotas themselves? Will he bear that in mind in relation to the Scottish season?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what results he has achieved in conversations with the Australian Government about cuts in imports of British goods, including Scottish textiles, and chenille in particular.

I am still discussing these and other trade matters with Mr. Menzies and cannot make any statement at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the rapid using up of Australia's sterling balances, he will arrange a long-term credit so as to enable the speedy resumption of shipment of goods from this country to Australia.

No, Sir. I am afraid that our economic situation does not enable us to finance the export of British goods in the way proposed.

If that really is so, how does the right hon. Gentleman propose that we shall ever get Commonwealth development far enough forward so that we get our consumer needs satisfied within a reasonable time? Surely this is a most retrogressive attitude?

In the case of capital goods, of course, the right hon. Gentleman is aware of the Export Credit Guarantees which provide a certain proportion on shipment and a certain proportion within two years. If he is referring to capital goods, he will see that there is some consideration there.

I was referring to capital goods, but I still regard the answer of the Chancellor as completely unsatisfactory. Here we are wanting more consumer goods from Australia but not doing nearly enough to supply them with the necessary capital goods to produce them.

The original answer was provided before a little bird informed me that the right hon. Gentleman intended to say "Capital goods."

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the percentage of Empire tobacco now used in the manufacture of cigarettes in the United Kingdom;

(2) the average price paid for Empire tobacco and the average price paid for American tobacco;

(3) what inducements have been offered to the producers of Empire tobacco toimprove both the quantity and quality of their product.

The Trade and Navigation Accounts show that in the year ended 31st March, 1952, the preferential rate was paid on 42 per cent. of the tobacco retained for home consumption. Separate figures for cigarettes, as distinct from other tobacco manufactures, are not available. The Accounts also show that the average c.i.f. value excluding duty, of United States tobacco imported in the 12 months ended 31st March, 1952, was 4s. 11d. per lb. The corresponding figure for Empire leaf was 4s. 1d., but the types and grades were not necessarily comparable.

The import of dollar tobacco is severely restricted on account of our balance of payments, but for the rest the users may import such qualities and quantities as seem best to them. My hon. Friend will be aware of the preferential duty allowed to Empire tobaccos, and that in recent years there has been an appreciable increase in the quantity of tobacco on which preferential rates were paid.

Is there any suggestion that we should give a long-term contract to Empire growers to increase the supplies in view of the urgent need to save dollars?

Does the President's answer mean that about half the tobacco which we are consuming in so-called Virginian cigarettes does not now come from Virginia?

On an average, 42 per cent. of cigarettes, however described, came in under the preferential rate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of fruit juices and sugared fruits it is intended to import during the next 12 months; and how these quantities compare with imports during 1951.

I have been asked to reply.

I cannot make an estimate. These commodities are imported from the sterling area by private traders under open general licence and from other countries under licences which limit the value and not the quantity imported. Imports from all sources during 1951 were just over seven million gallons of fruit juices and 170,000 cwt. of sugared fruits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the net income derived from an earned gross income of £1,000 a year in March, 1914, March, 1939, March, 1951, and March, 1952. respectively.

For a married man with two children, £962, £888, £831 and £833, respectively. The figure for March, 1952, does not take account of my Budget proposals which came into operation only from 6th April: the corresponding figure under my Budget is £888.

Does not this confirm the wisdom of my right hon. Friend's policy in seeking to reduce the cost of living? Does it not also show the necessity for reducing the standard rate of Income Tax as soon as possible?

In view of that supplementary question, will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House by how much the cost of living has been reduced?

I have stated with the utmost frankness the effect of the Budget on the cost of living. I am glad to have, in the person of my hon. and gallant Friend, a witness to the wisdom of the Chancellor's policy.

Is the Chancellor aware that there are still a few workers who are under the £1,000 a year level? Would he give comparable figures for them?

I am glad to say that in the case of some 16 million persons and their dependants there will be a considerable reduction in operation from the end of this week or thereabouts. That would seem to be a very satisfactory state of affairs, and I hope that it will have its effect on the cost of living.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost of importing cinematograph films from the United States of America and from other foreign countries, respectively, during the first quarter of this year.

The cost of films from the United States of America was approximately £2,070,000 and that of films from other non-sterling areas approximately £172,000.

Has the Chancellor of the Exchequer any intention of altering this ratio when the existing agreement with United States film interests expires in September?

The hon. Member is quite right in saying that the agreement expires in September; but, of course, we are at liberty to review the position before that date. Further than that I cannot go.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the National Debt Commissioners last met; how many staff are still employed in their offices; and what is their function.

The Commissioners last met in 1860. Their functions are exercised by the Comptroller-General of the National Debt Office who has direct access, when the occasion arises, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the-Governor, and Deputy Governor, of the Bank of England who are the three active Commissioners.

The staff of the National Debt Office totals 49. Their main functions are the investment of a number of public funds including the Post Office Savings Bank, The Trustee Savings Banks, and the National Insurance Funds, and the application of Government Sinking Funds. They also grant and pay Government Life Annuities, and have administrative duties in connection with the Trustee Savings Banks.

Would it not be a good thing to tidy up this queer administrative anomaly?

The arrangement seems to be working perfectly satisfactorily.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that these Commissioners will meet regularly every century?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what arrangements he has made, and what date has been fixed, for the calling of an early meeting of the National Whitley Council for the Civil Service to discuss with the Staff Side the early implementation of the principle of equal pay in the Civil Service;

(2) on what date he submitted his proposals to the National Whitley Council for the gradual introduction of equal pay in the Civil Service, in accordance with the recent decision of the House of Commons.

I would refer the hon. Member 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).

I am well aware of that, because I was in the House at the time; but the Financial Secretary made a promise and said it was the Government's policy gradually to introduce equal pay. I am asking, in both Questions, the date when he made the application for the Whitley Council to meet and to decide this issue. Can he tell me if he has made an approach or when he intends to make an approach to the appropriate Whitley Council for the introduction of equal pay?

If I remember rightly, the Financial Secretary said that discussion would not be precluded when our consideration had been carried a stage further. We have not yet concluded our consideration, and therefore I cannot carry the matter a stage further.

Will the Chancellor give an assurance that when his investigations are completed he will make an application, through his appointed officers, to the National Whitley Council?

I shall naturally adhere to the considered statement which was made by the Financial Secretary.

Is not it a fact that the right hon. Gentleman's answer is one more example of shelving this particular problem? Will he not give some firm date on which we shall have some answer to this question?

Is it not a fact that this question was shelved by the three previous Chancellors?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, by arrangement with housing authorities, he will provide a pool of building licences on a regional basis, in order to help applicants who, while satisfying the criterion of housing need, live in one district and are desirous of building in another.

Since the decision whether a licence should be issued rests with the local authority, my right hon. Friend does not think the suggestion would secure the object his hon. Friend has in mind, but if he has any particular cases in mind my right hon. Friend will look into them.

If my hon. Friend is willing to look at particular cases he must be aware that hardship is being caused. Is it not absurd that people who ought to move through reasons of health are condemned by this system to stay put? Will he devise some administrative solution?

My right hon. Friend agrees that the system does not work smoothly in all cases and, if my hon. Friend has particular cases in mind, the best way to provide a solution would be by approaching the local authority.

Surely my hon. Friend has information already.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many new town development corporations are issuing private building licences to suitable applicants; how many such licences have been issued; and what proportion of the housing allocation they represent in the case of each corporation concerned.

Seventy-two licences have so far been issued or approved for issue by local authorities on the recommendation of the development corporations in England and Wales. These figures represent a very small proportion of the corporations' total housing programme.

Does the answer mean that some development corporations are not issuing licences at all? Is it the policy of the Government to encourage house ownership outside new towns but not inside?

The policy of the Department is to encourage private enterprise licences in the case of development corporations in suitable cases. For the information of my hon. Friend, "suitable cases" means, for example, persons coming from outside the designated areas whose residence in the new towns arises through development by the corporation as a new town, such as those from the exporting authority's area. Also suitable are cases where persons already resident in the designated areas are dispossessed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what steps he takes to satisfy himself, before Exchequer subsidies are paid, that newly-completed council houses are not jerry-built;

(2) whether, since expenditure of public money on subsidies is involved, he will inquire into the jerry-building of council houses by private builders on the Bartley Green and Rednal Estates of Birmingham City Council.

It is a condition of grant in respect of new dwellings that the certificate of completion by the surveyor or other authorised officer of the local authority shall state that the dwellings have been constructed in a proper and workmanlike manner. As regards the specific cases mentioned, my right hon. Friend has made inquiries and has been informed that certain constructional defects disclosed in a relatively small number of houses have been remedied by the contractors at their expense.

Is the Minister aware that there are quite scandalous defects in these houses? I have sent some of the details to him. Is he content to take no action when there is a gross waste of public money and materials, when there is culpable neglect on somebody's part in housing people in decent houses and great inconvenience to great numbers of people who are moved out or have half their houses demolished? Is this not quite a bad case?

The reason for the constructional defects was that the chimney flues incorporated a liner recommended by the Building Research Station for the erection of a particular type of approved heating appliance and the liner proved defective in a few houses. Their use required more supervision during construction than can normally or reasonably be given. Therefore, the use of this liner has been discontinued. It is not accurate to ascribe the whole blame in these cases to private enterprise.

But that was only part of the trouble which I put to the hon. Gentleman. There are actual cases of houses being built which are so damp that people are being moved out just after they have been put into them. The hon. Gentleman has given only half the case.

Inquiries my right hon. Friend made show that the district surveyor inspected and approved these houses with the exception of those few with the particular defects I have mentioned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on the work of the Inland Water Survey; and if he will give an assurance that this will not be terminated or restricted.

My right hon. Friend regrets that he is not able to make a statement at the moment on the work of the Inland Water Survey.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that unless the collection of this type of information goes on steadily over a number of years it may be largely useless? Will he take that fact into consideration in coming to a decision?

I will ask my right hon. Friend to bear that in mind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much steel for the purpose of coast defence works has been authorised; how much issued to the local authorities of Lowestoft and to Lothingland during the past 12 months; how much has been asked for; and whether he is satisfied that the needs of these authorities are being adequately met for the purpose of combating sea erosion.

It is not the practice to publish information about steel authorisations; my right hon. Friend will do his best to see that the needs of both schemes are met in so far as available supplies permit.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in both these areas there has been a long and continuous battle against encroachments by the sea, and that the support given by the late Government through the Coast Protection Act resulted in a great deal of previous damage being repaired? Is he going now to allow, through an inadequate supply of steel, the land we have already saved to be washed away again? Is it not a suicidal policy to save Britannia from Mars and then hand her over to Neptune?

My right hon. Friend is perfectly aware of the importance of this work and of the excellent constructional work done by both local authorities. In the case of the Lothingland rural district scheme, there is about to be an issue of more steel. In the other case, that of Lowestoft, in January the Department met the engineer concerned, who agreed that at the present moment a supply of steel was not necessary and could be deferred for a few months.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the debased paper currency now in circulation is being considerably increased by steel authorisations issued by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government which it takes local departments many months to honour, and that these steel authorisations are for considerable periods not worth the paper they are written on?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman has any specific instances which support the general statement he has just made, perhaps he will be kind enough to send them to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government for what purpose the Lindsey County Council store on the Laceby—Grimsby road at Laceby is being built; and how much it will cost.

I have been asked to reply.

This building is required for use as a highways depot. Its estimated cost, including land, is £6,562.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the local people regard this as a piece of wasteful extravagance? Will he look into it to see that public money is not wasted in the way in which it is believed that it is being wasted?

I hope that my hon. Friend will disabuse his constituents' minds of any such view. This is highly desirable expenditure, and necessary for the County Council to discharge its functions as a highway authority.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the local people regard the place now being built as far too expensive for the purpose for which it is to be put and demand that the economy that was promised should be practised?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he wil give permission for piped water to be taken to East Ravendale, North Lincolnshire, where there is at present only one tap for the whole village and where, for the past nine months, the present water supply has been condemned.

My right hon. Friend is asking the Grimsby Cleethorpes and District Water Board to complete as soon as possible their preparations for submission to him of the necessary scheme.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the scheme was held up because his Department—I think it was his Department—would not give sanction earlier on? Can we have an assurance now that that sanction has been given so that the work may be put in hand straight away?

The first scheme which was proposed by the water board was thought to be too expensive by the Grimsby Rural District Council, who had to give the financial guarantees. A second scheme is now in course of preparation, and my right hon. Friend will consider it as soon as it is put forward.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the people living in these rural places, who have to grow the food for us, do not regard pure water as being too expensive in any circumstances?