asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement concerning the proposed extensions to the runways at the Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton; and the effect of those extensions upon the village of Yeovilton.

Extensions of the runways at the Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton are required to enable the station to handle modern types of naval jet aircraft now in production. It is true that the use of these aircraft may produce more noise. Certain advantages will, however, accrue from the lengthening of the runways in that the paths of aircraft in the air will be further away from the village, both when taking off and when approaching to land, than has been the case in the past.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is no other village in the country which has on two sides and at a very close distance runways to be used by jet aircraft? Is he further aware that it is the view of many of the inhabitants of that village that the conditions of life there will become entirely intolerable for them when these proposals have been completed?

I am very sorry that there is bound to be some inconvenience to those living in the village. I was there myself last Friday. Everything it is possible for us to do is being done to make that inconvenience as little as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty for what reason the activities of 801 Naval Air Squadron, which from June to September is serving in Malta and thereafter until next May is serving in Korean waters, are to count as Home Fleet service and not as foreign service.

It is the normal rule that foreign service does not include temporary service abroad, in a ship or squadron normally based in home waters, if the period abroad does not exceed 15 months. 801 Squadron is normally based at home and will only be abroad for 11 months.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which a launch of the Royal Navy was sunk last week.

Her Majesty's Motor Launch No. 2582 was taking part in a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation amphibious exercise. Units of all three Services, both of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, were engaged, and were operating under the Commander-in-Chief, Netherlands Home Station. The vessel was lost during a mock attack on her by two aircraft of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The accident forms the subject of a board of inquiry, convened by the Dutch Naval authorities, and my right hon. Friend is awaiting further information. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing the deep sympathy of the Board of Admiralty to the relatives of those of both countries who lost their lives in this accident.

Whilst joining with the sympathy expressed by the hon. and gallant Gentleman, may I ask whether he will inform us when he is in a position to make a statement on the result of the board of inquiry?

I will pass that request on to my right hon. Friend.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which seven British minesweepers were withdrawn from North Atlantic Treaty exercises in the Central Mediterranean.

These ships, which are small wooden motor minesweepers of war-time construction, left Malta accompanied by a depot ship to participate in a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation minesweeping exercise. One of the minesweepers was damaged by a fire in the battery room and defects affecting the seaworthiness of the others developed during the initial stages of the exercise period. They were all sent back to Malta in order that they could be repaired for further operations shortly to take place.

Is it not very strange, when large sums of money have been made available to the Admiralty for, among other things. the repair and upkeep of these ships, that these ships should be in such a condition that they have to be withdrawn in the middle of exercises?

The right hon. Gentleman should be a little careful how he makes a statement like that. These ships were recently commissioned from Reserve. As he knows, they are old ships remaining from the war, and they are gradually being replaced by new construction. My right hon. Friend is awaiting a report on the whole matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty in what circumstances no mail was delivered to H.M.S. "Burghead Bay" on 2nd May, 1952, when this ship called at Bahia, on returning from a long tour, mainly in the Antarctic.

I regret that, due primarily to the use of the name "San Salvador," without any qualification, mail for Her Majesty's ship "Burghead Bay," which should have been delivered to the ship on 2nd May was sent to San Salvador in the Republic of Salvador, instead of to Bahia, Brazil—which is often called San Salvador, a slight corruption of its old name. I am advised that the missing mail has since reached the ship.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that, in spite of the original confusion to which he has confessed, the mail nevertheless reached the correct port four hours before the ship sailed; and is it not therefore most regrettable, as the mail was in the town, that it was not delivered to the ship?

I will certainly go into that point. The Admiralty attach very great importance to mail being delivered on every possible occasion.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General, in view of the recent robberies of Her Majesty's mail, if he will make a statement as to the extent to which the system is at fault; and what steps are being taken to prevent further outrages.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he has any further statement to make with regard to the recent mail bag robbery.

There is nothing I can say beyond telling the House that a large number of search warrants have been issued and houses have been searched. I can assure the House that the case is being vigorously handled.

Are not my hon. Friend and the country aware that this increasing wave of crime, of which this instance is typical, is due mainly to six years of the irresponsible policy of Socialism in action?

Will not the Assistant-Postmaster-General repudiate this foul allegation that the Labour Government was responsible for this mail outrage?

The supplementary question does not in any way arise out of the original Question or my answer to it.

Why are these large sums of money transported at a time and in a manner which is most convenient to the robbers? By that I mean: Why are they transported in the darkness of the night and without an adequate guard?

If the hon. and learned Gentleman was in the House when this matter was raised two or three weeks ago he would have heard me tell the House that there is nothing in the least abnormal about these particular consignments. They are going on every night, and have gone on for 30 years or more without any loss at all.

Will the hon. Gentleman seek to inconvenience robbers in future?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether the Postmaster-General will seek powers to refuse bank notes for despatch by post to the Bank of England for destruction unless they are cut into halves, sent separately, or have the corners removed.

No, Sir; my noble Friend does not consider he would be justified in taking this step, which is primarily the concern of the banks.

Can my hon. Friend confirm what has been stated since this Question was put down, namely, that most of the notes stolen in the recent big robbery were not old notes sent for destruction but new notes transferred to a bank. to which, therefore, my suggestion does not apply?

It is not so much new notes. A very large percentage were not soiled notes coming back to London but surplus funds being transferred from one branch of a bank to another.

Is it true that the arrests of suspected malefactors are being held up until the loot has been located; and will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind the undesirability of postponing such arrests as may be made for an unduly long period?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if any special routing instructions were given to the driver of the mail van which was robbed near Oxford Street on 21st May.

Yes, Sir; but it would be against the public interest to disclose their nature.

Am I to understand that specific instructions were given to the mail van that was robbed as to the route it should follow?

Yes, Sir.

How long before the actual time the van moved off were those instructions given?

There is a standing instruction given to these vans. I hope the right hon. Gentleman will not press me to say what they are. I am sure he would agree that it would not be in the public interest for me to give the details of the instructions which are given to drivers of these vans.

I do not think the hon. Gentleman has quite grasped the question I put. He told my hon. Friend that these were specific instructions for this van. I asked: how long before the van moved off were these instructions given in this case?

I should want specific notice of that particular point.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the postmark slogan about underpayment of postage on letters sent abroad is likely to materialise; and what progress has been made with the new system of collecting deficient postage on these letters.

I hope the slogan will be in use in September next. As regards the experimental system of collecting deficient postage, the Post Office has now added postage stamps to over 12,000 underpaid letters and received back from the senders 95 per cent. of the postage made up in this way.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will make a further statement about Government Departments making cash payment for their use of the telephone and telegraph services.

I hope it will be possible to make a definite statement on this matter in about two weeks.

Can the hon. Gentleman indicate whether we might anticipate good news in this matter?

I think the House will be satisfied with the news when they receive it.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is now able to announce a decision on the Terrington Report and on the claim for recognition made by the Engineering Officers' (Telecommunications) Association.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is now in a position to announce the decisions of the Government on the Terrington Committee Report, and outstanding claims for recognition on the part of Post Office associations.

I am not yet in a position to announce my noble Friend's decision, but I hope to be able to make a statement to the House next week.

May we have an assurance that in consideration of the Terrington Report due regard is being paid to the declaration of human rights and the principles of freedom of association?

I can assure the hon. Member that all these matters have been taken into consideration.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many Venner time-switches were stolen from telephone kiosks in the London postal region during the last six months.

Seventeen.

Will the hon. Gentleman ask his engineering department to try to design an attachment which will make those switches less easy to remove?

Yes, but I would suggest that these losses, regrettable as they are, are not a very big percentage of the total. There are over 42,000 of these switches in operation, and in Greater London the losses have been only 17.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what improvement has taken place during the three months ended 31st March in the speed of connecting subscribers on trunk and toll telephone calls.

During the three months ended 31st March the average time for the operator to answer toll and trunk calls was 5.7 seconds. In the same quarter of last year it was 9.4 seconds.

Can my hon. Friend give any reason for this satisfactory result?

There has been an improvement in the staffing position, and I am glad to say that there has been less wastage in the number of staff resigning, or for any other reason leaving the postal service.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the New Cross telephone exchange will be converted from manual to automatic working.

About the end of this year.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General to what extent doctors are required to share a telephone line.

A doctor is always given exclusive service to his surgery and the line is charged at the business rate; this applies also where his surgery and residence are in the same premises and are served by one line. Since 1st January, 1948, all doctors have been under obligations to share their telephone lines to their private houses if they do not practise there. In such cases the line is charged at the residence rate.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air by whose authority the road known as Gravel Lane, adjoining Merryfield Airfield, was closed without an alternative route being first provided; and whether he will cause the road to be reopened at least during times when flying is not in progress.

Part of Gravel Lane was closed in 1944 by order of the Secretary of State for Air under Defence Regulation 16. There is another road between Ilton and Isle Abbotts, but it is about half a mile longer. Until a better alternative route can be provided, the public will be allowed to use Gravel Lane when flying is not in progress.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the concession he has made will be very welcome to the inhabitants of the surrounding villages, and will he give instructions that all inconvenience to the public should be avoided so far as possible?

Yes, Sir. Of course, we always try to do all we can to avoid inconvenience to the public.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what types of aircraft are being used for night training co-operation with searchlights; and at what speeds they normally fly when engaged on these duties.

Beaufighters, Oxfords, Proctors, Rapides, Geminis, Ansons and Consuls are used on this work, for which they fly at speeds ranging from 125 to 200 miles per hour.

Does my hon. Friend feel that this is realistic training? Moreover, in view of the fact that many of the men who are being trained in this way have served during active operations, does he think that this is likely to increase their enthusiasm?

Operational squadrons cannot be spared for searchlight co-operation work because all available flying hours are taken up with interception and all-weather training. Searchlight cooperation training is, therefore, not regarded as useful to them because the use of searchlights to help fighters in interception has now been surpassed by A.I. radar methods.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has received from the United Nations Organisation as to the total number of compounds at Koje Camp; the number of these where the Communists have seized control; and the date when control of these compounds was lost by the United Nations commandant.

Until the regrouping of prisoners began in April, the camp on Koje Island included four enclosures. These enclosures were divided into a total of 37 compounds. New compounds and enclosures are at present being built and a substantial number of prisoners have now been transferred to the mainland. Until the regrouping is complete, it will not be possible to give precise details of the new arrangements.

Is the Minister aware that, unlike Lord Alexander, hon. Members on this side of the House are most unduly perturbed about the events on Koje Island? Does he not think that no bigger blow has been dealt at the democratic cause in Eastern Asia? Can he tell us why we have been kept so long in ignorance of these events on Koje Island?

I do not think that anybody—certainly I do not—regards these matters as other than most deplorable and of the greatest concern to us all.

Is the right hon. Gentleman going to make a statement at the end of Questions with regard to the operations yesterday in this camp?

No, Sir.

As the right hon. Gentleman was so kind as to volunteer additional information now, will he make a statement to the House as to the events of yesterday and tell us how many people were killed on each side, what is the nature of the operation and what are the views of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the manner of its conduct?

I do not think that I can be expected to do that between now and the end of Questions. If anyone had asked a Private Notice Question I would have been glad to give the information. Perhaps a Question could be asked tomorrow?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has received from the United Nations Organisation as to the number of anti-Communist prisoners who have been executed by Communists in the prison camp at Koje; and what measures it is proposed to take to prevent these actions.

The best estimate available to me is that 115 prisoners have been killed by their fellow prisoners since July, 1951. It is possible that additional deaths may have occurred which have been carefully concealed and about which the United Nations Command have no knowledge. The measures now being taken to divide the compounds and separate the prisoners into smaller groups should help to prevent further violence by fanatical Communists against their fellow prisoners. These measures will, it is hoped, be completed in the near future.

Is the Minister aware that General Ridgeway himself has stated that many bodies are being passed out in the morning, and, as doubtless many more are buried inside the compounds themselves, would the Minister not agree that if British Forces had been in charge there might have been less of a shambles inside these compounds?

I do not think that we want to make that kind of comparison—neither do I think the House will on consideration. It is quite clear that the circumstances in these camps have been deplorable, but we do not want to censure anybody. We want to make sure that this business is brought to an end at the earliest possible moment so that normal conditions, so far as they possibly can be, are restored. The figures I have given today are of those bodies taken out by the American guard. The hon. Gentleman is perfectly correct that there are probably a large number buried. I understand that steps are being taken, when the compounds are cleared, to dig them up, so that we may know even the most horrible truth.

In fairness to the K.S.L.I., which my right hon. Friend has said is guarding 3,200 officers, will he make representations to reduce the number of officer prisoners which this company has to look after? It is far too many for one company to guard in a compound.

This compound has been visited both by our commanders and by the American commanders and I should be very reluctant myself, without any expert or first-hand knowledge, to intervene in this matter. I mentioned the K.S.L.I, because I thought the House would be glad to hear what excellent spirits the troops are in.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now publish a White Paper on the events leading up to the employment of British troops in the prisoner-of-war camp on Koje Island.

I hope soon to lay before the House a further general White Paper, in continuation of Cmd. 8366, on events in Korea. This would include an account of the events referred to by the hon. Member.

Does that mean that it will include the story of events on Koje Island and deal with the many questions that have hitherto been unanswered about the methods used in the screening of the prisoners of war and the circumstances under which the compounds in this camp came under the control of the prisoners themselves?

We are using what information is at our disposal, and we are awaiting a report which General Mark Clark has called for and which we have not yet received, and I hope that it may be possible to include that. Of course, we shall also have a full account when Lord Alexander and my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State return at the end of the month.

Has the right hon. Gentleman read the rather disquieting full text of the International Red Cross report on the events of February? Would he consider embodying that in the promised White Paper, as it has been extremely difficult to see the full text in this country?

I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman. I have not read it, but I will look it up and perhaps include it in the White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now publish a White Paper on the composition of the United Nations Command in Korea, and the powers and responsibilities of British commanders.

No, Sir. As the House will be aware, Lieut.-General Bridge-ford, Commander-in-Chief of British Commonwealth Forces in Korea, is responsible to General Mark Clark as United Nations Commander, and to the Australian Chiefs of Staff in Melbourne, on behalf of all the Commonwealth Chiefs of Staff involved, for the administration of the Commonwealth forces in Korea. The Commander of the Commonwealth Division is under General Bridgeford's administrative command; operationally, he is subject, through the Commander of the Corps to which his Division is attached, to the orders of General Van Fleet, the Commander of the United States Eighth Army, and through him to the United Nations Commander in accordance with the Security Council's resolution of 7th July, 1950.

In view of the widespread anxiety about the fact that we have not been represented at the truce talks or on the control of the camps and that we are not represented on the commission of inquiry into the events in the camps, would it not be desirable to lay before the public the plain facts about the bodies on which we are represented in the United Nations Command in Korea and where the British Government can exercise some influence over what is done?

The chain of command is quite clearly laid down; it has existed since the beginning of operations in Korea when it was laid down in the lifetime of the late Government, and it still exists. All along we have had liaison with the United Nations Command through Air Vice-Marshal Bouchier. Whether or not any additional suggestions for further liaison may be forthcoming as a result of the visits which are now taking place I would rather leave over until Field-Marshal Alexander's return.

While we recognise the compelling reasons for the original arrangements which were made in Korea and the very great services rendered by the United States to the whole of the United Nations, will not the Foreign Secretary consider whether the time has come when, as a matter of principle, we ought to consider having an integrated U.N. Command as we have for N.A.T.O.?

I would rather await Field-Marshal Alexander's report. We have, of course, considered these matters, but we have, frankly, been reluctant to interfere with the command arrangements which were originally laid down. We have to bear in mind how very preponderant is the American share in the losses and the fighting, but I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that his point has not been absent from our minds.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will instruct Her Majesty's Government's representative at the United Nations to recommend that an independent commission, with Communist observers, should interview without delay all prisoners of war who have expressed their desire not to be repatriated.

As I stated on 7th May, the United Nations Command have already offered a further screening, after an armistice, by a suitable international body or joint, national Red Cross teams, with observers from both sides. Her Majesty's Government regard that as a fair offer, which the Communists could accept with confidence. Her Majesty's Government are in close touch with the United States Government on this question.

In view of the statement which was published yesterday by the Commander-in-chief of the North Korean Forces in which he stated that the only obstacle to an armistice was the question of repatriation, and as the right hon. Gentleman has again stated that, in principle, the proposed re-screening is accepted, would he not agree that it is vitally important that the question as to whether the re-screening should take place before or after the armistice should not be allowed to prejudice the conclusion of the armistice agreement?

I am obliged to the right hon. and learned Gentleman. I think the North Korean commander's reference was to the general question of the exchange of prisoners and not only to the screening. Personally, I would agree with him that if the only issue were whether the re-screening should take place before or after an armistice I do not consider that it should be allowed to stand in the way of an armistice, provided, of course, that there was acceptance by both sides in advance of the results of the re-screening.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what binding agreements on the financial burden in respect of our troops in Germany after June, 1953, have been, or will be, arrived at before the proposal to ratify the West-German Treaty is put before the House.

None, Sir.

At some time between now and the debate we are to have about ratification will the right hon. Gentleman make a full statement to the House on what will be our financial obligations in hard currency arising out of these arrangements?

Is the hon. Gentleman referring to after June, 1953?

Yes, Sir.

In that respect, it is impossible for anybody to give an estimate at this time because, as I explained to the House yesterday, the assessments of all the nations will be made for next year as it was for last year. What we have done is to make clear that we cannot shoulder additional burdens to those that we are now carrying and that there will have to be some further re-apportionment of the financial burden. Nobody can say exactly how this will fall out until it is made in June, 1953.

Is the Foreign Secretary aware that the late Government made it perfectly plain that we could not shoulder any additional financial burdens as a result of German re-armament, particularly if they fell on our balance of payments? Is it a fact that the present Government are adhering to that point of view and that there is no reason for us to suppose that, when the discussions in N.A.T.O. take place, any additional financial burdens will be placed upon us?

The right hon. Gentleman is right. We have made our position plain on this matter as, indeed, I acknowledge that the late Government certainly did. The difficulty is to fix any figure as far ahead as this because, amongst other considerations, nobody can tell what the Germans' own charges may be in respect of the period after June, 1953, nor can they tell the extent of the help in materials which they may receive from other sources, and which may enable them to give more help to the N.A.T.O. Forces. These are matters which are being considered at the present time.

Whilst we all appreciate what the right hon. Gentleman says about the difficulty of fixing a figure for an indeterminate commitment in advance, does he not fix such a figure when he says that we do not in any event intend to accept any additional commitment? Does he not by that fix the figure at nought, and if that is the case are we not being a little silly in entering into obligations in advance of having a more clear cut understanding about this repartition of the financial burden?

The House will be aware that a N.A.T.O. review is carried out annually by an international body, and it would be quite impossible for us to make an estimate in advance of the general international review, which does not take place until next year. There are other elements of uncertainty as well, such as how far we can reduce our own costs in Germany and an active investigation is being made about that with. I believe, useful results. However, I cannot commit us one way or the other in respect of a date in June of next year.

May we take it that discussion of how the German problem is to be dealt with will be part of the wider review of the obligations of the different N.A.T.O. and other countries?

The right hon. Gentleman is entirely correct. That is the whole problem and that is why we cannot take it separately as far ahead as June of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what the payments of the West German Federal Government, on behalf, and for the benefit, of our troops and other administration in Germany amounted to in the financial years 1948–49, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1951–52, the first month of 1952–53, and in the calendar years 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952, respectively.

In the financial year 1948–49, the figure was 2,448 million marks; in 1949–50 1,721 million; in 1950–51 1,709 million; and in 1951–52 1,321 million. The estimated charge for April, 1952, is 84 million. It is not possible to give figures by calendar years.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what will be the effect on our balance of payments of the cessation of receipts of this very substantial amount, amounting to between £120 million and £200 million sterling? Will not the cessation of these payments impose a great strain upon our external account, and can the hon. Gentleman say how it comes about that we shall probably be paying the Germans rent for the barracks in Germany for our troops while in this country we house the troops of other N.A.T.O. countries without making any such charge?

My right hon. Friend dealt with the whole question of the financial situation in regard to our forces in Germany in answer to a number of supplementary questions yesterday, and I have nothing to add to what he said.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the decisions made during his recent visits to Bonn and Paris.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made yesterday.

I heard with great interest the statement which the right hon. Gentleman made. Is it possible for the right hon. Gentleman to add to the reply which he made to the supplementary question regarding the possibility of a Four Power Conference rather than continuing exchange of notes?

I made a comment yesterday. I think I went as far as I should; perhaps rather further than I ought.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that Mr. Samuel Skinner, aged 75 years, who was em- ployed as a watchman at his B Depot, 1001/Q, Montague Buildings, West Road. E.15, at a weekly salary of £2 4s. was dismissed on economy grounds on 28th April; and whether, in view of this man's good service and the small amount of money involved, he will consider reemploying him.

Staff at the Buffer Depots are employed by the Ministry's operating agents and not by the Ministry of Food, which has no say in individual engagements or dismissals.

In view of the fact that an old man of 75 has been exploited with a wage of £2 4s. a week, will the Parliamentary Secretary make inquiries throughout Food Ministry offices in the country to see that other men are not also being exploited by being paid low wages?

I should in fairness say that this was a part-time relief watchman, and the wage should be considered in relation to the time worked.

Do I understand from the Minister's reply that he has nothing to do with the payment of the wage or the making of any grant towards part-time employment?

The Ministry enters into an arrangement with the agents for the administration of these warehouses and stores and meets the cost incurred in toto. However, the Ministry is excluded from the task of making appointments or the dismissal of staff.

Surely the arrangements between the Ministry and the contractors are covered by the Fair Wages Clause, and will the hon. Gentleman say whether he has investigated if this particular contractor is operating the Fair Wages Clause?

The hon. Gentleman is quite right, but the question about this part-time officer is not, I understand, about his wage but his dismissal as part of the reduction of staff.

asked the Minister of Food what administrative steps he has taken to find out the number of families not taking up the whole of their bacon ration because of its high price; and how he will ensure that rations not taken up do not find their way into illegal channels.

The National Food Survey provides evidence of the pattern of public purchases of all foods. It reveals, for example, that the average proportion of the bacon ration which was bought by all households in the first three months of this year was 97 per cent. On the second part of the Question, action is taken whenever information about possible illegal transactions is brought to notice.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that, following similar Questions, his Department received a very large number of letters giving instances where people were completely unable to buy the whole of their rations because of the price, and that it is possible to get bacon off the ration by buying it in the piece because people are not taking the whole of their ration? Will he please be certain that this method is not used in order to say that it is no longer necessary to ration bacon because there is plenty available?

The National Food Survey is a statistical inquiry based on proper samples. The hon. Lady will be interested to know that the smallest take-up of bacon in the period in question, in comparison with the average of 97 per cent., was in the highest income group in which the take-up was 93 per cent.

Can the Minister assure the House that when one housewife cannot take up her ration of bacon and the grocer gives double to another housewife, the grocer always reports his action?

The hon. Lady is as well able to reach a conclusion on that point as I am.

Is it not within the realms of possibility that the 3 per cent. of people who do not take up their bacon ration are accounted for by those who do not like bacon anyway?

Is not the supplementary information a little mystifying, calling for further inquiry? Could not the Ministry's regional officers conduct an ad hoc inquiry into this matter, because there are widespread allegations as to why the bacon ration is not by a long way taken up?

I should be glad to inquire into any statements or allegations of that sort.

Is the Minister aware that some two months ago when I first raised the subject matter in the Question the Minister was asked whether he was going to some of the poorer areas of London to ascertain the facts as enumerated by my hon. Friend? Has the Minister made personal inquiries in the poorer areas of the country?

I cannot say that my right hon. and gallant Friend has made inquiries in individual shops in poorer areas, but I would urge the House to accept the general conclusions of an objective survey, the National Food Survey.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an assurance that the present bacon factory capacity is sufficient to deal with the increasing production of pigs.

No, Sir. Bacon factories are at the moment working to their full curing capacity and additional pigs are used for fresh pork.

What steps does my hon. Friend propose to deal with the situation? In my constituency quite a number of pigs have been transferred from the bacon factory to the pork market. This week, farmers are telling me that they have received notice that their pigs cannot be taken into the bacon factories.

Within the limits of the capital investment programme something is being done. It is hoped, for example, that by the end of the year bacon curing capacity will have increased by 10 per cent. I would remind my hon. Friend of the problem created by the fact that we are now producing at home 70 per cent. more bacon than before the war.

Can the Minister not let more light-weight pigs go into the pork market and let us have a freer market for pork? We shall be overwhelmed with pigs when the autumn comes.