asked the Minister of Food if he has made any estimate of the amount of fruit that will be lost owing to the small amount of sugar available for jam making; and if he will consider increasing this in order to save the fruit.

I am well aware of the importance of avoiding any waste of fruit if possible, but the hon. Member will also know the currency difficulties of obtaining extra sugar.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now consider a reallocation of essential materials to the baking trade, and break away from the system of allocations based on pre-war usage.

Yes. I am considering this and my officers are in consultation with representatives of the trade.

asked the Minister of Food what is the weight of cheese imported during the period of six months from 25th October, 1951, to 24th April, 1952; and what are the corresponding figures from 25th October, 1950, to 24th April, 1951.

Following are the figures to nearest convenient dates:

• 1st November, 1951 to 30th April, 1952–84,000 tons.
• 1st November, 1950 to 30th April, 1951–92,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Food, in terms of 1951 prices, the cost of importation of canned food in the first five months of 1951 and in the first five months of 1952, or if these figures are not available, to the most recent date in this year and the corresponding date in last year in respect of which figures are available.

Imports of canned foods, identifiable as such in the Trade and Navigation Accounts, cost about £25 million in the first four months of this year as compared with £32 million in the corresponding period last year; but I regret that it is not possible to state what the value of this year's imports would have been at last year's prices.

asked the Minister of Food if he will now consider reintroducing the points rationing system to ensure a more equal distribution of tinned foods, which are becoming scarce, due to the restriction of imports.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Gravesend (Sir R. Acland) and Wandsworth, Central (Mr. Adams) on 21st November, 1951.

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements have been made for mothers to collect welfare foods at Saltney, Hope, Caergwrle, and in the Overton rural district where the food sub-offices have been closed.

There has been no change in the arrangements under which mothers living at Saltney, Hope and Caergwrle collect welfare foods from the local clinics. Since the closing of the sub-office at Overton arrangements have been made for the distribution of welfare foods at the Post Office.

asked the Minister of Food what progress has been made in the negotiations to renew the Anglo-Uruguayan meat agreement.

Negotiations are proceeding through Her Majesty's Ambassador. In the meantime, small shipments of meat are being made at provisional prices.

asked the Minister of Food what is the amount of additional expenditure incurred by his Department on registered postage resulting from the abolition of the identity card.

This information is not readily available, but the additional expenditure will not be material compared with the saving in Ministry staff.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now in a position to make allocations of edible oil to firms other than those who were in business before the war.

I am looking into this, but am not yet ready to make an announcement.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can now announce a favourable decision on the case of the railway superannuitants who have not benefited from the increases in pensions granted to retired civil servants and other persons, and who are having to bear the full burden of higher living costs.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the action he proposes to take as a result of representations made to him to increase the pensions of railway superannuitants.

I think that discussion on this question can best wait until the Adjournment Motion on Thursday next in the name of my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Buckingham (Major Markham).

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

asked the Minister of Transport what reductions are being made in London fares; and what is the total cost of such reductions.

asked the Minister of Transport what adjustments will be made to London fares to bring them into line with provincial fares.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now make a statement about train and omnibus fares in the London Transport area.

asked the Minister of Transport if a decision has been reached regarding transport fares in the London area; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer hon. Members to the statement on these matters which I made today at the end of Questions.

asked the Minister of Transport the terms of reference to the Central Transport Consultative Committee in regard to railway fares outside London.

When the hon. Member has studied the statement which I made at the end of Questions today, he will, I think, agree that no reference to the Central Transport Consultative Committee will be necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements will be made to repay to London passengers the excess fares collected during the period under which his Department and the Transport Commission have been reviewing this matter.

There is no intention of making retrospective modifications in fares. The statement which I made after Questions today shows that the hardships to which the attention of the House has been drawn will be substantially relieved.

asked the Minister of Transport when he anticipates that the committee comprising representatives of his Department and of the Road Research Laboratory will complete its investigation into the problem of dazzle, and present its report.

I understand that the Road Research Laboratory expects to report to the Road Research Board with recommendations by the early autumn.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of increasing unemployment among those engaged in ship repairing in the Port of London, he will introduce legislation to discourage or prohibit British ship owners from having their ships repaired in foreign ports, save for emergency repairs.

No. I do not consider that this would be in the interest of those engaged either in ship repairing or in shipping.

asked the Minister of Transport when regulations requiring bicycles to be fitted with red reflectors and white mudguards are to be restored.

This requirement has not yet been brought into force because manufacturers have not been in a position to meet the demand without detriment to their export and other essential commitments.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce regulations requiring red reflectors to be fitted in a prominent position at the back of slow-moving road vehicles.

My right hon. Friend has no power to make regulations imposing a general requirement of this nature, but he has under consideration the desirability of changes in the law affecting these matters.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take to ensure the continuance of a sailor's hostel at Alexandria, the lease of the present premises having expired.

The sailors' club at Alexandria, which is run by a local Merchant Navy Welfare Society, is on land leased to the Society by the Alexandria Harbour Board. Last January the Board informed the Society that the lease would be cancelled. Negotiations are however taking place between the Society and the Board, and meanwhile the club continues to operate normally.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the many accidents to children that have taken place recently along that stretch of the Regent's Canal, between Warwick Avenue and Maida Vale, he will cause an inquiry to be made to ensure that the canal banks are sufficiently guarded.

I am glad to say that the British Transport Commission, in whom this canal is vested, inform me that no further deaths from drowning have been reported to them since July, 1951. They also state that arrangements are in hand for the construction of a new fence between Warwick Avenue and Maida Vale.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the recommendations of the Road Safety Committee on motor cycling accidents submitted to him recently.

No, not yet.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will publish at an early date the accounts of the British Transport Commission for the year ended 31st December, 1951.

Yes. I have arranged for the Financial and Statistical Accounts of the Commission to be published, separately, in advance of the Commission's Annual Report for 1951. Copies will be available to hon. Members this afternoon.

asked the Minister of Transport the total amount of compensation paid, and the amount known still to be payable, by the British Transport Commission under the Transport Act, 1947, for road haulage businesses acquired voluntarily and compulsorily, respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport the total amount payable in respect of cessation of business under section 47 (3) of the Transport Act, 1947, or for goodwill in respect of road haulage businesses acquired by the British Transport Commission respectively by voluntary agreement or compulsorily.

The total compensation payable in respect of road haulage undertakings acquired under the Transport Act, 1947, cannot be assessed until certain legal points have been decided and final payments determined or approved by the Transport Arbitration Tribunal. At the moment some £61 million has been paid, of which £34 million is for compulsory acquisitions and £27 million for businesses acquired voluntarily. Claims which may amount to some £16½ million are outstanding of which £¾million is the estimated balance still to be paid in respect of voluntary acquisitions.Of the total estimated cost of acquisitions, amounting to over £77 million, some £22 million is attributable to compensation for cessation of business or goodwill in respect of businesses compulsorily acquired and £9 million in respect of businesses voluntarily acquired.

asked the Minister of Transport the total value of road haulage businesses formerly owned by the main line railway companies and transferred to the British Transport Commission on vesting date, under the Transport Act, 1947.

I would refer my hon. and noble Friend to the statement which I circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 10th June in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Acton (Mr. Sparks).

asked the Minister of Transport the number of road haulage vehicles acquired by the British Transport Commission under the Transport Act, 1947, in the following groups: voluntarily; compulsorily; and road haulage undertakings formerly owned by main line railway companies and transferred to the British Transport Commission on vesting date under the Transport Act, 1947.

I am informed by the British Transport Commisison that the figures are 12,073, 28,265, and 3,558 respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the hedgerows alongside the London to Bath trunk road in Berkshire are being given a morbid appearance by the use of chemical sprays to destroy cow parsley and other wild flowers; and to what extent the cost of spraying is met by grants from his Department.

I am advised that this appearance is only temporary. As my hon. Friend will be the first to realise roadside weeds must be kept down for the sake of agriculture, but spraying is undertaken with due caution. The cost of such work on trunk roads is borne by the Department.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will instruct his divisional road engineers to consult local opinion as represented on watch committees before decisions are made concerning the removal of pedestrian crossings on trunk roads.

I do not think that this is necessary. It is the established practice for the divisional road engineers to consult local authorities about crossings on trunk roads. No doubt local authorities take the advice of the police into account in arriving at their own views.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in any review of pedestrian crossing policy, he will bear in mind the need for such crossings on some unrestricted trunk roads; and if he will consider methods of marking which will give warning to drivers of their approach to such crossings.

In general, I am sure that it is unwise to have uncontrolled crossings on unrestricted roads. In the rare cases where they are justified a standard warning sign—"Pedestrian Crossing Ahead"—is normally erected.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of accidents associated with zebra crossings which have resulted in deaths, serious injuries, minor injuries, respectively, since the crossings were instituted.

I regret that I cannot give my hon. Friend all the detail he wants but since the Regulations prescribing zebra crossings came into force on 31st October, 1951, until the end of April, 1952, there have been, in built-up areas, 1,331 casualties to pedestrians on zebra crossings and 2,449 such casualties within 50 yards of zebra crossings. In the same period total casualties to pedestrians in built-up areas amounted to 25,663.

asked the Minister of Transport the source of the oil pollution on the western beaches of Pembrokeshire.

A sample of the oil is now being analysed by the Government chemist. When the Report is ready I will send a copy to the hon. Member though he will appreciate that, though this will establish the nature of the oil it is unlikely to be conclusive as to its source.There are a number of war-time wrecks off this coast and they are a possible source of pollution.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will, in order to prevent the pollution by oil of beaches around the coasts of Great Britain, promote legislation to make it compulsory for all ships, deep sea or coastal, carrying oil cargoes or oil as bunker fuel to be equipped with efficient and approved oily water separators which must be used on every occasion when oily water is being discharged.

As I informed the House on 16th May, the Ministry is conducting a comprehensive review of this problem. We hope shortly to be in a position to discuss the matter with representatives of the shipping industry with a view to seeing what further practical measures can be taken to deal with the matter, and the suggestion made by my hon. Friend will be borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Supply in which counties schemes are operating satisfactorily for the collection of scrap; and why such schemes are not operating throughout the country.

Following is a list of the counties and areas where schemes are operating satisfactorily, with the support of the National Farmers' Union. Separate schemes cover Scotland and N. Ireland, and there are effective alternative arrangements in other areas, but in some counties problems of organisation have delayed the introduction of schemes.

• Brecon.
• Cardigan.
• Carmarthen.
• Cheshire.
• Denbigh.
• Glamorgan.
• Gloucester.
• Hampshire.
• Lincoln.
• Merioneth.
• Montgomery.
• Nottingham.
• Pembroke.
• Radnor.
• Rutland.
• Shropshire.
• Somerset.
• Stafford.
• Westmorland (part of).
• Wiltshire.
• Worcester.
• Yorkshire (East and West Ridings).

asked the Minister of Supply what action he is taking in connection with the threatened curtailment of American steel supplies to Britain.

Her Majesty's Government are keeping in constant touch with the United States Administration, and have made clear the serious effects of any interruption in the deliveries of steel from America, upon which we are relying for the execution of our defence production plans.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what is the total amount of unemployment benefit paid out in Lancashire in the first quarter of 1952, compared with the corresponding quarter of 1951.

£913,800 in the first quarter of 1952 compared with £470,700 in the first quarter of 1951.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why the hon. Member for Croydon, East is described as 2A/49/16/15D for the purposes of National Insurance and as AYB1 / 160/1 for the purposes of national identity; and further, now that identity cards have been abolished, why two numbers are necessary for purposes of official identification.

My hon. Friend's National Insurance number is to enable him to be traced quickly in our records so that there shall be no delay in paying him any benefit to which he may become entitled.The second number is now used for the purposes of the National Health Service and I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Lord Privy Seal on 21st February.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what steps are taken to ensure that family allowances are in fact used for the benefit of children.

My right hon. Friend has no power to supervise the spending of these allowances.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why all the temporary assistant inspectors in his Department are to be dismissed; and the number of such officers involved and their average length of service.

The remaining temporary assistant inspectors are being discharged as they are now redundant. The number involved is 58, and their average length of service is 8½ years.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will now alter the regulations governing the franking of workers' cards during unemployment, so that married women who customarily work a full five days in a five-and-a-half days' week shall be relieved of the existing obligation to buy stamps for their own cards during periods of unemployment.

No. Existing regulations do not place any obligation on married women to stamp their cards during periods of unemployment.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that the wife under 60 years of age of a husband who continues to work after retirement age, cannot, under the present regulations, be credited with the increments resulting therefrom even after she has obtained the retirement age; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with this anomaly.

This position arises because the purpose of increments is to provide compensation for temporary loss of pension owing to delayed retirement. As a woman cannot qualify for retirement pension before the age of 60 there is no anomaly.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power on what grounds he authorised the recent increase in the retail price of petrol, in view of the large profits being made by petrol companies.

The recent increase was due to higher ocean freight and increased costs of distribution in this country. The profits reported by the major oil companies do not relate directly to the distribution of oil in this country, but reflect the trading results of their world-wide production and refining activities. It would not, therefore, be appropriate to make any special adjustment on account of them in fixing prices for the U.K.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the proposed gas industry's staff pension scheme has received his approval; and when the scheme will be brought into operation.

The gas staff pension scheme is being considered and, subject to the clearance of some points of detail, I hope to be able to give approval to the scheme shortly.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether his attention has been called to the smoke eliminator doors designed at the Fuel Research Station which can rid the atmosphere of much smoke and save hundreds of thousands of tons of coal per year; and what steps he is taking to secure the general use of such doors.

Yes. The device has been fully publicised in the technical and popular Press, demonstrations have been given, and models exhibited at exhibitions. Responsibility for making use of this information rests with industry itself.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the reduced demand for industrial coal in the textile centres and in other trades which are not fully employed, he proposes to cease importing coal from America.

No coal is now being imported from America into this country.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the new power station to be erected adjacent to the Lea Hall pit, Rugeley, which is at present being sunk, will be in operation in time to receive direct supplies of fuel from the pit in question.

The colliery and the power station are being developed together. The British Electricity Authority inform me that they expect to commission the first generator in this station in 1958, by which time the colliery should be starting to produce coal. It is hoped to complete the station with a capacity of 540,000 kilowatts by 1963, when the colliery should also have reached full production.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the many serious complaints made to his Department by residents near the Croydon B Power Station which is emitting considerable quantities of grit and filth; and what urgent action he intends to take to stop this menace which is endangering the health of residents near the power station and also damaging their property;(2) whether his attention has been drawn to the particular complaint of George Croft, Esq., 17–23, Lancing, Road, Croydon, lodged with his Department, who is suffering so much from the grit and filth menace coming from the new Croydon B Power Station that he is accumulating at his premises a dustbin full every week of this filth and grit; and what urgent action he is proposing to take in regard to it.

No complaints have been received by my Department about the nuisance from Croydon B Generating Station, but the British Electricity Authority have informed me that they have received a number of complaints since last December. They report that the station is equipped with the most up-to-date plant for preventing the emission of grit from the chimneys, but it is possible that some of this is not working properly. Investigations into the cause of the trouble were immediately instituted and are now continuing. I have asked the authority to keep me advised of their progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the work of the British members of the United Nations Civil Assistance Command in Korea, showing, in particular, the number of refugees for whom they are caring, or helping to care, and the conditions under which these refugees are living.

There are about 22 United Kingdom personnel serving with the United Nations Civil Assistance Command, Korea. All have been seconded by the United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency, by whom they are paid. They are employed on the basis of their specialist qualifications and do not form a distinct national group.There are nearly five million persons in Korea receiving part or full-time re- lief from the United Nations Civil Assistance Command in Korea. These include refugees, local destitutes and war victims. Most of them have arranged their own shelter and only a few are in camps. I am informed that food and clothing are being supplied in adequate quantities and that medical care has been very effective in keeping the country free from epidemics.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken, or is proposed to be taken, against those prisoners of war responsible for the murder of fellow prisoners in the Koje island camps; and what suggestions have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the United Nations Commander on this matter.

According to Press reports, the Camp Commandant on Koje Island, Brigadier General Boatner, has warned compound leaders that they must release all anti-Communists whom they have been holding captive, and that any further murders of fellow prisoners will meet with severe and prompt punishment. The Minister of Defence and the Minister of State will be discussing this question with the United Nations Commander.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what will be the contribution made by Her Majesty's Government towards the current year's budget of the Provisional Inter-Governmental Committee for Migration.

Her Majesty's Government have received an invitation to join this Committee and to make a contribution to its administrative budget. They have not yet decided upon the terms of their reply to this invitation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he has taken to inform the United States Government of the precise circumstances under which Dr. Fuchs has been, and is, serving the sentence of imprisonment imposed upon him.

Dr. Klaus Fuchs is being treated in accordance with the prison rules generally applicable to long sentence prisoners. No communication to the United States Government in the matter appears to be called for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what amount of nonferrous metals it is his intention to allow British manufacturers for the purpose of manufacturing Coronation souvenirs.

No specific allocation of non-ferrous metals will be made to British manufacturers for producing Coronation souvenirs, but applications for licences under the Copper and Zinc Prohibited Uses (Board of Trade) Orders (S.I. 1951 No. 275 as amended by S.I. 1951 No. 1815) allowing the use of these metals for this purpose will be considered on their merits.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how far the negotiations for the Volta River project for the production of aluminium has proceeded; what is the attitude of the Government to the project; what obstacles remain to be overcome; and how soon he anticipates that conclusions can be reached and work on the venture begun.

The United Kingdom Government are greatly interested in the potentialities of the Gold Coast as an additional sterling area source of aluminium, but participation in the Volta River project would involve heavy capital commitments, and it is important from the point of view of all concerned that the scheme should be thoroughly examined in all its aspects before commitments are undertaken.The present position is that further exploratory talks between representatives of the United Kingdom Government, the Gold Coast Government, Aluminium Limited and the British Aluminium Company were concluded last week. Satisfactory progress was made in discussing the main outstanding technical and financial questions, but certain points will require further examination before the Governments and companies will be in a position to undertake any commitment. I am sure that no time will be lost by any of the parties, but I should not like to predict when it will be possible for any decision to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of grassland have been ploughed and cropped for this year's harvest in Scotland, following the announcement in February of the £5 an acre ploughing grant; and how this compares with the original forecast.

The original forecast of the acreage that would be ploughed in Scotland under the scheme was 200,000 acres. Preliminary intimations received from farmers of intentions to submit claims suggest that the final acreage eligible for grant will be around this figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many guests were entertained to any kind of meal by the East Kilbride Development Corporation during the financial year 1950–51; what was the total cost; and how many meals were served gratis to Corporation members.

Expenditure on hospitality by the East Kilbride Development Corporation during the year 1950–51 amounted to £349. The details asked for by my hon. Friend are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of continual demands for increased wages, he will publish a reasoned statement to explain that increased wages without increased production do no good to anyone but have the effect of a progressive decline in the purchasing power of the £ sterling.

On 15th May my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a statement on our present economic problems to the National Joint Advisory Council covering inter alia the point made by my hon. Friend. No further statement seems necessary at the present juncture.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of dog licences issued for the years 1950, 1951 and 1952, respectively.

The number of dog licences (including licences for hounds) issued in Great Britain during the three years ended 31st March, 1952, is as follow:

asked the Minister of Health what has been the total cost of meeting loss of remunerative time and for travelling and subsistence expenses sustained by members of all boards and committees established under the National Health Service Act for each of the financial years since 1948.

The total cost for England and Wales was as follows:

• Period ended 31st March, 1949—£68,246.
• Year ended 31st March, 1950—£101,828.
• Year ended 31st March, 1951— £113,010.
• The figures for the year ended 31st March, 1952, are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health the grand totals of hospital service staff as at 31st December, 1951, under the same headings as those provided in Appendix 2 to the memorandum from his Department embodied in the Eleventh Report from the Select Committee on Estimates, 1950–51.

The figures are:

asked the Minister of Health what terms of assessment he has approved for charging the individual for the home help service under the National Health Service Act; and what percentage of those charged for such services refuse to pay.

No particular terms of assessment have been approved for this purpose. The matter has been left to the discretion of the local health authorities. I have no information about the percentage of users of the service who have refused to pay the charges.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of staff employed in running the home help service under the National Health Service Act; what is the percentage of administrative staff; and what proportion the pay of such staff bears to the net outlay on the service.

At 31st December last the service employed 3,610 full-time and 21,841 part-time home helps, and 380 full-time organizers. I have no information about other administrative staff engaged in this service.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the long delay in supplying hearing aids under the National Health Service, he will consider alternative schemes to meet the present long waiting lists.

No. The rate of distribution has already greatly increased with the higher rate of production now achieved and I am considering what can be done to increase it still further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider amending the regulations which make it necessary for the word "adopted" to be put on the marriage certificate of an adopted child, in view of the distress which this practice causes to both the parents and child concerned, where the latter has been brought up as their own child.

I am arranging for my Department to discuss with the Registrar-General, who is responsible for the form of marriage certificates, the suggestion that the present practice should be changed.