asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that chronic sufferers from disease are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain institutional treatment; and whether he will make a statement on what provisions are to be made by the Government for dealing with this.

Although I am well aware that there are local difficulties, especially in winter, my information is that more effective use of the beds available, which have increased in number, is gradually improving the general position.

asked the Minister of Health if he can yet consider either setting up a hearing aid clinic in Tunbridge Wells or supplying from the nearest centre technicians to visit the town to deal with repairs to hearing aids.

I doubt whether this particular development is yet feasible, but I am considering the general possibilities of extending the service in South East England.

asked the Minister of Health how many times the Cancer and Radiotherapy Standing Advisory Committee met during 1951 and the first three months of 1952.

Twice in 1951 and once in the first three months of 1952.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now amend the regulations to allow local authorities to increase the amount of money payable to aged people in hostels under their control.

I cannot yet add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hertfordship, South-West (Mr. G. Longden) on 10th April last.

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost of prescriptions issued under the National Health Service in the West Riding of Yorkshire for the year 1951–52.

I regret that the information is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health what further progress he has made towards the separation and autonomy of the western part of the South-West Metropolitan Region; and whether, notwithstanding such separation, he will allow the five mental hospitals of the western part to remain under the same administration as the many mental hospitals in the more metropolitan part of the region, as at present, and as they desire.

I hope to reach a decision very shortly.

asked the Minister of Health how many machines have been purchased by hospital committees for the purpose of collecting the shilling for prescriptions in out-patients Departments; and what is the total cost of the machines.

I am informed that up to the present 22 machines have been purchased at a total cost of about £950; 237 machines have been hired, the normal charge being £5 5s. each per annum.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what arrangements have been made to allow those who are in receipt of supplementation from the National Assistance Board, to recover any shillings paid by them for drugs and medicines.

National Assistance recipients can obtain a refund of the shilling prescription charge at the same time and place as they receive their weekly assistance payments, on production of a receipt obtainable from the chemist.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will give details of arrangements made by his Department for securing the reimbursement of prescription charges levied on war pensioners under the National Health Act, 1952.

The following are the arrangements made by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Health, to enable war pensioners to secure reimbursement of such charges incurred in respect of their accepted war disablement.The pensioners are required to obtain a receipt from the chemist or dispensing doctor for the 1s. charge for medicines. A form for this purpose (E.C. 57) has been supplied to chemists and dispensing doctors. The form explains that a refund can be obtained if the pensioner signs the declaration in Part B and either produces the form at the local Post Office when he draws his next pension payment or, if he does not draw pension at a Post Office, sends the form to the local office of my Department.Those pensioners who pay charges for elastic hosiery required for accepted war disablement will also be given a receipt (form E.C. 56A) and can claim a refund from the local office of my Department.

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the fact that Britain is to have a new Institute of Technology ranking with the leading universities to train scientists and engineers, how far Bradford Technical College and similar institutes will be embraced by the new scheme.

I shall be issuing a circular very shortly explaining my proposals for assisting selected technical colleges to develop courses in advanced technology and research.

asked the Minister of Education what replies she has received from the 81 local education authorities who have been notified that their educational estimates are inadequate as compared with their forecasts; and what further action she proposes.

My letters to local education authorities asked for an explanation of the figures in their April estimates. While it is not possible for me to summarise the replies I have received, I can say that in general authorities have shown readiness to consider how the intentions of Circular 242 can be met. I am not yet in a position to say what, if any, further action may be called for in any particular case.

asked the Minister of Education what exact meaning she places on the term the "essential fabric of education," as used in Circular 242.

The meaning of the term is quite clear within the context of the circular, and has evidently been well understood by the great majority of the local authorities. If the hon. Member will refer to paragraph 1 of the Circular he will find certain examples to illustrate its intentions.

asked the Minister of Education what action she proposes to take regarding the letter about Circular 242 to the Sunderland Education Authority.

I am awaiting the authority's reply to my letter.

asked the Minister of Education what number of pupils left grammar schools in 1951 before the age of 16 years in breach of undertakings given by parents; and whether she will introduce legislation to ban this practice.

Information on the first part of the Question is not readily available. As regards the second part, I am not satisfied that this is a proper subject for legislation, but I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for lichen (Mr. Morley) last Thursday.

asked the Minister of Education to what technical colleges she proposes to give improved financial assistance; what will be the extent of this assistance; and who will administer it.

My proposals will be announced in a few weeks' time with guidance for college authorities who may wish to apply for additional grants. It will not be possible to say in advance which applications will be accepted.

asked the Minister of Education the figures for awards to students taking university courses in relation to the population in each of the education authorities in the geographical County of Lincoln; and in which of these authorities the ratio is below that of the national average.

As a large number of figures are involved, I am sending the hon. Member a table giving the information for which he asks.

asked the Minister of Education if she can yet say what decision she has reached on the proposals of the Shropshire County Council to close three of their six nursery schools.

The further information for which the authority were asked has only just been received and I am at present considering it.

asked the Minister of Education if she will now make a statement on the increased value of her Department's grants for the next academic year.

The new rates are set out in Administrative Memorandum 425 which I issued yesterday. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Education what steps she is taking to increase efficiency in agricultural education.

I should not in general regard it as the proper task of the schools to give specific training in agriculture, but I welcome what is being done in many secondary schools, particularly those in rural areas, to give an agricultural background to the instruction, especially in the teaching of handicraft and science.

asked the Minister of Education the number of university awards per 10,000 pupils for East and West Suffolk for the year 1951.

As explained in the Appendix to Circular 247, East Suffolk made 9.1 university awards per 10,000 children aged 5–14 years, and the corresponding figure for West Suffolk was 13.7.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is his present policy for the future of Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply given to his similar question on 28th February.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many members of the Bamangwato tribe are now in prison or in custody awaiting trial; when are they to be tried; and by what court.

165 members of the Bamangwato tribe are at present in custody awaiting trial. The preparatory examination of 158 persons began at Serowe on 17th June in the court of a specially appointed magistrate. The preparatory examination of the remaining seven will be held at Palapye before a similar court.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he has any further statement to make on the future of Seretse Khama as a private citizen.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that in the Lancashire cotton spinning trade there is a price ring, whereas in the Yorkshire woollen spinning industry no similar restraint of trade exists; and since there is more unemployment in the cotton than in the wool spinning industry, despite the greater fall in the price of raw wool, if he will investigate the cotton spinning price agreement and, if necessary, place the matter before the Monopolies Commission.

I will bear this in mind in considering matters for reference to the Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the importation of Coronation souvenirs.

No. I hope to do so about the end of the month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to obtain a reduction in the price of binder twine for the forthcoming harvest to farmers, in view of the reduced price of sisal.

Prices of binder twine are controlled by a non-statutory agreement between the manufacturers and the Central Price Regulation Committee, under which the maximum price is fixed for each season. This season's price was fixed before the drop in sisal prices began, but under the terms of the agreement the Central Committee may take fully into account the profits arising from the use of the cheaper sisal this season when fixing the prices for next season.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the public interest in the Festival of Russian Films at the Scala Theatre and the Russian semi-documentary film "The Fall of Berlin," now showing in London West End cinemas, what reciprocal arrangements exist for the display of 35 mm. British films in Russian cinemas.

None, although I understand that discussions to this end are in train between film distributors in the United Kingdom and the Government of the U.S.S.R. which, of course, exercises complete control over the showing of British films in that country. I should add that there are no restrictions here on the import and exhibition of films from any foreign country: arrangements are entirely a matter for individual commercial interests.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the volume and value of the imports of tobacco from Canada and the United States of America for the first three months of this year; what were the figures for 1950 and 1938; and, in view of the shortage of dollars, what restrictions he has in view on the importation of tobacco from dollar sources.

Most of the purchases from the North American crops are shipped during the autumn, and the remainder by the following spring. The import of dollar tobacco has been for many years severely restricted on account of our balance of payments, and the policy is being continued. The following are the figures:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what amount of factory space exists in Lanarkshire and particularly at Newhouse, which is not now being used for manufacture.

About 190,000 square feet of Government-owned factory space under the control of Scottish Industrial Estates Limited, is not in use at present. Of this, 35,000 square feet at Newhouse have been allocated and production is expected to begin almost immediately; 140,000 square feet on other estates have also been allocated and production should begin as soon as adaptations or other essential preliminaries are completed. Firm applications for the balance are under consideration.The Board of Trade have no comprehensive records of privately-owned industrial premises elsewhere.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the fact that the European Payments Union net deficit for May was £17,689,000 and showed no great improvement on the deficits for the two preceding months, he proposes to impose further import cuts so as to adjust the position.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer last Thursday that

"we shall continue to take whatever further measures prove necessary to maintain confidence in sterling and to balance our payments."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th June, 1952; Vol. 502, c. 407.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take in order to obtain a revaluation of gold, in view of the fact that he is now establishing a monetary machine more closely restricted by the gold value of the dollar than that contemplated under the Bretton Woods Agreement.

I am not clear what the right hon. Gentleman has in mind. Any question of a general revaluation of gold would, under the Articles of the International Monetary Fund, have to be decided by that body.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the cancellation of export orders and unemployment in the industry, he will introduce legislation to exempt from Purchase Tax cutlery, spoons and forks used for household and culinary purposes.

No. I do not accept the suggestion that the difficulties of this industry are the result of Purchase Tax; nor could my right hon. Friend deal with this industry in isolation from others whose products are subject to Purchase Tax and who are experiencing what are, I hope, temporary difficulties in export markets.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reclassify, so as to exempt from Purchase Tax, those industrial scissors now subject to tax but until April last exempt under group 13 (6) of the tax schedule.

No.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the cost of printing Statutory Instrument 1952, No. 1067, The Sugar (Prices) (Amendment No. 2) Order, 1952, which has now been replaced by Statutory Instrument 1952, No. 1148, because it omitted Part III of the First Schedule.

Approximately £32.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the present staff of the Ministry of Materials; how many were transferred from the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Supply; and how far the expenses for these two Departments have been reduced proportionately as was promised when the new Ministry was established.

The staff transferred to the Ministry of Materials in July, 1951, included 1,609 from the Board of Trade and 169 from the Ministry of Supply, making 1,778 from these two Departments. By 1st June, 1952, the total staff of the Ministry of Materials had been reduced to 1,579. The two Departments from which these staffs were transferred made reductions in expenditure representing the full amount of their salaries and expenses.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of grassland have been ploughed in order to qualify for the £5 per acre grant.

Nearly 400,000 acres in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture on how many occasions during the last 10 years have owners and proprietors of farms and small holdings been dispossessed on grounds of inefficiency.

I regret that the number of dispossessions on grounds of inefficiency is not known for the period before 1948. Since 1st March, 1948, when Part II of the Agriculture Act, 1947, came into operation, 168 farmers have been dispossessed for bad husbandry, and 10 certificates have been issued under Section 16 for the dispossession of owners on grounds of bad estate management.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that disabled persons who take up pig and poultry-keeping under the Resettlement Scheme operated by his Department and the Ministry of Labour, find the scale of feedingstuffs rations allowed to be inadequate to enable them successfully to establish themselves; and if he will make an increase in the rations allowed.

The rations already provided for disabled persons are sufficient for full requirements of a certain number of stock up to a maximum of 20 pigs or 300 birds. There could be no greater disservice than to encourage these men to extend their enterprises beyond their physical or other resources; but I propose to discuss with my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Labour whether these maximum numbers should be increased in suitable cases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now taking steps to reduce the number of pigeons and starlings in the country and particularly in Trafalgar Square and other public places in London; what recommendations he now proposes to give to local authorities; and what steps are being taken to see that the most humane methods are adopted.

As regards starlings, I cannot at present add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, East (Sir H. Williams) on 22nd May. As regards pigeons, in the rural areas the problem is to reduce excessive numbers of wood pigeons. Rural occupiers are entitled and urged to do this by legal methods, of which shooting is the most effective. In the built-up areas the problem is the congregation of pigeons which are either truants from captivity or their progeny. The local authorities have various powers for dealing with any nuisance that may be caused, and I think they are generally aware of suitable methods of control, but my Department will always be willing to advise them on the most effective and humane methods to use.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will take steps to have the wheels of cars arriving from France, disinfected when they reach the channel ports, in order to avoid possible spreading of foot-and-mouth disease.

I have given much thought to the question of cars from the Continent, and I am advised that the risk of their spreading foot-and-mouth disease is very slight. The risk depends on the virus having been deposited on a road on the Continent, picked up by a car, and deposited again on a road in this country to which stock have access.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred in Dumfriesshire during the past month; how many animals were affected by the disease; how many animals have been slaughtered; and what is the total cost of compensation to date.

There have been 22 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Dumfries, the first of which was confirmed on 2nd June. 4,950 animals have been slaughtered, of which 69 were found to be infected at the time of diagnosis, though many more would have been incubating the disease, and some of these were showing symptoms at the time of slaughter. Compensation figures are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what official representations have been made to the French Government in the question of combined governmental action to eradicate foot-and-mouth disease.

I do not think that any special representations to the French Government are called for. What is needed is concerted action by all European countries concerned against foot-and-mouth disease. Various international bodies on which this country is represented are collaborating in the study of means to combat foot-and-mouth disease, and they have made recommendations to the Governments concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make arrangements for American aircraft arriving in this country from the Continent to have their wheels disinfected to prevent the spreading of foot-and-mouth disease.

I am not clear why my hon. Friend specifies American aircraft. There is no foot-and-mouth disease in America itself, but American aircraft coming to us from the Continent would carry the same risk, and no more than the same risk, of spreading the disease as other aircraft. The risk is very small indeed, since it is only rarely that aircraft take off from and land on airfields where stock are kept, and I do not think there is any need to have the wheels disinfected.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he will make a statement on the future of the Elibridge Horticultural Station.

I am still unable to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 22nd May, but I will make a statement as soon as anything is settled

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many agricultural holdings in Dorset are under 50 acres; how many between 50 and 100 acres; how many between 100 and 150 acres; and how many above 150 acres.

In June 1951 (the latest available date) there were 2.892 holdings in Dorset of under 50 acres of crops and grass; 807 between 50 and 100 acres; 478 between 100 and 150 acres; and 876 over 150 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to increase efficiency in agricultural education.

My Department pays grants to local education authorities and agricultural colleges, and is in constant touch with them about their activities. The Loveday Committee advises me on special problems that arise in agricultural education, and is at present surveying arrangements for part-time education. A number of questions which bear on the efficiency of the agricultural education service are being considered by my Department and the bodies concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that timber will be made available this year so that apple growers will have adequate supplies of wooden boxes.

Both my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food and I are satisfied that there should be adequate supplies of apple boxes this season.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Lincolnshire Rivers Board has decided to allow the British Sugar Corporation at Bardney to discharge trade effluent into the River Witham; and, since this will pollute the river, whether he will take steps to protect the rights of those who fish in the River Witham.

The Lincolnshire River Board have given their consent to the temporary discharge into the River Witham of a trade effluent from the British Sugar Corporation's factory at Bardney so that the Corporation can repair their storage ponds. I am satisfied that the Board have taken all reasonable precautions to safeguard the fisheries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the cruelty which frequently occurs in connection with the transport of tortoises in bulk to this country from North Africa and elsewhere and the high proportion of such tortoises that do not survive their first winter in England, he will take steps to make an Order under Section 23 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1950, under which he is empowered to make Orders for protecting animals from unnecessary suffering during their passage to this country and on landing.

I am advised that the Diseases of Animals Act, 1950 does not apply to tortoises and that I have no power to make Orders as suggested.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to make a new order governing the travelling conditions of horses and donkeys brought into this country by sea from Ireland; and whether he will include in such order an instruction that all solipeds, as well as cattle, should have 24 hours' rest on arrival.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how soon he expects to make an order ensuring suitable conditions of travel for horses from Ireland across England to France for slaughter.

I hope to be able to make an Order within the next fortnight which will ensure suitable conditions of travel for horses coming into England from Ireland and elsewhere. I would, however, refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave yesterday to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Knutsford (Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport), and on 25th February to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Grinstead (Colonel Clarke).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the difficulty British manufacturers are experiencing in trying to obtain approval of Coronation designs embodying portraits of Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family, coats of arms, regalia and Dominion flags and crests; if he will, forthwith, enunciate general principles which will serve as a guide to United Kingdom manufacturers, set up a single office empowered to approve individual designs, where such prior approval is necessary, and enlist the co-operation of the Commonwealth countries.

An announcement was published in the Press on 16th April, 1952, that the Queen had authorised during 1953, subject to certain restrictions, the use of various Royal Emblems on permanent souvenirs of Her Majesty's Coronation. A copy of that announcement is given below. In accordance with the announcement, souvenirs bearing any of the named emblems do not require individual approval and should not be sold in the United Kingdom before January 1st, 1953. If any manufacturer finds any difficulty or desires further information he should communicate with the Home Office on all matters other than photographs on which he should communicate with the Keeper of the Privy Purse at Buckingham Palace.I do not think it is necessary to set up a separate office as suggested by my hon. Friend, since the Home Office is in a position to consult the various interests concerned and to give advice with the minimum of delay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to ensure that poisons are not sold other than by, or under the supervision of, a registered pharmacist.

No. I think it would be unreasonable to require the public to go to a pharmacy every time they need a controlled poison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet received the opinion of the Poisons Board on the advisability of introducing legislation making it legally obligatory upon manufacturers of dangerous drugs, poisons, and the like, to have an antidote printed in label form on the bottles, jars or receptacles containing these dangerous products; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. The Poisons Board have advised against the introduction of such legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent expenditure is being incurred during the current year on the provision of deep air-raid shelters; and to what extent plans for such shelters will enable them to be used as underground garages in all cases where they are being provided in areas where more garage space and parking accommodation for cars is desirable.

The only current expenditure of the kind mentioned by the hon. Member is in respect of the maintenance of certain places which were used as shelter in the last war. They would not be suitable for use as garages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a full statement describing the investigation he has conducted as to the responsibility of members of prison staffs for the issuing of information concerning the conditions under which Dr. Karl Fuchs is serving the sentence imposed upon him.

I am making inquiries into certain allegations about the source of the unfounded statements about Fuchs that appeared in a daily newspaper last week, but I am not in a position to make any statement on the matter at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police activities in connection with the recent mail bag robbery in London; and when he expects that arrests will be made.

I do not think it would be in the public interest to make any statement as to the investigations which are now proceeding in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of London taxi-cabs first registered and the number withdrawn from service during the year 1951, and the number of taxi-cabs in service in London at the end of 1951 and at the latest convenient date, respectively; and the number of taxi-cab drivers licensed at the end of 1951, and at the latest convenient date, respectively.

Six hundred and ninety-eight taxi-cabs were licensed for the first time in 1951 and 1,303 of the cabs which had been licensed in 1950 were not licensed in 1951. Six thousand one hundred and ninety-four cabs were in service and 9,278 drivers were licensed at 31st December, 1951, and 5,808 cabs were in service and 9,228 drivers were licensed at 31st May, 1952.

asked the Minister of Labour what special arrangements he has made for placing in suitable employment of those who have suffered from tuberculosis, particularly in view of the reluctance of employers to engage such persons.

Local officers of the Ministry take every opportunity of enlisting the aid of employers in the employment of tuberculous persons, in conjunction with medical officers of health who are able to advise employers on the suitability of working conditions and necessary safeguards.For those severely disabled by tuberculosis, employment under sheltered conditions is available in some Remploy factories and in workshops provided by local authorities and voluntary organisations.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men and unemployed women on the register of the Borough employment exchange at the monthly count in April and May.

Nine hundred and sixteen males and 301 females at 21st April, and 794 males and 389 females at 12th May.

asked the Minister of Labour how many registered disabled persons are unemployed in Stoke-on-Trent at the latest available date; and how many have been out of work for more than six months.

Four hundred and thirty-four at 19th May, 1952, including 117 severely disabled persons classified as unlikely to obtain employment other than under special conditions. An analysis of the number of unemployed disabled persons according to duration of unemployment is obtained only in June and December. The figures for 16th June will become available before the end of the month and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed men and women there are in Stoke-on-Trent; what is the average time of unemployment; and how these figures compare with those of a year ago.

The numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of employment exchanges in Stoke-on-Trent at 12th May, 1952, were 887 males and 1,168 females, compared with 490 males and 82 females at 21st May, 1951. An analysis according to duration of unemployment is obtained only at quarterly dates. The figures for 16th June will become available before the end of the month and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour what proposals Messrs. Stewart and Lloyd's, Coatbridge, have in hand for the transfer of work or workers out-with the Parliamentary division of Airdrie and Coatbridge.

My right hon. Friend has no authority to ascertain what possible arrangements for its future work a particular undertaking may be considering, so that I regret this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Works when exports of the prefabricated Commonwealth house designed primarily for the export market will begin; to what extent they will be given priority of aluminium; in what quantities they will be exported; and to what extent the export of these houses to Australia will offset the curtailment of Australian imports.

I hope exports will begin soon, but I have no exact information when or in what volume. The unofficial allocation scheme operated by the aluminium industry provides some priority for export orders.

asked the Minister of Works the total number of staff now employed in his Department; and how many are permanent.

The total staff of my Department, both non-industrial and industrial, employed on 1st June, 1952, was 34,587 of whom 14,258 are permanent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the pronouncement made on 6th July, 1950, HANSARD, columns 621–22, by the then Minister of Health, on the subject of evictions from agricultural subsidised council houses, still represents Her Majesty's Government's viewpoint.

The selection of tenants is, by statute, in the hands of the local authority and my right hon. Friend does not propose to interfere with that discretion.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether a widow in receipt of a pension from the Ministry of Pensions must contribute as a non-employed person to the National Insurance Scheme, where her pension is over £2 weekly; and under what conditions a widow can be exempted from contribution.

As certain deductions are made in deciding whether a person's income exceeds the limit for exemption from contributions, I would need to have full details of the case before I could say whether the widow in question is liable for contributions. If the hon. Member cares to send me particulars I will look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in approved cases, he will allow soldiers serving in the United Kingdom to be granted some agricultural leave to assist with the harvest.

No. I cannot consider special agricultural leave under present conditions, but normal leave at harvest time is granted whenever possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the relief team from the English branch of the Save the Children Fund has not been allowed to proceed to South Korea for the purpose of rehabilitation and relief work; and if he will make a statement on the opportunities open to the voluntary agencies to take part in this work at the present time.

I am informed that a small relief team recruited in Australia and regarded as representing the whole British Commonwealth, is already working in South Korea. I understand that the Save the Children Fund wishes also to send nurses from the United Kingdom and negotiations to this end are already in progress. I am not aware of any refusal to allow a relief team from the Save the Children Fund in this country to go to Korea.Voluntary workers in South Korea are supervised by the United Nations Civil Assistance Command. I suggest that any voluntary society which wishes to take part in relief for Korea should, in the first instance, make inquiries of the Foreign Office.

asked the Prime Minister how many aliens have settled down permanently in the United Kingdom since 1919; how many immigrants from British Dependencies have taken up permanent residence here since 1919; and what expenditure has been incurred by the Government on the maintenance of indigent immigrants or on their repatriation.

I am writing to the hon. Member on this subject.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the improvement in supplies now available of copper, he intends to discontinue price control, licensing and distribution of this raw material.

This would not be practicable, since copper is still subject to international allocation and the supplies to this country are still insufficient to meet current requirements.