asked the Minister of Food if he will now make a statement on the future purchase of bananas by his Department.

I consider that it is no longer expedient that the Government should continue to be the sole importer of bananas. I am therefore considering, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies, how and when my Department could most conveniently withdraw from this trade. We must of course be satisfied that Colonial suppliers, including Jamaica, with whom Her Majesty's Government have a contract, are able to make satisfactory arrangements for marketing their bananas in this country.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the serious difficulties created for fruit growers by recent large-scale imports of fruit pulp; and what action he intends to take to ensure that reasonable prices are available for British growers for this season's soft fruit crop.

Imports of both fresh fruit and fruit pulp in the current half-year have been heavily cut as compared with the corresponding period last year. The reduced imports should not affect prospects of marketing home-grown soft fruit at reasonable prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to the case in which two persons were convicted at Stratford Police Court on eight charges of stealing cats in Ilford; whether it is known to whom these persons intended to sell these animals; what further investigations will be instituted into the methods by which animals stolen, in circumstances such as this, are disposed of; and what further action he is taking in the present case.

Yes. I understand that one of the defendants has appealed against the sentence imposed on him and it would not be proper for me to comment on the case at this stage. I am confident that the police take all practicable steps to deal with the stealing of animals or the purchase of stolen animals and I do not think that a general investigation of the kind suggested by my right hon. Friend would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many unemployed cotton operatives in Bolton are in receipt of National Assistance.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total number of employees, other than those in Government employment, who are members of any of the following types of superannuation scheme: a Statutory Superannuation Scheme, a Superannuation Fund approved by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue under Section 32, Finance Act. 1921, a Superannuation Scheme approved by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue under Section 21, Finance Act, 1947. and an Excepted Staff Assurance Scheme.

Accurate information is not available, but a rough estimate is that the total is about 4¾ million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why prisoner No. 2941, serving a sentence in Liverpool Prison, recently went on hunger strike; and what was the result.

This prisoner was on 31st March last observed to have refused food. He said he was doing this because he was not getting his rights, but he was in fact being treated in accordance with prison regulations. He resumed normal feeding on 8th April. He did not have to be forcibly fed and suffered no ill-effects.