asked the Minister of Civil Aviation whether he is now in a position to define his policy as to the distribution of flying routes in Scotland and the part that private operators will be permitted to play in that policy.

Discussions with the interested parties are continuing, but there are still a number of outstanding and difficult problems.

While partially thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask him not to overlook those pioneers of civil flying in Scotland, Scottish Aviation, Limited, who played such a prominent part in the late war? Will he do everything he can to reward them now for the services that they rendered?

I shall be very glad when reputable private firms, such as the firm which my hon. and gallant Friend has mentioned, are in a position to take advantage of the new opportunities open to private flying.

I am obliged.

Is the Minister aware that this company has already had permission to operate routes? Can he say whether they took advantage of that or is the case that they have never used the permission they have already?

As I said, discussions are now proceeding with this and other companies.

Can the Minister tell the House how many routes in Scotland have been allocated to private operators, and the number of routes they have not yet utilised after allocation?

As I made plain in my statement on 27th May, it is the intention to treat Scotland as one area, one Kingdom, and, to whomsoever the right to operate in Scotland is conceded, it would be for Scotland as a whole.

How many routes have been allocated to private operators which have not been utilised and are not providing a service?

If the hon. Gentleman means under old associate agreements, I will tell him the exact number if he will put a Question down.

Has a decision yet been come to whether the Government will pay a subsidy to the private operators with whom the right hon. Gentleman is in consultation?

I also made that clear on 27th May.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation how many helicopters are currently licensed for flight in the United Kingdom, excluding machines used by Her Majesty's Forces; for what purposes such machines are used; who owns them; and whether any are regularly employed for passenger carrying by charter companies or the air corporations.

Twenty-five helicopters are on the U.K. Register, of which 11 are operational for purposes of hire and reward. Of these 11 machines, four, owned by Messrs. Pest Control, Limited, are employed in general agricultural use, five, owned by B.E.A., are in use in general experimental work for commercial purposes, etc., and two owned by Messrs. Westlands are available for general commercial usage. None is at present employed for passenger carrying on scheduled services.

Do not these figures reveal a startling deficiency? Is there no opportunity of speeding developments in this important field of aviation, in view of the extraordinary versatility of the helicopter and its proved capacity for both passenger and mail carrying, cable laying and a wide variety of industrial purposes?

I do not think that we have anything to be ashamed of in our helicopter development progress. The United Kingdom has produced the first two-engined helicopter, the Bristol 173, has much the most commercial experience, has produced the first scheduled passenger services, and has the first certificate for blind flying in helicopters.

Have any experiments at all with the helicopter been carried out among the Scottish Islands; and if not, when does the Minister hope that such experiments may be made?

I will certainly look into that.

Would it be possible to put in the Library of the House a full account of the use made of the helicopter in the United States in connection with transport generally?

I will consider that.

Can the Minister say how the operational costs of using a helicopter for civilian purposes compare with those of the ordinary type of machine in use today?

That is quite another question.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he will take steps to study and keep abreast of the rapid development of the helicopter for passenger, mail and freight work in the United States of America, with a view to application of American technique and operational practice in the United Kingdom.

American helicopter development work is continuously studied by all those concerned.

But would my right hon. Friend not agree that there are very large numbers of helicopters in daily use in the United States of America, where they are used continuously, for instance, for mail carrying; and is it not rather a departure from fact in this matter to say that Britain is ahead of the United States of America when we have merely—I do not wish to be disparaging—only 25 machines in use?

As I said, I will consider the request of my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) to put information in the Library. I would point out that conditions in this country are quite different from those in America. In this small island we are concentrating on the development of twin-engined helicopters in the belief, as at present advised, that they are safest for our crowded and closely grouped population. That is the reason for any differences that may exist.

Does the Minister agree that British aircraft manufacturers have proved that they are foremost in the world in aircraft development; and, if so, will he repudiate the inferred reflection which appears in some of these Questions?

I quite agree. I think that we are taking the lead, but that is no excuse whatever for complacency.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation whether plans or scale models, or both, are now available for examination by Members of Parliament and others showing the converted structure of a London or provincial railways terminus for use as a helicopter station; and whether any continuing investigation f this matter is proposed.

It may be possible eventually to use such sites for helicopter operation but practical planning must await more data on the characteristics of twin-engined helicopters. The answer to the first part of the Question is, therefore, "No, Sir."

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation what life-saving apparatus must be carried by passenger-carrying aircraft flying over the sea; and if it is obligatory under his regulations to in struct fare-paying passengers on the use of such equipment.

The provision of lifebelts is a standard requirement for all flights over the sea. Dinghies must also be carried on flights of more than 90 minutes distance from land. Aircraft with inadequate performance when one engine is inoperative must carry dinghies for flights of more than 30 minutes' distance from land. Instructions in the use of lifebelts must be displayed in the passenger compartments, and a practical demonstration is required for flights of more than 30 minutes' distance from the land.

Without wishing to comment on the recent accident, into which I expect the Minister is making an inquiry, may I ask whether his attention has been called to the statement appearing in the Press that this charter company had decided, as a matter of policy, not to instruct its passengers in the use of this equipment; and can he say what action he is taking about that?

This accident—if the hon. Gentleman means the Consul accident—is now being investigated by my Chief Inspector of Accidents, and it would obviously be wrong for me to make any comment at the moment.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation what steps are being taken to provide an up-to-date successor to the Dakota.

Do I understand from that answer that so far there is no prototype and no plan on the drawing board for such a successor, and that it is only now being considered?

The matter cannot be dismissed quite so easily as the hon. Gentleman suggests. The number of passengers on routes now being flown by the D.C.3 has very considerably increased in recent years. It may well be that bigger aircraft, 40-seaters, may be needed on these routes, but the inter-Departmental committee is giving very active thought to this, and a great deal of work is being done. We have also had the benefit of the work of Canadairs, in regard to possible Dakota replacement.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation why he has issued the regulations "Purple Airways" for the guidance of airport authorities.

"Purple Airways" are instituted temporarily on specific occasions to provide for the safety of Royal flights on their varied routes.

To what extent does this interfere with normal air traffic?

To a negligible extent. I am sure that the whole country will willingly do all that is possible to ensure that the Royal Family, on their many public duties, are given the fullest possible protection in the air.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he is aware that hard ship is caused to those resident owners of property within the area affected by the proposed extension of London Airport, due to the fact they cannot sell their property if compelled to leave the district; and what steps he is taking to alleviate this hardship.

I realise and regret the inconvenience caused to householders by the inevitable uncertainty as to the future, but according to my information there is a good demand for houses in this area as elsewhere. As to any questions of personal hardship, the hon. Member will appreciate that I am bound by existing legislation of general application.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation on what basis the owners of businesses within the area affected by the proposed extension to London Air port ill be compensated for the loss of such businesses.

The owners of businesses whose premises are acquired for the extension of London Airport and who may suffer loss through having to leave these premises will receive compensation in accordance with the provisions of Section 31 of the Civil Aviation Act, 1949.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation whether, in view of the prolonged anxiety caused to residents and property-owners within the area affected by the proposed extension of London Air port because of the uncertainty of the compensation provisions, he will appoint a committee of inquiry to consider the problems of compensation involved and make recommendations.

No, Sir. There is no uncertainty in the existing provisions.

In view of the obvious injustice that is being done to residents and businessmen in this district owing to the depreciation of the value of their houses and businesses, does the Minister not think it right to ask for an inquiry so that there may be some satisfaction on both sides? The Ministry would know that they were doing the right thing by these people and, on the other hand, residents and businessmen might feel that they were getting fair compensation.

Many people are disturbed and inconvenienced by essential national developments, and I am very sorry for those affected. In this case we have already stated that in assessing the value of compensation in this area no account will be taken of depreciation in value due to the proximity of the airport. In addition, that Section of the Town and Country Planning Act which, as the hon. Gentleman, may know, applied a notional lease to the value of the compulsorily acquired house, will no longer be operated by the time, if at all, we have to take over the houses.

Is the right hon. Gentleman guaranteeing that there will be no extension of the provisions of that Act?

No, I am not guaranteeing it at all. The Act was passed by the late Administration with full knowledge of likely developments, and under that Act my powers in this matter are strictly limited.

As the Minister is not guaranteeing that the Act will not be extended, how can he say there is no uncertainty in the area? Will he look into this matter again, because he is grossly misinformed if he thinks that there is no uncertainty as to the compensation these people will get?

I shall be very glad to discuss the matter with the hon. Gentleman, but for a long time the possible development of London Airport has been known in the neighbourhood. I do not think that any further legislative powers will be necessary. Under existing powers I have the right to do certain things and the obligation to do others, and these I shall try scrupulously to discharge.

Can the Minister say with certainty whether these people will be rehoused within the urban district?

I could not give that sort of undertaking in response to question and answer.

But that is one of the matters upon which they want to be reassured.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation whether, in view of the fact that, if the proposed extension to London Airport is carried out, the area of demolition involved will be greater and the problems of compensation different in size and character from anything the present legislation is intended to cover, he will set up a special committee of inquiry now to consider those problems and make recommendations as to special legislation required to meet possible hardship.

No, Sir. I do not agree that the problems of compensation involved in the extension of London Airport are any different in principle from those arising from other development schemes under the existing legislation.

If the Minister receives a deputation of representative people from this area on compensation, will he guarantee to give them a definite answer to any questions that may be put to him?

I think I had much better say that I am quite ready to receive a deputation, and that I will hear what their questions are before I give an answer.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if it is proposed to reconstitute the Air Transport Advisory Council; and what qualifications he will require of the members of that reconstituted body.

The future work of the Air Transport Advisory Council is expected to be much heavier than in the past, and I am considering some reconstitution of the Council. A further statement will be made shortly.

The Minister has not answered the last part of my Question in which I asked what qualifications will be required for members of this reconstituted body?

The Civil Aviation Act, 1949, as the hon. Members knows, has not been altered, and in that Act requirements are laid down as to the sort of experience that these people must have.

Will the Minister give an assurance that, in any changes made in the responsibilities of this Council, the responsibility of Ministers to the House for their actions will not be in any way diminished?

That is certainly so.

The Minister is quite right when he says that I know what are the provisions of that Act, but is he aware that the Act provides for the constitution of a body to act as a consumers' council and not for the purpose for which the right hon. Gentleman intends to reconstitute this body?

That is not at all true. This is an Air Transport Advisory Council and it still remains an advisory council, and the responsibility will be the Minister's. If and when we decide to make it into a licensing body with full powers, then legislation will be necessary. No such legislation is now in contemplation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in the course of his visit to the Far East, the Minister of State will investigate the constitutional and political situation in South Korea; and if he will include in his report to Parliament on this visit a full account of the events leading up to the present situation.

I did my best to investigate the constitutional and political situation in South Korea during my recent visit to Pusan. I shall certainly cover these matters in the statement which I hope to make to the House next Tuesday.

While offering the right hon. and learned Gentleman congratulations—qualified congratulations, I am afraid—on his safe return—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—we had rather hoped that he would bring something better back with him than he has brought—may I ask if he will include in his statement just enough of the post-war background to show that Syngman Rhee, who is now behaving so unconstitutionally and embarrassingly, also assumed power, with American connivance, in a way which prejudiced the decision of the General Assembly of the United Nations?

I think that the hon. Gentleman might have exercised a qualified reticence on this matter and awaited my statement next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the unconstitutional methods by which the Presidency of Mr. Syngman Rhee has been prolonged, Her Majesty's Government now recognise him as acting-President of South Korea.

It is difficult to pronounce whether, under the constitution of Korea, the President's term expires on 25th July or 15th August. Whichever is the correct date, Mr. Rhee would appear at present to be the lawful President of the Republic of Korea. The hon. Member's Question therefore does not arise.

Is it not the case that the Southern Korean Assembly debated precisely this point that, when the matter was raised, no quorum was present owing to the fact that so many members were either in hiding, or were in prison, or had abstained out of fear? In those circumstances is it not the case that Mr. Rhee has usurped power without constitutional authority from the South Korean Assembly, and is it not time that this farce was stopped?

I am aware of the exceedingly unsatisfactory methods which have been employed in seeking to solve constitutional problems in South Korea, but I adhere to my answer that at present, certainly until 25th July and possibly until 15th August, Mr. Rhee is the lawful, constitutional President of South Korea. Therefore, the question of recognising him as acting-President does not seem to arise.

Would not the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that the methods which he admits have been employed by Mr. Rhee have done a great deal to discredit the cause of the United Nations, which is to uphold the rule of law?

Certainly. The methods which have been employed have created profound disquiet in many countries, and the President of South Korea has been made aware of that fact.

Have Mr. Syngman Rhee's personal prisoners been screened?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what points of agreement have now been reached in the truce talks taking place in Korea; what points of disagreement are still outstanding; what is being done to resolve them; and what are the prospects of complete agreement being reached at an early date.

No further agreement has been reached since the reply which my right hon. Friend gave the hon. Member for Islington, East (Mr. E. Fletcher) on 9th April. The concessions which the United Nations Command and the Communists respectively have indicated they would be willing to make, over the repair and construction of military airfields after an armistice, and the nomination of nations neutral in the Korean conflict to provide inspection teams, were both made conditional upon agreement over the right of prisoners of war to choose whether or not they wished to be repatriated.

Does the Minister not agree that this matter has assumed a new urgency in view of the bombing raids of the last two days and the danger of expanding and extending the war; and will he therefore redouble his efforts to see that the few outstanding points are resolved so that the war will not be widened and will be brought to a speedy termination?

Without agreeing to the first part of the hon. and learned Gentleman's supplementary question, I agree that this is a matter which is capable of speedy solution, and I certainly hope that it will receive that speedy solution.

Is it possible to resolve this disagreement when the other party to that disagreement is not willing that the agreement should be resolved?

I agree that it takes two parties to make an agreement.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman deal with the latest phase of this re-screening problem in his statement on Tuesday?

Certainly.

In view of the United Nations Commander on the spot having made a statement that the bombing raids on the power stations was his attempt to reach, in that way, an agreement which is not impossible at the conference table, are we to understand that the United Nations' method now is to destroy power stations which serve thousands of miles of non-Korean territory as a means of inducing the North Koreans to agree to the screening of prisoners of war on Koje Island?

It is difficult to debate this matter at this stage. I gather that it will be, in part, debated later in the day, and I am certain that the hon. Gentleman will learn certain matters which will affect his judgment.

Can my right hon. and learned Friend say, when he refers to being in constant touch with the United States Government, whether this is through the State Department or the United Nations Command?

Through the State Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement indicating the legal basis of the screening of prisoners on Koje Island and of the refusal of the United Nations command to repatriate those prisoners who are stated to be prepared to resist repatriation.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. Baker) on 23rd June.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman just say whether that reply, which I have not got before me, indicates the legal basis of the screening or merely says that he is satisfied that it was legal?

I suggest that the hon. Gentleman looks at that reply and considers it.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the majority of people of this country would absolutely refuse to agree to any persons being sent back against their will, whatever the law may be?

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman be just a little more forthcoming about the legality of the screening, since he has on two previous occasions orally avoided answering the question, no doubt inadvertently?

I have suggested that the hon. Gentleman should look at the reply. He will see the answer there.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many prisoners in Korea have not yet undergone the process of screening.

Between 4th April and 19th April, it was possible to screen about two-thirds of the total numbers of prisoners of war and civilian internees, that is to say, about 120,000 out of some 170,000. The figure of 70,000 prisoners available for repatriation given to the Communists on 19th April included all prisoners in Communist-dominated compounds where there had been violent resistance to screening.

Did the original screening cover Chinese prisoners of war as well as North Koreans?

Yes, it did.

Could the right hon. and learned Gentleman say what is the average time that has been taken to screen an individual prisoner?

I have already said that I propose to make a statement on these matters, and this is a matter which I will certainly cover.

Does the fact that the Minister of State is answering Questions on these matters mean that he is accepting political responsibility, in part, for what takes place in these camps?

I am seeking to give information to the House which is within my knowledge.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what precautions have been taken to see that the 100,000 prisoners in Korea who have refused repatriation did not include many whose main motives were that they preferred the superior food and comparative immunity of the prison camps to anything they might expect under the Communist regime, including the hardships and dangers of active service.

I am satisfied from my own personal investigations and from what I saw in the United Nations prisoner of war camps that prisoners who refused repatriation were prompted by genuine fear of political persecution or physical punishment if they returned to China or North Korea.

Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman seen the statement in the American Press that the screening took two minutes for each prisoner, and does he think that that is adequate time to ascertain the motives behind a prisoner's decision?

The screening process is not a single operation. There were public announcements over the loud speaker apparatus, notices were pinned up to be read and there was an announcement of the Chinese Communist amnesty to all people. There was a process whereby the prisoners were asked to answer individual questions, and I do not believe that that process, in fact, did take so short a time as two minutes, although, on average, it may have done so because if a person wanted to return and answered "Yes" to a single question no further questions were put to him.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman assure the House that adequate precautions are being taken to see that the abominable injustices that followed some of the screening after the last war are being avoided in this case?

Can my right hon. and learned Friend tell the House whether any of these prisoners have applied for political asylum, for which there are many precedents?

The view of most of the prisoners to whom I spoke was that if they were to return to Communist China they would suffer physical punishment or be put to death, and that seems to constitute a desire for political asylum.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the nationality and numbers of those who have been engaged in the process of screening prisoners in Korea; and whether any Chinese interpreters from Formosa were so employed.

Chinese prisoners were individually and carefully screened by 50 Chinese-speaking American officers and men, who had not previously been employed on Koje Island. No Chinese Nationalist interpreters were used. As there were very few Korean-speaking Americans, North Korean prisoners were interrogated through 150 Koreans, under the supervision of some Korean-speaking American personnel. None of the Korean interpreters were members of the Republic of Korea Army.

Does the Minister not consider that it would have a valuable effect on public opinion if all prisoners were re-screened by a neutral authority?

That is precisely the suggestion which has been put forward, and I think it would possibly have a valuable effect upon public opinion in view of the misrepresentations which are made in so many quarters; but whether it will assist in arriving at an Armistice is a very different matter.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say whether any representations were made to have the personnel conducting the screening inquiries representative of more than the American group in Korea and thus give some indication of impartiality?

As I said, the screening of the Chinese prisoners was conducted by American Army personnel. Because of the necessity fordoing it quickly there was no time to bring in other people. So far as the Koreans are concerned, it was not an American group which was used, but their own people who happened to speak English.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the fact that Her Majesty's Government support the United Nations Reconstruction Agency in their efforts to promote relief and reconstruction in Korea and to restore the Korean economy, he will specify the procedure adopted; how far such relief has extended in the towns and countryside, respectively, of Korea; and what are the future plans for its further extension.

While hostilities continue relief is the responsibility of the United Nations Civil Assistance Command, which is a branch of the United Nations Command. It is not at present intended that the United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency shall take over full responsibility until after an armistice, but it is making plans and undertaking some special projects in collaboration with the Army.

Does the Minister realise that he has not given me the particulars I asked for in the Question? I asked him where and when. Does he realise that the United Nations owe a sacred duty to the Koreans to leave Korea not worse but better than they found it? Does he agree that it would be a tragic anomaly if the intervention of the United Nations to save Korea should result in the wrecking of Korea? Will he give me the information for which I asked?

I thought I had given the hon. and learned Gentleman a rather long answer. I can tell him I have had the opportunity of seeing the Commander of the United Nations Civil Assistance Command, also those responsible for the Reconstruction Agency and members of U.N.C.U.R.K. and I am quite satisfied that those people are doing, and are prepared to do, a very good job of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how far the German Contractual Agreement will include arrangements or proposals in respect of financial and judicial aid for the German illegitimate children of Allied soldiers.

The Conventions concluded with the Federal Republic do not include any special arrangements for financial aid for German illegitimate children of Allied soldiers. When, however, the Conventions enter into force, a German woman who has had an illegitimate child by an Allied Service man will be able to bring affiliation proceedings against the alleged father in a German court.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for the latter part of his reply, may I ask him whether any proposals about this matter were made in the proceedings leading up to the agreement, particularly as, when Questions were asked some time ago, hope was expressed that this would be considered in the subsequent discussions?

I can tell the hon. Gentleman that the possibility of a German woman seeking affiliation proceed- ings in a German court arises out of one of the conventions signed in Bonn the other day.

Is it retrospective?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the proposed appointment to London by the German Federal Republic of Miss Susanne Simonis to look after the welfare of 30,000 German girls and women working in this country; and as Miss Susanne Simonis held a post as a Nazi leader among German women in Japan, whether he will inform the German Federal Republic that such an appointment does not meet with the approval of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that Frau Simonis, cousin of Herr Ereich von Kordt of the German Foreign Office, who has been appointed to the German Consulate General in London as Women's Labour Officer and who will take over on 16th June, previously held a similar position in Tokyo under the Hitler regime as Frauenshafs-leiterein; and if he will make representations to the West German Government that this official should be withdrawn.

I am aware that Frau Simonis has been appointed to the staff of the German Diplomatic Mission in London. As to her work in Tokyo, I understand that she held no official post in the German Embassy but acted as hostess to her cousin, Dr. Erich Kordt.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a considerable amount of agitation in Germany about this woman, and that under the Ribben-trop Nazi regime at the Embassy in London we had similar cases of women who were controlling the Germans in this country? Is it not essential that whoever is brought here for this purpose shall have an absolutely clean record?

As the hon. Gentleman has referred to German Embassy employees before the war, perhaps I might say that Frau Simonis was not employed by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs at any time before the end of the war and that the competent committee of the Bundestag recently cleared her completely of any charges of Nazism after an attack had been made upon her in the German Press.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that this person has been rejected for the German Consulates in both Sweden and Italy, and was not the Bonn Government recently compelled, because of a terrific outcry, to sack her from her post as head of the Women's Labour Personnel? Surely he has some information about her.

I have some information about her, and the premise upon which the hon. Gentleman has based his supplementary question is completely untrue. It is not true that Frau Simonis was nominated for an appointment either in Rome or in Stockholm and was refused.

Is it not a fact that there is considerable disquiet about the appointment of this lady? When she was recently appointed as Women's Labour Officer for West Germany, did not the West German Press raise an outcry against the appointment, as a result of which she had to be demoted? I cannot understand why we should attempt to whitewash a Nazi who has been appointed to this post.

It is not a question of my attempting to whitewash a Nazi. This lady has been completely cleared of the charges of Nazi associations by the competent committee of the Bundestag. It is not for me to comment on what the West German Press says. It is for me to satisfy myself about this woman's previous record, and I am satisfied about that record; and, therefore, I see no reason whatsoever to make any representations to the West German Government.

Is it desirable that the British Parliament should be used to further the purpose of a vendetta in Germany against a lady whose name has not only been cleared by the Parliament of that country but also commended for her anti-Nazi activities by the particular authority concerned?

I should have thought that any such attempt by any Member of this House would be grossly improper.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any estimate of the total cost of British occupation Forces in Germany for the year 1951–52, which will be defrayed by the West German Government.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Reading, South (Mr. Mikardo) on 11th June.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the total figures for the year for Germany for all the occupation Forces are considerably more than for the year before. In view of that, would he give some information how these costs are distributed among the occupying Powers?

There is a Question on the Order Paper about costs for the future, but the hon. Gentleman concerned is not here to ask it. Perhaps I may tell the hon. Member that from April to October, 1952, the occupation costs of the three zones will be approximately: British, 210 million deutschmarks a month; United States, 270 million: France, 120 million.

asked the Minister of Food why, when the price of meat has been increased on average by 4d. per lb., the price of pork sausages has been increased by 5½d. per lb., beef sausages by 4d. per 1b., pork sausage meat by 6d. per 1b., and beef sausage meat by 4½d. per 1b.

Fourpence per 1b. is an average for all types and qualities of carcase meat. The increases in boneless manufacturing beef and pork were 5d. and 5¾d. per 1b. respectively. The new prices for sausages and sausage meat had also to take into account other increased costs of manufacture and distribution.

Is the Minister aware that this unwarranted increase has caused considerable indignation, because a beef sausage is not made of beef? Is it not still quite inexplicable that a sausage containing from 50 per cent. to 65 per cent. of meat should have its price increased by a greater amount than meat? How does it come about that sausage meat, which is a sausage without its skin, has increased in price by a greater amount than the sausage?

The best answer I can give the hon. Gentleman is that he should do a little research into what happened last year, when the same thing had to be done. The price of meat last year was raised, on the average, by 3d. and the price of sausage meat by more than 3d.

asked the Minister of Food what steps are being taken to reduce the long delay in the payments to producers for pigs delivered to the Wadsley Bridge, Sheffield, Centre.

Arrangements have been made by the county chairman of auctioneers concerned to get professional accountants to assist his staff. It is hoped that the work will be up to date by the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Food the total increase borne by the con sumer in rationed and unrationed goods during the past seven months; and the total in each category.

During the past seven months the otal increase in the consumer prices of subsidised rationed and unrationed foods is about 1s. 2d. per head per week, on a ration book basis, made up of 8d. on rationed foods and 6d. on unrationed foods. I would add that the figure of 1s. 2d. includes a substantial part of the increase of 1s. 6d. per head estimated as the cost to the consumer of the subsidy adjustments announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

May I ask the right hon. and gallant Gentleman to reply to my Question? I have had a reply in weekly terms, which refers to my Question No. 46. I asked, in Question No. 41, for the total increase. Can I have it?

I do not think that it is a very clear Question. As the hon. Lady has another Question later which asks for the weekly basis, perhaps she would be good enough to wait for that, when I will give her the information she wishes.

I want an answer to Question No. 41. It is most difficult to calculate how much housewives are having to bear in grocers' extra profits, through decontrol. Is it not the case that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman does not know, and that that is why he cannot reply?

If that was the purpose of the hon. Lady's Question I suggest that my answer gives all the information that is necessary to the housewife, which is that the increase per week is Is. 2d. That, I gather, is what she wants to know.

asked the Ministerof Food whether any economy in staff has been ade in the Food Hygiene Division of his Department since1st November, 1951.

The staff of the Food Hygiene Division has been reduced by 10 since 1st November, 1951.

Is it not disgraceful that there should be a reduction in staff at a time when legislation is needed and is overdue for improving the standard of hygiene in catering establishments?

Most of the staff who have gone were engaged on two things. One was the overhaul of the byelaws for local authorities. Those have now been accepted by 1,260 out of 1,440 local authorities, so that that work is now unnecessary. Also most, if not all, of the preparatory work in connection with the food and drugs legislation has been completed.

asked the Minister of Food for what quantity of tea supple mentary tea coupons have been received by his Department for the period 23rd March to 4th June; how far this falls short of the 3,570,000 1b. purchased by retailers during that period; and how he explains the discrepancy.

I not clear what coupons the hon. Member has in mind. Supplementary permits are only issued when the trader can show that his sales against coupons and caterers permits are exceeding the quantity provided by his main permit. They are not issued to enable the trader to increase his stocks.

Is the Minister not aware that there was an extraordinary increase in the applications for supplementary permits in the three weeks preceding the increase in price resulting from the dropping of the subsidy, and that there was a build-up of stocks by wholesalers and retailers to enable them to cash in at a higher price when the subsidy came off?

That is exactly the opposite of what happened. The fact is that in the period last year corresponding to that to which the hon. Gentleman refers, 23rd March to 14th June, the tea issue was 40 per cent. higher than this year.