Written Answers To Questions
Friday, 4th July, 1952
Sterling Area (Gold And Dollar Deficit)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the gold and dollar deficit of the sterling area for the month of June, excluding United States aid; and how much United States aid was received during June.
The gold and dollar surplus in June was $7 million (a revision by $1 million of the figure announced on Wednesday, 2nd July). Account must be taken of the defence aid in June which amounted to $96 million, leaving a loss of $89 million.
Television
Manchester-Kirk O'shotts Link (Cost)
asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what is the cost per mile for television from Manchester to Falkirk; and how many miles are involved.
The provisional estimate of the capital cost per mile from Manchester to Kirk o'Shotts, near Falkirk, is £2,424; the distance involved is 248 miles. For the whole link, the B.B.C. will pay the Post Office an annual rental, provisionally estimated at £100,000, which takes into account the expected life of the plant.
Manchester-London Co-Axial Cable
asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what is the cost per mile for television by co-axial cable from London to Manchester; and how many miles are involved.
The provisional estimate of the capital cost per mile from London to Manchester, is £4,482; the distance involved is 247 miles. For the whole link, the B.B.C. will pay the Post Office an annual rental, provisionally estimated at £90,000, which takes into account the expected life of the plant.
Anglo-French Co-Operation
asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the cost of co-operating over television with France; how many relay stations have been erected in southern England for this purpose; and at what cost.
This is a matter for the B.B.C. and it would be contrary to the independence in day-to-to-day management accorded by successive Governments to the Corporation to ask them to furnish an account of their expenditure on individual items. The B.B.C. informs me that two temporary relay stations have been erected in southern England, making use of mobile radio link equipment already held by the Corporation.
Agriculture
Slaughtering Of Animals (Compulsory Orders)
asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are taken in connection with the compulsory slaughter of animals involved in outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease to ensure that it is carried out under the most humane conditions possible; and whether it is the normal practice for his officers to invite or permit the cooperation of inspectors of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The instructions which are issued to every member of the veterinary staff of my Department set out in detail the procedure to be followed when orders are given for the slaughter of animals as a result of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.I am satisfied that the procedure (which, among other things, requires that competent slaughter men, butchers or knackers shall be employed) provides for slaughter under the most humane conditions possible. It is not the normal practice to invite the co-operation of Inspectors of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, but they have on occasions been asked to be present when the slaughtering was being carried out.
Feedingstuffs (Feeding Value)
asked the Minister of Agriculture the relative values of maize, sorghum and millet as feedingstuffs for animals.
Feeding trials with pigs have shown that maize and sorghum have approximately the same feeding value, and that 9 lb. of maize or sorghum have about the same feeding value as 11 lb. of millet.