asked the Minister of Food to what extent milk sales have declined in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Glamorganshire, respectively, during the past six months.

I regret that information is not available on milk consumption in particular counties.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the lack of a weighing machine at the abattoir at Stornoway; and if he will take action to see that one is installed to ensure accurate weighing of livestock.

Yes. Sheep, however, do not need to be weighed alive on sale and they are commonly graded and purchased on the basis of estimated carcase weight. I have no power to require the owners of the premises to install a weighbridge.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in order to make certain of utilising the exceptionally large crop of plums which will be available this year, he will arrange with the appropriate authorities in the three Forces for contracts to be placed for plum jam.

I have arranged for my hon. Friend's suggestion to be brought to the notice of the Services authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Food what further amount he intends to recoup by way of price increases toward the reduction of the amount of the food subsidies for 1952–53 in addition to the estimated £129 million he is now recouping by way of the increased prices of flour and bread, tea, meat and milk.

I am not prepared to anticipate future price increases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the provisions of the proposed treaty between the Sultan of Lahej and the Aden Government; on what date it was negotiated; and with whom.

This matter is still at the stage of discussion between the Governor of Aden and the newly-elected Sultan of Lahej, who has expressed a wish for the conclusion of a new treaty with Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further financial help the Government of Malta is asking from Britain in addition to the £25 million already given or promised; and to what extent the request is for a loan for development purposes, and to what extent for a recurrent annual grant to meet the needs of the increasing population of Malta.

We are still discussing these matters with Maltese Ministers. I therefore should not like to add to the reply given on 11th June to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) if he will give a list of the goods of which the importation into Kenya is prohibited;(2) which officials have the right to refuse or cancel licences of goods into Kenya without reason.

I am consulting the Governor on the subject and will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to receive up-to-date information on the organisation of co-operative societies in Kenya.

Information has recently been sent to the hon. Lady by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Colonial Affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is proposed to accept the recommendations of the conference recently held in Nairobi to consider the threatened invasion of East Africa by a swarm of locusts.

The East Africa High Commission is already taking action on the more urgent recommendations made to it by the conference. The less urgent recommendations will shortly be discussed with other interested governments and organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what additional assistance is to be given by the United Kingdom in the campaign against the threatened locust plague in East Africa, in view of the recent statement by the international committee concerned that they have insufficient funds to deal with this menace.

I have not been asked for additional assistance from United Kingdom funds in consequence of any recommendation made by this Committee to the East Africa High Commission. Any such request from the High Commission would, of course, be given full consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why there are three different sets of salaries and working conditions for European, Asian and African civil servants, respectively, in Uganda who are doing the same work.

There is no such racial division. Salaries and terms of service are related to the duties and responsibilities of posts except that in the senior service non-Europeans are paid three-fifths of the salary paid to Europeans. This additional pay for Europeans corre- sponds to the additional expatriation pay paid to European civil servants in certain other Colonial Territories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the state of trade union organisation among African civil servants in Uganda; and what official encouragement and assistance is given in their efforts to regulate their salaries and working conditions by proper trade union methods.

The African Civil Servants' Association, with a membership of over 2,000, has long been recognised by the Uganda Government for discussions on salaries and working conditions. The Association is represented on the staff side of the Civil Service Consultative Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken, in view of the fall in the price of rubber and the consequent financial difficulties of the Malayan Government, to help that Government to increase its revenue and expand its exports.

International conversations about the future of natural rubber are about to begin. The possibilities of any immediate increase in revenue or short-term expansion of exports are limited, though I hope that measures now in hand may reduce Income Tax evasion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the refusal of the Blantyre District Chiefs' Council to discuss the White Paper on Central African Federation with the district commissioners until the four men appointed by the Nyasaland Protectorate Council to come to the United Kingdom last April have been allowed to report back to the council.

I am making inquiries. Perhaps the hon. Lady will put the Question down again in two or three weeks' time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many cocoa plants were raised by the British Honduras Forest and Agricultural departments for the Sittee Cocoa Scheme of the Colonial Development Corporation; and how many were wasted because the Scheme was not ready to receive them.

One hundred and thirty-five thousand seedlings were raised; none of them was used.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the British Honduras Fruit Company, operated by the Colonial Development Corporation, is running at a substantial loss; and, in view of the fact that fruit is grown in the same area at a profit by private growers, whether he will consider some other means of encouraging fruit growing in the Colony.

Yes. This enterprise, which was a laudable attempt to diversify the agriculture of the Colony, was established to grow bananas. It is a new crop in the Colony and some difficulties have been encountered. I do not think that comparison with other fruit crops privately grown such as citrus is apposite.As the scheme is still in operation the second part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consult the Colonial Development Corporation and the British Honduras Government, with a view to ascertaining whether it is practicable to obtain suitable small farmers from overcrowded territories, such as Malta, for settlement upon smallholdings on the Cramer Estates, British Honduras.

I have brought my hon. Friend's suggestion to the notice of the Acting Governor and of the Colonial Development Corporation. It is primarily for the Corporation to decide the use to which they will put the Cramer Estates. Should there be any scope for immigration, I should expect priority to be given to surplus population from the West Indian territories, in accordance with the recommendations of the Evans Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to which political party headquarters official visits were made by the West African journalists who visited this country as his guests from 24th May to 21st June.

The party of West African journalists visited the Conservative Party Central Office headquarters by invitation extended to them by the Conservative Overseas Bureau after the journalists reached this country. An opportunity was given to the Labour Party headquarters to receive a similar visit. These invitations were not a part of the official programme arranged for the party.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the variation in the allocation of steel made in the third quarter to the shipbuilding industry in Sunderland, as compared with the allocations made in the first and second quarter of 1952; and how far this allocation meets the requirements of the industry.

The total amount of steel allocated for merchant shipbuilding in the Sunderland area for the third quarter of this year is about 12 per cent. less than the corresponding allocation in the second quarter, and represents approximately 60 per cent. to 65 per cent. of the total demand for steel for merchant ships made by the shipbuilders in the area.If, however, account is taken of the separate allocation made in the third quarter for certain re-armament contracts on which work is about to begin, the allocation is approximately the same as for the second quarter and only slightly less than that for the first quarter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies approximately the number of persons who have left the Colonies and protectorates during 1951 for the United Kingdom and foreign countries respectively; and what steps have been taken by colonial Governments in consultation with Her Majesty's Government in respect of colonial immigration into this country.

No figures are available in London and I doubt whether colonial Governments keep statistics from which the information could be provided.As regards the second part of the Question, colonial Governments have been asked to see that, whenever possible, intending immigrants to this country are warned about the difficulties of obtaining accommodation and employment.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what decision has been reached in the review of the court-martial proceedings against Lieut.-Commander Alistair Mars, Royal Navy; and, in particular, if he will receive his full gratuity.

The review of the proceedings of the court-martial is not yet complete and I am unable to announce any decision. An officer who is dismissed from Her Majesty's Service is not entitled to the retired pay or gratuity which would have been granted had he retired at the normal age or been permitted to retire voluntarily. He may, however, be awarded, at the discretion of the Admiralty, a compassionate allowance of which the maximum is slightly less than the amount which may be awarded on voluntary retirement.I shall be prepared, if the findings are maintained, to consider sympathetically the award of such an allowance or gratuity, but it will not be possible to make any payment until the periods prescribed under the Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act have elapsed or any appeal has been determined.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he now has any further statement to make about the prospects of release or retention of ratings who are due shortly to complete their time for gratuity or for pension, especially those who will be completing supplemental time of 18 months or of three years, respectively, bearing in mind the extreme personal uncertainty and loss of civilian opportunities that any continued indecision creates.

I have, I regret, nothing to add to earlier statements of policy. The Fleet were informed in February last that it would be necessary to continue to retain all men coming to the end of their engagements, which would include those voluntary supplemental engagements referred to. The period of retention will be reduced progressively from 1953, but I am not able at present to be more precise.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the destination of the new television transmitter, ordered by the British Broadcasting Corporation, apart from the one that is to be erected at Sutton Coldfield.

The B.B.C. informs me that the new television transmitter will be erected at Alexandra Palace.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether West Cornwall will be included in the effective range of the television transmitter the British Broadcasting Corporation propose to erect on North Hessary Tor, Dartmoor; what will be the western limits of effective range; and what is the approximate population of the excluded area.

The B.B.C. informs me that the estimated western limits of effective range will be approximately along a line running from Padstow to the Lizard; the population of Cornwall to the west of this line is about 135,000. Satisfactory reception of television programmes may be possible in some areas beyond the estimated western limits, but to what extent will not be known until tests have been made from the transmitter site.In accordance with the Government's decision, no work on setting up this station will be done for the present, apart from acquiring a site.

asked the Assistant Postmaster General if he will make a statement on the erection of a temporary television station at Pontop Pike to serve north-east viewers.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will now make a further statement on the future prospects for the erection of a television station at Pontop Pike.

I regret that I cannot add anything to my statement of 2nd April.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General for what purposes the £6 million allotted in the financial memorandum for postal and telegraph services is to be expended.

About half the amount is required for the development of the telegraph system and Post Office wireless stations. The balance will be spent on sites and building extension work, on heating and lighting plant and lifts, and on other miscellaneous requirements of the postal and telegraph services.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether in view of the long walk at present entailed, he will arrange for the pillar box at Cranham Lodge, Cranham, Gloucestershire, which was destroyed by a lorry, to be replaced.

I am looking into this matter and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will consider extending range of designs in greetings telegrams to include one of distinctively Scottish character, in view of large numbers who would prefer a Scottish greeting to one representing merely English scenery.

My noble Friend does not accept the implication that some of the designs for greetings telegrams have represented merely English scenery. His policy has been to have designs of general appeal.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation how many civil air attachés are maintained overseas; and when he proposes to abolish these.

Two civil air attachés are maintained overseas at Washington and Cairo. In addition, the Civil Air Adviser to the Commissioner General, South-East Asia, is attached to the Embassy at Bangkok and the Legations at Manila and Saigon. The number of these posts has just been reduced by three, and I am satisfied that the remaining posts should not be abolished at present.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he has investigated the further facts submitted to him by the hon. Member for Heston and Isleworth showing that a Comet aeroplane flew over Hounslow, Heston and Cranford at a height of about 150 feet on 18th May; if he has yet ascertained who gave the order for the aeroplane to be flown in this manner; for what purpose the flight was intended; and if he is yet in a position to make a comprehensive statement.

Yes. The aeroplane was on a training flight under the direction of B.O.A.C. and clearance for the missed approach practice was given by the Air Traffic Control authorities at London Airport.I cannot, however, accept the view that the aeroplane flew over Hounslow, Heston and Cranford at a height of about 150 feet. I have carefully examined all available evidence including the representations from the hon. Member for Heston and Isleworth (Mr. R. Harris). This seems to me to indicate beyond reasonable doubt that the aircraft never descended below 500 feet, at which height it was cleared to fly over the airport and that its height over Cranford would probably have been between 800 and 600 feet.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation what improvements he has authorised to be made to the Woolsington Airport.

My Ministry has recently given the Newcastle Corporation authority to construct a hard runway at Woolsington Airport as an improvement to the existing landing area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government is aware of the claims of the Manchester College of Technology, with its existing status and developments now taking place, to be accorded recognition as an institute of university rank in order to keep Britain in the forefront of technical development and to help us in world markets; and if he will take steps to ensure that the College receives such recognition.

I am aware that there are courses at this College leading to degrees of the University of Manchester in respect of which it receives a grant on the recommendation of the University Grants Committee. I am not aware of specific proposals for any alteration of its present organisation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement about a review of the working of the licensing system for public service vehicles set up under the Road Traffic Act, 1930.

It has been decided to appoint a committee to conduct this review. I hope to be able to announce the committee's composition and terms of reference shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to relieve the congestion of traffic caused by road repairs in the Tottenham Court Road-Southampton Row area, by introducing temporary one-way working in many more streets.

It is customary for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to discuss and agree beforehand with the highway authority the special traffic arrangements necessitated by road repair work. This was done in this case, but exceptional difficulties created by these repairs have made it necessary to extend the arrangements by introducing temporary one-way working in lengths of Shaftesbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road. These measures have cleared up the congestion.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is now in a position to announce a decision in connection with unilateral parking in certain West End streets.

Yes. I have decided as an experiment to make regulations introducing unilateral waiting of vehicles on 31 lengths of street in the inner and outer areas of the Metropolitan Police District as soon as the necessary signs are ready. I propose to review the regulations when they have been in operation for six months. I am sending my hon. Friend a list of the streets concerned, details of which will be published.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the sewerage arrangements at Upton Crescent, Nursling, are in an offensive and potentially dangerous condition; and whether he will expedite the authorisation by his Department of the scheme for improvement which has been submitted to him by the Romsey and Stockbridge Rural District Council.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the conditions at Upton Crescent and will give a decision on the scheme as soon as he can.

asked the Minister of Health which are the interested bodies represented on the mission which has visited the United States of America to examine American investigations into fluorine in water; whether the report of the mission will be made public; and whether the detailed evidence on which they formulate their report will also be published.

The members of the mission were:

• Miss Jean Forrest, L.D.S., Dental Officer, Ministry of Health;
• Dr. J. Longwell, D.Sc., Government Chemist's Department;
• >Professor H. H. Stones, M.D., F.D.S.R.C.S., Member, Dental Research Committee, Medical Research Council;
• Dr. Allan Macbeth Thompson, Nutrition Research Team, Department of Midwifery, University of Aberdeen.
• The question of publication will be considered when I have received the mission's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many firms have asked for a supply of electricity from the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board at a lower rate than that to which the board are prepared to agree.

The Board inform me that they have been approached by four firms for bulk supplies at a low rate for electro-metallurgical and electro-chemical processes. The price which the firms are prepared to pay is about one-quarter to one-half of the cost price of producing the electricity.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that shortage of steel is hampering progress in the building of schools in Midlothian; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply. I am aware of the general steel position and of its repercussions in Midlothian. The hon. Member can be assured that every possible consideration has been and will be given to Midlothian's needs when steel is allocated to schools.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of patients admitted into any group of sanatoria during 1942 and 1947, respectively, are still alive.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make available in the Library statistical data relating to the total National Health Service prescriptions issued in England and Wales during 1949 and 1950, respectively.

Yes. The annual statistical returns prepared by the Joint Pricing Committee will be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for War in what circumstances armed guards are posted at military establishments in this country; what instructions are issued in such cases concerning the carrying of ammunition and the use of bayonets; and what special allowances are payable to officers or other ranks in this connection.

It is the normal practice for guards on military establishments to carry their weapons and to fix bayonets if bayonets are part of the equipment of the unit. Ammunition is issued when the Army commander thinks that the circumstances justify this course. No special allowances are paid on account of guard duties.