asked the Minister of Food why the price fixed for first grade lambs was maintained at 3s. 4¼d. per lb. until the end of June and then dropped in one stage to 2s. 7d. per lb.; and what effect this has had on the numbers of fat lambs marketed in the last four weeks.

This arrangement was agreed with the Farmers' Unions during the Price Review of February, 1951. Experience has shown that it is apt to cause difficulties in marketing, and it has now been agreed that prices next year will be reduced by stages.The following are the details of marketings of sheep and lambs in the relevant periods:

asked the Minister of Food what action he is taking to ensure that adequate supplies of milk will be available for the temporary hopfield population due to arrive in the Faversham district of Kent next month.

Additional fresh and tinned milk will be made available to local retailers serving the hopfields population in the area.

asked the Minister of Food how much sugar he has allocated for the purpose of jam making during the present season; and how this compares with the amount so allocated last year.

The allocation of sugar to jam manufacturers is related to actual sales of jam. For domestic jam making, I am very glad to have been able to provide three 1 lb. bonuses this summer instead of the two originally announced. Last year there were five.

asked the Minister of Food the number of pigs entered on the books of the agents operating collecting centres at Battle and Robertsbridge for the weeks ended 21st, 28th June, 5th, 12th July, together with the numbers that his Department have accepted for slaughter.

The figures for these two collecting centres combined are:

asked the Minister of Food the number of pigs outstanding on the books of agents operating collecting centres at Robertsbridge and Battle as at 7th July.

Three hundred and forty-one.

asked the Minister of Food what change he has made in the minimum content of ice cream as regards fat and milk products; and whether he will order some designation or marking, so that consumers can ascertain before purchase whether this minimum has been exceeded or not.

The minimum fat content is now 4 per cent. instead of 5, and milk solids other than fat 5 per cent. instead of 7½. I see no reason to require ice cream containing more to be specially marked.

asked the Minister of Food the amount of the food subsidy per dozen eggs on home-produced eggs and imported eggs, respectively.

The average subsidies on home-produced and imported eggs during 1952–53 are at present estimated at 11½d. and 3¾d. per dozen, respectively.

asked the Minister of Food what amount of home-killed meat is being frozen and stored this year.

We are freezing small quantities of pork from week to week so as to facilitate distribution from areas where there is a surplus to areas where there is a demand, but none has yet been frozen for long-term storage.In the autumn when home killings may exceed current ration requirements for a time we hope to freeze and store small quantities experimentally. The quantities are in any event limited by cold storage space and other factors.

asked the Minister of Food what foodstuffs are being consumed this year out of stocks as shown by the net decrease in the value of stocks of food of £18,500,000 as shown on the revised estimate of his Department.

I cannot disclose detailed information about prospective stocks. A net decrease in the value of stocks does not necessarily imply a physical decrease.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the increasing delay in traffic crossing the bridge at Newport; and whether, in view of the vulnerability of this bridge as the only main traffic connection between England and South Wales, be will accelerate the provision of an additional bridge in this vicinity.

My right hon. Friend is aware of traffic conditions at this bridge, but the provision of another bridge would be too costly to be undertaken in present economic conditions. There are alternative routes.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps are being taken to increase the production of straight carbon steel as the shortage of such steel is having an effect on the file-making industry.

Arrangements are being made for more file steel billets to be rolled and I hope this will improve the position. I regret that, in reply to a supplementary question on 30th June, I inadvertently referred to the steel used for file-making as being a special alloy steel. Whilst there are some types of files which are made with alloy steel, the normal types are made from special high carbon steels. I am glad of this opportunity to correct this statement.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the total number of applications made to the National Assistance Board in the City of Manchester since May, 1951, for assistance towards payment to be made for appliances such as spectacles and dentures, arising from charges imposed by the National Health Service Act, 1951; in how many cases the applicants were in full time employment; and in how many cases assistance was granted to employed persons.

Up to 24th June, 1952, 2,408 applications were received at the Board's offices covering the City of Manchester for assistance towards the cost of spectacles, dentures and surgical appliances. It is regretted that the other information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he can now announce the result of his inquiries into the case of a girl, aged 18, living in Newport, whose parents were refused a death grant on 12th March, 1952.

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary wrote to the hon. Member on 30th May informing him of the result of the inquiries and that the grant had then been paid at the appropriate rate.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how much has been spent over the last two years, on propaganda for the salvage of waste paper; at what date his Department became aware that the supply of waste paper exceeded demand; and whether money is still being spent in urging people to salvage waste paper for which there is no demand.

No public money has been spent in the last two years on propaganda for the salvage of waste paper. The recent salvage drive was financed and run by the trade interests concerned.I understand that it was early in March that it first became clear that a substantial surplus might arise and the Waste Paper Recovery Association immediately began to slow down on propaganda. It is still necessary to collect a substantial quantity of waste paper. In May the mills used some 70,000 tons.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what progress is being made in the development of the potash deposits in Yorkshire.

A great deal of exploration and proving work has been undertaken but the economic exploitation of these deposits sets many problems. All the relevant knowledge and experience are being collected and examined as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether any person is registered in accordance with Section 51 of the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910, as the owner of "The Fortune of War" Public House, Laindon, "The Railway Hotel," Laindon, "The Railway Hotel," Pitsea, "The Jolly Cricketers," Nevendon and "The Barge Inn," "The Bull Hotel" and "The Five Bells," Vange; and whether he will state who are the registered owners of these public houses;(2) whether any person is registered in accordance with Section 51 of the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910, as the owner of "The Black Bull" Public House and of "The Royal George" Public House, Old Shotton, Peterlee; and whether he will state who are the registered owners of these public houses.

As indicated in the answers given to Questions by the hon. and learned Member for Hornchurch on 12th and 23rd June, information about the registered owners of licensed premises is not available in my Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what amount has been paid each year to farmers under the calf subsidy scheme since its inception; and what has been the cost of administration.

Payments to farmers in the United Kingdom under the Calf Rearing Subsidy Scheme have been as follows (the figures relate to financial years):

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been drawn to the fact that one of the naval ratings drowned at Exmouth on 6th July, when returning to H.M.S. "Battle-axe," was unable to swim; and if he will take steps to ensure that in future all naval personnel can swim before proceeding to sea in Her Majesty's ships.

Officers and ratings of the Royal Navy are encouraged to learn to swim and are given all possible instruction, especially during their initial training. Some ratings, however, enter the Service at 18½ and later, without having received any swimming instruction. It is not practicable to stop them being drafted to sea until they have learned to swim. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing the sympathy of the Board of Admiralty with the relatives of the two ratings.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to what extent nylon is used for material or equipment in the Navy; and whether a more extensive use of this material is being considered.

Because of the export demand the supply of nylon is limited and its naval use is therefore restricted to those purposes for which it is pre-eminently suitable and for which no satisfactory substitute is available. Nylon could be used more extensively for a variety of naval purposes, but this must await an improvement in supply.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board to prohibit the keeping of piggeries by the hospital management committees within their jurisdiction; that this decision if operated will compel the Hartlepool Hospital Management Committee to discontinue an undertaking which, for the past 10 years at least, has been showing a profit of between £1,200 and £1,500 per year; and what action he proposes to take in this matter.

I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.