asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many grants for the reconditioning of rural dwellings have been approved since 6th June, 1951.

From 1st July, 1951, to 30th June, 1952, local authorities approved applications for grants for the improvement of 410 dwellings in landward areas. In the same period the Department of Agriculture offered grants for the improvement of 242 houses by crofters and landholders under the Agriculture (Scotland) Act. In addition, schemes approved under the Hill Farming Act and the Livestock Rearing Act provided for the improvement of 158 farm cottages and 64 farm houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is proposed to establish a pool of prefabricated timber houses for purchase by private individuals.

My right hon. Friend will keep this suggestion in mind; but in present circumstances I can hold out no hope that additional timber can be imported for the purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider introducing legislation to set up tribunals to which owners of property may appeal if they believe they are unable to maintain let property on present rental.

My hon. Friend's suggestion will be borne in mind in the general review of the Rent Restriction Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Rent Restriction Acts are preventing landlords from carrying out essential repairs, and that house property is deteriorating as a result; and if he will introduce legislation which will have the effect of halting this deterioration.

This matter will form part of the Government's review of the Rent Restriction Acts, but I am at present unable to say when legislation will be introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will institute an inquiry into the circumstances in which 34 per cent. of the loss of personnel to the regular police force in Scotland in 1951 occurred through the resignation of policemen and policewomen before completing 10 years' service.

The 1951 percentage figure is not abnormal as compared with other post-war years and would not justify the institution of a general inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any decision has yet been reached with regard to the opencast working of coal in East Lothian.

The proposal to authorise opencast working on the sites known as East Banks and West Mains, of which my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, is not to be pursued.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent he expects to be able to encourage the Scottish quarrying industry with prospects of long-term building supplies contracts so that workers may be attracted into the industry and the industry itself be thus assisted toward recovery.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his Question on 1st July, to which I am unable to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can now announce the appointment of a committee to inquire into the question of a close season for deer in Scotland.

Yes. I have appointed a Committee, under the Chairmanship of Sheriff Maconochie, with the following terms of reference:

"To consider the desirability of introducing a close season or seasons for deer in Scotland and the manner in which, and the safeguards for agricultural and other interests under which, any close season or seasons they may recommend should be made effective; and to report."

asked the Prime Minister what are Her Majesty's Government's proposals with regard to the method of continuation of the emergency enactments and Defence Regulations which expire on 10th December, 1952.

We have not reached the next Session yet.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will receive a deputation from the Society of Friends to submit their own appeal for fresh initiatives for peace in Korea.

If the Society of Friends have new suggestions to put forward, I hope they will send them to me in writing. The question of receiving a deputation would be considered after I have studied them.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will open negotiations with the Commissioners of Crown Lands for the transfer to the permanent ownership of the Plymouth Corporation of those acres of Plymouth Hoe now held by his Department and not required for military purposes.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for War in what circumstances charges under Section 4 of the Army Act preferred against British soldiers serving in Korea now refer in terms to the commission of the offence in the face of the enemy.

So far as I am aware, no charges under this Section of the Army Act have been preferred against British soldiers serving in Korea.

asked the Secretary of State for War when Service wives will be allowed to rejoin their husbands in the Canal Zone in Egypt.

A very limited number of Army and Air Force families will shortly be returning to accommodation within the protected areas of the Canal Zone.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the increased importation of foreign textile materials into this country, about which the hon. and gallant Member for Macclesfield wrote to him on 17th June.

In the first five months of this year, imports from all sources of textile manufactures (including yarns and piece goods but not apparel or carpets) amounted to £30 million c.i.f. compared with over £100 million for the calendar year 1951.The reason why a greater reduction has not yet become apparent is that importers are being allowed to honour contracts made before 11th March of this year.A further reduction in imports may be expected as a result of the restrictions which have been imposed for balance of payments reasons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the changes in the value of import licences for fruit pulp from £1 million to £1,250,000, announced in Notice to Importers, No. 506, will allow the importation of increased quantities of strawberry and blackcurrant pulp above the quantities originally announced for the year beginning 1st July, 1951; and what quantities of these competitive pulps will now be imported.

The figure of £1,250,000 refers to import licences for all fruit pulp for the year 1st July, 1952, to 30th June, 1953. Of this sum import licences for the value of £500,000 will be issued for apricot, grapefruit, pear, peach and pineapple pulp. Import licences for the remaining £750,000 may be used for strawberry, blackcurrant and all other pulps.For the year 1st July, 1950, to 30th June, 1951, this country spent approximately £2 million on fruit pulp from the countries concerned including £1,200,000 on varieties other than apricot, grapefruit, pear, peach and pineapple pulp.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many people, men and women, were employed in the factories administered by the North Eastern Trading Estates, Limited, on the last available date.

On 31st May, 1952, the latest date for which official statistics are available, factories administered by North Eastern Trading Estates, Limited, employed 16,608 men and boys and 24,759 women and girls, making a total of 41,367.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new industries have come into the Highland Development Area since the area was scheduled.

Four firms have come to the Highland Development Area since it was scheduled, one of which has since closed down.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many inquiries have been made through his office in Inverness from companies and/or persons who are willing to support industries within the Development Area and within the area under the control of his Department, respectively.

Twenty-seven written inquiries have been received through the Inverness District Office of the Board of Trade since April, 1948, about the possibilty of establishing industries in the area for which that office is responsible. Eighteen of these inquiries related to the Highland Development Area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the money advanced by the National Film Finance Corporation in respect of films made during the year 1951 was distributed to the various elements which contributed to the making of the films; and what respective percentages were paid to producers, writers, directors, actors, art directors, sound technicians and camera technicians, respectively.

The hon. Member will find a great deal of the information for which he asks in Appendix D of the Report of the National Film Finance Corporation for the year ended 31st March, 1952 (Cmd. 8523), though it must be appreciated that the figures given refer to the total cost of the films concerned and not to the part of it advanced by the National Film Finance Corporation.I am informed that to make any more detailed analysis on the lines requested would require a very great deal of labour and would, in any case, yield results of doubtful statistical value.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the net rate of interest of ¾ of 1 per cent. per annum in respect of tax reserve certificates has not been varied for five years; and whether, in view of increases in the Bank rate and general interest rates, he will authorise the Bank of England commensurately to increase the net rate of interest applicable to tax reserve certificates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the general increase in money rates, he will revise the rate of interest payable on tax reserve certificates.

I have agreed to the issue of a new tax reserve certificate (third series), which will bear interest at the rate of 1¼ per cent. per annum, on terms similar to those of the current issue, except that the limit of five years on the period during which the certificates can be tendered in payment of tax will not be applied to the new issue. The condition that interest will not be allowed on any certificate for more than two years will be retained. The new certificates will be available as from tomorrow; the Bank of England will issue a prospectus containing the full terms of issue.Existing certificates will be accepted in payment of Excess Profits Levy in addition to the specified taxes; otherwise, the terms of such certificates will be unchanged. Interest allowed on either old or new certificates is exempt from Excess Profits Levy and other specified taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to introduce any Measure similar to the Pensions (Increase) Bill for the benefit of railway and other workers and retired servants in the nationalised industries.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider amending the Superannuation and other Trust Funds (Validation) Act, 1927, so as to enable the trustees of the National Fund to have greater freedom of investment to avoid the capital losses which have arisen due to the instability of value of gilt-edged security.

No. The Act mentioned does not affect the powers of investment of the trustees of the National Fund, who have complete discretion in their choice of investments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to implement the recommendations in Command Paper No. 8219 about the decimal coinage.

The report of the committee to which the hon. Member refers was concerned with weights and measures. References to decimalisation of the coinage were incidental. No decision has yet been reached on the committee's report generally and certainly none on decimalisation of the coinage, to which there are many objections.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total number of officials now authorised to carry out inspections and investigations without a search warrant showing how many of these officials are empowered to enter private houses exclusively used as such and what reductions have been made in the last 12 months.

The total number of officials having powers of entry is now 16,744. Of these, 3,887 officials are empowered without a warrant to enter private houses used exclusively as such. These numbers represent a reduction since June, 1951, of 2,451 in the total number of such officials and of 2,101 in those having power to enter private houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that the population of the village of Broad Oak, and dairy farms and market gardens in the area, are unable to get any water from the mains except very early in the morning and late at night; that there is serious inconvenience to residents and danger to public health; and if he will take urgent action with the authorities concerned to ensure that a proper supply of water is made available immediately.

My right hon. Friend understands that the water company has now improved the water supply to Broad Oak. Proposals to prevent future shortages are being examined.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many new houses have been started from foundation level since 31st March, 1952, in the new town scheme at Harlow; and how many sites have been cleared in preparation for building.

Detailed statistics about housing progress in the new towns are given in Appendix B of the Housing Return which is published quarterly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many bricklayers are now employed on the new town scheme at Harlow; how many at 31st March this year; and what was the number for the corresponding dates last year.

The numbers of workers by trades are not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will specify the local authority housing schemes in the London area which are at present held up through lack of steel.

My right hon. Friend's officers are doing all they can to keep work going on schemes already started, and he is not aware of any now held up for the reason stated. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind and will let him have details, he will look into it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the public inquiry, held on 9th May, 1951, in the Guildhall. Barnstaple, into the War Department's proposal to utilise large areas in North Devon for training purposes.

Yes. The Government have decided to approve the War Office proposal, subject to certain conditions including the condition that all practicable measures are taken to protect the sand dunes. My right hon. Friend will shortly be issuing a statement to the local authorities and other interested bodies setting out the details of the arrangement, and he will send my hon. and gallant Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Works if a licence has yet been granted for the construction of a swimming bath at Eton College; and if the permits for materials have yet been issued by his Department.

No. It is necessary for the Ministry of Education to sponsor this work before a licence can be granted and this sponsorship has not been given.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons unemployed in Sunderland at the latest available date and at the corresponding date last year.

Three thousand five hundred and twenty-three at 16th June, 1952, compared with 2,732 at 18th June, 1951.

asked the Minister of Labour the names of the members of the National Service Appeals Tribunal in the City of Manchester; on how many occasions in the last 12 months they have met; and what remuneration they receive.

I understand that the hon. Member is referring to the Manchester Military Service (Hardship) Committee. The three chairmen are paid a fee of 3 guineas for each sitting, normally of three hours, plus travelling and out-of-pocket expenses.The members, whose names are given below, are unpaid, but allowances are payable for travelling, subsistence and loss of earnings as set out in a leaflet, a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member.The Committee has met on 36 occasions during the last 12 months.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applicants for deferment of call-up have been heard by the National Service Appeals Tribunal in the City of Manchester in each of the last 12 months; and in how many cases were deferments granted.

I understand that the information desired relates to applications for postponement of liability to be called up under the National Service Acts on grounds of exceptional hardship, heard by the Manchester Military Service (Hardship) Committee. The following statement gives the information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of on-licensed premises in each new town which are not tied houses.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answers given to his Questions on 12th and 23rd June.

asked the Minister of Food whether he can now give further information about the proposed revision of the pre-war basis for allocating scarce materials to food manufacturers.

As has already been announced, it is my intention to break away as far as practicable from the pre-war basis for allocating scarce materials to food manufacturers.The following general principles, which have been formulated after consideration of representations from the trades primarly concerned, will be applied in devising revised schemes:

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the fact that a number of fruit and horticultural associations will be unable to pick this season's plum crop unless there is an assured market and fair prices for the growers of plums, he will now reconsider the allocation of some extra sugar to manufacturers and housewives for the period 30th July to 30th August, 1952, to ensure the utilisation of this year's bumper crop.

As the House knows, I have already decided to issue an additional domestic bonus in August. I have no reason to think that manufacturers' purchases of plums will be restricted by lack of sugar.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the advice given by his Department that coal should be stocked by household consumers during the summer months applies to current ration entitlement only or whether quantities in excess may be applied for.

The advice applies to the summer allowance only, except that where householders have special needs above normal, licences may be issued by local fuel overseers for additional quantities of which part may be taken in the summer. Local fuel overseers will also issue licences to occupiers of isolated premises which are inaccessible in the winter to enable them to purchase in the summer the whole of their year's supply.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if the application by Huntings, Limited, for a licence to operate the service between London and Nairobi was first considered by the Air Transport Advisory Committee.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is now proposed to make any increase in the superannuation allowances paid to pensioned railway servants.

Following the debate on the Adjournment on 19th June the British Transport Commission are examining the circumstances to which attention was drawn in the debate.