asked the Minister of Food what staff reductions have been made and what staff reductions are anticipated in the Enforcement Division of his Department.

During the past nine months this staff has been reduced by 9. The matter is being kept under constant review.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now in a position to announce the changes he proposes to make in the system of allocating scarce ingredients to manufacturers.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Hendon, North (Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing) on 15th July.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider in consultation with his right hon. Friends revising the limit of 25 to 100 hens as the maximum which a poultry keeper may keep without registering as a registered egg producer, but with no additional poultry food allocation.

I am at present examining the whole system of egg control. I will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion but cannot express any opinion on it at the moment.

asked the Minister of Food what allowance of each rationed food is made for approved public functions; and whether he can now state what allowances will be available for street parties and similar functions planned to celebrate Her Majesty's Coronation.

I have nothing at present to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 16th June.

asked the Minister of Food which of the price-controlled foodstuffs have increased in price since 1st November, 1951, and by how much per appropriate unit; and which foodstuffs which were price-controlled on 1st November, 1951, have subsequently been de-controlled.

The price-controlled foodstuffs which have increased in price (other than seasonal increases) since 1st November, 1951, are:

Foodstuff	Increase	Unit
Bacon	10d. (average)	1b.
Bread	1½d.	1¾ 1b. loaf
Canned milk	1d. to 2d.	tin
Cheese	10d.	1b.
Clotted cream	1s.	1b.
Coffee	5d. to 8d.	1b.
Flour—self-raising	1½d.	1b.
Flour—plain	1¾d.	1b.
Invert sugar	3s. 9d.	cwt.
Meat	4d. (average)	1b.
Milk	1d.	pint
Rice	3d.	1b.
Sausages: Beef	4d.	1b.
Pork	5½d.	1b.
Sugar (for manufacturing purposes)	½d.	1b.
Sugar confectionery	2d.	1b.
Sweet biscuits	1d.	1b.
Syrup and treacle	½d.	1b.
Tea	10d. (maximum)	1b.

Meat products: Items listed in the relevant Orders (S.I. 1951 No. 1317 and S.I. 1952 No. 1124).The foodstuffs which have been freed from price control since 1st November, 1951, are:

asked the Minister of Food what further discussions he has had with the representatives of pre-war meat importers what proposals he is considering; and whether he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the statement on this subject made by my hon. Friend on 5th May.

asked the Minister of Food what tonnage of oats has been imported for compounding in animal feedingstuffs during the last convenient 12-monthly period.

140,000 tons of oats were imported for animal feeding during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1952, of which 94,000 tons were released to compounders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will initiate action to make the age limit for the death sentence in Singapore 17 years to bring it in line with the age limit for the death sentence in the Federation of Malaya; and whether he will further initiate action to see that the age is calculated up to the date of the offence committed and not up to the date of the trial.

This matter is already under consideration. I also propose to suggest to the Governments of all colonial territories that the age limit where it is not already 18 should where necessary, be raised to that age, as in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the duties of the Civil Service Consultative Council in Uganda; and how it is composed.

The Council is empowered to make recommendations to the Governor on all matters affecting civil Service conditions in Uganda. It consists of not more than ten members appointed annually, of whom at present four form the Official Side and six represent staff associations.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps he intends to take to make up the 12 per cent. shortfall of steel, in the third quarter allocation, to the shipbuilding industry in Sunderland.

The reduction in the steel allocation for merchant shipbuilding in the third quarter was due to the fall in the total supplies of steel in that quarter.As my right hon. Friend explained to the hon. Member on 9th July, however, the effect of a separate allocation for certain re-armament contracts will be that almost the same amount of steel will go to the Sunderland area in the third quarter as was allocated in the second quarter. It is not possible at the present time to forecast the likely level of the allocation in the fourth quarter of the year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the improved supply position regarding steel, he will revise the allocation of steel to the shipbuilding industry.

No. The total supplies of steel for the third quarter of this year are not likely to exceed the tonnage on which the allocations were based.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what re-armament contracts work is about to begin in the Sunderland shipyards.

The contracts are for the construction of tankers.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when he proposes to rebuild or to demolish the wrecked hangars at the Royal Naval Air Station, Lee-on-Solent.

No future use for these buildings, if restored as hangars, can at present be foreseen. It is not, therefore, proposed to rebuild them. Huts and sheds have been built against the walls of the hangars for use as workshops and storage. These buildings would be damaged by demolition of the hangars, which is not, therefore, planned.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps he has taken, or proposes to take, to ensure that the provisions of Sections 11 and 12 of the Licence between the Postmaster-General and the British Broadcasting Corporation regarding the employment of aliens, are being carried out.

The conditions governing the employment of aliens by the B.B.C. under Clause 11 of the new Licence are being revised and in due course will be sent to the Governors. The existing regulations dealing with the employment of aliens date from 1947 and my noble Friend is satisfied that the Corporation is observing them. Clause 12 of the Licence does not refer to aliens in particular but deals with secrecy of messages received by any member of the staff.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is now in a position to announce the names of the persons appointed to the Television Advisory Committee.

No, not yet.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what is the total number of applications of all types for telephone service within the boundaries of the Stratford-on-Avon Parliamentary division which have been met during the past 12 months by his area Departments of Coventry, Birmingham and Oxford. respectively.

The numbers are: 240, 61 and 41.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many householders residing within the boundaries of the Stratford-on-Avon Parliamentary division have been given telephone service in the last 12 months; how many applications of this nature which have been outstanding for over two years have still to be met; and if he can give an indication of how these figures compare with those for England as a whole.

The figures are 171 and 345. I regret that comparable figures for England as a whole are not available and could only be obtained by a disproportionate amount of work. I can assure my hon. Friend that every effort is made to apportion our resources evenly throughout the country.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applicants for telephone service for business or industrial premises within the boundaries of the Stratford-on-Avon Parliamentary division have been given service in the last 12 months; how many applications of this nature which have been outstanding for over two years have still to be met; and if he can give an indication of how these figures compare with those for England as a whole.

The figures are 171 and 165. As regards comparisons with England as a whole, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his Question No. 65 on today's Order Paper.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if, in view of the number of people in Henry Dickens Court, North Kensington, without telephones, he will install a public telephone kiosk within the precincts.

Two kiosks are planned for Wilsham Street and Sirdar Road, and I hope these will he ready in two or three months.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation what steps he is taking to counter the additional competition with the British Overseas Airways Corporation which will arise from the Royal Dutch Airlines, K.L.M., as a result of the recent loan, made by the World Bank, of $7,000,000 to enable that company to purchase American Super-Constellation aircraft to operate on routes now served by the Comet.

I am informed that the loan of $7,000,000 recently made to K.L.M. (Royal Dutch Airlines) by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is intended to provide part of the capital for a re-equipment programme involving 23 new American aircraft and a total outlay of some $30,000,000.To develop its world routes British Overseas Airways Corporation already has on order from British manufacturers 11 Comet Series II and 26 Bristol "Britannia" turbine engined aircraft. These types of aircraft should be fully capable of meeting any international competition.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he is aware of the disturbance caused to residents on Harrow Hill, and in particular to Harrow Hospital and Harrow School, by low-flying aircraft; and what action he will take to diminish this inconvenience.

I regret the disturbance caused to residents in this neighbourhood, which is unavoidable. In the prevailing westerly wind aircraft approaching to land on the main runway at Northolt have to fly over the residential area because it is directly in line with the runway and only about three miles away.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation why the Supermarine Swift aircraft, which made record flights to Brussels on 8th and 9th July, was permitted to go from London Airport; if he is aware that the aeroplane had to pass the control tower at full speed at a height of about 200 feet in order to break the beam of the timing apparatus to set it in motion; if he is further aware that the noise resulting therefrom was distressing to the residents of Cranford and Hounslow and that in many cases the noise, owing to its suddenness and unexpectedness, had the effect of causing nervous shock; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that this does not occur again.

I regret that the Super-marine Swift aircraft on its record speed flight on 9th July, between London and Brussels has caused disturbance to the residents near London Airport. Takeoff from London Airport was allowed as this airport was the most suitable within the area demanded by the F.A.I. sporting rules for the timing of capital to capital speed records. Under the F.A.I. rules the aircraft has to pass low over the official observers at a height of less than 100 metres, to permit positive identification and to enable the timing apparatus to be started by the observers. After this the aircraft climbed rapidly; it crossed the eastern boundary of the airport at 1,500 ft. and continued to climb to 15,000 ft.I have taken note, however, of the views expressed by my hon. Friend, and these will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken by the British Administration of Eritrea for the transfer of power to the Eritrean Assembly in accordance with the resolution of the United Nations Assembly, 1950; and how the members of the Eritrean Government will be appointed.

The British Administration will transfer power to an Eritrean Government formed in accordance with the Constitution by 15th September, the date of federation provided for in the United Nations resolution. The draft Constitution has recently been approved by the Eritrean Assembly but has still to be approved by the United Nations Commissioner and ratified by the Emperor of Ethiopia. Under it the Assembly would elect the head of the Government and he in turn would appoint its members. Meanwhile the Chief Administrator, after consultation with the United Nations Commissioner and the Emperor, has asked the Assembly to elect an Executive Committee, which while not constituting a Government will be able in the interim period to enter into certain necessary commitments on behalf of the future Government, such as signing contracts with officials and ordering stores required after the transfer of power in September.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how far the induction of Eritreans into the Eritrean Administration has proceeded; and what are the respective numbers of Eritreans and other nationalities now employed in administrative, technical and clerical positions in each Department.

Since July, 1951, when the induction scheme was first introduced, a total of 1,961 Eritreans have been brought into the Administration. Some of these are employed in categories other than those referred to in the Question.The total number of Eritreans and other nationalities at present employed in the administrative, technical and clerical positions in the various Departments of the Administration is:

Eritreans	1,345
British	55
Italians	725
Others	67

These employees are distributed in the various Departments of the Administration as follows:

In administrative posts
Eritreans	30
British	34
In technical posts
Eritreans	580
Italians	445
Others	8
In clerical posts
Eritreans	735
British	21
Italians	280
Others	59

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the total numbers of Europeans and non-Europeans employed on the staff of the Commissioner-General for South-East Asia; what is the total cost of such staff; and who pays it.

There are 127 Europeans and 293 non-Europeans employed on the staff of the Commissioner-General for South-East Asia. Their salaries and allowances amount to about £218,000 a year. The cost is shared by Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Governments of the Federated Malay States, Singapore, Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, following the conviction of William Martin Marshall, he will inform the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics that Mr. Kuznetzov is persona non grata.

As already announced in the Press, a Note was sent to the Soviet Chargé d'Affaires on the 12th July requesting that M. Kuznetzov should be withdrawn from his post and leave this country within a week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the number of home-produced eggs in the first six months of 1951; and what has been the production for the same period in 1952.

I regret that statistics of egg production at six monthly intervals are not available. In the twelve months ended 31st May, 1952, the total number of hen and duck eggs produced in the United Kingdom was estimated at 8,380 million. The corresponding figure for 1950–51 was 8,638 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many cattle have been slaughtered during the past 12 months as a result of foot-and-mouth disease; what is the total weight of meat from this source; how much has been entirely destroyed; how much has been considered fit for human consumption; and how much has been sold as fit only for animal consumption.

Complete figures are only available for the twelve months ended 31st March, 1952. 7,853 cattle, 5,068 sheep and 4,296 pigs were slaughtered during that period. No estimate can be given of the total weight of these animals. The carcases of 4,297 cattle, 4,340 sheep and 2,423 pigs were salvaged. The weight of the meat so salvaged was 967 tons of which 958 tons were fit for human consumption and 9 tons were condemned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will state in tabular form the production of raspberries in the United Kingdom in the years 1948 to 1951 inclusive, divided between England, Wales and Scotland, respectively.

Following is the statement:

ESTIMATED PRODUCTION OF RASPBERRIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1948–1951 (Tons)
—	1948	1949	1950	1951
England	2,900	3,530	5,150	7,240
Wales	60	60	80	120
Scotland	7,100	8,880	10,030	8,700
Northern Ireland	240	200	220	230
United Kingdom	10,300	12,670	15,480	16,290

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, though a man is debarred from exceeding the free minimum for repairs to his house by employing his personal labour in addition, he is also debarred from counting the cost of similar labour as a claim for relief against Schedule A Tax.

The value of the personal labour of the building owner is not reckoned as part of the cost of repairs either for the purpose of a building licence or for the purpose of a claim for relief against Schedule A Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications to move registered offices out of this country have been made since the Finance Act, 1951; and how many of these applications were refused.

About 400 applications for Treasury consent have been made under Section 468 of the Income Tax Act, 1952 (formerly Section 36, Finance Act, 1951) and three have been refused. Twenty-eight of these applications were for consent to transactions falling within subsection (1) (a), which makes it unlawful for a company resident in the United Kingdom to cease to be so resident without the consent of the Treasury. One of these has been refused.

asked the Minister of Health what was the estimated cost of treating in hospital the recent Rochdale cases of alastrim, including the cost of convalescent home treatment.

I regret it is not practicable to calculate separately the cost of treating these particular cases.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of alastrim entered hospital during the recent outbreak in Rochdale; how many of these were sent away for convalescence; how many of them had been vaccinated at any time in their lives; and, out of the total cases, how many were seriously ill.

I am informed that 114 patients went into hospital; that 47 of these were moved from one hospital to another when they were on the mend; and that 37 had been vaccinated, but 24 of them only as suspected contacts during the Rochdale outbreak itself. I am advised that there were no cases in which the illness could be described as serious.

asked the Minister of Health how much was spent on vaccination during the recent Rochdale alastrim outbreak; and how much was paid to each of the medical practitioners for vaccination in the areas concerned.

The cost of this vaccination work cannot be separately calculated because some of it was done by general practitioners as part of their Service to persons on their lists of National Health Service patients, and some by medical officers in the hospital and public health services as part of their duties as such.