asked the Minister of Pensions what revision is to be made in the basis of need on which parents' pensions in respect of deceased Service men are calculated.

Owing to certain administrative difficulties, which I hope will soon be overcome, I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

Does that answer mean that the Minister can give an assurance that there will be some increase in the scale for these very deserving pensioners within the not too distant future?

I should like to assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that I realise the need, and that I am going to make a move at the earliest moment that I can do so effectively.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many of the 16,170 ex-Service men receiving pensions at the total disablement rate and also the unemployability supplement, were disabled in the first and second world wars, respectively.

Seven thousand seven hundred and twenty and 8,450, respectively.

In view of the fact that a large number of the more severely disabled, including paraplegics, have been trained for suitable jobs, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the majority of them were successful in getting such, jobs and in keeping them?

Speaking very generally, I can tell the hon. Gentleman that we are very pleased at the proportion of these severely disabled men who are at present in jobs, and that we are delighted at the small proportion who have lost them. I only hope that it will go on. We can rejoice in the present position.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will consider amending the Royal Warrant governing the entitlement to pension for death or injury as a result of enemy action, in order to embrace certain classes for whom no provision is made at present, such as members of the Malayan Police Force who are in the position of front line soldiers in the present position.

No, Sir. Compensation is payable in respect of the death or injury of members of the Malayan Police Force under provisions which are administered by the Government of Malaya.

Would the hon. Gentleman take into account the case, which I have sent to him, of a constituent of mine, an elderly widow, whose son was killed while serving in the Malayan Police Force and who was told in the official letter that her son had died for his country every bit as much as if he had been in the Army? Does that not suggest that there would be a certain equity in the suggestion of my hon. Friend?

I think the hon. Gentleman will agree that a matter of this kind is not for me and that the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Should not a policeman who is on duty in a village on the edge of the jungle and is continuously in a dangerous position be treated in much the same way as a soldier who goes into the jungle occasionally?

I shall not express an opinion on that point. In this respect I must be limited by my statutory responsibilities, which do not cover the case which the hon. Gentleman has raised.

Is it not true that the Minister is responsible under the Royal Warrant for civilian war casualties, Civil Defence casualties and the Merchant Navy? Surely this is only an extension of those responsibilities.

I am responsible within the limitations of the Acts for injuries arising out of these activities during the late war.

asked the Minister of Pensions the progress made with medical examination of the older war disability pensioners; the numbers and percentages of increased assessments awarded for worsened disablement during the past two years in the groups pensioned, respectively, for ailments, wounds and injuries, and amputations; and what provision is made by his regulations to ensure that severely wounded men are adequately compensated for increasing disability with advancing age.

As regards the first and second parts of the Question, 2,900 of these elderly 1914–18 war pensioners, including 298 amputees, received increased awards during the two years ended 30th June, 1952, because of material worsening of their war disablement. I regret that the other particulars asked for cannot be furnished without undue research. As regards the third part of the Question, the hon. Member will know that leaflets were sent in 1948 and recently to all disablement pensioners, reminding them of the steps they should take if they wished their pensions to be reviewed.

Will the pending report of the Rock Carling Committee have some bearing upon these facts? Was that committee concerned just with paper and figures, or with human beings? If only with paper and figures, why not get the Welfare Department to visit some of these old disabled men in their own homes and in the Ex-Service men's Homes to see just what the worsening is?

The committee to which the hon. Gentleman refers are concerned with the medical aspect of these problems, within their terms of reference. I am looking forward very much to their report, which I hope to get before very long. As regards the Welfare Department, I am only too anxious that my welfare officers, up to the absolute limit of the time they have, should call on these severely disabled pensioners. Whenever they hear of any case that would benefit from a call they are only too glad to go there.

When is the Minister going to tell us what he proposes to do in relation to the claims of the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association for the older disabled men who lost legs or eyes or suffered other disabilities, about which we made very strong representations some months ago? How long is this to be delayed? Are these men to die off before they get their rights?

I have not forgotten the representations which the hon. Member has made. I answered a Question on this matter the other day and in doing so pointed out the difficulty I have in discriminating in favour of any one category of disablement without medical evidence to support me. I have the matter under consideration. It may well be that the committee to which the hon. Gentleman just referred may have something to say on this subject when they report. If so, I shall take their evidence very fully into consideration.

In defence of the English language, may I ask the hon. Gentleman what an "amputee" is?

I assure the right hon. Gentleman that I did not invent this term. It means someone who has had a limb amputated.

Who invented it?

I am not in a position to answer, but possibly the same person who invented the term which I heard yesterday, "banishee."

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men in Scotland have sought, and how many have been granted, remission of periods of service on the Z Reserve; on what grounds such remission was granted; and for what periods.

To get these details would involve a special scrutiny of the documents of all those who have applied for exemption from, or deferment of, Z reservist training. I do not think the effort would be justified, since men in Scotland are treated the same as everyone else.

Is the Minister aware that there is discontent as to the manner in which some of these applications are dealt with and the evidence adduced to support them, and would he state the principles upon which he acts in these matters?

Men are granted exemption either on compassionate or medical grounds. Any man who applies and does not get exemption is always discontented, but I can assure the hon. and learned Gentleman that applications are carefully considered and, on the whole, I think we have made a reasonably good job of it.

asked the Secretary of State for War why form A.F.D. 406 sent to Z reservists is referred to in a covering letter as a "screening" form.

This form is designed to provide the Ministry of Labour and National Service with the necessary information to find out whether or not a reservist is in a category likely to be available for recall in emergency. This process is known as "screening," a word of wide application and borrowed from the coal trade.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the use of this term tends to cause annoyance to those who receive the letter? Will he consider discouraging the importation of unnecessary and ambiguous terms into these documents?

The word "screening" has a very wide application. I think it is only because of certain notorious individuals who have talked about screening that it has acquired a certain slur in its connotation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement respecting the death of 22502217 Fusilier G. Marshall, Royal Fusiliers, British Army of the Rhine.

I much regret the accident which resulted in the death of this soldier, and I would express my sympathy with his parents. During an exercise in the early hours of 22nd April a scout car in which he was travelling overturned into a sandpit. Three of the occupants were pinned beneath the car, and when it was lifted Fusilier Marshall and the officer in command of the scout car were found to be dead.

Is the Minister aware of the fact that this staff car was ordered to proceed across country under cover of darkness without headlights, that in so doing it fell into a sandpit 20 feet deep, that it was four hours before these men were found, and then only because the driver of the vehicle with a badly smashed shoulder walked five miles to secure help, and that during that period one man lay dead, another dying and another injured? Will he take steps in future to see that obstacles of this character are sufficiently reconnoitred and danger signals posted before we waste lives unnecessarily in this way?

The time of the accident has been carefully checked. From the time this incident occurred to the arrival of the rescue party was one hour and 20 minutes. With regard to training, we are confronted with the difficult problem that, if we have all training at night with headlights, the realism of this type of training suffers considerably. Although these accidents are most regrettable, they have been few, and I believe that to have undue safety precautions for training might result in a much greater loss of life in the event of war.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 7591061 Corporal Bartolo had still not been posted to Malta in the middle of May; whether Corporal Bartolo is now in Malta; what are the reasons for the delay in handling this case, which was first brought to the attention of his Department on 24th January, 1952; and if, in view of the hardship caused to Corporal Bartolo's wife and children, he will make the issue of the local overseas allowance and special family allowance retrospective to 8th April, 1952.

Corporal Bartolo and his family are now united in Tripoli. For various administrative reasons I regret that it was found impracticable to post him to Malta on compassionate grounds. No retrospective payment of these allowances can be made.

Does the Minister recollect that the date of 8th April in the Question is the date on which he assured the House that this man would be posted to Malta very shortly, but that he had still not been posted a month after that? Could he say the date on which they were reunited?

I recall that well. Indeed, it was on the strength of a signal at that time from the Middle East that he was to be posted to Malta. The administrative reasons are rather complicated, but I can tell them to the hon. Gentleman behind the Chair. As a result, his wife came to Tripoli instead of him going to Malta. I think they are now reunited, and I hope he is content.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the sentence of 112 days' detention imposed on Private C. A. McNichol, a National Service man professing Communist views, for disobeying a lawful command, has been confirmed.

Yes, Sir.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any further facts to give the House about this case?

This man had been called up; he had fired several times on the range. One day he said he would not let off his rifle. He was asked again to do it, he was warned of the consequences, he came before his commanding officer, was punished, and will shortly go before an appellate tribunal.

Is the Secretary of State telling the House that the commanding officer awarded the man 112 days' detention?

No, I said he went before his commanding officer before he was remanded.

In view of the fact that so much care has been taken to keep information about secret weapons from the Communists, what is the point of sending them into the Army where they will be in close contact with those secret weapons?

The 303 rifle is not on the secret list.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the parents of Gunner Shillingsford, who was taken by military escort to Brierley Hill police court, were not notified, in order that legal advice could have been provided for him.

My hon. Friend has explained to the hon. Member that it is never the practice of my Department to inform the parents or relatives when a soldier is in this sort of trouble. I think that the hon. Member will agree that to do so would be an unwarranted interference in the man's private affairs, Any man is, of course, perfectly free to inform them himself.

Is the Minister aware that this young lad is practically illiterate and mentally retarded, that he was taken within three miles of his home under escort, his parents were not informed and no defence could be provided, yet the officer who accompanied him was a hostile witness in the force? Where was the Army Legal Aid Department?

It was perfectly open for this man to apply for legal aid and equally open to him to inform his parents of his trouble. Even though he is illiterate and rather short in brain power, he could surely have found some method of informing his parents.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is his policy in regard to the posting to Korea, Malaya or Western Germany, of avowed Communists who have registered as conscientious objectors on political grounds but have been refused exemption from National Service.

There is no specific policy on this matter: each case is considered on its merits.

Quite apart from the rights of the Army or of any individual in it, is it not evident that it would be absurd to post to Korea, for instance, a man who is legally entitled to believe that the other side in Korea is the right side?

If I gave to this House an undertaking that I would post no Communists to Korea, it might result in a recruiting drive for the Communist Party.

Could I ask my right hon. Friend whether this means that those people consider that they owe a greater allegiance to Russia than they do to this country?

That is not within my province.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of its present functions, composition and importance, he is satisfied with recruiting for the Army Supplementary Reserve.

No, Sir. The total requirement for the Supplementary Reserve is about 140,000 all ranks. Of this number we require some 38,500 volunteers. Up to date we have got only 7,500 volunteers. The volunteers play a vital part in this most important Reserve.

I believe that the failure in recruiting is largely due to the fact that little is known about these most important units which provide the great majority of technical and specialist reserve units to complete the Regular and Territorial Armies on mobilization. I have taken steps to increase publicity and thus, I hope, recruiting. I think that the title "Supplementary Reserve" is neither descriptive nor inspiring, and we have decided to call this most important section of the Army the Army Emergency Reserve. I very much hope that with the aid of increased publicity, and I hope the full support of employers in industry, more volunteers will be forthcoming in the future.

Would not the Secretary of State think that the best name for this force is "Technical Units of the Reserve or Territorial Army," which in fact is what it is? We appreciate the fact that he is changing the name from the old one, but I feel doubts about the new name.

I thought of the terms "technical unit" and "specialist unit" we have thought a lot about this. Although the majority are technical units, some are not, and I felt that such an embracing term would be somewhat ridiculous when applied to a very small proportion of these units.

How many meetings of the Army Council were held before it was decided that the title "Army Emergency Reserve" was more inspiring than "Army Supplementary Reserve"?

There were no meetings of the Army Council and this was settled within three days.

When is a unit not a technical unit?

In Army parlance an infantry battalion, for example, is not technical.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many resignations have been submitted in the last six months by Regular Army officers stationed in the Canal Zone; and what percentage of them are married.

Between 1st January and 30th June this year, 41 Regular officers serving in the Canal Zone applied to retire voluntarily: of these, 73 per cent. were married.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the allowances for married officers, who for long periods have to be separated from their familities, are generally considered to be inadequate, and that this view is held especially by all commanding officers at present serving in the Canal Zone?

I am aware of that.

Then will my right hon. Friend say that he hopes to get matters improved in conversations with the Treasury?

There are a great many matters in which there is plenty of room for improvement, but I can give no guarantee on them.

Has the right hon. Gentleman wiped out the differentiation between the rates of pay of officers referred to in the Question and those for officers attached to the Command Secretariat in the Canal Zone, who get very much higher rates of pay but, apparently, do less work?

I am aware of certain anomalies, and we are going into the question not only of marriage allowance but of seperation allowance for people in the Middle and Far East.

How many other ranks have applied for permission to resign from the Canal Zone?

That is another question.

asked the Secretary of State for War what percentages of the cadets at present training at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, were educated at public schools, grammar schools, and secondary modern schools, respectively.

The percentages for the cadets under training for the British Army are 67 from the headmasters' conference schools, 22 from grammar schools, 4 from secondary modern schools and 10.6 from other schools. The other schools include various Army schools and schools overseas.

To what extent is preference given at Sandhurst to candidates with a public school education? In view of the fact that the overwhelming majority of cadets come from that minority which is privileged to get a public school education, will the right hon. Gentleman show these figures to the Minister of Education and emphasise the importance of getting more equal opportunities of secondary education, in order to get a more representative cross-section of cadet?

I am satisfied that these boards are entirely impartial in their selection of these young men. It has fallen to my lot to start a school with the express purpose of getting to Sandhurst a larger proportion of secondary and grammar school boys.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if he sets too high a figure for the entrance of public school candidates into Sandhurst, he runs a great danger of filling the Army with too many friends of hon. and right hon. Gentlemen opposite?

How many officers of the Brigade of Guards are there who have not attended other than State schools?

I could not answer that without notice. The hon. Member's bee in his bonnet on this subject is unduly buzzing.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the egalitarian qualities of the British Army are best demonstrated by the fact that two former Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff, of nonpublic school origin, have won promotion from the ranks?

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements he has made to enable British troops in the Canal Zone to take their leave in Cyprus.

A special summer leave scheme has been started to allow those who have served six months or more in Egypt, and still have six months to serve in the theatre, to take 10 days' leave in Cyprus or, provided their families are there, in Libya. Travel in both cases is free.

The scheme includes Regulars and National Service men and their families, and the leave camps in Cyprus have been improved and extended to make conditions there as good as possible.

While welcoming that reply, may I ask what free passes in the way of travel are issued and whether my right hon. Friend will give the assurance that this form of leave will never be regarded as a substitute for leave to the United Kingdom?

This is purely local leave, and all this leave is free.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has a statement to make on the recent disorders at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

On 8th July, it was announced at the R.M.A., Sandhurst, that the Gaza Company had won the intercompany competition for the third term running. Subsequently, during a display of jubilation, some slight damage was caused to property, which will be paid for by the cadets concerned. Although the roof was climbed and some cadets fell in the lake, such occurrences are not exceptional, and I see no cause for concern about the general standard of discipline and behaviour at the Royal Military Academy.

Although the right hon. Gentleman is trying to laugh this off, will he inform the House whether anyone was admitted to hospital and what is the total estimated cost of the damage to public property?

The total of the damage was about £60, which, divided among the number of cadets concerned, will not be a very large financial responsibility for them. With regard to hospital, there were some minor injuries, but everybody is now perfectly all right again.

Would the right bon. Gentleman answer the question: were there any admissions to hospital?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Army prerelease courses in agriculture have been stopped; and what saving results from this step.

These courses were stopped in December last year because the cost of staff, live-stock, equipment, and so on, was, in my opinion, no longer justified by the numbers of students who wished to take advantage of them. A staff of 22 officers and men had to be maintained for an average of 15 students on each course. The resulting saving is about £6,000 a year.

Will the Secretary of State for War consult his colleague the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of his right hon. Friend's speech at the weekend in which he said that agriculture is now a first priority, and consider not only putting these courses back, but organising them on a better basis, so that agriculture can stop the drift from the land that is now going on at an alarming pace?

In addition to this, there are other courses. Any Regular who leaves the Army can go on a year's course, which is paid for all the time, to learn agriculture. A National Service man goes on a course which is run by the county agricultural committee.

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that it is probably better to stop calling up skilled agricultural workers than to indulge in the training of others to go into agriculture?

That is another question.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many recruits joined the Home Guard in the month of June; and how many were from Scotland.

The figures for the latter half of June are not yet available but, from 16th May to 15th June, 5,300 recruits joined the Home Guard, and of these 415 joined in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much his Department have paid out in meeting claims for damage done by tanks in Dunbar during the last five years; and what would be the cost of removing these vehicles permanently to a convenient parking place clear of the burgh.

The sum of £95 11s. 2d. has been paid on account of damage to property, and £17 13s. 2d. for damage to roads. To remove these tanks elsewhere would cost about £7,500.

Is it not the case that an expensive scheme for widening the gates is now being proposed? In the interests of economy as well as of general convenience, would it not be much better to consider shifting the tanks to a place where they would be better sited?

It is my experience that wherever tanks go they are unwelcome.

asked the Secretary of State for War the estimated output from the proposed Military College of Science; and to what extent those trained at this college will be obliged to undertake military Service subsequently, or to what extent they will be free to take up other activities after leaving.

It is hoped that about 40 candidates a year will take the degree course for direct entry into the Army and that a further 40 young officers each year will also take the course. All officers taking these degree courses are required to serve for five years from the date on which the course ends.

In the event of any of these officers being found suitable for civilian occupation in priority to any military occupation, will special consideration be given to permit them to enter that occupation?

The whole object of the course is to make these young men knowledgeable in the technical and scientific world, so that they can spread that knowledge in the Army. That is of the greatest importance at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he decided to cut down the local programmes broadcast by the British Forces Network at Hamburg.

Certain reductions had to be made in Germany to save deutschmarks. This was one of the recommendations of the Commanders-in-Chief and was accepted. There will continue to be an all day service on the Forces Network, but far more items will consist of selected relays from the B.B.C. Light and Home programmes.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when in answer to a Question I put to him on 8th April, he said:

"There is no intention of closing down the British Forces Network."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 8th April, 1952; Vol. 498, c. 2476.]

he in fact grossly misled the House? Is he aware that "Mrs. Dale's Diary" and matters of that kind are really not the stuff to give the troops?

What I said then is exactly what I meant. There is no intention of closing down the Forces Network in B.A.O.R. It will remain open, but, instead of hiring dance bands and symphony concerts from among people in Germany, the troops will get it from this country. I am not qualified to comment on "Mrs. Dale's Diary."

asked the Secretary of State for War what proportions of the cost of the Commonwealth Division in Korea are borne by the British and Commonwealth Governments, respectively.

Each Government bears the whole cost of paying its own troops, equipping them to war scales and transporting them to and from Korea. The cost of maintaining the force in Korea is shared among the participating Governments on the basis of the strength of the various contingents. The United Kingdom Government's total share of maintenance expenditure to date has been about 80 per cent. of the whole.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that that is a really fair proportion of the cost which ought to be borne by this country? Is he malting any attempt to secure more equitable distribution of the cost of the Commonwealth Division between the various Commonwealth countries concerned?

This is not only a fair share but a precise share. Over the whole period it has averaged 80 per cent. since the war in Korea began. Since the increase in Canadian Forces our share has gone down to 55 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the substantial opportunities for sale of British machine-made carpets in Western Germany; and whether, in view of the German surplus on European Payments Union account and the continuing United Kingdom deficit on that account, he will instruct the office of the United Kingdom commercial representative at Cologne-Marienburg to press the German Government for British machine-made carpets to be placed on the list of goods not subject to German import quota restrictions, and thus help the employment position in Kidderminster and other carpet manufacturing centres in the United Kingdom.

The German Federal Government have recently removed quota restrictions over a considerable range of their trade, including machine-made carpets of cotton; and we shall continue to take every suitable opportunity to press for improved facilities for those of our exports, including machine-made carpets of wool, which are still subject to quota restrictions.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that a large range of manufactured goods are admitted into the United Kingdom, free of quota restrictions or tariff, from Western Germany? Would it not be equitable if reciprocal advantages could be obtained for our principal manufactures, notably such articles as woollen carpets?

I understand that in view of Germany's balance of payments situation O.E.E.C. are now investigating her claim to have freed 75 per cent. of her imports. If this proves true, since carpets are on the O.E.E.C. Common List, we would expect to sell more.

Will the hon. Gentleman agree that this form of private enterprise hinders rather than helps successful national trade negotiations?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of carpet imports into the United Kingdom during the six months ended 30th June, 1952; and the anticipated level of imports during the second half of 1952 in consideration of the present state of the carpet industry in Britain.

The value of carpets imported into the United Kingdom in the first six months of 1952 was £1,836,000. In view of the general uncertainty of the market, I should not care to predict the level of carpet imports during the remainder of the year.

Would my hon. Friend undertake to bear in mind the exceptionally difficult conditions in the British carpet industry arising from the 80 per cent. cuts in Australian imports? Would he therefore review very closely all future United Kingdom import programmes for carpets? Can he in particular say what has been the level of imports for the first six months of this year as compared with the first six months of last year?

Of course, I will bear my hon. Friend's remarks in mind. The imports for the first six months of last year were approximately £10 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has allowed cane chairs manufactured in Hong Kong to be given a variation licence from the standard general specification for Utility furniture and permitted them the use of the British Utility mark.

Imported furniture which complies with the Board of Trade's requirements has, since 1946, been able to qualify for the use of the Utility mark; similarly, variation licences have been issued for imported furniture on the same grounds, and with the same safeguards, as for home-produced furniture. The licence to which my hon. Friend refers was issued in 1950 in accordance with this practice.

Will my hon. and learned Friend bear in mind that the Utility mark should be a guarantee of quality and of standard and that the quality of these imported chairs is far below the quality of chairs manufactured in this country? Is he aware that the Utility specification with which our people have to comply makes it impossible for them to manufacture chairs at so low a figure as these imported chairs?

The variation licences do not permit any lowering of quality and the same standard is applied to the article whether it is imported or home produced. In regard to the particular chairs to which my hon. Friend referred, no complaint of any kind has been received by my Department.

If I produce the two chairs, one made in one country and the other made in another country, will my hon. and learned Friend sit on both and judge of their quality?

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman give an assurance that there has been no lowering of the Utility standard for either overseas goods or home-produced goods?

Yes, Sir.

Will my hon. and learned Friend bear in mind that blind persons as well as others are engaged in making this cane furniture and that if importation is continued it may have a very serious effect on their employment?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the disproportionately high charges made for electricity for industrial purposes by the Merseyside and North Wales Electricity Board which are having a deterrent effect on new industries considering establishing themselves in the Merseyside Development Area in how many cases has this factor been represented to him as deciding industrial developers to establish their factories elsewhere; and if he will consult with the British Electricity Authority with a view to the reduction of these tariffs.

I am informed that a complaint has been made to the Ministry of Fuel and Power about electricity charges in the Merseyside area, but I would remind my hon. Friend that the Electricity Act, 1947, provides machinery for dealing with such complaints. I do not know of any case in which electricity charges have deterred an industrialist from establishing a factory in the area.

Will my hon. and learned Friend agree that the standard of electricity charges is a very important factor to be taken into account by intending industrialists? Is he further aware that the machinery for consumer consultation to which he referred in his answer is very ineffective? Would he do what he can to improve it to make it more effective?

I stated in my original answer that we knew of no case in which electricity charges had in fact deterred an industrialist from establishing a factory in the area. The question of the efficacy of the procedure under the Act is, of course, for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power and not for me.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that these increased charges are placing a very severe burden on industries which are already suffering badly? If I supply him with evidence that the cost per unit of electricity for some mills has trebled during the last four months, will he look into the case?

I think that in the first place the hon. Member should use the machinery provided under the Electricity Act.

Air Commodore Harvey.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, there are more than 20 Questions on the Order Paper addressed to the President of the Board of Trade, mostly from hon. Members on the Government back benches. May we know where the President of the Board of Trade is? Has he resigned?

That is not a matter for me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for all imports of textile articles of foreign manufacture to be marked with the name of the country of origin or with the word "Foreign."

Orders under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, already require many classes of imported textile goods to be marked with an indication of origin. We should be prepared to refer to the Standing Committee on Marking Orders any application which we might receive from a representative body to make an Order extending that requirement to further classes of textiles.

In spite of what my right hon. and learned Friend says, great quantites of textiles come into Britain from France, Italy and Switzerland which are not marked. Will he take the lead, together with industry, to see that something is done?

I am not quite sure, from my hon. and gallant Friend's question, whether he is suggesting that there is any breach of the law.

Yes, there is.

If so, I will of course consider any case that he brings to my notice, but, if he wishes an Order to be made for an additional class of textiles, the procedure which I have indicated should be followed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will sponsor a campaign to buy British textiles.

Her Majesty's Government would, of course, welcome increased purchases of British textiles, but the responsibility for a campaign such as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests must lie with the textile industries.

Will my hon. and learned Friend go a little further and say to what extent the Government will render assistance? Would he also bear in mind that by doing this we shall keep foreign textiles out of Britain and we shall sell our own?

There is a certain vagueness and ambiguity about the use of the word "sponsor" in my hon. and gallant Friend's Question, but I did not wish in my answer to suggest that these very vigorous industries are not capable of initiating their own campaigns.

As a first step in this proposed campaign, will the Minister consult with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in order that he might discontinue his deflationary policy, as nothing could be better to prevent a slump in textiles?

Would the hon. and learned Gentleman consult with the Minister of Labour with a view to getting him to sign the 12 Orders which he has so far refused to sign, which would thus put extra purchasing power in the pockets of two million people, thereby enabling them to make a contribution to the object of such a campaign.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government has reached any decision on the desirability of scheduling certain textile areas as Development Areas under the Distribution of Industry Acts.

No, Sir. As the right hon. Gentleman is aware, the question of scheduling new areas as Development Areas needs very full investigation. Besides the claims of the textile areas, we must also take into account proposals which have been made for scheduling other areas. All these proposals are now being considered.

But in view of the success that this policy has had in the old distressed areas, and the present situation in textile areas, is there really any reason why the Government should delay action any longer?

I think that the right hon. Gentleman, who I know has taken an interest in this topic, will find that the 1948 White Paper on the Distribution of Industry lays down some quite complicated matters which must be taken into consideration, particularly in paragraph 86 of that Report. I think the right hon. Gentleman will agree that to consider these matters carefully and reach the correct conclusion is much more important than to reach a quick decision. He will remember that, when this matter was raised in an Adjournment debate, the party opposite, among others, was quite divided on whether this was an advisable step or not.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that ever since the Highland Development Area was scheduled by the last Government, no industry has come into the Highlands, and will this Government do more about it?

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that whatever difference of opinion about this matter may exist elsewhere there is no difference of opinion about it in any quarter in North-East Lancashire, which unanimously desires it to be scheduled? Can the hon. and learned Gentleman tell the House anything about the recent negotiations which his Department has had with the local authorities in that area?

Will he also bear in mind that although it is very important to come to a correct decision it would be too late to come to a correct decision after all industry in this area has come to an end?

I think that if the hon. Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. S. Silverman) will refer to the debate of 21st May this year, he will find that there was a considerable difference of opinion among Lancashire Members. As regards discussion with local authorities, it is quite true that we contemplate that.

Will my hon. and learned Friend take action which will be equivalent to declaring a Development Area in North-East Lancashire in view of the undoubted legal complications and prolonged negotiations involved in taking effective action under the Development Areas Acts?

Certainly. I am glad that my hon. Friend raises the point. Needless to say the fact that this area has not been declared a Development Area does not mean that we cannot take many steps to encourage orders to go there, and that we are doing.

In view of the fact that there is no real evidence of any substantial improvement in the cotton and rayon producing areas, will the hon. and learned Gentleman be able to give an interim reply on this point before the Government go on their holidays for the summer?

And the Opposition.

I do not expect to be able to announce a decision on this matter before the Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, when deciding new import quotas of silk fabric, he will take into account the trade recession which now exists in the industry in this country.

Yes, Sir. The availability of supplies from home production will certainly be taken into account together with all other relevant considerations.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that one of the causes for the recession in the silk trade is because of the generous quota allowed to foreign manufacturers by the previous Administration? Will my hon. Friend deal with this matter at the earliest possible opportunity?

The quotas for this year have been fixed and are considerably lower than imports last year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what number of persons, men and women separately, were employed in North-Eastern Trading Company factories in Sunderland on the latest available date.

On 24th May, 1952, the latest date for which official statistics are available, 1,312 men and boys and 3,483 women and girls, making a total of 4,795, were unemployed in these factories.

Does the hon. and learned Member realise that we are very disturbed in Sunderland at the fact that these newly-built factories are employing numbers far short of those that they were expected to employ?

I think that there are further Questions on this subject later today.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, as the numbers employed have fallen by 2,373 persons between 30th September, 1951, and 31st May, 1952, and are continuing to fall, what special steps he is taking to promote employment in the factories administered by the North-Eastern Trading Estates Limited.

While unemployment in the North Eastern Development Area at 2.5 per cent. is greater than the average for the country at 2.1 per cent., it is much less than the average of the development areas as a whole at 3.4 per cent. In these circumstances we should not be justified in taking measures for the North-Eastern Trading Estates which were not applicable to Development Areas as a whole. On our policy for promoting employment in these areas I would refer the hon. Member to what I said in the debates on 7th December, 1951, and 29th May, 1952.

Does the hon. and learned Member realise that this is a very depressing reply for the North-East Coast, and a far more depressing reply for the other Development Areas? For the past eight months we have had increased redundancy and continued pay-offs at these new factories. We think that this is a reversal of Government policy, and we want a reversion to the policy of the last Government.

If the hon. Member had listened, as I thought he did, to the last Adjournment debate on this subject, he would know that there has been no such change in policy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in providing Government sponsored advance factories in the North-East Development Area; and what further proposals for advance factories are under consideration.

The building of factories in the Development Areas in advance of demand was deferred indefinitely by the previous Government early in 1951. Shortage of steel and the need to restrict capital investment are such that we should not be justified in reversing the decision.

Does the hon. and learned Member not realise that late in 1951 the late Administration agreed that we should proceed with at least two advance factories, and what has happened to these in view of the dangerous dependence on purely armament work in that area?

I did deal with that in the debate to which I have referred, and the position is certainly not easier than it was when the late Administration came to its decision.

Does the hon. and learned Gentleman not realise that important bodies like the North East Development Association point out that a definite undertaking was given by the late Administration late in 1951 that two factories should be proceeded with? Why have these not gone forward?

I think that the whole House would agree that it would be quite monstrous to build factories in advance of demand when present conditions make it impossible to build factories for which there is an existing demand.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that foreign firms are using British silver hallmarks; and what action he proposes to take to prevent this practice.

I have seen this allegation in the Press and understand that the British interests concerned are about to submit a memorandum to the Board of Trade. We shall, of course, carefully consider, in the light of the evidence submitted, what action can appropriately be taken.

Is my hon. and learned Friend satisfied that there is no widespread pirating of British marks on other articles?

I think it would benefit the interests which I know my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind if we awaited the memorandum and then considered it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to increase the import of tobacco from non-dollar countries, particularly from Greece and Turkey.

All unmanufactured tobacco is bought on private account, but the amount of dollars made available for purchases from this season's North American crop will be very much less than last year. So long as our balance of payments situation so demands, this policy of restricting dollar purchases will be continued. The right hon. Member will appreciate that such a policy provides a strong inducement to use more non-dollar tobacco, including Greek and Turkish, and the amount used in recent years, particularly from the Commonwealth, has steadily increased. Licences to import such tobacco are freely granted.

Yes, but the Minister is not correctly informed. Is he aware that the amount of imported tobacco from Greece has gone down by about 85 per cent. in the last year or so, and that from Turkey by about 75 per cent.; and that the two added together at the present time only formed about 2 per cent, of what comes in from America? Would he answer my Question, which is: What is he doing about it? I know it is on private account, but what is he doing about it to see that more tobacco is imported from Greece and Turkey?

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that I am correctly informed and that consumption has gone up. It is true that purchases went down and that, as he should know, being a member of the last Administration, is due to the bad crop owing to drought in Southern Rhodesia last year. The crop is now very good, and private enterprise is buying large quantities. There will be more tobacco from Greece and Turkey used this year than in 1951, and the same applies to the year 1951 as compared with 1950.

Yes, but I am not talking about Rhodesian tobacco, I am talking about tobacco from Greece and Turkey. It may be that the consumption of Rhodesian tobacco has gone up, but what I want to know is what he is doing about the sad slump in the purchases of Grecian and Turkish tobacco? There is an abundance of tobacco there, and he is incorrectly informed.

The right hon. Gentleman used the words, "non-dollar countries," which must be taken to include Southern Rhodesia. The restricted purchase of dollar tobacco will, we hope, have the effect of increasing the imports of Turkish and Grecian tobacco, but the right hon. Gentleman must remember that they have to be paid for in gold.

Put up the value of gold and that will be all right.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a list of the samples of overseas goods purchased by him during 1951, and shown under head A4 of the Estimates for his Department together with details of their individual cost and subsequent disposal.

In the year 1951, £3200 was provided for the purchase of samples of overseas goods by Trade Commissioners and Her Majesty's Commercial representatives, primarily to illustrate their reports on the market for consumer goods. During the year, 185 samples were purchased at a cost of £320, the individual costs ranging from 5s. to £10. Interested industries were notified when the reports were issued to their Trade Associations and through the Special Register Information Service that the samples were available for inspection, and I do not feel that it would be of assistance to exporters to publish a list of samples.

Normally samples become out of date and the collection is reviewed periodically. The samples are held by the Board of Trade in bond, free of customs Duty and Purchase Tax. Subsequent handling on exhibition renders the disposal value less than liability for Customs and Purchase Tax. Consent of the Treasury is obtained for disposal.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the names, nature and location of Canadian manufacturing companies, firms and partnerships which have branches in Scotland; and how many people each employs;

(2) the names, nature and location of Scottish manufacturing companies, firms and partnerships which have branches in Canada; and how many people each employs.

Since the answer is somewhat long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Does the Minister realise that this matter has been completely neglected since the present Government came into power? It is not even mentioned in the latest Report of Scottish industry in contrast to that for the preceding year which gave plenty of material which could have been followed up. What does the Government intend to do about it?

I have not the slightest idea what the hon. and learned Member means by "this matter." The answer I gave was for the convenience of hon. Members on both sides of the House who have Questions to put to the President of the Board of Trade.

On a point of order. The hon. and learned Gentleman has said that he has no idea of what I meant. May I make it clear that I was referring to Scottish trade with Canada?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much currency has been allocated by the French Government for the purchase of British lobsters.

£4,000 was allocated in the second quarter of this year for the importation of lobster and other sea crustacea from the United Kingdom. The amount that will be allocated for the current quarter is being discussed with the French authorities.

Can my hon. Friend extend some hope that the amount received for the current quarter will be somewhat in excess of that not very large sum?

The French authorities have already invited applications for licences from their importers, and I hope that a decision as to the amount to be licensed will be reached within the next few days.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether, in view of the difficulties at present facing the paper tube industry in this country as a result of the recession in the textile trade, he will review the present arrangement under which German paper tube makers are permitted to supply paper tubes to this country without any import licence, whilst the British paper tube industry is not permitted to purchase paper from Germany for the manufacture of paper tubes without first obtaining a licence;

(2) whether, in view of the present difficulties of the paper tube industry arising from the recession in the textile trade, he will review the present scale of Customs Duties applying to paper tubes and cones imported into this country, taking into account that the duty levied on such goods imported into Germany is 27 per cent. as against only 20 per cent. for importation into Great Britain.

Import restrictions are not imposed to protect domestic industries, and we are not aware that the British paper tube industry is being denied access to adequate supplies of paper. We have not received an application for the revision of the import duty charged on these goods, but we should naturally be prepared to consider, on its merits, any such application which the industry concerned might wish to put forward. I would, however, point out that the rate in the German tariff is 20 per cent. not 27 per cent. as stated in the Question.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that assurance, may I ask if he realises that as a result of short-time working, the paper tube industry is losing many highly skilled operatives at the present time, and that this position is aggravated by the imports of German paper tubes and cones, and does he not think it would be better to stop this importation altogether?

We can reduce, but not completely abolish.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) why import of shoddy cotton is permitted; from what countries; and in what amounts it is imported;

(2) in what way the consumer can recognise foreign shoddy; and if he will take steps to ensure identification between such and Lancashire cloth.

I assume that the hon. Member is not using the word "shoddy" in the technical sense of recovered wool. There is no qualitative control of imports of cotton goods and figures relating to particular qualities are not available. An Order made under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, requires foreign textile piece goods imported into the United Kingdom to be marked with an indication of origin, thus showing that they are of foreign manufacture.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware, if the term "shoddy" may not be used, that any rubbish made from inferior Indian cotton is coming into this country and is passing out as Lancashire cloth? Is he further aware that since the scrapping of the Utility scheme there is now no guarantee whatever in regard to reeds, cardings and pickings, and has the present Administration any idea of protecting the housewife and our trade from this shoddy administration?