asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to stimulate sales in countries from which the United Kingdom buys more than she sells.

It is most important to increase our exports to all markets and I cannot in a short answer describe all the steps which Her Majesty's Government are taking to encourage export trade. It is particularly important to increase our sales to North America and, as my hon. Friend is aware, it is our policy to give special help to exporters to that market, for example, by preferential supplies of raw materials and export credit facilities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the countries from which the United Kingdom bought more than those countries bought from the United Kingdom, and the respective amounts of trade with each country, for the latest available convenient period.

I would refer my hon. Friend to Table IV of the monthly accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom, in which the statistics of our trade with each country of the world are set out in a form which enables the balance of trade with individual countries to be readily ascertained. He will no doubt, bear in mind that imports are valued c.i.f. whereas exports are valued f.o.b.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider sending a deputation of business men and Members of Parliament to Cuba to explain that the United Kingdom cannot increase her present buying from Cuba, of £48 million until Cuba buys more than £7,500,000 from the United Kingdom.

As was announced in the Press on 6th October, a Government sponsored mission of business men will leave next month for a tour of Venezuela, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Mexico. These countries are in the dollar account area and the mission will explore the methods by which we can increase our hard currency earnings in these markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made through the machinery of the Census of Production questionnaires in establishing the private plant capacity available in the United Kingdom for electricity generation, independent of grid supplies.

Most of the returns in the Census of Production for 1951, which asked for information about the capacity of generating plant, have been received and are now being analysed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to reopen the Australian market for British-manufactured carpets in consideration of the loss of 40 per cent. of all carpet exports from the United Kingdom when the Australian import cuts were imposed.

I think it is clear from the statement of Mr. Menzies in the Commonwealth Parliament on 8th October that there is no early prospect of a modification of the Australian import restrictions. My right hon. Friend discussed the whole position with Mr. Menzies when he was here in May and hopes to have a further opportunity of talking to him during the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' meeting next month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what simplification and curtailment is now proposed in connection with future Census of Production and distribution forms sent by his Department to manufacturing, commercial and trading firms; and what general reduction will be achieved in questions asked.

In the Census of Production for 1952, to be taken in 1953, the adoption of sampling methods will relieve a large proportion of the smaller and medium-sized establishments of the need to make returns. Moreover, fewer questions will be asked than in any previous census. The Census of Production for 1953, to be taken in 1954, will be on similar lines.There is no intention of taking a second Census of Distribution in the near future.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, whether he is aware that continued foreign imports of pit-props to the detriment of British forestry, notwithstanding the large stocks of mining timber, are causing anxiety in the homegrown timber trade; and if he will consider reducing these foreign imports.

I have been asked to reply. Substantial imports of pit-props are always necessary because home production can only meet a small part of the annual consumption of the mines. The programme of imports which has been agreed with the National Coal Board should not, however, cause difficulties for the home producers since it takes full account of the desirability of using as many home-grown pit-props as possible. I am sure it would be unwise to force a reduction in the Coal Board's stocks which have only recently reached a level at which there is no longer any danger of coal production being threatened by a shortage of pit-props.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the Notification of Vacancies Order imposes a restriction on the freedom of the individuals concerned and an administrative and clerical burden upon employers; and if he will make a statement as to the possibility of annulling this Order.

The only restriction imposed by this Order is the obligation placed on employers to engage their labour through the employment exchanges or scheduled employment agencies. This imposes no undue burden upon them. The labour situation is not yet such as to make it possible to abandon this control.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent a schedule of reserved occupations is taken into account in the selection of Z reservists for training.

Under arrangements made with my Department, the War Office has excluded from recall for training Z reservists coming within certain occupational and employment categories which would be of special importance in war, unless such persons are required for Army trades corresponding to their civilian occupation or for employment of over-riding importance for which their previous Army experience fits them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the increasing menace of broken glass on beaches and in parks; and what steps he proposes to take to draw the attention of local authorities to this general menace.

I have had no recent representations on this subject. Local authorities have byelaw-making powers which enable them to deal with this nuisance, and their attention will no doubt be drawn to it by the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many retired teachers in Scotland have applied to have their pension paid monthly rather than quarterly; and whether he will consider this matter, with a view to meeting the wishes of those concerned.

In the last two years 10 applications have been received from retired teachers in Scotland for the monthly payment of their pensions. In view of the additional cost of this change I should not feel justified in proposing it in the present financial circumstances of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what complaints he has received from South-East Scotland of a shortage of cement, to the detriment of the house-building programme; and what steps are being taken to improve the situation.

I have been asked to reply. This year deliveries of cement to Scotland are 13 per cent. up on last year. In spite of this there are likely to be local shortages during the next few weeks. Difficulties have been reported from the City of Edinburgh, the Burgh of Duns and the South-East Building Trades Association. Arrangements have been made to send supplies to South-East Scotland by road from North-East England. I am asking all users of cement in the United Kingdom to practise the utmost economy.

asked the Minister of Pensions what progress has been made in the provision of modifications and improvements to avoid the risk of fire in motor-propelled tricycles supplied to war disabled and civilian disabled.

A new kind of carburettor is being fitted to the type of vehicle in which fires have occurred. These vehicles will also be fitted with fire extinguishers as an added precaution. The work of fitting the carburettors is already in hand and the extinguishers are expected to be ready later this month.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many motor-propelled tricycles supplied to war disabled and civilian disabled have caught fire during the last six months.

Sixty-two.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will make a statement with regard to the computation of need in the assessment of pensions for parents who lost sons on active service during the last war.

asked the Minister of Pensions what increases are to be made in the scale of pensions to the parents of deceased ex-Service men.

The basic means standards used in calculating the need of parents who lost sons as a result of the 1939 war will be raised, from the first pay day in November, from 40s. to 50s. a week for one parent and from 60s. to 75s. a week for two parents. Comparable increases will be made in the means standards applicable to the parents of officers.A review of existing cases, which will take some months to complete, is being started at once and application is not necessary.Special arrangements will be made for reviewing the cases of parents of the 1914 war who are in receipt of need pensions. As their average age is 82 years, my hon. Friend is arranging for his welfare officers to visit them.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will extend the classification of ranks for disablement pension purposes to include a separate grade for warrant officers Class III who are at present classified for pension purposes as staff sergeants.

My hon. Friend does not feel that any alteration in the existing classification is justified.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and other ranks of the British Army of the Rhine were killed in accidents while on exercises or on duty in the period 1st April to 12th August; and how many of these casualties were the result of accidents with vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and other ranks of the British. Army of the Rhine were injured in accidents while on exercises or on duty in the period 1st April to 12th August; and how many of these injuries resulted from accidents with vehicles.

During this period, three officers and 33 other ranks of the British Army of the Rhine were killed in accidents while on exercises or on duty. Of those killed two officers and nine other ranks died as a result of traffic accidents. Including all minor injuries, a further 56 officers and 1,930 other ranks were injured. It is not possible, without disproportionate work, to break down these figures for injuries between those due to traffic accidents and other causes.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an assurance that this year adequate and timely arrangements have been made in respect of the provision of winter clothing for British troops in Korea.

I have personally examined in some detail the quantity of winter clothing which has been sent to Korea and which is already in stock there. From this examination I am satisfied that more than adequate quantities should be available in the theatre.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the latest information that he has on the conditions and treatment of British prisoners of war in North Korea; what efforts have recently been made to establish official communication with them; and by what means, and how rapidly, letters are now transmitted to and from these prisoners.

Such information as we have indicates that the men are reasonably fed, clothed and treated. Continued efforts to establish communication in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Conventions have, I regret to say, proved fruitless. The letters handed over at Panmunjon, both to and from our prisoners of war, are sent through Tokio by air mail. The average time taken between this country and Panmunjon is 10 days in either direction; but, from the dates of letters recently received, it appears that they have been in the hands of the Chinese or North Korean authorities for about two months before being handed over.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will permit the terms of A.C.I. 768 of 1948, which allows a serving soldier to claim free discharge after having completed 16 years' continuous service, to operate again; and from what date.

All retention of Regular soldiers for additional Colour service is due to end in September, 1953. This instruction, including the provision to which the hon. Member refers, is of necessity being recast in the light of the new terms of service recently introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers serving overseas have been retained beyond the period of their normal overseas tour; and when he anticipates that it will be possible to revert to the normal basis of overseas service.

At present authority has been given for some 400 Regular soldiers to be retained overseas beyond their normal three-year tour. However, no man is being retained for more than six months, and for many the period has been less. In all cases this step is being taken to enable the man to stay with his unit and return home with it. When the new three-year overseas tour for units has completed a full cycle in 1955, the need for such retention should be practically eliminated, except in emergencies.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give an assurance that all men who have completed their service in the Armed Forces, Canal Zone, have now been returned for their demobilisation leave to this country; and why so many men were kept in the Canal Zone so long after they had completed their service.

All those delayed in August were returned in September and since then there has been no backlog. This delay was mainly due to difficulties following the loss of two Hermes aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will cancel the arrangements whereby soldiers from the Middle East can fly home if they can afford to pay their fares and institute a system which will operate among the Service personnel irrespective of their financial position.

No. Under present regulations, any officer or man in the Middle East or any other command may fly home for leave at his own expense. I think that it would be quite impracticable to introduce free leave travel by air from all overseas commands.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that complaints are being made of the non-arrival of mail by men serving at Herenthals in Belgium; what is the reason for this difficulty; and whether he will take special steps to put the matter right.

I am looking into the individual case of which the hon. Member has given me details and will write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for War upon what grounds a reservist is excused Class Z training; and what percentage of men have been relieved of this obligation during the last six months.

The main grounds for exemption are medical and compassionate. I cannot give the figure for the last six months, but exemption from this year's training has been given to some 25 per cent. of the men.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action he has now taken to ensure that the principle, last out first back, is applied in the selection of Z reservists for training in the Royal Artillery.

As my hon. Friend explained in his letter of 13th August, this principle is one of those taken into account in the selection of men for mobilisation appointments and, therefore, for training, but it cannot be applied directly to determine the order in which the selected reservists are recalled for training.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the sense of injustice felt by officers entitled to retired pay that no right to retired pay or terminal grant is earned during an incomplete year of service, be will in future arrange that the service of officers entitled to retired pay shall be determined at the conclusion of a completed year of service.

The calculation by complete years of service is a feature of many, if not most, superannuation schemes. In general, length of service affects the retired pay rate only of those Army officers who retire prematurely.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that spare parts of British equipment for the Middle East oil industry are taking as long as three years to deliver, whereas American spare parts are immediately available; and if he will take steps to expedite British deliveries so that trade may not be lost to American suppliers.

If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars I will gladly investigate.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps are being taken to allow petrol companies to sell branded petrol.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the public statement which my right hon. Friend made on 3rd October announcing the Government's agreement to the marketing of premium grades of petrol under brand names with effect from 1st February next.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many fatal accidents occurred in British mines in each of the first six months of 1952; and how these figures compare with those for 1951.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Food whether, having regard to the increase in the cost of living and its consequent effect on old-age pensioners, particularly those over 70 years old, he will take steps to enable the latter to purchase milk at a cheap rate, namely, 1½d. per pint.

I am afraid that we could not add to the groups receiving cheap or free milk.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is satisfied that there is a market for tinned crab in large quantities in this country; and why he is continuing these imports on Government account.

The demand for canned crab far exceeds the supplies we have been able to buy. For currency reasons no purchase of canned crab has been made by my Department since last April when canned fish (including a small quantity of canned crab) was bought from Russia against a purchase by Russia of salted herrings in barrels and a small quantity of tinplate.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations by how much, and for what reasons, assisted passages for emigrants to Australia have been cut.

For compelling reasons of economy it has been agreed with the Australian Government that the financial contribution of the United Kingdom Government under the Assisted Passage Agreement with Australia should be reduced from £500,000 to £150,000 per annum for two years, ending on 31st March, 1954.

asked the Minister of Education the numbers of classes of over 40, over 50 and over 60 pupils, respectively, at the latest date for which figures are available.

In January last there were 39,026 classes with more than 40 pupils, 1,240 with more than 50 pupils and 19 with more than 60 pupils on the register. Of the classes with over 60 pupils eight were in secondary grammar or technical schools and were assembled together only for registration purposes; two others were taught by more than one teacher, and the remainder have now been reduced in size through the provision of additional accommodation or an extra teacher.

asked the Minister of Education the number of new schools on which building work has started since 1st January, 1952; and how these figures compare with those for the same periods in 1950 and 1951.

Building work started on 128 new schools between 1st January and 31st July, 1952. For 1950 and 1951 the comparable figures were 164 and 424 respectively.

asked the hon. Member for Woolwich, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if he will investigate the possibility of obtaining supplies of fresh sprats from Tollesbury and other East coast fishing villages during the coming spratting season and serving them in the dining rooms of the House of Commons.

We shall be pleased to consider offers of supplies when they become available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement concerning his recent visit to the conference of the International Monetary Fund.

The annual meetings of the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund provide an opportunity for the review of past activities and for suggestions for future development. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Economic Affairs, who represented the United Kingdom, contributed to these discussions some suggestions on how the Fund might play a more useful and active role in world affairs. He was also able to have useful exchanges of view with financial representatives of many countries on matters of mutual interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive the report of the Committee on the Export of Works of Art.

I have now received this Report, which will be published towards the end of the month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown of the new import cuts according to the detailed categories used in the Trade and Navigation Returns; and indicate, in each case, what proportion of the cut will be at the expense of stocks.

I would refer the hon. Member to my speech of 29th July, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will amend the conditions governing the grant of unemployment benefit to ensure that, provided reasonable proof is produced, a local government councillor away on public business for which he would have received financial loss allowance if he had been employed should receive his appropriate unemployment benefit.

No. It is a fundamental condition for payment of unemployment benefit that a man must be available for employment on any day for which it is claimed. I can see no justification for making a special rule for members of local authorities.