asked the Minister of Food what new prices he has agreed to pay over the last six months for meat, butter and cheese from the Argentine, Australia, New Zealand and Denmark, respectively, and for what quantities; and how these compare with previous prices and quantities.

Prices of meat are reviewed annually with Australia,

Country		Commodity			Agreed Prices				Period covered by Agreement
					1952–53 Season		1951–52 Season
					Per cwt.		Per cwt.
					f.o.b.		f.o.b.
					s.	d.	s.	d.
New Zealand	…	Butter	…	…	314	0	292	0	1st August to 31st July.
Australia	…	Butter	…	…	314	0	292	0	1st July to 30th June.
Denmark	…	Butter	…	…	337	6	314	0	1st October to 30th September.
New Zealand	…	Cheese	…	…	176	0	161	6	1st August to 31st July.
Australia	…	Cheese	…	…	176	0	161	6	1st July to 30th June.

No specific quantities are stipulated in the agreements which are based on agreed proportions of the exportable surplus of the country concerned. The percentages of the exportable surpluses to be shipped to the United Kingdom, together with the quantities shipped in the 1951–52

Country			Commodity			Agreed proportions of exportable surplus		Quantities shipped during 1951–52 Season
						1952–53 Season	1951–52 Season
						Per cent.	Per cent.	Tons
New Zealand	…	…	Butter	…	…	87½	85	136,000 (c)
Australia	…	…	Butter	…	…	100 (a)	100 (b)	4,000
Denmark	…	…	Butter	…	…	75	75	85,000
New Zealand	…	…	Cheese	…	…	90	85	79,000 (c)
Australia	…	…	Cheese	…	…	100 (a)	100 (b)	13,000
(a) Less butter and/or cheese equivalent to 13,500 tons of butter.
(b) Less butter and/or cheese equivalent to 15,000 tons of butter.
(c) Includes 4,000 tons shipped in excess of 85 per cent. of exportable surplus.

asked the Minister of Food if he has considered the proposal of Ceylon's Food Minister that the United

Her Majesty's Government fully realise the difficulties of Eastern countries arising from the present rice position and are doing their utmost to help them. But even if we were to forego the relatively small quantities of rice we are at present using we would have no means of ensuring that these would be bought by Asian countries. There are many other countries who would take up what we did not buy and whom we could not influence.

asked the Minister of Food if Departmental investigations are now complete on the desirability or otherwise of packing yeast in wax paper bags instead of hessian.

I expect to have the results of the inquiries now being made in a few weeks.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give details of the Christmas bonus of rationed foods he expects to issue this year; when these will be made available; and whether he will give comparisons with the bonuses issued in the years 1945–51.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement. A list of the food bonus rations from 1945 to 1951 was published in the OFFICIAL REPORT in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Mr. Burden) on 6th December, 1951.

asked the Minister of Food if he will arrange to have all eggs date stamped when grading.

No.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that bananas are displayed for sale on street barrows on most days in the London area, whereas it is not possible to purchase them in the fruiterers' shops; and if he will see that the shops are adequately supplied.

Bananas for allocation are shared out on the same basis to shopkeepers and regular street traders. But street traders in the nature of things usually display all their wares. They are also prepared to handle for quick sale very ripe fruit not generally acceptable to shopkeepers.

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the eggs handled during the last 12 months by the National Egg Distributors Association Limited were home produced; and what proportion were imported.

76.3 per cent. were home-produced and 23.7 per cent. imported.

asked the Minister of Food how many members of the executive of the National Egg Distributors Association Limited were pre-war members of the London Egg Exchange; and what is the total membership of the executive of the National Egg Distributors Association Limited.

There are at present 18 members of the management committee, of whom nine are members of the London branch of the Association. I could not say how many were members of the London Egg Exchange before the war.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage of the bacon ration is not being taken up currently by domestic consumers.

The current rationing period began on 5th October and since the bacon ration may be bought within a four-week period it is too soon to assess the percentage not taken up.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of road over-bridges on Class I roads are capable of carrying vehicles of 80 tons weight.

Exact information is not available, but probably about half the bridges on Class I roads would carry vehicles of this weight.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the memorandum from the North London Conference of Local Authorities forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Edmonton; and whether he is now in a position to make a statement on priority measures to improve transport facilities in North London.

I have considered the memorandum to which the hon. Member refers, and I hope soon to make a statement on the Report of the London Plan Working Party which will include an indication of the priority to be given to measures to improve travel facilities in North London.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has considered the representations from the Huntington Parish Council and from Cannock Rural District Council regarding the danger to schoolchildren following the removal of the 30 miles per hour limit on the Winchester—Preston trunk road at Huntington.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from the Huntington Parish Council. After careful consideration he has suggested the appointment of an adult patrol and has authorised the use of a sign there, bearing the words "Stop—Children Crossing."

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the 1952 Road Safety Week was inadequately organised and that a number of municipal authorities and road safety committees have expressed themselves in this sense; and whether he will arrange in good time for an effective road safety campaign during Coronation year.

This year's national Road Safety Week was in my view a success, and I cannot accept that it was inadequately organised. Longer notice of it would have been an advantage and if, as I hope, we have a similar week next year I will see that the point is not overlooked.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the engineer's survey carried out in preparation for the construction of a modern system of motoring roads throughout the country with particular reference to the London-Glasgow motor road, the Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent road and the urgent road needs of Lancashire.

The following is the position over the country as a whole.Under the Third Schedule of the Special Roads Act, 1949, the following Orders under the Trunk Road Act, 1946, defining the line of new trunk roads, are to be treated as schemes under the Special Roads Act:—

asked the Minister of Transport when traffic lights will be installed at the junction of White Hart Lane and Cambridge Road, Tottenham.

Work on this installation will start in a day or two and be completed in about a month.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement regarding the proposed diversion of the London-Brighton road near Gatwick; and the estimated cost of such work.

The line of the diversion that will be required by the development of Gatwick Airport is to be discussed with the local authorities concerned. Until this has been done, I can make no statement. The cost of the diversion will depend on the route finally agreed.

asked the Minister of Transport what action is being taken to widen Piccadilly at the junction with Swallow Street where protruding buildings were destroyed during the bombing.

Plans have been prepared, but the cost would be about £40,000 and schemes of this nature cannot be authorised at present.

asked the Minister of Transport the total cost of road works since 1945 where Regulations 56A of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, have been applied; and the total cost of other road work.

Records have not been collated for road works authorised before 1949–50 under Defence Regulation 56A. Figures of the total cost of road works are not yet available subsequent to 1950–51. The figures asked for are therefore only available for the years 1949–50 and 1950–51.For those years the expenditure authorised for road works under the Defence Regulation was £6 million, and the total expenditure on all road works, including those authorised by Defence Regulation, was £160 million.

asked the Minister of Transport on what grounds a licence was granted under the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, for the road work at Aintree to enable a new steeplechase course to be constructed.

This small work was authorised because it was necessary for the completion of the new Mildmay Racecourse. The cost will not fall upon public funds.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is in a position to report upon the proposal to erect a high level bridge over the canal at Barlow, Eccles.

asked the Minister of Transport if his advisers have now reported upon the difference in cost of a high level bridge and the proposal for a road tunnel at Barlow, Eccles.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Barton.The line for a new bridge has been included in the county development plan which will be submitted for confirmation in due course.The construction of a new bridge is a matter for the Lancashire County Council, who have not submitted a scheme. It would cost about £2 million and could not in any case be approved in present circumstances. A tunnel would cost considerably more.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the zebra crossings and other measures taken for securing greater safety on the roads; what the effect has been of such measures in reducing casualties on the roads; and what further steps he intends to take in this respect.

I do not wish to make a long statement now, but I am grateful for this opportunity to repeat what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Co-ordination of Transport Fuel and Power said last week in another place about the zebra crossings. He said:

"These have caught the public imagination and can fairly be said to be a real success. The number of deaths and the numbers both of seriously and of slightly injured are significantly down as compared with those for last year; and the trend of accidents, which had been steadily rising since the end of the war, has actually been reversed. I should not, of course, say that we can attribute to "zebra" crossings the whole of this fall, but I have no doubt—and I know that this view is shared by many others—that they have been largely responsible. Arrangements are now well in hand for the lighting of the beacons, and before long the flashing beacon will become a familiar sight."

asked the Minister of Transport what further steps he is taking to check the pollution of beaches and the destruction of sea-birds by the discharge of fuel oil from tankers.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will

COMMITTEE ON THE PREVENTION OF THE POLLUTION OF THE SEA BY OIL
Terms of reference:—
To consider what practical measures can be taken to prevent pollution by oil of the waters around the coasts of the United Kingdom, and to report.
Composition
Chairman: Mr. P. Faulkner, C.B., Ministry of Transport.
	Nominated by
Sir Colin S. Anderson	General Council of British Shipping.
Mr. K. J. Baleillie
Mr. R. R. S. Cook
Mr. W. J. Everard
Mr. D. F. Martin-Jenkins
Mr. W. G. Weston, C.M.G.
Mr. R. Gillespie. C.B.E.	Oil Companies.
Mr. G. Noble
Sir Ralph Metcalfe	Dock and Harbour Authorities' Association.
Mr. R. H. Edwards, M.I.C.E.	British Transport Commission.
Mr. W. B. Johnstone, O.B.E.	Dry Dock Owners and Repairers Central Council.
Captain (E) R. W. Marshall, R.N.	Admiralty.
Mr. R. C. Shawyer
Mr. F. Morgan, B.A.	Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Dr. F. B. Thole F.R.I.C.	Ministry of Fuel and Power.
Mr. S. A. Ashmore B.Sc, F.R.I.C.	Department of the Government Chemist.
Dr. B. A. Southgate. F.R.I.C.	Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Mr. R. W. Bullmore, M.B.E.	Ministry of Transport.
Mr. F. J. Colvill M.I.Mech.E., M.I.Mar.E., M.I.N.A.
Commander D. A. Henderson. O.B.E. R.N.
Secretary: Mr. S. G. Griffin, Ministry of Transport.

asked the Minister of Transport how many reports have now been made by the ports operations panels; what ports they have covered; and if he will make these reports available to this House.

The terms of reference of port operations panels do not require them to make reports, but merely to keep the Ports Efficiency Committee fully informed of any difficulties which they may find in regard to the working of their ports which cannot be solved locally.

Before deciding on any new measures I propose to await the report of the Committee which I have set up to consider what practical measures can be taken to prevent pollution by oil of the waters around the coasts of the United Kingdom.The membership and terms of reference of this committee, which were announced on 2nd October, are:

asked the Minister of Transport how many vessels registered in Great Britain have had repairs, other than emergency ones, carried out in Continental ports during the past 12 months.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport how many vessels are now lying up in our ports and estuaries; and how this number compares with this time last year.

The information available in my Department indicates that, excluding ships under repair, 18 British ocean-going ships over 1,600 g.t. were laid up in the United Kingdom at the end of last month and two a year ago. As regards the small ships the numbers were 12 and four, respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on his decision to uphold the findings of the licensing authority in the case of the recent applications for unrestricted coach services on the Manchester—London route.

asked the Minister of Transport on what grounds he dismissed the appeal of the North-West Road Car Company against the decision of the licensing authority not to remove the restrictions on motor coach services between Manchester and London.

In October, 1951, the licensing authority for the northwestern area refused applications by the companies concerned for unlimited duplication on their services between Manchester and London. The companies appealed to me under Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930. I upheld the licensing authority's decision. The restrictions on duplication which have been continued as a result of these decisions, have existed since 1933, and are in accordance with long-established principles applied to long distance road services competing with backbone railway services.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is now in a position to announce that the flashing type of car indicator can be optional to the semaphore type in order to help motor car manufacturers reduce the cost of export models.

My right hon. Friend is inclined to favour this proposal but wishes to consider further technical information before making a final decision. This he hopes to announce shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to dissuade road users from indulging in the inconsiderate and dangerous habit of parking vehicles on main roads.

My right hon. Friend is always ready to consider Orders to prohibit or limit waiting by vehicles on roads where it is liable to cause danger or congestion. The Highway Code warns drivers not to leave vehicles anywhere where they may endanger or obstruct others.

asked the Minister of Transport when he anticipates it will be possible for him to carry out the recommendations of paragraph 35 of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Export and Slaughter of Horses, which was published in March, 1950.

This paragraph of the Report recommends the raising of the speed limit on heavy goods vehicles generally from 20 to 30 m.p.h. Horse boxes specially constructed as such are already allowed to travel up to 30 m.p.h., but the question of raising the heavy goods vehicle speed limit generally is one into which many considerations enter besides the carriage of horses.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now take a traffic census of vehicles using the main roads in the seven crofter counties.

A census now would not give a true picture of the traffic on these roads, much of which is tourist, but my right hon. Friend will have the point in mind in connection with the census programme for next year which is at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement as to the future of the Princess flying boats.

Test flights of the first Princess flying boat are proceeding. The two incomplete flying boats are being stored for the reasons explained in my statement to the House on 17th March

asked the Minister of Supply what contracts he has awarded to motor cycle manufacturers in Coventry now building cycles to his Department's specifications; and what future contracts for motor cycles of this description he intends to offer for tender during the present year.

One manufacturer in Coventry holds Ministry of Supply contracts for motor cycles. It is unlikely that any further contracts for motor cycles will be placed anywhere this year.

asked the Minister of Supply the estimated production of iron and steel for 1952 and 1953, respectively.

There are good prospects that in 1952 at least 16 million tons of ingot steel and over 3¾ million tons of iron castings will be produced. Provided there are no unexpected difficulties over raw materials, ingot steel production in 1953 should exceed the previous record of 16¼ million tons by a substantial margin.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what is the reason for the delay in publishing the Annual Report of the National Assistance Board for the year ended 31st December, 1951; and whether he will arrange for subsequent reports to be available earlier.

I do not think there has been any undue delay in publishing the Board's Report for 1951. Since the war it has usually been published in August or September.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how much National Assistance Board money was used in the last available 12 months for persons in employment and awaiting receipt of wages for work performed.

About half a million pounds.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will amend the Regulations relating to death benefits to enable parents or guardians of children who die under 21 years of age to claim this benefit when on account of illness or accident no contributions have been paid.

I am prepared to look into this question in connection with the forthcoming review. But it would be inconsistent with the general principles of the Insurance Scheme to enable parents to claim benefits in respect of a child who has passed the age when for purposes of insurance it can be treated as a dependent child.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he has considered the protest of the Newport Trades Council, a copy of which has been sent to him, protesting against the policy of the National Assistance Board in deducting from the supplementary allowance granted to workers on sick benefit, industrial injuries benefit and old age pensions by the recent increases given to them under National Insurance, in view of the fact that those who are able to work have had their contributions increased to meet it and that this action will take away from the sick and aged the small increases made to enable them to meet the increased cost of living; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what instructions have been given to the officers of the National Assistance Board with reference to the reductions in payments when the increased pensions became operative; and if he is aware that many pensioners are no better off as a result of the increase because of these deductions.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Alport) on 17th October.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if, in future numbers of the Ministry of Labour Gazette, he will supplement the statistics with regard to the absence of insured persons due to sickness by showing the figures separately for men and women, with the percentage relationship each bears to the respective totals of the number of persons insured in each sex, respectively.

Yes, the separate figures for men and women are given in my Ministry's annual report and will on future occasions be included with the total figures in the Ministry of Labour Gazette. There are difficulties in calculating the percentages to which my hon. Friend refers, but I will see what can be done.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will make arrangements for old age pensioners to receive a supplementary grant during Coronation week to enable them to celebrate this historic event.

I do not think there are sufficient grounds for singling out old age pensioners, who by next June will number nearly 4¾ million, for a special bonus from the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, in view of the expense, difficulty and disappointment incurred by applicants for industrial injury benefits in respect of chronic industrial disease by constant decisions that, although they are totally incapacitated by chronic disease, it is not of the type specified in the Act, he will consider taking steps to make industrial injury benefit payable to all sufferers totally incapacitated by chronic disease.

No. I am not prepared to consider a proposal which departs so completely from the generally accepted principle that the higher industrial injury benefits are only payable for industrial accidents and diseases.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what would be the estimated saving in administrative costs and in the costs of medical tribunals and boards by the introduction of provisions for the payment of industrial injury benefit to all persons totally incapacitated by chronic disease.

It is open to question whether the adoption of the hon. Member's suggestion would lead to any saving in administrative costs. In any case there is no information on which an estimate could be based.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many appeals against his decisions under the Family Allowances Act are outstanding; and what is the average time taken to reach a decision.

1,430 appeals were outstanding on 30th September: the average time taken is three to four months.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has any statement to make about the reintroduction of branded petrol.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 14th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge (Mr. G. Williams).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) what is the present cost to the country of maintaining staff to ration domestic fuel;(2) if he will consider de-rationing domestic fuel, in view of the improved stocks, bearing in mind that the price of coal rations the demand.

I am anxious to end as soon as possible the present system of control, which costs the country approximately £1½ million a year, but there is no prospect of coal supplies being sufficient to enable this to be done this winter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will introduce legislation to amend the Coal Mining (Subsidence) Act, 1950, so as to make the National Coal Board responsible for removal costs incurred by persons whose houses are made uninhabitable either by the nature of the subsidence or by the nature of the repairs being effected.

No.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the National Coal Board is letting or sub-letting farms on damage-free leases or tenancies, which is contrary to the recommendation of the Report of the Committee on Mining Subsidence; and if he will now take steps to have this recommendation implemented.

I am informed that, in general, the only farms now being let on damage-free leases or tenancies are farms which have been previously let on similar terms.As regards the second part of the Question, I do not think it would be right for me to deal with this recommendation in isolation from the others made by the Committee.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that Messrs. Bowden Brothers of Exeter are unable to deliver fuel suitable for kitchen stoves to those of their customers residing in caravans because they cannot get supplies of anthracite beans; and if he will take steps to expedite delivery of these.

I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will state the Government's policy with regard to the opencast coal programme.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on the 1st August in reply to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Garston (Mr. Raikes).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what directions he has given under Section 7 of the Gas Act, 1948, to the Gas Council about the establishment of a comprehensive industrial medical service in the gas industry.

None.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he proposes to take in connection with the numerous recommendations made by the Ridley Committee on National Policy for the use of Fuel and Power resources, Command Paper No. 8647; and how far this document will form the basis for a national fuel and power policy.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await my statement in the forthcoming fuel and power debate.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what sum of building licences has been issued by his Department to the Midlands Electricity Board during 12 months to 30th September, 1952, for office and showroom accommodation; what new offices and showrooms have been licensed for building at Shrewsbury; and to what extent authority for the purchase of private dwellinghouses, for use as offices, is given by these licences.

During the twelve months ending 30th September, 1952, I issued no authorisations for showrooms to the Midland Electricity Board and only one for the erection of two timber huts at a cost of £1,277 for use as offices.Since vesting date one authorisation has been given to the Board for the adaptation of offices for service centres at Shrewsbury. This was on 31st March, 1950 for work to cost £2,780, the work consisting of altering premises in the High Street which had been held by the Board and its predecessors for some years. Conditions during the war and after had delayed work on these premises.Defence Regulation 56A does not provide for authorisations for the purchase of private dwellinghouses. But the consent of the local housing authority is required under Defence Regulation 68CA before private dwellinghouses can be converted to other uses.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many pit ponies were brought to the surface this summer while the mines were closed for holiday or other purposes; and how many were left down the mines for the whole of the period of such holidays.

This is a matter of day-to-day administration of the National Coal Board, and I am asking the Board to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Attorney-General the number of road vehicle drivers, giving the various categories of drivers separately, who, during the present year, arising out of road accidents, have been prosecuted at the instigation of the Director of Public Prosecutions on charges of manslaughter and dangerous driving; how many were convicted of manslaughter or the reduced charge of dangerous driving; and how many acquitted on both charges.

34 prosecutions of drivers for manslaughter and two for dangerous driving have been instituted by the Director of Public Prosecutions and completed this year. Eight of the persons charged with manslaughter were convicted, 10 found guilty of dangerous driving and 16 acquitted. One of the persons charged with dangerous driving was convicted and the other acquitted. Detailed statistics of criminal offences are kept by the Home Office and the records of the Director of Public Prosecutions do not show the categories of drivers charged.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Her Majesty's Government concurred in the decision of the Allied High Commission in Western Germany to permit Mr. Alfred Krupp to receive £17 million in connection with the loss of his steel and coal interests, together with the control of extensive industrial plant.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what discussions took place between the occupying Powers before the recent decision to grant compensation to the ex-Nazi, Herr Krupp, for the confiscation of his property.

As was made plain in my right hon. Friend's statement on this subject on 15th October, the decision to grant compensation to Herr Alfred Krupp for the confiscation of his property was not a recent one, but flowed automatically from Allied High Commission Law No. 27, of May, 1950.Once the decision to revoke confiscation of Alfred Krupp's property had been taken the effect of this law was to provide him with compensation for all his holdings in coal and steel. His Late Majesty's Government, together with the French and United States Governments, were parties to the approval and promulgation of this law.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on what has been done to mitigate the heavy sentence imposed on British sailors in Japan for a minor offence.

Her Majesty's Government have from the outset protested against the trial of the two seamen by a Japanese court. Her Majesty's Ambassador in Japan has since made strong representations to secure the release of these men. He will continue to take all steps open to him to this end. Meanwhile the seamen have appealed and it is expected that the finding of the Appeal Court will be announced on the 5th November. Her Majesty's Consular Officers and a member of Her Majesty's Embassy in Tokyo have visited the two seamen in prison. They report that they are satisfactorily fed, housed and treated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how far negotiations for the settlement of the claims of Primitiva Gas and Buenos Aires Railways have progressed.

As my hon. Friend is aware, Her Majesty's Government are endeavouring to induce the Argentine Government to promote a rapid settlement with the companies. A memorandum on this matter was formally presented to the Argentine Government on the 7th August. No reply has yet been received.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the interests of short-term and long-term export policy, he will ensure that shipbuilders have an adequate supply of steel in the final quarter of this year.

I regret that owing to the steel shortage it is not possible to meet the shipbuilding industry's requirements in full. The steel allocation for shipbuilding in the last quarter of this year is 8 per cent. more than in the third quarter and I hope that, when the allocations for the first quarter of 1953 are made, a further increase will be possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence what steps his Department has taken to obtain orders for defence equipment from Canada; and what is the value and nature of orders so obtained.

Every effort has been and will continue to be made to obtain Canadian orders. The value of orders obtained so far this year is about £30 million. They cover a wide range of equipment for all three Services, including an aircraft carrier, aircraft and aero engines, and tanks.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence the detailed casualty figures for National Service men in Korea and Malaya, respectively.

The following casualties amongst National Service men have been notified to date:

—	Royal Navy	Army	Royal Air Force
KOREA
Killed or died of wounds	Nil	150	Nil
Died as prisoner of war	Nil	6	Nil
Wounded	Nil	602	Nil
Prisoner of war	Nil	119	Nil
Missing	Nil	45	Nil
TOTAL	Nil	922	Nil
——	Royal Navy	Army*	Royal Air Force
MALAYA
Killed or died of wounds	Nil	65	Nil
Wounded	3	101	Nil
Missing	Nil	Nil	Nil
TOTAL	3	166	Nil
NOTE:
* Since November, 1949. Prior to that date separate casualty records of National Service men are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in future legislation concerning existing Defence Regulations, he will recommend that minimum penalties be no longer prescribed.

I will certainly see that this suggestion is borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Standing Committee on Medical and Nutritional Problems has yet reported on the possibility of excessive consumption of vitamins due to food fortified by these substances; and what conclusions have been arrived at.

Yes. The report has been referred to the Departments concerned for their consideration. It appears from the report that in present circumstances there is no danger of excessive consumption of vitamins due to food fortified with these substances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement regarding televised broadcasting of sporting events, in view of the recent report upon this subject.

I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the matter to which he refers is only one of the many questions dealt with in the Report of the Copyright Committee published last week. Legislation would be required to give effect to the recommendations made on this subject and others, and the Report is being carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give favourable consideration to recommending the setting up of a Royal Commission to visit Central Africa to inquire into Central African federation, of which some people of African race would be members.

No. A Royal Commission could add nothing to the detailed examination which this matter has already had in recent months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a further statement on the recent disturbances by Mau Mau, in the light of communications sent to him by responsible leaders of missionary societies to the effect that it is by Government regulation and not by missionary action that certain tribal dances are suppressed.

Tribal dancing is controlled under byelaws but missionary societies naturally and rightly advise their followers against taking part in certain dances held to be incompatible with the Christian faith.I was not criticising the missionary societies or the Kenya Government in my recent statement and I gladly pay tribute to the great contribution which the missionaries have made and are making.It remains, however, important to understand that if the African is denied certain emotional outlets he will find them in other ways, including membership of secret societies. Many observers testify that this aspect is an important part of the social problem and it must be included in any survey of the causes of unrest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now able to make a statement on constitutional reform in Hong Kong.

Yes. The Governor has been authorised to introduce legislation to increase from two to four the number of elected members on the Urban Council, on which there is already a majority of unofficials. After consultation with the Governor I have decided that the present time is inopportune for other constitutional changes of a major character.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he is aware of the difficulty of disposing of waste paper and other salvage; and if his Department are taking the necessary steps to see that this source of raw material is not wasted.

For about six months there has been a surplus of waste paper which cannot be disposed of economically because more has been salvaged than the paper and board mills could take at present levels of production. These are much below those of last year.My noble Friend has been anxious to preserve so far as possible the machinery of collection by local authorities, and I am glad to say that paper mills, waste paper merchants and the local councils themselves have agreed to spread the present reduced consumption as evenly as possible over all the councils which are collecting. There are signs of a revival in the production of board, which in due course should improve the demand for waste paper. There is a good demand for many other kinds of salvage, particularly for kitchen waste and scrap metal.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make representations to the United States Government to build housing accommodation for their forces personnel stationed in this country and to supply from their own resources the materials for this operation so as not to affect our own housing programme.

As the hon. Gentleman will appreciate, this is a matter which can be arranged by mutual understanding and goodwill.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what decision he has reached on the suggestion to allocate feedingstuffs for poultry in proportion to the number of eggs delivered to the packing stations.

This suggestion is under active consideration in the Department and my right hon. Friend is awaiting the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on the Rationing of Animal Feedingstuffs, but I am not yet in a position to make a decision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to announce the derationing of animal feedingstuffs.

No

asked the Minister of Agriculture the current cost of administering the animal feedingstuff rationing scheme and the staff employed.

The total annual cost of administration of animal feedingstuffs rationing in Great Britain is estimated to be about £540,000. The number of staff engaged on this work is approximately 1,360.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the position regarding the apple and pear marketing scheme considered by a public inquiry in July, 1951.

I hope very shortly to inform the promoters of the Government's views on this marketing scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the estimated 44 per cent. rise in agricultural production since pre-war is for the period up to 1945.

I can best answer this question in the form of a short table:

Index Numbers of the Volume of Agricultural Net Output
1936–39	…	…	…	100
1944–45	…	…	…	125
1945–46	…	…	…	128
1950–51	…	…	…	143
1951–52	…	…	…	144
(provisional).

These figures include output from gardens, allotments, pig-clubs, etc., and relate to years ending 31st May.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the approximate tonnage of the United Kingdom plum and damson crop during 1952 compared with 1950 and 1951; the approximate orchard acreage figures in each of the three years raising plums and damsons; and the approximate tonnage and percentage of the 1952 crop remaining unsold and wasted.

The plum and damson crop this year has been exceptionally heavy, with a gross yield of marketable fruit on the trees roughly estimated at 200,000 tons, compared with 120,000 tons in 1951 and 70,000 tons in 1950. There are no firm figures for plum and damson acreages in the years cited, but the area appears to have declined at a rate of 3 per cent. per annum between 1950 and 1952. About 60,000 tons, or 30 per cent., of the 1952 crop is estimated to have remained unsold.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what Ministerial advisory facilities are available for fruit growers, in regard to future acreage and types of fruit, in view of this year's largely wasted fruit crops.

Advice on specific technical problems is available to fruit growers from the National Agricultural Advisory Service. Where requested, the Service also provides more general information related to production planning. It cannot, however, undertake to give authoritative guidance on such matters as the acreages that might be devoted in future to various types of fruit or probable market conditions.

asked the hon. Member for Woolwich, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether he will give an assurance that all apples and pears to be purchased by the Kitchen Committee, up till the end of the year, will be home-grown.

Yes, as far as it is possible to do so.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the need for co-ordination between Government Departments in order that full use should be made of the provisions available for the treatment and employment of the physically handicapped, he will appoint a committee of expert and interested people to advise him how this end can be achieved.

The National Advisory Council on the Employment of the Disabled appointed under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act has recommended to me that a committee should be set up to inquire into all aspects of the rehabilitation and re-settlement of disabled persons. I am in consultation with my right hon. Friends on this recommendation, and will make a further statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will take steps to exempt from National Service railwaymen occupying key positions in the service.

I cannot exempt anyone from his liability under the National Service Acts but if, as I assume, the suggestion is that the call-up of certain men employed on the railways should be deferred so long as they remain on this work. I could not in present circumstances agree to any further arrangements of this kind.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the fact that the alternative pension was originally granted for the purpose of maintaining the standard of life enjoyed by the pensioner before his disability, he will now review the circumstances of these pensions in the light of the general increase in the cost of living which has taken place since these pensions were granted, with a view to supplementing the pension so that its original purpose will continue to be fulfilled.

The alternative pension was a feature of the 1914 War Royal Warrants. It proved to be unsatisfactory in practice and was not repeated in the Warrants relating to the 1939 War. Persons to whom alternative pensions were awarded have retained their reserved rights although in many cases improvements in the standard rates of pension and allowances have made the latter more favourable, with the result that many alternative pensioners have been transferred to standard rates. Disabled pensioners of the 1914 War still receiving alternative pensions today are therefore being paid higher rates of pension than other similarly disabled pensioners of the two wars and I do not feel justified in increasing those remaining alternative pensions.