asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the maker of an omnibus deed of covenant whereby the trustees are directed to pay specified sums to certain named charities can include contributions to the King George VI Fund in such deed so as to qualify for refund of tax.

The Commissioners of Inland Revenue regard the objects proposed for the King George VI National Memorial Fund as charitable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate present figure of the overseas sterling balances as held by each country.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give figures showing the distribution of personal incomes between different ranges of income, both before and after the deduction of Income Tax and Surtax, in 1938 and in 1950, respectively.

The figures are as follow:

It is not the practice to disclose the balances of individual countries. United Kingdom sterling liabilities to certain overseas areas as at 30th June last were given in Table 15 of Cmd. Paper 8666.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the amounts of Purchase Tax collected on textiles, excluding floor coverings, for each month in 1952 to the latest date possible; and the comparable figures for each month in 1951.

Purchase Tax is payable quarterly in arrear and it is estimated that receipts of tax in the first three-quarters of 1951 and 1952 from clothing (except footwear and fur garments), haberdashery, textile piece goods, and household textile goods were as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the comparative purchasing power of the £ sterling at 1st October, 1951, and at the latest convenient stated date.

Taking the figure for mid-October, 1951, as 20s. the corresponding figure for September, 1952, on the basis of the Interim Index of Retail Prices was 18s. 10d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the basic travel allowance for the coming year.

The basic travel allowance for the year beginning 1st November, 1952, will remain at £25. The allowance for children will remain at £15, but the adult allowance will now be given to children of 12 or over, instead of 15 or over, on the ground that many Continental hotels charge adult rates for older children.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has yet received the report of the Working Party which has been considering proposals for ending the requisitioning of premises for housing purposes.

Yes. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of the Working Party's interim report and of a circular I have sent to local authorities asking them to give effect to the Working Party's recommendations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, for the benefit especially of those who have to move their houses to earn their living, he can now say what Her Majesty's Government intends to do about the repeal or the continuance of the control of the selling price of houses maintained by Section 43 of the Housing Act, 1949.

I have this matter under consideration, but I am not yet able to make any announcement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what were the housing allocations for the City of Portsmouth; and how many houses were built in the years 1948–49, 1949–50, 1950–51 and 1951–52, respectively.

Allocations are not now made. Local authorities may build as many houses as local resources of labour and materials permit. The numbers of houses completed by individual local authorities are shown in Appendix B to the quarterly Housing Returns. I am unable to add to the published figures.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take powers to compel local authorities to disclose how many private houseowners have handed over their houses to them because they cannot afford to maintain them; how many houses have become derelict owing to abandonment by their owners; and if he will make a statement on this matter.

No. Local authorities are always ready to provide me such information as I need and they are able to supply.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses are now being built in the County of London; how many men are employed on building them; and how these figures compare with those for a year ago.

I regret that I cannot add to the information given in the published quarterly Housing Returns.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which rent tribunal offices he has decided to close and which others he is considering closing in the near future.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Janner) on 29th July.The reply to the second part of the Question is "One," the East London Rent Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated annual saving from closing the office of the Dartford Rent Tribunal.

About £1,700.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many parishes in the county of Warwickshire were without piped water supplies in the years 1945, 1948 and 1951, respectively; and how many new schemes have been sanctioned in 1952.

84, 82 and 62. Four schemes to give supplies in 6 parishes have so far been authorised in 1952.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that periods of abundant rain are frequently followed by periods of water shortage; and, as the total annual rainfall is sufficient to provide an adequate supply of water for all parts of the country at all times, if he will initiate a long-term plan for an increase in the reservoir capacity of the country, so as to avoid the shortages and restrictions on water consumption which now take place nearly every summer.

The problem is one on which steady progress is being made as general economic conditions permit.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he is aware that there is concern over his decision to suspend the Inland Water Survey for three years, and that forward planning for agriculture, industry and housing depends substantially upon knowledge of the supply of water from rivers, springs and wells; and if he will reconsider his decision;(2) what amount it is anticipated will be saved by the suspension of the Inland Water Survey for three years.

The suspension applies only to the provision of new gauges, the central collection, collation and publication of records by the Ministry, and to the meetings of the Inland Water Survey Committee. No other work is affected: in particular, local recording will proceed and the results will be available for collation in due course. The planning of agriculture, industry and housing during the next few years is thus not likely to suffer.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the need for piped water supplies at Wibtoft, near Rugby; and what steps he is taking regarding the revised proposals submitted him by the Lutterworth Rural District Council.

Yes. I am prepared to authorise the scheme if the main sources of water supply make it practicable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that local authorities have adequate powers to deal with the industrial smoke nuisance in their localities; and whether he will take steps to strengthen those powers to assist them in their fight for a clearer atmosphere.

Local authorities have wide powers for the prevention of smoke nuisances under the Public Health Act, 1936, and, while I am anxious to assist, I do not think that further legislation is necessary at present.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the nuisance inflicted on the residents of Benson Gardens, Leeds 12, by the day and night noise, smoke and fumes from the premises of the Yorkshire Engineering Services, Limited; and what steps he proposes to take, in co-operation with the Leeds City Council, to abate it.

I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will consider the abandonment of the derating of industrial properties in view of the financial difficulties of local authorities.

The financial interest of local authorities is only one of many aspects of this question; there are many others.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations he has received from the Crawley Development Corporation concerning the proposal for the extension of Gatwick Airport.

The Corporation have made clear to me their view that from the standpoint of the development of the new town this proposal has considerable disadvantages as well as possible advantages. Their views will be considered by my right hon. Friend along with those which he has arranged to receive from the local authorities concerned with the project.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that there is concern among the new industrial population of Crawley about the proposal to extend Gatwick Airport; and whether he will meet a deputation from the Crawley Industrial Group.

I understand that this group of industrialists have submitted their views to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Civil Aviation and that he has advised them that at this stage they should make their representations to the local planning authority whose observations he has arranged to receive. In these circumstances, it would be inappropriate for me to receive a deputation at the present time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will investigate the causes of the recent flooding at Braithwaite, near Keswick, Cumberland; and what action he proposes to take to prevent further flooding and damage to property.

I am in communication with the responsible local authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what sums were authorised by his Department for rebuilding the bombed City of Portsmouth in the years 1949–50, 1950–51, 1951–52 and 1952–53, respectively.

The sums authorised were: In 1949, nil; in 1950, £100,000; in 1951, £450,000. The total value of work completed or started is about £1.5 million. Expenditure on such work this year will be about £220,000; £340,000 next year and £200,000 in 1954.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the total number of licences issued for reconstruction in the Plymouth city centre in the years 1950 and 1951; and what was the total value of the work to be covered by these licences.

19 and £1,356,000.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total number of new licences issued for reconstruction in the Plymouth city centre between October, 1951, and October, 1952; and what was the total value of the work to be covered by these licences.

In view of the large amount of work already in hand, two new licences, value £80,000, have been issued in this period. The value of the work carried out in 1951 was £781,000 and is expected to be, in 1952, £683,000. £230,000 is carried over.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what decision he has made about the proposed North Yorkshire Moors National Park arising from the local inquiry held at Northallerton in July.

I hope to announce my decision very soon.

asked the Minister of Works the cost of rebuilding Norwich House; by whom the cost was borne; and for what purpose this building is being used at the present time.

A licence to the value of £20,000 was issued on 18th December, 1950, on the support of the Board of Trade. I understand that the cost was borne by the Clothing Industry Development Council, who are using the premises as offices at the present time.

asked the Minister of Works what price was paid by his Department for the mantelpiece bought at a sale at Halnaby Hall, near Darlington; and for what purpose it was bought.

I should like to have preserved Halnaby Hall for the nation, but no money was available. I therefore tried to buy some of the outstanding fitments. The most important of these was a remarkable mantelpiece in the Adam tradition which we would all want to see remain in this country. I paid 500 guineas for it.

asked the Minister of Works the number and amount of building licences granted to Mr. Isow for building a night club, restaurant and banqueting hall in the West End.

21 licences, to a total value of £57,000 were granted. The premises suffered war damage and about £45,000 worth of the work was necessary to comply with dangerous structure and sanitary notices issued by the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will grant permission for the use of Westminster Hall for a lunch for Dominion, Colonial and British Members of Parliament immediately before the Coronation, as happened on 7th May, 1937.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, who arranged the luncheon in 1937, have approached me about a similar luncheon next year, and I have gladly given my approval.

asked the Minister of Works whether his investigations show that the seating facilities along the Coronation route are likely to be adequate for those who want to see the procession.

I am responsible only for stands in the Royal Parks, in Parliament Square and outside buildings which are in the charge of my Department. I hope to make full use of these sites to accommodate as many people as possible, but it is not possible to provide seats for all who would wish them.

asked the Minister of Work whether he is satisfied that the increase in supplies of asbestos cement pipes, as forecast by Circular 51/52 of 6th June, 1952, has, in fact, been forthcoming; and if he estimates that future supplies will be plentiful.

Yes. The production of 3-inch asbestos cement pipes is now 50 per cent. higher than in June. Supplies generally are satisfactory and are expected to be adequate in the future.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether his attention has been drawn to the results of research by the Medical Research Council into the incidence of lung cancer among gas workers; in what areas this work has been carried out; and whether he will arrange for such research in all areas of the gas industry.

The Medical Research Council is aware of the results of an investigation into the incidence of lung cancer among gas workers which was made through a statistical survey of the causes of death of the male pensioners of one of the largest of the former London gas companies. I have no reason to suppose that the conditions of work are different in other areas.The possibility of making further inquiry on different lines into this problem with a view to discovering any special causes of lung cancer in gas workers is being examined.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, why Her Majesty's Government has refused to participate in the establishment of the laboratory in Geneva, to be set up at the initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, for the combined research by Western European scientists into nuclear research.

Her Majesty's Government have not so far deemed it necessary to become formal members of the interim inter-Governmental Council of Western European Powers who are planning the proposed centre and laboratory. The Government are in full sympathy with the Council's general objectives and United Kingdom scientists have taken part in their discussions. Her Majesty's Government have not yet decided whether to participate in any scheme for a laboratory which may in due course be put forward by the interim Council.

asked the Minister of Works when St. Stephen's Under-Chapel will be reopened to the public.

Cleaning and repairs to St. Stephen's Crypt were finished early this month and the Chapel is now open to the public

asked the Minister of Works if he is satisfied with the lighting arrangements in Westminster Hall; and, in view of the fact that diffused lighting would bring out the beauties of this ancient monument, and would do much to foster interest in one of the most historic buildings in this country, if he will install lighting of this type.

There are at present two systems for lighting Westminster Hall. Pendant lights are used for the ordinary lighting of the Hall. Special floodlights are also installed for the purpose of illuminating the roof. They will be switched on by the control engineer at the request of any hon. Member.Before the present fittings were installed by a firm specialising in this work, much thought was given and experiments were made in order to obtain the results suggested by my hon. Friend. I think that the present floodlighting has given general satisfaction.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware of the threatened redundancy in the motor-cycle industry in Coventry; and what action he intends to take in order to maintain full employment in the industry;(2) whether he is aware of the growing redundancy and unemployment in the motor industry; and what action he intends to take to ensure that this industry may be used to its maximum capacity.

I am aware that some motor car firms have discharged workers or gone on to short-time working in recent months, and that there is a small prospective redundancy at one motorcycle firm in Coventry. There has, however, been little change in the level of unemployment in the motor vehicle and cycle industries, which is at a rate about half the average for all industries and services, while the latest avilable comprehensive figures for short-time working show that at the end of August 2,400 workers were affected, compared with 5,500 in May and 8,200 in March.The Government will continue to do all it can to assist the industry in the difficulties in export markets that have been mainly responsible for the recent short-time working and redundancies.

asked the Minister of Labour how many are unemployed in Lanarkshire due to shortage of scrap and shortage of steel; and how many industries are working below their potential capacity output for these reasons.

I have no knowledge of any persons wholly unemployed in Lanarkshire due to the shortage of scrap or steel but 60 men are temporarily idle on two days per week at steel rolling mills because of the shortage of steel ingots.The metal manufacturing and metal using industries generally have been affected by the shortage of scrap and steel—a shortage which is now becoming less acute.

asked the Minister of Labour what consultations he has had with the President of the Board of Trade with a view to the establishment of some light industry in Central Fife.

As the hon. Member knows, I am fully alive to the needs of this area and can assure him that we are co-operating closely with the Board of Trade in an endeavour to get additional industry there.

asked the Minister of Labour what special medical tests for tropical diseases ex-Far East prisoners of war receive before being called up for further training in Z Reserve.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Eye (Colonel J. H. Harrison) on 1st August, 1952, and I am sending him a copy of the note sent to Chairmen of Medical Boards early in March last. A Medical Board has no facilities for undertaking special medical tests for tropical diseases, but a man of whose fitness for service there is any doubt is referred to a consultant for a full report before a decision is given.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will exempt crofters and farmers on family farms from National Service if they undertake service in the Territorial Army or the Home Guard.

No. There are adequate arrangements for deferment of National Service where withdrawal of a man from a small farm would seriously affect food production, and also for postponement of service in cases of exceptional hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether Swedish-controlled cultivation category seed is eligible for consideration for use as foundation seed under his Department's oats certification scheme.

No. Swedish seed oats admitted to the scheme are confined to certified Svalof Original Seed obtained direct from the raisers in Sweden, the Svalof Plant Breeding Station, and it is proposed to maintain this restriction. Swedish seed oats of the "controlled cultivation" category may of course be imported and sold to growers in this country in competition with home-grown seed oats certified under the Department's scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of bankruptcies which have occurred in Scotland since 1st October, 1951, and the number of annual periods ending 31st August, 1951, 1950 and 1949.

The number of persons declared bankrupt by the courts in Scotland in the period 1st October, 1951 to 30th September, 1952, the latest date for which precise figures are available, was 127; the numbers of persons declared bankrupt in the annual periods ending 31st August, 1951, 1950 and 1949 were 105, 69 and 55, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far recent figures of tourist traffic in Scotland show an increase on previous years; and what further steps are under consideration for stimulating this important trade.

I am informed by the Scottish Tourist Board that although figures are not yet available, the number of tourists visiting Scotland in 1952 is expected to be greater than in 1951, which in turn was greater than in the two previous years. The Tourist Board are preparing plans for increasing tourist traffic still further and I am asking them to send my hon. and gallant Friend information about them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has made an estimate of the extra cost that would be entailed in paying their pensions monthly rather than quarterly to those retired Scottish teachers who apply for this concession.

If, as seems likely, a substantial majority of retired Scottish teachers chose to have their pensions paid monthly, the additional cost would be more than £3,000 a year. There would also be an additional charge of up to £360,000 in the financial year in which the change from quarterly to monthly payments was made, as the equivalent of 14 monthly payments would be made in that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the overcrowding at Clarkston School, Aidrie, due to recent housing developments at Craigneuk; and when further school accommodation for this area can be expected.

My information is that overcrowding is not yet serious. The education authority have submitted proposals for a new school to meet the needs of the new housing area at Craigneuk. These are being discussed with the authority. I cannot forecast when the school will be ready

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement concerning his Department's plans for improving the water supply to the burgh of Buckie.

The question of improving the burgh water supply is primarily one for the town council. I am always ready to give local authorities the utmost help I can, and once the town council have decided on the scheme they propose to adopt, I shall consider its approval sympathetically.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the extent of the damage to the Loch Garry Hydro-Electric Works in the recent floods; and what is the estimated cost of replacement and repair;(2) what was the extent of the damage to the Loch Quoich Hydro-Electric Works in the recent floods; and what is the estimated cost of replacement and repair.

I am informed by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board that the recent floods at Loch Garry and Loch Quoich did not cause damage to the hydro-electric scheme, which is still under construction. Some damage was done to the contractors' temporary structures, and the cost of making it good is a matter for settlement between the contractors and their insurers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now make a statement regarding the extension to Ullapool Pier.

The Highlands Panel have advised that the smaller of the two schemes which have been under consideration is to be preferred, and I propose to report to the Development Commissioners accordingly.

asked the Minister of Pensions what reductions have taken place in the number of staff employed at his Cardiff office; and what instructions or requests have been made to the remaining staff regarding the working of overtime.

Since the beginning of this year the number of clerical posts in my Regional Office at Cardiff has been reduced by two. During this period, overtime has been worked by a few members of the staff, for periods of two or three days, on three occasions. There was on each occasion some special short-term emergency to be met. The overtime was entirely on a voluntary basis.As regards the Cardiff typing pool, there have been no recent reductions in staff. Overtime has been worked on a voluntary basis at intervals during the year and has now ceased. The need for this arose from the disturbance of work brought about by the review of pension rates.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that a disabled soldier forfeits his disablement pension on conviction for a felony, not merely during the period of his imprisonment but also on his release; whether he is aware of the grave difficulty which confronts a seriously disabled person on release from prison; and whether he will consider making provisions for payment of pension after release.

Imprisonment on conviction of an offence involves the forfeiture of a pension but I have discretionary powers of restoration.

asked the Minister of Pensions if the new plan for distributing Japanese assets in the United Kingdom gives less or more financial assistance to civilian internees in the Far East than the plan as announced in this House in July, 1951.

Under the scheme announced in July, 1951, only those who were in need would have received help from the benevolent organisations selected to distribute the money, and it is not possible to estimate the numbers who would have qualified or the amount which they would have received. The process of distribution must necessarily have been a long-term one.The present scheme, which is confined to persons who had been prisoners of war or civilian internees in Japanese hands, gives civilian internees from the Far East a

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will make a statement concerning the arrangements for the payment of compensation of ex-prisoners of war in Japan and their dependants.

A Motion on the subject of the disposal of Japanese assets in the United Kingdom was moved in this House on the 10th May, 1951. This Motion had been signed by 297 Members representative of all parties. It asked that the Government should give very early consideration to the claim of the British Far Eastern prisoners of war and the dependants of those who died in captivity for compensation from the Japanese, through Treaty or by other methods, on similar lines to the action already taken by the United States Government or that decided upon by the Australian Government. This Motion was accepted by the House.Subsequently, two Articles were included in the Japanese Peace Treaty. Article 16 provided for the transfer of Japanese assets from neutral or ex-enemy countries to the International Red Cross, who would liquidate such assets and distribute the proceeds to national agencies for the benefit of former prisoners of war and their families. Article 16 will obviously take some time to implement. Article 14, which is the subject of this statement, dealt with Japanese assets in individual Allied countries.It was announced in the House on behalf of the late Government on 25th July, 1951, that it was proposed that the money obtained from the liquidation of Japanese assets in the United Kingdom should be put at the disposal of selected benevolent organisations, on the understanding that the money should be used primarily for the benefit of prisoners of war and civil internees of the last war and of their dependants who were resident in the United Kingdom at the time of payment.Her Majesty's Government have recently reviewed this matter and decided that it would be better for the proceeds of Japanese assets in the United Kingdom to be distributed on a

asked the Minister of Pensions what it would cost to increase alternative widows' pensions awarded to widows of soldiers killed in the 1914–18 war by the same amount as the new standard rate increases announced in April last.

About £360,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for War why his regulations require an officer to attend the civil court when a soldier of his unit is charged with a civil offence in a case where he is unable to give positive testimony as to character because of the soldier's short period of service; and if he will abolish this practice.

In all cases, except those of a minor character, an officer attends the civil court, since he may be required to give not only such information on the soldier's general character as is available but also other information. This might include certain particulars of previous convictions, a statement, when possible, on the commanding officer's intention as regards the man's discharge, and details of the soldier's rate of pay. In certain cases, he might also pay a fine on behalf of the soldier.Apart from these specific reasons, I think that the practice is generally desirable and I do not propose to abolish it.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he will reply to the letter of the hon. Member for Wandsworth, Clapham, which was sent to him on 24th September, on the subject of time-expired men in the Suez Canal Zone being allowed to find their own way home at their own expense; and whether he will reimburse these men the cost of their journey.

The hon. Member will have received a letter which my hon. Friend sent him on 11th October, containing the assurance which he seeks.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the standards laid down for petrol consumption for various classes of Army vehicles.

The standards for petrol consumption for the many varieties of Army vehicles are contained in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Regulations, General N. 342, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War why conditions at the Morfa Camp. Towyn, North Wales, about which the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion, has sent particulars, have been so insanitary.

I have been into this. The weather was bad and certain arrangements were not as good as I would have wished: but I am convinced the camp was not insanitary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the soldier, about whom the hon. Member for Edmonton wrote on 25th August, is still engaged on active patrol duty in Hong Kong.

I cannot at present say whether or not this soldier is still engaged on active patrol duty, although I know of no reason, medical or otherwise, why he should not be so employed. I have, however, called for a report on his present employment and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many claims by the civilian employees of the War Department are now under consideration in Singapore; how long it is since they were submitted by the trade unions; and what hopes he can give of a speedy settlement of these grievances.

As the hon. Member knows, there is one outstanding claim affecting the War Department civilian storekeepers in Singapore which is being handled in this country and which I am most anxious to bring to an early conclusion. I am unaware of any other claims by these civilian employees which are under consideration by the military authorities in Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for War why no consultation took place with the trade unions when 70 men were recently dismissed by the War Department in Singapore; to what extent length of service was considered when selecting these men; and how many of the men dismissed had over five years' service.

I called for an urgent report on this matter as soon as I heard of it. I have just received a detailed report and will write to the hon. Member when I have considered it.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of ex-Far East prisoners of war called up for Z Reserve training since the inception of the scheme.

No special record is kept of these figures and to get them would require considerable research. Since the medical reports of those who have been prisoners of war in the Far East are specially marked and the possible effects of captivity on the reservist's health are fully investigated, I do not think that a special inquiry into these numbers would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on his proposals in regard to the Z scheme next year, with particular reference to the position of ex-prisoners of war.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the statement about Z reservist training which I shall be making to the House at a later date.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and other ranks were killed and injured in the British Army of the Rhine while on exercises or on duty in the period 13th August to 1st October.

One officer and 17 other ranks of the British Army of the Rhine were killed while on exercises or on duty during this period: eight officers and 180 other ranks were injured.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider the Z call-up of 22369823 Private G. Rowland, 92, Amington Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire, a trained face stripper at Amington Colliery, who finished his last Army service on 25th May, 1952, and whose wife is ill.

Private Rowland is a National Service man who is carrying out his part-time service in the Army Emergency Reserve. His training is, therefore, not under the Z reservist scheme but under his obligation under the National Service Act, 1948. I cannot agree to this man's exemption from training nor, as a result of the inquiries I have made into his domestic circumstances, do I feel justified in changing his training dates.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that his letter of 30th September, 1952, in regard to the posting of 22664772 Private K. M. Jobson, and addressed to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street, gave information directly contrary to that received by Mr. M. Jobson, the soldier's father, in a letter dated 8th October, 1952, from Private Jobson's commanding officer in regard to the same subject; and if he will explain the discrepancy and state which is the correct information.

Yes, and I regret the discrepancy. The incorrect information in the earlier letter occurred through an attempt to deal with the matter urgently over the telephone, but I am looking into the question to see at what point the mistake occurred. The information given in the second letter, that this soldier has been medically downgraded, is correct.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many National Service men in their 'teens have been killed and wounded, respectively, on active service in Korea and Malaya.

Separate casualty figures for National Service men below the age of 20 are not readily available. The numbers of National Service men killed and wounded are as follows. In Korea up to 30th September this year, 156 National Service officers and other ranks were killed, died of wounds, or died as prisoners-of-war, and 602 were wounded.In Malaya, from November, 1949, the earliest date on which casualties to National Service men were separately recorded, up to 6th October this year, 65 National Service officers and other ranks were killed or died of wounds and 101 were wounded. Most of these men would be in their 'teens.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is considerable delay in letters and parcels reaching British troops in Korea; and what steps he will take to expedite their delivery.

I have no evidence that avoidable delays are occurring and there have been very few complaints. I am ready to look into any particular complaint if the hon. Member will send me details.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that much of the correspondence sent from this country to our men who are prisoners of war in Korea is not being received; and whether he will take all possible steps to ensure the safe delivery of such correspondence.

Letters are handed over to the Communist authorities at Panmunjon and subsequent delivery is inevitably in their hands.

asked the Secretary of State for War what facilities are in force with the respective Governments of India and Nepal to enable British recruitment to the Brigade of Gurkhas.

The arrangements with the Government of India permit the transit through India of all ranks of the Brigade of Gurkhas and their families, and the transit of recruits for the Brigade. As stated by my hon. and learned Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on 16th October, 1952, the arrangements under which the actual enlistment of recruits at present takes place on Indian territory are under review.The arrangements with the Government of Nepal permit the employment of Gurkha ex-soldiers to obtain recruits inside Nepal. Her Majesty's Government guarantee the return to their homes of unsuccessful recruits.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men and women who have enrolled in the Home Guard; and whether he intends to proceed with the organisation of this branch of the service.

Up to 15th September enrolments totalled 20,669, all men. In addition, 18,813, of whom 134 were women, had been registered for enrolment in an emergency. I certainly intend to press on with the formation of this force, but I shall shortly be announcing certain changes in the detailed organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of Regular and other ranks at present stationed in Home Commands.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of Regulars in Home Commands engaged in training, catering, maintenance of stores and equipment, respectively.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange that soldiers going home on embarkation leave shall receive the pay and allowances due to them with their railway warrant, thus enabling them to enjoy their leave without undue financial worries.

Under the existing regulations, no difficulty of this kind should arise. But if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind and will let me have details. I shall gladly look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Reigate may expect a final reply to his letter, dated 20th August, asking him to intervene with Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes in order to secure the inclusion of non-smokers' parcels in the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute's list of gift parcels available for sending to troops in Korea.

The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes have agreed to undertake this service. The details are being worked out and will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what additional industrial help he has been able to give to areas covered by the Accrington division to assist in meeting unemployment and short-time working.

As the hon. Member knows from the statements of Ministers in the House, Her Majesty's Government have taken various measures to help the textile areas, from which the Accrington division, among other areas, has benefited.I am glad to say that since June unemployment in the Accrington division has fallen substantially.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will direct the Monopolies Commission to inquire into the activities of the London Builders' Conference and other similar bodies throughout the country whose practices are objected to by both the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Federation of Master Builders, and which increase the cost of housing and building generally.

My right hon. Friend will bear this in mind in considering matters for reference to the Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement upon the recent trade talks with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The only trade talks with the U.S.S.R. have been those concerned with the contract for coarse grains which was described by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food on 15th October, in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, following the many representations made to him by responsible and representative bodies from North-East Lancashire, he has now reached a decision to schedule that area, or any part thereof, as a Development Area.

My right hon. Friend hopes soon to be able to announce a decision.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the poor standard of catering provided at many of the establishments patronised daily by road passenger transport vehicles; and, in view of the detrimental effect on the tourist trade, what steps the British Tourist and Holidays Board are taking to procure a better, cheaper and cleaner service for road transport passengers.

Without expressing any view on the allegations in the Question about these establishments, I agree that poor catering is bad for the tourist trade. The British Travel and Holidays Association welcomes the efforts of the catering industry to improve conditions, but has itself no power to impose standards or fix charges.

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 30th August, 1952, the latest date for which official statistics are available, 1,314 men and boys and 3,433 women, making a total of 4,747, were employed in these factories.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make available to hon. Members the report he has received from the committee who made a special investigation into the operation of the trading estates.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him and to the hon. Members for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) and Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 29th July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make a statement about any action he proposes to take on the report of the special inquiry made into the operation of the Development Areas trading estates.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 15th October. My right hon. Friend wishes to give the report and the problem generally very careful consideration. I cannot now say when he will be able to make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to provide additional employment in the North-East Development Area; and what are the reasons for the decline in employment in the factories controlled by the North-Eastern Trading Estates, Limited; and how much unoccupied and under-occupied space exists in these factories.

The policy of helping Development Areas wherever practicable continues to apply to the North-Eastern Development Area. Official figures of employment in the trading estate factories are only taken out quarterly. Between May and August (the latest date for which figures are available) employment in these factories declined by 187 as a result of decreases in engineering, clothing and paper manufacture and increases in a number of other trades. Two small factories are at present without tenants. No estimate of under-occupied space is available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions and regulations severally stand in the way of the dispatch to this country of unsolicited presents of ham or bacon from the United States of America; and if he can now lift all such restrictions.

Bona fide unsolicited gifts of ham and bacon sent from the United States to individuals in this country for their personal use are admitted without import licence provided that they are clearly marked as gifts and that the weight does not exceed 22 lb. gross. There are at present no other United Kingdom restrictions or regulations.I do not propose to remove the weight limit, which applies to all gifts, does not appear to cause hardship and provides a necessary safeguard against the abuse of the concession.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken by his Department to make use of the Brighton hotels for overseas visitors to the Coronation.

I am informed by the British Travel and Holidays Association that the Brighton hotels have been in touch with the Coronation Accommodation Committee, and arrangements have been made for many overseas visitors to stay in Brighton.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the position in regard to the recovery of the judgment in favour of this country against Albania in respect of the Corfu incident.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 15th October to the hon. Member for Enfield, East (Mr. Ernest Davies).

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of farms in the United Kingdom supplied with electricity on 1st April, 1948; the percentage that represented of all such farms; and the comparative figures for 30th September, 1952, or latest convenient date.

I understand that approximately 85,000 farms in Great Britain were supplied with electricity on 1st April, 1948, representing 24 per cent. of the total number. By 1st July, 1952, the number of farms connected to the public mains had increased to approximately 126,000, equal to 36 per cent. of farms. I have no information about the position in Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation whether he will issue a regulation to ensure that all aircraft flying over long land distances where the existing facilities are inadequate, carry a member of the crew who is in possession of an official navigator's licence.

Under the existing regulation, the holder of a flight navigator's licence must be included in the crew on a flight without landing for a great circle distance of more than 1,500 nautical miles or 1,000 miles over water.In view of the recent accident to a British aircraft while crossing the Sahara consideration is being given to its amendment. In the meantime, a requirement for a flight navigator to be carried on the Tripoli—Kano route has been made under proviso to Article 19 (2) of the Air Navigation Order, 1949.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on action taken by or against the Mau Mau movement in East Africa, showing in particular, how the destruction of property and loss of life in the present disorders compare with those which were suffered in disturbances caused by the Dini ya Msambwa around Lake Baringo in 1950.

The hon. Member will be aware from my statement on 16th October of the extent of the destruction of property and loss of life in the present disorders. These are very much more serious than those suffered in the affray between the police and members of the Dini ya Msambwa in the Baringo District in 1950, when there were the following casualties:

Killed—3 Europeans, 1 tribal policeman, 29 members of Dini ya Msambwa.

Wounded—1 Kenya policeman, 50 members of Dini ya Msambwa (estimated).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the slaughter of over 350 sheep and cattle and the maiming of many others at the end of September by members of the Mau Mau organisation in Kenya, he will consider with the Kenya Government increasing the penalty for wilful torturing of animals in that Colony.

I am satisfied that the penalties already provided are fully adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the valued contribution made by the Africans of Kenya in the late war, and the loyal support given to Her Majesty's Government by the vast majority of Kenya Africans in addition to those serving in the police, Civil Service, &c., he will make it clear that the recent legislation designed to enforce law and order in no way reflects on these people's present loyalty and that all possible efforts will be made as soon as possible to increase the number of Africans holding responsible positions.

Yes. These measures are not directed against the vast majority of the population of Kenya—African and others—who have always remained law-abiding, and in no way reflect on their loyalty, which is as strong now, as it has always been.It is already the policy to appoint suitable Africans to posts of responsibility and as more candidates with the necessary qualifications and ability become available that policy will certainly be increasingly applied.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will make a statement upon the progress of rural electrification in the United Kingdom.

The Electricity Boards have a duty, under the 1947 Electricity Act, to secure, as far as practicable, the extension of electricity to rural areas. Considerable progress has been made since vesting date, but it is not possible to give detailed statistics on extensions to rural areas other than supplies to farms. For progress on farm connections I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply made today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture.It has not been possible to allow unlimited investment in the supply of electricity, but the reply given by my right hon. Friend shows that rural investment has had its full share of the resources available and the Government are fully alive to the needs of rural areas.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that applicants for hearing aids under the National Health Service in the Cheltenham area are still having to wait longer than applicants in other areas; and whether he will make a statement as to how progress is proceeding with the new distribution centre at Gloucester.

Yes. The new distribution centre at Gloucester is due to begin work by the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Health what classes of the population are advised to receive protective vaccination by B.C.G. against tuberculosis; and for what reasons this service is not extended to those leaving school.

B.C.G. vaccination is at present offered to hospital nurses, medical students and, at the discretion of chest physicians or other appropriate specialists, to other individuals at special and known risk. Its use in the immunisation of children leaving school is at present the subject of a trial being conducted by the Medical Research Council.

asked the Minister of Health when it is proposed that B.C.G. vaccine should be manufactured in Britain.

I would refer to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Remnant) on 16th October.

asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of trunk class I, class II, and unclassified roads there are, respectively, in the seven crofter counties.

The figures are: trunk roads 650 miles; Class I roads 1,663 miles; Class II roads 1,131 miles; unclassified roads 1,723 miles.