asked the Minister of Transport (1) how many persons have been involved in accidents at the Hassop Station cross-roads, near Bakewell, since 1st January, 1950;(2) if he will, as an emergency measure and pending the construction of a roundabout, authorise the erection of a "Halt" sign on the Hassop side of the Hassop Station cross-roads, near Bakewell.

Since 1st January, 1950, there have been 10 accidents at this cross-roads, two of which unfortunately proved fatal. A roundabout seems to be the best solution here and my right hon. Friend has agreed to make a grant towards the County Council's scheme for one. A "Halt" sign on the approach from Hassop would not be appropriate, even temporarily, since the visibility from this side along both arms of the major road is excellent.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his Department will actively consider the design and production of a cheap but adequate crash helmet for motor-cyclists, bearing in mind the appreciable number of accidents involving motor-cyclists in which the injury is a fractured skull, with a view to making the subsequent use of these crash helmets compulsory.

The design of a crash helmet suitable for everyday wear by civilian motor cyclists is already being actively investigated by the Road Research Laboratory. My right hon. Friend is not satisfied that the use of such helmets should be made compulsory.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to make the wearing of crash helmets by motor-cyclists compulsory.

While anxious to encourage the use of suitable crash helmets, I share the doubts expressed by the Committee on Road Safety as to whether compulsion in this matter is desirable. In any case, as the Committee have pointed out crash-helmets of suitable design for civilian use at a reasonable price are not yet available. I hope they will soon be forthcoming.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied with the present system of road maintenance and upkeep in the seven crofter counties.

Yes. I do not think that more can be done in present economic circumstances. While there is of course plenty of room for improvement, my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the best use is made of the available plant and labour under the present system of maintenance and upkeep.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give financial assistance to the Hydro-Electric Board to enable it to replace the four-and-a-half miles of trunk road between Garve and Ullapool, which is to be flooded under the hydro-electric scheme, with an 18 ft. road, rather than have the road replaced by the Hydro-Electric Board with a similar type of road to the existing one.

I regret that I cannot give financial assistance to provide a wider road at the present time owing to the pressing need for economy. The overall formation width of the road will be 30 ft., however, so that an 18 foot carriageway can be provided later. In the meantime 12 passing places will be provided per mile.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give consideration to putting into effect, in 1953, the scheme known as "Operation Proof," devised by the county borough of West Bromwich as a contribution to road safety.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Ilford, North (Sir G. Hutchinson) on Friday, 24th October, 1952, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of deaths caused by accidents to motor-cyclists carrying pillion passengers during the years 1950, 1951, and to the nearest convenient date in 1952.

I regret that separate figures are not available of deaths in accidents to motor-cyclists who were carrying pillion passengers at the time. The total deaths among (a) motorcyclists and (b) pillion and sidecar passengers were as follows:

—	Motor cyclists	Pillion and Sidecar Passengers
1950	935	194
1951	983	192
1952 (to end of August)	616	128

asked the Minister of Transport the number of fatal accidents caused to motorists and motor-cyclists through collision with lorries or similar vehicles having either no rear lighting or insufficient rear lighting, during the years 1950, 1951 and to the nearest convenient date in 1952; and how many of these were caused through stationary lorries.

The total numbers of accidents involving death or personal injury in which the absence or inadequacy of rear lighting of a vehicle (other than a motor or pedal cycle) was held by the Police to be the primary factor were 277 in 1950, 361 in 1951 and 126 in the first eight months of 1952. I regret that a more detailed analysis of these accidents is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will amend the law so as to make it compulsory for conductors of omnibuses to be outside the omnibus and directing the driver when he is reversing.

No. Where a driver needs help in this way I am sure that the conductor is only too ready to provide it.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish a list of the commercial, industrial and political organisations which he has consulted in connection with the proposed Transport Bill, since the date on which the text of the Bill was first published.

Yes. The following is the list:

• British Transport Commission.
• Central Committee of Transport Users (representing the Federation of British Industries, the National Union of Manufacturers, the National Farmers' Union, the Traders' Co-ordinating Committee on Transport, the Traders' Road Transport Association, and the British Road Federation).
• Association of British Chambers of Commerce.
• National Coal Board.
• Road Haulage Association.
• Public Transport Association.
• Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association.
• British Omnibus Companies' Public Relations Committee.
• Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom.
• Dock and Harbour Authorities' Association.
• National Association of Furniture Warehouse men and Removers.
• Institution of British Launderers.
• London Fruit and Vegetable Trades Federation Ltd.
• Association of Municipal Corporations.
• County Councils Association.
• Association of County Councils in Scotland.
• Association of Counties of Cities in Scotland.
• Convention of Royal Burghs of Scotland.
• Association of Large Burghs of Scotland.

Note:—Discussions with bodies representing other interests affected by the Government's proposals for legislation, as announced in the White Paper on Transport Policy (Cmd. 8538) took place before the Bill was published. Discussion with representatives of the Trades Union Congress was sought both before and after the publication of the Bill.

asked the Minister of Transport how much has been authorised to be spent since the war on the repair, re-equipment, extension and modernisation of the docks at Hull, Goole, Grimsby and Immingham, respectively.

The total value of works of new construction or reconstruction authorised at the respective ports by the Minister of Transport since 1st January, 1946 is as follows:—

			£
Hull	…	…	738,676
Goole	…	…	14,574
Grimsby	…	…	71,470
Immingham	…	…	99,386

Maintenance and repair work undertaken by statutory dock authorities, and the provision of new mechanical equipment, do not require the Minister's authorisation under Defence Regulations. I am forwarding my hon. Friend's inquiry to the British Transport Commission and asking them to communicate with him on these items.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider recommending the award of the Korea Medal to officers of the Merchant Navy concerned in carrying supplies to the British Forces in Korea.

I am glad to say that on 9th October I was able to announce that Her Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the inclusion of officers and men of the Merchant Navy in the categories eligible to receive the Korea Medal.The qualifying conditions are as follows:

asked the Minister of Supply if he will inquire into the circumstances in which details relating to the Rolls-Royce Conway jet engine appeared in an American magazine prior to this equipment being taken off the secret list.

The matter is at present being investigated.

asked the Minister of Supply whether Finewood Products can now be added to his Department's list of contractors for wood work.

The contracts which the Ministry of Supply can offer for wood-ware represent only a very small fraction of the available manufacturing capacity, which includes numerous firms in Development and unemployment areas. I am afraid, therefore, no useful purpose would be served by adding this firm to the lists.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that the continuous rise in the prices of foodstuffs is causing ever increasing hardship to retirement and other pensioners; that the recent increase in the basic pension has already been offset by these rising prices; and what he intends to do to relieve the hardship of this section of the community.

I do not agree that pensioners are suffering hardship following the recent increases in pensions. If any individual pensioner finds that his pension, together with such other resources as he may have, is insufficient, he should apply to the National Assistance Board for supplementation.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware of the hardship being caused to widows and others in receipt of a 10s. pension by the fact that there has been no increase in this pension notwithstanding the increase in the cost of living; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to the very full discussion of this point on 15th May last in Committee on the recent National Insurance Bill. I see no reason for departing from the Committee's decision on it.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what estimate he has made of the cost of making industrial injury benefits payable to all sufferers from chronic disease, after making appropriate allowances for the saving in National Health benefit.

There is no information available on which I could base an estimate.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will issue a pamphlet consolidating, in simple form, the regulations governing contributions and benefits and eligibility thereto under the National Insurance and Family Allowance Acts.

Yes. I have given instructions for the preparation of a comprehensive leaflet on these lines, but it will be some time before it is available as priority has necessarily had to be given to the revision of the existing series of leaflets following the recent legislation.

asked the Minister of National Insurance in what circumstances pensions authorised by his Department are payable to pensioners now living in New Zealand; and in what circumstances similar pensions earned in New Zealand are payable to pensioners who are now living in Great Britain.

Pensions under the National Insurance Act have, from the outset, been payable to pensioners living in any country of the Commonwealth. But there is at present no provision which would enable pensions earned in New Zealand to be paid in Great Britain. Negotiations for a reciprocal agreement were interrupted on account of a review by the New Zealand Government of their scheme. I understand that it is their intention to resume negotiations with us as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, in view of the increase in retirement pensions, he will consider making a proportionate increase in the amount which can be earned by pensioners, without affecting their pension rate.

No. I do not think there is any connection between the amount of the pension and the amount of earnings disregarded under the earnings rule.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if, in view of the greatly changed circumstances since 1936 affecting the Pension Act, he will give consideration to amending the statutory income limit for non-contributory old-age pensioners.

No.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the number of retired pensioners in Cardiff who were in receipt of supplementary assistance in October, 1951; and the comparative number at the nearest convenient date.

At 25th September, 1951, the nearest date for which figures are available, 6,656 regular weekly grants of National Assistance were being made in supplementation of retirement pensions in the areas administered from the Board's two offices in Cardiff: the corresponding number in September, 1952, was 7,423.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that the widows of miners killed in the pits in many cases are compelled to apply for National Assistance, and that the extra 20s. supplement paid to miners' widows out of the miners' funds, is being fully taken into account when the widow applies for National Assistance; and if he will consider allowing part of this 20s. to be disregarded.

The National Assistance Board inform me that they would not feel justified in differentiating between these supplements and the main widow's pension, which they have no specific authority to disregard.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the figures of the numbers of persons in receipt of National Assistance benefits in the Parliamentary constituency of High Wycombe and the borough of High Wycombe, respectively, at the latest convenient stated date; and what were the similar figures for 1st October, 1951.

At 30th September, 1952, 2,313 regular weekly payments of National Assistance were being made in the area administered from the National Assistance Board's office at High Wycombe, which covers about four-fifths of the Parliamentary constituency, including the borough. The corresponding number at 25th September, 1951, was 2,025. Separate figures for the constituency and borough respectively are not available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is now in a position to make a statement on his consultations with the compensation subcommittee of the Trades Union Congress on workmen's compensation.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what progress has been made following his consultation with the Trades Union Congress about workmen's compensation.

All I can say is that I am awaiting further representations from the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware of the difficulty being experienced by patients in hospital in receipt of blind pensions and other State allowances in making their personal allowance cover the cost of these personal goods, owing to the rapid rise in the cost of living; and whether he will take some action to increase these allowances and bring about uniformity of payments on the basis of paying at the rate which is now adopted by the best authority.

The payments that I think the hon. Member has in mind have been increased recently, on a uniform basis, from 5s. to 6s. 6d. a week.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the potential future developments of atomic power and its probable effect upon the production of electric power, he has considered the advisability of restricting the capital expenditure in progress and contemplated under the hydro-electric schemes, particularly as such schemes may be obsolete as a method of producing electric power before they have been completed or before they have repaid the cost of construction.

Although the cost of electricity obtained from plants using nuclear energy cannot yet be assessed, it seems likely that such plants, when developed, would provide additional base load power stations. As hydro-electric schemes are complementary to base load stations, there are no reasons for restricting them on account of the potentialities of nuclear power.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will state his reasons for approving a method of apportionment of payments by the area electricity boards in lieu of rates, which deviates from the usual rating practice, and which adds to the cost of supply of electricity in the rural areas.

Last year all the area boards agreed to the appointment by the British Electricity Authority of two independent advisers to make recommendations as to the apportionment of payments in lieu of rates. I saw no reason to dissent from the recommendations made by these advisers, and I approved principles of apportionment accordingly for 1951–52 and the two ensuing years, after which I understand the Authority will review the matter. I do not accept that there must in consequence be a general addition to the cost of supply of electricity in rural areas.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, with regard to the allocation of capital expenditure for electricity supply, he will state the policy of the Government in giving priority as between new housing and rural development.

The Government does not allocate capital investment for electricity supply between new housing and rural development, but it would not wish new houses to which it was reasonably possible to bring electricity to be built without a supply, involving the wasteful provision of temporary lighting arrangements. Each proposal, whether for housing or for rural development, has to be considered by the appropriate electricity board on its merits.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what consultations he has had with the British Electricity Authority on the programme of capital expenditure on the supply of electricity to rural areas; and with what result.

I am in constant consultation with the British Electricity Authority on the whole field of capital investment by them and the area boards. The results of that consultation are embodied each year in the Government's decisions on investment.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the increased freight charges accepted by him as justifying recent increases in the price of petrol were based on the single voyage, consecutive voyages, or a long period time charter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, when accepting the London Tanker Brokers Panel's recommendations as to what is a fair and reasonable freight charge when fixing the price of petrol, he will ask for the proportion of the tanker fleet owned directly or indirectly by the oil companies.

The Brokers' Award, which I accept for the assessment of maximum prices of petroleum products, is based on a two-year time charter of a standard tanker, which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport considers to be a fair index to current ocean freight charges. I understand that the oil companies themselves, or through their associates, own about half the tanker tonnage which they use, but this proportion does not affect the Brokers' Award.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if the sums of money now offered to retail distributors of petrol by the major oil companies as compensation for the restriction of sale to one board is accepted by him as a proper item of expense when agreeing the retail price of pool petrol.

I was not aware that the exclusive selling arrangements between the oil companies and the retailers, which I presume the hon. Member has in mind, have taken this particular form. I have not so far allowed any expenditure on these arrangements in the maximum price of petrol, but I am considering the matter as part of a review now proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will retain in our possession all the documents brought back from Germany which relate to the foreign, defence and industrial policy of Germany since the days of Bismarck.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 22nd October to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Dalton).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will take the necessary action to see that before any payment or return of treasures is made to Herr Krupp, full compensation and return of treasures is made to those persons who lost their possessions through the action of the Germans during the last war.

The hon. Member is presumably referring to claims by Herr Alfried Krupp concerning alleged losses of furniture and other articles from his house at Essen during the Occupation period and before it was derequisitioned. The validity of these claims is under examination.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why 55 persons are employed in the British Embassy in China, having regard to the fact that our Minister there has not yet received the recognition of the Chinese Government.

The present staff of Her Majesty's Embassy at Peking paid by the Foreign Office is 50, of whom 17 were appointed from the United Kingdom and 33 are Chinese clerks and menial staff.Although formal recognition has not been accorded by the Chinese Government, Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires has to keep Her Majesty's Government informed of developments in China. Owing to the closure of most of Her Majesty's Consulates in China, an extra burden falls upon Her Majesty's Embassy in the protection of British interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how much it adds to our national expenditure when a Minister is elevated into an ambassador.

No increased expenditure is involved in this change.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why so many Ministers have been made Ambassadors; and what is the increased expenditure resulting from this change.

It has been necessary to raise the rank of Her Majesty's representatives in certain countries to that of ambassador in order to maintain for them the appropriate status amongst their colleagues abroad. No increased expenditure is involved in this change.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the number of British subjects in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics who have diplomatic immunity is greater or less, and by how much, than the number of Soviet citizens who have diplomatic immunity in this country.

One hundred and two citizens are at the present time employed at the Soviet Embassy in London in capacities which, in the view of Her Majesty's Government, entitle them to claim diplomatic immunity. The number of persons employed at Her Majesty's Embassy in Moscow to whom diplomatic immunity attaches under Soviet law is 27.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why we are spending £1,222,780 on diplomatic and allied services in the United States of America.

The Select Committee on Estimates examined the Foreign Service expenditure in detail last year, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the Seventh Report from that Committee. Since then there has been a saving of £15,000 due to reductions in staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why we are spending £314,500 on diplomatic and allied services in Egypt.

The Select Committee on Estimates examined the Foreign Service expenditure in detail last year, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the Seventh Report from that Committee. Since then there has been an increase of £24,000 due to increased allowances to meet a rise in the cost of living.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why there are eight more persons in his passport department than a year ago.

The staff of the Passport Office was 24 less on 1st October, 1952, than on the corresponding date in 1951. The one additional clerical assistant for which provision is made in the Passport Office Estimates, has not yet been engaged. The seven extra officekeepers shown in these Estimates are in fact employed by other departments of the Foreign Office housed in the Passport Office building, though, for administrative convenience, they are paid by the Passport Office. The total net decrease under this heading is thus 17.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why so much is spent by his Department on transport services amounting to £1,220,000 in 1952–53.

The need for expenditure on transport was exhaustively examined last year by the Select Committee on Estimates, and I would refer the hon. Member to the Committee's Seventh Report dated 25th July, 1951. In spite of rising costs, the estimate of expenditure for the current financial year shows a decrease of £155,000 over the estimate for the previous year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how much foreign currency has been spent on our diplomatic missions overseas.

For the financial year ending 31st March, 1953, the cost in foreign currency of maintaining diplomatic and consular establishments overseas is estimated at £8,850,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why his legal department employs 18 persons as compared with 14 a year ago.

There has been no actual increase of staff. Certain duties previously performed by the German Departments have been transferred together with the staff concerned, to the department of the legal adviser. The staff so transferred consists of one senior legal assistant and three clerks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why four more persons are employed in his political departments than a year ago.

The staff of the political departments of the Foreign Office necessarily fluctuates with the political situation and the volume of work arising from it. Although the estimates for 1952–53 show an increase of four as compared with the estimates for the preceding year, economies have since been effected and the comparable figure for 1st October, 1952, shows a reduction of 20 in the staff of the political departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why 725 drivers are employed by his Department on official transport for his Department; and where they are so employed.

This figure, which is a decrease on last year, covers the personnel who are employed to drive, operate and maintain the vehicles which are on the establishment of Embassies, Legations and Consulates all over the world, and also the small pool of cars which are employed on Foreign Office work in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will tabulate the number of cases since 15th May, 1950, in which protests have been made to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Soviet-dominated countries regarding the treatment of British nationals and employees at British Embassies and Consulates in those countries; and how many of these cases have been satisfactorily concluded.

Yes. The following is the information required:

asked the Minister of Food how much extra sugar would be required to permit the de-rationing of sweets; and how much per lb. Cuba is asking for the 2 million tons she has surplus.

Estimates vary widely according to the different assumptions made, and I cannot usefully give an estimate. The spot price of Cuban sugar on the New York terminal market is 4 cents a lb.

asked the Minister of Food if he will permit manufacturers of bitter marmalade or jams to use less than the prescribed percentage of sugar, provided they state this clearly on the labels.

The standard for jam and marmalade is designed amongst other things to protect the consumer by limiting the proportion of water in the final product so as to ensure good keeping and to prevent adulteration. It is a standard which has been accepted by the manufacturers—either voluntarily or legally—for over 20 years, and I am not at present satisfied that any case has been made out to depart from it.

asked the Minister of Food if he will name the items of food which have been increased in price during the past 12 months.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mrs. Mann) on 20th October.

asked the Minister of Food the number of efficient and fully equipped slaughterhouses in Great Britain; how far this figure falls short of the number required; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the present position.

The Ministry is using some 600 slaughterhouses. They vary widely in standards and capacity and a detailed statistical appreciation of their efficiency is not practicable. So far as the capital investment programme permits, we are doing what we can to improve existing facilities and to press on with the completion of the Ministry programme of new building.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is acquainted with the wholesale method of slaughter of animals in the United States of America; and if he will give consideration to the abolition of some of the old fashioned methods of slaughter here and the adoption of the efficient methods now in operation in the United States of America.

Factory abattoirs of the American type are not suited to the conditions of this country, but there is great scope for improvements in slaughtering methods. The Ministry of Food have given much study to this subject and the new slaughterhouses now being built are of modern lay-out, incorporate the most up-to-date equipment and compare very favourably with the methods in operation anywhere in the world.

asked the Minister of Food with what countries negotiations are now in progress to secure additional supplies of grain to maintain the feeding-stuffs ration pool.

We are continuously in the market for coarse grains from all parts of the world and buy supplies as we need them to maintain the ration pool.

asked the Minister of Food, in view of the fact that the Sugar (Prices) (Amendment No. 2) Order was replaced by Statutory Instrument, 1952, No. 1148, because it omitted Part III of the First Schedule, and that the Sugar (Prices) Order, 1952 was amended by the Sugar (Prices) (Amendment No. 4) Order, 1952, to correct a textual error, what steps he has taken to ensure that Sugar (Prices) Orders are made correctly in the first instance.

It would be inhuman never to err, but checking has been tightened-up to prevent a repetition of these unfortunate slips.

asked the Minister of Food if he will arrange to take sweets off the ration, or to make some special allocations to properly organised and bona fide organisations catering for children's parties, especially street parties, to celebrate the Coronation of Her Majesty next June.

I shall stop rationing as soon as I can; but in any case I have made arrangements to enable local authorities and certain other public bodies to keep up the loyal and cheerful custom of presenting sweets to children in suitable Coronation souvenirs. I am considering what else should be done.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, why, in the first six months of 1952, there was a reduction in the consumption of lead and zinc compared with the last six months of 1951.

The prices of lead and zinc have been falling for some time, and there has been in consequence some postponement of purchases. There have also certainly been economies in the use of these metals and, in the case of lead, considerable substitution of recovered material for virgin metal has taken place.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the significance of the corrigendum in page 2, line 4, of Statutory Instrument, 1952, No. 1732, Safeguarding of Industries (List of Dutiable Goods) (Amendment No. 3) Order, 1952.

It corrected a misprint.