asked the Minister of Education the average number of school children per full-time teacher in nursery, elementary and secondary schools, respectively.

In January, 1952, the average number was 22.4, 30.8 and 20.8 for maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, respectively.

asked the Minister of Education what increase took place in the school population of England and Wales, respectively, from July, 1951, to 30th September, 1951; and what increase in the number of teachers employed took place between the same dates.

Figures for July and September are not available. Between January, 1951, and January, 1952, the number of children on the registers of schools maintained by English education authorities increased by 224,904, and by Welsh education authorities by 10,472. During the same period the numbers of full-time teachers in posts increased by 5,881 and 298, respectively.

asked the Minister of Education if she will give full particulars of the number of new schools commenced to be built and completed in each of the years from 1945; the cost in each case, with details of any reductions or amendments made in building costs specifications made by her Department, for the county borough of West Ham.

I am writing to the hon. Member giving him as much information as I can.

asked the Minister of Education what developments have taken place and what is the present position of the case of Mr. Johnson Ball, late principal of the County Technical School, Halesowen, Worcestershire.

I understand from the Worcestershire County Council that Mr. Johnson Ball's appointment as principal of the County Technical School. Halesowen, terminates on 31st December, 1952, and that a successor has been appointed.

asked the Minister of Education on what matters concerned with the future of voluntary schools and educational administration she has had consultation with interests concerned: and on which of these topics she has found sufficient agreement to enable her to contemplate early legislative proposals.

I cannot at present add anything to the reply I gave on 23rd October to the hon. Member for Sedge-field (Mr. Slater).

asked the Minister of Education why a place has not been made available to the child referred to in her letter of 24th September, 1952, to the hon. Member for Barking, as was promised by the headmistress of the school to the father of the child.

As I have explained to the hon. Member in the correspondence to which he refers, I see no reason for intervening in this matter. I understand that since 1951 housing developments made it necessary for the local education authority to restrict new admissions to the school concerned.

asked the Minister of Education if she will give full details of all cuts in educational expenditure in the county of Buckingham, the parliamentary constituency of High Wycombe, and the borough of High Wycombe. Respectively, during the last year.

Detailed information about expenditure on education in this area can be obtained only from the Buckinghamshire local education authority.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of bankruptcies that have occurred in England and Wales since 1st October, 1951, and the number for annual periods ending 31st August, 1951, 1950 and 1949.

From 1st October, 1951, to 30th September, 1952, there were 2,034 bankruptcies. For the annual periods ended 31st August, 1951, 1950 and 1949, the numbers were 1,948, 1,809 and 1,432 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of bankruptcies which have occurred in England each month since January, 1951.

The figures for England and Wales are:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what amount of tobacco is being imported at the present time from dollar and sterling areas, respectively; and how these figures compare with those of a year ago.

United Kingdom manufacturers expect to buy about 50 million lb. of tobacco for immediate import from this year's North American crops and have already arranged for another 70 million lb. to be held for them in the United States. In 1951, they bought some 265 million lb of dollar tobacco, some of which went into stocks which are now being used to maintain production. The trade bought 105 million lb. of Sterling Area tobacco from the 1951 crops and I expect they will buy 115 million lb. from the 1952 crops. Had the Southern Rhodesian crops been up to expectations, they would have bought more.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now give information regarding the payments to be made under Part 2 of the War Damage Act, 1943.

As my hon. and gallant Friend was informed on 27th May, in reply to his Question, the general settlement of these claims must await the fixing of a date by the Treasury under Section 85 (1) of the War Damage Act, 1943. I can only add that the amount outstanding is now approximately £28 million exclusive of interest.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take on the establishment of light industry in central Fife, in view of the recommendations contained in the recent Cairncross Report.

I shall continue my endeavours to attract suitable industry to central Fife. The Cairncross Report is being carefully considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade bow far he is considering revision of import duties on horticultural produce in the near future.

The question of revising import duties on horticultural produce is still under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now announce the quota of foreign-made nylon stockings for which import licences are to be granted in the first half of 1953; and whether it is proposed at the same time to make an allocation of nylon yarn to British manufacturers to be used for the home trade.

No. I hope to announce quotas for the items included in the Schedules to Notice to Importers No. 518, before the end of November. Allocations of nylon yarn to British stocking manufacturers are made half-yearly and manufacturers have been notified today of their allocations for the period beginning next Sunday. Manufacturers are not prevented from selling at home the stockings which they make from the yarn allocated to them, but a manufacturer's yarn

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the estimated annual consumption of chipboard in this country and the annual output of the chipboard industry when working to full capacity; and what proportion of the raw material used is made up from homegrown material, both small sizes of sound timber and offcuts from home-grown logs.

The present annual consumption of chipboard in the United Kingdom is estimated by the trade at between 11½ and 14 million square feet, while the annual maximum production capacity is estimated at between 20 and 25 million square feet.Chipboard is made almost exclusively from industrial wood waste from saw mills and joinery factories, derived mainly from imported soft woods. The amount of waste from home-grown timber cannot be estimated reliably but the proportion is probably under 5 per cent. of the total used.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what steps are now being actively taken to

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of new factory building completed in Scotland in the first half of 1952; and what were the comparable figures for 1950 and 1951.

The information required is as follows:increase the output of wolfram from Uganda and to produce nickel in Tanganyika; and whether he will state the total likely shipments of each metal from those countries in 1952 and 1953 respectively.

A statement was made in August by the Uganda Government about the facilities available for the development of wolfram production. This included an offer by the Ministry of Materials to purchase the output of wolfram concentrates at market prices with a guaranteed minimum price for a period of five years.The Uganda Government's technical services, which have been expanded, will advise miners on technical problems and prospecting licences, to promote an orderly development of the wolfram resources of the country. I am sending the right hon. Member a copy of the statement of the Uganda Government.Shipments of wolfram ore from Uganda to the United Kingdom are estimated at 40 tons (metal content) in 1952, and may reach double this figure next year.As regards the production of nickel in Tanganyika, I am informed that a private company have special exclusive prospecting licences covering 1,678 square miles. The work is still at an exploratory stage, and I am not able to make any statement on the likelihood of production.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what steps he proposes to take to increase the output of tin from the indigenous resources of this country, especially in view of the proposal now under consideration that all the tin concentrates from Bolivia should be shipped to the American smelters at Texas.

My noble Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is ready to consider any sound and practical proposals to increase the mine output of tin in the United Kingdom. I was not aware that the proposal referred to in the second part of the Question was at present under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the amount of Purchase Tax lost to the Treasury through the sale of umbrellas free of tax; and what steps are being taken to safeguard the equitable application of the present Purchase Tax law to the whole of the industry.

It is believed that Purchase Tax was being lost at the rate of some £10,000 to £20,000 per annum as the result of a recently adopted device. In reply to the second part of the Question, the Purchase Tax (No. 7) Order, 1952, Statutory Instrument No. 1821, which came into operation on 20th October, has been made by the Treasury for the purpose outlined in the hon. Baronet's Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider removing the Purchase Tax on cartridges sold for the purpose of destroying rabbits which are now damaging crops, as the present high cost of cartridges is one of the principal difficulties in the drive against rabbits.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give consideration to the abolition or reduction in Purchase Tax on wireless batteries and thus assist old age pensioners and those compelled to use these for radio reception.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's answer to the Question by the hon. Member for Dorset, North (Mr. Crouch) on 21st October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that, as shown in the figures published by the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation giving the figures of the changes in the cost of living in various European countries, the United States of America and Canada between the last quarter of 1951 and June, 1952, Great Britain has the biggest cost of living increase of the 19 countries listed; and what is the reason for this.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave on 21st instant to the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what advantage accrues to this country from the expenditure of £181,830 on the United Kingdom Treasury and Supply Delegation in the United States of America.

The Mission maintains continuous contact with the United States authorities on the whole range of our financial, economic and trading relations with the United States of America, and has special responsibilities in relation to the Mutual Security Programme and the procurement for the Ministry of Supply of certain types of machinery and equipment. It also acts as a paying agent for certain other Government Departments in respect of bulk contracts placed by those Departments for supplies originating in the United States of America.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why the staff under the item Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, other Ministers and their staffs, has increased from 94 in 1951–52 to 100 in 1952–53.

This increase was due to a temporary need for additional secretarial and clerical assistance in the private offices. In fact, the total staff in post under this heading is now 92.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why the number of Treasury representatives overseas in Section 11 of the Treasury Estimates has increased from 10 in 1951–52 to 13 in 1952–53.

This increase was mainly due to the need for providing assistance and advice on financial and economic matters to the United Kingdom High Commissioners in Australia and New Zealand.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why the number of higher executive officers in the Treasury in Section 11 of the Treasury Estimates has increased from 53 in 1951–52 to 60 in 1952–53.

As I told my hon. Friend on 28th October, there has been a replacement of administrative by executive staff as part of a reduction in the combined total of administrative and executive staff. The change set out in his present Question is part of that operation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider giving Income Tax allowances to persons who send their children to schools entirely at their own expense without any assistance from the State.

My right hon. Friend will consider the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion, in common with other suggestions for tax relief, when he is framing his next year's Budget proposals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give consideration to some form of tax relief which would encourage the further development of the production of non-ferrous metals in this country, particularly of tin.

I would remind the right hon. Gentleman that provision has been made in this year's Finance Act for new allowances to be given for tax purposes in respect of certain kinds of expenditure incurred by mining concerns, including expenditure on abortive exploration outside the source being worked. I cannot anticipate at this stage whether any further action may prove necessary or desirable.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his regulations permit the coach cost from air terminal to airport to be defrayed from public funds in the case of Members travelling on Parliamentary business.

A Resolution of this House of 15th November, 1945, governs the provision of free travel to Members travelling on Parliamentary duties between London, home and constituency. The Resolution covers travel by "any public railway, sea or air service." I understand that Mr. Speaker has ruled that it does not cover transport by road between air terminal and airport where this is not provided free by the air service.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the railway from Donaghadee to Belfast has been closed, and an omnibus service has taken its place; and if he will allow travel warrants of Members of Parliament to be used on the omnibus service from Donaghadee to Belfast.

I am making inquiries and will let the hon. and gallant Member know whether what he has in mind is within the authority of the Resolution of the House of 15th November, 1945.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to have a report from the independent committee which he has appointed to consider the economic circumstances of the London taxicab service.

The Committee has been asked to present its report as soon as possible, but I cannot yet say when that will be.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many civil servants were dismissed for misconduct or for incompetence during 1951.

Returns received in 1951 showed that 644 established non-industrial civil servants were dismissed for misconduct or incompetence. There are no central records of the number of temporary or industrial civil servants so dismissed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what procedure, other than joining the Automobile Association, should be followed by a motorist who wishes to obtain customs clearance for motor vehicles in order to take his car abroad.

Such a motorist should produce the car to the Customs on exportation, together with a declaration on an official identification form, or on a similar form provided by the A.A. or the R.A.C. If the car is being exported to certain countries abroad, the motorist must also furnish an Exchange Control declaration, stamped by the Bank of England. The foreign Customs authorities will probably require security to be given for any Customs charges due either by deposit or bond, or by production of a carnet or triptyque obtainable from the A.A. or the R.A.C.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give comparative figures for the weight and value of fish caught by British trawlers in Icelandic waters for the latest convenient period and for the corresponding period in 1950 and 1951 before the introduction of new regulations by the Icelandic government.

The reply is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his veterinary officers have been able to trace the cause of the widespread cases of anthrax among cattle and pigs; and what measures are being taken to stop the introduction of further infection.

Circumstantial evidence suggests that most of the recent outbreaks of anthrax are connected with the use of imported feedingstuffs. It has not yet been possible to determine which particular ingredients are carrying infection, but inquiries are continuing. My Department is examining the possibility of doing more to ensure that imported bones and bone products are made safe during processing. Infection may also be carried on feedingstuffs of vegetable origin, but the introduction of infection by this means could only be stopped by ceasing to import the feedingstuffs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give some help to farmers in their campaign against the rabbit pest, particularly when the rabbits come from adjacent railway embankments or woods not under the control of the farmers afflicted.

It is the responsibility of landowners and occupiers to keep down rabbits on their own lands. Where the rabbits are coming from adjoining lands the Ministry, with the support of the National Farmers' Union and Country Landowners' Association, urges the several land interests to get together to kill the rabbits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what percentage of feedingstuffs are distributed to poultry, pigs, dairy cattle, or any other class of stock, respectively.

In the last complete year for which figures are readily available, rationed feedingstuffs were distributed in the following approximate proportions:

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give further consideration to the problem of sheep worrying by dogs, particularly in Kent, where it is on the increase.

I have already given this matter much thought, and I am

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he now has the information which will enable him to decide whether to introduce legislation to implement the recommendation made in paragraph 94 of the Report of the Land Drainage Legislation Sub-Committee of the Central Advisory Water Committee.

Discussions on the Report have been proceeding with the various interested bodies, but the stage has not yet been reached when I can take decisions on future policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the balance between wastage and recruitment in the months of July, August and September, 1952, in the police forces of England and Wales, giving separately the figures for the Metropolitan Police, all the county police forces and all the county borough police forces; and the total balance between wastage and recruitment of each group over the period between 1st August, 1951, and 30th September, 1952.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give, with the relevant statistics, the names of the six police forces in England and Wales which showed the greatest percentage net increase in strength between 1st August, 1951, and 30th September, 1952.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give, with the relevant statistics, the names of the six police forces in England and Wales which showed the least percentage net increase in strength between 1st August, 1951, and 30th September, 1952.

The six police forces in England and Wales which showed the greatest percentage increase in male strength between 1st August, 1951, and 30th September, 1952, are as follows:

The six police forces in England and Wales which showed the least percentage net increase in male strength between 1st August, 1951, and 30th September, 1951, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the net increase in the Metropolitan Police between 1st August, 1951, and 30th September, 1952, expressed as a percentage of the strength of the force on the earlier date.

The net increases were 2.27 per cent. (men) and 10.53 per cent. (women).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the result of the further consideration by the various interests represented on the Police Council of the recomendations made in the Second Part of the Oaksey Committee's Report: what action he proposes to take to reconcile any conflict of views that remain: and when he anticipates being able to report decisions to the House and to introduce any necessary legislation.

Since the Police Council meeting on 28th and 29th July my right hon. and learned Friend has had useful discussions with the representatives of the local authority associations on the Oaksey Committee's recommendations relating to police representative bodies and negotiating machinery, and these matters will be further discussed at a meeting of the Police Council to be held next week. He is not yet in a position to say when it will be possible to introduce any legislation that may be required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences for experiments on animals were granted to the scientists employed by the War Office, the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the Ministry of Supply last year.

Eleven.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress is being made in setting up Works Safety Committees in the iron-founding industry.

I have no recent information, but I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the anxiety which still exists in the British Railways Carriage and Wagon Works with regard to future employment, in view of the shortage of steel for the manufacture of coaches; and whether, after consultation with the Railway Executive and the Minister of Supply, he will make a statement upon the position.

I have been asked to reply. I share the anxiety about the position in the railway workshops, and as I have already indicated railway steel supplies should be somewhat easier in the next allocation period. I understand that the increased supply will all be used for the rolling stock programme, but the British Transport Commission are unable to say at this stage what new construction of coaches will be possible in 1953.

asked the Minister of Health if he will incorporate into the national medical scheme the cost of fully financing all cancer research in order to make this necessary work independent of public subscriptions.

No. Cancer research is a very suitable field for private generosity which my right hon. Friend would not wish to discourage.

asked the Minister of Health when the reconstituted Hospital Management Committee for Caernarvonshire and Anglesey will begin to function.

asked the Minister of Health if he is now in a position to say when the Anglesey and Caernarvonshire Hospital Management Committee will commence duties.

I understand that this should be possible almost immediately.

asked the Minister of Health why the E.C.57 claim forms are not available in the north of England; if he is aware that the Brandon and Byshottles Co-operative Society have more than 60 old persons who are not able to get their refunds because of the lack of these forms; if he is aware that hardship is imposed on old age pensioners who have to wait such long periods and that in some cases an 8s. refund is due: if he will take steps forthwith to provide these forms and state when they will be available; and if he will ensure that forms will always be available in the future.

My right hon. Friend regrets that there was a temporary shortage of these forms. Adequate supplies have now been dispatched to the Executive Council responsible for supply to the Society. The difficulty should not recur.

asked the Minister of Health the number of panels of dental practitioners in England and Wales, who give emergency dental treatment for children; and if he will give the names of those that are in the counties of Warwick, Northants, Leicester, Worcester and Stafford.

Dentists make their own arrangements for treating emergency cases and my right hon. Friend has no details of them.

asked the Minister of Health what savings have been effected in dental treatment under the National Health scheme since the introduction of individual charges for patients.

It is too early yet to make any reliable estimate.

asked the Minister of Health the number of prescriptions issued in each of the months January to March, 1948, under the then health insurance scheme; and what was the average number of persons entitled to prescriptions under that scheme as compared with the number subsequently covered by the National Health Service.

The table below sets out, for England and Wales, the information required.

asked the Minister of Health at what hospitals outside the county of London orthodontic treatment is available under the National Health Service.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider publishing a synopsis of the OFFICIAL REPORT, either weekly or monthly, in braille, for the benefit of blind people.

My right hon. Friend has considered this suggestion carefully but he does not think it would be very practicable or that the demand for copies would justify the expense involved.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will issue Service greatcoats to members of the Home Guard during periods of training in this coming winter.

My right hon. Friend is at present considering certain changes in the clothing scales for the Home Guard and he has this particular point in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange to discharge Mr. Ronald P. Hill, 103 Chingford Avenue, Chingford, Essex, from his liability to service in the Z Reserve having regard to the fact that he has been recommended for a commission in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and has been giving his voluntary services as a civilian instructor in 27 F Squadron of the Air Training Corps for the past year.

The policy of discharging Z reservists from their Reserve liability in order to take commissions with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve is under consideration by my Department. I hope shortly to make a statement, but meanwhile I cannot deal with this case in isolation.

asked the Secretary of State for War the terms and conditions governing the award of a terminal grant to an officer.

The conditions which govern the award of a terminal grant are set out in Cmd. Paper 8323, Appendix I.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of separate dwellings, as at the time of requisition, held on requisition by each Metropolitan borough council; the number of families accommodated therein; and the estimated net annual cost to the Exchequer as at 31st December, 1951, and 30th June, 1952, respectively.

The following is the information desired, collated from returns furnished by the local authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the total number of separate dwellings, as at the time of requisition, held on requisition by local authorities in England and Wales; the number of families accommodated therein; and the estimated net annual cost to the Exchequer as at 31st December, 1951, and 30th June, 1952, respectively.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of cases dealt with by the East London Rents Tribunal in the years 1949, 1950, 1951 and the last convenient date in 1952.

The figures for 1949, 1950, 1951 and up to 30th September, 1952, are 254, 249, 254, 161, of which those which were invalid, incompetent or withdrawn are 128, 146, 75 and 47 respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the capital cost of local authority housing schemes approved since October, 1951; and what was the comparative figure for the period October, 1950, to October, 1951.

In the year ended 30th September, 1952, the amount of loans sanctioned for housing was about £294 million. For the preceding year it was £237 million.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will consult his right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary concerning the circumstances under which Cardiff has been given the opportunity to stage the Empire Games in 1958, before reaching a decision as to whether or not to permit the building of a swimming bath of international standards.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give the reasons for his refusal to have eggs date-stamped when grading.

Because the date of grading would not indicate the age or condition of the egg.

asked the Minister of Food the cost of administering the egg control scheme; what are the numbers of staff employed; and to what extent compensation payments for loss of business are still being made to egg importers and distributors.

The cost in my Department of administering the egg control scheme, including administrative overheads and an allocation in respect of the cost of regional and local food offices, is currently estimated at £1,226,000 per annum. The number of staff employed in the Eggs Division is 157, of whom 47 are industrial workers.No payments have been or are being made to egg importers and distributors as compensation for loss of business. At the inception of control the pre-war importers of eggs formed the National Egg Distributors Association Ltd. to act as purchasers of home-produced eggs and first hand distributors of all eggs on behalf of the Ministry. The total payments to the Association, including reimbursement of expenditure and a profit element, are currently estimated at £656,000 per annum, which represents just over ½ per cent. of current turnover.

asked the Minister of Food what evidence he has had in recent months that any section of the public has not been taking up the meat ration to which it is entitled.

I have no evidence of any unusual trend in the household take-up of the meat ration during recent months.

asked the Minister of Food in view of the shortage of dried fruit, what progress has been made with drying plums; and how far the product is satisfactory.

A number of interests conducted experiments on a commercial scale in the drying of plums. The quantity was not great, but I understand that the results were generally encouraging.

asked the Minister of Food (1) whether in anticipation of further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Kent, he will provide emergency slaughterhouses with storage and drying-out facilities ready to be put into operation when needed;(2) whether in view of the efforts that have been made by farmers to increase pig production, he will provide additional slaughterhouses and storage capacity in Kent, so that they are adequate to deal with the larger numbers of pigs to be slaughtered.

A new slaughterhouse is being built at Canterbury. This will shortly come into operation and will provide substantially increased slaughtering capacity for Kent. My Department, in conjunction with the National Farmers' Union, is examining a scheme for bringing into use some existing unused slaughterhouses in the event of further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is satisfied that there will be sufficient available slaughterhouses in Kent to provide continued employment for wholetime slaughtermen.

The employment of slaughtermen is seasonal. The position in Kent will be broadly the same as that in other parts of the country.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give the percentage of price increase for the following foods between November, 1951, until the latest convenient stated date: cakes and biscuits, semolina, cocoa, canned meat and products, and prunes.

There are many hundreds of varieties and brands of the foods named by the hon. Member and the necessary detailed information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action the Allied High Commission propose to take under Allied Law 14, in view of the statements recently made by General Bernhard Ramcke demanding the release of all war criminals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he has instructed the High Commissioner to take arising out of the provocative Nazi speech addressed by General Ramcke to the reunion of S.S. members at Werden in Lower Saxony.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government propose to take under their residual powers relating to the suppression of Nazism and the preservation of public order regarding the speech made recently by Herr Ramcke to a meeting of former members of the Waffen S.S.

The meeting at which the former General Ramcke's speech was delivered was ostensibly a reunion of an organisation of former members of the Waffen S.S., the published aims of which are not in themselves objectionable. Ramcke, who was not a member of the Waffen S.S., was a guest speaker at the meeting. He was billed to speak for three minutes but went on for half an hour, ignoring efforts to stop him by the organisers who have since publicly dissociated themselves from his remarks.I, and I have no doubt the whole House, strongly deplore speeches of this kind which undermine confidence in the honesty of Germany's intentions and her reliability as a European partner. But in the present case I have not instructed the United Kingdom High Commissioner to propose the use of the Allied High Commission's powers, because I do not consider that these remarks, however much we may resent them, constitute a real threat to the security of the Occupation Forces. Moreover, the House will have observed that not only the German Federal Government but also the German Press of all shades of political opinion have strongly condemned General Ramcke's remarks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the hon. Member for Attercliffe may expect a reply to his letters of 16th July and 6th September on the case of Herr Gustav Röck.

All British and German records have been consulted. Unfortunately complete records are not available, and apart from confirmation of the fact that Herr Gustav Röck was detained in Gifhorn Prison from 22nd November, 1946, until the 19th February, 1947, it has not been possible to discover any further information about his case. Investigations are still being pursued, and if any further information is forthcoming it will be communicated to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what communications he has received from the United States Government on the subject of the unofficial talks between representatives of the United States and Chinese Governments concerning the Korean situation, and diplomatic recognition of the present Chinese régime.

None. I understand that on 27th October a State Department spokesman flatly denied reports of secret negotiations between the United States Government and the Chinese Communists.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents have occurred on the A2 road at Green Street, Teynham, Kent, since the abolition of the pedestrian crossing there.

There have been eight accidents on A2 in Green Street, Teynham, Kent, since the pedestrian crossings were removed. Pedestrians were involved in two of these. In a similar period before the crossings were removed there were 10 accidents, two of which involved pedestrians.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of public anxiety about the danger to children, he will consider reimposing the speed limit and establishing a warning sign in the vicinity of Dimsdale crossroads, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

After careful consideration my right hon. Friend has come to the conclusion that a speed limit would not be justified here. Traffic on both the minor roads is controlled by "Halt" signs, and this should be quite effective. If children need to cross the road regularly on their way to and from school, I suggest that the local authority should consider the appointment of an adult patrol, for whose use my right hon. Friend would authorise, if necessary, a "Stop—Children Crossing" sign.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the urgent need for a traffic signal control to be erected at the Broadway-Angel Lane crossing, Stratford, opposite the West Ham town hall; and whether he will take the necessary steps to have suitable traffic lights installed in this position at the earliest opportunity.

The installation of traffic signals is in the first place a matter for the highway authority. If they decide to submit proposals to my right hon. Friend these will be considered, but it is doubtful whether signals are necessary here.

asked the Minister of Transport how many bridges in England and Wales under his jurisdiction, destroyed by enemy action during the last war still remained unrepaired.

So far as I am aware, only the Pilley Bridge in Cheltenham, but I am making further inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to motorists, shoppers and traders by the experimental traffic system being tried out in the centre of Cardiff; and whether he will bring it to an end in the public interest before the Christmas shopping season reaches its height.

My right hon. Friend has received complaints about some experiments in one-way traffic working and in restricting the waiting of vehicles which are being carried out in the centre of Cardiff under local powers. He is awaiting a communication from the Cardiff City Council with whom the Department have been in correspondence on this matter. The Council have not yet applied to my right hon. Friend for confirmation of any Order to make the arrangements permanent under the Road Traffic Acts.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that additional supplies of steel are being made available to the motor industry during the fourth quarter of 1952, extra steel can also be given to British Railways in order that the railway workshops may be more adequately employed.

A small additional allocation of steel was made available to the British Transport Commission in the fourth quarter of 1952. As to the future position, I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave on Monday last to the hon. Member for Acton (Mr. Sparks).

asked the Minister of Transport the quantity of steel supplied to the British Transport Commission for their railway wagon department for the years, 1949, 1950, 1951 and the latest date in 1952.

A bulk allocation of steel is made to the British Transport Commission for the main line and London Transport railways. The Commission apportion it to their varying needs.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what existing types of aircraft H.M.S. "Formidable" can operate; and what modification would be necessary to enable her to operate the "Gannet."

H.M.S. "Formidable" is in a very bad state and would require very extensive repairs before she could operate any aircraft at all. If all existing defects were repaired, some equipment reinstalled, and other items of equipment replaced by more up-to-date versions, she could operate "Sea-fires," "Fireflies" and possibly "Sea Furies." To operate "Gannets," major alterations to the flight and hangar decks, and provision of a new lift, a new catapult and new arrester wire units would also be necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether Mr. Ronald P. Hill, who is at present serving as a civilian instructor in 27 F Squadron of the Air Training Corps at Chingford, can now be accepted for a commission in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, having regard to the fact that he has been giving his voluntary services in this capacity for over a year and has been recommended for a commission by his superior officers since 1951.

As I explained to my hon. Friend in correspondence, this is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, who is at present considering it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the report of the consultant who visited Nigeria to examine the Onitsha sack factory project of the Colonial Development Corporation; and whether the proposed scheme is to be carried out.

The consultant referred to was engaged by the Colonial Development Corporation and made his report direct to them. I understand that the report, which has not been published, is now being studied by the Corporation in consultation with the Nigeria Cocoa and Cotton Marketing Boards and that no decision about the future of the project has yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if Her Majesty's Government will give favourable consideration to recommending the appointment of a Royal Commission on the working of the Overseas Food Corporation and the Colonial Development Corporation.

I have been asked to reply. The answer is, "No."

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what plans the Government has for development of the cattle industry of the Bechuanaland Protectorate.

In consultation with my Roble Friend the Secretary of State and with the Chairman of the Colonial Development Corporation, the High Commissioner for Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland has appointed a small expert mission to carry out a preliminary survey of cattle-raising possibilities in the western part of the Bechuanaland Protectorate. Large areas of this little-known and thinly populated country are reputed to carry good grazing, out the lack of permanent water supplies and of communications has so far hindered development. The mission now appointed will consider, among other questions, whether capital expenditure on development of water supplies, both surface and underground, would be justified, and if so in what areas efforts should first be concentrated.The Chairman of the mission is Mr. Arthur Gaitskell, C.M.G., lately Managing Director of the Gezira Cotton Board in the Sudan. The other members are Mr. Brian Currie, a Kenya rancher, Mr. C. Pickrell, Director of Extension to the State of Arizona, U.S.A., Chief Bathoen of the Bangwaketse tribe in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, Mr. Tshekedi Khama, and Colonel L. van der Post (who will be in charge of the organisation of the expedition).The mission is assembling in the Protectorate now.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will introduce legislation to provide for full compensation for all properties, including roads, water mains and sewers which suffer damage from mining subsidence.

No. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member for Belper (Mr. G. Brown) on 5th May.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the final estimated capital cost, at current prices, for the extensions to the Dolgarrog and Maentwrog hydro-electric establishments in North Wales; and the respective increase in installed capacity of these works.

I am informed by the British Electricity Authority that the estimated capital cost, at current prices, of the extension at Dolgarrog is £538,000 and of the extension at Maentwrog £565,000. At Dolgarrog there will be an increase in installed capacity of 10,000 kilowatts. There will be no increase at Maentwrog, the extension being intended to allow more units to be generated from the existing plant.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what sums he has now sanctioned for capital investment in 1953 in respect of hydro-electric works in north Wales and Snowdonia, excluding Dolgarrog and Maentwrog; and whether his permission has now been given to the British Electricity Authority to introduce further private Bills to give legislative effect to the proposals.

I do not sanction capital investment separately for individual power stations, and therefore the first part of the Question does not arise. I understand that the British Electricity Authority have not yet decided whether to proceed with further legislation at present, and therefore the question of my giving consent has not yet arisen.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what arrangements he is making for special Christmas postal facilities for letters and parcels to members of Her Majesty's forces serving overseas.

In general, the normal air and surface facilities are considered to be adequate, but as regards parcels for certain Far Eastern destinations, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 29th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud and Thornbury (Mr. Perkins).

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what area will be served by the proposed television station at Pontop Pike.

The B.B.C. expects that the temporary station at Pontop Pike will bring television within reach of at least a million people over a radius of 20 miles and in favourable conditions, these figures should be materially increased.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether in reconstituting the Television Advisory Committee, he will arrange for it to contain a representative or representatives of the theatre industry.

My noble Friend regrets that he does not feel justified in enlarging the membership of the Television Advisory Committee. But it would be open to that Committee to take the views of representatives of the theatre industry on matters affecting their interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Minister of Labour and the President of the Board of Trade consequent on the publication of the recent Cairncross Report.

I have brought the Report to the attention of my colleagues and it is now being carefully considered.