asked the Minister of Labour how many promotions from clerical officer to executive officer, excluding entrants from the limited competitions, from executive officer to higher executive officer, and from higher executive officer to senior executive officer, respectively, have been made in his Department during the four years 1948

Year			Promotions to Grade 5		Promotions to Grade 4		Promotions to Grade 3
			Number of promotions	Percentage of candidates	Number of promotions	Percentage of candidates	Number of promotions	Percentage of candidates
				per cent.		per cent.		per cent.
1948	…	…	411	4·0	109	2·2	41	3·3
1949	…	…	1	0·0	52	1·1	26	2·1
1950	…	…	—	0·0	42	0·9	5	0·4
1951	…	…	72	0·6	61	1·4	43	3·7
1952	…	…	—	0·0	47	1·1	23	2·0
NOTES:
(1) Promotion to grade 5 is broadly equivalent to promotion to executive officer, to grade 4 higher executive officer, and to grade 3 senior executive officer.
(2) The number of candidates has been taken as the total number of staff in post in the appropriate grades at the beginning of each year.

asked the Minister of Health how many promotions from clerical officer to executive officer, excluding entrants from the limited competitions, from executive officer to higher executive officer, and from higher executive officer to senior executive officer,

—			Promotions to executive officer		Promotions to higher executive officer		Promotions to senior executive officer
			Number promoted	Ratio*	Number promoted	Ratio*	Number promoted	Ratio*
1948	…	…	196	14·6	69†	12·6	20†	7·6
1949	…	…	33	2·2	24	3·0	13	3·6
1950	…	…	30	1·6	36	4·6	8	2·2
1951‡	…	…	9	0·5	17	2·1	4	1·0
1952‡	…	…	1	0·1	1	0·2	1	0·4
NOTES:
* The ratio is the percentage of promotions to the number in the grade below on 1st January in the year.
† In addition 25 audit examiners (a departmental grade) were promoted to higher executive officer and 7 junior assistant auditors were promoted to senior executive officer.
‡ The figures are not on the same basis for 1951 and 1952 as for earlier years because staff were transferred in 1951 to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

In the Ministry of Labour and National Service the work normally undertaken by clerical, executive, higher executive, and senior executive officers is performed by members of a special Departmental class. The information in respect of Grades 5, 4 and 3 is given in the following table:respectively, have been made in his Department during the four years 1948 to 1952, inclusive; and what ratio the number of promotions made bears in each case to the number of candidates.

The information is contained in the following table:

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many promotions from clerical officer to executive officer, excluding entrants from the limited competitions, from executive officer to higher executive officer, and from higher executive officer to senior executive officer,

Year			Promotion to executive officer		Promotion to higher executive officer		Promotion to senior executive officer
			Number of promotions	Percentage of candidates	Number of promotions	Percentage of candidates	Number of promotions	Percentage of candidates
1948	…	…	172	3·8	103	5·1	33	4·8
1949	…	…	368	3·2	241	5·8	69	5·4
1950	…	…	139	1·3	85	2·0	48	3·5
1951	…	…	168	1·4	45	1·1	28	2·0
1952 (to 31st October, 1952).			98	0·8	17	0·4	8	0·6
NOTE: The number of candidates has been taken as the total number of staff in post in the appropriate grades at the beginning of each year.

asked the Minister of Labour why the staff of his Statistics Department increased from 243 in 1951–52 to 266 in 1952–53.

On 1st October last, the number of staff in my Statistics Department was 241 as compared with 247 a year earlier. The figures to which my hon. Friend refers are the numbers estimated to be required in the years 1951–52 and 1952–53 respectively. It is too early yet to say what will be the full requirements this financial year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the staff of his solicitor's department has increased from 85 in 1951–52 to 87 in 1952–53.

In August, 1951, certain legal work was transferred from the administration of enemy property department to the solicitor's department and the provision in the 1952–53 estimates reflected that transfer. The staff of the solicitor's department is now 83.

asked the Minister of Works the total number of staff employed in the regional offices of his Department; and how many were so employed in 1948.

The information asked for is as follows:

On 1st November, 1952, there were 4,797 non-industrial staff in the regional offices of my Department in England and Wales, compared with 6,978 on 1st November, 1948.The corresponding figures for the Scottish Branch are 1,017 in 1952 and 1,490 in 1948.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what further economies he proposes to make in connection with the Central Office of Information; and how the expenditure of £.1,653,000 in 1952–53 compares with the expenditure for similar purposes in 1938–39.

Thanks to economical administration, the actual expenditure of the Central Office of Information is likely to be a good deal less than the estimate of £1,653,000. I hope to make a further reduction in 1953–54. In 1938–39, expenditure on Government information work of the kind which would now be appropriate to the Central Office of Information was, very roughly, £450,000; but exact comparisons are impossible, partly owing to the new types of work undertaken, particularly overseas information work.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons unemployed in Sunderland at the latest available date and the number unemployed at the corresponding date last year, respectively.

3,880 at 13th October, 1952, and 3,772 at 15th October, 1951.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unfilled vacancies there are in the Royal Ordnance factories in the counties of Staffordshire and Cheshire at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many there are in the coalmining industry in the same areas.

At 22nd October there were on the books of the employment exchanges approximately 600 vacancies in the Royal Ordnance factories to be filled over the next few months; and 1,300 unfilled vacancies in the coal-mining industry in the two counties.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, registered under the Disabled Persons Employment Act and suffering from epilepsy or nervous disorders, have been sent by employment exchanges to fill vacancies as passenger electric lift operators during the 12 months ended 30th June or such similar period as may be convenient.

NUMBERS OF MEN AND WOMEN REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT 13TH OCTOBER, 1952
—						Men		Women
						Wholly Unemployed	Temporarily Stopped	Wholly Unemployed	Temporarily Stopped
Todmorden		…	…	…	…	42	43	15	21
Hebden Bridge			…	…	…	4	41	3	104
Sowerby Bridge			…	…	…	22	76	17	55
Elland	…	…	…	…	…	10	10	4	29

The figures in the columns headed "temporarily stopped" include persons working short-time who were at work

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the average percentage rates of unemployment in the Scottish Development Area, the rest of Scotland, all Development Areas and Great Britain as a whole, on the last date for which figures are available.

The following table gives the information desired:

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AT 13TH OCTOBER, 1952, EXPRESSED AS PERCENTAGES OF THE ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES.
Scottish Development Area	3.8
Rest of Scotland	2.5
All Development Areas in Great Britain	3.4
Great Britain	1.9

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men and women and the number on short-time working at the latest convenient date in the borough of Todmorden, and the urban districts of Hebden Royd, Sowerby Bridge, Elland and Ripponden, respectively.

Statistics are not available for local authority areas. The following table, however, gives the available information for the Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and Elland employment exchanges. There is no employment exchange at Ripponden, which is included in the Sowerby Bridge employment exchange area.on Monday, 13th October. Persons on short-time who were not at work are excluded.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the numbers unemployed, and the percentage rate of unemployment, in each of the towns of Banff, Campbeltown, Lerwick, and Stornoway on the latest date for which figures are available;(2) the numbers unemployed, and the percentage rate of unemployment, in each of the employment exchange areas of Blantyre, Greenock and Port Glasgow on

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICES IN THE UNDERMENTIONED AREAS AT 13TH OCTOBER, 1952, AND 12TH NOVFMBER, 1951, AND THOSE NUMBERS EXPRESSED AS PERCENTAGES OF THE ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES IN EACH AREA.*
				13th October, 1952		12th November, 1951
—				Number of unemployed persons on register	Percentage of estimated total number of employees	Number of unemployed persons on register	Percentage of estimated total number of employees
Banff	…	…	…	200	4·8	348	8·3
Campbeltown		…	…	430	9·0	483	10·1
Lerwick	…	…	…	744	14·9	665	13·3
Stornoway	…	…	…	1,240	24·2	1,268	24·7
Blantyre†	…	…	…	377	4·6	414	4·8
Hamilton	…	…	…	1,026		1,030
Greenock	…	…	…	3,108	8·8	2,763	7·8
Port Glasgow		…	…	831	8·5	772	7·9
Kirkcaldy†		…	…	461	1·8	283	1·1
Leslie	…	…	…	27		10
Leven	…	…	…	289	1·6	277	1·5
Dunfermline†		…	…	260	1·1	333	1·3
Inverkeithing		…	…	53		50
Cowdenbeath		…	…	450	2·3	457	2·3
* The estimated total numbers of employees are approximate estimates of the numbers whose places of employment are in the areas in question, whereas the unemployment figures represent the numbers of unemployed persons resident in those areas. Owing to these differences the percentages of unemployment may be somewhat understated for some areas and overstated for others, and they do not therefore necessarily provide accurate comparisons between one area and another. They do, however, usually provide a satisfactory comparison between two dates for the same area.
† Separate unemployment percentage rates cannot be computed for Blantyre, Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline, since the estimates of the total numbers of employees (on which the percentages are calculated) are combined in these cases with those for Hamilton, Leslie and Inverkeithing, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that since April, 1952, to September, 1952, national average daily unemployment among dock workers has risen from 11,533 to 13,989, an average of 12,201 during this period, against 4,449 in April, 1951, to 3,513 in September, 1951, with an average of 4,635; what was the reason for this absolute increase of 7,566 from 1951 to 1952; and what action he proposes to take to bring about full employment among dock workers.

The following table gives the information desired.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to the hon. Members for Deptford (Sir L. Plummer) and West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which research institutes have received this year's grants of £348,181 as compared with £313,758 in 1951–52.

These grants were made to the following six Scottish Agricultural Research Institutes:

Animal Diseases Research Association,

Rowett Research Institute,

Hannah Dairy Research Institute,

Macaulay Institute for Soil Research,

Scottish Society for Research in Plant Breeding,

National Institute of Agricultural Engineering—Scottish Machinery Testing Station.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the Item "Adaptation and Development of Land," managed by him has gone up from £88,400 in 1951–52 to £115,000 in 1952–53.

This item provides for structural improvements which are being carried out on a variety of agricultural subjects with a view to improved production. The increased estimate for 1952–53 provided partly for more works being carried out during that year, and partly for increased costs; but the expenditure is being restricted to minimum requirements and will not, it is now estimated, exceed £90,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that the discharges of employees of 65 years of age and over, now taking place at the Central Ordnance Depot, Chilwell, on the grounds of alleged inefficiency can be sustained, having regard to the fact that these workpeople are performing work in speed and reliability equal to that performed by younger persons and presumably to the satisfaction of the local management.

No. I am not satisfied that in every case discharge was justified. Each case is being reviewed, but where, through old age, employees cannot do a full and efficient day's work we cannot afford, in the interests of economy, to retain them.

asked the Secretary of State for War the result of his inquiries into the statements by Regular soldiers in the Middle East whose demobilisation date was overdue that they had been informed that they could return home by air if they paid the fare of £21; and if he will re-imburse soldiers who paid the fare as well as the cost of their accommodation in Malta while awaiting transport by air.

I have taken steps to stop this happening again. The men have been repaid.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the backland immediately adjoining the factory premises of Macfarlane Lang and Company, at Osterley, which was requisitioned in 1942 can now be de-requisitioned, in view of the fact that during 1952 the land has been unused, except for the storage for three weeks of some equipment connected with the Royal Tournament.

No. This site is a Command Ordnance Depot. As the re-armament programme progresses covered accommodation of this type will be badly needed.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the 14 days' local leave formerly allowed to National Service men and Regulars in the British Army of the Rhine has now been cancelled so far as National Servicemen are concerned.

No change has been made in the basic scale of leave for National Service men. Every man who goes to Germany is eligible for 42 days' privilege leave during his two years' whole-time service. Of this normally 14 days are granted before he leaves this country: the remaining 28 days are available to him while in the British Army of the Rhine and may be taken locally if he so wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to see that British soldiers in Korea fully realise why they are there and what they are fighting for.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my answer to a Question on this subject on 18th March this year. Special attention continues to be paid to instruction within the Army, particularly of those going to Korea, in the history and purpose of the United Nations' operations in Korea.

asked the Secretary of State for War to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the numbers of men who have enrolled in the Home Guard in each of the counties and county boroughs of England and Wales at the latest date for which figures are available.

I cannot give the figures for the county boroughs separately, but the figures of enrolment by counties, together with those for Scotland and Northern Ireland, up to 15th October this year, are as follow:

County	Numbers enrolled up to 15th October, 1952
ENGLAND:
Bedfordshire	151
Berkshire	159
Buckinghamshire	174
Cambridgeshire	263
Cheshire	374
City of London	141
County of London	541
Cornwall	157
Cumberland	126
Derbyshire	152
Devonshire	208
Dorsetshire	192
Durham	423
Essex	1,301
Gloucestershire	186
Herefordshire	94
Hertfordshire	399
Huntingdonshire	109
Isle of Ely	57
Isle of Man	38
Isle of Wight	90
Kent	2,326
Lancashire	934
Leicestershire	173
Lincolnshire	1,084
Middlesex	778
Nottinghamshire	183
Norfolk	751
Northamptonshire	335
Northumberland	360
Oxfordshire	148
Rutlandshire	95
Shropshire	86
Somersetshire	350
Southampton	764
Staffordshire	321
Suffolk	644
Surrey	1,102
Sussex	1,448
Warwickshire	474
Westmorland	63
Wiltshire	182
Worcestershire	160
Yorkshire, East Riding	438
Yorkshire, North Riding	303
Yorkshire, West Riding	630

County	Numbers enrolled up to 15th October, 1952
WALES AND MONMOUTH:
Anglesey	49
Brecknockshire	31
Caernarvonshire	55
Cardiganshire	29
Carmarthenshire	60
Denbighshire	53
Flintshire	29
Glamorganshire	301
Merionethshire	34
Monmouthshire	149
Montgomery	1
Pembrokeshire	26
Radnorshire	22
SCOTLAND:
Aberdeen	124
Angus	103
Argyll	70
Ayr	116
Banff	14
Berwick	39
Caithness	29
Dunbarton	38
Dumfries	67
East Lothian	30
Fife	104
Hebrides	32
Inverness	48
Kincardine	20
Kirkcudbright	37
Lanark	252
Midlothian	152
Moray	17
Orkney	32
Peebles	11
Perth	43
Renfrew	49
Ross and Cromarty	34
Roxburgh	12
Selkirk	33
Stirling	31
Sutherland	38
West Lothian	11
Wigtown	43
Zetland	11
NORTHERN IRELAND:
Antrim	32
Armagh	5
Down	14
Fermanagh	4
Londonderry	21
Tyrone	4
Total	22,026

asked the Secretary of State for War why his regulations permit the practice in certain units of the Territorial Army to make attendance at particular parades or camps a condition of the current payment of bounties and other payments.

The average Territorial Army unit holds some 150 training periods a year. A man must attend at least 30 of these to qualify for the bounty. Clearly, on this basis only a proportion of the unit or sub-unit might be present at any particular parade. For this reason, 10 special training periods which count towards the bounty are held at times specified by the commanding officer.

asked the Secretary of State for War his estimate of the number of Z reservists who are exempt from recall for training because they are in occupational and employment categories of special importance in war.

About 15 per cent. of those screened are not available for training for this reason. Since the total screened would provide useful information concerning our mobilisation reserves, I cannot give that figure.

asked the Secretary of State for War to make a statement with regard to the call-up of reservists for training next year, 1953.

I cannot yet make a statement, but I will inform the House as soon as a decision has been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reasons for the withdrawal of the British garrison from Bermuda; and what alternative steps are being taken to maintain the defences of this area.

The main duty of the small British Garrison of 154 officers and men was to assist in the local defence of Bermuda and it is considered that this responsibility can now be undertaken by the Bermuda local forces. About six men will remain there to help in the training of this local force.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that trade talks have been arranged to take place in London in November between British and other Commonwealth Governments to get rid of the dollar-sterling block to increased trade with Britain, what steps he is taking in this connection to promote greater trade between Scotland and Canada.

The Conference will be concerned with broad issues of financial, commercial and economic policy which will, we all hope, lead to a general expansion of trade. Scottish industries, of course, share in the special assistance offered by Government services to exporters to Canada, but specific steps to increase exports from Scotland to Canada are primarily matters for the exporting industries concerned: imports from Canada have for the present to be curtailed because of the dollar shortage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to assist the re-establishment of Britain's traditional export markets in Brazil for manufactured carpets.

The future of this particular export business, like that of other exports from this country, is bound up with the problem of Brazilian foreign exchange, and I can see no prospect of a recovery while the present shortage of sterling persists.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will name the additional places in Lancashire where the attraction of new industries is clearly desirable.

No. As my right hon. Friend explained in answer to a supplementary question by the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on the 30th October, it would not be right to publish such a list.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now completed his consideration of the report of Sir Thomas Phillips and Mr. Edward Gillett about the administration of the Development Areas; and if he will make a statement.

No. My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now proceed with the building of the advance specialised factories in the North-East Development Area.

No. We do not consider that the building of these factories in advance of demand would be justified in present circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to continue the grant of £50,000 a year to the British Institute of Management, in view of the criticism of the value of this body.

My right hon. Friend is still considering this matter, and I cannot make a statement at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the volume and value of mining timber imported into this country in 1952 compares with 1951; and what is today's approximate average price per cubic foot for imported peeled props delivered to the mines.

Imports of pitprops during the first nine months of 1952 amounted to 547,000 piled cubic fathoms valued at £24,121,000 compared with 292,000 piled cubic fathoms valued at £9,516,000 in the corresponding period of 1951. Imports of other pitwood during the corresponding periods amounted to 10,400 tons valued at £106,000 and 10,700 tons valued at £92,000 respectively. Imports of mining timber are on private account, and I regret I have no information on the prices of imported peeled pit-props delivered to the mines.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will modify his Order, Statutory Instrument, 1951, No. 275, to permit the use of copper freely, or in a more favourable ratio than the present one of 50 to 1, where such ratio refers to the selling price of an article in proportion to the value of the controlled material, copper, in it; or if he will remove from the Regulations articles each containing not more than 2 oz. of the controlled material.

The modification of the present restrictions on the use of copper and copper alloys under this Order is under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action the Government have taken during the last year to encourage British firms to set up factories, assembly plants or branch establishments in Empire countries; and if he will give full particulars of the numbers of firms that have availed themselves of Government assistance, with similar details for 1951.

The decision whether or not to set up a factory in a Commonwealth country is one for the individual firm to take. Where the advice of the Board of Trade is sought in these matters, it is of course readily given. I regret that information is not available about the number of firms which have consulted the Board of Trade or the Trade Commissioners abroad about projects of the kinds referred to in the Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by how many points the index of wholesale prices has fallen since January of this year; and what reflection has this had on retail prices.

The wholesale price index known as the "all articles index," based on average 1930 prices as 100, fell by approximately 2½ per cent. between January and October this year, from 334.9 to 326.1. Movements in retail prices do not correspond at all closely to movements in this index, which mainly reflect changes in the prices of primary products.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a statement showing the quantity and value of goods bought from overseas by his Department and other Government Departments during 1951 and the first half of 1952, as compared with 1950 and showing the value of such goods bought from within and from outside the sterling area.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 23rd October, 1952; Vol. 505, c. 135] supplied the following information:

GOODS PURCHASED FROM OVERSEAS BY THE MINISTRY OF MATERIALS (a)
—						1950				1951				First half of 1952
						Tons	Value (f.o.b.)			Tons	Value (f.o.b.)			Tons	Value (f.o.b.)
							Sterling Area	Other Sources	Total		Sterling Area	Other Sources	Total		Sterling Area	Other Sources	Total
						'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
Aluminium		…	…	…	…	142·7	—	15,360	15,360	183·9	—	21,222	21,222	114·6	—	16,538	16,538
Copper, blister and electrolytic (b)					…	302·0	36,090	10,544	46,634	338·5	59,182	12,572	71,754	176·5	31,233	7,674	38,907
Lead (c)		…	…	…	…	126·0	9,890	1,745	11,635	192·1	15,885	13,552	29,437	99·8	7,120	7,971	15,091
Zinc	…	…	…	…	…	136·7	3,314	11,930	15,244	135·9	4,154	18,487	22,641	116·1	4,701	15,284	19,985
Chrome ore (d)			…	…	…	86·0	388	172	560	7·2	57	—	57	—	—	—	—
Other non-ferrous metals (e)					…	—	—	—	—	5·0	1,441	3,204	4,645	4·0	1,974	2,838	4,812
Timber (f)		…	…	…	…	3,343·4	1,079	49,063	50,142	8,358·3	130	51,594	51,724	899·0	—	27,650	27,650
Raw materials for textiles				…	…	166·3	20,316	3,950	24,266	216·6	42,221	7,504	49,725	103·2	18,806	2,448	21,254
Hides and skins and tanning materials (g)			…	…	…	4·3	890	—	890	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Papermaking materials (h)				…	…	392·2	—	7,976	7,976	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Materials for fertilisers and for the manufacture of sulphuric acid (i)						2,426·1	41	16,492	16,533	2,363·9	53	17,475	17,528	983·9	128	6,911	7,039
Miscellaneous			…	…	…	2·7	287	—	287	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Totals			…	…	…	7,128·4	72,295	117,232	189,527	11,801·4	123,123	145,610	268,733	2,497·1	63,962	87,314	151,276
(a) The figures for the years 1950 and 1951 include purchases by the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Supply of goods which, since July, 1951, have been the responsibility of Ministry of Materials.
(b) Excluding refined copper returned from toll refining overseas, of Ministry copper and copper alloy scrap.
(c) Lead reverted to private trade on 1st October, 1952.
(d) Chrome ore reverted to private trade on 21st November, 1950.
(e) These figures relate to purchases of magnesium and tungsten which were brought on to Government purchase from May and July, 1951, respectively.
(f) Softwood reverted to private trade partly in January, 1951, and wholly in January, 1952. Hardwood reverted to private trade in January, 1950. Plywood reverted partly to private trade in May, 1950. Pitwood reverted to private trade partly in January, 1951, and wholly in July, 1951.
(g) Hides and skins and tanning materials reverted to private trade in January, 1950
(h) Papermaking materials reverted to private trade in April, 1950.
(i) Fertiliser materials reverted to private trade in July, 1952.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the purchasing value of the £ sterling in October, 1951, and in October, 1952, compared with October, 1939.

A figure for October, 1939, is not available. But taking the average for 1939 as 20s., the figures for October, 1951, and October, 1952, are 9s. 7d. and 9s. respectively. The basis of calculation is as follows:Between 1939 and 1951 (average for the year) the price index for all consumer goods and services, which is calculated annually for national income purposes, has been used.Between 1951 (average for the year) and October, 1951, and between October, 1951, and October, 1952, the Ministry of Labour's interim index of retail prices has been used.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what ratification is still required for the agreement on the repayment, in this country, of Japanese Bonds and accrued interest reached in New York last September.

Treasury approval will be required for the acceptance by holders of sterling bonds of the offer which the Japanese Government have undertaken to make in the Agreement reached on 26th September with the Council of Foreign Bondholders. No formal ratification of that Agreement is, I understand, required on either side.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the yield of the Purchase Tax on wireless dry batteries for the financial years ended April, 1951, and April, 1952.

The yield of Purchase Tax on both wet and dry wireless batteries for the financial years ended 31st March, 1951, and 1952, was £1.3 million and £1.5 million respectively. I regret that particulars of the yield of tax from dry batteries alone are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend Bank of England Notice E.C. (General) 12 so as to permit tickets to be bought in England for any journey, whether direct or indirect, without sacrifice of basic allowance.

No. I regret that I cannot concede that indirect journeys should be paid for in this way.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) the amount of Purchase Tax on bed sheets of 40s. per pair and under, and the amount of Purchase Tax on similar articles for 1950–51;(2) the amount of Purchase Tax on towels under 10s. each, tablecloths under 20s. and the amount charged as Purchase Tax on these items for 1950–51.

The amount of Purchase Tax payable on bed sheets, towels and tablecloths depends on their size and weight and on the material of which they are made, was well as on their wholesale value. To take a few common examples, the tax on a pair of cotton bed sheets size 80 inches by 108 inches with a wholesale value of 40s. would be nil; on a cotton terry towel size 30 inches by 54 inches value 9s. 6d. it would be 1s. and on a heavy cotton tablecloth size 54 inches by 72 inches value 19s. 6d. it would be 9d.In 1950–51, this tablecloth would, if made within the Utility scheme, have been exempt from tax. If not made within the Utility scheme, it would have been taxable at the rate of 66⅔ per cent. of its full wholesale value at that time. The towel and the pair of sheets would each have been taxable at the rate of 66⅔ per cent. of their wholesale value, as I understand that it was not possible to make such sizes of towels or sheets within the Utility scheme.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the damage to efficiency and economic use of staff caused by existing unsatisfactory conditions in the offices of H.M. Inspectors of Taxes in Scarborough, Sittingbourne, Sunderland, Stroud and Middlesbrough and district; what is holding up the remedy for these conditions; and what action he proposes to take.

I am aware that present conditions in some offices of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Taxes, and, indeed, in other Government offices, do not assist their efficient working. The efforts of the Ministry of Works to improve conditions are limited both on financial grounds and by the need to restrict capital development; as the hon. Member is probably aware there is at present a ban on the building of offices unless there are exceptional reasons.Of the five offices mentioned, conditions at Sittingbourne justify the erection of a new building which has been commenced. The Ministry of Works is purchasing an existing building at Sunderland which will provide improved accommodation. Conditions at Scarborough, Stroud and Middlesbrough have not justified exemption from the office building ban and no suitable existing premises have been found; improvement of conditions in these cases must, therefore, await relaxation of present stringencies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that many public paths are being obliterated by illegal ploughing; and if he will circularise highway authorities reminding them that it is their duty to secure compliance with Section 56 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949.

My right hon. Friend has heard of this from time to time, but has never received any specific evidence. If the hon. Member has any such evidence and will send it to my right hon. Friend he will have it examined, and will then consider whether any reminder to the highway authorities is needed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many orders have been confirmed by his Department for the diversion of public paths under Section 42 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949.

Two hundred.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many county councils have applied for an extension of the statutory period in which to prepare their footpath survey draft maps.

Twenty-eight.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why Sheffield has received no grant in the period, January to September, 1952, for war damage reconstruction when 13 other towns received substantial grants and when a vast amount of war damage reconstruction is still to be done in Sheffield.

My right hon. Friend assumes that my hon. Friend is referring to the figures recently given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works of licences issued in 1952 for war-damage reconstruction. It has not been possible to issue any new licences in Sheffield this year, but work on buildings in progress continues and it is expected that about £350,000 will be spent this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he intends to announce his proposals for bombed cities reconstruction for 1953.

Excluding London, there are 18 severely damaged cities generally known as the blitzed cities. The value of reconstruction work actually done, sponsored by successive Ministers of Planning, has been as follows:

1949 and 1950: £2.3 million.

1951: £3.5 million.

1952: £4.5 million (estimated).

Work in progress, due to be done during 1953, will be about £2 million. The Government have agreed to authorise additional work of some £2½ million to be done during 1953, making a target of £41 million.The extent to which this additional work can be carried out in 1953 will depend on conditions in each area and starting dates must be so arranged as to make no interference with more urgent building work, for example houses and industrial projects and schools.The purpose will be to keep the labour and materials available in each area fully employed. This must result in some inequality as between different cities, but it seems better to proceed on this basis than to insist upon an equal sharing of hardship.All this will be arranged in the normal way through the regional officers of the Ministry of Works in consultation with the representatives from the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Labour.My right hon. Friend can assure the House that subject to the Government's policy of building more factories and houses the commercial and amenity buildings so eagerly desired by our blitzed cities will proceed as fast as labour and materials allow.The allocations to be made to individual cities, in accordance with principles set out above, will be announced very shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of his failure up to date to implement the provisions of subsection (4) of Section 113 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, he will undertake to arrange for the amendment of this subsection in any future legislation relating to Town and Country Planning, with a view to making its provisions effective without the special Parliamentary procedure necessitated by the existing provisions.

My right hon. Friend cannot say when it would be possible to amend the 1947 Act on this matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what payments of development values will be made on or before 1st July next.

My right hon. Friend would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the White Paper containing the Government's proposals, which was published last night.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of applications for grants under Section 3 of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, from all Development Areas, which have been rejected.

Since June, 45 schemes in Development Areas have not been accepted for grant purposes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the names of the authorities in Wales who have been refused grant under Section 3 of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945; and the capital cost of the schemes in each case.

A list of applications refused since June is below. It is impossible to state the actual cost of the schemes as some of them had not reached the stage at which close estimation was feasible, but approximate costs are given where these are known. Similar information before June is not readily available.

TOWN COUNCILS OF—	£
Swansea (six schemes)	93,000
Kidwelly	43,000
Neath	Not known
Pembroke (two schemes)	185,800
Port Talbot	5,600
Wrexham	400,000
URBAN DISTRICT COUNCILS OF—
Aberdare	200,000
Bedwellty	1,400
Caerphilly (two schemes)	18,000
Ebbw Vale	12,000
Llwchwr	500,000
Porthcawl	61,000
Tredegar	29,000
RURAL DISTRICT COUNCILS OF—
Llanelly (two schemes)	68,000
Penybont (two schemes)	46,000
Wrexham	400,000
JOINT WATER BOARDS—
Mid-Glamorgan	71,000
Pontypridd and Rhondda	43,000
Rhymney Valley (two schemes)	328,000

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to forbid the demanding of payment, for long periods in advance, of rent for housing accommodation.

My right hon. Friend has this matter under consideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what inquiries he has made into the conduct of agencies for the letting of houses and flats; and with what result.

My right hon. Friend passed the information and complaints he received to the police. They have instituted one prosecution which resulted in two men being sent to prison for 18 months, and another prosecution is immediately pending. Some other cases are still under police inquiry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why no increase in the building licence quota for a particular area is specifically allowed for the improvement of cottage property by means of improvement grants under the Housing Act, 1949, as amended by regulations in 1952.

All local authorities have been informed that any suitable applications which they cannot licence within their quotas should be referred to my right hon. Friend's Regional Officers to see if a licence can be granted outside the quota.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why £210,000 was provided in the Estimates to remedy excessive condensation, etc., in houses built under the Housing (Temporary Accommodation) Act, 1944.

To meet the cost of remedial works in certain temporary bungalows outside the scope of ordinary maintenance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the result of his discussions with local authorities concerning Defence (General) Regulation 68CA.

Representations in favour of retaining this Regulation were made to my right hon. Friend by representatives of the Local Authorities' Association. As he considers, however, that the Regulation is no longer necessary, and that the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, provides adequate powers to prevent the loss of housing accommodation by change of use, he has so informed the local authorities and has also intimated to them that he proposes to make an order requiring planning authorities to consult housing authorities on any application for planning permission which they propose to allow for change of use from housing.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many families were rehoused by all local government agencies in the Metropolitan borough of Paddington during the first six months of 1952 as compared with the similar period of last year.

The figures which have been supplied by the local authority are 108 and 89 respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the concern felt by the people of East London at his announcement of intention to close the East London Rent Tribunal; and whether, in view of the overcrowding resulting from the loss of houses during the war, he will reconsider his decision.

No, and I see no reason to alter my decision. But I shall, of course, watch the position.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will authorise the starting of work on the Scaling Dam Scheme as approved under the Cleveland Water Order, 1950, and about the urgency of which a deputation from the local authorities concerned met the officials of his department on 16th April, 1951.

The scheme was authorised in June last. My right hon. Friend's order enabling the Cleveland Water Company to raise the necessary money will be made shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what grounds he has authorised the increase of the Carnforth water rate.

The increase was authorised to enable the Carnforth District Waterworks Company to meet the increased costs of operating their undertaking.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why the grants to the London Hostels Association increased from £70,000 in 1951–52 to £80,000 in 1952–53.

The provision made in the estimates for 1951–52 and 1952–53 was for the cost of adaptation of premises. It was expected that a greater amount of conversion work would be undertaken in the later year.

asked the Minister of Works how many Statutory Instruments he has made during the past 12 months abolishing or moderating existing controls.

Seven Statutory Instruments have been made in the last 12 months, four abolishing price controls on building materials, two removing minor controls on brickmakers, and sand and gravel producers, and one raising the free limit for building without licence. I intend to make in the near future the Order defining the new free limits announced today.

asked the Minister of Works whether he has now reached a decision with regard to the proposal of his Department to erect a block of Government offices on the site on the South Bank adjoining County Hall.

No. Proposals for the development of the site are being reconsidered.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that some building operations in Durham are at a stand- still due to the shortage of cement; and what he proposes to do to remedy this situation.

I am aware of the difficulties, which, as I told the hon. Member on 11th November, are due to the stoppage for repair of three out of the four kilns at Billingham. The cement makers are doing their best but production, though improving is still below normal.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that building contractors and other firms in North Breconshire and Radnorshire have been unable to have supplies of cement for the last two months; and when supplies will be available for urgent repairs, maintenance and construction of farm buildings.

No. A few complaints have been made of failure to obtain supplies in Breconshire and Radnorshire, but I am not aware of any widespread general shortage.

asked the Minister of Works how many private houses with gardens have been secured by his Department for various Departments of State; and what is the cost of maintaining these gardens.

This information is not readily available and I do not think that the work involved in obtaining it would be justified.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, when it is proposed to complete the building and staffing of the Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory at East Kilbride.

In present circumstances I am unable to forecast when the building and staffing of the Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory at East Kilbride will be completed. Progress has been affected by the need for economies in capital expenditure. Nevertheless, site works, buildings completed and buildings now under construction will have cost about £1 million, and it is hoped shortly to start work on a further building costing about £400,000. In addition, temporary accommodation for one main block of work has been provided nearby at Thorntonhall.The present authorised staff is 251, and it is proposed to make the necessary additions to the staff as further buildings are completed, subject to the requisite funds being available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, when he expects the report on the Scottish stone building industry prepared by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to be published.

I hope that this report will be published in about three months' time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what steps are taken to ensure that the sum of £5,390,950 provided for scientific and industrial research is efficiently expended.

Expenditure on the Vote of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is subject to normal Parliamentary and Ministerial control. The Lord President is aided by an Advisory Council and by a number of research boards. The former advise on the major purposes to which moneys are applied and the latter on the detailed scientific work of the Department's individual research establishments.

asked the Minister of Works what arrangements were made by his Department to enable Members of Parliament and their wives to witness the last Coronation procession.

In 1937 seats on stands in New Palace Yard and on Cromwell Green were assigned on payment to Members of both Houses of Parliament. They were distributed, in the case of Peers, by the Lord Chancellor and, in the case of Members of Parliament, by the Speaker.

asked the Minister of Works how much carpet he has ordered for the Coronation ceremony; and the approximate cost.

I am ordering 2,287 square yards of carpet for Westminster Abbey and the temporary Annexe which my Department will erect outside the West Door of the Abbey. The material will cost approximately £6,600. I hope to recover the cost when the material is resold after the Coronation.

asked the Minister of Education if she will issue a circular to local education committees regarding the type of gift to be made available to school children in order to commemorate the Coronation.

I hope shortly to issue a circular about the Coronation arrangements, but it is for the local education authorities to decide whether or not they should give souvenirs to school children, and if so, what form the gift should take.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the outcome of the representations which have been made to the Italian authorities for the handing back of Driver J. J. Clayton, 65 Company, Royal Army Service Corps, at present undergoing a sentence of imprisonment in Padua, to the British military authorities in Trieste.

Driver Clayton was stationed in Trieste and has no special status in Italy while absent there without leave. He is subject there to Italian law like any civilian. Her Majesty's Consul at Venice discussed this case with the authorities at Padua, but Driver Clayton had pleaded guilty to an offence and declined to appeal at the proper time against the minimum sentence imposed on him.After full reports had been received it was decided that there was no possibility of making any further approach to the Italian authorities on his behalf.