asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will authorise reasonable expenditure to enable the enlarging of the cattle quarantine station at Glasgow, in order to be in a position to obtain over £250,000 worth of dollar export as soon as the foot-and-mouth disease ban is lifted on cattle exportable to North America.

Yes. We have now received information that the Canadian authorities will require all livestock to pass through quarantine when the ban is lifted, and I am arranging for work on the enlargement of the Glasgow station to be put in hand immediately.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many workable area committees for the discussion of rat-catching have been set up by his Department; what advantages are expected to accrue from them and what cost to public funds is involved.

No such committees have been set up by my Department; however there are about 120 of these committees which have been set up by neighbouring local authorities to secure co-ordinated action against rats and mice over wide areas. The cost is small and is met by the constituent authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many people are employed by his Department in England and Wales in connection with rat-catching; and how many of them actually catch rats.

1,104. of whom 979 are engaged in actually catching rates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the actual increase in the tillage acreage shown by his latest returns; and the estimated cost for the same period of the ploughing subsidy.

The increase in the tillage area in England and Wales is about 156,000 acres over last year, but the area under crops, excluding grass, has increased by 238,000 acres. The estimated cost of the special 1952 ploughing subsidy in England and Wales is £3 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of directions served under the Tillage (Maximum Pasture) Order, from October, 1951, up to the latest convenient date; and whether he has now decided to make greater use of this power.

Eighty-six in the year ended 31st October, 1952. As regards the second part of the Question, I have recently asked county agricultural executive committees in England and Wales not to hesitate to use these powers where they are satisfied a farmer is not making a proper contribution to the tillage drive.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many sheep are estimated to have been killed by dogs during the latest period of 12 months for which figures are available.

The latest figures available are for 1951. According to reports from county councils approximately 6,670 sheep were killed by dogs in that year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to make compulsory the marking of all imported horticultural produce exposed for sale.

I have received no applications for new marking orders in respect of horticultural produce but, should any be submitted, they will be considered in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a further statement with regard to progress in the consideration of the apple and pear marketing scheme.

The promoters have accepted the suggested modifications in the Apple and Pear Marketing Scheme the draft scheme has now been laid before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will instruct the Departmental Committee on the Statutory Definition and Classification of Firearms and Ammunition to reconsider the relevant provisions of the existing law which permits children under 17 years of age to purchase or have in their possession air pistols and other instruments which may be used to the public danger.

This Committee reported in 1934 and the present law on the subject is in accord with its recommendations. I am not aware of any grounds for reopening this question at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will alter the Police Pensions Regulations so that the widows of police officers and constables who died before 6th April, 1949, will be paid the same as those who die after that date.

I have carefully considered this proposal in the light of further representations which have been made to me on behalf of these widows, but I regret that there is nothing I can add to the reply which I gave on 1st December to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Ilford, North (Sir G. Hutchinson).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of his decision to extend the working hours of prisoners, the type of work to be provided.

The type of work to be provided will depend mainly on the nature of the orders placed with the Prison Commissioners by Government Departments. It will be particularly important to secure a greater quantity and variety of unskilled and semi-skilled work for the short-sentence prisoners in local prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further information he has about the recent sabotage at the Claeren Dam.

I presume my hon. Friend has in mind the explosion at the Fron Aqueduct on 19th October last. I understand that, despite thorough investigation, police inquiries have not yet resulted in the identification of the persons responsible for this occurrence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the information gained as a result of the explosion at Monte Bello has yet been fully considered; and whether further instructions will be issued to Civil Defence personnel.

The information gained as the result of the explosion at Monte Bello has not yet been fully considered, but it is intended to publish a revised version of the Home Office Manuel on Atomic Warfare before long, and when this is done any additional information available from the Monte Bello experiments will be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a full statement as to the results of his investigation into the circumstances under which a person reputed to be in the Prison Service received payments for supplying accounts for publication of alleged continued espionage work by Dr. Fuchs.

I have not been able to establish beyond doubt the identity of the person who supplied inaccurate information about this prisoner to the Press, but there can, I think, be no doubt that the person concerned was not a member of the prison service.

asked the Minister of Labour why the grants to the National Services Hostels Corporation Limited, increased from £995,000 in 1951–52 to £1,250,000 in 1952–53.

The increased Estimate of £1,240,000 for 1952–53 made provision for accommodating an additional number of workers transferred to meet the needs of the defence programme and for meeting any unavoidable increases in running costs which would not be wholly covered by increased charges to residents.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Huyton, with a population of some 57,000, has no local office of his Department; and, in view of the distance that Huyton residents have to travel to the nearest local office, if he will consider the establishment of an office in Huyton.

Yes. Negotiations to acquire premises are in hand and the office will be opened as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Labour on what basis the contributions made by this country to the International Labour Organisation are calculated; and what specific services are rendered to this country by the expenditure of £293,200 in 1952–53.

The contributions of States Members to the annual expenditure budget of the International Labour Organisation are determined by the annual conference of the Organisation, which also approves the budget. The percentage payable by each Member State reflects broadly its relative capacity to contribute.Contributions are not related to specific services rendered. The United Kingdom clearly derives benefit from co-operating in the work of an organisation which has as its principal objective the establishment in all countries of humane conditions of labour as a basis for lasting peace.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the great hardship caused to parents in central Fife by the continued difficulty of securing employment for girls under 18 years of age; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the problem.

As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary told the hon. Member in replies to his Questions on the 21st and 28th October, the Ministry of Labour co-operates closely with the Departments concerned in an endeavour to provide additional employment opportunities for women and girls in this area.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the percentage rate of registered unemployed in Scotland is approximately 75 per cent. higher than the average for Great Britain as a whole; that this position has prevailed for some considerable time; and what special steps he proposes to remedy the situation.

Yes. Unemployment in Scotland at the last date for which figures have been published is at the rate of 3.2 per cent. Nearly two-thirds of this unemployment is in the Scottish Development Area which will benefit by all the assistance which it is practicable for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to give under the Distribution of Industry Acts.

asked the Minister of Labour how many dockers were unemployed in Scotland on the latest date for which figures are available; and what were the corresponding figures for each of the last four years.

In the week ending 22nd November, the average daily surplus of registered dock workers in Scotland was 1,398. The corresponding figures for the years 1948–51 were: 1,558, 1,211, 713 and 1,276.

asked the Minister of Labour the present number of work-people unemployed in Birkenhead; what was the number in the corresponding period 12 months ago; and what steps he is taking to secure employment for these workers.

At 10th November, 1952, 2,044 persons were registered as unemployed in Birkenhead compared with 1,282 on 12th November, 1951. The Employment Exchange is making every effort to place these workers in other employment, and I am continuing to co-operate with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in trying to increase employment opportunities in the Merseyside Development Area.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of dockers in Birkenhead whose labour is not being fully used; and what steps he is taking to ensure a return to full employment.

At 22nd November, 1952, the average daily number of dock workers surplus to requirements at Birkenhead was 81, or about 3.5 per cent. of the register. On the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Members for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis) and Deptford (Sir L. Plummer) on 18th November last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the recent dismissal of over 400 motor workers in the Midlands; and what action he is taking to prevent a substantial increase in unemployment in the motor industry.

Yes. The hon. Member may take it that I consult with my colleagues principally concerned if danger of substantial unemployment threatens in any industry, and the position in the motor car industry is being kept under careful review.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of adult males and females and junior males and females, respectively, unemployed in the North-East Coast Development Area; and what the prospects are in this area regarding further employment.

On 13th October, 1952, the numbers registered as unemployed in the North-East Coast Development Area were 15,011 men, 10,179 women, 534 boys and 1,084 girls, making a total of 26,808. A number of new factories and extensions are in course of construction in the area and additional employment opportunities will arise when these have been completed.

asked the Minister of Labour the figures of unemployed building trade workers in December, 1951, and November, 1952, giving the figures for each trade and for unskilled workers.

Figures for November, 1952, are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish details of unemployment and of conditions in immigrant hostels in Australia in any matter which is exhibited in employment exchanges to encourage emigration to Australia.

No. The information given by local offices of my Department, and by the Australia authorities at selection interviews with which my Department is associated, is as comprehensive and accurate as possible in changing economic conditions.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons are employed in each of the Remploy factories in the North-Eastern Development Area; and what were the corresponding figures last year.

The number of severely disabled persons employed in each of the Remploy factories in the North-Eastern Development Area, and the corresponding figures for last year, are:

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers in the United Kingdom are in the employment and occupational categories of which he has supplied a list to the War Office because of their special importance in time of war.

This information is not available and no reasonably accurate figure could be obtained even at the cost of a large expenditure of staff time.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that though the National Service recruit is informed that the normal interval between completion of medical examination and the receipt of enlistment notice is four to six weeks, the interval is, in fact, often eight to 13 weeks; and if, in view of the unsettlement caused to the recruit and frequent difficulties caused to the employer, he will take steps to see that a more reliable estimate is given.

I could not give any more accurate estimate of the normal interval between medical examination and call-up than that contained in the leaflet (N.L.2), a copy of which I recently sent to the hon. Member. As explained in that leaflet, the actual interval must vary from case to case, and it is often inevitably longer than the normal.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now satisfied as to the value of cortisone and A.C.T.H. in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and allied complaints; and when he expects to make these preparations more widely available within the National Health Service.

During the time that these substances have been under trial in this country much valuable information has accumulated as to their uses and limitations, but I am advised that their place in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and allied conditions is not yet definitely determined. A decision as to the possible extension of their distribution will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether cortisone or A.C.T.H. is now being manufactured in this country; and what has been the total expenditure on imports of these two preparations in the last 12 months.

There is some British production of cortisone and A.C.T.H. The f.o.b. value of Government imports of cortisone during the 12 months ended 31st October, 1952, was 105,000; and of A.C.T.H., £111,428.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements he is making to set up panels of dental practitioners in England and Wales to give emergency dental treatment for children.

Dentists have been asked to form local panels or make other suitable arrangements to provide treatment in emergency to children and adults. The local executive council will assist anyone urgently in need of treatment and unable to find a dentist.

asked the Minister of Health what were the number and cost of prescriptions issued and dental treatment provided and appliances issued for

asked the Minister of Health the cost of the new health centre at Woodbury Down; how much of the cost comes from the rates

The following are the figures for England and Wales:and how much from the Exchequer; whether arrangements have yet been made to staff the centre with doctors and specialists; and how much of the centre is being fully used.

The estimated cost of the building and equipment is about £178,000, on which the loan charges payable by the London County Council will rank for 50 per cent. Exchequer grant. The value of the site has not yet been determined. The specialist staffing of the centre has begun, and it is hoped that general practitioners will be practising there early next year. All but the accommodation provided for these is generally in use, though the various clinic services have yet to be built up to the full extent planned.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what records his Department keeps of the number of patients awaiting entry to hospitals; and what steps are being taken to reduce the waiting time;(2) whether he is satisfied that the greatest use is being made of hospital beds; and what steps are being taken to reduce the number of unoccupied beds.

The returns which are submitted annually by hospitals show that during 1951 the waiting list dropped by nearly 27,000 and the average daily number of occupied beds increased by over 4,000. A very small reduction in the average length of stay of patients or in the proportion of beds unoccupied would make a considerable difference to waiting lists and my Department is discussing with the regional hospital boards how improvements on these lines could best be achieved.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that outpatients at eye hospitals have to pay one shilling each time they attend, where the bulk of the patients attend because of foreign matter in the eye sustained at their work; and if he will now modify this charge.

A charge is payable only for drugs or medicines taken away by out-patients, and not for those administered at the hospital. I am not aware that eye patients are at any special disadvantage in this respect.

asked the Minister of Health whether the inaccurate reply given to the hon. Member for Ripon on 5th July, 1951, was based upon information provided by the Leeds Regional Hospital Board; and what steps he intends to take to prevent the House being misled in the future.

I cannot accept the implications of the Question. Full information from the board was available at the time, and was in fact explained to the House in an amplified reply on 26th July, 1951.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 191 usable rooms at the Queen's Hotel, Harrogate, are being used by the Leeds Regional Hospital Board; how many by the nurses home and training school; and how many are unoccupied.

There are now 189 usable rooms, as structural alterations for the preliminary training school for nurses have reduced the total number by two; the board use 75; the nurses' home has been allocated 36, of which eight are in use, 28 vacant; the preliminary training school has been allocated 59, of which 36 are occupied, two are used as a sick bay and 21 are vacant. The remaining 19 are held in reserve.

asked the Minister of Health on what basis the contributions from this country to the World Health Organisation are calculated, and in view of the increased cost of £345,750 in 1952–53 as compared with £292,000 in 1951–52, if he will state what specific services are being rendered to the country by this increased expenditure.

Contributions to the annual budget of the World Health Organisation are assessed as in the case of the United Nations on a formula which broadly reflects each member's capacity to contribute. The assessment against this country is roughly 11 per cent. of the total assessments against all members. The objective of the Organisation is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health and the services rendered to any particular country are not related to that country's contributions.

asked the Minister of Health what circulars he has issued to local authorities with regard to charges for use of day nurseries.

Circular 23/52, dated 28th July, 1952, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Health the approximate number of adults that have been certified mentally deficient for the years 1946 to 1951.

The approximate numbers of adults certified as mentally deficient were 1,678 in 1949, 1,697 in 1950 and 1,772 in 1951. Figures for earlier years are not available.

asked the Minister of Health what are his present plans for the acceleration of research into the causes and cure of the common cold and influenza; and whether he can give any estimate of the number of working hours lost through these complaints during the past five years.

Basic study in the Common Cold Research Unit continues, but acceleration must await expansion of our knowledge of the directions it can profitably take. As to influenza, a controlled trial of two vaccines selected by a committee of the Medical Research Council will be carried out on some 15,000 volunteers this winter and plans have been made by my Department in conjunction with the World Health Organisation Influenza Centre at the National Institute for Medical Research, for an intensive investigation into the spread of the disease.

asked for in the last part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Education whether she has yet considered the application for the proposed St. Aidan's Roman Catholic Primary School, Huyton, to be included in the 1953–54 building programme; and whether in view of the petition which was presented on this subject and the urgent need for the school, she will now enable it to be restored to the programme.

As the right hon. Member will know from my letter, I have not felt able to include this school on the 1953–54 programme because there is accommodation available and further accommodation is likely to become available when a new Roman Catholic secondary modern school comes into use next year. I should be prepared to look at the matter again when I am considering the programme for 1954–55.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities are operating shift systems for infant and junior classes, owing to lack of classrooms; how many are preparing such schemes; and what action she is taking to provide them with additional buildings in which to meet in full the educational needs of the children.

None. My school building programme is designed to provide the necessary places to enable full-time education to be provided for children of school age, though as I explained in Circular 245, some overcrowding will be inevitable during the next few years.

asked the Minister of Education what further talks she has had with local education authorities and teachers' organisations regarding her intention to introduce a Bill providing for an increase of contributions to the Teachers' Superannuation Fund; and what the results have been.

My consultations with the associations are not yet complete and I am unable to make any statement at the moment.

asked the Minister of Education what was the approximate percentage increase in the number of classrooms and the number of teachers at the latest available date compared with the same date a year ago.

New places built during the year ended 1st October, 1952, were designed to provide accommodation for an increase of about 2.8 per cent. in the number of classes in maintained schools. The comparable percentage increase in the number of teachers was 2.3.

asked the Minister of Education how many dentists have entered the school dental service in the last nine months; and to what extent the service is now below establishment.

The equivalent of 114 full-time officers during the nine months up to the 1st October, 1952, the latest date for which I have information. A further 94 full-time officers would bring the service back to its 1948 level of 921, but an equivalent of over 1,000 additional dentists would still be needed to give a ratio of 1 to 3,000 children.

asked the Minister of Education why Her Majesty's Government has cut its subscriptions to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation; and whether she will make a statement regarding the future policy of the Government towards this body.

There has been no such cut: the annual contribution of the United Kingdom to the budget at present approved by the General Conference of U.N.E.S.C.O. for 1953 and 1954 would exceed the contribution made for 1952. The fact that the United Kingdom delegation voted for a smaller budget than that recommended by the Director General does not indicate any change of policy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that none of the new industrial products of Malta developed in recent years are entitled to Imperial Preference because of the restrictive clauses of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; and what steps he proposes to take to encourage the industrial exports of Malta.

The United Kingdom tariff provides for Imperial Preference in the case of practically all manufactured products, and these arrangements apply to imports of new industrial products from Malta. I would also refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Mr. N. Macpherson) on 3rd December.The answer to the second part of the Question is that the encouragement of the industrial exports of Malta is a matter for the Maltese Government, but so far as the United Kingdom is concerned, our preferential tariff, as I have indicated, should help the development of exports from Malta to this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he received from the trade unions in the clothing industry before he came to his decision to dissolve the Clothing Industry Development Council; and whether he is satisfied that the work which has been proceeding to increase the productivity of the industry will now continue.

The trade unions have emphasised to my right hon. Friend the importance which they attach to a central body which would work for greater efficiency in the clothing industry, and the need for such a body to enjoy the full support and confidence of both sides of the industry if it is to be effective. The unions regret that the Council has not enjoyed this support and confidence and that in these circumstances my right hon. Friend has had to ask Parliament to dissolve it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the attitude shown by the trawler owners in the Icelandic dispute, he proposes to refer the question of the powers exercised by these owners to the Monopolies Commission.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that stilettos, imported from Italy as paperknives, as being labelled in some shops with attractive tickets describing them as Italian stilettos; and if he will take steps to prevent this contravention of the object for which the imports are allowed.

These articles are imported under the General Quota for Stationery and I am satisfied that no offence under the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act, 1939, or the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887, is committed in the circumstances described by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factories are at present under construction in the North-East Coast Development Area; and if he will give the names of the places where such factories are being erected.

Seventeen new factories and 60 extensions to existing factories were under construction in the area on 31st October, 1952. These figures relate to projects exceeding 5,000 sq. ft. Since a list of places where this work is going on would be very long, I give the figures by districts. Twenty-seven schemes are under construction in Tyneside, five in Wearside, nine in the Durham Coalfield, 33 in Teesside and three in Darlington.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that pupils at Secondary Grammar Schools are encouraged by the Civil Service Commission to sit for Civil Service examinations before they reach the school-leaving age and to take appointments before then; and whether he will cause the existing regulations to be amended so that this interference with the normal school life of pupils is brought to an end.

No. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to what extent the additional cost of the increased number of warders at the London Museum can be offset by adjustment of the admission price to the public.

There is no charge for admission to the London Museum. I explained some of the complications about introducing charges in the debate on 14th July last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the provision of capital for the British European Airways Corporation.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Civil Aviation and I have approved proposals by the Corporation for an issue of stock to repay existing temporary loans, to purchase aircraft and buildings and to provide working capital. Accordingly the Corporation have today issued to the National Debt Commissioners, under Treasury Guarantee, £10 million of 4¼ per cent. British European Airways Guaranteed Stock, 1972–1977, at 98 per cent. This is the second stock issue made by the Corporation; the first issue of £6 million was made in 1949.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many millions of pounds of the £15 million voted during the war-time Government for rural water supplies have now been used for this purpose.

Grants amounting to £12,896,068 have been finally or provisionally promised under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Acts, 1944 and 1951, towards the cost of water supply schemes in England and Wales. Of this sum £3,738,145 has actually been paid.

asked the Minister of Works the number of licences granted by his Department for works of capital construction in non-war-damaged areas and cities during 1952; and the total value involved.

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

asked the Attorney-General if his attention has been called to the illegal activities of a Communist organisation known as "The National Assembly of Women of Great Britain," and if he will ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to make inquiries and, if possible, to take action.

If the hon. Member will send me particulars of the activities referred to I will have them investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the Colonies in which Britain now has official labour attachés; what are the names and duties of these attachés; and what is his policy with regard to the maintenance of these attachés in the future.

The British Labour Attaché Service does not extend to the Colonies.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now raise the minimum fruit content of jams.

No. As stated in reply to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Angus, South (Captain Duncan) on 18th June, I intend to review the minimum fruit contents of jam before the next jam making season.

asked the Minister of Food how much coarse grain and barley we have purchased from Turkey in the last 12 months; if he is aware that there is 1½ million tons available at the moment; and what steps he proposes to take to secure this valuable animal feedingstuff for Britain.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "none." Turkish coarse grains have recently been offered for sale to the Ministry but at prices considerably above world values. We have made bids but no purchases have resulted.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the excessive quantities of stone, slate, shale and dust mixed with the coals delivered to householders in Ilford this winter, he will take such steps as may be open to him to secure an improvement in the quality of house coals delivered in this neighbourhood.

A householder who is dissatisfied with the quality of his coal should make his complaint to the merchant who supplied it. If the merchant considers the complaint justifiable he can refer it to the National Coal Board in accordance with the recognised procedure. The Board will investigate any complaint made by the merchant and deal with it fairly on its merits. The consumer can of course apply to the local fuel overseer for permission to change his merchant if he considers it reasonable to do so.

asked the Minister of Materials whether he can now say how far it is expected that the estimated loss of £10,721,930, on the decrease in value of stocks is likely to be increased or decreased during the current financial year.

No. I am not yet in a position to quote a definite figure but present indications are that the decrease in the value of the Ministry's stocks will be somewhat greater than was estimated (Civil Estimates, 1952–53, Class IX, Vote 6, p. 62) This particular figure, however, is not in itself an estimate of a loss but simply an estimate of a change in the value of stocks taking into account changes forecast in the volume and composition of stocks held as well as probable price movements.

asked the Minister of Materials what effect the recent decline of some commodity prices will have upon his Department's Estimates for the current financial year.

In consequence of the conditions which have affected trading this year I am afraid it will be necessary for me to seek fairly large supplementary provision for the trading activities of the Ministry of Materials for the current financial year. An additional sum will also be needed for purchases for the strategic reserve. I am not yet in a position to forecast the sums which will be required, but Supplementary Estimates will be presented at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any petition was previously submitted on behalf of Sergeant Denis Tucker, whose conviction has now been quashed, before appeal was made to the Courts-Martial Appeal Cornmittee.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent potato supplies for the British Army of the Rhine during 1951 and the first half of 1952, respectively, were supplied from British home-grown sources and from foreign sources.

All fresh potatoes supplied to the British Army of the Rhine in this period were obtained by competitive tender from Germany or Holland.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many medical officers are in service at the military hospital at Trieste; and what was the average number of patients occupying beds in the last 12 months.

Five medical officers are employed full-time in the British Military Hospital, Trieste, which caters for a military population of some 6,500. They are employed as medical specialist, surgeon, anæsthetist, specialist in obstetrics and gynæcology and general duty medical officer, respectively. There is also one medical officer who commands the hospital in addition to duties elsewhere. The average number of beds occupied during the past 12 months was 62.

asked the Secretary of State for War what information he has concerning three Welsh Guardsmen posted as absent who are reported to have sought political asylum in East Germany; and what steps are taken to impress on all ranks the penalties attaching to such conduct.

Three Welsh Guardsmen were reported absent without leave on 13th October and subsequently there was a report by the East German News Agency that the men were in the Russian Zone. Inquiries have been made of the Russian authorities through military channels, but so far without result, and their presence in the Russian Zone is therefore unconfirmed. The matter is now being raised through diplomatic channels.A local garrison order makes it clear that disciplinary action may be taken against any man who crosses into the Russian Zone. Moreover, every three months a list of court-martial convictions, in which crimes of desertion are included, is published as a deterrent throughout the British Army of the Rhine.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence whether he will reconsider restoring the pensions of those officers who had their pensions reduced below the 1919 level to the level originally granted them in that year.

As my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury explained in the House in the Second Reading debate on the recent Pensions (Increase) Act, it has not been the practice of this or of previous Governments to review contractual pensions of State servants because of the change in the value of money. They have, however, from time to time tried to alleviate hardship through successive Pensions (Increase) Acts.