asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of Purchase Tax received on household goods for the past six months.

Receipts of Purchase Tax in respect of household goods are not in all cases separately recorded, but it is estimated that the Purchase Tax groups which consist mainly of such goods yielded about £42 million in the period 1st April-30th September, 1952.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the percentage of the value of total sterling area imports from the non-sterling world during 1952, or the latest convenient year, represented by our gold and dollar reserves at the latest convenient date.

The gold and dollar reserves at 30th June, 1952, represented about 13 per cent. of the estimated value of imports into the sterling area from the non-sterling world in the 12 months to that date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, following upon the decisions of the Commonwealth Economic Conference, he will introduce over the export of capital from the United Kingdom to the rest of the sterling area a control designed to see that such capital is used only for projects in the interests of the sterling area as a whole.

No. The undertaking to the Commonwealth Economic Conference, to which the hon. Member refers, related to the provision of additional capital for development in the Commonwealth. Her Majesty Government do not intend to place new restrictions upon existing facilities for raising capital by the Commonwealth in the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to make financial grants to religious bodies for cultural interests, similar to those given to the youth movements by local authorities, details of which have been sent to him.

I am not quite sure what my hon. Friend has in mind. But in the present financial position I cannot hold out hopes of a favourable reply to a proposal for increase of expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make arrangements for minting more shillings in order to deal with the shilling shortage in many areas.

Steps are being taken to make available a stock of shillings to meet local shortages which cannot be met from surpluses in other areas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what capital expenditure has been approved in the current financial year for each of the nationalised industries and the General Post Office.

The figure for the G.P.O. are given in the Estimates. On the subject of the nationalised industries, I see no reason to depart from the practice, followed since 1951, of not publishing these figures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will compare the present rates of pension or retired pay exceeding £400 per annum of different grades of servants of the Crown, both military and civil, who retired before 1st September, 1950, with the rates the same persons received in 1919 and 1935, showing the percentage of change.

Details of rates for several ranks of State servants, both military and civil, are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional Customs and Excise staff are engaged in dealing with Purchase Tax; and the annual cost.

There has, in fact, been a small reduction in the Customs and Excise staff dealing with Purchase Tax, since an answer on this subject was given by Sir S. Cripps on 21st June, 1950.The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, when composing his Budget. he will give special considera- tion to the possibility of repaying postwar credits to those who are in receipt of National Assistance.

The question of paying post-war credits to either general or particular classes of taxpayers is one of the matters which will be for consideration when I am framing my Budget proposals.

asked the Prime Minister if he is now prepared to make a statement on legislation concerning the form of the Sovereign's title in the light of the discussions which have taken place at the Commonwealth Conference.

I have been asked to reply. A White Paper on this subject will be laid before the House in the very near future.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will revise and raise the subsistence allowances authorised by the Local Government (Members' Allowances) Regulations, 1948.

This matter has already been discussed between my right hon. Friend's Department and the local authority associations, and he hopes to arrange further discussions shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to repeal Section 113 of the Local Government Act, 1948, in order to allow local authorities to administer their own funds when reimbursing actual out-of-pocket expenses to their members.

My right hon. Friend can hold out no prospect of legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will reconsider his decision to postpone approval for the sewage scheme for Llanrug and Cwmyglo prepared by the Gwyrfai Rural District Council, in view of the urgency of the project.

No. My right hon. Friend is afraid that there are many even more urgent projects which local authorities are anxious to carry out, and he must limit his authorisations to the most urgent in order to keep the total volume of work being done within manageable proportions.The Council were asked on 18th December, 1952, to submit independent proposals for sewering the proposed new housing development at Llanrug and he is awaiting those proposals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the serious coast erosion taking place at Easton Barents on the East Suffolk coast and the imminent danger to the houses there; and whether he will at once consult with the local authorities in the area concerned with coast protection with a view to arresting the erosion.

My right hon. Friend knows that erosion is taking place at this point. He understands that the coast protection authority are considering counter measures, and he is prepared to examine any proposals they may put forward.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) how many local authorities maintain stations for the assessment of atmospheric pollution;(2) how many local authorities in Lancashire maintain stations for the assessment of atmospheric pollution.

The figures are: England and Wales, 186: Lancashire, 32.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will reconsider the application of the Plymouth Corporation to proceed with the Lopwell water scheme, in view of the urgency of this project.

No, not at present.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses have become derelict and how many have been handed over to local authorities, because their owners were unable or unwilling to meet the cost of necessary repairs.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state what steps Her Majesty's Government proposes to take to check the wastage of housing accommodation resulting from houses falling into disrepair.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government his intentions regarding the selling price of houses at present controlled by the Building Materials and Housing Act, 1945, and Section 43 of the Housing Act, 1949.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement later in the Session.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of applications in England and Wales during 1952 for licences to build private houses; the number of such licences granted; and the number of these licences which have been returned or not proceeded with.

I regret that I am unable to add to the figures given in Table 3 of the quarterly Housing Returns.

asked the Minister of Works what permanent site is intended for the statue of General Gordon removed from Trafalgar Square.

The statue will be re-erected in the public garden which is to be laid out between the new Government offices in Whitehall and the Victoria Embankment. I had hoped to have done this before the Coronation, but as the site will now be needed for a stand, the work has had to be postponed.

asked the Minister of Works what progress he has made in reducing the size and cost of running the official car pool.

Since the 1st April last the chauffeur-driven fleet has been reduced by 190 cars and 206 drivers. In addition, certain services previously carried out by cars and drivers in the Service Departments are now performed by the Government Car Service. The reductions represent a saving of over £165,000 per annum.

asked the Minister of Works if, in connection with the Trooping the Colour, in 1953, the opportunity will be taken of allotting a generous proportion of the seats in the stands along the route to disabled ex-Service men and schoolchildren and also to visitors from the other parts of the Commonwealth and from the United States of America.

I hope to make available at a modest fee the seats in the Mall from which a view may be obtained of Her Majesty proceeding to and returning from the Trooping the Colour.I am considering whether any of the stands should be reserved for particular classes of persons such as those mentioned by the hon. and gallant Member, but for the bulk of the seats first come first served is not a bad principle.

asked the Minister of Works if he will consult the President of the Board of Trade with a view to providing a reasonable number of tickets for overseas buyers wishing to see the Coronation procession.

No. The Coronation may help trade, but it would be out of keeping with the dignity of the occasion to use it deliberately for this purpose. All visitors from abroad will be welcome and in the case of Commonwealth visitors they may apply for seats from the High Commissioners in London or to the Colonial Governments. No separate allocation will be made to overseas buyers from any country.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will raise or abolish the present limit of £500 imposed upon local authorities under the Control of Building Operations Order No. 14.

No. The relaxations which I announced on 18th November, 1952, are the most that can be made at present.

asked the Minister of Works whether he has noted that the proportion of building cost attributable to wages has been falling since 1947, but the cost attributable to materials has been increasing; the cause of the rise in the cost of materials; and what plans he has for checking it.

The percentage increase in the cost of building materials since 1947 is less than the corresponding increase in earnings of building workers. In the past year wages have risen, but the price index of building materials has declined from 135 to 130. Labour costs have, nevertheless, fallen in relation to material costs partly because productivity is improving and partly because there has been a transfer from maintenance to new construction where more materials are used per man hour.

asked the Minister of Works for what purpose he is proposing to purchase the Grand Hotel, Lowestoft.

It is proposed to purchase the Grand Hotel, Lowestoft, to re-house the Ministry of Agriculture's Fisheries Research Laboratory, which is at present accommodated in four small and unsatisfactory premises in Lowestoft.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of hours lost through short-time working in Cardiff during 1952.

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled persons in Cardiff who were registered as unemployed at the latest convenient date and the number of registered on the comparable date in the previous year, respectively.

The number of registered disabled persons in Cardiff who were unemployed at 15th December, 1952 was 443; at 17th December, 1951. the total was 425.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of dock workers at Cardiff have claimed their release under the Dock Workers Release Scheme.

Five.

asked the Minister of Labour how many prosecutions under the Factories Acts have taken place in the last recorded year for breaches of the Acts and regulations where no accident has taken place, and where an accident has taken place, respectively.

In 1952 there were 1,250 charges for breaches of the provisions of the Factories Acts, of which 729 related to contraventions of safety requirements. Of these, 366 were in respect of death or injury by accident.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Hill Lands Committee have made their report; or when he hopes to receive it.

The terms of reference of the Hill Lands (North of Scotland) Commission do not require them to issue any formal or regular reports, but the Chairman of the Commission did make a statement to the Press on 28th May, 1952, outlining the Commission's general view of the problem before them and the possibilities of expansion of cattle rearing in the Highlands.The main function of the Commission is to persuade the farming communities in the north of Scotland to breed and rear more hill cattle.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what grant was made to Glasgow Corporation under the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, in connection with their £820,000 programme for construction of sewers.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he anticipates the second report of the Scottish Building Costs Committee will be available.

As part of the Government's economy measures I asked the Committee not to proceed with their inquiries on the comprehensive lines they had planned, and instead of producing a report they have given me material which will be of assistance to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many million bricks were imported from Belgium by Scottish local authorities from October, 1951, till December, 1952; and what was the total cost to the local authorities concerned.

I am informed that during period in question 10.9 million bricks were imported from Belgium into Scotland for use on housing work. The prices delivered to sites ranged from 235s. to 272s. per 1,000 according to the quantities and the areas concerned.

asked the Minister of Pensions the amount of the disability pension payable to an unmarried ex-private who has had a leg amputated through mid-calf as the result of wounds in the 1939–45 war or in Korea or Malaya; the amount payable under the 1919 Royal Warrant to men of the 1914–18 war; and the reasons for the difference.

The amounts are 22s. a week and 27s. 6d. a week, based on assessments of 40 per cent. and 50 per cent., respectively. The 40 per cent. assessment in respect of an amputation below the knee with a stump exceeding 5 inches accords with the recommendation of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Assessment of Disablement due to Specified Injuries. The recommendations of this expert Committeee, which reported in 1947, were accepted by the Minister of National Insurance in respect of industrial injuries as well as by the Minister of Pensions. Many of the recommendations were for increased assessments and these were applied to men of the First World War as well as to those who were disabled after 2nd September, 1939.As the hon. Member is aware, there have since 1919 been notable advances in surgery and in the design and fitting of artificial limbs.

asked the Minister of Pensions the date of introduction of the comforts allowance for very severely disabled pensioners; the number of allowances awarded since that date; and the number of deaths among this group since the allowance commenced.

The allowance was introduced in June, 1951, and up to the end of December, 1952, 9,636 awards had been made to pensioners, of whom 955 had died.

asked the Minister of Pensions the present position with regard to the payment of Japanese assets in the United Kingdom under Article 14 of the Treaty; and if he is now able to say whether he will extend the scheme to include orphans or parents of those who have died in captivity or since, where there is no widow eligible for a share.

The sum of £850,000 was available for the present distribution on the basis of £15 a share, calculations being based on meeting anything up to 56,000 claims.Up to date, payments have been made to cover 41,000 applicants, including over 5,500 widows, and although the closing date was 1st December I have been lenient in this respect and have made payments or issued claim forms to a substantial number of applicants since that date.As a large number of application forms are still outstanding, I am not yet able to draw up a precise balance sheet, but I anticipate that there will be just sufficient money in hand to enable me to include parents or orphans, where there is no widow eligible for a payment. Applications from dependants in these additional classes should be made immediately to the Ministry of Pensions, 18, Great Smith Street, Westminster, S.W.1. Applicants should bear in mind that only one claim can be made by any one family unit.I would emphasise that this widening of the scheme will, of course, mean that the amount available for any second distribution will be correspondingly reduced.With regard to civilian internees, I have interpreted the residential requirements generously to include all those who had roots in the United Kingdom before the war and are living here now.I am unable to state at present what sum will eventually be realised from the remainder of these Article 14 Japanese assets in the United Kingdom. The liquidation is proving a lengthy and difficult process and may take anything from one to three years to complete.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction of residents of the borough of Woolwich at the continued failure of his Department to convert the rubbish dump on War Office land on Woolwich Common into a recreation ground, thereby removing an objectionable eyesore; and if he will give instructions for this to be done at once.

The War Office is now taking up with the local authority the possibility of using the site, if suitable terms can be agreed, as a recreation ground for both the military and civilian population of Woolwich.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that 22596885 Private D. Hail, of 64, Deerness Estate, Tow Law, County Durham, now serving with the 11 th Platoon, D Company, 1st Battalion, Durham light Infantry, British Army Post Office 3, in Korea, although receiving his letters, has never received the local newspapers that are sent each week; that a parcel was posted to him on 18th October, 1952, which he has not received, and that this complaint affects other Service personnel from Tow Law, and is causing depression among the troops; and what action he is taking about this matter.

This case has been looked into and I understand that Private Hail is getting his newspapers satisfactorily and that a parcel which is believed to be the one posted on 18th October last year was delivered to him at Christmas.

asked the Secretary of State for War what Scottish Sunday papers are available to the troops in Korea.

One hundred and forty-five copies of the Scottish "Sunday Post" are at present being sent each week to Korea.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give an assurance that, subject to the necessity of maintaining the essential services, all officers and other ranks in the Army will he allowed leave to enable these Service men and women to celebrate the Coronation of Her Majesty during Coronation week.

Coronation day will be treated as a military holiday except for those who are required for essential services or to participate in the Coronation in London or in local celebrations.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what Section of the Army Act, Colonel G. O. Thompson was charged and tried by court-martial for disobeying an Army Council Instruction; when this court-martial took place; and what was the result.

The mistake in this case was to act in anticipation of the Army Council Instruction rather than to fail to carry it out. No court-martial has taken place, nor is one contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will list the commands to which Colonel G. O. Thompson, Officer Commanding No. 1 Engineering Stores Depot, Marston, in November, 1952, has been appointed since January, 1947.

This officer has held the following appointments during this period:

6th January, 1947—Officer Commanding No, 3 Training Regiment, R.E., at Farnborough.

12th December, 1948—General Staff Officer I (Plans) at General Headquarters, Middle East Land Forces.

16th November, 1950—Commander R.E. Stores Establishment, Middle East Land Forces.

29th March, 1952—Commander No. 1 Engineer Stores Depot, at Long Marston.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his Department will take over the portion of Brookwood Cemetery reserved for deceased Chelsea Pensioners, in order that it may be adequately looked after.

No. The present arrangements for the maintenance of this plot of the Brookwood Cemetery have recently been reviewed. They have been in operation for nearly 60 years and, after careful consideration. it is not proposed to alter them.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the significance of the term "War Department" which is inscribed upon military vehicles and equipment; and what is the composition of this body.

The term "War Department" is inscribed upon military vehicles and equipment, under the authority of Section 4 of the Public Stores Act. 1875. to denote Her Majesty's property in the stores so marked.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements now exist for the employment of Territorial Army officers of field rank whose term of duty in the Territorial Army has expired and who wish to continue to be of service.

Majors of the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers may attend the annual camp and train with a Territorial Army unit if there is a vacancy for them. A number of specially selected lieutenant-colonels of this Reserve receive training for certain appointments in Anti-Aircraft Command. The present arrangements also include the training of a limited number of substantive colonels of the Territorial Army with the headquarters of Territorial Army formations. The possibility of further training for other lieutenant-colonels of the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers is under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of the licences that it is contemplated will be issued for the import of foreign fruit pulp for the 12 months ending on 30th June. 1953.

Licences have been issued for imports of fruit pulp (including bulk frozen fruit) in the 12 months ending 30th June. 1953, to a total value of some £1.250.000 under a quota for Western Europe and certain other foreign countries. I cannot say exactly how much of this will be spent on varieties competing directly with home-produced pulp, but within this total, licences have been issued to the value of some £500.000 which can be used only for the import of apricot, grapefruit, peach, pear and pineapple pulp.In addition to the licences issued under this quota. some licences have been issued for small quantities under trade agreements with other foreign countries, and licences to import further small amounts from these countries may be granted during the period in question. Fruit pulp from the sterling area is admitted under open licence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish details of the quotas for imports of fruit pulp in the second-half of this year.

The quotas for imports of fruit pulp in the second half of this year have not yet been fixed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total amount spent in this country on cosmetics during the latest year for which figures are available.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Brazilian airline, Panair do Brasil, have completed negotiations to buy British Comet jet airliners; and whether, in view of the large outstanding sums of money which Brazil owes for goods already supplied by this country, he will make a statement.

I am aware that Brazil's national air line is seeking to buy jet aircraft in this country, but I am not informed whether the negotiations, which are being conducted by a private firm and not by the Government, have been completed.The question of the arrears owed by Brazil for goods already supplied and of future exports to Brazil continues to engage the Government's earnest attention. I am not, however, yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what goods, listed in the Schedules to S.I. 1694, 1952, he has refused to issue licences in the past 12 months; and what were the grounds on which the applications were refused.

This information is not readily available and could not be obtained without an undue expenditure of staff time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has cut down purchases of sugar fat, fondant and chocolate from Commonwealth countries and Western Europe and agreed to take from Czechoslovakia £600,000 worth of chocolate and sugar confectionery, £362,000 of sugar fat, £150,000 of fondant and £100,000 of biscuits; why he has permitted the Czechs to allocate these goods only to people acceptable to themselves; why he is paying much higher prices for these imports than he would require to pay Western European countries; and if he will conclude no further agreements on similar terms.

Under the five-year Anglo-Czechoslovak Trade and Financial Agreement of 1949, the United Kingdom obtains, inter alia, payments in respect of financial obligations to this country and, in return, has undertaken to establish quotas for the import of less essential goods from Czechoslovakia in each year of the Agreement.The quotas for the year July, 1952–June, 1953, include £600,000 for confectionery, £362,000 for sugar fat and £150,000 for fondant and £100,000 for biscuits. These quotas had to be fixed in July, 1952, for 12 months and were small in relation to the corresponding quotas which applied to Western Europe and certain other countries for the second half of 1952.It is not the case that Czechoslovakia has been permitted to allocate these imports only to traders acceptable to her. Licences for sugar fat and fondant have been issued to regular importers. Licences for biscuits and confectionery are being issued to applicants who can show they have placed orders with Czechoslovak exporters. Imports of these goods are being made entirely on private account; the prices paid are accordingly a matter for the judgment of the traders concerned.The amount of the quotas to be fixed for imports from Czechoslovakia for the year July, 1953-June, 1954, will be determined in the light of the conditions prevailing at the time, including the policy on imports from other sources.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any decision has yet been taken on the application made to him on behalf of the car hire firms with substantial dollar earnings, for some relaxation in the restrictions on the hire purchase of motor cars.

Yes. In view of the importance of the tourist trade as an earner of dollars, my right hon. Friend is willing to consider applications for licences from car hire firms doing substantial business in dollars, to permit a lower initial payment and a longer period for the payment of the balance than the Hire Purchase and Credit Sale Agreements (Control) Order, 1952, prescribes.Licences will normally be granted only to those car hire firms who can show that not less than 20 per cent. of their turnover is earned in dollars. Applications for licences should be made to the Board of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if any action has yet been taken to ease the economic hardships of the coloured population in Kenya, either by reducing food prices or easing the harshest features in substandard service contracts.

It has always been the policy of the Kenya Government to raise the standard of living of its peoples, but improvement in the present low African standard of industry, skill and output and general low wage economy can only be gradual. The Governor has recently appointed a sub-committee of members of the Kenya Government to ensure that these problems are kept under constant examination.As far as food prices are concerned, the great majority of the African population grow their own food and to the extent to which they have a surplus for sale, they benefit from the high prices. Those adversely affected by the food prices are the urban labourers. The minimum wage order limits the deductions which may be made from wages in the town, if rations are supplied. Assistance in another form is also given to urban labour through a large subsidised housing programme. The Nairobi City Council has recently increased its five-year programme for African housing from £1 million to £2 million.As to the second part of the Question, I am not clear precisely what the hon. Lady means by a sub-standard service contract, but if she will let me have details I will investigate it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on Government policy, following the conference on Closer Cooperation in Central African Territories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decisions were reached by the conference for Closer Co-operation between Central African Territories; and what action Her Majesty's Government proposes to take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he proposes to take arising out of the recent discussions on Closer Co-operation in Central Africa; and what agreed decisions were reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the outcome of the conference called to consider Closer Co-operation of the Central African territories.

Her Majesty's Government intend to lay a White Paper containing the Report and conclusions of the conference before Parliament on the earliest possible day after the conference has finished.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give particulars of the special tariff problems affecting the Colonies which, according to the communiqué issued at the end of the Commonwealth Economic Conference, are to be studied sympathetically by Commonwealth Governments.

The reference in the communiqué is to cases involving the entry of colonial products into independent Commonwealth countries at preferential rates of duty, including those referred to in the Questions put to me by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Dumfries (Mr. N. Macpherson) on 3rd December and to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade by my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, East (Sir H. Williams) on 5th December.Where this involves an approach to the Contracting Parties to the G.A.T.T., it will be for the Commonwealth country concerned to decide whether to make that approach.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the possibility of allowing hospitals to run their block grants over a spread of five years, in the same way as universities are financed.

The annual amount involved would be for Great Britain some £280 million. I think, that, apart from other considerations, a sum of this magnitude must be examined each year by the Government and by Parliament.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now consider giving greater latitude to hospitals under the heading of "Maintenance of Buildings," in view of the fact that some buildings today are quite unfitted to deal with the increase in the number of outpatients which has been experienced.

The amount of money that hospital authorities may spend on building maintenance must continue for the present to be governed by overall financial limitations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what protests he has made to the Government of the United States against the screening of the crews of British ships sailing from Southampton to New York.

A note calling attention to the harmful effects which certain provisions of the new United States Immigration and Nationality Act would have for British shipping and seamen was addressed by H.M. Chargé d'Affaires at Washington to the State Department on 24th December. This Note, which reinforced representations already made by H.M. Embassy, pointed out that the provisions of the Act were contrary to the generally accepted practice of maritime countries and were liable to deprive seamen of shore leave when in United States ports and to cause interference with the turn-round of ships. No reply has yet been received.

asked the Minister of Transport what action Her Majesty's Government propose to take in view of the new proposals by the London Transport Executive for increased fares.

It is proposed to await the outcome of the public inquiry to be held by the Transport Tribunal in connection with the draft Passenger Charges Scheme which has been submitted to them by the British Transport Commission.

asked the Minister of Food (1) the proportion of the price paid by the consumer for horticultural produce received by the producer and by the distributive trades, respectively;(2) if he will state, in the case of agricultural products whose prices are not guaranteed under the Agricultural Act, 1947, the amount received by the producer; and the amount received by the processing and distributing trades before sale to the final consumer.

I regret the information for which the hon. Member has asked is not available.

asked the Minister of Food if he will state, in the case of each of the products whose price is guaranteed under the Agricultural Act, 1947, the amount received by the producer; the amount received by the processing and distributing trades prior to sale to the consumer; and the amount paid in subsidy by the Government.

I will circulate such information as is available in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Food what further arrangements have now been made for the more effective marketing and distribution of sprats caught by fishermen from Tollesbury and other places on the East coast; and what is his present policy in regard to the import of canned brisling.

As regards the marketing and distribution of sprats for human consumption, there is nothing I can add at present to the last part of the reply which my right hon. and gallant Friend gave to the hon. Member on 15th December.As regards surplus sprats, I am sending the hon. Member a copy of an announcement made by the White Fish Authority on 15th December of an arrangement with the Herring Industry Board under which surplus sprats landed at ports on the Thames Estuary north of the river will be accepted for conversion into oil and meal during the present season.Canned brisling may be imported privately, but supplies from non-Commonwealth sources are subject to quota restrictions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what further steps have now been taken to assist the fishermen of Tollesbury in their difficulties and to prevent the waste of large potential catches of sprats.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food. I understand that the market for sprats for canning has revived, but the Herring Industry Board's offer to accept unsold surpluses at certain ports,, should they occur, remains open.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which county boroughs cinemas are not allowed to open on Sundays.

Blackburn, Merthyr Tydfil and Tynemouth.

asked the Minister of Education the total number of students assisted financially by each local education authority in Wales and Monmouthshire in the financial years ended March 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952.

Figures are not available for financial years, but I am sending the hon. Member this information for the last five academic years.