asked the Minister of Education the size and character of the school building programme for 1953–54 for the county of Staffordshire and the excepted district of Newcastle-under-Lyme, respectively.

The 1953–54 school-building programme of the Staffordshire Local Education Authority comprises eight major building projects, providing about 600 primary and 2,430 secondary school places. None of these projects will be in Newcastle-under-Lyme, but as the hon. Member knows, two primary schools and one secondary school are already being built there.

asked the Minister of Education what steps she is taking to ensure adequate school accommodation for children on new housing estates, in view of the increased numbers of houses being built.

The size and distribution of the housing programme are now the main factors determining the school-building programme. There may be temporary local shortages of accommodation, but my aim is to keep the school-building programme in step with housing.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will expedite the payments of the per capita grant to direct-grant schools.

I am not aware that the present arrangements, which were introduced in 1950–51, cause any serious difficulties for the schools. If, however, the hon. Member has any evidence to the contrary I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will give her approval to proposals from county authorities for making changes in their schemes of divisional administration, in the light of the experience of the past seven years, and with a view to economy.

It seems to me reasonable that county authorities should now review the working of their schemes of divisional administration. Any such review must, of course, be carried out within the framework of the relevant provisions of the Schedule to the Act of 1944 as amended, with due regard to the purposes for which divisional executives were set up. On this understanding I am ready to consider applications by individual authorities for my consent to the making of schemes designed to vary, revoke or supplement existing schemes or to replace them by fresh schemes.

asked the Minister of Education when the hon. Member for Keighley will receive a reply to his letter of 10th December, 1952, regarding J. McVay, 10, Dixon Street, Sutton-in-Craven.

The hon. Member will now have had my reply and will know why I was not able to send it sooner.

asked the Minister of Education how much of the 2d. per school dinner increase is due to the removal of the food subsidies in the Chancellor's recent budget.

I estimate that the adjustment of the food subsidies in last year's Budget has increase the cost of food in the school dinner by 0.85d.

asked the Minister of Education if she will postpone the application of her recently announced increase of 2d. per school dinner until such time as the House of Commons has had the opportunity of debating this question.

No.

asked the Minister of Education how much it is anticipated will be saved by the recent 2d. increased charge to be made in the price of school meals as from 1st March in a full year.

About £4 million.

asked the Minister of Education the ratio of places in open-air schools to the total school population in the County of London and in England and Wales.

The ratio in London of special school places for delicate children is approximately 1 to 200 of the school population, as compared with approximately 1 to 600 in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Education what number of youth clubs in Wales is supported financially by grants from her Department or by local education authorities.

According to my information, which is incomplete, in 1952 219 youth clubs in Wales were maintained by local education authorities and a further 394 received assistance from authorities in cash or in kind. In the same year my Department offered grants to 10 clubs towards items of capital expenditure.

asked the Minister of Education the number of young people in Wales who are associated with local education authority youth clubs.

The information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade from what sources he is importing nylon stockings; and how many pairs.

During the first half of 1953, imports of nylon stockings are being admitted under quota from the sterling area; from Western European and certain other foreign countries; and also, under the Token Import Scheme, from Canada and the United States of America. The quotas for this period from all sources amount to about £100,000 and, if fully used, would represent imports of some half a million pairs of nylon stockings.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the development of crimp nylon in this country; and if he will introduce a controlled home selling price for hosiery made of this desirable yarn.

I am aware that a small quantity of crimped nylon yarn is being produced in this country. The home selling price of nylon stockings, including those made from crimped yarn, is already controlled, and my right hon. Friend does not consider it necessary to extend price control to other types of hosiery made from this yarn.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give particulars of the quantities and destination of nylon yarn suitable for the manufacture of women's hosiery exported from the United Kingdom in 1952.

Exports of nylon yarn are not separately recorded in the official trade statistics. The great bulk of the yarn is sold to manufacturers in this country. For exports Australia is by far the most important market, and other markets include South Africa, the Irish Republic, New Zealand and the Scandinavian countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now completed his review of the effect of the most-favoured-nation clause on British overseas trade; and if he will make a statement.

The general considerations guiding our external economic policies have been set out in the Communiqué of the Commonwealth Conference (Cmd. 8717). The principle of most-favoured-nation treatment remains one of vital interest to our export trade

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of Christmas trees, both real and imitation, bought from overseas in 1952; and from which countries they were obtained.

I regret that imports of Christmas trees, whether real or imitation, are not separately recorded in the trade statistics.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the total cost of the machine tools imported into this country from non-dollar sources since the end of the war;(2) the total cost of the machine tools obtained from dollar countries, including those taken in form of aid from the United States of America, and imported into this country since the end of the war.

Imports of machine tools from the dollar area during the years 1946 to 1952, inclusive, were valued at £51.2 million (c.i.f.). The corresponding imports from all other countries amounted to £47.3 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis the half yearly repayment of capital and interest on the United States loan was calculated; and how far it was calculated on the same dollar-sterling basis as when the loan was made.

The amounts paid in service of U.S. loans have been calculated in accordance with the relevant agreements, of which the principal are Cmd. 6708, Cmd. 7881 and Cmd. 8053. Our obligations under these agreements are expressed and payable in dollars and the rate of exchange does not affect the dollar amount of these obligations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take in respect of those estates of deceased persons where death duties have been paid on the value of claims under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, against the £300 million global sum and where such claims will not, under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Bill, 1952, now be paid to the estates.

This and other Estate Duty matters arising out of these Acts are under consideration, but I am not at present in a position to make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give consideration, when framing his Budget, to the claims of county cricket clubs for some easement of the burden of entertainment tax.

Yes, but my right hon. Friend cannot anticipate what the result of his consideration will be.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the inadequate publicity given to the closing date for application for Coronation pieces, if he will extend the date.

I do not accept that publicity was inadequate. As to the rest of the hon. Member's Question. I would refer him to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Deedes) on 27th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has studied the annual speeches of the chairmen of the larger British banks and the article, "The Bank Chairman," in the "Statist" of 24th January, details of which have been sent to him; and if he will therefore invite these chairmen to meet and draw up a report on the measures they think necessary in the present economic and financial state of the nation for his guidance in the drafting of the Finance Bill for the coming financial year.

Yes, we both have. In reply to the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend is always glad to receive advice from these as from other competent sources, but he does not think that he needs to prescribe the form in which such advice should be given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the basis on which he estimates a depreciation in the purchasing value of the salary of a Member of Parliament at December, 1952, as £685, compared with £1,000 in 1946, takes into account the rise in cost of the necessary expenses incurred by a Member, such as postage, travelling, telephones, secretarial, living away from home, and, if not, what would be his estimated purchasing value of £1,000 per annum in 1946 compared with December, 1952, taking into account the rise in the cost of the items mentioned.

Yes. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now give details of his plans for the establishment of a technological university.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the establishment of a university college of technology.

After consulting the University Grants Committee, the Government propose to put further resources at the disposal of the University of London for the purpose of major expansion of the Imperial College of Science and Technology. There are now some 1,650 full-time students at the College, and the aim will be to raise this number to 3,000 during the academic quinquennium 1957–62.It is desirable that the work of Imperial College shall be so co-ordinated with that of other schools of the University that full advantage can be taken of the whole of the resources of the University. For this reason, and in order that the current work of the College may be disturbed as little as possible, my right hon. Friend is advised that the expansion should take place around the existing site of the College in South Kensington. The College buildings are in or near the area lying between Prince Consort Road and Imperial Institute Road. My right hon. Friend has invited the College to submit plans based on the assumption that the College will be regarded as having first claim on other parts of that area as it becomes possible to release them from their present uses. The phasing of these plans will, of course, require very careful consideration in consultation with the other interests affected.This development of Imperial College will be in pursuance of the policy already announced by the Government of building up at least one institution of university rank devoted predominantly to the teaching and study of the various forms of higher technology. The Government propose, in addition to this development of Imperial College, to make resources available for further developments in other parts of the country, and my right hon. Friend has asked the University Grants Committee to advise him where such further resources might most usefully be deployed. These projects will be additional to the substantial developments of higher technological education which are already in progress in different parts of the country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many civil servants were in receipt of £1,000 per annum in 1946; how many of these have not received an increase in their salaries since this date; and what number of this class of civil servant is expected to meet the cost of the stationery, postage, telephone, travelling expenses, living away from home expenses, secretarial assistance and other necessary expenses incurred to carry out satisfactorily their duties to the State from their Civil Service salaries;(2) the number of civil servants in the £1,000 per annum class in 1946; how many of these have received no increases in their salaries since this date; and what was the average increase paid to those that have had their salaries advanced.

As I told the hon. Member on 25th April and 7th May, 1952, on 31st October, 1947, the earliest date for which reliable statistics are available, there were 8,504 established civil servants in receipt of salaries of £1,000 a year or more. I also told him that the average increase since 1946 in the salaries of the many different grades concerned could not be calculated without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour and that its result would be quite meaningless. On these points I have nothing to add to those answers.Since civil servants, except those of the highest grades, are normally remunerated by scales of salary and not fixed rates, the number whose salary happens to be, at any particular date, at the precise rate of £1000 per annum or any other particular figure is of no significance. All salary scales which in 1946 include £1,000 within their range have since been increased. No civil servant normally has to meet from his salary the expenses mentioned in the latter part of the first Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of staff in the office of the Prime Minister who were, in April, 1946, in receipt of £1,000 per annum; how many of these have not received an increase since this date; what, on average, has been the percentage increase in salaries of the remainder and all other staff in his Department; and how many of these have to meet the cost of postage, telephones, secretarial assistance and other expenses necessary to carry out their duties to the State from their State salaries.

There is nothing I can usefully add to the answer I have given to the hon. Member today on this topic in relation to the Civil Service in general.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of Civil Service pensioners on 30th September, 1952: and the average number of deaths of Civil Service pensioners during the last five years.

The numbers were 107,500 and 5,500 (a year), respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the acreage of temporary pasture sown under a nurse crop in each of the years 1950, 1951 and 1952.

The figures for England and Wales in 1950 and 1951 were 1,424,000 and 1,307,000 acres, respectively, and these acreages included lucerne which was then grouped with temporary grass. In 1952, when lucerne was separately returned, the figure for the remaining temporary grass was 1,273,000 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much fresh land has been provided for smallholdings in the year 1952.

Until smallholdings authorities have reported on their activities during the year my right hon. Friend will not know the area of land actually acquired by them for smallholdings. During 1952, he has approved the purchase of 1,671 acres (including 468 acres previously leased) and the hiring of 105 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to give a list of individuals in Cheshire dispossessed of their agricultural units since the operation of the Agriculture Act, 1947, together with the acreage of land in each case, and the date of dispossession.

Six farmers in Cheshire have been dispossessed for bad husbandry under the Agriculture Act, 1947. My right hon. Friend thinks it would not be fair to pillory these people by making public their names, but he is sending the list in confidence to my hon. Friend. The approximate acreages were nine, 17, 42, 59, 79 and 89. One farmer was dispossessed in 1950, three in 1951, and two in 1952.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to state in convenient categories by how many men and women, respectively, the staff of his Department has increased during the calendar year 1952; by how many since 1st January, 1953; in what duties they are employed; and what is the annual cost to the taxpayer.

During 1952 the staff of my right hon. Friend's Department decreased by 901. Complete information as to staff changes since 1st January is not available without special inquiry; but he sees no reason to expect an increase.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the acreage of agricultural land in England and Wales now let to tenant-farmers at the last most convenient date, as compared with the acreage so let before the passing of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1948.

The latest information I have relates to March, 1950, when the estimated tenanted acreage was 17,604,000 acres. I have no comparable information for dates prior to the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1948. I am writing fully to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the present strength and the full establishment, stated separately, of all ranks of the Metropolitan Police, the West Riding, Yorkshire, Constabulary, and the City of Leeds Police Force.

On 31st December, 1952, the authorised establishment of the Metropolitan police force was 19,647 men and 458 women, and the actual strength 15,957 men and 387 women. The authorised establishment of the West Riding county constabulary was 2,102 men and 75 women, and the actual strength 2,053 men and 74 women. The authorised establishment of the Leeds City police force was 813 men and 20 women, and the actual strength 802 men and 20 women.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants there have been to enter the prison service at Her Majesty's Prison, Armley, Leeds, during the last three years, stated separately; how many have been accepted; and how many rejected after the first probationary period.

During the year ended 31st December, 1950, 332 applicants for the post of prison officer attended at H.M. Prison, Leeds, for a first interview. Forty-seven eventually joined for preliminary training of whom 13 resigned and 18 were discharged as unsuitable to attend the Training School at Wakefield. Of the 16 who attended at Wakefield two failed to qualify and the remaining 14 have become established officers.During the year ended 31st December, 1951, 138 applicants attended for first interview. Twenty-six joined for preliminary training of whom one resigned and 10 were discharged as unsuitable for the Training School. Of the 15 who went to Wakefield, one failed to qualify and the remaining 14 have become established officers.Three hundred and seven applicants attended for first interview during the year ended 31st December, 1952. Out of 30 who joined for preliminary training, 14 have not yet completed this period of training and six of the remainder have been discharged as unsuitable to attend the Training School. Of the 10 who attended at Wakefield five failed to qualify and five have become established officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why political propaganda is received in Wakefield Gaol stamped with the Crown and described as supplied for the public service.

A prisoner may have in his cell at any one time not more than two periodicals sent in by relatives or friends or obtained at his own expense. There is no ban on political periodicals as such, but prisoners may not receive unsolicited political propaganda. It has been the practice at Wakefield Prison for prisoners' periodicals to be stamped, before being given to the prisoner, with the official stamp which bears the Crown and the words "supplied for the Public Service," to indicate that they had been seen by the prison authorities. The use of this stamp is clearly inappropriate in these circumstances and instructions will be given that it shall not be put on periodicals unless and until they are retained for the prison library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what types of newspaper and periodical are approved as suitable to be received by inmates of Her Majesty's gaols.

The newspapers provided for common use by prisoners in association are those in common demand. The types of periodical that prisoners are allowed to receive for personal use are such as may serve to keep them in touch with current events or with their particular hobbies or interests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to give more adequate protection to the wild bird life of Great Britain.

Discussions are proceeding with a view to legislation as soon as may be practicable, but I cannot promise that time can be found for a Government Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation on the lines of the American McCarran-Walter Immigration and Nationality Act, with a view to preventing undesirable aliens, engaged in foreign ships, entering this country.

No alteration in in the procedure for dealing with foreign members of the crews of ships or aircraft arriving at British ports is at present contemplated. I am satisfied that what the hon. Member has in mind can be achieved under existing powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to recent cases of cruelty to animals, he will consider taking steps to increase the penalties which may be imposed in the magistrates courts upon those who are convicted of cruelty to animals.

The law provides for a maximum penalty of three months' imprisonment either in addition, or as an alternative, to a fine of £25. Where the owner of an animal is convicted of cruelty to it a court has power to de- prive him of ownership. I have no reason to think that these maximum penalties are not adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will propose an amendment of the law to enable courts in this country to make adoption orders in favour of persons domiciled here but resident abroad.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have decided to appoint a committee to consider the present law relating to the adoption of children and to report whether any and, if so, what changes in policy or procedure are desirable in the interests of the welfare of children. The Chairman will be His Honour Sir Gerald Hurst, Q.C., and the Secretary Miss J. M. Northover of the Home Office.

asked the Minister of Health the estimated cost of providing batteries for hearing aids issued up to the 31st December, 1951.

The estimated cost of batteries supplied to users of Medresco hearing aids up to 31st December, 1951, is £365,000. This excludes administrative and other overheads.

asked the Minister of Health the cost of providing surgical boots in the last year in which these were provided without cost to the wearer; how many pairs were issued; and how many pairs have been prescribed in the first year during which charges have been imposed.

In England and Wales during the 12 months to 31st May, 1952, 48,071 pairs of surgical footwear were issued, costing approximately £400,000. In the seven complete months since then 19,435 pairs have been prescribed.

asked the Minister of Health the procedure for notifying the police when animals are at large carrying diseases dangerous to human life.

I understand that the hon. Member means parrots, in which case there is no procedure for notifying the police. The Minister of Agriculture has made Orders under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1950, which will enable him to deal with diseased parrots.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered the opinions put forward recently that smoking may be a cause of cancer of the lung; and if he will set up a committee of inquiry to investigate the matter.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave yesterday to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Squadron Leader Cooper).

asked the Minister of Health the death rate in the United Kingdom from cancer; and what money is being spent annually on cancer research.

The most recent figures available of the death rate from cancer in England and Wales are 1950–1,945 per million, 1951–1,965 per million, first half of 1952–1,938 per million. Expenditure on cancer research is undertaken by a number of bodies and no total figure is available. As regards Scotland, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

asked the Minister of Health (1) on what grounds a bed has been allocated to Mr. Cecil Baddeley in a Southport hospital; and from what disease he is suffering;(2) if he will investigate the reason why Mr. Cecil Baddeley is occupying a bed in a Southport hospital during certain days only, in view of the number of other local patients in need of urgent medical treatment there who have been refused admission.

I am informed that Mr. Baddeley has not been admitted to this hospital as a patient or occupied a hospital bed or even been attended by hospital staff. Temporary arrangements were made for the use of an empty room as a court room to which he was brought daily, but these did not in any way affect the admission of patients.

asked the Minister of Health why fewer tuberculosis orthopaedic cases are being referred to Abergele Sanatorium in view of its record of successful treatment of such cases; and to which hospital they are now being sent.

I am informed that the change is due to the progressive fall in the number of cases arising in the Manchester region. The necessary treatment is being provided more conveniently and no less effectively at Wrightington Hospital.

asked the Minister of Health whether arrangements to enable some thoracic surgery to be performed at Didworthy Chest Hospital, South Brent, have now been made; and when the new thoracic surgery unit at Tehidy Sanatorium will come into use.

Building work is in progress on the new unit at Tehidy, and steps are being taken to make the additional appointment on which the development of thoracic surgery there and at Didworthy depend; but it is not yet possible to say when the arrangements will come into operation.

asked the Minister of Health (1) the intended programme of mobile mass radiography units; and the estimated annual cost;(2) the number of mobile mass radiography units now in operation; the number of staff engaged therewith; and the total annual cost.

There are at present 60 units operated by regional hospital boards in England and Wales. The number of staff was 555 at the end of 1951, the latest date for which figures are at present available. Approved running expenditure for the financial year 1952–3 was £518,867. Three additional units have recently been allocated and the operation of these is likely to increase the annual cost by some £26,000, but no major changes in the scale of the service are contemplated.

asked the Minister of Health why a fully-trained and experienced surgeon of 21 years' standing, particulars of which case have been sent him, is only being employed for two sessions a week at a salary of £1,750 per annum in Macclesfield, where he lives, whilst three other surgeons travel into the town from Stockport every week to do work which could quite as well be done by the resident man.

This is primarily a matter for the regional hosiptal board, but I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the recruitment restrictions placed upon local hospitals during the investigation of the Redundancy Commission, he will hasten its work, and state when the task will be finished.

I do not know of any redundancy commission. I have, however, recently issued to hospital authorities a memorandum of guidance on economy in staffing. I am sending the hon. Member a copy, and he will see that it does not put a ban on recruitment in hospitals which need more staff to maintain services essential to the care of the patients.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the countries which will contribute naval forces to the main Mediterranean naval force to be commanded by Admiral Mountbatten.

No allied forces are assigned in peacetime to Admiral Mountbatten's command. In the event of war, it is expected that—in addition to the United Kingdom—the United States of America, France, Italy, Greece and Turkey would contribute naval forces to Admiral Mountbatten's command in his capacity as Allied Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will estimate the increased cost of the Pensions Increase Warrant, 1952, without the income limits.

About £150,000 a year as far as Army Votes are concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he has yet received a Report from the Committee on District Heating: and when it is intended to publish it.

The Report on District Heating by the Heating and Ventilation (Reconstruction) Committee of the Building Research Board of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has been received and is now with the printer. It will be published about the end of May as Volumes numbers 31 and 32 in the series of Post-War Building Studies.

asked the Minister of Works the number of staff employed in the Palace of Westminster that come within the control of his Department; how many of these have not had a wage or salary increase since 1946; how many were, in 1946, receiving £1,000 per annum: what rate of pay this latter category received at the latest convenient stated date; and what average percentage increase in salary has been made to those employees who have received wage and salary increases.

315 staff employed in the Palace of Westminster come within the control of my Department. All of these have had wage or salary increases since 1946. None of them was receiving £1,000 per annum in 1946. The average percentage increase in wages or salary made to these staff is 34 per cent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, having regard to the incidence of fog this winter and its ill-effects upon the health of the people, particularly those who live in London and other large cities, he has made, or will make, investigations to ascertain the physical contents of the fog, with a view to discovering to what extent they are contributed by human agency and might be diminished.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works on 17th December.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of houses condemned as unfit for human habitation, which are still occupied by tenants, in the boroughs of Eccles, Swinton and Pendlebury.

The figures supplied by the local authorities are Eccles two, Swinton and Pendlebury 138.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air his plans for Yeadon Aerodrome at the expiration of the present tenancy.

No decisions about the future of the airfield have yet been taken.

asked the Minister of Food the total consumption of meat in Great Britain during the years 1951 and 1952, respectively; and how this amount was divided between ration book holders, catering establishments, manufacturers, etc., respectively.

1,213,600 tons of all classes of carcase meat were issued in Great Britain during 1951; for 1952 the figure was 1,388,300 tons. In addition 38,700 tons of canned corned meat were issued in 1951 and 2,300 tons in 1952. It is estimated that these quantities were distributed as follow:

asked the Minister of Food, for each of the four-weekly ration periods from October, 1951, until the latest stated date, the declared non-take-up of bacon in weight and money value per ration period; and the number of full rations that this represents in each case.

The following table shows for each four-weekly ration

asked the Minister of Food, for each of the four-weekly ration periods from October, 1951, until the latest stated date, the declared non-take-up of cheese in weight and money value per ration period; and the number of full rations that this represents in each case.

The following table shows for each four-weekly ration period since October, 1951, the amount by which deliveries of cheese to wholesalers fell short of, or exceeded, the estimated entitlement; the retail value of such cheese; and the number of rations which it represents.

asked the Minister of Food for each of the four weekly ration periods from October, 1951, until the latest stated date, the declared non-take-up of butter in weight and money value per ration period; and the number of full rations that this represents in each case.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that purchasers of the normal butter ration have to pay for the wrapping paper containing their ration, whereas with margarine and lard the wrapping paper is not charged for; what is the estimated cost per year and per pound of butter charged to the consumer for this wrapping paper; and what is the cost of this paper to his Department.

The inclusion of the weight of paper when wrapping butter, margarine or lard is permissible under the Sale of Food (Weights & Measures) Act, 1926. Butter is sold either inclusive or exclusive of the weight of paper, according to the method of packing; margarine is usually packed exclusive of the weight of paper, but lard is commonly sold with the weight of the paper included.Where butter is packed inclusive of the weight of paper, which must not exceed 2½ drams per lb. of butter, the relative charge in respect of the paper would be .351 pence per lb.. or on the basis of

The following table shows for each four-weekly ration period since October, 1951, the amount by which deliveries of butter to wholesalers fell short of, or exceeded, the estimated entitlement; the retail value of such butter; and the number of rations which it represents.a weekly ration of 3 oz., the cost per year would be 3.422 pence.My Department does not supply the paper to butter packers and the cost of this forms part of the service provided by distributors.

asked the Minister of Food if he has considered the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, together with a memorandum from Mr. A. F. Reader, on the question of the unfair method of re-allocation of sugar supplies to confectionery manufacturers: and whether, in view of the information contained in this memorandum he will reconsider this matter.

The hon. Member will now have received the reply to his letter.

asked the Minister of Food the cost, wholesale and retail, of a gallon of whole-milk in dried and liquid form.

The wholesale and retail prices of a gallon of whole-milk in liquid form are 3s. 3½d. and 4s. 4d., respectively. Dried milk is sold through wholesale and retail channels only in the form of proprietary infant foods. There is no price control on these products, of which there is a wide variety, and I have no information about relative prices at different stages of distribution.

asked the Minister of Food the consumption of school milk for the month of December, 1952.

The provisional total for the United Kingdom is 3.6 million gallons.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence whether, with the object of achieving the maximum economy in face of the need to maintain a high level of defence over future decades, he will set up a committee to consider to what extent Service equipment can, without undue loss of efficiency, be used during peace-time to assist the mercantile marine, commercial transport, civil aviation, and other branches of civilian activity; and equally, to what extent service personnel can be employed to assist industry and agriculture without undue interference with their training.

I do not think such a committee could serve the purpose which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware that, at the Wallsend factory of Remploy Limited, a kitchen cabinet is being produced on an assembly line at which all the operatives combine to produce the one finished article; that the operatives are in favour of a bonus payment system which would give better wages and more output, and would remove discontent; and whether he will introduce a bonus system throughout the organisation, or permit the Wallsend factory to introduce such a system;

Standard scales of pay operate for severely disabled workers throughout all Remploy factories, irrespective of trade. They provide, for male adult workers, a minimum commencing rate of 2s. 4½d. per hour and increases within a period of two years, to 2s. 7d. per hour. These rates are based on an award dated 28th July, 1952, of the Industrial Disputes Tribunal, to whom Remploy Limited and the trade unions concerned referred the case for an increase in rates.It would be virtually impossible for a man to receive more in Unemployment Benefit than in pay for a 44-hour week at a Remploy factory, but the amount of National Assistance allowances would depend on a number of factors and, in some circumstances, a worker with dependants might receive more than the Remploy weekly wage if he became unemployed.The Remploy factory manager has no powers to change the standard scales of pay or to introduce bonus schemes, but he may grant increases above the maximum rate of 2s. 7d. per hour where justified by a worker's skill and output. Joint Consultative Committees have been set up in all Remploy factories to consider questions affecting production, factory conditions and welfare arrangements, but they do not deal with rates of pay or general conditions of service, which are the subject of negotiations between the Company and the trade unions nationally. The Company are considering the possibilities of the introduction of incentive schemes within their factories.Deficits incurred by Remploy Ltd. which amounted to £2,443,013 in the year ended 31st March, 1952, are entirely met out of an annual Government grant, in addition to which Government loans are made to the Company to cover capital expenditure. The Company are required to consult the Minister of Labour on the principles to be followed in fixing rates of wages and my right hon. Friend and his predecessors have taken the view that, subject to such consultation, wages can appropriately be agreed between the Company and the trade unions concerned.

asked the Minister of Pensions to make a statement on the average percentage increase made in all pensions administered by his Department since 1st April, 1946.

The following is a comparative statement in respect of the years 1st April, 1946, to 31st March, 1947, and 1st April, 1952, to 31st March, 1953, showing the mean number of pensioners (disablement pensioners, widows and dependants), the annual cost of their pensions and allowances and the average annual cost with the percentage increase: