asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that British exports are now only 25 per cent. of Denmark's total imports against 40 per cent. pre-war, due largely to our prices being too high; and in what class of exports have British prices risen.

I am aware that the proportion which Denmark's imports of goods of United Kingdom origin bear to her total imports has fallen from about one quarter in 1938 to about one fifth in 1952. I have no precise information about the changes, as compared with pre-war, in prices of United Kingdom exports to Denmark, either generally or in respect of particular classes of goods; but I doubt whether the fall in our share of the Danish market can be attributed to any single cause.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what alterations have been made in the United Kingdom's terms of trade during the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

In December, 1952, the average level of prices of all United Kingdom imports was about 11 per cent. lower than a year earlier, while the average of our export prices was only about 3 per cent. lower. In other words, our terms of trade, as measured by the ratio of import prices to export prices, improved by about 8 per cent. during 1952. In spite of this improvement, the terms of trade are still appreciably less favourable than in the early months of 1950.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many machines have been imported into the United Kingdom since the duty-free import of machinery not procurable in the United Kingdom was suspended in 1952; and, since this duty adds to our export costs and therefore makes sales abroad more difficult, if he will take steps to ensure the reversal of this policy.

The provisions for the duty-free licensing of machinery under Section 10 of the Finance Act, 1932, have been suspended since the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget speech on 11th March last year. In the nine months, April to December, 1952, the value of imports into the United Kingdom of machinery of all kinds amounted to about £82 million.As my hon. Friend is well aware, the administration of Section 10 has given rise to many difficult problems, both; of policy and of practical application.. I propose accordingly, in consultation with my right hon. Friend, to appoint an independent Committee to review the whole question of duty free entry for machinery, and I hope soon to be able to make an announcement about this Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether the approval given by the Furniture Industry Committee of the British Standards Institution to standards for dining chairs and cabinet goods on Monday, 19th January, was final, or whether it was subject to further circulation to the committee of technical items;(2) when standard specifications for dining chairs and cabinet goods will be available to the public.

I am informed by the British Standards Institution that they expect to publish British standards for dining chairs and cabinet goods on about 10th February. As regards the finality of the standards, I would refer the hon. Member to the announcement made by the British Standards Institution on 20th January, which my hon. and learned Friend quoted during the debate on 21st January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value and area of new factory building started in Scotland in 1952; and the comparable figures for each of the last five years.

The answer is as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent Her Majesty's Government have made use of the British Council for the Promotion of International Trade in negotiating contracts for timber, feedingstuffs, food and other materials for goods imported from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and countries under its influence.

Not at all. Her Majesty's Government have on many occasions given evidence of their interest that there should be an increase of trade with the Soviet countries and with China in non-strategic goods. The British Council for the Promotion of International Trade, however, which was established after the Moscow Conference of last April, is clearly pursuing in the economic sphere the political objectives which prompted the calling of that Conference. It is important, therefore, that the political background to this Council should be borne in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much tinned fruit was imported from Europe in the second half of 1951 and 1952, respectively.

Not all canned fruits are shown separately in the import statistics. Imports of those identifiable as "tinned" or "tinned or bottled" from continental Europe during the second half of 1952 amounted to 5,590 tons valued at £779,000, compared with 31,730 tons valued at £6,167,000 during the corresponding period of 1951.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many receiving orders in bankruptcy were made in England and Wales and Monmouthshire, respectively, in the year ended 31st December, 1952; and how many deeds of arrangement for the benefit of creditors were registered in the same period.

In 1952 there were 1,954 bankruptcies in England and 89 in Wales and Monmouthshire. In that year 301 deeds of arrangement were registered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date approval was given to the location of two privately financed factory projects in Blaenavon, mentioned in Table 10 of Command Paper No. 8678 presented to Parliament in July, 1952; when the necessary licences were granted; and when construction will start.

Industrial Development Certificates for these two National Coal Board building projects were issued on 24th October. 1951, and 8th May, 1952, respectively. I am informed that the first, a slurry settling tank, is under construction; no building licence has yet been issued for the other, a brickworks, since this scheme is still under consideration by the National Coal Board.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums are at present held by the Custodian of Enemy Property on Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian account; to what extent any sums have been distributed from these assets in recent years; and to whom.

The assets at present held by or reported to the Custodian of Enemy Property on Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian account are estimated at about £2½ million, £3¼ million and £1½ million respectively. Apart from certain small sums which were incorrectly reported, or were released to their owners who had left the Baltic States, no distribution has been made from these assets.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, when the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, the Chartered Bank of India and the Mercantile Bank of India, all British banks, are allowed in Japan the same powers and status as are Japanese banks, the Bank of Tokyo and the Fiji Bank now opened in London for six months are not allowed the same rights as English banks to deal in foreign exchange and to handle securities.

I am aware that these banks wish, in due course, to secure appointments under the Exchange Control Act, 1947. Such appointments involve wide responsibilities on behalf of Her Majesty's Treasury and before making them, therefore, we should want to be satisfied that the banks concerned had had adequate practical experience in London.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for United Kingdom holders of Roumanian bonds, which are not included in the list of Roumanian bonds published by the Board of Trade as entitled to satisfaction out of Roumanian assets held in this country, if owned by United Kingdom citizens on 28th July, 1952, also to put in a claim to be included in this distribution.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will cause to be freed from all Customs duties and Purchase Tax gift parcels coming from abroad, where the value of the gift does not exceed 10s.

There is a general concession relating to gift food parcels and a concession affecting certain gifts of value not exceeding 10s. sent home by members of the Forces serving overseas. It would not be possible to extend this latter concession generally, because gift parcels cannot easily be distinguished from other parcels. It is not, however, the practice to collect trivial amounts of tax or duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will devise some means whereby old age pensioners who have the misfortune to lose their book of tobacco tokens can have it replaced with the least possible delay.

Though I have much sympathy with the suggestion in this Question, I am afraid that careful consideration of the problem has made it only too clear that any scheme enabling lost books to be replaced would involve such disadvantages to the vast majority of pensioners as to make it impracticable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amounts paid in Purchase Tax in respect of Groups No. 26, Jewellery and Imitation Jewellery, and No. 27, Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Wares, respectively, for the years 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952.

I regret that separate figures of receipts of Purchase Tax from Group 26 (Jewellery and Imitation Jewellery), Group 27 (Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Wares) and Group 28 (Articles of ivory, jade, tortoiseshell, etc.) are not available. The following table shows estimated total receipts of tax from those three Groups together during the period in question:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the payment of Purchase Tax at the rate of 100 per cent. on certain articles of jewellery has led to the decline and in some cases the cessation of manufacture of such articles; and whether he will as a matter of urgency reduce this rate of Purchase Tax before further unemployment is caused in the industry.

Representations to that effect have been made to me, but I regret that I cannot anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the difference under his regulations as regards guaranteed prices between food producers classed as farmers and those classed as market gardeners; and if he will make a statement.

All producers selling commodities included in the First Schedule of the Agriculture Act, 1947, are entitled to the benefit of the arrangements for guaranteed prices and assured markets made under the Act for those commodities, whether they are farmers or market gardeners.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what further steps he is taking to remove controls on the agricultural industry in order to encourage producers and distributors.

In recent months, the Government have announced their intention to end Government control over cereals, feedingstuffs and eggs. Taken together these decisions embrace a considerable area of production and trade. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Food will continue to keep the situation under review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has now received the Report of the Oaksey Committee on the Export and Import of Cattle Semen; and what action he proposes to take.

The Report of the Oaksey Committee has been submitted to the Secretary of State for Scotland and to my right hon. Friend and they have considered its recommendations. My right hon. Friends would like to take this opportunity of expressing their thanks to Lord Oaksey and the members of his Committee for their valuable Report. My right hon. Friends are impressed with its recommendations and are consulting those organisations who are most closely concerned before deciding what action to take. A copy of the Report is being placed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now in a position to announce how soon full powers will be restored to the Milk Marketing Board.

No; but the Government have invited the organisations representing the producers, distributors and manufacturers of milk in the United Kingdom to submit their views on this matter preparatory to discussions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the scale of salary of temporary veterinary officers taken on to deal with the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; what is their total number; and how long their employment will continue.

Temporary veterinary inspectors are paid a fee of 3½ guineas for each working day. There are eight of these officers still employed who were taken on initially for duties concerned with the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, but six of them are now engaged on other duties. My right hon. Friend cannot say how long it will be necessary to retain these officers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture his policy with regard to the employment of local veterinary inspectors in carrying out tuberculosis tests on cattle.

Official tuberculin tests are carried out both by whole-time veterinary officers and part-time local veterinary inspectors paid by fee. Local veterinary inspectors are normally employed only for tests of herds of their own clients, but if a whole-time officer is not available they may carry out tests of other herds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of agricultural units of which farmers were dispossessed during 1952 under the Agriculture Act, 1947, and the acreage in each case.

88 farmers were dispossessed for bad husbandry during 1952. The following is the reply to the second part of the Question:

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to reduce the deficit on the lands farmed by committees of the county agricultural executive committees.

The area farmed by county agricultural executive committees has been greatly reduced. The loss incurred in the financial year 1951–2 was very much smaller than in the year before. This year I hope there will be no loss at all.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to reduce the loss on the hostels managed on behalf of the county agricultural executive committees.

As a result of the rundown of the pool labour service, the number of hostels was reduced from 152 to 63 in the course of 1952. A general increase in the board and lodging charges at the hostels was introduced towards the end of the year. Compared with 1951–2, very substantial economies have already been secured, and I hope to reduce the deficit still further in 1953–4.

asked the Minister of Agriculture for what reason 95 acres of full bearing and high grade cherry orchard owned by his Department, is being grubbed up at Brogdale Farm, Faversham.

The farm has been acquired by the Ministry as the National Fruit Variety Testing Station. The cherry trees which were neither full bearing nor high grade had to be removed in order to free land for planting the numerous varieties of fruit under trial.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the northern bank of the River Ouse, at Selby, is repaired to avoid any repetition of the serious flooding of the area in 1947.

I understand that the bank in question did in fact withstand the high tide of 31st January. The question of further repairs to it is not directly related to the national emergency of the floods in the Eastern Counties. My right hon. Friend is in touch with the Yorkshire Ouse River Board who are keeping the bank under close observation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of an article, a copy of which has been sent to him, which appeared on page 8 of the "Sunday Pictorial," of 14th December, 1952, entitled, "Killer Craig, a Candid Pen-Picture by Harry Procter," and under what regulation Mr. Procter was granted admission to Brixton Prison to interview a person under remand on a capital charge.

Yes. I am informed that while Craig was in Brixton prison awaiting trial, he was visited by a Mr. Proctor who came with Craig's parents and was described as a friend. The visit was conducted under normal supervision and nothing was said to suggest that Mr. Proctor was other than a friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for an inquiry into the operations of the Racecourse Betting Control Board in order that the original object of legalising the use of totalisators on racecourses may be carried out to the benefit of the British bloodstock industry.

The position of the Racecourse Betting Control Board was considered in paragraphs 334–339 of the Report of the Royal Commission on Betting, Lotteries and Gaming which was published in March, 1951, and the Commission heard evidence from a number of witnesses about the Board's operations. I do not think that the appointment of a further committee of inquiry is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why copies of the Annual Report to Parliament of the Racecourse Betting Control Board are not available to hon. Members.

The Annual Reports of the Racecourse Betting Control Board are presented to Parliament and copies are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the growing refugee problem in Europe, he will adopt a more liberal attitude to the entry of refugees into this country and especially to the entry of those elderly refugees who have relations or friends here who are prepared to support them.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring primarily to refugees from the Soviet Zone of Germany. As regards the admission of elderly people, the basic conditions of the Distressed Relatives Scheme have for some time been liberally interpreted, and sympathetic consideration is given to any case where a substantial claim for admission can be founded on close relationship to a resident of the United Kingdom coupled with compassionate circumstances. I should not, however, feel justified in relaxing present requirements so far as to allow refugees to come here to live solely because of an offer of accommodation and maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the total cost per child in residential homes for children which come under the jurisdiction of his Department; how many such homes there are; how many children are in these homes; and what is the annual cost to the taxpayer.

According to local authorities' revised estimates for 1952–53, the weekly estimated cost per child in residential homes and nurseries provided under the Children Act, 1948, is £5 7s. 3d. There are 998 establishments; the number of children is estimated at just under 28,000. The total estimated annual cost is £7,736,000 of which half is met from Exchequer funds.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young persons who left schools in Sunderland at Christmas are now unemployed.

I regret that the precise information asked for is not available. Of the young people registered as unemployed at 12th January, 1953, however, probably the majority of those under 16 years of age, numbering 239, had left school at Christmas.

asked the Minister of Labour how many girls under 18 years of age were unemployed in the employment exchange areas of Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly, Leven, Kirkcaldy, and Leslie on the latest date for which figures are available; what percentage this represents of the total registered as unemployed; and what is the corresponding percentage for Scotland as a whole.

Eighty-five at 12th January. This figure represented 4.6 per cent. of the total number of unemployed persons on the registers of the same employment exchanges at that date. The corresponding percentage for Scotland was 3.3.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young persons were unemployed in Sunderland at the latest available date; and how many such persons were unemployed at the corresponding date last year.

The total number of young persons under 18 years of age registered as unemployed at employment exchanges and youth employment offices in Sunderland at 12th January, 1953, was 349.

asked the Minister of Labour to publish in HANSARD a table of figures showing the average percentage increases in wages and salaries of all workers covered by wages councils since 1st April, 1946.

Information from which to calculate a reliable average percentage showing increases of statutory minimum wage rates under wages regulation orders is not available. Movements of statutory minimum wages are incorporated in the wage movements shown in the index of rates of wages which is published monthly in the Ministry of Labour Gazette.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons living in the Altrincham area, Cheshire, at the latest convenient date.

The available figures relate to employment exchange areas. The number of unemployed persons on the registers of the Altrincham Employment Exchange at 12th January was 174.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the alteration in the records of school-leavers which he has recently authorised, how many youth employment officers there are; what is their annual cost to the taxpayer; what useful purpose their work in the future will serve; and whether he will close down this service.

There are approximately 900 youth employment officers employed by the Ministry and by local education authorities. The total estimated cost of these officers to the Exchequer in the financial year 1952–53 is estimated very roughly at £440,000. I regard this service as performing a function essential to young people and to industry.

asked the Minister of Labour what brands of tea are taken into account in computing the cost-of-living index; and how the average price of these brands, on the latest available date, compares with the average price 12 months ago.

Information about the prices of 21 brands of tea, representative of the teas ordinarily bought by the bulk of consumers, is used in computing the Interim Index of Retail Prices. For these 21 brands the average level of prices in mid-January, 1953, was about 16 per cent. higher than in January, 1952.

asked the Minister of Health what decision he has reached following the receipt of a report from the Kent County Council to ensure that the day nursery service is not completely abolished in Kent from 31st March, 1953.

My right hon. Friend is in consultation with the county council on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health the present staff deficiency in mental hospitals; how this compares with 1938 and the years since the end of the war; and what further consideration has been given to this matter.

The estimated deficiency of nursing staff is now about 3,500 men and 7,600 women. In 1947, the first year for which figures are available, the estimated deficiency was 2,300 men and 7,000 women. The numbers employed have increased since 1947 by 1,200 men and 3,800 women (counting part-timers as a half), but the needs have increased at a greater rate. As regards the last part of the Question my right hon. Friend is not yet able to add to the reply he gave on 20th November last to the hon. Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Slater).

asked the Minister of Health what number of people in Cardiff and in Wales, respectively, have been waiting three months or over for admission to tuberculosis sanatoria.

The figures are 67 and 646, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health what ruling the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board has received from his Department in respect of the case of a Durham miner, crippled for life, who has been told a charge of £2 5s. a week will be imposed by the Durham County Hospital for equipment for him to be nursed at home, whereas if he returned to hospital the charge to the State would be over £10 per week.

The Regional Hospital Board were informed that in my view it was one of the functions of the County Council, as local health authority under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, to provide equipment for use in the home and to make such charges (if any) as they considered reasonable, having regard to the person's means. I should add that the proposed charge of £2 5s., which is made by the County Council, not by the hospital, is for a month.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet received the report of his Standing Advisory Committee on Cancer and Radiotherapy; and whether he will make a statement on the theory that smoking may be a cause of cancer of the lung.

The Committee is meeting today.

asked the Minister of Health what information is available as to the extent to which domestic dogs are carriers of disease.

My right hon. Friend is advised there is little evidence that domestic dogs are commonly responsible for any human disease in this country.

asked the Minister of Health the average length of waiting time for applicants for Medresco hearing aids, over the whole country; what is the average waiting time in the South-West region; and what active steps are being taken in the South-West region to reduce the lengthy waiting time.

The waiting time varies according to the patient's priority and to local circumstances and average figures are not calculable. In the South-West the Regional Hospital Board has recently opened centres at Gloucester, Bath and Taunton, and hopes shortly to strengthen the staff at Exeter and improve the accommodation at Plymouth.

asked the Minister of Health the total cost per child in residential homes for children which come under the jurisdiction of his Department; how many such homes there are; how many children are in these homes; and what is the annual cost to the taxpayer.

The only such homes under my right hon. Friend's jurisdiction are a few institutions for mentally defective children and a few nurseries. They generally form part of a larger institution and separate costs are not available.

asked the Minister of Education if she will arrange to postpone the raising of the charge for school meals from 1st March until some date in the next financial year, in view of the fact that the present charge has formed the base for local education authorities' 1952–53 estimates.

No.

asked the Minister of Education what percentage reduction in children taking school meals she anticipates arising from the increase in charge she proposes to impose as from 1st March.

On the basis of past experience I hope that, if there is any reduction in the number of children taking school meals, it will be slight and temporary.

asked the Minister of Education the average cost to her Department of school meals, per child, at the present time in England and Wales; and if she will give an estimate of the average cost to her Department of school meals, per child, after the increase takes place.

The average net cost to my Department per school dinner served is now 11.55d. After the increase takes place, it would be 9.85d. if demand and the ratio of meals provided free and at a reduced charge remained as at present.

asked the Minister of Education the estimated annual saving expected from the recently-announced increase in the price of school meals in England and Wales.

About £4 million.

asked the Minister of Education the number of classes in Cardiff primary schools with over 40 and 50 children, respectively, on the register; the number of classes in Cardiff secondary schools with over 30 and 40 children, respectively, on the register; and the comparable figures for January, 1951, and 1952.

In January, 1952, which is the latest date for which information is available, there were 248 junior classes in Cardiff with more than 40 pupils on the registers, including 12 classes with more than 50 pupils; there were also 195 senior classes with more than 30 pupils on the registers, including 18 with more than 40 pupils. The comparable figures for January, 1951, were 210, 13, 196 and 20, respectively.

asked the Minister of Education the number of children in Cardiff to whom school admission has been refused during the past year although they have reached five years of age; and the number who have not been admitted until they are five years and one month old or over.

I am informed that no child was required by the local education authority to await admission to a date later than the commencement of the term after the fifth birthday was reached. Information about the precise ages of children admitted to Cardiff primary schools in 1952 is not available.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will now modify her earlier decision, expressed in Circular 245, in order to permit the replacement of bad rural school buildings.

I am unable to modify the decision to which my hon. Friend refers. A limited programme of improvements to such schools is, however, being carried out by local education authorities within the investment allocation which I make to them for minor works.

asked the Minister of Education the number of new schools to be commenced in the County Borough of Sunderland during the year 1953–54: and their location and accommodation.

The authority's building programme for 1953–54 consists of two county infants schools, one for 360 pupils at Red House, Hylton, the other for 240 pupils at Castletown.

asked the Minister of Education why boys and girls at independent schools in the London area are not included in the arrangements for enabling schoolchildren to watch the Coronation procession from the Victoria Embankment.

The selection of children under these arrangements is a matter for the local education authorities in the area of Greater London. I did not consider it practicable to ask them to make special provision for independent schools out of the limited allocation of places available, in view of the great variety and different circumstances of the schools.

asked the Minister of Education how far she is responsible for the provision and control of schools for deaf and dumb children; and what proportion of such establishments receives subvention from her Vote.

Schools aproved by me as special schools for any category of handicapped children may be maintained

asked the Minister of Education, aproximately, how many deaf and dumb children are being educated in special schools in England and Wales; how many are awaiting admission; and what is the average age of admission.

In January, 1952, 3,651 totally deaf children were being educated in schools approved by me as special schools; in December, 1951, 429 deaf children were known to be awaiting admission. I have no information about the average age of admission, but in general the aim is to secure the admission of children born deaf to special schools as soon after the age of two as possible.

asked the Minister of Education the estimated finishing dates, the number of pupils capable of being accommodated, and the capital expenditure in respect of each of the five schools included in the 1953–54 building programme for the Harlow new town which she has recently approved.

The information asked for is contained in the following table:

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that secondary school children from the new town of Harlow are at present being transported daily to and from schools in Chingford, a total distance of 30 miles; that there is danger of primary school children making similar journeys next winter; and what steps she will take to accelerate the completion of schools in the 1953–54 building programme to avoid this situation.

I am aware that this is, unfortunately, necessary in the case of secondary school children. I hope that the early provision of additional temporary accommodation in Harlow will obviate the need for transporting primary school children for more than short distances, if at all. I am satisfied that the local education authority are aware of the urgent need for the new schools to be brought into use, and if there is any help I can usefully give them I shall be very glad to give it.

asked the Minister of Education the total number of boys who at the last convenient date left grammar schools on reaching the age of 16 years without taking the general examination certificate; and how this number compares with the previous year.

Precise information is not available. The numbers of boys aged 15 and 16 leaving grant-aided grammar schools during the educational year ending 31st July, 1951, were 8,929 and 23.255. The corresponding figures for 1950 were 10,834 and 22,316. Nearly all those who left when they were aged 15 would have left without taking the examination for the General Certificate of Education, but the great majority of those who left at a higher age would have taken the examination in selected subjects.

asked the Minister of Education whether her attention has been drawn to a decision by Durham County Council refusing the request of Durham County Territorial Association to allow members of a Cadet Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, about 50 boys. to be absent from school in order to form a guard of honour on the occasion of a visit by Field-Marshal Montgomery: and whether she will send a circular to all local authorities advising them in future to grant such requests where they are clearly reasonable and likely to encourage interest in the local Cadet Force.

Yes, but in view of the answer that I gave on 22nd January to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Major Beamish) I do not think it necessary to send a circular on this matter to all local education authorities. They are already aware that I consider it important that they should give what assistance they can to cadet units.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has studied the Third Report of the National Parks Commission; and whether he will introduce legislation for the setting up of national parks in Scotland in the interests of the Scottish tourist industry.

I regret that I cannot say when it will be possible to introduce legislation for the setting up of National Parks in Scotland. In the meantime, consideration is being given to the various types of developments which may be carried out in the suggested areas under existing powers. The problem of access to the countryside is, of course, not nearly so acute in Scotland as in England because of the difference in the law of trespass between the two countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total cost of publishing the Laidlaw Committee Report on Building Costs in 1948.

The total cost of preparing and publishing the Report was £413 5s. 4d.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is proposed to start with the construction of the jetty at Badlurach to serve the Scorraig Peninsula in Ross-shire.

I hope that it may be possible to start this work in the course of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is proposed to construct a new jetty at Shieldaig in Ross-shire as proposed by the Advisory Panel to the Highlands in their suggested 1949 list of essential piers.

I have authorised acceptance of a tender by the County Council and have offered a grant towards the cost of the work.

asked the Minister of Materials if he is aware that Messrs. Athole G. Allen, Stockton, Limited, have decided for the present not to proceed with the establishment of a barytes plant at Littleburn Estate in the Brandon and Byshottles Urban District Council area of County Durham, due to the delays and lack of encouragement by his Department; why such delays have occurred and what steps he is taking to enable this firm to reconsider their decision.

I have been asked to reply. According to my right hon. Friend's information, Messrs. Athole G. Allen decided not to proceed with this plant on account of the fall in demand for barytes. He has been unable to trace any complaint of particular difficulties. and has no knowledge of delays or lack of encouragement. If Messrs. Allen have difficulties, and will make them known to the Ministry of Materials, they will be given all possible assistance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proportion of chalk, either by weight or by volume, is present in London drinking water.

By chalk my hon. and learned Friend presumably means calcium bicarbonate, the form in which calcium carbonate is held in solution in water. The concentration in London drinking water varies with the source of the water, and to a certain extent with the time of the year, but generally it ranges between 160 and 250 parts per million by weight expressed as calcium carbonate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action has been taken affecting the County Borough of Sunderland following the decision that grants under Section 3 of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945. shall not be made.

The town council have in prospect two new sewerage schemes, which are needed for new houses. I have informed them that no grant will be payable under the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will agree to meet a deputation consisting of the hon. Member for West Ham, North, representatives of the Dutch underground services, Mr. P. Kimber, publisher of the book by Colonel H. J. Criskes, entitled "London Calling North Pole," a copy of which has been forwarded to him, in which allegations of neglect and mistakes on the part of Special Operations Executive, and the British Secret Service during the last war are itemised, to enable them to submit further evidence in connection will these matters and to discuss them with him.

No. As has been made clear in answer to previous Questions, this matter has already been the subject of thorough inquiries by both the Netherlands and British authorities. If, however, the hon. Member believes he has new evidence of substance, my right hon. Friend will be glad to receive it in writing.