asked the Minister of Food what steps his Department takes to ensure that adequate supplies of whole-meal bread, free from adulteration, are available to the public.

Subject to a licence, which is freely granted, any miller may supply wholemeal flour without any additions and bakers are free to meet all demands for bread made from this flour.

asked the Minister of Food what chemical nutrients are required by him to be added to white flour and white loaves, respectively; and under what authority, and for what purpose, this is to be done.

As stated in the White Paper on Decontrol of Cereals and Feedingstuffs (Cmd. 8745), the addition of nutrients to flour is at present under discussion with the trades concerned. An announcement will be made when details have been settled. The purpose of the addition is set out in the White Paper.

asked the Minister of Food approximately how much extra sugar has been made available for the manufacture of confectionery and chocolates, respectively, to meet the extra demand arising from the withdrawal of sweets rationing; and to what extent the end of sweets rationing has prevented an increased allowance of sugar for household purposes.

About 9,000 tons for sweets and chocolates together. This quantity was saved from last year's manufacturing allocations as a whole, and has no relation to the sugar available for household purposes.

asked the Minister of Food why, and under what authority, chalk is added to the National loaf.

Calcium carbonate is added to National flour to ensure that total food supplies provide sufficient calcium to meet nutritional requirements. This is done under Articles 2 and 6 of the Flour Order, 1952, and Article 2 of the Bread Order, 1952.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that in Newcastleupon-Tyne some customers are unable to take their ration of eggs because of the price; that other customers are being offered the surplus eggs in addition to their rations; and what action he proposes to take, both now and when egg rationing is abolished, to ensure fair distribution.

More eggs have been available lately. With better supplies some customers do not buy all the eggs allocated to them, and retailers are then free to offer them to others. The difficulty is inherent in any allocation system, and will disappear with allocation and price control in the spring.

asked the Minister of Food what modifications have been made, or are proposed to be made, to the Sugar Refining Agreement, 1937.

The Sugar Refining Agreement, 1937, was modified in 1940, to conform with conditions under control. A copy of the revised Agreement was placed in the Library in 1949. No further modifications are at present proposed.

asked the Parmentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence the estimated casualties, to the latest convenient date, suffered by the North Korean and Chinese forces since the invasion of South Korea.

The United Nations Command estimate North Korean killed, wounded and prisoners up to 31st January this year to be about 600.000 and Chinese to be about 840.000. Such estimates are subject to a considerable margin of error.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence how many Service personnel have crossed over to the Soviet sector of Germany in the last three years; how many have subsequently returned; and the punishments to which those who did return were subjected.

Fifty-four Service men crossed over to the Soviet Zone of Occupation in Germany during the period in question and 43 have returned. In 13 cases no disciplinary action was taken. Six cases were summarily disposed of by the commanding officer. Twenty-four cases were tried by courts-martial resulting in 15 sentences of detention averaging 51/2 months and six of imprisonment averaging 21 months. One Service man was reduced in rank and one was severely reprimanded. In the single remaining case the soldier concerned was also convicted of charges under the Official Secrets Acts and other offences, and the sentence was 10 years' imprisonment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence to what extent a Service Department accepts responsibility for the safety and suitability of aircraft used for the transport of Service personnel.

The Service Department concerned is responsible for stating requirements for air transport to the Air Ministry. If suitable air transport is available, it has been agreed that the Air Ministry should place air trooping contracts on behalf of all three Service Departments. These contracts are in all cases placed with operators approved by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Government of Mauritius is refusing to introduce a system of pensions to teachers of approved non-Government secondary schools.

The Mauritius Government does not recognise any obligation to initiate a pension scheme for the staff of these non-Government schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what developments have taken place in respect of adjustments or modifications of the existing Sierra Leone Constitution.

The Sierra Leone Legislative Council recently approved a motion that portfolios should now be allocated to Members of the Executive Council. I hope before long to announce what steps are to be taken to give effect to this motion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what revision has taken place in respect of African nurses fully trained in this country to enable them more quickly to be appointed as sisters in West African hospitals and so avoid much hardship and resentment among African nurses.

In Nigeria the period of experience after registration required before appointment as nursing sister has been reduced from three years to two years including training in midwifery. This is also the practice in Sierra Leone. In the Gold Coast the period is four years, but there is a proposal to reduce it to three. In the Gambia the period is three years and a reduction to two is being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what information he has received from the Governor of the Gold Coast, regarding the demand for complete independence; and what party or parties have made this demand.

Last October the Gold Coast Prime Minister invited the chiefs and all parties and groups to submit before April, 1953, their views on constitutional reform. No political party has yet responded. Statements from the Convention People's Party and the Ghana Congress Party, demanding full self-government, have appeared in the Press, but these statements have not been addressed to the Government in response to Dr. Nkrumah's invitation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why members of the Labour Department in Kenya are being used for compulsory registration of Kikuyu working outside the tribal reserves, and, in view of the importance of Africans retaining confidence in the staff of the Labour Department, if he will consider using police for such duties.

The registration of persons of all races under the Registration of Persons Ordinance has been carried out by the Labour Department since 1949 and it is administratively convenient for Kikuyu "History of Employment" cards to be issued at the Labour Department's labour exchanges or offices. It would be a misuse of available manpower to employ the police for this purpose, since they are needed for other urgent duties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give the detailed expenditure on European, Asian and African education in Kenya from the development funds since 1945; and if he will indicate how many European, Asian and African children of school age have benefited from this expenditure.

As details of the expenditure required in the first part of the Question are long, I have placed in the Library a copy of the 1953 Estimates of the Development and Reconstruction Authority; the information is on pages 25-27.Detailed information in the form sought in the second part of the Question may not be readily available, even in Kenya. I am, however, asking the Governor whether it can be conveniently supplied and will write to the hon. Member when I have his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of the Colonial Service in Aden resigned last year, before completion of service of contract, in proportion to the total establishment.

Nine out of 110 in the Senior Service. Thirty-six out of 489 in the Junior Service, excluding artisans. labourers and police rank and file.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of boys entered each year by the Government Secondary School, Aden, for the Cambridge Overseas Schools Certificate in the years 1946-51; and the number passing this examination each year.

The numbers of those entered for and passing the examination are respectively:

• In 1946, 7 and 1.
• In 1947, 6 and 1.
• In 1948, 8 and 4.
• In 1949, 7 and 5.
• In 1950, 12 and 6.
• In 1951, 29 (of whom 12 were entered as an experiment from the commercial section of the school) and 7.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the clerical employees of the Singapore City Council were asked to sign a form containing the promise of a year's bonus, subject to their acceptance of conditions of employment which were not made known to them.

The hon. Member is misinformed. These employees were asked specifically to accept or reject the amendments to their terms of service recommended by the Select Committee on Salaries as set out in their Report. This Report had been made available to all Departments of the council before the acceptance forms were distributed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that Mr. John Eber has been detained on St. John's Island, Singapore, for two years without any charges being preferred against him; and if he will take steps to release this man or give him an opportunity to defend himself against any charges.

I have nothing to add to the replies given to the hon. Members for Croydon, East (Sir H. Williams) and Merthyr Tydvil (Mr. S. O. Davies) on 30th July and 19th November, 1952. The order under which Mr. Eber is detained is about to expire and his case will, therefore, soon be reviewed again.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the villagers of Permatang Tinggi, Malaya, were sent to detention camps in August last; how many of them have been set free; and what were the terms of the declaration which they were asked to sign before they were released.

Sixty-two villagers were detained in August, 1952; 37 have been set free in Malaya: they were not required to sign any declaration before release. Twenty-one were deported to China and four relatives voluntarily accompanied them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he authorised the Northern Rhodesian Government to make a loan of £500,000 available for the cost of the Centenary City for the Rhodes Centenary Exhibition, at a time when the Government had to restrict the vote for African education to £440,000.

The £500,000 made available to the Centenary Exhibition is only a short-term loan due to be repaid by the end of this year. It did not require my authorisation. The African Education Vote is £744,440.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the present number of students at the Co-operative Training School of Northern Rhodesia; and what financial assistance has been given to the school from the African Farming Improvement Fund.

Eleven. No assistance is given from the Farming Improvement Fund. The course is financed entirely from Department funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if an economic and marketing officer has yet been appointed by the Department of Commerce of Uganda; and if this officer will consult the Co-operative Department on the promotion of retail co-operatives.

There are 12 such posts. Last year one of these officers was specifically appointed to deal with problems of African retail trade.I have no doubt that he will consult the Co-operative Department on the issue mentioned in the second part of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies with whom he is arranging consultations for the visiting chiefs from Nyasaland.

I received the deputation and their advisers on 4th February. I made no other arrangements, since they did not come at the instance or under the auspices of Government. They have now returned home.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what progress has been made towards deciding the future of the naval ordnance inspection department.

Considerable progress has been made since I replied to my hon. and gallant Friend's question on 30th July, 1952. It is, however, not yet possible for me to make a statement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what reductions in defence orders have been effected in Scotland in the past two months; and in which areas these reductions have been made.

The reduction of Admiralty orders in Scotland in the two months ended 15th January was very small and was much more than offset by the new orders placed during the same period. Admiralty orders are spread widely through the Scottish shipbuilding and engineering industries and neither new orders nor reductions have been confined to one area.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty his arrangements for the berthing of merchant ships and yachts for the Coronation review; which major merchant ships he expects to be there; and whether he will take into account the large numbers of yachts. of small size, that are likely to wish to attend.

The invitation to the Merchant Navy to take part in the Naval Review was conveyed through the General Council of Shipping. Details will shortly be discussed with representatives of the Council.As far as possible the ships will be berthed in one or other of the lines in which the Fleet is drawn up. An anchorage is being set aside for private yachts, probably in the vicinity of the Ryde Middle Bank and application forms for berths have been distributed to secretaries of yacht clubs throughout the United Kingdom.Completed application forms should be sent to the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, by 1st March, 1953.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, if he will make a statement regarding the explosion that occurred on H.M.S. "Indomitable."

On 3rd February. a petrol explosion occurred in Her Majesty's ship "Indomitable" while aircraft were being refueled on the flight deck during exercises off Malta. I regret that two ratings were killed, four have died as a result of their injuries, one is missing, presumed killed, and 3 officers and 29 other ratings were injured. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing sympathy, on behalf of the Board of Admiralty, with the relatives of those who lost their lives and with those who were injured.There was considerable structural and electrical damage to the ship, but she will be operational on completion of temporary repairs at Malta.The explosion was caused by a leakage of petrol that caught fire. There is no question of sabotage. As is customary, a board of inquiry has been held but, as it took place only yesterday, I have not yet received the report.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what funds are available to help defray the railway fares of next-of-kin who wish to attend the ceremony on 29th April, 1953, when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother will unveil the extension to the Portsmouth Naval Memorial commemorating ranks and ratings of the Port of Portsmouth, who laid down their lives in the 1939-45 war and have no grave but the sea.

No funds are available to the Admiralty, but I understand that the Imperial War Graves Commission, who are responsible for this ceremony, have arranged with the Railway Executive for those attending to get railway tickets at a reduced rate.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to what extent delivery of the goods due to be supplied by Air Industrial Developments, Limited, under his contracts have been delayed by the succession of labour disputes which have taken place in this company; and what action he proposes to take.

Although there have been labour disputes in this firm- and there is one in progress at present involving the clerical staff-the main cause of the delay in deliveries has been the difficulty in obtaining a supply of suitable motors for the paint-spraying equipment from sub-contractors. These motors are now coming forward and the contract is expected to proceed satisfactorily.

The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what instructions have been sent by Her Majesty's Government to commanders of the Royal Naval units in the Far East, in view of the withdrawal of the 7th United States Fleet from Formosa.

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the change in orders to the U.S. Seventh Fleet, which is not, of course, being withdrawn from its present station, and that he has in mind the possible danger to British merchant ships which might arise from action by Chinese Nationalist vessels.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a further increase in the allocation of steel to shipbuilders and ship repairers during the second quarter of 1953

The allocation of steel for shipbuilding in the second quarter of 1953 will be about 6 per cent. higher than in the present quarter. This is about the same rate of increase as has been made progressively each quarter since 1st July, 1952.The requirements of steel for ship repairs have always been a first charge on the total allocation and have been made in full in order to reduce to a minimum the period during which ships must be immobilised.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if, in view of the inadequacy of the weather information broadcast during the weekend of 31st January and 1st February, 1953, he will take steps for the early restoration of the weather service formerly provided by the Airmet broadcasts.

The Airmet service was discontinued because no suitable wavelength, which could be picked up by broadcast receivers, was available for it after the adoption of the Copenhagen Plan in 1950. In any case, it was not a warning service, and listeners had to tune in to it specially. The B.B.C. is not responsible for initiating warnings, but only for broadcasting the information supplied to them.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) during what hours on Coronation day his permission will be given for television to be reproduced through cinema television to theatres equipped for this purpose;(2) whether he is aware that television services will be reproducing a television newsreel of the Coronation for exhibition to viewers in the evening of that day; and whether it will be permissible for theatres to reproduce this also under his special licence.

The collective licence for the showing of television to paying audiences on Coronation day will cover the B.B.C. broadcasts of the Coronation service and of the processions to and from the Abbey. It will also cover the broadcast to be made later in the day from the tele film recording of these spectacles. The B.B.C. will announce in due course the hours to be covered by the broadcasts.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what progress has been made with schemes for the centralised control of telephone calls for taxicabs, which he has recently been considering.

The proposal was that a central control for calls to taxicabs should be established, the control to be operated by the Post Office, and obtained by dialling "TAX." It is not possible for the Post Office to agree to the exclusive use of a dialling code for this purpose, or to undertake the operation of the control, and the sponsor of the scheme has been so advised.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he will make a further statement on the development of helicopters for use in the Highlands and Islands; and what other types of aircraft are suitable for these routes.

Prototypes of the twinengined Mark 3 Bristol 173 will be available to the Ministry of Supply next year and a period of development will then be required before its operational and commercial characteristics can be determined and its suitability for particular routes or areas assessed.With regard to the second part of the Question, no type of aircraft currently available is better suited to routes in the Highlands and Islands than those now being used there. My right hon. Friend is, however, considering with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply what steps can be taken to assist the development of a light aircraft possessing characteristics suited to these routes and an economic performance better than that of the helicopters I have mentioned.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation whether he licensed the York aircraft of Skyways, Limited, for air trooping over the North Atlantic; what was the all-up weight authorised on that licence; and by which route the aircraft were authorised to fly.

No. The certificate or licence referred to by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War in his reply to the hon. Member's Question on 5th February is the certificate of airworthiness and there is no question of licences being required for particular routes.The maximum all-up weight permitted by the certificate of airworthiness of these York aircraft is 70,000 lb.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the sabotage to passenger air liners at Liverpool airport on 2nd and 6th February.

There have been two reports of water being found in aircraft fuel tanks at Liverpool Airport. Investigations are still proceeding and the police have been called in.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what final settlement has been made in respect to Burma's debt to Britain.

My right hon. Friend has asked me to say that he has nothing to add to the answer which I gave the hon. Member on 8th December last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of American aid will be received by Her Majesty's Government during the year ending 30th June, 1953; and how much of this is for purposes of defence.

The amount of economic aid allotted to the U.K. for the U.S. fiscal year ending on 30th June, 1953, is $400 million, including $42 million which has been received under the Katz-Gaitskell Agreement (Cmd. 8020). Our receipts of economic aid in the year ended 30th June, 1953, are expected to be between $350 million and $400 million arising out of the allotments for the U.S. fiscal years 1952-53 and prior years. This aid is given to us to support our economy and hence our defence programme.

We are also receiving reimbursement of the cost of machine tools purchased from U.S.A. for the defence programme. Our receipts under this head in the year to 30th June, 1953, are expected to be about $50 million.

In addition, we are receiving aid in kind, that is, in the form of military equipment.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what duty and tax were charged on a consignment of clothing brought to this country for the relief of flood victims by an Italian singer, particulars of which have been sent to him; and whether, under his regulations duty and tax are generally chargeable in similar cases where relief goods are brought in for charitable organisations such as the Women's Voluntary Service.

Under a standing concession, neither duty nor tax is charged on goods (other than tobacco, alcoholic liquor and playing cards) sent as gifts to a charitable organisation such as the Women's Voluntary Service for free distribution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and women were enrolled in the Civil Defence during 1952.

In Great Britain during 1952, 30,709 men and 55,703 women, a total of 86,412, joined the Civil Defence Corps, Auxiliary Fire Service and the National Hospital Service Reserve. They were distributed as follows:

(i) ENGLAND AND WALES
	Men	Women	Total
Civil Defence Corps	25,089	40,683	65,772
Auxiliary Fire Service	2,657	692	3,349
National Hospital Service Reserve	801	9,404	10,205
Totals	28,547	50,779	79,326

(ii) SCOTLAND
	Men	Women	Total
Civil Defence Corps	1,732	3,022	4,754
Auxiliary Fire Service	84	35	119
National Hospital Service Reserve	346	1,867	2,213
Totals	2,162	4,924	7,086

I regret that no figures are available for enrolment in industrial civil defence units.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet received a report on the rescue of the s.s. "Clan MacQuarrie," which went ashore on the Isle of Lewis during the night of 30th January.

Yes. I am glad to say that despite the very adverse weather conditions-wind of hurricane force with snow and hail which greatly reduced the visibility-H.M. coastguard, with the assistance of the life saving company and a number of local helpers, succeeded in rescuing the master and crew of the vessel, 66 men all told, by breeches buoy. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing our appreciation of the gallant conduct of all concerned in this rescue operation.

asked the Minister of Works whether he can now make a statement about licences for rebuilding Central London.

Yes. The Government have decided that licences may be granted for a number of projects to a total value of £10 million in Central London. Most of the schemes selected are those which will bring benefit to the balance of pay- ments and the majority of the buildings will be in the City. Many of the schemes will provide employment for stonemasons.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if his regulations provide that the Forces Family Pensions Scheme should apply equally to widows of officers and other ranks who served in the Indian Army.

Existing regulations do not provide for the inclusion of the Indian Army in any pensionary benefits sanctioned by Her Majesty's Government for the British Army, but I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the widows of officers and warrant officers of the Indian Armed Forces whose pensions are governed by the same rules as apply to the corresponding British Services will receive the benefits of the new rules and regulations recently published.