asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements the continuing body has made regarding members of the staff of the Clothing Development Council.

I understand that on 4th February, in accordance with a notification made on their behalf shortly before Christmas, the new Joint Clothing Council offered employment up to the end of March, 1953, at their previous salaries to all the staff of the Clothing Industry Development Council available to receive the offer. I understand also that the new council have indicated that they hope to be able to offer permanent employment to the majority of the stall

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of exports of antique silver in 1938 and 1951. respectively.

I regret that I cannot provide this information, since exports of antique silver are not separately recorded in the official trade statistics

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons, men and women, were employed at the Advance Factories, Maesteg, at the following dates: January and July, 1951 and 1952, and January, 1953, respectively.

I regret that I cannot give the total number of persons employed by the two occupants of these factories, since that would, in effect, disclose information about individual undertakings.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons, men and women, were employed at the Bridgend Trading Estate at the following dates: January and July, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952, and January, 1953, respectively.

Employment in the factories on the Bridgend Trading Estate on the dates mentioned was as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to provide the financial incentives for installation of domestic solid-fuel burning appliances of high thermal efficiency in accordance with Recommendation No. 9 and paragraph 150 of the Report of the Ridley Committee on National Policy for the use of Fuel and Power Resources.

Only those parts of Recommendation 9 which relate to credit policy and tax liability are matters primarily for my right hon. Friend. So far as the former is concerned, my right hon. Friend is not at present convinced that its merits outweigh its disadvantages. As regards the latter, my hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my right hon Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will provide a return showing for each administrative county in England and Wales and in Scotland the valuation of the agricultural land therein for Schedule A of the Income Tax, agricultural land meaning that land which at present enjoys exemption or relief from local taxation;(2) if he will provide a statement showing the present Income Tax Schedule A valuation of all the land in England and Wales and in Scotland which enjoys relief from local taxation because it comes within the definition of agricultural land.

The answer to both Questions is, No. The information asked for is not readily available and could not be obtained without undue expenditure of time and money.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of Purchase Tax paid on all types of jewellery for the calendar year 1952.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to him on 5th February, 1953.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make a statement about the distribution of ex-enemy assets in the United Kingdom following on the Treasury announcement of 28th July, 1952.

Consultations on this subject with organisations representing the interests of claimants against Rumania, Hungary and Bulgaria are still in progress.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, although veterinary surgeons, doctors, dentists and midwives have been exempted under the Road and Rail Traffic Act (Exemptions) Regulations, 1951, from the necessity of obtaining a carrier's licence for their utility vehicles when used for carrying medicines, drugs and instruments for use in their professional work, these vehicles are still subjected to the higher rate of Road Fund duty irrespective of ownership and use: and whether, in view of the difficulty for such persons in obtaining small lower-taxed private cars in substitution, he will take steps to ensure that the utility vehicles in question qualify for private vehicle taxation rates.

Under Section 5 of the Vehicles (Excise) Act, 1949, and Section 7 of the Finance Act, 1952, vehicles constructed or adapted for the conveyance of goods must pay duty as goods vehicles if used to convey goods for hire or reward or in connection with a trade or business. I have of course no power to exempt particular classes from the general law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the scarcity of one shilling coins in Birkenhead, and the difficulty occasioned thereby to people who need such coins for slot meters; and if he will instruct the Mint to take appropriate action to effect a remedy.

If the banks cannot meet local demands, they will, as usual, apply to their head offices, to whom the Mint recently issued supplies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the revenue in the financial years 1949-50 and 1950-51 from stamp duty on the sale of houses valued at f2,500 and under.

I regret that this information is not available. The yield of stamp duty in respect of conveyances on sale of lands and houses where the consideration did not exceed f1,500 was f2,128,000 in 1949-50 and f2,167,000 in 1950-51, but no records are kept which would enable a division to be made at any other point.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that duty has been charged on clothing brought to this country by visitors from Italy for the flood victims; and whether he will refund all sums already charged, and exempt such gifts from tax in future.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for King's Lynn (Commander Scott-Miller) on 11th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, when framing his Budget, he will devise specific measures to arrest the decline in the purchasing power of the £ sterling.

My right hon. Friend cannot anticipate his Budget statement, but I can assure my hon. Friend that maintaining the strength and stability of the fsterling is one of the principal objects of the Government's economic policy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, in considering the Museum and Gallery Estimates for 1953-54, he will allow a grant sufficient to enable museums and galleries to restore supervisory and attendant staff which they were obliged to cut owing to the inadequacy of their grant in 1952.

In view of the pressing need for economy in Government expenditure and manpower there can be no question of an automatic restoration of the staff cuts. As my right hon. Friend stated on the 21st October, 1952, increases of staff to provide for the normal opening of the Tate Gallery and the Wallace Collection were authorised last year. In authorising staff for this year my right hon. Friend has considered the case of each museum and gallery on its merits, bearing in mind, in particular, the desirability, in Coronation Year, of enabling the authorities concerned to restore public facilities to their previous level. Details of the provision proposed will be found in the Estimates to be published next month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of land classed as agricultural land have been lost to agriculture during the last 12 months.

During the 12 months ended 4th June, 1952, the total area of crops and grass, and rough grazings in sole occupation, in England and Wales, decreased by some 22,000 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of agricultural land have been taken for purposes other than the production of food during each of the last six years.

The figures for net losses of agricultural land in England and Wales for each of the six years up to June, 1952, are given below. These figures are derived from the Annual Returns rendered by farmers and are subject to a certain degree of error.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what plans he has for area clearance schemes for rabbits.

County branches of the National Farmers' Union and Country Landowners' Association have been urged to collaborate with county agricultural executive committees in organising schemes for clearing rabbits from suitable areas through concerted action by farmers and landowners. Some 400 schemes have been brought into operation during the past two years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will take the necessary steps to remove rabbits from the provisions of the game laws.

Amending legislation on the lines suggested is not likely to result in any significant increase in the number of rabbits destroyed, but the proposal will be kept in mind for consideration with any future legislation dealing with rabbits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action he is prepared to take to protect the members of a Newcastle-upon-Tyne allotment association, who have been given notice without the offer of any alternative site, and about which representations have been made to him.

As the hon. Member has already been informed this land is privately owned, and I have no power to protect these allotment holders from a notice to quit. I understand that Newcastle City Council will try to provide alternative plots.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, if a farmer obtains a grant under the marginal production scheme, he is not entitled to charge for his own personal labour; and, since this Regulation creates hardship for the small farmer, whether he will give instructions that personal labour should be permitted as a charge in these schemes.

The present practice accords with the general principle that the Government will make grants only on expenditure that is actually incurred. I cannot therefore see my way to make the change my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of common land there are in Wales and Glamorgan, respectively; whether he is satisfied with their condition; and what steps he proposes to take in cases where the standard of husbandry does not excel that of a Grade C farmer.

There are no reliable statistics of the acreage of common land. The area in Wales is probably about 500,000 acres, and in Glamorgan about 50,000 acres. I cannot say that I am satisfied with their condition, but commons cannot usually be cultivated or fenced, so the rules of good husbandry do not apply.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many improvement schemes approved under the Hill Farming and Livestock Rearing Acts have related solely to the supply of electricity.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the number of pupils at the Somerset County Farm Institute, Cannington; and what grant was paid to the institute in 1951-52.

The Somerset Farm Institute has 53 students in residence this session as well as the pupils attending day and evening courses of various lengths. The grant paid for 1951-52 was f15,950.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to ensure that the best available advice is being given to farmers, whose land has been flooded by sea water, as to cropping their arable land and as to the expected effect on yields from their pastures over this and the next few years.

Advice on the restoration of flooded land will be freely available through the National Agricultural Advisory Service and the county agricultural executive committees. Already wide publicity has been given to the importance of clearing ditches at the earliest opportunity, so as to minimise the accumulation of salt in the soil. It has also been stressed that no tillage operations should be attempted until the soil has been examined and analysed, since premature attempts at tillage may have extremely harmful and long-lasting effects on the texture of the soil. The soil analytical service has been organised to deal with large numbers of samples, which will be taken as soon as the land is fit. A start has already been made in the East Riding and in Kent.Experience in the restoration of flooded farmland on the Island of Walcheren and also in the Dunkirk area provides valuable guidance on the best means of restoration, and this experience will be fully used. In particular, applications of gypsum are known to accelerate the process of restoration. The time required to clear sufficient salt from the land for arable crops to be grown, depends on the length of time the land has been under salt water, the type of soil and the amount of subsequent rainfall. Pastures will be less seriously affected than arable land.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will endeavour to secure more troops, amphibious craft and pumps for use in those areas where many thousands of acres of good agricultural land are under sea water.

The available resources of men, amphibious craft and equipment of all kinds have been mobilised and are being used in the coastal areas to the maximum practicable extent so that the breaches may be sealed and made secure at the earliest possible moment and the land cleared of sea water.

asked the Minister of Food if he will take emergency measures to provide food for cattle wherever it is required in flooded areas, and for the time being see that delay does not occur owing to owners not possessing any necessary coupons.

I have been asked to reply.All necessary steps have been taken in my Department and the Ministry of Food to release rationed feedingstuffs without delay to farmers requiring them as a result of the recent floods.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has yet decided whether owners of livestock killed by the flood or which will have to be slaughtered due to the flooding, will receive compensation, and upon what basis it will be determined.

I am not in a position to add to what my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department told the House yesterday. The whole question of compensation is under urgent consideration, and an announcement of the Government's intentions will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will send to the hon. Member for Orpington a list of the names and addresses of the 88 farmers who were dispossessed in 1952; and if he will also place a copy in the Library of the House.

Yes. I will send in confidence to the hon. Member, and any other hon. Member who asks for it, the list that he desires; but I think it undesirable also to place a copy in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will invite to an early meeting in London, Ministers responsible for fisheries in Belgium, Denmark, Eire, France, Germany, Holland, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Spain and Sweden, to consider and decide on immediate action to stop over fishing and to protect fishing grounds thereafter by annual fishing prohibition during spawning seasons or by quantitative control.

The prevention of overfishing in the waters which are exploited by the fleets of the countries of Northern and Western Europe is the object of the Overfishing Convention of 1946, to which those countries are parties. I am glad to be able to say that the Convention has now been ratified by all the signatories and will, therefore, enter into force on 5th April this year, by which date general effect is expected to have been given to the provisions concerning the 'retention, landing and sale of immature fish. The provisions for increasing the minimum size of mesh of nets will not be generally introduced at that date, as most countries require time to use up stocks of existing nets.All the countries which are parties to the Convention have, therefore, been invited to send representatives to a meeting in London early next month to discuss that matter and the setting up of the Permanent Commission for which the Convention provides and which will have the task of considering what further conservation measures may be required.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of woodland and other land in Wales, owned by the Forestry Commission, are not used for afforestation.

The area at the disposal of the Forestry Commission in

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist to provide adequate warning to those whose homes may be imperilled in the event of floods; whether he is satisfied that those arrangements operated satisfactorily during the recent flooding; and whether he will now review these arrangements in the light of recent experience.

As I have already indicated in the statements I have made to the House, there has been no general warning system in operation in the past, except in the Thames Estuary Wales, but not used for afforestation, is 67,000 acres. Of this total 20,000 acres will be left in agriculture, 9,000 acres are unplantable, and 38,000 acres are awaiting planting.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to name the number, location, size and date of acquisition of State forests situated in the mining valleys of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.

The information is as follows: and the London area, but I gave particulars yesterday of an emergency flood warning scheme which is now in operation in the areas affected by the recent floods.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the work done during the floods by the Civil Defence services and the Civil Defence Corps in particular.

Full details of the work carried out by the Civil Defence Services as such are not yet available; but I have learnt with pride and gratitude that in the stricken areas members of all sections of the Corps have been helping in the work of relief and first-stage restoration wherever they have been needed, and that offers of help have been received from a number of Corps authorities not immediately concerned. Many of the teams manning the rest and reception centres consist of members of the welfare section of the Corps who are also members of the W.V.S. and other voluntary aid societies; as also are those of the personnel operating the food flying squads and helping in emergency feeding generally. Fire brigades in the affected areas have rendered valuable assistance and reinforcements to these areas have been made from regular brigades in other parts of the country. Outside the affected areas, about 1,600 regular firemen are standing by with pumps and equipment ready to move in to render any necessary assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to make regulations under Section 3 of the Cremation Act, 1952, prescribing the fees which may be charged in respect of the issue of medical certificates.

I hope that it will be possible to make satisfactory arrangements in regard to this matter without the use of statutory powers and consultations with this object in view are still proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will remit the Excise penalty of f20 each, imposed by the Gundleton, Lancashire, magistrates on 3rd February, in addition to a fine of 10s., plus 10s. costs, with advocates' fee of f4 4s. on three men charged with being in pursuit of game.

I am making inquiries about this case and will write to the hon. Member as soon as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet in a position to make a statement that agreement has been reached regarding the implementation of Part II of the Oaksey Committee Report dealing with negotiating machinery on pay and conditions in the police force.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement. I have, however, had further discussions with representatives of English and Welsh local authorities, and the matter is to be considered again at an early meeting of the Police Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation during the present Session to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Betting, particularly as to spreading football pool prizes by limiting them to f20,000 and by compelling promoters to publish their accounts.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 11th December to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Brigadier Clarke).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the results of his inquiry into alleged malpractices at an examination conducted by the Metropolitan Police Force.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that he is having an inquiry made into allegations that certain police officers who sat for the recent examination for promotion from constable to sergeant had prior knowledge of the questions. This inquiry is not yet complete, but on the information so far available the Commissioner has decided that, in fairness to all concerned, there is no alternative to the holding of a fresh examination.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of dockers unemployed at the latest convenient stated date; how this compares with a similar date in 1951; and whether he will state similar figures for each of the ports.

In the week ending 31st January, 1953, the average daily number of registered dock workers surplus to requirements was 9,508 or 12.5 per cent. of the totals on the registers; the figure for the week ending 27th January, 1951, was 3,294 or 5.1 per cent. I will send the hon. Member figures for individual ports or groups of ports.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a further statement on the position of unemployment in the docks, with particular reference to the alteration in the National Dock Labour scheme and the number of dockers that have, to the latest convenient date, requested their release under the revision of this scheme recently announced by his Department.

Although there has been some improvement in recent weeks, the number of registered dock workers surplus to requirements continues at a relatively high level. During the four weeks since the revision of the release scheme, 281 dockers were released by the National Dock Labour Board, bringing the total released under their scheme to 628.

asked the Minister of Health if he will recommend to the Whitley Council that charges made to matrons and assistant matrons for living accommodation should be individually assessed and not levied according to a fixed scale as at present.

No. Uniform charges for board, lodging and laundry have been agreed by both sides of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council to be the most equitable and workable arrangement.

asked the Minister of Health if the young man, details of whose case have been sent to him, was a certified mental case; if he is aware that this man was called up while on licence from the Bristol Mental Colony and served four weeks' satisfactory service, being reclaimed two days before he was due to pass out from his training centre; and if he will examine this case, with a view to discharging him from the colony.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. I am aware that he served about four weeks' military service. I am informed that it would not be in his best interests to discharge him at the present time from the order and that the possibility of licensing him again to the care of his family is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health how many mental cases of an urgent character await admission into hospital in the county of Kent.

124 mental defectives and 18 persons suffering from mental illness.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will recommend the appointment of hospital receptionists, in suitable cases, in view of the report of the Central Health Services Council on the Reception and Welfare of In-Patients in Hospitals.

I have already commended to hospital authorities the recommendations in the report.

asked the Minister of Health the extent of the error in the figures for population as estimated for the middle of 1951 on the basis of the 1931 Census, as compared with the figures based upon the Census of April, 1951.

Population estimates are prepared in the light of all the relevant information available at the time of their preparation. The Census, 1951 (England and Wales), Preliminary Report showed that the total population enumerated on 8th April was 76,000 less than the estimate for that date. There was no estimate of the population at mid-1951 based on the 1931 Census.

asked the Minister of Health what financial saving he now estimates will result from the charges imposed under the Health Service Act, 1952; how much of this saving results from a fall in use of the services concerned; and how the savings compare with the estimates originally given.

The estimated amount of the charges paid or to be paid in 1952-53 by patients in England and Wales under the 1952 Act is about f2 million. In addition, while figures to enable a complete estimate to be made are not available, the reduction in the demand for dental treatment and for hospital appliances for which charges are made compared with the previous year is estimated to show a saving of about fl3/4 million. Comparisons cannot usefully be made with estimates framed in the expectation that the charges would operate for a full year and before modifications in the original proposals were made.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the provision of bone-conduction hearing aids.

First consignments have already been sent to the hospitals distributing aids.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied, after taking the advice of the Medical Research Council and the Agricultural Research Council, that there will be no risk to the public if the use of penicillin and other therapeutic substances is freely allowed in the feeding of pigs and other livestock; and, particularly, whether any traces of these substances could remain in meat supplied to the public.

My right hon. Friend is advised that there would be no risk to the public if penicillin and certain other antibiotics were included, in suitable controlled quantities, in the diet of fattening pigs and possibly table poultry. He is also advised that the quantities needed would be minute-of the order of 2-20 parts in a million and that there would remain in the meat no traces of a kind that would entail any risk to the consumer.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now make a statement about the future of the five remaining day nurseries in Kent.

I cannot yet add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 5th February.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is satisfied that adequate provision exists for the education of children suffering from physical disabilities.

Although day special school provision is reasonably adequate there is still a serious shortage of boarding places for severely physically handicapped children. Proposals to meet this deficiency receive a high priority In building programmes.

asked the Minister of Education (1) when she contemplates bringing forward legislation to amend the Teachers' (Superannuation) Act, 1925;(2) what proposals she is at present considering for the alteration of the teachers' rate of contribution to superannuation.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement about the amendment of the Teachers' (Superannuation) Acts, including the rate of contribution provided for therein.

asked the Minister of Education how the teachers' rate of contribution to superannuation compares with the rates of other public servants who contribute to similar pension schemes under Government arrangements.

The rate of contribution for teachers under the Teachers' (Superannuation) Acts is 5 per cent. Comparable rates in other public services are -local government officers 6 per cent., except for certain officers to whom the Local Government and Other Officers Superannuation Act, 1922, applied, who pay 5 per cent.; officers in the National Health Service, 6 per cent.; firemen, 5 per cent.; policemen, 5 per cent.; policewomen, 4½ per cent.

asked the Minister of Education the number of secondary school classes with over 40 pupils; and the number with over 50 pupils, for the latest convenient date.

In January, 1952, there were 3,153 classes with more than 40 pupils, and 45 with more than 50 pupils on the registers of maintained and assisted secondary schools in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Education the number of primary school classes with over 40 pupils; the number with over 50 pupils; and the number with over 60 pupils for the latest convenient date.

In January, 1952, there were 35,873 classes with more than 40 pupils, 1,195 with more than 50 pupils and 11 with more than 60 pupils on the registers of maintained primary schools in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Education why she proposes to cut the grants for adult education made to the University Council for Adult Education and the Workers' Educational Association by 10 per cent.

asked the Minister of Education why she has imposed a cut of 10 per cent. on the grants to adult education organisations in the next academic year; and what is the anticipated saving.

asked the Minister of Education why she has made the recent cut in the grant to the Workers' Educational Association.

My Department's grants for this work have increased very rapidly in the period since the war. In my view it is reasonable in the present situation to propose a small reduction. The saving in a full year will be about f34,000.

asked the Minister of Education what steps she is taking to encourage adult education.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the general further education of adults. Local education authorities and other bodies concerned are well aware of the importance which I attach to technical and vocational education, and there has been a welcome and significant increase in the number of adults attending part-time day and evening classes in establishments of further education. In particular, there has been a rapid development of classes in foremanship and management studies. There has also been an increase in classes for liberal studies, but owing to the economic situation I have found it necessary this year to propose a reduction in my grants to voluntary bodies providing such studies.

asked the Minister of Education whether her attention has been called to the opposition to the Government's plan to cut by 10 per cent. the direct grant to universities for adult education purposes; and whether she will refrain from imposing cuts which save small sums of money at the expense of education and cultural activities.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, Yes. I do not accept the implications of the second part of the Question, and I have explained the reason for making my proposals in my answer to previous Questions.

asked the Minister of Education what consultations she held with the responsible bodies before making the recent cut of 10 per cent. in the grant for adult education payable to university extra-mural departments; and what were her reasons for doing so.

Officers of my Department held informal discussions with representatives of the Universities Council for Adult Education and of the Workers' Educational Association so that I might have a clearer idea of the probable effects on the work of these bodies of any reduction in the grants paid to them by my Department. I shall be discussing my proposals further with these organisations in the very near future. On the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Test (Dr. King).

asked the Minister of Education to indicate the number of school places which it is estimated will be required in the new town of Harlow at the beginning of each term in the school years 1953 to 1956, specifying the figures for primary and secondary places separately.

On the best assumptions that can be made at present about the number of children per house and the rate of completing houses, it is estimated that the following number of primary and secondary places will be required in Harlow by the dates shown:

asked the Minister of Education to indicate the capital expenditure estimated for primary and secondary schools to be built in the year 1953-54 in the county of Essex, excluding the expenditure for the new towns of Harlow and Basildon.

The authority's main building programme for 1953-54 allows for capital expenditure of f1,775,550 on new primary and secondary schools in the administrative county of Essex, excluding Harlow and Basildon.

asked the Minister of Education what percentage of the total expenditure of local education authorities was borne by grant from her Department in each of the last three years from which accounts are available.

Based on the authorities' pre-audit returns of net expenditure on Ministry of Education services, the percentages for the three years 1949-50, 1950-51 and 1951-52 are 61.04, 60.55 and 60.70 respectively. In the case of the main grant services (i.e. services other than those carrying a special rate of grant like the school dinner and milk-in-schools services) the percentages are 56.25, 56.45 and 57, respectively.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) what measures he is taking to make available to Canadian television services films, tele-films and other television programme material produced in this country;(2) the cost of our broadcasting and other information services to Canada; and what proportion of this cost relates to the supply of programme material for the Canadian television programmes.

The total cost of British Information Services to Canada in the current year, excluding the B.B.C., is approximately f68,000. The B.B.C.'s General Overseas Service and North American Service are available to Canada in common with several other countries, but the cost in relation to Canada cannot effectively be separately identified.As regards television, the position is that, of the films produced or acquired by the Central Office of Information, those suitable for the purpose are always offered to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation at print cost. The B.B.C. have supplied to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation a number of films and tele-films from those produced for the Home Television Service, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation defraying all the costs involved in the supply of the films for Canadian use. The B.B.C. will continue to offer such films on the same basis to the C.B.C. but it is anticipated that the number will be relatively small. The importance of ensuring that television systems in the Commonwealth are able to obtain programme-material of United Kingdom origin is recognised and the general question is under examination.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now able to state the extent to which members of the Territorial Army, both male and female, will take part in the Coronation procession, and in lining the streets on that day.

The representation of the Territorial Army and the Army Emergency Reserve will be 196 officers and 1,048 other ranks in the procession and 215 officers and 4,123 other ranks lining the route. Of those in the procession five officers and 28 other ranks will be drawn from the Women's Royal Army Corps and the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects the new British rifle to be manufactured in such large quantities that it will be possible to begin issuing it to the troops.

I can give no estimate of the date on which the new rifle will be available in quantity, since a decision on its production will not be taken until the current trials of ammunition are completed and a decision on the standard round is taken.

asked the Minister of Food if agreement has now been reached with the Queensland Government to wind up the affairs of the Queensland British Food Corporation.

Yes. The Queensland Government and I have decided to accept the recommendations made to us by the Corporation in their report of 4th August last. The Corporation recommend that as they can foresee no commercial future for the scheme in its present form, the large scale cultivation of crops should be abandoned until a satisfactory agricultural technique has been established on a farm scale. They suggest that the experimental work for which this calls should be under local direction and not under the direction of a Corporation responsible to two Governments which is under statutory obligation to operate commercially.The Queensland Government and I are agreed that the attempt to intensify agricultural production in Central Queensland will best be served by accepting the Corporation's report. The Corporation will accordingly be wound up with retrospective effect from 30th September, 1952, the end of the last financial year, and work undertaken after that date will be the responsibility of the Queensland Government.All the assets and liabilities of the Corporation at the date of its winding up will be transferred to the Queensland Government who, in return, have undertaken to pay to the United Kingdom Government a sum of

asked the Minister of Food how much of the food subsidies in the current year is paid on account of home-produced food; and how much on account of imports.

About 77 per cent. on home production and 23 per cent. on imports.

asked the Minister of Food the total consumption of meat in Great Britain during the years 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1952, respectively; and how these amounts were distributed

asked the Minister of Food the percentage of cereal feedingstuffs for livestock which is imported.

The following table shows the total issues of carcase and canned corned meat in Great Britain from 1946 to 1952 inclusive, and also how these quantities are estimated to have been distributed:

Of the estimated total consumption of cereal feedingstuffs in 1952 about 40 per cent. was imported or derived from imported materials.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what further action is being taken by the Atmospheric Pollution Research Committee arising from the heavy mortality in the London area caused by the fog last December.

None. The Committee is essentially an advisory body concerned with the collection of data on atmospheric pollution and with the researches into its measurement and prevention undertaken by the Fuel Research Organisation of D.S.I.R.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, who are the members of the Atmospheric Pollution Research Committee; how often it has met during the past year; and how much has been spent on this research during the past year.

The membership of the Atmospheric Pollution Research Committee, which met twice during the past year, is as follows:—

Independent Members:

• Professor O. G. Sutton, C.B.E., D.Sc., F.R.S. (Chairman) (Dean of the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham).
• J. K. Best, F.R.I.C. (Cadbury Bros. Ltd.).
• J. F. Clark, M.Sc., A.R.C.S., D.I.C. (City Analyst, Liverpool).
• Dr. H. E. Crossley, M.Sc., A.R.I.C. (British Electricity Authority).
• Dr. G. M. B. Dobson, C.B.E., F.R.S. (Professor of Physics and Climatology, University of Oxford).
• G. Nonhebel, B.Sc., F.R.I.C., M.I.Chem.E. (Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd.).
• C. J. Regan, B.Sc., F.R.I.C. (Chemist in Chief, Public Health Department, London County Council).
• Professor R. J. Sarjant, O.B.E., D.Sc. (Professor of Fuel Technology, University of Sheffield).

Official Members:

• Air Ministry (Meteorological Office).
• Dr. A. H. R. Goldie, C.B.E., M.A., F.R.S.E.
• Dr. F. Pasquill.

Ministry of Supply:

• H. L. Green (Chemical Defence Experimental Station. Porton).

Ministry of Fuel and Power:

• Dr. C. Forrester. F.R.I.C., F.R.S.E.
• Ministry of Housing and Local Government:
• W. A. Damon, C.B.E., F.R.I.C., M.I.Chem.E.

The cost, during the past year, of the work of the Fuel Research Organisation in the field of atmospheric pollution was approximately £33,000.

asked the Minister of Works if he is satisfied that cement manufacturing facilities in the United Kingdom are adequate to meet the demands that will arise from the rebuilding of sea defences without reducing the supplies for other domestic purposes and for the export trade.

It is not yet possible to assess the demand for cement for rebuilding sea defences or to say when substantial supplies will be required.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the Barmouth Urban District Council has been crippled financially as the result of carrying out sea defence works at a cost of f180,000; that a further scheme, to cost f26,000, cannot be undertaken, due to heavy commitments; and if he will consider amending the Coast Protection Act, 1949, so that the work of construction and maintenance will be accepted as a national charge.

I am aware that the expenditure on sea defence by Barmouth Urban District Council entails a heavy burden on their rates. They are however receiving contributions both from the Merioneth County Council and the Exchequer in aid of the major scheme. I am ready to consider the further scheme for grant under the Coast Protection Act, 1949. I cannot however undertake to introduce legislation on the lines suggested.

asked the Minister of Materials, in view of the difficult situation that has arisen in respect to the supply of domestic hides and calf skins with the consequent increase in the price of leather, if he will take action reinstitute ceiling prices.

No. Supplies of domestic hides and calf skins always decline at this season of the year, and current leather prices show no advance on those at this time last year.