asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he proposes to take to increase the present inadequate supplies of house coal available to distributors in Aylesbury and district.

I am making inquiries into the position and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what grants have been made by his Department to the National Coal Board under Section 11 of the Coal Mining (Subsidence) Act, 1950, since the passage of the Act.

£500,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will ascertain from the United Nations organisation the number of United Nations troops killed, wounded, missing and taken prisoner since the truce negotiations commenced; the estimated number of South Korean civilians killed and injured during the same period; and the official estimated losses of the North Koreans and Chinese, including those killed on Koje Island for the same period.

I am obtaining the information required and will communicate further with the hon. Gentleman.

the Minister of Food the annual tonnage of unrationed bacon and ham available to the domestic consumer and to catering establishments, respectively; and what is the proportion of these combined items as a percentage of our total annual tonnage of bacon and ham.

For the 18 weeks ended 31st January, 34,400 tons of unrationed bacon and ham were available to domestic consumers and caterers taken together. I regret I cannot say what proportion went to caterers. 34,400 tons represents about 18 per cent. of the total distribution of bacon and ham in the 18 weeks.

asked the Minister of Food if he will allow extra sugar to the housewife during the forced rhubarb season in view of the large amount being wasted because of sugar shortage.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the traffic congestion in the City of London and the West End, he will restrict the use of horse-drawn vehicles.

There are restrictions on horse-drawn traffic in a number of important streets in the City of London and the West End and I am at present considering with the Commissioners of Police whether these restrictions ought to be extended.

asked the Minister of Transport what subsidies are now being paid to coastal shipping companies.

The only subsidy is that paid to David MacBrayne, Limited, for the maintenance of certain transport services in the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

asked the Minister of Transport what has been the percentage increase in London Transport passenger fares since 1947; and how this compares with increases in passenger fares in other sections of the British Transport Commission's undertakings.

There are numerous categories of passenger fares on the London Transport Executive's services and on the other sections of the British Transport Commission's undertakings, all of which have changed in different ways since 1947. In broad terms, the increases have been an average of about 30 per cent. on London Transport and between 20 per cent. and 30 per cent. in the case of road passenger companies outside London owned by the Commission.On British Railways, after making allowance for the extension of cheap fares facilities, the average increase is about 10 per cent. but we must remember that compared with 1939 fares on British Railways are up by nearly 90 per cent. while London Transport fares have risen by about 70 per cent.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects the Thesiger Committee, which is inquiring into the operation of the provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, relating to the licensing of public road passenger services, will be submitting their report.

The Committee is making good progress, but it is not yet able to say when its Report will be submitted. The Committee's progress has been somewhat retarded because some of the more important representative bodies in this field have necessarily required a rather long time for preparing their representations.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement, giving an estimate of the effect of the Schuman Plan for coal and steel on the volume of trade at the South Wales ports in general, and Cardiff, in particular.

It would be difficult at this stage to forecast in any detail the results of the Schuman Plan, but I see no reason why the Plan should have adverse effects on the volume of trade in coal and steel at the South Wales ports.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will make a statement about the estimated effect of the Schuman Plan for steel on European markets, now supplied by Welsh mills, and on the volume of trade at the South Wales ports.

It is too early to tell what the effect will be.

asked the Minister of Supply how many types of aircraft and guided projectiles are now on the superpriority list.

Eleven aircraft types and all guided weapons.

asked the Minister of Supply what tenders he received for bulk supplies in the United Kingdom, during 1951–, of motor spirit; how far these prices were competitive; what was the quantity and cost of motor spirit supplied: and what action he is taking to ensure competitive tenders in future.

It is not the practice to publish precise information about quantities and prices in Government contracts. However, in view of the fact that this matter has been referred to in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General. I am prepared to inform the hon. Member that the tenders received were all at the maximum controlled prices less rebates for bulk supplies. I shall continue to invite tenders from as wide a field as possible.

asked the Minister of Supply the profit or loss, per capita, of canteens run by his Department in the last convenient accounting period.

In the financial year 1951–52 receipts exceeded expenditure by rather less than ½d. per head per week. This does not include expenditure on certain overheads and services which, in accordance with normal industrial practice, are not charged to canteen accounts.

asked the Minister of Supply when he proposes to alter the prohibited list of end uses for nickel so that British manufacturers are not at a disadvantage with other European manufacturers.

There is still not sufficient nickel to allow restrictions to be removed entirely. I am, however, considering with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade what relaxations can safely be permitted.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will consider introducing legislation to enable self-employed persons to obtain benefits similar to those available to persons in Group I in return for the payment on a voluntary basis of a higher rate of contribution.

No. The only benefits of the National Insurance Acts which are not provided for self-employed persons are unemployment benefit and industrial injury benefit. It has never been regarded as practicable to provide these benefits for the self-employed, either on a compulsory or a voluntary basis.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he can now make a statement about his discussions with representatives of the Trades Union Congress about rates of workmen's compensation.

Yes. As the result of these discussions I have come to the same conclusion as my predecessors, namely, that it is impracticable to attempt to transfer men from workmen's compensation to the Industrial Injuries scheme either compulsorily or on an optional basis.Nor do I think that the alternative of supplementation for workmen's compensation payments would be justified unless it could be shown that the men concerned are at present suffering financial hardship. The financial position of men on workmen's compensation has been considerably improved by the introduction of the comprehensive insurance schemes and by the recent increases in rates of benefit. Many of them are, in fact, as well or better off than they would be if transferred to the Industrial Injuries scheme. I do not therefore think that the case is made out.I have, however, been specially concerned about the position of certain married men, and I am submitting to the National Insurance Advisory Committee a proposal to remove existing restrictions which prevent a married man on workmen's compensation who is totally incapacitated from drawing his full sickness benefit.If these restrictions are removed the normal weekly income from compensation and National Insurance pension or benefit of a totally incapacitated man, or of a partially incapacitated man on maximum compensation who for any reason is not working, will be £;3 12s. 6d. if single £5 4s. if married and £5 19s. 6d. if married with a child: in the most serious cases a further £2 10s. may be added to these sums. For a man and wife these figures are only 5s. less than for the corresponding man receiving 100 per cent. disablement pension under the Industrial Injuries Act, and in the case of a married man with a child the two incomes are the same.I have written to the T.U.C. informing them of my conclusions.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what additional dangers of fraud are to be found in the service of the Post Office for the exchange of cheques into currency than those experienced by private banks; and whether he will in future arrange that all amounts, including those over f10, are paid through a post office to avoid the unnecessary delay or embarrassment to recipients.

This is not a matter as between the Post Office and a private bank. The object of crossing an instrument of payment is to restrict its negotiability and prevent it being improperly cashed across the counter. I think that this is an important safeguard in the case of the larger drafts and I cannot see my way to abandon it.

asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) how many miners, in receipt of partial benefit for pneumoconiosis, are also in receipt of sickness benefit from his office at Shotts;(2) how many miners who are in receipt of partial industrial injuries benefit, are also in receipt of sickness benefit from his office at Shotts.

I regret that the information required is not available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is satisfied that the existing staff of the National Assistance Board is adequate to meet the exceptional circumstances of the recent flood disasters.

I am informed by the Board that they are satisfied upon this point. The staffs in the areas affected have been strengthened by the transfer of experienced staff from other areas.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if his attention has been called to paragraphs 85 and 86 on page xxxi of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General in the Civil Appropriation Accounts, 1951–52, which points out that a certain number of people are receiving double payment, one from the National Assistance Board and one from the employer; and what steps he is taking to rectify this waste of public money.

As the Board have pointed out in their annual reports, the expenditure to which my hon. Friend refers arises from the industrial practice of holding wages in hand and would be avoided if the minority of employers who at present adhere rigidly to this practice would be prepared to make advances where necessary.

Following discussions in October at the National Joint Advisory Council, the British Employers' Confederation, whose help I wish to acknowledge, have drawn the attention of their constituent bodies to this matter and the Board hope that with the co-operation of employers the problem will soon be reduced to small dimensions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to ensure an adequate supply of potatoes in the coming season in the light of the recent flooding, both in England and in Holland and Belgium.

According to the reports my right hon. Friend has received about 7.000 acres of potatoes (mostly maincrop) are usually grown in the areas of England affected by the recent floods. This is a small percentage of the total potato acreage, and no doubt growers will consider making good the lost acreage elsewhere.I cannot answer for the situation in Holland and Belgium. On present information my right hon. Friend sees no reason to think that this year's United Kingdom production programme need be seriously affected by the floods.As stated in the reply of 27th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom), it is the Government's policy to encourage the production of enough potatoes to satisfy consumer demand, and the arrangements for the guaranteed market for potatoes of the 1953 crop announced by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Food on 5th January should enable growers in all areas to plan this season's planting programme with confidence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will immediately set in motion the machinery for arranging alternate grazing in Kent for the cattle whose normal pasturage has been so largely destroyed by the flood.

I am glad to be able to say that the grazing needs of farmers in Kent whose land has been flooded have been very largely met by offers of pasturage on the upland farms. The response of the upland farmers has been magnificent. Long-term arrangements are in hand.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the fact that 88 farmers were dispossessed in 1952 and have no right of appeal to an English court of law, he will introduce legislation to enable such persons to have a right of appeal to a court of law.

There is a right of appeal to an agricultural land tribunal, whose chairman is a barrister of standing appointed by the Lord Chancellor. These tribunals are statutory bodies set up for the purpose. and are fully competent to judge impartially the agricultural merits of a proposal to dispossess. Under the general law the High Court has certain powers of supervision over the decisions of these and similar tribunals, as, for example, if they exceed their jurisdiction or their decision is, on the face of it, wrong in law.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that little dredging takes place on many of our rivers, with a consequent rise of the beds: and what steps are being taken to remove the silt, so that the channel way will be capable of carrying away flood waters and prevent the flooding of low-lying countryside.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that adequate maintenance work is carried out on watercourses for which river boards and drainage boards have accepted responsibility The problem of improving and maintaining other watercourses is one which was investigated by the Heneage Committee, whose Report is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to ensure that the ditches in agricultural areas that have been seriously flooded are cleared as quickly as possible, as the farmers themselves, in a great many cases, are incapable of doing this.

I am giving most urgent attention to the clearance of ditches and dykes in the flooded areas. I hope to make satisfactory arrangements very shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an assurance that the best technical advice obtainable is engaged to advise upon the reconstruction of the sea wall around the coast of Kent, irrespective of whether it is obtained from members of the Civil Service or professional men in private practice.

I have been asked to reply. I can certainly give my hon. Friend the assurance he desires. We shall also seek the best technical advice to assist in the long-term problems when we have mastered the current emergency.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many payments of ploughing subsidy have been made in East Lothian during the last 12 months; and how many claims are still outstanding.

One hundred and five. There are no outstanding claims.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many payments of ploughing subsidy have been made in Berwickshire during the last 12 months; and how many claims are still outstanding.

Three hundred and nine. There are no outstanding claims.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give details of legislation passed in Uganda, Kenya, Tanganyika and Zanzibar for the separate taxation of racial communities for educational purposes, together with details of unofficial voting on these measures when presented to the legislative councils concerned.

The legislation enacted in the four territories is as follows:

Kenya: No legislation of that nature has been introduced.

Tanganyika: Non-Native Education Tax Ordinance, 1948 (No. 52 of 1948). The ordinance was passed without opposition and imposes a tax on male non-natives at the following rates:-

NON-NATIVES OTHER THAN ASIANS
Liable to pay non-native poll tax at the rate of—					Tax payable
Shs. 50	…	…	…	…	Shs. 100
Shs. 30	…	…	…	…	Shs. 60
Shs. 20	…	…	…	…	Shs. 40

ASIANS
Liable to pay non-native poll tax at the rate of—					Tax payable
Shs. 50	…	…	…	…	Shs. 80
Shs. 30	…	…	…	…	Shs. 45
Shs. 20	…	…	…	…	Shs. 30

The Ordinance further establishes funds for the financing of European and Indian education.The Non-Native Education (Amendment) Ordinance, 1949 (No. 8 of 1949), which cancels a typographical error in the main ordinance was passed without opposition. The Non-Native Education (Amendment No. 2) Ordinance, 1949 (No. 45 of 1949), which was also passed without opposition provided for the creation of a separate fund for the financing of Goan education.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the strikes now taking place in Kampala, Uganda, by employees of the East African Tobacco Company, the Town Engineer's Department and refuse collectors; the basic pay of the employees concerned; what increases they are seeking; and the increase in the cost of living since they last had an increase in wages.

On 16th January, 700 employees at the Kampala factory of the East African Tobacco Company went on strike demanding from Sh,5 to Sh.10 extra per month. Their basic pay was then Sh.36 monthly, plus bonuses ranging from Sh.14 to Sh.47 and free midday meals. It had already been decided to increase the basic rate by Sh.2 a month and a good attendance bonus by Sh.4 a month, but this had not then been announced. All those on strike had returned to work by the 23rd.Three hundred and twenty-six employees of the Kampala Public Health Department stopped work on 17th January, asking for similar increases; they had all returned to work two days later. Their basic pay was then Sh.46/20 monthly, with Sh.2 attendance allowance and 4 lb. free sugar. With effect from 1st February, 1952, basic pay has been increased for such work as refuse collection by Sh.l to Sh.6 a month.Seven hundred employees of the Town Engineer's Department went on strike on 19th January, but returned two days later. Their basic pay is Sh.43/ 60 monthly, with bonuses similar to those given to employees of the Public Health Department.Owing to seasonal fluctuations in the price of local foods it has so far been difficult to construct a realistic cost-of-living index for unskilled labour, but the indications are that the wages of unskilled workers have remained steadily in advance of their cost of living.During the year from 1st January, 1952, to 1st January, 1953, on both of which dates the East African Tobacco Company awarded wage increases, the rise in the general index was 8 points.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware that the St. Joseph's Roman Catholic school, at West Hartlepool, was completely destroyed by enemy action; why, despite repeated applications and the fact that the children are now being accommodated in an unfit building, she declines to sanction the rebuilding of the bombed school; and what action she proposes to take to provide decent accommodation for the 200 children now being taught in an unfit building.

I am aware that this sehool's own premises were very seriously damaged, but I cannot agree that the school premises in which the children have since been accommodated are unfit for use. I regret that there are not sufficient building resources to enable them to be replaced at present.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will make available to the hon. Member for The Hartlepools, a copy of the report of Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools, who inspected the Exchange schools, West HartlepoolS, in November, 1952, and on which she based her refusal to allow the rebuilding of the St. Joseph's Roman Catholic school in the local education authority's 1953-54 building programme.

There was no formal report on this matter. I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health when Mrs. Sorahan, 85, Angus Street, Cardiff, can expect to obtain the bone conduction hearing aid of which she has been in need for five years.

Mrs. Sorahan applied for a hearing aid four years ago. An air-conduction set, the only type then being produced for the National Health Service, was issued to her and she appears to have used it for over a year.Boneconduction sets are now becoming available and Mrs. Sorahan is among the first batch of applicants for these sets who, are to be examined at the Cardiff Royal Infirmary on 20th February.