asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that work on clearing storm-damaged timber is not being held up for lack of supplies of saws, axes, and other timberworking implements in North-East Scotland.

There is no immediate shortage but a close watch is being kept on the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the approximate quantity of timber lost in the recent storm on Forestry Commission ground, dedicated ground and private woodlands, respectively.

The amount of windblown timber is estimated at three million cubic feet on Forestry Commission land and 32 million cubic feet on private woodlands, of which about one-third was on dedicated land.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking to assist, either by organised parties or by the temporary release of individual personnel, in dealing with the problem of blown-down timber in the east of Scotland.

While the Army is giving help to the civil authorities in Scotland on other tasks arising from the recent disaster, it has not been called on for this duty. If, when the problem has been examined, the Army's help is needed, it will, of course, be given.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent his Department is assisting financially with road and pier and harbour and other works to mitigate the hardship caused by the present heavy unemployment in the Western Isles.

Assistance to the extent of over £840,000 is being given by my right hon. Friend's Department and the Development Commission towards works in progress in the Western Isles estimated to cost well over £1 million. Approval has also been given to further schemes costing £602,000 for which grants totalling £477,000 have been offered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to acquire the land of Balelone, in North Uist Island, for the purpose of extending the Balmartin crofts to a more economic acreage.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 25th November, 1952, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that vacant factory space in Scotland is utilised.

We bring vacant factory premises in Scotland to the notice of industrialists through the Headquarters and Regional Organisation of the Board of Trade and of other Departments. Vacant Government-financed premises are advertised in the Press, when this is appropriate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for new industry for Shotts and district in view of the National Coal Board's report that all but one of the pits in that area will be closed within the next 10 years.

I understand that several pits in the Shotts area are expected to cease production within the next 10 years, but the National Coal Board are developing extensive deposits elsewhere in Scotland, where miners will be wanted. My right hon. Friend will carefully watch these developments and continue to encourage industrial expansion to provide sufficient employment in Shotts and areas nearby for those for whom suitable opportunities cannot be found elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Scottish unemployment figures are now higher than at any time in the past three years: and whether he will make a statement on the Government's employment policy for Scotland.

Yes. The Government's employment policy for Scotland falls into two parts. First, our general economic and financial policy which aims at placing our whole economic life as a trading nation on a sound basis as the only guarantee of the maintenance of high standards of employment and livelihood. Second. within the framework of that policy to encourage with the powers at our disposal the development of industry and trade in those areas which from various causes are suffering from unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of deserters from the Army who have been absent for a period of more than five years.

On 31st December last year there were 10,393 men still unaccounted for who had deserted from the Army during the late war and 1,195 who had deserted after 31st August, 1945, and had been absent for more than five years

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that men completing their two years National Service are being recalled within 10 weeks to undergo their first year's emergency service in the Territorials; and, in view of the waste of time and manpower involved, if he will take steps to ensure that a reasonable minimum period elapses before men are recalled for this service.

A National Service man is not called on to train in the Territorial Army under his part-time training liability for at least three months after he completes his whole-time service. If the hon. Member will give me particulars of any case in which this procedure has not been followed I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to improve the provision of hot meals and drinks for soldiers engaged on the wet and exposed job of repairing our sea walls.

The men are getting regular hot meals and drinks, including rum, and extra rations for arduous duty. The local military commanders have toured their flood areas extensively and have paid particular attention to this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War what tenders he received for bulk supplies in the United Kingdom, during 1951–52, of motor spirit; how far these prices were competitive; what was the quantity and cost of motor spirit supplied; and what action is he taking to ensure competitive tenders in future.

In this period some 64,000 tons of the standard motor spirit M.T. 70 was obtained for the Army's day-to-day needs. It is not the practice to publish information about prices in the Department's contracts, but my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power determines the maximum price for motor spirit and the tenders received were all within that maximum price. For future supplles tenders will continue to be invited from as wide a field as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements are being made to train German officers and non-commissioned officers at staff colleges in the United Kingdom.

No arrangements have been made and I have nothing to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to a Question on this subject on 11 th February.

asked the Secretary of State for War when Messrs. Arthur F. Clark and Son, solicitors, 7, Cross Street, Reading may expect a reply to their letter of 31st December, 1952, with reference to the late Captain G. 0. Wheeler.

A reply was sent on 13th February.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British staff officers were present as observers in "Operation Smack" in Korea.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many accredited British journalists were present at "Operation Smack" in Korea.

No British staff officer was present and no journalist sponsored by the British Public Relations Service or representing a British newspaper attended. One United Kingdom journalist accredited to the United States Forces and representing the United States newspaper "Baltimore Sun" was present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the Committee on Weights and Measures Legislation. and in particular, to extend the control exercised by inspectors of weights and measures to wholesale food transactions.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 11th November, 1952, to my hon. Friend the Member for the Cities of London and Westminster (Sir H. Webbe).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the successful negotiation of a barter arrangement to permit the export of jet aeroplanes to Brazil in exchange for raw cotton, he will encourage a similar barter trade to enable British manufacturers of textile machinery to export to Brazil and thus relieve the serious unemployment now prevailing in that industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a further statement defining the Government's policy on barter deals now that the raw cotton and Meteor aircraft barter deal with Brazil has been completed with full Government approval.

The Government's general view remains as was stated on a number of occasions towards the end of last year—namely, that we do not think that barter and compensation deals will provide a solution to our problems. We do not, therefore, wish to encourage resort to them. On the other hand so long as there is no breach of import or export regulations or of exchange control requirements, there is no legal objection to barter deals and no question of Government intervention arises.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reduction in the Brazilian liabilities of the Export Credit Guarantees department will accrue from the raw cotton and Meteor aircraft barter contract which has just been completed.

No reduction in the Brazilian liabilities of the Exports Credits Guarantee Department will accrue from the raw cotton and Meteor aircraft barter contract which has just been completed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the hon. Member for Birkenhead will receive a reply to his letter of 18th December last, about the provision of factory for an engineering firm, and why no reply has yet been received.

This is a difficult case, about which I wrote to the hon. Member on 13th February, and on which I hope to let him know our decision very soon. I very much regret that through an oversight an interim reply was not sent to him earlier.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the hardship which is being caused to many British traders by Brazil's failure to meet payments due for goods delivered; and if he is now able to state what steps he is taking to insist on payment of these debts.

Yes, I am aware of this hardship but as my right hon. Friend explained in reply to a Question on 10th February by my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn), I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will, when preparing his Budget, consider the repayment of post-war credits to all those whose homes have been affected by the recent floods.

Much as I sympathise I do not think that payment of post-war credits would be a suitable way of helping the victims of the recent floods.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulties of traders in the flooded areas who have lost stocks on which Purchase Tax or duty has been paid; and what steps he proposes to enable them to obtain stock replacements without further payment of tax or duty.

I am aware of the difficulties, but the question of relief from Purchase Tax and duty for traders' stocks in the flooded areas forms part of the general problem arising out of the floods which, as my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary has pointed out, involves longer-term factors requiring careful consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much sterling has been released by the Egyptian Government under the Anglo-Egyptian Financial Agreement of 1951; in how many cases payment was made in advance of the final date required under the agreement; and what additional sums have been released beyond those set out in the agreement.

The total amount so far released is nearly £65 million. Of this, £5 million represents the advance release of which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Materials informed the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd) on 13th November, 1952. A further £20 million represents releases, under Article 3 (2) of the Sterling Releases Agreement, which were made before the last day of the calendar year in which they were due. No additional sums have been released beyond those provided for under the Agreements to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet given permission for raising £50,000 for the Bristol Channel ferry project; and if he will give details of the project proposed.

The raising or borrowing of money up to a sum not exceeding £50,000 within a period of twelve months does not require Treasury consent under the Control of Borrowing Order, 1947. It would be contrary to precedent and not in the public interest to give details of an application to the Capital Issues Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give consideration to a reduction in the rate of tax levied on fluorescent lighting equipment.

This suggestion is already under consideration. My hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt from Purchase Tax Christmas cards given by the manufacturers to workers in their business.

No. The law requires tax to be paid on any chargeable goods which go into consumer use, whether on sale or as gifts. My right hon. Friend could not make an exception in favour of gifts to employees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated annual loss to the Treasury of alterations in present Income Tax law that would enable the wage or salary earner to offset travelling expenses to and from work against earned income.

About £20 million.

Class of Pension	Responsible Department
1. Pensions payable under the National Insurance Acts, 1946–52. I	Ministry of National Insurance
2. Pensions payable under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts. 1946–52.
3. Pensions payable under the Widows, Orphans and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts, as amended.
4. Pensions payable under the Old Age Pensions Act, 1936, as amended.	National Assistance Board
5. Pensions payable to disabled ex-officers and other ranks of the Armed Forces of the 1914 war and of the 1939 war and since, and to widows and dependants of members of such Forces, whose death resulted from service	Ministry of Pensions
6. Pensions payable to members of the Mercantile Marine, etc., and to civilians injured in the 1939 war, and to widows and dependants of such persons, whose death was due to their injuries.	Ministry of Pensions
7. Pensions payable to members of the Mercantile Marine injured in the 1914 war, and to widows and dependants of such persons and of fisher men whose death was due to their war injuries.	Ministry of Transport
8. Service retired pay, payable to officers, and service pensions payable to ratings and other ranks.	Service Departments
9. Pensions payable to widows and children of officers and certain other ranks in respect of the husband's rank and length of service.	Service Departments
10. Disability retired pay or pension payable to officers, ratings and other ranks in respect of peace-time service before 3rd September, 1939, and pensions to widows and dependants of all ranks whose death was due to peace- time service before 3rd September, 1939.	Service Departments
11. Disability retired pay and pensions payable to officers, ratings and other ranks of units raised abroad in respect of service in peace or war, and pensions to widows and dependants of all ranks in such units, where the husband's death was due to service.
12. Payments to officers and other ranks in receipt of special awards.
13. Certain pensions payable under special Admiralty Orders in Council.	Admiralty
14. Pensions payable to civil servants and to certain judicial, diplomatic and other officers to whom the Civil Service Superannuation Code is applied, and to their dependants.	Treasury Service Departments, Revenue Departments
15. Pensions payable to Colonial and Dominion Governors and their dependants.	Treasury
16. Pensions payable to members of the Diplomatic Service, pensioned under the Superannuation (Diplomatic Service) Act, 1869.	Treasury
17. Pensions payable to retired and disbanded members of the Royal Irish Constabulary and their widows.	Treasury
18. Pensions payable to British police officers in respect of service outside the United Kingdom.	Foreign Office Foreign Office (German Section)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to publish a list of the different classes of State pensions and the Government Departments which are responsible for them.

The following are 'the main classes of pensions and the Government Departments which are responsible for them:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what subsidies were paid in the last financial year to coastal shipping and agriculture, with comparable figures for the previous three financial years.

Subsidies to coastal shipping during the last four financial years were:

1948–49	1949–50	1950–51	1951–52
£627,000	£643,000	£321,000	£237,000

Agricultural subsidies during the last four financial years were:

1948–49	1949–50	1950–51	1951–52
£41,227,000	£43,343,000	£37,486,000	£28,867,000

Note.—These figures include the crop acreage payments which were discontinued in 1951–52, and the bonuses paid under the Attested Herds Scheme which was revived in 1950–51.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is now obliged to apply for permission to acquire agricultural land for housing purposes, because of the shortage of suitable sites; and if he will consult with the Minister of Agriculture about the early release of sites at Clayton and Keele Road, which were discussed at a conference on 4th February attended by representatives of his Department.

Yes, my right hon. Friend will certainly consult with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture as soon as the council's detailed proposals have been received.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what are his regulations concerning the inspection by local authorities of houses being built under private licence while they are in course of construction.

My right hon. Friend has made no regulations on this matter but I am sending the hon. Member a copy of Circular 93/52 in which he will find a recommendation that the amount of supervision exercised should be equivalent to that laid down in the scheme operated by the National House Builders Registration Council. Apart from this. local authorities have a statutory duty to see that local building bye-laws are complied with and normally make at least four inspections for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that, by only making their footpath survey draft map available for public inspection in six places, the West Riding County Council have not complied with Section 38 (2) of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949, which requires copies of the map to be available in one or more places in each county district; and what action he proposes to take.

My right hon. Friend has already taken up this matter with the county council. They are making the necessary arrangements and will publish an amended notice.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in view of the continued protests, especially in Kent, against the cost of local government, particulars of which have been sent him, what the Government is doing. especially through delegated services, to secure a reduction; and if he will make a statement.

The control over local government expenditure by local authorities and by Departments to the limited extent that they are concerned is continuous.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the Essex County Council, having withdrawn the decision from the Epping Rural District Council which exercised delegated planning functions, have now granted planning permission for the erection of 270 houses on 26¼ acres of land at Theydon Bois, adjoining Epping Forest in the Green Belt, contrary to their own Essex County Development Plan for which they are now seeking his confirmation; and what steps he will take to protect London's Green Belt from this substantial erosion.

My right hon. Friend understands that the county council take the view that the use of this site, which is surrounded on three sides by houses, amounts to no more than a rounding off of existing development; and he does not think that he should intervene. The Essex Development Plan has not yet been submitted to him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether in view of the recent grant of fresh licences of a total value of £10 million for rebuilding projects in central London, he proposes to make an early statement on the issue of licences for other bombed cities.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on 25th November, 1952. That still stands.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in the light of recent events on the northeast coast, he will circularise local authorities advising them to review more strictly current excavations of shingle from the region of the foreshore in low-lying parts of the Kent and Sussex coast.

A memorandum was issued to local authorities in 1950 drawing their attention to their responsibilities under Section 18 of the Coast Protection Act, 1949, and my right hon. Friend does not think a further reminder is needed.

asked the Minister of Works whether a decision to refer to the Monopolies Commission the activities of the London Builders' and Regional Builders' Conferences has yet been reached.

No decision has yet been taken.

asked the Minister of Works how many contracts have been awarded by his Department to builders who have not signed the declaration drawn up by his Department and since adopted by a number of local authorities, the object of which is to curtail the activities of the London Builders' Conference.

The declaration has been issued by my Department since 1st October, 1951, with tenders for all building works over £3,000 in any part of the country. 165 contracts have been awarded to firms who have not signed the declaration.

asked the Minister of Works how many builders have signed the declaration drawn up by his Department with the object of curtailing the activities of the London Builders' Conference, to the nearest convenient date.

Up to the end of January last 457 firms have signed the declarations; approximately 53 of these were in the London area.

asked the Minister of Works if he will raise the speed limit in the Royal Parks from 20 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour.

No.

asked the Minister of Works how much was spent on the redecoration of Clarence House in 1948; what is the estimated expenditure on redecoration in 1953; and whether, in view of the serious economic situation of the country, he will review the expenditure by his Department.

Expenditure on the modernisation of Clarence House in 1948–49 was £55,000. The cost of adaptations, redecorations and necessary maintenance work for the change of occupation is about £8,000. This work is completed.

asked the Minister of Works what is the total sum expended, to date, on the reconstruction and decoration of Clarence House.

The cost to the grant-inaid of adapting Clarence House for the change of occupation is about £8,000. The work is completed.

asked the Minister of Works if he has studied details which have been sent to him about the waste of time and money caused by filling up application forms for building materials and what action he is taking to make the regulations more simple or to remove them altogether.

I have received the details and will write to my hon. Friend about the particular case to which he has drawn my attention I am always ready to consider means of simplifying such building controls as it is necessary to retain.

asked the Minister of Works by what percentage building costs increased in Scotland in 1952 as compared with 1951; and what were the corresponding percentage increases in each of the last six years.

Estimates of the changes in building costs between 1946 and 1949, averaged for Great Britain as a whole for all types of work, were included in the Working Party's Report on Building published in 1950. Estimates have been made by my Department by the same method to cover the succeeding years. The figures as as follows:

			Percentage change in costs over previous year
1947	…	…	+11	Published in the Working Party Report.
1948	…	…	+ 7
1949	…	…	− 1
1950	…	…	+ 3	Ministry of Works.
1951	…	…	+18
1952	…	…	+ 8

Separate figures do not exist for Scotland but there is no reason to suppose that there is any very marked variation between Scotland and the rest of Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Works if he will state the nature and total value of the work licensed at the Lancashire County Cricket Ground at Old Trafford.

Since June, 1951, two licences have been issued, each for £5,000. One was for reconstruction of a dangerous stand, and the other for additional lavatory accommodation. During the previous five years miscellaneous licences, totalling £26,000, were issued.

asked the Minister of Works which national organisations are to receive allocations of seats in stands on the Coronation route.

I do not think it would be in the general interest to publish a detailed list of organisations to whom seats have been offered. A list of the main categorles approved by the Coronation Commission is given below.

1. The Royal Household.

2. Houses of Parliament.

3. Navy, Army and Air Force (including nursing services, Reserves, Territorials and civilian staffs).

4. Ex-Service associations.

5. Police, fire service, Civil Defence.

6. Home Civil Service.

7. Overseas countries of the Commonwealth.

8. Colonial territories.

9. Diplomatic corps and distinguished foreigners.

10. Crews of the Merchant Navy and fishing fleet, and civil aviation.

11. Local government.

12. Organisations representing agriculture, commerce, finance, insurance, industry, shipping, trade and transport.

13. Professional societies and institutions.

14. Universities; educational, learned, scientific and cultural bodies.

15. Young persons' and children's organisations.

16. Religious organisations.

17. Royal Commissions, grant-aided bodies and advisory committees.

18. Trade unions.

19. National Savings Movement; Co-operative societies, friendly societies and building societies.

20. Women's organisations.

21. Press and B.B.C.

22. Miscellaneous.

asked the Minister of Works what arrangements he is making for representative senior schoolchildren from the provinces to see the Coronation procession.

All areas under my control which can readily be reserved for standing accommodation are being allotted to national and Commonwealth youth organisations, service schools, and, by tradition, Westminster School. I regret that I cannot do more.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what is the present rate of annual expenditure on research into the causes and treatment of pneumoconiosis; how many research units exist; where they are located; and what proposals are under consideration for the extension of this research.

Current annual expenditure by the Medical Research Council on pneumoconiosis research is estimated at £70,500. The Council's Pneumoconiosis Research Unit is situated at Llandough. near Cardiff, South Wales, and cognate research is supported in university departments in Cardiff, Sheffield, London and Glasgow. These arrangements are additional to those made at Sheffield by the Ministry of Fuel and Power at an annual cost of £47,500 and to the investigations planned by the National Coal Board. Co-ordination is maintained by a series of expert committees. No immediate extension of Government sponsored research is under consideration but any promising new line will be followed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works if he will state the average insoluble deposit, soluble deposit, total solids, sulphur dioxide and concentration of smoke up to the latest date in 1952, for Stoke-onTrent, Salford, Manchester, Armley Park, Leeds, Philips Park, Manchester, Hooks Green, Drinkwater Park, Salford, Trafford Park, Salford, Portwood, Stockport, Health Centre, Leeds, and Buile Hill Park, Salford, respectively; and the average throughout the country in tabular form.

The figures for 1950–52 are not yet available in summary form. The following tables give the latest available figures, for the five year period 194449, for those places mentioned at which observations are made. Corresponding figures for the five-year period 1939 to 1944 and for earlier years are given in the 26th Report of the Atmospheric Pollution Research Committee published

MEASUREMENTS OF DEPOSITED MATTER AVERAGES FOR THE FIVE YEARS 1ST APRIL, 1944, TO 31ST MARCH, 1949 EXPRESSED AS TONS PER SQUARE MILE PER MONTH
Station		Insoluble Deposit	Soluble Deposit	Total Solids
STOKE-ON-TRENT:
Leek Road	…	10·0	6·7	16·7
Longton	…	10·8	7·5	18·3	2 years' average, 1944–46.
Tunstal	…	9·0	6·7	15·7	3 years' average, 1944–46, 1948–49.
SALFORD:
Broughton Senior School	…	13·0	7·2	20·2
Drinkwater Park	…	9·6	8·0	17·6
Ladywell Sanatorium	…	15·0	7·9	22·9
MANCHESTER:
Baguley	…	4·2	6·2	10·4
Booth Hall	…	7·8	6·6	14·4
Heaton Park	…	9·5	6·9	16·4
Monsall	…	12·8	8·8	21·6
Philips Park	…	30·9	10·8	41·7
Rusholme	…	11·4	7·9	19·3
Withington	…	7·3	6·4	13·7
LEEDS:
Armley Park	…	20·1	8·7	28·8	2 years' average, 1947–49.

SULPHUR DIOXIDE BY THE VOLUMETRIC METHOD
Averages for the five years 1st April, 1944, to 31st March, 1949. Results expressed in volumes of sulphur dioxide per 100 million volumes of air.
Station		Mean
SALFORD:
Regent Road	…	11
MANCHESTER:
Rusholme	…	18	1 year only, 1948-49.

SULPHUR MEASUREMENTS BY THE LEAD PEROXIDE METHOD
Averages for the five years 1st April, 1944, to 31st March, 1949. Results expressed as milligrams of sulphur trioxide per day per 100 square centimetres of exposed surface.
Station	Mean
STOKE-ON-TRENT:
Leek Road	1·81
SALFORD:
Ladywell Sanatorium	2·28
Regent Road	2·41
MANCHESTER:
Monsall	3·41
Rusholme	2·14
Withington	1·47
LEEDS:
Armley Park	2·47	2 years' average, 1947–49.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the numbers of married women in employment in Southampton; and what are the main categories of trade or industry in which they are employed.

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons have become redundant in his Department by the closing of the Dronfield employment exchange; what is the amount saved by this action, and the number put to inconvenience and expense by having to travel to other employment exchanges; and why an agency service was not provided with the other Departments.

There has been a saving of three staff with annual salaries amounting to about £1,400, and a further saving of £208 in rent of premises. No complaints of inconvenience or expense have been received from the small number of persons affected. The volume of work in Dronfield no longer justifies the provision of any local facilities.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons, registered at Accrington employment exchange, are unemployed; and whether he will increase Remploy facilities in this district.

On 19th January, 1953, 49 disabled persons were registered as unemployed at Accrington employment

UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE STOCKTON AND THORNA BY EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE
—			Total number on registers	Number who had been on registers for more than six but not more than 12 months	Number who had been on registers for more than 12 months
Men
11th December, 1950	…	…	407	36	105
10th December, 1951	…	…	317	36	64
8th December, 1952	…	…	457	69	64
Women
11th December, 1950	…	…	370	46	17
10th December, 1951	…	…	437	22	12
8th December, 1952	…	…	483	54	20

Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there is no shortage of labour in Kent; and whether he will take steps to see that all employment exchanges in the area are fully informed of the work required for restoring flood damage.

This has already been done and all suitable and available

asked the Minister of Labour the figures of unemployed men and women registered at the Stocktonon-Tees employment exchange at the latest convenient date, giving separate figures for those unemployed for six months and over, and for those 12 months and over; and whether he will give comparable figures for the same date in 1952 and 1951.

The numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of the Stockton and Thornaby employment exchange at 12th January, 1953, were 487 men and 511 women. Analyses according to duration of unemployment are available only in respect of March, June, September and December, and the following table gives the figures for December, 1950, 1951 and 1952.workers on the register's of the employment exchanges in the Kent area are being used on work connected with the flood damage.

asked the Minister of Labour to publish in the OFFICIAL. REPORT the numbers for each of the principal industry groups of unemployed in the Merseyside Development Area for October 1951, October 1952 and the latest available date.

NUMBERS OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN THE MERSEYSIDE DEVELOPMENT AREA AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES
Industry	October, 1951	October, 1952	January, 1953
Soap, candles, glycerine, polishes, etc.	144	216	317
Shipbuilding and ship repairing	1,273	1,535	1,796
Non-electrical engineering	294	877	1,250
Hollow-ware	143	272	341
Tailoring	603	326	349
Food and drink industries	947	1,772	2,046
Rubber	184	390	555
Building	957	1,889	2,372
Civil engineering contracting	265	550	502
Sea transport	1,695	2,431	2,059
All other transport and communications	1,081	1,504	1,572
Distributive trades	1,610	2,487	2,850
National Government service	423	483	454
Local Government service	450	634	621
Medical and dental services	270	358	370
Theatres, cinemas, music halls, etc.	225	284	245
Sport, other recreation and betting	438	582	641
Catering, hotels, etc	1,571	2,237	1,978
All other industries and services	4,156	6,933	7,693
Total, all industries and services	16,729	25,760	28,011

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the official mission to inquire into the possibilities of further industrial development in Jamaica, Trinidad, British Guiana and Barbados, has now completed its examination; and whether it will issue a report.

I have not yet received the Mission's report. On the question of publication I regret that I have nothing to add at present to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. R. Robinson) on 21st January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the official mission to investigate the production and marketing of West Indian timbers has now completed its work; and whether its conclusions will be published.

The Mission has completed its inquiry but I have not yet received its report.

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the shortage of coal in Gloucester, and that one firm has less than a week's stock in hand; and what steps he is taking to ensure that there is an adequate and regular supply of coal in this district.

I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. and learned Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now abolish the weekly fuel returns required from foundry firms and substitute quarterly returns.

Foundry coke is a highly specialised product and supplies are strictly limited. It would not be possible to ensure an equitable system of distribution without up-to-date information regarding consumers' usage and stocks.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of fuel officers and assistants at present employed by local authorities, but paid for by his Department; and the cost per annum.

4,045, of whom 1,713 are part-time employees only. The total cost for the current financial year will be approximately £1,150,000 of which £1,020,000 will fall on the Vote for the Ministry and the balance on the Votes for other Departments for common services such as office accommodation and stationery.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage of the total amount of sugar refined in the last year, for which figures are available, was refined by each of the various refineries registered with his Department.

Four weeks ended		Deficiency or excess of deliveries over entitlement		Approximate Retail Value	Approximate number of rations per week
		Deficiency	Excess
		Tons	Tons	£'000	'000
3rd November, 1951	…	300	—	40	665
1st December, 1951	…	220	—	30	495
29th December, 1951	…	—	160	20	360
26th January, 1952	…	1,090	—	140	2,440
23rd February, 1952	…	350	—	50	790
22nd March, 1952	…	—	330	40	730
19th April, 1952	…	670	—	90	1,510
17th May, 1952	…	320	—	40	710
14th June, 1952	…	700	—	90	1,560
12th July, 1952	…	850	—	110	1,890
9th August, 1952	…	530	—	70	1,190
6th September, 1952	…	2,570	—	340	4,605
4th October, 1952	…	—	950	120	1,695
1st November, 1952	…	5,740	—	860	10,290
29th November, 1952	…	1,720	—	260	3,080
27th December, 1952 (estimate)	…	30	—	4	60

asked the Minister of Food if he will publish in HANSARD a table showing for each four-weekly ration period since October, 1951, the amount by which deliveries of lard and cooking fats to wholesalers fell short of, or exceeded, the estimated entitlement; the retail value of such lard and cooking fats;

I cannot disclose the individual production figures of private firms, but the Sugar Refining Agreement of 1940, of which a copy was placed in the Library in 1949, lays down the percentage of total production that each of the companies signatory to that Agreement is entitled to refine.

asked the Minister of Food if he will publish in HANSARD a table showing for each four-weekly ration period since October, 1951, the amount by which deliveries of margarine to wholesalers fell short of, or exceeded, the estimated entitlement; the retail value of such margarine; and the number of domestic rations which it represents.

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

The following table shows for each four-weekly ration period since October, 1951, the amount by which deliverles of domestic cooking fats (including lard) to wholesalers fell short or exceeded the estimated entitlement the retail value of such cooking

Four weeks ended		Deficiency or excess of deliveries over entitlement		Approximate Retail Value	Approximate number of rations per week
		Tons	Tons		£'000	'000
3rd November, 1951	…	640	—	100	2,865
1st December, 1951	…	—	70	10	330
29th December, 1951	…	460	—	70	2,045
26th January, 1952	…	700	—	100	3,135
23rd February, 1952	…	490	—	70	2,180
22nd March, 1952	…	130	—	20	600
19th April, 1952	…	980	—	150	4,410
17th May, 1952	…	330	—	50	1,480
14th June, 1952	…	860	—	130	3,830
12th July, 1952	…	1,270	—	190	5,695
9th August, 1952	…	1,360	—	200	6,115
6th September, 1952	…	1,510	—	230	6,785
4th October, 1952	…	—	800	120	3,575
1st November, 1952	…	2,980	—	500	13,330
29th November, 1952	…	780	—	130	3,480
27th December, 1952 (estimated)	…	1,180	—	200	5,270

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will state the quotas of telephone kiosks which are to be provided in the rural areas in each county in Wales for the next allocation; and upon what date this allocation will commence.

The next allocation of rural kiosks will cover the 12 months beginning 1st April, 1953.

Figures for the counties in Wales as follows:

Anglesey	…	4	Flint	…	3
Brecknock	…	5	Glamorgan	…	5
Cardigan	…	5	Merioneth	…	6
Carmarthen	…	6	Montgomery	…	5
Caernarvon	…	5	Pembroke	…	5
Denbigh	…	5	Radnor	…	5

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he expects to install an automatic telephone exchange in the city of Lincoln.

Our plan is to begin the new building and to place the order for the new equipment next year. It is, however, too early to say when the new exchange will be brought into service. fats and the number of rations which it represents.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what position was held by Mr. Guy Burgess in connection with the operations when a number of British Secret Service agents were parachuted into German hands in Belgium.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the names and ranks of the officers in charge of the Special Operations Executive during the last war; and what position these officers now hold.

Disclosure of information of this kind would be contrary to the public interest, as well as to established practice.

asked the Minister of Health when he will be able to publish a list of the slaughterhouses which are going to be approved by the county of Kent

I have been asked to reply.My hon. Friend will now be aware that a representative committee has been appointed to draw up a plan recommending the localities in which slaughterhouses should be sited in England and Wales and they will, of course, be considering the position in Kent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to give some official body in Kent the authority to permit the immediate destruction, or burying of the carcases of drowned animals that have become stranded on property possessed by farmers other than the actual owners of the dead animals.

I have been asked to reply. No authority is required from me to deal with these carcases, nor have I any special powers for the purpose. The Kent C.A.E.C. is taking all necessary steps to deal with the problem in the abnormal circumstances. In the event of any difficulty farmers should approach their County Agricultural Executive Committee. Generally disposal of these carcases is proceeding smoothly in Kent. Farmers who have such carcases on their land should bear in mind the possibility, where practicable, of salvage with the help of knackers or otherwise.