asked the Minister of Materials what representations he has received about the free export of wool skins and raw pelts from this country; whether he is satisfied that there is sufficient quantity of this scarce raw material available in this country to satisfy the demands of the manufacturers and, in particular, the light leather requirements of Welsh factories; and whether he will make a statement.

As regards the export of wool skins and raw pelts, on which I have had numerous representations, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackley (Mr. E. Johnson) on 16th February. Welsh factories have the same access to available supplies of raw materials, both domestic and imported, as those elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Materials on what basis the quota allocation for the import of sack kraft paper is made to individual firms.

The share of individual firms in the total amount of currency available for the import of sack kraft paper from non-dollar countries in the first half of 1953 is proportionate to their actual imports of sack kraft paper from

asked the Minister of Food what is the average weight and cost of an ox; how much it costs to slaughter, skin and prepare for those countries in the period 31st December, 1950, to 3rd November, 1951. The share in the total amount of dollars made available for the purchase of sack kraft paper is proportionate to their production of paper sacks during the 36th Paper Control Licensing Period (4th March to 30th June, 1951) or the 37th Licensing Period (1st July to 3rd November, 1951), whichever was the greater. Firms who have been given a dollar import quota may spend it in non-dollar countries if they so wish.

asked the Minister of Food to make a statement on allocations of dried fruit, sultanas and raisins, etc.; and whether he will de-ration these commodities in a reasonable time.

My right hon. and gallant Friend expects to be able to increase allocations this year. We are anxious to remove control as soon as the balance of payments position allows.

asked the Minister of Food what tonnage of feedingstuffs, with bread grains under a separate heading. was imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last four years; what was the landed cost; and what was the loss on re-sale.

Following is the information:consumption; what is the average weight of the entrails, offals, and of each item diseased or discarded as unfit for human consumption; what is the weight of the blood drained away: and what is the weight of the bones and other inedible parts of the corpse and the average cost per pound of the edible residue.

asked the Minister of Food what representations he has received from the sweets industry about the difficulties now being experienced by manufacturers, wholesalers and shopkeepers, arising from sweets de-rationing; and what action he has taken to overcome these problems.

None. Sugar

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the growing discontent arising from the continuing shortage of sugar for domestic purposes; and what extra amount of sugar will be available for domestic consumption in the next 10 months.

No one is more anxious than I to make more sugar avail

The following is the information in respect of a typical beast:able but it is too early to say exactly how much I shall be able to provide this year.

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

Wholesale distribution is under Ministry control. The following table shows, for each fourweekly period since October, 1951, to the latest date practicable, by how much issues of meat exceeded or fell short of butchers' total entitlements, the approximate retail value of such meat and approximately how many adult domestic rations it could represent:

asked the Minister of Food what undertakings he has received on the types of flour which will he produced when controls on cereals are removed; and how far these undertakings will preserve the present nutritional contribution of flour to the national diet.

As stated in the White Paper the removal of cereal controls will involve the removal of the present restrictions on the types of flour which may be produced. National flour of the present 80 per cent. extraction will, however, continue to be produced and loaves made from this flour will be available at a subsidised price wherever bread is sold. Such flour, as well as flours of higher extraction, contains the three so-called "token" nutrients, i.e., iron, vitamin B,, and nicotinic acid, in quantities which conform to the levels recommended in 1945 after a most careful inquiry by the Conference on the Post-War Loaf (Cmd. 6701). Flours of lower extraction than 80 per cent. lose a proportion of these three "token" nutrients in the course of the further refining process. Provision will therefore be made by Order for the restoration of these nutrients to the levels recommended by the Conference, and for the inclusion of the calcium carbonate which is already added to National flour. My medical and scientific advisers, after reviewing the amounts of these various nutrients in the present diet, are satisfied that such measures will ensure the maintenance of existing nutritional standards; but should any future investigations indicate the desirability of further supplementation, I shall naturally be prepared to reconsider the matter.

asked the Minister of Food what further details he can give of the investigations into bread improvers which are now in progress.

The investigations referred to, which are being undertaken by the Ministry of Health, the Medical Research Council and the Research Associations of the milling and baking industries in association with my Department, are designed to assess the relative suitability of various bread improvers, including agene, chlorine dioxide (which is widely used in the United States), vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and a recently developed aeration process in which improvement is effected by high speed mixing. They comprise studies of any chemical changes produced in the flour constituents, the effects of feeding the treated flours on the health and growth rates of experimental animals, and assessments of the quality and acceptability to the consumer of breads made from the treated flours. The work is being pushed on with all possible speed, but the problems involved are complex and if they are to be adequately examined a quick answer cannot be anticipated.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will increase the time allowed to operators of public service vehicles for rendering annual statistical returns.

The operators of public service vehicles who have to submit annual returns are asked to do so within three months. I do not consider that this is an unreasonable period, and any lengthening of it would delay the preparation and publication of the valuable material which is derived from these returns.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will reduce the frequency with which he requires statistical returns from operators of public service vehicles.

The most frequent return required from operators of public service vehicles is that submitted each quarter. In addition the larger operators render an annual return. These returns throw a valuable light on the operation of this important industry, and I consider that to discontinue any of them or reduce their frequency would be undesirable.

asked the Minister of Transport how far Her Majesty's Government include within the ambit of national expenditure on victims of the recent storms, compensation for those who lost their lives or belongings in the sinking of m.v. "Princess Victoria."

As my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, the Government are making a substantial contribution to the Lord Mayor's National Flood and Tempest Distress Fund. The Lord Mayor stated in his broadcast on 4th February that this Fund would also cover those who were suffering distress through shipwreck during the previous few days. Benefits under the National Insurance Acts will be paid to passengers and members of the crew who suffered in this disaster or to their dependents where the usual conditions are fulfilled.

asked the Minister of Transport to make a statement concerning his decision with regard to the appeal of Scottish Omnibuses Limited of Edinburgh.

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to an appeal by Scottish Omnibuses, jointly with Ribble Motor Services, against the vehicle allowance on a new night coach service in summer between Edinburgh and Liverpool. I caused a public inquiry to be held and accepted the Inspector's recommendation to uphold the Licensing Authority's decision to allow two relief vehicles to each company on each run.This new night service is on a route already served by day by the same companies with duplication allowed up to 18 vehicles on each run in the summer. On the evidence before them, I think that the Licensing Authority were justified in deciding that the night service should be started with a vehicle allowance on an experimental basis which could be adjusted later, in conjunction with the day service, if experience showed that such a course was desirable in the public interest.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to sanction the restoration of the Filton by-pass road, Bristol, which was closed for the construction of the Brabazon runway.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply informs me that he cannot contemplate the reopening of the closed part of the Filton By-pass since the runway which cuts it is a permanent requirement. My right hon. Friend has discussed with the local authorities concerned the question of providing a substitute road and he hopes to look into this question further on the site as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that bodies claiming to be representative of motoring interests are erecting traffic signs in the London traffic area bearing the super-seription, "Police Notice "; and whether this is being done with his authority.

Yes. The use of these signs is authorised by Regulations 25 (2) and 26 of the Traffic Signs (Size, Colour and Type) Regulations, 1950.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will impress on local authorities the necessity for the provision of white lines and, where practical, reflector studs to assist drivers in fog.

I appreciate the value of white lines and reflecting studs as a guide to traffic at night and in fog, and highway authorities have been encouraged to install them wherever it is appropriate and practicable to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport why most traffic lights operated by the Metropolitan Police have no amber period.

These signals are operated manually by a police officer in uniform who changes them in accordance with the observed needs of the traffic. An amber period is, therefore, unnecessary.

asked the Minister of Supply how many of the 11 types of aircraft on the super-priority list are now behind schedule.

As regards the military types, it is a well-established practice not to publish information about the output of defence equipment. As regards the three civil types, which were accorded super-priority a few weeks ago, I am informed by the firms concerned that satisfactory progress is being made.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware of the hardship caused to families by the lack of family allowances where there are boys and girls over the age of 16 still in full-time education; and whether he will consider taking steps to amend the law accordingly.

No. I understand that the maintenance allowances that local education authorities are empowered to grant to pupils over school age remaining in full-time education are usually increased when the age of 16 is reached

asked the Minister of National Insurance to make a statement on his intentions to amend the benefits under the National Insurance Acts so far as payments for maternity benefits are concerned.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the introduction of the Bill.

asked the Minister of National Insurance to make a detailed statement explaining how and why, under his regulations, a Member of Parliament is classified as self-employed for the purposes of contribution to, and benefits from, the National Insurance Acts; and whether he will take steps to ensure that a self-employed person is one who is employed by himself and not liable to dismissal or having salary amendments by persons or organisations outside his immediate control.

Members of this House are gainfully occupied but as they are not employed under a contract of service, they fall by virtue of Section I of the National Insurance Act, 1946, into the class described therein as "selfemployed." The answer to the second part of the Question is "No."

asked the Minister of National Insurance what progress has been made in reaching reciprocal arrangements with Australia; and whether he can name a date on which these will come in force.

The Government of the Commonwealth of Australia has recently approved a reciprocal agreement covering a number of benefits and allowances administered by my Department. Steps are being taken to complete the necessary formalities and to get the agreement signed but I cannot yet say when it will come into force.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how much unemployment benefit was paid in each of the years from 1945 until the latest stated date, in the county borough of West Ham.

Unemployment benefit paid at the Canning Town and Stratford employment exchanges in 1951 and 1952 amounted to approximately £45,000 and £81,500 respectively. The amount for 1952 included payments at the increased rates payable from 24th July, 1952. Information as to the amounts paid at individual employment exchanges in earlier years is not now available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to make a statement about the estimated effect of the Schuman Plan for coal on the European markets for Welsh coal and on the use of the South Wales ports.

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

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to state the amount of grants which have been made by his Department to the National Coal Board under Section 11 of the Coal Mining (Subsidence) Act, 1950, for 1950, 1951 and 1952.

Grants totalling £500,000 have so far been made in respect of the initial period to 31st December, 1952, specified in the Act. The Act does not provide for annual grants in respect of any year before 1953.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is able to relax conditions imposed upon householders and permit a more frequent right to change coal supplier.

My right hon. Friend is anxious to ease restrictions on domestic coal supplies but for the present I can only say that domestic consumers will have an opportunity of changing their coal merchant for the new coal year commencing 1st May, by giving notice during March. An announcement on this will be made soon.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will take immediate steps to secure for distribution among householders whose homes were recently flooded in the West Ham, South Division, good quality coal, which is at present in very short supply, to enable them to dry their homes.

I have made inquiries and am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the present difficulty in obtaining domestic coal supplies in the Leicester district, in spite of the proximity of the coalfield; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the matter.

I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to state the precautions that are contemplated for the protection of men who work in an environment where the risk of infection by tetanus, following injury, is present.

The small number of fatal cases of tetanus among miners, not more than one or two per year, suggests that the first-aid treatment of injuries at mines has provided reasonably effective protection against infection with the disease. Recently, however, the National Coal Board gave instructions that when a man is injured at a colliery where the risk of infection with tetanus is likely to be present and is sent to hospital, the staff of the colliery medical or first-aid room must notify the hospital accordingly.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) what is the estimated cost of the programme of capital development he has agreed with the Coal Board under Section 3 (2) of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946, for the current year and the next two financial years;(2) what is the estimated cost of the capital programme he has authorised under Section 5 of the Electricity Act, 1947. for the area boards and central electricity authority for the current financial year and the next two financial years.

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to my hon. Friend on 20th January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Western Avenue and A.40, between Greenford and High Wycombe, are constantly littered with large sheets of paper and cardboard boxes blown from lorries carrying waste paper: and what action he is taking against those responsible for this danger to traffic and injury to amenity.

My inquiries do not confirm that there have been frequent incidents of this nature, but the complaint has been brought to the notice of police officers on duty in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the purpose of the temporary police notice "No Right Turn," at the exit of Caxton Street into Buckingham Gate, S.W.1; and whether this implies one-way traffic working in Buckingham Gate.

One-way traffic working has been introduced in Buckingham Gate as a temporary arrangement

asked the Minister of Health why his Department have recommended the abandonment of the scheme because of street works. It will be brought to an end as soon as these are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to state the balance between wastage and recruitment in the months of October, November and December, 1952, in the police forces of England and Wales, giving separately the figures for the Metropolitan Police, all the county police forces and all the county borough police forces; and the total balance between wastage and recruitment of each group over the period between 1st August, 1951, and 31st December, 1952.

The figures are as follows:to develop Camerton Hospital, Cumberland, as a tuberculosis sanatorium.

Because of the close proximity of an armament depot.

asked the Minister of Health when he anticipates the supply of hearing aids in the Cheltenham area will be comparable with other similar areas; and if he will make a statement on the effect of the opening of the new distribution centre at Gloucester.

Every effort will be made to make up the leeway in this area as soon as possible. The new distribution centre at Gloucester, which opened on 3rd November and serves Cheltenham also, has been amply stocked with aids. Two hundred and sixty-eight patients have been supplied. Allowing for fresh additions, the waiting list has already been reduced from 1,029 to 831, and the maximum waiting period from three to two years.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to make a statement on the assistance given by the British Navy to British shipping when subject to piratical attacks in the China Seas.

On 25th October, 1951, a British merchant vessel s.s. "Hupeh," was intercepted by pirates, but was rescued a few hours later by H.M.N.Z.S. "Rotoiti." On 11 th February, 1952, s.s. "Wingsang" was fired on and stopped by pirates. On this occasion H.M.S. "Cossack" was diverted to intervene, but "Winesang" had been released before "Cossack" could arrive.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the serious condition which continues to exist due to the failure to control dogs and prevent them worrying sheep, cows and pigs, if he will now deal with the matter as the existing Regulations are not sufficient to give satisfactory results.

I have been asked to reply.As I stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Renton) on 11 th December there is, at present, no prospect of the Government being able to introduce legislation on this subject. I will, however, study sympathetically the provisions of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Bill, introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Pavilion, Brighton (Mr. Teeling) which is down for Second Reading on 13th March.Statutory measures can in any case never provide a complete solution to this problem, and much depends on the recognition by dog owners of the importance of keeping their dogs under control when near livestock.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what further precautions are being taken this year for preventing fowl pest developing again.

The main defence against the spread of the disease continues to be the prompt reporting of suspected cases so that infection can be rapidly eliminated by the slaughter of diseased and suspected birds. The vital importance of this and of the need for strict compliance with my Department's Regulations restricting movements of poultry has been emphasised in recent publicity, and local authorities have been asked to do all they can to see that these rules are scrupulously observed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are being taken to prevent the repetition this year of the deficit that has occurred in connection with the agricultural machinery operations of the county agricultural executive committees.

The financial results of the operation of the Agricultural Machinery Service by county agricultural executive committees are kept under close review and every effort is made to reduce expenditure and to secure more economical working. As a result it is expected that the trading deficit in the current financial year will be little more than half that in 1951–52 and that the position will be still further improved in 1953–54.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what minimum prices for livestock products for the two years ending 31st March, 1956, have been fixed in accordance with Section 5 (2) of the Agriculture Act, 1947.

After consultation with the National Farmers' Unions, the Government has determined the following prices for the purposes of Section 5 (2)

asked the Minister of Agriculture what accurate information he has in regard to the number of grain cleaners acquired by farmers since the war; and whether he will consider obtaining this information through the next return to be issued by his Department.

Nearly 3,000 winnowing and cleaning machines were put on the home market by U.K. manufacturers during the seven years 1946–52. The number rose from 321 in 1946 to just over 500 in 1952. Most of these would have been bought by farmers but some may have gone to merchants, millers and seedsmen. The number of poweroperated winnowers and cleaners in the hands of farmers in Great Britain given in the last agricultural machinery census, taken in January, 1952, was 9,691. Comparable figures from previous censuses were 9,291 in 1950 and 9,788 in 1948. It is the present intention to include these machines again in the census to be taken in January next.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the rapid disappearance of hedgerow timber and healthy trees growing in small spinneys in many parts of the country; and whether he will take steps to see that farmers and landowners concerned realise the national importance of replanting at least as many trees as they fell.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have recently appointed a special committee under the chairmanship of Lord Merthyr to consider this problem. The Committee is to be called the Committee on Hedgerow and Farm Timber. and has the following terms of reference:

asked the Minister of Agriculture to make a comprehensive statement on grants and loans made by his Department to fishermen since the end of the war, for the purchase of craft and engines, which will include the number and amount of grants and loans made and outstanding, and the number and amount of losses already incurred and in prospect.

Three hundred and eighty grants and loans under the Inshore Fishing Industry Act, 1945, to English and Welsh fishermen for the purchase and reconditioning of boats and engines amounted to £180,360 and £329,390 respectively. One hundred and fifty-five loans have been repaid in full. The amount of loans outstanding is £193,486. A loss of £1,913 has been incurred on 10 loans. No estimate of possible future losses can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far he expects the school building programme of 1953–54 to be held up by steel or other shortages; and which areas will be most adversely affected.

I cannot at present forecast how far or in what areas shortages of steel or other materials may hold up school building in the second half of 1953 and in 1954.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the increased amount of fallen timber in Scotland, he will consider initiating plans for its collection as far as it may be suitable for fuel, or its manufacture into sawdust for fuel and other purposes.

I understand that efforts in the areas affected by the recent storms will best be put into collecting the fallen trees for the production of sawn timber, as the trunks are, in fact, little damaged, and the trade will no doubt promote the best use of the waste material.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent he is encouraging the use of wood, unsuitable for other purposes, as fuel in Scotland.

My Department is always ready to give advice to those who wish to use wood waste to the best advantage. It is a valuable fuel for local use, but is of comparatively low calorific value and its bulk makes transport very expensive. I do not think that any special steps to encourage its use are necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to prevent a repetition this year of the losses on the London section of the British Industries Fair.

I can assure my hon. Friend that all practical steps are being taken to put the income and expenditure of the British Industries Fair on a more favourable basis. I need hardly point out, however, that the losses to which my hon. Friend refers should not be regarded as reflecting any failure on the part of the Fair to fulfil the valuable purposes it serves in the promotion of United Kingdom trade, particularly overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for War to state on what date three Royal Scots Fusiliers, William Glancy, Richard Irvine and Samuel Lewis, deserted to the Eastern zone of Berlin; and how many British soldiers have deserted to Eastern Berlin during the last three years.

Fusiliers William Glancy, Richard Irvine and Samuel Lewis were reported absent without leave on 7th January this year and were later reported to have been arrested by the authorities in the Russian zone on 11th January. Forty-six British soldiers have crossed into Russian-occupied territory during the past three years. Of these, 36 have returned and all the remaining 10 have been declared illegally absent by courts of inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of staff and students at the co-operative schools of Mbale and Namungalowe, respectively.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 21st January, 1953; Vol. 510, c. 38], supplied the following information:

The Co-operative schools at Namungalwe (in Busoga district) and Bududa (in Mbale district) are not yet schools in the accepted sense of the word; they are simply buildings, suitable for schools, in which courses in co-operative principles are to be held from time to time.

2. The Namungalwe School is owned and organised by the Busoga Growers Co-operative Union Ltd. A series of elementary courses are being arranged, the first of which started on 9th February. Each course will last one week and will be attended by twenty pupils drawn from the officers and members of primary societies which are members of the Union. Instruction is given by an assistant Co-operative officer of the Department of Co-operative Development.

3. The courses to be held at Bududa will be jointly organised by the Department of Community Development and Co-operative unions in the area. They will last a fortnight and will cater for up to twenty-five students. Instruction will be given by the Co-operative assistant of the area from which the students come. The courses will be started as soon as the unions can spare their officers and employees from cotton-marketing on which they are now fully engaged.