asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the new and medium-classed French wines, flown over for the recent luncheon at the Institut Francais, Kensington, connected with publicity for French films, were exempted from Customs duties.

While not accepting my hon. Friend's classification of the wines in question, I can say that they were consigned to His Excellency the French Ambassador and were admitted free of duty in accordance with diplomatic usage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has studied the criticism by Mr. J. H. T. Gibson Jarvie, Chairman of the United Dominions Trust, details of which have been sent to him, of the squandering of our depleted national resources as the prime cause of inflation; and if he will take note of this and other similar criticism when forming his Budget.

Yes. I have seen this statement. In framing his Budget my right hon. Friend will bear in mind all relevant considerations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why expenditure on silver under Vote 22 in the Civil Estimates for 1953–54, Vote on Account, is £1,008,000, compared with £100 in the present year.

The main reason for the increase to which the hon. Member refers is the resumption of the stockpiling of silver. He will find details in the Estimate which will be published in the next few days.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the two Government-nominated directors on the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company report on the affairs of subsidiaries of the Company; and whether either of the two is a director of any subsidiary.

With regard to the first part, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Beswick) on 27th November, 1952. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "Yes."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Government expenditure on hospitality, as shown in the Civil Estimates for 1953–54, Vote on Account, will be £80,000 as compared with £65,000 in 1952–53.

Because more official guests are expected in Coronation year, particularly from the Commonwealth.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the estimated increase in cost of housing from 3rd April, 1951, to February, 1952, and from April, 1951, and September, 1950, respectively, to the most recent convenient date for computation.

If the hon. Gentleman refers to the cost of house building, the Girdwood Committee Report gives figures down to March, 1952. If he refers to the cost of housing, here any answer must take account of savings that may have been effected by design, specification, planning of housing estates in relation to the services required, and many other factors. Broadly speaking, we have been trying to counter a tendency for wages and materials to rise by these and similar methods.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps have been taken for the distribution of the gifts by Canada of timber for the rebuilding and repairing of houses damaged by floods.

My right hon. Friend would like to take this opportunity of expressing the Government's appreciation of this prompt and generous gift by the people of Canada. We are all grateful to the Canadian Flood Relief Fund (working through the Canadian Red Cross) and to the Government of British Columbia. The timber will be used for the rebuilding and repairing of houses, farmhouses and farm-buildings destroyed or damaged by the floods. The ordinary limitations on the amount of softwood to be used in houses do not apply to this timber. The timber will be distributed to the local authorities concerned; both for their own use where they are carrying out rebuilding or repair and for them to give to private owners where the owners are doing the work. Authorities have been told how to get the timber.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities are refusing to entertain applications for the reconditioning of agricultural cottages in terms of the Housing Act, 1952.

Local authorities do not inform me when they reject applications for improvement grants, but in view of the regrettably small use made of these facilities I have, through my principal regional officers, been urging local authorities to be as helpful and encouraging as possible to applicants for grant. I should be happy to look into any evidence which my hon. Friend may have of the particular difficulty he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Governmenthow many applications have been received by local authorities for grants for the reconditioning of agricultural cottages in terms of the Housing Act, 1952; and how many have been rejected.

I regret that this information is not available. Local authorities inform me only of applications for improvement grant which they propose to approve and their returns do not distinguish between agricultural cottages and other dwellings.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he has taken during 1952, and what steps he will be taking in 1953, in order to reduce substantially the Administrative costs of his Department.

The staff of my right hon. Friend's Department was reduced by 217—or nearly 6 per cent.—during 1952, despite pressure of work due to the increased housing programme. While this continues any further material reductions in administrative costs are unlikely, but the organisation is continuously examined for economies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the rises in expenditure and the consequent rise in rates per £ of local authorities, he will do all in his power to restrict his demands on local authorities which arise from demands and obligations laid down by statute.

My hon. Friend raises large issues, difficult to discuss by question and answer. Broadly speaking, we must resolutely pursue a combination of efficiency and prudence.

asked the Minister of Works what provision he is making to enable Scottish schoolchildren to see the Coronation procession.

Special arrangements will not be made for schoolchildren from Scotland. I have, however, arranged that a substantial number of reserved standing places will be allotted to the Scottish Standing Conference of National Voluntary Youth Organisations.

asked the Minister of Works, in view of the undesirable practices persisted in by the London Builders' Conference, what steps he has taken to discover how many of the contractors engaged in the erection of Coronation seats are members of this association.

As indicated in my reply of 17th February, a form of declaration was issued to all firms tendering for the erection of stands by my Department. Of the six contracts placed, three are with firms who signed the declaration.

asked the Minister of Works on what date tubular scaffolding used in the erection of Coronation seats increased in price from 1s. to 1s. 9d. per foot.

There are six lump-sum contracts for erecting and dismantling stands. These were let between August and December. Scaffolding is only one element in the total price and the variations in the rates quoted for scaffolding reflect differences in sites and constructions and show no general increase over the period.

asked the Minister of Works what is approximately the amount of timber used in the making of stands and for other purposes in connection with the Coronation; how much of this will be made available for use in connection with house building after the Coronation; and what arrangements have been made for the disposal of this timber.

About 1,800 standards of timber will be used in the erection of stands and for other purposes in connection with the Coronation. About 85 per cent. of this will be available for housing work afterwards. Under the conditions of the contract, the contractor must either himself use the timber for building or dispose of it to a timber merchant who is authorised to acquire softwood. In either case, the contractor must inform my Department.

asked the Minister of Works the reason for the continued closing of Queen's Gate, Kensington Gardens.

I am advised that the reopening of Queen's Gate to motor traffic would worsen traffic conditions in that area. The Gate is open to pedestrians and horse riders.

asked the Minister of Works the number of official cars on 1st November, 1951; what reduction had been made when responsibility was transferred to his Department; and what was the figure at the latest available date.

There were 722 chauffeur-driven official cars on 1st November, 1951. Sixty-one of these had been given up by 1st April, 1952, when the responsibility was transferred to my Department. By 26th February, 1953, the number had been further reduced by 217 to a total of 444.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the inadequate ventilation of the Members' Tea Room and adjoining lobbies; and when he will take steps to improve the ventilation of that part of the Palace of Westminster.

Improvements were made in the ventilation of the Members' Tea Room during the Christmas Recess and I should like to give them a fair trial before considering whether anything further need be done.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he has taken during 1952, and what steps he will be taking in 1953, in order to reduce substantially the administrative costs of his Department.

During 1952 my Department became responsible for the Government Car Service and started work on the preparations for the Coronation. In spite of these increases in work surveys of all services and functions and the relaxation of controls have resulted in a reduction of 1,046 non-industrial staff. During 1953 I hope to make further economies, but the extent of these must largely depend on the demand on my Ministry's services made by other Departments.

asked the Minister of Works how many building workers were employed each quarter since October, 1951, on new houses, industrial building, agricultural building, school building,

asked the Minister of Works why he continues to award contracts to firms which have refused to sign the declaration issued by his Department in October, 1951.

It is the practice of Government Departments to invite tenders from a limited number of firms selected because of their capacity to undertake the work. It is then the normal rule to accept the lowest tender.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed at the employment exchanges in Pwllheli and Portmadoc, Caernarvonshire, on 15th February, 1953; and what were the figures for comparable dates in 1952 and 1951.

Four hundred and ninety-one at Pwllheli and 152 at Portmadoc at 16th February, 1953, compared with 370 and 157 at 11th February, 1952. and 364 and 138 at 12th February, 1951. repair work and all other forms of building work, respectively

The total number of operatives employed by building and civil engineering contractors was distributed between the various types of work as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he is aware of the growing unemployment in the borough of Oldbury; and what steps he is taking to deal with the matter;(2) what are the present numbers of unemployed in the boroughs of Oldbury and Halesowen, respectively; and how these figures compare with those for the similar period of 1951.

On 16th February, 1953, 241 persons were registered as wholly unemployed at Oldbury and 226 as temporarily stopped, compared with 51 wholly unemployed and three temporarily stopped in February, 1951. At Halesowen the numbers were 87 wholly unemployed and 12 temporarily stopped in February, 1953, compared with 23 wholly unemployed and none temporarily stopped in February, 1951.The rise in the wholly unemployed in Oldbury has been very gradual over the last two years, but the increase in registered short-time working only occurred last month. The area still enjoys a high level of employment and the Government's economic and financial policy is aimed at maintaining this position.

asked the Minister of Labour how the differential of £1 18s. 3d. for full board and lodging in L.R. (15) under the Catering Wages Act and dated 13th January, 1953, is apportioned.

L.R. (15) is a proposal published by the Licensed Residential Establishment and Licensed Restaurant Wages Board. It follows the line of Orders made in the last five years in providing different sets of rates according to whether (i) the employer supplies the worker with full board and lodging on seven days a week, or (ii) the employer supplies the worker with such meals as are normally available in the establishment during the time the worker is on duty, or (iii) the employer makes no provision as in (i) and (ii).I have no information as to the basis upon which the differences between these rates were decided by the Wages Board which is an independent representative body. As my hon. Friend will see from the copy of L.R. (15) which I am sending him, the differences are not constant but vary in certain cases according to the grade of worker and to the area.

asked the Minister of Labour to state, in tabular form, the industries in which wage increases have been granted since 1st January, 1952; and if he will also give the increase on an annual basis.

In nearly all important industries and services increases in rates of wages have been granted since 1st January, 1952. A summary table for the main industry groups giving the approximate number of workpeople affected by changes in rates of wages reported to my Department during 1952, and the net amount of the change in their weekly rates of wages at the end of the year, is published on page 2 of the Ministry of Labour Gazette for January, 1953. As is there shown, the estimated net weekly increase in rates of wages of all workpeople affected at the end of 1952 was £4,426,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the difficulty now being experienced by women and girls in the Falkirk area in obtaining employment; and what steps he is taking to overcome this difficulty.

Yes. I realise that additional employment opportunities for women and girls are needed in this area and my Department will continue to co-operate with the Board of Trade in encouraging industrialists who might be interested in introducing into Falkirk more industry requiring female labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the amount of grant received by the Scottish Committee of the Central Council of Physical Recreation from the Education (Scotland) Fund in the years 1950, 1951 and 1952.

The total grant payments from the Education (Scotland) Fund in respect of the work of the Scottish Committee of the Central Council of Physical Recreation were £15,025 in 1950–51, £19,440 in 1951–52, and £16,958 in 1952–53.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent students receiving grants from local authorities are, as a condition of such grant, restricted in the choice of the university they may attend.

As a rule, education authorities award a bursary for the university, attendance at which involves least cost to the student, provided that the kind of course he requires is available there.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct his forestry department to publish a list of approximate prices which should be realised by owners of devastated woodlands who wish to sell their trees, tabulating this for fir, larch, spruce, beech and oak; and showing the approximate difference for remote or convenient areas.

No. While it is clearly desirable that owners should receive some guidance on prices for blown timber, this is best left to the organisations representing woodland owners and the timber trade. They are in close consultation and hope to issue a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the estimated cost of £15,103,000 for the Breadalbane project, Construction Scheme No. 25, as related in Command Paper No. 8740 and Statutory Instrument, 1953, No. 138 (S. 15), North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board (Constructional Scheme No. 25) Confirmation Order, was computed; what steps have been taken to adjust the estimated cost to the level of prices obtaining for materials and labour at the date Statutory Instrument No. 138 was published on 30th January, 1953; and, in view of the five to seven year constructional period, what estimate has been formed of the increase in aggregate cost that will take place before completion date, including such considerations as the recent increase of approximately 5s. 6d. per ton in coal, with consequential increases in steel, cement and freight costs.

I am informed that the estimate was made shortly before the publication of the Scheme in March, 1951, and contained a 10 per cent. margin for contingencies. The present estimate is about 20 per cent. higher. Changes in prices over the next five to seven years cannot be foreseen, but steps are continually being taken to offset increasing prices by improvements and economies in the methods of construction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on the basis that teachers' pensions in Scotland are paid monthly instead of quarterly, what estimate he has made of the extent to which the additional charge of £360,000, in the financial year of the change, would be offset by reductions in subsequent years; and over what period such reductions would eventually offset the original additional charge.

The additional charge of £360,000 in the financial year of the change would not be offset by reductions in subsequent years, as the equivalent of 12 monthly payments would be required in each of those years.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware of the hardship on some pensioners who, because their legs are amputated below rather than above the knee, are thereby precluded from being given motor tricycles by his Department; and if he will seek powers to apply a wider discretion in such cases than that which is now vested in him.

Under existing arrangements, such pensioners are considered for supply of motor tricycles if their walking ability is seriously restricted and they need a machine to obtain or retain employment. I am considering whether it is possible to extend this provision in any way.

asked the Minister of Pensions if the Government have now considered the representations made by the deputation of the British Legion which waited upon him on 27th January; and if he will make a statement.

Consideration is being given to the representations made by the deputation together with those received from other organisations.

asked the Minister of Pensions for an estimate of the amount of money based on the price index of consumer goods and services required to be paid to a war pensioner today to have the same purchasing power as the basic rate of 40s. had in 1919, 1932 and 1938, respectively.

Measured by the particular method suggested in the Question, the amounts required to produce the purchasing power of 40s. in 1919, 1932 and 1938 would be about 67s., 100s., and 92s. The basic pension of 40s. was, however, fixed in 1919 on a cost of living basis and was not reduced as the cost of living fell, the appropriate rate based on the relative cost of living figures in 1932 and 1938 being about 27s. and 29s. respectively. Comparison, therefore, with 40s. in those years is not a valid basis for assessing the present rate. Based on the old cost of living index to 1947 and since then on the existing Retail Prices Index the current rate appropriate to 40s. in 1919 would be about 52s.

asked the Minister of Pensions what percentage of applications per pension is granted; what percentage is heard by the appeal tribunal; and what percentage of these is approved.

Seventy-two per cent. of the applications for pension in respect of service after 2nd September, 1939, numbering over 1¼ million, have been allowed by my Department; appeals have been made to the pensions appeal tribunals against 25 per cent. of the rejections and just under 25 per cent. of these appeals have been allowed. The total of allowed applications is therefore nearly 74 per cent.

asked the Minister of Supply when the specification of the material for the red uniform of Guardsmen was last laid down; where it is now made; and what is the percentage of cotton contained in this material.

The specification for scarlet cloth was last reviewed in 1937. The cloth is made in the West of England and contains no cotton.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent the capacity of the British Sugar Corporation to refine sugar has been or is intended to be increased.

The British Sugar Corporation plan to equip two more of their raw sugar factories with plant to enable them to produce refined sugar. This will increase their total refining capacity by about 16 per cent.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent the capacity of the British Sugar Corporation is used for the refinery of sugar throughout the year.

The British Sugar Corporation uses to the full its capacity to produce refined sugar during the sugar beet processing season. During the off-season the Corporation continues to use all the refining capacity available having regard to the work now being carried out under the six year reconstruction programme.

asked the Minister of Food how much money and paper will be saved when the ration book is reduced by eight pages.

£47,000 and 282 tons of paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the new deepwater quay, less the slipway, at Freetown, will be handed over by the contractor to the Sierra Leone Government.

On 31st May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made towards finding General Lammerding in the British Zone of Germany; and if he will surrender him to the French Government for trial in connection with the massacre of Oradour.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Lammerding, who is wanted by the French authorities in connection with the massacre at Tulle, and a search is being conducted. If he is found in the British Zone, the application for his extradition will be dealt with under the normal procedure for extradition of war criminals from the Zone. This required him to be brought before the Extradition Tribunal which must be satisfied that there is a prima facie case of murder against him within the meaning of the German criminal code before making its recommendation to the United Kingdom High Commissioner.

asked the Minister of Health what instructions he has issued to members of hospital management committees with reference to contracts for these bodies in which such members may have a financial interest; and what standard of conduct he expects members of these statutory bodies to exercise.

No instructions have been issued, but the National Health Service (Regional Hospital Board, &c.) Regulations, 1947 [S.R. and O. 1947 No. 1298], require hospital authorities to make standing orders for the regulation of their business and, in particular, for the disclosure by their members of any pecuniary interest in contracts or other matters. The question of issuing model standing orders for the guidance of hospital authorities is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what fresh action he has taken, since 1st November, 1951, to increase recruitment of police officers in the Metropolis and in the larger cities and county boroughs of England and Wales.

Overtime, detective duty and boot allowances have been increased. The Discipline Regulations have been overhauled to ensure that they command the confidence of all ranks. A number of improvements, comparatively small in themselves, have been made in the conditions of service. The building of police houses has been pressed forward; some 2,200 married quarters, 400 of them in the Metropolitan police district, were built in 1952.I have authorised special measures, including wider advertising and the preparation of an illustrated brochure, to attract recruits to the Metropolitan police and have invited the appointing authorities in other forces with large deficiencies to consider whether further advertising would be justified. I am doing all that I can to secure agreement to the setting up of new negotiating machinery for the police. From 31st October, 1951, to 31st January, 1953, the Metropolitan police force had a net gain in strength of 538 and in the same period other city and borough forces with establishments of over 400 had a net gain of 651.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the total, on an annual basis, of the increase of pay granted to those employed in the Fire Service.

The estimated annual cost of the proposals of the National Joint Council for Local Authorities Fire Brigades (which are under consideration by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself) is about £400.000.

asked the Minister of Transport what roadworks in Scotland are being given priority at the present time on the grounds that they are necessary for essential communications, improvements of danger spots or roads which are indispensable in terms of strategy or production inside the national investment programme.

During the current financial year my right hon. Friend has only been able to authorise road improvements at accident black spots and road works essential for the development of new towns. He has approved 63 schemes at black spots on trunk and classified roads estimated to cost £246,490 and four on unclassified roads estimated to cost £16,785, together with three schemes for works on classified roads in new towns estimated to cost £174,921.

asked the Minister of Transport the density, per mile of road, of motor vehicles at the latest known date; and how this compares with 1922, 1932 and 1942.

The number of motor vehicles per mile of road was 5.4 in 1922, 12.7 in 1932, 10.3 in 1942 and 25.0 in 1952.