asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to encourage the summer stocking of coal.

On the stocking of domestic coal, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) on 20th April. The stocking of industrial coal is also of great importance, and I would urge industrial concerns to take all the coal that is made available to them during the summer by the National Coal Board and to make every effort to secure that their stocks are raised by the end of the summer to a high level.

Jones asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1952, are to be applied to pensions paid to pensioners of electricity undertakings formerly owned by local authorities.

In conjunction with the area boards, the British Electricity Authority are preparing amendments to the relevant pension schemes. As this will take some time the boards are arranging to make advance payments of the increases in the meantime.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he will introduce legislation dealing with improvements in the safety and health of the mining community.

Good progress is being made in drafting the Mines and Quarries Bill, but I am not able to say when it will be ready for introduction.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when an invitation will be sent to General Franco to visit this country, either on a State visit or unofficially.

Her Majesty's Government have no such invitation in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make representations to the French Government concerning the effect of its ban on imports on the South Wales ports; and whether he will invite the French Government to reconsider its decision in the light of concessions for travel allowance made by Her Majesty's Government to assist the French economy.

I presume that the hon. Gentleman refers principally to the considerable reduction in French purchases of coal from the United Kingdom which is expected in the second quarter of this year. This reduction does not, I understand, amount to a ban. Representations have been made to the French Government who have replied that the reduction in coal imports is the result of a considerable easing of demand in France, and is not connnected with French balance of payments difficulties. The French Government hope that it will be possible before long to restore their imports of coal from this country to their former level.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent the recent drop in the price of Cuban sugar on the free market will enable him to make increases, in addition to those already announced, in the sugar available to the housewives and manufacturers of this country during the current year.

During the current year, sugar will be de-rationed.

asked the Minister of Food the calorific value of the daily consumption of food per head of the population last year and for each of the preceding three years.

These figures are published in Table 16 of the Economic Survey for 1953 (Cmd. 8800).

asked the Minister of Transport how many applicants in Newport secured their driving licence on the first, second and third tests, respectively, last year; and how many were failed after three or more tests.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will issue in conjunction with the new High way Code, a leaflet, especially designed for children, including the suggestions made in the leaflet, "Cross on the Zebra," a copy of which has been sent to him.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents have produced and issued and will revise as necessary two unofficial versions of the Highway Code for children, one for those between eight and 12 years and the other for younger children. I do not think, therefore, that we need issue a leaflet as suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals have been considered for the provision of a screen along the Western Avenue frontage to Northolt Airport; whether any form of screen has been decided upon; and when it is expected that work on the screen will begin.

The question whether a length of Western Avenue adjacent to the airport might be screened as an experiment is still under consideration and no decision has yet been reached. The type of screen contemplated for any such experiment is an interwoven hurdle fence 6 feet high.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any information as to when the Kennet and Avon canal will be open for commercial traffic.

I am informed by the British Transport Commission that there is no likelihood of commercial traffic passing through the entire length of this navigation, though traffic can navigate on the western section from Bristol to Bath. On the eastern section between Reading and Newbury the position remains as given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on 26th January, 1953, in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Reading, South (Mr. Mikardo). I am told that the work in hand is progressing according to plan.

asked the Minister of Supply the priorities and general lines which he will give the committees who are to operate the steel plate distribution scheme.

I am asking the steel plate makers to allot a somewhat larger proportion of the available supplies to shipbuilders and to certain important sections of the engineering industries. This will be facilitated by the increased supplies of steel plate which are now coming forward. In addition I have asked the newly appointed Inter-departmental Committee to arrange with the producers for adjustments in deliveries to individual consumers.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement on the dismissal of 42 employees of the mechanical engineering department of the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich.

The discharge of these men is due to the completion of certain new building work and a special programme of mechanical repairs for which additional men had been engaged.

asked the Minister of Supply what decision he has now reached as to the location of the Vehicle Design and Proving Establishments, Chobham.

This matter is being considered, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what towns on the River Severn discharge their untreated sewage into the Severn; and what steps he is taking to compel these towns to treat their sewage in the orthodox manner and thus prevent pollution of the river.

Detailed information of the sewage disposal arrangements of the large number of towns in the Severn Catchment Area is not readily available. Within the limits imposed by the competing needs of other services, I am authorising as much expenditure on sewage disposal as I can.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has yet approved the decision of the Cardiff City Council to proceed with the building of a wall in Coed Glas Road, Cardiff.

The city council have not referred this project to my Department and it is a matter for them to decide. But I should very much regret if anybody were at this time to employ labour and materials on building such a wall or any other similar barrier.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what Section of the Betting and Lotteries Act, 1934, or under what other enactment, a letter addressed to Mr. A. Jones, c/o The County Hospital, Navan, County Meath, Ireland, and containing an application for a ticket for the Irish Hospitals sweepstake for the personal use of the applicant was opened and returned to the applicant by the postal authorities in circumstances to which his attention has been directed.

This letter was detained in pursuance of a warrant issued under the power expressly recognised in Section 56 of the Post Office Act, 1908.