asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make the necessary arrangements for an extension of the period of credits granted by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in respect of cured herring, mackerel and pilchard for the State of Israel, from six months to 12 months.

I do not think that guarantees for such an extended period of credit would be justifiable in present circumstances.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Israel needs food with a high nutritional content and that our need for markets for this fish during periods of glut, which are inevitable, is also very great? Surely failure to match these two requirements for a further period of six months is not very wise?

There is already a period of six months for the credit, which seems to me to be appropriate for consumable commodities, and that is as far as the Export Credits Guarantee Department can go. I realise the importance of the trade and the needs of Israel and am certainly ready to watch the situation, but I must state the position as I see it.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that, in general, it is a bad policy to conduct business on extended credits?

If the herring industry are unable to find a market for their products, surely the Treasury must subsidise their catch?

The answer to the right hon. Gentleman is that very reasonable credit in respect of herrings is already provided under existing circumstances. I think my hon. Friend the Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Beresford Craddock) has been answered by the right hon. Gentleman.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether there has been any approach from the Government of Israel inviting us to give longer credits?

I am not personally aware of such an approach, although I should not like to say that there had not been one, but I will certainly investigate this on returning to my office.

I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider issuing post-war credits to widows and other people in straitened financial circumstances at an earlier age than 60 or 65.

I regret that I cannot accept this suggestion.

Is the Chancellor aware of the widespread expressions of dissatisfaction which have appeared in the national Press at his failure to give any concessions to the holders of post-war credits? Why should not these people have their own money back again when they are in sore financial straits?

This is much more difficult than the hon. Member imagines. It is a difficulty which was equally experienced by the previous Administration. The hon. Member ought not to lay at the door of one Administration the difficulty which this system has represented and, it seems to me, is likely to represent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the repayment of post-war credits to persons who have been certified as incapable of further employment.

I regret that I cannot accept this suggestion.

Is the Chancellor aware that the money belongs to the people, and that, when they are certified as unemployable, that is just the time when they need their burden lightened?

One of the great difficulties in regard to the problem of post-war credits is the picking out of individual categories. Each Question time one or other category is picked out. The claims of all are generally very understandable, and that makes it very difficult to pick out a certain category.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that only this morning I had a letter from a constituent who is in danger of losing his home for want of £50 which he has in post-war credits? If I send him the particulars, will he look into the case sympathetically?

I do not go so far as to say that I know what letters my hon. Friend has had from his constituents this morning, but I can assure him that the number of letters that I deal with from him is very considerable, although I am very glad to do it. I shall be glad to look into the case, for it is obviously a human one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make arrangements for the early repayment of the postwar credits of the late Mr. Miles, Sunny-bank, Eastbrook, Dinas Powis, Glamorgan, to his widow, Mrs. Alice Miles for reasons stated in correspondence from the hon. Member for Barry.

I regret that the post-war credits in this case are not yet payable and I have no power to authorise early repayment.

Does not the Minister appreciate that when a widow aged 56 is in difficult circumstances the retention of this money by the Treasury must appear singularly unjustifiable, and cannot the Chancellor more easily bear the loss of this money than people in such circumstances?

I dare say I can bear a good deal, but the difficulty about this case, which is a most unfortunate one, is that the law stands written and I am afraid I cannot alter that law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will form an estimate of the annual cost in interest and the anticipated annual encashment rate that would result from funding as a special issue of National Savings Certificates, the terms to be identical to those of the current issue of certificates, all outstanding post-war credits; and whether he will make a statement upon the practicability of such a scheme in present circumstances.

The annual cost in interest would depend upon the rate of encashment, which cannot be estimated with any accuracy. But I think there would certainly be heavy encashments of the Certificates and I do not, therefore, regard this scheme as a practical proposition.

In order to demonstrate to the nation the magnitude of this financial problem—and I am completely in sympathy with his view—would my right hon. Friend publish more details of the great difficulties of schemes of this kind which are being widely canvassed at the present time?

Perhaps my hon. Friend's Question and my reply may be used by the wide publicity machines available in this country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total revenue derived by direct and indirect taxation from the Principality of Wales, including Monmouthshire, during 1950, 1951 and 1952, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in Wales we are anxious to know much more about the economic position of the Principality? Is there really any valid reason why the Scots should have such information and yet it should be refused to us in Wales?

There are all sorts of difficulties at present. One is that the tax districts cover both sides of the Border. Another is that a company operating in Wales may be assessed elsewhere because its registered office is in London. To give exact statistics in answer to my hon. Friend would, in present circumstances, within the field of Inland Revenue alone, be very difficult, and I could give instances of similar difficulties in the field of Customs and Excise.

Has the Chancellor given any consideration to the suggestion that a Welsh inquiry might be set on foot comparable to the Catto inquiry in Scotland?

I should rather hesitate, because I have personally always taken a great interest in Wales and I think that its economic life and its interests are very much bound up with those of the United Kingdom. I will certainly examine anything which the hon. Member puts forward, but my inclination is the other way.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association since his Budget statement; and whether he is now in a position to announce a reduction in Entertainments Duty on cinematograph performances.

The Cinematograph Exhibitors Association recently renewed the representations for a reduction in Entertainments Duty which they made before the Budget. The hon. Member will not expect me to anticipate any discussion which may take place during the passage of the Finance Bill.

Does the answer mean that the Chancellor is keeping his mind open on the subject? In view of the falling revenue from the tax and the fact that many small exhibitors are going out of business, may we be optimistic about the decision that he may reach after hearing the discussion on the Committee stage?

The hon. Gentleman would be most mistaken to be optimistic, but I would ask him to listen to any observations which I may let fall during the passage of the Finance Bill.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is impossible to reduce taxation without reducing expenditure and that last night the Opposition voted against any reduction in expenditure in a most wasteful public service?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now consider the introduction of a rebate of Entertainments Duty on cinematograph performances of British films, as a means of encouraging the production and exhibition of British films.

No, Sir. My hon. Friend the Secretary for Overseas Trade explained in reply to a previous Question on this subject on 16th December, 1952, that if the industry were to make representations to this effect they would be considered; but no such representations have been received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of 1s. seats sold in cinemas during the last financial year.

About 280 million.

In view of the fact that the figures just given represent a loss to the Chancellor of something like £2½ million if the 2d. tax on 1s. seats were abolished, does not his conjectural and consequential loss given last Tuesday of £15 million to £20 million seem rather exaggerated?

No, Sir. The apparent discrepancy is accounted for by the fact that in giving the figure of between £15 million and £20 million we took account of the adjustment of higher prices in consequence of the exemption which would probably follow.

On what grounds can the Chancellor make such an assumption?

Intelligent anticipation of what would be likely to happen.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the surplus of national savings over encashments in the first six weeks of the current savings year, also the deficit or shortfall of new deposits against withdrawals from the Post Office Savings Bank and Trustee Savings Bank during the same period; and what deductions he has made from these trends.

Disregarding accrued interest and Defence Bonds paid off on maturity, receipts reported by the National Savings Committee in the six weeks ended 16th May, 1953, exceeded repayments by £100,000. For savings banks only there was a deficit, on a comparable basis, of £7,500,000. I do not consider that any valid conclusions can be drawn from savings figures covering a period as short as six weeks, although it is encouraging to note that over that period this year there was an improvement of nearly £10 million compared with the corresponding period last year.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that probably what is happening at this time is that there is a considerable encashment by depositors in the Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks who are withdrawing their money because their interest is taxed and are investing it in National Savings Certificates where no interest is taxed at all? In view of the undesirability of a trend of this kind, can my right hon. Friend say if he has any steps in mind to deal with it?

I could not give an answer to so important a question on the spur of the moment, but I will examine what my hon. Friend says.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Entertainments Duty he budgets upon collecting in the tax year 1953–54 from football and boxing; and by how much per centum the present level of football pools tax would have to be raised to compensate for abolishing Entertainments Duty on football and boxing in the same tax year.

About £1·6 million and 2½ per cent., respectively.

Would my right hon. Friend tell the House whether he has received any approaches from those abolitionists of Entertainments Duty on football as to whether they would be prepared to shoulder a commensurate increase in the football pools tax?

Most representations to me are for relief and very few want to take on an extra burden.

How much of the £1 6 million is boxing and how much is football?

I could not say without notice, but perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would put that down.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, despite the invariably pompous nature of the supplementary questions of the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro), this is one occasion when he is on a good point? Are we to understand from the reply that the right hon. Gentleman has given that an increase in the football pools tax of 2½ per cent. would, in point of fact, make it possible for him to relieve the sports named in the Question from tax entirely, and if that is so will he bear in mind that it is far better to tax football pools than it is to tax the people who go to see a game?

We will have an opportunity later today of discussing the Entertainments Duty and perhaps we shall go into some of these details then.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has considered the letter sent to him by the hon. and gallant Member for Merton and Morden regarding the position now facing those firms making gas water-heaters; and whether he will take action to assist the recovery of this industry.

Yes, Sir. I note that my hon. Friend's constituent attributes his trading difficulties to the incidence of Purchase Tax. I hope that the reduction by one-quarter in the tax on his product which I announced in the Budget will therefore be of assistance to him.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that it is the view of this industry that the reduction will be quite inadequate, and that gas water-heaters could, in fact, play an important part in fuel efficiency? Would my right hon. Friend also bear in mind that if we are not careful this will be a diminishing return?

I realise all these factors, but there are a great many difficulties in reducing Purchase Tax at one time more than I did in my Budget.

Would my right hon. Friend consider whether there could not be some easement in the matter of hire purchase?

That is an aspect of this matter which is often brought before me. But it is another question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Regulations are now in force under Section 221 of the Customs and Excise Act, 1952.

No Regulations have so far been made under that Section, but the Mechanical Lighters Regulations, 1928, and the Mechanical Lighters (Amendment) Regulations, 1934, have effect as if so made.

Would the Chancellor be good enough to make available a copy of the Regulations for the benefit of hon. Members when we are considering Clause 2 of the Finance Bill.

If we can do so in the time it will be put in the Library, but we shall have to be pretty quick.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total value, in dollars and sterling, of all dollar stocks and securities compulsorily acquired in this country and sold in America during the period September, 1939-June, 1945.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Command Paper published in December, 1945, and entitled "Statistical Material presented during the Washington Negotiations" (Cmd. 6707). Appendix III of that paper gave figures for the proceeds of sale or repatriation of overseas investments during the war and included £203 million in respect of investments in the United States.

Would the Chancellor agree that the sterling value of that stock today, bearing in mind the depreciation of sterling currency, would be at least five times the figure given?

I should not like to make an obiter dictum on this matter at this time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements have been made to enable members of the public who have no banking accounts to obtain Coronation crown pieces.

By arrangement with the Royal Mint all the larger banks have agreed to accept orders for crown pieces from any member of the public whether customer or not.

If that is so, will the Chancellor of the Exchequer let the people of London know to which banks they can go of which they are not customers, and where those banks will gladly let them have 5s. pieces?

My answer is that it is from all the larger banks, but I will certainly inform the hon. and gallant Gentleman what I mean by that expression.

May I ask my right hon. Friend what he meant when he said "by arrangement with the Mint"? As he is Master of the Mint, does he make arrangements with himself?

The Mint is accustomed to accept my slightest word as law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what facilities are available for obtaining Coronation crowns otherwise than through the banks.

About 100,000 crown pieces have been ordered by and will be supplied to recognised coin dealers by the Royal Mint.

How will it be possible for the majority of Her Majesty's subjects to become possessed of this interesting Coronation souvenir when they are not customers of the banks, and the Bank of England have announced to one of my constituents that they will only have an issue for their own staff and their own customers?

The recognised channels for the dispersal of these coins are the banks, and I think we had better leave it like that unless the hon. Gentleman can make me any better suggestion.

Would it be possible for an arrangement to be made to supply these coins through the Post Office, or would it put too much work on an already overburdened Department?

Hitherto that proposal has been turned down for the very reason suggested by the right hon. Gentleman, but as there is obviously an interest in this matter, I will look into it in the light of what has been said.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make a statement on the recent economic talks with members of the German Government.

I cannot well add anything to the agreed statement which was issued at the end of these talks. I am circulating a copy with the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can we take it that, arising out of these talks, the German Government are likely to lift further restrictions on imports into Germany in order to reduce their surplus with the European Payments Union?

I think we must leave any such action to the initiative of the West German Government, but the right hon. Gentleman will be aware that some very useful conversations took place on the subject of artificial incentive schemes for exports, and those are referred to in the communiqué.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why so much delay occurred in giving a decision about the provision of Customs facilities at Greatham Aerodrome; and why such facilities were refused for the present year, in view of the fact that they were conceded in previous years

No delay occurred, and the application was dealt with in 11 days. It is now again under consideration, at the initiative, among others, of the hon. Member. Facilities were refused in view both of the small volume of overseas traffic using this airport, particularly during the two trial periods referred to in the question, and the fact that aircraft can obtain Customs clearance at another airport within 35 miles.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this representation was first made to the Minister of Civil Aviation who, in turn, got into touch with his Department more than five weeks ago, and that the final refusal was only given two days before the first aircraft was due to fly? Is he further aware that in the season 1952 nearly 1,400 people used this service between Greatham and the Channel Islands? Is he further aware that by this refusal he is depriving 700,000 people of aircraft facilities?

On the question of delay the facts are that the application was made to the Customs and Excise on 6th March and the reply was sent on 17th, that is to say 11 days after. On the merits of the matter, as it is being reconsidered I would prefer not even to appear to prejudice the final decision by entering into an argument with the hon. Gentleman on the points he has just made.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that great disappointment is being felt on Tees-side by the action that has been taken? In an area which is so industrialised, does he not think that every consideration ought to be given whereby the facilities which can operate and which have been operated, should be allowed to continue to cater for the many people in that area?

Every consideration will be given to this and, I hope, to every application. The House must appreciate that, unless we are to have to ask for increased staffs, there must be a limit in the number of civil airports at which Customs facilities can be given.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action has been taken to ensure that during the summer months people living in North-West Kent will not be affected by the cement dust nuisance.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14th April.

Is the right hon. Gentleman claiming that, once the electrical precipitators are repaired, they do not break down again? Further, what about the cement kilns? Is every one in Kent that is not suitable for electrical precipitators to go out of action or how can he give such a confident reply?

I do not know about the confidence of my reply. All I said was that I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 14th April. He must judge of its character when he refers to it. The point that perhaps he and the House will remember is that there are five of these dust precipitators which have gone out of action. Three have now been repaired and urgent work is going on on the other two.

But in the answer to the Question referred to, the right hon. Gentleman said that when all were repaired everything would be quite all right in future. Is not that optimistic?

If the hon. Gentleman will read my reply he will see that I did not say that.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to make a statement on the increasing burden of rates and the inequitable distribution of this burden; and how soon he expects to be in a position to take steps to amend the Derating Act, 1929.

I have no statement to make on these large issues. Nor are they, in my view, conveniently dealt with by question and answer.

Does the Minister agree that the serious and increasing burden of rates falls particularly heavily on householders and shopkeepers, and would he agree that the conditions which applied to 1929 when the Derating Act was produced are very different from those that exist today?

Oh, yes. I did not mean that they were not important questions but, I repeat, that I do not think they are easily dealt with by question and answer. There will be a good opportunity on Thursday for a full day's debate on them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman in a position to say what total would be shifted from one set of shoulders to another if the Derating Act, 1929, were abolished?

There would be all kinds of corresponding adjustments as between the local taxation and the central grants.

I realise that, but could the right hon. Gentleman give us an estimate of how much would be involved?

Not offhand.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that sanitary facilities for dockworkers are out of date, insufficient and afford no privacy; and whether he will introduce legislation to enable local authorities to exercise supervision of such facilities in dock estates.

No, Sir; but if the hon. Member would let me know of any cases he has in mind, I will have inquiries made.

Is the Minister aware that on Merseyside, in which I am interested, the lavatories are old and very primitive, that there is no privacy whatever, and that there are no ladies' lavatories of any kind on the Liverpool or Merseyside dock estates? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that the local authorities and the port sanitary authority have no power to make those responsible for dock estates carry out these very necessary sanitary provisions because the Factories Act, 1937, does not apply?

Perhaps the hon. Member would be good enough to come and see me and discuss this matter. If, as he says, neither I nor any other Minister has statutory authority, it may well be a question which we ought to consider with a view to ameliorating it.

Is the Minister aware that this matter has received consideration by the health committee in Liverpool for the past 20 years and that the difficulty seems to be that nobody can say exactly whose responsibility it is to deal with the matter? Will the right hon. Gentleman look at the present legislation and see whether he can assess the position and give the local authorities some guidance as to their responsibility or the responsibility of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board?

I will certainly look at the matter, but it will very likely prove to be a case neither for my Department nor for the local authorities, but rather for some alteration of the Factories Act or other similar legislation.

Will the Minister look at the experience in the London Docks of a couple of years ago, when a similar problem arose and steps were taken considerably to improve the situation?

The right hon. Gentleman will realise that I ought to consult with my right hon. Friends. It is really a matter of general discussion if action were decided to be necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he can yet announce the names and qualifications of the appointments to the Committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the causes and effects of air pollution, as well as to consider what further preventive measures are practicable.

No, Sir; but I will do so as soon as I can.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give some indication of how long that might be, in view of the fact that it took five months to decide to set up the Committee?

It takes quite a time to get the people that one needs. I have just succeeded in getting a rather similar committee formed. One needs to get a very good person as chairman and very good scientific advisers as members, and all these people are very busy and have many claims upon them. It is better to wait a little to try to get the right people.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that air pollution, which has been aggravated over 50 years, is principally caused through the inefficient burning of bituminous coal? Will he, therefore, bear in mind the overwhelming importance of seeing that fuel and power interests are fully represented on this Committee?

In view of the fact that the Minister has stated that he needs active and qualified people for this Committee, will he consider the qualifications of my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Dodds)?

I decline.

I will bear that in mind.

In view of the fact that air pollution costs the country something like £50 million a year, will the Minister include in the terms of reference power for the Committee to make recommendations for expenditure for reducing this appalling cost?

I will consider that.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the rebuilding of Lynmouth is being held up by the failure of his Department to approve the plan which has been submitted some months ago by the local planning authority; and whether he will make a statement.

Emergency works of clearance and restoration costing £100,000 have already been carried out. Proposals for the permanent reconstruction and protective works in the Lynmouth area were received from the Devon County Council on 2nd March last. They entail a major scheme embracing the river works, roads, bridges, coast protection, sewerage and the demolition of buildings, at a total estimated cost, including works outside Lynmouth itself, of more than £700,000.

The matter is, of course, of great consequence to the future of Lynmouth and the proposals call for careful study. They have been examined by the Departments concerned as a matter of special urgency and the Government hope to be in a position to give the necessary decisions very shortly. In the meantime, so that urgent work may proceed quickly, I have already agreed that tenders may be obtained for the reconstruction of the harbour arm and the Rhenish Tower, and detailed proposals for a section of the river works have also been prepared and submitted by the Devon River Board. I hope my hon. and gallant Friend will agree that the action taken has been expeditious and effective.

Several points arise, but I want to put only one now. When the Minister finally approves the plan, will he at the same time inform the coast protection authority and the planning authority—the county council— to what extent the grant will be made to them so that they are capable of assessing how much, if anything, has to be borne by the rates?

I thought the most important thing was to study what ought to be done, to get it done as rapidly as possible, and to start on some part of it even before we had formal approval of the whole—that we have done. All these matters will come along in due course, and I am glad to have my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion, which I shall try to follow.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the nuisance arising from the colliery refuse tip at Oxclose, Washington, County Durham, is continuing; and whether he will ask for a report as to the effect of the fumes on the health of the people residing in the district and take effective steps to deal with the nuisance.

My inspector made suggestions for dealing with this nuisance. I will make further inquiries as to their result and write to the hon. Member.

Is the Minister aware that the method of dealing with this refuse tip, which, presumably, the inspector had in mind a few weeks ago, is still ineffective? Even though parts of the tip are covered by sand and loam, as was then suggested, it very often takes fire again and gives rise to the awful fumes about which the public are complaining. Will the right hon. Gentleman, therefore, take some expert technical advice as to the best method of dealing with this nuisance, especially in view of the effect it may have upon the health of the public, and thus assure the public by evidence that effective improvement is being made in this matter?

We have sent the most expert man of whom we know, and I will certainly take note of what the hon. Member has said. At present, the authorities concerned are trying to treat the fire with sand and loam—there is no water conveniently near—and it is hoped that they will be successful. If we can get some further expert advice, I will certainly take note of what the hon. Member has said.

Does the Minister not now hold the opinion that the time has come when his Department should be in closer collaboration with the National Coal Board and should prevent these pit heaps from going up, otherwise there will be trouble in other parts of the country? It is now understood by the men who know about it that wherever pit heaps are put up, there will be fires. Therefore, we ought to prevent the heaps going up, and there would be no fires.

Will the Minister be good enough to consult the Minister of Fuel and Power to see what can be done to prevent coal being mixed with the stone day after day which merely helps to feed these fires? If this were done, it would go a long way to alleviate the problem.

I am grateful for the suggestions of hon. Members, who are, obviously, very well qualified, and I will try to consider them.

Since the Minister is going to be good enough to study this problem, will he also consider with the Coal Board whether by the use of bulldozers pit heaps could not sometimes be transformed into useful housing sites?

On a point of order. Are we entitled to ask questions about the day-to-day administration of the National Coal Board?

I do not see anything in that point of order. The question asked the Minister whether he would consult with the Coal Board, and I see nothing wrong in that.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the Government's recently announced policy about the allocation of steel supplies, he proposes to review the licences for reconstruction permitted for bombed cities in the year 1953.

As I indicated in the debate on the blitzed cities last March, I am constantly watching the progress of reconstruction. I hope that the year 1953 will show as great if not a greater rate of progress over 1952 as that year did over 1951.

Since the Minister was good enough, following pressure put upon him in the debate we had a few weeks ago, to make a review of the position as it applied to the city of Plymouth, could he give some indication to help developers of when he is likely to be changing his mind again?

It is not a question of changing our mind. We did in 1952 more than £1¼ million worth of work more than my predecesor in 1951. We feel fairly satisfied, if that or a greater rate of in- crease is maintained in 1953. We shall continue to fit into the programme new projects according to the state of labour and materials which seems to justify us doing so in each particular locality. The Minister of Works—who helps me in this —and I have been not altogether unsuccessful to judge by the fall in building labour unemployment to almost negligible figures in Plymouth in the last few months.

Since the right hon. Gentleman has been good enough to answer several questions I did not put on the Order Paper, would he say when he will be able to review the allocations for building in the Plymouth City Centre to bring it up to the total of those engaged in rebuilding the city to the level at which it stood when the Labour Government were in power?

I suspect the hon. Member of trying to use this period of question and answer for some political advantage. [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."] I think hon. Members opposite will be as satisfied in what I have done over the blitzed cities as they are over what we have done in the housing campaign.

Who is responsible for political propaganda now?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now prepared to state the starting date for Stage I of the sewerage scheme for Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

I am ready to allow this part of the scheme to start in the autumn.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that this scheme has had a long history of delay owing to the nature of the soil? Will he do his best to expedite it and bring it a little further forward?

I have looked at the matter very carefully. It is a very large scheme and is to be undertaken in three separate stages. I am looking at the preparatory work and the labour and materials available. I think it would be wise to make a start in the autumn of this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what special guidance he has given to local authorities to assist them in dealing with the problems which must inevitably occur while people are living in wartime camps and hutments.

Since local authorities are experienced in housing management I have not thought it necessary to offer any special guidance. I recognise the problems involved, and I hope that the Working Party on Requisitioned Properties in Use for Housing which I set up will find ways of progressively shutting them down.

But does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that there is a considerable and growing social problem here because the most unfortunate people and also some rather unpleasant people are concentrated together? Has not the right hon. Gentleman said recently that he is proposing to deal with the slums, and will he not start with these settlements?

It is a serious problem, but I am happy to say that I do not think that it is growing to the extent that the numbers are growing. On the contrary, these people are being withdrawn gradually from the temporary accommodation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many wartime camps or hutments are still being used by local authorities in England and Wales to house families; and how many people are still living in these camps.

My hon. and gallant Friend will find the latest available figures on page 9 of the Quarterly Housing Return for March, 1953. The number of individual persons concerned is not known.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he will take to assist the owners of houses privately built on licence since the war in cases where those owners have to sell the houses when transferred to other places of employment.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

While I appreciate that the Minister's investigations may continue, may I ask whether he thinks it possible to relate the selling price of an existing house to the cost of erecting a house of similar size and similar floor space elsewhere?

Oh, yes; that is very relevant.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is now in a position to announce a decision about proposed housing sites in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Not yet. I have written to the hon. Member explaining how matters now stand.

While thanking the Minister for his letter and for the action taken in calling another conference, may I ask whether he is aware that several conferences about this question have now been held and the officers of his Department and of the Ministry of Agriculture must know the views of the local authorities by heart? Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking, hi view of the protracted negotiations about this matter, to make a decision by the end of this month?

Oh, no. I will do my best to expedite it, but, as I have said before, while nobody is more anxious than I am to see that sufficient sites are available for the increased housing, I am also only too much aware of the needs of agriculture and of other claims; and I try in each case to get a settlement which is regarded as reasonable by all concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will publish the report of the Departmental committee he set up in August, 1952, to inquire into the effects of rent restriction and the increased cost of repairs and the deterioration of existing premises.

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. No special committee was set up, but of course I have been engaged in much study of these and allied problems. I cannot yet make any statement of policy.

asked the Minister of Works why Rodin's group, "The Burghers of Calais," is so placed and mounted that it is difficult for the public to view it properly.

Rodin himself approved the site for this group and the height of the pedestal. However, I agree with the hon. Member's view and when funds are available, I will consider moving the group to a site nearby where it could be seen to better advantage.

Whilst thanking the Minister for his answer, which I think is quite satisfactory—and stating that I feared he might have known the first part, as indeed he does—may I ask if he will note that in Calais the pedestal is only about a foot high and the group is completely visible, whereas here it is up in the sky and no one ever sees the group?

I prefer the treatment in Calais to that in the Victoria Tower Gardens.

May we have an assurance that this statuary will be replaced as it is in the square in Calais, almost at pavement level?

That will be considered and the Fine Art Commission will have to be consulted, but I hope that will be the result.

asked the Minister of Works the total attendance so far this season at the Battersea Pleasure Gardens; and what are the new major attractions.

The Pleasure Gardens were fully opened on 16th May when the attendance was 26,365. Before that date, when the Funfair only was open during Easter week and subsequent Friday evenings and Saturdays, the total attendance was 105,416. Special new attractions include the "Lumascope"; an inflatable rubber figure called "Gargantua the Giant"; a "Space Ship," a small circus and a number of Coronation features including a floral crown standing some 23 feet high on a cushion of flowers.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the continued shortage of bricks and cement in South Wales and, in particular, that one firm in Newport making concrete blocks for housing schemes in the county borough of Newport, Cwmbran new town and Cardiff city is only working to 50 per cent. capacity owing to the shortage of cement and which is still holding up building activities in South Wales; and what action is being taken to augment the supply.

In South Wales, as elsewhere, the high level of building activity has caused some lengthening of delivery periods for bricks and cement. Brick output is increasing, and the local production of cement is being augmented by shipments of continental cement direct to South Wales. I am not aware of any firm of concrete block makers in Newport reduced to working at only 50 per cent. of capacity by shortage of cement.

If I give the right hon. Gentleman a letter from the firm concerned, will he look into the matter as these concrete blocks are being used in place of bricks, of which we are so short and are causing considerable delay in substantial housing projects?

I am looking into the matter and I hope the hon. Member will advise the firm to use Belgian cement, which is of the same specification.

asked the Minister of Works how long he proposes to leave London's Coronation decorations set up by his Department.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Teeling) on 17th March.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that lots of folk in the provinces will be bringing parties to London after the Coronation in order to see the decorations? Will he not only keep his own part of the decorations up as long as possible, but use his influence with the rest of London to do the same?

One has to balance the desire of visitors who are coming to see the decorations with the fact that some of the decorations obscure Westminster Abbey and other historical buildings. I think that by 22nd June, when we intend to start taking them down, the decorations will be slightly the worse for the weather.

Will the right hon. Gentleman enter into consultation with the police authorities so that the public may know (a) how long these decorations are to be in position and (b) to what extent access is to be provided in those thoroughfares to coach parties, many of which will be touring the streets during the period of the decorations?

Yes, Sir. They will be displayed until 22nd June. The question of coach parties is under consultation with the police.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he has noted that the experimental evidence now available, showing prolonged intake of fluorine compounds, causes chronic kidney disease in animals, before bone changes occur; and whether he will institute an investigation of the neighbourhood hazards of industrial fluorosis in Stoke-on-Trent, so as to estimate the danger to human beings.

I am aware that in one investigation large doses of sodium fluoride administered in the diet to rats for more than 10 months produced changes in the kidneys. This is a very different matter from exposure to minute proportions of fluorine in the atmosphere and I know of no new evidence which would suggest that further research on human fluorosis should be undertaken in Stoke-on-Trent. As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health indicated in her speech on the Adjournment on Thursday last, the problem of pollution of the atmosphere with fluorides will no doubt be within the terms of reference of the committee on air pollution which the Government propose to set up.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary see that the evidence existing is that fluorine compounds are being used more and more in industry generally and that there is an increasing hazard to human beings? Would he at least say whether the experiment to which I have referred and which he has quoted is checked to see if it be accurate?

There is at present no evidence that the gravity of fluoride poisoning in the case of human beings is sufficient to warrant a detailed investigation by the Medical Research Council. As the hon. Member is aware, in the case of animals the danger of fluoride poisoning is very much greater than in the case of human beings.

asked the Prime Minister if he will instruct our Ambassador in Washington to arrange for members of the United States Senate to be supplied with copies of HANSARD for the recent debate on foreign affairs, in order that they may be fully informed of references to the United States of America made during the debate.

Arrangements will be made in future to ensure that the verbatim text of important speeches on foreign affairs by the Prime Minister or the Leader of the Opposition are cabled immediately after they are delivered to the British Embassy in Washington.

Would it not be just as well if this arrangement was made retrospective so that Senator McCarthy and other Senators might have some clearer idea of what was said in this House?

Actually, the verbatim text arrived the next day, but I agree that it is a great pity to do what was done by the Department or the branch concerned, namely, to send a 75 per cent. extract of the speech, because all of us who have experience of these matters in all parts of the House will feel that one could hardly have it worse both ways than to have 75 per cent. of one's speech reported.

Is the Prime Minister aware that the action he has taken will meet with the approval of all parts of the House? I think it is very wise because otherwise we are liable to be misunderstood on the basis of summaries. I should like to express what I hope is the feeling of the whole House—our appreciation of what the Prime Minister has done.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now make a statement on the Report of the Committee of Inquiry on the dispute at the Austin Motor Works.

The Report of the court of inquiry was issued last week, and I have no doubt that the parties to the dispute are giving careful consideration to its statements and findings. I trust that in the result better relations will be established between the union and the company, and I have invited their attention in particular to the hope expressed by the court that they will make every endeavour to achieve good industrial relations. I am sure this is a hope we all share.

Could the Minister say whether he can think of, and whether he can practice, any particular steps to improve industrial relations, which are very bad at this particular factory? Secondly, since it is the main concern that these men should be re-absorbed without any further bitterness, will the Minister investigate the allegation that only three or four out of 30 men on the strike committee have been offered a return to work? Will he find out whether this is some new attempt to provoke further bitterness in this very difficult situation?

I will try to think of steps, and to take all the steps I think appropriate, to improve relations there and everywhere else. I think it is satisfactory to see that we have submitted for re-employment the names of those who have been strikers and have been discharged. The position at present is that there were 1,583 discharged strikers, of whom about 1,480 registered at Exchanges, and that so far 1,200 have been re-engaged by Austin's, and a further 40 have been found employment with other firms.

What about the strike committee?

I cannot answer that question without notice.

Will my right hon. and learned Friend bear in mind that this attitude of magnanimity of the firm will be greatly appreciated, and will do much to reduce any aftermath of bitterness among the men?

I am anxious that as many of these men as possible should be re-employed. A great many have been re-employed, and I think the sooner we forget the bitterness and try to get better relations, the better for all of us.

Will the Minister bear in mind that this costly court was set up too late and reported too late to have any direct bearing on the settlement of the strike? Will the Minister now, in the interests of the industrial peace which we all hope to see, invite the company, which the court says has a share of responsibility for the development of the strike, to reengage those former strikers who are now unemployed?

As to the first matter about the court of inquiry, as I have previously explained, as soon as I was asked to appoint it I obtained the views of both parties, I did appoint it within a week and it sat as soon as it reasonably could. As for asking the firm to re-engage the men, I wrote to them—I sent the first part to the union as well—saying:

"I am to draw your attention in particular to the final sentence of paragraph 85 in the Report,"—

this is written by one of my staff, not by me—

"and to say that the Minister shares the hope expressed by the Court that both parties will now make every endeavour to establish good industrial relations."

In writing to the company, it was added:

"The Minister trusts that, with this object in mind, the Company will proceed as rapidly as possible with plans for the re-employment of men who have been discharged."

Will the Minister agree that in the present state of affairs, which shows great bitterness in the personal relations of this firm, it would be a useful thing if he would convene a meeting of both sides to get effective personal relations established?

I always pay attention to suggestions made to me by the right hon. Gentleman on a matter of this sort; I will certainly look into that.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to find employment for the exceptional number of men and women who have been out of work for a long period in the towns of Gateshead; and especially the men and women who have been unemployed for more than six months, and who are more than 50 years of age.

A considerable amount of new employment is expected to accrue from firms already established in the Gateshead area, and our efforts to create further new employment are continuing. Men and women in Gateshead who have been long unemployed and who may be in need of physical restoration and vocational guidance to assist them to obtain employment can be admitted to the nearby industrial rehabilitation unit at Felling. The special difficulty which older men and women have in finding employment applies, unfortunately, throughout the country, and I am looking to the National Advisory Committee on the Employment of Older Men and Women, over which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary presides, to help to widen the opportunities of employment for older people.

Does the Minister not think that he must make special efforts to try to get these people working, otherwise they will be out of work for the rest of their lives?

I am fully aware of the difficulties: I have been to the area to see for myself. I have been in consultation with the President of the Board of Trade, and we have considerable hope that firms which have gone there have not reached the peak of their labour requirements, and that the situation will improve.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken or contemplated to make industrial insurance schemes interchangeable so that men can transfer from one industry to another without any loss of benefits.

My attention has been drawn to the possible effect on the mobility of labour of loss of pension benefits on transfer from one firm to another and I have the matter under consideration. I understand that taxation aspects are being examined by the Millard Tucker Committee on the Taxation Treatment of Provisions for Retirement, who are expected to report shortly.

Would the Minister press on with the idea of making these industrial insurances interchangeable because there are young men in some industries who would be more serviceable in others, but who cannot transfer because of the insurance arrangements? Would the Minister press on with this idea?

This is a matter which is being considered by the Committee of which I spoke. It is a matter which I have very much in mind; but the hon. Member will realise that there are difficulties on both sides, and it is necessary for the trade unions to suggest that, in some cases at all events, there may be a blockage of promotion, which they do not want to see. We have to take all this into account, but I will get on with it.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, men and women, were unemployed in the urban district of Maesteg in March, 1933, and March, 1953, respectively.

Three thousand, three hundred and ninety-seven men and 95 women, or 3,492 in all, at 20th March, 1933, and 95 men and 48 women, a total of 143 at 16th March, 1953. The figures relate to persons registered at the Maesteg employment exchange.